APCIC - Vol 10 No 09 - 1985

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWS
Issue: Volume 10, No. 9
Date: September 1985
Publisher: Aerial Phenomenon Clipping Information Center, Cleveland, Ohio.

This issue of UFO News delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, featuring reports on sightings, investigations, and personal experiences. The cover prominently displays the title "UFO NEWS" alongside a silhouette of a flying saucer, setting the tone for the content within.

Staff and Correspondents

The publication lists its editorial staff, including Harry R. Cohen as editor and S. Mac Williams as assistant editor. It also features a network of foreign correspondents from various countries such as Argentina, Australia, Denmark, France, Japan, Italy, Turkey, and Germany, indicating a global reach for UFO reporting. Additionally, Ron Smotek handles photo analysis, and Richard Smotek conducts "supplement" research.

Key Articles and Reports

Wanted: Believers in UFOs

This article, originating from the Ohio Columbus Dispatch dated August 4, 1985, introduces the Phenomena Research Organization (PRO), a group of 15 members in Madison County, Ohio, who investigate strange phenomena. Members like Betty Powell believe UFOs dropped Bigfoot for 'rest and recuperation,' while Clark Kent experiments with 'UFO technology.' Larry Tillman, an executive coordinator, claims to have Bigfoot hair and skin samples and an odd-shaped figure he calls a devil. The group meets to find other believers and share information.

Chinese Keep Pace in Flying Saucers

Reported by the WA. Seattle Post Intelligencer on July 30, 1985, this piece details a sighting by a Chinese Boeing 747 jetliner over western China. The UFO shone brilliantly for 25-30 minutes and paced the aircraft for two minutes. The report, published in the overseas edition of the Communist Party newspaper, People's Daily, suggests that China is now recognizing UFOs, with sightings comparable to those in the West. The object sighted by the Chinese jumbo jet was reportedly six miles wide.

'UFO' Caused Peking Duck

This article from The Sunday Sun, August 11, 1985, recounts a report from the People's Daily about a Chinese jumbo jet captain, Wang Shuting, who claims a UFO shadowed his plane on a flight from Peking. The object was described as walnut-sized and brighter than any star. It kept pace with the plane for two minutes without affecting its instruments. The captain was preparing for an emergency landing when the object disappeared.

Ex-Tulsan Recalls 'Shooting' UFO

Published in the OK. Tulsa Daily World on August 4, 1985, this article features Alan R. Smith, who, as a 14-year-old Boy Scout in 1965, took a color photograph of a UFO over Tulsa. The object was multi-colored and separated by dark bands. The photo was published worldwide, including in Life Magazine, and was reluctantly acknowledged by the Air Force. Smith later became interested in journalism, and the photo helped fund his education. He recalls two UFOs passing over his parents' home on August 1 and 2, 1965.

UFO Put on Film 20 Years Ago

This continuation from the previous article details Alan R. Smith's experience. He describes seeing a large orange light with a humming noise on a Saturday night, and on Sunday night, he saw it again. He managed to photograph it, and after initial disappointment with the prints, an enlargement revealed a clear image. The Oklahoma Journal published the photo, and it has since been used in UFO journals and books. The Air Force's response to the photo was "neither confirm nor deny the identification of an unidentified flying object."

Group Supports Those Who Have Sighted UFOs

This article from the WI. Oshkosh Daily Northwestern on August 4, 1985, focuses on the Fox Valley UFO Discussion and Support Group, led by Judy Woolcott. The group, about 11 years old with 12 members, aims to inform the public that extraterrestrials are friendly. They create VCR tapes of UFO sightings, give lectures, and maintain a library. Woolcott shares her own experiences, including a sighting in 1958 and a recent experience in Canada where she saw 'high flyers.' She also describes a missing-time experience and a hologram of a UFO in her kitchen. She believes UFOs are concerned with saving humanity from disaster, such as nuclear war.

Where Are They Now?

This section revisits individuals and events from the 1965 UFO flap. Lewis Sikes, a Wynnewood policeman, recounts his sightings of a bright light and an oval-shaped object. He initially hid from media attention but later shared his experiences. The article also mentions other sightings in Oklahoma and the McDaniel family's experience of seeing a 'big saucer with lights all around the bottom.' Rev. Buster Stottlemyre and his flock also reported seeing lights and objects. The 1965 sightings eventually dropped off, but the issue notes that the Tulsa World covered the upcoming city bond election alongside UFO reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the idea that UFOs are real and that those who witness them should be supported. There is an underlying theme that governments may not be fully transparent about UFO phenomena, as suggested by the Air Force's response to Alan Smith's photo. The publication also explores the possibility of friendly extraterrestrial contact and the potential for UFOs to be involved in protecting humanity. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and belief in the reality of UFOs, encouraging readers to seek out information and share their own experiences.

FAQ

What is the Phenomena Research Organization?
The Phenomena Research Organization is a group of 15 members who investigate claims of strange phenomena, including orange balls of light, Bigfoot sightings, and UFO landings.

What was the significance of Alan R. Smith's 1965 UFO photograph?
Alan R. Smith's photograph of a UFO, taken in 1965, became world-famous and was used by UFO buffs as proof. The Air Force's response was to neither confirm nor deny its identification.

What is the purpose of the Fox Valley UFO Discussion and Support Group?
The group aims to talk to people who have not reported UFOs, learn about other sightings, and let them know that extraterrestrials are friendly, offering support to those who have had UFO experiences and felt trauma.

What was the 1965 UFO flap?
The 1965 UFO flap was a period of intense UFO sightings across the Southwest, stretching from Mexico to Minnesota, which generated significant media attention and public interest.

This issue of the Tulsa Daily World, dated August 5, 1985, features the headline "Once-Common Sightings of UFOs Diminish in U.S." The cover story explores the apparent decline in UFO reports in the United States since the 1960s and 1970s, questioning the whereabouts of these phenomena.

Diminishing Sightings and Public Perception

The article notes that while thousands reported UFOs in the 1960s and 1970s, reported sightings are now few. It suggests several reasons for this decline: the public's curiosity being satisfied by movies like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "E.T.", the fear of ridicule from peers and the media, and the possibility that "UFO visitors" have completed their surveys or are still observing Earth discreetly.

Official Explanations and Unexplained Cases

Government officials, including Air Force personnel, have historically maintained that UFOs were misidentifications of planets, stars, balloons, airplanes, or satellites. However, the Air Force's Project Blue Book, which investigated UFOs between 1948 and 1969, could not explain 701 out of 12,618 reported cases. The project began after a pilot spotted "saucer" type objects near Mt. Rainier in Washington state in 1948, leading to the press coining the term "flying saucers."

UFO sightings peaked in 1952, 1957, and 1966, with over 1,000 reports annually. National security concerns in the late 1940s and 1950s prompted the government to investigate, fearing that UFO flaps could mask surprise air attacks. The Air Force's attempts to explain sightings sometimes led to embarrassment, such as claiming people were seeing stars during the 1965 Oklahoma flap, which was debunked by a local astronomer.

A scientific panel reviewed Air Force files in the 1965-67 period and concluded that UFOs were not a security threat, did not involve unknown technology, and were not vehicles from outer space. This allowed the Air Force to drop the subject, as it no longer fell under its defense mission.

UFO Research Organizations

Despite the government's stance, private groups continue to research UFOs. The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), based in Tucson, Arizona, collects and publishes UFO reports in its monthly bulletin. Its director, James Lorenzen, notes that while APRO is publicity-shy, UFO sightings have decreased because people fear ridicule and Hollywood movies have eased public anxiety.

Lorenzen suggests that movies can mislead by depicting UFOs as benign visitors, whereas APRO believes they might be indifferent extraterrestrial beings who do not consider humans their peers. This indifference, he argues, makes it psychologically harder for people to accept the idea of ETs.

The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), based in Seguin, Texas, is sponsoring National UFO Information Week from August 18-25. MUFON investigates UFOs in most states and emphasizes a scientific approach. Norma Jean Waller, MUFON's Oklahoma investigator, works with limited funds to examine sightings.

Ms. Waller believes people are more sophisticated about UFOs now due to popular culture but notes that police departments forward fewer reports than they used to. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol also receives few reports now, though troopers investigate potential aircraft incidents.

The Center for UFO Studies in Glenview, Illinois, founded by Dr. J. Allen Hynek (a former skeptic), also conducts research. Individuals like Hayden Hewes of Oklahoma City have also been active in the field for years, noting a general decline in interest in UFOs unless combined with other paranormal incidents.

Jerome Clark, editor of International UFO Reporter, questions whether the current lull in sightings is temporary or a return to pre-1947 conditions. He stresses the need for a mature UFOlogy to address the remaining questions and concerns.

Specific Case Studies and Perspectives

Pennsylvania: Stan Gordon, an electronics technician and founder of the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained (PASU), investigates UFO sightings. He notes that while many sightings are misidentifications, about 10 percent remain unexplained. PASU has a wide range of volunteers, including scientists and doctors, to analyze evidence. Gordon maintains extensive files and equipment for his research.

Ohio: Bruce Forrester, part of the Phenomena Research Organization in London, Ohio, investigates various unexplained phenomena, including UFOs and Bigfoot. The group aims to record occurrences and find explanations, stating that if they fail to do so, it becomes a UFO. Forrester acknowledges a degree of knowledge about the phenomenon and notes that areas near high-tension power lines, nuclear test ranges, and large bodies of water are common locations for sightings.

Warminster, UK: The Bath & Wilts Chronicle and Wiltshire Times report on the 20th anniversary of UFO phenomena in Warminster, referencing incidents involving strange sounds and lights witnessed by residents like Mrs. Marge Bye and Mr. Roger Rump. An exhibition by Mr. Ken Rogers highlights local UFO reports. The articles also touch upon the media's sensationalized coverage and the skepticism surrounding such events, while acknowledging credible witnesses.

Swindon, UK: The Swindon Evening Advertiser reports that SCUFORI (Swindon Centre for UFO Research and Investigation) claims to have solved a 1973 Oxfordshire UFO mystery, identifying a "ball of light" filmed by Peter Day as a crashing F1-11 aircraft, with proof from the USAF regarding the plane's crash time.

Huyton, UK: The Liverpool Star and Wiltshire Times report on the O'Rourke family's sighting of mysterious flashing lights, described as moving slowly and shaped like "50p pieces." Patrick O'Rourke claims to have communicated with these objects using a telescope and flashing lights, resulting in more shapes appearing and flashing back.

Sussex, UK: The Wiltshire Times reports on mysterious circles appearing in crops in Sussex, similar to those seen in Bratton, with experts skeptical of their origins.

Florida: The Pensacola News Journal features Donald Ware, Florida state director for MUFON, who emphasizes the scientific study of UFO encounters. Ware, a former military officer, became a believer after a 1952 sighting in Washington D.C. He describes MUFON's thorough reporting forms and believes aliens may be observing humanity to avoid negatively influencing its culture.

St. Joseph, Michigan: The St. Joseph Herald-Palladium reports on Virginia Tilly, a MUFON field investigator for southwestern Michigan, who seeks reports of sightings and experiences. Tilly, who had a sighting in 1967, is interested in "close encounters" and believes other beings may exist but is skeptical that they are the cause of all reported phenomena.

China: The Sunday Express reports that the captain of a Chinese jumbo jet claimed a UFO shadowed his plane for two minutes over Inner Mongolia.

Italy: The Weekly News reports that Italian airline officials are baffled by an unidentified flying object sighted over the Italian Alps.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes throughout these articles include the perceived decline in UFO sightings, the ongoing efforts of civilian researchers and organizations like MUFON and APRO to scientifically investigate phenomena, the historical government involvement and subsequent disengagement, and the public's mixed reactions ranging from skepticism and ridicule to genuine curiosity and belief. The articles generally present the information factually, quoting various individuals and organizations involved in UFO research and reporting, while acknowledging the persistent mystery surrounding unexplained aerial phenomena.

This issue of the Evening Herald Dublin, dated August 7, 1985, features a prominent cover story titled "Flying Saucers: Pilots Afraid to Report Them." The main headline suggests a focus on the challenges and hesitations faced by aviation professionals when encountering unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The cover also includes a striking illustration of a flying saucer.

Article: Flying Saucers: Pilots Afraid to Report Them

The lead article, by Nicholas Leonard, interviews Jenny Randles, Director of Investigations at the British UFO Research Association. Randles, along with expert astronomer Peter Warrington, has co-authored a book titled 'Science and the UFOs' (published by Blackwell for £12.50). The book aims to analyze the current state of knowledge about UFOs with a rigorous scientific approach, devoid of usual mystique.

Randles confirms that pilots are often reluctant to report sightings due to fears of being grounded and subjected to psychological testing. She describes pilots as "the best and most cautious witnesses" but notes the difficulties encountered when investigating their reports. An example cited is a Dan-Air cargo jet incident in 1982, where radar tracked an object, and the pilot and crew saw a brilliant white light. However, Dan-Air refused to comment on the matter, citing company policy.

The article then delves into the history of UFO sightings, referencing Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting of "flying saucer" objects over Mount Rainier, Washington State. It is estimated that since then, approximately 50,000 sightings have been reported in Britain, with potentially 5 million people having experienced such events without public disclosure.

Several theories are presented for these phenomena: natural occurrences like piezoelectric effects from rock formations, misidentification of weather balloons or celestial bodies, or actual craft from extraterrestrial origins.

The piece notes a growing credibility for ufology in scientific circles, partly due to advancements in sub-atomic physics making experts less dismissive of seemingly impossible phenomena. The distinction between 'UFOs' and 'UAPs' (Unexplained Atmospheric Phenomena) is mentioned, including 'ball lightning.' A significant challenge in research is identified as the lack of scientific training among many witnesses, and the tendency for cameras to fail to capture clear images.

Jenny Randles and Peter Warrington advocate for a reputable scientific institute to undertake a major pilot project into UFO phenomena, suggesting it could be launched with modest expenditure.

Article: A mystery disc 'glows' in the sky

This section details the experience of Paul Quinn, a plumber from Ribblesdale Street, Burnley. Initially skeptical, Quinn became convinced he had seen a UFO after witnessing a "perfectly round, glowing disc" for about 30 seconds. The object moved slowly, zig-zagging under a storm cloud layer, and appeared to be the size of a bus. He reported that it disappeared and reappeared before moving out of sight. Quinn stated that after discussing his sighting on local radio, he learned that other people had also seen similar phenomena at the same time, reinforcing his belief.

Article: 'WEIRD' RECTANGLE IN SKY

This report from the Whitby Gazette, dated June 14, 1985, describes a sighting by 18-year-old Stephen Goddard. While driving near Whitby, he observed a "lit-up rectangle, quite big and not all that high," moving slowly. He and a friend witnessed the object, which made no sound and was unlike an aircraft. It eventually faded out over Whitby. Goddard's family dog reportedly behaved strangely during the time of the sighting. The article notes that strange aerial objects have been reported in the Whitby area previously, with sightings in October 1982 and earlier instances of bright flashing lights. A spokesman from RAF Fylingdales confirmed their radar is designed for ballistic missiles and detected nothing unusual.

Article: Trend of things - To nowhere and back...

This piece, compiled by Edward Riley, revisits the mysterious case of miner Zygmunt Jan Adamski from Todmorden. Adamski disappeared for five days in June 1980 and was found with strange burns on his head and neck, and cuts on his hands and thigh. His widow reported his face had a frightened expression. Detectives had explored a theory that Adamski might have been kidnapped by extraterrestrials or died of fright after seeing a UFO, but found no evidence. The article mentions reported UFO sightings around Todmorden in the summer of 1980, including a claim by local police constable Alan Godfrey of being aboard a spaceship. David Barclay, writing as Roger Ford for the paranormal magazine "The Unknown," has published an article on this case, suggesting that despite farcical suggestions, Adamski's disappearance and reappearance remain a genuine mystery. The coroner, James Turnbull, did not entirely discount the UFO theory, and the case could be reopened if new evidence emerges.

Article: UFO group meeting in Sheffield

This report from the Doncaster Star, August 17, 1985, highlights Yorkshire as a leading area for UFO sightings. The Yorkshire UFO Society is organizing events, including a meeting at Foresters Hall, Trippet Lane, Sheffield, on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The society aims to convince others of the reality of UFOs, with President Graham Birdsall stating that only about 10% of reported cases attract their interest, and only 1-2% warrant investigation. Photos are analyzed at Sheffield University with assistance from the Ministry of Defence. Leading investigators will discuss local sightings, and a 24-hour skywatch is planned for later in the year.

Article: UFO seekers get together

This article from the Wakefield Express, August 16, 1985, details the Yorkshire UFO Society's nine-day skywatch event on Carlton and Elsack Moors, North Yorkshire, known as "Flying Saucer Valley." This area has reportedly seen significant UFO activity, with photographs taken there hailed by U.S. experts as Britain's first confirmed UFO recordings. Society members will use sophisticated equipment for research and analysis. Sheffield University is partly financing research, and the University of Leeds is sending representatives. Lectures will also be held in Leeds, discussing famous UFO cases with an emphasis on local sightings.

Article: Jet's UFO scare

This brief report from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, August 10, 1985, recounts an incident where the captain of a Chinese jumbo jet, Wang Shuting, reported a UFO shadowing his plane during a flight from Peking to Paris. The object reportedly kept pace with the aircraft for two minutes and was observed by the captain and his crew, though no passengers reported the sighting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, pilot testimonies, and the push for scientific investigation into these phenomena. There's a clear emphasis on separating credible reports from sensationalism, as highlighted by the work of Jenny Randles and the Yorkshire UFO Society. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena while advocating for rigorous, evidence-based research rather than pure speculation. The issue also touches upon the cultural impact of UFOs, as seen in the reference to the film 'Close Encounters,' and the persistent mystery surrounding cases like that of Zygmunt Jan Adamski.