The object moved fast and in a steady manner, as it passed only about 150 feet overhead. The object was seen for only about 8 seconds, when it suddenly seemed to vanish just above the trees. The object was observed from underneath, and was described as a large solid diamond shaped object which made a humming sound as it passed overhead. At each corner, was a dim white non-blinking light. In the bottom center of the object, was a flat red non-blinking light. Immediately after the sighting, the wife and her husband drove towards the location where the object disappeared but saw nothing. The witness reported feeling very nervous and could not sleep well for a couple of days after the sighting. The witness also stated that every night for a month prior to this event, she had been feeding several raccoons which came from the woods. The day of the sighting was the first evening that the animals did not show up, however they returned the next night to feed.

I have also been attempting to obtain more information on another UFO sighting reported that same evening from Franklin, PA in Venango County. That sighting was reported to the National UFO Reporting Center. Another UFO sighting also reported that same evening from Westville, Indiana and posted on the NUFORC website, also describes an object possibly diamond shaped. UFO sighting continue to be reported from across Pennsylvania.

Date of incident: 9 May 2001-Unknown Objects Sighted

The following report was received from a witness from Addison, Pa. regarding lights in the sky. An excerpt from his narrative follows:

"I was going west on Route 40 toward Chalk Hill, it was about 4:30.AM and I was going to work. I noticed what looked like a bright star toward the southwest. Then I saw it was moving slowly to the east. After a couple minutes it was off the south fairly high up in the sky and brighter. I stopped the car and watched it. There were actually three lights close together in a triangle form; they covered an area a little larger than a full moon in the sky. Each light was not round, it was more like a short line pointing in the direction they were moving and with distinct edges. The three were moving together with two on the outside leading and the one in the center following behind.

At first I thought it was one large object, but then all three stopped and remained motionless for about a minute. After this the one in the center moved between the other two and slowly continued to the east in the same manner as before. The other two remained in place. I watched the one continue to move east. It varied in brightness, getting brighter then dimmer. Each time it dimmed it became less noticeable until I could no longer see it. When I looked back to where the other two were before, they were gone. I don't know if they went out like the other one or what happened to them since I was looking at the single light and didn't see the other two actually disappear."

The witness is certain the object was not the moon since he said he also saw it in a different area of the sky. He also reports no sound, or other effects related to the sighting. I have been unable to confirm any aircraft, or other known objects visible in the area at the time of sighting. Investigation continues.

Investigator - J. Brown

jbrown@hhs.net

Website: The CRUSHED ARCH Pages

During the time that the man followed this animal, it appeared to be moving in an upright position until he lost sight of it in the heavier woods. This man believes that he had the creature in view, on and off for about ten minutes. After losing sight of the animal, the witness back tracked, and looking upward was startled to see something quite strange in the sky. About 500 feet away, he saw a large solid luminous triangular object with no individual lights. The observer estimated that the object was the size of a two story house. It appeared to be longer than wide. The object which was silent, was first observed at approximately 50 feet above the ground in a clearing. It then moved down slowly to about 20 feet, where it disappeared behind a thick part of the woods, and was no longer seen.

The witness says that while he has never seen a bear first hand, he assumes that it was a bear that he confronted. His wife disagrees since the animal walked upright for such a distance. This witness is aware that many people around his area have claimed to have seen a Bigfoot in past years. The object in the sky is another matter, it really startled the observer. The witness commented "For me to see two (unusual) things at the same time is really weird. This thing in the sky really amazed me."

There were massive sighting reports from across Pennsylvania of a brilliant fireball which passed through the sky during daylight hours on the afternoon of July 23, 2001. My UFO Hotline began to ring shortly after the object passed over Westmoreland County at approximately 6:20 P.M. local time. My phone rang all night long, and through the next day with sighting reports and inquiries concerning this observation. During that time, I was in contact with many agencies and the public. I also spoke several times with Peter Davenport at the National UFO Reporting Center in Washington State, so we could update each other with the latest, information.

This sighting can likely be attributed to a bolide, an extremely brilliant fireball meteor which can be observed over a widespread geographical area, and at times, is accompanied by a sonic boom. In Pennsylvania, phone lines at 911 centers, TV stations, and newspaper offices were jammed by callers. Within a short time after the calls began I had information that reports were originating from across a wide section of the Keystone state and into Maryland. The NUFORC was also being swamped with calls including observations from other states. The descriptions were quite consistent with witnesses reporting a brilliant ball of fire of various colors, followed by a long flaming tail.

Near Williamsport, PA in Lycomming County, residents not only saw the fireball, but felt the sonic boom associated with it, residents reported a loud explosive sound that rattled their homes. My understanding is that the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) center in Lycomming County was activated that evening to help handle the calls from the alarmed residents.

During that evening I began to receive information that fire departments near Trout Run, PA in that same county were securing a reported burnt area in corn field. I was told that it was believed that there was "something there.”

Another caller had heard, that a meteorite had reportedly fallen at that location. It was later learned that personnel from the states Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) were also at the scene investigating. I made more inquiries, but there was no indication that any substantial physical evidence was actually found at that site. While much of the information I obtained while gathering this data seems legitimate, both a story that a large crater found in the field, and a rumor that NASA was coming to the scene to investigate, appear to be unfounded.

I did talk with some residents in Tioga County, just across the border from Lycomming County, who felt “the biggest explosion ever.” One man, a retired law enforcement officer said "this was the most horrendous damn noise." He had ever heard. He was in his house at the time and missed seeing the fireball. When he ran outside, he looked up to see "four small clouds in a row" and heard an odd whipping sound which lasted several seconds. Always equipped with a loaded camera, he hurried to set up to photograph the odd cloud formation which was dissipating quickly. He did manage to photograph one of the odd clouds.

I am unaware of any confirmed meteoric debris having been found in regard to this fireball. Some witnesses were intrigued by their observation; others were frightened by the incident. Hopefully the government will release any satellite imagery of this scientific event.

They couldn't see the color or the actual surface of the object, but they saw dozens of bright white lights (formed in rows) that covered the object. The woman pointed out that the two lights that would make the back corners were either not as bright, or smaller than the other lights, since they were harder to see. In between some of the white lights were about 10 orange lights which appeared to be sporadically spaced, in the from of the object was a bright flashing orange light. It is believed that this light was not at the front tip, but possibly a row or so behind in the tip of the triangle. The rows of white lights were in straight lines, not a v-shape. The entire object made a triangle. The driver got out of the car watching the object move very quietly in a south-westerly direction. The object remained silent during the few minutes that it was observed. The mother has attended many air shows and is very familiar with many civilian and military aircraft. This witness stated "I have never seen anything like this in my life."

The sighting occurred at about 7:30 P.M. local time, when it was beginning to turn dark. The witness was outside at the time, and was close to Route 119, which is a major highway. The witness was observing the trucks and cars passing by when his attention was drawn upwards by a sound "like flags flapping in a I thunderstorm." He observed a huge bird which appeared to be black, or very dark grayish-brown. The witness was startled at the wingspan of the creature, which he estimated to be between 10 and 15 feet.

The bird's head was estimated to be about 3 feet long, about as large as a small dog. When the bird was first observed, the witness stated, "I wouldn't say it was flapping it's wings gracefully, but almost horrifically flapping it's wings very slowly, then gliding above the passing big rig trucks." The creature seemed to be following the truck traffic, passing overhead at about 50 to 60 feet.

The bird flew about 150 feet down the road towards a wooded area. The bird spread it's wings, showing the witness how massive it was, as it swooped down on a dead tree near a billboard. This fellow continued to watch as it dropped slowly, yet forcefully, and saw the bird ruffle it's feathers, and saw it's head move around. After several seconds the bird rose from the tree, and gave the man the impression, that the tree would bow and break from the apparent weight. The bird then flew out of view towards another wooded area. The entire siqhting lasted around a minute and a half. Immediately after the occurrence, this man ran to a local business to ask if anyone saw what he observed. He also approached a woman who was nearby, but she didn't see it either. The witness was upset that apparently no one else has reported this creature.

Smeltzer looked around the area of the tree where the bird was reported to have landed, but no evidence could be found. It's Smeltzer's impression that the witness is not fabricating and is describing to the best of his ability what he observed. The witness appears familiar with the great blue heron, vulture, and eagle, and is certain that this is not what he saw.

I would be interested in hearing of any similar recent reports. Stan Gordon

Craig has given me permission to share this information, which is from a write up for a publication which he co-edits called, The North American BioFortean Review, http://www.herper.corn/NABR.html. Craig has also written a detailed article on the Thunderbird mystery which can be accessed at: http://www.cryptozoology.com.

June 13,2001- "A resident of the town of Greensville, PA reported seeing a large bird the size of a small airplane from his living room. Greensville is a small town that lies near the border of Ohio and about half-way between Erie and Pittsburgh. The witness, Ray (please note, the witnesses actual name is not used as he has asked for anonymity) upon further inquiry during a phone interview on June 15, 2001, was able to flesh out the report as. Ray described the bird as fully feathered a dark brown or black color. The back of the wings was a grayish-black. The body was not bulky and the overall appearance was not like any bird he had ever seen. As the house lies near Little Shedango Stream and the house overlooks a small pond and woodlands, Ray was extremely familiar with the birds and other wildlife in the area including bald eagles, vultures and storks.

Ray stated that the bird flew in from the South at a distance of 200-300 yards from the window and landed on a large tree beside the small pond. As it flew in he saw a shadow first and thought it was an ultra light aircraft that are used in the area by some neighbors. The bird landed and remained on the tree for 15-20 minutes, and then took off again to the South. Ray estimated that the wingspan was equivalent to some of the ultra lights he has seen in the area, around 15 feet of wingspan and upwards of 5 feet of body size.

Ray during the interview made a passing mention as well of a neighbor that although not familiar with the wildlife of the area reported to his wife about a large bird ,she had seen on June 14, 2001. The bird was described as "the biggest bird I ever saw" and bigger than a stork. Again the bird was a blackish color."

The third report comes from July 6,2001 out of Erie County. This July report came to Craig's attention from a letter printed in the UK based magazine Fortean Times. Craig states in his article "Although corroboration from the witness has yet to be made and more details of the report discovered, the basic description is similar to the Greenville sightings and suggests the same type of bird was seen. Robin Swope, the witness, reported a large bird flying out from near a mausoleum as she cut the grass. It flew by some high tension wires and was estimated to be 15-17 feet in wingspan." The color was described as: "...It was dark grey with little or no neck, and a circle of black under it's head, Its beak was very thin and long, about a foot in length..."

Craig Heinselman, cites the following sources in his article from which this information was taken.

Hall, Mark, Natural Mysteries, 2nd Revised Edition, MAHP ~ Minneapolis, 1991

Hall Mark thunderbirds-the Living Legends!, 2nd Edition, MAHP, Minneapolis, 1994

Ray (anonymous name) interview June 15,2001 and e-mail correspondence June/July 2001

Swope, Robin, Letter entitled Thunderbird Sighting?, Fortean Times No. 148, August, 2001

reported a huge fireball moving fast across the sky. I first began to receive reports near the P.A. / N.Y. border, then reports began to come in from numerous other locations in Pennsylvania. One observer described the object as'' a large orange-red ball of fire as bright as the moon," followed by a luminous tail. I received a response from the U.S. Space Command indicating that there was no re-entry of space debris during this time. The object appears to have been that of a fireball meteor.