Strange Flying Objects Sighted

Strange Flying Objects Sighted

Many Witnesses See Them Zoom; Explanation Sought

Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies are working with Civil Defense officials and Air Force officers in an attempt to find an explanation for four strange flying objects sighted over this area early this morning.

Deputy Buford Bushroe called the objects "the weirdest things I've ever seen."

Bushroe and Deputy John Foster first saw the objects at 3:50 a.m. as the officers were cruising on Waters Rd. near Lima Center Rd. in Lima Township.

They said there was a single, red-green object at first, moving at what were described as "fantastic" speeds. The object appeared like a distant star and appeared in the northwest part of the sky, the deputies said.

The officers notified the County Jail headquarters of the object and moments later police agencies from Livingston County, Monroe County and the City of Ypsilanti were in contact with the jail to report sightings of the strange object.

Police in Sylvania, Ohio, also said they saw the object, as did officers in the Village of Dexter.

The object would zoom straight upward, stop, hover momentarily in the air and then speed straight downward, the deputies reported. The object was joined by a second object about 4:30 a.m. and in 45 minutes two more appeared, the deputies said.

The four objects flew in tight formation, still exhibiting what deputies called great speed and "amazing maneuverability."

Finally about 5:30 a.m., the four objects made a wide arc in the sky, turned toward the northwest and sped out of sight, the officers said.

Air Force observers at Selfridge Base said they were able to see the objects, but were unable to pick them up on their radar equipment. An Air Force spokesman said no government aircraft flew in the Washtenaw County area at that time.

Col. Gerald Miller, County Civil Defense director, launched an investigation with deputies and Air Force officials into the origin of the objects.