New England UFO Newsletter - No 15 - 1979 07

Magazine Overview

This issue of the "new england UFO newsletter", dated July 1979 and designated Whole Number 15, focuses on a "Sighting Quartet" in the Brockton-Holbrook area of Massachusetts on April 12, 1979. The main headline highlights "E-M EFFECTS, LIGHT BEAM, APPARENT CLOSE APPROACHES." The newsletter announces a change in editorship, with Dave Downs stepping aside and Joe Nyman taking over, and a return to a typewritten format due to the lack of professional typesetting facilities.

Case 1: Brockton Sighting (April 12, 1979)

This detailed case involves Martin, his wife Theresa, and their two sons, who reported seeing a triangular-shaped object with a rounded edge, described as having many white lights, a red light on top, a spotlight on the bottom, and sparkling diamond-like lights on the side, resembling a child's Light Bright toy. The object was viewed for about two minutes before disappearing behind trees. Shortly after, all four car windows began to operate on their own, going down and up multiple times. This occurred while slowing for a red light and again while stopped at another red light. Martin, initially worried, later investigated the car and found the battery somewhat discharged the following morning. The investigator, Dave Downs, ruled out a hoax and a prank by the husband, considering an electrical malfunction or an EM effect from the UFO as possibilities. He rated the witnesses' accuracy as 7 out of 10.

Sighting Evaluation (Case 1)

Downs considered several explanations for the car window phenomenon: a hoax (ruled out due to the witnesses' cooperation), a prank by the husband (also largely dismissed, though acknowledged as a past behavior), an electrical malfunction (possible due to the car's age, but the issue did not recur), and an EM effect from the UFO. The EM effect theory is appealing due to the timing, but the lack of effect on other car motors (like the windshield wiper) presented a puzzle. The article speculates that the vertical orientation of the window motors might have made them susceptible to a vertical component of an EM field, while horizontal motors were not affected. A compass check for residual magnetization found none. A "consciousness monitoring" theory is also mentioned, suggesting entities associated with UFOs might play games with witnesses' thoughts.

Case 2: Holbrook Sighting (April 12, 1979)

Reported by Dave Downs, this case involves Ann, who left her house in Avon and saw what she initially thought was a street light, but soon realized was an object. While traveling on Route 139 in Holbrook, she observed three separate long vertical lights moving slowly. The silent object hovered about ten feet away from the road, approximately fifty feet in the air. She described the object as "huge like a blimp," with the bottom covered in "little white lights, like diamond facets" that blinked, and a steady soft rose red light on top. Greenish-blue lights were also noted on the bottom and tail. After hovering for six to seven minutes, the object turned 90 degrees and moved north, disappearing quickly.

Case 3: Brockton Sighting (April 12, 1979)

Ron and his wife arrived home in Brockton and noticed a glow in the sky. The light intensified and became visible through the clouds, described as the "brightest light he had ever seen in the sky other than the sun." The light source was estimated to be about half the length of their 53-foot home and larger than the moon. It moved slowly from the north, banked west, and descended. White lights were visible on the sides, and a dim red light was seen. The lights did not flash, but the main light dimmed and brightened at intervals. No sound was heard. Ron, an aircraft electrician, stated it was an "unnatural light." Several less intense lights followed the same path. Ron's mother-in-law in Stoughton also saw several lights.

Case 4: Route 128 Sighting (April 12, 1979)

Jerry Groom, a Study Group member, traveling east on Route 128 near Brockton, saw a group of lights that he thought were not aircraft lights. Details are limited, but the sighting is included for record.

Were These Sightings All of One Object?

The article posits that the consistency of lights (red at the top, white along the sides or bottoms) and general shape across the three detailed cases makes it tempting to conclude they were of the same UFO, despite variations in witness sketches. A similar instance was noted from April 4, 1976, in Ipswich, MA.

Change in Editors and Format

Dave Downs and Ed Fogg have stepped down as editor and contributor, respectively, due to family and job pressures, though they remain contributors. The newsletter will now be typewritten due to the lack of professional typesetting facilities. Joe Nyman will be the new editor.

Correction

A correction is made regarding the shape and orientation of a UFO shown in the previous newsletter, which was near Sturbridge on January 5, 1979. The corrected shape is reproduced from the March-April MUFON Journal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed accounts of UFO sightings, particularly those involving close approaches and unusual phenomena like electromagnetic effects on vehicles. The editorial stance, as indicated by Dave Downs' analysis, is one of cautious investigation, considering multiple explanations for sightings, from mundane to extraordinary, while acknowledging the provocative and exciting nature of the evidence. The newsletter aims to publish original research and information not readily available elsewhere.

This issue of The Narragansett Times, dated Thursday, February 15, 1979, features a prominent article detailing a UFO sighting near Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, with the headline: "WATER TOUCHDOWN NEAR OAK BLUFFS--E/M AND POSSIBLE PHYSICAL EFFECTS. DO UFOS FIX WATCHES?". The issue also includes reports of other UFO activity in Southern New England and a personal account involving hypnosis and alleged extraterrestrial contact.

Oak Bluffs Sighting (March 27, 1979)

The main article focuses on a UFO sighting that occurred on March 27, 1979, at approximately 8:00 PM EST, at Joseph A. Sylvia State Beach in Dukes County, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The witness, Joseph A. Sylvia, was traveling north towards Oak Bluffs when he noticed a green glow to his right, initially attributing it to "light sticks" on the beach. As he approached, the glow intensified, and his AM radio began to emit a "low frequency hum." The object was first noticed at a bridge (point A) and by point B, the witness had an unobstructed view of the ocean.

At point B, the witness observed a luminous green cylinder with rounded ends, apparently in contact with the water. He stopped his car, and the object began to rise slowly. The witness described the object as soundless and its color as a "yellow Green" (estimated between Federal Standard Colors 14187-38901). The shape was cylindrical with rounded ends, and it appeared to displace water like a boat. The object ascended at an increasing speed, and the witness felt a chilling sensation and difficulty breathing, suspecting outside influences or self-induced effects. The total time the object was in sight was approximately 1 minute and 40 seconds, determined by a re-enactment. The witness's initial estimates of distance (100-125 feet) and time (6 minutes) were found to be distorted compared to measurements and re-enactments.

Following the sighting, the witness reported it to the Oak Bluffs police. Officer Harold Hill accompanied the witness to the site, and State Trooper DeRoche was also notified. The police log recorded the time as 8:30 PM, with clear weather and no wind. Officer DeRoche confirmed the events but found no traces or artifacts the next morning.

Possible Mechanical Effect

The witness also reported a peculiar effect on his calendar watch. On the day after the sighting (March 28), his watch was reading 3 days fast (March 30) and had been consistently running fast. He noted that it would take 29 days to correct. The watch, a manually wound Timex, was later tested and did not react to a magnetic compass.

The Area and The Object

The sighting area is primarily used for bathing, with no shellfishing. The water was clear, and sea vegetation was visible. The object was described as completely soundless. Its color intensity increased as the witness drew closer. It did not charge aspect as it rose, and its edge was not sharply defined. The object's attitude relative to the witness remained unchanged. The investigator estimated the object to be about 200 feet away, while the witness estimated its length at 30 feet. The object's green glow was reflected on the beach and water.

UFO Sightings in Southern New England

An article by Marcel Dufresne reports on a surge of nearly 30 UFO sightings along the coastline in Southern Rhode Island and nearby Connecticut since the end of January 1979. Witnesses described two main types of objects: circular discs illuminated by intense lights (green, blue, or white), and tubular objects resembling baseball bats, illuminated in three distinct sections. These sightings occurred across seven towns. Approximately one-third of these sightings were reported during daylight hours. The objects generally hovered over the water between 200 and 800 feet for several minutes.

Donald R. Todd, a volunteer field investigator for the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), noted that this wave of sightings is different from a similar "flap" in 1973, with South County appearing as an isolated "hot spot." Todd suggested a possible connection between these sightings and recent unexplained sonic booms heard in the area. Many witnesses, including police officers, professors, and college students, requested anonymity due to fear of public ridicule. One report involved a woman who photographed a UFO hovering over the water with her 12-year-old son. A Narragansett policeman reported seeing an object with a bright green light flashing at short intervals near the URI Bay Campus, describing it as "no hoax."

Other reports described circular, disc-like objects with intense radiant lights, some appearing double-tiered. Tubular objects were described as thicker at one end, with a bright greenish-white glow in the upper section, a dark mid-section, and a lower section that was pure white or tinted blue. Most objects made no noise or emitted a low hum.

Fishermen's Close Encounter (April 12, 1979)

A separate report from The Standard-Times details an encounter by two New Bedford fishermen, Francisco Marreiros and Manuel Pateiro, on Tuesday night, April 10, 1979. While on the bridge of their trawler, the Christina and Sandra, they observed a bright, stationary object above the water. The object's flashing lights changed from white to green and then to reddish-orange and appeared to have an antenna. The fishermen estimated the vessel's position at about 60 miles east of the Nantucket Lightship. The encounter reportedly disabled the vessel's Loran system for about 15 minutes and prevented the object from being detected by radar.

Marreiros expressed apprehension, wondering what might have happened if they had stayed. Pateiro, who drew a sketch of the sighting, described the object as being about the size of their trawler and fixed in the sky. The fishermen could not identify the object and agreed they had never seen anything like it before. A Coast Guard spokesman indicated that very few UFO reports have been filed with them historically, and the Air Force typically investigates such incidents.

Lydia Stalnaker's Hypnosis Session

Under the "LOOSE ENDS" section, the newsletter revisits a report from a May 1977 newsletter about The Extraterrestrial Conference. It introduces Lydia Stalnaker, a Florida contactee, and presents a transcription of her hypnosis session. The session, facilitated by Dr. Harder, director of APRO, claims to involve an entity named Antron responding to questions.

Lydia's Story

In August 1974, Lydia Stalnaker and a male friend were driving in Florida when they saw a bright, flashing light that landed. Stalnaker reported feeling a chill, hair standing on end, and difficulty breathing. After this event, she experienced ESP, mental telepathy, and astral projection. The male friend who was with her later disappeared. Stalnaker experienced panic and strange dreams.

She sought professional help from Dr. Harder, who put her under hypnosis. During the session, two aliens reportedly took her aboard their craft and into a laboratory. She described a machine and another woman strapped to a table. An alien explained an experiment to place the other woman inside her through osmosis. Stalnaker was placed on a table that revolved, and she blacked out. Upon regaining consciousness, the aliens indicated the experiment had worked, and she felt weak. She was told they would return. Stalnaker believes this experience led to "strange manifestations," including nightmares and strange writing.

In February of the previous year (1978), Dr. Harder arranged for her to see Dr. Evelyn Brunson in Jacksonville. Under hypnosis, they allegedly communicated with the alien Antron, who claimed to be from another star galaxy and spoke ancient Arabic with a Hebrew accent. Antron arranged to meet Stalnaker again on an island pier, where she was taken aboard their craft and experienced no fear, having become accustomed to such events.

She was taken to a council room with an oval table and six people. They examined her and informed her that one more thing would be done, and if it worked, she could help other people. An implant was placed in her side. She became very ill for days afterward and experienced pain. They also said she would receive "Power." After recovering, she began to wonder about this "Power." She also developed the "gift of healing" in September of the previous year, able to heal people through the name of God.

Stalnaker recounted an incident where a tape recorder used during a TV talk show caught fire while recording Antron speaking in her language. She stated she would never tape again.

The issue concludes by noting that Dr. James Harder, APRO Director of Research, travels the United States hypnotizing people who claim time-lapse experiences. The next newsletter will include a session where Antron answers audience questions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, close encounters, and the potential physical and psychological effects associated with them. The magazine presents multiple accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena, ranging from a "water touchdown" to sightings by fishermen and a detailed personal narrative involving alleged alien contact and hypnosis. There is a clear interest in documenting these events and exploring their implications, including potential technological interference (radio hum, disabled equipment) and the development of psychic abilities. The inclusion of APRO's involvement and the detailed accounts of hypnosis sessions suggest an editorial stance that is open to investigating and reporting on phenomena beyond conventional explanations, particularly those related to extraterrestrial encounters and consciousness.