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The Stephenville Event, as some have called it, has quickly become one of the most publicized UFO sightings in a decade. The story showed up in newspapers as far away as China. CNN’s Larry King devoted two shows to what it all meant. “Do you believe alien beings are out there?” King teased, staring intently at the camera, forehead glistening. “Do you believe they’ve come to Earth?” - https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-searcher/

“First, I saw a yellow-red orb the color of lava in a volcano, Then, instead of the red orbs, there were nine or 10 flashing lights maybe 3000 ft. in the air, bouncing and very bright. They hovered there, strobing for 2 or 3 minutes, bright like German auto headlights. Then they shot off at blazing speed like a school of fish, you know, when it’s frightened.” - Constable Leroy Gaitan of Dublin, Texas*

The Stephenville incident on January 8, saw dozens of witnesses reporting a large object in the evening sky that hovered above the community before it took off at high speed. Steve Allen, a pilot, observed the object from the ground and described it as being a half-mile with flashing strobe lights. He also said that it was pursued by two fighter jets, when it disappeared at a speed he estimated to be 3,000 mph.

"I don't know if it was a biblical experience or somebody from a different universe or whatever but it was definitely not from around these parts," Allen said.

Rick Sorrells says he saw the object while deer hunting in the woods. "You look at the trees, and it was right here," he told ABC News. He estimated it to be the length of "three or four football fields," though he could not be entirely sure due to his vantage point.

Sorrells has later claimed that military helicopters have since overflown his property at low altitude and that he has been getting strange phone calls. He also claims that an unknown man came to his door, even once told him that, "Son we have the same caliber weapons you have, but we have more of them.", after Sorrells grabbed his rifle, and, "You need to shut your mouth about what you saw."

"I'm trying to decide whether or not to open the door," Sorrells said to the Empire-Tribune. "We're just standing there face to face looking at each other. I'm thinking he's dressed for the elements and the dogs are raising such a ruckus he must know he's in danger of being caught. That's when I realized he wanted me to see him." The man then turned away and walked into the woods.

The United States Air Force initially said witnesses must have seen reflections coming from commercial airliners. However, they later clarified that ten F-16 Fighting Falcons  had been on a night-time training mission in the area on January 8.

"In the interest of public awareness, Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs realized an error was made regarding the reported training activity of military aircraft," said the statement.

According to Air Force spokesperson Karl Lewis, the aircraft were from the 457th Fighter Squadron and the error in the initial report was due to an internal communications problem between offices at the base.

What is fascinating about Stephenville sightings is the number of people who saw them. While is possible that dozens of people in relatively small town could be able to orchestrate a hoax, in order to boost the flow of tourists into Stephenville, it seems like a stretch. Maybe not as long of a stretch as suggesting that U.S. air force was chasing a mile long spacecraft, but still. There is little doubt that people saw something.

At least it is known that the part of their story about seeing fighter jets is true, it has been confirmed by officials themselves. Might it be that they witnessed something that was not meant for their eyes? Maybe a top-secret military flying vehicle. But surely U.S. military would be competent enough to hide such a monstrosity, or at least not make it more visible by accompanying it with 10 fighter jets.

Whatever happened that night, Stephenville sightings became a nationwide discussion that continues to this day. Thousands of people visit the city every year, just to get in touch with people who witnessed the occurrence firsthand and maybe, just maybe, get the chance to experience something similar themselves. Stephenville’s sky is clear and starry and there are many eyes staring at it, in the hope to catch a glimpse of the unknown. **

* https://www.inverse.com/article/30523-real-alien-stories-phoenix-forgotten-ufo-conspiracy-theories

https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/MUFON_releases_report_on_UFO_sighting_in_Stephenville,_Texas

** http://www.ufosightingstoday.org/stephenville-sightings/

Further reading:

The Stephenville Lights: What Actually Happened - https://skepticalinquirer.org/2009/01/the_stephenville_lights_what_actually_happened/

Seems lights have been seen in Texas for years - read:

Close Encounters of the Lone Star Kind - https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/close-encounters-of-the-lone-star-kind/