NICAP Reporter - Vol 1 No 12 - 09 1963 - No 12

Magazine Overview

Title: N. I. C. A. P. REPORTER
Issue Date: September 1963
Publisher: National Investigations Commission on Aerial Phenomena
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of the N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER, Volume 1, Number 12, dated September 1963, focuses on a collection of reports concerning unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) from various locations around the world. The cover prominently features a quote from the U.S. Air Force stating that UAP have not indicated a threat to national security, alongside headlines highlighting sightings in Fiji and England.

Reports of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena and Possible Related Incidents

Fiji Sightings

The magazine details several sightings in Fiji. Mrs. A.E. Kennard of Tamavua reported waking to see a fiery ball in the sky over Bequa around 3:30 a.m., moving towards Laucala Bay. She described the experience as frightening. Her husband initially dismissed it, but about 10 minutes earlier, three Fijian policemen at Ba had also reported seeing the object. Members of the RNZAF also sighted the object around the same time, agreeing it was moving in a southeasterly direction. A report from Lautoka confirmed that the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Cook had observed strange objects "falling into the Fiji Group." Men from HMS Cook reported that around 3:20 a.m., a large object fell from the sky into the sea while the ship was anchored in the northern Yasawa Group. An officer described the object as a brilliant light, like moonlight, but upon closer observation, it appeared to be a falling object. The object illuminated the sky with a green-white light and had a long, fiery orange tail, making no noise as it fell. This incident was also reported by several people in Lautoka.

Blackburn, England Sighting

Mr. Tom Leaver of Mill Hill, Blackburn, reported seeing a mysterious flying object around 10:30 p.m. He described it as shining like silver, shaped like an arrowhead, and traveling very fast from west to east, passing just below the moon. He could not estimate its height and initially thought it might be an old satellite. A spokesman at the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Air Traffic Control Centre at Barton Hall, near Preston, was unable to identify the object and expressed eagerness for more information.

Cape Scare in South Africa

For two weeks, a flying object scare affected the farming community of Boskloof, eight miles from Clanwilliam, in the Cape. Groups of farmers reported hunting strange lights that mysteriously appeared. The scare climaxed when a group of 80 farmers gathered at Mr. Herman Nieuwoudt's farm, where a hail of stones was reported to have fallen on the farmhouse occupied by Mr. J. Smit. Mysterious noises were heard coming from the house. Police investigated and confirmed the noises but suggested a natural explanation. Reports of flying objects hovering over farms continued, with farmers attempting to track the source of these phenomena without success. Mr. E.H. Nieuwoudt, a Boskloof farmer, believes the falling stones and noises are connected to strange flying objects he has seen. He described one object he saw before Easter as about 12 feet wide and 10 feet high, which rose off the ground and moved at terrific speed. Mrs. G.E. Nieuwoudt reported seeing a flying object three times, describing it as looking like the moon and possibly from "another world." The area experienced herds of cattle being frightened by red glowing lights and dogs fleeing in terror due to strange noises. Sergeant J.A. Jacobs of the Clanwilliam police post reported hearing three thumps during the night, suggesting it could be roof contraction. Despite rumors of invasion from Mars, police suggested natural explanations. The area has no airfields that could explain the lights, and no meteorological balloons were reported.

Liverpool, England Sighting

Thirteen-year-old Robert Hirst and his mother, Mrs. Margaret McCutcheon, reported seeing an unidentified flying object in their back garden in Kirkby, near Liverpool. They described it as being about 16 feet in diameter, hovering just over the garden, with two aerials and a red light. It emitted a low buzz and flashing light, staying for nearly a minute before moving off over the rooftops. Bob drew a picture of the object. A police spokesman stated it did not appear to be a police matter.

Special Report to N.I.C.A.P. (California, USA)

Five UFOs were sighted around 5 a.m. on May 8, 1963, to the east, at about a 45-degree angle. They were intensely bright lights, brighter than street lights, with no obvious shape or substance, described as white spots of light. They moved slowly, like a helicopter. The lower four objects raised slightly and receded, while the highest one traveled upward and to the east, disappearing into the clouds. The sighting was observed for over ten minutes.

Resort Will Protest Aerial Explosions (Palm Springs, California, USA)

Residents of Palm Springs complained about sharp aerial explosions that occurred for two nights, starting at 9 p.m. and at 90-minute intervals. No serious damage was reported.

Mount Gambier, Australia Sighting

On May 15, Mt Gambier police investigated a report of a "brilliant red light 10 feet in diameter" that kept pace with a car traveling towards the Victorian border for 15 miles. Mr. E. Lewis reported the object, which appeared around 6:50 p.m. Constables B.V. Wright and A.S. Hartshorne searched the area without success.

Oakley, California, USA Sighting

Mrs. Virginia Knauss and her daughter Irene reported seeing a bright object in the eastern sky at 8:05 p.m. Mrs. Knauss stated the bright light flashed for a few seconds and appeared to be approximately four inches in diameter.

Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA Sighting

Homer Long reported a "mysterious" red light hovering over Kannapolis for about 30 minutes starting around 9 p.m. He described the object as too slow for an airplane. It disappeared behind trees.

South Bay Cities, California, USA Incident

A series of aerial explosions shook South Bay cities at 3:30 p.m. on a Monday, causing crockery to crack and disturbing residents.

Canberra, Australia Sightings

Two astronomers from the Mt. Stromlo observatory, Professor Bart Bok and Dr. H. Gollnow, were mystified by an object that flashed across the sky. They described it as orange-red, brightly illuminated, and passing from west to east at a very high altitude. They discounted the possibility of it being a meteor due to its slow speed. They observed the object for one minute from 6:58 p.m. They later confirmed with Department of Civil Aviation officials that no aircraft were in the vicinity. Dr. Gollnow welcomed information from anyone else who saw the object.

Mystery Flash 'Vampire Jet' (Canberra, Australia)

Mount Stromlo astronomers believe an unusual flash of light was caused by an R.A.A.F. Vampire jet. The brilliant orange-red flash occurred around 6:58 p.m. Department of Civil Aviation officials initially stated it could not be an aircraft due to the lights, but the R.A.A.F. later confirmed a Vampire jet with a large amber recognition light flew across Canberra at high altitude at about 420 m.p.h. on an exercise.

Flying Object Observed Over Mexico

A strange object crossed the heavens of Zitacuaro on May 29, 1963, at 8:30 p.m., causing a sensation among inhabitants. It was described as a luminous object moving from north to southeast in a clear sky and was believed to be a space ship.

Oldham, England Sighting

A group of young people in Royton reported seeing a flying object hover silently 150 feet above their heads for 15 minutes before gliding over the Oldham and District General Hospital towards nearby playing fields. Pat Townsend described it as a very bright object with something spinning above it, noting the absence of noise, which distinguished it from a plane or helicopter.

Minnesota, USA Sightings

The Minnesota Highway Patrol and police in several southern Minnesota towns received reports of an unidentified flying object early in the morning. Reports described large greenish-white objects hovering in the sky, ranging in size from a semi-truck to 300 feet in diameter. Police in Austin were informed by five truckers about a strange multi-colored light that appeared to settle to earth shortly after 3 a.m. near Lyle. Highway patrolmen searched an area on the Iowa border but found nothing unusual. An Austin radio station received calls from numerous persons reporting a multi-colored light descending to earth in the Lyle area. One report from Faribault mentioned an object that hovered over the ground, landed, and took off. A man in the Lake Minnetonka area reported an unidentified object landed in a lake.

Aerial Reconnaissance Fails to Find Trace of UFO's (Austin, Minnesota, USA)

An aerial search covering the area north and south of Austin failed to find any signs of a landing by an unidentified flying object reported the previous night. Sheriff Doyle Lindahl, chief deputy Dale Rolfson, a reporter, and a KQAQ reporter participated in three flights, scanning wooded areas for natural concealment. Highway patrolmen also searched an area near Lyle but found nothing unusual.

UFO May Have Caused Plane Search (Brainerd, Minnesota, USA)

The sheriff's office and Civil Air Patrol launched a search for a possible crashed plane after two women reported seeing what appeared to be a burning plane plunging from the sky. The FAA suggested the women may have sighted a meteor, or possibly lightning striking a power line, as there was a power failure in the area.

Bright Light Over Northeast Iowa, USA

A bright light appeared over northeast Iowa around 2:30 a.m., speculated to be a meteor or a man-made satellite burning up. Searches were conducted, but no evidence of a crash was found. An airline pilot reported sighting a glowing object in the same direction around the same time.

Roundup of Miscellaneous News Items

Report from New Zealand: An announcer on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's overseas service detailed how convinced they were of the existence of unidentified flying objects, mentioning the R.A.A.F.'s attempt to "provide an explanation" for a mystery object over Australia.

Cooper Says Space Life Possible: Astronauts' writings suggest the possibility of interesting forms of life in space, and the numerous unexplained sightings of unidentified objects around Earth heighten curiosity about space, especially given reports from experienced pilots.

For the Record: No UFO's Here: An Argus-Courier story from April Fool's Day about a UFO in the Chileno Valley area was revealed to be a hoax. The story concerned a fictitious character named "Angelo Mostaccioli" who encountered a UFO and small figures that captured a calf. The news staff admitted it was an April Fool's joke.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of unidentified aerial phenomena sightings across different continents, the detailed descriptions provided by witnesses (including shape, color, behavior, and sometimes size and speed), and the attempts by authorities and researchers to investigate and explain these occurrences. While some incidents are attributed to natural phenomena like meteors or atmospheric events, many remain unexplained. The publication, through its collection of reports, appears to maintain an open stance towards the existence of UAP, presenting the accounts without definitive conclusions, but highlighting the persistent nature of these sightings and the public's fascination with them. The editorial stance is one of reporting and archiving these phenomena, as indicated by the publisher's name and the nature of the content.