Malmstrom AFB Missile Shutdown

The Malmstrom Air Force Base incident represents one of the most significant UFO cases involving nuclear weapons infrastructure. On a spring morning in 1967, a glowing object appeared over a Montana missile facility just as ten Minuteman nuclear missiles inexplicably went offline. The implications - that unknown technology could disable America’s nuclear deterrent - remain deeply troubling.

March 16, 1967

The incident occurred at Oscar Flight, part of Malmstrom AFB’s missile complex:

Location: Oscar Flight Launch Control Facility, approximately 20 miles from the main base.

Personnel: Captain Robert Salas and First Lieutenant Fred Meiwald were on duty in the underground launch control center.

Security: Armed security guards patrolled the above-ground facility.

The Missiles: Oscar Flight controlled ten Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The UFO Appears

The sequence of events was dramatic:

Initial Report: At approximately 8:30 AM, security guards called down to report strange lights in the sky.

Second Call: Guards called again, this time reporting a glowing red object hovering just outside the front gate.

The Object: Described as oval-shaped, glowing red-orange, and silent.

Guard Reaction: The guards were described as frightened and urgent.

The Missiles Go Down

What happened next was unprecedented:

System Failure: Within seconds of the UFO report, the missiles began going offline.

No Fault: The missiles went into “No Go” status, indicating they could not be launched.

All Ten: One by one, all ten missiles under Oscar Flight’s control went offline.

No Explanation: There was no technical explanation for the simultaneous failure.

The Technical Mystery

The missile failures defied explanation:

Independent Systems: Each missile had independent guidance and control systems.

Redundancy: The system was designed to prevent cascading failures.

Security: The missiles were protected against electromagnetic interference.

Impossible: Engineers later said the simultaneous failure of all ten missiles should have been impossible.

Echo Flight

A similar incident occurred at Echo Flight the same morning:

Same Pattern: Another flight of missiles also experienced failures.

Same Timeframe: The incidents occurred within the same general time period.

UFO Reports: There were UFO reports associated with Echo Flight as well.

Pattern: The parallel incidents suggest a common cause.

Robert Salas

Captain Robert Salas has become the primary witness:

Direct Witness: He was the duty officer when the missiles failed.

Career: He served as a missile launch officer and later held other Air Force positions.

Testimony: He has testified before Congress and at numerous public forums.

Consistency: His account has remained consistent for over 50 years.

The Official Response

The Air Force investigated but reached no conclusion:

Investigation: Boeing engineers examined the failed missiles.

No Cause Found: Despite extensive testing, no technical cause was identified.

Classified: Much of the documentation remained classified for decades.

Official Position: The Air Force has never publicly explained the failures.

Other Witnesses

Multiple people corroborate elements of the incident:

Security Guards: Several guards reported seeing the UFO.

Other Personnel: Base personnel reported unusual sightings that morning.

Fred Meiwald: Salas’s partner in the launch control center supports the account.

Pattern of Witnesses: The number of witnesses makes simple fabrication unlikely.

Nuclear Connection

The incident fits a pattern of UFOs near nuclear facilities:

Repeated Pattern: UFO sightings cluster around nuclear installations.

Weapons Sites: Missile bases, weapons storage, and reactors all report sightings.

Interference: Multiple cases involve apparent interference with nuclear systems.

Interest: Something appears interested in humanity’s nuclear capabilities.

The Implications

The Malmstrom incident raises profound questions:

Vulnerability: Can America’s nuclear deterrent be disabled by unknown technology?

Origin: What technology could simultaneously disable ten independent missile systems?

Intent: Was this a demonstration, a warning, or something else?

Security: Are nuclear weapons truly secure?

Official Secrecy

Much remains classified:

Documents: Many incident reports remain classified.

Witnesses Silenced: Personnel were allegedly told not to discuss the incident.

No Acknowledgment: The government has never officially acknowledged the UFO connection.

FOIA: Freedom of Information requests have yielded limited results.

Congressional Testimony

Salas has testified at the highest levels:

National Press Club: He spoke at the 2010 press conference with other military witnesses.

Congressional Hearings: He has testified before Congress about the incident.

Credibility: His military background and consistent testimony lend credibility.

Advocacy: He has become an advocate for UFO disclosure.

Skeptical Views

Critics have questioned the account:

Equipment Failure: Could there be a mundane explanation for the failures?

Memory: Has the story been enhanced over 50+ years?

Documentation: Some question whether documents support all claims.

Response: Salas has addressed criticisms in detail.

Legacy

The Malmstrom incident matters because:

• A credible military witness has testified for decades
• Nuclear weapons were directly involved
• The technical failure remains unexplained
• It suggests UFO interest in nuclear capabilities
• It raises profound national security questions

Whatever hovered over that Montana missile facility in 1967 appeared to demonstrate the ability to disable America’s nuclear deterrent. The silence from official channels only deepens the mystery.

Sources

• Captain Robert Salas testimony
• Air Force investigation documents
• Congressional testimony
• Malmstrom AFB UFO/Missile Incident - Wikipedia