The Gorman UFO Dogfight

On October 1, 1948, North Dakota National Guard pilot George F. Gorman engaged in a 27-minute aerial encounter with a luminous object over Fargo. Despite his combat experience and a capable P-51 Mustang, Gorman could not catch or outmaneuver the brilliant ball of light.

The Pilot

Second Lieutenant George Gorman:

• WWII veteran
• 25 years old
• National Guard pilot
• Experienced aviator
• P-51 Mustang

The Night

October 1, 1948:

• Clear conditions
• Night flight
• Cross-country training
• Returning to Fargo
• Noticed light

First Contact

Gorman saw:

• Bright light
• Moving fast
• Not aircraft
• No navigation lights
• Approached to investigate

The Chase Begins

Gorman pursued:

• For 27 minutes
• Full throttle
• Various maneuvers
• Could not catch
• Object evaded

The Object

He described:

• Ball of light
• 6-8 inches diameter
• Brilliant white
• Blinking occasionally
• Intelligent movement

The Maneuvers

The object:

• Turned sharply
• Climbed rapidly
• Dove
• Outmaneuvered P-51
• Seemed aware

Near Collision

At one point:

• Object headed toward him
• Collision imminent
• Gorman dove
• Object passed over
• Close call

Ground Witnesses

Others saw the chase:

• Control tower personnel
• Other pilots
• Watched the encounter
• Confirmed the light
• Corroborated

Dr. A.D. Cannon

Fargo doctor:

• Also flying that night
• Saw the object
• Independent witness
• Confirmed Gorman’s account
• Additional testimony

The Investigation

Air Force:

• Project Sign investigated
• Gorman interviewed
• P-51 checked for radiation
• Slight increase found
• Case taken seriously

Official Explanation

Later attributed to:

• Lighted balloon
• Weather balloon
• Gorman disagreed
• Maneuvers impossible
• For balloon

Gorman’s Reaction

He stated:

• Object showed intelligence
• Reacted to his moves
• Not a balloon
• Something controlled
• Maintained position

Physical Effects

After the encounter:

• Gorman exhausted
• Aircraft showed
• Slight radiation
• Unexplained
• Documented

Significance

The Gorman dogfight is significant for:

• Combat pilot witness
• Extended encounter
• Ground corroboration
• Official investigation
• Maneuvering object

Legacy

The Gorman UFO dogfight became one of the early classic cases, demonstrating that luminous UFOs could outperform military aircraft. The pilot’s credibility and the extended encounter made it influential in early UFO research.