The Phoenix Lights. It was an incident which occurred on 13 March 1997, with witnesses from as far north as the Nevada state line to as far south as Tucson.
Thousands of people phoned in sightings to emergency services that night, describing something absolutely massive and shaped like a boomerang, with five round lights along the leading edge or underside of the craft. Whatever it was reportedly made no sound, either. The lights were stationary over the Phoenix metro area, some say for as long as two hours.
This is certainly not the first encounter where civilians have claimed to see a UFO when the Air Force or Navy was conducting training operations in the same area. Military pilots themselves have even reported seeing strange aircraft while conducting flight operations. So who’s telling the truth? What are we supposed to believe?
A computer-generated depiction of what the UFO over Phoenix in March of 1997 looked like. (Courtesy of ABC 15 Arizona)
The Department of Defense, in response to the torrent of inquiries about the incident, responded by saying it was the deployment of LUU-2B/B rescue flares, deployed by USAF aircraft–in this case Fairchild-Republic A-10C Thunderbolt IIs flying a training mission over the Barry Goldwater range.
While the explanation seems plausible, recently-conducted interviews suggest something else in the sky over Arizona that night, and a specific, named operation to launched to provide suitable cover. How much does the Department of Defense know? Was it really parachute flares? Was it a secret-squirrel program like the “Aurora” spy plane? Is the Air Force covering up something else?
Stay tuned for more clips of this movie project!
The Phoenix Lights. It was an incident which occurred on 13 March 1997, with witnesses from as far north as the Nevada state line to as far south as Tucson.
Thousands of people phoned in sightings to emergency services that night, describing something absolutely massive and shaped like a boomerang, with five round lights along the leading edge or underside of the craft. Whatever it was reportedly made no sound, either. The lights were stationary over the Phoenix metro area, some say for as long as two hours.
This is certainly not the first encounter where civilians have claimed to see a UFO when the Air Force or Navy was conducting training operations in the same area. Military pilots themselves have even reported seeing strange aircraft while conducting flight operations. So who’s telling the truth? What are we supposed to believe?
A computer-generated depiction of what the UFO over Phoenix in March of 1997 looked like. (Courtesy of ABC 15 Arizona)
The Department of Defense, in response to the torrent of inquiries about the incident, responded by saying it was the deployment of LUU-2B/B rescue flares, deployed by USAF aircraft–in this case Fairchild-Republic A-10C Thunderbolt IIs flying a training mission over the Barry Goldwater range.
While the explanation seems plausible, recently-conducted interviews suggest something else in the sky over Arizona that night, and a specific, named operation to launched to provide suitable cover. How much does the Department of Defense know? Was it really parachute flares? Was it a secret-squirrel program like the “Aurora” spy plane? Is the Air Force covering up something else?
Stay tuned for more clips of this movie project!
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.