A little known, yet nonetheless very frightening encounter with a UFO occurred over the waters of Lake Superior in Michigan on November 23, 1953. The most circulated version of the story goes as follows, however I was able to interview an Air Force radar operator who gave me a testimonial, which I will include at the latter half of this report. For the common version of the incident I am referring to Timothy Good's book, "Above Top Secret: The Worldwide UFO Cover-Up." On the date in question an Air Defense Command Ground Control Intercept controller was alerted by an unidentified flying object on his scope in the area of Soo Locks, Michigan. An F-89C Scorpion jet was immedietely flown from Kinross Air Force Base. The plane was piloted by Lieutenant Felix Moncla, jr., and his observer, Lieutenant R.R. Wilson, in the rear.
The Ground Controller vectored the plane towards the target, and made note that UFO changed course as the aircraft approached at over 500 mph. Nine minutes passed and eventually the F-89 closed the gap, at which point the controller alerted the plane that they should be within visual range by then. The two blips on the radar scope continued to close with one another until they merged, "as if they had collided." For a moment the solitary blip remained on the scope, but then disappeared. The last known position was noted, and the controller sent an emergency message to Search and Rescue. It was possible that the two had managed to bail out before the apparent collision took place. After an entire air/sea rescue search, not a single scrap of the plane was ever recovered, along with the two pilots. The fact that no wreckage was recovered seems to indicate that a collision took place, an assumption not shared by myself or the veteran whom I interviewed.
The Air Force press release stated"....The plane was followed by radar until it merged with an object seventy miles off Keweenaw Point in upper Michigan." As an understatement, the incident has never been satisfactorily explained.
The testimonial is as follows:
"....I'd like to fill in the gaps in the UFO "anomoly" incident over Lake Superior in 1953. I was stationed in Battle Creek Michigan at a radar AC&W (Air Craft Control and Warning) and was on duty when the incident took place. When we were notified of the "bogey" to the north of us, we increased our radar range. We spotted the target, which was stationary, by a bright blip on the screen over the east end of the lake. Two F-89"C" interceptors were heading west from Kinross AFB. One of the F-89's had to abort the flight because of mechanical problems. The pilot, aborting, asked the other pilot if he wanted to return home or wait for another wingman. He (Moncla) said "Negative" to both and continued to intercept. I was watching it unfold and was able to monitor the transmissions from the air craft to his ground controller. The transmission was something like this:
The first report from the pilot "No Joy" (No Contact) On the scope he was closing in on the bogey. As he got closer he announced (slight static) "I have an eyeball on the target, am going in for a closer look." (more static) Each time he transmitted the static became more and more unintelligable, the static louder each time he transmitted. As his air - craft converged with the target, there came steadier and louder static each time he transmitted until they merged. Then all was silent. From my position the now merged blip started northwest for a short time and then disappeared. The strangest thing about the incident was the closer he got to the bogey, the fewer words were heard due to the increase in static. The static was present only when he transmitted. A word here and there was heard - as the targets merged there was a long blast of static. His last transmission???"
The gentleman who gave me the above testimonial has asked to remain anonomous, however is willing to speak with serious researchers about the matter. If so you may contact me via E-Mail
