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From the High Desert book cover

From the High Desert

A Cultural History of Art Bell

Thumbnail for March 11, 2006: The Phoenix Lights - Peter Davenport

March 11, 2006: The Phoenix Lights - Peter Davenport

Mar 11, 2006
2h 30m
0:00 / 0:00
Art Bell welcomes Peter Davenport, director of the National UFO Reporting Center, to mark the ninth anniversary of the Phoenix Lights, one of the most significant UFO events since Roswell. Davenport shares his ongoing struggle with hoax callers flooding his hotline and the challenges of running a nonprofit reporting center.

Three eyewitnesses join the program to recount their experiences from March 13, 1997. Sue Watson and her daughter Monica describe a massive, silent boomerang-shaped craft that passed directly over their Phoenix home, so close the children waved at it. Stacey Rhodes, driving on I-10 near Casa Grande at 75 miles per hour, reports being underneath the object for nearly two minutes, observing seams on its hull resembling a ship. Both witnesses agree the craft spanned over a mile wide.

Dr. Lynne Kitei, a physician who remained anonymous for seven years, reveals her own sightings beginning in 1995 from her Paradise Valley home. She shares photographs she captured and discusses her documentary about the event. Dorothy from Las Vegas reports a similar formation the night before, on March 12th. The witnesses universally reject the official flare explanation, describing a solid craft of staggering proportions.

Key Moments

  1. Hovering between the mountain and the house: Sue Watson and her family describe the craft hovering between Camelback Mountain and their home, so close her boys lay on their backs in the yard and waved.

  2. Laser-like flash from the craft: Sue describes seeing a sudden flash of light, like a laser, shoot down from the right side of the craft just before it streaked off.

  3. Driving under the craft on I-10: Stacey Rhodes, on I-10 near the Sacaton Mountains, describes a five-light boomerang craft passing directly over her car as she drove 75+ mph in the opposite direction.

  4. Seams visible on the hull: Stacey reports seeing seams on the underside of the craft, estimating wingtip-to-wingtip at 3 miles, with the object engulfing her entire field of view.

  5. Jets scrambled and forced to veer: Dr. Tanner recounts witnesses to F-15s out of Luke AFB attempting interception; one giant triangle held its ground over Deer Valley Airport, forcing two jets to veer to avoid collision.