Wurtsmith AFB: Military Reports Document Visual and Radar Contacts
During the night of 30–31 October 1975, Wurtsmith Air Force Base reported several unidentified low-flying objects. Released military records document visual observations, radar contacts and the dispatch of a KC-135 to identify them.
Background
The reports
A National Military Command Center memorandum dated 31 October summarises several reports from Wurtsmith AFB. An initial message described an unlit helicopter over the rear gate and near the weapons-storage area. A later correction placed the visual sighting near the motor pool; radar showed several aircraft at the same time, including one near the weapons-storage area, but without the hovering first reported there.
According to the OPREP records, a dispatched KC-135 obtained visual and radar contact with a lighted, low-flying object moving southeast at roughly 150 knots. A second lighted object joined it. Both appeared to switch off their lights simultaneously, after which contact was lost about 35 miles southeast of the base. Another message says the formation was tracked south and then back north toward the base several times until the KC-135 landed as fuel approached its minimum.
Context
The records establish that the incident was logged and reported through military channels. They contain no confirmation of a speed near 1,000 knots or of a clearly established intrusion into the weapons-storage area. The released messages use descriptions such as “unidentified low-flying aircraft/helicopter” and preserve corrections to the initial situation reports.