The Gorman Dogfight

On October 1, 1948, Second Lieutenant George Gorman of the North Dakota Air National Guard engaged in a 27-minute aerial dogfight with an unidentified object over Fargo. The incident became one of the classic early UFO cases.

The Encounter

At 9 PM, Gorman was preparing to land at Hector Airport when he observed a bright light that seemed to be another aircraft. He attempted to close with it, beginning a remarkable aerial pursuit.

The Dogfight

The object, a glowing white ball about eight inches in diameter, outmaneuvered Gorman at every turn. When he dove, it dove. When he climbed, it climbed. It made turns that exceeded his P-51 Mustang’s capabilities.

The Witnesses

Controllers in the Fargo tower observed the light. The pilot of a Piper Cub also in the air saw it. All witnesses agreed the object was real and moved with intelligence.

The Investigation

Project Sign investigated the case. The official explanation was that Gorman had been chasing a lighted weather balloon. Gorman rejected this, noting balloons don’t outmaneuver fighter planes.

Assessment

The Gorman Dogfight demonstrated that UFOs could perform beyond the capabilities of military aircraft. A trained pilot engaged an object for nearly half an hour. Whatever he fought remains unidentified.