The Stephenville Texas UFO

On January 8, 2008, dozens of residents of Stephenville, Texas witnessed a massive, silent UFO. The witnesses included a pilot and a constable, lending credibility to the reports. Later, radar data obtained through FOIA requests showed an unknown object in restricted airspace near President Bush’s Crawford ranch.

The Town

Stephenville, Texas is a small city in Erath County known as the “Cowboy Capital” with a population of 17,000 in a dairy farming region.

The Night

The event occurred on the evening of January 8, 2008, under clear conditions. Multiple witnesses from various locations reported a mass sighting.

The Object

Witnesses described a massive object, estimated to be “mile wide,” with multiple lights that moved slowly and silently through the sky.

Key Witnesses

Credible observers included Steve Allen, a pilot, Lee Roy Gaitan, a constable, Ricky Sorrells, a machinist, and multiple others who had no profit motive for their reports.

Steve Allen

The experienced pilot with over 30 years of flying knew aircraft well. He estimated the object was a mile wide with multiple bright lights, and reported that F-16s pursued it afterward.

The F-16s

Witnesses reported that military jets appeared after the UFO passed, pursuing the object at high speed. This clear military interest added credibility to the sighting.

Initial Military Response

The Air Force first denied having any aircraft in the area, then changed their story and admitted F-16s were conducting training, catching them in a contradiction.

FOIA Request

MUFON obtained radar data from the FAA that showed an unknown track headed toward Crawford in the presidential ranch area.

The Radar Data

The records showed an object being tracked with changing speeds toward restricted airspace near Bush’s ranch, a significant finding that couldn’t be easily dismissed.

Ricky Sorrells

The local machinist had multiple sightings, took photographs, and alleged receiving strange visits and military intimidation. He remained a persistent witness despite pressure.

Media Coverage

The story received extensive coverage on CNN, Larry King Live, and local news extensively. The national attention and serious treatment made it impossible to ignore.

MUFON Investigation

The Mutual UFO Network sent investigators, documented sightings, obtained radar data, published a report, and conducted thorough research into the events.

The Size

Multiple witnesses agreed on the massive size, using terms like “mile wide” and making football field comparisons. The enormous craft descriptions were consistent across all observers.

The Crawford Connection

Radar showed the object heading toward the president’s ranch in restricted airspace, raising security implications that were never explained by authorities.

Significance

Stephenville is significant for having multiple credible witnesses, radar confirmation, military involvement, proximity to the presidential ranch, and extensive media attention.

Legacy

The Stephenville UFO sighting represented a turning point in public UFO discussion. The combination of credible witnesses, radar confirmation, and the proximity to the president’s ranch made it one of the most significant cases of the 2000s.