NICAP Reporter - Vol 4 No 02 - 11 1965 - No 38

Magazine Overview

Title: N. I. C. A. P. REPORTER
Issue Date: November 1965
Volume/Issue: Vol. 4 No. 2, Issue No. 38
Publisher: N.I.C.A.P. (National Investigations Commission on Aerial Phenomena)
Country of Publication: USA
Language: English

This issue of the N.I.C.A.P. Reporter focuses heavily on recent UFO sightings and investigations, particularly highlighting the Rex Heflin photograph case. The magazine adopts a new format intended to increase the amount of news published.

Key Articles and Reports

The Rex Heflin Photograph Case

The lead story details the controversy surrounding three photographs of a UFO taken by Rex Heflin, a 37-year-old Orange County highway department inspector, on August 3, 1965. The object was described as circular, silver, approximately 30 feet in diameter and 8 feet thick. Heflin was reportedly asked by a man identifying himself as a colonel with the North American Air Defense Command to refrain from comment. He subsequently conferred with teams from Project Blue Book at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Naval Intelligence, and the National Investigations Commission on Aerial Phenomena. On September 23, Major Hector Quintanilla, Jr., chief of the Project Blue Book team, announced a preliminary analysis suggesting the object in the photos was only one-tenth the size Heflin estimated, though he did not declare the pictures fake. Heflin was questioned for over three hours. Five days after the photos were published, Major Quintanella announced a full-scale investigation. He expressed confidence in making a determination.

Later in the issue, under a "BULLETIN" section dated September 27, Air Force Investigators announced that the object photographed by Rex Heflin was "probably less than one foot in diameter." Their analysis, based on the object's proximity to the camera relative to highway portions visible in the photos, suggested its size. A subsequent announcement on September 23 stated the object was 3 feet in diameter and at an altitude of 15 feet. The magazine poses the question of what Mr. Heflin will say about these conflicting reports.

Multiple Sightings Across California

On the same afternoon as Heflin's sighting, Greg Oliver, a 10-year-old, reported seeing a UFO traveling at high speed north of Huntington Beach, California, appearing to originate from the Southern California Edison Company electric generating plant.

That night, numerous UFOs were reported in Northern California. A resident in San Jose described seeing bright colored objects move from the Mount Hamilton area toward Campbell, with one object hovering before green, red, and silver objects emerged and formed a formation. The witness's son, familiar with Air Force planes, noted two radar planes in the area heading towards the UFOs. Similar objects, described as "large disc-shaped fireballs," were seen by Mrs. Loren Turner over Redwood City, spinning at a high rate of speed.

On August 4, Vallie Bishop and Katie Coogan, both 12, saw a large "ball of light that looked like fire" in the Los Gatos sky. In Fresno, police switchboards were flooded with reports of a red, white, and blue flashing body moving slowly north. James T. Vonmosch and Tom Perry, both 18, observed a large UFO moving west over the San Francisco Bay area, described as round with a "very bright light like a plane's landing light" and a cone-shaped tail. Acting San Pablo Police Sgt. Mike Garse also reported a similar object. Scores of San Joaquin Valley residents reported seeing UFOs moving too fast, described as bright light bulbs, and disappearing straight up. Mrs. Donald Miller of San Leandro saw a "shiny object" that moved suddenly and looked like a "disc-shaped top."

Sandy Piona, 15, of Pleasant Hill, observed an object with blue and white lights, about the size of a pencil eraser, moving erratically. Her father advised her to report it. Several other people also reported similar objects. An Air Force Base spokesman confirmed that jets had investigated but declined to provide details.

International and Other U.S. Sightings

Reports from Perth, Australia, and the Alameda, California Times Star are quoted, suggesting a growing public acceptance of UFOs and a call for government disclosure of information.

Scientific support for the reality of strange aerial phenomena is noted, with Chilean Professor Gabriel Alvial and Russian Dr. Mitrovan Zverev Saldi expressing belief in the existence of unknown objects visiting Earth. They also lament government secrecy. Professor Claudio Anguita of Chile's Cosmic Radiation Centre stated, "We are not alone in the universe."

Carl Zapfee, an expert in astro-physics and metallurgy from Baltimore, Maryland, suggested that bright lights seen over Brainerd, Minnesota, were likely visitors from outer space, citing the lack of anti-gravity devices on Earth. However, Dr. Carl Sagan, an astrophysicist, dismissed UFOs as imagination fueled by the space program, stating that phenomena have identifiable origins.

H. Taylor Buckner, a sociologist, suggested that people who claim to see UFOs are often drawn to the occult and tend to be older women, single or widowed, lacking formal education and believing "seeing things" indicates sensitivity.

Mexico is also experiencing a rash of sightings, with reports of shiny round objects. Four men near Tijuana saw a UFO that approached them when they signaled it. An object reportedly landed near the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City, with pictures of scorched rocks displayed. Residents of the Texcoco area reported a UFO landing on Lake Texcoco, sinking into one of the pools. These events prompted recollections of similar sightings in Mexico in 1882, when astronomer Dr. Jose Bonilla observed "hundreds of oval-shaped objects" passing in front of his telescope.

N.I.C.A.P. files document cases correlating earthquakes and UFO sightings. A large disc hovered near Hyder, Alaska, for 8.5 hours before speeding away at an estimated speed exceeding 800 mph. Witnesses concluded they had observed "something, or someone in possession of a scientific technology that is as yet unknown on earth." A bright white light was reported near Pennock Island, Alaska, followed by an earthquake in Ketchikan the next day. In Sunnyvale, California, a dome-shaped UFO was observed, and the following day, the San Francisco Bay area experienced a strong earthquake. A reddish-orange UFO was seen streaking across the Bay area, causing momentary consternation.

In Exeter, New Hampshire, five people, including two police officers, reported seeing a large, house-sized object with a red glow. Officer Eugene Bertrand investigated a car being chased by a glowing red object. Another report involved a brilliant object making passes over a field and house. The object disappeared silently.

Danny Bland and Tom Springs near Rio Vista, California, shot at a UFO that became brighter when hit, emitting a metallic ring. The following night, 300-400 residents witnessed a similar object. Mrs. Walter McKarley claims to have made dozens of sightings of these "strange lights."

On July 5, Barty Andersson, a purser for Scandinavian Airways System, photographed a UFO taking off from near the Russian River in Alaska. On July 15, John Evans, Barry Guy, and Valance Phillips watched a silver, disc-shaped object over Guildford, Australia. Two cigar-shaped objects were spotted over Canberra airport, Australia. Many UFOs were observed over Southwestern Pennsylvania, initially identified as meteors by an astronomer, but disputed by witnesses.

Gary Parker observed a huge UFO over Middlefield, Ohio, with a bright red dome that rotated and dimmed. On August 10, a huge UFO entered Earth's atmosphere over Orange County, California, leveled off, and flew eastward. Witnesses described it as descending, then leveling off and gaining speed before losing speed and brightness. Marjorie Scott and Dolores Sullivan reported similar sightings.

Philip Weinstein and his daughter watched a UFO travel in a complete circle for 15 minutes.

On August 11, a large UFO landed north of Mesa, Arizona, described as glowing like white-hot metal and moving in a square pattern. On August 19, a 50-foot long, 25-foot wide, 25-foot tall object landed on a farm near Cherry Creek, New York. The object, shaped like two meat platters, emitted a crimson vapor and ascended vertically. The Air Force investigated and found burned grass.

Mr. Sid Padrick of California claimed to have had contact with a being from another planet and a ride in a spacecraft. He recounted his experience in Seattle.

Deejay Lan Roberts of KJR radio in Seattle attempted to establish contact with extraterrestrials by broadcasting requests for contact and shutting down the transmitter. He later issued a formal invitation for a UFO to land at Issaquah airport, where a glowing object was spotted, described as disc-shaped and surrounded by a white light, before ascending rapidly.

Other Content

An article discusses a new film on UFOs titled "Phenomena 7.7," produced by Dr. Frank Stranges, noting his past conviction for operating a mail-order diploma mill. The article questions the relationship between Dr. Stranges, Donald Keyhoe, and Richard Hall.

A play titled "Visit To A Small Planet," which involves the subject of UFOs, is advertised for performance in the Seattle area.

N.I.C.A.P.'s regular monthly meeting is announced, featuring a report on Mars photos and a color movie of Astronaut White's space-walk.

The issue concludes with subscription information for the N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER and copyright details.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings, the ongoing investigations by official bodies like the Air Force, the conflicting interpretations of evidence (ranging from scientific skepticism to belief in extraterrestrial visitation), and the public's growing interest and demand for information. The editorial stance of the N.I.C.A.P. Reporter is clearly pro-UFO investigation, presenting numerous witness accounts and questioning official explanations or lack thereof, while also acknowledging scientific skepticism. There is an underlying tone of advocating for transparency and further study of these phenomena.