F-86D pilot outclimbed and circled by a light over Guam
On the night of 31 December 1956 F-86D alert pilot 1st Lt Ted Brunson of the 41st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, at 20,000 to 26,000 ft over Guam, chased a round, blinking white light for about ten minutes. It turned with him, climbed to about 30,000 ft over him and circled him; on afterburner he could not close. It went west, returned 10,000 to 15,000 ft higher and circled again before he broke off for fuel. A lighted weather balloon had been launched, but the pilot said the light "maneuvered with the F-86D and accelerated past his aircraft", and the Air Force report concluded that unless the balloon malfunctioned the object "can not be readily explained". Natural cause proposed, not demonstrated.
How plausible · High
A named alert pilot rated very reliable describes a light that outclimbed and circled his fighter; the balloon check in the report itself does not fit, and the report says it cannot be readily explained.
- ●●Access The pilot was flying next to it.
- ●●No gain sought Nothing to gain.
- ●●Character record Alert fighter pilot; "observer considered very reliable".
- ●●Checkable details check out DOW-UAP-D156 is released.
- ●○Cost of speaking Named in an official report.
- ●○Consistent over time Account is coherent across the report.
- −Lone source, no corroboration One witness, no radar.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-24.
On the record
- IR-7-57: pilot 1st Lt Ted Brunson, 41st FIS, about 10 minutes, night, 20,000-26,000 ft.
- Round white blinking light, "dime-size".
- Lighted weather balloon launched 1432Z, last tracked 1500Z.
- Report: "can not be readily explained" unless the balloon malfunctioned; "observer considered very reliable".