NICAP Reporter

Magazine Overview

Title: NICAP Reporter
Issue: Vol. 5 No. 4, Issue No. 52
Date: January 1967
Editor: Robert J. Gribble

This issue of the NICAP Reporter focuses heavily on a wave of UFO sightings that occurred primarily in New Jersey and Long Island, New York, during October and November 1966. It details numerous witness accounts, object descriptions, and associated phenomena.

New Jersey and Long Island 'Flap'

The lead article, "NEW JERSEY 'FLAP' CONTINUES--SPREADS TO LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK--", details a series of sightings. On October 12, residents of East Paterson and Fort Lee reported a large cigar-shaped object hovering. On the same night, over a dozen people in Pompton Lakes and Ringwood saw a disc-shaped object over Wanaque Reservoir. Mrs. Mary Ahern and seven friends used high-powered binoculars to observe the object.

On October 15, two reports came from the North New Jersey Police Radio system. A man in Oakland saw a gray metal object, round on top and flat on the bottom with a red light, over Wanaque Reservoir. A woman in Montclair reported a large object with seven white lights and a red light on top, also over Wanaque Reservoir.

Simultaneously, Bernard Zick of Pompton Lakes sighted an "aluminum-like object" about 300 feet in the air. His son-in-law, Petty Officer 3/c Kenneth Catlin, an air control operator, described it as "mechanical-looking," "aluminum-like, round on top like a balloon and flat on the bottom," hovering and emitting a light from beneath before disappearing. Zick stated it was "definitely solid."

On October 16, Abram (Bud) Lodder of West Milford described an "egg"-shaped object with a light as bright as a welder's arc. The Lodder family witnessed mysterious ovals from their backyard, noting that their radio and television experienced interference (static) when the objects were visible, which ceased when the UFOs disappeared.

That same night, Wanaque, New Jersey Mayor Harry T. Wolfe estimated that about 400 people witnessed flying objects. Reports also came from Ringwood and Midvale. Patrolman Gary Jones of Pompton Lakes reported seeing a white light moving very fast over the reservoir.

Two Riverside, New Jersey sisters, Arlene (17) and Karen (20) Bentz, followed a large orange object with a brighter center, described as kidney-shaped, for about 10 minutes on October 21. They heard no noise and noted it flew low.

A Paramus, New Jersey housewife reported a UFO hovering over Ridgewood for 30 minutes on the same evening, confirmed by her neighbor Owen Comora, who observed a hot-dog-shaped object through a telescope.

On October 13, three Suffolk County, New York police officers spotted a glowing object near Patchogue, Long Island, that hovered, rose, darted quickly, and emitted a pulsating light changing from red to white to green. Patrolman James Tate described it as hot-dog-shaped and hovering over the Atlantic.

John J. Autry of the Bronx, New York, reported watching a bright flying object "go haywire" for five to ten minutes on three consecutive nights (October 23, 24, 25). He described it as changing colors (white, dull red, transparent blue), the size of a quarter held at arm's length, and moving erratically.

On October 27, Suffolk County Police received over 50 calls about brightly colored UFOs over Long Island's South Shore, mainly between Patchogue and Lindenhurst. An airman at Suffolk Air Force Base also reported seeing one.

On October 28, residents across Long Island reported seeing a white cylindrical object with red and green lights, hovering from 200 feet to tree-top level, some emitting screeching noises. In Bayside, Long Island, Geraldine Smith (19) and Lynn Diamond (21) saw a wingless oval-shaped object with red lights flashing, hovering about 20 feet above a school. They heard a humming sound. The object took off, returned with another oval-shaped UFO, and they hovered side-by-side before disappearing.

On November 12, residents of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, sighted a round object with a ring and bubbles, featuring green lights on top, red lights on the middle ring, and flashing white rays from the bottom. It revolved and moved up and down.

On November 13, a UFO was reported over East Orange, New Jersey, described as a big disc with three planes following it, changing colors from purple to red to blinding white. Later that day, 10-year-old Ronnie Hemmel of Caldwell saw a three-pointed triangle of lights hovering for about a minute.

Around 8 p.m. on November 13, a UFO appeared in Colonia, New Jersey, for over an hour. Police in Woodbridge received three reports, including one from George Pappas, a pilot with 20 years of experience, who saw a pulsating orange object over Fords Junior High School, estimated at 6000 feet up with terrific climbing speed.

A 13-year-old boy reported seeing a "red green and white" object for 45 minutes through field glasses, which then flashed into the southern sky. Two 17-year-olds reported a "round pinkish" object trailing vapor.

On November 15, flying objects were reported over Butler, Boonton, Parsippany-Troy Hills, and Wayne, New Jersey. In Wayne, Patrolman Gerald Dennery saw a big object surrounded by a white glow, moving slowly. Patrolman John Van Der Horn admitted to seeing strange objects earlier that evening but did not report them to avoid ridicule.

Mrs. Schlesner reported an object hovering over the Jersey City Reservoir, and Michelle Dickerson of Parsippany saw a strange object that appeared as a plane with red blinking lights, which then turned into a white light that dropped and moved sideways.

Southeast States Activity

The issue also covers considerable UFO activity in southeastern states, beginning on September 24 in Tennessee. Eight security workers at the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant at Tyner reported seeing a disc-shaped, very bright object that left a green vapor. Security chief L.D. Turner confirmed reports from employees describing a round object hovering about 300 feet for two minutes before disappearing in a flash, leaving a trail of greenish vapor.

A.F. Cooper, working at the plant's gate, reported a "large metallic disc" hovering over the Redwater Building. His report was initially dismissed as a prank. J.R. Ware and J.H. Willis also reported similar sightings.

Robert Glover reported seeing a "big doughnut"-shaped object with a black center and a red-orange glowing outer rim near Gastonia, North Carolina, which swooped down at him. He described it as having a black pupil and orange-red iris.

David Jones, a paper carrier in Lincoln County, North Carolina, reported seeing several "disc-like" objects about 5 a.m., described as round with an eye in the middle, which initially looked like a moon behind a cloud before taking disc shape.

Minor sightings were reported in Double Springs, North Carolina (October 2), Cherryville, North Carolina (October 10), and Johnson City, Tennessee (October 10 and 11).

On October 12, UFOs swarmed over Johnson City, Tennessee. Residents reported seeing "silvery-white discs" maneuvering, some with domes, hovering and discharging a substance in sheets that fell to the ground. Those who touched the substance reported burns and itching sensations.

Authorities at Tri-City Airport were notified, and pilots reported seeing no objects, though one pilot saw a "shooting star." Residents claimed discs shot at airplanes and then hurried out of sight.

West Virginia and Colorado Sightings

Professor Larry Miller and D.G. Nicholson reported a "donut-shaped" craft with a hole in its center and a slit in the ring, hovering near the ground at the Redwater Building. The object emitted sheets of a silvery substance that dissolved on the ground. A Federal Aviation Agency official registered the substance, and farmers noted it falling in their hayfields.

A 13-year-old boy from Mud Fork, West Virginia, reported sighting two pinkish-red round objects on October 14. He described them taking off with a "hissing sound and two or three streams of fire."

Six persons reported fast-moving lights at Tyler Mountain near Logan, West Virginia, changing from white to red. One man saw a red light moving very fast.

A Spencer, West Virginia housewife reported seeing two bright lights above the trees on October 16.

Eight residents of Chattanooga, Tennessee, reported spotting a UFO on October 16, described as a well-lighted, kettle-shaped object that got larger as it approached the earth.

Mrs. Ann Gilles sighted a flying object over Bridgeport, West Virginia, on October 18, described as a burnt log with red hot coals, long and reddish, with many lights.

Walter Stone sighted an octagon-shaped object flying over his car near Cynthiana, Kentucky, on October 18. He felt pulled down in his car seat and heard wind from the object. The bottom was covered with white flames and a ring of red flames around the edge.

On October 23, UFOs were reported over Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, described as "bobbing lights" and "a white streak across the sky."

Mr. Robert Graham sighted a UFO over Holbrook Run, West Virginia, on November 17, described as circular and glowing with a very bright white light, resembling an exhaust system. It hovered above the treetops and then veered off at a 90-degree angle.

Sheriff Charles Childers reported sightings over Montrose and Olathe, Colorado, on September 28 and 29. He described the objects as football-shaped, riding at considerable distance and height, sometimes motionless and sometimes speeding. Through binoculars, they showed various colored lights.

California Sightings and a Cryptid Report

Mrs. James Beall, a teacher, reported seeing three strange objects near Elk, California, on October 31. She described them as bouncing lights, with a larger one approaching the others and emitting a large blue light. The object stopped and hovered, spinning, with smaller lights behind it.

On December 14, five children at the Bill Swift home near Cedarville, California, watched a flying object hover near their home for an hour. They described it as disc-shaped with red lights and pulsating lights in series. It turned on its side, revealing revolving, glowing circles, then disappeared.

In November, two Point Pleasant, West Virginia couples encountered a man-size, bird-like creature in the TNT area. Steve Mallette and Robert Scarberry described it as six or seven feet tall, with wings, light gray in color, and red eyes. They reported it moved awkwardly and seemed to be controlled by "human beings."

Other Reports and Book Review

On December 16, 14 persons at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station near Sand Diego, California, observed three bright, round yellow objects flying in a triangular formation at an estimated 50,000 feet. A fourth object appeared and dropped two spheres of light before disappearing. The objects were in sight for about nine minutes.

The issue includes a review of the book "BEYOND TOMORROW" by Dandridge M. Cole, with space art by Roy G. Scarfo. The book is described as a product of scientific study and evaluation concerning the future of mankind, synthesizing science, philosophy, and religion. It is recommended by NICAP.

Details are provided for NICAP membership and publication costs, with U.S., Canada, and Mexico at $3.50 per year, and other countries at $5.00 per year. Checks and Money Orders should be made payable to Robert J. Gribble, Director NICAP. A note encourages members to send newspaper clippings about UFO reports to NICAP.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the widespread and varied nature of UFO sightings, emphasizing witness testimony and detailed descriptions of objects and their behaviors. The editorial stance, as indicated by the publication of these reports and the endorsement of the book "Beyond Tomorrow," appears to be one of serious investigation into aerial phenomena and a belief in the importance of understanding potential future technological advancements and societal changes related to space and civilization. The detailed reporting suggests a commitment to documenting and analyzing these events without immediate dismissal, while also noting official explanations or skepticism where available (e.g., FAA suggesting jet fighters, or the initial prank dismissal of a report).