# Baltimore Mystery Explosions! Baltimore Dopers--What Gives?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baltimore-mystery-explosions-baltimore-dopers-what-gives/447534>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 30, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baltimore-mystery-explosions-baltimore-dopers-what-gives/447534 "2008-04-30T23:13:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baltimore-mystery-explosions-baltimore-dopers-what-gives/447534/1 "2008-04-30T23:13:55Z")

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There have been a series of mid-air mystery explosions in the Baltimore area, over several months!

> **[CBS Baltimore - Breaking News, Sports, First Alert Weather & Community...](https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/)**
>
> Latest breaking news from WJZ CBS Baltimore.

> [@](#):
>
> Derek Valcourt reports 911 callers complain about a deafening explosion and a bright flash of light in the middle of night.
> 
> “The bedroom actually lights up like day,” says Elaine O’Mansky, who lives in the Stevenson Commons condominium building near Beth Tfiloh. “It’s instantaneous and wakes us up out of a very deep sleep.”
> 
> She isn’t alone. Barbara Friedman is Homeowner’s Association president for the area.
> 
> “I hit the deck,” Friedman explained. “It was so loud, I thought I was being shot. I literally hit the deck.”
> 
> The noise was so upsetting, Elaine O’Mansky decided it was time to start keeping track of the phenomenon when it occurred.
> 
> From late September until now, she’s heard it 25 times, always between midnight and 7 a.m. with no consistent pattern.
> 
> “It wasn’t until we caught it on tape that we realized the magnitude of what they were actually talking about,” said Sgt. Warehime. “The sound is almost deafening. You can’t describe it. Seeing it on tape without hearing the sound doesn’t do it justice.”
> 
> Videotape taken at 3:34 a.m. on April 23 does show a flash of light that lasts a fraction of a second and lights up an area the size of a football field in the middle of the night.

Needless to say, there were no thunderstorms in the area at that time.

OK, Baltimore Dopers? In the name of Science, of Fighting Ignorance, & in the Sacred Name of the Mighty **Cecil Adams** , I call upon thee to inform us.

What gives?

Please provide more story links.

And…are there any volunteers? To investigate live & in person?

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baltimore-mystery-explosions-baltimore-dopers-what-gives/447534/2 "2008-04-30T23:31:51Z")

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[This is what was happening.](http://wjz.com/local/pikesville.flash.baltimore.2.711090.html)

A disgruntled loony old man was doing it. I’m thinking of a couple Doper’s neighbors right now.

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baltimore-mystery-explosions-baltimore-dopers-what-gives/447534/3 "2008-04-30T23:37:00Z")

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[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]  
[This is what was happening.](http://wjz.com/local/pikesville.flash.baltimore.2.711090.html)

A disgruntled loony old man was doing it. I’m thinking of a couple Doper’s neighbors right now.  
[/QUOTE]

WHEE!

Baltimore seems more fun than Disneyworld. :smack:

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**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baltimore-mystery-explosions-baltimore-dopers-what-gives/447534/4 "2008-05-01T00:27:45Z")

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Betcha the kids stayed off his lawn…