Patrick McCaslin

Capt. Patrick D. McCaslin (later Colonel Patrick McCaslin) was the navigator of the B-52H Stratofortress involved in the October 24, 1968 Minot Air Force Base UFO incident. He is one of the most important witnesses in the case because he operated the aircraft's radar system and was responsible for observing and interpreting the radar contact.

McCaslin was part of the B-52 crew operating a training mission near Minot AFB when the crew was contacted by Minot Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) regarding an unidentified object. The crew consisted of:

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 McCaslin observed

McCaslin's role was critical because he was operating the B-52's navigation and radar equipment.

According to his later accounts:

He directed attention to the radar contact after RAPCON alerted the aircraft.
He observed the unidentified target on the aircraft radar.
During a turn maneuver, the object reportedly maintained a consistent distance from the bomber.
During the later approach, the object appeared to rapidly close distance and pace the B-52.

The case is especially notable because the radar observation was supported by radarscope film recorded by the B-52 crew. The Sign Oral History Project investigation later reviewed the radar data, Air Force documentation, and interviewed McCaslin and other crew members.

His description of the object

McCaslin later described the radar behavior as something he had not seen before. He emphasized that he was not making an extraterrestrial claim, but that the object's apparent movement was unusual. The "Profiles in Patriotism" interview notes that McCaslin viewed the movement as requiring some form of intelligent control, while stopping short of identifying what the object was.