Long Island UFO Update - Vol 02 No 05

Magazine Overview

This issue of the "LONG ISLAND U.F.O. UPDATE", Volume II, Issue V, dated May 1991, is published by THE LONG ISLAND U.F.O. NETWORK INC. and priced at $2.00. The cover headline is "ISLAND SKYWATCH" and it features smaller headlines related to "U.F.O. HOAXES", "BOOTLEG VIDEOS", "CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES", "COPYRIGHT FRAUD", "SLANDER", and "MEDIA MANIPULATION". A central image on the cover depicts William Knell, with a UFO photograph above him, and includes a newspaper clipping about a gun dealer being held, along with the phrase "QUESTIONABLE U.F.O. EVIDENCE. EXPOSED!".

LIUFON NEWS

The "LIUFON NEWS" section on page 2 details the busy month of May for the organization, focusing on clearing a backlog of investigations. Half of the 47 outstanding cases were investigated. Due to a special issue, regular features were deleted and will appear in June. Two new investigators, Buzz Eldridge and Leola Sutton, have joined the staff. LIUFON Chairman John Ford was interviewed on the Bob Hieronimus Show, which aired on over 180 radio stations, leading to LIUFON being listed as a permanent speaker with the 21st Century Radio Network. The public response was positive. Debbie and Barry Gellis have been airing reruns of LIUFON programs, generating inquiries for membership. The long-awaited "Journal" on the Moriches Bay U.F.O. Crash Investigation, approximately 42 pages long, is nearing completion and is expected to be published by late June or early July. The delay was attributed to the changing nature of the investigation and mechanical issues with their photocopier. LIUFON is also expanding its reach, with its Florida chapter notifying Florida Police agencies about the organization. Kelly Freeman is mentioned as doing a great job with their hotline.

Membership Corner

The membership meeting on May 31, 1991, at the South Country Library featured the second installment on the Billy Meir case. The next meeting is scheduled for June 28, 1991, at the same location, featuring the final installment of the Billy Meir Case and a discussion of the entire case. A recent Channel 12 news clip about the organization will also be shown. The meeting is open to the public.

Operation Long Island Skywatch

Weekly sighting parties around Moriches Bay continue to photograph UFO activity. Interested individuals are asked to call during the week for confirmation of the location.

UFO Sightings

Members are urged to report any UFO sightings or news clippings to the organization for investigation. Reports can be submitted via hotline or by mail, with the sponsor's name mentioned in newsletters or journals.

AN EYE ON REPORT

This section, starting on page 3, presents an investigative report titled "ISLAND SKY WATCH; EXPOSED !!!! THE CASE AGAINST BILL KNELL !!!". It aims to inform members and readers about the "controversial organization and its leader, one Bill Knell", presented as a public service. The report alleges that Knell exploits human interest for financial gain and public recognition at the expense of others. It details his rise to prominence through presentations on UFO sightings, media coverage, and a weekly TV show. However, it claims his organization, Island Skywatch, is now in ruins, his name is discredited, and he has lost the trust of many researchers. The report states that his leadership left due to "falsehoods portrayed as real U.F.O. Incidents by Bill Knell" and that he is now "hounded by lawsuits and legal judgements", trying to avoid public attention.

The Case Against Bill Knell

Page 4 features a New York Daily News article dated March 6, 1984, detailing the arrest of William Knell for illegal gun sales. The article, by Don Gentile, reports that Knell, a Queens man, paid $10 for a federal license to purchase guns wholesale and allegedly sold over 1,000 weapons to "anybody that would buy them". Police Officer Steve Alu stated that "at least a thousand extra guns" were on the street due to Knell. The investigation began when officers noticed a rise in guns in the Flushing area. Knell, who had a license to sell rifles and shotguns but not handguns, was arrested after police delivered a shipment of 10 guns to him. He confessed to selling about 1,000 weapons since January 1, 1984. The article also mentions a separate case involving a teacher's pension and a missing retired doctor from London.

Page 4 also includes a commentary on the gun sales article, questioning how many of the guns sold by Knell were used in violent crimes and asking if such an "investigator" should be allowed into one's home. It notes that Knell has not denied the charges.

Bill Knell, His Background

Pages 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 delve into William Knell's background and his association with LIUFON.

• Early Life and Claims: Born and raised on Long Island, Knell claims his UFO interest began at age ten when he discovered a UFO landing circle at Jones Beach. He also claims a UFO landed behind his high school in Gulfport, Florida, where he formed a UFO club. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended Liberty Baptist College but did not complete his degree. He worked in loss prevention and as a security supervisor, including a brief stint guarding Mayor Koch.
• Allegations of Plagiarism: A story surfaces that Knell allegedly stole a manuscript from former LIUFON investigator Peter Barcello and published it as his own in the MUFON Journal, leading to a confrontation.
• Personal Experiences and Beliefs: Knell describes a CEIV event in Florida that affected him and his family, leading to mental distress. He states he is not a professional UFO investigator but applies normal investigative techniques. He believes UFOs are real physical phenomena but rejects the "NEW AGE MOVEMENT". He has investigated cases involving the CEIV incident, Mouny Misery, and Mary's Grave, and had pushed for investigations into military activity around Mount Misery in 1978.
• Investigative Equipment: He lists his photography and recording equipment, including Canon Sure-Shot, Fuji 35mm camera, Sony 8mm video camcorder, and GE VHS camcorder.
• Resume and Experience: His resume submitted to LIUFON for an investigator trainee position is discussed. It allegedly downplays his investigative experience in Long Island and with MUFON, contradicting his claims of "twenty years of experience". The resume allegedly failed to mention his criminal record or probation status.
• Association with LIUFON: Knell applied to LIUFON in October 1988 and was considered an investigator trainee. He agreed not to disclose confidential information and that LIUFON held title to all investigative data. However, the report details numerous infractions:
• Giving witnesses his personal address and phone number instead of the organization's.
• Placing advertisements with his phone number instead of LIUFON's.
• Issuing altered press releases with his number as the official contact.
• Handling press relations without authorization.
• Conducting private investigations without notifying the Chairman or Board.
• Further Allegations: Knell is accused of taking copies of official press releases and issuing them to the media, claiming to be the Queen's County Chairman of LIUFON and advertising his home number as the official hotline. This was done without the Board's knowledge or permission.
• Bootleg Video Business: Rick Govan, an investigator, uncovered that Knell ran a bootleg video business, which he had not disclosed to LIUFON.
• Expulsion: On February 2, 1989, the Board of Directors unanimously expelled Knell as a member and investigator. The report states Knell lied about resigning due to personal problems, asserting he was expelled for "pulling a lot of frauds against the organization."
• Criminal Record: Page 7 details Knell's arrest in March 1984 for illegal handgun sales. He confessed to selling over 1,000 handguns to criminals and others, pleaded guilty, and was adjudicated a first-time felony offender, receiving five years of supervised probation. This conviction ruined his career in the security field, potentially leading him to seek financial gain through UFO-related home video distribution.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical examination and discrediting of William Knell. The editorial stance is clearly accusatory, portraying Knell as a fraudulent individual who exploits the UFO community for personal financial gain and recognition. The magazine presents evidence of his criminal past (gun sales), alleged plagiarism, and numerous ethical and procedural violations within the LIUFON organization. The publication aims to expose what it terms Knell's "lies" and "misdeeds", warning readers about his character and questionable investigative experience. The overall tone is one of exposé and warning against a figure deemed untrustworthy and detrimental to the UFO research field.

Title: THE LONG ISLAND U.F.O. UPDATE
Issue: JUNE ISSUE
Date: 1991
Publisher: THE LONG ISLAND U.F.O. NETWORK INC.
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of 'The Long Island U.F.O. Update' focuses heavily on the alleged misconduct of an individual named Bill Knell and details several UFO cases investigated by the organization.

Part II: Island Skywatch Exposed! The Case Against Bill Knell!

The first part of the magazine details a significant dispute involving Bill Knell, who was expelled from L.I.U.F.O.N. (Long Island U.F.O. Network) two years prior. The organization claims to have uncovered evidence that Knell stole confidential materials, including video recordings, from their archives for commercial use without authorization. Furthermore, Knell is accused of launching a deliberate campaign to damage the reputation of L.I.U.F.O.N. and its members through his newsletter and public talks.

Specific accusations include Knell attacking the character and religious beliefs of U.F.O. expert Dick Ruhl, who is associated with L.I.U.F.O.N. Ruhl's belief that the UFO phenomenon might be linked to Biblical prophecy was reportedly used by Knell to label him a 'religious fanatic'. This animosity appears to stem from Ruhl's role in organizing the Vanderbilt Planetarium Show, where he convinced the director, Gary Levine, not to include Knell due to concerns about his credibility as a researcher. Knell allegedly responded by falsely accusing Levine of wanting speaker fees kicked back to the Planetarium, which the article states was a blatant falsehood.

L.I.U.F.O.N. states that these attacks on the organization and its research efforts continue. However, the article suggests that Knell himself has suffered negative consequences, with his own character and research efforts facing increased scrutiny and ridicule. In response to Knell's alleged theft of records, L.I.U.F.O.N. has retained legal counsel and is planning to file a large Federal Copyright infringement lawsuit and pursue criminal action against him.

The report also claims that Knell victimized other organizations and researchers. Upon leaving L.I.U.F.O.N., he allegedly continued to exploit their name for his own private research and public talks, using 'Island Skywatch' and the 'Kissena Park U.F.O. Landing case' which he is accused of faking.

The Long Island Scene

This section covers recent UFO activity and investigations. The month of May was described as quiet in terms of sightings, but L.I.U.F.O.N. was busy with its backlog of reports.

Riverhead Sighting (1973)

One case investigated involved a sighting reported in April 1990, dating back to June 1973 in Riverhead. A young mother and her three children reported a 'doned disc' that chased their car and blocked their path on Mill Road. The mother exited the car and saw the disc about forty feet away at a twenty-foot altitude. After the disc flew away, her daughter remarked that another one was behind their car.

The investigation, conducted by Ron Sierra, Frank Columbo, Tony West, and John Ford, included interviewing the mother and daughter. The daughter, now 22, also reported an experience three weeks after the sighting where a large grey mouse entered her room and levitated her bed. She was paralyzed and unable to move. This event reportedly caused her significant fear and emotional trauma.

The investigative team noted that the young woman showed signs of severe emotional trauma and was physically afraid of alien drawing reference manuals. The mother stated her daughter has shown 'tremendous psychic powers' since the UFO event and has had deep emotional problems. Both mother and daughter have reportedly had similar strange psychic events.

The case is considered to have the hallmarks of a UFO abduction with lasting effects. LIUFON plans further investigation, as interviews have brought up discrepancies that might indicate memory lapses or missing time.

Manhattan Abduction Case

This case was re-interviewed on May 19th by the team of Frank Columbo, Tony West, Gary Sudbrink, and John Ford. The young woman involved underwent three regressions with Bud Hopkins. These regressions reportedly revealed that six of her pregnancies were terminated by aliens, including one substantiated by medical records. These records have been provided to a medical doctor for review.

LIUFON states it will continue to investigate this case and provide updates.

Editor's Note

An apology is offered for the late arrival and printing of the newsletter, attributed to the organization's photocopier being down for three weeks during repairs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the internal conflicts and alleged wrongdoings within the UFO research community, specifically focusing on the conflict between L.I.U.F.O.N. and Bill Knell. The magazine also highlights the organization's commitment to investigating UFO sightings and potential abductions, emphasizing the need for rigorous investigation and documentation. The editorial stance is clearly against Bill Knell, portraying him as a dishonest individual who exploits others and damages the credibility of UFO research. The organization positions itself as a victim of his actions but also as a proactive entity pursuing justice and continuing its investigative work.