APCIC - Vol 06 No 09 - 1981

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWS
Issue: Volume 6, No. 9
Date: September 1981
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENON CLIPPING INFORMATION CENTER
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

This issue of UFO News presents a collection of reports and investigations into unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related aerial phenomena from various locations around the world.

Reports of UFOs hover after 3 Muscatine sightings (The Des Moines Register)

This article details three consecutive nights of UFO sightings in Muscatine, Iowa, in July 1981. Alan Wagner, a toll-taker, reported seeing a strange object hovering over the Mississippi River. Barbara Schutte, a volunteer field investigator for the Center for UFO Studies, described the object as egg-shaped with an orange glow and a yellow interior light, estimating its size and altitude. Another sighting involved two young men reporting a "large orange disc that changed shapes." A third sighting was reported by an anonymous caller. Schutte noted that electrical outages are sometimes associated with UFO sightings, and a brief power outage in Muscatine was attributed to a raccoon. The Muscatine sightings were mentioned on the NBC television program "Tomorrow Coast to Coast" by Dr. J. Allen Hynek.

Investigator says she saw UFOs in 1978

Barbara Schutte, a licensed practical nurse, became involved with the Center for UFO Studies after a personal sighting in 1978 near Wever, Iowa, where she observed "three huge red lights at approximately 1,000 feet away in a cornfield."

Strange lights observed (Centralia, Wash. Chronicle)

Several Rochester-area residents reported seeing bright lights in the sky on a Sunday evening. Mary Ann Bamber described one large, oval light flashing different colors (red, blue, white, green) and moving rapidly across the horizon. The lights were visible until the early morning hours.

Pampa man seeks to unravel possible sighting of UFO (Pampa, Texas News)

Grover Willoughby of Pampa, Texas, is seeking information about a burning object he saw drop from the sky south of Pampa in 1976 or 1977. He recalls the object having a flame above it, unlike a meteorite. He has contacted the Air Force and FAA, who reported no flights in the area at that time. Willoughby believes the object may have caused ground fires.

Flashing lights spotted (Ashland, Ohio Times-Gazette)

A Mifflin man, Ray Irving, reported sighting "flashing red, blue and green lights" for about an hour, moving slowly from west to north. A sheriff's deputy confirmed witnessing the phenomenon. FAA officials stated they had no record of the event, and NASA confirmed no satellites were in orbit low enough to be observed. Earl Neff of the Cleveland UFOlogy Project noted that while this was a long-distance viewing, closer sightings had been reported recently in Parma and Macedonia.

I saw the 'thing' (West Sussex Gazette Arundel)

This letter describes a sighting of a bright green light moving silently and rapidly across the sky, too large and fast for a navigation light or an airship. The object moved level and straight before disappearing. The writer, Mrs. Barbara B. Stock, notes the silence and lack of wind displacement sound.

Mystery object in the sky (Bournemouth Evening Echo Dorset)

Mr. and Mrs. George Longden of Wallisdown reported seeing a mysterious silver and orange object hovering in the sky. Air traffic controllers and police suggested it might have been a hot air balloon, but Mr. Longden, a skeptic, found it to be the most amazing thing he had ever seen. The object was described as pear-shaped and moved at the speed of a light aircraft.

Couple saw silver UFO hovering (Bournemouth Evening Echo Dorset)

Mrs. Anne Robertson and her husband John reported seeing a silvery, oval-shaped object hovering for five minutes over Westbourne. They described it as making a low rumbling noise and emitting light from the top. Hurn Airport traffic control stated no low-flying aircraft were in the area at the time.

Tibet reports UFO sighting (Tulare, Calif. Advance Register)

The official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported an unidentified flying object with Saturn-like rings swooping through the sky above Tibet. The object alternately brightened and dimmed, moving at an estimated speed of more than 70 mph for seven minutes before disappearing.

Experts probe UFO sighting over Purfleet (Thurrock Gazette Essex)

Investigators from Essex Unidentified Flying Object Society are looking into reports of a huge grey oval object seen soaring over Purfleet towards Kent. Witnesses described it as moving very fast, changing shape, and vanishing after about 20 minutes. It was difficult to see due to its speed.

Who can shed light on lights? (Beds & Bucks Observer Leighton Buzzard)

This letter describes multiple sightings of small points of light moving at high speed across the sky on the night of August 2. The objects were bright, silent, and moved in various directions, with one object stopping and then shooting away at incredible speed. The writer, L.M. Bunyan, discounts aircraft, meteors, and satellites as explanations.

UFO details requested (Whitby Gazette North Yorkshire)

This notice requests information about a mystery object seen on Thursday, July 30, described as a bright fluorescent green, large, and apple-shaped with a tail, travelling horizontally at high speed. It was seen over Ugglebarnby Moor.

Artists capture UFO sighting in paintings (Minocqua, Wis. Lakeland Times)

Chrystal Jackson and her son Chris, both watercolor artists, painted their impressions of a UFO they saw on July 20. Chris described a red-orange object over a potato field, elliptical in shape with three orange lights and stripes on the underside. Chrystal's painting shows the object hovering behind trees. Marie Larsen, Chrystal's mentor, suggests that intense focus during artistic creation might attract or touch upon phenomena.

Huge, Glowing UFO Showers Balls of Fire Over City (National Enquirer)

Over 1,000 people witnessed a giant, glowing UFO over Portland, Oregon, on April 3, dropping thousands of eerie reddish balls of fire. The craft, described as the size of a commercial jetliner, hovered at 7,000 feet elevation and was not detected by radar. A second, similar UFO was also reported. The event was described as a "brief glimpse of hell."

UFO MYSTERY WE ALL SAW IT (Swindon Evening Advertiser Wiltshire)

This article compiles numerous reports from Swindon, UK, of a mysterious object seen on Sunday night. Witnesses described it as soundless, shapeless, bathed in a red cloud, or shaped like the canopy of a parachute with red and yellow strip lights. Some reports also mentioned hearing loud bangs and explosions. RAF Lyneham expressed skepticism, while RAF Hullavington stated there were no night parachuting activities.

Crown-shaped, fire-belching UFO attacks and destroys small town (Lantana, Fla. Weekly World News)

A terrifying, crown-shaped UFO reportedly streaked out of the sky and destroyed dozens of homes in the village of Baridiame in Senegal. Survivor Mbaye Khouma described the monstrous craft belching smoke and screaming, and radiating heat like a blast furnace. The UFO was described as having a long shaft, a blue color, and a red light. The destruction was widespread and attributed to the UFO, not an atmospheric phenomenon. A research team is collecting samples for laboratory tests.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena across diverse geographical locations. The magazine consistently presents witness testimonies, often from ordinary citizens, alongside attempts at investigation by UFO research groups and, in some cases, official bodies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting the accounts without immediate dismissal, while also acknowledging skepticism from official sources like the FAA and RAF. The inclusion of artistic interpretations and the discussion of potential psychological or energetic factors suggest a broad approach to understanding these events. The issue highlights the ongoing mystery and public fascination with UFOs, underscoring the lack of definitive explanations for many sightings.

This issue of UFO magazine, dated August 1981, features a prominent cover story with Bishop Helder Camara discussing the imminent arrival of space aliens and the need for humanity to prepare for inter-planetary dialogues. The magazine compiles numerous UFO sightings and related phenomena reported from various locations, primarily in the UK and USA, during July and August 1981.

Key Articles and Reports

Space Aliens Are Ready To Invade Earth -- says a bishop

This lead article by Jim Barnard details Bishop Helder Camara's views on extraterrestrial contact. At a meeting of educators in Three Rivers, Canada, Camara urged global preparation for "dialogues with the civilizations of tomorrow." He firmly believes in intelligent life on other planets and anticipates contact soon. He warns that if aliens are inferior, humanity might enslave them, and if they are superior, humanity could become their unwilling servants. Camara emphasizes the need for education to prepare for these historic inter-spacial relationships and states that it is a "pretense of man to believe that he is alone in the universe."

UFO Seen Over Marysville Skies (Appeal-Democrat, June 9, 1981)

Marysville police reported an unidentified flying object with red, white, and blue pulsating lights followed Kevin McCormack for a period before disappearing. A UFO reporting center in Seattle received no other similar reports for that night.

UFO sighted here (Journal Muscatine IA, July 22, 1981)

An unidentified object was seen flying over the Muscatine riverfront. Three people reported it to the police. Randy Reynolds described it as a "large orange disc" that changed shape and disappeared/reappeared. A toll taker at the Norbert F. Beckey Bridge also saw an object that made a "whizzing sound." The sightings were referred to the Center for UFO Studies.

UFO in Banstead (Banstead Herald, August 6, 1981)

An unidentified flying object was sighted over Banstead. Mr. Philip Keeler described it as a two-foot diameter, balloon-shaped object burning furiously as it travelled from Epsom Downs towards Sutton. It was about 60 feet up. He saw it again later. A spokesman for the London Weather Centre suggested a meteorite, though noted they usually burn out before reaching Earth.

'Giant maggot' (Bromley Times, August 6, 1981)

A UFO resembling a "giant black maggot" was spotted over Rafford Way, Bromley, before floating away towards London. The sighting was claimed by musician Mr. Mike Sexton and other pedestrians.

Mystery UFO seen over city (Hereford Evening News, August 18, 1981)

Mr. Bruce Fisher spotted a mysterious UFO over Hereford, described as three white lights in a triangle formation with a bright central light, moving across the sky. He reported it to the police, stating it was not an aircraft or a balloon. Hereford has a history of UFO sightings, including blazing balls and spinning saucers.

2,500 m.p.h. or more (West Sussex Gazette, August 20, 1981)

This letter to the editor describes a very bright, greenish light observed travelling through the sky at an estimated speed of 2,500 m.p.h. or more. The writer suggests it was likely a distant object in space, possibly a large meteor, rather than a Perseid meteor.

From Space Or The Devil? Bill Herrmann Believes Close Encounters Satanic Delusions (The State, Columbia SC, June 28, 1981)

This article by David Tomlin profiles Bill Herrmann, a UFO investigator who claims multiple encounters with aliens and flying saucers since 1978. Herrmann describes being taken into saucers via blue-green light beams and examined by humanoid creatures. His employer, Jody Willis, vouches for his character. Another investigator calls it "one of the best UFO cases." Herrmann has been hypnotized to recall details. However, Herrmann, a fundamentalist Baptist, now believes UFO experiences are Satanic delusions, influenced by his minister.

Group chasing UFO report (Bay of Plenty Times, June ?, 1981)

Members of the Tauranga UFO investigation group reported a strange light that rocketed across the skyline, possibly travelling faster than 2100 kilometres an hour. The object descended slightly, suggesting intelligent control. The group plans to continue investigating and seeks public information.

Matson saw something - UFO? (Northfield, Minn. News, August 20, 1981)

Russel Matson of Northfield reported seeing a UFO during his early morning drive. He described it as having two lights, appearing like a helicopter but making no noise. As he observed it, the object turned perpendicular, came directly overhead, and was described as a "perfect image" unlike anything he had seen. He detailed its hexagon shape, size, lights (two green, two red, white at front/back), and estimated speed of 10-15 mph. His boss, Bruce Nygen, also saw the lights, thinking it was a helicopter. Matson did not call the police but reported it to a radio host.

Star theory over U.F.O. (Stoke-on-Trent Evening Sentinel, August 27, 1981)

Amateur astronomer Mr. Michael Pace suggested that sightings of a bizarre "spinning" object over Newcastle could have been a star, due to atmospheric conditions. However, he found reports of vertical movement curious. Two men from Newcastle claimed to have seen a red and orange "craft" performing aerial aerobatics.

County wondering about UFO (Frankfort, Ind. Times, August 21, 1981)

This article discusses the numerous UFO reports from Frankfort, Indiana. The object was described as large, rectangular, with flashing red, blue, and green lights. Phil Thompson, president of the Indiana balloon organization, stated it was unlikely to be a balloon due to the times of day and duration of sightings. Grissom Air Force Base suggested it might be a hot-air balloon, but officials noted the object's movement against the wind and its prolonged stationary position were unusual. Sheriff's deputies observed the object moving northeast very fast, with one deputy noting it went straight up out of sight in 40-45 seconds. Frankfort Police Radio Operator Wayne Staley took photographs, doubting they would turn out.

UFO Report Probed (Daily Record Morristown, July 7, 1981)

Police in Chatham received over 15 calls about a strange "pulsating red glow" in the eastern sky that "dipped down suddenly and then rose again." An officer who investigated described it as looking like heat lightning. The investigation was ongoing.

UFO fans on watch (Shropshire Star, August 22, 1981)

This brief report mentions a "Thing" festival organized by the British UFO Society in Wiltshire, where hundreds were expected to gather to look for a phenomenon reputed to have appeared every two years since August 27, 1965, at Warminster.

UFOs: Two anglers on Thursday evening, while reminiscing over the parapet of the North Ugie bridge at Mill of Rora, rubbed their eyes as they looked towards Peterhead. There, south of the town seemingly, and perhaps over RAF Buchan, a strong luminous slightly greenish light, fixed for a time, then moving towards two other fixed positions in the sky, before disappearing. It was also spotted in Perth and Dundee.

UFO spotted near county line (Frankfort, Ind. Times, August 20, 1981)

An unidentified object flying northeast of Frankfort along the Clinton-Howard County line was reported. The object was described as red, white, and bluish-green with flashing lights, resembling a "building standing upright." Sheriff's Deputy Tom Catron observed it moving slowly for about three hours. Grissom Air Force Base radar controllers tracked a similar object over Frankfort for over two hours, believing it to be a hot-air balloon.

UFO hovers over lonely countryside before disappearing

This caption accompanies a photo of a UFO hovering over a landscape, with text noting that it disappeared. The accompanying text discusses how information gathered from aliens might be used by governments and mentions Edwards Air Force Base as a likely location for holding such craft or beings.

Secret captives (National Examiner, September 8, 1981)

This article, based on information from Robert P. Barry, claims that aliens from distant planets are possibly being held prisoner in America. Barry alleges that survivors from several UFO crashes have been recovered and taken for study. He also mentions reports of the Russians having an alien in custody. The article details physical characteristics of the alleged aliens, including their height, hairless bodies, enlarged heads, and four fingers. It also references specific incidents like the Hawaii Incident during WWII and a Louisiana Incident in 1953.

Spaceship (National Examiner, September 8, 1981)

This section, continuing the story of secret captives, describes a Navy CB unit retrieving a spaceship and four survivors. It mentions attempts to communicate with the aliens and suggests that some survivors of the 1944 crash might still be alive. It also details the Louisiana Incident where Army troops witnessed a crash, and aliens were recovered, with some being able to walk before disappearing. The Army reportedly denies knowledge of this incident.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents UFO sightings and alien encounter stories as credible phenomena, often highlighting official skepticism or attempts at rationalization (e.g., balloons, meteors) as insufficient explanations for the reported events. There's a recurring theme of potential government secrecy or cover-ups regarding UFO incidents and alien technology. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, giving voice to witnesses and investigators, while also acknowledging the more speculative and sensational aspects of the topic, such as alien abductions and the possibility of extraterrestrial invasion or interaction with humanity. The inclusion of Bishop Camara's views and Bill Herrmann's story, which he later reinterprets as Satanic delusions, adds a layer of theological and psychological exploration to the phenomenon.

This issue of the SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT, dated August 11, 1981, features a prominent front-page story about a family's sighting of a flying object. The publication is based in Live Oaks, Florida.

Family Sees Flying Object

The main article, by Staff Writer Cynthia Swirko, details an encounter experienced by Al and Sandy Rogers near Newburn Road in Suwannee County, Florida. On a cloudy night, the Rogers family witnessed a large object, estimated to be about 60 feet long, hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. The object reportedly had red lights at both ends and emitted tractor-like noises. Mrs. Rogers described the object as being at 'tree level' with the rest of it dark. While Mrs. Rogers felt uneasy and retreated indoors, Al Rogers, who had always wanted to see a UFO, pursued the object in his truck as it glided away towards Rocky Sink Church. The article notes that this was not the first reported sighting in Suwannee County, and neighbors had also reported similar phenomena, often being dismissed or laughed at by authorities like the Suwannee County Sheriff's Department.

Objects similar to the one seen by the Rogers family, as well as red disks, have reportedly been spotted in the area for up to three years. Al Rogers was certain the object was not a plane or a blimp, stating it was close enough to be hit by a thrown ball. The object's appearance was described as having total blackness between the red lights, obscuring the sky.

Other Sightings and Police Involvement

The article extends beyond the Rogers family's experience to include other reports. A Jay County policeman, who wished to remain anonymous, reported seeing an object hover over his car near Boundary Pike and Jay County Road 120. He described it as having a green light on one end and a red light on the other, with a white landing light underneath. It stopped dead about 600 feet high, without noise, unlike an airplane.

Jay County police also received a report from a Mrs. W. Veigh DeBolt about 'funny flashing lights' near her house on Tuesday evening. She also contacted city police with a similar report on Wednesday evening.

Furthermore, Jay County police had received radio traffic indicating that Grissom Air Force Base near Kokomo had tracked several unidentified objects on radar around 1 a.m. on Thursday. Maj. Bob Allen of the Grissom public information office confirmed that while they had received reports, the Air Force no longer investigates them, referring them to local or state police.

Martians?

A sidebar titled 'Martians?' suggests that if readers have been seeing strange objects or lights in the sky, they are not alone. It references a rural Portland woman who reported seeing oblong objects with pale flashing lights, and notes that several police officers also saw similar objects.

International Sightings (from other publications)

The issue also includes reports from other newspapers, indicating a broader pattern of UFO sightings:

NUNEATON EVENING TRIBUNE (August 12, 1981)

UFO Fireball Theory: Mrs. Christine Potts of Earl Shilton reported a mysterious green object with a bright yellow cone-shaped tail on July 30th. The Hinckley aerial phenomena investigations group reported dozens of calls over two weeks from the Midlands area about similar objects. The object was described as round, green, and travelling west. A Bedworth policeman logged a sighting, and investigators are considering the theory that it might have been a large fireball meteor that disintegrated. They are seeking witnesses to plot its trajectory and potentially find fragments.

GLOUCESTER CITIZEN (August 26, 1981)

UFO Spotted at Stroud: Residents of Stroud reported a mystery object flying over the town. Mr. Jack Ireland described it as saucer-shaped, grey underneath and dark blue on top, appearing to revolve. Neighbors also witnessed it. A Stroud police spokesman noted no unusual reports but mentioned a balloon in the area.

STOKE ON TRENT EVENING SENTINEL (August 26, 1981)

Orange Craft in Sky - Claim: U.F.O. EXPERTS issued a warning about a potential 'spate of sightings' after a 26-year-old insurance worker, Mr. Tom Forsyth, claimed to see an orange dome-shaped craft over Newcastle. He described it as shaped like a spinning top, colored red and orange, moving horizontally before shooting vertically upwards. Another man in the Westlands reported a similar object performing 'unusual aerobatics'. The British UFO Research Association stated they were in the middle of a 'UFO flap'.

SOUTHERN EVENING ECHO (August 26, 1981)

UFO Claim Scorned After Crop Damage: An IRATE Hampshire farmer, Lt. Cmdr. Henry Bruce, ridiculed a UFO claim for three mystery circles on his land, calling it 'plain vandalism'. The circles, measuring up to 4-5ft in diameter, flattened his corn crop. He believes 'grown-up children' are responsible. Mr. Ken Rogers of the British UFO Society suggested the circles were 'UFO nests', but villagers suspected a 'whirlwind'.

SWINDON EVENING ADVERTISER (August 20, 1981)

Skywatch with Great Care: A letter to the editor discusses the scientific study of UFOs, critiquing a report by 'Mr Stevens' regarding an object described as 'about the size of a tennis ball'. The author argues that the calculated size and range are inaccurate, suggesting the object was much larger and closer than reported.

DAILY MAIL (August 29, 1981)

Space Eyeball-or blinking illusion?: This report details sightings during a UFO spotting festival in Wiltshire, UK. Keith Pearce described seeing a deep orange-coloured light that weaved erratic patterns, vanished, and reappeared. Other attendees also reported seeing strange lights, including a red ball. A Corporal from Battlebury Barracks suggested such lights are often flares, helicopters, or planes.

HARLOW GAZETTE & CITIZEN (February 21, 1981)

An ex-bobby spots flying object: A retired policeman, Mr Ken Ettle, reported seeing a flying object similar to one previously described, hovering over Harlow. He described it as having various coloured lights and making no noise.

PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH (March 3, 1981)

We're not cranks say UFO couple: Mr Terry Myers and his wife Sue reported seeing flashing lights in the sky for about two hours. They described the lights as sequences of green, blue, red, yellow, and white. A police constable who investigated also saw the object, stating he had never seen anything like it in 25 years. Air bases at Wittering and Alconbury could not explain the lights.

EXPRESS & ECHO EXETER (March 12, 1981)

Odd lights in the sky: Mr. David Thomas reported seeing two orange lights in the sky over Taunton, making characteristic UFO movements. Air traffic control confirmed no aircraft were in the area.

PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH (March 2, 1981)

Night light mystery: Police were called to Orton Malborne, Peterborough, to investigate a UFO sighting. The light was first seen by Mr Terence Myers. Pc Alec Riddell also observed the blue and red light. Inquiries to Wittering and Alconbury air bases failed to solve the mystery.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this collection of articles are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different geographical locations (USA and UK) and the consistent pattern of witnesses reporting unusual aerial phenomena, often involving lights, strange shapes, and silent hovering. There is a clear tension between the accounts of credible witnesses (families, police officers, retired professionals) and the skepticism or dismissal they often face from authorities or the general public. The articles highlight the ongoing interest in UFOs, with mentions of UFO investigation groups and theories ranging from meteors to deliberate hoaxes. The editorial stance, particularly in the Suwannee Democrat, appears to be one of reporting these events as significant occurrences, giving space to witness accounts and official (or lack thereof) responses.