The Gorman UFO Dogfight

On October 1, 1948, Second Lieutenant George Gorman of the North Dakota Air National Guard engaged in a 27-minute aerial pursuit of a luminous, maneuvering object over Fargo. The incident became one of the most detailed early UFO encounters, documented through Air Force investigation and multiple ground witnesses.

The Setting

Lieutenant Gorman was a World War II veteran and experienced pilot flying a P-51 Mustang. At approximately 9:00 PM, he was returning to Fargo’s Hector Airport after a cross-country flight with his Air National Guard squadron.

The tower cleared him for landing, noting only a Piper Cub in the traffic pattern. Gorman confirmed he could see the Cub—but he also observed another light that didn’t correspond to any aircraft.

The Pursuit

Gorman contacted the tower about the unidentified light. When it passed nearby, he decided to investigate.

What followed was a 27-minute aerial engagement:

• The object was a bright white ball of light, approximately 6-8 inches in diameter
• It appeared to be self-luminous, not reflecting light
• It maneuvered with impossible agility
• It appeared to respond to Gorman’s movements
• At times it seemed to attack, diving at his aircraft

The “Dogfight”

Gorman described the encounter in combat terms:

• He attempted to collide with the object, which evaded
• He chased it through turns his P-51 couldn’t match
• At one point it dove at him, forcing him to break off
• He tried to close multiple times but couldn’t match its performance
• The object climbed away when he approached, easily outpacing him

At approximately 9:27 PM, the object ascended rapidly and vanished into the night sky.

Ground Witnesses

Gorman’s encounter was corroborated by multiple ground observers:

Airport Traffic Controller: L.D. Jensen saw the light from the control tower, confirming its unusual movements

Pilot Manuel Johnson: The Piper Cub pilot observed the light and Gorman’s pursuit

Airport Employees: Several ground personnel witnessed portions of the encounter

Physical Evidence

Following the encounter, Gorman’s P-51 was checked with a Geiger counter. The aircraft showed slightly elevated readings compared to other aircraft—though whether this was significant or coincidental is debated.

Investigation

The Air Force’s Project Sign investigated thoroughly:

• Gorman was interviewed extensively
• Ground witnesses were questioned
• The aircraft was examined
• Weather and astronomical conditions were checked

The official explanation attributed the sighting to a lighted weather balloon. Gorman rejected this, noting that no balloon could have made the maneuvers he observed.

Gorman’s Assessment

Lieutenant Gorman was a combat veteran who had seen many aircraft and phenomena. He maintained that the object:

• Was intelligently controlled
• Responded to his movements
• Outperformed his aircraft in every metric
• Was not any natural phenomenon he could identify

Significance

The Gorman Dogfight was significant for:

• Extended duration (27 minutes)
• Detailed pilot observation
• Multiple ground witnesses
• Military investigation
• Physical evidence (Geiger readings)
• Combat-trained witness

Legacy

The incident demonstrated that UFOs could engage with military aircraft in apparent “combat” situations. Whether the object was testing the pilot’s reactions or simply evading, its superior performance raised questions about what technology might exist beyond human capability.

Gorman’s willingness to report such an unusual experience, despite potential ridicule, contributed to the early documentation of the UFO phenomenon.