Long Island UFO Update - Vol 03 No 03 and 4

Magazine Overview

This is the March & April 1992 combined issue of "Long Island U.F.O. Update," Volume III, Issues III & IV, published by The Long Island U.F.O. Network Inc. The issue celebrates LIUFON's fourth anniversary and features a cover story detailing a large boomerang object sighting over Sunbury, Pennsylvania, on February 4th, 1992, by witness John Reitz. The object was estimated to be over 1200 feet across and was observed by at least 16 witnesses.

Membership Meetings

The last membership meeting was held on May 29th, 1992, at the South Country Library in Bellport Village, featuring the first two parts of a new slide lecture series. The completed series is expected to exceed 600 slides and last 4.5 hours. The next scheduled meeting is on June 26th, 1992, at 6:30 PM in Bellport Village, featuring a video documentary titled "U.F.O.s; It Has Begun." Future meeting dates are listed as July 24th, August 14th, and September 24th, 1992, all at 6:30 PM at the South Country Library.

The Journal

The next installment of "The Moriches Bay Crash Retrieval" will be published in the last week of June and disseminated to members in July. The journal is exclusively for members and cooperating researchers.

Newsletter Issues

An apology is issued for the late delivery of the previous newsletter due to insufficient postage, which resulted in members not being notified of the April meeting. The Stew Swerdlov Case report will be rescheduled.

The Newsletter

Members interested in contributing articles or working on the newsletter staff are encouraged to contact the Network. Those wishing to write a regular column must submit a sample, with the subject matter pertaining to UFOs or their scientific understanding.

Operation Long Island Skywatch

Weekend skywatch operations for photographic evidence of UFOs over Long Island have had poor performance due to bad weather affecting turnout. LIUFON has adopted a policy of only sending out teams if a significant number of members volunteer for a specific Saturday night operation. Members are advised to call at least a day in advance to volunteer.

UFOs in the News

Ellen Crystal has published a book titled "Silent Invasion" about mysterious happenings in Pine Bush, NY. She appeared on Larry King Live and other TV shows to promote it. The May airing of the CBS TV movie "Intruders," based on Bud Hopkins' book, is seen as a turning point in public consciousness regarding the UFO Abduction Phenomenon. The film is praised for its depiction of abduction characteristics, evidence, and government cover-ups. Dr. David Jacobs of Colorado is mentioned as having published a worthy book.

LIUFON News

During March and April, LIUFON was active investigating UFOs and making public appearances. Chairman John Ford and Frank Columbo appeared on Lee Morehead's Cable TV Show to discuss the Moriches Bay Incident, leading to a repeat performance due to public reaction. LIUFON has been invited back for future appearances. LIUFON Chairman John Ford has also been active with speaking engagements across Long Island, including at the Southold Indian Museum, Forest Hills Library, Dix Hills Library, Windsor Park Library, and North Hills Library, discussing the Moriches Bay Incident Report. The Staten Island Register is planning a major article on UFOs featuring LIUFON's work. LIUFON membership has increased by twenty members in the last three months. A planned fall conference may be postponed to Spring 1993 due to budgetary constraints. LIUFON was established on April 22, 1988, by John Ford and Richard Stout, and has become a recognized UFO research organization.

Chairman's Corner: A Gallant Effort in a Just Cause

This section, written by John Ford, details the efforts of Dave Chase of "The Open File; Confidential Communications Network" in exposing the alleged fraudulent activities of Bill Knell. Knell, who lectured and promoted himself as a leading UFO researcher, is accused of selling tapes, missing appointments, violating confidentiality, and involving a 12-year-old boy in his activities without parental consent. Chase uncovered Knell's background as a tape bootlegger and hoaxer. After confronting Knell, Chase severed relations, and Knell allegedly began slandering and threatening Chase. LIUFON became involved after receiving copies of its newsletter exposing Knell. Chase runs a Public Access TV show called "The Open File." LIUFON is assisting Chase by providing documents for legal action against Knell for copyright infringement. Chase has produced a series of five one-hour TV shows on Continental Cablevision exposing Knell, which aired in Springfield, Massachusetts. The article concludes by encouraging Dave Chase for his efforts.

Scheduled Library Talk Dates

Several library talks are scheduled throughout 1992, including dates in Bellerose, Islip, Glendale, Huntington, and Lindenhurst, with times ranging from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Attendees are advised to confirm programs with the library or LIUFON hotline.

The Sunbury Boomerang Sighting, Feb. 5, 1992

This detailed report from the archives of the Long Island U.F.O. Network describes the sighting of a large boomerang object over Sunbury, Pennsylvania, on February 5th, 1992, at 6:30 PM. Witness John Reitz heard a rumbling noise, felt vibrations, and saw three large lights in a triangular formation. He estimated the object's size to be three football fields in width and its altitude between 150 to 200 feet. The object's lights illuminated the surrounding forest. Reitz's attempts to find other witnesses were unsuccessful. The local police and FAA had no reports. The news media, including TV Station 22 and "The Daily Item" newspaper, reported on the sightings, with local authorities offering explanations such as misidentification of military aircraft (KC-10, C-5A Galaxy, C-130s) or the Soyuz Space Station. However, the station admitted it could provide no explanation for the sighting, and it was later learned no military aircraft were flying that night.

The International U.F.O. News Bulletin

An advertisement promotes subscribing to Diane Montrose's "U.F.O. News Bulletin" for the latest information on ufology from reputable sources. Subscription rates are provided, along with the mailing address for subscriptions.

UFO Curious Contact Service

An advertisement for "Mutual Interests 'L.I.'" offers a contact service with coded names and confidentiality for information.

The Long Island Scene

This section reports on UFO activity in the metropolitan area during March and April. It mentions sightings of large triangular objects over the Fresh Meadow area of Queens in the fall of 1991, where aircraft maneuvered to avoid the object. Information was received about a possible witness with photographs of the retrieval of an object from Moriches Bay. Efforts to locate this individual have failed. A report from Florida mentions a landed UFO photographed in April, but some doubt has been cast on its validity due to efforts by Kelly Freeman. The West Islip Abduction Case has been closed as the subject refuses further regression sessions. A major report on the Stew Swerdlov Case is being prepared. An incident on March 12th, 1992, near the Bagatelle Road exit of the Long Island Expressway involved a disc-shaped object seen from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, prompting a call to Channel 12 Cable News.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include detailed reporting of UFO sightings, particularly the Sunbury boomerang sighting, and the ongoing investigations and activities of LIUFON. The publication strongly advocates for the investigation and acceptance of the UFO phenomenon, as evidenced by its coverage of various sightings and its critical stance on alleged hoaxers like Bill Knell. The editorial stance appears to be one of active research, information dissemination, and a commitment to exposing what they perceive as misinformation or exploitation within the UFO community. There is a clear emphasis on member involvement and the importance of their contributions to the organization's efforts.

This issue of THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL UFO REVIEW, dated April-May 1992, is published by THE LONG ISLAND U.F.O. NETWORK INC. (LIUFON). The magazine focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena, featuring detailed reports, witness accounts, and investigative findings.

The Dix Hills, L.I., Sighting (March 12, 1992)

The issue details a UFO sighting that occurred on March 12, 1992, in the Dix Hills area of Long Island, New York. The object was described by witness Terry Dimonde of Deer Park as an oval shape, resembling a frisbee, seen at a high altitude for approximately three hours. It possessed a highly reflective, polished, silvery texture and appeared to emit light beams from its underside. Numerous witnesses in the area, including Channel 12 News, observed the object. The investigation was conducted by Ron Sierra and Buzz Eldridge of LIUFON, who concluded that the object was likely not a conventional aircraft, though its exact nature remained unknown.

UFOs in the News

This section provides updates on various UFO-related news and research. It highlights Dr. Jacobs, a Professor of History and Politics at Temple University and a respected UFO Researcher, who has published a book titled "Secret Lives." This book is a compilation of evidence from 60 UFO abductees, detailing over three hundred personal abduction experiences. The book is described as a "Must Read" for researchers and is currently available in hardcover from Simon and Schuster for $21.00.

A segment discusses a film excerpt from a September 1991 Space Shuttle flight, which showed reflective objects moving at high speeds. While NASA suggested these were "Ice Crystals," scientific analysis indicated one object maneuvered at speeds exceeding 15,000 miles per hour, leading to speculation about the "Star Wars" system.

The Fund for UFO Research, a non-profit organization, awarded the Donald Keyhoe Award for Journalistic Excellence to three journalists: Cathy Wogan, Cindy Horswell, and Linda Moulton Howe, for their objective reporting on UFO stories. The award is named after Major Donald Keyhoe, founder of the National Investigating Committee for Aerial Phenomena.

The Cherry Hill, New Jersey Sighting (February 5, 1992)

This report details a sighting on February 5, 1992, near Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The witness, whose identity was kept confidential due to concerns about his resident alien status, described a large, illuminated crescent shape object of immense size hovering in the sky at an extreme altitude. The object had many small white lights on its surface and a dull metal gray texture. It was observed for several minutes while the witness drove, and several aircraft, possibly military, appeared to be circling it. LIUFON checked with the FAA and found no confirmation of strange reports, but noted that the sighting might be part of a series of "Boomerang objects" reported in the area that night.

The Concord, New Hampshire Sighting (March 3, 1992)

On March 3, 1992, Roger Cross of Manchester, NH, reported observing a large triangular shaped object over Concord, New Hampshire, at approximately 7:50 P.M. The object was described as being comparable in size to three times the acreage of the local city park and displayed three bluish-white lights in each corner. Mr. Cross heard a tremendous sound similar to a tempest before seeing the object. Local radio station WNNH reported similar sightings at a higher altitude. This sighting is noted as part of a series of sightings of triangular and boomerang-shaped objects nationwide during February and March of that year.

Scranton, Pennsylvania Sighting (January 8, 1992)

On January 8, 1992, over two hundred witnesses in the Scranton area reported observing a formation of strange flashing lights above Newton Township. The lights were captured on videotape by a local high school science teacher and aired on nationwide TV. While the Director of Emergency Services for Lackawana County refused to call the lights a UFO, dispatchers who viewed the tape stated they were not aircraft or ultra lights. Stan Gordon of PASU consulted on the sighting, suggesting the lights could have been misidentification of aircraft or an unusual configuration of stars or planets.

Boston, Massachusetts Event (December 3, 1991)

An unidentified object that passed Earth on December 3, 1991, remained unidentified by astronomers. The object, which passed more than 240,000 miles from Earth, showed dramatic variations in brightness, suggesting an irregularly shaped, tumbling object with unusual surface reflectivity, unlike a typical asteroid. Some suggested it was a spent rocket booster or an errant satellite.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, including detailed eyewitness accounts of distinct UFO shapes and behaviors, investigative efforts by organizations like LIUFON, and the broader context of UFO research and reporting. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into these phenomena, presenting evidence and witness testimony for the reader's consideration, while acknowledging the limitations of current explanations and the ongoing mystery surrounding many sightings. The magazine also highlights the importance of UFO abduction research and the scientific approach to studying the phenomenon.