On July 11, around 10:20 p.m., TASK investigator Dale Farmer shot some twenty minutes of video tape of an airborne object identical in appearance to sightings made in Middletown, Ohio since July 4. During the taping, a private plane appeared to orbit the object. Farmer drove to Hook field to interview the pilot and collect whatever details he could about the object. The pilot described the object as being comprised of four or five mylar bags, presumably filled with helium, towing a red flare. Based on that close-at-hand description, it is logical to conclude that the July 11 event was a hoax.
Because of the great similarities between the July 11 sighting and the previous reports, it seems likely that the rash of UFO activity around Middletown since July 4 can be attributed to hoaxing. However, since there are a number of details from earlier sightings that need to be reconciled, TASK investigators will continue to collect reports from area witnesses.
During our investigations we found no proof of witnesses suffering from mass hysteria related to the release of INDEPENDENCE DAY. The witnesses we interviewed were sincere, honest and accurate in their reporting of details; they simply wanted to know what was going on. We wish to thank all those who took the time to speak with us in our investigation.
If any further information is required, or if there are sightings that need to be reported, the investigators below should be consulted:
Terry Enders: General Director (513) 941-6912 Kenny Young: Public Relations Director (513) 351-4951 Dale Farmer: Technical Director (513) 424-2342 dalefar@erinet.com Ron Schaffner: Investigations Director (513) 576-0527 rschaffn@tso.cin.ix.net
TRISTATE ADVOCATES FOR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE Phone or Fax Kenny Young: Public Relations Director (513) 351-4951
Attention Assignment Editor: IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
The research organization Tristate Advocates for Scientific Knowledge has investigated the reported Middletown, Ohio UFO disturbances that occurred on July 4, 5, and 6. On Thursday night, July 11 at 10:45 p.m., TASK solved the mystery.
An eerie, self-luminous red object appeared and held its position at a high elevation shortly after 10:00 p.m. above the Middletown area, sending droves of befuddled residents milling into the street in confusion and wonderment. Traffic stalled in some quarters as the Middletown Police department sought furiously to track the movement of the phantasmal specter.
TASK investigator Dale Farmer struggled through the streets to pursue and document the strange event on video tape.
His determination led him to chase down the pilot of an airplane that circled the object at close range - at which time- the pilot advised that the object had been a red flare attached to and dangling from underneath two large helium balloons.
It is the contention of Tristate Advocates for Scientific Knowledge (TASK) that the previous events in Middletown on July 4 and 5 are as explainable as the event on July 11, which is obviously found to be a hoax. The previous descriptions match the sighting of the 11th.
Strangely, it must be also noted that during the July 3 - 8 time period, numerous UFO reports were generated from various parts of Ohio. These reports came from Urbana on July 3 and 8. A cone-shaped object was video taped along the Ohio-Indiana border, south of Paulding, Ohio where a large crop circle was discovered. The crop circle was presumed to be a man-made hoax, but the culprits have not come forward to claim responsibility.
Although the persons or organization responsible for the deed in Middletown area remain unknown, they should be advised that their actions could precipitate a potential fire hazard. In addition, a wide range of criminal charges could be rendered against them.
The Middletown Police Department, including Lt. Schwarber and Major Hoffman should be highly recognized for their openness and professionalism in working with TASK and the news media during the investigations of these sightings.
The multiple hoaxes, taking place in Ohio suggests a series of events that may be larger in scope than previously thought.
What group could be responsible for executing such a magnitude during the same time frame from diverse localities, or are they separate hoaxes? Is there a connection with the highly publicized motion picture INDEPENDENCE DAY?
The TASK group, which holds that many UFO reports are unexplainable will continue to track and investigate alleged UFO events in southern Ohio, northern Kentucky and eastern Indiana with the singular objective of studying and explaining, whenever possible, reporting the purported events for the purpose of scientific assessment.
Kenny Young Public Relations Director; TASK
From the Dayton Daily News Thursday, July 11, 1996 Credit: George Clappison
The crop circle in the middle of a farmer's field was an elaborate hoax. Sheriff david Harrow said Wednesday.
"It was a prank," Harrow said. "It is a man-made circle out there. There was no extraterrestrial landing."
A local pilot last week spotted the circle measuring 93 feet in diameter in a field farmed by Dan Arend and his two brothers.
Hundreds of people have been flocking to Arend's farm every day to gaze at the circle. They have been debating about whether the circle was caused by a UFO or a hoax.
Harrow said an Ohio State University agronomist examined the circle Wednesday and said he could tell the circle was man made.
"Someone went through an extreme amount of effort to do this. I really don't have an answer as to why anybody would do this", he said.
Crop circles have been found around the world. Some people claim they are formed by supernatural forces, but doubters think they are likely the work of pranksters.
The person responsible for the Paulding circle could be charged with criminal trespassing, Harrow said.
The circle was found on July 3. Pilot Mike Dobbelacre, his wife Sandy and two relatives spotted the circle during a plane ride. They told Arend, who contacted John Timmerman, a Lakeview resident who studies UFOs. Timmerman examined the circle and then called in the agronomist.
At first, Harrow said he didn't think the circle was the work of vandals. Neither did Timmerman.
"When I was out there Saturday, I didn't see any tracks leading in or leading out of the circle," Harrow said.
Poster by Ron Schaffner July 12, 1996.
Richard S. Ralston WWW page: http://www.parrett.net/~rralston
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