New England UFO Newsletter - No 19 - 1980 07

Magazine Overview

This issue of the new england UFO newsletter, dated July 1980 and identified as Whole Number 19, focuses on several UFO sightings primarily within Massachusetts, along with an interesting foreign report. The publication's character is that of a dedicated chronicler and investigator of UFO phenomena, presenting detailed accounts and preliminary evaluations.

Daylight Disc Reported from Worcester, Massachusetts

This article, authored by Dave Downs and Joe Nyman, details a sighting on Saturday evening, July 12, 1980, at approximately 7:15 PM EDT in Worcester, Massachusetts. Mr. William Evans, aged 41, and his seven-year-old son, Scott, observed an object from their second-floor bedroom window. Initially, Mr. Evans dismissed his son's excitement, thinking it was a blimp, but upon looking, he was amazed.

The object was described as having two distinct parts: an upper part resembling a truncated cone made of light-reflecting plates, likened to Boston's Prudential Insurance building, and a lower part like a bowl. The object was metallic silver-gray, soundless, and traveled parallel to the ground at an elevation of about 20 degrees. What surprised Mr. Evans was its movement; instead of spinning on its vertical axis as he expected a UFO to do, it moved through an arc of about 70 degrees in 15 seconds while wobbling about its axis parallel to its direction of movement.

Mr. Evans estimated the object's size to be such that a coin about 2.5 centimeters in diameter held at arm's length would cover it. His wife arrived too late to witness the event. A character check on Mr. Evans, who was described as having a ninth-grade education and being largely self-taught in refrigeration repair, confirmed his integrity. The investigator noted that he viewed the object through a window screen, which might have caused distortion. The conclusion of the investigation was that a hoax was ruled out, but misidentification of something conventional, possibly a balloon, could not be entirely dismissed.

Apparent Low-Level Flyover Near Sturbridge

Reported by Joe Nyman, this sighting occurred on Thursday, April 3, 1980, around 9:20 PM EST, approximately 1-2 miles south of the Sturbridge exit on the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate Rte. 90). The local evaluation was 'Highly probable unknown.'

The witness, driving, initially thought the object was a plane, describing it as a row of blinking lights flying toward her. She noted there seemed to be too many lights for a small plane and it was flying too low for a large plane. The lights were blinking on and off and appeared to be along the wing span. However, as it got closer, she realized there were no wings, and the lights were circular, set in the bottom of a large, round, flat base.

The object flew over her car, and she was able to distinctly see the circular lights on the bottom. She estimated its height at about 2 or 3 telephone poles and its width as slightly wider than the 3-lane road. The lights flashed randomly. The witness was certain she had seen something other than a plane. The investigator considered the most probable conventional explanation to be an advertising aircraft, but checks with the Federal Aviation Authority Flight Service Station and aerial advertising services proved negative. The witness experienced no physiological or psychological effects other than nervousness, and heard no sounds. The lights were white and emitted no beam. The witness was unsure if there was a 'dome' on top. The conclusion was a high probability of an unknown object.

Object Reported from Waltham, Massachusetts

This report, condensed from the work of Joe Sanangelo and Virginia Neurath, concerns a sighting on Friday, February 15, 1980, at 8:55 PM EST in Waltham, Massachusetts. The local evaluation was 'Unknown-ordinary.'

Two sisters, LM (aged 52) and LB (aged 54), were traveling north on Route 60 in Watertown when they saw a number of very bright lights traveling west to east, toward Boston. The lights appeared to be part of a single structure. The driver, LM, lost sight of the object due to children leaving an event, but the passenger, LB, followed it until it faded from view. The total viewing time was about two minutes.

LB described the lights as arranged in a circular ring with some thickness, similar to a spinning wheel. She depicted red and yellow petals equally spaced around the rim, representing the red and blue lights on the rim of the circular structure. The lights (estimated 8-10) were oval-shaped in a vertical format around the circle. Drawings by both witnesses are included, showing an interwoven lattice structure with lights and a dome-like shape.

An Interesting Foreign Report

This section presents an Italian report, shared by a local MUFON member who is also a physicist. The report involves the physicist's relatives and was judged credible due to his excellent position to assess it. The witnesses, a husband and wife aged 66 and 68, are retired high school teachers with impeccable reputations.

The sighting occurred on February 1, 1977, around midnight, in San Pietro Avellana, Isernia, Italy, and lasted over half an hour. The husband, feeling unwell, looked out the window and saw the UFO. It consisted of a circular-elliptical light, about the size of the moon, positioned 50°-60° high in the sky, with its center stationary. The light changed shape from elliptical to circular and changed color from yellow to orange. No sound was heard after opening the window. Visibility was excellent, with no clouds, and the moon was visible separately.

Additional Content

Correction

A correction is noted for Issue 18, stating that the time for the events should have read '10:10-10:40 PM EST' instead of what was previously sent to some subscribers.

Contents

The table of contents lists the articles featured in this issue: 'DAYLIGHT DISC REPORTED FROM WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.' (Page 1), 'APPARENT LOW-LEVEL FLYOVER NEAR STURBRIDGE' (Page 3), 'OBJECT REPORTED FROM WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.' (Page 8), 'AN INTERESTING FOREIGN REPORT.' (Page 10), and '18TH CENTURY UFO-OR JOURNALISTIC LICENSE ?' (Page 15).

Sighting Evaluation and Additional Comment

For the Sturbridge sighting, the investigator noted that the witness' initial thought of an oncoming aircraft, yet failure to describe normal aircraft running light colors (noticing only multiple white lights), strengthened the 'unknown' evaluation. The failure to find any corroborating aircraft in the area also contributed. James McCampbell's theory about UFOs emitting EM radiation causing headlamp failure is discussed in relation to the Sturbridge case. However, no such effect was noticed by the witness. The possibilities considered were that the witness was too preoccupied to notice dimming, the object did not emit radiation, the theory did not apply, or the object was not a UFO. No firm conclusion was drawn regarding EM effects.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the New England UFO Newsletter consistently emphasizes detailed reporting of sightings, including witness testimony, descriptions, and investigator evaluations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, attempting to rule out conventional explanations while acknowledging the possibility of unknown phenomena. There is a clear effort to gather as much data as possible, including witness background checks and attempts to correlate sightings with known aircraft or events. The inclusion of a foreign report and theoretical discussions suggests a broad approach to the UFO subject. The publication aims to provide a platform for documented UFO experiences and their analysis.

This document appears to be a collection of articles and reports related to UFO phenomena, spanning from contemporary sightings to historical accounts. The primary focus is on investigating and analyzing these events, with a blend of witness testimonies, expert opinions, and historical research.

Article 1: Sparkling Lights Above Lake Champlain

This section, dated March 25, 1980, from the Burlington Free Press, details reports of "sparkling lights" seen traveling northwest over Lake Champlain on a Saturday night. Airport control tower spokesmen indicated that the government no longer investigates UFO reports, leaving such work to private institutions. A report filed by traffic controllers was sent to the Center for Atmospheric Research in Palestine, Texas. The lights were also spotted by police in Colchester and Burlington, and by an amateur astronomer in Essex Junction. A Shelburne woman described a colorful object that flashed, initially appearing circular and then becoming elliptical. The object was seen hovering above Malletts Bay before moving north. Witnesses described the object as "not a star, it was not a planet" and noted its colors changing rapidly. Some witnesses watched until about 11 p.m. when the object was obscured by the treeline. Plattsburgh Air Force Base reported no sightings. The national UFO Reporting Center in Seattle received reports and intended to investigate. Witnesses described the lights as floating between 2,500 and 4,000 feet, though they could have been as far as 60 miles away. One witness, Kernan, noted the unusual nature of the sighting, stating, "It was something abnormal. It was an unusual sighting."

Article 2: UFO Sighting in Middlebury, VT

This report from the Rutland Herald, dated April 1, 1980, details a sighting in Middlebury, VT. A teenage resident reported a "cigar-shaped object with lighting at each end" that hovered in the northwest sky for over an hour. The youth was not alarmed but simply wanted to know if others had noticed the phenomenon. Police investigated but did not see the object or find other reports. Separately, nine days prior, traffic controllers at Burlington International Airport and area police reported a "bright light that 'did a kind of dance'." This description differed from the Middlebury sighting. The UFO reported near Middlebury was sighted hovering before dropping below the treeline.

Article 3: 18th Century UFO at Boston

This section presents an account from The Boston Gazette and Country Journal of August 19, 1765, regarding an event on August 14, 1765. The report, though partially illegible due to the microfilm's condition, describes a "very extraordinary Phenomenon." It details a small black cloud, larger than a man's hand but not larger than a human body, suspended in the air and exhibiting a pendulous or vibratory motion. The cloud remained in position until sunset, attracting thousands of spectators. Around 7 p.m., the cloud suddenly fell to the earth, then mounted again about 15 feet from the ground, moving gradually and solemnly. It later emitted a "vapor & smoke" and "rapid sparks of electric fire," accompanied by thunder. The cloud proceeded through the town, discharging thunder multiple times. It then moved towards the harbor, sank, and tore a newly erected building, later shattering windows and breaking furnishings. The cloud continued its activity until about 11 p.m. when it vanished. The article notes that the air became remarkably fine and clear afterward. The editor suggests this account might be a journalistic device to condemn the Stamp Act. The article also points out the similarity between the terms used to describe this historical event and those used today for "real" UFOs, citing descriptions like "suspended in air," "fell suddenly to earth but soon mounted again," and "emitted...a little vapor & smoke."

Article 4: Scientific Puzzle and Subjective Experience

This section discusses the scientific puzzle presented by the magnification of objects in proximity, comparing it to gravitational bending of light. The reported telescopic effects suggest masses or energies substantially larger than the sun. Current physical theories predict that such masses would absorb light rays and distort the Earth. The conclusion is that current scientific knowledge cannot fully explain the peculiarity of the sight. The text then explores the orientation of researchers who believe a major component of UFO witness reports is subjective, stemming from past experience, archetypal consciousness, or externally induced mental manipulation, rather than direct sensory experience. It provides a list of recommended readings on this topic, including works by Jung, Randles, Warrington, and Lawson.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes include the investigation of UFO sightings, the analysis of witness testimonies, the exploration of potential scientific explanations, and the consideration of subjective factors in perception. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various accounts and perspectives while acknowledging the limitations of current scientific understanding and the potential for historical events to be interpreted through a modern UFO lens. The editor also suggests that some historical accounts, like the 1765 Boston event, might have been fabricated for non-UFO related purposes, such as political commentary.