The 1965 F.E. Warren AFB UFO Incidents

Warren AFB

On August 1, 1965, F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming was the scene of an extraordinary series of UFO sightings. Starting around 1:30 A.M., base personnel, including the base commander, reported multiple UFOs around Minuteman missile sites. The sightings, characterized by bright, multi-colored lights and rapid movements, were promptly relayed to Project Blue Book at Wright-Patterson AFB.

Lt. Anspaugh’s memorandum, later published by Dr. J. Allen Hynek in The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry, details these reports. Notably, Airman 2nd Class Robert R. Thompson and other base personnel witnessed these aerial phenomena firsthand, including an incident involving a UFO hovering over a security team’s camper.

These events, documented extensively but still shrouded in mystery, highlight the complexities and ongoing questions surrounding UFO sightings at military installations.

The Incidents

1:30 A.M. - Initial Reports At 1:30 A.M. on August 1, 1965, Captain Snelling from the U.S. Air Force command post in Cheyenne, Wyoming, reported that the local radio station had received 15 to 20 phone calls about a large, circular object emitting multiple colors but no sound. This object was seen hovering over the city before moving rapidly northeast. Concurrently, two officers and one airman at the base witnessed the object moving directly over base operations.

2:20 A.M. - Base Commander’s Report Colonel Johnson, the base commander at Francis E. Warren AFB, contacted Dayton, Ohio, to report a sighting at 1:45 A.M. by the commanding officer of the Sioux Army Depot. This report mentioned a configuration of two UFOs previously seen over E Site. At 1:49 A.M., members of E flight also reported observing what appeared to be the same UFO formation seen earlier by G flight. Two security teams from E flight were dispatched to investigate the sighting.

2:50 A.M. - Additional Sightings By 2:50 A.M., nine more UFOs were reported. At 3:35 A.M., Colonel Williams, commanding officer of the Sioux Army Depot in Sydney, Nebraska, reported five UFOs moving eastward.

4:05 A.M. - Multiple UFOs Reported At 4:05 A.M., Colonel Johnson called Dayton again, indicating that at 4:00 A.M., Q flight had sighted nine UFOs in different directions: four to the northwest, three to the northeast, and two over Cheyenne.

4:40 A.M. - Detailed Sightings Captain Howell from the Air Force Command Post contacted Dayton and the Defense Intelligence Agency at 4:40 A.M. He reported that a Strategic Air Command team at Site H-2 had seen a white oval UFO directly overhead at 3:00 A.M. Further details from the Strategic Air Command Post included a report from Francis E. Warren AFB’s Site B-4 at 3:17 A.M., describing a white oval UFO with white lines and a flashing red light moving east at high speed. It was later reported to have landed 10 miles east of the site.

3:20 A.M. - Reported Observations At 3:20 A.M., seven UFOs were reported east of the site. By 3:25 A.M., E Site reported six UFOs stacked vertically.

3:27 A.M. - Additional UFOs At 3:27 A.M., G-1 reported one UFO ascending, and E-2 reported two additional UFOs joining the seven, bringing the total to nine.

3:28 A.M. - UFO Movement By 3:28 A.M., G-1 reported that a UFO was descending further, moving east.

3:32 A.M. - Further Observations At 3:32 A.M., G Site reported a UFO climbing and leveling off.

3:40 A.M. - Final Sightings At 3:40 A.M., G Site again reported one UFO at 70 degrees azimuth and another at 120 degrees. Three additional UFOs, stacked vertically, moved west, passing through the two previously reported, totaling five UFOs heading west.

Airman 2nd Class Robert R. Thompson’s Account

Airman 2nd Class Robert R. Thompson, stationed at the Quebec Flight Launch Control Facility, reported a sighting during his duty in the summer of 1965. While on duty, Thompson received a call from the underground launch capsule requesting he and his partner step outside and look up. They observed eight stationary lights grouped in four pairs, much brighter than stars. One light moved among the others before all lights eventually disappeared.

Later, Thompson learned from the missile commander that NORAD had tracked eight unknown objects in the area. This sighting aligns with the Blue Book memorandum mentioning UFOs at 4:05 A.M. However, the exact date of Thompson’s sighting remains uncertain.

Subsequent Sighting by a Colleague

Shortly after Thompson’s sighting, another member of his unit reported a more dramatic encounter. While on stake-out duty at a missile silo, he experienced violent shaking of his Security Alert Team (SAT) camper and saw a bright light hovering above. The light departed rapidly after a few seconds. This colleague and his partner were debriefed by an OSI agent and instructed to remain silent about the incident.

Thompson verified this account with the Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC), who confirmed seeing a bright light over the Launch Facility closest to the LCF.

These incidents collectively point to a period of intense UFO activity at F.E. Warren AFB, with multiple credible reports from various personnel confirming the sightings and their unusual nature.

Airman 2nd Class Terry Stuck’s Observations

In the summer of 1965, Airman 2nd Class Terry Stuck, stationed at the Oscar Flight Launch Control Facility (LCF), reported another UFO sighting. One morning, while reporting for duty, Stuck learned from the departing night-shift guards about their observation of fast-moving lights or objects with incredible speed. The departing security team leader informed Stuck that these lights were moving rapidly and inexplicably.

Stuck overheard a conversation between the night-shift guards and the incoming missile commander. The captain, who had previously been a pilot in Korea and had also reported UFO sightings, indicated that he faced career repercussions, including being sent to a base psychiatrist and experiencing stalled career advancement. This exchange highlighted the potential risks associated with reporting UFO sightings within the military.

Stuck’s Own UFO Sighting

A few days after the report from the night-shift guards, Stuck experienced his own UFO sighting at the Oscar Flight LCF. While stationed at the ground-level security facility, he observed UFOs performing right-angle turns at extreme speeds. Although the objects were at a significant distance and no shapes or sounds were discernible, the unusual maneuvers left a lasting impression on Stuck.

The Camper Incident

The incident involving the Security Alert Team (SAT) camper, described by Airman Thompson, was not isolated. According to Stuck, during the same period, the SAT guards at a nearby launch facility reported a similar event. While parked next to a missile silo, the camper began to shake violently, and a bright light hovered silently above before rapidly departing. The guards were subsequently debriefed by an OSI agent and instructed not to discuss the event.

Stuck’s account was later corroborated by the NCOIC at the Launch Facility closest to the LCF, who confirmed seeing a bright light over the facility. This corroboration further supports the credibility of the SAT camper incident and indicates a broader pattern of UFO activity in the area.

Summary of Incident Patterns

The detailed reports from various personnel at F.E. Warren AFB during this period reflect a significant and multifaceted UFO encounter. From multiple sightings of UFOs moving in different formations and directions to personal experiences of high-speed maneuvers and unusual light phenomena, these incidents demonstrate a recurring and troubling pattern of unexplained aerial activity. The responses from military personnel, including career consequences for reporting such sightings and efforts to maintain secrecy, underscore the complexity and sensitivity surrounding these events.

Collectively, these accounts contribute to a broader understanding of the UFO wave at F.E. Warren AFB, providing a detailed look at the scope and nature of the unexplained aerial phenomena experienced by military personnel in 1965.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the UFO sightings at F.E. Warren AFB in 1965 was marked by a blend of official scrutiny, secrecy, and ongoing speculation. The incidents drew significant attention from various quarters, yet the official response remained constrained by both military protocol and the limitations of contemporary UFO investigation practices.

Official Response and Investigations

Following the multiple UFO sightings reported by personnel at F.E. Warren AFB, the initial response involved logging and analyzing the reports by the Air Force’s Project Blue Book. This project, which was tasked with investigating UFO sightings and determining their nature, was primarily focused on categorizing and debunking incidents as either misidentified objects, atmospheric phenomena, or other explainable events.

In the case of the F.E. Warren AFB incidents, detailed reports were sent to Project Blue Book at Wright-Patterson AFB. Despite the volume and consistency of reports, the project’s findings did not result in a definitive explanation or public acknowledgment of extraterrestrial involvement. The incidents were documented but largely categorized as unexplained or inconclusive, reflecting the limitations of the era's investigative tools and methodologies.

Secrecy and Internal Consequences

The military’s response to these sightings included strict confidentiality. Personnel involved in the incidents, such as Airman 2nd Class Robert Thompson and Airman 2nd Class Terry Stuck, reported facing a culture of silence and non-disclosure. The accounts of career repercussions for reporting UFO sightings, as experienced by the night-shift security team leader and others, underscored a broader pattern of discouraging official reporting and promoting secrecy.

Reports suggest that some individuals involved in the sightings were debriefed and instructed to refrain from discussing their experiences, reflecting an overarching concern within the military to avoid public or interdepartmental scrutiny. This atmosphere of secrecy and the implicit threat of career repercussions likely contributed to the limited public dissemination of information about the incidents.

Long-Term Impact and Continued Speculation

In the years following the 1965 incidents, the events at F.E. Warren AFB continued to be a subject of speculation and interest within UFO research communities. The accounts of high-speed maneuvers, unusual lights, and corroborated sightings by multiple witnesses kept the incidents alive in discussions among enthusiasts and researchers. This ongoing interest was fueled by the lack of concrete explanations and the enduring sense of mystery surrounding the sightings.

Over time, the broader context of these events became a part of UFO lore, influencing public perceptions and contributing to the narrative of military encounters with unexplained aerial phenomena. The sightings at F.E. Warren AFB are often cited as examples of significant military UFO encounters that highlight both the challenges of understanding such phenomena and the complexities of institutional responses.

Conclusion

The aftermath of the F.E. Warren AFB UFO sightings reflects a combination of investigative limitations, official secrecy, and continued intrigue. While Project Blue Book’s investigations did not yield conclusive explanations, the incidents remain an important part of UFO history, illustrating the difficulties faced by military and investigative agencies in addressing unexplained aerial phenomena. The legacy of these sightings persists in ongoing discussions and investigations into UFO encounters, highlighting the enduring impact of such mysterious events on both military protocol and public curiosity.