New England UFO Newsletter - No 08 - Vol 02 No 04 - 1977 10

Magazine Overview

Title: NEUFOSG Newsletter
Issue: Volume II No.4
Date: October 1977

This issue of the NEUFOSG Newsletter focuses on UFO sightings and experiences, featuring detailed witness accounts and an interview. It also includes organizational announcements and a president's message.

Article: Past Experiences of Ms. Katherine Leiper

This section details two interesting UFO experiences reported by Ms. Katherine Leiper of New London, Connecticut, shared through George Fawcett. The first experience, from Fall 1968 near Palmdale, California, involved a non-telepathic communication with a UFO over a 40-minute interval. Ms. Leiper and her friend Bonnie Harzen observed a bright white object with flashing red and green lights. The object exhibited erratic motion, changing positions rapidly in the sky. During the communication, the lights would dim between questions, and the object responded to a question about its origin with a 'yes' answer, indicating it was from 'another galaxy.'

The second experience, from Spring 1973 near Dethan, Alabama, involved Ms. Leiper and her father observing a large, oblong, football-shaped object with a pale yellow glow. The object moved slowly, appearing to drift, and was described as unlike any military or civilian aircraft. It was observed for about ten to fifteen minutes before Ms. Leiper returned to the car at her father's insistence.

The writer notes that these events were reported after a long interval, and while hypnotic regression might provide more details, Ms. Leiper was unavailable due to joining the service.

Sturbridge Sighting

This section presents a witness statement from Elaine Poltz, a MUFON investigator, regarding a sighting on December 13-14, 1976, at 9:20 P.M. near the Sturbridge exit of the Mass. Pike. The witness observed a large, oval-shaped object surrounded by a pale yellow glow, gliding slowly through the sky. The object was low and appeared to drift, disappearing from view after about 12 minutes. No sound was detected.

Two brief sighting summaries are also included in a table:

• Date: January 20, 1977, 12:30 AM Location: Nantasket Summary: Moving West, with 'blips of light'.
• Date: July 10, 1951, 10:15 AM Location: Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Virginia Summary: Moved up and down like a 'yo-yo on a string'.

President's Message by Dave Downs

Dave Downs, President of the NEUFOSG, outlines the group's policy of 'Middle Ufology,' emphasizing the importance of considering all possible explanations for UFO phenomena without necessarily believing every claim. He states that the group listens to diverse beliefs, including those that may have been unpopular in the past, citing the example of Betty and Barney Hill. Downs argues that a person's level of acceptance for evidence is shaped by individual experiences and environment, and that no value judgment should be placed on it. He stresses the importance of freedom of opinion and respectful disagreement within the group, encouraging members to express their beliefs without ridicule and to question others courteously. An example is given of questioning whether a sighting was a UFO or a planet like Venus, highlighting that the goal is to listen and form individual judgments.

Interview: Jim Roberts

This section features a taped interview conducted by Steve Putnam with Jim Roberts of Erie, Pennsylvania, on May 17, 1975. Roberts recounts an experience from his youth where he and other teenagers encountered small, 'little green people' approximately three feet tall in an alley. Initially disbelieving, Roberts eventually saw one of the beings. The encounter escalated, and Roberts was physically impacted by one of the beings, feeling as if he was 'being torn apart' before being slammed against a garage door. He then found himself in a large, oval-shaped, silver room with a sloping console. He describes encountering several 'beautiful' beings, all appearing male, who were taller than him and had well-groomed, curly white hair. These beings did not speak but communicated through a box, conveying a message that if peace was not established globally by 1995, the world would be turned into 'one big cinder.' Roberts was advised by the Secretary of Defense to forget the message.

Roberts further explains that these beings were 'projectoids,' described as projections rather than real people, maneuverable and capable of defense. He recounts a close encounter where he was slammed against a garage, experiencing a loss of wind. He describes the beings as green and movable, though not necessarily human in shape, with proportioned bodies but indistinct features due to the darkness and their speed. They were silent and moved with great speed, making them difficult to corner. Roberts was identified as the leader of a 'clan' and was tasked with delivering the message.

Meeting Change Announcement

This announcement from October 1, 1977, informs members of a change in the date for the October meeting. The meeting, featuring guest speaker George Fawcett, will be held on October 16th at The All Souls Universalist Unitarian Church in Braintree, Massachusetts. The admission for non-members aged 17 and older is $1.00, and the meeting starts promptly at 2:00 P.M. George Fawcett, a UFO investigator since 1947 and author of "A Quarter Century Studies of UFOs in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee," will present a lecture, slide presentation, and Q&A session. The program originally scheduled for the October meeting will be rescheduled.

Detailed directions to the church are provided for those traveling south or north on Rt. 128 or Rt. 3.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, the nature of evidence and belief in ufology, and the investigative process. The editorial stance, as articulated in the President's Message, is one of open-mindedness and inclusivity, encouraging the examination of all potential explanations for UFO phenomena while maintaining a critical yet respectful approach to witness testimony and evidence. The newsletter actively promotes the sharing of experiences and fosters a community where diverse viewpoints can be expressed and discussed.