NICAP Reporter - Vol 3 No 12 - 09 1965 - No 36

Magazine Overview

Title: N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER
Issue Date: September 1965
Volume: Vol. 3, No. 12
Publisher: National Investigations Commission on Aerial Phenomena

This issue of the N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER delves into a series of recent unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings, presenting a mix of eyewitness accounts, official statements, and speculative theories.

UFO Sightings and Theories

The lead story, "UFO SIGHTINGS MAY BE DUST STIRRED UP BY MOON PROBES," presents a theory by Professor Robert L. Brown of Southern Connecticut State College. He suggests that valid UFO sightings might be the result of lunar dust, potentially raised by Russia's Lunik V space probe, interacting with Earth's atmospheric components. Brown posits that this dust, leaving the moon's gravitational field, could become visible as it enters Earth's atmosphere, creating a luminosity and unusual reactions that explain the observed phenomena, including sudden changes in speed and direction. He believes these events can be explained in simple terms, without invoking extraterrestrial visitors.

Law Enforcement and Citizen Reports

The issue details numerous reports from law enforcement officers and citizens across the United States. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area, scores of police and sheriff squad cars reported seeing strange, multi-colored objects that hovered, darted at high speeds, and moved in formation. These objects were not picked up on radar, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport dismissed them as "stars or military aircraft." However, area lawmen remained unconvinced, describing objects with flashing lights and rapid movements.

In Sioux City, Iowa, unidentified flying objects described as "bright...red...moving swiftly and silently" were reported by multiple individuals between 9:30 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. on a Tuesday night. Despite the Air Force issuing a statement suggesting people were seeing stars, witnesses like Mrs. Ray Lefebvere and a local English teacher disagreed, describing objects that were clearly not stars or conventional aircraft.

A Nebraska trucker, Don Tennopir, reported being "buzzed" by a flying object near Abilene, Kansas. He described a pale, orange object, about 14-15 feet in diameter and two feet thick, that hovered over the road, shot off reddish rays, and moved with a sizzling or wind-like sound. He was visibly shaken and insisted the object was not man-made.

Another report from Abilene, Texas, involved Harvey Burgman, who was visiting relatives. He reported a similar incident to his family, describing a disc-shaped thing hovering over the highway with a red and green light that flared up before disappearing straight up. Burgman's car also experienced issues starting afterward, acting as if it had a vapor lock.

Radar Contacts and Military Reports

Men stationed at the U.S. Air Force radar base in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, reported making solid radar contact with seven to ten UFOs moving in a V-formation over Lake Superior at approximately 9,000 miles per hour. These objects were at an altitude between 5,200 and 17,000 feet. Reports from other stations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Canada also indicated UFO sightings, with one Canadian station reporting electronic jamming of its radar. Jet interceptors attempted to chase the objects but could not maintain their speed.

In Wichita, Kansas, radar screens at the Weather Bureau confirmed unidentified "blips" between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., described as being about the size of a Cessna on the screen, with altitudes from 6,000 to 9,000 feet. While the FAA had no information on these objects, the Weather Bureau's radar covered a wider area. Numerous reports from citizens and law enforcement officers agreed on the objects' bright lights, with varying descriptions of movement and shapes.

International Sightings

The issue also includes reports from outside the United States. In Canberra, Australia, an RAAF investigating team failed to identify a mysterious object seen hovering northeast of Canberra Airport. They suggested it might be a high-altitude meteorological balloon or the planet Venus, though other explanations included a condensation trail from a jet or Venus itself. Another Australian report from Vaucluse described a green, glowing object, about 20 feet in diameter, resting on a beach before taking off at high speed with a noise like air being released from a balloon.

Eyewitness Descriptions and Official Stance

Eyewitnesses consistently described objects that were not conventional aircraft. Dave Lowe and Eddie Roberts, police officers in Caldwell, Kansas, reported being close enough to an unidentified flying object to "get a picture" but lacked a camera. They described it as an "egg" shape, about a hundred yards long, with blended white, red, and bluish-green colors. They were convinced it was not man-made.

The U.S. Air Force's official stance, as quoted on the cover, stated: "To date, no unidentified aerial phenomena has given any indication of threat to national security." However, many of the detailed accounts in the magazine suggest a persistent and widespread phenomenon that defies easy explanation.

N.I.C.A.P. Operations and Membership

The N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER is published by the National Investigations Commission on Aerial Phenomena, headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The organization is expanding its UFO tracking network and seeking members to assist in investigations, analysis, and mapping of sightings. They are also looking for back issues of George Adamski's book "Inside The Space Ships." The publication notes upcoming media appearances by the N.I.C.A.P. director on radio and television talk shows.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different geographical locations, the variety of descriptions provided by credible witnesses (including law enforcement), and the persistent gap between these reports and official explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of these phenomena, encouraging public participation and providing a platform for sharing detailed accounts, while acknowledging the official U.S. Air Force position that these objects do not pose a national security threat. The magazine actively promotes its own investigative efforts and membership drive.