Harlowton, MT: UFO near Malmstrom missile site
On February 17, 1975, Sheriff Richard Egebakken and deputies observed a bright round object hovering near Malmstrom AFB's K-01 Minuteman missile facility east of Harlowton, Montana. The object ascended rapidly, hovered again, and was confirmed not to be an aircraft by witnesses including a pilot.
Background
Witnesses and First Sighting
Sheriff Richard Egebakken of Wheatland County saw a glowing round object at about 150 metres altitude at 21:00, near the K-01 Minuteman alert site of Malmstrom Air Force Base, 2.7 kilometres east-northeast of Harlowton, Montana. Deputy Larry Clifford drove to within about 1.6 kilometres of the site and saw the object suddenly climb to 600 metres, pause, and hover again.
Further Observations
State game warden Gene Tierney ruled out an aircraft. Commissioner Edgar Langston, himself a pilot, watched it through binoculars from his ranch 24 kilometres to the south and made out an antenna-like structure on top. Deputy Herb Lynn stopped his truck outside the town and saw it moving irregularly across the sky. Deputy Russ Mill, about 1.6 kilometres away, described a blue object bobbing up and down.
Technical Evidence and Significance
Radar at Malmstrom AFB registered objects at times. The event occurred at a strategic nuclear missile facility and was documented by several police officers and a pilot, which points to an area of military interest. No conventional explanation is available.