Long Island UFO Update

History

The Long Island U.F.O. Network, Inc. (LIUFON) formed as a non-profit research corporation in approximately April 1988 and began publishing the Long Island U.F.O. Update with Vol 1, Issue 1 in January 1989. The organisation operated first from P.O. Box 232, Center Moriches, N.Y. 11934, later relocating to P.O. Box 1692, Riverhead, New York 11901. Issues sold for $2.00 each. By the time the first newsletter went to press, LIUFON had already conducted 144 investigations of reported sightings across Long Island.

The inaugural issue laid out LIUFON's operational findings in the form of a press release titled "Operation Skywatch: The Big Ships Are Coming." Eight numbered conclusions summarised what the organisation had learned: Long Island was historically a major centre of activity; objects of immense size (in excess of 1,000 feet) had been visiting at regular intervals for at least five years; UFOs appeared to use highway networks (the Long Island Expressway, Sunrise Highway, William Floyd Parkway, Grand Central Parkway, Southern State Parkway, Cross Island Parkway) as navigational aids; military helicopter overflights occurred before and after sightings; the U.S. government had intimidated witnesses into silence; the FAA would neither confirm nor deny radar tracks; abductions centred on young children were increasing; and the prime observation window was November through early April, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights between 7 PM and midnight.

LIUFON maintained a hotline and ran investigating teams across Suffolk and Nassau counties plus parts of Queens. Investigator Bill Knell handled numerous cases in the early years. Dr. Jean Mundy, a clinical psychologist and MUFON Consultant in the Psychology of Abductions based in East Hampton, contributed analysis on the abduction phenomenon. By 1992 the team had expanded to include investigators Alan Green, Rick Samundson, and Steve Iavarone.

The newsletter ran monthly through Vol 1 (1989), then combined issues became common as Volume 2 (1990 to 1991) and Volume 3 (1992) progressed. LIUFON spoke at public libraries across the island (Islip, Glendale in Queens, Huntington, Bellmore, Lindenhurst) to overflow and standing-room-only audiences. Meetings were held at the Inn at Medford, Exit 64 of the Long Island Expressway on Route 112 south. Among early devoted members was Ross Andru, the comic book artist best known for his run on Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man, who died in late 1993.

The publication suffered chronic printing problems. A fourteen-year-old photocopier broke down repeatedly, forcing combined issues and extended hiatuses. The final archived issues date to late 1992 and early 1993, with the membership being told that December 1993 and January 1994 issues would bring the schedule current.