Long Island UFO Update - Vol 2 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: The Long Island U.F.O. Reporter
Issue Date: February 1990
Volume: II, Issue I
Publisher: The Long Island U.F.O. Network Inc.
Price: $2.00 to non-members

This issue of The Long Island U.F.O. Reporter, published quarterly, focuses on recent UFO sightings and investigations on Long Island, New York. The cover features a photograph of an alleged UFO taken in 1982 in Lawrence, NY, by Dr. Fells. The issue includes an update on the Moriches Bay UFO retrieval case, a report on the Columbia Street case, and a statistical analysis for 1988.

The Island Scene

The "Island Scene" section highlights the overwhelming influx of reports received by LIUFON, stating that in the first two months of 1990, they received over forty new reports, in addition to ten open cases from 1989. The organization is seeking more investigators. Several recent reports are detailed:

• Riverhead: Reports of landings in farm fields over the last several years.
• East Hampton: A woman reported an object hovering over her house, bathing her backyard in a white beam of light and depositing two alien entities. This was reportedly overheard by volunteer firemen, but the East Hampton Police denied the incident.
• Hauppauge: A 1976 report of a large object, 500 feet in diameter with a dome, accompanied by three smaller objects, buzzing the Long Island Expressway at exit 57.
• Brookhaven Town/Setauket: Repeated reports of animal mutilations (dogs, cats, raccoons) with no signs of blood, and surgical mutilation of the anal area in cats.
• Cedar Beach: A Labor Day weekend sighting of a large diamond-shaped object near the Shoreham Reactor, reported by six witnesses who saw it move towards the reactor after buzzing their position.
• East Quogue: A second object, similar to the September 28, 1989 Moriches Bay Case, was seen and followed a woman to her home, where it was observed by her husband and friends. The witnesses positively identified photos from the Moriches Bay Case.

The section concludes by mentioning that LIUFON has received reports of old sightings from ten to twenty-five years ago that have never been reported, and the organization is investigating these.

The Chairman's Corner

By John Ford

This section delves deeper into the incident that occurred on September 28, 1989, over Moriches Bay and the Dune Area of Smith's Point Beach. Ford posits that this may have been an attempt by the U.S. Armed Forces and Suffolk County Police Aviation Bureau to monitor a disabled UFO that had landed in the Dune Area. A second object, approximately 574 feet long, hovered over Moriches Bay. The Peterson family reportedly witnessed military and police helicopters monitoring the object in the dunes and surrounding the second object over the bay, and they photographed the incident. This type of operation is known in ufology as a Retrieval Operation.

The military, primarily the Coast Guard and Air National Guard, with police assistance, were involved. Their official explanation was a search for a reportedly sinking private boat, involving helicopters and a plane dropping flares. The police searched the bay until 9:00 p.m. The Coast Guard and Air National Guard used two helicopters and a KC-130 transport aircraft. The official call for the search was admitted to be a hoax by a prankster. However, LIUFON maintains that the evidence points to something else, despite official denials, citing the following:

1. Photographs: The Peterson family took forty-eight photographs of a large object composed of five large amber lights, which the military claims are parachute flares. The Fund for UFO Research analyzed these photos, determining the lights were not flares but cold light sources with no thermal readings.
2. Connecticut Sightings: A large object composed of six amber lights was seen in ten different locations in Connecticut an hour and fifteen minutes before the Moriches Bay incident, confirmed by researcher Phil Imbrogno.
3. Compass Anomalies: Fishermen in Center Moriches and Shirley reported a periodic 17-degree variation on their boat compasses in the area of the Moriches Inlet, sometimes rendering them inoperable.
4. Formation Flying: Two LIUFON investigators observed military and police helicopters practicing formation flying over Moriches Bay two weeks prior, using the same pattern as the night of the incident.
5. Landing Site: An area of 75 feet in diameter in the Dunes was discovered with crushed and dead vegetation, resembling a UFO landing site.
6. FAA Statement: An FAA official admitted only helicopters were involved in the search and denied any KC-130 involvement, contradicting the military's claim of flares. This implies the lights seen could have been from the helicopters, but the FAA's denial of a KC-130 raises questions.
7. FAA Record Destruction: The FAA destroyed records of this incident, claiming they only keep flight records for fifteen days. However, an FAA official later stated their records indicated only military helicopter activity, leading to questions about which records were being referenced.
8. Witness Accounts: The Petersons reported a large object with 5 to 6 amber lights. Simultaneously, Kathy O'Donnell and her husband reported a similar object chasing and following Kathy's car, noting its noiselessness and brilliant lights. LIUFON suggests more than one large object was present.
9. Government Scientist's Account: A government scientist allegedly relayed a story to LIUFON investigators that a UFO had been brought down by a secret "Star Wars" project at Brookhaven Laboratories, using a high-intensity laser developed for shooting down UFOs. The attempt to capture the object allegedly resulted in disaster and the loss of nineteen government lives due to resistance.

Ford concludes by presenting this information for the membership to judge, questioning whether it was a prank, a wild goose chase, or an event involving "National Security" covered up from the public.

Columbia Street Case Update

This section details an incident in October 1988 in Port Jefferson involving a disc-shaped object that buzzed a postal truck and responding police cars. It allegedly involved a Federal Agency covering up the incident and coercing silence from witnesses and the Suffolk Police. The story was leaked by anonymous police officers and a Suffolk County Government Official, along with a secret briefing manual for handling UFO incidents.

Key points uncovered:

1. The first police car on the scene (number 613) required maintenance due to electrical problems and blistering paint.
2. The Federal Aviation Administration was initially contacted to check for aircraft.
3. A Police Commander contacted a Federal Intelligence Agency after notifying superiors.
4. A house on Columbia Street became vacant two months after the story broke, used as an office for a CPA and exterminating service. The landlord claimed rent increases as the reason for vacancy, but refused to provide tenant information.
5. LIUFON has failed to find additional witnesses, despite the area being heavily populated. Residents claim they never heard of the incident.
6. After the incident was reported in newspapers, Sixth Precinct officers were reportedly told not to mention it, discuss it with families, or deal with LIUFON.
7. In June 1989, a nighttime sighting of two disc-shaped objects over Coram was reported to LIUFON, witnessed by two Sixth Precinct cars, a Sergeant, and two Police Officers, though the Sixth Precinct denies it. LIUFON learned of this through a confidential police source.

The case is presented as further proof that the Federal Government covers up UFO incidents on Long Island and will stop at nothing to keep them secret.

A photograph of the railroad crossing and yards at Columbia Street in Port Jefferson, NY, is included.

The Statistical Analysis for 1988

Prepared by Bruce Richardson, investigator for LIUFON, this section provides a statistical breakdown of 121 reported cases and 179 reports submitted in 1988.

Key statistics include:

• Gender: 47% male, 53% female witnesses.
• Number of Witnesses per Sighting: 1 additional witness (36%), no additional witnesses (31%), more than 2 (18%), 2 (15%).
• Day of Week: Most frequent sightings on Monday, followed by Saturday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday had the least.
• Time Period: Most frequent sightings in the 1980s, followed by the 1960s, then the 1970s.
• Distance: 31% occurred between 1-2 miles, 21% more than a mile, 15% less than a mile, and 9% greater than three miles.
• Heaviest Month: August (18 sightings), followed by July, September, November, and April. January and December had the least activity.
• August Breakdown: 13 of 18 sightings were between August 15th-18th. Locations included Watermill, Riverhead, South Hampton, East Hampton, Sagaponack, and Mattituck.
• Object Shape: 57% reported disc-shaped objects; 43% reported cloud-like objects or beams of light. Disc shape (67%) was the most common, followed by rectangle (4%), cigar (5%), triangle (5%), and lights (5%).
• Time of Day: 92% reported nighttime sightings, 8% daytime.
• Landings: 87% negative, 13% affirmative.
• Close Encounters/Abductions: 87% negative, 13% affirmative.
• Age Group: 20-39 years old (57%), 40-59 years old (18%), 0-19 years old (14%), 60+ years old (11%).
• Size Distribution: 28% reported objects of 50 ft., 21% between 30-40 ft., 16% of 500 ft., 7% between 3-15 ft., 7% of 1000 ft., and 7% in excess of 2500 ft.
• Surface Description: Most frequently described as dark grey, followed by black blending with the night sky.

A drawing labeled "THE LONG ISLAND DISC" is included, described as the most frequently seen object, typically 30-50 feet, seen as a singular object with lights or windows.

The analysis is based on LIUFON's independent research.

Doctor Fell's U.F.O. Photo Case

This section details the investigation into two photographs of UFOs taken by Dr. David Fells of Lawrence, NY, in February 1982. Dr. Fells contacted LIUFON in September 1988, stating he had held onto the pictures for six years, as he never remembered seeing the objects at the time he took them. The photos showed a white disc in the evening sky. A fifth picture showed the interior of the room from which the photos were taken.

LIUFON's photo expert, Chris Zamboni, analyzed the negatives and photos. He found no evidence of trick photography or emulsion alterations. However, he detected a reflection in the lower left of the pictures, indicating they were taken through a glass window. This coincided with Dr. Fells' statement. The main problem was that the UFOs only appeared after the pictures were developed, and nothing was witnessed by Dr. Fells. Zamboni suggested a possible explanation: a recessed light fixture in the ceiling behind the window. The question arose whether someone turned on the light while Dr. Fells was taking the pictures, particularly the ones with the white discs.

Dr. Fells was contacted again to recall if anything unusual happened during the photo session.

The U.F.O. Fact Sheet

By Kelly Freeman

This fact sheet aims to provide a basic understanding of the UFO problem for the uninformed. It lists 15 points:

1. UFOs are seen daily worldwide.
2. UFOs appear in various shapes, sizes, and colors, not just traditional discs.
3. UFOs may be interplanetary, interdimensional, or from unexplored regions like oceans.
4. Entities described include small, grey-skinned beings with large heads and eyes.
5. Thousands have reportedly been abducted by UFOs.
6. Close encounters can have serious physical effects due to radiation.
7. Entities have displayed both benevolent and malevolent actions.
8. Worldwide, 12 to over 51 alleged UFO crash/retrieval operations have been reported in the last 45 years.
9. Cattle and animal mutilations continue globally.
10. UFOs are routinely reported over military installations, nuclear facilities, and restricted areas.
11. Military personnel witnessing UFOs are debriefed and sworn to secrecy.
12. The U.S. Government will stop at nothing to keep UFO information secret.
13. Governments practice a coverup regarding UFO existence.
14. Understanding UFOs is imperative for evaluating their impact on national/world security and lifestyles.
15. UFOs are real!!

Editor's Note: The note mentions that reports of animal mutilations and heavy UFO sightings often coincide with rumors of human disappearances and mutilations, though human mutilations have not been documented by researchers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings on Long Island, the alleged involvement of government agencies in monitoring and potentially covering up UFO incidents, and the detailed analysis of reported phenomena. LIUFON's stance is that official explanations are often insufficient and that government secrecy is a significant factor. The publication aims to present evidence and encourage further investigation and understanding of UFOs, asserting their reality and importance to national security.

This document is page 10 of a magazine issue, likely from the "U.F.O. International" publication, as indicated by the context of the article and the presence of the "L.I.U.F.O.N. ARCHIVES" reference. The issue date and volume are not specified.

Analysis of Doctor Fells' Photographs The primary focus of this page is the detailed analysis of a series of photographs taken by an individual identified as Doctor Fells. Initially, these photographs were believed to depict a Unidentified Flying Object (UFO).

Initial Interpretation Doctor Fells reported that the light was turned on at anytime, and his wife entered the room at that moment. The two photos in question show a disc-like object. The analysis suggests that reflections in the photos appear to be from a window behind the photographer. The angle of the top of the reflection of the window and that of the disc are identical, leading to the hypothesis that the photographer tilted the camera. Because the ceiling fixture and the top of the window behind the photographer are on the same axis, they appear at the same angle in the photo.

Chris Zamboni's impression was that the picture was a double exposure of the ceiling light on the window behind the photographer, reflected onto the window in front of the photographer and captured by the camera. This interpretation suggested the object was a UFO.

Expert Verification To verify this explanation, L.I.U.P.O.N. (Long Island UFO Network) sent the negatives and pictures to a second, anonymous expert in early 1989. This expert examined the materials again and supported the initial analysis done by Chris Zamboni. The second expert was able to match the dimensions of the light fixture with those of the two discs in the pictures. Furthermore, the expert noted that Doctor Fells had stepped to the right somewhat, which resulted in the impression in the fourth picture that the object had moved.

General Conclusions on UFO Reports The article concludes with important caveats regarding UFO reports and photographic evidence:

• It is stated that in Ufology, 90 to 95 percent of all UFO reports are misinterpretations of conventional objects or situations.
• Photographs should not be taken as prima facie evidence of real objects, as they can often be faked or misinterpreted themselves.
• The case of Doctor Fells' photographs is presented as an example of such a misinterpretation.

Supporting Images and Information Page 2 of the document contains supporting visual evidence:

• "THESE ARE TWO MORE OF THE PHOTOS DEVELOPED FROM DOCTOR FELLS' SERIES OF NEGATIVES THAT HE SENT L.I.U.F.O.N.": This caption introduces two additional images.
• Image 1: Labeled "THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE EVENING SKY WITHOUT THE WHITE DISC." This appears to be an outdoor scene, possibly the sky at dusk or night, without any disc-like object visible.
• Image 2: Labeled "THIS IS THE PICTURE OF THE ROOM WITH THE RECESSED LIGHT FIXTURE." This image shows an interior view of a room with a window and a visible ceiling light fixture, directly supporting the double exposure explanation.

Below these images, the contact information for the "LONG ISLAND U.F.O. NETWORK" is provided, including their P.O. Box, city, state, zip code (CENTER MORICHES, N.Y. 11934), and a UFO hotline number (516) 286-3212.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring theme in this excerpt is the critical examination of UFO evidence, particularly photographic evidence. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards sensational claims, emphasizing the high probability of misinterpretation of mundane phenomena. The publication appears to advocate for rigorous analysis and scientific scrutiny of UFO reports, highlighting that many sightings can be explained by conventional causes such as double exposures, reflections, and other optical illusions. The inclusion of expert analysis and statistical data (90-95% misinterpretation rate) reinforces this cautious and analytical approach to the subject matter.