THE UFO CHRONICLES

Showing posts with label Mike Forston. Show all posts

Monday, March 26, 2012

THE PHOENIX LIGHTS 15th ANNIVERSARY | The Mike Fortson Interviews

By Frank Warren
The UFO Chronicles
© 2006-2012

Editor's Note-March 13th is the anniversary of one of the most significant UFO events in history; The UFO Chronicles will underscore the event with various articles both past and present, throughout the month-FW

- EXCLUSIVE -
Interview With Mike Fortson - Eye Witness To Enormous V-Shaped UFO - AKA "The Phoenix Lights"

FW: Thank you Mike for agreeing to do this interview and being one of the first participants in the latest addition to our "Knowledge is Power" web-site i.e., "the interview section."

In our private correspondence you certainly have convinced me of the "gravity" of what has erroneously become known as the Phoenix Lights; that title certainly doesn't represent what occurred on March 13th, 1997.

In any event, why don't we start by informing the readers of who Mike Fortson is . . . give us some background.

MF: I was born February 24, 1953, in Hertfordshire, UK. My parents are both Americans from Indiana. My father was a staff sergeant in the USAF stationed in London. I spent the first 18 months of my life in England, then Georgia for 5 years or so. Then in 1959 we moved to Kokomo, Indiana where I spent the next 16 years.

I graduated high school in 1971 and unfortunately my lottery number for the draft (Viet Nam) was under 60 and I was headed into the military. Lucky for me my test scores were high enough that the US Navy took me with a 4 year enlistment. During boot camp I was asked if I would be interested in the USN Ceremonial Guard in Washington, D.C. I said, “yes”. I spent my entire Navy career (4 years) in DC doing military funerals in Arlington National, state dinners at the White House, participated in full honor arrivals for foreign heads of state. Highlights included; Nixon’s inauguration, funerals for Presidents Johnson and Truman. I participated in over 1500 military funerals in Arlington National. I had a White House security clearance.

In June of 1972, I married my high school sweetheart. We have now been married for over 34 years. We have 3 sons, now aged 29, 30 and 32. Along with that comes the grand kids; twin girls 11, another grand daughter 8, 7, and my only grandson, 5 months.

I have been in sales since I got out of the Navy in 1975. In 1979 the auto recession pushed us out of Indiana and we were part of the rush to Texas. I worked in the oilfields until 1986. When oil dropped to $6 a barrel and we loaded up again and moved to Arizona. I now sell real estate in Prescott Valley, Arizona. . . .

SEE COMPLETE INTERVIEW - PART I

- EXCLUSIVE -
Interview With Mike Fortson - Eye Witness To Enormous V-Shaped UFO - AKA "The Phoenix Lights" (Part II)

FW: Mike we left off in "Part I" of this interview at the end of your narrative describing what you refer to as "your life-changing event," i.e., the sighting of a "huge" V-Shaped craft by you and your wife known as the "Phoenix Lights." This taking place almost ten years ago March 13, 1997.

I would like to begin the very next day, but first given what is now known about that night, calling it the "Phoenix Lights" certainly isn't accurate, to put it mildly; where and how did that name originate?

MF: Frank, that’s a really good question, and I don’t know if I have the right answer. I think several people will take the credit for the name, “Phoenix Lights”. The massive sighting occurred Thursday evening March 13, 1997. After I reported it to MUFONAZ, I was asked to be at Village Labs in Tempe, AZ., on Sunday March 16. There the “Strange Universe” crew met with us and videotaped our experience. I think the term was first used then. However, a few others may claim the term, I’m just not sure. Another, which I thought was first, was a producer from MSNBC. One fact does remain…I have argued this title since it’s creation as inaccurate. What was seen that night was witnessed nearly all over the state of Arizona. Today I equate the term “Phoenix Lights” to the 5 videos of a diversionary flare drop around 10 PM that night. These more than likely flares were dropped at around 16,000’ foot altitude and witnessed by a few people in Phoenix metro area. These “lights” weren’t over Phoenix. And truthfully, they weren’t even over Maricopa county. But the descriptive name for March 13th will forever be “Phoenix Lights”. Sad but true.

I do agree with the late Doc Barry; “The Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona March 13, 1997”, is the most accurate way to describe that wonderful night. . . .

SEE COMPLETE INTERVIEW - PART II

- EXCLUSIVE -
Interview III With Mike Fortson - Eye Witness To Enormous V-Shaped UFO - AKA "The Phoenix Lights"

FW: Mike we left off in "part II" of our interview retracing your movements shortly after your life changing experience; you mentioned Dr. Bruce Maccabee's arrival in Phoenix, as well as the first meet at the "Village Labs" . . . let's begin there.

Previously you wrote:

Those present at the first get together at Village Labs on March 16, 1997 were: Jim Dellitoso (sp), Michael Tanner (both of Village Labs), Bill Hamilton (MUFONAZ), Tom King (shot 10 PM video from Steve Blonder’s home with Bill Hamilton), Richard Motzer, Tom Taylor (Both with MUFONAZ), Scott Montgomery and his wife (he shot video of F15’s chasing the orbs), Ozma Linderman and her boyfriend, both are 8:25 witnesses from Scottsdale), Mike Krysten and his wife Sue (he shot the famous footage at 10 PM), Mike Fortson and wife Nannette (8:30 PM witnesses), there were a couple radio people there, and Strange Universe filmed the entire meeting. There were probably others but my memory fails as this was nearly 10 years ago as to the rest of the visitors. MUFONAZ had acquired 4 or 5 videos and they were played for us. That’s when I stood up and said, “that’s not what we saw!”.

Can you elaborate a little more for our readers about the Montgomery's sighting of the F-15 pursuit of "the orbs?"

MF: Gladly. First of all I need to try to clarify which type of fighter jets Luke AFB sent up that night. Luke Air Force Base is located near Glendale AZ., and is home to the 56^th Fighter Wing and is a training site for the F16 Fighting Falcons. From the very beginning there have been questions as to which fighters went up to investigate the strange aerial objects reported that evening. Were they F16’s or F15’s? It is true that the training fighters are the F16. But, it has been reported that there are at least 2 F-15’s on base for “special reasons”. Although it is not proven, it has been suggested very strongly that the fighters that pursued the enormous V shaped craft were F-15’s.

I met Scott Montgomery for the first time at Village Labs on March 16, 1997. As I wrote earlier, this was the first meeting of those witnesses who made the early calls to speak of their sightings. There were a variety of videos that were played. The "5" 10 PM videos, the only known 8:25 PM video, and Scott Montgomery’s video. One that I really found interesting and got a real kick from was Scott’s video which he shot in the late evening on March 13, 1997, from his home near Goodyear, AZ., which is west of Phoenix about 35 miles or so and much closer to Luke AFB than any of the other videos. Scott’s video by professional standards is a terrible video. He did not use a tripod. But, in my opinion, it isn’t what is recorded on the video of Scott’s film that is so interesting, but the audio. Scott was filming strange orange “orbs” that were being chased by fighter jets (2) either F-15’s or F-16’s. The major issue the so-called UFO investigators disliked about Scott’s video is he never stayed with one object. He kept going from the jets to the orbs…back to the jets….back to the orbs, etc. This was constant and really not that good of a video. But what the investigators failed to do was listen to what Scott was saying while filming. They failed to hear the immense excitement in his voice. This young man was incredibly excited over what he was seeing/filming. He was trying to get all this while looking thru the viewfinder. He didn’t have the luxury of using the pull out window of today’s video cameras. Remember this was 1997. In his defense, it is very hard to film such an impossible sighting while trying not to lose important observation time. The video is moot. The audio will better help explain the adrenaline rush one gets during such an extraordinary sighting. Truth is Scott’s video is better understood with your eyes closed. Just listen to what he’s screaming while filming.

Scott Montgomery and his wife are not mentioned in any reports by any investigators, nor have they been interviewed by any media outlet; because of his age and his poor video, Scott’s sighting is not to be found anywhere and is treated by the so-called investigators as if it did not happen. In my opinion this is a shame, because Scott’s excitement and the way he was trying to describe what he was seeing/recording is the real important factor here. I still smile when I think of his video. If you would be fortunate enough to see it, (hear it) you also would get a “kick” out of it. If anything humorous was to be written about of the incredibly strange sightings of March 13, 1997, Scott’s video wins first place. . . .

SEE COMPLETE INTERVIEW - PART III

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Monday, May 05, 2008

Aztec, New Mexico Crash and Symposium

By Dennis Balthaser
© 5-1-08

Much has been written about the Roswell Incident of July, 1947 over the past 60 years, and while some researchers have written it off as a crashed balloon with crash test dummies, some of us continue to look for other explanations of what really happened, not believing the four excuses given by the military during those 60 years. New witnesses and information continues to be found about the Incident and that appears to be worth investigating, to determine what actually happened.

The annual celebration of the Roswell Incident each July since 1995 has attracted many visitors to this southeast New Mexico town generating revenue for the city of Roswell, and exposing the incident to the world with the media coverage it has received. Many however, view the annual Roswell event as a carnival rather than as a serious study of what happened here 60 years ago, even though some well known researchers are usually present each year to share their research. When the city of Roswell took over the annual event last year, the attendance figures once again increased compared to the previous few years when the UFO Museum was in charge of the Festival. It was the city’s desire to make the annual celebration a family event. The UFO Museum and city were not been able to work together, thus 2 separate events were held during last years Festival, and it appears that it will be the same again this year for the upcoming July 2008 Roswell Festival.

On the opposite end of the state near Farmington, New Mexico in the four-corners region of the state, another crash supposedly happened only 10 months after the Roswell Incident in March 1948, known as the Aztec Crash. The Aztec crash has also been riddled with skepticism and beliefs of it being a hoax, however in recent years much more information has come forward primarily through the research of Scott and Suzanne Ramsey, requiring a much closer look at that event. Other than the fact that both crashes occurred in New Mexico within 10 months of each other, there are many differences in the two events.

The Roswell craft was discovered in many small pieces scattered over the Foster Ranch, and was estimated to be about 30-40 feet in diameter, while the Aztec craft appeared to make a forced crash east of Aztec in Hart Canyon with slight damage, and measured about 99 feet in diameter. Roswell’s craft supposedly had 3-5 bodies, while Aztec’s had 13. Both crafts are believed to have been recovered by the military with Roswell using the 509th bomb wing from the Roswell Army Airfield, and the Aztec crash being recovered by a military unit from Colorado.

The Columnist Frank Scully wrote about the Aztec crash in his book “Behind the Flying Saucers” published around 1950. In 1986 William Steinman and Wendell Stevens published “The UFO Crash at Aztec”. Similar to the descriptions of the “metal” in the Roswell craft, the Aztec craft “metal” could also not be burned, cut or damaged when attempted. Neither craft showed any signs of rivets, bolts, screws or signs of welding. After 60 years no physical traces have been discovered at the Roswell crash site yet, while the Aztec site has a road leading to the site that wasn’t shown on older maps, and a small concrete slab exists that could have possibly been used as a support for a crane outrigger. It has been established that the concrete slab is not a well cap and no other reason for its existence at the crash site exists.

Although I had read both of the books mentioned, I too didn’t put much confidence in the account of the Aztec crash for several years, until the Friends of the Aztec Public Library decided to conduct an annual symposium starting in 1997 to celebrate the 1948 crash, and to help generate interest in obtaining a new library for Aztec. (That goal was accomplished a few years ago with the dedication of a new state-of-the art library in Aztec.) There are not enough words to be said about the many volunteers who have diligently worked at accomplishing this over the years, for the benefit of the library and the city of Aztec, not to mention the UFO enthusiasts who attend each year. A few of the volunteers that have been actively involved all these years include, Scott and Suzanne Ramsey, Katee McClure, Donna Chadwick, Randy and Suzanne Barnes, to mention only a few.

I was involved with the Roswell Festival as a speaker on several occasions during the past 11 years, but consider myself extremely fortunate to have been involved with Aztec’s symposium every year for the past 11 years as a speaker or Master of Ceremonies. The annual Aztec symposium had a few speakers during the early years that were less than credible, and they have decided to be more cautious about who is invited to speak at the annual event, thus providing a symposium for those interested in serious UFO research, without any of the carnival or “woo-woo”atmosphere.

The recently held Aztec Symposium in March 2008 was a good example of the type researchers Aztec is attracting, and the increased crowd attendance verified the importance and interest of those attending. As emcee this year I had the honor of introducing; Stanton Friedman, Mike Forston, Duane Tudahl, Ron Storch, Timothy Good, Ted Phillips, Scott and Suzanne Ramsey, and Dr. Jesse Marcel, Jr.

One problem that the Aztec symposium is encountering is the fact that a facility is needed to accommodate the ever-increasing crowds. The annual symposium has been held in various locations within the city of Aztec and again this past March a sold-out crowd was present. Not a bad problem to have.

Be on the lookout for a new book by Scott Ramsey shortly that will be the most comprehensive account of the Aztec crash to date. Doing research on the Aztec crash, Scott has traveled to 31 states, interviewed over 73 first and second-hand witnesses, and archived over 3476 Atomic Energy Commission, United States Air Force, F.B.I. and C.I.A. documents. He has also uncovered three secret radar bases, with possible connections to the Aztec crash.

The Aztec crash like the Roswell crash back in the late 1940’s are both cases that will require further research to finally determine the truth, since we obviously have not been given that truth for over 60 years.

www.truthseekeratroswell.com

See Also:

Details of The Aztec Incident are Revealed

Aztec Incident Revisited

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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Shostak’s 'Phoenix Lights' Faux Pas

By Mike Fortson
© 4-25-08

The article written by, “Seth Shostak” on the April 24, 2008, entitled, “Phoenix Lights”, appears like a ploy often times used by “debunkers” to scoff at the truth of the “Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997” otherwise known by most as, The Phoenix Lights.

Shostak states that “only two events occurred that night”; one at 8:30 PM of high altitude planes, and another 10 PM, the flare drop.

He accredits the 8:30 PM high altitude planes to an amateur astronomer who looked at the formation with his scope. My guess is that he’s never met this amateur astronomer, but I have; he was a 19-year-old young man by the name of “Mitch Stanley.” He had a 10” Dobsonian telescope and at 8:30 PM or so on March 13, he said to his mother, that he observed high-altitude, fixed-winged aircraft flying in formation, wing tip to wing tip, and it “was no big deal”.

We met at Village Labs in Tempe, Arizona in August of that year (’97), while being filmed for a special by Discovery Channel. There were dozens of witnesses along with young Mitch Stanley; as Mitch spoke before the crowd while being filmed by Discovery Channel, he told the story of his observance of the high-altitude fixed wing craft, flying wing tip to wing tip; he claimed again, “that it was no big deal” and in his own words he only observed the formation for a few seconds and moved on to other things.

But here is where young Mitch struggled (keep in mind he was not the youngest participant present). During the question and answer segment, a couple of pilots and ex-military people responded that at night no pilot would be willing to fly in such formation. Especially wing_tip-to-wing_tip or even in tight formation, it’s just too dangerous . . . and at night this just isn’t done!

Since Shostak is using Stanley’s statement to paint a picture of what occurred that night, and he commends “the work of the astronomers” stating they’re “experienced observers of the sky,” one would think he would give the same esteem to “pilots” as well (assuming he’s even aware of the meeting that took place at Village Labs).

Furthermore, a fact conveniently omitted was almost all the witnesses in the 8:00 hour (to which I am one) recounted seeing a “massive object” at an incredibly low altitude, which did not emit any noise (i.e., engine or any type of propulsion etc)! Not to mention the slow speed of the massive object as it seemed to “glide” by the witnesses.

Some might think that I’m just one of those goofy UFO nut cases who makes wild claims, but, what if I were to say …”I believe there were high altitude aircraft present that night.” Why not? I believe that instead of civilian aircraft, they were military aircraft! Not in a strange formation to attract attention, but to observe the massive unidentified objects below. So Mitch could be right that there were high altitude aircraft, and also wrong, that this was “no big deal”. Why wouldn’t our military be watching below as these massive unknowns paraded thru our state? I mean they couldn’t attack in a populated area. Why wouldn’t they be watching?

Shostak mistakenly claims only “2” events occurred on March 13th, 1997, to offer a clearer picture, there were multiple events beginning at 5:30 PM and well extending thru 2:00 AM March 14, 1997. Please keep in mind that the 5:30 PM sighting was during daylight, with sixteen witnesses and “a telescope certainly wasn’t necessary” as they watched in awe. Moreover, these witnesses claimed that as 2 fighter jets approached from the south, the three massive V shaped craft “pancaked” on top of each other, formed a white ball of light and vanished!

Then at 8:16 PM near Paulden, AZ., more sightings of massive objects began; not just one or two events, but multiple events were in play! Anyone who has been involved with the massive sightings of March 13, 1997, will tell you that dozens of fantastic reports were never told. Any attempt to wash it away as high altitude aircraft is negligent, and or ignorant of the facts in my view.

High altitude aircraft will not stop a little league game; high altitude aircraft will not discourage a police helicopter during search and rescue training from going up and seeing what it is; high altitude aircraft will not stop traffic along the highways and cause the drivers to get out and watch . . . but a massive V shaped craft that’s incredibly low, nearly a mile long and totally quiet will!

I may agree with the notion that in the area southwest of Phoenix an intentional diversionary flare drop did occur. I agree with Dr. Bruce Maccabee that these flares would have to have been ignited around 16,000’ in order to be seen by a few mountainside residents where five videos were shot; by the way, less than 5% of all witnesses are in the 10 PM hour.

In conclusion, anyone choosing to debunk the, “Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997” needs do their homework! “In part,” a proper investigation and or analysis of the event requires actually speaking/interviewing witnesses and “listening” to what they have to say.

Cherry picking snippets from “old biased articles” on the Internet to shore-up ones viewpoint, as it seems is the case here is asinine!