SUBJECT:
UNUSUAL INCIDENT OVER SHIPROCK NEW MEXICO FILE: UFO774
Unusual Event Over Shiprock New Mexico
This event happened in the summer of 1985. I have placed the
date around June 21, 1985, plus or minus a day or two. I was
on a trip exploring archaeological sites in New Mexico and
southern Colorado for solstice alignments of ancient
structures, in particular looking for any markings for
indications of the farthest motion of the lunar cycles. I was
about 75 miles north of Shiprock New Mexico. This happened
about 21:00 on a clear night. Earlier that afternoon I had
determined that visibility was about 100 to 125 miles from
looking at rock formations and maps of the area.
Shortly after 21:00, looking south, I saw a group of lights
that at first I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to. After
a few minutes of looking at the night sky in other areas I
came back to looking towards Shiprock and noticed that this
group of lights were "acting oddly" in that they were starting
to move around the sky, sort of like they were doing some kind
of acrobatic motions. I watched this for about 5 minutes when
all of a sudden the group of lights scattered to different
locations many miles apart in a matter of about several
seconds. From my perspective the group changed from directly
in front of me, to positions at around 30 and 60 degrees on
both the left and right of center. By this time I was begining
to think something strange was going on. I watched this group
of lights all come back together in the center again, and then
spread out again several times over the course of about 10
minutes.
Every time they moved it was in a matter of seconds. I saw
some of the lighted objects start making very sharp turns at
what had to be high speed, covering what I have estimated at
100 to 120 miles in about one second. I was using geological
formations for reference points, and geological maps the
following day to make these estimates.
After watching this for about 10 more minutes I saw two
aircraft approach from the southeast flying in formation.
About this time the group of lights scattered with 3 of them
moving in my direction. They passed in a matter of about 5
seconds, with the two aircraft following about 2 minutes
later. I could see when they flew over they were military
aircraft. (During this time I also observed two commercial
aircraft flying at around 36,000 and 40,000 feet.) The
military aircraft were flying low at around 12,000 to 14,000
feet.
I have observed and been in and around all types of aircraft
for the past 25 years including helicopters, light aircraft,
jet aircraft, and high performance gliders. My father was a
commercial airline pilot and worked for PSA and Japan Air
Lines for many years. I am using this as a base for my
estimates about the aircraft. I am aware of what aircraft look
like under many different conditions, and also their
limitations and maneuverability.
About 35 minutes later I saw the two military jet aircraft fly
back towards the direction they came from, southeast of
Shiprock New Mexico.
If you have any information that adds to this, I would like to
hear it. My ˙personal opinion is that I saw two jet
interceptors dispatched to investigate what was in the
airspace at that time. The objects could easily run circles
around the jets, but played tag with them for a while, and
then left. I would really like to see the logs on or around
that day kept by the military, but as you know, that
information is being kept from the public for the absurd logic
that THEY (the military) are protecting us. What a joke!
Jeffrey Johnston 08-30-87 23:33
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