APCIC - Vol 02 No 03 - 1977

Magazine Overview

This issue of the AERIAL PHENOMENON CLIPPING & INFORMATION CENTER, dated March 1977, Volume Two, No. 3, focuses on a wave of UFO sightings reported across the United States in late 1976 and early 1977. The publication, from the A.P.C.I.C. in Cleveland, Ohio, presents a collection of news clippings detailing various encounters and observations.

UFO Sightings Across the US

Mississippi Sightings

The most dramatic sighting reported occurred near Jayess, Mississippi, on February 5, 1977, witnessed by at least six adults. The Brookhaven Leader-Times reported a large, round object, described as being as big as a four-room house, hovering at tree-top level for about 15 minutes. Witnesses described it as grey with red lights at intervals and a smaller dome. It approached a house, then stopped 50 yards away, hovered silently, and disappeared without noise or movement. A pilot from Brookhaven Municipal Airport noted numerous calls about unidentified flying objects in the Jayess-Ruth area. Another sighting in Madison County, Mississippi, on February 3, involved a deputy sheriff and a constable who observed a round craft with portholes and a soft light that moved with ease. Deputy Sheriff Ken Creel and Constable James Duke reported the object hovered 20-50 feet above their patrol car and caused radio interference.

Louisiana Reports

St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, experienced significant UFO activity in January 1977. On January 15, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Digangi reported a bright light hovering near a water tower, appearing as three chained lights at approximately 500 feet. Their daughter and her friend saw a similar object on January 18. On January 21, nutria hunters Erwin Menesses and Robert Melerine witnessed an intensely bright, hot object descend to 65-75 feet, causing them to be held in suspended animation before it departed rapidly. On January 22, a dome-shaped craft with red and yellow lights was seen dancing in the sky near Chalmette before dipping into a forest. On February 8, Mrs. Gayle Rodriguez and her son Brian observed a brightly lit, silvery craft flying across the St. Bernard Highway, hovering and moving in spurts, described as saucer-shaped with a dome.

Other State Reports

In Wolfe City, Texas, residents reported a mysterious bright white light hovering about 60 feet above ground, changing color from white to red, and following motorists. Joel Robinson and Clay Henslee were among the eyewitnesses. The light reportedly appeared every night since February 14.

South Euclid, Ohio, residents Rose Melega and Dorothy Barkan reported a stationary, huge object blinking in the western sky on March 24. Mrs. Melega described it as disc-shaped with an antenna, much lower than stars and growing brilliantly bright before dimming.

In Manistique, Michigan, several residents and Michigan State Police reported seeing a bright light over Lake Michigan on Monday night, January 15. Craig Gogola described it as brighter than a star with alternating red and green lights, moving in unusual patterns. Sgt. Clarence Salzman of K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base stated no planes were active that night, and Capt. Robert Sanderson confirmed all Kincheloe Air Force Base planes were down by 6 p.m.

Mathews County, Virginia, residents reported seeing an object on Tuesday night, February 10, initially a cross shape that changed to an oval. It remained stationary for over thirty minutes, appearing to descend into the Cobbs Creek area. Keith Mantell and others, including firemen and school system employees, confirmed the sighting. Checks with Langley Air Force Base indicated no aircraft were in the area.

In Canton, New York, on Monday night, February 7, residents of Canton and Hermon-DeKalb reported seeing an unidentified flying object. Agnes Woodrow heard it discussed on a CB scanner and then saw flashing bright lights. Linda Matthews described a red shape about the size of a basketball hovering. Wayne Cronk, using a telescope, described it as a flying saucer with red, green, blue, and yellow lights. The object's shape reportedly changed from round to more egg-shaped and oval over 2.5 hours.

Jonesville, Louisiana, reported two UFO sightings on Thursday and Friday nights of the previous week. Mrs. Joe Reed saw a red object with blinking lights hover over her neighbor's house. Joe Reed recalled seeing 'bouncing lights' in the Larto area over the years. The Catahoula Sheriff's Department and State Police conducted searches after a report of an airplane or object falling.

International and Film News

Napanee, Ontario, Canada, reported a strange red light in a farmer's field on July 1974, which took off with tremendous speed. This was revisited in relation to more recent UFO observations. A film titled "Mysteries of the Gods," starring William Shatner and inspired by Eric von Daniken's work, was announced for national release. The film explores UFO phenomena and the possibility of extraterrestrial visits, featuring NASA footage.

UFO Reporting and Technology

The CB Times-Journal article, "Stalking the Flying Saucer With CB," highlights the growing role of CB radios in reporting UFO sightings, especially in rural areas. D. William Hauck, North American director of IUFOR, notes the usefulness of CBs in tracking UFOs. Specialized CB codes like 10-NL (nighttime light sighting), 10-DD (daylight disk sighting), and 10-E (close encounter) are used. CRUFON (The Citizen's Radio UFO Network) is part of the International UFO Registry (IUFOR), which has a database of approximately 80,000 UFO sightings and uses computer programs to analyze photographs. The FCC has licensed IUFOR for radio communication coordination. Hauck hopes CRUFON will grow, offering a free club with a membership card and information. The registry plans to publish a directory of CBing members.

Scientific and Skeptical Perspectives

An article from The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio, titled "UFOs need more study, survey scientists say," reports that 80% of 1,356 astronomers surveyed believe UFOs merit further scientific study. Sixty-two respondents had seen or recorded unidentified events. Dr. Harrison Schmitt, a Republican senator and former astronaut, believes in life in outer space and advocates for the government to open its UFO files.

In contrast, Wolfe City Patrolman David Wright suggested that some sightings might be helicopters, citing an instance where he observed an object land and depart from a field, followed by a car leaving the scene.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the issue is the prevalence and variety of UFO sightings reported across different regions. The publication appears to present these reports factually, often quoting eyewitnesses and local news sources. While some articles lean towards the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation, others include skeptical viewpoints or suggest more conventional explanations like aircraft or atmospheric phenomena. The use of CB radio as a reporting tool is highlighted, indicating a grassroots effort to document these events. The overall stance seems to be one of documenting the phenomenon and encouraging further investigation, as evidenced by the scientific survey and the existence of organizations like IUFOR and CRUFON.

This issue of "You won't believe this, but..." dated January 26, 1977, from the Granite State News, focuses heavily on UFO sightings and related phenomena reported across North America.

Key Articles and Reports

Wakefield, USA Sightings

The lead story details a sighting by Sgt. Henry Mason Blanton, a Special Officer in the Wakefield Police Department, who reported seeing a "basketball-sized object glowing with a bright yellow-orange light" moving slowly and precisely over the Moose Mountain area on Thursday night around 9:00 PM. Blanton described the object as being about 75 to 100 feet off the ground and noted that it made no sound. He observed it for several minutes before it drifted south, scanning the Union Meadows area, where a UFO had reportedly been spotted previously. Janet Shea of Union also reported seeing a bright light moving quickly over the treetops near the meadows with her daughter and niece, stating it was definitely not a plane due to its speed and lack of sound.

Weston, USA Report

Numerous Westonites reported seeing "something" in the sky on Monday night between 8 and 9 p.m. Described as a collection of red and green lights hovering, the object made no noise and appeared to be box-like. While some speculated it could be a Cessna 150 used for advertising, others doubted this due to the lack of engine sound. Photos taken by Bruce Edmund are included, showing the object appearing as a single red dot magnified, and later as a triple deck of lights or two lights with a yellowish-white tail.

Aliens Land? (Canada)

This section reports that six RCMP officers patrolling in the Morell-St. Peters area of Prince Edward Island, Canada, reported seeing unidentified flying objects. The Charlottetown detachment received five calls from residents reporting similar sightings. No immediate descriptions or comments were available from the officers.

UFOs Interfering with Our Satellites (National Examiner)

This article from March 15, 1977, suggests that aliens are not only observing Earth but are interfering with our technology, specifically satellites and space probes. It highlights the SNAP-10A system, the first earth-made nuclear reactor in space, which suddenly stopped responding to ground control in 1965 but reappeared hours later. The article also mentions several US satellites that ceased functioning and then restarted inexplicably in 1964, as well as similar incidents with Mariner and Pioneer probes. The most remarkable case cited is the instrument package left on the moon by the Apollo 14 crew, which continued to transmit data for years after its receiver died.

County Man Discusses Research Into UFO's (Times-West Virginian)

This interview with Jennings Frederick of Rivesville discusses his research into UFOs. He clarifies the term UFO versus flying saucer and notes that sightings have been reported since the turn of the century and even in biblical times. Frederick states that UFOs have been reported as hostile, abducting people and livestock, and firing rays. He also mentions that many people who report UFOs are not "nuts or crackpots" but sincere individuals. The article touches on the Air Force's Project Blue Book, which was canceled in 1969, and the ongoing debate about the origin of UFOs, with possibilities including extraterrestrial or ultradimensional origins.

'Mystery lights' Where do they come from? (St. Bernard News)

This article discusses the phenomenon of "mystery lights" and their potential origins. It explores the theory that space aliens might be using the moon as a base for their spacecraft and are engaged in mining the moon for minerals, citing NASA photographs as evidence. The author expresses skepticism about the "moon mining" theory based on the clarity of the photos but acknowledges that the objects seen are too regular to be natural. The article also mentions investigations of Mars and Venus, suggesting the moon-base theory is plausible, if far-fetched.

Richard Simmons: new police sergeant (Silver Lake News)

This piece introduces Police Sgt. Richard Simmons, who is trained in using the Identi-kit to create composite drawings of suspects. It briefly mentions an incident where Simmons and another officer saw a glowing light in the sky, which led to UFO investigators arriving in town. Simmons humorously recalls telling the investigators he hadn't seen any light.

UFO's toying with Russia? (Sun-Times Chicago)

This report from February 6, 1977, suggests that UFOs may be active over Russia, with incidents including a light hovering for 36 hours, an airliner being trailed, and a craft hovering over cars and shutting off their motors. Despite official Soviet government explanations, there is growing interest among Soviet citizens in these phenomena, with rumors of cosmonauts returning with footage of UFOs and a secret agreement between the US and Soviet governments to suppress information.

More than just a flight of fancy? (The Toronto Sun)

This article from February 21, 1977, reports that private UFO investigators in Toronto and St. Bruno, Quebec, are charging that the lid is being kept on a major Montreal flying saucer sighting. Marc Leduc of UFO Quebec claims a Montreal woman saw a saucer land on an apartment building roof, with two beings emerging. Officials at Dorval Airport deny receiving any such reports. Leduc claims to have photos of an 18-foot circle left in the apartment roof ice and an alien footprint.

What's Going On Up There? (Valley Reporter)

This article discusses the increasing number of UFO sightings reported in the Valley area, with Sewall Williams and Bill Heinzerling acting as information hubs. They believe sightings are increasing, particularly in New Hampshire and Vermont. The article mentions a report from New Hampshire where a hole in the ice on William McCarthy's farm emitted high levels of radiation, which authorities later claimed was normal.

UFOs: What's Going On Up There? (Continued)

This continuation discusses the lack of concrete evidence for UFO sightings in the Valley, such as photographs or group sightings. It highlights David Corey of Waitsfield, who reported seeing a silver metallic, disc-like object with a glowing dome. Corey believes that governments are not telling the whole story about UFOs and that the object he saw might have been a government prototype aircraft, though he notes the lack of markings and total silence as reservations.

If You Spot a UFO...

This section provides advice from nuclear physicist Stanton T. Friedman on what to do if one sees a UFO. The advice includes not panicking, making scientific measurements, calling others, using a camera, remembering details, drawing the sighting, and collecting any traces left behind.

Weird Occurrences Follow (Erie Daily Times)

This report from February 13, 1977, details two incidents. The first involves Mr. and Mrs. William J. Franklin of East State Road, Seneca, who observed an unidentified flying object (UFO) between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. that appeared as big as a distant star. The second incident involves the Dale Fox family, who were awakened by loud pounding and later found a dead calf with a rope around its neck and strange footprints nearby. The calf and footprints later disappeared.

UFO Sighting in Area (Continued)

This continuation of the "Weird Occurrences" article describes the Fox family's experience, including the discovery of the dead calf and strange footprints. The state police officer suggested it might be related to a UFO sighting reported the previous night. The article also mentions that the black angus calf had disappeared and the two large shepherd dogs, which had been hiding, acted extremely frightened.

Airline pilot reports UFO 249 (The Sunday Sun-Canada)

Captain Gustavo Ferreira of Colombia Avianca Airline claimed to have seen a UFO three times larger than an airliner, traveling at speeds over 28,000 m.p.h. He and his crew spotted the brightly-lit UFO while flying at 20,000 feet. The object changed its lights from green to red when Ferreira switched on his landing lights. The UFO then vanished at a 90-degree angle.

TV to launch new series on science-fiction (The Toronto Sun)

This article discusses the launch of a new science-fiction series titled "The Fantastic Journey." Producer Bruce Lansbury believes there is a growing audience for adult-oriented science-fantasy series, appealing to young adults aged 18 to 45, who are fans of authors like C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and Frank Herbert.

UFO Sightings Continue, (The Intelligencer)

This report from Napanee, Ontario, Canada, details a sighting by 18-year-old Brad Richmond, who observed a small, blinking red light that appeared from a larger light on the evening of November 19. The light changed colors and moved erratically. The article notes that this brings the total number of alleged UFO phenomena reported in the Quine area to 19.

This Time in Napanee Area

This continuation discusses the Napanee UFO sighting and notes that the object maintained an average altitude of about 30 degrees above the horizon. The light would turn off when a car passed and turn back on when the car disappeared. The article mentions that The Intelligencer has viewed 21 persons in connection with alleged phenomena and has interviewed 39 persons who claim to have observed strange lights or unidentified objects.

This UHAGE ONE Was Shaped Like Hot Dog (Athol Daily News)

An orange man reported to Athol Police that he was followed in his car by a "hot dog shaped UFO." The object was reportedly orange, hovered about 500 feet off the ground, and was soundless. Police noted that it wasn't a hoax as far as they could tell.

Flying saucer? Teacher describes strange lights (Waterbury Republican)

High school science teacher Gerald Raczelowski described seeing a red light near Plymouth Center that changed colors every 15 seconds and dropped behind distant hills. He believes it was a flying saucer, a belief he has held for 10 years. His son, Rich, also thinks it could have been a flying saucer. A neighbor has also seen the light multiple times. The Raczelowskis were contacted by the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the prevalence and persistence of UFO sightings and related phenomena. The articles present a range of accounts, from police officers and ordinary citizens to airline pilots and scientists, suggesting that these events are not easily dismissed. While some articles offer potential explanations, such as aircraft or natural phenomena, others highlight the unexplained nature of many sightings, leaving room for speculation about extraterrestrial or other unknown origins. The overall stance appears to be one of reporting these events with a degree of seriousness, acknowledging the growing public interest and the ongoing investigations into these mysteries.

This issue of The Mobile Register features a prominent article by Virginia Culver, Religion Editor, detailing the controversial views of Dr. Clifford Wilson, an Australian archaeologist and psychologist. Wilson posits that UFOs are not extraterrestrial but are demonic in origin, a conclusion he bases on his interpretation of the Bible. He believes these beings are hostile and actively working against humanity.

UFOs Seen Tuesday Still Not Identified

The cover story reports on a sighting of bright lights in the skies over Bay Minette, Alabama, on Tuesday night, February 27, 1977. Police, the weather service, and naval air station spokesmen were unable to definitively identify the phenomena. While some witnesses reported seeing what appeared to be meteors, others suggested military exercises. Bay Minette Police Chief John Trough reported seeing three bright meteors. A National Weather Service spokesman suggested a meteor shower was a likely explanation but could not account for why residents in Mobile and South Baldwin could not see it on a clear night. A spokesperson for Pensacola Naval Air Station denied any military flight operations were conducted there, though Eglin Air Force Base sometimes conducts tests visible in the area. Lightning was the only possibility ruled out.

Dr. Clifford Wilson's Theory on UFOs

Dr. Clifford Wilson's theory, detailed in his book "UFOs and Their Mission Impossible," suggests two possibilities for UFO beings: outer-space visitors or demonic entities. He dismisses the former, as he does not believe in life on other planets. His primary basis for belief is the Bible, leading him to the conclusion that UFOs are satanic. Wilson studied the works of Dr. Edward U. Condon, John Keel, and Dr. J. Allen Hynek, noting that Keel and Condon linked UFOs to the occult and spiritism but did not go as far as to label them demonic.

Wilson finds biblical support for his theory, quoting Matthew 24:24, which speaks of false Christs and false prophets appearing. He argues that belief in God necessitates belief in Satan and his efforts to draw people away from God. He categorizes UFO beings as "spirit beings temporarily in that form," using vehicles with temporary energy sources, possibly acquired through contact with humans. This explains, he suggests, why no physical evidence of UFOs has ever been found.

Wilson believes all UFO beings are hostile and wish to destroy humanity, potentially using "spacenapings" to recruit individuals for Satan's work. He suggests that those contacted may be used against God in the final battle of Armageddon. Despite this, the title of his book implies Wilson believes these forces will ultimately be unsuccessful.

Wilson's research involved studying individuals contacted by UFO beings. These individuals are typically between 25 and 40, have no strong religious background, and come from various walks of life. Some report being taken to other planets, while others describe being kidnaped. Many report hearing voices or saying things they have no control over. Wilson notes that implanted ideas have led to marital breakups, job losses, and confusion. He also mentions reports of paralysis, death from cancer after being burned by a UFO, and individuals being placed in insane asylums.

Wilson spoke recently at Beth Eden Baptist Church in Denver.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue focuses heavily on the intersection of UFO phenomena with religious and psychological interpretations. Dr. Clifford Wilson's perspective dominates, framing UFOs as a manifestation of demonic activity. The editorial stance, as presented through the reporting of Wilson's views, leans towards exploring these more esoteric and theological interpretations of UFO sightings, contrasting with the more conventional explanations sought by local authorities in the Bay Minette incident. The overall tone suggests an openness to unconventional explanations for unexplained aerial phenomena, particularly those with a spiritual or psychological dimension.