B-52 Arc Light Strike UAP 1967

During a B-52 Stratofortress Arc Light strategic bombing mission over North Vietnam in March 1967, multiple aircraft crews in the formation observed luminous orbs performing formation maneuvers at the B-52s' operating altitude of 30,000–40,000 feet. The orbs appeared to shadow the American formation for approximately 8 minutes before departing at high speed. Strategic Air Command's mission controllers tracking the Arc Light formation via radar confirmed additional contacts alongside the B-52s that could not be identified as friendly or enemy aircraft. An EC-121 Warning Star SIGINT aircraft operating in the area also confirmed tracking of the anomalous contacts. The incident was reported via secure communications to SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB and classified at the highest operational level. The appearance of unidentified craft shadowing nuclear-capable strategic bombers over a combat zone represented one of the highest priority classification categories, and the report was forwarded directly to the JCS Chairman. No Vietnamese fighter aircraft of the era could operate at 30,000+ feet with the performance characteristics described.