Orbiter - No 09 - 1988

Magazine Overview

Title: ORBITER
Issue: #9
Date: Jun/Jul 1988
Publisher: The New England Aerial Phenomena Report

This issue of Orbiter, a newsletter focused on aerial phenomena, combines the June and July editions due to summer vacation plans. Editor Jim Melesciuc expresses gratitude to readers for their support and encourages correspondence. The issue announces the 25th Annual National UFO Conference scheduled for September 17, 1988, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Radio-TV Log

The Radio-TV Log section notes Jim Melesciuc's guest appearance on the WRKO 'Ted and Janet' show on June 24, commemorating the 41st anniversary of the Kenneth Arnold sighting. It also mentions a UFO segment aired on Channel 5's 'Chronicle' on June 20, focusing on the MJ-12 documents and abductions.

Recommended UFO Resources

George Fawcett offers a service providing a four-page listing of recommended UFO items. Interested individuals can obtain this list by mailing a self-addressed envelope with a 39-cent stamp and a $2.00 check to cover printing costs.

UFO Brigantia and the Independent UFO Network (IUN)

UFO Brigantia is described as a bi-monthly journal published by the Independent UFO Network (IUN). It features 32 illustrated A4 pages and covers various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, including cover-ups, earthlights, controversial theories, archive cases, and current investigations. The IUN aims to disseminate research and investigations to provide a broader perspective on UFOs, without holding a specific viewpoint on their nature or origin. The IUN was formed from members of the West Yorkshire UFO Research Group (WYUFORG) and the Yorkshire UFO Network (YUFON), along with independent investigators in northern England. Information on subscribing to UFO Brigantia or the IUN can be obtained by writing to their address in Leeds, England.

Commentary by Jim Melesciuc: TO LEARN?

Jim Melesciuc addresses what he perceives as misinformation and misguidance within the UFO community, particularly concerning the Gulf Breeze UFO case. He emphasizes the importance of objective ufologists and the use of the MUFON Field Investigators Manual. Melesciuc questions the reporting of the Gulf Breeze case, citing discrepancies in the time lapse of photos, the witness's connection to Budd Hopkins' literary agent, and the furnishing of internal investigation documents to the witness. He also points out that the stereo photo object differs from the 'lampshade-type' object seen in other photos. Melesciuc refers to the MUFON manual's guidance on identifying potential publicity seekers and the need to determine the nature of what was seen, suggesting that a person who continually sees UFOs might be a poor observer, publicity seeker, or mentally unbalanced. He questions whether the Gulf Breeze reports were objective or colored by biases, suggesting that equating the case with tabloid sensationalism undermines the pursuit of scientific respect for the UFO enigma. He concludes that those taking a scientific and objective view are becoming disillusioned.

A NOTE ON THE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF THE LATENT ENCOUNTER MODEL

This article by Joe Nyman discusses the Latent Encounter Model (LEM), previously published in Orbiter, Issue #5. The LEM is a generalized, time-ordered sequence that implies predictability. Nyman shares three recent investigations where the model was successfully used to guide investigators' expectations and backtrack experiencers' accounts. In Case 1, an experiencer immediately found herself at stage 2 of the model, with a feeling of anxiously anticipating 'someone'. In Case 2, an experiencer consistently went from stage 2 to stage 4, and by focusing on bodily areas, revealed uncomfortable stage 3 images. In Case 3, an experiencer failed to mention stage 4, but careful stepping through stage 3 revealed images of being 'raped' by a repulsive entity before the expected stage 4. Nyman suggests these results strongly indicate the model's efficacy in predicting encounter imagery patterns and raises questions about whether this pattern reflects intelligent external intent, archetypes, or the investigative procedure itself.

LETTERS TO THE SCIENCE EDITOR

Some UFO History by Greg Stone:
Greg Stone expresses disturbance over perceived biased treatment and 'verbal sneering' by science editor John Lear towards John G. Fuller's work on UFOs. Stone criticizes Lear for using unrepresentative sections from Fuller's 'Incident at Exeter' and Sagan and Shklovskii's 'Intelligent Life in the Universe' without proper context. He questions Lear's lack of original research and his pronouncements on others' work. Stone specifically challenges Lear's dismissal of a UFO photograph as a 'straw hat', suggesting Lear should have investigated the photographer and photo himself or followed the example of Encyclopaedia Britannica, which published the same photo without editorializing. Stone, a reporter studying UFOs for two months, notes that Philip J. Klass attributed incidents like Exeter to ball lightning, a theory Stone finds commendable. However, he credits Fuller for presenting detailed cases that allow for plausible answers.

Editor's Note: B. Muccio responds to Greg Stone, clarifying that John Fuller did not venture into a shunned field, citing a 1959 SR article by Donald Robey on a cometoid theory and a 1960 article by Dr. Donald Ritchie on plasma blobs. Muccio states that UFO enthusiasts showed no interest in these contributions. He denies that SR's science editor made sneering comments about Fuller and disputes the claim that 'Incident at Exeter' included prefatory qualifying statements. Muccio also notes that SR's science editor does not have the facilities to check all reported UFO sightings and initially accepted all claims.

UFO History

This section reprints articles from Newsweek (December 25, 1944, and January 15, 1945) and Time Magazine (January 15, 1945) concerning 'foo-fighters' and 'silver spheres' encountered by Allied pilots during World War II. The Newsweek articles describe 'foo-fighters' as unexplained phenomena, possibly a new anti-radar device or exhaust trails of a rocket-propelled flying wing. The 'Silver Sphere Puzzle' article discusses silver-colored spheres resembling Christmas-tree ornaments, possibly a new form of aerial interference to confuse radar. Scientific explanations like St. Elmo's Fire are also mentioned.

The Knowles Family UFO Encounter

By Paul Norman:
This article recounts the experience of the Knowles family and her three sons on January 20, 1989, while traveling on the Nullarbor Plains in Australia. They reported seeing a strange light over a truck, which then reversed course and landed on their car's roof. The family experienced panic, and the car was driven at high speed before stopping. Mrs. Knowles felt part of the object, described as egg-shaped with a yellow light. The encounter left the car with a silicon-type dust. Grahan Henley, a truck driver, corroborated the family's story and noted the unusual dust. Police officer Jim Furnell also took the report seriously. Samples analyzed by the Australian Mineral Development Laboratories (ADL) were identified as iron oxide, consistent with brake linings, with the large amount of material ignored. Upon arriving in Melbourne, the family was interviewed by the Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS), and they reported illness and swelling in Mrs. Knowles' arm. The article notes that the family was not disposed to fabricating the story. Tests documented by Channel 7 TV showed the car's wheels spinning at 200 km/h. The article criticizes rapid scientific 'explanations' such as meteorites, dry lightning, or the rising sun, and highlights the impact of unexplained incidents on scientific credibility.

Haifa Buzzing Over UFO Visit 'Evidence'

This section, comprising clippings from The Jerusalem Post (October 9, 1957) and Davar (October 9, 1987), details UFO sightings and alleged evidence in Haifa, Israel. An eyewitness, Ami Achtayi, discovered a burnt patch of earth near the beach, which he believed was the landing site of a UFO. He described seeing an object surrounded by fire sparks. Hadassah Arbel, a researcher of UFOs, suggested the burnt earth was caused by radiation or 'cold fire' from a UFO that had suffered engine trouble. She also interpreted an untouched thistle patch as the silhouette of the UFO pilot. Another witness, garage manager Amy Achrai, reported seeing a bright light over the sea. The article notes that the Haifa police consulted with the Airforce, which reported no planes in the area at the time. A correspondent notes that Ami is a skilled mechanic.

The November Meteors

This section features an astronomical drawing by Etienne Leopold Trouvelot from 1827-1895, depicting the November Meteors. A footnote describes Trouvelot's observations on November 13, 1868, where he witnessed over three thousand meteors, many large and brilliant, exhibiting extraordinary motions and complicated paths. Some meteors moved slowly, others rapidly, and some appeared to rotate upon an axis before exploding into fiery sparks. The trails left by the meteors often retained their luminosity for minutes. Trouvelot found it remarkable that many meteors assumed an open ring or horseshoe shape, and their colors varied, with red, blue, green, yellow, and purple being common.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Orbiter include the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, the historical context of UFO phenomena (e.g., WWII 'foo-fighters', early sightings), and the challenges faced by researchers in gaining scientific credibility. The editorial stance, as expressed by Jim Melesciuc, emphasizes a commitment to objective investigation and a critical approach to information, particularly regarding controversial cases like Gulf Breeze. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of detailed research, the use of investigative manuals, and the need to avoid misinformation and sensationalism. The publication also highlights the work of UFO research organizations and journals, encouraging readers to engage with these resources. The issue demonstrates a dedication to exploring the UFO phenomenon from multiple angles, including witness accounts, historical records, and theoretical models.

This issue of the Northwest Arkansas Time, dated Saturday, February 4, 1988, focuses on a series of UFO sightings in the small southwest Arkansas town of Foreman. The cover story, "Close-up look at UFO sighting," details the experiences of local residents and the subsequent investigation by MUFON (Mutual UFO Network).

Close-up look at UFO sighting

The article begins by noting that residents of Foreman have reported over 200 sightings of unidentified objects in the night sky since late December. These sightings are described as unusual due to their duration and the number of people involved. The series aims to recount firsthand accounts from eyewitnesses.

The Meilhannon Sighting

The main narrative focuses on an incident on Tuesday, January 26, involving Kaye Meilhannon, a 47-year-old mother, and two other women, Tabby Dussell and Tempa Meilhannon, who were with her. As they drove home around 8 p.m., they noticed unusually colored lights in the sky to the north. Upon arriving at Meilhannon's home, one of the women, Dussell, went outside to warm up her car and then screamed, "It's here." Meilhannon and her daughter-in-law, Tempa, rushed to the door and saw a brilliant light hovering close to the ground in their backyard, about 30 yards away. Meilhannon described the light as "extra-bright" and pulsating, reminding her of Christmas tree bulbs, and estimated its size to be at least that of an automobile. The light illuminated the field behind the house. Meilhannon approached within 15-20 yards of the object. She then ran back inside to get her daughter-in-law to call her son. As her son's vehicle approached, the light "just vanished. It didn't go up, it didn't go down, it just disappeared like you'd turn off a light switch." No sound was heard from the object. Meilhannon felt there was an object somehow attached to the light, though she could not make out structural features.

MUFON Investigation

MUFON investigators Charles Huffer and Ed Mazur measured radioactivity at the spot the next day using a Geiger counter, but it revealed only normal background radiation. Huffer noted that close-up UFO sightings involving radiation are rare.

Neighboring Accounts and Other Sightings

Meilhannon's nearest neighbors, located at least half a mile to the north, reported seeing no unusual lights that night. The women were certain the object was not a helicopter. A mile away, Kathy Meilhannon reported seeing high-flying orange lights moving steadily to the west around 8 p.m. on the same evening, which she admitted might have been an airplane but "didn't look like a normal airplane to me."

The French Sighting

Another sighting occurred a week earlier, on Tuesday, January 19. Eula French, 19, was alone at her home on the Anderson lateral road when she noticed a bright light flooding her living room from the front windows. The light moved to the back of the house, and she saw a "light green light" hovering approximately 20 to 30 yards behind the house. Her dogs barked furiously, but she heard no sound. She described the light as hovering and making her "very frightened." She tried to wake others in the house, but they dismissed it as the dogs hearing things. French believed the light was not a local medical helicopter, "Air Life." Since this incident, French's family has spotted several unidentified flying objects to the east of their house. The article notes that subsequent sightings have been witnessed by dozens of other people parked in front of the French household.

Defining UFO Terms

An accompanying sidebar by Bill Macomber defines "UFO." It clarifies that the acronym does not necessarily imply an "extra-terrestrial disc." J. Allen Hynek's definition is provided: "The reported perception of an object or light seen in the sky or upon the land... which remains unidentified after close scrutiny of all available evidence by persons who are technically capable of making a common sense identification, if one is possible." Charles J. Huffer offers a simpler definition: "UFO just means it can't be identified, that's all."

Official Response

Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana, has claimed no unusual military activity over the Foreman area.

Future Installments

The article concludes by stating that tomorrow's installment will cover a broad range of unidentified sightings in the Foreman area by dozens of eyewitnesses.

Related Publication

A notice promotes "The Spectrum of UFO Research," a 232-page monograph containing papers from the 1981 CUFOS Conference, available for $11.00 plus postage and handling.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the persistent and unexplained UFO sightings in the Foreman, Arkansas area. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious journalistic inquiry, presenting eyewitness accounts and investigative efforts by MUFON, while acknowledging the lack of conventional explanations. The newspaper positions itself as bringing "The Public Interest" to the forefront by investigating these phenomena. The series aims to explore the phenomenon thoroughly, with future installments promising more eyewitness accounts.