NICAP Reporter - Vol 4 No 06 - 03 1966 - No 42

Magazine Overview

This issue of the N. I. C. A. P. REPORTER, Volume 4, Number 6, dated March 1966, is the 42nd issue. The cover features a quote from retired U.S. Navy Admiral Delmer Fahrney stating that objects entering the atmosphere at high speeds and changing positions in formations suggest directed motion.

Life on Mars and Venus Debated

The lead article, "Dear Member," delves into the ongoing scientific debate about the possibility of life on Mars and Venus. Harvard astronomer Carl Sagan, speaking at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Berkeley, California, suggested that the seemingly barren surface of Mars revealed by the Mariner 4 photographs might be comparable to what such photos of Earth would show if taken from the same distance. He based this on a study of NASA satellite photos of Earth, which, despite being clearer and taken from closer distances, did not reveal signs of human infrastructure like highways, bridges, dams, or cities, nor even differences in vegetation shading.

However, Clyde Tombaugh, astronomer at New Mexico State University and discoverer of Pluto, offered a contrasting view. He stated that faint markings on seven of the Mariner 4 photographs align with controversial 'canals' and 'oasis' previously mapped through telescopic observations of Mars, suggesting the possibility of Martian life.

The issue also revisits the planet Venus. An earlier report from the Mariner 2 spacecraft in December 1962 indicated a surface temperature of around 800 degrees Fahrenheit, suggesting a lifeless environment. However, recent years have seen scientists lower this estimate to 600-700 degrees Fahrenheit and cast doubt on the credibility of the radio measurements. Dr. Gordon J.F. Macdonald, a planetary physicist at UCLA, testified before a Senate space committee that these high temperature findings could have been false readings of electronic emissions. He, along with Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner and Dr. Harry H. Hess, agreed that Venus might indeed harbor life. Dr. Herbert Friedman of the Naval Research Laboratory also supported this view. A NASA scientist, however, expressed skepticism about radio techniques providing definitive answers, stating that Venus's true temperature would only be known by direct measurement.

Lunar Discoveries and UN Involvement

In other space news, the radiotelescope observatory at Jordell Bank, England, announced on February 3rd that it had intercepted sensational pictures from the Russian Luna 9 rocket. These images reportedly showed rocks, a flat surface, and the shadow of a spaceship, along with blisters or dome-like objects on the Moon's surface.

On Earth, United Nations Secretary General U Thant was informed by a staff member that the UN is uniquely positioned to establish contact and represent humanity in face-to-face meetings with extraterrestrial visitors. Colman VonKeviczky, a UN technician and UFO researcher, submitted a proposal asking the UN to create an observer network to monitor and control extraterrestrial UFOs. VonKeviczky, citing 11 years of research, warned that UFOs are piloted by intelligent beings whose dangerous radiations and frequent landings pose a threat to global security and military installations.

UFO Sightings Reported

The newsletter details several UFO sightings:

• January 7: Gary Finch, 18, reported seeing a large silver ball-shaped object with a trap door near Georgetown, Alabama. His car's battery died at the moment of the sighting, and the object made a whining sound before disappearing.
• Sarland: Michael French, 11, described and drew a "funny looking thing in the sky" that was glowing, round, with lights and cross-like protrusions, described as "glowing."
• Satsuma: Residents reported seeing a strange, bright orange-hued object in the sky, described as larger and brighter than a star, moving very fast.
• January 11: Wanaque Reservoir Patrolman George Dyckman and Councilman John Shutte observed a brilliant white object, 2 to 3 feet across, with changing shades, hovering for about an hour.
• January 13: Tom Garrison and Mike Pezutti observed a mysterious "disc of light" over Wanaque Reservoir that appeared suddenly, came down to tree-top level, and moved at increasing speed before disappearing. Clifton, New Jersey men Peter Hreno and Dennis Reynolds also saw a similar light hovering above the reservoir. An unconfirmed report mentioned a "beam" from the UFO burning a 40-foot hole in the ice.
• January 13 (afternoon): A motorist reported seeing a fast-moving "disc" over Central Jersey with no vapor trail, possibly Venus or Jupiter.
• January 14 (early hours): Thomas Sheridan, a Staff Writer for the Paterson Call, along with his wife Kathy and acquaintance Augie Roberts, reported seeing a flickering light that danced like a ballerina, bobbing and weaving, and was clearly below the level of the mountains.
• January 14 (morning): Sonny Ammecher and George Beth reported a grey or black, cigar-shaped object, 30 to 40 feet long, hovering near St. Catherine School, with two amber lights. Their two-way radio reception was disrupted when near the object.

The Air Force suggested that some sightings might be planets or helicopters, while others were attributed to weather balloons.

N.I.C.A.P. Reporter Ceases Publication

The newsletter announces that it will phase out its monthly publication due to an increasing workload and worn-out printing equipment. New memberships will not be accepted, and existing memberships will not be renewed or extended. However, N.I.C.A.P. activities in the Seattle area will continue.

A regular N.I.C.A.P. meeting is scheduled for March 4th, featuring the motion picture "X-15 Documentary," a report on a terror and abduction experience, and updates on recent landings in Australia and UFO activity in South America, including near collisions with airliners in Chile and Argentina.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the scientific investigation into extraterrestrial life, particularly on Mars and Venus, and the reporting of numerous UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting various scientific viewpoints and eyewitness accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena, while also acknowledging official explanations and the challenges of definitive proof. The publication itself is ending, reflecting a common struggle for niche organizations to sustain operations.