CUFORN Bulletin - Vol 17 No 03 - 1996 - May-Jun

Magazine Overview

This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 3, dated May-June 1996, is published by the Canadian UFO Research Network, Inc. The cover features a striking black and white photograph of a UFO and highlights the lead article, "Early Texas UFOs: The 1947 Project." The magazine's motto is "Crescat scientia vita excolatunlwhene knowledge increases, Life is ennobled."

Key Articles and Features

Early Texas UFOs: The 1947 Project

This extensive article by Jan Aldrich, a CUFORN Member, details his two-and-a-half-year research effort into the 1947 UFO wave. Aldrich has screened over 3,800 newspapers and archives, aiming to compile data for a report to be released on the 50th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting. The article focuses on UFO reports from Texas, noting that the 1947 wave extended beyond July 7th, with over 100 reports appearing in more than 150 Texas newspapers. Specific sightings are detailed, including one from McAllen Valley on July 8, 1947, involving a student pilot and a ground witness. The article also mentions the "Report of the UFO Wave of 1947" by Ted Bloecher, which identified over 850 reports, 27 of which were from Texas.

The Unknown Wave, Spring 1950

This section discusses the UFO wave of 1950, also known as "The Unknown Wave." While mentioned in books like Gerald Herald's "Is Another World Watching?" and Donald Keyhoe's "Flying Saucers Are Real," the exact period is uncertain, generally considered to be spring, lasting from March to May. The Korean War in June overshadowed UFO coverage, though some activity was reported in the summer and fall, primarily in southern and western U.S. states, including Texas.

The Texnik Invasion, November 1957

This segment covers a period in November 1957 when numerous sightings were reported, particularly in western Texas and New Mexico. Large, glowing egg-shaped objects, nicknamed "The Thing," "The Egg," "Whatnick," and "Texnik," were seen landing or hovering near the ground. Some encounters involved engine and/or vehicle light failure. The flap was investigated by civilian UFO groups, and the article notes that many case files from this period still need thorough checking.

Bentley's Post Reward for Flying Saucer

An article from The Stanton Reporter (August 7, 1952) is cited, detailing a reward of ten dollars posted by Bentley's of Stanton for an authentic Flying Saucer or Space Ship, to be placed on display in their store.

The Mega-Flap, 1952

This section briefly mentions the 1952 worldwide UFO flap, noting that it has been well-researched and that the U.S. Air Force's 1952 clipping file contains nearly 60,000 non-duplicated articles.

Spotlight on Jan Aldrich

This feature highlights Jan Aldrich's mission with Project 1947. It details his extensive research, which began in January 1994 and has taken him to 32 states and Canadian provinces. His aim is to publish a book by June 1997 for the 50th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's sighting, with later reports covering earlier periods. Aldrich emphasizes the importance of newspaper research for uncovering UFO history.

Book Review: "Fire in The Sky, The Walton Experience"

Lawrence J. Fenwick reviews Travis Walton's book, "Fire in The Sky." Fenwick notes that Walton's motivation for rehashing his 1975 abduction case was partly to correct inaccuracies in the 1993 movie adaptation and to silence debunkers. While praising Walton's writing style and attention to detail, Fenwick criticizes the book's excessive length in defending against critics like Philip J. Klass. He suggests the book is more valuable for the general public than for ufologists.

UFO-Alien Theme Back in Films

This article by Lawrence J. Fenwick discusses several motion pictures released in 1996 with alien or UFO themes, including "The Arrival," "Men in Black," "Phenomenon," and "Independence Day." It also touches upon TV shows like "The X-Files" that feature alien themes.

Editor Comments

Lawrence J. Fenwick provides commentary on various topics. He thanks a subscriber for a contribution to the CUFORN Computer Fund and mentions an upcoming one-hour UFO special on FOX TV by Kiviat Productions, focusing on alien implants. He also discusses the challenges of UFO research, the quality of television shows about UFOs (critiquing "Paranormal Borderline" and "Unsolved Mysteries"), and the poor editing of Kevin Randle's book "Roswell UFO Crash Update."

Special Offers and Services

The bulletin includes sections on "Special Offers," such as "The UFO Pulse Analyzer" and "A COMPLETE INDEX FOR 'SITUATION RED-THE UFO SIEGE,'" and a "UFO SERVICE" listing sources of UFO information. It also promotes the "National UFO Museum" and invites readers to submit their sighting descriptions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The CUFORN Bulletin consistently focuses on UFO research, historical sightings, and the dissemination of information within the UFO community. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging detailed research and the sharing of evidence, while also critically evaluating media portrayals and debunking attempts. There is a clear emphasis on historical data, particularly from the 1940s and 1950s, and a commitment to providing a platform for members and contributors to share their findings and perspectives. The publication also engages with the broader cultural impact of UFOs, as seen in its coverage of films and television shows.

Title: CUFORN BULLETIN
Issue: MAY-JUNE, 1996
Date: Friday, August 25, 1995 (Cover Date)
Content: This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin features reports on two significant unexplained aerial phenomena: a spectacular meteor sighting over Southern Ontario and a baffling encounter between a British airliner and an unidentified flying object (UFO).

Meteor puts on lightshow for Metro

This article, sourced from The Toronto Sun and dated August 25, 1995, details a meteor that streaked across the southern Ontario sky, creating a fiery spectacle. The event was witnessed by numerous people, including Brantford truck driver Albert Olivera, who described the sky turning "totally white... like a ball of fire." Sightings were reported from as far east as Kingston, north to North Bay, and west to Brantford. The Pearson Airport control tower observed a "meteorite" travel east until it disappeared over Lake Ontario. Officers were dispatched to the edge of Lake Ontario in Oshawa after a caller reported seeing "a ball of fire" vanish south of the city. The colors of the meteor ranged from blue in the front to orange on the tail. The meteor appears to have crossed Lake Ontario, with sightings reported in New York state. Sun photographer Juan Fanzio described it as "like a ball of bluish flame, like metal-burning."

Key Persons: Ian Robertson, Jonathan Kingstone (reporters), Albert Olivera (witness), Bob Peacock (Staff-Sgt.), Juan Fanzio (photographer).
Locations: Southern Ontario, Lake Ontario, London, Kingston, North Bay, Brantford, Oshawa, New York state.
Object Characteristics: Ball of fire, white flare, bluish flame, orange tail, metal-burning appearance.

Close encounter of the weird kind baffles British aviation authority

This report, from The Globe and Mail dated February 3, 1996, details a year-long inquiry by British aviation experts into a close encounter between a passenger jet and an unidentified flying object (UFO). The incident occurred on January 6, 1995, when a British Airways Boeing 737, carrying 60 people, was on approach to Manchester Airport at the 4,000-foot level. Captain Roger Wills reported that a wedge-shaped UFO, with small white lights, came so close to his jet that his co-pilot ducked. The object was spotted from the ground but never appeared on radar screens. It made no attempt to deviate and passed quickly down the right side of the aircraft, making no sound and creating no wind turbulence. The encounter happened at 6:48 p.m. with visibility at least 16 kilometers. Air traffic controllers confirmed they had nothing else on radar at the time. The Civil Aviation Authority's Joint Airmiss Working Group concluded that it was "not possible to suggest either the cause or the risk of the incident," and the object remains untraced. The report praised the crew for reporting the incident. A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman called it "all a bit of a mystery," noting a similar unexplained case involving Alitalia about three years prior. Mark Lloyd, who was near the airport, also saw the object, describing it as a triangular-shaped object hovering quite high up with depth, rounded at the back end, and appearing to have "back burners."

Key Persons: David Wallen (reporter), Captain Roger Wills (pilot), Mark Stuart (co-pilot), Mark Lloyd (witness), Civil Aviation Authority spokesman, Eric Morrison (UFO exponent).
Organizations: Civil Aviation Authority, British Airways, Manchester Airport, The Globe and Mail.
Locations: Manchester, UK; Milan, Italy.
Object Characteristics: Wedge-shaped UFO, small white lights, triangular-shaped, hovering, rounded back end, back burners, black line down the side, triangular-shaped window, passed very quickly, no sound, no wind turbulence, not a balloon, model aircraft, kite, or stealth aircraft.
Date: January 6, 1995.
Time: 6:48 p.m.
Altitude: 4,000 feet.
Visibility: At least 16 kilometers.

UFO sightings have Territories town in a trance

This article, by Gwen Dambrofsky of Canadian Press and published in The Toronto Star on January 22, 1996, reports on a series of UFO sightings in the Northwest Territories town of Fort Resolution. Since January 4, townsfolk have been observing a trio of pulsating, multicolored lights dancing across the night sky almost every evening between 5 and 8 o'clock, after which the object completely disappears. Mayor Euard Hunter described the sightings as "quite calming." The phenomenon intrigued a colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces, who, along with two staff members, flew out in a Twin Otter plane to investigate. Capt. Susan Gray, public affairs officer for the military in Yellowknife, stated that the witnesses, including Canadian Rangers, the mayor, and the RCMP, were credible. However, by the time Colonel Pierre Leblanc reached Fort Resolution, the skies had clouded over, preventing him from seeing the object. Colonel Leblanc will file a report with the Defence Operation Centre in Ottawa. The military's official role may be concluded, but the Fort Resolution UFO remains a topic of discussion. Mayor Hunter described the object as having red, green, and blue lights with a constant white light in the center, moving straight west, then down, before vanishing. He stated, "It's not a star, not a planet, not the northern lights... I just cannot explain it." He admitted to being skeptical at first until he saw it himself, stating, "It blew my socks off."

Key Persons: Gwen Dambrofsky (reporter), Mayor Euard Hunter, Capt. Susan Gray (military public affairs officer), Col. Pierre Leblanc (Canadian Armed Forces).
Organizations: Canadian Press, The Toronto Star, Canadian Armed Forces, Defence Operation Centre, RCMP.
Locations: Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, Canada; Yellowknife, Canada; Ottawa, Canada.
Object Characteristics: Trio of pulsating, multicolored lights; red, green, and blue lights with a constant white light in the center; moves straight west, then down, before vanishing; not a star, planet, or northern lights.
Date: Since January 4, 1996.
Time: Between 5 and 8 o'clock nightly.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The CUFORN Bulletin consistently focuses on unexplained aerial phenomena, including meteors and UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these events with a degree of seriousness, presenting witness accounts and official investigations, even when explanations are lacking. The publication aims to document these occurrences, providing details from various sources, including newspapers and official reports, and highlighting the baffling nature of many sightings. The inclusion of reports from different Canadian locations and international incidents suggests a broad scope of interest in the UFO phenomenon.