Potpourri News No 162

Magazine Overview

Title: POTPOURRI NEWS
Issue Date: December 7, 1977
Issue Number: 162
Publisher: BANNER, North Charleston, SC

This issue of Potpourri News, dated December 7, 1977, features a prominent cover story detailing a UFO sighting in North Charleston that has baffled Air Force officials. The issue also includes articles on the scientific investigation of sonic booms, a report of a 'flying red light' incident in Kansas, and commentary on the global study of unidentified flying objects.

UFO Sighting Baffles Officials, Concerns AF

The main cover story, by Val Stieglitz and George Spain, reports on a UFO sighting by North Charleston resident William Herrmann. Herrmann claims he was woken by violent tremors on Friday morning and saw an unidentified flying object hovering over an electrical tower about half-a-mile from his trailer. He had previously reported seeing a strange object in the sky on November 12 and November 27, photographing a hat-shaped object on the latter date at dusk. The photographs, described as dark and unprintable, reportedly show a hat-shaped object tilting towards the clouds. Air Force spokesman Capt. "Sky" King confirmed that the photographs were forwarded through informational channels and that he met Herrmann. King stated that the tremors experienced that Friday were unexplained, not seismic, and not caused by sonic booms, as nothing showed up on radar. He expressed concern and a desire to know the nature of any 'thing' that might be 'up there'. Radio station WOSN also received three reports of a UFO in the North area that Friday.

Strange noises called sonic booms

This article, attributed to The Banner and AP, discusses the findings of two government scientists, Harvey H. Hubbard and Domenic J. Maglieri, from NASA's Langley Research Center. They concluded that mysterious booms heard in coastal areas are produced by a combination of shock waves from high-speed aircraft and unusual weather conditions. Hubbard, who has researched sonic booms for over 20 years, explained that under normal atmospheric conditions, 'top-side' shock waves dissipate. However, unusual weather can force these waves back to earth, creating noises audible up to 200-300 miles from the origin point. The article notes that the cause is 'far less romantic' than some might assume.

'A Flying Red Light' Chases Group Into Town

Reported by S. Hicks for the DAILY NEWS, Russell, KS, this brief article details an incident on January 28, 1978, where five young people in Russell, Kansas, reported to the police department that a 'flying red light' had followed them at about hill-top height as they drove south on US 281 Highway into town. The Police Department referred the matter to the sheriff's office, but a sheriff's dispatcher stated that the department was not impressed and had no record of any action taken regarding the flying light.

COMMENTARY AND SPECULATION

This section features commentary by John F. Schuessler, with an address in Houston, Texas. The specific content of his commentary is not detailed in the provided scan, but it is presented as a regular feature.

December 2 (Article excerpt)

This excerpt, referencing Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967, quotes Moscow Aviation Institute professor Feliks Zigel. Zigel called for a 'joint effort of all the scientists of the world' to determine the nature of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). His group had reportedly compiled 200 reports of sightings. Zigel described a typical sighting as a 'luminous orange-colored crescent flying with its outward bend forward,' with a surface 'only a little duller than that of the moon.' He emphasized the need for a systematic study from astronomical and meteorological observatories to determine if the objects were of protoplasmic or extraterrestrial origin. Zigel criticized scientists who deny the existence of the problem and stated that it is the duty of scientists to take up the challenge of disclosing the nature of UFOs and establishing the scientific truth. The quote is attributed to Kamm, NYT, 12/10/67, p. 70.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, including UFO sightings and mysterious lights, alongside investigations into unusual atmospheric or auditory events like sonic booms and tremors. There is a clear interest in presenting eyewitness accounts and official responses, or lack thereof, to these phenomena. The inclusion of scientific explanations for sonic booms and the call for a global UFO study suggest an editorial stance that acknowledges the public's fascination with these topics while also seeking to ground them in investigation and analysis, whether scientific or speculative. The inclusion of commentary and international perspectives (Soviet scientist) indicates a broad approach to the subject matter.