Manchester, NH: F-86s ordered with live guns for UFO intercepts
On June 6, 1950, F-86 Sabre jets from the 654th Squadron at Grenier AFB in Manchester, NH, received orders to arm with live ammunition for missions targeting unidentified radar tracks. This directive highlights early military preparedness against potential aerial threats.
Background
Background
On June 6, 1950, F-86 Sabre fighters of the 654th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, stationed at Grenier Air Force Base in Manchester, New Hampshire (today Manchester–Boston Regional Airport), were instructed to carry their guns loaded. This applied specifically to sorties against unidentified radar contacts.
Details of the Event
The base then served as an important US Air Force station within the air defence system. The F-86 Sabre, a state-of-the-art jet fighter, was to be ready for "certain missions" that included intercepting mysterious targets. No specific sightings or crashes are mentioned, but the order points to continuing irregularities in airspace surveillance.
Witnesses and Evidence
No individual pilots or officers are named; the order went to the entire squadron. The primary source is George Eberhart's chronicle, citing Powell's work (pp. 112, 114). Historical context confirms the base's activity in the 1950s with fighter squadrons.
Significance
The case points to growing military concern about UFO or UAP phenomena shortly after the start of the Korean War. It shows the shift toward armed interceptions, which influenced later sightings such as the Washington flap. Its importance rests on its official character.