Field Investigation of UFO Reports                   (9/15/96 draft)

Written by Craig R. Lang -- Field Investigator, Mutual UFO Network  (e-mail: craig@craigrlang.com)

 In the U.S., it is estimated that up to 10 percent of the population have seen something in the sky at least once in their lives, that they could not explain.  It is also estimated that at most 10 percent of all such sightings are reported.  The goal of the Mutual UFO Network  (MUFON) is to increase the percentage of such sightings.  By analyzing these reports, we hope to gain a clearer picture of the UFO phenomenon. 

The focus of MUFON is to perform a detailed followup investigation.  To report a UFO sighting, MUFON has established a UFO reporting webpage.  Based upon the location of the caller, the MUFON staff will then notify the state director in the region who will begin a detailed investigation.  The national MUFON organization also maintains a site on the internet World Wide Web, or you can report a sighting through the MUFON Worldwide UFO Database Reporting Site. 

In Minnesota, you can report a sighting to MN MUFON through the Minnesota MUFON web site.  From that site, the you can report a sighting by e-mail, or you can fill out our sighting report form.  Or, if you wish, you can look up the name and phone number of (or send e-mail to) one of our local field investigators.

The initial purpose of a UFO field investigation is to determine if the object you saw was in fact a UFO.  MUFON investigates sighting reports in detail.  If a sighting does not seem to have a conventional explanation, the investigator will send a detailed report to MUFON headquarters to be included in the MUFON sightings database.  In addition, further research may be done by the investigator, or by one of the MUFON consulting experts.  From the investigation of many sightings, researchers can determine the characteristics of UFOs, the overall trends in sightings, etc.  The hope is that we can unlock the secrets of the UFO phenomenon.

Each UFO sighting is a piece of the puzzle and your sighting may contain an important clue.  I urge any person who has seen a UFO, or has had a UFO-related experience, to please report it.  Sightings may be reported one of our investigators, or directly through the Minnesota MUFON web site.  From this, we can work with you to perform a detailed followup investigation.  Craig Lang can be reached by e-mail at craig@craigrlang.com or through his website at www.craigrlang.com.