APCIC - Vol 15 No 02 - 1990

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWS
Issue Date: February 1990
Volume: 15
Issue: No2
Publisher: Aerial Phenomenon Clipping Information Center
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

This issue of UFO NEWS delves into various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, featuring personal accounts, investigative efforts, and reports from different regions.

George Fawcett and the N.C. Mutual UFO Network

The lead article introduces George Fawcett, a 60-year-old advertising sales representative and executive director of the N.C. Mutual UFO Network Inc. Fawcett, who has been monitoring UFO activity for nearly 45 years, dismisses sensationalized theories like President Truman's alleged pact with aliens. He emphasizes a serious pursuit of evidence, which began for him on December 18, 1944, after reading about 'shiny silver balls in the sky.' Fawcett has amassed 30,000 to 40,000 reports of confirmed sightings, which he stores in 35 filing cabinets. The N.C. Mutual UFO Network has recently incorporated as a non-profit organization with approximately 200 members. Its first actions included electing officers and establishing an investigative arm, the Greater Charlotte MUFON Investigative Team, headed by George Lund. This team trains members to verify or discredit sightings by examining details like land markings, animal reactions, and unusual odors. Fawcett notes that while investigators receive assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration, local police, and institutions like the Morehead Planetarium, only 20 to 30 percent of reported sightings are deemed real, with the remaining often explained as misidentifications. However, he highlights that a significant 25 percent remain unexplained, a fact even acknowledged by the government. Fawcett believes that while UFOs may pose a threat, he is also planning a UFO museum in North Carolina as a tourist attraction.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

Several articles report on specific UFO sightings and related investigations:

• Brussels, Belgium: The air force and police are investigating numerous UFO sightings near the border with the Netherlands and West Germany. Since November 29, 1989, dozens of people and police officials in the northeastern Liege province have reported seeing luminous objects, some described as flying platforms scanning the surface with searchlights, while others reported dancing lights. Air traffic controllers also detected unexplained radar blips. No authorized low-level flights were in the region at the time.
• Butler County, Pennsylvania: The Criswell Road family, Jim and Debbie Hahn, reported seeing a bright light on a mushroom-shaped object hovering in their field on Thursday night. They also observed two smaller objects with red lights detach from the main object and fly off. Stan Gordon, director of the UFO hotline and the Pennsylvania Association for the Scientifically Unexplained (PASU), confirmed that while many reports are misidentifications, this case involved a bright, illuminated object that moved erratically. Gordon noted that military jets were seen in the area shortly after the sighting, a common occurrence when UFOs are reported. He stated that the government continues to investigate UFOs through specialized units.
• Dorset, England: A Yeovil couple reported seeing a glowing, oblong, fluorescent green craft with a red circular glow traveling at high speed over the giant carved in chalk at Cerne Abbas. The object disappeared quickly. A similar sighting was reported the following night at South Petherton. The couple wished to remain anonymous due to potential public reaction. The article mentions that talk of UFOs has gained impetus following Russian reports of alien landings.
• Southend, England: Miss Barbara Gay and her parents witnessed a brightly-colored UFO hovering over Southend Pier. They described it as changing shape and color, appearing as a brilliant white diamond, then an arrow, and then like a spider's web. The object floated for about an hour before flying off towards London. The experience was breathtaking, and the light was too brilliant to be a plane.
• East Sussex, England: Reports of strange lights from a mysterious airborne craft in South East Essex include a dome-shaped flying object with red, green, and white lights seen hovering between Clacton and Leigh. A man walking his dog in Hullbridge reported similar lights. Another report describes a long, rectangular object with white lights moving towards Burnham. A Southend woman saw a large circle of white moving across the sky, and a man from Southend saw an object hovering over the airport with flashing red, white, and green lights. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson saw a shape like three light bulbs in the sky, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones were woken by a humming noise and saw a long object with bright white light hover before shooting off towards Southend.

Alien Abduction and Support Groups

An article titled "SHOCKER More Than 25 Support Groups Across the U.S. for UFO Kidnap Victims!" highlights the growing number of people claiming to have been abducted by UFOs. Astonishingly, 27 groups across America provide support for these victims. Aileen Edwards, a UFO investigator running a support group in Seattle, states that these individuals often have no one else who understands their experiences. Dr. Jean Mundy, a psychologist working with victims, notes that they are not mentally deficient but are similar to others, with the societal attitude contributing to their trauma. Rich Hale recounts an abduction experience from 1977 where he encountered beings and a 'wolf man.' Another article focuses on Marion Richards from Ligonier, Pennsylvania, who claims to have been abducted since childhood, describing 'little people' and a bizarre incident involving a cylinder and a creature. John Biondi, a school psychologist, believes these individuals are truthful and sincere, not seeking publicity. Paul Kurtz, however, views such claims as 'fantasy prone,' suggesting that imagination plays a role, especially under hypnosis. Robert Basil, editor of 'Not Necessarily The New Age,' suggests that hypnotists may influence responses.

Mystery Circles and UFOs

An article from the Western Daily Press Bristol discusses a possible link between flattened circles of corn and UFOs. A BBC Daytime Live television program discussed this potential connection. The program reportedly picked up a sudden blast of 'electronic chatter' in the center of a circle at Silbury Hill, which was retained in the film and considered significant. Producer David Morgenstern described the sound interference. Pat Delgado, co-author of 'Circular Evidence,' believes in UFO links. The article notes a significant increase in reported circles, with 270 in the current year compared to 94 the previous year. The producers planned to feature explanations from callers on a future show.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents UFO phenomena as a subject worthy of serious investigation, even while acknowledging the prevalence of misidentifications. There's a clear emphasis on personal testimony and the experiences of individuals who claim to have witnessed UFOs or been abducted. The rise of support groups for abductees suggests a growing community of individuals seeking validation and understanding. The articles also touch upon the potential involvement or awareness of governmental bodies in investigating UFOs, though often implying a lack of official transparency. The theme of unexplained phenomena, from aerial objects to crop circles, is central, with a recurring sentiment that authorities tend to dismiss or ignore such reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging the reporting and study of these events, while also presenting skeptical viewpoints, particularly regarding alien abductions.

This issue of the magazine, dated October 16, 1989, with the volume identifier PA-D31 and published by the Greensburg Tribune Review, focuses on the topic of alien abductions and UFO sightings. The cover headline, "Close encounters of the 'alien' kind," sets the tone for the articles within.

Please the Hypnotist

This section features a quote from 'Basil' cautioning that some individuals might fabricate elaborate tales to please a hypnotist, potentially planting fantastic stories rather than accessing genuine memories. David Jacobs, a paranormal researcher and history professor at Temple University, agrees that untrained hypnotists can suggest abduction scenarios. However, he emphasizes that his research team is careful not to lead subjects and views hypnosis as an irreplaceable tool for accessing memory, stating that abduction scenarios best explain the collected data, especially concerning 'missing time'.

Close Encounters of the 'Alien' Kind

This lead article by Sharon Santus reports on heightened interest in UFOs, spurred by a Tass report of an unearthly craft landing near Moscow. The article introduces three individuals from the United States who claim to be victims of alien abductions. Jim Smith, whose real name is withheld, recounts experiencing inexplicable time lapses, later recalled under hypnosis as an abduction aboard an unknown craft where he was physically examined by three short, unrecognizable beings. He notes the public's skepticism towards such claims.

The article mentions Whitley Strieber's book "Communion" as a factor in the growing credibility of abduction reports. It also highlights the work of David Jacobs, who has interviewed and hypnotized 47 individuals in the Northeast who believe they were abducted. Jacobs has identified a consistent pattern in their accounts: abduction against their will, physical and medical examinations, and return to their original locations, often accompanied by terror.

Jacobs acknowledges that while hypnosis is crucial, it can be problematic due to the potential for the hypnotist to inadvertently introduce suggestions. Smith's own experience involved a three-hour time lapse during a drive, which he later recalled under hypnosis as being taken aboard a craft and examined with a green light by beings with pointy heads. He described the craft as two inverted, silver plates.

Alien Kind (Continued)

Smith, now with full recall of his experiences, expressed a desire to learn more but wishes to avoid publicity due to the disbelief he anticipates. He also notes the intermittent appearance of unexplained marks on his body, which he suspects are related to the examinations.

Dr. Berthold Schwarz, a psychiatrist who has investigated abduction cases, notes the consistent details across reports from diverse individuals, lending clinical credence to the abduction hypothesis. He asserts that these individuals lack motive for fabrication and often suffer significant personal consequences.

Barbara Baker, another alleged victim, recounts seeing a triangular craft with three blinking lights and no sound in 1974. She later saw the craft hovering near a dam for 19 months. Through self-hypnosis with Stan Gordon's help, she recalled being taken aboard a craft by two small, gray-skinned beings with large heads and held in a chair during an examination.

Stan Gordon, who investigates paranormal sightings, points to the Chestnut Ridge area as a 'window area' with a high occurrence of UFO and bigfoot sightings. He suggests that the increased willingness of alleged victims to share their stories, due to reduced ridicule, is contributing to the rise in abduction reports.

UFO Flight of Fantasy

This article by Jonathan Calvert reports on a supposed UFO incident in South Africa where an object was shot down by air force jets and embedded in the Kalahari desert. UFO investigator Tony Dodd believes a four-page secret document detailing this event is true and plans to present it at a world UFO conference. However, the South African Embassy in London dismisses the claims, identifying James Van Greunen, who provided the document to Dodd, as a conman. Dodd and his associate Azadehdel scoff at this, suggesting it's a disinformation campaign.

Photographer snaps UFO

This article from the South Bucks Star reports on Nicholas Salmon, a photographer from Amersham, who captured an image of a fast-moving object that has baffled photographic experts. Salmon, reluctant to get involved in the UFO issue, came forward after reading recent correspondence in the paper. He described seeing an object traveling at considerable speed on a clear spring morning. Dr. Vernon Harrison, former president of the Royal Photographic Society, examined the negative and concluded it was definitely an object but not a hoax, noting that its speed and shape rule out most known aircraft.

Prove to us that we weren't seeing UFOs

A letter to the editor of the Wycombe Star challenges the police to provide evidence that lights seen could have been produced by a laser, questioning the police inspector's unimpressed reaction to a previous article describing lights as 'winged creatures'. The writer details seeing lights on the M40 motorway moving in a circular, pulsing motion, and later seeing similar lights towards Burnham. The writer poses questions about who produced the display and how it was achieved, urging the police to prove they were not UFOs.

Is there anybody out there?

This article from The Bexley + Eltham Leader discusses the phenomenon of UFO sightings, noting that many Britons and Americans believe in them. It touches on historical references, such as in the Bible, and modern sightings dating back to 1947. The article suggests that many sightings can be explained as natural phenomena, misidentified aircraft, or even deliberate misinformation by governments to cover up weapons tests. It concludes that there is no concrete evidence of alien visitation or contact.

The article also explores psychological explanations, with writer David Barclay suggesting that UFO beliefs might be a way to compensate for a lack of romance and mystery in modern life, or a manifestation of cultural archetypes. Jenny Randles of the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) states that 90-95% of UFO sightings are eventually explained, and BUFORA works with police and the Ministry of Defence to investigate unexplained cases.

Space invaders move in, vanishing citizens move out

This Irish Times article by Conor O'Clery discusses a series of UFO reports from the Soviet Union, starting with a Tass report of a confirmed UFO landing in Voronezh. It notes the unusual step of the official Soviet media reporting such stories, possibly due to a lack of tabloid alternatives. The article also touches on the phenomenon of faith healers like Anatoly Kashpirovsky and the increasing number of Soviet citizens emigrating.

UFO sightings are soaring

This article from the Southend Standard reports on an increase in UFO sightings in South East Essex, with 19 families claiming contact with aliens and losing time. Sheridan Lane of the East Anglian UFO and Paranormal Association notes more visitations and vague memories of time loss ranging from 20 minutes to three hours. The article lists several specific sightings in the Southend area, including diamond-shaped objects, triangular objects, and saucer-shaped craft.

Tales of UFO landing still shaking Soviets

This article from The Plain Dealer, dated October 11, 1989, discusses the Soviet media's reporting of a UFO landing in Voronezh. It highlights a scientist, Genrikh Silanov, who stated he was misquoted by Tass. The report describes a three-eyed alien with a robot sidekick. The article notes that while the Soviet Union has opened up to more open reporting under 'glasnost', the Voronezh story was only picked up by one major national daily, suggesting caution from other outlets.

UFO MYSTERY

A brief report from Arlington, USA, dated October 19, 1989, mentions a fireball explosion reported across the Midwest, with possible explanations including a meteor or space junk.

Close encounters kept in closet

This article by Gary Garton from The Joplin Globe addresses the phenomenon of unexplained lights seen over Northeast Oklahoma and Southeast Kansas. Garton notes that many witnesses, including law enforcement officers, are hesitant to speak to the media for fear of ridicule. He recounts a sighting of an object described as 10 to 12 feet wide and 24 to 30 feet long, with a silvery-metallic appearance and three white lights at the front and one red light in the center, moving silently. Other sightings include objects rising from wooded areas and lights moving in formation.

A skeptical look at UFOs - and FAA studies

This article, attributed to Gary Garton, discusses his affiliation with the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). He expresses skepticism towards sensational claims and emphasizes the need for critical evaluation. Garton touches on the frequency of UFO sightings reported by pilots, suggesting it's due to their increased time spent observing the sky. He then recounts an experiment involving night vision training where participants perceived a stationary red light as moving, illustrating how visual perception can be deceptive. The article concludes by questioning whether pilots are better at discerning real versus perceived visual inputs.

Aircraft or Aliens?

This article from the Macclesfield Express Advertiser reports on UFO sightings in Macclesfield, including descriptions of golden and crimson domes and a ten-foot-tall alien. Ufologist Gladys Stevenson recounts seeing a large golden ball with a smaller satellite following it multiple times. She also describes an encounter with a giant silver man with no face. Researcher Peter Hough suggests that piezoelectric effects from underground geological activity might explain some bright lights. Jodrell Bank astronomers are noted as regarding UFO research with disdain.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs) and alien abductions. There is a clear effort to present both anecdotal evidence from alleged witnesses and the perspectives of researchers and skeptics. The articles explore the psychological aspects of belief, the challenges of investigation (particularly with hypnosis), and the role of media in reporting such events. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, presenting various accounts and expert opinions without definitively endorsing or dismissing the phenomena, while also highlighting the public's fascination and the potential for misinterpretation or hoax.

This issue, identified by the dateline "DEC 21 1989" and associated with "FAA STUDIES CON'T" and "LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL," delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena and critical thinking. It includes a section on FAA studies, letters from readers, and a report on a specific UFO incident.

FAA Studies and Skepticism

The article "FAA STUDIES CON'T" critiques a study used by the FAA to justify the mandatory retirement of airline pilots at age 60. The study claims pilots in their 60s have 2.5 times more accidents than those in their 50s. The author argues that this study is circular and useless because it aggregates data without proper controls, including pilots at different career stages and excluding those over 60 from the comparison group. The author emphasizes the importance of skeptical thinking and questioning information, stating, "It pays to think skeptically, and don't stop asking questions."

Letters from Our Readers

Two letters from readers offer perspectives on UFOs and government transparency.

UFO Mystery

Joe McCarthy of Las Vegas writes in response to a previous column, arguing that while pseudoscience is a concern, the central issue is the government's refusal to release uncensored UFO reports. He notes that President Jimmy Carter promised declassification but never fulfilled it, and asserts that as long as the government withholds information, legitimate questions about UFOs will persist, even if many interested individuals are "crackpots."

Flying Saucers

Robert L. White of Las Vegas defends KLAS-TV's George Knapp and his UFO documentary, urging the columnist to stick to financial advice. White, a pilot for 44 years, claims to have seen flying saucers himself and spoken with many airline pilots who have also witnessed them. He echoes McCarthy's sentiment about government cover-ups, stating he could fill the newspaper with such accounts.

Lincolnton Man Says Tass Wrong

This section, originating from the "GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD" dated "JAN 18 1990," reports on a local UFO investigator, George Fawcett of Lincolnton, who is correcting details from a Tass news report. The Tass report described a 13-feet-tall, three-eyed alien with a robot sidekick allegedly landing in Voronezh, Russia.

Fawcett, who has 45 years of UFO research experience and is the state director for Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), states that the basic humanoid is typically 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall, with a large cranium and large wraparound eyes. He notes that while glasnost has opened up information in the Soviet Union, the U.S. has become more closed regarding UFO information.

Richard O. Ulin, a UNC-Chapel Hill professor of international relations, expresses skepticism about UFOs, aliens, and the Tass report. He notes that the topic of aliens did not come up during his recent five-week trip to the Soviet Union.

Fawcett highlights that UFO sightings and occupant encounters are commonplace, citing 48 landing cases and 11 abduction cases in North Carolina over 80 years. He also points out that many people do not report sightings or abductions due to stigma or fear of job loss.

Oregon Network Searches for Real Story

This article by Tom Forstrom from "The Statesman Journal" (dated "DEC 28 1989") introduces Skip Schultz, the Oregon Chapter contact for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON). MUFON is a 20-year-old international, non-profit organization that investigates UFO sightings.

Schultz, a mechanic by trade, investigates sightings and writes reports for MUFON headquarters in Texas. He states that about 90 percent of reported phenomena can be explained by natural causes, but 10 percent remain unexplained. He has personally invested about $400 of his own money into investigations this year.

David Schiller, a computer consultant, co-edits the MUFON Oregon Observer newsletter with Schultz. The newsletter's most recent edition covered a lighted object sighting along the Oregon coast and other cases, including a family in Gervais who reported seeing a saucer-shaped, lighted object hover over their property.

Schiller expresses a conservative approach to UFO research, distinguishing it from more radical "new-age" beliefs. He notes that some groups believe aliens are coming as saviors, while others believe they are coming to destroy Earth, which he finds to be a source of fanaticism.

Schultz admits he has never personally seen a UFO but has spoken with many people who have, finding the subject exciting and wonder-inducing.

Close Encounter

This notice from "NC-D200 GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD" (dated "JAN 18 1990") announces a speaking engagement by George Fawcett of Lincolnton, a founder of MUFON of North Carolina. Fawcett is scheduled to speak on "UFOs and UFOnauts: Facts and Phenomena" at Guilford Technical Community College. He will share stories and slides based on his 45 years of research, including 1,500 case studies nationwide. Tickets are $5 for the event.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently promotes a skeptical yet open-minded approach to UFO phenomena. It critiques flawed studies used for regulation (FAA pilot retirement) and encourages critical thinking. There's a recurring theme of government secrecy regarding UFO information, with readers expressing frustration over the lack of transparency. The articles and letters highlight the efforts of organizations like MUFON to scientifically investigate sightings, while also acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena and the importance of credible reporting. The editorial stance appears to favor rational investigation over sensationalism, while not dismissing the possibility of genuine unexplained aerial phenomena.