1970 03 00 Male - John Keel - American town is UFO target number 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of SAUCERS, SPACE and SCIENCE Magazine, dated May 1969, focuses on the phenomenon of UFOs targeting a specific American town, though the detailed reports primarily concern Canada. The cover headline boldly proclaims 'EXCLUSIVE! THIS AMERICAN TOWN IS UFO TARGET No.1', with a subtitle 'Startling Findings By This Continent's'. The magazine delves into numerous sightings, landings, and unexplained events occurring in various regions of Canada, with a particular emphasis on the Pembroke, Ontario area.

Startling Findings By This Continent's

The lead article details an incident on the night of May 4th, 1969, involving farmer Leo Paul Chaput and his family on Allumettes Island, located on the Ottawa River. At 2 a.m., four blinding lights descended, revealing four luminous objects estimated to be about 30 feet in diameter and 16 feet high. These objects hovered eerily for five to six minutes, emitting an intense glare that forced the witnesses to shield their eyes. As they departed, Mr. Chaput reported hearing a faint noise, likened to a boat motor. The following morning, a scorched circle was found in a field about 400 feet from the house, with two small trees inside singed and smouldering. The circle was approximately 27 feet in diameter with a two-foot wide ring.

In the weeks following this event, the Chaput farm was visited multiple times by objects emitting bright orange lights at an estimated altitude of 500 feet.

UFO Target: The Canadian Landscape

Further incidents are reported across Ontario and Quebec. On June 2, 1969, another scorched circle, this time about 30 feet in diameter with a two-foot wide ring, was discovered on the side of a hill on the John McLaren farm near Meath, Ontario. This circle was clearly visible from the farmhouse window. Mrs. McLaren confirmed it was not present the previous day, suggesting it occurred overnight.

The article discusses the historical context of these 'fairy circles,' noting that they have been found on every continent and are often associated with UFO landing sites. Vegetation in these circles is said to be slow to regrow, and grazing animals avoid them.

Pembroke, Ontario, a town of about 17,000, is identified as a focal point for UFO activity. The area is situated opposite Allumettes Island and near the Deep River nuclear research laboratory and Chalk River nuclear power plant. Ufologists have long observed a correlation between UFO activity and proximity to nuclear installations, a pattern publicly acknowledged by the U.S. Air Force in the early 1950s, as noted by Captain Edward Ruppelt in his book 'Report on Unidentified Flying Objects'.

Specific Incidents in Ontario and Quebec

Investigator Henry McKay reported unusual aerial objects maneuvering over strategic sites near Deep River and Chalk River in early 1969. Residents of Petawawa, between Pembroke and Chalk River, have also reported numerous sightings.

On July 13, 1969, Edgar Paquette and a companion reported being illuminated by a bright light while driving near Pembroke. They saw a bright light following them, which Paquette described as being 'aimed right at us.' The object, estimated to be about eight feet in diameter with two legs, descended to within sixty feet of the car. Paquette panicked and drove to the nearest house, where police were called. Two constables and three military policemen responded. Constable Jack McKay described the object as 'really bright' and noted its oval shape. The object was pursued for 38 minutes. Paquette's son and daughter also reported seeing the object hover near their home.

Constable F. D. Instant had previously observed a similar UFO near the same location. The article notes that hundreds of documented incidents involve 'flying saucers' pursuing motorists and hovering outside their homes.

On September 3, 1969, UFOs returned to Allumettes Island, with an object hovering outside the bedroom window of an 18-year-old waitress named Pauline Ouellette. She described the object as oval-shaped, about four to five feet long and two to three feet deep, with a small antenna, and emitting a yellow-orange light. It hovered about 20 feet off the ground, and a smaller object seemed to emerge from it.

Other Canadian UFO Hot Spots

Other UFO 'hot spots' in Ontario include Hamilton, London, and Barrie. Sightings in Barrie date back to the early 1950s, including 'flying question marks' and saucer-shaped objects. In July 1968, Constable Walter Jewel reported seeing a hovering egg-shaped object near Barrie, which changed from bluish-green to bright red before disappearing.

In London, Ontario, a boy was allegedly burned in 1966 after touching a UFO. The article mentions that authorities later attributed UFO sightings in London to lights reflecting from geese.

Mysterious Craters and Electromagnetic Effects

The magazine discusses the 'mysterious crater' phenomenon, linking Canadian events to those in the United States. On September 27, 1968, a blast shook Arnprior, Ontario, and two days later, an eight-and-a-half-foot diameter, four-and-a-half-foot deep crater was found on the property of Stanley Reid. Explosives experts were baffled. A similar blast and crater were reported two weeks later in Poplar Ridge, New York, which is 183 miles south of Arnprior.

Inexplicable explosions and waves of unbearable heat are described as side effects of UFO phenomena. In September 1968, a family in Melfort, Saskatoon, experienced a high-pitched sound and rising temperatures, with a neighbor reporting a luminous object hovering nearby.

Electromagnetic effects, such as paralysis of electrical circuits, causing power systems to fail, automobiles to stall, and static on radios, are also frequently reported. Ben Briggs of Hudson Bay, Saskatoon, reported his car headlights dimming and going out while watching a large orange object.

Montreal and Quebec Incidents

Montreal, Quebec, is also identified as an area with numerous UFO reports, including landings and creature sightings. In August 1968, over 60 objects were reported by 250 persons in municipalities southeast of Montreal, with sightings lasting from five minutes to three hours. Near Asbestos, 15 white UFOs were seen by 20 persons and two police agents, described as moving under intelligent control.

In Drummondville, eight witnesses testified to seeing a UFO occupant who walked stiffly like a robot.

UFO Activities and Research

The magazine notes that 'flying saucer' activities persisted along the 'UFO belt' between Pembroke and Montreal throughout 1969. Canada's National Research Council continued to collect reports. Quantities of 'angel hair,' a white cellulose substance, were spewed from UFOs. In November 1968, a chunk of almost pure zinc, possibly laced with crystals of pure glass, fell from the sky into Wesley Reid's driveway in Cannifton, Ontario.

A sudden power failure in Montreal and a large part of Quebec on November 8, 1969, is mentioned. The cause was not immediately known, and the outage lasted for about an hour and forty minutes. This event occurred nearly four years after the massive northeastern power blackout of November 9, 1965.

Two Top Flying Saucer Experts

The issue features an article by JOHN A. KEEL and GENE DUPLANTIER, Editor of SAUCERS, SPACE and SCIENCE Magazine, titled 'Two Top Flying Saucer Experts'. This section highlights the ongoing nature of UFO reports in North America and the focus on specific towns like Pembroke. It mentions journalist John Magor's magazine, 'Canadian UFO Report', and the work of the Canadian Aerial Research Organization (CAPRO) headed by Brian Cannon, as well as Gene Duplantier's own magazine and radio programs dedicated to UFO reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent and widespread nature of UFO sightings and related phenomena across Canada. The magazine emphasizes the unusual concentration of these events in specific locations, particularly near nuclear installations, and the physical evidence left behind, such as scorched circles and craters. There is a clear stance that these events are not isolated incidents but part of a larger, unexplained pattern. The editorial tone suggests a serious investigation into these phenomena, presenting witness testimonies and expert opinions to support the reality of UFO activity. The publication aims to inform its readers about these 'startling findings' and the ongoing efforts to understand them, aligning itself with other UFO research organizations and publications.