APCIC - Vol 12 No 01 - 1987

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWS
Issue: Volume 12, No. 1
Date: January 1987
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENON CLIPPING INFORMATION CENTER
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

This issue of UFO NEWS delves into various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, featuring reports of sightings, investigative research, and discussions on the scientific and psychological implications of alleged encounters.

Key Articles and Reports

UFO Spotted in Lower Valley Sky

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a sighting that occurred in the Lower Valley, Washington, on a Thursday morning in August 1986. Multiple witnesses, including police officers from Wapato and Zillah, reported an unexplained glowing object traveling slowly across the sky. A Wapato police officer initially reported the object, which was described as a large mass that seemed to block out the stars, with several lights attached, and estimated to be about half a football field in size. It moved slowly and silently. Witnesses in Sunnyside and Grandview described the object as smaller and more distant, blinking blue, green, and yellow, and not much larger than a star. Frank Allec, news director for KREW radio, observed the object and noted its blinking lights. Grandview police officer Earl Ripplinger also spotted the object later that evening, describing it as looking like a distant star but changing colors and holding motionless. Robert Gribble, a staff member at the National UFO Reporting Center, stated that the object was described as a very large mass and that its size was estimated at about half a football field. He also noted that it moved at a slow rate of speed and without sound. The altitude was estimated at about a mile. The National UFO Reporting Center received three reports from police officers in the Lower Valley on that day. Air traffic controllers at the Yakima Airport Terminal reported no abnormalities. The Yakima Firing Center denied any Army involvement. Grandview police Chief David Charvet noted that it had been years since the last sighting in the area. The article also references earlier sightings in the early 1970s, particularly around Toppenish Ridge, which attracted investigators like Dr. J. Allen Hyneck. The National UFO Reporting Center, established in 1974, collects reports from North America and averages six reports a day, which Gribble considers "extremely quiet."

UFO Abduction Victims Are Sane and Telling the Truth, Says Psychologist

This section reports on a study conducted by the Maryland-based Fund for UFO Research, which administered a battery of tests to nine abductees. Psychologist Lisa Slater concluded that the victims are sane and appear to be suffering from trauma caused by their experiences, exhibiting symptoms similar to those found in rape victims. The findings lend credibility to victims' claims of extraterrestrial abduction, although skeptics remain unconvinced. Francis Seigal, a New York City ufologist, suggests that this study should prompt skeptics to take these claims more seriously.

International Sightings and Reports

Several international reports are included:

• Japanese Pilot Reports Another UFO Sighting: Capt. Kenjyu Terauchi of Japan Air Lines reported his cargo jet was shadowed by a huge unidentified flying object over Alaska in November. He later reported another encounter with "irregular lights" while flying from London to Anchorage.
• Japan TV Says Film Shows UFO: A television reporter in Japan filmed an unidentified flying object on a small island off Nagasaki. The videotape showed a large, bright, star-like object moving irregularly, described as saucer-like and moving at high speed.
• Family Convinced After Sighting: A family in Haslemere, England, reported seeing a large arc-shaped object with multiple red and white lights flying slowly and silently overhead at about 4,000 feet. Air traffic control at Gatwick Airport reported no radar indications of such an object.
• UFO Zoom Over Northland?: Duluth police officer Paul Stein reported a cluster of yellow and white lights in the sky that varied in size and intensity, traveling east to west at approximately 200 mph, with a fiery, cone-shaped tail that split into three parts before disappearing. Similar sightings were reported by a Proctor police officer and a state trooper. The event was later attributed by the U.S. Space Command to debris from a Russian Soyuz T-11 satellite.

UFO Controversy and Related Books

This section reviews several books and resources related to UFOs:

• "UFO's: A Scientific Debate": Edited by Carl Sagan and Thorton Page, this book presents papers from a 1969 symposium, offering both pro and con arguments on the existence of UFOs.
• "The UFO Controversy in America": By David Michael Jacobs, this book is described as a sober and objective social history of UFOs, covering the "Mystery Airship" wave of 1896-1897, Air Force coverups, and UFO personalities.
• UFO Newsclipping Service: A monthly newsletter that reproduces UFO sighting clippings from newspapers worldwide, translating foreign-language reports. The editor finds the sheer volume and grassroots nature of these reports more persuasive than theoretical books.
• "Ball Lightning and Bead Lightning": By James Dale Berry, this book provides a textbook-style introduction to these rare forms of lightning, analyzing over 1100 reports and outlining various theories. It includes a comprehensive bibliography and attempts to reproduce photographs of the phenomena.

Supernatural Experiences and Cheshire's UFO Specialty

Rick Green reports on John White of Cheshire, Connecticut, who is a self-described expert on UFOs and "parascience and consciousness research." White receives numerous calls and mail concerning supernatural experiences, including UFO sightings, haunted houses, and apparitions. He approaches these phenomena scientifically and offers advice or visits cases that pique his interest. The article notes that Cheshire has had its share of UFO sightings over the years.

UFO Aliens Are Living in the Earth's Core

This article presents a startling claim made by Harley Byrd, nephew of Admiral Richard Byrd, who stated that his uncle discovered a secret race of super-intelligent aliens living in a hole in the center of the Earth. Byrd allegedly revealed that more than 77 alien bodies, taken from an underground city, are being secretly studied in U.S. government holding tanks. U.S. space satellites reportedly photographed openings to this inner continent at the North Pole. Dr. Keiji Nakamura, a scientist from the Imperial Institute of Astronomy in Tokyo, supports the idea of an inner continent and suggests that governments have found frozen alien corpses. He also mentions interviews with abductees who claim to have been subjected to tests by these aliens. An expedition to the North Pole is planned for 1992 to locate the tunnel entrance. The article also touches upon the work of ufologist Dore Bedell, who examined photographs of spacecraft from the planet Pleiades and believes that 128 alien races have visited Earth.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents UFO sightings and alleged alien encounters as phenomena worthy of serious investigation. There is a clear editorial stance that supports the credibility of witnesses, particularly those who claim abduction experiences, challenging the dismissive attitudes of some psychologists and skeptics. The publication highlights both the scientific and the more speculative aspects of UFO research, including theories about extraterrestrial life within the Earth and the nature of unusual atmospheric phenomena like ball lightning. The inclusion of international reports and the emphasis on the volume of anecdotal evidence from the UFO Newsclipping Service suggest a belief in the widespread and persistent nature of these events. The magazine appears to advocate for an open-minded approach to these mysteries, encouraging readers to consider the possibility of phenomena beyond conventional scientific explanation.

This issue of the B NEW HAMPSHIRE SUNDAY NEWS, dated November 30, 1986, focuses on the search for extraterrestrial life and UFO phenomena. The cover story, "NASA Searches For Alien Life," details NASA's ambitious plans for a new SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project. Other articles discuss a proposed UFO museum in North Carolina, common UFO shapes, and specific UFO sighting reports from Poland and England.

NASA's Search for Alien Life

The lead article by Delthia Ricks reports on NASA's significant investment in the search for extraterrestrial civilizations. Astronomers are focusing on a region of space known as the "water hole," a quiet spot on the microwave band where they hope to detect signals from distant civilizations. NASA scientists are requesting $75 million for fiscal year 1988 to fund a 10-year project that will be 300 times more sensitive than existing systems. This project aims to explore over 1,000 sun-like stars and scan the microwave band for signals, with the search expected to begin in 1992 and last for five years.

Astronomer Carl Sagan emphasizes that the current interest in searching for alien life is driven by technological advancements that make in-depth searches possible. Michael Klein, SETI project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explains that the goal is to detect radio signals or beacons indicating communication. Researchers at JPL are collaborating with NASA Ames Research Center to develop an observing system.

The article also touches upon the scientific basis for the possibility of life elsewhere, citing the presence of organic molecules in meteorites and interstellar dust. Dr. Cyril Ponnamperuma suggests that the chemical reactions leading to life on Earth could have occurred universally, referencing the Urey-Miller experiment that synthesized amino acids. However, Carl Sagan notes that while the chemicals might be universal, the specific sequence of genetic accidents that led to life on Earth might not be replicated elsewhere.

Thomas McDonough of the Planetary Society expresses skepticism about distant civilizations attempting interstellar travel due to the vast distances involved. He also posits that detecting signals is more feasible than direct contact, and that scientists are looking for signals from civilizations at least as intelligent as humans.

UFO Museum Proposed for North Carolina

An article by Ben Steelman profiles George D. Fawcett, a UFO hobbyist and assistant state director for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) of North Carolina. Fawcett is actively seeking investors for a UFO museum, which he believes would be a natural fit for North Carolina, a state that ranks fourth in annual UFO sightings. He has already contacted potential investors and newspapers, though responses have been tentative. Fawcett's interest in UFOs dates back to World War II, and he has spent decades investigating sightings. He envisions the museum as a self-supporting attraction with exhibits, lectures, a snack bar, and a gift shop, costing an estimated $2 million to $3 million. The design concept is a dome-like structure resembling a UFO. Fawcett aims to keep the museum independent of government influence, believing that many UFOs are physical, not natural phenomena, and exhibit advanced technology.

UFO Sightings and Explanations

The issue includes several reports of UFO sightings and related discussions:

• Bródno, Warsaw Encounter: A report from Poland details an encounter by Andrzej K. in Bródno, Warsaw, who claims to have experienced telepathic contact with the crew of a UFO. The crew, consisting of 17 individuals from the Orion Constellation, were on a scientific expedition to study aluminum. Andrzej K. managed to take photographs of the UFO's maneuvers.
• Mokotów, Warsaw Encounter: Another report from Warsaw describes a "Close Encounter of the Third Kind" involving Józef K. in Mokotów. He reported seeing a dull-silver, disk-shaped object land, from which a woman emerged. He experienced a loss of consciousness and later awoke at his house. This incident was investigated by members of the UFO-OSSA club, who also sought other witnesses.
• Beaconsfield, England Sighting: A man in Beaconsfield, England, reported seeing a UFO, but the local Astronomical Society secretary, Ian Guy, suggested it might have been the planet Venus, which is often mistaken for a UFO due to its brightness.
• Common UFO Shapes: Veteran UFO researcher Brad Steiger, author of "Mysteries of Time and Space," provides descriptions of common UFO shapes based on thousands of sightings over 40 years. These include "mother ships" resembling footballs, whirling coin-shaped disks, diamond-shaped craft, classic flying saucers, conical disks, cigar or football-shaped craft, coin-like disks, teardrop or egg-shaped craft, and "blinding light" types.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the possibility of extraterrestrial life and UFO phenomena, presenting both scientific endeavors like NASA's SETI project and anecdotal accounts of sightings. There is a clear interest in documenting and investigating UFO reports, as evidenced by the coverage of MUFON activities and the proposed UFO museum. The editorial stance appears to be open to the possibility of UFOs being more than just natural phenomena or misidentifications, while also acknowledging scientific explanations and the need for rigorous investigation, as suggested by the astronomer Lawrence Harris who advocates for education in astronomy to reduce misinterpretations of celestial objects.

This issue of the SUNDAY MIRROR, dated January 4, 1987, features a prominent cover story detailing a close encounter between a jumbo jet pilot and an unidentified cigar-shaped object over Alaska. The headline proclaims, 'Jumbo jet pilot: We were buzzed for 30 minutes by a cigar-shaped object.' The cover also includes artist's impressions of spaceships and photos of 'flying saucers' and other mystery shapes, alongside a diagram illustrating a jumbo jet being shadowed by a UFO.

Main Cover Story: Jumbo Jet Pilot's Close Encounter

The lead article, by Martin Brunt, reports on an incident involving Japan Air Lines Flight JAL 1628, a Boeing 747 cargo jet. While flying at 39,000 feet over Alaska after entering US airspace from Canada, Captain Kenjyu Terauchi and his crew observed a brightly lit, cigar-shaped object, estimated to be as large as their own aircraft, flying alongside them. The object remained with the jet for approximately 30 minutes, during which Captain Terauchi took evasive action, including a rapid 8,000-foot descent and a complete circle of the plane, all of which the object mirrored.

During the encounter, the jet's VHF radio experienced static, and the object displayed an unusual pattern of yellow, green, and amber lights, along with rotating strobes, unlike conventional aircraft. While two tracking stations picked up the object on radar, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially dismissed radar images as 'clutter' or a 'split image' of the aircraft. However, the FAA has since stepped up its investigation into the 'wavering lights' that dogged the jet.

FAA spokesman Paul Steucke stated that the crew were found to be 'normal, professional, rational' and that the FAA 'has no idea what it was.' The incident gained public attention after being leaked by a crew member.

Experts Call for UFO Probe

UFO experts are demanding that world governments reveal all they know about sightings of unidentified craft. Walter Andrus, international director of the American-based Mutual UFO Network, emphasized the importance of this incident. He stated that the US government's claim to have stopped investigating UFO reports in 1969 is untrue, asserting that 'military and intelligence agencies still look into such encounters.' Andrus called for greater government openness and honesty with the public.

Gordon Creighton, editor of Flying Saucer Review, commented that governments, particularly in the US, have historically tried to dismiss such reports. He believes it will be difficult for them to 'wriggle out of this one,' suggesting that governments aim to conceal the existence of other beings to avoid public uproar.

Related Sightings

The article includes a section highlighting other recent UFO sightings by pilots worldwide:

• February 1986: The captain of a VC10 carrying Prince Charles saw a 'glowing red object' over the Irish Sea, with four other aircraft reporting similar sightings.
• May 1986 (Brazil): A shower of multi-coloured objects, described as the size of ping-pong balls, were seen travelling at 840 mph. Jets were scrambled but lost them.
• Two years prior (date unspecified): The pilot and passengers of a Russian Aeroflot jet observed a bright yellow light from which a thin white ray was directed towards the ground near Minsk.
• August 1985: The Greek pilot of a Boeing 747 reported a near-collision with a dark, rocket-shaped craft over Italy.

FAA Investigation Details

An Associated Press report from Anchorage details the FAA's renewed investigation. Spokesman Paul Steucke confirmed that the agency is re-interviewing the pilot to ensure no airspace violations occurred. He noted that the larger UFO was detected on the jet's weather radar, while smaller lights were not. The pilot, Kenjyu Terauchi, described the lights as possibly being exhaust pipes that wavered but did not blink. He dimmed his cockpit lights to avoid reflections. Terauchi's decision to report the incident after six minutes was deemed understandable by Steucke. The pilot's actions, including decreasing altitude and turning the plane in a circle, were met with the object following suit. The lights vanished heading east when the JAL jet was about 80 miles north of Anchorage.

Radar tapes, transcribed interviews, and radio messages are being sent to the FAA in Washington for review.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly advocates for greater transparency from governments regarding UFO phenomena. It highlights a specific, credible sighting by a commercial airline crew and uses expert opinions to challenge official denials of ongoing investigations. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards government secrecy and a belief that UFOs represent a significant, albeit officially unacknowledged, reality. The recurring theme is the persistent nature of UFO sightings and the perceived cover-up by authorities, urging a more open approach to public disclosure.