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This combined file holds US Air Force Air Materiel Command intelligence records for Project SIGN on the 1 October 1948 Fargo, North Dakota incident. A cover memo to the Chief of Staff reports that investigators questioned witnesses on 3 October and found that an F-51 pilot had chased a small round white light for 27 minutes, and that the light outmaneuvered his aircraft. Major Paul Kubala's interrogation reports cover pilot Lt. George F. Gorman and tower controllers L.D. Jensen and Manuel E. Johnson. The memo rules out balloons, other aircraft and Canadian jets and rates the report A-2.
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Subject: Project "SIGN" ## UNCLASSIFIED When the object began evasive tactics the F-51 pilot utilized maximum authorized power. (Engine seal for military power was not broken) However, the object out-turned, out-speeded and out-climbed the F-51 in every instance. Contact was lost twenty-seven minutes after the initial sighting when the F-51 went into a power stall at 14,000 feet altitude and the object continued to ascend almost vertically for another 3,000 ft. (up to 17,000 ft), at which time preparation for landing occupied the F-51 pilot. 5. Investigative personnel of this Command determined that local National Guard and CAA officials had already taken into account the possibilities of other aircraft having been in the vicinity, meteorological balloon releases and that Canadian "Vampire" jets had been in the vicinity. All these three factors of investigation were discredited. National Guard officials are familiar with the whistle of the "Vampire" jets and consider that the object made no noise, that no exhaust streaks were visible and that they noticed no odor. 6. Request was made by official telegram on 5th October 1948 to the Commanding Officer, Air National Guard, Fargo, North Dakota, 178th Fighter Sq for a Geiger check of all F-51 aircraft for comparison of affected aircraft with others in vicinity. (See Exhibit "E") 7. Other investigations and technical studies of time-consuming nature are being conducted on this incident and will be reported upon as speedily as possible as soon as results are available, by additional memorandums. A final report in brief form will be made when the incident is closed. 8. EVALUATION: Air Material Command evaluates the source as "A"; the factual data as "2". The overall evaluation is "A-2". FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL
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