1967 04 00 Minutes

Magazine Overview

Title: minutes
Subtitle: MAGAZINE OF NATIONWIDE INSURANCE
Issue Date: APRIL 1967
Publisher: Nationwide Insurance

This issue of "minutes" magazine, published by Nationwide Insurance in April 1967, features a cover illustration of a child with an umbrella and a lead article discussing the UFO phenomenon.

Article: UFO's? I've never seen one

Author: J. Allen Hynek, as told to Lynne Bagner

The article begins with Dr. J. Allen Hynek, an astrophysicist and scientific consultant to the Air Force on UFO phenomena since 1948, stating that despite his extensive involvement, he has never personally witnessed a UFO. He humorously notes that this might even be proof of "extra-terrestrial intelligence" for cleverly avoiding him.

Hynek expresses his commitment to continuing the study of the phenomenon, hoping to be alive when it is solved. He points out that while strange objects have been reported flying since biblical times, the "flying saucer" reports have become voluminous in the last twenty years. For a long time, he was the only scientist actively investigating the subject, urging the Air Force and the scientific community to take it seriously.

When the Air Force finally authorized research, it faced difficulties finding a university willing to undertake the task. The University of Colorado eventually agreed, forming a committee of physical and social scientists headed by Dr. Edward U. Condon. This committee was tasked with determining the physical basis of UFOs and collecting related psychological and sociological data. The public was to learn the initial results in early 1968.

Hynek laments the sensationalism surrounding UFOs, with numerous books and articles, often by journalists, presenting more fiction than science. This sensationalism creates misconceptions and misleads the public. He recounts an experience in March 1966 in Michigan where, after investigating a sighting of eerie lights, he suggested "swamp gas" as a possible natural explanation. This cautious scientific statement was widely misreported as him believing all UFOs were swamp gas, which he found amusing and collected cartoons about.

He acknowledges the understandable public fascination, given humanity's recent discoveries in nuclear energy and space travel, which have expanded the imagination to consider other civilizations. He questions why "flying saucers" couldn't come from afar, stating that while we don't know for sure, the phenomenon itself is real and requires investigation.

Hynek emphasizes the need for accurate public information and believes that solving the UFO puzzle could significantly alter our understanding of the universe, comparable to discoveries like sun spots or gravity. He criticizes the tendency for people to hold extreme, often unfounded, opinions about UFOs, which hinders objective investigation.

He notes that many scientists were initially hesitant to discuss UFOs due to the subject's perceived absurdity but expresses relief that open discussion is now possible, with many admitting secret interest.

Hynek categorizes the "true believers" who are convinced of alien contact and dismiss science, contrasting them with the skeptical majority. He hopes that with UFOs becoming a more respectable research topic, more people will adopt an objective "let's find out" approach.

He debunks thousands of sighting reports that are often explained as birds, satellites, meteors, planes, balloons, kites, hallucinations, or hoaxes, stressing the investigator's role in discerning the "true signal" from "noise." He also corrects the misconception that only "saucer buffs" report UFOs, stating that many credible reports come from stable, educated individuals, including pilots, weather observers, radar men, engineers, and scientists, who have witnessed extraordinary and unsettling phenomena they could not identify.

Hynek addresses the common image of UFOs as multicolored, saucer-shaped vehicles piloted by little green men, stating that in his experience, humanoids are usually described as normal-sized or dwarf-like, often wearing silver diving suits, though none of these reports have been confirmed.

He discusses contactee stories, mentioning Betty and Barney Hill of New Hampshire, whom he met and believes genuinely experienced a frightening encounter, but he is not prepared to confirm they met extraterrestrial beings without irrefutable evidence.

Hynek explains that while many reports are vague, cases worth investigating contain concrete details. By correlating sightings worldwide, patterns and categories of UFO activity can be established. He notes that radar and tracking equipment have picked up unidentifiable objects, though natural explanations may exist, the mysteries are not yet solved.

Regarding UFO photographs, Hynek acknowledges controversy and hoaxes but states that none he has seen have been authenticated. He clarifies a misreported statement about two boys' Polaroid pictures, explaining he said the data was inconclusive, not that it was obviously not a hoax.

He sees obtaining authentic photographs as significant progress and suggests equipping police cruisers with cameras to capture potential evidence. He also dismisses the idea that the Air Force is secretly withholding data, stating they have collected and analyzed reports, with some cases remaining unexplained.

For laymen interested in helping, Hynek advises keeping an open mind, avoiding cultist behavior, encouraging research, and learning to document sightings accurately. He concludes that bringing the UFO phenomenon into scientific research is a major step, and while a solution may not be immediate, it will be worth the wait.

If You See a UFO...

This section provides a 10-step guide for witnesses:
1. Remain calm and observant.
2. Note time, duration, place, direction, and motion pattern.
3. Compare object's size to a penny or matchhead.
4. Assess if edges are sharp or fuzzy.
5. Note light brightness and color changes.
6. Observe if the object passes in front of or behind other objects.
7. Note sky conditions and sun/moon visibility.
8. Get other witnesses and a photograph if possible.
9. Write a detailed narrative account, including size, shape, color, sound, and estimated speed/height.
10. Send reports to the nearest Air Base, Project Blue Book at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, or local police. Dr. Hynek also appreciates receiving detailed reports at Northwestern University.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine, published by Nationwide Insurance, appears to use its "minutes" publication to engage its audience with diverse topics, including social issues (like aid to refugees in Vietnam, as seen in the preceding pages) and broader cultural phenomena like UFOs. The editorial stance, particularly in the featured article, is one of encouraging scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and objective investigation into unexplained phenomena, while cautioning against sensationalism and unfounded beliefs. The publication aims to inform its readership by presenting expert opinions and practical advice.