Gorman Dogfight

The Gorman Dogfight is one of the most compelling UFO encounters from the late 1940s. It occurred on the evening of October 1, 1948, in the skies over Fargo, North Dakota. Captain George F. Gorman, a veteran World War II fighter pilot and member of the North Dakota Air National Guard, was flying a P-51 Mustang during a routine training mission. As Gorman flew over Fargo, he noticed a bright, fast-moving light in the sky. Initially thinking it might be another aircraft, he attempted to make radio contact but received no response. Curious and determined to identify the object, Gorman decided to pursue it. What ensued was a remarkable 27-minute aerial encounter that has since become known as the Gorman Dogfight. Gorman described the object as a white, orb-like light, approximately six to eight inches in diameter, capable of performing highly advanced maneuvers. It moved at incredible speeds, making sharp turns and rapid climbs that outmatched the capabilities of Gorman's P-51 Mustang. Despite his best efforts to intercept the object, it constantly evaded him, changing direction swiftly and showing no signs of conventional propulsion. During the chase, Gorman reached speeds of up to 400 mph and climbed to altitudes of 14,000 feet, but the object continued to elude him. At one point, the UFO made a vertical ascent, an impossible maneuver for any known aircraft of the time. Gorman reported experiencing significant turbulence and his aircraft's instruments behaved erratically when in close proximity to the object. The encounter was witnessed by multiple ground observers, including air traffic controllers at the Fargo Hector Airport and a local physician who later corroborated Gorman's account. Following the incident, Gorman filed an official report with his superiors, prompting an investigation by the United States Air Force (USAF). The official explanation provided by the USAF was that the object Gorman encountered was a lighted weather balloon. This explanation has been met with skepticism, as it fails to account for the object's extraordinary maneuvers and speeds. Many UFO researchers and enthusiasts believe that the Gorman Dogfight remains an unexplained encounter with an unknown aircraft.