Published: Nov 25, 2009

The Estacada News

For three weeks in a row in January 1980, UFO sightings in Barton and Eagle Creek claimed the lead headlines on the front page of the newspaper.

The headlines included “Low flying UFO spotted in Barton flats,” “More UFO sightings reported here,” and “Hovering UFO photographed here.”

A retired pilot who witnessed one of the UFOs said that “its flying properties were unlike any other aircraft or helicopter he’s ever seen.”

The pilot said he saw a craft with six red lights in a v-formation descend rapidly, stop abruptly in mid-air, hover briefly and then commence traveling at a high rate of speed in another direction.

When interviewed by the local newspaper about the sighting, the pilot said: “That will really uncork you when you see something like that. I think I know the characteristics of things in the air. The G-forces in that thing would string out a body. You can’t go shooting through the air and stop like that.”