Georgia Sky Watch - 1999 11 - no 15

Magazine Overview

Title: Georgia Sky Watch
Issue: Number 15
Date: November 1999
Publisher: MUFON of Georgia news and research
Focus: UFOs and related phenomena, news and research.

Triangles Invade Georgia/Alabama

This issue of Georgia Sky Watch details a series of mysterious events that occurred on August 2, 1999, primarily in Troup and Heard counties in Georgia, and Chambers and Randolph counties in Alabama. The central event was a series of loud booms and ground tremors that startled residents and prompted numerous 911 calls.

Initial Reports and Investigations

On August 3, 1999, the LaGrange Daily News reported on the "Mystery 'Boom' Probed," noting that officials were unable to determine the source of the disturbance, which occurred around 10:10 PM on Monday. Gary Crook, a Heard County police dispatcher, described the sound as an "explosion, earthquake, something." GEMA spokesman Ken Davis suggested it might be an "explosion, earthquake, something" or a "snap, pop, explosive type shift," typically signifying an earthquake, but GEMA remained unsure.

Dr. Jim Gaherty, an associate professor at Georgia Tech's earthquake monitoring laboratory, stated that seismic monitoring instruments showed no record of earthquake activity in the affected areas. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in an August 4th article titled "Source of tremors a mystery," quoted Don Strength, Randolph County's emergency management director, describing a major, earth-shaking explosion that shook the ground for three to four seconds. The volume of 911 calls necessitated the activation of the emergency center. GEMA sent investigators, and checks with military bases and the FAA revealed no authorized military maneuvers or low-flying aircraft.

Meteor Explanation and Skepticism

On August 24th, the LaGrange Daily News reported that authorities concluded a meteor caused the loud boom. GBI spokesman John Bankhead stated an Alabama school teacher reported seeing a meteor that officials believed burned up in the atmosphere. GEMA spokesman Pamela Swanson confirmed that a teacher in Carroll County saw a "brilliant sight, definitely a meteor." However, The Atlanta Constitution reported, "Rumble ruling: It was a meteor." Pamela Swanson stated, "We have determined that it was a meteor--end of discussion." Despite this, Gene Greneker, principal scientist at Georgia Tech, indicated that there was not enough evidence to rule out man-made blasts.

Witness Accounts of Booms and UFOs

The article details various witness perceptions of the booms. Some described it as thunder, others as a "car crash" with metal on metal, or dynamite. Many who were inside ran outside, fearing their homes were being hit. Those under the path of the object felt a strong jolt. The pattern of perceived origin suggested an airborne craft flying at or above the speed of sound paralleled the western side of the Chattahoochee River. Troup County Fire Chief Tim Duffey's observation that he heard the blasts ten seconds before a caller two miles away suggested the sound moved at the speed of sound.

Airborne Object Characteristics

Witnesses in Chambers County, Alabama, described seeing a huge bright blue-white, halogen-like light approaching. They saw a V-shaped craft with about seven giant lights on the leading edge. The object flew at only 200-300 feet high, made no sound, and was described as much larger than an 82-foot mobile home. The husband, who had seen B-1 and B-2 bombers, compared the UFO's shape to a B-2 but much larger and slower. The entire hilltop was illuminated as the craft passed over. The UFOs were observed to arch up and away from each other, with one leaving a "three feet streak" of light. The jets that appeared later seemed to be standing still in comparison. The total viewing time was "3-5 minutes." Insect and animal life, which had stopped during the event, reappeared afterward.

Comparison to Other Sightings

Drawings by the Chambers County witnesses closely matched a sketch by ISUR investigator Terry Kimbrough of a boomerang-shaped UFO seen in Hartsville, South Carolina, on May 8, 1999. This similarity suggests the possibility of a military black-budget craft following a predictable route. The actions of the jets and helicopters following the UFOs suggested they were not considered "friendlies."

Military Activity and Further Sightings

Retired Navy aircraft carrier sailor reported hearing three large helicopters heading northeast about 30-40 minutes after the boom, which rattled his home and was louder than any sonic boom he had heard. Checks with various military bases, including Maxwell AFB, Warner Robbins AFB, Ft. Benning, and Ft. Rucker, yielded blanket denials of involvement. However, the article notes that some military commands did not instantly deny involvement, and there was considerable military activity.

Numerous helicopter and plane traffic was reported in the days following the blasts. Dark green Blackhawk helicopters, some with open doors and refueling probes, were seen "struggling" to fly, leading some to believe they were medivac helicopters. Unmarked "pitch black" Blackhawks with refueling probes were also sighted. A large transport plane was seen doing a search pattern. The presence of helicopters with refueling probes suggests a possible need for injured people on the ground, and their rapid arrival indicated a nearby base, though all closeby fields denied involvement.

Continued Investigation and Conclusions

One homeowner in Texas reported his satellite system was "blown out" and power interrupted for over an hour and a half. He compared the intensity of the August 2nd blasts to a F-4 explosion and crash, stating they were of much larger intensity than any so-called earthquakes felt two years earlier. Helicopters had been constantly in the area since the blasts.

Ken Davis of GEMA mentioned a "LaGrange college student" who saw a "blue-white light come down towards Alabama." The author shared information about witnesses seeing V-shaped UFOs, leading to a three-way conversation with a GEMA team member. The author's conclusions are that two UFOs or advanced stealth craft were involved, possibly chased by a fighter jet, or that two true UFOs entered the atmosphere. The author firmly states that a meteor after 10 PM was not responsible.

Calendar of Events and MUFON Meeting

The issue includes a "Calendar of Events" listing a MUFON of Georgia Meeting on November 14, 1999, a Leonids sky watch on November 17-18, 1999, and a February 2000 Shoney's meeting. Details are provided for the MUFON Public Meeting on Sunday, November 14, 1999, in Griffin, Georgia, including an agenda with computer class, field investigator's training, and a public meeting featuring presentations on MUFON, UFOs in Israel, and the West Georgia/East Alabama investigation of V-shaped UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), sonic booms, and the official investigations into these events. The editorial stance, as expressed by the author's conclusions and skepticism towards the official meteor explanation, clearly favors the interpretation that UFOs and advanced craft were involved in the August 1999 incidents. The magazine serves as a platform for sharing witness accounts, investigative findings, and alternative theories regarding UFO phenomena, encouraging open discussion and research within the MUFON framework.