NICAP Reporter - Vol 3 No 07 - 04 1965 - No 31

Magazine Overview

Title: N. I. C. A. P. REPORTER
Issue: Vol. 3 No. 7
Date: April 1965
Publisher: National Investigations Commission on Aerial Phenomena

This issue of the N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER, dated April 1965, compiles a series of reports on unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and aerial phenomena from late 1964 and early 1965. The publication focuses on witness accounts, often from ordinary citizens, law enforcement, and pilots, detailing sightings across various locations in the United States, as well as international reports from Japan and Australia. The issue includes a quote from the U.S. Air Force stating that UFOs have not indicated a threat to national security.

Article Summaries

Huge Disc Buzzes Aircraft Over Southwestern Japan

Two Japanese civilian pilots reported their planes were buzzed by an unidentified flying object on a Thursday. An air safety officer in southwestern Japan confirmed the incident, stating the planes involved were a Convair 240 airliner and a private Piper Apache. The newspaper Mainichi Shimbun quoted the airliner pilot describing an object about 15 yards in diameter, radiating green luminescence, which approached the plane, wheeled abruptly, and flew alongside for about three minutes before departing. The source for this report is The Spokesman Review from Spokane, Washington, dated March 22, 1965.

California Deputies All 'See Object'

Four deputies from the Napa County sheriff's office reported sightings of an unidentified flying object. The first sighting occurred at midnight on March 8, east of Foster Road, by Deputies Melvin Boyboso and James Munk. They described a "brilliant, fixed object, about the size of the sun," which lost its light and shot upward. A second appearance of a similar large white light was reported by the same deputies on March 14, east of Jamison Canyon. Later, on Thursday, Deputies William Bishop and John Robertson reported a similar light at 11:57 p.m. at Redwood Road and Linn Drive. This object was described as blinding, sun-like, moving northward, glimmering, fading, and shooting westward. Bishop, an experienced pilot, stated it was "flatly not a meteor." Officials at Travis AFB collected details, promising follow-up.

California UFO Seen by Other People Too

An unidentified flying object sighted by two sheriff's deputies in Napa County was also seen by several other residents. Harriette Yoho and a friend observed a bright light that faded and shot out of sight shortly after 7 p.m. on a Sunday. Herbert Tiedermann also saw the object while en route from Shellville to Napa. Officials at Hamilton Air Force Base theorized that the objects could be Naval observation balloons equipped with powerful searchlights, used for coastal patrol duty. The source is The Register, Napa, California, March 20, 1965.

Australian Astronomers Report 'Flying Objects' Seen

Newspaper and radio stations in New South Wales were inundated with calls on a Friday night from persons claiming to have seen "flying objects." These flaming, unidentified objects were sighted heading southeast between 7:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Civil Aviation Agency and the Royal Australian Air Force stated there were no planes in the area. Members of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales reported seeing lights overhead during a meeting. Observatory Director Gordon Patson noted that his group counted "at least eight lights," each appearing to have a long red incandescent tail about twenty times the length of the object's head. The source is The American, Chicago, Illinois, March 7, 1965.

Brooksville, Florida Man Reports UFO Landing--Robot-Like Thing Seen

John Reeves, a resident of a trailer park near Weeki Wachee Spring, Florida, reported a UFO landing with a robot-like pilot. Reeves claimed to have seen the UFO with four-legged landing gear and a five-foot-tall robot figure with human-like features on a Tuesday afternoon. Intelligence officers from MacDill Air Force Base were called to investigate. Reeves provided two pieces of paper he said were left by the "spaceman." Capt. Raymond Henry, public information officer at MacDill AFB, confirmed the Air Force's responsibility to investigate such sightings and stated a team was sent. The report would be forwarded to Project Blue Book at Wright-Patterson AFB. Reeves described walking through woods when he saw a bluish-green and reddish-purple object, about 20 to 30 feet in diameter, with two windows. A robot-like figure emerged, approached him, and then returned to the object. The robot flashed a device, possibly a camera, and then entered the UFO through an opening with steps. The object's rim then began to move like venetian blinds, and the rim started to rotate counterclockwise, emitting a whooshing and rumbling sound before ascending rapidly. Reeves also reported the robot dropped two pieces of paper, described as tissue-like, about 14 inches long and 8 inches wide, with circles, dots, and chair-like figures. The object left holes in the ground about "four or five inches in diameter and four inches deep." Hernando County Sheriff Sim L. Lowman stated he knew "very little" about the report. Hard rains began falling, washing away evidence of footprints. The source is The Times, St. Petersburg, Florida, March 4, 1965.

Florida Landing Report Pooh-Poohhed by Pentagon

The Air Force reportedly took a dismissive attitude towards the Hernando County, Florida UFO landing report. However, other Brooksville area residents added details. Dr. Daniel G. Drake, an orthodontist assisting UFO author Major John Kehoe, noted that two other individuals, a fisherman and a housewife, also saw a strange object in the sky around the same time Reeves reported the UFO taking off. Mrs. Ralph Lewis reported a friend saw a flying object about two miles west of Reeves' location. Reeves maintained his story, and stated that four Air Force intelligence officers who inspected the site were impressed by the prints and the "strange-looking occupant." The source is The Times, St. Petersburg, Florida, March 5, 1965.

Two Southwest Oregon Residents Report Seeing UFOs

At least two Rogue Valley residents reported seeing strange lights in the sky between 3 and 4 a.m. on a Saturday. Merton G. Buel reported hearing a civil defense whistle and then seeing a number of large lights, some appearing as large as a truck tire. Mrs. Agnes Wood reported seeing a starlike object that seemed to fall, then stayed in place for 25 minutes, at times "throwing out beams of light," before disappearing. The source is The Mail-Tribune, Medford, Oregon, February 28, 1965.

Six Groveland, Massachusetts Youths See Flying Object

Six Groveland youths reported to police the sighting of an unidentified flying object on a Tuesday night over a barn. The sighting was made by Gary W. Smythe, 13, and five companions during a Boy Scout patrol meeting. They described the silent, silver object, larger than a jet liner, as dish-shaped, visible for nearly 10 seconds flying low over the barn. The source is The Gazette, Haverhill, Massachusetts, February 18, 1965.

Five Mountain Lake, Minnesota Women See Flying Object

Five Mountain Lake women reported seeing an unidentified flying object on a Tuesday night while riding in a car. Mrs. Otto Kremeen, the driver, along with Mrs. Merle Wall, Mrs. Lucile Herrig, Mrs. Ralph Friesen, and Mrs. Bud Fast, noticed a bright object in the northwest sky. They stopped the car to watch it. The object was reported to be low in the sky and then shot directly upward. The sighting occurred about three miles from Mountain Lake. The source is The Sentinel, Fairmont, Minn., February 18, 1965.

Potlatch, Idaho Residents Report UFO Visit

Residents of the Potlatch area reported sightings of unidentified flying objects. The first report, at 6:30 p.m. on February 12, came from Bruce Gottschalk, 16, and Bob Hayter, son of the police chief. They saw an object fly over Potlatch at high speed, then stop and hover over the football field. They described it as "cone-shaped" with a red light on one side and a blue light on the opposite. When it left, heading south toward Moscow, a white light was visible from the rear. The object made no noise. Later, Frank Park, principal of Potlatch High School, and Lloyd Rohn, a teacher, saw the object hovering in the air about four miles south of Potlatch, heading north at low altitude and slow speed. They corroborated the description and noted the lack of noise. Bob Hayter reported another sighting at 11:30 p.m. on February 13, with his mother describing the object as a "huge ball of fire." Deputy Sheriff Richard Coomer investigated and forwarded the information to the 18th Strategic Aerospace Agency at Fairchild AFB, Spokane. The source is The Idahoian, Moscow, Idaho, February 24, 1965.

Unidentified Object Seen in Gastonia, North Carolina

At least six people in East Gastonia reported seeing an unusual object late Saturday evening. Keith Riddle stated, "I don't know what it was, but it was there." The object was described as light and appeared to "swoop down from the sky" near railroad tracks, then "swooped back up into the air and was gone," heading towards Kings Mountain. The group could not identify it as an airplane. The only noise heard was a "swishing sound." The source is The Gazette, Gastonia, North Carolina, February 15, 1965.

Sky Lights Up Over Northeast North Dakota

Emil Lorenz, Jr., of Langdon vicinity, reported that he and his wife saw the sky light up brilliantly twice while en route to Osnabrock around 8:15 or 8:30 p.m. on a Friday night. Lorenz described the phenomenon as a "real pretty green light," similar to a lightning flash but with a "pretty green" brilliance. They stopped the car, thinking it was caused by an explosion from a plane crash. Lorenz's wife was afraid, thinking the world was ending. Lorenz was unsure if there was a sound due to playing his car radio. The source is The Republican, Langdon, North Dakota, February 18, 1965.

Whatever It Was, Bismarck, North Dakota Man Saw It

George Magnuson reported to police on a Saturday afternoon that he and his wife saw a strange object in the sky north of Bismarck on Friday night. Magnuson described the object as red in color, moving from east to west before disappearing from view around 8 p.m. Local authorities had no explanation. The source is The Tribune, Bismarck, North Dakota, February 16, 1965.

Huge UFO Sighted Near Hibbing, Minnesota

Three Duluth, Minnesota residents reported seeing an unidentified flying object at 8:14 p.m. on a Friday evening near Hibbing. The object was seen about five miles east of the Hibbing-Chisholm municipal airport, appearing to be about 100 feet in diameter and descending straight down from a height of 2,000 to 3,000 feet. The report was made to the airport flight service station by Donald A. Jackson, a professor at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, who also witnessed the event along with Mr. and Mrs. Bill McEwen. A highway patrolman at Walker reported seeing a similar object at 8:15 p.m. The Hibbing Flight Service relayed the sighting to the Duluth air base. The source is The Tribune, Hibbing, Minnesota, February 13, 1965.

FAA Official Says Hibbing, Minnesota UFO Not Plane

A federal aviation agency (FAA) official in Hibbing stated with certainty that an unidentified flying object sighted near there on a Friday was not a plane. David Alred, air traffic control specialist, reported that reliable reports indicated something was seen. Dave Doust reported sighting the same object at 8:15 p.m. near Hibbing, describing it as a "flaming ball" that appeared to head straight down, then level off and move horizontally. Alred reported the incident to the Duluth Air Force Base. The source is The Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, February 14, 1965.

UFOs Reported Seen Over Boulder, Colorado

Nate Ervin, a junior student at the University of Colorado, reported seeing unidentified flying objects over Boulder on a Thursday night. Ervin, who had been skeptical of UFOs, described seeing six football-shaped objects with inverted "V" wings, stark white against the dark sky. He noted they flew in formation at a high altitude and followed maneuvers different from any aircraft he had observed. The last two objects suddenly moved out of formation at right angles in a jerky movement before resuming their positions. Ervin estimated the sighting at about 7:35 p.m. The objects moved from southeast to southwest at tremendous speed. The source is The Camera, Boulder, Colorado, February 12, 1965.

UFO Follows Car in California

A Petaluma, California couple sighted an unidentified flying object that appeared to follow their car from Sonoma to Petaluma. Mr. and Mrs. Burford (Duke) Kelsay reported first seeing a half moon-shaped object in the Sonoma area. The object reportedly followed their automobile and appeared to land in the area of the Old Adobe. The source is The Argus-Courier, Petaluma, California, February 8, 1965.

Two UFOs Noted Near Ft. Riley, Kansas

Two low-flying unidentified flying objects were observed on I-70 near Marshall Field on a Sunday afternoon by an Ellinwood couple. Mr. and Mrs. George Heim reported the noiseless objects were observed for about two minutes before they went into a fast climb and disappeared. Mrs. Heim first saw the "round, flat and thin objects" just over the car about 3:20 p.m. while traveling east of Junction City. They were bluish-gray in color and about the size of a private airplane, with a non-transparent bubble in the middle. The couple noted the objects flew extremely close together and made a sharp, tight turn. They observed a bright light underneath one object and smoke above it. The objects climbed very fast and were out of sight almost instantly. The couple remarked on how remarkable it was that the two objects could fly so close together, concluding that "no regular aircraft could do this." The weather was clear with unlimited visibility. The objects were in sight for about two minutes. The source is The Union, Junction City, Kansas, February 1, 1965.

Monterey, California Mayor Sees Strange Sight in Sky

Monterey Mayor George Clemens, initially a skeptic of UFOs, reported seeing what appeared to be a "very bright star" in the northern sky around 6 p.m. yesterday. He, his wife, and son observed the "star" hover, then shoot straight up at high speed for at least 500 feet. The glow faded, and the object dropped back down, hovered again, and then disappeared toward the water. The Peninsula Airport tower reported seeing a similar light low over the Presidio at the same time. An airplane pilot also reported seeing it and described it as looking like "lightning." The source is The Herald, Monterey, California, January 30, 1965.

Two Amateur Astronomers Observe UFO Over Chesapeake, Virginia

Two amateur astronomers, Keith Harper, 19, and Neil Bryant, reported a UFO sighting before 8:30 p.m. on a Friday. They saw a group of "little pale lights" rise out of the southwest and zoom across the sky at high speed, covering the sky in three to five seconds. The lights were described as "boomerang" shaped, and the youths could not determine if it was a single object or a group, nor its size, describing them as "small buttons." Harper stated it was "at least 1,000 feet or more away" and made "not a sound." The source is The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, Virginia, January 28, 1965.

Ex-Air Force Pilot Sights UFO Over Hampton, Virginia

Maj. John Nayadley, USAF Ret., a retired Air Force pilot, sighted an unidentified flying object at 5:55 p.m. on a Wednesday. While scanning the skies for a satellite, he spotted something that initially looked like a shooting star but developed into a V-shape, resembling a flock of geese. The object had orange and red blinking lights along its outer edges and made no sound. Nayadley observed the UFO for approximately one minute and stated that while he had previously not put much stock in UFOs, recent reports made him reconsider, recalling Air Force instructions to look out for strange flying objects ten years prior.

Light in Sky, Auto is Halted Near Enfield, New Hampshire

A former Manchester newsman reported a nerve-shattering experience near Enfield, New Hampshire. While driving on Rt. 4-A around 10:45 p.m., his car's radio, lights, engine, and all electrical systems stopped working. He heard a loud hum like a high-frequency electrical whine and saw a very bright light below the cloud cover, estimated at 2,000 to 5,000 feet, and about the size of a flashlight held at arm's length. The object seemed to hover briefly before taking off south toward Mt. Cardigan at high speed. As the light left, the whine stopped, and the car's electrical systems returned to normal. The experience lasted about 15 to 20 seconds. The source is The Union Leader, Manchester, New Hampshire, January 16, 1965.

'Mystery Light' Seen Near Manchester, New Hampshire After TV Stops

A second report from Manchester, New Hampshire, described a "mysterious light" seen on a Friday night, minutes after a television set mysteriously stopped working. Matthew Rybczyk reported that at about 9:45 p.m., his TV stopped working. Upon going outside, he saw the "mysterious light" and heard a humming sound. The light was moving slowly above the tree line to the east. The source is The Sunday News, Manchester, N.H., January 17, 1965.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the widespread reporting of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and strange aerial phenomena. The publication appears to be a compilation of news clippings from various sources, presenting a broad spectrum of sightings and witness accounts. The editorial stance, as indicated by the publication's name and the inclusion of diverse reports, is one of documenting and disseminating information about these phenomena. While some reports include official reactions or theories (e.g., Naval balloons, misidentification), the overall emphasis is on the accounts of those who witnessed these events. The inclusion of a quote from the U.S. Air Force suggests an awareness of official investigations and statements regarding UFOs, while the detailed accounts suggest a belief in the significance of these reports.