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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.
“Fargo”17 pages
Lt. Gorman then called in again and stated that he was going to follow the other aircraft. Mr. Jensen then stepped to the south window of the tower and at that moment saw the object, approximately 1000 feet from the tower in a northwestern direction, passing very fast over the field. Mr. Jensen happened to have, at this particular moment, a pair of binoculars in his hand, and he watched the object as it passed over the field. He was, however, unable to distinguish any shape or form other than what appeared to be the tail light of a very fast moving craft. Mr. Jensen did not see the maneuvers carried on by the object nor the P-51 of Lt. Gorman. He saw the object only once, and then only as it passed in a straight line over the field. Mr. Jensen states that approximately 10 minutes prior to Lt. Gorman's call, the Weather Station at Fargo had released a lighted weather balloon; however, the balloon was at all times in sight by Mr. Sanderson of the Weather Station, the balloon flying slowly in a westerly direction at an altitude of about 500 feet. Mr. Jensen further states that the voice of Lt. Gorman became, at times, very garbled and he had to repeatedly ask him to speak clearer. He thinks, however, that during the diving and climbing maneuvers of the F-51, Lt. Gorman's throat microphone had probably slipped. Dr. Jensen heard no sound from the object, noticed no odor, and saw no exhaust streaks in the air. PAIL KUBALA Major, USAF Chief, ATI Field Office.
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