APCIC - Vol 06 No 08 - 1981

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWS
Issue Date: August 1981
Volume: 6, No. 8
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENON CLIPPING INFORMATION CENTER
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

This issue of UFO NEWS from August 1981 is a compilation of various reports and articles concerning unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena, gathered from different newspapers and sources. The publication serves as a clipping service, providing information on aerial phenomena.

Contents and Articles

Cover Story

The cover features the title "UFO NEWS" prominently, accompanied by an illustration of a flying saucer. The issue date is August 1981, Volume 6, No. 8. The main headline is implicitly the title itself, suggesting a focus on recent UFO news.

Key Persons and Staff

The publication lists its editorial staff, including Harry R. Cohen as editor and S. Mac Williams as assistant editor. It also features Ron Smotek for photo analysis and Richard Smotek for research. A list of foreign correspondents from various countries like Argentina, Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Turkey, West Germany, and Canada is also provided, indicating a global scope for the reported phenomena.

Article: Police alerted after strange silver sighting (Sevenoaks Chronicle, July 11, 1981)

This article reports on an incident where William Davey of Sevenoaks, UK, claimed to have seen a silver object hanging from a deflated balloon descending rapidly into nearby fields. Police were alerted but found no trace of the object. Mr. Davey, an ex-RAF man, expressed skepticism about extraterrestrial theories, suggesting it might have been a weather balloon.

Article: UFO Claim (Reading Chronicle, July 10, 1981)

David Hodges of Calcot, UK, reported seeing a red and white flaming UFO over his home early one Monday morning. He described it as a low-flying, dazzling object that disappeared. Police investigated but found nothing, and a spokesman suggested it might have been a shooting star.

Article: Neighbours in space or we alone? (Isle of Wight County Press, July 17, 1981)

This piece discusses the theories surrounding UFOs, particularly the idea that some may be interstellar craft. It references a BBC program exploring the probabilities of intelligent life in space and notes that scientists in the USA are increasingly giving serious attention to this question.

Article: MYSTERIOUS UFOs have returned to plague householders in Church Hill (Redditch Indicator Worcs, July 10, 1981)

Reports of UFO sightings in Church Hill, UK, have resurfaced. A housewife, Mrs. Betty Lloyd, reported seeing a cigar-shaped object about three feet long hovering over nearby houses. She described it as lit up and fascinating, not frightening. The object hovered for 20 minutes before disappearing. Local police had received no reports of UFO sightings in the area.

Article: Evidence Baffled scientist finds a 50 million-year-old motor (Examiner, August 18, 1981)

This article details the discovery of a complex engine, possibly a stabilizer or gyroscope from an alien UFO, embedded in a rock north of San Francisco, USA. Anthropologist Jack Kershaw found the object in 1971. Experts at Stanford and Washington D.C. have examined it, concluding it is a motor with its own power source. The device is about 1.5 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, made of copper coils and a hollow shaft that retains magnetic powers. Kershaw believes the device is at least 50 million years old, and its technology is beyond current capabilities. He refused offers from Stanford to buy the device, believing it could hold the key to solving the energy crisis.

Article: It was seven feet tall and bullets couldn't stop it: The unworldly monster turned his hands green (Lantana, Fla. Weekly World News, June 30, 1981)

This article recounts an encounter by Arlin Gilpin, a 19-year-old from Casey County, Kentucky, USA, who investigated a mysterious orange light near his home. He reported seeing a large alien, over seven feet tall, with red-orange eyes. The encounter left Arlin with green hands and a purple burn mark under his eye, which vanished by the next morning. Arlin described the being as making electronic sounds and touching him, causing a shock-like sensation. He believes the entity was from another planet and might return.

Article: Strange sightings in the late June skies... (Kenne bunk, Maine Co. Coast Star, July 1, 1981)

This report covers two separate sightings in Maine, USA. On Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Julius Palmero saw a football-shaped object flying at a steady speed. On Monday evening, Fire Chief Ramon Nolette observed a green and white flare or light. The Coast Guard was alerted, and a "meteorite watch" was in effect, though Nolette was certain it was not a meteorite.

Article: UFO sighted here (Muscatine, Iowa Journal, July 22, 1981)

An unidentified object, described as a large orange disc that changed shape and reappeared, was sighted flying over the Muscatine riverfront, USA. At least three people reported the object to the police, noting it made a 'whizzing' sound. Material on the sightings was referred to the Center for UFO Studies.

Article: UFO Report Probed (Morristown, N.J. Daily Record, July 7, 1981)

Police in Chatham, NJ, USA, received numerous calls about a strange "pulsating red glow" in the eastern sky. An officer who investigated described it as looking like heat lightning. An investigation was ongoing.

Article: Midget UFO Buzzes Soviet Town (National Enquirer, July 28, 1981)

This article describes an encounter with an incredibly small UFO, about the size of a Frisbee, observed by electrical engineer Antonas Balikis and Petras Mikenas in Palanga, Lithuania. The object was described as black, red, and flying low, almost bumping into buildings. Soviet UFO researcher Dr. Aleksandr Kopeikin and investigator Prof. Felix Zigel commented on the discovery, suggesting the midget UFO was a probe from a larger mother ship and that its presence indicated advanced extraterrestrial technology.

Article: Oil Workers Hide In Terror as UFO Digs Strange Hole (National Enquirer, August 4, 1981)

This report details a bizarre incident in a remote Soviet oilfield where an object, believed to be a UFO, allegedly dug a strange, narrow shaft that widened into a spherical hole, forming a "bottle" shape. Dr. Aleksei Zolotov, a geology expert, concluded that an alien spaceship had removed clay from the site. The hole led to a chamber below, which had been turned into a ceramic bottle by intense heat. The incident occurred in August 1979, and Dr. Zolotov, along with Prof. Felix Zigel, planned further study.

Article: Eight people watch blazing UFO crash to Earth (null, July 7, 1981)

Eight workers at a landfill in Florence, Alabama, USA, witnessed a blazing UFO explode and vanish without a trace. They described it as a ball of fire with smoke, which deployed a parachute before a tremendous blast. Despite a search, no wreckage was found. Fire Chief Audie Hodges and Civil Defense Director George Magnum expressed bafflement. The incident was reported to an Illinois Air Force base.

Article: Close encounter? (Sevenoaks News, Kent, July 15, 1981)

This is a repeat of the Sevenoaks sighting reported earlier, with William Davey again describing seeing a silver object hanging from a deflated balloon. He reiterates his belief that it could be a weather balloon.

Article: UFO sightings in Tibet reported (The Atlanta Journal, August 6, 1981)

An unidentified flying object with Saturn-like rings was reported to have swooped through the sky above Tibet, with its rings alternately brightening and dimming. The incident was reported by a meteorological official in Lhasa, Tibet.

Article: ...and teens spot green UFO flashing over Monroe (Middletown, NY Times Herald Record, July 23, 1981)

Philip MacPherson and friends in Monroe, NY, USA, reported seeing two fluorescent green lights hovering over his backyard. The lights flickered, causing static on the stereo, and dogs barked. They contacted NASA and state police, who took the information but could not investigate further.

Article: 3 report seeing UFO in southern Pittsfield (Pittsfield, Mass. Berkshire Eagle, July 8, 1981)

Darryl S. Perrault and two others reported seeing an oval-shaped object with red and white flashing lights over the Pittsfield Country Club, USA. Perrault described it as moving too fast to be a plane or satellite and stated he never believed in UFOs before.

Article: UFO over Monroe (Newburgh, NY, News, July 22, 1981)

This is a brief report confirming that Philip McPherson of Monroe, NY, USA, reported seeing a UFO cruising the night sky. State police were notified, but the object had already departed by the time they arrived.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO NEWS are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different countries and the variety of forms these phenomena take, from small, disc-shaped objects to large, glowing entities. There is a consistent pattern of witnesses reporting unusual lights, shapes, and behaviors, often accompanied by a sense of awe or fear. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these phenomena objectively, presenting witness accounts and official investigations (or lack thereof) without overt skepticism or endorsement, though some articles, like the one by William Davey, do include skeptical viewpoints. The inclusion of foreign reports and the mention of organizations like the Center for UFO Studies and NASA suggest an effort to document and analyze these events comprehensively. The discovery of the ancient motor also introduces a historical and archaeological dimension to the UFO phenomenon.

This issue of the magazine, dated July 27, 1981, prominently features artist Budd Hopkins and his new book, "Missing Time: A Documented Study of UFO Abductions." The cover story, "His interest in space takes him beyond his canvas," details Hopkins' personal journey into UFO research, beginning with his first sighting in 1963. The magazine also includes numerous reports of UFO sightings and related incidents from various locations around the world, including Australia, China, and the United States.

Budd Hopkins and 'Missing Time'

The lead article focuses on Budd Hopkins, an artist whose interest in UFOs has led him to write a book documenting alleged UFO abductions. Hopkins claims that numerous people have been abducted for brief periods and undergone examinations on board spacecraft. He used tape-recorded hypnosis sessions to write his book, which took him from the summer of 1979 to the fall of 1980 to complete. Hopkins believes that tens of thousands of people may have been abducted and that his book aims to share this experience and the resulting emotional toll.

Hopkins dismisses the friendly portrayal of aliens in films like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," insisting that experiences with UFOs and investigations have been stressful for those involved. He describes the aliens' experiments as objective and devoid of compassion, akin to a science class dissecting a frog. Only about 20 percent of the people he has contacted are willing to undergo hypnotic sessions. Hopkins works with psychologist Aphrodite Clamar on these investigations, studying cases involving professionals from various fields.

He recounts the story of a Rockland County policeman who described dreams identical to his wife's about a possible abduction, even though they had never discussed their dreams. Hopkins, a successful 50-year-old artist with a notable career in abstract geometric forms, admits to facing criticism from art colleagues for his UFO interest but remains undeterred. He is primarily a painter but also a UFO investigator, and he maintains a large file of material on these experiences. He hopes to see group therapy established for abduction victims to help them cope with anxiety.

Regarding skepticism about why aliens haven't made official contact, Hopkins suggests humans might be like a tribe observing anthropologists without understanding their purpose. He notes that psychiatrists have offered no reasonable explanations for reported abductions, deeming it a "real phenomenon." Hopkins is scheduled to speak at a UFO conference and uses his "visiting artist gigs" to elicit information on the subject.

International UFO Sightings and Incidents

Australia: Soviet Satellite or UFO?

A report from Perth, Australia, details a government observatory's statement that a Soviet satellite may have crashed into northwest Australia. Police reported sightings of a "greenish-white" object falling to Earth near Marble Bar. Astronomer Mike Candy suggested it could be the Cosmos 434 satellite, which was due for re-entry. He noted that if it was nuclear-powered, it could be radioactive, but if solar-powered, it would pose no danger. The report also mentions past incidents, including a Soviet satellite falling in Canada in 1978 and the U.S. Skylab crashing in Australia in 1979.

China: Increasing UFO Sightings

The Asahi Evening News reports on the increasing number of UFO sightings in China in 1980, the "Year of the Monkey." The China UFO Research Organization (CURO), formed in May 1980, recorded 77 reports from January to November. CURO chairman Cha Leping stated they study these phenomena with an "open and scientific mind." The organization has branches and 400 members throughout China. Some incredible sightings are detailed, including a cone-shaped object emitting intense heat over an oil field, and a dish-like object seen by office workers. A photograph of a UFO was published in the Beijing Evening News, taken by students in August.

The article also highlights incidents with more serious consequences. In one case, panic caused by UFOs resulted in two children being trampled to death and 300 people injured. Another incident on July 7, 1977, involved mysterious objects emitting orange light that caused death and injury during an outdoor film showing in Fujian province.

CURO's file suggests a link between sightings in China and those elsewhere. A group of Chinese air force pilots spotted a massive luminous object in the sky in Gansu province. The report notes a potential link between this UFO and one that reportedly caused an Australian plane to crash.

Cha Leping categorizes UFO descriptions into three types: dish, ball, ring, or egg-shaped objects; large rectangular objects; and spiral nebula-like UFOs. A large object that entered the atmosphere over east China in August 1980, breaking into fiery pieces, is identified with some confidence as a big meteorite, estimated to have weighed at least 1,000 tons.

Tibet: Mysterious Object

The New York Post reports that the official Chinese news agency reported sightings of a mysterious unidentified flying object racing across the sky over Tibet. A weather official in Lhasa described it as a bright object surrounded by Saturn-like rings of blue-white light, moving at an estimated speed of 70 mph.

United States: Various Sightings and Encounters

Texas Encounter: The National Enquirer reports a detailed account of a UFO encounter involving Vickie Landrum, her grandson Colby, and her friend Betty Cash on a deserted Texas road. Under hypnosis, Vickie relived the terrifying experience of a huge, blazing UFO hovering over their car, emitting intense heat and red flames. The incident left all three suffering from severe burns, blisters, diarrhea, headaches, nausea, and eye problems, with symptoms suggesting radiation poisoning. An aerospace engineer from NASA and a University of Wyoming professor, Dr. Leo Sprinkle, who conducted the hypnosis, deemed the case highly significant and providing physical evidence of UFO existence.

South Carolina Abduction: The Cleveland Press details the story of Bill Herrmann, who claims to have been abducted by a UFO. His account includes being seen near his home before disappearing and reappearing miles away in a dazed condition. Herrmann claims he photographed the UFO and tape-recorded its sound. Dr. James Harder, a UFO investigator and professor, stated he had "no reason to doubt" Herrmann's abduction. Herrmann's experience was followed by a second incident involving a ball of light and a metal fragment, which researchers found intriguing.

Massachusetts Sighting: The Hampshire Gazette reports a police investigation into a resident's sighting of an unidentified flying object described as a red, blue, and green, fast-moving craft seen in the northwestern sky.

Illinois UFO Convert: The Effingham, Ill., News features Harley Rutledge, chairman of physics at Southeast Missouri State University, who has become a UFO believer after studying sightings since 1973. He heads Project Identification and has recorded 157 sightings.

• UK Sightings: Several reports from the UK are included:
• Swanage Times Dorset: A couple reported seeing a "big yellow bowl" moving quickly over houses at night.
• Daily Telegraph London: Reports of a "ping-pong ball"-sized object with a blue-white light moving at high speed over Tibet.
• Oldham Evening Chronicle: Police received calls about a bright green, cigar-shaped object seen at high altitude, later identified as space debris.
• West Sussex Gazette: A resident described a "scintillating, flashing, fluorescently brilliant, jade green torpedo-shaped object" seen at night.
• Chelmsford Evening Herald: Discusses the "UFO quiz - Is anybody out there?" and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, referencing Cradle Hill near Warminster as a UFO hotspot.
• Everett, Wash. Herald: Reports on the UFO Reporting Center in Seattle finding a person who claims to have been abducted by aliens, describing "huge" red and blue lights and two beings in blue suits.

Wyoming Conference: The Star-Tribune reports on a UFO conference in Laramie where participants claimed to have seen unidentified flying objects. Dr. Leo Sprinkle, a UFO investigator, termed the conference successful and noted that attendees gained confidence in their experiences. He also mentioned patterns emerging from abductee claims, including predictions of catastrophic events and aliens offering help.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the documentation and investigation of UFO phenomena, particularly UFO abductions, and the reporting of numerous sightings from around the globe. The magazine appears to present these accounts with a degree of seriousness, featuring interviews with researchers like Budd Hopkins and Dr. Leo Sprinkle, and detailing witness testimonies. While some reports are presented as factual accounts of sightings or potential satellite crashes, others, like the Texas encounter, are highlighted for their dramatic and potentially evidence-based nature. The overall stance seems to be one of exploring the unexplained and presenting information from various sources, encouraging readers to consider the possibility of extraterrestrial phenomena and encounters.

This issue of the Northern Despatch, dated May 29, 1981, features a prominent cover story titled "UFO lands on a farm!". The magazine includes reports on various alleged UFO sightings and related phenomena from England and the United States, spanning articles from May and August 1981.

Cover Story: UFO lands on a farm!

The main cover story details an incident at Pepper Hall Farm in Arkengarthdale, England, where farmer Clark Stones, his wife Greta, and a friend Stan Watson witnessed a shiny silver disc hovering in a field for about ten minutes. Stones described the object as being about 150 yards away and initially thought it was a large fertiliser bag. When Stones and Watson approached, the object, described as oval, about two feet across and six inches deep, moved slowly and then shot straight up into the sky at an estimated speed of five to ten miles per hour. Stones stated that his friend Stan Watson, who works for ICI, was also convinced it was a UFO. The report also mentions a similar sighting near Skipton earlier that week, and North Yorkshire police appealed for anyone seeing such objects to report them immediately.

Other UFO Sightings in England

Another report from Thingwall, England, on May 29, 1981, details a UFO sighting by a couple who described it as "a hell of a size" and travelling towards Liverpool. The sighting was reported to Mr. Alan Bell of the Merseyside Investigatory Group into Aerial Phenomena. Both Liverpool and Manchester airport authorities confirmed no meteorological objects or radar contacts, ruling out conventional explanations. Mr. Bell noted that the area is not unusual for UFO sightings, possibly due to people feeling embarrassed or frightened to report them.

A Burnley Evening Star article from June 23, 1981, describes a sighting by a Brierfield couple, Richard and Janet Rowley, and three neighbours who watched two strange dome-shaped objects in the sky for over an hour on a Sunday night. The objects were described as being at tree-top height, one large and one small, and moving alongside them. Mrs. Rowley expressed an open mind about UFOs and found the experience strange but was glad others had seen them.

John Lennon's Close Encounter with UFO

An article from the Examiner, dated August 25, 1981, reveals an alleged close encounter by the late musician John Lennon. The incident, described on the cover notes of his album 'Walls and Bridges', reportedly took place in August 1974 in his New York City apartment. Lennon saw a mysterious airship hovering about a hundred feet away, described as flying slowly, about 30 mph, below the rooftops, with ordinary electric lights flashing on and off and a single non-blinking red light on top. He initially tried to rationalize it as a helicopter or balloon but concluded it was neither. Lennon and a friend witnessed the craft and tried to take pictures, but the film was blank, appearing as if it had been through an x-ray scanner. They also contacted local radio stations and newspapers, finding that two other people had reported a similar sighting at the same time. Lennon insisted the vision was not a hallucination.

UFO Reported Spotted Here (Fort Morgan, Colorado)

The Fort Morgan, Colo. Times, dated August 6, 1981, reports a sighting by Annie Terriere and Jack Hillman of an unidentified flying object moving southwest of Fort Morgan. The UFO was described as a bright orange ball about the size of an orange. Police Sgt. Randy Patten suggested it was likely a reflection off a television antenna, which he demonstrated to the witnesses. However, Hillman, who claimed to be a former jet mechanic, insisted it was not a plane or a reflection, describing it as an orange ball moving west, stopping, and then moving right and left before going down.

The same newspaper also includes reports of a burglary and a separate theft of beer and cigarettes, unrelated to UFOs.

There's a Space Alien Inside This Woman

A GLOBE article from August 18, 1981, and a Bridgeport Telegram article from August 6, 1981, discuss the case of Electra Barclay, a 19-year-old Greek woman. Experts, including parapsychologist George Vouloukos, claim her body is often taken over by an alien entity named Inkra from a distant planet called Sefkia. Inkra reportedly claims to be part of an interplanetary plan to save mankind. During these episodes, Barclay's heartbeat, brain activity, and physiology change dramatically. She exhibits knowledge of history, astronomy, and nuclear physics, and speaks of Atlantis and its destruction. Inkra claims Atlantis was destroyed by a cataclysmic earthquake and she was transported to Sefkia, where her being is preserved. She states that humans are in a poor spiritual state and that other planets have decided to help them. Barclay was first 'visited' by Inkra at age 15, and her parents initially sought help from exorcists and psychiatrists. The Bridgeport Telegram article also mentions a separate incident where a UFO-like object seen in Southwestern Connecticut was identified as an advertising plane.

Rev. Carl's Corner: UFOs and the Bible

In the Beaver Dam, KY Messenger, July 31, 1981, Rev. Carl's Corner column discusses whether UFOs are mentioned in the Bible. He references 2nd Kings, chapter 2, verses 8-11, describing a "chariot of fire, and horses of fire" and Elijah ascending into Heaven, suggesting it sounds like a modern aircraft takeoff. He also examines Ezekiel, chapter 1, verses 11-20, which describe living creatures and wheels with electromagnetic or atomic energy, and retracting landing gear. The column references the book "Chariots of the Gods" and suggests that straight lines laid out across landscapes might indicate patterns visible only from great heights. The author encourages readers to trust the Bible, noting that modern discoveries often align with its descriptions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this collection of articles are UFO sightings, alleged alien encounters, and the intersection of these phenomena with religious texts and personal experiences. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these events, with varying degrees of skepticism or belief. Some articles present witness accounts straightforwardly, while others, like the police statements in Fort Morgan and Bridgeport, offer more rational explanations. The inclusion of Rev. Carl's column suggests an attempt to reconcile UFO phenomena with biblical interpretations, indicating a broad interest in the subject matter across different perspectives. The overall tone is one of fascination and inquiry into the unexplained.