Preliminary UFO Report and Loss of Strategic Alert, Echo Flight, Malmstrom AFB

This document consists of two distinct military communications regarding events in Montana in March 1967. The first part is a preliminary UFO report dated 24 March 1967, detailing reports received by Malmstrom AFB agencies of UFO sightings in the Great Falls, Montana area between 2100 and 0400 MST. Specifically, reports of a UFO landing near Belt, Montana, were received from multiple sources, including deputies from the Cascade County Sheriff's Office. Lt. Col. Lewis Chase was assigned to conduct the investigation, and the alleged landing site was placed under surveillance, with plans for a land search by the Sheriff's office and an air search by a helicopter from Malmstrom AFB. The second part of the document is a secret message from SAC regarding the loss of strategic alert for all ten missiles in Echo Flight at Malmstrom AFB. This incident occurred at 0845L on 16 March 1967, with all ten missiles losing alert status within ten seconds of each other. The document notes that the cause of the upset was unknown at the time, and that Boeing engineers R.E. Rigert and V.M. Dutton were requested to assist in the investigation. The document emphasizes the urgency of the problem and the need for an in-depth analysis to determine the cause and potential impact on the fleet.