Orbiter - No 16 - 1989

Magazine Overview

Title: ORBITER The New England Aerial Phenomena Report
Issue: #16
Date: February 1989

This issue of Orbiter magazine, a publication dedicated to reporting on unexplained aerial phenomena, features a diverse range of articles and case reports. The cover story, "UFO Hunters Form an Odd Subculture," highlights the ongoing dedication of individuals who actively search for UFOs, even after government programs have ceased. The magazine includes historical accounts, contemporary sightings, and discussions on the nature of UFOs and related phenomena.

Key Articles and Reports

"Attacking The UFO Problem" - Orange Balls Of Light Greg Long discusses the phenomenon of Orange Balls of Light (BOLs), which he has studied extensively, particularly on the Yakima Indian Reservation. He notes that these luminous spheres, often orange, yellow, or white, have been reported globally since at least 1947. Long explores the debate on whether BOLs are alien technology or natural phenomena like ball lightning, contrasting their characteristics with known atmospheric events. He also touches upon the co-occurrence of BOL sightings with reports of Sasquatch and other unusual phenomena.

"The Foo Fighter Mystery" This reproduction of an American Legion Magazine article from December 1945 details the experiences of WWII pilots who encountered mysterious 'foo fighters' – luminous, often orange, spheres of light that followed their aircraft. The article recounts numerous pilot testimonies, the bafflement of military authorities, and the various unsuccessful attempts to explain the phenomenon, which ranged from enemy weapons to natural occurrences like St. Elmo's Light.

Reports of Rare and Peculiar Meteors/Bolides This section presents reproduced articles from 'Nature' and 'Monthly Weather Review' detailing unusual meteor and bolide sightings. One report from February 28, 1904, describes three remarkable meteors observed from the U.S.S. Supply, which appeared to soar away from the earth. Another article discusses a bolide seen in Western Australia in 1871, described as a ball of fire with a disk the size of the full moon. A report from the Birmingham Morning News details a destructive phenomenon over England in 1872, involving a fiery meteor accompanied by a whirlwind that caused significant damage. A Swedish report from February 5, 1883, describes a meteor that changed course mid-flight.

Scientific American and Nature Articles This section includes reproductions of articles from 'Scientific American' and 'Nature' focusing on unusual atmospheric and electrical phenomena. One article discusses the "Kentucky Shower of Flesh," attributing it to the plant Nostoc, a gelatinous mass that can be carried by winds and fall to earth. Another report details a "Snake Rain" in Memphis, Tennessee, speculated to be caused by a hurricane. The phenomenon of "Ball Lightning" is also discussed, with a personal observation from Saturday, the 17th inst., describing a globe of fire descending from the clouds. A report titled "Vistens in the Clouds" describes sightings of apparitions, including white-robed figures and soldiers, in the skies over Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. A remarkable electrical phenomenon at Clarens, Switzerland, involving a lightning strike on a cherry tree and unusual electrical effects on people nearby, is also mentioned.

"UFO Hunters Form an Odd Subculture" This newsclipping from the New Hampshire Sunday News (December 25, 1988) profiles UFO enthusiasts, particularly in the Hudson Valley, New York. It highlights individuals like Peter Gersten, Ellen Crystall, and Linda Doern, who spend nights searching for UFOs and collecting evidence. The article notes the persistence of these 'believers' despite the government's discontinuation of official UFO investigations and touches upon the skepticism they face, as well as the local police department's experience with such reports.

Radio/TV Log This section briefly notes two media appearances: an NBC 'Unsolved Mysteries' segment on the Face on Mars (February 1, 1989) and a WBZ radio Boston report about a gasline burst in Lynnfield, MA, where evacuated residents initially thought it was a 'UFO landing' (February 2, 1989).

Case Report: Dozens Report Seeing UFO Along Route 93 This article from the Eagle Tribune (February 13, 1989) details a widely witnessed UFO sighting over Route 93 in the Merrimack Valley. Dozens of people reported a slow-moving circular object with flashing lights between 6 and 7:30 PM. Speculation included a Fuji Film blimp or an Air Force helicopter. However, the company stated its blimp had not been in operation for two years, and the Air Force suggested a military helicopter. The report concludes that the object was an aerial advertising plane, Nighttime Skywriting, hired for $600 to blink an advertisement.

"Vigils on Lonely Roads Waiting for... Them" This article, attributed to R. Giordano, continues the theme of UFO hunters, focusing on the Hudson Valley area. It mentions Jeff Lehman, a spokesman for Stewart International Airport, who suggests that some sightings might be pilots intentionally fooling UFO enthusiasts. The article also features Ellen Crystall's account of seeing a 3½-foot creature with a beige body and huge yellow eyes. It discusses the 'government conspiracy' camp of UFO followers, like Peter Gersten, and the fascination with abductions. The piece notes that while police in Crawford are used to strange calls, they haven't seen hard evidence of UFOs but acknowledge that people insist they see things.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, with a focus on UFOs, meteors, and unusual atmospheric phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various accounts and potential explanations without definitively concluding the nature of these events. There is a clear interest in historical sightings, such as the WWII 'foo fighters,' alongside contemporary reports. The publication seems to champion the efforts of independent researchers and enthusiasts who continue to investigate these phenomena, often in the face of skepticism. The inclusion of scientific articles and reproductions from reputable journals suggests an attempt to ground the more speculative reports in factual observation, even when the phenomena themselves remain mysterious. The magazine encourages readers to contribute their own observations and data, fostering a community of interest in aerial phenomena.