New England UFO Newsletter - No 05 - Vol 02 No 01 - 1977 05

Magazine Overview

This issue of the "NEWSLETTER" from the new england UFO study group, dated May 1977 (Volume II, No. 1), provides a comprehensive look at UFO phenomena through various reports, interviews, and eyewitness accounts. The publication aims to inform its members about recent developments and historical cases in the field of ufology.

Report on "The Extra-Terrestrial Conference"

Joe Nyman reports on a UFO-oriented meeting held on March 13, 1977, in Manhattan, sponsored by the Foundation Faith Church. The conference featured panel discussions and audience participation, with a focus on both the philosophical implications of UFOs and direct experiences. Attendees included NEUFOSG members Stella Lansing, who presented a film and lecture on paranormal events, and this writer. Speakers included artist Earl Hubbard, who linked UFOs to a new birth in humanity's outlook, and Psychologist Philip Liss, who suggested UFOs might be a worldwide cueing phenomenon to redirect thinking towards a religious focus. Notable individuals with direct experiences present were Dr. Berthold Schwarz and Betty Hill. Marianne Cascio and Lydia Stalnaker shared accounts of being abducted, with Cascio reportedly suffering permanent eye damage from a 1953 encounter. Stalnaker claimed to have developed healing powers and could channel an extraterrestrial entity named Antron, who participated in a Q&A session. Nyman found the conference stimulating and hoped for its repetition.

More Facts on the Bermuda Triangle

From the desk of Andrew Galligan, Occult Historian, this section touches upon the Bermuda Triangle. It mentions the disappearance of Theodosia Burr Alston, wife of Gov. Joseph Alston of South Carolina and daughter of Aaron Burr, in 1812, when her packet boat, The Patriot, vanished en route to New York from Georgetown Harbor.

Historical Cases and Psychic Phenomena

This section delves into historical mysteries, including the confessions of pirates regarding a captive's death, which were never proven. It also recounts the disappearance of Flight 19 from Cecil Field, Florida, in 1945, during a bombing mission. Allen Kosnar, a colleague of Sergeant Robert Gallivan, asked to be relieved of duty due to feeling unwell and was spared from the flight, leading to speculation about a psychic premonition guiding him to safety.

Flying-Saucer Craze in U.S.S.R.

This article, sourced from the Minneapolis Tribune (Dec. 28, 1976) and New York Times Service, details a growing fascination with flying saucers in the Soviet Union. Despite official press dismissals, rumors and unofficial publications, known as "samizdat," have spread widely. A five-page typed lecture attributed to F.Y. Zigel, an assistant professor at the Moscow Aviation Institute, claimed 300 recorded UFO sightings in the USSR and mentioned a ban on UFO publications. The article notes the Russian propensity for believing rumors. Examples of reported UFOs include one hovering over Nalchik for 36 hours and another trailing an airliner. A 1961 incident in Golytsino involved a saucer causing auto engines to stall. The Soviet government, through publications like Komsomolskaya Pravda, began denouncing these rumors, labeling them as subversive and influenced by Western "mass culture" and potentially the Pentagon.

Oxford, Maine Sighting

Brent Raynes reports on two UFO encounters by Wayne M., a young man from Oxford Hills High School. On March 1, 1977, Wayne M. photographed four bright white diamond-shaped, domed objects moving north to south. The sighting lasted 10-12 seconds. On March 25, 1977, he observed and photographed a yellow, oval-shaped object with a bump on the bottom hovering low before it moved west rapidly. The object appeared bright yellow, though the photograph showed it as pinkish. The duration of this second sighting was approximately 30 seconds.

Flash in Sky Triggers Search

This article by Joe Purcell and Steve Caine details an incident in Pembroke, Maine, on the night of April 14, 1977. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Cohen reported seeing a fiery "something" streak across the sky and explode over Pembroke Reservoir, prompting a large-scale, night-long search involving firemen, police, the Coast Guard, and a helicopter. Despite extensive efforts, no wreckage or definitive explanation was found. Speculation included meteorites.

Couple Saw Air Crash; No Wreckage Found

This report from Pembroke, Maine, details another incident where Bernard J. Cohen and his wife witnessed what appeared to be a mid-air explosion of a plane or helicopter over the East Pembroke reservoir. They reported seeing a ball of fire plunge into the water. A search involving police, firefighters, and a Coast Guard helicopter was conducted, but no traces of a crash were found. Police suggested the possibility of meteorites, noting recent meteorite sightings in the area.

An Interview with Gordon Cooper (Astronaut)

This section features an interview with astronaut Gordon Cooper, taped on January 21, 1977, for the Mike Douglas T.V. Show. Cooper confirmed he has seen UFOs, recounting an experience from the early 1950s where his fighter squadron observed hundreds of unidentified objects over Europe at altitudes far exceeding their aircraft's capabilities. He described the objects as typical, classical, double saucer shapes, metallic, and wingless, but not revolving. He also mentioned a separate incident in the United States where a friend pursued a UFO that accelerated rapidly and climbed straight out. Cooper expressed uncertainty about the origin of these objects, acknowledging that while some stories might be fabricated, the number of credible witnesses makes it difficult to dismiss all accounts. He also discussed a case where an individual underwent hypnosis and lie detector tests, verifying experiences of UFO contacts and exhibiting phenomena like writing in ancient Greek without prior knowledge.

Dear Members

This section includes a thank you to contributors and volunteers. It mentions recent sightings discussed at the group's meetings, including those in Chelmsford and the Palmer area. It also highlights the First International Congress on the UFO phenomenon in Acapulco and an upcoming one in Chicago, listing notable participants. The 1977 MUFON Symposium in Phoenix and the 1978 Symposium in Dayton are also mentioned. Members are encouraged to send in newsclippings, book reports, and UFO sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO sightings, alleged extraterrestrial encounters, and related phenomena. It presents eyewitness accounts, historical cases, and reports from conferences and interviews. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, providing a platform for members and researchers to share information and discuss findings. The inclusion of historical accounts and international reports, such as the Soviet UFO craze, suggests a broad scope of interest. The interview with Gordon Cooper lends significant credibility to the topic, highlighting the potential for high-profile individuals to have encountered unexplained aerial phenomena. The newsletter encourages active participation from its members, soliciting sightings and reports to maintain its coverage.