MUFON of Ohio Newsletter - 2008 Q3 Fall

Magazine Overview

This issue of the MUFON of Ohio Newsletter, dated Fall 2008, features a cover story titled "The Earl Neff Clipping Collection" by Clas Svahn. The newsletter focuses on a significant donation of historical UFO-related press clippings and explores various UFO sightings and research from the mid-20th century.

The Earl Neff Clipping Collection

The main article details the donation of over 2,000 unsorted American press clippings to the AFU (Archives for UFO Research) in January 2004. These clippings originally belonged to MUFON Ohio member Richard Lee, who had acquired them from the deceased ufologist Earl J. Neff. Clas Svahn has since cataloged the entire collection into twenty binders, making it available for researchers. The collection spans what are described as ufology's "most intensive years," particularly the mid-1960s, when UFOs were a serious topic of discussion in American magazines. The clippings come from various sources, including the Ohio-based Cleveland Free Press and Cleveland Plain Dealer, as well as national publications.

The article highlights the extensive coverage given to UFOs by the Cleveland magazines, citing a November 5, 1966, front-page headline: "Flying saucers still a mystery – Called serious business." It notes that the length and detail of articles indicated a strong public and editorial interest in the phenomenon. An exception to the focus on U.S. sightings is an article from the New York Times (July 14, 1968) about UFOs adding "spice to life of Latins" in Argentina and Chile.

Notable Articles and Cases from the Collection

Several specific articles and cases are discussed:

• MacKinlay Kantor: A January 1966 Popular Science Magazine article by Pulitzer prize winner MacKinlay Kantor, titled "Why I believe in flying saucers," is mentioned. Kantor recounts witnessing a bright shining semicircular object on January 4, 1954, and discusses the UFO phenomenon with General Curtis LeMay. LeMay expressed caution but acknowledged that some cases remained unexplained by natural phenomena.
• James G. Fulton: A March 31, 1966, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article quotes Congressman James G. Fulton, who suspected the U.S. Air Force was not being truthful about UFOs, comparing their actions to a child hiding under a blanket.
• Willy Ley: German rocket scientist Willy Ley, in a Family Weekly article (January 21, 1968), discussed sightings he believed might be ball lightning, noting that sightings often had natural explanations but did not ridicule the phenomenon.
• Otto Binder: Author Otto Binder wrote in the February 1968 issue of "Rudder magazine" about how sailors should handle UFO sightings at sea.
• Clifford D. Simak: Science-fiction author Clifford D. Simak, in a January 6, 1967, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, described how APRO and NICAP, the two largest UFO organizations, operated. He noted that APRO investigated sightings involving beings, while NICAP focused strictly on the craft to maintain credibility for potential congressional hearings.
• Allen Hynek: An article from the Daily Times-News (March 26, 1966) discusses astronomer and Air Force expert Allen Hynek's "swamp gas" theory presented at a press conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While Hynek clarified the theory applied only to specific sightings, the press coverage led to ridicule of the Air Force's Project Blue Book and prompted Hynek to shift to private investigations.
• Pilot Sightings: Several articles detail sightings by pilots, including:
• Waldo Harris: A Salt Lake Tribune article (October 3, 1961) describes Harris and seven witnesses seeing a grey, disc-shaped object about 15 meters wide and 1 meter thick near Utah Central Airport. The object moved at high speed and disappeared.
• Detroit Times (February 25, 1959): An article reported three glowing objects following a plane for 45 minutes, which did not appear on radar.
• Mrs. Howard W. Morgan: A July 13, 1964, Cleveland Plain Dealer article describes a projectile that penetrated a glass door and landed in Mrs. Morgan's home.
• Men in Black: Articles mention the appearance of "Men in Black," with one delegate at a convention suggesting they might be ufologists in disguise from rival organizations like NICAP.
• Ed Wallace Series: A Sunday News series (March 12, 1967) stated that five million Americans claimed to have seen a flying saucer, referencing classic cases like the Lonnie Zamora sighting (April 24, 1964) and the Kelly-Hopkinsville case (August 21, 1955).
• National Enquirer Archive: The collection includes about 100 articles from the National Enquirer. The article notes that the magazine's archive was destroyed in 2003 due to an anthrax scare following 9/11.

Arkansas "Mini-Flap" (1988)

This section, by Rick Hilberg, details a series of UFO sightings in Little River County, Arkansas, in late 1987 and early 1988. Two cases are highlighted:

• Foreman Women's Encounter: Three women reported a frightening encounter on January 19th involving a brightly-lit UFO that chased their car. The object displayed multiple colored lights and exhibited unusual maneuvers, including a sudden 90-degree turn. It was described as a large, metallic machine, flat on the bottom, with a dull finish. The object left strange markings on the women's car.
• Teacher's Encounter: A teacher reported seeing lights on a hill that approached her vehicle, described as two separate horizontal lights close to the ground, resembling headlights and fog lights. The lights moved rapidly, and the encounter ended abruptly with a sensation of being rushed, followed by nothingness.

"Shoot Them Down! The Flying Saucer Air Wars of 1952"

This is a review by Scott Santa of Frank Feschino Jr.'s book, which examines two "forgotten" UFO historical events: the Flatwoods Monster case and the history of American military pilots allegedly dying in aerial battles with UFOs. Feschino proposes a scenario connecting these events, supported by government documents and flight logs. The review commends Feschino for his detailed research and for challenging existing narratives in ufology.

Sighting by a MUFON of Ohio Member

Steven Nedelton recounts a sighting in September 1996 near Cincinnati, Ohio. He observed two lit objects flying in-line; the front object suddenly exploded, lighting up the sky, but no debris was seen, and the rear object continued its path.

Blanchard, Lytle and Roswell

This section, sourced from UFO Updates & Kevin Randle, presents testimony from Chester Lytle regarding the Roswell UFO crash. Lytle, who had high-level security clearances, claimed that William Blanchard, commander of the 509th Bomb Group at Roswell, confirmed the alien nature of the crashed craft. Blanchard reportedly stated that four bodies had been recovered and that some bodies were initially sent to MUROC Army Air Field before ending up at Wright Field. The article acknowledges that this is second-hand testimony from deceased individuals but argues for Lytle's credibility.

Tucson, Arizona Sighting

Cassandra Klesch describes a sighting on November 18, 2005, in Tucson, Arizona. While photographing the Pleiades, she observed a brilliant "umbrella" of light that hovered, was silent, flared, and disappeared within seconds. She initially thought it might be a flare carried by a parachute.

Ft. Worth, Texas Sighting (1950)

This section includes a Project Blue Book report and a newspaper article from the Ft. Worth Star Telegram (April 18, 1950) about a sighting of "Half Circular Objects" over Ft. Worth on April 16, 1950. The objects were reportedly not moving fast and were seen about six or seven miles away. No action was taken on the report.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently highlights the historical significance of UFO phenomena, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, when media coverage was extensive and serious. It emphasizes the importance of archival research, as exemplified by the Earl Neff Clipping Collection. The publication also touches upon government involvement and secrecy, the credibility of witnesses and researchers, and the ongoing search for corroborating evidence for significant cases like Roswell. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting documented cases and expert opinions without dismissing the more speculative aspects of the field.

Title: MUFON of Ohio Newsletter
Issue: Spring 2008
Date: 2008
Publisher: MUFON of Ohio
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the MUFON of Ohio Newsletter presents a collection of UFO sighting reports, a review of a documentary on a prominent Ufologist, and an account of mysterious individuals at a past conference.

Article: Ft. Worth Star Telegram Report on Ira Maxey Photograph

The issue begins by referencing an April 18th edition of The Ft. Worth Star Telegram, which featured a photograph taken by US Air Force veteran Ira Maxey. The accompanying report stated that Maxey photographed a fast-moving object that appeared to look like a "banana." The scanned image includes a newspaper clipping with the headline "Vet Sees Flying Objects in Sky and Photographs Them," accompanied by a grainy photograph of multiple objects in the sky, described as proof.

Article: Orange Orb Seen in 1938 by John Timmerman

This section is an extract of a telephone conversation from February 1998 between John Timmerman and the late Joe Ostermyer. Ostermyer recounts an experience from 1938 when he was 15 years old. While sleeping outdoors in Bellefontaine, Ohio, he was awakened by a pulsating, orange-colored object, about the size of a grapefruit, hovering about six feet away. He felt it communicated with him and moved towards the corner of the house. Ostermyer followed it, and the object made a sharp turn, moving south and disappearing at high speed. He described the object as having an irregular, rough exterior, similar to an Osage orange, and that it glowed. He was certain it was not a dream and that the object communicated with him, telling him to follow it. He also noted that the object's exterior was not smooth and it was a dark night without moonlight.

Article: Shades of Gray - A Film by Bob Wilkinson (Reviewed by Scott J. Santa)

This review discusses a forthcoming DVD documentary titled "Shades of Gray," which is a retrospective of the life and times of Gray Barker, a significant figure in Ufology. The reviewer, Scott J. Santa, describes Barker as a victim, joker, clever researcher, and promoter, suggesting that all these descriptions apply to him. The film, approximately 60 minutes long, includes interviews with notable figures in the UFO community such as Jim Moseley, Rick Hilberg, Jerome Clarke, Stan Friedman, and others, as well as interviews with Barker's family members. The documentary covers Barker's involvement in various paranormal arenas, including the Flatwoods Monster, M.I.B.s (Men in Black), the Philadelphia Experiment, Mothman and the Silver Bridge, and the R.E. Straith letter concerning George Adamski, and the identity of "Doctor" Richard Pratt. The film begins with a shot of Barker typing at a manual typewriter, with his words narrated. The review highlights that the film takes the viewer on a chronological journey from Barker's youth in West Virginia to his death in 1984. The reviewer admits to knowing little about Barker before watching the film and found it very informative, evoking fond memories of the "Golden Age of Ufology." Gray Barker is credited with writing books such as "They Knew Too Much about Flying Saucers" and "The Silver Bridge." The review concludes by highly recommending the film for both experienced researchers and novices.

Article: The Mothman Enigma by Richard D. Seifried

This article recounts an incident from the early 1980s during a UFO Investigators League conference in Cincinnati. The author, Richard D. Seifried, was asked to observe two men who refused to register for the conference. These men, one in his forties and the other in his thirties, were described as being in trim physical condition, wearing dark, conservative suits, and well-groomed. They took notes in a special notebook using colored pencils, and one of them switched to his left hand when he noticed he was being observed. They also whispered with their hands covering their mouths and would laugh and ridicule the speakers' topics. However, their demeanor changed dramatically when Ron Schaffner, a speaker, began discussing Mothman and the Silver Bridge collapse. The older man then took out a tiny camera with a narrow telescope lens and proceeded to photograph the slides being shown by the speaker. The author later realized that the two men had vanished from the hallway when he and others went to the parking lot. The article includes a note from Bill Jones to Ron, who confirms the incident and recalls it was part of Jim Moseley's National UFO Conference in 1979. Ron mentions that the conference had low attendance and was financially difficult for OUFOIL, but he had made several trips to Point Pleasant related to Mothman. He also recalls other strange individuals at the conference and wonders why Air Force personnel would attend in civilian suits. He also mentions a previous MUFON convention in Dayton where Len Stringfield received a death threat and Earl Jones had material stolen, and his own car was broken into. Despite becoming more skeptical over the years, Ron admits to having seen things that still baffle him.

Article: Daylight Disc Seen Over Gladstone, Missouri, May 14, 1992

This report, contributed by Francis Ridge of NICAP, details a daylight UFO sighting by Calvin Traynor in Gladstone, Missouri. Traynor observed a disk-shaped object around noon. He was alerted by two teenaged boys staring at the sky. Traynor described the object as a "big shiny saucer flying upside down." He estimated its altitude to be no higher than a Piper Cub and its size and speed to be similar. He noted the object was rounded on top but flat on the bottom, with a shiny chrome-like appearance, except for a spot in the middle of the bottom that looked different, like a dimple or in shadow. The object made no sound, which Traynor speculated could have been masked by traffic noise. The report suggests that a hoax is unlikely due to the witness's straightforward account and the clear description of the object, concluding it was likely an unidentified flying object.

Article: Sighting of Three Triangles Bowling Green Ohio

This report, from the National UFO Reporting Center, describes a sighting by the author and a friend on October 29, 2008, around 7:50 PM in Bowling Green, Ohio. They initially observed what they thought was a bright star or planet, but then noticed two more objects. They realized these were not airplanes as they had no blinking lights and one began to move upwards. The objects were described as silent. One object moved directly over them and then continued on. They then noticed the other two objects, one of which had disappeared, and the other remained stationary. Another object reappeared from a new direction, and they observed them for 4-5 minutes before they moved out of sight. The author notes that the objects were very close, appearing less than an inch away, and that the one that moved over them was very far into the distance by the time they looked again.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO and UAP sightings, drawing from historical accounts and contemporary reports. There is a clear interest in documenting and analyzing these phenomena, as evidenced by the inclusion of detailed witness testimonies, photographic evidence, and reviews of media related to the subject. The publication also touches upon related paranormal topics, such as the Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster, suggesting a broad interest in the unexplained. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and witness accounts for the reader's consideration, while also acknowledging the skepticism that surrounds the field. The inclusion of a documentary review on Gray Barker, a controversial but influential figure in Ufology, further indicates a commitment to exploring the history and personalities within the field.