APCIC - Vol 09 No 05 - 1984

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWS
Issue: Volume 9, No. 5
Date: May 1984
Publisher: Aerial Phenomenon Clipping Information Center (A.P.C.I.C.)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

This issue of UFO News presents a collection of reports and analyses concerning unidentified flying objects and related phenomena from various locations, spanning the USA, UK, and China. It highlights witness accounts, research efforts, and potential governmental involvement or cover-ups.

Waukesha Woman Spots UFO

This article features an account from Bernice Glor, a 72-year-old resident of Waukesha, Wisconsin, who reported seeing a bright, twinkling light hovering near her apartment building. Glor described the object as being too large to be a star, approximately 30 feet off the ground and about three-quarters of a block away. She initially hesitated to report it, fearing disbelief, but was compelled to share her experience. The object reportedly made a 'shoosh' sound like a motor starting, displayed red and blue lights, and then glided west and north. Glor mentioned seeing something similar about two weeks prior. Walter Andrus, director of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), noted the similarity of this sighting to other reports and doubted it was an aircraft due to the presence of blue lights.

Weird Glenview Sighting Leads to 'UFO Code'

This piece details an unusual incident involving I.W. Whiteside, a retired Bell Laboratories engineer, and his granddaughter in Glenview, Illinois. They witnessed colored images passing over a bookcase in regular patterns for a prolonged period. This event led to the publication of a book titled "Sharon's UFO Code," named after Whiteside's granddaughter, and a letter to the White House. J. Allen Hynek of the Center for UFO Studies in Evanston, who was personally familiar with Whiteside, found the incident "strange" and not fitting typical UFO patterns, considering it worth pondering due to the observers' credibility.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's not a Longhorn but...

This article from the San Antonio News reports on a sighting in the La Vernia area on February 15, 1984. Several residents observed an unidentified flying object described as burnt orange, cigar-shaped, and moving slowly. John R. Cockrell described it as three or four feet long, pointed at both ends, with a middle section about four to five inches in diameter, emitting a bright orange light with more intense dabs. Jaime Santos, an 11-year-old, described it as having constantly changing colors (red, orange, yellow) and being round, not like an airplane. MUFON in Seguin is investigating the incident. The article also references a previous sighting in the same area on February 22, 1981, where 30 residents reported a UFO that disrupted electronic signals, which was later attributed by some to a C-5 transport plane, though others dispute this.

Officers Encounter Strange Lights in S.D. Sky

This report from the Minneapolis Star Tribune details an encounter by two officers, Gary Myers and Tom Jensen, in Bennett County, South Dakota. Responding to rancher reports of strange lights, they observed a large array of red and white lights hovering silently. The object then accelerated rapidly with a low jet-engine sound. The officers were unable to identify the phenomenon and contacted Ellsworth Air Force Base, which reported no aircraft in the area. The article also mentions Jerry Grass, a ranch owner who reported similar lights and cattle mutilations, a phenomenon previously studied by the federal government.

UFOs over Gwent - but no little green men!

This article from the South Wales Argus reports that the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has admitted for the first time that UFOs have flown over Gwent. A Cwmbran couple, David and Angela Mason, reported seeing a large, disc-shaped object with a huge light hovering over a mountain. While the MoD stated that the sightings had "no defence implications" and found no evidence of alien spacecraft, the Masons believe the ministry knows more, suggesting it could be from another country or a top-secret aircraft. The article also notes that other sightings in the Gwent region have been released, including lights and "spacecraft" over various towns.

KGB Takes to the Flying Saucers!

This piece from the Northern Echo suggests that the Soviet Union, through the KGB, has been deliberately fostering "flying saucer" hysteria to cover up military secrets. The article explains how the launch of military rockets, like the RD-107 booster, can create a brilliant crescent-shaped flame that appears as a UFO. It also details how mountainous areas in southern Kazakhstan, housing top-secret military installations, are subject to UFO reports, which the KGB allegedly uses to divert attention. The article posits that the Russians' love for science fiction makes them receptive to such stories, thus aiding the KGB's deception tactics.

Other Sightings and Reports

Several shorter reports from various newspapers are included:

• Daily Telegraph (Manchester): Residents in China's Shenzhen economic zone reported a dazzling, golden light, described as a UFO, on March 3, 1984.
• Bolton Evening News: Stuart Settle, formerly a sceptic, reported seeing a triangular-shaped object near Horwich College that tilted, hovered, and changed direction with flashing lights.
• Lancashire Evening Telegraph: A man in Rossendale reported a bright red, cigar-shaped object hovering above Sharneyford village, which then flashed and flew off at speed.
• Yorkshire Evening Press: A letter from Steuart Campbell corrects a photograph used in a UFO feature, identifying it as a cloud of chemicals from a research rocket, not a "mystery object."
• Berkhamsted Gazette: Douglas Kosmalski reported seeing a large, round, orange-colored object over the Great Gaddesden area, initially dismissed by friends but later confirmed by his brother. The objects were later believed to be flares.
• Morecambe Guardian: Mrs Maureen Kilgallon, initially a UFO sceptic, reported seeing a very bright light hovering in the sky that suddenly shot off and disappeared during a late-night drive.
• Boreham Wood & Elstree Post: Arthur Clowes reported seeing an unusually bright star that grew larger, shot over his house at incredible speed, and made a whooshing sound, unlike an aircraft.
• Evening Post Leeds: A photograph taken near Bolton Abbey was classified by American UFO experts as an "unidentifiable image," a finding that has delighted the Birdsall brothers who submitted the photos.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, witness testimonies, and the potential for governmental or military involvement and secrecy. The editorial stance, as represented by the publication of these diverse reports and analyses, appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting various perspectives from eyewitness accounts to research findings and speculative theories about cover-ups and extraterrestrial origins, while also acknowledging skeptical viewpoints and debunked cases.

Title: National Enquirer
Issue Date: March 27, 1984
Publisher: National Enquirer
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the National Enquirer delves into the persistent mystery of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) with a collection of compelling reports and witness testimonies from various parts of the world.

100 People Terrified as Huge UFO Turns Night Into Day

The lead story details a mass UFO sighting in the small Brazilian town of Cupira on June 12th. More than 100 people attending a dance and barbecue were thrown into a panic when a giant UFO illuminated the night sky with a blinding yellow light, described as brighter than the sun at noon. Witnesses, including local bank president Wilson Andrade de Souza and businessman Eduardo Domingues, described the object as disk-shaped, alternately flashing red, yellow, green, blue, and orange lights. Police Chief Jose Gomes de Oliviera confirmed it was a UFO. The incident caused widespread astonishment and fear, with some people fainting and requiring medical assistance. The UFO was reportedly sighted all over town and as far away as 25 miles over a three-hour period.

Carlos da Silva Melo, a bank guard, described the event as being like a horror movie, where the darkness turned into a brightness lighter than day. He felt the need to reach for his revolver, fearing an invasion. He also assisted women who had fainted.

Look Here, Not Out There, for Signs of Extraterrestrials

In a commentary article, engineer Eugene Mallove's methods for searching for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) are reviewed. The article, by Terry Hansen, suggests that SETI advocates often assume extraterrestrials are not already here, which may be a flawed assumption. The author uses the analogy of an ant witnessing a motorcycle to illustrate how advanced intelligence might be perceived as a natural phenomenon. The article critiques the assumption that advanced intelligence would behave similarly to humans or desire to communicate in human ways. It argues that discovering advanced intelligence might depend more on a creative and open-minded assessment of existing evidence rather than solely on new technological creations.

UFOs: Is Mystery Force at Work?

This section reports on a series of close encounters in the Wingerworth area of Derbyshire, UK. Members of the Chesterfield branch of the British UFO Society have received numerous reports and are planning a 'skywatch' to investigate. Investigator Ilene Perry shared her personal experiences, describing an upside-down ice cream cone-shaped object. Similar sightings were reported by a bus load of people and a man driving on the M1 motorway. The British UFO Society is also investigating a similar sighting in Selby. The article notes that around 20 percent of people questioned could admit to having seen a flying saucer, and that records of sightings go back to 1808. The Ministry of Defence's admission that it keeps records and does not dismiss all reports as nonsense is highlighted.

Close Encounters of the Derbyshire Kind

Feature writer Tony Cragg examines UFO sightings in Derbyshire. Christine Marshall described seeing a bright, triangular object with three smaller lights that moved steadily and then disappeared. A Tibshelf man reported a bright, glowing shape resembling a child's humming top, with two smaller objects detaching from it. Michael Aizlewood, a Cutthorpe farmer, described a strange light darting across the sky, frequently changing direction and color.

UFO Kidnaps Cop

This article details the story of police officer Alan Godfrey, who, under hypnosis, recounted being abducted by a UFO. The incident began on November 28, 1980, when Godfrey spotted a bright light while on duty. Through hypnosis, he recalled being placed on a black bed inside the UFO and medically examined by a bearded man and eight robot-like creatures. Researcher Jenny Randles stated that the psychiatrists involved accepted Godfrey's experience as genuine. Godfrey described the UFO as dome-shaped, about 20 feet across and 14 feet high, with dazzling light beams. He reported losing 20 minutes of time during the encounter.

Yorks Now Focal Point of UFO World

Yorkshire investigators claim their county has become a focus for UFO activity, with the area around Skipton being dubbed the 'Warminster of the North'. The Yorkshire UFO Society held its second annual conference in Leeds, attracting around 100 investigators and members of the public. Chairman Graham Birdsall stated the conference would provide food for thought, and encouraged everyone to attend. The agenda included case histories, slideshows, guest speakers, and photographic evidence. The conference also highlighted the need for cooperation with airports to gather information from witnesses who may not have reported sightings.

Police Chief's UFO Photos Are Real

Photographs of a UFO taken by a policeman in North Yorkshire have been confirmed as genuine by scientists, who admitted it could not be an aircraft. The officer had sent the pictures to Arizona's Ground Saucer Watch, which has examined 1,400 UFO pictures over 30 years and confirmed only 42 as genuine. The officer described the object as covered in red lights, pulsating, and visible for about 30 seconds. Two other UFOs have been reported in Yorkshire in the last three years.

Iris in Hot Pursuit of a UFO...

This report from Plymouth describes Mrs. Iris Wannell chasing a UFO through the streets of Stoke. She was alerted by a man walking his dog to two bright lights moving slowly across the night sky. Mrs. Wannell and her daughter-in-law pursued the craft but lost sight of it. Mr. Tom Bignell, who alerted Mrs. Wannell, reported the sighting to the Plymouth Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which forwarded a report to the Ministry of Defence. The incident was described as unusual for Plymouth, with the last reported sighting in October.

More Reports of City UFOs - MoD Told

This article continues the Plymouth UFO sighting reports, with additional witnesses coming forward. Stuart Dann saw two bright lights, as did Mrs. Wannell shortly after. Mr. Dann's neighbors also witnessed the phenomenon. Mr. Bignell's report to the rescue center is reiterated. Other witnesses, Derreck Jones and Ernest Downey, also reported seeing strange lights and round-shaped objects with portholes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently highlights witness testimony as primary evidence for UFO phenomena, often contrasting it with skeptical scientific viewpoints or official dismissals. There's an emphasis on the persistence of these sightings despite a lack of official acknowledgment or scientific funding for investigation. The National Enquirer appears to adopt a stance that validates these experiences, presenting them as credible events that warrant serious consideration, even if the explanations remain elusive. The recurring theme is that 'something mysterious' is occurring, and that people who report these phenomena are not necessarily seeking attention but are genuinely reporting something they don't understand. The magazine also touches on the idea that advanced technology could be indistinguishable from magic, suggesting a need for open-mindedness in assessing the evidence.

This issue of The Wall Street Journal, dated Wednesday, March 21, 1984, features a prominent article on the "Marfa Lights," a long-standing mystery in West Texas. The issue also includes reports on other UFO encounters and expert opinions on the phenomenon.

Marfa Lights: Curious Glow Out on the Mesa

This article by David Stipp explores the enduring mystery of the lights reported in and around Marfa, Texas, for over a century. Residents describe them as twinkling lanterns, brighter lights casting shadows, or even a cantaloupe-sized globe of orange-red light that hovered near a pickup truck. County Judge Charlie Henderson dismisses skeptical explanations like car lights, asserting the lights are real. The article recounts a report from geologists John P. Kenney and Elwood Wright, who observed two basketball-sized balls of light in 1973. Various theories are presented, including atmospheric ionization, phosphorescent minerals, St. Elmo's fire, swamp gas, and "earthquake lights." Geophysicist John Derr suggests the latter, though Marfa has no seismic activity. An astronomer, Eric Silverberg, who worked at McDonald Observatory, described seeing "twinkling lights well above the horizon" that he believed were caused by the "Novaya Zemlya effect," a light-bending phenomenon due to air temperature layers, potentially originating from car lights or stars.

Julia Plumbley, whose father first noticed the lights in 1883, firmly believes they are real, describing them as "a soft, small kind of ethereal-looking light."

Expert on UFOs Still Mystified

This article by Joan Morris from the El Paso Times interviews J. Allen Hynek, who has dedicated much of his life to studying unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Hynek, an astronomer and editor-in-chief of the International UFO Reporter, states that he has "no idea where UFOs come from" but believes the phenomenon warrants study. He criticizes scientists who dismiss UFOs outright, arguing that they are simply unidentified objects, and evidence does not prove or disprove their origin. Hynek rejects the notion that all UFOs are alien spaceships, suggesting multiple explanations may exist. He notes that over 80,000 UFO reports have been received from 140 countries, with many sharing similar characteristics like rapid acceleration, vertical movement, and hovering. Hynek observes a decrease in UFO reports over the past decade, which he interprets positively, indicating a more sophisticated public that can better distinguish UFOs from known objects, leading to higher quality reports. He states that while about 90% of past reports could be explained, now only about 50% can be identified.

Four of America's Most Amazing UFO Encounters

This article by Dennis D'Antonio, from the Enquirer dated April 10, 1984, highlights four fascinating UFO sightings and encounters from the files of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON). MUFON uses a Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE) to assess witness accounts.

One case involves Mrs. Megan Elliott and her 18-month-old daughter Renee, who reported being abducted by aliens in August 1980. They described a short humanoid with large eyes and a slit mouth, and being subjected to examinations with metal clamps and probes.

Another case features pilot Shannon Davis, who reported a bizarre, teardrop-shaped UFO with a glowing ring near Lake Berryessa, California, in November 1980. Davis also reported the object pacing his plane, its speed, and equipment malfunctions on a later sighting north of San Francisco in August 1981.

A third incident describes a small, aluminum-colored spacecraft landing on a farm in Missouri in October 1978, which then rose and merged with a larger, log-shaped object.

Finally, Shirley Coyne of Flushing, Michigan, reported seeing a UFO shaped like two pie plates fitted together on five separate occasions between July and September 1983.

Charles McQuiston, inventor of the PSE, confirmed the truthfulness of witnesses in the first three cases.

Sightings Still Unexplained

This article by Dean Rhodes from the Bangor Daily News (April 2, 1984) reports on unexplained UFO sightings in Maine. Twenty people reported seeing an "oval-shaped object, 50 to 100 feet long, with blue and white lights, traveling easterly across the sky." Military officials stated it was not a plane, and an astronomer doubted it was a shooting star. Neil Comins, an assistant professor of astronomy, expressed interest in the UFO's speed, altitude changes, and shape. Larry Fawcett, co-author of a book on UFO sightings, had no immediate explanation. The article mentions that weather balloons launched by the National Weather Service are not lit.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent mystery of unexplained aerial phenomena, specifically the Marfa Lights and various UFO sightings. There is a clear interest in documenting these events, exploring potential explanations (both natural and speculative), and presenting the views of witnesses and researchers. The articles highlight the public's fascination with these mysteries and the ongoing efforts to understand them, even as definitive answers remain elusive. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting different perspectives and cases without necessarily endorsing any single theory, while acknowledging the phenomenon's significance and the need for continued study.