B-52 paced by a radar unknown over Saudi Arabia
On the night of 18 January 1957 B-52 no. 394, call sign "Runner 11" of the 93d Bomb Wing on SAC's Operation Powerflight, was flying at 39,000 ft and 642 kt over Saudi Arabia when tail gunner M/Sgt C.H. Ballew's A-3A gunnery radar picked up an unknown holding a constant 6,000 yards behind for 5 to 7 minutes. The return was smaller than a B-52 and vanished off the scope when the bomber banked, "in the direction of the Baghdad Flight Identification Region". The Air Force report says it "appeared on the scope where no aircraft were expected" and gives no explanation. Press reports of a cylinder are not in this document.
How plausible · High
A SAC bomber crew recorded a radar return that paced them at 642 kt for several minutes where no aircraft were expected; the report offers no explanation.
- ●●Access The tail gunner had it on his own radar.
- ●●No gain sought Nothing to gain.
- ●●Restraint No shape or interpretation claimed; just the return.
- ●●Character record SAC crew on Operation Powerflight.
- ●●Checkable details check out DOW-UAP-D155 is released.
- ●○Cost of speaking Gunner and commander named.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-24.
On the record
- IR-1-57: B-52 no. 394, commander Lt Col J.H. Morris, 39,000 ft, 642 kt.
- Contact held at a constant 6,000 yd (pacing the bomber) for 5-7 minutes.
- Smaller return than a B-52; lost when the B-52 banked.
- No visual sighting and no shape are reported.