MUFON Missouri newsletter - 2011 11

Magazine Overview

Title: Missouri UFO News
Issue: Volume I Issue 7
Date: November, 2011
Publisher: Missouri MUFON (Mutual UFO Network)
Focus: This issue of the Missouri MUFON newsletter details a significant surge in UFO sighting reports in Missouri during October 2011, with a particular concentration in the Kansas City metropolitan area. It covers ongoing investigations, potential explanations, and calls for further witness accounts.

Mass Sighting Reports Continue in Kansas City

By Margie Kay, Assistant State Director

Missouri reported the highest number of UFO sighting reports submitted to International MUFON in October 2011, with a total of 85 reports. The majority of these sightings occurred in the Kansas City, Missouri area, including suburbs like Lee's Summit, Raytown, and Independence. This represents a substantial increase from the usual average of 5-6 reports per 30-day period for Kansas City. The number of reports has been steadily increasing since April 2011. Margie Kay is leading the investigation, assisted by Debbie Ziegelmeyer, State Director for Missouri MUFON, and other field investigators. The case has been escalated to the Star Team level, with 47 reports remaining unsolved and uninvestigated.

The unidentified sightings included reports of bright white, blue, orange, and dull black spheres observed at low altitudes, some even inches off the ground, and in close proximity to witnesses. These perplexing sphere sightings occurred throughout October. Other reported objects included large craft with blue lights that did not resemble typical aircraft lights, two craft that maneuvered by turning on their sides and taking off at high speeds, and large diamond and triangular shaped craft that hovered at tree level up to 500 feet.

The B-2 Mission

Stan Seba, a MUFON Star Team Investigator from Kansas, contacted Whiteman AFB and learned that B-2 bombers from the 509th bomb squadron had been conducting training flights for five consecutive nights, with more expected. These missions took off just after dusk and flew directly over Kansas City (KCMO). To avoid issues in the populated area, the B-2s flew with their navigational (landing) lights on. Witness descriptions and provided images matched B-2 aircraft. The aircraft reportedly positioned themselves over KCMO between 8:00 PM and 8:15 PM on October 4, 2011. Stan noted that the lack of noise reported by witnesses was understandable if they were not directly behind the aircraft. The Air Force also had "VIP" observers in helicopters during these exercises.

Radar Reports

Radar data from October 4 indicated several targets in the area during the time of the sightings. Notably, one target remained stationary at 38,000 feet, nine miles north of the sighting locations, for approximately 20 minutes. This anomaly remains unexplained, and MUFON is analyzing these reports. The newsletter includes a radar map of the Kansas City area with identified sighting locations (A, B, C, D).

Airport Reports

Contact with the Lee's Summit Airport revealed that they had received numerous unusual reports in the two weeks prior to the October 4 event. These included a low-flying helicopter at 1:30 AM over houses and low-flying balls of light. The airport has agreed to forward future unexplained reports to Missouri MUFON.

The Flying Teams

Debbie Ziegelmeyer confirmed that the EAA Flying Team conducted a flight in wing formation over Lee's Summit, the Chief's Stadium, and then along I-70, landing in pairs. This flight, which occurred between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, was a demonstration or audition for a nighttime fly-over for the Kansas City Chiefs on October 31. On October 31, the KC Flight Team, consisting of seven planes from the Experimental Aircraft Association, flew over the Chiefs Stadium for Monday night football. Their flight path included Lee's Summit, Raytown, and Kansas City. The planes flew in wing and circular patterns with flashing strobe lights, typical of their performances. This group's activity is believed to be related to Case #33047.

Margie Kay and Debbie Ziegelmeyer believe that this type of night stunt flying may lead to more UFO sighting reports in the future and suggest that MUFON consider posting videos of these performances on their websites to help distinguish them from genuine UFO sightings.

Media Coverage

These events have received significant media attention, including coverage in newspapers, TV, and radio stations such as the Lee's Summit Journal, KCTV 5, Fox 4, KSMO TV 62, KCMO 710 AM radio, Examiner.com, Eye Witness Radio, and Project White Paper. There is a mention of a YouTube report by Jamie Maussan containing incorrect information, who reportedly did not contact Missouri MUFON investigators. Linda Moulton Howe conducted interviews with Margie Kay, which are available on earthfiles.com, and was scheduled to report on Coast to Coast AM.

Unexplained Reports

While some reports can be attributed to the Flying Teams or the B-2 Stealth Bomber, many remain unexplained. These include:

• A low-flying disc-shaped craft with lights all over its bottom hovered over the Raytown water tower, turned on its side, and took off at light speed.
• A 40-foot diameter orange fireball hovered approximately 60 feet above a vehicle for several minutes in Lee's Summit before moving away at high speed.
• Two witnesses observed a diamond-shaped black craft with a continuous white light along the bottom and a similar blue light inside. The craft flew at tree-line level north on I-435 to the I-70 exit, then turned abruptly west and flew away at high speed.
• A woman and her son saw a basketball-sized black sphere floating a few inches above Lee's Summit Road in Independence at 10:30 PM on October 15. The sphere traveled from north to south and disappeared.
• A man watched five white balls of light, the size of softballs, dance around in the woods behind his house. One light moved into the yard and then back into the trees.
• A woman saw a huge disc-shaped craft hovering less than 100 feet above a supermarket in Raytown. Lights were visible along the entire outside edges of the craft before it moved away slowly.

Several witnesses have submitted photos, videos, and drawings, many of which are available on mufon.com.

Missouri MUFON is actively working to complete investigations and is seeking more witnesses with photographic or video evidence.

From the State Director

By Debbie Ziegelmeyer, Missouri State Director BOD

October 2011 was Missouri's busiest month for sighting reports in 42 years, with 85 reports received, mostly on October 4th, primarily in the greater Kansas City area between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Margie Kay diligently gathered witness information. Debbie Ziegelmeyer sorted explainable from unexplainable reports. The EAA Flying Stunt Team's practice flight, WAFB's B2 Stealth Bombers, and 12 "Drones" added complexity to the investigations. Radar information yielded interesting results, with a significant concern about unidentified craft displaying blue lights, which are not typical aircraft running lights. The investigation is massive and ongoing, with 15 new sightings reported in November, 12 of which were from October.

The St. Louis area meeting in October featured Ted Phillips as the guest speaker. He was presented with the "Ufology Lifetime Achievement Award" granted by MUFON at the 2011 Symposium. Ted gave a presentation on his work in Marley Woods and other investigations. Missouri MUFON is accepting donations for Ted Phillips to purchase a remote-controlled helicopter with a camera for aerial investigation of the Marley area.

The St. Louis area meeting is scheduled for the 3rd Wednesday (November 16th) at Culpeppers Restaurant, featuring a presentation by Debbie Ziegelmeyer on "Missouri's 2011 Sightings."

Calendar of UFO Events

The newsletter includes a calendar of upcoming MUFON events from November 2011 through March 2012, including meetings in Kansas City and St. Louis, a Kansas City Skywatch event, and the 21st Annual UFO Congress in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Ted Phillips is scheduled to speak at the March 12, 2012 KC MUFON meeting about physical trace landing cases and his investigations into UFOs and paranormal activity.

Call for Stories

The final page encourages readers to share their real UFO encounter stories with "Missouri UFO News." Submissions can be anonymous, and photos or drawings are welcome. The editor will handle editing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently emphasizes the importance of collecting and investigating UFO sighting reports. There is a clear stance on distinguishing between potential misidentifications (like military aircraft or stunt flying) and genuinely unexplained phenomena. The organization actively seeks witness testimony, photographic/video evidence, and radar data. The editorial tone is one of serious inquiry and dedication to understanding UFO events, while also acknowledging the need for public education to reduce misidentification. The recurring events calendar highlights the active community engagement and ongoing efforts of MUFON.