(This article was originally posted on the site of the Joint Recon Study Group .)What are some of the key points in the report released Thursday, July 10, 2008, that was prepared by Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) investigators?The "special research report" is titled "Stephenville Lights: A Comprehensive Radar and Witness Report Study Regarding the Events of January 8, 2008, 4 pm to 8 pm."The report's authors, Glen Schulze and Robert Powell, are identified as highly-trained experts in technical and scientific fields relevant to this investigation. Schulze in particular is reported to have an extensive background in radar systems.Although the report itself includes many sections of a highly technical nature, much of the language in it is plain-spoken.POINTS TO CONSIDERAccording to Schulze and Powell, the following elements emerged in their investigation:1) Several radar facilities in the region surrounding the Stephenville, Dublin and Selden region provide radar coverage for that area. Some of this data was provided to the investigators.2) Military commands in the area did provide some helpful information, but other information did not seem to be forthcoming in response to Freedom of Information Act requests by the investigators.3) Several military aircraft were in the skies the evening of Jan. 8, 2008, and were conducting flights in the nearby military operating area (MOA). Some of these military aircraft had transponders turned on and some had transponders turned off. Some military flights veered into civilian airspace over the Stephenville region. There is no immediate explanation for this.4) The investigators suspect that an Airborne Warning and Command System (AWACS) aircraft was circling the area, based on radar data.5) A very large unidentified craft or object was detected by radar. According to the report, "This object had no transponder and was tracked on radar for over an hour. Most of the time, the object was either stationary, or moving at speeds of less than 60 mph. At 7:32 pm, the object was tracked accelerating to 532 mph in 30 seconds and then slowing to 49 mph only 10 seconds later."6) The location and direction of flight of this object correlated with the reports from reliable eyewitnesses on the ground.7) In the report summary, the authors state, "As to what these witnesses saw, it is difficult to determine. It was not any known aircraft. The enormous size of the object, its complete silence, and its ability to travel at high rates of speed and to also remain stationary or travel at slow speeds, is not explained by any known aircraft."8) The object or craft proceeded in a direction toward the Bush ranch at Crawford for over one hour and eventually was detected as being 10 miles away from the ranch. According to the report, "There was no indication that any of the military jets reacted to the unknown aircraft that was without a required transponder ..." (However, see point number 9.)9) Witnesses on the ground did report that military jets were apparently in pursuit or accompanying an unusual object. The report's authors point out that, "These jets do not show up on radar. If their altitude was under 2000 feet, as described by the witnesses, then they would have been too low to be detected by the nearest FAA radar."NATURAL QUESTIONSThere are many other important points in the MUFON report by Schulze and Powell. If we read these details and also read between the lines, we might come up with the same kinds of questions that the witnesses in the Stephenville area have about the UFOs they saw.Some of these questions might include the following:1) Was the object seen by multiple highly reliable witnesses, including several experienced law enforcement officers, a secret advanced or experimental U.S. craft or device?2) If so, why would it be operating over a populated area where it could be easily observed?3) Is it an unknown or truly unidentified object that has not previously been seen or encountered by U.S. defense and intelligence personnel?4) Is it a known flying object or craft that is familiar to U.S. defense and intelligence personnel?5) If so, what is its point of origin?6) If so, is the object or craft dangerous or was it trespassing in a manner that was unacceptable?7) Was the object or craft believed to be friendly, hostile, neutral or is this unknown?It is natural for intelligent Americans to wonder about these kinds of questions. Although we realize that there are sensitive matters that cannot be released to the general public (and our adversaries around the world), it could be helpful for American citizens to understand more about these kinds of puzzling situations.In fact, people around the world have had similar strange encounters and the governments, researchers, media and the public in other countries also wrestle with these kinds of situations.According to some sources, there is an ongoing process of acclimation to prepare Americans and people internationally for more information about these kinds of scenarios.Keeping our feet on the ground, with strong hearts and calm minds, we can continue to learn more about the Stephenville UFO incidents and possibly even more useful information.NOTE TO READERS: For more information about the Stephenville case and other interesting topics, please visit the Joint Recon Study Group site and have a look around.
On January 8, 2008 in Stephenville, Texas, one of the larger UFO sightings in the United States occurred. A few days ago the UFO investigative organization Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) released a 77-page report on the sighting. MUFON is a UFO investigative organization in the United States. Founded in 1969, it now has 3,000 members and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The MUFON report, entitled "Special Research Report Stephenville, Texas" was written by Glen Schulze and Ropert Powell. Shulze has radar experience from working at the White Sands Missile Range. Powell has a chemistry degree and has extensive experience with semiconductors from working for Advanced Micro Devices.

The report is an analysis of radar records from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Weather Service, obtained through several Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and comparing them to witness accounts.

Shulze/Powell concluded that the radar data confirms the witness observations of an object, as well as the Air Force's statement that said ten aircraft were operating in the area. They say that it is too difficult to say what the witnesses saw, but that there was something there. Twice, they say, radar picked up an object travelling at nearly 2,000 mph, and at other times it showed a slow moving object.
George W. Bush and Germany's Angela Merkel in front of Prairie Chapel Ranch in November 2007.
Much media attention has been focused on the report's observation that radar records show one of two objects moving directly toward the Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford. This is the home of United States President George W. Bush, which has been nicknamed the Western White House. They did not draw any conclusion as to why such movement was observed.

The authors also concluded that military air activity was heavy at the time, but that the radar records show no overt action toward the unknown object. They express concern about the possibilty that this could have been a terrorist aircraft with no transponder.

Shulze/Powell stated that they felt that they had been stonewalled in some of their FOIA requests by some government agencies. They encouraged the government to more readily provide more information about the incident.

Location of Stephenville within Texas.
The Stephenville incident on January 8, saw dozens of witnesses reporting a large object in the evening sky that hovered above the community before it took off at high speed. Steve Allen, a pilot, observed the object from the ground and described it as being a half-mile with flashing strobe lights. He also said that it was pursued by two fighter jets, when it disappeared at a speed he estimated to be 3,000 mph.

"I don't know if it was a biblical experience or somebody from a different universe or whatever but it was definitely not from around these parts," Allen said. 

Another witness was local law enforcement officer Leroy Gateman  who reported it as a red glowing object suspended 3,000 feet in the air. "It was so fast I couldn't track it with my binoculars," said Gateman.

Rick Sorrells says he saw the object while deer hunting in the woods. "You look at the trees, and it was right here," he told ABC News. He estimated it to be the length of "three or four football fields," though he could not be entirely sure due to his vantage point.

Sorrells has later claimed that military helicopters have since overflown his property at low altitude and that he has been getting strange phone calls. He also claims that an unknown man came to his door, even once told him that,"Son we have the ''same'' caliber weapons you have, but we have more of them.", after Sorrells grabbed his rifle, and, "You need to shut your mouth about ''what'' you saw."

"I'm trying to decide whether or not to open the door," Sorrells said to the ''Empire-Tribune''. "We're just standing there face to face looking at each other. I'm thinking he's dressed for the elements and the dogs are raising such a ruckus he must know he's in danger of being caught. That's when I realized he wanted me to see him." The man then turned away and walked into the woods.

The United States Air Force initially said witnesses must have seen reflections coming from commercial airliners. However, they later clarified that ten F-16 Fighting Falcons had been on a night-time training mission in the area on January 8.

"In the interest of public awareness, Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs realized an error was made regarding the reported training activity of military aircraft," said the statement.

According to Air Force spokesperson Karl Lewis, the aircraft were from the 457th Fighter Squadron and the error in the initial report was due to an internal communications problem between offices at the base.