SIGHTING: CROSSVILLE, ILLINOIS (UNITED STATES)

Witness Testimony

"Saw the same object twice. First time the end of February. Stepped out on my back porch maybe midnight- 1 am. I saw some lights flashing to the SW. Red and white. Headed north. I thought it looked pretty much like a plane. Slow moving. No leaves on the trees, but the trees were obscuring my view a bit. I really wasn't paying much attention until suddenly the lights I had been watching went out and to the rear of those there was a sudden circular pattern of white lights. Maybe six or seven. They lit up in sequence. Very fast. 4 0r 5 times it went around then POOF. Just disappeared. The whole thing lasted maybe 45 seconds and I really didn't get a clear view. Just looked weird. Like a Ferris wheel in the sky and then nothing. I thought it was strange at the time, but didn't really get a good look.About a month later same scenario. Same time. I stepped out for a breath of air and this time it was SSE moving towards the NE. Watched for about 3 minutes. It was above the treeline and I got a good look. White light on top then red lower and slightly ahead then white lower. Looked very airplane like except the lights were separated vertically by more than a distant plane could be. I watched it for a couple of minutes or more. Same pattern. White, red, white. Once again I thought it looked a little strange, and then suddenly like the other time the front lights went out and to the rear there was this circular display. Very fast. Maybe 6 or 8 white lights in a circular pattern. Not sure if they went clockwise or counter. Just like the other time they ripped around several times for a few seconds and then nothing. All lights disappeared. Had a pretty good look the second time. Never saw a structure. Just lights. Never saw anything in the papers or TV about it. Still, I don't know of anything that has a vertical light display like that. And I'm pretty sure that airplanes just don't turn off their lights and disappear. I don't know. Might be an explanation. Looked strange to me though."