Skylook September 1967

Magazine Overview

SKYLOOK is a monthly bulletin dedicated to UFO research, aiming to separate fact from fantasy and investigate strange happenings in the sky. This inaugural issue, dated September 1967, is a joint effort between The Black Vault Encyclopedia Project and MUFON, offering a free resource for UFO historical research. The publication is a brainchild of John F. Kuhns and others, with the goal of providing a dedicated report for Missourians and beyond.

Key Articles and Reports

Strange Light Over Gladden

A report from the Eminence, Mo. TIMES details a brilliant light observed over Gladden on Monday, August 21, 1967, between 4:05 am and 4:20 am. Mrs. Dorothy Rummel reported seeing an object, described as 'about the size of a tea cup,' moving in a leisurely arc in the eastern sky. She compared its movement to 'a kite being flown in a gentle breeze,' noting it was moving too slowly to be a meteor. She watched it for about fifteen minutes before it disappeared. The report was relayed to radio station KSMO and subsequently to the weather station at Lambert Air Field in St. Louis, which had no record of weather balloons in the area that could account for the sighting.

Dr. James McDonald Addresses UN Committee

On June 7, 1967, Dr. James McDonald, senior physicist at Arizona University's Institute of Atmospheric Physics, spoke before the United Nations Outer Space Committee. He supported his belief in spaceships conducting reconnaissance missions on Earth. Following his address, columnist Drew Pearson noted in his June 27 column that U Thant considered UFOs the most important problem facing the UN, second only to the Vietnam War.

Kuhns Organizes Campus Group

John F. Kuhns, a junior Chemistry major and chairman of the Missouri section of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), is leading an effort to establish a UMKC chapter. The UNIVERSITY NEWS reported that the club's purpose is to investigate and analyze UFO reports. Membership requirements are those of APRO, and thirty-one individuals, including faculty members and students, had signed a petition for a charter. Richard Waring, assistant professor of physics, agreed to serve as the faculty advisor.

UFOs in Europe

A story from the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, July 25, 1967, based on a clipping sent by John F. Schuessler of APRO, reported that the British government investigated reports of flying saucers over wide areas of Europe. However, 'nothing of defense interest has been found,' Parliament was told. Unidentified flying objects resembling fireballs were reported in several European countries the previous week.

'Nothing New Under the Sun'

An AP story from July 12 detailed a manuscript found in the public library at La Spezia, Italy. The writer, Antonio Cesena, reported on a 16th-century UFO sighting where peasants in two different areas saw 'a strange disc changing from yellow to red, and with red fireballs shining beneath it.'

Object Explodes Over Kansas

The KANSAS CITY TIMES reported on June 10, 1967, an AP account of a mysterious object exploding in the sky over Newton, Kansas, on June 9th. Jerry Killfoil, a Newton patrolman, witnessed a 'bright orange flash' that began to fall beyond the horizon. He described it as a 'very bright explosion of orange and white light.' Sheriff Vern Miller also received five other calls about strange objects in the sky around the same time that Wichita residents were reporting sightings of flying saucers.

Flying Objects Over Tulsa

The TULSA WORLD reported on August 13, 1967, that three Tulsans, including an Air Force airman home on leave, claimed to have seen five unidentified objects pass over Tulsa in formation. Airman Gorden Smith stated they saw five glowing objects through binoculars about 1:30 am, passing at approximately two thousand feet and making no sound. They were not believed to be part of a meteor shower.

Michigan Reports Discs

The KANSAS CITY TIMES, August 25, 1967, cited an AP story about 'bright silvery discs' seen west of Ontonagon, Michigan, on August 24th and 25th. The Ontonagon County sheriff received at least six calls, and the Hancock police department received similar reports. An Air Canada aircraft flying northwest of Houghton airport also reported seeing a UFO.

Sighting at Tucson

Ted Phillips, Jr. reported that friends in Tucson, Arizona, witnessed a bright red-orange disc hovering in daylight for about five minutes. When two Air Force interceptors approached, the object ascended rapidly and then dropped below them. This maneuver was repeated for about twenty minutes before the object disappeared at high speed. Multiple witnesses observed this sighting, which occurred in the spring.

UFO Seen Near Lake of the Ozarks

An announcement over radio station KMOS, St. Louis, reported that two observers at Camdenton, Mo., near the Lake of the Ozarks, sighted an unknown disc-shaped object from their car. They described it as white and yellow, with no further details provided. The sighting was made on March 16th of that year.

Author Names Choice Sighting

Dr. Frank Stranges was interviewed by Art Linkletter on his radio program on August 11th. Linkletter asked an audience of 400 how many believed in 'flying saucers,' with about half raising their hands. When asked to name the most authentic sighting, Dr. Stranges chose one at Red Bluff, California, involving three red objects. Although later identified by the Air Force as Mars and two bright stars, a check revealed neither was visible at that time. Dr. Stranges' interest in UFOs began in 1945 when a pilot friend reported sighting three dish-shaped objects on a collision course with his plane. Stranges has written a book, 'THE STRANGER AT THE PENTAGON,' about a Venusian working at the Pentagon since 1959, which he insists is factual.

At the News Stand

This section reviews various publications related to flying saucers and UFOs, including Dell magazines, NATIONAL ENQUIRER, TRUE, SAGA, SCIENCE & MECHANICS, SCIENCE NEWS, and books by Brad Steiger, Coral and Jim Lorenzen, and a LOOK publication.

Don't Mistake These for UFO's

By Ted Phillips, Jr., this section clarifies common astronomical sightings. It details the rising times and visibility of Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn for September 1967, warning readers not to confuse these celestial bodies with UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of SKYLOOK are the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, the promotion of UFO research organizations like MUFON and APRO, and the distinction between actual UFO phenomena and astronomical events. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging reader contributions and aiming to provide an informative and objective bulletin. The publication emphasizes its independence, stating, 'We're on our own!' and actively seeks to separate 'fact from fantasy' in its pursuit of understanding 'space visitors.' The magazine also highlights the significance of UFOs as a topic of global concern, referencing U Thant's statement about their importance to the United Nations.