I received an inquiry from a reader seeking answers:
Hello,
I’d like to tell you a story about what happened to me several years ago. I’d like to get your thoughts on what I saw. I’ve told several people about this and they tell me that I’m either lying or that I’m crazy. I am neither. I became frustrated, and did not share my story for many years. This experience has set off a life-long fascination with all things unexplained. I have no idea what I saw, but I know I saw it. I hope you can shed some light on it for me. I would like to be able to just know for my own knowledge.
I live in a small town in rural southeastern Kentucky. The town is called London, and it's a town of around 3,000 people or so. This happened to me in the summer of 1998 or 1999. During what we call the dog days of summer (mid-July to mid-August) my friends and I used to snake hunt. It’s hotter than the blazes, and the snakes crawl out onto the roads at night to stay warm. You drive up and down gravel roads in your truck. If you see a snake, you get out and shoot it. It was almost a nightly adventure for us. It usually ended up at the end of a old logging road hanging out and listening to the radio. We had been out driving around. We decided to stop for a break and stopped on the side of the road. We were on the top of a ridge that ran roughly northwest to southeast and we were looking basically due west with a hollow and reclaimed strip mine to our west. We could see several miles out over the tree lines in the distance. I had left the top off my Jeep because the weather was supposed to be clear, so I became a concerned when I noticed a huge cloud on the horizon. It was near the edge of dark. The entire sky was clear except for the area in front of us (due west). It looked like a thunder cloud moving in. It was very dark. I noticed what I thought was at first heat lightning. That’s not uncommon in Kentucky in the summer time, but this cloud looked really rough. I had taken the top off of my Jeep because the weather was supposed to be clear for the next week. I was cursing the weather man under my breath when I noticed something strange. The flashing that I thought was lightening wasn’t lightening. I don’t know what it was, but I know that it wasn’t like anything I’ve seen before or since.
This cloud was huge and it took up a huge chunk of the horizon. There was no real way for scale to say for sure, but it was miles across not feet. I noticed the flashing was in patterns. It would begin on the left side of the pattern, move to the middle, and then to the far right. It would stay in each position for thirty seconds (I had my watch and timed it). Every ninety seconds the entire pattern would change. The patterns repeated in three “sets”. Each pattern was unique to each position. So there were nine patterns in total spread across three positions. Each location had its own set of three linked to the other “groups”. So there were 27 totally separate 30 second patterns, three to each location, and three sets that repeated every 90 seconds. All lights, regardless of location or pattern, where a bluish white light. I would describe a similar tint to a cheap LED flashlight. I don't know if the light was that color, or the cloud was that color and tinted the light.
We set for thirty or fourth five minutes watching the patterns flash. Then something stranger happened. We noticed lights flying into the cloud from the left and from the right. I timed the lights and it took about 12 seconds for the lights to come back out the other side (this gives you an idea of the size). Apparently they passed each other in the cloud, each flying out the other side. They looped slowly toward us. In a few seconds a third light flew out of the middle of the cloud and joined the other two in a standard military “V” formation, and they flew directly over us. I am confident these where military aircraft. They flew off and didn’t return. After the airplanes flew through the cloud, the flashes slowed, and eventually stopped. The cloud then just cleared out, and you could see the stars behind the cloud.
I am sorry to be so long winded with my story. I was trying to be as accurate as possible. I called my local airport the next day. I asked if there had been any reports of a plane crash. I was told there was not. I then told them what I saw. The man laughed at me and told me he wanted some of what I was taking. I would like to add that I have never ever done any drug. I never even drank any alcohol. All of my friends that where there that night refused to talk about what happened. They said they knew no one would believe them, so they didn't try.
I have no idea what this thing is, and I was wondering if you’ve had anyone else tell you anything similar? As I said earlier, I just would like an explanation for what I saw. I’ve even emailed several meteorologists, to ask if it’s possible for lightening to flash the way it did. They’ve all said no, that it’s impossible. I have been hesitant to tell this story because of the reaction I’ve gotten from people. This is only the third time I’ve ever told it, and none of my friends will even talk about it.
Cam and Kyle of 'Expanded Perspectives' read the highlights of this story on their podcast about a year ago. They said they would contact me if anyone had any idea about what I could have saw that night. I didn't hear anything.
Even if no one can explain what I saw, I am curious if you have had any reports of anything similar. Any light that you could shed on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my message. I found your page from hearing it mentioned on 'Expanded Perspectives.' I’ve heard interviews you have done on a few different podcasts that I listen to. I have been listening to your Arcane Radio show, and I enjoy it. You strike me as someone who is open minded. I know you have no reason to believe me, but it’s my hope that you will.
B
NOTE: This entire event may have been a military exercise, but it's very doubtful because of the open location. I have read similar reports of spectacular unknown craft or anomalies...this account is consistent with many of those reports. I really cannot give a specific answer, other than witness' type of sighting is becoming more common as the years go on. It is a fact that Kentucky has had a fair number of unusual UFO events and other unexplained encounters. I welcome any comments by the readers...please post here on the blog so the witness can read the response. Thanks...Lon
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