Stephenville UFO Sightings
A small Texas town saw something massive in the sky—F-16s gave chase but couldn't catch it. Radar data confirmed an unknown object. Dozens of witnesses included pilots and police officers.
On January 8, 2008, residents of Stephenville, Texas witnessed a large UFO that was later confirmed by radar data. The sighting generated national attention and remains one of the best-documented modern UFO cases.
The Sighting
According to documented accounts:
Witnesses reported seeing:
- A large, silent object in the sky
- Described as a mile long and half a mile wide
- Bright lights in changing configurations
- Moving at incredible speeds
- Being chased by military jets
- Appearing for several minutes
The Witnesses
The sighting was notable for credible witnesses:
- Steve Allen (pilot): Estimated the object at 1 mile long
- Ricky Sorrells (machinist): Had multiple sightings
- Local police officers
- Dozens of ordinary citizens
- Several pilots and aviation professionals
Military Response
Initially, the military denied involvement:
- The Air Force first said no aircraft were in the area
- Two weeks later, they admitted F-16s were training nearby
- They claimed it was a routine exercise
- They did not explain what the F-16s were chasing
The Radar Data
MUFON obtained radar data through FOIA:
- Data showed an unidentified object
- It was tracked moving toward Crawford, Texas (Bush’s ranch)
- The object moved at varying speeds
- It was not correlated with any known aircraft
- The data supported witness accounts
Crawford Connection
The object’s path was significant:
- It traveled toward President Bush’s ranch in Crawford
- The ranch was protected airspace
- F-16s would respond to any incursion
- This may explain the military jets witnesses saw
Media Coverage
The story received extensive coverage:
- CNN, Fox News, and major networks reported
- Local newspapers investigated
- Larry King Live featured witnesses
- The story went international
Investigation
MUFON conducted extensive investigation:
- Gathered dozens of witness statements
- Obtained radar data
- Documented multiple angles of observation
- Found no conventional explanation
Explanations Offered
Military Aircraft: F-16s were in the area, but wouldn’t explain the large object.
Flares: Some suggested training flares, but witnesses described a solid craft.
Atmospheric Phenomenon: Weather conditions were clear.
Mass Misidentification: Unlikely given radar confirmation.
Legacy
The Stephenville sighting is significant because:
- Multiple credible witnesses
- Radar confirmation
- Military response (even if denied initially)
- The proximity to presidential protection airspace
- Well-documented in real-time