“The Air Force knew it was one of their test craft but needed to lend authenticity to the UFO stories to prevent the Russians from knowing what was going on.”
The theory I like best is it was actually a high attitude Russian bomber spy plane that got through and the military and gov’t knew if the American people found out it happened heads would roll and high up careers ruined.
I think your idea is better.
I’ve always doubted these stories esp in light of black programs and so on. We’re not SUPPOSED to know.
But the idea an enemy earthling penetrated is also a possibility.