UFO Research: Cincinnati!

October 16, 1996 UFO Reports

October 16, 1996
ADAMS COUNTY MYSTERY
and the case of the MISSING FOIA's

On October 16, 1996, many police departments from a massive area of Southern Ohio were notified by dozens of citizen advisement's reporting an unknown aerial phenomenon in the evening skies. The reports were generated from as far south as Maysville, Kentucky to as far north as Chillicothe, Ohio, describing red, flare like objects that would 'appear and disappear,' and sometimes 'travel in formations.' The incident came on the heels of a series of similar incidents happening in the weeks prior over Scioto County, Ohio, at the Apple Orchard Festival happening near Jackson, Ohio.

VIDEOTAPE

The October 16th disturbance was documented on videotape from a Waverly, Ohio resident, and the tape has generated extensive national media interest, and prompted reportage on the syndicated TV program SIGHTINGS, where it is being subjected to extensive computer analysis by MUFON's Staff Photoanalyst, Jeff Sainio. As of this writing, his analysis of the videotape is still pending.

Kenny Young of the Cincinnati-based Tri-State Advocates for Scientific Knowledge research organization has consulted with JOE ROZZI of Rozzi's Famous Fireworks, one of the largest fireworks distributors in the Midwestern United States, and he asserted that the flare-like images seen on the videotape may be attributable to 'military flare testing' of STARBURST FLARES, which are used to divert incoming heat-seeking missiles. Although the images on the video do not appear to descend as normal flares would, Joe Rozzi asserted that this is a misleading feature of the recording blamed largely upon the angle of observation.

This contention was also separately made by an Air Force Combat Veteran fighter pilot, who viewed the recording for additional consultation purposes. The pilot served his country in Vietnam, and has combat experience. He also held that the witnesses were categorically wrong in their assertions that abnormal or extraordinary ballistic behavior would have been noted in the flight or performance conduct of the flare-like objects. The pilot stated that the videotape depicts a flare chain being dispensed from a moving target, possibly for infrared experimentation. His assertion was based upon the following observed traits:

1. 'Twinkling' effect in burn-out

2. Rate of being dispensed (or ejected) from aircraft

3. Distance apart

4. Indicative of being ejected from a moving object

The performance behavior in question, which is not compatible with this theory, is the frustrated observations and testimonies of multiple witnesses... including the videographer... who claimed that the flare like objects would 'REVERT BACK' into an alleged PRIMARY OBJECT.

Described performance characteristics
conflicting with the flare theory

One witness stated, "I know helicopters couldn't do this because they would crash when they would come back together like that."

Another witness declared that the objects ZAPPED back together after 'blossoming' out. This ballistic conduct is regrettably not captured on the Ross County video, which recorded only a few seconds of the aerial abnormality.

The sightings have been triangulated to have occurred at a 29,000 foot elevation in a restricted military air corridor above Adams County, which is the location of a GE/Martin Marietta testing complex situated within the Peach Mountain range. Coincidentally, this is the same locality of the F-16D ANG fighter jet crash on November 27, 1996, in which two pilots ejected to safety.

Official Inquiries

In the days after researchers acquired the videotape, several written appeals were sent to WRIGHT- PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, the DEA and the FAA GREAT LAKES OPERATION requesting clarification about pilot sightings and potential military flare testing on October 16th.

However, the initial request for information was strangely lost at the Wright-Pat public affairs office. A second request for assistance was bitterly addressed by Lt. Col. Marc S. Martens, who would not comment on the Oct. 16th incident which generated public alarm, and furthermore would not assist to any degree in the investigation. These individuals greeted our investigations with a militaristic, no-comment mentality, when we sought to apply a basic, conventional explanation to the matter.

When asked directly if flares had been used over the region on the date in question for training or testing purposes, Martens was notably evasive and eluded a direct response.

Of course we are greatly disappointed at the lack of assistance advanced by this public agency and their hirelings, and we are hopeful that this unfortunate and unaccountable behavior will not continue in the future.

Regarding the possibilities of flare testing in the region, Martens responded by stating 'we advertise all of our maneuvers in the newspapers in advance of any exercises.' When asked if any exercises were in progress which would have engendered the reports, Martens tactfully eluded the question by stating: "Any public concerns of such phenomenon are to be handled by local police agencies. Have you got it?"

As a result of this abnormal behavior, T.A.S.K. investigations coordinator RON SCHAFFNER has formulated a letter of complaint to Congressman Rob Portman, advising him of the situation.

Review

Although we are satisfied that military testing of flares in the restricted air corridor is a viable explanation to apply which will solve the mystery of October 16th, this explanation is not applicable without stating that many of the witnesses to the event were WRONG in their perception of certain abnormal ballistic traits. This is not due to any fault of their own, but rather, a sincere misunderstanding of events taking place within a 3-dimensional environment and observed from a certain, disadvantageous angle.

Also reported prior to the October 16th event was a series of happenings in ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO in February of 1996. On Monday, February 5th at 1:30 AM, one observer spied a line of large red balls, too many to count, reportedly extending across 40 degrees of the sky. More events in ROSS AND PIKE COUNTIES, OHIO happened in APRIL and MAY of 1996 in which a sky full of strange red object alarmed area residents, and another occurrence on May 22 from Hilliard, Ohio involving a bizarre cluster of red-orange lights to the west. Also seen in conjunction with these objects are reports of a silent, hovering aircraft that resembles a B-2 STEALTH BOMBER.

The October 16th event in Southern Ohio also followed events in Rutherford County, Tennessee which was reported on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. Police offices in several counties and also in Hendersonville, Tennessee, received phone calls regarding this. One witness from this area stated: "The sky was dark except for this bright light and a few little stars. Suddenly this cluster of lights started forming to the right." This event was also videotaped, and information regarding this may be obtained through Janet Sharpe of the Upper Cumberland Mutual UFO Network.

As of this date, the MUFON photoanalyst JEFF SAINIO is known to have analyzed this recording by means of computer analysis, but his findings are not available, and inquiries made to acquire an update on his analysis have not been answered.

GREAT LAKES REGION HEADQUARTERS O'HARE LAKE OFFICE CENTER 2300 EAST DEVON AVENUE AGL-4 DES PLAINES, IL 60018-4686

JANUARY 8, 1997

FOIA OFFICE

THE enclosed FOIA PETITION from the TRI-STATE ADVOCATES FOR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE research organization was delivered by FAX TRANSMISSION on NOV. 3, 1996 to the following telephone FAX number: (312) 694-7184. The FOIA request dealt with reported UFO sightings in Southern Ohio. VERBAL CONFIRMATION of its reception was given by A FEMALE FOIA OFFICER by the name of Ida.

THREE SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALLS were placed to the PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE in the months following, to INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE PETITION. In each phone inquiry, the PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER (IDA AND VIOLET) assured that a TELEPHONE RESPONSE WOULD BE RETURNED 'LATER THAT DAY' to ADVISE OF THE STATUS OF THE PETITION.

IN SPITE OF THIS ASSURANCE, NO TELEPHONE ADVISEMENTS HAD BEEN ADVANCED.

On JANUARY 7, 1997, a TELEPHONE INQUIRY placed to the FAA GREAT LAKES REGION FOIA OFFICE to inquire about the status of the petition revealed that IT HAD STRANGELY BEEN 'LOST SOMEWHERE.'

In a telephone message, it was kindly advised that the request be 'RE-SENT.'

A similar request regarding the same issue was also forwarded to THE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE FOIA OFFICE on OCTOBER 29, 1996. Strangely, it was also dealt WITH THE SAME DEMISE, and its re-transmission was finally recommended after a two-month delay. A third similar FOIA request was also forwarded to the DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. In spite of verbal confirmation of its reception and two follow-up phone calls, no written acknowledgment that it is being handled has been advanced, despite the law requiring such notifications within a 10-day time period.

As a serious investigative research organization which analyzes reported unidentified flying objects, the delays in handling these requests have HINDERED OUR INVESTIGATIONS. Furthermore, THE ABNORMAL PHENOMENON OF THE 'MISSING' FOIA REQUESTS has now become A FACTOR IN THE INVESTIGATIONS of the October 16th event.

IT IS HEREBY REQUESTED THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE LAUNCHED INTO THIS MATTER.

It is well understood that the current POP-CULTURE and FOLKLORE has IMPLICATED various beleaguered agencies such as the FAA and USAF with WORKING AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE to HIDE THE TRUTH ABOUT THE UFO SITUATION FROM THE PUBLIC. The sort of activities such as 'MISSING FOIA REQUESTS' from these suspect agencies only serves to FAN THE FLAMES OF SUCH SPECULATION.

IN ADDITION, LETTERS AND FAX TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOW BEING PRODUCED WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED, IN RESPONSE TO THIS INCIDENT, TO VARIOUS OTHER FEDERALLY APPOINTED AND ELECTED OFFICES, ADVISING THEM OF OUR CONCERNS.

It is with regret that this request for an investigation is made. Our research into an event which had caused great public concern over a wide part of Southern Ohio, has been hindered, and more importantly, it is worrisome that PUBLIC AGENCIES, owned by and accountable TO THE PEOPLE, are either riddled by inept internal operating procedures which result in such disorder, or functioning on the basis of some other unknown motive to deny the release of valuable information from the public.

RESPECTFULLY,

KENNY YOUNG Tri-State Advocates for Scientific Knowledge Cincinnati, OH 45212

ENCLOSED: The ORIGINAL NOV. 3, 1996 FOIA REQUEST

Nov. 3, 1996
Great Lakes Region Headquarters
O'Hare Lake Office Center
2300 East Devon Avenue Rm 366
Des Plaines, IL 60018-4686

Dear Public Relations Director;

FOIA REQUEST

Under the provisions of the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, the following information is requested for disclosure:

October 16, 1996: in the regions of Adams, Scioto, Ross and Brown Counties of Ohio, many phone calls were placed to numerous police dispatch offices by multiple persons reporting an unknown aerial phenomenon. The reports were generated from as far south as Maysville, Kentucky to as far north as Chillicothe, Ohio. The description of the phenomenon is consistent among the witnesses, and the event has been triangulated to have occurred at an altitude of 5.6757 miles, or 29,967 ft. over the Adams County region. A Ross County resident has recorded the event on home video equipment, where dogs in the neighborhood were noted as barking and behaving wildly for the duration of the occurrence. Dozens of callers reported the sighting to a Chillicothe radio station, and a Columbus news station ran the video shortly afterwards. The event was reported in the Portsmouth Daily Times and The Cincinnati Post.

In order to ascertain the explanation for this occurrence, this FOIA Petition is being placed with FAA, GREAT LAKES REGION headquarters for assistance in determining if any records exist regarding pilot observations, - or radar confirmation, - and/or FAA air tower notification or observation of the phenomenon.

It is known that some of the sightings occurred over a restricted air corridor, and also requested for disclosure are any advisement's or records available regarding maneuvers or airborne emergency flares being tested over the region on the date in question.

Feel free to contact us for questions, as we seek to lend our services and support to help resolve this situation. Your assistance in our efforts is deeply appreciated.

Re: Freedom of Information Act Request No. AGL-4-97-008

Dear Mr. Young:

We have received your letter dated November 3, 1996. Your file had inadvertently been misplaced and we apologize for the delayed response. In your letter you requested information regarding the existence of records regarding pilot observations, radar data and FAA Air Traffic Control Tower notification or observation of the subject phenomenon.

Due to the 15 day time retention requirement for voice tapes and radar data, we are sorry to inform you that as of the date of your November 3, 1996 letter, all voice tapes and radar data disks had been returned to service. To accomplish a voice or radar data review, your request needed to be received in this office on or before October 31, 1996. Although no voice or radar data was available for the reason given we have searched all other records for the facilities in the area described in your letter and found no entries relating to any unusual events.

We have forwarded your request to the Southern Region of the Federal Aviation Administration for a separate response.

The undersigned as well as Maureen Woods, Manager, Air Traffic Division, is responsible for the above described determination that the Federal Aviation Administration has no records responsive to your request. You may request administrative review of this determination by writing to: Associate Administrator for Administration FAA Headquarters 800 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20591

Your request for reconsideration must be made in writing within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of this letter and must include all information and arguments relied upon. Your letter must state that it is an appeal from the above described determination made under the Freedom of Information Act. The envelope containing the appeal should be marked as "FOIA."

This request has been processed under FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT document control number AGL-97-008.

Sincerely, Cecelia L. Hunziker Regional Administrator Great Lakes Region

THE INQUIRIES MADE TO THE FEDERAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAVE REMAINED UNANSWERED AFTER A 5-MONTH TIME DURATION. THIS FEDERAL AGENCY HAS ALSO NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF THE FOIA PETITION WHICH WAS CONFIRMED TO HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY FAX TRANSMISSION AT THE CINCINNATI OFFICES

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This page was updated November, 1998