Mrs "Keller" and her adult daughter "Lucy", had just finished watching a video movie and were preparing to retire for the night.

Mr Keller had already gone to bed. Almost instinctively, Mrs Keller took a final peep outside between the curtains. Glancing down from her first floor apartment everything appeared normal. It was an hour-or-so after midnight and, as she indulged in a moment to take-in the stillness and the star-studded sky, something caught her attention.

The sky had a piece missing; a triangle piece! Quickly realising that this black triangle void in the sky was in fact an object of some kind, Mrs Keller began to feel uneasy and called Lucy to the window. This aerial object, now presumed to be an "aircraft", was little more than 80 feet off the ground and only about 200 feet from the apartment window!

Initial fear became subdued by curiosity as the witnesses noticed a number of strange things. This craft was completely silent, (the apartment windows are double-glazed, and it could not be recalled whether or not the ventilation window was open). The craft was also motionless, - "it was just hovering there"- and had no visible markings. Conventional navigation lights were not in evidence, but there was a row of constant white lights housed along the edges of the craft. After what seemed like two or three minutes, the craft flew off rapidly and silently into the night.

News of this astonishing incident didn’t come to my notice until over four months later, in August, 1997. And despite much discussion with the Keller family, I have been able only to have confirmed that the incident occurred during the first half of April. It was every UFO researcher'’ nightmare scenario where, while you’re oblivious to the outside world, (as I undoubtedly was at that hour) you’re ‘next door’ neighbour is encountering a "Flying Triangle"!

I have resided in the same apartment block as the Keller Family for many years, and have come to know them well. But it was only during the summer of 97 that my deep interest in things Ufological became known to the Kellers when, for a reason I cannot recall, the subject of UFO’s cropped-up in conversation. I think this prompted Mrs Keller to recount her experience, which she had hitherto shared only with extended family members. But now the story was in my lap, though I wasn’t altogether sure how best to use it. The trail, as it were, was already cold, and I had spoken with the only known witnesses. A report, albeit in article format, would ultimately become available to researchers and the public domain, once I’d had chance to piece together my already copious notes. But this wasn’t enough I felt, in relation to the magnitude of the event.

To appreciate my train of thought at that time, it is helpful to note that King’s Norton, (or Nortune, to use the district’s original name)- which is where the Keller incident occurred, - has long since transformed from an isolated village, to become part of it’s giant city neighbour Birmingham, (in middle England, for the benefit of overseas readers). Surrounding housing development has increased the local populace by several thousands. The Kellers apartment block for example, overlooked green fields during the 1960’s, but now sits adjacent to a large housing estate. The potential danger from any airborne craft cavorting around and between buildings is obvious, irrespective of its technology.

If I was to do anything about the Keller story, I considered that perhaps my best option would be to investigate communication with an appropriate department at the Ministry of Defence in London, which would at least provide an opportunity to test current official response to such matters. So at the beginning of September, 1997, I sent a report to the Secretariat (Air Staff) 2a, in Whitehall. A lack of response prompted further correspondence, but still I awaited a reply. I had meanwhile spoken briefly with researcher and author Nick Redfern, who has considerable experience of dealing with the M.O.D, but before I’d had ample time to consider his advice, a letter arrived from Whitehall.

The Keller issue wasn’t foremost in my thoughts when the letter arrived, as memories of a very recent sorte around R.A.F Rudloe Manor in Wiltshire, were taking centre-stage, with still lucid recollections of my brush with authority over "inappropriate use of a camera". Since then, I’ve had a tendency toward trepidation whenever I receive mail marked "O.H.M.S."! So it was with considerable relief that, far from being an ‘invitation’ to join the ‘silent minority club’, it was in fact a reply to my report, from a Miss Gaynor South at the M.O.D. Thanking me for the pile of notes and sketches I had despatched, Miss South went on to assure me that the "aircraft" observed by my neighbours was unlikely to have been military. H’mm. But it was the closing paragraph of the reply that I found particularly surprising:

(My emphasis)

Evidence from researchers more in tune with current attitudes within the M.O.D, as well as other, published official replies from the M.O.D regarding UFO reports from the public, shows clearly that the M.O.D does have an interest in objects entering U.K. airspace, other than foreign military aircraft. I have however, long since conceded on the prospect of obtaining a more comprehensive response from the M.O.D,…..though I have developed an irrational desire to peep from behind drawn curtains last thing at night!

In a bid to try and salvage something worthwhile from my enquiries, I broached the issue of unidentified aircraft, (thus avoiding the dismissive response to the term "UFO".) while in discussion with my local M.P about an unrelated matter. I commented that there seems to be "a problem with the M.O.D," etc, etc, a remark that unfortunately sparked only a modicum of interest by my M.P. My approach was perhaps a little too ambiguous, so I decided upon a more direct route, and subsequently mailed a copy of the M.O.D letter to the M.P, together with an outline of the Keller incident, in the hope that a more active interest in the case might be ignited. I have to say, this avenue too has proved to be a cul-de-sac.

Just sometimes, a reward comes the way of those prepared to sit and wait. Following a letter dated April 12 1999, from a Mr J Anderson to the M.O.D, such a reward was about to reveal itself. In his letter, Mr Anderson enquired whether the M.O.D had received a UFO sighting report concerning an unusual object observed above the M2 in Kent. Replying in the affirmative, the M.O.D surprisingly went further by answering Mr Anderson’s question about the role of department DI55, a reply which amounted to a facit admission by the M.O.D, that they do maintain an official interest in UFO’s, albeit under the veil of "air defence matters". This unprecedented M.O.D letter was later published in full in "UFO Magazine". Does this letter indicate a shift in public policy regarding UFO’s: are we at last going to be given the truth about what the Government knows of the UFO situation? While Ufology holds its breath, I am left to ponder what eventually happened to my report, and the odd silence by my M.P, who has never communicated. And to wonder if DI55, or whoever, actually know what it was that came so perilously close to my home on that April night, but are not permitted to say?

Gary Lanham