NICAP Reporter - Vol 4 No 04 - 01 1966 - No 40

Magazine Overview

Title: N. I. C. A. P. REPORTER
Issue: No. 40
Volume: Vol. 4 No. 4
Date: January 1966

This issue of the N.I.C.A.P. REPORTER delves into the mysterious connection between widespread UFO activity and the massive power failure that blacked out much of the Northeast United States on November 9, 1965. While the official report cited a broken relay at the Sir Adam Beck power plant in Ontario, Canada, the magazine presents numerous witness accounts suggesting a possible link to unidentified flying objects.

UFO Activity and the November 9th Blackout

The issue highlights significant UFO activity reported in the vicinity of the power plant and in areas affected by the blackout, particularly around Syracuse, New York. Deputy City Aviation Commissioner Robert Walsh, while on the ground near the runway after the lights went out, witnessed a sudden "ball of fire" approximately 100 feet in the air and 50 feet in diameter, describing it as a "mushroom effect." Shortly after, another similar object was seen.

Two men in an airplane, Weldon Ross and his student James Brooking, reported seeing a "ball of orange-reddish fire" that flared up like a "barn fire" over Three Rivers, New York, around the time of the blackout. Other witnesses in the Syracuse area, including Tom Doxsee of Manlius, also reported seeing "balls of fire" or bright objects. Residents in Camillus, New York, described a "huge, dome-shaped fireball" and a "mushroom-type ball of light" just before the power failed.

Mrs. Dewey Boshers recounted seeing a strange light rise over the moon, which then moved backward and disappeared in a flash simultaneously with the loss of electric light. Mrs. Everett B. Jones also reported a huge ball of fire over Camillus Plaza. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, several witnesses described a "curious cloud, shaped like an upended coin with a handle," observed at the exact moment the power failure occurred.

FCC Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Swindler is quoted as stating that the electric power blackout may never be fully explained and could happen again.

UFO Sightings Across North America

Beyond the November 9th incident, the magazine details numerous other UFO sightings from late 1965:

• Ontario, Canada: On October 21, George McLean and his wife observed a "white cloud" object near Arnprior that danced and moved. Barb Fraser and Marg Baker reported a "whirling massive illuminated ball" that followed their car in Pembroke. Robbie McCuaig also had a close encounter in Pembroke. A large UFO was sighted over Ottawa, described as white, about 20 feet long, and moving up and down.
• Washington State: The Ross family in Mirramount Estates, near Issaquah, reported observing "fluorescent white balls, sometimes glowing red, rotating and darting about" over a nearby ridge. On December 8, a large UFO illuminated the ridge with a brilliant red light, followed by two more objects.
• Texas: The case of two deputy sheriffs whose car was chased by a UFO near Damon on September 3 was explained by the Air Force as a "Refraction of the star Antares distorted due to inversion." However, additional witnesses in the area reported seeing more refractions and unusual lights.
• Michigan: A "disc-shaped object with a design of a spider on the bottom and a large red glowing eye in the middle" was reported by multiple residents in Racine, Wisconsin. Another large oval-shaped object was sighted over Lake Michigan.
• Minnesota: Mrs. Hilmer of Deer Lake reported a strange flying object that appeared "all fire," red and orange, traveling very fast and with a hissing sound. James Lundquist also observed a bright white light moving rapidly.
• Oregon: Bill Cronenwett saw two tremendous lights near Pistol River and Cape Sebastian that swept across the horizon, leaving smoke trails.
• New York: Charles Bartlett reported four UFOs flying in a V-formation over Cheektowago.
• Indiana: Don Messinger saw a white disc in the sky over Indiana, Pennsylvania, below a jet plane. Paul Holt observed a large, metal object suspended in mid-air in Shelby County.
• Ohio: Stephen P. Adams sighted a large UFO, about 12 feet in diameter, over Painesville, with a revolving disc and a three-pronged antenna.
• Washington: An unnamed power line employee sighted a UFO near Port Orchard, emitting a yellowish light. A "large glowing object" was seen over Santa Clara County, California.
• Colorado: Anthony Maestas and Anthony Gonzales sighted a large, egg-shaped, silver UFO with rings near Salida.
• Pennsylvania: A bright orange UFO or UFOs flew from Michigan over Ontario and Lake Erie, apparently landing in a wooded area about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh. Bits of material reportedly fell near Lapeer, Ohio, and Midland and Kecksburg, Pennsylvania.
• North Dakota: Six Upham school students witnessed a large UFO land near Upham, described as round with three legs, a center shaft, antenna, windows, and flashing lights. Investigating officers found three holes in the ground at the landing site.
• Kansas: David Faidley and Alan Handley reported observing about 150 UFOs over Wichita, described as brilliant green spheres with vapor-like trails, streaking in various directions.
• California: A "bright white object" was described as traveling nearly vertically towards earth, leaving a luminous trail.

Object Characteristics and Behavior

Witnesses described a variety of object shapes, including disc-shaped, oval-shaped, cigar-shaped, egg-shaped, round, dome-shaped, balls of fire, and mushroom-shaped. Colors reported ranged from red, orange-reddish, bluish-green, yellow, white, to bright white and blue. Sizes were estimated from "five to ten times the size of the moon" to "about 100 feet in the air and 50 feet in diameter," and "about 12 feet in diameter."

Observed behaviors included whirling, changing position, overriding, stationary movement, dancing, moving vertically and horizontally, following, hovering, rotating, darting, jumping up and down, bouncing, swooping, dipping, pulsating, zig-zagging, corkscrew motion, wavering, oscillating, and spinning. Speeds were described as "very high speeds," "very fast," and "fast-moving."

Electromagnetic effects such as power failures and interference with microwave relay stations were noted. Physical trace evidence, including holes in the ground and grass fires, was also reported.

Official Stance and Editorial Stance

The article notes that the Air Force continues its "policy of denial and ridicule," while priests, ministers, and most politicians "conveniently ignore the subject" or "refuse to discuss the subject of UFOs." The magazine, however, asserts that "reliable citizens continue to see non-terrestrial objects moving through our atmosphere."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the unexplained nature of UFO sightings and their potential impact on terrestrial events, most notably the November 1965 power outage. The magazine consistently presents witness testimony as credible evidence, contrasting it with official explanations that are often dismissed as inadequate or dismissive. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of investigating and acknowledging UFO phenomena, positioning N.I.C.A.P. as a crucial organization for those seeking answers beyond conventional explanations. The publication aims to document and disseminate these accounts to a public that may otherwise be unaware or disbelieving.