Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Military now says planes flying in area of UFO reports (Stephenville "UFO")
Houston Chronicle ^

Posted on 01/24/2008 8:40:09 AM PST by mnehring

FORT WORTH — So much for aliens in Texas dairy country.

At least that's what the military said today, reporting that 10 F-16 fighter jets were training in the Stephenville area the night dozens of residents reported seeing a UFO.

Although Air Force Reserve officials at the Joint Reserve Base Naval Air Station in Fort Worth initially said none of their planes were in the area Jan. 8, they said today that they had made a mistake and wanted to set the record straight "in the interest of public awareness."

Some residents aren't buying it, though, saying the military's revelation actually bolsters their claims because several reported seeing at least two fighter jets chasing an object.

"This supports our story that there was UFO activity in that area," said Kenneth Cherry, the Texas director of the Mutual UFO Network, which took more than 50 reports from locals at a meeting last weekend. "I find it curious that it took them two weeks to 'fess up. I think they're feeling the heat from the publicity."

From well-respected business owners to a county constable, several dozen people swear that what they saw was larger, quieter, faster and lower to the ground than an airplane. They also said the object's lights changed configuration, unlike those of a plane.

"I guarantee that what we saw was not a civilian aircraft," Steve Allen, a pilot and freight company owner, said today.

Allen said that the planes' training area in the Brownwood Military Operating Area that includes Stephenville's Erath County does not include the airspace where he saw the object. Also, Jan. 8 was not the only day sightings were reported.

Anne Frazor, who owns a fabric store in Stephenville, about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth, said many in town have seen military aircraft zoom overhead from time to time as part of training operations. But she said that is different than what she saw Jan. 8.

"I couldn't begin to say what it was, but to me it wasn't planes," Frazor said.

Since the reported sightings two weeks ago, the 17,000-resident town has had some fun with the international publicity. Some high-schoolers made T-shirts that read "Stephenville: the new Roswell" on the front and "They're here for the milk!" on the back. A picture features flying saucer beaming up a cow.

This week Tarleton State University is even hosting a lecture by a UFO researcher on the U.S. government's secret response to UFOs, based on previously classified documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

The U.S. Air Force says it has not investigated UFO sightings since 1969 when it ended Project Blue Book, which examined more than 12,600 reported UFO sightings — including 700 that were never explained. That program started a few months after the 1947 crash near Roswell, N.M., which the government said it was a top-secret weather balloon but others involved later said was an alien spacecraft.

"What we want is the government to admit there are UFOs and what they know about them," Cherry said.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: mufon; puppetmasters; ufo; usaf
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 521-538 next last

1 posted on 01/24/2008 8:40:11 AM PST by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

http://www.earthfiles.com/news.php?ID=1379&category=Environment


2 posted on 01/24/2008 8:42:38 AM PST by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

Those people in Texas must be drinkin stuff I never heard about. Don’t they know the difference between a UFO and an F-16? Wait.....does an F-16 look like a UFO? What does the Air Force say a UFO is supposed to look like?


3 posted on 01/24/2008 8:43:57 AM PST by RC2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

I *swear* this was an episode of “X-Files” years ago!!!
[continues watching the night skies]


4 posted on 01/24/2008 8:44:11 AM PST by pillut48 (CJ in TX --Soccer Mom and proud Rush Conservative! WIN, FRED, WIN!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

“Some residents aren’t buying it, though, saying the military’s revelation actually bolsters their claims because several reported seeing at least two fighter jets chasing an object.”

Were the jets piloted by Harry Connick Jr and Will Smith?


5 posted on 01/24/2008 8:44:15 AM PST by Slapshot68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

It was probably Kucinich on a campaign stop.


6 posted on 01/24/2008 8:44:29 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (Just another reluctant Mitt Supporter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

If I recall, people reported a flat metal object without seams which was about 1/2 mile wide. I don’t think that would be a fighter jet.

I’ve become more of a UFO skeptic in my old age, but wouldn’t it be facinating if this really happened?

But then my “reliable source” says they are all secret military programs.


7 posted on 01/24/2008 8:44:55 AM PST by Williams
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

I remember looking up and saying...Holy cripes...It must be an eagle....Turned out to be a kite. Something called “imagination” they say.


8 posted on 01/24/2008 8:45:10 AM PST by Sacajaweau ("The Cracker" will be renamed "The Crapper")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DCPatriot

Everyone knows about that ‘secret’ base. LM did a lot of jet engine testing there and I recall something about the Red River Army Depot using it to dismantle out of date weapons.


9 posted on 01/24/2008 8:46:33 AM PST by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Williams
If I recall, people reported a flat metal object without seams which was about 1/2 mile wide

The problem is, when looking at something in the sky, it is hard to judge size without a reference point because you can't determine how high it is. It could have been a lot closer to the ground than the witnesses perceived so they assumed it was much larger than it was.

10 posted on 01/24/2008 8:48:13 AM PST by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: RC2
Remember in the early 80s when there was a lot of sightings of boomerang shaped UFOs?


11 posted on 01/24/2008 8:49:58 AM PST by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

That certainly clears things up...


12 posted on 01/24/2008 8:51:58 AM PST by stuartcr (Election year.....Who we gonna hate, in '08?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Williams

I just figured that this sighting was of the heavy lift vehicle, the big blimp the mil is testing that will ferry tanks and such.


13 posted on 01/24/2008 8:52:01 AM PST by StolarStorm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Williams
My guess is, we were testing an advanced aircraft as we did in Arizona last year. There were some technical problem and fighters were scrambled as cover rescue. A UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) simply means you cannot identify what you are seeing, not that aliens are flying it. I am sure in the 1960's people saw the SR-71 and said the same thing.
14 posted on 01/24/2008 8:52:02 AM PST by edcoil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

“They’re here for the milk.”

LOL Fabulous!


15 posted on 01/24/2008 8:52:19 AM PST by mom.mom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

How pathetic. As though people in the Ft. Hood area are not well acquainted with military aircraft. It would be a hoot if this thing showed up right over Ft. Hood...and see if they would try explaining that huge thing away.


16 posted on 01/24/2008 8:55:46 AM PST by kittymyrib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StolarStorm
I forgot about the Walrus.. yea, they have to be testing that somewhere.


17 posted on 01/24/2008 8:57:53 AM PST by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

My sister saw this “fighter”, she said there was no sound. I find that interesting.


18 posted on 01/24/2008 8:58:00 AM PST by svcw (There is no plan B.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: svcw
It all depends on how fast it was flying and over what terrain. If going faster than sound over an area that would absorb the sound, it is possible.
19 posted on 01/24/2008 8:59:16 AM PST by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: edcoil; Grampa Dave; BIGLOOK
I am sure in the 1960's people saw the SR-71 and said the same thing.

I didn't see either of those two SR-71's that weren't at Kadena in the 60's.

20 posted on 01/24/2008 9:00:00 AM PST by ASA Vet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 521-538 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson