A UFO incident involving ground observers, Air Force radar operators, and two F-84 interceptor pilots who reported visual and radar contact with an unidentified object near Ellsworth Air Force Base.
On the night of August 5–6, 1953, personnel associated with Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota, investigated an unidentified object detected through multiple independent channels. Ground Observer Corps volunteer Phyllis Killian reported an unusual red light moving across the sky. Ellsworth ground-controlled intercept radar operators detected a corresponding target and directed F-84 fighter aircraft toward the object. The pilots reported visual contact with a bright object while radar operators tracked correlated returns. The object reportedly traveled a significant distance before the first interceptor discontinued pursuit due to fuel limitations. A second interceptor also reported visual contact and radar indications. Project Blue Book investigated the incident and classified it as unidentified. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
| Date: | 1953-08-05 |
| Location: | Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, South Dakota |
| Country: | United States |
| Category: | Military |
| Credibility: | High / Radar and Multiple Witnesses |