Goose Bay: Green-red object circles F-89D jets
Two F-89D fighters southeast of Goose Bay AFB detect a green-and-red object that circles one of them. Ground and airborne radar track it, but it disappears at close range.
Background
Incident
On February 12, 1956 at 22:55, two F-89D fighters were flying at 20,000 feet southeast of Goose Bay AFB in Labrador, Canada. Pilot Bowen and radar operator Crawford in one aircraft suddenly noticed an object coloured green and red about 40 miles away.
Observations
The object circled their aircraft rapidly. The second aircraft tracked it on radar but did not see it visually. About 15 minutes later, Goose Bay operators showed a stationary target 40 miles southwest of the base.
Pursuit
Both pilots headed for it and obtained radar contact. The target disappeared when they had closed to 8 miles. (BBU 3969)
Sources and Significance
Reported by NICAP, Sparks (p. 241), Loren E. Gross (1993, p. 41), Chris Rutkowski (2022, p. 262). The military witnesses and radar confirmation have been cited as giving it high credibility.