New England UFO Newsletter - No 12 - 1978 10

Magazine Overview

Title: new england UFO newsletter
Issue: Whole Number 12
Date: October, 1978
Publisher: New England UFO Study Group (Founded 1959)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of the 'new england UFO newsletter' provides information for members of the New England UFO Study Group. It features a lead article on a multiple-witness daylight sighting in Medway, Massachusetts, along with news about leadership changes within the organization, an update on their UFO data base, and historical context regarding public perception of Mars and UFOs.

Multiple Witness Daylight Sighting in Medway, Mass.

Reported by Joe Nyman, this article details a sighting on June 25, 1978, involving Samuel Torrey, Jr., Mrs. Judith Willinski, and Michael Koczwara, along with Mrs. Torrey and the Torrey children. At approximately 8 p.m., with the sun still visible, an object was first perceived as spherical by Mr. Torrey. It rapidly approached and stopped at an estimated 200-300 feet away. Mr. Torrey observed its shape as an inverted saucer with a dome. Mrs. Willinski also witnessed the object, describing its color as pewter-like. The object appeared to be aware of the observers and slowly moved out of sight behind a tree. Witnesses who moved to the front of the house were able to see the object again before it sped off to the northeast. The total observation time was about one minute. The investigation team, including Ed Fogg and Wally Woodward, concluded that the witnesses were telling the truth and had seen a genuine unknown. Mr. Torrey confirmed that no aircraft were in the area via the Norfolk airport.

Galligan Resigns Post As NEUFO President

Andrew Galligan has resigned as President of the New England UFO Study Group due to time-consuming business commitments. His leadership and insight are noted as outstanding. Joe Nyman, the Vice-President, will assume the duties of President, as per the organization's by-laws. The article expresses confidence that Nyman will lead NEUFO to new status in UFO research.

UFO data base operational

FIRST RESULTS CONFIRM SIMILAR PAST STUDIES

An analysis of 62 UFO event entries in the NEUFOSG computer data base has yielded preliminary results. A key finding is that more UFO reports are made during the summer months, although this may be due to more people being outdoors rather than less activity at other times. The 'Distribution by County' chart is clarified to indicate that Norfolk County, Massachusetts, shows a high percentage due to the activity of investigators in that area, not necessarily the highest number of events statewide.

'Distribution by Day of Month' raises questions about the statistical significance of reports on the 29th, 30th, and 31st days, and notes interesting gaps on certain dates. The high number of reports for the 23rd of the month is unexplained. The 'Distribution by Category' shows that the 'General' category, encompassing objects with no significant details, has the highest incidence of reports, including nocturnal lights (NLs).

War of the Worlds

By Dave Downs

This section delves into the historical context of public perception of Mars and extraterrestrial life, tracing its roots back to the 1938 Orson Welles 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast. The broadcast's realism caused widespread panic, influencing U.S. government policy to discredit UFO reports in order to prevent similar public hysteria. The article traces the idea of life on Mars through various literary and scientific works, starting from Immanual Kant's 'Natural History and Theory of the Heavens' (1755), Sir William Herschel's observations (1784), Carl Friedrich Gauss's proposal for signaling Martians (1824), and Asaph Hall's discovery of Martian satellites (1877). Giovanni Schiaparelli's observations of 'canali' on Mars (1877) and his subsequent writings fueled speculation about intelligent beings. Kurd Lasswitz's science fiction story 'Concerning Two Planets' and H.G. Wells' 'War of the Worlds' further popularized the idea of Martian invasions. Nikola Tesla's claim of receiving interplanetary radio signals in 1899 and Percival Lowell's books 'Mars and its Canals' (1906) and 'Mars as the Abode of Life' (1908) solidified the public's view of Mars as an older, inhabited world. The article also touches upon the U.S. government's financing of extraterrestrial life research in 1921 and the emergence of reports about 'strange airships' or 'Flying Saucers' in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which were sometimes interpreted as evidence of Martian reconnaissance.

Book Report: PHYSICAL TRACES ASSOCIATED WITH UFO SIGHTINGS

This section reviews a catalog compiled by Mr. Ted Phillips, published by the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). The catalog contains 831 reports of physical traces found after UFO events. A typical entry describes a sighting on May 21, 1974, at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, where a domed, disc-shaped object landed, and a humanoid egressed. Physical traces included four large depressions in the sand with a rose-colored paste and liquid.

Brockton Mystery Unveiled Investigation

A man from Brockton, Mass., claims to have experienced an event in 1957. While taking his dog out at night, the dog became unusually agitated and began to growl, exhibiting a primitive reaction. The witness felt a strange, shivery sensation, similar to being near high-energy electrical generating plants. He then observed a gigantic black object covering a third of the sky, which did not have a definite shape. The experience was accompanied by an eerie feeling, possibly communicated from the dog. After the object disappeared, the dog relaxed. The witness noted that no cloud could have moved that fast.

Other Life in Universe Called "Nebulous"

Professor Timothy Baxter of Bridgewater and Wheaton Colleges discusses the question of whether humanity is alone in the universe, stating the answer is 'nebulous.' He suggests that the question will likely be answered affirmatively in the future and expresses a personal desire to spot a UFO. Baxter contends that reports of alleged alien contacts are often the result of hoaxes, delusions, or fantasy. However, with billions of galaxies, the possibility of millions of civilizations existing is high. He emphasizes that humanity has been advertising its presence through radio broadcasts, making isolationist policies obsolete and suggesting that first contact might occur via radio signals.

Odd-Shaped 'Object Hovers Over the City

This article from the Taunton Gazette, submitted by Andrew Galligan, reports on a sighting on July 17, 1978, in Taunton, Mass. Witnesses described a five-pointed, glowing object hovering over the city for about two hours. The object was seen between 8 and 10 p.m. and was distinct from fireworks, which were in the opposite direction. The object was described as exceptionally clear on a cloudless night. William J. Casey was the first to report it, notifying neighbors. The object was seen to bob up and down slightly before dipping below the tree line. It was also observed from the Rennett School. One woman reported seeing a similar object on Danforth Street, noting it was in a different position than previously seen, suggesting it moved too fast for conventional aircraft. Another sighting occurred about 15 minutes later. Observers noted that airplanes were also present in the sky, and at least three people detected a greenish light from the object. Air Force offices were closed, and officials were unavailable for comment.

NEUFOSG Sighting Summary

This section provides a table summarizing several UFO sightings reported to NEUFOSG:

• August 27, 1978 (Day): Boston Harbor - Radar-visual case, details pending.
• August 27, 1978 (Day): North Shore - Cigar-shaped object observed.
• August 24, 1978 (Night): Gloucester - Object moved slowly away until lost behind trees.
• August 4, 1978 (2230EDT): Peabody - Object moved slowly overhead with loud noise.
• April 10, 1977 (Night): Enfield, Conn. - Multiple nocturnal lights observed.
• February 17, 1967 (1:05EST): Dorchester - Object moved slowly overhead with loud noise.
• February 7, 1977 (Night): Weston, Conn. - Four police officers reported independent viewing of nocturnal lights.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The 'new england UFO newsletter' consistently focuses on UFO sightings and research within the New England region. The editorial stance, as stated in the disclaimer, is that the contents are determined by the editor and do not necessarily represent the official position of the New England UFO Study Group. Contributors' opinions are their own. The newsletter aims to inform members and friends about UFO-related events and research, encouraging the sharing of information and fostering a community dedicated to understanding the phenomenon. Themes include detailed eyewitness accounts, investigations, historical perspectives on UFOs and related phenomena (like Mars), and the development of research tools such as data bases. The publication also highlights the challenges of public perception and the need for credible research in the field.