CE1 - Cold War Era
1946
A Kentucky Air National Guard pilot named Thomas Mantell died while pursuing a UFO that was reportedly over 300 feet in diameter. The object was later identified as a Skyhook balloon, but the incident remains a popular UFO case.
1950
The McMinnville UFO Incident, also known as the Trent UFO sighting, involved a farmer and his wife witnessing and photographing a disc-shaped object flying low and silently over their farm in McMinnville, Oregon, in 1950, which gained national attention and remains a subject of debate among UFO researchers and enthusiasts.
The Nash-Fortenberry UFO incident occurred in 1950 when two experienced pilots witnessed a metallic, saucer-shaped object following their plane at high speeds and performing maneuvers beyond human capabilities. Despite being investigated by the U.S. Air Force, the incident remains a prominent case in the history of UFO sightings.
1951
A series of sightings of a formation of lights over Lubbock, Texas. The sightings were reported by multiple witnesses, including professors and scientists.
1957
An Air Force RB-47 aircraft was followed by an unidentified object for over 700 miles and 1.5 hours. The encounter was witnessed by six officers and the object was tracked on radar.
1966
Dexter UFO Incident
The Dexter UFO incident occurred in March 1966 in Dexter, Michigan, and is considered a significant event in the history of UFO sightings in the United States. The incident involved strange lights in the sky that were witnessed by several individuals over a period of several days, and it led to national attention and a congressional hearing
1976
September 19, 1976: Two F-4 Phantom II fighter jets were sent to intercept a strange object over Tehran, Iran. The object was described as a bright light and was tracked on radar. The incident was investigated by the Iranian government and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.