NICAP Reporter - Vol 3 No 02 - 11 1964 - No 26

Magazine Overview

Title: N. I. C. A. P. REPORTER
Issue: Vol. 3 No. 2, Issue No. 26
Date: November 1964
Publisher: National Investigations Commission on Aerial Phenomena

This issue of the N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER focuses on reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related incidents, presenting a collection of sightings and investigations from across the United States during 1964.

Project Bluebook and Air Force Investigations

The central article details the U.S. Air Force's operation, "Project Bluebook," located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. This clandestine office, guarded by military police, is dedicated to solving the mystery of flying objects. Air Force Captain Hector Quintanilla Jr., described as the Air Force's "UFO investigator," heads the project. Project Bluebook, which was previously known as Project Grudge until 1952, has over 8,000 cases on file. Quintanilla states that while many sightings can be explained, a significant number remain unsolved. As of the report, there were 910 unsolved cases, representing about 10.7 percent of those investigated, an increase from 7.7 percent earlier in the year.

Quintanilla outlines the three main objectives of Project Bluebook: first, to determine if UFOs pose a threat to national security; second, to determine their scientific characteristics; and third, to explain or identify them. He emphasizes that, at the time of the report, UFOs do not pose a threat to U.S. security. The project does not focus on deliberate hoaxers, but rather on genuinely baffling sightings. Quintanilla notes that the largest group sighting on record involved 40 people who saw what turned out to be Russia's Sputnik IV re-entering the atmosphere over Wisconsin.

He also mentions that some people report seeing strange beings in spacecraft, ranging in height from two to 12 feet and with various skin colors. Regarding photographic evidence, Quintanilla asserts that "every single picture we have on file in Project Blue Book of so-called flying objects either can be attributed to sea gulls, lens flares, light reflections, or outright hoaxes." He adds that one picture even shows an automobile trademark on a hubcap sighted in the air. Quintanilla considers the unsolved cases to be the most baffling, leaving the question open as to whether they are natural phenomena or something inconceivable from outer space.

Notable UFO Sightings and Incidents (1964)

The magazine then presents a chronological list of UFO sightings reported throughout 1964:

• April 24, 1964, Socorro, New Mexico: Patrolman Lonnie Zamora of the Socorro Police Department reported seeing a metallic, egg-shaped object with four stilt-like legs on the desert near Socorro. The object, described as about the height of an automobile and made of a shiny, aluminum-like substance, flew away as Zamora approached. Its takeoff burned a bush and left four impression marks on the ground.

• September 22, 1964, San Francisco, California: Police and residents reported a bright "cigar-shaped" object in the Bay Area. While some police initially thought it was a jet plane, its appearance was altered by smoke from nearby fires. Vandenberg Air Force Base officials confirmed firing a missile that day, but it was downrange and not visible in the area. Three patrolmen described the object as a "flying submarine."

• September 20, 1964, Rio Dell, California: A multi-lighted object was observed for over an hour. Described as cigar-shaped with a bright light in front and two lights in the rear, it made a huge arc and returned. Observers using telescopes noted several lights, while others saw at least two. The object was estimated to be about 50,000 feet high and traveled at terrific speed, disappearing with the speed of a meteor.

• September 7, 1964, Missouri State: A bright object flashed across the skies, activating a hot line between Whiteman Air Force Base and SAC headquarters. Hundreds observed it, particularly near ICBM bases. The object was described as a white streak of light followed by a flash and a lingering blue streak. Some reports mentioned other lights resembling colored stars.

• August 30, 1964, Near Bennett, Iowa: A mysterious object, described as the "brightest light" seen, appeared to have two bright lights. It was observed by a dozen people, initially appearing stationary before moving at high speed. The object was described as about 150 feet long and 50 feet in diameter, with two bluish-white lights. During the sighting, a convertible's radio cut out, and the car temporarily stalled.

• August 16, 1964, Northern Ohio State: Mrs. Robert Smith reported seeing a very bright object moving slowly from the west. It made a sharp turn, unlike any satellite. Later, Clyde Young, a night dispatcher, observed a bright light with two smaller lights circling it, appearing red on the bottom and white on top. Deputies also reported eye contact, describing a blue ring around the object and occasional red flames from the bottom. Sightings were reported for about an hour and a half.

• August 12, 1964, Loveland, Colorado: Numerous sightings of a mysterious flashing red object occurred. One onlooker claimed it was sending Morse Code signals. The object was described as glowing red, several hundred feet above the ground, and stationary. It was also described as a crimson red orb with blinking red lights on its sides, which then descended rapidly and vanished.

• August 11, 1964, Hamilton, Montana: Another UFO sighting was reported, described as a shiny object emitting a strong, bright light. It was viewed for about 20 minutes, hovering on or above a mountain.

• July 31, 1964, Wawaka, Indiana: Boys reported seeing a "big ball of fire like the sun" flying very low, which then downed near the woods and went out, revealing a "round thing." The fire then reappeared, and the object moved again. No noise was heard.

• July, 1964, Flemington, New Jersey: A man reported seeing "flying objects," one of which landed in a 14-acre field. Described as a "big white thing," egg-shaped, at least 30 feet around, with a glow underneath, it moved towards the observer before he ran. The object was later seen by his wife and daughter.

• July 28, 1964, Gainesville, Georgia: About 20 people witnessed an object that came from the south and approached the downtown area. It showed a red light when moving and red, yellow, and green lights when stopped. It hovered, appeared to revolve slowly, and then disappeared. It was sighted again shortly after. Witnesses compared it to a child's top and noted its lights were larger than airport lights.

• July 27, 1964, Near Sherburne, New York: Louis Daubert described an object that "moved so fast and was so bright it practically blinded you." It hovered about 50 feet from the ground, shot out three beams of bright light, and took off at high speed. It was described as resembling aluminum with a luminous edge and was noiseless.

• July 27, 1964, Near Hamilton, Montana: Delbert Wall and others reportedly viewed a UFO hovering about 100 feet above timber. A smaller object, described as approximately 10 feet in diameter, dome-shaped with windows and red/green lights, emerged from a larger UFO.

• July 22, 1964, Winnett, Montana: While swimming, observers heard a terrific noise and saw a huge shining object overhead, circular in shape with visible windows. It was high and not rotating.

• July 16, 1964, Conklin, New York: Five young boys reported seeing what appeared to be a spaceman and his vehicle in a field. The creature was described as about the size of a little boy, with a human-looking face, wearing a black suit and helmet with antenna-like wires. It made a peculiar noise. A vehicle, described as "shiny like a car bumper," was also seen. The area showed matted foliage and three depressions.

• June 24, 1964, Near Kalispell, Montana: Three cigar-shaped UFOs with rows of lights were observed. They looked like long fat cigars with a bright white light at each end and smaller lights in between. The center object was dimmer and tinged with orange light. The Duncans also reported seeing a UFO during a flood on June 9.

• May 20, 1964, Industry, Pennsylvania: An Industry woman and her son saw a flying object described as oval with lighted windows, bright orange in color, and rotating. It moved from left to right and made no noise.

• May 17, 1964, Near Lawrence, Ohio: A UFO was sighted as a ball of light, deep red-orange in color, hovering. It then drifted south and rose in elevation, changing to a pale white glow. Another report mentioned a UFO landing in a field, described as a large round ball flashing on and off from orange to crystal white. A similar object was seen north of the Wooster airport.

• May 15, 1964, Erie, Pennsylvania: Reports included children seeing a "funny" object in the sky, a "chrome object that went put-put" and made a whirring sound, and a tripod-shaped object parked in a picnic area.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across the United States in 1964, the efforts of official bodies like the Air Force (Project Bluebook) to investigate these phenomena, and the persistent mystery surrounding unexplained cases. The editorial stance, as represented by the N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER and the quoted Air Force officials, is one of documenting and analyzing these reports, while also acknowledging the limitations of current explanations for some sightings. The publication itself is presented as a non-profit organization dedicated to public education on the subject since 1955.