MUFON Massachusetts - Newsletter - 40 - 1987 03

Magazine Overview

This is the March 1987 issue of the MUFON Newsletter, identified as Issue #40. The newsletter is published by the Mutual UFO Network, Inc. and edited by James Melesciuc, State Director. It covers a range of UFO-related topics, including organizational activities, official reports, witness accounts, historical cases, and astronomical phenomena.

Library Displays and MUFON Journal Campaign

The Reading Public Library hosted a successful UFO display, leading to new members and inquiries. The display will move to the Medford Public Library in April, managed by MUFON secretary Joanne Bruno. Bruno is also contacting over 100 libraries in Massachusetts about subscribing to the MUFON Journal. A letter drafted by Richard Hall, Director of Publications, will be sent to these libraries.

FAA Press Conference

The FAA held a press conference on March 5, 1987, concerning the JAL sighting of November 17, 1986. While Mass. MUFON awaits documentation, the FAA has compiled a package with illustrations, audio, and maps, available for purchase. Tom Brokaw (NBC) and Paul Harvey (Voice of America) reported on this conference.

Fireball Sighting

Numerous calls reported a bright light flashing across the New England sky on February 26, 1987, at 8:38 p.m. Witnesses included tower personnel, pilots, and the general public. The object was described as greenish-blue, traveling north to south, with a long tail, lasting about 10 seconds. Jules Vallaincourt and Ray Fowler assisted in identifying it as a meteor. The article explains that bright meteors, or 'fireballs,' are often mistaken for UFOs.

Radio-TV Log

Whitley Streiber was a guest on the Phil Donahue Show on February 24, 1987, promoting his book "Communion." He was also a guest on WRKO-radio on March 1, 1987.

UFO Cards Available

Emergency cash cards, mentioned in the previous newsletter, were available until the end of April. One dollar from each card sale was donated to the MUFON 1987 Symposium Fund. These cards were available from Marge Christensen at DMC Practical Products.

New Books and a New Campaign for "Clear Intent"

"The Intruders" by Budd Hopkins, published by Random House, was due out in April, dealing with abduction experiences across generations. A second book by Barry Greerwood and Larry Fawcett, based on government documents released under the Freedom of Information Act, was in the planning stages. "Clear Intent," a book on U.S. government involvement in the UFO subject, originally released in 1984, was being re-released by Simon and Schuster with a new cover and campaign.

Award for Outstanding UFO Work

As of the newsletter's publication, only two nominations had been received for the 1987 award for outstanding work in the UFO field. Nominations were to be sent to Mass. MUFON.

International Symposium on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: 1947-1987

An international symposium titled "Forty Years Is Long Enough!" was scheduled for June 26-28, 1987, at The American University in Washington, D.C. Details on admission, housing, and nearby motels were provided.

Case Reports

Two case reports are detailed:

• Manchester, CT (January 16, 1987): A witness reported a dark blue, rounder-than-airplane object with no noise, observed for 2 minutes.
• Harwood, MD (February 18, 1987): Two definite witnesses (possibly more) observed 15 circular blue objects for 3 hours.

Research Needed on Foo Fighter Phenomena

Barry Greenwood is seeking data on "Foo Fighter" phenomena from 1939-1945, also known as Foo balls or Kraut fireballs, observed during World War II and sporadically in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He is also collecting reports of UFO sightings in Vietnam from 1961-1973.

Mystery Deepens as Supernova Dims

Astronomers are puzzled by the closest supernova to Earth in centuries dimming after reaching a maximum brightness. The identified star, Sanduleak-69 202, appears to be intact, suggesting a different, previously unseen star exploded.

Missing Naval Flight #19 Recovered???

This section discusses the disappearance of five Navy Grumman TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bombers (Flight 19) on December 5, 1945, during a training flight from Fort Lauderdale. The flight commander reported being lost, and later, compasses malfunctioned. Contact was lost, and neither Flight 19 nor a subsequent rescue plane, the Martin Mariner, were ever seen again. The article notes this case is often cited in relation to the Bermuda Triangle and was featured in "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind."

Old Plane Found

A photo shows a diver with the wing of a Grumman Avenger airplane being lifted from the sea near Key West, Florida, suggesting it may be one of the Flight 19 aircraft.

Surfaced Document - Possible Socorro Connection?

An unclassified document detailing Project SIGMA (established 1954, mission to communicate with Aliens) and Project Snowbird (1972, test fly Alien craft) and Project Pounce (1968, evaluate UFO information) has surfaced. It mentions a USAF Intelligence Officer meeting two Aliens in New Mexico on April 25, 1964. The article also details the Lonne Zamora sighting in Socorro, NM, on April 24, 1964, involving an elliptical object and humanoid figures. Zamora's experience is considered one of the best-substantiated reports, with no explanation found by the Air Force. The document suggests Zamora's encounter might have unintentionally interfered with the USAF's scheduled meeting.

FAA Uncertain About UFO Sighting

An investigation by the FAA into a November 17 sighting by Japanese flyers near their plane concluded that while they could not support the report, there was no evidence to contradict it. The report included radar tapes and pilot transcripts. The FAA spokesman, Paul Stucke, stated they accepted the crew's description but could not support what they saw. An unexplained radar image was attributed to a split image of the Japan Air Lines cargo plane. Pilot Kenju Terauchi described seeing two belts of lights and later a "gigantic spaceship." Copilot Takanori Tamefuja and engineer Woshio Tsukupa also reported seeing lights. The FAA also released a report of a UFO sighting on January 29 picked up on radar by an Alaska Airlines plane over McGrath, but could not confirm it due to lack of ground radar.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently reports on UFO sightings, official investigations (like the FAA's), and historical cases. There's a strong emphasis on documentation and witness testimony, as seen in the detailed case reports and research requests. The publication also promotes MUFON's activities, such as library displays and symposiums, and reviews relevant books. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, encouraging public participation in reporting and research, while also acknowledging the limitations of official investigations and the need for further study. The inclusion of astronomical events like supernovae suggests a broader interest in unexplained phenomena.

This document is a promotional flyer or order form for a product called the "CASH CASH-CARD." It is not a magazine issue in the traditional sense but rather a direct-mail piece or insert.

The CASH Cash-Card Product

The CASH Cash-Card is presented as a security product designed to provide users with emergency cash. Its primary purpose is to ensure individuals can afford essential transportation (like a cab or bus) or make a phone call to get home in an emergency. The card is intended to be kept in a wallet for easy access.

Features and Retrieval

The card features a special laminating process that makes the cash retrievable. To access the cash, users are instructed to pry the card apart using a small tool, such as a nail file or sharp instrument, inserted next to one of the coins embedded in the card. The marketing emphasizes the security and peace of mind this product offers.

Ordering and Personalization

Customers can order the CASH Cash-Card by mail. The base price for a card is $6.00. An additional option allows for personalization of the card for an extra $1.00 per card. Customers can select from a list of special occasions to be indicated on the card, including: Birthday, Graduation, Bar Mitzvah, Confirmation, Bon Voyage, First day of School, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, For Mom & Dad for after the holidays, Happy Anniversary, Don't Drink & Drive Call a Cab.

For orders of multiple personalized cards, customers are instructed to indicate the name and occasion on the reverse of the form (though the reverse is not visible in the provided scan).

Pricing and Tax

The price for a standard card is $6.00 each. Personalized cards incur an additional charge of $1.00 each. Arizona residents must also add 7% sales tax to their order.

Payment and Delivery

Payment should be made via check or money order payable to "DMC PRACTICAL PRODUCTS." The mailing address for orders is P.O. Box 60640, Tucson, AZ 85751. The estimated delivery time for orders is 4-6 weeks.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme is personal security and preparedness, specifically addressing emergency situations where immediate funds are needed for transportation or communication. The tone is reassuring, highlighting the 'security of knowing that you can always get home.' There is no discernible editorial stance beyond promoting the product's utility and benefits.