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This combined Project Sign file, drawn from USAF records, documents the 1 October 1948 encounter over Fargo, North Dakota, in which Air National Guard pilot 2nd Lt. George F. Gorman chased a small round white light in his F-51 for 27 minutes. The file holds checklists, interrogation reports by Major Paul Kubala of the ATI Field Office at Wright-Patterson, tower witness statements, Geiger readings on the aircraft and press clippings. It concludes that Gorman's statements should be accepted as truth until proven wrong.
“Gorman”17 pages
Centennial Interruption Report No. 2, dated 4 Oct 48 (Cont'd) As he flew into the pattern preparatory to landing, what seemed to be the tail light of another airplane passed him from the right. He called the tower immediately and complained that they had misinformed him, that there was a third ship in the air. The tower came back with the information that no other aircraft was reported out, that they had just checked with all other air fields in the area. Lt. Gorman, seeing the tail light run just outside the Piper Cub, pulled up and cut towards the moving light in order to identify what he thought to be another aircraft. He saw the Piper Cub plainly outlined beneath him against the city lights, but saw no outline of anything around the moving light. Lt. Gorman then proceeded to move toward the object (he thinks that he was about 1000 yards from the object at this moment), which appeared then to be about 6 to 8 inches in diameter. The light was clear white, completely round without fuzz at the edges, and was, until then, blinking on and off. He then proceeded to follow the light which suddenly became steady and pulled into a sharp left bank, making what he thought to be a pass at the tower. Lt. Gorman dived after the light, bringing his manifold pressure to 50 inches and realizing 2000 HPM, which increased at the finish of the dive to 3000. He was unable to catch up with the object which began to gain altitude. Lt. Gorman continued to follow the object, in the meantime calling the tower and advising them as to what was going on. The object continued gaining altitude and again made a left bank. Lt. Gorman then cut his P-31 into a sharp turn and tried to cut the object off in the turn. By that time he was to an altitude of 7000 feet. The object then made a sharp right turn and Lt. Gorman turned about and headed straight at the object which had completed its turn and was coming toward him. At the point where collision seemed imminent, Lt. Gorman got scared and went into a dive, the object passing over his canopy at approximately 500 feet. At this time he had 60 inches of manifold pressure and 3000 RPM. The object again made a left circle approximately 1000 feet above him and he again gave chase. He cut again sharply toward the object which was once more coming at him and, at the time when collision seemed imminent again, the object went straight into the air and he started climbing after it until he grinded approximately 14000 feet, at which time his plane went into a power stall. The object then turned in a north-west northern heading and disappeared. It was then 2127 hours. Lt. Gorman proceeded to return to the field, being so excited that he had to make two passes at the field before he could properly land. During these entire maneuvers, Lt. Gorman noticed no deviation on his instruments. His magnetic compass reacted normally, there was no interference with his radio. He heard no sounds, noticed no odors, and saw no exhaust trails. Bellah PAUL KURALA. Major, USAF. Chief, ATI Field Office. 2 EXHIBIT "A"
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