| A clerk at the Tern Hill Hall Hotel told | | | | that helped the British government |
| UK newspapers that the launch of Chinese | | | | prepare the MOD files on UFOs for public |
| lanterns for a wedding reception was | | | | release told the BBC: "Call me cynical, |
| behind the mass sighting of UFOs by | | | | but what are the chances that a flying |
| soldiers and civilians on June 7, 2008. | | | | saucer would come down from outer space |
| However, some experts disagree. Even if | | | | in exactly the same place where lanterns |
| the lanterns were released as claimed, | | | | have been released?" He fails to notice |
| they would have been too small to | | | | the time discrepancy or perhaps doesn't |
| account for the objects that were | | | | care. Since most UFO researchers believe |
| witnessed, photographed and filmed. Mark | | | | that many of the MOD files were |
| Hanley, a British UFO Researcher says | | | | whitewashed before being released, his |
| that he has investigated many cases | | | | opinion should not be seriously |
| involving the release of Chinese | | | | considered. The helicopter crew involved |
| lanterns. "These objects are easily | | | | in the UFO incident made it clear that |
| identified." Hanley says. "The size, | | | | the object they saw with their eyes |
| colors and shape of the objects from the | | | | could not be seen with night vision |
| Tern Hill Hotel do not match what people | | | | goggles. Marshall Clayton, an employee |
| described or photographed... Lanterns | | | | of Night Owl Tactical (maker of night |
| burn up after a short time and do not | | | | vision goggles) says that would not be |
| behave in the manner described by | | | | the case if what came at the helicopter |
| witnesses of the UFOs observed on June | | | | was a Chinese lantern. "Any object that |
| 7th... The hotel told me that they | | | | is self-illuminating would easily be |
| announce the release of lanterns in | | | | seen with the goggles. Especially if it |
| advance to avoid complaints from | | | | has an active flame... a candle or |
| residents and local businesses that say | | | | battery powered light would stand out." |
| they are a distraction and may cause | | | | It's important to understand that other |
| fires." Hanley claims that the hotel has | | | | objects were seen and photographed on |
| been cited by local fire authorities on | | | | the dates of June 7-8, 2008. Shaun |
| previous occasions. Hanley's statements | | | | Williams, 12, was taking some daytime |
| are at odds with those of Stuart | | | | photos with a digital camera near his |
| Willett, the manager of the Tern Hill | | | | house. When he got home and reviewed the |
| Hall Hotel. Willett says, "We've had | | | | photos, a classic disc-shaped UFO |
| inquiries from residents before, but | | | | appeared on one of them along with an |
| it's the first time it's been classed as | | | | aircraft he was trying to photograph |
| a UFO." He claims that the hotel has not | | | | against a clear blue sky. Shaun said, "I |
| previously announced the release of | | | | couldn't believe it when I looked back |
| Chinese lanterns, but Anna Musgrave | | | | at my pictures and this strange object |
| disagrees. She is a local resident and | | | | was there." The object did not resemble |
| owner of a business that is near the | | | | a Chinese lantern in any way, shape or |
| hotel. According to several UK | | | | form. It's been thirty years since |
| newspapers, Anna says: "I had one of | | | | Steven Spielberg shocked audiences with |
| those lanterns land on my property | | | | his ground-breaking film, Close |
| (prior to this incident) and the ____ | | | | Encounters of the Third Kind. The film |
| thing caused damage. The hotel staff | | | | was fact-based with fictional |
| told us that they would be launching | | | | characters. As we near the thirtieth |
| those ______ things, but there was still | | | | anniversary of its release, it's sad to |
| damage. I complained to the | | | | see that the news media is still |
| authorities..." Whether or not the hotel | | | | obsessed with a need to provide |
| was responsible for the June 7, 2008 | | | | skeptical explanations for each and |
| sightings is a question that literally | | | | every UFO sighting or encounter. They |
| remains up in the air. However, that's | | | | still believe that the burden of proof |
| not the only sighting that some people | | | | is on us, but do not hold other news |
| are trying to debunk. The sighting of | | | | stories to that same standard. For MORE |
| what the Shropshire Star newspaper | | | | on these stories including details, |
| called "a huge unidentified object | | | | photos and video, visit |
| rising from the ground towards a police | | | | Author: Bill Knell is a popular |
| helicopter in Cardiff at 12.40am on | | | | paranormal author, speaker and |
| Sunday June 8..."is now also being | | | | consultant. Author's Website: Terms To |
| blamed on the Chinese lanterns, despite | | | | Use Article: Permission is granted to |
| the fact that they would have all burned | | | | use this article for free online or in |
| up long before that encounter. David | | | | print with inclusion of the author's |
| Clarke, a self-described "UFO expert" | | | | url. |