Data Net - No 02

Magazine Overview

This document is a collection of scanned pages from various publications, primarily focused on UFOs and related phenomena, compiled and distributed by 'Data-Net Control' under issue #2. The compilation includes articles from newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury, The Edmonton Journal, and S.F. Sunday Examiner & Chronicle, as well as content directly from Data-Net Control. The date range for the articles spans from February to March 1967, with some historical references going back to 1896.

Data-Net Control Newsletter Content

The Data-Net Control section (pages 1-2) welcomes new members to the group, including WB6VCM John, K6VXY Vern, Adolph, and Susan, highlighting their contributions to copymaking, data collection, typing, and editing. Vern is temporarily unavailable due to night school. The newsletter lists available publications from Data-Net Control, such as 'True Magazine - UFO Pilots,' 'Saga - UFO Kidnaps,' and 'Project Bluebook - Edward Ruppelt.'

A significant report, relayed by Adolph and reprinted from the San Francisco Examiner (dated 11/22/1896), details a UFO sighting by thousands along the California coast. Another historical account, backed by affidavits from A. Hamilton of Kansas (April 21, 1897), describes an object that won a tug-of-war against him and his hands to steal a cow, leaving no tracks, only the head, legs, and hide.

The newsletter also critiques an article by Philip Wylie, disagreeing with his assertion that professional astronomers have never seen UFOs and that instruments have never registered them. It counters with reports of sightings by various professionals and mentions 'Look' magazine publishing photos of UFOs taken by astronauts in orbit. A report on Russian archaeologists finding 716 discs, estimated to be 12,000 years old, in the Bayan-Kara-Ula mountains is also included, noting their unusual characteristics and the discovery of ancient skeletons with large craniums.

Dennis, a Canadian member, reported a personal sighting. Data-Net is seeking contacts in Australia, Brazil, and Mexico for information exchange. The newsletter concludes with a call to keep eyes open and cameras loaded.

Scientific and Skeptical Perspectives

Scientist Sees Only Earth Life (Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1967): This article features Sir John Eccles, a Nobel Prize-winning physiologist, who argues that man is the only intelligent life in the universe. He contends that the evolution of intelligent life on Earth was a 'fantastic improbability' that could not happen elsewhere, based on the complexity of the brain and the universal genetic plan (DNA).

Pressure Increases For Exploring Venus (San Jose Mercury, March 23, 1967): This piece discusses the growing pressure on NASA to prioritize Venus exploration. Recommendations are made for spacecraft missions in 1970 and beyond, with plans to analyze the planet's atmosphere. The article also touches on the possibility of manned missions to Mars and Venus in the early 1970s, noting the significant budget implications.

UFO-Watcher Watcher (Science and Space, March 20, 1967): This article reports on the U.S. Air Force's UFO investigation project at the University of Colorado, led by Dr. Edward Uhler Condon. The project aims to gather detailed witness accounts through questionnaires to identify patterns. It mentions that Condon entertains possibilities ranging from misidentifications (weather balloons, aircraft) to extraterrestrial visitations, but questions how to calculate probabilities without knowing the phenomenon. The article also notes that witnesses sometimes confuse what they see with what they conclude, and that UFOs have reportedly interfered with car engines and radios, suggesting a powerful electrical force.

Saucer People And Earthlings (San Francisco Chronicle, March 1, 1967): Writer David Swanston asserts that stories of contacts with beings from other planets are false, though he believes spacemen exist and are conducting surveillance. He dismisses claims by George Adamsky and others as fabricated. The article touches on a reported landing near Cutler, Indiana, which was dispersed by jets, and mentions the military's involvement. It also addresses the East Coast power failure of November 9, 1965, stating there is no evidence linking it to UFOs.

Educator Urges Plan To Explain 'Saucers' (S.F. Examiner, January 22, 1967): Dr. D. H. Bragg, an education professor, urges educators to prepare for the possibility that flying saucers are real and may need to be explained in classrooms. He notes that the Air Force has awarded a contract to the University of Colorado for a study of unidentified flying objects, suggesting that if the study supports the theory of intelligent beings, it could have major implications for space travel and contact with superior civilizations.

Jupiter May Have Life Eventually (London Express Service, April 23, 1967): This article reports on recent studies suggesting Jupiter's atmosphere is rich in the elements necessary for life, similar to Earth's early stages. Dr. Robert Jastrow of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies indicates that Jupiter has developed the same mixture of elements that led to primitive organisms on Earth.

Specific UFO Sightings and Incidents

• Oregon Sighting (UPI Photo): Three boys in Salem, Oregon, photographed a saucer-shaped object in the sky.
• Ohio Flying Saucer (AP Wirephoto): Ralph Ditter, a barber from Zanesville, Ohio, released a photo of an unidentified flying object he claimed to have photographed at his home on November 13.
• Edmonton 'Blinking Lights' (The Edmonton Journal, February 27, 1967): Residents of Southeast Edmonton reported seeing a string of five to eight red blinking lights, described as UFOs, moving slowly across the sky between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Some reported hearing a buzzing noise.
• Morrison Planetarium Show: The Morrison Planetarium in Golden Gate Park featured a show titled "UFO's - Fact or Fantasy?" exploring sightings and the possibility of living saucers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The compilation reflects a strong interest in UFO phenomena, historical cases, and scientific investigations into the possibility of extraterrestrial life. There is a clear effort to gather and disseminate information from various sources, including eyewitness accounts, scientific studies, and media reports. The Data-Net Control section appears to be a hub for enthusiasts, while the included newspaper articles present a mix of reporting, scientific analysis, and skeptical viewpoints. The overall stance is one of inquiry and information sharing, acknowledging both the unexplained aspects of UFO sightings and the scientific efforts to understand them, while also presenting skeptical arguments against some of the more sensational claims.

This issue of the San Jose Mercury, dated Thursday, April 20, 1967, focuses heavily on the phenomenon of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), exploring public perception, scientific investigation, and photographic evidence. The cover boldly proclaims "Fear and UFOs," setting a tone of unease and serious inquiry.

Fear and UFOs: The Human Element

The lead article on the cover, "Fear and UFOs," details the often negative and even violent reactions experienced by individuals who report seeing UFOs. It highlights the cases of Frank Mannor, whose car windshield was smashed and who received threatening messages after reporting a strange craft, and Dale Spaur, a former deputy sheriff who was hounded and lost his job and wife after chasing a UFO. Dr. Henry Clay Lindgren, a social psychologist, explains this reaction as a response to "unusual behavior" that deviates from the norm, causing anxiety and potential panic. He suggests that those who report such sightings are perceived as "crazy" or unreliable, and that society may reject or "put down" these individuals, with cruder types resorting to open harassment.

Condon Study: A New Look at UFOs

An article by Roscoe Drummond discusses the "Condon Study," a significant government-backed investigation into UFOs being conducted at the University of Colorado. Drummond emphasizes that the study is taking UFOs seriously and aims to uncover the facts regardless of where they lead. He expresses confidence in the objective approach of the investigation, led by nuclear scientist Dr. Edward U. Condon, who is described as a tough-minded individual not easily intimidated by cynics or those who prefer to bury facts. The study, under a $300,000 Pentagon contract, is seen as a timely and spirited effort to address the UFO phenomenon.

UFO Photos: Authentic or Hoax?

Several articles address the authenticity of UFO photographs. One piece from the San Jose Mercury, dated February 7, 1967, reports that Dr. J. Allen Hynek, the Air Force's scientific advisor for Project Blue Book, has examined photographs taken near Mount Clemens, Michigan, and declared them "Authentic." These pictures, taken by teen-age brothers Dan and Grant Jaroslaw, are described as strikingly similar to other UFO photos Hynek has investigated. Experts analyzed negatives from Polaroid prints and found no evidence of a hoax. Another article, from the Chicago Daily News dated January 17, 1967, also features Prof. J. Allen Hynek stating that UFO photos from Michigan "do not appear to be a hoax." The negatives from three Polaroid prints were submitted to Hynek, and analysis by experts at the University of Chicago also found no evidence of fakery. The photos were taken on January 9, 1967, near Mount Clemens.

A separate article from the San Jose Mercury, dated February 7, 1967, features Ralph Ditter, a barber from Zanesville, Ohio, who photographed a "covered disc" hovering about 20 feet above his house on November 13. The National Investigating Committee for Aerial Phenomena is investigating this case, and Ditter is convinced it's a spaceship.

Thousands Report UFOs After Big Space Test

An Associated Press report details a massive wave of UFO sightings that occurred on Saturday, April 20, 1967, following a space experiment conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Wallops Island, Virginia. The experiment involved ejecting a barium and copper oxide payload from a four-stage rocket, creating a huge multicolored cloud that remained visible for about 45 minutes at heights of 310 and 570 miles. Thousands of people across Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Southern Wisconsin reported seeing brilliant objects or lights in the sky. A NASA spokesman suggested that a "sunrise reflection against the cloud" might have caused these strange phenomena. However, the article notes that not all reported sightings could be explained by the colored clouds, mentioning specific incidents like three mysterious objects seen in suburban Richmond, Virginia, and a round blue object reported by a security officer in Anderson, Indiana.

Other Sightings and Theories

The issue also includes reports of other UFO sightings and related phenomena. Pilots at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago reported a brilliant light. In Arlington Heights, Illinois, police observed a cone-shaped object. A Licking County, Ohio, sheriff's deputy described a light that appeared as a circle bisected by a dark, cigar-shaped band. In Indianapolis, a glass firm worker expressed his newfound belief in UFOs after hearing tales. The issue also touches on a Colombian Avianca Airlines Boeing 707 that plunged 4,500 feet near Paris, injuring 15 people, though this is presented as a separate aviation incident.

Furthermore, a brief mention is made of the Air Force investigating reported sightings of two high-speed unidentified flying objects observed by Navy radar operators near Patuxent Naval Air Station, Maryland, on December 30, 1966. These objects approached at approximately 4,800 miles per hour and executed a tight turn before disappearing.

Finally, a theory by Norton T. Novitt, a scientific illustrator from Denver, is presented, suggesting that UFOs might be nothing more than "giant spiderwebs" formed by swarms of hovering insects or gossamer that sparkle and glow with static electricity. He shared this theory with scientists investigating flying saucers at the University of Colorado.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the psychological and social impact of UFO sightings, the official government investigation into the phenomenon (particularly the Condon Study), and the analysis of photographic evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, acknowledging the public's fascination and fear while also presenting scientific and psychological perspectives. There is a clear effort to distinguish between genuine phenomena and potential hoaxes or misidentifications, while also validating the experiences of witnesses and the importance of objective investigation.