Long Island UFO Update - Vol 02 No 06

Magazine Overview

Title: LONG ISLAND U.F.O. UPDATE
Issue: VI
Volume: II
Date: June 1991
Publisher: THE LONG ISLAND U.F.O. NETWORK INC.

This issue of 'The Long Island U.F.O. Update' is primarily dedicated to an exposé of 'Island Skywatch', a U.F.O. research group, and its leader, Bill Knell. The magazine details accusations of dishonesty, media manipulation, and questionable practices within the U.F.O. research community.

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

The editorial states the purpose of this exposé is to alert the public, LIUFON's membership, and the wider U.F.O. community to the real nature and direction of Island Skywatch and Bill Knell. It aims to educate the public about Knell's methods and the issues involved in U.F.O. research.

The Beginning of Island Skywatch

According to the report, Bill Knell was expelled from the Long Island U.F.O. Network (LIUFON) in February 1989. Following his expulsion, he allegedly continued to use the LIUFON name, claiming affiliation and even giving lectures as a LIUFON representative without authorization. He rejoined MUFON and became the Queens County Section Director. Around April 1989, he was contacted by members of New York MUFON who were forming an independent research group. This group, which included Diane Montrose, Phil Lord, Herb Taylor, and Robert Atlas, was already functioning before Knell joined. In June 1989, the group was formally established as Island Skywatch, with Knell elected as the official spokesperson, though not the chief executive.

The article suggests that Knell was never intended to be the leader, but rather the spokesperson. He gradually assumed more authority, dominating the group due to the other members' limited free time. Knell is credited with leading an impressive effort to build the organization, holding numerous free lectures and addresses across Long Island from 1989 to 1990. However, it is noted that he often pushed his tapes for sale at the end of these talks. He gained significant media attention, including an article in 'Newsday' and appearances on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' and 'Joan Rivers Shows'. Island Skywatch grew rapidly, with an estimated membership of up to 150 and attracting attention from other states.

The Kissena Park Case

A major event highlighted is the Kissena Park Case in Queens. The report alleges that in March 1989, witnesses on a Q-65 Bus reported seeing a bright, self-illuminated object in Kissena Park. Knell investigated the site, collecting soil samples and other alleged evidence. He claimed Dr. William J. Fateley analyzed the soil, indicating it was cooked and dehydrated. However, the article suggests these findings were later proven false by Phil Lord and Brian O'Connor. Knell presented his findings to the media, leading to ridicule on Channels 7 and 5, but received serious coverage from local newspapers like The New York Tribune and The Flushing Tribune. Other researchers, like Mike Luckman of The New York Center for UFO Research, expressed skepticism about the circle's authenticity. Astronomer Dr. Gregory Matloff also concluded the soil patterns were not due to extreme heat and were common in New York City parks. The article points out inconsistencies in Knell's account, such as his failure to disclose witnesses and his inability to produce the lady witness when promised. The death of fish in the pond at Kissena Park, which Knell attributed to the event, is also mentioned.

Legal and Ethical Issues

The issue includes a letter from Bill Knell to Walt Andrus, dated January 26, 1991, in which Knell acknowledges being fired from MUFON. He expresses disagreement with the reasons for his dismissal and criticizes David P. Lord, whom he had recommended as his replacement, for allegedly slandering him on a cable television program. Knell politely requests Andrus to address Lord's behavior, warning of potential legal action.

Another section details a letter from Coleman Von Keviczky, attesting to his attempts to collect a $2,000 judgment awarded by the court for video tapes stolen by Bill Knell. These attempts have been unsuccessful.

A printout from the New York State Motor Vehicle Department shows that Bill Knell's Chevy Van is registered to his mother, suggesting he is insulating himself from civil judgments.

Copyright Infringement Allegations

A copy of a release signed by Bill Knell is presented, authorizing the airing of Linda Hove's copyrighted documentary 'Strange Harvest' on Barry and Debbie Gellis' show, 'UFO's Today'. However, further investigation by Barry Gellis revealed that Knell had no authority from Linda Hove to air the film or distribute it. Knell was allegedly selling copies of the film through his 'Bootleg Video Business', leading Linda Hove's attorney to notify him to cease sales. The article states it is a clear case of copyright infringement.

LIUFON Activities and Notices

The magazine also provides updates on LIUFON's activities. Dick Ruhl appeared on WNYG to discuss Crop Circles in Great Britain. John Ford was interviewed by 27 radio stations about U.F.O. Abductions, including the James LeFante Case. LIUFON is planning a library talk on July 20th at the Lindenhurst Public Library featuring a presentation on the Moriches Bay Case. They are also organizing a lecture blitz for the fall and gearing up for membership meetings.

A special notice announces that Dick Ruhl, a LIUFON Investigator and Consultant, has suffered a minor heart attack. Members are asked to send get-well cards to him.

The long-awaited 'Journal' will be released in early August, featuring a comprehensive report on the Moriches Bay Case in two installments.

Other Mentions

Bill Knell's association with MUFON is detailed, including his role as Queens County Section Director. His diversification of Island Skywatch is noted, with Robert Atlas serving as Suffolk County Co-ordinator. Knell is also mentioned as having stiffed Mr. Atlas with a phone bill. The lack of accounting for collected funds by Knell is also raised.

Knell transferred over 100 sighting reports to UFO Researcher Bill English in New Mexico. He also obtained a public access TV show on Brookhaven Cablevision, which lasted 12 episodes. His relationship with the show's producer, Joseph Zuppardo, soured. Knell's appearance on the show, including his repetitive use of the same sweater, is noted as a potential reason for its non-renewal.

Knell also befriended Barry and Debbie Gellis, hosts of the TV show 'UFO's Today', and appeared on their program.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the alleged dishonesty and manipulative tactics of Bill Knell and his organization, Island Skywatch. The magazine strongly criticizes Knell's character, his business practices (including copyright infringement and selling stolen materials), and his methods of gaining media attention. The editorial stance is clearly against Knell and Island Skywatch, aiming to expose them as a 'discredited organization' and 'discredited researcher'. The publication positions LIUFON as a responsible entity within the U.F.O. community, working to police its own field and inform the public about deceptive practices.

Title: UFO Magazine
Issue: Part III, July's Newsletter
Date: November 19, 1990 (cover date of related correspondence)
Content Focus: This issue delves into the exposé of Island Skywatch and the alleged fraudulent activities of its leader, Bill Knell. It also documents several UFO sightings on Long Island during the summer of 1990 and discusses the legal ramifications of Knell's actions.

Legal Correspondence

The issue begins with a letter dated November 19, 1990, from Diane Rappoport of Legal & Business Affairs to Maj. Ret. Colman S. VonKeviczky. The letter acknowledges receipt of a release agreement and a check for $400 from VonKeviczky. However, Harpo Productions Inc., producers of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show', cannot honor VonKeviczky's request for credit in any rebroadcast, citing the difficulty of re-editing the program. The letter also notes that the film footage used was from a documentary produced by ICUFON, which was stolen from VonKeviczky by Bill Knell and subsequently sold to Don Ecker of 'UFO Magazine'. Ecker, believing Knell held the copyright, provided the footage to 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'. The letter concludes by stating that VonKeviczky was reimbursed for his loss, and that both he and Don Ecker were victims of Knell's 'Con Game'.

The Long Island Scene: UFO Sightings

This section reports on UFO activity on Long Island during the months preceding the publication. Several incidents are detailed:

• June 7th: A lady in Hicksville reported a large, silver-textured oval object over Old Country Road around 9:00 PM. The object had a red light and a white flashing light and moved westward without audible sound. She and her friends pursued it in their car but lost it near Bridge Road.
• June 9th: The 15-year-old son of a member reported a large cigar-shaped object over Deer Park at 9:01 PM. The object descended at an extreme altitude, hovered at a 30-degree angle, and emitted white sparks from its rear before disappearing. The witness noted that light aircraft began circling the area afterward.
• July 5th: At 1:00 AM, Allen Gross observed a large, highly illuminated blimp-shaped object near the Bayside Marina in Queens, traveling on the Cross Island Parkway. The object was estimated to be 250 feet long, 800 yards away, and at an altitude of 150 feet, moving easterly. It was silent and lacked gondolas or engines. Both the Met Life Blimp and Virgin Lightship Blimp companies confirmed their blimps were not airborne that night.
• July 14th: Around 8:30 PM, approximately 500 witnesses observed a 1000-foot-long cigar-shaped object hovering about 1/4 mile from the Meadow Brook Parkway Bridge to Jones Bridge, near Beach Four and the Jones Beach Theater. The object was brightly illuminated, turning the early evening sky to daylight.

Dick Ruhl of LIUFON investigated the first two cases and found no blimps were flying on those nights. The Bayside case was confirmed by contacting blimp companies. In the Jones Beach case, LIUFON and Dick Ruhl found no record of the sighting with Park Police or State Troopers, and the blimp companies confirmed their ships were not airborne.

The section concludes that a large cigar-shaped object is being seen around Long Island. It also notes unexplained sonic booms along the South Shore that do not coincide with Concord arrivals at JFK, and that the New Jersey Air National Guard has no military flights responsible.

The Case Against Bill Knell

This extensive section details the alleged fraudulent activities of Bill Knell, a researcher associated with Island Skywatch.

• Linda Moulton Hove Documentary: Barry Gellis and his wife, who were producing a program on UFO Animal Mutilations, asked Bill Knell for a copy of Linda Moulton Hove's documentary, 'Strange Harvest'. Knell claimed to be a licensed distributor and provided copies. However, Hove denied authorizing Knell to distribute or sell her film, stating he was only given a free tape. Knell eventually ceased selling copies after Hove contacted her attorney but later resumed selling them.

• Island Skywatch Internal Issues: Members of Island Skywatch, including Diane Montrose, Phil Lord, Bob Atlas, and Herb Taylor, became suspicious of Knell's claims and credibility. Bob Atlas left the organization due to disagreements and non-payment. Diane Montrose became disillusioned due to Knell's lies and his request to print a slanderous article ridiculing LIUFON.

• Pathological Liar Accusations: Several former Steering Committee members characterized Knell as a 'pathological liar'.

• South African UFO Crash Hoax: The issue of a crashed UFO in the Khalhari Desert, South Africa, involving photographs of alien bodies and government documents, is described as an infamous hoax. Knell had obtained these materials from a South African Air Force deserter and began circulating and selling them as 'UFO Evidence'. Antonio Huneeus cautioned Knell about the case being a hoax.

• Michael Hesseman Confrontation: When confronted about the source of documents, Knell initially refused to confirm his fax number and then claimed he got them from German Researcher Michael Hesseman. Hesseman had challenged Knell to prove the authenticity of the documents, which were later revealed to be pictures of a 'munified Indian child' from a 'UFO Magazine article'. Van Gruenen's story was proven a hoax.

• Resignations and Exposure: This incident led to Antonio Huneeus resigning from Island Skywatch, and several Steering Committee members, including Diane Montrose, also resigned. Diane Montrose discovered Knell was marketing a catalog selling 'Bootleg' copies of other researchers' work and copyrighted material without permission or royalties. She sent copies of his catalog to victims to expose him.

• Kissena Park Case: Knell was caught in a lie regarding the Kissena Park Case, with evidence fabricated. A reporter from 'Long Island Monthly' discovered that Knell had not contacted Dr. Fately, who denied knowing him or studying soil samples. Park authorities also refuted Knell's claims, and soil analyses indicated the circles were caused by a lightning strike on a tree.

• Island Skywatch Collapse: As a result of these issues, the Steering Committee of Island Skywatch resigned in protest. The organization began to fall apart, with members leaving. The Flushing Tribune published a story detailing the organization's problems and collapse.

• Colman VonKeviczky's Lawsuit: Colman VonKeviczky, founder of the Intercontinental U.F.O. Network, was another victim. He loaned Knell five video tapes, including a documentary owned by ICUFON with UFO footage. Knell never returned the tapes and began selling them. VonKeviczky sued Knell in Queens Small Claims Court for $2000 damages and won his case, but has not collected the money as Knell closed his bank accounts and titled his car in his mother's name.

• Film Footage Sale and Settlement: The film footage of UFOs was sold by Knell to Don Ecker, who believed Knell held the title. Ecker sold it to 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'. VonKeviczky sued the producers for airing his property and won an out-of-court settlement. The issue states that Knell steals research material from researchers to enrich himself financially.

Conclusion

The issue concludes with a statement that Island Skywatch has been exposed and the case against Bill Knell is detailed, with further information promised for the July newsletter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the investigation of alleged fraudulent activities within the UFO research community, and the legal and ethical implications of misrepresenting and exploiting research materials. The editorial stance is critical of Bill Knell, portraying him as a deceitful individual who has harmed fellow researchers and damaged the credibility of UFO investigation through his actions. The magazine appears to champion the cause of honest researchers and aims to expose those who engage in deceptive practices.