| INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT Fran Ridge, Investigator CASE: MISSILE-LIKE OBJECT; MAY 10, 1988, NEW HAVEN, ILLINOIS I had received a call that very evening from the witnesses, residents of our town of Mt. Vernon, Indiana, and they had reported that they had just observed a strange object a few miles west of the toll bridge on the Wabash River near New Haven, Illinois on hwy 141. The object was observed for a few seconds at approximately 7:40 PM CST, traveling NE to SW at 50-100' (Form 1 stated 75') skimming the tree-tops at "tremendous speed"  Drawing by staff
artist, Robert Taylor
May 18, 1988; nr. New Haven, Illinois At 7:40 p.m. CST, three witnesses were on their way to Two Tony's smorgasboard at Carmi. (It turns out that the restuarant wasn't open on Tuesdays). But on the way to Carmi the object was seen west of the Wabash River bridge on hwy 141. They first noticed the object when it flew so close to the ground in front of the car and they actually thought it was some kind of missile. It was travelling very fast and right over the tree tops. The object could move up & down, and "easy as it went", and had a reddish small ring or indentation (see drawing) around the middle of it where it looked like it was joined together. According to one of the witnesses it looked "like a shark", was a light gray, about 25' long, smaller than a jet. The object had no wings, made no noticeable sound, had tail fins which were different (like horizontal stabilzers) where the rear horizontal stabilzers would be on a conventional aircraft. The object was further described as missile-shaped with a nose turned up slightly. The witnesses were on hwy 141 heading west when the object flashed coming from the northeast and heading southwest, passing within an estimated thousand yards and 200' altitude at close approach. They lost sight of it when it became obscured by trees. There was a jet fighter, most probably an F-4 Phantom, in the area at the time, flying higher, but on a parallel (possible pursuit) course. The witness say the jet was seen & heard less than 10-seconds later and "on the same track". So it appears It might have been looking for the object. Map
of area with closeup looking southwest
The witnesses were not UFO enthusiasts or readers of those
types of books. In fact, the conversation in both
instances stayed right on the incident and no deviations
and/or questions about UFOs were noted. The description of
the event never varied. It was determined that the object
was very close to them and very fast, as they had
originally stated. However it is difficult to estimate
speeds and distances. This incident occurred very near a
point where F-4's have made low passes and, in one case,
two vehicles were disabled by some form of E-M effects but
no UFO was observed that time!Map of area showing region, New Haven & Mt. Vernon Map of area showing destination Carmi in NW corner Map of tristate area "Bad drawing" of area by witnesses * This was a qualitative and comprehensive investigation and all materials, including the investigation sequence guide, signed forms, etc. were submitted to MUFON HQ, DDI Dan Wright, Robert Boyd at CUFOS, and a courtesy copy was submitted to the Illinois State Director. Thomas Stults. ENDREP * Witness comment, not the investigators <GRIN> |
