Lake Superior Incident
Overview
On November 23, 1953, a U.S. Air Force F-89 Scorpion interceptor was scrambled from Kinross Air Force Base to investigate an unidentified radar contact over Lake Superior. Piloted by Lt. Felix Moncla, with radar operator Robert Wilson, the jet approached the object at high speed—then suddenly vanished from radar. The blips of the interceptor and the unidentified object reportedly merged before disappearing. Despite extensive search efforts, no wreckage or crew was ever found. The case, now known as the Kinross Incident, remains one of the most haunting and unexplained military disappearances tied to a UFO encounter.
“Radar contact... now merging... now gone.” — Last radar report from Kinross AFB
“Scorpion Jet Vanishes Over Lake Superior” – Associated Press, 1953
Key Timeline
- November 23, 1953: USAF radar picks up an unknown craft over Lake Superior; F-89 interceptor dispatched.
- Later that night: Radar shows the jet and object merge, then vanish. No mayday call was received.
- November 24–30: Search operations fail to locate debris or bodies.
- Present day: The Kinross case remains officially unresolved, fueling theories of mid-air abduction or unexplained disappearance.
Why Kinross Captivates
Military mystery: A jet vanished during an official intercept mission.
Radar anomaly: Recorded blip merger is still unexplained.
Total disappearance: No crash site, debris, or remains were ever found.
The Lake Superior UFO Top honors this chilling encounter with a cold-toned finish and smooth, silent spin—a tribute to the craft that disappeared without a trace into the icy skies above the Great Lakes.
Read more about the Kinross Incident on Wikipedia or explore deeper coverage at History.com.