Update on the 1953 Kinross UFO Event

The recent claim by the “Great Lakes Dive Company” (GLDC) to have found the U.S. Air Force F89C Scorpion Jet that disappeared in 1953 over Lake Superior while in pursuit of a UFO, created quite a stir of excitement in the UFO community, as reported last month in the Journal. Unfortunately, based on an in-depth investigation conducted by MUFON investigators, Great Lakes Dive’s claims cannot be substantiated.

MUFON’s investigation began with attempting to answer the basic questions – Is GLDC a valid company? Who are the principals of the company? What is their corporate history?

Since GLDC claimed to be a Michigan-based corporation, our inquiry began with a telephone call to the Michigan Division of Corporations which did not have any record of a company incorporated under or operating under the name “Great Lakes Dive Company.” When GLDC spokesperson Adam Jimenez was questioned about this, he said in an email sent on September 19, 2006:

“GLDC is in the process of switching from an incorporated company to an LLC organization. We began as just a group of divers who would get together with our sonar equipment and sweep locations in the great lakes. As it became apparent that we would need to develop a business entity to interact with museums, obtain grants etc, we formed a company early on. Once the group downsized and became more focused with regards to who was involved, the main group members decided to form GLDC LLC, to better manage the direction of the company. This entity is still pending, and not yet available to public records.”

However, in an earlier email sent on September 6, 2006 to MUFON investigator David Watson, Mr. Jimenez contradicted his later statement by saying:

“Incidentally our company name is Great Lakes Dive Company (not Inc.) we are technically an LLC. (just for accuracy sake). We are in the process of putting together a "formal" office, and will give you the mailing address when available.”

Mr. Jimenez also refused to reveal who the principals of the company were, the company’s operating structure, or the types of marine vessels used in their search, citing recent security threats made against them. When asked about the nature of these threats, Mr. Jimenez stated:

“Threats were made regarding the salvage of the object, essentially ‘tell us where it's at or else...’ The individuals represented themselves as producers for the Discovery Channel. We made a few calls, found out the group was fraudulent and told them we no longer were interested in any future dealings with them...that's when the threats started. As a security precaution we changed all phone numbers associated with GLDC and have not included any company or personal information (like background info on the team) on any interviews. Until this situation (returning to the object) is resolved we will not be providing any further information on the project or the team.”

MUFON later discovered that Mr. Jimenez had provided a cell phone number to various film makers and researchers, but switched to a new cell phone number soon after the threats were made. When MUFON tried to trace either phone number through Intelius.com, both phone numbers proved to be untraceable.

Since trying to confirm GLDC’s corporate identity led to a dead end, MUFON then attempted to corroborate some of the other claims made by GLDC.

Mr. Jimenez claimed that GLDC was founded in 2001 for the purpose of shipwreck exploration and discovery and with the goal of solving the enduring mysteries of lost vessels in Lake Superior. In addition to the F89 find, GLDC claimed that they were searching for the French minesweepers Cerisoles and Inkermann, and that they were interested in filming in high definition the wreck of the Gunilda. Mr. Jimenez was quoted in an August 29, 2006 article in the American Chronicle:

"2006 began as an ambitious project season for us, we were looking forward to further work at the F-89 site", said Jimenez. He added, "Then we received some bad news. The Canadian government refused to allow us to use our ROV at the wreck site without first providing them the GPS coordinates of the site and allow either a Coast Guard escort or government official to accompany the expedition. We were stuck, we don't want to give up the site (especially because of the object, and it's potentially huge significance) but we need to stay on the good side of the Canadians due to our Gunilda project which involves a lot of other contributors."

MUFON contacted the Ontario Ministry of Culture and spoke with Mr. Michael Johnson, manager of the ministry's Heritage Operations Unit, whose office issues work permits for survey or exploration work in Lake Superior. Mr. Johnson told MUFON that no one had requested a permit for exploring or surveying the F89 jet or “mystery object,” nor had his office received any related correspondence. Mr. Johnson further revealed that the Ministry would not require a coast guard vessel or government official to accompany any expedition, but would allow the licensee to work under their own cognizance, and that the wreck’s GPS coordinates did not have to be provided up front as long as they were included in a final survey report.

On Coast to Coast with George Noory, Linda Moulton Howe played an interview she recorded with Adam Jimenez where he stated that Canada automatically claims ownership of any wrecks in Canadian territorial waters. However, Mr. Putt from the office of the Ontario Receiver of Wrecks told MUFON that the original owner of the wreck (ship, plane, etc.) maintains ownership and would have to grant salvage permission--the F89 would therefore still be considered U.S. Air Force property. Mr. Putt elaborated by stating that if a wreck’s owner is not known, which would possibly be the case for the “mystery object,” then the Ontario Provincial Government would become the custodian for a year, and if the original owner could not be found, then the Ontario Receiver of Wrecks could sell it to the salvor or to the public.

In the same Coast to Coast interview, Linda Moulton Howe stated that Adam Jimenez graduated in 1990 from Kettering Technical School (run by General Motors) with a degree in Computer Engineering. MUFON contacted the registrar’s office at Kettering University (which had changed its name in 1998) and Becky Ibbotson, registrar assistant, related that no one by the name of Adam Jimenez had ever attended Kettering.

Giving GLDC the benefit of the doubt, MUFON posted messages to the public message boards on Scubaboard.com asking if anyone from the Ontario dive community knew GLDC or of any of the exploration work they had performed prior to 2006. After hundreds of viewings, no one could provide any information to shed light on GLDC’s claims.

MUFON also contacted Tom Farnquist, CEO of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, whose organization has been actively searching for the Cerisoles and Inkermann. Mr. Farnquist heard of GLDC’s F89 claims from a local newspaper article, but had not heard of any of their other exploration work.

The Soo Evening News wrote an article on GLDC’s claims, and mistakenly attributed the F89 find to the Great Lakes Diving Company of Rockford, Michigan. MUFON verified with the Rockford company owner that his company has no connection with GLDC.

MUFON sent copies of GLDC’s F89 side scan sonar images to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and a Woods Hole scientist, who wishes to remain anonymous, offered his professional opinion that they do not appear to be side scan sonar images but photographs that were altered with computer software to look like side scan sonar images. MUFON also contacted a professor at Michigan Tech University, who also wishes to remain anonymous, who stated that although the GLDC images looked to him like genuine side scan sonar images, they could have been fabricated by a dedicated person.

When Mr. Jimenez was asked whether a ROV was deployed and how GLDC was able to confirm that the mystery object was not radioactive, he responded via email with:

“We did lower the ROV on the initial discovery (because we knew the risk existed that we may not be able to return to the site). We haven't been able to use the ROV on the site since (or return to the site at all for that matter) this season...we had hoped to use the ROV to further explore the site in 2006. Weather issues in 2005 prevented us from thoroughly exploring the wreck(s). The confusion is that the accounts are talking about two different dive seasons.

We used a DX-1 hand held Geiger counter that was placed into a sealed chamber within the ROV and the speaker output was patched into the audio input of the digital camera on the ROV. We had to get the ROV close to the object to make sure the reading was accurate...however the efficiency rating of the DX-1 is not 100%, but we were satisfied that it was not radiation causing our electronic problems. We made the metallic determination based on visual evidence from the ROV.”

Mr. Jimenez’s statement alludes to GLDC illegally operating their ROV in Canadian waters without a properly issued license and contradicts his previous assertion that “we need to stay on the good side of the Canadians due to our Gunilda project”.

It is not clear as to how the Geiger counter was “patched” to the audio-input on the ROV’s camera, as DX-1 Geiger counters do not have an audio-out jack, but only an internal speaker.

In a recent Journal of UFO History article on GLDC’s claims, editor Dick Hall writes that:

“In answer to questions from editor, Adam Jimenez of Great Lakes Dive Company said that they had not yet found any positive identification such as a serial number” (on the F89).

However, in a September 11, 2006 email to MUFON International Director James Carrion, Mr. Jimenez contradicted this statement to Dick Hall by saying:

“The ROV confirmed that the canopy is intact, but we were unable to see inside due to silt and the translucent nature of the canopy. One would assume the crew is still inside. Yes the aircraft tail number is visible on the F-89c...this is how we were able to confirm that we had found the actual F-89 and not some other aircraft.” MUFON then investigated how and when GLDC’s claims were first made public. The earliest known account MUFON could find was an Aug. 22, 2006, posting to the UFO Updates mailing list where a certain “Preston Miller” forwarded to Francis Ridge what appeared to be a Port Huron, MI, Associated Press (AP) news article on GLDC’s claims.

Francis told MUFON that he does not know who Preston Miller is. Checking with the Port Huron Times Herald, an authorized AP news source in Port Huron, managing editor Judith McClean told MUFON that her newspaper did not originate the article.

MUFON also contacted the Associated Press Michigan Bureau in Detroit and spoke with Joe Altman. Mr. Altman looked at the UFO Update article online and said that it was not written in the characteristic style of an AP press report, as it lacked any date references. Mr. Altman also searched all AP news feeds and could not find any information that would indicate AP was the source for the article.

On September 26, GLDC’s web site content at www.greatlakesdive.com was removed and is no longer available. A week later, the GLDC message board that was hosted by excoboard.com was also unavailable.

Performing an Internet Whois query of the greatlakesdive.com Internet domain name revealed that the domain name registrar is Melbourne IT Ltd, a company based in Australia. Thinking that GLDC’s claims may be related to the recent Australian UFO wave videos that were revealed to be a hoax, MUFON contacted the UFO wave perpetrator, Chris Kentworthy, who denied any involvement or knowledge of GLDC.

Searching the Internet revealed various security bulletins warning that some fraudulent web sites use this same Melbourne IT Ltd registrar and the related myprivateregistration.com service.

Mr. Jimenez is currently not responding to emails or phone calls.

In summary, MUFON after many hours of investigation by a number of our dedicated field investigators has not been able to substantiate any of GLDC’s claims. Until GLDC personnel resurface with more information and definitive proof of the F89 discovery, their claims remain doubtful at this time. MUFON will continue its investigation and update our readers as further developments unfold.

James P Carrion in response to B J Booth, webmaster, www.ufocasebook.com

MUFON International Director

March 01, 2007 17:54PM

It was a beautiful summer night, and Michael Lee Hill went to the water, as he often does, carrying a camcorder and a quest: Record the UFOs.

The aliens send messages to the Eastlake resident, sometimes through weird coincidences or just by urges he feels. Yeah, yeah, he knows it sounds crazy. But he gets a "feeling" about where the UFOs will be, and he shows up with his recorder and there they are.

"I'm positive that they know I'm filming them," he said.

So one evening last August, he and his friend Chris Miheli stood at the Lake Erie shore at Willowick Lakefront Park as night fell, in a spot not far from a famous 1988 sighting chronicled in a Coast Guard report.

And there they waited until, in the black sky, two objects appeared, pulsing brilliant, multicolor lights. One hovered above the other, then zipped away. Hill switched his camcorder to night mode to prove that these were not ships' lights -- the objects appeared to be airborne over the water.

For Hill, the video was further evidence that aliens visit Earth. He thought his fellow believers would see it and welcome it as a weapon in their struggle for credibility.

California filmmaker David Sereda certainly did. Sereda already had used some of Hill's clips in his film "Dan Aykroyd Unplugged on UFOs," in which the comic actor described his views on the existence of UFOs and the possibility of another dimension.

Now, Sereda had video of another sighting that would fit nicely in his new film, "From Here to Andromeda," due out on video April 15. Hill, a gifted guitarist, got work as the co-producer of the film, allowing him to quit his job selling guitars at Sam Ash.

Sereda recently appeared on Fox News Channel's "Heartland" show to talk about his upcoming film. He brought with him the Lake Erie UFO clip, which Hill then posted in its entirety on YouTube (view it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njo7TWFoZqs).

And that's when Hill learned that, when it comes to skeptics, no one is tougher than the true believers.

"Good try stoners, but yer [sic] 'Whoa, man!' every five seconds gave you away," writes one visitor to the message board the UFO News Web site (ufonews.tv).

"While UFOs may very well exist, it doesn't help to get all amped up over obvious frauds," writes another.

"I'm impressed that an alien would equip his craft with red and green navigation lights, just like our boats and planes here on earth. Very considerate of them. Oh wait, maybe they didn't do it on purpose and it's a coincidence they just happen to use the same red = port, green = starboard that we use. What are the odds? Dude?" wrote a man identifying himself as a pilot.

It didn't help that on the video, Hill and Miheli sound like they were filming, "Dude, Where's My UFO?"

"Dude, it's beautiful . . . I'm filming it, dude," says Hill, 38, the crashing Lake Erie waves providing a backdrop as he works the camera.

"Dude, we just saw something amazing," says Miheli.

Another doubter posted his own video on YouTube showing similar-looking lights that turned out to be a plane, which passed overhead.

Skeptics variously claimed Hill's video was of planes or ships. Those unfamiliar with that area of Lake Erie claimed the lights were those of police cars on a distant hill or bridge.

"How can you watch this video and not see that you have been fooled?" wrote one skeptic.

"Michael Lee Hill or Pinocchio," wrote another.

Hill, who has not filmed much lately because of cold weather and his work producing the "Andromeda" movie soundtrack, takes it in stride.

"I don't really care," he said. "I know what I seen. I've learned to separate myself from other people's energy. It doesn't really affect me."

He has defended himself online, posting the opinions of those who believe him, such as the proprietors of the UFO News site and Sereda.

"Cars don't float in the air and landing aircraft eventually 'land.' These UFOs never leave the immediate scene," reads the UFO News post. "Let's stop hating each other and start trying to find out what the heck is going on in our skies!"

Said Sereda: "What amazes me about this footage is that there is no noise from jet aircraft, helicopters, etc., and a UFO comes so closely by to hover right on top of the other UFO and then flies back out the way it came in. No airplane could do this. Also, when the video camera switches to night-shot mode, we can see the UFOs are not boats on the lake. They are hovering a good 50 to 100 feet above the water."

The video has people talking, which is a good thing. The fact that some of that talk is attacking Hill makes no difference.

"You know . . . whatever," he said. "Sooner or later, everyone is going to see them with their own two eyes, and it won't matter if they believe me or not."

Hill knows this: Aliens are out there. They have visited. They mean good. They may even want to help us save our planet. He has video of multicolor single orbs; what appear to be flamelike flickers on Lake Erie; and a purplish blob hovering in the night sky.

"I think the universe is teeming with life," he said. He can't explain the night he believes he was drugged and possibly examined by aliens. It's all a blur. He woke up in his bathroom with his jaw broken in three places.

"We are on the verge of becoming a galactic society that is on the verge of joining the cosmic community," he said. "When first contact happens, it won't be a question. It will be apparent that they are here. I've got a new phrase I've been telling people, 'Just look up!'"

I've read your articule about UFO bases on the Moon and the Nasa Moon program. It is striking similar to the info that I was told in 1997.

The only thing that wasn't mentioned was during the Moon landing in 1969, Nasa received a television signal from what I was told about 20 seconds in length. It was a blackened image with some alien language apparently of an alien. When Nasa translated the audio they said it was a warning for them to stay off of the Moon and not to attempt space travel.

Also most of that info I was told came from Werner Von Braun's son. He may be a person I believe you may want to interview sometime.

He spoke very freely about Nasa and UFOs, and he seemed to have been passed along a lot of info from his father as well. Though he may be under some government secrecy agreement or he may still be working for the government.

Thanks

MattR

Source & References:

MattR-Reader-www.ufocasebook.com

RE: UFOs on the Moon

Just thought that I would share this with you and your readers:

I was in the Marine Corps and served a tour of duty in Vietnam ('67 - '68). The first night that I spent in the bush (jungle), I was astounded when I looked up into the heavens. There were stars everywhere. Every inch of the sky was populated with stars. I never knew that so many of them existed. Having been born and raised in the inner city, I had never seen the night sky in total darkness. No lights, no smog or pollution; just darkness. It was breathtaking.

The first time I saw a full moon, it blew me away. The moon took up half the sky. It seemed that all one had to do was reach up and touch it. You could clearly see every crater, line and marking on the moon; especially on a clear night. Because Vietnam is located south of the equator and because of the Earth's tilt on its axis, one got a closer view of the heavens.

The light from the moon was so bright you could read a book or write a letter; and many of us did. In a letter home I wrote, "Mom you won't believe this but I am writing this letter by the light of the full moon." But the main thing we did during the full moon was watching all the vehicular traffic taking place on the moon.

We watched as solid, bright/white spheres of light continuously flew in and out of the craters. These objects were so bright; Stevie Wonder would have seen them. An object would appear outside of a crater. It would stop for a second or two and descend into the crater. Others would ascend out of a crater, stop for a second or two and then zoom off into the blackness of space. This went on all night long.

Being grunts (infantrymen), we were well trained and proficient at observing our surrounding, events and occurrences because many times our lives depended on this ability. We knew what we were watching. That is why we were so taken by it all and talked about it amongst ourselves. We knew we were watching Unidentified Flying Objects.

Indeed, the Moon is more than it appears to be.

Source & References:

Anon Reader-www.ufocasebook.com