Source :
http://www.theufochronicles.com/2006/09/eye-witness-mike-fortsons-original.html
http://www.theufochronicles.com/2006/11/exclusive-interview-with-mike-fortson.html
http://www.theufochronicles.com/2007/08/exclusive-interview-with-mike-fortson.html
http://www.theufochronicles.com/2008/02/exclusive-interview-iii-with-mike.html
http://www.theufochronicles.com/2015/06/mike-fortson-direct-eyewitness-to.html

In copy here strictly for data security purposes.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Eye Witness Mike Fortson's Original Report of The 'Phoenix Lights'

MIKE FORTSON -- EYEWITNESS SIGHTING OF FLYOVER OF ARIZONA 3/13/97, CALLED "PHOENIX LIGHTS"

By Mike Fortson

March 1997

© 1997-2006

I awoke from a brief nap in my recliner and leaned over to tell my wife that I was going to bed. I glanced to the clock on the television, it was 8:30 pm. As I walked down the hallway to the master bedroom, I noticed the bedroom window was open. The weather was most pleasant this March 13 evening, temp. 75 degrees, clear and no wind.(Jim Schnebelt Fox 10 weather) Typical Arizona spring evening.

As I pulled the window closed, my eyes were attracted to the three huge, bright white lights angled down and very low to the ground. "Plane crash!" I thought. These lights were way too low and angled in a way nothing I know of could pull out of.

I ran down the hallway, grabbed my glasses off the bar and yelled to my wife, of 25 years, "get outside right now!" Without hesitation she followed me out the back arcadia door to the edge of our patio. (I have timed this since and it took app. 8-10 sec)

Standing at the edge of our patio, facing west, and looking north, confussion struck me. For there was no plane crash, but coming from the north and heading south was one, single structure that looked like a giant boomerang. (the description of boomerang, chevron (best), and V shaped object all apply). This object stuck out like a sore thumb in the evening sky due to the fact we were looking north towards the Phoenix metro area, and the city lights gave us a grey background in which to view this huge black V shaped object. It was so low to the surface we could not believe it. I remember saying, "what the hell is that?"

The huge V shaped craft was moving slowly to the south. At this point, still northwest of us, we both saw a 737 in landing approach pass over the object. The plane was coming in from the west heading east. The V shaped craft was heading south from the north. As the 737 passed over the V shaped object, I said, "did you see that! Why didn't the plane get the hell out of there?" But it didn't. The pilot nor the planes computers saw nothing. (Just like the radars at Sky Harbor and Luke AFB. Nothing was detected.)

I would like to explain more on this incident. We live app. 23 miles ESE of Sky Harbor in Phoenix. Planes coming in to land (most of the time) will come out by us, bank to the north (left), proceed for app. 10-12 miles, bank left again (west) and land at Sky Harbor. This is normal landing pattern. I have talked to airline pilots, tower operators, and investigators about the altitude of planes coming in to land at Sky Harbor, at the point of the first bank north where we live. The altitude..1200'. The massive V shaped craft we saw was under 1200' altitude!

As the huge V shaped craft proceeded south, it was almost in front of us, when my eyes followed the left wing to it's end. We live 1/2 mile south of Chandler Blvd. The end of the wing was well past that and at least half way to Ray Rd. (1 1/2 miles north!) I remember saying to my wife, "that son-of-a-bitch is a mile long! As it passed in front of us all we could see is the left wing. That's how low it was. At arm's length the object was at least 30"+ long. I reported it was app. 1 1/2 mile west of us, going down Alma School Rd. But the closest part of the huge V, the end of the left wing was much closer. Maybe within a 1/2 mile. One thing that I remember the most is how this craft "floated" app. 30-40 mph. There was no visual means of propulsion and absolutely no noise. The altitude and speed of the craft never changed.

On March 13, 1997, at app.8:31 pm mst., there was a bright bottom quarter moon setting in the western horizon. I said to the wife, "we're gonna get more detail, look, it's going right into the light of the moon." But instead of greater detail of this huge V shaped craft, what we saw still amazes us. As the front of the V shaped craft entered the light of the moon, this black chevron shaped object became translucent in bright light! We could still see the bottom quarter moon thru the object, but instead of bright white, it (moon) was a dingy yellow. As the V shaped craft exited the bright moon, it became a solid black object again. We watched as the entire craft passed thru this. Seeing a solid object going into and coming out of, was black. But as the craft passed between us and the bright, white moon, it was translucent.

(Something about bright objects...witnesses who had this pass over their heads claim that as the craft passed between bright stars, it was like looking thru...water)

By the time the end (left wing still) was passing thru the light of the moon, the front of the craft was disappearing into the night sky to our south. It never changed course, speed, or altitude. Just faded off into the night sky to the south of us.

During the whole sighting we never moved our feet. We never considered getting a camera. We never thought of yelling for a neighbor. There was no question in our minds that what we saw was not of this Earth. Our total sighting was app. 1 minute and 45 seconds.

Compare to NUFORC Report Number 37

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

- EXCLUSIVE -

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

By Frank Warren

11-21-06

Note-As we approach the 10th anniversary of the so-called "Phoenix Lights" of March 13, 1997, the following is a continuation of a series of interviews/articles with and by direct eye witnesses of this monumental event.

Although many who witnessed this huge "V-shaped craft" have come forward, there are a great deal more who haven't; research concerning this case is ongoing to this day, and it is our hope by highlighting the event(s) and the individuals who witnessed it, more people will come forward and share their experiences. Comments are always welcome, and if requested confidentiality will be honored-FW

Part I

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.

FW: Sounds like you've led a very rewarding and interesting life; having a "White House security clearance" certainly is an honorarium for one's resume.

Obviously your military career instilled a certain set of values within you, wouldn't you agree?

MF: Well, being raised with a military discipline and being in the Honor Guard at such a young age, I’ve almost always been held to a higher standard. My parents were strict and the Ceremonial Guard was very strict, so it’s pretty much all I knew. Then we had three boys by the time we were 23 or 24. I guess the best way to measure our values is to look at our sons and the lives they lead.

Having and keeping a “White House Security Clearance” is a must for anyone in the Honor Guard of any branch of the US military. After all, most of the time I’m within arm’s length of the President or other heads of state with a fixed bayonet on my rifle. Yes, one better have a very high security clearance. Truthfully, I did not fully appreciate what I had achieved in the military until I had been out for several years. You have no idea the work it takes to have your uniforms perfect. Your brass, shoes and gloves perfect. And since we were in the public eye so much, even our work clothes were starched and pressed. However, on the other side of the coin, I wasn’t operating a 50 cal machine gun in the Mekong Delta.

FW:Most certainly the character of one's offspring is indicative of their upbringing, and you're obviously a proud father; my hat is off to you Mike, as it it is with all those who have served.

Turning to Ufology, prior to the events in March '97, what was your view of the subject if any?

MF: I had heard stories of Roswell, but for the most part…my beliefs or non-beliefs were completely non-existent. I pretty much never gave it much thought, if any. We’ve been told all our lives that “they” don’t exist. That belief in UFO’s/aliens is just fantasy, so I don’t think I had an opinion one way or another. It’s kind’a like being from Missouri…show me. (and “they” did)

FW: So, admittedly, prior to your "life-changing event," you were "ignorant to the subject," and had you been asked about it's validity, you would have dismissed it . . . correct?

MF: Correct. I had never sky watched looking for ET prior to March 13, 1997. Nor had I been in any in depth conversations on the subject. I probably would have said, “yeah, right” if someone had told me of an encounter with a UFO.

However, I do remember watching television and movies about UFO’s/aliens. I was a Star-Trek fan in the 60’s-70’s. I also remember watching tv shows like; “Lost in Space”, “The Invaders”, “Space 1999”, etc. movies like “ET” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. These were popular shows and we did enjoy them. I am also a “Star Wars” fan. But the depth of this was entertainment value only.

FW: Aside from being a sci-fi fan (something we have in common) in essence I feel you, like the rest of us were/are the end product of what I call "societal programming," as well as the input from our parents. In other words it's instilled in us that Ufology lies beyond the borders of normalcy, the subject is silly etc. For those of us ignorant of the subject, (as we all were at one time) we're left with only the a fore mentioned dogma.

As you approached March 13th, Hale-Bopp was visible, and there much ado in the media wasn't there?

MF: Yes, I believe that there were early morning and evening opportunities to view the comet. It was rare to see and I believe if not on the news every night, it was revealed by our local weatherman when viewing times would be. I really don’t know of anyone who at least didn’t watch it for a few minutes at least once. If I remember right, we would keep an ‘eye” on it quite often. It was a rare occurrence and we both enjoyed being able to view it.

FW: So it was common knowledge about the comet, and "eyes were to the skies" so to speak? March 13th fell on what day of the week exactly?

MF: March 13, 1997 was on a Thursday.

FW: Do you recall your activities that day; if so please elaborate.

MF: No, not at all as far as any detail goes. In 1997, I worked for a company out of Chicago. I ran a home office for them. My territory was the entire state of Arizona. I would have worked, placed calls, placed orders, and handled company business. I probably got some groceries as I do almost all the cooking. We would have enjoyed dinner around 6:30 and crashed on the sectional sofa watching television (probably college basketball, as March Madness might be getting underway) Then I awoke from a brief nap and told my wife I was going to bed, I glanced to the television and the clock read 8:30. Nothing of any remembrance or importance occurred that day until 8:30 pm. It was just another normal day at the Fortson household. But, 8:30 pm., will be forever embedded in my memory. It was the exact minute when our lives changed forever.

FW: SO, it's now Thursday night at 8:30, March 13th, 1997 . . . what happened then?

MF: I guess now would be the proper place for me to cut and paste my original report I filed in March of 1997….

See: Eye Witness Mike Fortson's Original Report of ‘The 'Phoenix Lights'

After the massive V shaped object left our field of view, we must have searched the sky for several more minutes. We wondered if anyone else had seen it. We confirmed again and again that it was ONE solid object. And we tried to reason how something that massive could stay aloft without making any noise. It was just too low and too slow, and for sure just way too big to be something of our Earth. The size of the object left us in a state of awe and mild shock. After several minutes of searching, hoping for one more glimpse we went back inside. Nannette sat on the sofa and I sat on a bar stool facing her. We just stared at each other for multiple minutes, maybe 10, maybe even 30, we don’t remember. Then I got up and proceeded back outside and as I passed my wife, I said to her, “we just saw our first UFO!” She looked at me very seriously and said, “I know”. We both went back outside and searched the skies one more time. Wanting really some kind of understanding for what we had just witnessed. But after several minutes of searching we gave up and resigned to the fact that there was no more for us to see. At this point, I’m pretty sure we just went to bed.

I did not call any radio stations. I did not call any television stations. I did not call the police nor did I call Luke AFB. Those thoughts never occurred to me to do as something that needed to be or should be done. At this point we thought that we might be the only ones to have seen this profoundly enormous object.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

- EXCLUSIVE -

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

By © Frank Warren

8-14-07

Note-Having recently passed the 10th anniversary of the so-called "Phoenix Lights" of March 13, 1997, the following is a continuation of a series of interviews/articles with and by direct eye witnesses of this monumental event.

Although many who witnessed this huge "V-shaped craft" have come forward, there are a great deal more who haven't; research concerning this case is ongoing to this day, and it is our hope by highlighting the event(s) and the individuals who witnessed it, more people will come forward and share their experiences. Comments are always welcome, and if requested confidentiality will be honored-FW

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.

FW: In our private correspondence, you often refer to your experience as, "life changing" and "wonderful" etc., which by the way is a common theme amongst witnesses who saw this massive object "up close"; take us back to the "next day" after the event; when you woke up that morning, what was going through your mind?

MF: Since we both worked, we would have started the day doing the normal things to get ready for work. We had questioned each other wondering if anyone else had seen this massive V shaped object. Our questions were soon answered…yes, hundreds, maybe even thousands had seen it. We soon learned that Thursday evening the phones had lit up at various TV and radio stations. Talk radio was a buzz. There was, I guess the best word to describe the first day after the sighting…confusion. The most upsetting part of the early hours of the first day was the constant spinning by talk radio hosts of something explainable. They would laugh and tee-hee at some of the callers reports of what they had seen. Everyone was made fun of. People were told to rest assured that what was seen last night was explainable and probably a military exercise. They (talk radio) had no idea that there was more than one event Thursday evening. A few of the five (5) videos were being turned in to MUFONAZ and one or two were already on television news. It truly was the talk of the town.

I was listening to talk radio most of the day. I had yet decided to call in. Mainly because of the debunking that was already going on. They (radio) really made the callers feel ignorant and silly from the beginning. I was really getting upset. I have never experienced anything like this before. Without investigation…conclusions were being drawn. This was very frustrating. And this is why I believe so many that had seen this massive craft refused to call in or report their sighting. One so called expert said, “this is why people shouldn’t look up!”. Everyone laughed.

At one point I had to report in to my boss in California. After our conference, I told him what Nannette and I had witnessed Thursday evening. His response was just like the talk radio hosts…”no way, there has to be an explanation, probably military”.

The first day was terrible for the witnesses. Instead of trying to find out just how many witnesses there were state-wide, they would just ridicule and insult the intelligence of those who called in. I was really starting to boil….after seeing those late night videos time and time again…it was getting to me…for that was not what we had seen Thursday evening at 8:30 PM from our home in Chandler. And after taking just so much…I finally made the call. I searched ufo on the internet. After looking for a few seconds I found MUFON. I found Walter Andress’s phone number in Seguine, Texas. I made the call. He answered the phone, and the first words I said, was..”sir, my name is Mike Fortson. I live in Chandler, Arizona. I would like to ask you a question…has anyone from Arizona reported a mile-long ufo from last night?” I could hear him take a deep breath. He responded, “yes!” I then began to explain everything we had seen and felt. “You saw it?” he said. “Yes” I replied, “my wife and I both saw it for about 2 minutes”. “Call these people right away”, he said. I was then given the phone numbers to RM and BH of MUFONAZ. After several calls I finally got thru. I was asked to call back after lunch Saturday.

As of Friday March 14, the first day after the massive sighting, there was thought to be only one ufo event that occurred on March 13, 1997.

FW: SO understandably given the amount of witnesses who saw something, there was instantaneous feedback; had you ever called into a radio show before?

What you describe Mike, in my view, is a very interesting "social phenomenon"unto itself; that is a "can't be, so it isn't mentality! Obviously you took the ridicule that was bestowed on others personally--as anyone would since you shared a very significant experience.

Explain the difference between the "late night videos" being aired on television and what you witnessed for us.

MF: Frank, I’m thinking that if I had called into a radio station, it would have been to request a song. I listened to music rather than talk radio. I’m thinking the only time I turned to a talk station would be to check on traffic.

The 5 -10:00 PM., MST., videos are of distant lights. No one knows for sure just what they are, or aren’t. But it’s basically all the video evidence there is. This is where the term, “Phoenix Lights” began. The truth is the distant lights aren’t in Phoenix and probably aren’t even in Maricopa county! But like I said, it’s all they have. So every time a witness speaks of their sighting during a tv or documentary video…the distant lights video is shown in the background. And yes, the lights are more than likely flares. Or as I call it, the perfect diversion. This is one issue that will never be resolved. As of nine years and seven months after the fact…there are no witnesses that were close enough to the lights to accurately describe just what “they” were. (The sad part…99% of all the so-called investigation was on these lights videos…nearly all witnesses to the March 13, 1997 UFO Flyover were in the 8 o’clock hour!)

As I said earlier we all met at Village Labs Sunday, March 16 and were filmed by Strange Universe. There the videos were played before several witnesses and several MUFONAZ representatives. That’s when I first spoke up to them and said, “that’s not what we saw!” I described in front of all present and on film, for the very first time just what we saw at 8:30 PM., MST., not at 10 PM. Nannette and I saw a solid V shaped craft, not distant lights. We had no problem determining it was one object as it came thru the grey background of the city lights, the enormous black craft stuck out like a sore thumb. It was low and slow and it did not make any noise. And as I exclaimed during the sighting, “that son-of-a-bitch is a mile long!”

It was at that time the thoughts of multiple events first were considered. After the meeting at Village Labs ended, the entire film crew came to our home in Chandler and interviewed us and filmed from our vantage point. Clearly seeing that the city lights to the north west of our location did indeed give a grey background from the city lights.

What witnesses viewed in the 8 o’clock hour thru out Arizona on March 13, 1997, were not flares. The 5- 10 PM videos, more than likely are.

FW: In regards to what you call the "perfect diversion," didn't Dr. Bruce Maccabee (Optical Physicist) do an analysis of the 10:00 flares? Who was present at Village Labs on the 16th?

MF: Yes, Dr Bruce Maccabee came to Phoenix and examined all the videos, I believe thru a scientific method of triangulation he perceived them to be shot pretty close to the same time; app. 10 PM MST. I believe he calculated them to be a distance from Phoenix of about 30-36 miles and had to have been ignited around 16-17,000’. I would refer you to his conclusions he made that are on file at his website. Personally, I trust his conclusions because he was the only one who approached this from a scientific point of view. You see, the lights were just too far away

And there are no witnesses or videos close up to confirm just what they were. And in order for the lights or flares to be seen in the Phoenix metro area, they had to be very high up (16-17,000’). And keep in mind the only ones to see the 10 PM events were those with mountainside homes or elevated viewpoints.

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 Mike Krysten’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!”.

FW: In Dr. Maccabee's analysis seen here, he writes:

"the following analysis of March 13, 1997 sightings over Phoenix refers to the sightings by a few people of lights at about 10 PM. An earlier sighting by hundreds of people around 8:30 PM of a dark triangular object that blocked the stars was a UFO. It is not the subject of this analysis."

Seems he separated the "wheat from the chaff" right off the bat.Who initially "arranged the meeting" at "Village Labs," and for our readers, please define their function.

MF: Frank, I have no idea who set the first meeting up. I assume that there is a connection between someone at MUFONAZ and Village Labs. And it was Village Labs that got a hold of “Strange Universe”. Village Labs served as a meeting place and also as a source for witnesses and media to communicate with for several years.

FW: What did "Village Labs" do . . . their business?

MF: I’m really not sure. I’m assuming until they lost their funding and lease, they were looking for ET. They were a point of contact to analyze video tapes. And they had stuff from all over the world. There were videos I got to see from not only the US but Australia and Europe. That’s about all I know. I do know they opened their doors to all of us that were interested in updating the 3/13 stories as they came in. I could come in unannounced and they would see me and answer my questions and allow me to read new reports and see the videos anytime I wanted.

FW: So it would "seem" that prior to the "Phoenix Lights," Village Labs main activities were centered upon Ufology; when "exactly" to the best of your recollection did the media report a "flare-drop by the military?" Also, when did the "collective" of witnesses realize they might have seen different object(s)?

MF: The word probably started in April. I’m not sure when the Arizona Republic article came out, but it was an interview with then Captain Eileen Benze (sp) and the headline was something to the effect: “The Solution to the Phoenix Lights” something like that. This brings up the question, “that if you have a solution, you must have had a problem!” Anyway, this was one of the first. I remember flares being brought up among the first times as Bill Hamilton left MUFONAZ and became the Executive Director of Sky Watch International. As he did this, that’s when I remember Richard Motzer MUFONAZ beginning his attacks on the flare issue, trying to debunk Bill Hamilton’s theory on the issue of the 5- 10 PM videos.

Then, “lines were drawn in the sand”, so to speak. The rest is unfortunate history since there never really was an investigation of March 13, 1997. They just never got past those 10 PM videos.

Witness testimony of different objects from lights, to solid craft, to orbs, to triangles, to discs were immediately reported to media, Village Labs, local radio, television stations, etc. Problem was no one really listened to them since they did not have video of their events. That was the evil of the whole evening…unless you had video, it probably didn’t happen. This is why the so-called investigators nearly worshiped those 5- 10 PM videos. It was like their “holy grail”. It wasn’t until the USA Today article on June 18th, 1997, came out did people start listening to the 8 o’clock witnesses. At that point the national media got involved and people finally started listening. It was then most of my tv/radio interviews began.

FW: With the benefit of hindsight, if we could go back . . . what would you have liked to see happen?

MF: Well, first of all I would have liked to have seen my ass moving quickly and retrieving a video camera and taping the massive V shaped craft as it passed in front of us. I truly believe this would have ended and speculation that what we and thousands of other Arizonians witnessed that night was something other than flares, planes, blimps or balloons. I really apologize to the world that I did not think clearly and failed to react, as I should have. Instead I just stared and was somewhat paralyzed to the impossible craft I was witnessing.

Other than that, I would like to have seen the media react with a more keen awareness that something spectacular did happen. I would have liked to see them treat our fellow citizens with more respect and accept the fact that “they” (the media) are not the only ones with eyes and a brain.

FW: For those of us that "pay attention" Mike, two common traits for folks that witnessed the "huge craft," number one was "awe," the second was a sense of "warm wonderment" (opposed to fear). As you know, most "direct witnesses" stayed in their respective seats (so to speak) . . . no need to apologize.

This looks like a good place to conclude "Part II" . . . readers stay tuned for "Part III" with Mike Fortson.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

- EXCLUSIVE -

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

By Frank Warren

© 2-14-08

Note-As we approach the 11th anniversary of the so-called "Phoenix Lights" of March 13, 1997, and in lieu of recent "similar events" in Stephenville, Texas, the following is a continuation of a series of interviews/articles with and by direct eye witnesses of this monumental event.

Although many who witnessed this huge "V-shaped craft" have come forward, there are a great deal more who haven't; research concerning this case is ongoing to this day, and it is our hope by highlighting the event(s) and the individuals who witnessed it, more people will come forward and share their experiences. Comments are always welcome, and if requested confidentiality will be honored-FW

Part III

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 56th 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.

Scot 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.

FW: You say, Scott's video was "shot in the late evening" . . . do you know the exact time, or close to it?

MF: No. I don’t know for sure. I’m pretty sure that his sighting was well past all the 8 o’clock activity. And I’m also assuming that what Scott has on video is what truck driver Bill Greiner also saw and reported that night as well. Bill Greiner’s report and stories are available online and also Greiner was interviewed in the June 18, 1997 USA Today. He’s the one who claimed, ”I’ll never be the same!”

FW: One account attributed to Greiner is as follows:

"Bill Greiner, a truck driver, was driving on Interstate 10 when he first saw the lights, and when he parked his truck at 10 pm he saw two illuminated 'toy tops, as he calls them, with red rings around them.

Mr Greiner then witnessed three F-16 tighter jets take off from the nearby Luke Air Force Base. "One of the jets started to close in on the 'toy top' object, which is glowing and pulsating with a red rim

around it. As the jet tries to intercept it just goes up and disappears."

Lieutenant Colonel Hauser from Luke Air Force Base admitted to having F-16 jets in the area at the time of the sighting, and said that they were on a training mission."

To the best of your knowledge is this accurate?

MF:Yes. Bill Greiner’s report has not been debunked by anyone. I have met him, shared our experiences, and I believe him.

Funny thing here …originally Luke AFB claimed all the jets were tucked away for the night and did not participate in any chasing or involvement to the strange aerial objects that night. Most of us know differently, as there were at least 3 or 4 separate events where fighters pursued the massive V’s. One-5:30 pm., MST, near Crown King (north of Phoenix app.80 miles) 2- 8:25 or 8:30 near Phoenix metro area. 3- 10:25 or 10:30 near downtown Phoenix and the 4th between 9:30 and 11 PM west of Phoenix near Goodyear. All sightings witnesses claim fighters approached or tried to approach the massive V shaped craft.

FW: If the a fore mentioned account is accurate, then that gives a us a time-line presumably for Montgomery's video, even if the video is "poor," the fact that "military aircraft" were involved, mush less in pursuit of "unknowns" is prevalent to the so-called "Phoenix Lights case." Additionally, you're now saying that there was "military activity" as early as "5:30" . . . can you please elaborate.

MF: There are several reports called into Village Labs by witnesses who were off I-17 south near Crown King at a rest stop called Sunset Point. It’s a nice touristy type stop with beautiful mountains on the west side of the interstate. According to reports that would be in the possession of Michael Tanner, witnesses described 3 massive V shaped craft in close proximity of each other, in low altitude and within a mile or so from the witnesses. This got the attention of several drivers and it was intriguing enough to make them pull over and observe the massive crafts. The time is app. 5:30 pm. On March 13, 1997, this would still be daylight! Reports claim that as 2 fighters approached from the south, the 3 V shaped craft “pancaked” on top of each other, formed a white ball of light and vanished! The fighters circled the area for a few minutes and left the area heading south. This event is also mentioned in Bill Hamilton’s book, “The Phoenix Lights Mystery” and Dr Lynne’s book, “Phoenix Lights”. For over 11 years now, there haven’t been any TV producers willing to air this report. They all claim that it’s just too far out there and the general public would have a hard time dealing/believing the reports. I would also add that no photos or videos were taken as well, unfortunately. This is one of several fantastic reports surrounding “The Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997” and proving my missive, “The Non-Investigation of the Phoenix Lights”. It’s an unbelievable shame so many of the reports will never get out. Everyone (producers) tries to simplify things so the public can better understand what happened. In other words, the public is being misled, intentionally.

FW: Working backwards . . . mainstream media in general are poor investigators/researchers regarding Ufology, (for starters) and their actions certainly indicate they have "other goals" then to "get the story straight" or get "all" the facts.

Mike, in my view the ramifications pertaining to "military involvement" as early as "5:30" is monumental! This means "they were on alert" and had time to not only "gear up" for any "emergencies" but to "ponder" responses to public and or media inquiry.

This definitely puts different light (no pun intended) on the "10:00 PM flare drop!"

I don't want to get to far off track, but are you aware of the "other sightings" outside of Arizona before the 13th?

MF: Well, I’m going to answer this one two different ways…first of all, prior to our sighting, on March 13, 1997, up until about 8:29 PM, MST, I would not have known or paid any attention to any “UfO reports” in my area, your area, anywhere. Truly, I would not have even given it a second take.

Now since our sighting, that’s a different story. Since I started meeting other witnesses and getting involved in this so-called investigation, I have found that this V shaped craft could have been in southern Nevada on the 12th. I have also received e-mail from folks in Iowa, that witnessed the V shaped or as they called it, “arrowhead shaped UfO” on March 12 and again on the 13th of March 1997. We also have the mystery of the MSTI-3 satellite, which became disabled (battery failure) in the late hours of March 12th or early hours of March 13, 1997. But that’s one for a later time.

FW: What more can you tell our readers about the sighting(s) on the 12th?

MF: Once the discussion on the Internet had begun, I was asked to come into a newsgroup and answer some questions and maybe possibly shed some light on the so-called “Phoenix Lights” case. At this point in time all that was really understood was the 5 - 10 PM videos of distant lights that many were claiming were the massive UFOs seen earlier throughout the state. Hardly anyone knew of the 8 o’clock events of the massive V shaped craft. Most looked at the videos and assumed that this is what the 8 o’clock witnesses were describing. Once there was a little acceptance of the earlier events, a lady who is (was) a RN and was on her way home (Iowa) after her shift at the hospital, e-mailed me describing her sighting of a “arrowhead shaped UfO” that was massive in size and very close to what I was describing in the newsgroups back in 1997. To my knowledge hers is the only one. One would probably check the archives at NUFORC to be sure. The southern Nevada sighting would be there as well.

FW: To be clear: from the first gathering of witnesses--initially the main fracas was the "10:00 PM flares"; in your view is this because the local media was airing those videos every time there was mention of the event(s)?

MF: Absolutely! I’ve been told so many times that without video, viewers will not pay attention. It’s like we are not intelligent enough to listen and comprehend what’s being said. I have for years now felt insulted by this attitude taken by so many producers. I know and accept that written print is based on a 6th grade education, but telling the truth on television should not have to be distorted and created just to satisfy the viewer’s attention span. It was those 5- 10 PM videos that in the early stages of the so-called investigation that led so many away from any type of true investigation. It was as if they started at the end and were satisfied without going to the beginning to start the investigation. It was like, “why waste the time? We have all we need in these videos!”

One of the biggest complaints I had was while giving video interviews they (producers) would insert the 10 PM videos while I was telling of our sighting. So, while describing a massive V shaped craft that passed slowly in front of us, they insert the high altitude 10 PM flare footage. All because there is no good quality 8 o’clock video, they lie to the viewer, thus making the 8 o’clock witnesses look foolish as well.

FW: For our readers NUFORC shows sightings of either "orbs" and or a "triangular craft" in California, Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, and Virginia during that time period.

MF: Yes, I was contacted by William Warwick about the Norfolk, VA. sightings; he claims that theyare identical to the V shaped craft seen in Arizona on March 13, 1997. I think he even wrote a book titled, “The Norfolk Incident.” I had forgotten about that until I saw Virginia.

FW: Additionally sightings occurred in England, Canada, and Cyprus as well. Obviously, labeling this incident, "The Phoenix Lights" was/is fallacious to be polite!

MF: You are absolutely correct, sir! I have argued this title for many, many years. I have talked to witnesses from Flagstaff, Camp Verde, Paulden, Chino Valley, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Wickenburg, Dewey-Humboldt, Cordes Junction, Black Canyon City, Cave Creek, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Glendale, Goodyear, Casa Grande, Gila River Indian Reservation, Tucson, Yuma, Gold Canyon, and Phoenix. I’m sure this is not all the towns/cities that had witnesses but to call what happened on March 13, 1997, “The Phoenix Lights” is ridiculous. I believe the real title to all this should be, “The Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997”, but I’m constantly being told that title is way too long and complicated. But what happened on March 13, throughout Arizona was a long and complicated trail of events, was it not? Hey, if the shoe fits….

Funny thing about those “holy grail” videos taken around 10 PM that got all this going as the “Phoenix Lights.” They are of distant lights. No one has come forward that was any closer than the Blonder/King videos. It is true that these videos are of lights NOT over Phoenix and probably NOT even over Maricopa county. But, more than likely these lights were over the North Tac range of Barry Goldwater Test Range. And, as Dr Maccabee suggested, they would have been more that likely flares ignited at or around 16,000’ in order to be seen by witnesses on mountainside homes in the Phoenix area.

97% of all witnesses are in the 8 o’clock hour. Very few witnessed the more than likely flare drop around 10PM.

FW: Where exactly were "Blonder and King" located and please explain why that is important for our readers.

MF: They were at 40th street and Chandler Boulevard in a suburb called Awhatukee. It’s south of Phoenix and just south of South Mountain. It’s a very nice residential area of mountainside homes. Two of the five “Phoenix Lights” videos were shot from this house. There would have been a third, but the batteries in Bill Hamilton’s camera were not charged and his camera failed as the more-than-likely 10 PM flare drop began.

To me this is important to the readers because this is the closest so far that any witness or video was to the lights. And still they were probably 35-45 miles away. This is why I keep repeating that the so-called Phoenix Lights videos weren’t over Phoenix or even over Maricopa County!

There are no known witnesses south or southwest of these two videos. So the distant lights may really not come to conclusion as to what they were due to this point. This is where I put my beliefs on Dr Maccabee’s conclusion that they are more than likely flares ignited at app. 16,000’ altitude as a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from the 8 o’clock events of massive V shaped crafts.

FW: To be clear, you are saying there are "no known witnesses" of the 10:00 "flare drop" south of Awhatukee, correct?

MF: To the best of my knowledge…that is correct.

FW: We'll pause here, and will continue in part IV posthaste.

Mike Fortson, Direct Eyewitness To The 'Phoenix Lights' Craft Has Died

By Frank Warren

The UFO Chronicles

© 6-8-15

Mike Fortson, my dear friend, colleague, regular contributor here at TUFOC and direct eyewitness to the large v-shaped craft that flew over Arizona in ’97 (AKA The Phoenix Lights) died from cancer last Sunday, May 31st (2015).

I believe it has been over ten years since I first sought Mike out concerning he and his wife’s sighting of a huge v-shaped craft that would (erroneously) be labeled, The Phoenix Lights; in short order—we became close friends. Mike called me “his best friend that I’ve never met,” something his beloved wife Nanette reminded me of when I spoke with her on the phone today—the feeling was certainly mutual.

In a multi-part e-mail interview I conducted with Mike that began back in 06, I asked him to share some background with our readers, he replied as follows:

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 [Nanette]. 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.

As I explained to Nan earlier today, the reality of Mike’s passing is just setting in, and to say I was taken aback is understatement. In the days to come I will attempt share some thoughts and we will be republishing some of Mike’s work in his honor.

In the mean time we offer our most sincere condolences to his beloved wife Nan and all of the family. I loved him like a brother and will miss him dearly.