Interview with UFO witness Tom McLean. UFO Examiner video.
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UFO witness Tom McLean talks candidly about his November 12, 2009, sighting near Greensburg, Pennsylvania, while the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) officially says it's a case of Mylar balloons.
McLean, 25, of Laughlintown, says the two objects he saw were approximately the size of a car - about 10 feet across - and that they had lights at the back.
He says he could accept the balloon theory if someone could show him how these kinds of lights could be rigged to a balloon. In his MUFON statement, he said, "The 'backs' of these crafts had a giant red light, approx. 3 ft in height and 6 ft in length, with vertical rows of lights that would flash from side-to-side."
In their statement regarding this case, released by Pennsylvania MUFON State Director John Ventre, a photo analysis reports that one could "immediatley see behavior that was highly consistent with balloons."
McLean was driving west on Route 30 near Greensburg when he spotted the objects about 4:30 p.m. as he approached a red light at Mt. View. He said he first thought the objects were birds, but then watched one of the objects more closely and decided to pull off into the median strip separating the four lanes of traffic and shoot video of the anomaly.
Photo: Tom McLean. UFO Examiner image.
Mylar balloons are frequently used for birthday and other holiday celebrations - and are manufactured in the five-point star design. McLean's complete original statement to MUFON can be read in a previously published story, Video: Two star-shaped UFOs low to ground at Greensburg, PA.
McLean admits some similarities with the balloon theory, but says the lights at the rear of the object and the fact that they appeared at the tree line, seems to suggest a military project. But whatever the objects turn out to be, he seems to keep an open mind and is confident that he did the right thing and reported what he saw. McLean met with the UFO Examiner at The Ligonier Theater Saturday afternoon - with Matthew Beucker on camera - for this interview.
The complete MUFON video analysis follows:
"I could immediately see behavior that was highly consistent with balloons drifting in the sky just beyond the nearby stand of trees in the video. They are tumbling slowly in no premeditated way, exhibiting drift behavior, and are at the apparent mercy of the wind. The tumbling motion is also highly consistent with observed tumbling motions of typical well balanced Mylar balloons, whereby they will slowly tumble end over end as these were indicating. I could not detect if a string was holding them together but I do believe it is there as I could clearly see one balloon begin to tumble in one direction only to halt and go the other way, in exactly the way a mylar balloon in particular, tethered to another would respond, the string on the tumbler being tugged by the companion balloon and causing it to reverse its tumble direction.
"Upon further examination, I believe I have a resolution to the nature of the objects. They are two Mylar balloons, one of which is a 5 pointed star shape with silver and red coloring.
The red and silver star shaped balloon is on the right side of the pair.
"My assessment is based on one section of the video where at one point the object on the right does two things: First, it tumbles somewhat face-on, revealing that it is a 5 pointed star shape, and second, it glints in the sunlight revealing at least one red stripe amidst the silver background.
"So my assessment, based on this evidence is that these are two mylar balloons, drifting by in the wind. I believe that were it not for the trees obscuring some of their movements, that it would be quite clear that they were balloons."
Comments
Ditto, it is very easy to misidentify object and when a witness commits to their theory it is very hard to convince them of any other explanation but it seems in this case he tool it well.
Mufon=Debunkers
Aweful, convincing people that they are wrong about what they saw. Just like convincing your molested daughter than uncle Bob was just looking for ticks.
@ Superspy,
I agree with you!
Nice one about convincing your molested daughter that uncle Bob was just looking for ticks! (I'm still laughing!)
Here is how they solve a lot of cases:
* A MUFON person actually posted that they solve a lot of cases with that stellarium star map.
*So lets not forget the star map explanation, Oh but the star Sirus was near that direction so lets forget about all those flight characteristics! It had to be Sirus they seen! So what if it was zigzagging with aliens hanging off the front port. It's the common characteristics of Sirus! Another case solved, hehehe.
Good job, Rog!
Nice interview Roger, but still believe it was balloons.
Exactly why I quit reporting to MUFON...good one about the ticks! I know what I see!
Your a brave kid for coming out and talking with Roger.
Good job Roger! Roger is a nice guy! We like him here :) :) .
Sorry Mr. McLean the objects have flight characteristics of balloons. Listening to you you also don't seem so sure. I know it's hard to report and get gunned down by everyone. Hang in there! I've tried reporting things too, it's tough. Almost Everybody thinks they are an expert. I've seen countless ones up close etc. But the real truth of the matter is:
"There are no real experts on UFOs, except what is flying them!"
No matter what never forget that!
Take care :)
To MUFON,
If you want to truly discount this guy. Then go out where he filmed the objects. Triangulate the objects to learn more about there real size etc. I can see the leaves moving from the wind. What was the wind like that day, what direction and speed was the wind? You know the time and place. Where was the sun at 4:30pm (Westward), could it have caused the glints off it to appear as lights. He says they were heading south or south west. Have you checked the weather for wind details? If your going to investigate then please do it all the way. This story has gotten huge coverage.
MUFON: I'm sure you read some of the posts here, your reputation is going down the tube. Do a full investigation and let us have the details. Can you even tell us details about the wind? What if you find they were going against the wind? Unknown is unknown lets not assume. Without knowing true wind speed and direction, even wind can't be ruled out! Roger good job, except the wind factor etc.
Nice 8 mean 8 so which is it?
Thanks for the use of your computer, not so cleaver using another one and contact others. We know everything.
So how many posts do we have to post to get this IP address banded here on this website? Bigfoot & svr? Oh we aren't just singling you two out :). We are an equal opportunity group :), we got CH, would you like to relay any messages to his computer?
Yes please let the emails continue. It helps complete our network, phone calls are good too :)
A UFO is an unidentified flying object, so what is it if it's landed?
How can you beat who has all the cards?
Ever who owns this IP is in trouble, aren't IP addresses so useful.
After our work is done with this person, maybe we'll down load baby porn from this IP address. That carries a prison sentence. Who knows what other IP addresses we can use too. If we wanted you to know about UFOs, would we not disclose it? Of course not they are not real!
Anybody wondering what is going on with this thread?
The first 2 posts by 8888888 are genuine but the rest are not. See his post on another Greensburg thread where he talks about the harassment he's getting. I have exchanged emails with him, as the hijackers of his IP address mention, and this seems to be real.
I'm sure the real 8888888 would appreciate any supportive comments people might like to contribute.They might make a difference.
I agree with Bigfoot something seems very amiss. The original 88888 contacted my group stating he was having problems with MIBs and truely seemed afraid for his life. Someone is trying to distract serious researchers from doing what we do. Those of you who know me, know I come from a family of UFO researchers and that my Dad died under mysterious circumstances two weeks after being visited by three men from the government. These people dont play. We have no choice but to ignore them. Maybe Roger can block these people off the sight.
Amazing,,, more so of people's actions and judgements on this young man's testimony and film.We have so many experts out there ! Great job in the interview for getting the FACTS from the source. Maybe this young witness could start a trend for witnesses to come forward and TELL their story.THE GIGGLE FACTOR IS WEENING ~* PS Why does he carry a camcorder ? MAYBE NOT THE FIRST SIGHTING FOR HIM ?
Paul, I hear what you are saying. The problem with your statement is I dont think you have done your homework. I personally know the expert used to do the analysis on this case. And he is very much a video expert. Owns his own company does work for the government. At the yearly MUFON Symposium he teaches Astronomy and photo analysis. Marc wouldn't say balloons unless he was highly confident in his findings. In his report, he explains why he concluded they were balloons. He also has a nice fake UFO photo collection.
88888, FYI - regarding the weather in Greensburg, Penn Nov 12, 2009 4:30 pm. Temp 57.2F Pressure 30.13 Wind 9.2 mph SSE, Dewpoint 42.8, humidity 59%, visibility 16 miles. See MUFON does their homework.
Paul Shishis? Aren't you the individual who has a picture of a "Morphing UFO" that looks a whole lot like a partially inflated toy balloon featuring a cartoon T-Rex or some other kind of dinosaur graphic? Experts? Not me, far from it. I do however reserve the right to pull the wool over my own eyes.
Hey Al-if that's your REAL name you hide under.You should stick to subject.I see you enjoy character joke cartoons kid.I don't know who the hell you are and I really don't care.Your the Joker with your comments that bears no friut of likeness on subject.But that's your world of entertainment ~! PS Have a great field day with this comment.
SRV and 88888888: I'm I the only one that caught this?
88888888 said:
"Where was the sun at 4:30pm (Westward), could it have caused the glints off it to appear as lights. He says they were heading south or south west."
SRV said:
88888, FYI - regarding the weather in Greensburg, Penn Nov 12, 2009 4:30 pm. Temp 57.2F Pressure 30.13 Wind 9.2 mph SSE, Dewpoint 42.8, humidity 59%, visibility 16 miles. See MUFON does their homework.
I also heard in the interview, the young man said the objects where heading South or southwest. The objects would have been traveling diagonally against the wind, right! This also makes sense if the sun was cause any sort of glint off the objects or perhaps it was really lights on them after all. Balloons should only go with the wind.
Thanks 88888888 for pointing that out! SRV thanks for giving us the facts! We've got to have the facts! Right questions produced what we needed too. Team work!
It helps to read the comments.
Well wishes to the
From PS:
"Your the Joker with your comments that bears no friut of likeness on subject."
Ouch! I have absolutely no idea how to defend myself against someone who uses the English language as a rapier! Such a brilliant statement! Please! I can't compete!! I beg you, stop!!
ttp://www.examiner.com/x-2363-UFO-Examiner~y2009m9d25-Ontario-morphing-UFO-photographed-at-close-range
Thank you Mr. Spock!
So did anyone go to the place where the sighting took place with the witness?
If not this needs to be done just in case the witness was incorrect about which way south or southwest was. Find the true heading of the object to see if it was going with the wind, Wind 9.2 mph SSE. Or was it truly going on some type of diagonal direction against the wind.
Yes the objects are moving similar to balloons in the wind, but now we are still missing facts or facts that yet to be verified by MUFON.
If the witness is correct & MUFON says the wind direction was SSE, then they had a power source to go against the wind. That would not be balloons.
As one poster says; important elements of this investigation was over looked. If you think something is floating with the wind, first thing to do is know which direction the wind is really blowing.
Key elements in this case:
Wind direction vs objects thought to be balloons floating with the wind.
So far I see no match. SSW V
Objects heading south or southwest and the wind heading south southeast.
This data does not support balloons floating with the wind.
If they were indeed balloons they should have been heading south southeast with the wind direction.
Nobody is perfect:
Please don't get me wrong......I like MUFON everybody, but it would appear this case needs to be re-investigated properly. I'm wondering if there was perhaps to much assuming going on due to the appearance of balloon like flight. Scientific data should have matched and helped come to a conclusion of balloons. Instead we have two different directions and scientific data doesn't support a balloon theory at this point.
How was something this simple over looked during the investigation? Wind direction vs the thought to be floating objects direction.
Mr. Tom McLean if you are reading this you must be smiling :)
Tom McLean may be making the best judgment call he can when he says they were heading S-SW, but he didn't have either a compass, anenometer or weathervane with him.
There may also be a difference between wind direction at the altitude the objects were flying at and that at which the SSE measurement was taken.How near the location was that measurement taken?
There are still some significant variables left in this case, and both Tom McLean and MUFON need to go into greater detail.
I think if it was not for this thread pestering them it would just be simply written off. I wouldn't know maybe they already have. Video shows evidence of wind, but it is difficult to determine direction.
This case is not solved in my mind.
They interviewed this person, didn't they also go to the place of the sighting and verify directional headings?
Did anyone ask why this young man had a camcorder with him? MUFON investigated this case. Is this a hoax or has government stepped on you?
I got my information from Weather Underground. The margin of error is this. This was the data at 16:30 that afternoon for that town. Questions I would be asking if I was investigating the case - was the wind blowing sse for the entire town for the entire time in question. Wind can also die down, spin and change directions. Also, wind blows different direction at different heights. Also roads curve. Even a slight curse can throw off a person perception of what direction they are looking. Also this weather measurements - how far ws that from where the man saw the objects. Several months ago we had a photo submitted to MUFON and on this website, which looks very similar to this object sun reflection the works. Most of us concluded it was a mylar balloon. I have it in my "fake ufo file" if anyone wants to see it. Now lets quit wasting time and energy on something we can never prove to everyone satisfaction and go find the real thing! I'm not getting any younger here.
SRV.................good answer!
Keep up the good work srv.
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