Bradford Runyan

Capt. Bradford Runyon Jr. (often written as Brad Runyon or Bradford Runyon) was one of the most important witnesses in the October 24, 1968 Minot Air Force Base UFO incident. He was the B-52H co-pilot (right-seat pilot) during the airborne encounter and later became one of the key people who helped bring renewed attention to the case decades later.

Runyon was seated in the right-hand pilot position of the B-52H bomber (call sign JAG 31) when the aircraft was returning to Minot AFB after a long training mission. The crew was:

Capt. Don Cagle — Aircraft Commander / Pilot
Capt. Bradford Runyon Jr. — Co-Pilot
Maj. Charles Richey — Radar Navigator
Capt. Patrick McCaslin — Navigator
Capt. Thomas Goduto — Electronic Warfare Officer
TSgt. Arlie Judd — Gunner

What Runyon reported:

According to later interviews and the Sign Oral History Project investigation:

Minot RAPCON directed the B-52 crew toward an unidentified radar target.
The object was reportedly tracked by the B-52's radar system.
Runyon participated in the aircraft maneuvers used to investigate the object.
During the later approach near the ground, Runyon and the pilot reported a visual observation of a large illuminated object.

A particularly important part of Runyon's history is that he reopened public interest in the case in 2000 when he contacted the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) and submitted a witness questionnaire. This led researchers from the Sign Historical Group to begin a much deeper investigation, including interviews with the B-52 crew and other Minot personnel.