Runyon
2005, 14-15. Also: Runyon 2000, 11, 23. At the time, the only General stationed
at Minot AFB was the commander of the 810th Strategic Aerospace
Division (SAD), Brig. General Ralph Holland(though to be precise, he was
officially promoted on 1 November 1968). In recent interviews with Holland, it
was determined that he was not the General
that ordered the B-52 to over fly the UFO. See: Holland, Ralph T., 2005.
Transcript of interview by Thomas Tulien and Jim Klotz, 20 February (Sign Oral
History Project). A reasonable guess would be Holland’s superior, Maj. General
Edward M. Nichols, Jr.. Vice Commander of the Fifteenth Air Force. Runyon
recalls the request came from a two-star general, and Werlich states in his
initial 24 October report to Blue Book staff “the Base Commander and Major
General Nichols of the 15th Air Force were both interested” (Memo,
24 Oct. 68, 1). The Fifteenth Air Force, based at March AFB, California, was a level of command under Strategic Air
Command, responsible
for operations in the western United States and Alaska. Under the command of
the Fifteenth at Minot AFB were the 810th SAD, the 91st
SMW, and 5th BW. In addition, the B-52 EWO, Capt. Goduto was
responsible for the HF radio used to communicate with SAC headquarters over
extreme distances, especially when over the Polar Regions. Goduto did not
receive the call since his equipment was powered down in preparation for
landing (2001, 14, 19).