The mystery of the 1997 "Phoenix lights" incident seems to continue. TV shows, films, research articles and other explorations of the case still fascinate us - and still raise many questions.

As the 13th anniversary of the strange incident approaches on Saturday, March 13, 2010, it does seem an appropriate time to take a new look at clues about this case.

The theory that the Phoenix lights were a U.S. psychological operation of some kind gained new attention late last month when experienced researcher and writer Randall Fitzgerald published a thought-provoking article online titled "Were the 1997 Arizona Lights a psychological warfare experiment?"

This unique hypothesis was based on Fitzgerald's two-month fulltime investigation and interviews with more than 50 witnesses in 1997 funded by Reader's Digest magazine.

Confusing Perceptions

Fitzgerald reviewed points that most people are generally aware of. The lights were first seen in southern Nevada in the early evening and then mid-evening across the state line in west-central Arizona, moving in generally a south-southeast direction.

The lights were large and bright. They did not resemble normal aircraft lights to many observers. Some witnesses, but not all, saw five lights in a V-shaped formation.

Steadily making their way south-southeast, the lights entered the metropolitan Phoenix area in mid-evening and crossed the area diagonally, entering from the northwest and exiting the metro area on the southeast. The lights reportedly continued all the way to Tucson, Sierra Vista and possibly the Mexican border.

During this general time frame, out-of-state Air National Guard units training at Luke Air Force base on the western edge of metro Phoenix dropped flares in an area of the Barry M. Goldwater Range. The site of the flare drop was reportedly in an unusually far north part of the range and within sight of metro Phoenix.

Many factors in the case led to much speculation then, and over the years.

Did people see military flares from the training exercise? Was there something else that was not over the Goldwater Range but was directly over the city and surrounding communities (as well as other parts of Arizona and Nevada)?

Were both happening that night? And, if so, was this a coincidence?

It seems clear that something apart from the flares did fly directly over Phoenix. Were there five or more individual objects or aircraft? Or, was there one huge object with five or more bright lights on it?

This question is a main focus of Fitzgerald's article. Some witnesses saw distinctly separate objects and lights. Others are sure they saw one huge solid craft with multiple lights. Some witnesses thought they saw a translucent aspect of the object where they could see stars or the moon in a hazy and altered way through the craft. Other people said it was so solid that it blocked out the stars.

These and other interesting elements led Fitzgerald to speculate that this incident could have been a U.S. psychological operation (PSYOP) of some kind. He wondered in his article if several aircraft could have been equipped with holographic projection equipment that could create the illusion of a large craft.

He pointed out that the lights were first seen in the region around Area 51 in southern Nevada and last seen near the Army's Fort Huachuca (a major intelligence facility), southeast of Tucson near the Mexican border.

Anonymous Source

In his article Fitzgerald also notes an account of an anonymous source who claims to have been in the Air Force on active duty in Arizona at the time. I also explored this source's comments in a Februrary 2009, article "New information alleged in 1997 'Phoenix lights' UFO case."

In an online discussion forum about unconventional scientific and other topics, the source logged on in January 2009 and called himself "Topol-M" and "AL." This source stated his information was based on both first-hand knowledge and accounts directly from trusted friends and associates, apparently other Air Force personnel.

He brought some interesting information to the discussion and understanding of the Phoenix lights case. It is unclear if his information is accurate. But, it seems worthy of review.

He wrote: " ... on the night of March 13, 1997, USAF personnel stationed at both Luke AFB in Glendale and Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson were a bit scared, as something was occurring over the skies of central and southern Arizona that night, and the on-duty personnel at both bases had no idea what it was."

"That night, Luke AFB scrambled two F-16Cs from the 56th Fighter Wing, however, these aircraft were not vectored southwest of Phoenix towards the source of the lights [the flares over the Goldwater Range], but directly south towards Tucson. What is known further, is that less than 10 minutes later, a second set of F-16Cs from the 56th were also scrambled and sent southeast."

"Radio reports from the first flight of aircraft indicated something 'odd' was occurring, however the pilots never gave any indication or specifics (in the open at any rate), as to what that was."

"It was obvious to all with access that there were other aircraft in the area, with orders to drop flares. It was felt that this was indeed a 'deception' measure to keep curiosity focused on one space in the sky, as flares were never used that far north of the Goldwater training range (as any Luke personnel can tell you, if they were, there would be weekly 'Phoenix Lights' incidents)."

Topol-M/AL continued, "The next morning, wing intelligence units at both Luke and Davis-Monthan were scrambling to compile information. No one knew what had occurred the night before, but for some top officers that were summoned in during or just after the incident, there was an element of anxiety (I would not say fear, though many were disconcerted)."

"The 'hush' order took a few days to trickle down ... "

"The first two aircraft, from the 56th Fighter Wing (310th Fighter Squadron), were armed only with 2x AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles and 20mm Vulcan cannons each. Once the flight was airborne, the flight leader called in that something 'odd' was occurring after he picked up a radar contact a few thousand feet below, and several miles ahead of his position. His radar was showing 'clutter' common to stand-off jamming."

"This led to two further F-16Cs from the 56th, that were being fueled and armed since the first flight was launched, being sent up. This pair, in addition to the armament as above, also carried 2x AIM-7M Sparrow medium range missiles as well."

Flight 1 leader was able to regain radar contact on something large and low that was beginning to accelerate rapidly. Flight 1 lost the contact approximately 7 miles south of Tucson, and was ordered to proceed close to the border and try to regain contact."

"Once Flight 1 lost radar contact, Flight 2 was ordered back to Luke (Flight 2 had just approached the Tucson area). Once Flight 1 was on station, attempts were made to re-establish radar contact to no avail. After 10 minutes or so, Flight 1 was ordered back to Luke."

"Further scramble of aircraft was initiated from Nellis AFB, Nevada (prior to the Phoenix sighting) and Holloman AFB, New Mexico (around 10 minutes after the Flight 1 scramble from Luke). F-16s from Nellis, no word on aircraft type from Holloman (at the time it was the only F-117A 'Stealth Fighter' base, with the Luftwaffe having a training squadron of Tornado aircraft, neither would have been used on an intercept mission)."

Topol-M/AL also noted, "Towers at several locations had tapes of the 'event.' Radar at Luke and Davis-Monthan were picking up low level 'noise' on several frequencies, similar to what had happened to Flight 1. This 'noise' was consistent with active wide-spectrum jamming."

"It was highly unusual for this to occur in an area that did not have that type of (jamming) training environment (nearest place this was done was at the Nellis AFB range)."

"According to many in the know, something physical was in the sky that night, with radar data providing the primary source of evidence. That 'something' entered Mexican airspace and promptly disappeared. Maximum recorded speed was at Mach 1.8 past Tucson nearing Fort Huachuca."

"The next day, intelligence units at both Luke and Davis-Monthan were abuzz. No one knew what had occurred, other than something physical was in the sky, an intercept was attempted, and there were thousands of eye-witness accounts (many of these being the flares)."

"Orders were apparently given for a flare-drop near Phoenix by a unit returning from the Goldwater range. This was considered highly odd to say the least, as that order was given while the main event was unfolding. These aircraft were likely A-10s."

"The orders that were given for the flare drop would have had to have been very high up, probably even officers outside the Luke and Davis-Monthan chain of command. For the average intelligence personnel working on the bases, this event was no doubt 'above their pay grade' and security clearance."

"The alert aircraft being scrambled is not uncommon. Anytime a small aircraft that is unidentified violates southern Arizona airspace, and does not answer radio hails, we will scramble fighters to intercept and ID the 'bogey.' What was unusual about that night were the contact reports from the first flight, and a second scramble of two additional aircraft. This is simply unheard of in day to day intercepts."

"However, I do know that USAF aircraft were chasing down something that night they could not positively ID, either on radar, or visually. Massive electronic interference occurred, knocking out the F-16s BVR (Beyond Visual Range) capability, forcing the fighters to close at short-range. After brief contact, the 'bogey' accelerated close to mach 2, and dashed south-southwest into Mexico," Topol-M/AL said.

Training and Preparedness

Some of the anonymous source's information does seem to dovetail with Randall Fitzgerald´s speculation about a U.S. operation of some kind. It also seems to point out that there may have been secrecy about the operation that even excluded Air Force personnel.

If it was a PSYOP test of some kind, the experiment seems to have also been planned to explore the reaction of local Air Force bases and units, local public safety officials and the news media (local, national and international) as well as the general public.

The idea that this was a planned event to test reactions seems to make sense to some people. The object or objects obviously wanted to be seen or didn't care if it was seen. But why? To see if there was mass panic? To prepare us for something in the future? It's unclear to most people.

Because of the many reports of UFOs and related phenomena and activities around the U.S. and around the world, it does seem wise to be prepared for many types of challenging situations that could occur.

A worthwhile training source is the well-known firefighter training manual "A Fire Officer's Guide to Disaster Control," published in 1992 by Fire Engineering Books & Videos, and written by firefighting experts William M. Kramer and Charles W. Bahme.

The authors are highly-trained and experienced. In addition to important and conventional firefighter training, a chapter is included titled "Disaster Control and UFOs." It covers certain risks and dangers associated with UFOs.

One section is subtitled "Adverse Potential of UFOs." The authors note that, "The two principal hazards noted with relation to UFOs have been attributed to powerful electrical fields which they can project in a general or localized area and the psychological effects they have produced on the general populace or individual contacts."

The authors also explain that "force field impact" can affect the electrical systems of vehicles and aircraft. Disruption of electronic-related communications systems can also occur. They also point out that regional power blackouts have been reported in conjunction with UFO incidents. Kramer and Bahme point out that public panic is also a concern for public safety officials and could be related to some of the other effects.

My March 2009, article on these topics, "UFOs and public safety: Firefighter manual explains risks," might be worthwhile reading for those interested in the Phoenix lights case.

Because, who knows, we may experience another incident like this in the future - and we should be prepared.