Podcast Summary: "The Kinross Incident: Did a UFO Abduct an Entire Jet?"
Podcast Information
- Title: Conspiracy Theories
- Host/Author: Spotify Studios
- Episode: The Kinross Incident: Did a UFO Abduct an Entire Jet?
- Release Date: May 21, 2025
Introduction to the Kinross Incident
In the episode titled "The Kinross Incident: Did a UFO Abduct an Entire Jet?", host Carter Roy delves into one of aviation history's enduring mysteries— the disappearance of an Air Force jet over Lake Superior in 1953. This incident has long been a subject of speculation among ufologists and conspiracy theorists, with theories ranging from tragic accidents to extraterrestrial abductions.
The Night of November 23, 1953
[00:02] Carter Roy:
"It's November 23, 1953. A bitterly cold night along the waters of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. At Kinross Air Force Base, radar picks up an unidentified aircraft flying over Lake Superior."
On this cold November night, radar operators at Kinross Air Force Base detected an unidentified aircraft over Lake Superior. Responding to the unknown threat, two lieutenants, First Lieutenant Felix Monclaw (pilot) and Second Lieutenant Robert Wilson (radar operator), took off in an F89C Scorpion Jet to intercept the bogey. However, during the mission, both the jet and the unidentified aircraft vanished without a trace.
Initial Reporting and Divergent Theories
Following the disappearance, newspapers reported varying accounts:
- Official Version: The Air Force attributed the loss to a tragic crash into Lake Superior, confirming that both pilots perished.
- Alternative Theories: In 1955, Donald Kehoe's book, The Flying Saucer Conspiracy, posited that a UFO encounter was responsible for the jet's disappearance, citing numerous credible UFO sightings and alleging government cover-ups.
[00:02-Carter Roy]:
"A military official said the jet simply crashed into Lake Superior. But in recent years, members of the Open Skies Project have been amassing research about the Kinross incident."
Donald Kehoe and the UFO Conspiracy
Donald Kehoe, a former Marine Corps major and aide to aviation legend Charles Lindbergh, became a prominent figure in UFO conspiracy theories. In his book, Kehoe detailed the Kinross incident, suggesting that a UFO's gravitational field could have immobilized the jet, leading to its disappearance.
[05:30] Donald Kehoe (as described):
"Perhaps the spacecraft had some kind of gravitational field that could stop the jet in its tracks, like a brick wall."
Kehoe's assertions were based on his access to high-ranking contacts and purported insider information, which he argued indicated a deliberate government effort to conceal UFO encounters.
Open Skies Project's Research
Fast forward to the 2020s, the Open Skies Project, led by President Zach Garner and Vice President Kyle Carey, undertook extensive research into the Kinross incident. Their efforts included:
- Purchasing Calumet Air Force Station: An abandoned Cold War radar facility connected to the original incident.
- Restoring the Facility: Establishing a heritage museum and conducting in-depth historical research.
- Securing Declassified Documents: Obtaining a less redacted version of the official accident report.
[12:01] Zach Garner:
"Open Skies Project is kind of more of a concept than anything."
Findings from Declassified Documents
The Open Skies Project's research unveiled several critical details:
- Radar Operations: The F89C jet was on a five-minute alert status, ready to respond swiftly to unidentified aircraft.
- Flight Timeline:
- 6:22 PM: The jet was scrambled to intercept the bogey.
- 6:55 PM: Radar contact was lost after approximately 33 minutes of flight.
- Discrepancies in Reports:
- Kehoe's account mentioned the intercept occurring over the Soo Locks, whereas official records place it 160 miles northwest of Kinross Air Force Base.
- Official reports indicated only the jet lost contact, while Kehoe suggested both aircraft vanished.
[16:07] Zach Garner:
"We did a lot of research about the radar station, about how intercepts work, about the jets themselves, about procedures and policies... the two blips appearing to merge was the expected behavior for when an intercept was occurring."
Technical Analysis and Range Resolution
A key technical aspect uncovered was range resolution—the radar's ability to distinguish between two separate objects:
[17:20] Zach Garner:
"The range resolution for that radar was half a mile."
This meant that if two aircraft were within half a mile of each other, or at different altitudes, they would appear as a single blip. Consequently, the merging of radar blips was a normal part of intercept operations and not an indicator of collision.
Investigating the Bogey: The Canadian C47
The unidentified aircraft was eventually identified as a Canadian C47 transport plane. However, several questions arose:
- Lack of Communication: The Canadian pilot denied being aware of the intercept mission.
- Flight Path Anomalies: The C47 was reportedly 30 miles off course, leading to confusion about its classification as a bogey.
- No Prior Radio Contact: Typically, intercept missions involve communication with the target aircraft, which was absent in this case.
[20:37] Carter Roy:
"How exactly did all this go down? There is no indication that they tried to communicate with this plane ahead of time."
Mechanical Issues of the F89C Jet
Further complicating the incident were documented mechanical issues with the F89C Scorpion Jet:
- Engine Icing: The modified engine intake screens on the F89C were prone to icing, especially in cold weather, potentially leading to engine failure.
- Structural Weaknesses: The F89C had a history of structural failures, including wings detaching during high-speed maneuvers. Between February and September 1952, six F89s, primarily the C models, disintegrated mid-air.
[25:13] Kyle Carey:
"They had a very long history of mechanical issues."
These issues provided a plausible explanation for the jet's disappearance without invoking extraterrestrial involvement.
Concurrent Crash and Further Mysteries
On the same night as the Kinross incident, another F89C crashed in Madison, Wisconsin, resulting in the loss of two more lives. This simultaneous occurrence suggested systemic issues with the F89C fleet.
[27:28] Carter Roy:
"Felix Montclaw's wife heard about the news and went to console the pilot's wife mere hours before her own husband would go missing."
The 1968 Wreckage and Ongoing Investigations
In 1968, purported wreckage believed to be from the missing F89C was reportedly found in Lake Superior. However, the discovery was quickly discredited, and the individual claiming to have found it, Adam Jimenez, vanished, leading to suspicions of it being a hoax.
[32:56] Kyle Carey:
"We've got a lot of loose ends we're still trying to track down... we'd love to track that down more."
Conclusion: Accident vs. Abduction
Zach Garner summarizes the findings with a leaning towards the incident being an unfortunate accident rather than an extraterrestrial abduction:
[29:27] Zach Garner:
"If it turns out aliens are real and this was a UFO abduction, so be it. But... I just don't see any evidence. I don't even see a single piece of evidence that this was anything other than an unfortunate accident."
Despite thorough research, several loose ends remain:
- Conflicting Reports: Discrepancies between Kehoe's account and official records.
- Unexplained Communication: The unclear radio communication from Monclaw post-disappearance.
- Missing Wreckage Documentation: The fate of the 1968 wreckage remains unknown.
Legacy and the Influence of Kehoe's Work
Donald Kehoe's early theories, while popularizing the Kinross incident as a UFO abduction case, contained inaccuracies and speculative elements. Nonetheless, his work laid the groundwork for ongoing discussions about government secrecy and UFO phenomena.
[29:54] Carter Roy:
"Donald Kehoe's book helped to popularize the Kinross incident and the UFO theory... but when it comes to the Kinross incident, the reports seem to tell a clearer, more straightforward story."
The episode concludes by highlighting the enduring intrigue surrounding the Kinross incident and the necessity for continued research to unravel its mysteries.
Final Thoughts
"The Kinross Incident: Did a UFO Abduct an Entire Jet?" offers a comprehensive exploration of a decades-old mystery, balancing initial conspiracy theories with subsequent evidence pointing towards mechanical failures. Through meticulous research and expert interviews with the Open Skies Project team, the episode underscores the complexity of discerning truth in the shadow of governmental secrecy and technological limitations of the past.
[33:22] Carter Roy:
"Whether it was aliens or an accident, a government jet and two people went missing and the truth has to be out there."
Credits:
- Written and Researched by: Miki Taylor
- Edited by: Lauren Silverman and Maggie Admire
- Fact-checked by: Lori Siegel
- Video Editing and Sound Design: Alex Button
- Host: Carter Roy
For more in-depth research and ongoing updates, listeners are encouraged to visit the Open Skies Project's website at openskiesproject.org and follow them on Instagram @the_conspiracypod.