1980 10 00 OMNI - Oberg - MN UFO Attack

Magazine Overview

This issue of OMNI magazine, dated January 1980, features a cover story titled "MINNESOTA ATTACK UFO UPDATE" by James Oberg. The issue number is 30 and the volume is 4. The cover price is $2.00. The main headline focuses on a mysterious event in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Attack UFO Incident

The lead article by James Oberg details a significant UFO case that occurred on August 27, 1979, near Warren, Minnesota. Deputy Val Johnson, a thirty-five-year-old police officer, was on routine patrol when he encountered a bright light some distance off the road. Estimating its size and distance, he turned down a side road to investigate, suspecting smugglers. The object then rapidly moved directly in front of his car, emitting a fierce, blinding white light and a sound like shattering glass. Johnson lost consciousness for approximately 40 minutes.

Upon regaining consciousness, Johnson found his car damaged and his dashboard clock and wristwatch running 14 minutes slow. The damage to his police cruiser included a smashed headlight, a dent on the hood, a shattered windshield, a broken red plastic filter on a roof lamp, and two bent antennas. Notably, the damage seemed confined to the driver's side of the car. Johnson reported that "Something just hit my car. Something attacked my car."

Allan Hendry, an investigator for the Center for UFO Studies, flew to Warren the next day to conduct a scientific investigation. An automotive engineer determined the damage was caused by external "mechanical force" and noted "no evidence of unusual heat." The antennas, bent nearly halfway over, were particularly puzzling, as they were still covered in dirt and dead insects, showing no signs of road debris impact.

Hendry admitted that the single witness was a drawback but insisted Johnson was not the type to hoax such an incident and was genuinely baffled. He noted similar incidents were reported across the Midwest shortly after. Hendry's conclusion was that the cause was essentially inconclusive, but all reasonable prosaic explanations were eliminated, suggesting a "genuine UFO."

Philip J. Klass, an aviation writer and author of skeptical books on UFOs, offered a different perspective. He analyzed the damage and compared it with possible forces, concluding that human action could account for all the circumstances, including the 14-minute discrepancy on the timepieces. Klass suggested the damage might be related to unauthorized use of the vehicle or a prank, and that the investigators' failure to eliminate these explanations demonstrated the continued failure of UFO experts to prove their subject's authenticity.

The UFO Cult Case

The issue also features a story about a UFO cult, involving a young couple, Thomas and Susan Kolb, from Kiel, Wisconsin. In January 1973, they reported seeing a large, orange flashing light. This sighting led them to a local UFO enthusiast and eventually to join the UFO Education Center in Appleton, Wisconsin. This group was identified as a renegade sect of the old George Adamski cult, which had incorporated UFO beliefs into its dogma, centered around communication with 'Orthon,' a scholar from Venus.

Susan Kolb became deeply involved, to the point where she and Thomas were separated. She moved into the UFO Education Center's headquarters, becoming completely obsessed with the cult's philosophy. Her father and husband, concerned, broke down the door and carried her off. Susan had them arrested on charges of false imprisonment, which were later dismissed.

The family then turned to Ted Patrick, a professional deprogrammer known for rescuing individuals from cults. Patrick took on the task of rescuing Mrs. Kolb, and over a four-day period, for which Thomas's parents paid several thousand dollars, he succeeded in breaking the cult's influence. In the months following, Susan Kolb traveled with Patrick, speaking to groups, and stated she did not wish to see any more UFOs.

The article notes that the initial UFO sighting that started the Kolbs' involvement turned out to be a neighbor's lighted tractor. Reputable UFO groups reportedly view the UFO Education Center affair with embarrassment, recognizing it was not a typical UFO group but a cult. The piece concludes by stating that such bizarre activities flourish in the absence of reliable information, and charlatans can prey on the public's intense interest in the UFO phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of OMNI explores the dual nature of UFO phenomena: the potential for genuine, unexplained events and the susceptibility of the public to hoaxes, misinterpretations, and exploitation by cults and charlatans. The editorial stance appears to favor rigorous, scientific investigation, as exemplified by the detailed analysis of the Minnesota incident, while also acknowledging the psychological and sociological factors that contribute to UFO beliefs and the formation of cults. The magazine highlights the importance of documented evidence and the failure of UFO experts to definitively prove their subject's authenticity when faced with thorough, skeptical scrutiny. The article implicitly argues for critical thinking and the need to distinguish between credible evidence and unsubstantiated claims, particularly in fields where mystery abounds.