Data Net - No 53 - 1971

Magazine Overview

DATA-NET, the publication of The UFO Amateur Radio Network, presents its November 1971 issue, Volume V, Number 11. The magazine is published monthly by Editor-Publisher Mrs. Josephine J. Clark and is dedicated to the study of UFO phenomena. Membership is open to amateur radio operators and others interested in UFOs, with annual fees of $5.00 domestic and $6.00 foreign. The network's policy is that sufficient evidence exists to prove that unidentified flying objects are real, and it seeks to answer what they are, where they come from, and why they are here.

Announcements and Services

The issue includes several announcements and services for members. A reward of $25.00 is offered for an authentic photograph of a flying saucer, with the condition that the photo must be clear and show items of value. A 'Shop & Swap' service is available for members to list items wanted, for sale, or for trade free of charge. DATA-NET also maintains a Research Library with UFO books available to members for free. A Technical Research Service is offered for any technical questions members may have. Additionally, 'The Saucer Seeker' magnetic UFO detector, including its history, plans, and parts list, is available from DATA-NET for free, with permanent magnets costing $2.00.

The magazine encourages members to submit UFO-related information, including newspaper clippings, magazine articles, books, and sighting reports, and assures confidential requests. The DATA-NET communication schedule is also provided: Wednesday at 7:00 PM PST (Thursday at 0300 GMT) on 7.268 LSB, with WAOZRG in St. Louis active on 10 meters (29.00 daily) and KP4CH in Puerto Rico on 21.342 Khz.

Research in Progress: Sociology of the Iberian Landings

This section features an article by Jacques Vallee and Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos, presenting a deeper study of the sociological patterns associated with UFO landings in Spain and Portugal. Following a catalogue of one hundred Type-I observations, the article addresses questions about witness demographics, including age distribution, whether witnesses are known by name, the number of witnesses per sighting, their activities at the time of observation, and their intellectual level. Table 1 shows the distribution of witnesses, with 43 cases involving a single witness and 22 cases with two witnesses. Approximately 562 persons are accounted for, with 89 known by name. Figure 1 illustrates the age distribution for 32 witnesses, showing a concentration in younger age groups. The intellectual level is estimated based on occupation and status, with categories ranging from 'illiterate' to 'university faculty,' as depicted in Figure 2. The article notes that reporting a landing is not typical of any particular age group, though there's a paucity of reports from adults aged 30-50. The analysis of witness activities reveals that nearly two-thirds of witnesses were driving at the time of the sighting, and most cases occurred between 8 and 11 p.m. Table 2 details occupations at the time of landing, with 'driving' being the most common. The study also examines groups of witnesses in multiple-witness cases, analyzing relationships among them (Tables 3 and 4). The findings suggest that witnesses were often with close relatives or work colleagues, which, while not invalidating psychological explanations, places bounds on such theories. A key finding is that more sophisticated witnesses are less likely to report UFO events, leading to a bias towards manual professions in reports. Women are also less likely to report than men, and adults aged 30-50 are underrepresented.

Summary of Findings (Iberian Landings)

The article concludes that the witnesses represent a cross-section of the Iberian rural population with a typical mix of intellectual levels and age groups. They were usually engaged in their normal activities, such as driving, when their attention was drawn to an unexpected object. In multiple-witness cases, the relationships among people (close relatives, unrelated people, work colleagues) do not indicate preferred configurations that would support delusion or suggestion phenomena. The authors posit that an adequate explanation for these phenomena should be sought in physical terms, as statistical analysis does not support psychological or sociological motivations.

A Preliminary View of the 1971 Australian Wave

Josephine Clark presents a preliminary review of UFO cases from the Australian area during the first part of 1971, noting a considerable increase in reports. A tabulation of the first six months shows 57 reports from the United States (18 Type-I landing cases) and 74 from Australia and New Zealand (15 landing cases). Both regions reported an equal number of occupant and trace reports. Unlike previous studies that indicated peaks in the latter half of the year (August-October), the 1971 Australian wave shows a peak in April. The article references other studies, including reports on landings in Spain (August 1968 peak), US landing reports (August peak), US landing traces (September peak), and a four-year US UFO report period (October peak). It also mentions a study of UFO activity in the Southern Hemisphere showing a New Guinea peak in June/July 1959. The author suggests that the April peak in Australia might be an indication of what is to come later in the year.

Sighting Report Distribution Map and Index (June 1971)

The issue includes a map showing the distribution of UFO sighting reports across the United States, England, Australia, and New Zealand for June 1971. The United States had 7 reports, England 2, Australia 6, and New Zealand 4, totaling 19. A Sighting Report Index for June 1971 lists specific cases with dates, locations, times, witness codes, and witness names where available. Coding categories include Type-I (Landings and Near Landings), Unusual or Erratic Flight Pattern, Stationary or Hovering, Continuous Flight, and Indefinite Objects. Additional classifications denote multiple objects, physical appearance alterations, borderline objects, and effects such as optical aids or mechanical/electrical impacts. Cases include reports from Caterham (England), Mildura (Australia), Merino Downs (New Zealand), Belmore (Australia), Morgan's Point (Texas), and Dunedin (New Zealand).

Clipping the News

This section compiles various UFO reports from different sources and time periods:

• July 1946, Viskinge, Denmark: Hans Sorensen reported seeing three UFOs described as polished mirrors, flying vertically overhead.
• December 1951, Red Springs, North Carolina: An object shaped like two saucers hovered near the ground before ascending rapidly.
• August 1952, Lumberton, North Carolina: A flying saucer reportedly collided with a chimney, and a small, 30-inch man emerged.
• February 5, 1971, Recife and Olinda, Brazil: A luminous spherical object performed complex maneuvers at high speed, evading an FAB plane.
• April 6, 1971, Northern Lausanne, Switzerland: Three mysterious white objects were observed flying at high altitude with no noise or lights.
• April 15, 1971, Sentein, France: A yellowish, fist-sized, triangular luminous point was seen, appearing immobile but moving feebly.
• May 1971, Hudson's Beach, New Zealand: An elderly woman reported seeing three figures shrouded in grey mist on the sand, near a bright red hovering light.
• May 19, 1971, Mangere, New Zealand: Mr. R. Gray described a bright, longish object reflecting sunlight.
• January 1965, Eketabuna, New Zealand: A ring of bare earth appeared on a farm, reappearing after rain for several years before disappearing.
• May 13, 1971, St.-Aubin, Switzerland: A ball of fire was seen crossing the sky, followed by a trail of smoke.
• May 13, 1971, Diebling, France: Mr. Fernand Port reported seeing a reddish pall.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of DATA-NET are the systematic collection and analysis of UFO sighting data, the sociological aspects of witness testimony, and the reporting of specific UFO events from around the world. The editorial stance, as stated in the policy section, is that UFOs are real and that the organization seeks to understand their nature and origin. The magazine emphasizes a data-driven approach, presenting statistical analyses and detailed reports of sightings. There is a clear inclination towards seeking physical explanations for the phenomena, as evidenced by the conclusion of the Iberian landings study, which dismisses purely psychological or sociological motivations. The network also actively engages its membership through various services and by encouraging the submission of information.

This issue of UFO Report magazine, dated July 1971, is a compilation of numerous UFO sightings and related phenomena reported from various locations across the globe, with a significant focus on reports from the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. The magazine presents a collection of eyewitness accounts, often accompanied by details from local newspapers or UFO investigation groups.

Key Articles and Reports

The magazine is structured as a chronological listing of reported incidents, often categorized by location and date. Each entry typically includes the date, location, a brief description of the sighting, and the source of the report.

**Early Reports (May 1971):

• Le Havre, France (May 1971): Mr. Port reported seeing a reddish ball of fire with condensation and smoke, distinguishing traces of condensation and a whitish smoke. With field glasses, he noted the reddish ball reappeared every 10 minutes. Mrs. Port corroborated his observations.
• Norwood, Tasmania (May 29, 1971): An anonymous man reported seeing three lights—red, white, and blue—settle among trees in a paddock. The lights then took off in a flash of color. Investigators from the Tasmanian UFO Bureau found a flattened area of under-growth and dense bracken and blackberry bushes, approximately 10 feet in diameter, but without a specific shape.
• Glenview, New Zealand (May 31, 1971): Schoolgirl Lynette Fye was distracted by a bright object moving through the sky, described as 'about the size of a 10 cent piece.' It moved steadily towards Melville. She noted it was not a street light as it passed just above some lights.

Greene County, Tennessee UFO Sightings:

A section dedicated to Greene County, Tennessee, highlights the work of local UFO researcher George Fawcett. Several sightings are detailed:

• Greeneville, Tenn. (Oct 1970): Gary Graham managed to capture a cigar-shaped UFO on film, silhouetted against the moon. He was using a telescope and camera for astronomical photography when he took three consecutive exposures, one of which clearly showed the object with a rounded front, tapered back, and trailing exhaust.
• Mosheim, Tenn. (Jun 1970): Student Karen Sapp reported a silver, cigar-shaped UFO with a dome on top that descended above the Franklin Furniture Co. and hovered for about 12 seconds. She estimated its size to be at least 12 feet across.
• Greeneville, Tenn. (Mar 1970): Pajan Cox and Charnell Garant reported a 'reddish-orange UFO' with a color halo, which was round in shape and watched for about three minutes.
• Mosheim, Tenn. (Feb 1970): Mrs. Patricia Long and her daughter saw a UFO resembling two inverted saucers put together, with the center rim spinning.
• Greeneville, Tenn. (Oct 1969): Don Craft observed a red, round object that moved and hovered. He then saw a white object drop from the larger one before both moved out of sight near the Old Tusculum Airport.
• Greeneville, Tenn. (Jul 1964): Kathie M. Riney and her parents watched a round, lighted UFO hovering above a barn. The object took off straight up and vanished. 'Threads of "angel hair"-like substance' were found covering small trees and bushes, which disappeared when touched. A light pole was down, and the power was off during the sighting.

**Australian Reports (RAAF Investigations):

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has investigated approximately 70 UFO sightings in Australia over two years, releasing a report that labels some as 'unusual aerial sightings' and offers 'possible causes' for most, though some remain unexplained. Reports from Australia include:

• Coonabarabran, NSW (Nov 1, 1970): A dense white horseshoe-shaped object was seen moving rapidly along the horizon.
• Condobolin, NSW (Apr 3, 9, 12, 1971): Multiple people reported a very bright object showing flashes of blue, green, yellow, and white, seen late at night and appearing to follow an erratic course.
• Richmond, Old. (May 14, 1971): An extremely bright white-green-red object was observed for 34 minutes.
• Near Townsville, Qld. (May 23, 1971): An aircraft captain reported a searchlight beam of great intensity 200 miles south of Townsville.
• Mildura, Vict. (Jun 3, 1971): A man saw two small red lights, which resolved into an object as large as a semi-trailer that rose vertically with a loud whistling noise and disappeared.
• Canberra, NSW (Jun 12 - Jul 7, 1971): Over a dozen separate sightings were made, including six people seeing two cigar-shaped objects and up to 20 smaller objects in a V formation near Black Mountain.
• Canberra, NSW (Jun 30, 1971): At least 11 people reported seeing one or more cigar-shaped objects performing odd maneuvers in broad daylight.
• Canberra, NSW (Jul 7, 1971): Mrs. V. Klein reported seeing a gray cylinder performing maneuvers, detected by a UFO detector that recorded magnetic waves. The object was described as bullet-shaped and followed a square path.
• Caterham, England (Jun 3, 1971): Mr. and Mrs. Desmond Walsh saw a light glowing 'pinky-red' moving across nearby fields, described as a cerise light, not a plane, traveling diagonally.

Further International and US Reports:

• Merino Downs, New Zealand (Jun 9, 1971): A greenish-blue object with a long red tail was sighted, described by one witness as possibly a meteor or satellite burning up.
• Morgan's Point, Texas (Jun 9, 1971): Jack K. Churchill reported seeing two UFOs, one an oblong object glowing brilliantly pink, and later a 'brilliant orange ball.'
• Dunedin, New Zealand (Jun 9, 1971): A resident saw a large circular object, glowing greenish with a long tail of red and green star-shaped particles, moving northeast.
• Dunedin, New Zealand (Jun 12, 1971): Several sightings of a 'bright orange light, with another white light above,' the size of a football, were reported.
• Larned, Kansas (Jun 13, 1971): A motorist reported a double cone-shaped object with flashing red and green lights, hovering at an angle with an antenna. The car's engine ran rough during the sighting.
• Gorae West, Vict., Australia (Jun 17, 1971): Mrs. M.M. Smith and her sons watched a mystery object for over an hour. It was described as saucer-shaped with a knob-like dome, flashing red and green lights, and criss-crossed lines.
• Burketown, Qld., Australia (Jun 18, 1971): A Civil Aviation officer and a postmaster reported a 'silver streak with no vapor trail' and a red glow, described as more mysterious than a jet.
• Arthurs Pass, New Zealand (Jun 18, 1971): Four students saw a flying saucer, estimated at 20 ft. in circumference, behaving like a 'great horizontal yoyo' with colored lights moving erratically.
• Rumson & East Keansburg, New Jersey (Jun 26, 1971): A follow-up report on an object seen by many over the Bayshore, noting it could not have been a lighted advertising plane due to its slow speed.
• Topsham, Maine (Jun 28, 1971): Four people reported a bright light that floated leisurely, then went off at great speed. It had no sound and no flashing lights.
• Cheshire, England (Jun 28, 1971): Two brothers spotted a lone UFO hovering near the Jodrell Bank radio telescope.
• Long Island, New York (Aug 7, 1971): Sal D'Angelo reported a strange object flying low with a rotating rim, flashing red and white lights. Other residents also reported similar sightings.
• Brooklyn, New York (Aug 8, 1971): William Honey reported seeing an object with a green light on top, red on the bottom, and strings of white lights.
• South Perth, NSW, Australia (Aug 7, 1971): Mrs. Helen Dalziel saw a bright, pulsating object resembling a seven-point star on a Christmas tree, described as pale yellow and pulsating slowly.
• Springfield, Ore. (Aug 8, 1971): The Lane County Sheriff's Office received calls about a UFO resembling a comet without a tail, with reddish-orange sparks. Some callers described it as a burning aircraft.
• Sydney, NSW, Australia (Aug 8, 1971): Two people reported a huge, glowing disc-like object, with particles of light shooting off, and another described a 'circular sort of thing' with lights around the side and two in front.
• Elaine, Vict., Australia (Aug 8, 1971): Two unidentified objects were reported, described as 'two short, vertical shapes, somewhat like a vapor trail from a jet.'
• Santa Ana, Calif. (Aug 13, 1971): Cindy and Gary Croft reported a bright, saucer-shaped light surrounded by hundreds of other lights, rotating slowly.
• San Francisco, Calif. (Oct 22, 1971): Two mysterious booms, like giant thunderclaps, shook the Bay Area. Speculation ranged from sonic booms to a meteorite strike. The Air Force stated no aircraft were involved.

UFO Comments and Opinions:

• Washington, D.C. (May 29, 1971): Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe, former director of NICAP, expressed hope to serve NICAP in a capacity free from directorship pressures. Representatives from NICAP and APRO conferred on cooperation in research efforts. Both groups acknowledged excesses in representation and interpretation of UFO events over the past 23 years.
• Sydney, NSW, Australia (Jul 1971): The Unidentified Flying Object Investigation Centre (UFOIC) suggested that 1971 could be the year of the flying saucer, citing a worldwide pattern and increased activity, potentially linked to the upcoming Mars conjunction.
• Cambridge, Mass. (Oct 1971): Radar passes over Mars revealed two previously unknown landmarks: a 2½ mile deep gorge and a mile-deep crater.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the sheer volume and diversity of UFO sightings reported globally, the consistency of certain descriptions (e.g., cigar-shaped objects, bright lights), and the ongoing efforts by both private researchers and, in some cases, official bodies to investigate these phenomena. The magazine's stance appears to be one of documenting these reports without definitive conclusions, presenting eyewitness accounts and official statements as they are received. The inclusion of reports from various countries underscores the global nature of the UFO phenomenon as perceived by the publication. The mention of the Mars conjunction suggests an editorial interest in potential astronomical or astrological influences on UFO activity.