NICAP Reporter - Vol 1 No 04 - 01 1963 - No 04

Magazine Overview

Title: NICAP REPORTER
Issue: Vol. 1 No. 4
Date: January 1963
Publisher: National Investigations Commission On Aerial Phenomena (NICAP)
Director: Robert J. Gribble

This issue of the NICAP REPORTER serves as an "Introductory Copy" and a compilation of recent sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and aerial phenomena. The publication's director, Robert J. Gribble, congratulates news sources for disseminating these accounts, noting that such reports have often been discouraged or ridiculed by official statements. The magazine aims to present these observations, collected from various news services and media outlets across North America.

Key Articles and Reports

Monterey County, California Sighting (December 14, 1962)

An elusive "glowing thing with a halo" was reported by at least three dozen people, including law enforcement officers from Monterey to King City. The object reportedly glowed, changed size and shape, hovered, and shot forward with great speed. Officials at Hamilton Air Force Base stated that radar detected nothing, and planes in the area could not find it. While some early risers in surrounding towns also witnessed the phenomenon, the Air Force had no weather balloons up and offered no explanation, though meteorite activity was noted that night. Greenfield police officer Nick Hines first reported the object at 4:27 a.m., describing it as a "glowing object over the hill." King City confirmed the sighting, noting the object was moving south and changing color and size, appearing bright red and then white, rising higher. A newspaper boy, Constable and Mrs. Ted Miller, and a Soledad policeman also reported sightings. The object was estimated to be about 60,000 feet high by the Millers. Observers noted it varied in appearance, sometimes looking like a "ball of fire." South county police officers estimated its altitude at 10,000 feet and stated it "shot straight up very fast" when it disappeared. Witnesses definitively stated it did not resemble a star or weather balloon and had a white halo behind it.

Midway, Washington Fiery Object (December 20, 1962)

A mystery object, possibly a meteorite, exploded into a dark red ball of fire and landed in 40 feet of mud and water near the Midway gravel pit, off the new Seattle-Tacoma Freeway. John Liedtke, a welder at the pit, reported seeing sparks and then a large ball of fire followed by thick smoke. The State Patrol confirmed a perfectly round hole, 15 feet across, in the mud where the object landed.

Woburn, Massachusetts Sighting (November 1, 1962)

Charles F. Kirk reported a "mysterious flying object" that hovered over Woburn for 8 to 9 minutes above Salem Street. The object, described as a streamlined egg shape, was first noticed between 2 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. against a dark blue sky. Kirk estimated its height at 2,000 feet or less and its size as over 40 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high. Kirk, a machinist and carpenter, was working on a new building when he saw it. He described an "eerie" feeling of being watched and fear. The object was golden orange with a black band and a projection, making clicking sounds at 15-second intervals, suggesting it was taking pictures. It produced a band of light around the building before disappearing quickly. A geiger counter check by L.C. Anstey of Woburn Civilian Defense found a slight increase in background radiation at the site.

San Luis Valley, Colorado Sightings (October 29, 1962)

Unidentified flying objects were reported in the southern part of the San Luis Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Alvie Frank reported seeing two "flat, glowing" objects moving slowly together around sunrise.

Fort Collins, Colorado Sightings (October 26, 1962)

Mrs. Bessie Rogers reported a large black object weaving back and forth over the mountains between Horsetooth Reservoir and Masonville. The object appeared stationary for a time, then spread out and flew for about 10 minutes before disappearing and returning. Police and sheriff's officers searched the area without success.

Fort Collins, Colorado Sighting (October 29, 1962)

Mrs. Vera Rogers reported a round, shiny object flying low over Fort Collins, making a soft whirring sound followed by "popping." Reports also came from South College Heights of lighted, low-flying objects seen late Friday and Saturday nights.

Delta County, Colorado Reports (October 29, 1962)

Numerous reports of unidentified flying objects continued to be received over the Delta County area, marking the fifth consecutive day of sightings.

Grand Mesa, Colorado Mystery (October 24, 1962)

The mystery of two parachutes reported descending at 12:20 p.m. on the north side of Grand Mesa remained unsolved. Mrs. Rex Allen saw what appeared to be two parachutes. A Game and Fish Department plane searched the area without findings. The Federal Aviation Agency had no reports of missing aircraft. Three hours later, Mrs. Sydney Shoup and Mr. and Mrs. Gib Williams reported an object going down in the same general area. Mrs. Shoup described the object as disc-shaped, possibly coming from an airplane. The North American Air Defense Command received no such reports.

Fort Collins, Colorado Investigation (October 24, 1962)

A search was conducted for an unidentified flying object spotted west of Fort Collins. Lester Sandler reported a round, gray-white object, estimated to weigh 200-300 pounds, that appeared to have fallen. The Sheriff's office was notified. Another caller reported an orange object near Dixon Canyon Dam, which appeared much larger. Sheriff Ray K. Scheerer's deputies were investigating, and two airplanes from the city airport were sent to check the area.

Western Slope, Colorado Sightings (October 26, 1962)

Two bright unidentified flying objects were observed for two hours and 17 minutes. The objects were described as glowing whitely, like fluorescent light, then turning deep red, dimming, and turning white again. They appeared stationary between Delta and Cedaredge before rising. Observers described them as shaped like an inverted umbrella with bright, tail-like appendages. They disappeared and reappeared over different locations. Estimates of altitude varied from 1,500 feet to 5,000 feet. The objects were described as about twice the size of the brightest star and disappeared traveling southeast.

Thamesville, Ontario, Canada Sighting (October 4, 1962)

A silver ball was observed hanging in the sky since Monday morning. Top citizens reported seeing it, and it was described as having impeccable characters and 20-20 eyesight. A call to the London Free Press yielded no information. Later, jet streaks were seen in the object's vicinity.

Jacksonville, Florida "Great Balls of Fire" (October 5, 1962)

Folks on Spring Park Road reported seeing ghostly fireballs and wraithlike zones of light. Mrs. J.P. Raker described a "round ball as big as a No. 2 washtub" with a pinkish light that hovered outside her kitchen window. Harold Whitehead and two other men saw a blinding, whitish ball of fire glide along a utility wire. On Pampas Drive, a formless "glow" moved through a house, illuminating objects and causing a woman's hand to tingle. Mrs. Gladys Faucette saw a "glow" descend near her home, describing it as a "terribly big brilliance." The electrical circuit to her bathroom and bedroom was knocked out.

Everett, Washington Sighting (September 10, 1962)

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Brooks reported a ball of fire sailing low under an overcast sky, appearing to the southwest and sailing northeast. One end of the ball seemed to deflate, and the object disappeared to the northwest. Brooks estimated its height at between 200 and 300 feet.

Everett, Washington Fireball (September 17, 1962)

Arnold Garke reported seeing a fireball flash across the eastern skyline about 10 o'clock at night. He thought it must have crashed nearby due to its low altitude.

Chelan, Washington Fireball (September 20, 1962)

Several persons saw what might have been a meteorite flashing across the sky around 9:30 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Wellington Phillips reported a huge blue-white ball of fire that seemed to land in the Cooper Mountain area. Mrs. Phillips also saw it. Mrs. Lucy Evans saw the light between the Point and Chelan. The ball of fire trailed a "tail" of sparks.

Titusville, Pennsylvania UFO (September 18, 1962)

Four youngsters reported seeing an unidentified flying object following an erratic course across the sky. Two newsroom staff members located the object, which appeared as a bright star, moving erratically and fading/brightening.

Marysville, Washington UFO (September 20, 1962)

A low-flying, disc-like object was reported in the Whisky Ridge area. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Brooks reported a low-flying phenomenon that seemed to dip down as if to land, then headed northwest. No noise was heard, and the object traveled at the speed of a small airplane.

Little Falls, New York Sighting (September 18, 1962)

Area residents were startled by a brilliant flash and a smoke trail in the northeast sky. Harvey Young described the object as more dazzling than the full moon and stationary. It reminded him of a brilliant comet. The identity of the object remains a mystery, with Sputnik IV's rocket body being the only satellite nearing destruction, but it was still in orbit.

Massillon, Ohio UFO Reports (September 18, 1962)

Patrolman Dave McCurry reported seeing "two round, blue-white objects traveling from the southeast." One was larger than the other, and both appeared to be leaving trails. Highway patrol posts at Akron, St. Clairsville, and Findlay also reported UFOs. Patrolman Roger Stinard saw a strange stationary bright light. Patrolman Dave Ritchie reported an unexplained bright light. Patrolman James Nelson reported two objects in the sky, one smaller than the other, the color of a star. United Airlines personnel and the U.S. Weather Bureau station reported nothing unusual.

Passaic, New Jersey Sighting (September 22, 1962)

William Stock spotted a round object, shaped like a disc, suspended in space at Sam Braen's quarry. When illuminated by his jeep's lights, it bobbed up and down, moved side to side, and then turned around, revealing what appeared to be headlights before disappearing very fast.

Clifton, New Jersey "Blinking Star" (September 22, 1962)

Two 16-year-old youths reported seeing a blinking star that grew lighter and brighter, shooting off beams of light and colors, then emitting red blasts before disappearing. The display lasted about four minutes.

Hawthorne, New Jersey Sightings (September 21, 1962)

Five persons, including four policemen, observed a brightly-lit unidentified object. Patrolman Saal, a former air force pilot, estimated the object was between 20,000 and 25,000 feet high. It came from the south, hovered for about 25 minutes, and then moved off rapidly. Saal had a similar experience in Richmond, Virginia. Attempts to identify the object by control tower and other planes failed.

Hawthorne, New Jersey Teenager Sighting (September 24, 1962)

Peter Lee and his mother reported seeing an oblong silvery object coming from the northwest over the Ramapo Mountains. It looked like a "flattened blimp," came toward them, stopped, hesitated, turned, and sped away in about 10 seconds.

Hawthorne, New Jersey UFO Explanation Attempt (September 26, 1962)

An explanation offered for the UFOs seen at Braen's Quarry was a letter signed "The Bergenfield Pranksters," claiming the object was a model plane covered with aluminum foil and kept aloft with helium balloons. A spokesman at McGuire Air Force Base stated that all witnesses would be sent questionnaires for investigation by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The reason for the UFO stopping for periods and then speeding off remained unexplained.

Madison, Wisconsin Green Light (September 28, 1962)

A brilliant green, fiery object broke across the eastern Madison sky, lasting nearly 10 seconds. It followed an easy curve from south to north. Observers noted it was not a "falling star" due to its duration. The green light appeared as a single light, then dart-shaped, with apparent fragments sparking away as it neared the earth.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the prevalence of Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sightings across various regions of the United States and Canada during late 1962. The reports consistently describe objects exhibiting unusual characteristics, including varied shapes, colors, speeds, and behaviors, often defying conventional explanations like aircraft or natural phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on witness testimony, particularly from law enforcement officers and other credible individuals, to lend weight to the accounts. The editorial stance, as articulated by Director Robert J. Gribble, is one of advocacy for the dissemination of these reports, challenging the perceived official efforts to ridicule or discredit the subject of UFOs. The publication positions itself as a platform for presenting these observations, encouraging further investigation and public awareness, while also acknowledging the potential for embarrassment that might deter some witnesses from reporting their experiences.