NUFORC Sighting 06097

Occurred: 1997-03-13 20:30 Local
Reported: 1999-04-06 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 20 MINS.
No of observers: 3

Location: Gila Bend (G.B.AUXILLARY FIELD, ), AZ, USA

Shape: Chevron
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aura or haze around object, Left a trail, Aircraft nearby

At approx. 2015 hrs.flares dropped were close enough that I could see the white smoke as each burned, but the parachutes were not visible. 15 flares were dropped in close succession into a near-perfect V shape. They burned about 15 mins. before they went out.

As a security officer for the GBAF at the time, I was on patrol duty and located at the salvage yard at the Southern end of the Base. At approx. 2015 hrs. I observed 15 flares dropped in close succession with in 3 mls. of my location. This was unusual because the area seemed to be over 'D' area or Dart Drop as it is called but is NOT used for night target exercises because of the close proximity to the Base. The closest target area is South in Range 3 - EastTac another 5-8 mls. SE. The flares dropped were close enough that I could see the white smoke as each burned, but the parachutes were not visible. 15-16 flares were dropped into a near perfect 'V' shape pointing west. I had only observed 2-5 flares used at a time and usually staggered. Another officer remarked on his radio that he thought a bunch of people were going to report a UFO after seeing that. Someone else said he did hear on the news over the radio that people were reporting a v-shaped ufo over PHX. Later, I listened to the Art Bell show for the begining 10 mins. and heard the same. There are at least 3 mt.ranges between here and Phx., all of which are at a higher elevation than the height of the flares I observed. The closest town is Ajo another 40 mls. S. of Gila Bend, and I doubt that anyone there could have seen these flares. And about 10 mls. further N. on hwy.85 the ranges start blocking the South view. It seems obvious to me that the connection of my observation of an unusual flare drop to the 'Phx. lights' that evening was a pretext to the authentic ufo reports.

Posted 1999-04-26

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