New England UFO Newsletter - No 11 - 1978 07

Magazine Overview

The new england UFO newsletter, Whole Number 11, dated July 1978, is a publication focused on UFO phenomena, investigations, and related topics. This issue features a lead story on a possible UFO abduction in Rhode Island, personal accounts of sightings, and a historical piece on the 'Great Moon Hoax'.

A BRIEF CUTLINE OF A POSSIBLE UFO ABDUCTION IN RHODE ISLAND

This article details an investigation by the New England UFO Study Group and MUFON into a potential abduction of three Rhode Island women on the night of March 16, 1976. The women reported seeing a light in the sky that paced their vehicle. After stopping, they experienced a time lapse of approximately 60-90 minutes, after which they found themselves back in their car, headed home. The youngest percipient underwent hypnosis, recalling events during the time lapse, including being dragged from the car by a 'being', walking down a wooded path, seeing a 'ship', being taken aboard, placed on a table, and having disc-like objects attached to her body. The other two women were considered poor hypnotic subjects or were unavailable for further work. The investigators felt that a valid CE3 (Close Encounter of the Third Kind) event occurred, but the case is currently in stasis due to circumstances beyond their control.

UFO'S, Howling Dogs, and Non-Verbal Communication by Joe Nyman

This section introduces a new member, Ms. Joyce DeNardo from Rhode Island, who shared her extraordinary UFO-related experiences. Her story, edited for continuity, is presented.

Joyce's Story

Joyce recounts vacations in St. Thomas during the summer of 1969 or 1970. While staying at the Island Beachcomber Hotel, she and a friend would often stay up late, skywatching or relaxing on the beach. One night, around 2:30 or 3:00 AM, they observed what appeared to be three ships. Initially, they noticed two headlights on the left side of a cove, which they realized were not from a car due to the rocky terrain. Later, they saw an orange egg-shaped object on its side in the middle of the cove. A smaller, red and white pulsating ship, about the size of a Volkswagen, emerged from a larger ship and moved around the rocks and out to sea without making a sound. During this time, dogs on the beach began howling intensely. A third ship was stationary on the right side of the cove, under a light tower. When Joyce's friend threw a bottle with a note into the water, the small probe reacted. Joyce became very frightened, but then a high-frequency sound, described as like a tuning fork or bees, was heard, and a message was conveyed: "Don't be afraid." The larger ship then receded. The first ship had emitted a diffused light beam that scanned the shore. All three ships eventually lined up and moved to the other side of the cove. The encounter left Joyce so frightened that she experienced nightmares and they cut their stay short. The next morning, they attempted to report the incident to a government agency but could not get through, and the hotel management asked them to remain silent to avoid affecting business.

NEUFOSG Sighting Summary

This table summarizes several UFO sightings reported to the New England UFO Study Group (NEUFOSG):

• April 11, 1978, 7:30 PM: Littleton, Rte. 2A. 2-3 witnesses. Object hovered for 2-3 minutes, then took off straight up. Described as an orange-yellow circular object with no sketch given.
• January 1, 1978, 3:00 AM: Cranston, R.I. 4 witnesses. Object moved slowly downward below a distant ridge.
• August 1977, about 9:00 PM: Pillebury State Park, Washington, N.H. 4 witnesses. Object zig-zagged from side to side and up and down. Described as a reddish light the size of an aircraft light or star, seen near the horizon.
• July 1976, 11:30 AM - 11:45 PM: Framingham, Ma. 3 witnesses. Object hovered over treetops, then descended and was lost to sight. No landing site found. Described as a bright orange disc-shape.
• Around October 29, 1971, 6:30 PM: Marlboro, Ma. 2 witnesses. Object hovered for about 1 minute at 60 yards distance, moved left at a sharp slope, and was lost from view behind trees. A sketch shows a green object.
• June-July 1969 or 1970, 2:30 PM: Island Beachcomber Hotel, St. Thomas, Virgin Isle. 1+ witnesses. Object slowly moved from left to right of the witness. Described as having no portholes, windows, or seams, with a dull metallic color. This sighting is linked to Joyce DeNardo's story.
• Unreported: 121 Shawmut Ave., Marlboro, Ma. 2 witnesses. Object seen on two successive evenings, hovering, moving slowly west, and abruptly moving south.

THE GREAT MOON HOAX by Dave Do

This article discusses the historical 'Great Moon Hoax' perpetrated by Richard Locke, a reporter for The New York Sun, in August 1835. Locke wrote a series of articles claiming that Sir John Herschel, using a powerful telescope, had discovered various creatures and phenomena on the moon, including humans, unicorns, buffalo, spherical creatures, and a 'man bat'. These articles led to record-breaking sales for The New York Sun. Initially, skepticism arose due to the lack of reports from influential English papers. However, weeks later, English papers also published similar accounts, which were later revealed to be a result of rivalry and the simple rewriting of material from The New York Sun, making it appear as if the information came from their own sources. The hoax was only settled when Herschel himself issued a denial. The article notes that the moon has historically attracted attention due to its prominence and that concepts of extraterrestrial life and space travel are not new.

It references early writings on the moon, including Plutarch's "On The Face In The Orb Of The Moon" and Lucian of Somosota's description of a journey to the moon. It also mentions Domingo Gonzales' "The Man In The Moon" (1538) and John Wilkins' "Discovery Of A World In The Moon" (1639), as well as Cyrano de Bergenas' "Voyage To The Moon" (1657). By 1821, textbooks included references to the moon being a habitable globe. In 1835, Americans found the idea of lunar inhabitants natural, with the English papers' similar reports lending credibility. The article concludes by stating that the moon hoax became history, and as man learned more about the moon's harsh conditions, interest shifted to Mars, foreshadowing the Orson Wells 'War of the Worlds' broadcast in 1938.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, alleged abductions, and the investigation of such phenomena. There's also a historical perspective on hoaxes and public perception of extraterrestrial life. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO reports, presenting detailed accounts and investigative findings, while also acknowledging historical context and the potential for misinformation or misinterpretation, as exemplified by the 'Great Moon Hoax' article.