UFO Mail - No 197 - 2015

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: 197
Publication Date: June 3, 2015
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information delves into the famous "Phoenix Lights" incident, a mass UFO sighting that occurred on March 13, 1997, in Arizona, USA. The article, authored by Henning Dethlefsen, aims to dissect the event, presenting witness accounts, official explanations, and critical analyses.

The Phoenix Lights: A Mass Sighting

The article begins by describing the events of March 13, 1997, when hundreds, possibly thousands, of people in Arizona witnessed a series of mysterious lights. The initial observation around 7:55 PM in Henderson, Nevada, described a V-shaped object the size of a large airliner with six lights, moving silently from northwest to southeast. Later, around 8:15 PM, a police officer in Paulden, Arizona, saw a cluster of red-orange lights moving south. Shortly after, in Prescott Valley, the Kaiser family observed a triangular object with a white light at the tip and two red lights, passing low and silently from northwest to southwest.

One of the most significant observations was by Tim Ley and his family in Phoenix. They witnessed five separate lights forming a bow, which later resolved into a triangle as the object approached. The object passed very low and silently overhead, estimated to be the size of a football field, with no stars visible between the lights, suggesting a massive, solid object. Mike Fortson and his wife also observed lights over Phoenix near Sky Harbour airport, noting that aircraft in the air did not react.

Later that evening, around 10:00 PM, another set of lights appeared over the Estrella Mountains southwest of Phoenix. These lights were filmed and appeared to turn on one by one, then extinguish one by one, forming a bow. This event was later suggested to be the same object returning, or a similar one.

Public Reaction and Official Response

The Phoenix Lights incident triggered a near-hysterical reaction from the public, with many witnesses seeking official explanations. People contacted the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), MUFON, local authorities, and military bases. Initially, neither civilian nor military authorities provided satisfactory answers, leading to accusations of a deliberate cover-up, primarily against the military. The military was accused of either hiding secret projects involving advanced aircraft or psychological warfare, or of concealing knowledge of alien visitation. Politicians were also implicated, accused of not wanting to jeopardize their careers by associating with the UFO phenomenon.

An inquiry to Luke Air Force Base initially received a denial of any aircraft activity, but this was later corrected by an officer who stated that aircraft were present but not involved. These conflicting reports further fueled suspicions of a cover-up.

Media Coverage and Public Awareness

The story of the Phoenix Lights gained national attention when it appeared on the front page of USA Today on June 18, and was subsequently covered by ABC and NBC news programs, making the event widely known. Francis Barwood, a member of the Phoenix city council, proposed an investigation, which was rejected. She then launched a private investigation, claiming to have contacted over 800 witnesses.

Governor Fife Symington of Arizona, facing increasing public pressure, held a press conference on June 19, 1997, announcing that the 'culprit' had been found. To the amusement of the public, he presented his assistant, Jay Heiler, in handcuffs and an alien costume. Symington later explained this was staged to ease the public's hysteria. Despite this, the Phoenix Lights incident became one of the most significant UFO cases, featured in numerous documentaries and celebrated with annual anniversaries.

The 'Flares' Explanation

The article then critically examines the explanation that the lights were flares. Six news broadcasts immediately after the event claimed military sources had identified them as flares, supported by two pilots who stated flares were fired over the Barry M. Goldwater Range. The article suggests that the V-shape and the varying number of lights seen could be explained by the peaks of the Estrella Mountains obscuring some lights depending on the witness's location. The apparent slow movement was attributed to flares released from parachutes, creating a slow descent.

Comparisons of the mountain silhouettes with the positions where lights were reported to have extinguished, conducted by Dr. Lenny Rudin of Cognitech for a Discovery Channel documentary, reportedly showed a clear correlation. This led investigator Richard Motzer to conclude that the 10 PM lights were flares seen at a distance, and the focus should be on the earlier 8 PM event.

However, Motzer was accused of being a 'debunker,' and many tried to maintain the connection between the two events. 'Computer expert' Jim Dilettoso was brought in, who conducted a comparative analysis of the 10 PM lights and flares, concluding they could not be flares. Dilettoso's methods were later criticized as pseudoscientific by journalist Tony Ortega in The Phoenix New Times, who found that experts Dilettoso claimed had confirmed his results were unaware of his work.

The 'Tutor-Jet' Theory

Physicist Bruce Maccabee conducted a detailed analysis of the 10 PM lights and their positioning relative to witnesses, concluding that the earlier reports were likely correct and the lights were not flares. However, in 2009, Dilettoso admitted in an interview that the lights were likely flares, though his claims are still used in some media to argue against the flare explanation.

The article presents a strong case for the 10 PM lights being flares from A-10 Thunderbolt jets. Captain Eileen Bienz, spokesperson for the Air National Guard, stated that flares were indeed released by A-10 jets at an altitude of approximately 4.5 km during a project called "Snowbird." This operation allowed units from colder climates to train in warmer areas. The 104th fighter squadron from Maryland used LUU-2 type flares.

The 8 PM Event: Still a Mystery?

The article then shifts focus back to the earlier event between 8 PM and 9 PM, which remains more contentious. While the 10 PM lights are largely explained as flares, the nature of the earlier V-shaped object is still debated. Tim Ley described it as a massive object, potentially the size of two football fields.

Terry Proctor's video, though blurry, is presented as crucial evidence that the lights were moving, suggesting they were aircraft maintaining formation. Mitch Stanley, an amateur astronomer, also witnessed the lights and described them as airplane lights. He attempted to share his observations with journalists and ufologists but was reportedly dismissed.

Other witnesses, like Rich Contry, reported hearing jet engines. Mike Fortson described a "black object" that became "blurred" as it passed the moon, creating a "wave" behind it, consistent with aircraft passage.

Randy Fitzgerald, in an article for Readers Digest, reported that pilots from American West Airlines asked air traffic control about the lights, and were told they were CT-144 Tutor jets flying at an altitude of 5.8 km. The pilots reportedly responded with "Snowbirds," linking back to "Operation Snowbird."

The Tutor jets, flown by Canadian pilots in 1997, would have been difficult to hear at that altitude. Their bright landing lights in the nose could have been used to maintain formation in the dark. The article suggests these Tutor jets, possibly based at Tucson, were the cause of the 8 PM sightings.

Analyzing Witness Testimony

The article highlights the difficulty in accurately assessing distance and speed against a dark sky, noting that witness descriptions were often inconsistent regarding the number of objects, their silence, and their perceived size. The "airship effect" is mentioned, where people tend to fill in gaps and perceive patterns, leading to interpretations of "massive" objects blocking stars.

A 2015 NBC 7 video showing a mysterious cluster of lights was later identified as TV antennas on a nearby mountain. The Zond IV incident in 1968, where a Soviet spacecraft broke up in the atmosphere, was also misidentified by many as a giant, silent, cigar-shaped craft.

The Role of Media and Misinterpretation

The article concludes by emphasizing how media coverage, by focusing on sensational and "extreme" descriptions and reconstructions, played a significant role in shaping the narrative of the Phoenix Lights. This sensationalism overshadowed more mundane explanations and contributed to the mythologizing of the event. The author argues that even a large number of witnesses does not guarantee accuracy; instead, it can increase the potential for confusion, misinterpretation, and the development of myths.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the analysis of mass UFO sightings, the challenges of eyewitness testimony, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the critical examination of official explanations versus alternative theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards sensational claims and a preference for evidence-based explanations, while acknowledging the enduring mystery and debate surrounding the earlier phase of the Phoenix Lights event.

This document, titled 'Kilder' (meaning 'Sources' in Danish), is a compilation of external references, primarily web links, related to UFO and UAP phenomena. It does not appear to be a traditional magazine issue with articles, but rather a bibliography or a list of resources used for research.

Key References and Topics

The majority of the links point to articles and discussions concerning the Phoenix Lights incident, which occurred in Arizona in 1997. Several links are from `theufochronicles.com`, including titles such as 'the arizona ufo controversy-18th', 'the phoenix lights-real investigation', 'phoenix lights phenomenon-18 years ago', 'mike fortsons-original report of', and 'project snowbird-and infamous flare'. These suggest a deep dive into the details, investigations, and historical context of this well-known event.

Other notable sources include:

• `thephoenixlights.net` - likely an official or dedicated site for the event.
• A link to a PDF titled 'SUNlite2_3.pdf' from `home.comcast.net`, possibly a research paper or report.
• A reference to a sighting in Chile involving 'multiple UFOs in formation taped over chile' from `forgetomori.com`.
• Links to YouTube videos, suggesting visual documentation or discussions of these events.
• A reference to 'were the 1997 arizona lights a psychological warfare experiment-part one' from `examiner.com`.
• A link to `skeptic.com` and `skeptoid.com`, indicating that skeptical viewpoints or analyses are also included in the source material.
• A PDF from `sufoi.dk` titled '50 aar med ufoer.pdf' (50 years with UFOs), suggesting a broader historical context.

Document Type and Content

The document is classified as a 'magazine_issue' based on the provided context, but its content is solely a list of links. There are no discernible articles, editorials, or other typical magazine components visible. The title 'Kilder' and the nature of the content strongly suggest it is a bibliography or a list of sources for a larger work.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes are clearly UFOs, UAPs, and specifically the Phoenix Lights incident. The inclusion of links from both ufology-focused sites and skeptical publications suggests an attempt to present a range of information and perspectives on these phenomena, rather than a strictly one-sided editorial stance. The focus on investigation and reporting indicates an interest in factual accounts and analysis of sightings.