1981 09 00 OMNI - Pine Bush UFO

Magazine Overview

This issue of OMNI, volume 34, presents "The Pine Bush Adventure UFO Update" by Harry Lebelson. The article details a series of unexplained aerial phenomena reported in Pine Bush, New York, and surrounding areas, spanning from the mid-1960s to the late 1970s. It includes witness testimonies, photographic evidence, and explores the official response to these sightings.

The Pine Bush Sightings

The article begins by describing Pine Bush as a community in a frenzy due to numerous UFO sightings. Residents were concerned about strange lights hovering above their farms, and their attempts to alert Air Force officials were reportedly ignored.

Tom Vicarro, an air traffic controller at Stewart Community Airport, recounts being called by a newspaper about UFO sightings. While scanning the sky, he saw a very bright light hovering, which he described as "much too intense and enormous in size to have been a star or a planet."

Robert Comeau, a police officer for Crawford Township, shares his experience of being awakened by a whirring, turbine-like sound from a disc-shaped, silvery object hovering a few hundred feet from his home. He noted the object was approximately one hundred feet in diameter with a row of windows around a domed top. His report was met with skepticism by some of his colleagues.

Harold Hunt recalls being engulfed by mysterious beams of light shining down from a metallic object while driving in Crawford Township. He saw lights around the edge of the large object and fled the scene quickly.

Official Response and Cover-Up Allegations

The article highlights the Air Force's alleged disinterest in these sightings, suggesting it's a party line to mask covert activities. A document released under the Freedom of Information Act is cited, which reportedly ordered Air Force personnel to downplay reports of unidentified aerial phenomena. The document urged that "no indication of CIA interest or concern reach the press or public, in view of their probable overreaction and interpretation of such interest as 'confirmatory' of the soundness of 'unpublished facts' in the hands of the United States government."

Field Investigation and Witness Accounts

As a field investigator for the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, the author approached the Pine Bush events with skepticism but decided to investigate further. He describes Pine Bush as a small, rural town nestled among hills and valleys, with a mix of old and new buildings, surrounded by cornfields and horse farms.

The author and UFO researcher Ellen Crystall met with a couple, Bruce and Wendy, who claimed to have interacted with UFOs. They described intensely bright orange, ellipsoid-shaped objects that followed them on motorcycles after dark. The couple also introduced the investigators to teen-aged friends who had similar experiences.

Wendy recounts seeing a "metallic disc" with an orange glow hovering over nearby trees. While she was speaking, she spotted red and green lights rising at the base of a hill. The author and Crystall photographed these lights, noting they rose at the same speed and remained equidistant, suggesting they were attached to objects. Multicolored lights spinning clockwise were also observed.

The lights appeared to land beyond trees, and their movement suggested some objects were landing while others were taking off, likened to "Grand Central Terminal at the height of rush hour."

Later, while driving, Bruce spotted a blazing red, ellipsoid-shaped object that passed overhead at high speed. The author attempted to photograph it but could not.

Further Investigation and Analysis

During a subsequent visit, the author and Crystall returned to the area where they had seen the lights. They found the remains of a dead deer, and coincidentally, Robert Comeau appeared. Comeau confirmed he had seen UFOs himself years prior, stating that "Half the police department has seen them, and the other half thinks those who've seen them are crazy."

Photographs taken during the initial sighting showed what appeared to be an ionization process as the objects moved across the sky, effects not visible to the witnesses at the time. These photos were shown to Samuel Stecher, a physicist from Stevens Institute of Technology, who deemed them significant and meriting specialized analysis. The head plasma physicist at Stevens and a photo analyst were unable to offer insights into the images.

Stecher accompanied the author on a second visit to Pine Bush. During this visit, two bright lights rose from beyond the trees and silently approached them. They observed three large, square windows directly behind the lights, casting an eerie glow. The object veered left and disappeared without a sound. Stecher had several more encounters during his stay.

Historical Context and Skepticism

Contacting the Times Herald Record revealed UFO activity dating back to 1965, indicating a broader geographical area affected by the phenomena over time. Air Traffic Controller Vicarro confirmed receiving a report of a mysterious object over the Middletown area, which he himself observed as a very bright light that remained stationary before shooting across the sky at high speed.

The article contrasts these experiences with the views of Dr. Robert L. Hall, a social psychologist who, in 1968, suggested that some UFO cases might result from "contagious hysteria." Hall argued that sensitized individuals experiencing emotion and anxiety might generate explanations to reduce that anxiety.

The author refutes the mass hysteria theory, stating that the observed metallic objects and brilliant red-orange discs seemed real. He notes that the testimony of policemen and ordinary citizens did not reflect opinions generated by fear but rather a "live and let live" attitude.

Astronomer Robert Jastrow, when asked to comment on the Pine Bush photos, stated, "I'm unable to interpret these images as atmospherical electricity. They may be something totally unknown to us at this time."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, witness credibility, the perceived indifference or secrecy of military/governmental bodies, and the scientific analysis of photographic evidence. The editorial stance appears to favor the reality of the reported phenomena, presenting witness accounts and expert opinions that challenge conventional explanations and government narratives. The article implicitly questions the validity of dismissing such reports as mere hysteria, highlighting the consistency and detail in the testimonies and the inconclusive nature of scientific analysis of the evidence.