NICAP Reporter - Vol 1 No 07 - 04 1963 - No 07

Magazine Overview

The N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER, Volume 1, Number 7, published in April 1963, is the official monthly publication of the National Investigations Commission on Aerial Phenomena, based in Seattle, Washington. The issue's cover prominently features a statement from Robert J. Gribble, Director of N.I.C.A.P., commending news sources for disseminating reports of aerial phenomena, noting that such dissemination has been discouraged by 'false official statements designed to ridicule and discredit the subject.' The publication's subscription information is provided at the end, with a yearly subscription cost of $1.00 in the U.S. and $2.00 for other countries.

Key Articles and Reports

Opinion Concerning Fotos of Some Objects (Cordoba, Argentina) This report details an incident in Cordoba, Argentina, where two students, Cesar Domingo La Padula and Ernest Jose Inda, claimed to have seen a flying object in plain daylight on June 30th. La Padula presented photographs of the object. A jury, comprising Carlos Albert Sapere, chief of the Moving Picture and Photography Section of the Provincial Tourist Office, and photographers Ulderico Todo and Rene Begue, analyzed the photos. Their judgment stated that the images were 'normal' and represented a 'faithful reflection' of what the camera captured, rejecting the possibility of deception. They also affirmed that 'no peculiarity' indicated the negatives had been tampered with, though they did not comment on the nature of the objects themselves. The source is cited as 'La Nacion--Buenos Aires, Argentina--7/25/62'.

A Foto Has Been Made of a Flying Object (Bahia Blanca, Argentina) 'La Nueva Provincia,' a morning daily in Bahia Blanca, published a photograph of a flying object. The object is described as a 'flying disc' with a linear aspect, appearing as a 'blot of light with borders almost perfectly defined' against a dull gray night sky. A second photograph, taken moments earlier at a greater distance, shows the object with a 'wake of light' presumably from its propulsion system. The newspaper included statements from its photographer, Miguel Tome, 23. The object was reportedly seen over the city at 7:30 p.m. on a Monday. Engineer Enrique Ferraz, president of the Astronomic and Astronautic Center of Bahia Blanca, analyzed the original photos and opined that an 'ovni' (unidentified flying object) was present. He noted that the object emitted a luminosity that affected the photographic plate, confirming the precision of the photos. The source is 'La Nacion--Buenos Aires, Argentina-5/23/62'.

The Appearance of Flying Discs is Object of Studies (Bahia Blanca, Argentina) This report from Bahia Blanca indicates that notices of unidentified object sightings have multiplied, leading to the formation of a special commission for their analysis. Captain Luis Sanchez Morreno of the Marine's Information Service investigated a report of two flying objects landing near La Pampa. He stated that the Marine has been concerned with these phenomena since 1952. The report also details a sighting by four persons who saw three luminous objects at close range, moving with a radiant light that illuminated the car's interior. One witness required eye treatment due to the intensity of the light. The objects performed feats of ascent and descent. Rear Admiral Eladio M. Vazquez and Captain Aldo Molinari also confirmed seeing a flying object on a preceding day. The source is 'La Nacion--Buenos Aires, Argentina--5/24/62'.

Flying Objects Flare into View Over City (Seattle, Washington, USA) On Christmas Day, Seattle sky watchers reported sightings of unidentified flying objects. Mrs. Lela Carter saw a 'skyrocket'-like object swoop across Elliott Bay and burst at 5:45 p.m. A Capitol Hill resident reported a 'big blotch of deep red' hanging in the sky. Mrs. Jean Holton saw a streaking white light at 7:10 p.m., accompanied by an explosive boom, which she considered too fast for an airplane. The source is 'Post Intelligencer--Seattle, Washington--12/26/62'.

Saw Strange Lights Over Rootstown (Rootstown, Ohio, USA) Four people in Western Rootstown Township reported seeing a strange light in the sky. Carl Rice described the object as dull and bigger than a star, with 'six or eight red lights' in a crescent shape. It stood still for a long time before moving southeast. The sighting occurred shortly before 6 p.m. and lasted 15 to 20 minutes. The source is 'Beacon-Journal-Akron, Ohio--1/3/63'.

South Dudley Agog Over Silver "Dot" in Sky (Wonthaggi, Australia) Ninety residents of South Dudley, near Wonthaggi, reported seeing a strange object in the sky. Graham Johnson first saw it around 11 a.m. Using a theodolite, they observed the object moving, though it appeared stationary to the naked eye. It was described as being miles away over Bass Strait and miles high. Gwen Lymer described it as a 'star in daylight,' not an airplane, and noted it traveled on a southwest course, disappearing around 3 p.m. The source is 'Age--Melbourne, Victoria, Australia--1/7/63'.

Mystery Objects Seen Over Western Washington (Montesano, Washington, USA) On January 10th, Henry Hudon and Henry Klundt reported seeing what they described as a 'genuine military rocket headed out of this world.' They observed five fiery streamers ascending and disappearing into clouds, leaving an orange glow. One object wavered, divided, and then a section disappeared. The report speculates it might have been Polaris submarines. The source is 'Twin Harbor Press-Westport, Wash.--1/17/63'.

Red Ball Mystery in Sky (California, USA) A red fireball, possibly a meteor or burned-out space vehicle, streaked across the western sky from Carmel to Ukiah around 6:10 p.m. Federal Aviation Agency authorities stated it was not an aircraft. Pilots and civilians reported the phenomenon. A Quantas airliner pilot saw a 'red ball' south of him. An Air Force pilot reported a bright descending object trailing flame. A Carmel woman described a fast-moving red object flashing white sparks. A Ukiah sheriff's deputy saw a 'blue fireball.' San Franciscans reported various descriptions, including a 'multi-colored flash' and a 'beautiful red streak.' Authorities at Vandenberg Air Force Base denied any missile firings. The Coast Guard conducted an air search. The source is 'Examiner--San Francisco, California--1/20/63'.

Mystery Object Seen Dropping from Sky (Canon City, Colorado, USA) In the Oak Creek Grade district, south of Canon City, a white object was seen hurtling through space shortly after noon on a Monday. It was observed after a jet aircraft passed over. Earl Williams described it as a 'white thing coming down after a jet went over.' A Santa Fe Railroad switch crewman also saw what may have been a parachute. The source is 'Record--Canon City, Colorado--1/22/63'.

Object Flames Across Sky (Burley, Idaho, USA) Several Burley residents reported a flaming object that exploded at 7:10 a.m. Bert Gardner described it as a 'huge red flash' that fell, exploded, and disappeared. Harold Estes described the object as 'something on fire in the sky with pieces falling from it.' The object reportedly had a tail about 150 feet long and 50 feet wide. The source is 'Herald-Bulletin--Burley, Idaho--1/22/63'.

Huge Object-Ball of Fire Lights Up Sky in SL (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) A flaming ball of fire, likely a meteor, hurtled across the sky west of Salt Lake City around 7:10 a.m. on a Tuesday. It was described as glowing red and orange with a greenish tail of flame. Hundreds of residents saw the object, with descriptions including 'the biggest I've ever seen' and noting unusual color changes. The source is 'Desert News-Salt Lake City, Utah--1/22/63'.

Special Report to N.I.C.A.P. (Brigham City, Utah, USA) An Aeronautical Engineer, employed in the missile industry, reported witnessing an event at approximately 07:10 to 07:30 hours on January 22, 1963. He described it as an aircraft exploding and burning or a piece of material entering the atmosphere. The ball of fire was orange and white, appeared instantaneously, and showed no indication of burning fragments or an extensive contrail. The total time interval was 10 to 20 seconds. He stated it was not like any meteorite entry he had seen before and suggested its atmospheric entry would have been perpendicular to the earth. Two other individuals in the car witnessed the event. The source is 'A.C., Brigham City, Utah'.

Sky Flash Startles Residents (Ely, Nevada, USA) A mysterious ball of fire hurtled into the sky east of Ely at 7:15 a.m. and disintegrated 'like a Roman candle,' leaving a long trail of smoke. Hundreds of people witnessed the event, and the Federal Aviation Agency received numerous calls. Claude House described it as starting as a small light, then becoming a ball of fire too bright to look at directly before bursting. A winding ribbon of smoke was visible for at least half an hour. The source is 'Times--Ely, Nevada--1/22/63'.

Special Report to N.I.C.A.P. (Elko, Nevada, USA) On January 22nd, around 6:10 a.m., a large ball of fire with a long tapering tail was seen traveling east on Highway 40 between Carlin and Elko. It seemed to explode, throwing out large rocket-type pieces that then exploded. The main ball slowed and descended, disappearing behind a mountain. The witness is identified as 'W.L.B., Elko, Nevada'.

Special Report to N.I.C.A.P. (Ruth, Nevada, USA) Around 7:10 a.m. on January 22, 1963, a meteor exploded in a brilliant flash over the Shell Creek range near McGill, Nevada. The trail was exceptionally bright and visible for about five seconds, followed by another explosion. The trail remained visible for about an hour after the incident. The witness is identified as '/S/ B.B.S., Ruth, Nevada'.

Green Flash Seen in Sky (Galt, Ontario, Canada) Several residents reported seeing a large green ball flash through the sky about 10:30 Wednesday night, coming from the northeast. The Evening Reporter has received other reports of 'odd-shaped, foreign objects.' The source is 'Reporter-Galt, Ontario, Canada--1/24/63'.

Special Report to N.I.C.A.P. (Granit Falls, Washington, USA) On January 25th and again on February 13th, a witness saw something unusual in the sky, described as a light on Pilchuck Mt. that was too bright and large for a car light. It moved in a 'delta' shape, not like a plane, and was so bright all over that no lights showed. It appeared to be a 'silvery bluish color' and moved in various directions, including standing still. The experience lasted half an hour or more. The witness lives 9 miles east of Granit Falls. The source is '/S/ N.S.D., Granit Falls, Washington'.

Woman Sights Strange Object in Seattle Sky (Seattle, Washington, USA) Josephine Allen reported seeing a strange object in the sky about 10:30 p.m. on a Friday. She described it as elliptical, green, and changing to other colors, traveling from south to northeast before disappearing. She wondered if it might have been a comet. The source is 'Post Intelligencer--Seattle, Wash,--1/29/63'.

Fiery Object Lights Sky (San Diego, California, USA) Hundreds of San Diegans saw a fiery object, possibly a meteor, at 11 p.m. The sheriff's office received calls, mostly from the Bonita area. The source is 'Evening Tribune--San Diego, California--1/30/63'.

Area Rumbles Pose Puzzle (San Diego, California, USA) Undetermined rumblings startled San Diego residents on January 29th. Police and newspapers received calls, with many thinking they were earthquakes. A seismologist stated his instruments recorded no quakes. The noises were heard intermittently and sounded like gunfire, but the Navy reported no firing. The source is 'Union--San Diego, California--1/30/63'.

Special Report to N.I.C.A.P. (San Diego, California, USA) Regarding the San Diego incident, an object looked like the exhaust flame from a jet taking off, high in the sky over east San Diego. It traveled toward the ocean and then made a direct nose dive into San Diego Bay. The object did not change in size or color. It was approximately four feet long and one foot across, with a brilliant fire and small sparks dropping from its tail, appearing like a flare or torch moving at high speed. The witness is Mrs. James A. Martin.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of the N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER are the widespread reporting of unidentified aerial phenomena across diverse geographical locations and the consistent pattern of witness descriptions, often involving lights, unusual shapes, and rapid movements. The editorial stance, as articulated by Director Robert Gribble, is one of advocacy for the open reporting and investigation of these phenomena, contrasting with what is perceived as official attempts to suppress or discredit such accounts. The magazine serves as a platform for disseminating these reports, providing detailed witness testimonies and, in some cases, photographic evidence, thereby encouraging further study and public awareness.