1969 03 00 Male - John Keel - Deadly fireballs in the sky

Magazine Overview

This issue, titled "MORE MENACING THAN FLYING SAUCERS," published in March 1969 by MALE magazine, delves into the alarming correlations between unexplained aerial phenomena (UAPs), often misidentified as 'meteors' or 'fireballs,' and devastating natural disasters, particularly earthquakes. The cover boldly states that these eerie colored lights are not only flying in formation and menacing people but are also, according to some authorities, causing earthquakes, widespread power failures, and resultant deaths. The lead article by John A. Keel sets a tone of urgency and mystery.

Scientists Puzzled by Blinding Lights Just Before Devastating Earthquake

This section, written by Jim Whelan, details the events preceding the catastrophic earthquake in Tashkent, Russia, on April 26, 1966. Seconds before the quake, engineers and scientists reported seeing blinding lights and glowing objects racing across the sky. These sightings have prompted research into similar observations preceding other major earthquakes. The article notes that while the world was just beginning to hear about these events, the earthquake had already struck, killing 10 people and leaving 200,000 homeless. The strange lights were described by eyewitnesses as 'glowing spheres, floating through the air like lighted balloons.'

Deadly Fireballs in the Sky

This major article, likely by the magazine's editor John A. Keel, explores the phenomenon of 'deadly fireballs' in the sky, which are presented as more numerous and potentially more significant than traditional 'flying saucer' reports. It begins with the incident on December 9, 1965, when sirens wailed and military units converged on a forested area near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, searching for an unidentified flying object. This object, described as a brilliant orange sphere, was tracked across several states, executed a 25-degree turn over Ohio, and then plummeted into the woods. Biologist Ivan Sanderson estimated its speed at 1,425 m.p.h. and its altitude at less than fifty miles. Astronomers, like Dr. Paul Annear, dismissed it as a 'meteor,' but the article argues that its behavior, including changing direction, contradicts this explanation, as meteors typically travel at much higher speeds (minimum 27,000 m.p.h.) and burn up quickly.

The article then expands to discuss numerous similar sightings, particularly focusing on the apparent correlation between these 'meteors' and natural disasters. It cites cases in England (February 11, 1957, earthquake with 'tadpole-like objects'), Algeria (September 1954 quakes with numerous UFO reports), and California (San Andreas fault since 1896 with spectacular sightings).

Another significant event discussed is the 'meteor' over the Gulf of Mexico on March 27, 1968. The crew of the tanker Alfa Mex II and a Mexican warship reported seeing 'two or three objects in the center of a bright ball of fire.' The waters churned after the object passed, suggesting a direct gravitational pull. Residents in Veracruz, Mexico, were awakened by a deafening rumble and an unearthly light. Mr. Ernesto Dominguez, head of the Mexican Department of Meteorology, investigated and concluded it was likely not a meteorite, noting its curved trajectory and sudden veering away from Earth before a potential collision.

The author emphasizes that these 'peculiar "meteors" and green fireballs' have been increasing for fifteen years. They are often described as having a long tail, but their maneuvers are what truly set them apart from natural phenomena. The article notes that these reports outnumber 'flying saucer' reports by almost ten to one.

Patterns and Characteristics of UAPs

The article meticulously details observed patterns in these UAP sightings. They tend to appear in isolated, thinly populated areas and do not change direction or angle of descent like natural meteors. The author highlights three key characteristics indicating intelligent control:

1. Timing: They appear most frequently during the middle of the week, specifically Wednesdays and Thursdays.
2. Location Consistency: They appear consistently in the same areas year after year.
3. Controlled Courses: They follow apparently planned courses, moving horizontally and often changing direction mid-flight.

The article dismisses the scientific community's automatic explanation of 'meteors' due to the objects' behavior, such as glowing, trailing long tails, and moving slowly. It also refutes the 'swamp gas' explanation for lights.

Specific Case Studies and Geographic Patterns

The article traces the path of a 'giant reddish object' tracked by Air Force radar on April 18, 1962, which appeared to move from Canada southwestward over New York state. This was followed by earth tremors in southwestern Nevada, where an unidentified circular machine reportedly landed near a power station, causing a thirty-minute power outage.

Professor C.A. Chant's study of a 'train' of fiery red objects over Canada on February 9, 1913, is cited. These objects moved slowly in a straight horizontal line, appearing in formations and sailing out of the northwest. The article notes that 1913 was a year of significant UFO 'flaps.'

It also mentions 'mystery airplanes' and 'ghost lights' plaguing New England in late December 1909, outperforming any known aircraft of the period.

The article points out that the 'flying saucer' phenomenon did not begin in 1947, citing reports from the late 19th century. It highlights the 'Lubbock Lights' in Texas, photographed by Carl Hart on August 25, 1951, which were described as glowing somethings flying in perfect 'V' formations. The Air Force's explanation of reflections on birds' bellies is questioned.

The author discusses the difficulty in distinguishing UFOs from satellites, noting that only two man-made satellites are visible to the naked eye and are very dim. Large, brilliant white 'stars' moving across the sky are not satellites.

Recent explanations offered by 'explainers' include 'decaying rockets,' but the article argues that these also have short lifespans and burn out quickly. The sightings on March 3-4, 1968, across twenty states were explained as the re-entry of the Soviet Zond 4 booster rocket, but the author implies skepticism.

The article emphasizes the consistent pattern of objects appearing from the north and following controlled courses southward. It notes that many objects seem to enter the U.S. from Canada, north of Michigan, a pattern traceable back to 1897. The Michigan UFO reports, particularly the widely publicized March 1966 flap, began around Ann Arbor, an area that has historically reported such sightings.

The statistical pattern of sightings occurring on Wednesdays and Thursdays is highlighted as unnatural. The article posits that these 'hard facts' indicate intelligently controlled objects.

The Nebraska 'Flap' and a Global Pattern

The article details a significant 'flap' of UFO sightings in Nebraska during July-August 1966. On July 5, 1966, a large octagon-shaped object with colored lights was seen near Norfolk, Nebraska. On July 9th and 10th, sightings occurred in North and South Dakota, followed by Iowa on July 11th. The South Dakota sightings were near the Nebraska border.

On Wednesday, July 13, 1966, a blazing object was seen over York, Nebraska, and later by thousands in Muny Park, Cozad, Nebraska, described as a bright object with multi-colored 'stars' trailing it, appearing from the northwest and heading southeast. However, reports from Kansas indicated the object traveled northwest to northeast, skirting the Nebraska-Kansas border.

A heavy concentration of reports came from central Nebraska communities like Scotia, Ord, Burwell, Comstock, Arcadia, and North Loup, all describing the object as moving from southwest to southeast. Omaha also reported sightings moving southwest to southeast.

The author draws a larger picture: the 'meteor' came from the northwest (perhaps Wyoming), executed a slight turn south of Cozad, moved along the Nebraska-Kansas border toward Missouri-Iowa, and then turned north towards Illinois.

Illinois and Michigan Sightings

The sheriff of Warren County, Illinois, observed a fiery orange ball arcing northeast. A woman reported a green light with a red ring around it, trailing a red trail, which appeared to dive towards the ground in the northeast. Eight other persons reported similar sightings.

In Willis, Michigan, Jack Westbrook and Carles Frye saw a silver disc with one red and one white light, estimated to be no more than 1,000 feet high. The object moved swiftly, stopped, reversed, circled, moved up and down, and then shot out of sight after about seven minutes. The Ypsilanti Press noted that the area was not swampy, ruling out reflections as an explanation.

The article questions whether these sightings were independent or part of a larger phenomenon. It suggests that UFOs or a group of UFOs might have passed from Wyoming, crossed Nebraska, and then turned northwards into Illinois and Michigan.

The Meteorite Recovery Project and the 'Meteor' Explanation

Mr. Charles Tougas of the Meteorite Recovery Project in Lincoln, Nebraska, stated that special cameras had recorded the event and estimated the 'meteor' had appeared near McCook, Nebraska, and plummeted to earth near Phillipsburg, Kansas. However, a search yielded no results. The article argues that if the object had such a brief lifespan and short distance traveled, it's unlikely it would have been seen so clearly in Omaha, hundreds of miles eastward, and then turned up in Illinois.

The 'meteor' explanation is deemed insufficient due to too many 'ifs' and unnatural coincidences. Descriptions were uniform: a basketball-sized object with a brilliant band of orange light encircling it, changing colors from blue to green, trailing a long tail. Some reports mentioned a green or blue-green light with a red band.

Only two groups of witnesses reported hearing sounds: people near Arcadia heard 'a flashing red light' and 'more than one explosion,' and George Gremer of Ord reported the same. This is compared to the 1913 Canadian 'meteor chain' which produced a heavy rumbling sound, indicating atmospheric displacement.

A Global Pattern and Potential Origin

A week prior to the Nebraska 'flap,' a 'green object with a long white tail' appeared over Muskegon, Michigan. On July 11th, a round blue object with a long tail was observed over Lake Erie, facing Michigan, described as a 'round ball of bright blue light with an outer rim of pale gold.'

When a great circle was drawn on a map connecting Nebraska, Illinois, and Michigan, the other end of the curve cut across northeastern Wyoming. A review of reports revealed a UFO 'flap' in Wyoming a few days before the Nebraska event, with extensive UFO activity also reported near Glacier National Park in Montana.

This pattern suggests a perfect circle starting in northwestern Montana, looping through the central states, and curving up through Illinois and Michigan, then back into Canada. The article suggests that the uppermost part of this circle would rest in the densely forested regions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, which had long UFO 'flaps' in 1967-68.

The author concludes that at least some of these 'flying saucers' and 'meteors' are coming from northern Canada, emanating from isolated areas and moving along geometric courses. By collecting sightings, it may be possible to predict where they will appear next.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the mysterious and potentially dangerous nature of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), their uncanny correlation with natural disasters like earthquakes, and the inadequacy of conventional scientific explanations. The editorial stance is critical of the scientific community's dismissive attitude and advocates for a more open-minded investigation into these phenomena. The article suggests that these objects are intelligently controlled and may pose a significant threat, hence the title "More Menacing Than Flying Saucers." The author urges a shift in focus from arguing about the origin (Mars, Venus, etc.) to exploring potential sources, such as northern Canada, and understanding the patterns of their appearances. The article implies that these phenomena have been occurring for a long time, fooling observers with simple explanations.