APCIC - Vol 11 No 07 - 1986

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWS
Issue: Volume 11, No. 7
Date: July 1986
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENON CLIPPING INFORMATION CENTER
Country: USA

This issue of UFO NEWS, dated July 1986, is dedicated to recent and historical UFO phenomena, featuring a mix of news reports, personal accounts, and investigative pieces. The cover story, "The UFOs are back, just in the nick of time," by John Keasler, expresses the excitement of UFO enthusiasts for new sightings after a period of scarcity.

Key Articles and Features

"The UFOs are back, just in the nick of time" by John Keasler

John Keasler, a long-time UFO believer, expresses his joy at the resurgence of compelling UFO stories. He highlights a recent event in Brazil where "multicolored balls of light" saturated radar and interfered with air traffic, prompting an investigation by the Brazilian air force. Keasler shares his 40-year belief in UFOs and how such reports add excitement to life, comparing the importance of UFO belief to that of Santa Claus for children. He argues that believing in UFOs provides a sense of wonder and a reason to look up, offering a cosmic perspective that helps people cope with life's mysteries.

"Painter inspired by light he saw on Hutch in '64" by Noam Eshkar

This article profiles Paul Jenisch, a graphic artist who claims to have been inspired by a UFO sighting in November 1964. While driving on the Hutchinson River Parkway, Jenisch swerved to avoid an oncoming car and saw a large, blue orb that he described as a "grandeur of eternity." He felt he had entered a dimension beyond life and death. Twenty years later, Jenisch fulfilled his artistic duty by painting "Awesome Revelation" to depict this experience. He had previously given up painting but resumed it upon retirement in 1984. The painting, using pointillism, is displayed at the Larchmont Public Library. Jenisch's experience is compared to near-death revelations described by Dr. Michael Sabom.

"UFOS BACK" (Continued from page 3)

This section continues Keasler's thoughts, emphasizing that people who look for UFOs tend to have more fun. He notes the scarcity of good UFO stories in recent times, even in supermarket tabloids, and expresses relief that UFOs seem to be making a comeback, promising a "great UFO summer."

"Air Force Jets Play Mind-Boggling Cat-and-Mouse Game With Fleet of UFOs"

This report details an incident where Brazilian Air Force jets scrambled to intercept approximately three dozen UFOs over Rio de Janeiro. The objects were incredibly fast, outmaneuvering the fighter planes. Radar detected numerous objects, saturating the system. Four fighter planes engaged, with pilots reporting sightings of multicolored lights and a bright red light. One pilot pursued an object for 200 miles over the ocean. The chief air controller noted that 13 UFOs were seen tailing one of the jets. The Air Force Minister stated that there was no explanation yet, but investigations were ongoing.

"Winston Churchill's UFO secret"

This article reveals that former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill demanded information on UFOs from Britain's Air Ministry in 1955. Churchill's memo questioned the meaning of "flying saucer stuff." A memo from Air Secretary Lord de L'Isle suggested that UFOs "didn't amount to much," attributing them to weather balloons, optical illusions, misidentified planes, or hoaxes. However, high-ranking Royal Air Force officers reportedly disagreed with this analysis. British and German files from World War II also indicated that pilots on both sides logged hundreds of reports of unidentified objects.

"Dennis Weaver: I Know UFOs Are Real Because I've Seen One"

Actor Dennis Weaver, known for "McCloud," states in an exclusive ENQUIRER interview that he believes in UFOs because he has seen one. He asserts that many unexplained phenomena are due to visits from other life forms. Weaver recounts an experience from about four months prior where he and his wife saw a "cigar-shaped, tubular" object hovering in the sky. He believes intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe and that humans are being observed. His 27-year-old son, Rusty, along with UFO investigator Paul Shepherd, has set up a phone hot line for daily UFO reports and documented evidence.

"UFOs Visit Nebraska" (from Nebraska Oil Jobber Monthly, May 1986)

This piece recounts historical UFO sightings in Nebraska, dating back to the 1890s with "phantom airship parties." A particularly unusual tale from June 8, 1884, describes an object that struck the ground near Benkelman, Nebraska. John W. Ellis and cowboys witnessed a blazing meteor-like object that left behind fragments of machinery glowing with intense heat. The object was described as cylindrical, about fifty to sixty feet long. The land where the object landed was fused and bubbling. The report includes details of recovered fragments, including a piece resembling a propeller screw made of a brass-like metal.

"Mystery sighting 3128 inquiry" (from Derby Evening Telegraph, June 13, 1986)

UFO investigators are seeking witnesses to a mystery sighting over Derbyshire, UK, since late April. The object is described as cigar-shaped with a red light and white beam. National UFO Investigation Society officials are interested, and a local spokesman is seeking information from the public.

"DRIVER IS CERTAIN HE SAW UFO" (from Reading Evening Post, June 16, 1986)

Peter Littlewood, a 62-year-old pensioner from Reading, UK, is convinced he saw a UFO hovering above the town. He described it as jumbo jet-sized, silver, and shaped like a hamburger. He is seeking to record his sighting with experts.

"Soviet space junk lights up sky" (from FL-D49 West Palm Beach Palm Beach Post, June 3, 1986)

This article clarifies that a bright light seen by Floridians was not a comet or UFO, but the re-entry of Soviet space junk. The object was the rocket body from a May 28 Soviet launch. The space command center catalogs about 6,000 objects in space, but does not track space debris re-entries.

"NH UFO 'Sightings' Topic at Tech" (from NH-DO The Manchester Union Leader, June 11, 1986)

This brief note announces a lecture and slide presentation titled "UFO Sightings in New Hampshire" at the New Hampshire Technical Institute, featuring cases, dangerous UFOs, and an update on New Hampshire UFOs, presented by experts from MUFON and other organizations.

"GATWICK may have been 'buzzed' by a UFO"

A security guard at Gatwick Airport reported seeing a bright light at cloud base level, which he believed to be a UFO.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO NEWS are the persistent nature of UFO sightings across different regions and time periods, the skepticism faced by believers, and the ongoing efforts of investigators to document and understand these phenomena. The editorial stance, as reflected in Keasler's column, is one of enthusiastic advocacy for the UFO phenomenon, encouraging open-mindedness and a sense of wonder. There is a clear emphasis on personal testimony, eyewitness accounts, and the importance of collecting and analyzing data, even if definitive explanations remain elusive for a portion of sightings. The magazine also highlights the role of organizations dedicated to UFO research and information dissemination.

This issue of SHE magazine, dated July 1986, focuses heavily on the topic of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), featuring multiple articles, interviews, and reports from various sources across the United States and the United Kingdom.

Article: Timothy Good - Britain's Top Ufologist

The main feature introduces Timothy Good, a professional violinist and leading British ufologist. Good specializes in interviewing 'contactees' – individuals who claim to have met extraterrestrials. The article recounts the experience of Mr. Alfred Burtoo, a 77-year-old man who claims to have been approached by two beings and taken aboard a strange craft in Aldershot, UK, in August 1983. Burtoo, despite his skepticism about 'little green men,' theorized the beings were on a spying mission. Good, however, believes in extraterrestrial visitation and suspects a government cover-up.

Good's background includes a family steeped in music, with his father being a professional violinist and his aunt a concert pianist. He himself played with the London Symphony Orchestra for 14 years and has worked with numerous popular musicians. His passion for UFOs began in childhood. He is convinced that governments are aware of UFO activity and have been since the end of World War II, citing a classified Canadian government document from 1950 that described the UFO matter as 'the most highly classified subject in the United States government, rating higher even than the H-bomb.' He also mentions heavily censored US Freedom of Information Act documents and a reference to the 'retrieval' of a crashed UFO.

Good believes that some aliens are engaged in genetic experiments with humans, which might explain why Mr. Burtoo was deemed 'too old and infirm.' He also suggests that aliens may have bases in the solar system or on Earth, possibly underwater or in remote locations. He predicts that Russia might make a significant statement about UFOs in the coming years, as they have established a high-level commission to investigate the phenomenon.

Article: UFOs and Government Cover-ups

Another section discusses the implications of UFOs for national security, with Air Commodore David Thorne of the Zimbabwe Air Force confirming a UFO incident in July 1985 where two jets attempted to intercept an object that accelerated vertically. The article also references a statement by General Benjamin Chidlaw from 1953, stating that the US had lost many men and planes trying to intercept UFOs. The case of pilot Frederick Valentich, who disappeared in 1978 after reporting being buzzed by an unidentified aerial object, is also mentioned.

Article: Skepticism at MSU - UFO Parley Finds a Skeptic

This article, from the MI-D15 Detroit News (June 27, 1986), covers a UFO symposium held at Michigan State University (MSU). It highlights the contrasting views of Jack McConnell, an associate professor of astronomy at MSU, who is highly skeptical of claims of extraterrestrial visitation. McConnell, who founded PRISM (Proponents of Rational Inquiry and the Scientific Method), argues that while extraterrestrial life might exist, the vast distances make visitation improbable. He states that astronomers do not take UFOs seriously as extraterrestrial craft and that about 90% of sightings can be explained as ordinary objects.

Ron Westrum, a sociology professor and consultant to the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), acknowledges that UFO reports are often dismissed as 'garbage' by science due to a difficulty in fitting them into existing scientific models. The article notes that MUFON has 1,500 members nationwide and that the symposium aimed to discuss UFO existence, alleged abductions, and purported government cover-ups.

Article: Expert Wants Facts on UFOs - Publicity Would Force Government to Tell All, Lawyer Says

This piece from the CT-DIO Manchester Journal Inquirer (June 16, 1986) focuses on Robert Bletchman, a Manchester lawyer who believes that publicity is key to forcing the government to reveal information about UFOs. Bletchman, who has been fascinated by UFOs for 20 years, believes the government has actively worked to discredit UFO believers. He has hired an advertising agency, Charnas Inc., to develop a direct mail campaign and advertisements aimed at raising public awareness and funds. The plan involves distributing 100,000 brochures and seeking donations, with the ultimate goal of influencing public consciousness and prompting media investigation.

Bletchman cites examples of government documents, including FBI, CIA, and Air Force reports, and mentions a Peruvian Air Force incident where a UFO was fired upon. He theorizes that governments hide UFO facts due to concerns about public perception of control, potential national security risks, or the desire to keep secret any recovered alien technology from adversaries like the Soviet Union. He also suggests that aliens might be studying mankind or collecting biological samples.

Article: UFO Center Official Seeks Information

From OH-D48 Lima News (June 11, 1986), this short report details Arley Taylor's sighting of an orange light, described as the size of a grapefruit and darting like a hummingbird, in Lima, Ohio. John Timmerman, vice president of the Center for UFO Studies, is seeking information from anyone who might have witnessed a similar phenomenon to help document and determine its cause.

Article: Astronomers Look to Skies

This piece from CA-D99 Stockton Record (June 9, 1986) announces a public UFO session hosted by the Stockton Astronomical Society. The event features Tom Gates, a Bay Area radio personality and UFO expert, and Paul Cerny, director of MUFON. The society also planned a star party and aimed to use its new telescope for observing celestial objects.

Article: On UFOs, 'We're All Skeptics'

Published in the MI-030 Lansing State Journal (June 30, 1986), this article covers the MUFON symposium at Michigan State University, featuring Alan Holt, an aerospace technical manager, and Dan Wright, the symposium director. Holt views UFOs as part of humanity's exploration of the universe. Wright, who identifies himself and other MUFON members as 'skeptics' rather than 'debunkers,' emphasizes that they take UFO research seriously. He notes that despite government denials, investigations into UFOs have occurred since 1947. Wright criticizes the media for focusing on 'close encounters' and states that while most reports are mistakes or hoaxes, 10-20 percent are genuine.

Article: Skeptic Insists UFOs Exist

This article from the OH-D16 Cincinnati Enquirer (June 24, 1986) profiles Don Worley, a former skeptic who became a believer in unexplained phenomena after 20 years of research. Worley, who has interviewed hundreds of witnesses on UFO and Big Foot cases, is convinced that beings from other worlds have left a mark on Earth. He highlights a significant wave of UFO activity in 1966-1967, including a landed UFO in Connersville, Indiana, that left cone-shaped holes. Worley believes that government cover-ups are in place and points to radar coverage from Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He emphasizes that ground-level phenomena, such as occupants and lost-time abductions, are more important than aerial sightings. He also categorizes UFO occupants into three types and describes them as intelligent, often 'devilish types.'

Article: Letter from the Editor - By Art Drake

This letter reflects on the passing of J. Allen Hynek, a prominent academic UFO expert and founder of the Center for UFO Studies. The author recalls interviewing Hynek, who coined the phrase 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind.' Hynek believed in UFOs but was unsure of their origin, defining a UFO simply as an unidentified object in the air. The author notes that Hynek, while investigating UFO sightings for the Air Force, managed to find conventional explanations for most reports but kept the possibility of alien spaceships open.

The letter also touches on the intrigue surrounding UFO reports, questioning why so many people would hallucinate the same phenomena simultaneously and why UFOs seem to defy known physics. Hynek is quoted as challenging readers to stretch their imaginations and consider future knowledge.

Article: Searchlights Send Many on Futile Dade UFO Hunt

From FL-D27 Miami News (June 30, 1986), this article debunks a mass UFO sighting in Dade County, Florida. Over 150 calls were received by police and authorities reporting four dancing lights in the sky. The lights were eventually identified as searchlights from a trailer at a car dealership, which had been left on overnight and rotated across the clouds.

Article: UFO Symposium will be at Michigan State

This article from the MI-030 Lansing State Journal (June 30, 1986) provides details about the 17th annual UFO Symposium held at Michigan State University. It highlights speakers like Dr. Richard F. Haines, John F. Schuessler, Alan C. Holt, and Michael D. Swords, who would discuss various aspects of UFO research, including interstellar spaceports, alleged abductions, and the scientific basis for extraterrestrial life. The event also included documentary films and a UFO exhibit.

Article: City and country of incident: Łódź, Poland

This entry details a UFO sighting above Łódź, Poland, on January 29, 1985, reported in the KURIER POLSKI newspaper. The object was seen from top and bottom, noticed where it disappeared, and its presence was also noted by airmen. The object was described as shining brightly, pulsating, and changing position with a certain regularity, moving in various directions. The reader who reported it had previously seen the object twice and had also observed an airplane crew witnessing a similar phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, alleged extraterrestrial encounters, and the perceived government cover-up of information. There is a clear division between scientific skepticism, represented by figures like Jack McConnell, and the belief held by ufologists and witnesses, such as Timothy Good, Don Worley, and Robert Bletchman, who advocate for transparency and further investigation. The magazine appears to lean towards presenting the evidence and perspectives of those who believe in the reality of UFOs and the need for public disclosure, while also acknowledging the scientific counterarguments. The overall stance seems to be one of exploring the phenomenon and questioning official narratives.

This issue of the Stockport Times, dated July 4, 1986, features a prominent headline: "Reds' rocket rumbled." The main story, investigated by Pat Hills, explains a world-wide alarm on New Year's Eve in 1978 when the sky over Stockport burst into flames. It is revealed that this was not an alien invasion but a Russian spaceship, identified as a Cosmos rocket, re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.

The Stockport Incident Explained

The article details how the pyrotechnic spectacular was confirmed by the British UFO Association, which received thousands of calls from Stockport residents. Local investigator Roy Sandbach from Offerton stated that while people initially thought the Earth was being invaded, the event was a Cosmos rocket breaking up. He noted that while burning debris usually lasts seconds, this sky fire persisted for several minutes.

Unexplained Sightings and Crop Circles

Alongside the explained incident, the magazine highlights an unsolved mystery: a photograph snapped by a local policeman of an object sighted over Stockport and other parts of Greater Manchester. This image is on file with the Manchester UFO Association, which claims to resolve most reported cases. UFO expert and authoress Jenny Randles is quoted, stating that genuine sightings are rare, and despite numerous reports in Stockport, few remain unexplained.

Another section, dated July 12, 1986, from London, discusses the phenomenon of "Flying circles around saucers." It mentions that the British UFO Research Association was to reveal findings from a six-year investigation into large, symmetric circles appearing in cornfields in the West Country and Home counties. A recent example was found in the Winchester area, measuring 68ft across. The article speculates whether these could be formed by flying saucers, electromagnetic impulses, or weather phenomena, with the author's tip leaning towards mini-whirlwinds.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue focuses on investigative journalism, aiming to demystify seemingly extraordinary events like UFO sightings and mysterious phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of rational explanation for unusual occurrences, while acknowledging that some mysteries, like the photographed object over Stockport and the crop circles, remain under investigation. The magazine provides a platform for local reports and expert opinions within the UFO and unexplained phenomena field.