Ellsworth Air Force Base UFO Interception Attempt
In August 1953, radar at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota tracked a bright, well-defined object. A scrambled fighter attempted interception; the object accelerated away, then reportedly followed the pilot back to base.
Background
Radar and Visual Acquisition
In August 1953, ground radar at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, South Dakota, tracked a well-defined, solid and bright object of unknown origin at medium altitude. Ground observers also made visual contact.
The Interception
An F-84 fighter was scrambled to intercept. The pilot visually acquired the object and attempted to close. The object accelerated away at speeds the pilot could not match. When the pilot broke off and turned back towards Ellsworth, the object reportedly followed him at range, maintaining separation until near the base before departing at high speed.
Classification
Project Blue Book's handling of the case was incomplete; the official explanation was ambiguous, and the combined radar, visual, and interception data made the case notable enough that it was cited by Dr James McDonald and others in later critiques of Air Force UFO policy. Coulthart uses the case to illustrate the Cold War pattern of aircraft being unable to close with apparently intelligently controlled objects.