Cable TV show's investigators don't catch spirits on camera, but attention builds esprit de corps.
By Ryan Justin Fox
Staff Writer
Thursday, April 10, 2008
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE ? Sci-Fi Channel's "Ghost Hunters" brought its televised paranormal investigations to the 88th Air Base Wing, and outgoing commander Col. Colleen Ryan and base employees were just grateful for the cable TV show's spotlight ? and its infrared thermal imaging.
Ryan, who is retiring this year, and a few dozen base employees who assisted the show's production crews during the taping in January watched the episode's debut Wednesday, April 9, during an informal premiere party at the Wright-Patt Club and Banquet Center on base.
"I don't think we'll scare anybody off, but I hope this shows that Wright-Pat is open to explore all possibilities," Ryan said, sporting a custom "TAPS" T-shirt autographed by the investigators from The Atlantic Paranormal Society.
Rachel Castle, an assistant in the base's public affairs department, invited the show to the base after she and co-workers all shared unexplained occurrences while working on base.
"We've all had these experiences," said Castle, who said she has heard unexplained noises and noticed lights and electronics powering on and off.
"I thought it would be cool to invite the show out," she said.
Employees at the party enjoyed seeing the Miami Valley in the limelight of a national cable audience.
They cheered at glimpses of landmarks, interstate signs and snow.
The base had to get permission from the Pentagon to allow the crew to videotape on base.
Both Ryan and Castle were featured during the episode.
The potential exposure for the base and the Air Force factored into the Defense Department's decision to allow the production crew and show on base.
The Air Force recently kicked off a "national awareness campaign" to boost recruiting.
The paranormal team investigated unexplained, possibly supernatural, events at three Area C structures: Arnold House, Building 219 and Building 70, which the show described as "near Dayton."
Air Force officials don't maintain in-depth records of deaths that have occurred on the base, so employees have no idea who the possible spirit may be, base Public Affairs Director Libby Van Hook said.
The show's investigation didn't capture any aberrations on camera, but investigators were able to record some "potential interaction."
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