Stephenville-area UFO sightings still unexplained after investigation (Star-Telegram, 5-19-2008)
From The Black Vault Encyclopedia Project
Contents |
The Clipping
By Bryon Okada and Matt Frazier, Star-Telegram staff writers
VALLEY RANCH -- Despite many eyewitnesses who can be regarded as credible, investigators from the Mutual UFO Network's state chapter were unable to conclusively confirm that what people in the Stephenville area saw in January was a bona-fide UFO.
In addition, what is considered to be the most provocative piece of evidence about the event -- a 12-minute video by David Caron that seems to show a moving object writing "glyphs" against the night sky -- is a zoomed-in video of a star.
"We're probably going to get a lot of flak for that," said the network's Texas chapter director, Ken Cherry.
The group heard what may well be their investigators' final report on the matter Sunday afternoon at the Valley Ranch Public Library and Cherry says he expects that when the full report gets out to the public, the prevailing sentiment may very well be frustration.
"It will not satisfy the believers or the debunkers," Cherry told the group.
The report's contents were delivered by Cherry and the UFO Network's chief Texas investigator, Steve Hudgeons, in PowerPoint fashion. It is expected to be published in the group's upcoming journal.
The findings include:
Most of the significant sightings were in the Dublin area, not in Stephenville. Of the 19 reports from the January 8 event, 55 percent were in the Dublin area.
Credible witnesses included a pilot, constable, city officials, business owners, clergy and teachers "and a full conglomerate of others," Hudgeons said.
About 95 percent of the reports described bright lights: red, blue, orange, white and yellow.
The object investigators concentrated on was described as being 1 mile long and a half-mile wide.
The sightings came during a period of increased UFO sightings in Texas. From 1969 through September 2007, there were 496 Texas cases. In the last six months alone, there have been 240 reports in Texas. The increase began in December, before the Stephenville sightings.
Other explanations for what people saw were: a military target sleeve, sensitivity of cameras, lights from other sources, sun dogs, lens flares and bad film.
What did the UFOs look like?
Descriptions vary. Some said the object was up to a mile long and hundreds of yards high. Others described seeing two to eight lights that flew in formation, changed color and shined with intensity greater than a welding flame.
What is the network?
The Mutual UFO Network is a nationwide organization that studies unidentified flying objects. Its Texas chapter took statements from about 50 witnesses Jan. 19 and interviewed at least 70 more, gathering descriptions, sketches, pictures and videos. A full report is scheduled in this month's issue of the network's publication. For more information, go to www.mufon.com.
What's all this about a UFO invasion?
Dozens of people around Dublin and Stephenville -- about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth -- say they saw flying objects on or around Jan. 8 that they could not identify and that did not move like conventional aircraft. Some of the witnesses said the objects were being accompanied or followed by military aircraft. News of the sighting captured interest across the world.
Are these people crackpots?
This sighting gained national and international attention because of the number and quality of witnesses, including a county constable and a pilot. Many are also familiar with aircraft because the military has a flight practice zone that ends just south of the sighting area.
Why didn't they take pictures?
Taking pictures of UFOs is not easy, some of the witnesses say. A few pictures and videos have surfaced. While some can be explained, some can't, including a video captured on a camera attached to the county constable's car.
Was there a military conspiracy?
Maj. Karl Lewis, a spokesman for the 301st Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Fort Worth, initially said they had nothing flying in the area. Two weeks later, Lewis said that there had been "an internal error in communication" and that 10 F-16s from the 457th Fighter Squadron were training between 6 and 8 p.m. Jan. 8. Witnesses say the admission adds credibility to their stories.
okada@star-telegram.com
The Full Case File
Credits
Special thanks to the Star-Telegram.
