NUFORC Sighting 174956

Occurred: 2023-03-08 19:45 Local
Reported: 2023-03-09 22:43 Pacific
Duration: 1 minute
No of observers: 1

Location: Warsaw, MO, USA
Location details: About 250 feet above 65 Hwy just outside of Warsaw

Shape: Triangle
Characteristics: Lights on object

I saw a triangle of lights hovering quietly about 250 feet above Hwy 65 in Warsaw, Mo, with a sequenced series of flashes.

I was entering Hwy 65 on a ramp last night, accelerating up to about 45 when I saw what I expected was the life-flight helicopter that frequents a helipad nearby during medical emergencies. Usually it comes in from Clinton, Mo, to the west, then it circles back just south of Hwy 7 and lands. I've seen it a couple of time, and while it's creepy seeing it land right next to the hwy at night, it's obvious what it is.

We live near Whiteman AFB, so the airspace is controlled by the military. The only aircraft we see here are Air Force planes and choppers, the life-flight helicopter and on occasion a cesna.

But this object was North of Hwy 7 by about a half mile just hovering over what we call Lost Valley Road which is an outer road of Hwy 65. So, it drew my interest since it was just hanging over the hwy, and I rolled down my window to see if I could hear the sound of rotor blades chopping the air, but all I could hear was road and wind noise from driving 45mph.

As I approached the object, I vaguely remember a small, steady red light on the northern side, but it soon was gone as I was passing the object on its western side (and honestly, it could've been just me expecting to see a red light since most helicopters have them. The lights on it - I was so close that they looked more like globes, but not totally circular. A bit elongated, like if a globe and an old police light had a baby. There were two on the western side, and they switched between dim and bright in a sequence from left to right. There would be a small space of time then the sequence started again, left then right.

As I passed by it, I saw the third globe on the far side of the object, making the triangle shape. And I assume it was part of the left to right sequence, but I don't remember seeing it ever light up. Granted, I was seeing it from the rear side of that light. I was going to stay on 65 to go to my vacation rental that I own, but I wanted to get video or photos of this thing with my phone, so I pulled off on Hwy 7's ramp and sped to get turned around and come back down Lost Valley to get as close as I could. But I saw that it began pulling away. By the time I reached the road about 20 seconds later, I saw it was well off in the distance. Then as I was driving on Lost Valley, I saw that it had already reached the horizon. Then it was gone.

I wish I had just pulled over on Hwy 65 to get video, but it just seemed a little dangerous and my phone doesn't get good video at night, so I wanted to get closer.

I never saw an actual body to the craft, just the globes of light that were laid out in a triangle. I do assume that it had a body, however, because I couldn't see the light on the far side of the craft until I reached the southern side of it and was looking back and noticed the third globe.

Posted 2023-04-09