SUNlite - Vol 12 No 06

Magazine Overview

SUNlite, Volume 12, Number 6, published November-December 2020, is a magazine dedicated to shedding light on UFOlogy and UFOs. The cover features a photograph of birds in flight against a clear sky, with a quote from James Randi: "No amount of belief makes something a fact."

Editorial Content

The editorial section reflects on the passing of James Randi, a figure known for his skepticism and humor in debunking claims of psychic powers and exotic phenomena. The author expresses admiration for Randi's work and notes that his contributions to exposing deception will be missed. The editor admits to not following the UFO world closely in recent months, observing that many individuals are re-examining old UFO cases without shedding new light on them, often concluding that cases remain "UNIDENTIFIED" which the editor considers to be "not saying much."

The editor also highlights Mick West's video explaining Navy UFO videos, particularly the Nimitz incident, and suggests readers watch it. A minor point of criticism is directed at NARCAP for not updating a link to a technical report, which was previously removed from the web by Ted Roe.

The issue is described as "lean" due to the editor's focus on researching UFO cases beyond regular columns, a delay caused by the Mars opposition, and the significant time commitment required for reviewing Project Blue Book cases. This review process involves identifying incorrect or possible alternate explanations, which can be tedious due to lean or faded case files.

Featured Articles and Case Reviews

Weeding out the Weinstein Catalogue: December 18, 1958, Marshalberg, North Carolina

This section analyzes a UFO sighting from December 18, 1958, originating from Project 1947 and Project Blue Book files. The object was first seen 15-20 degrees above the horizon in the southwest and proceeded eastward, fading in the southeast over 60-65 seconds. Initial analysis suggested a missile launch from Wallops Island, but the author argues this is incorrect due to the sighting's direction. The most likely source is identified as Cape Canaveral. The Astronautix website lists a SCORE satellite launch using an Atlas B rocket booster at 2302Z on December 18, 1958. The author calculates that Cape Canaveral's azimuth would be approximately 210 degrees, and secondary engine cutoff (SECO) around 450 miles downrange would place the object at a bearing of about 160 degrees and 600 miles distance. Assuming SECO at an altitude of 100 miles, the rocket would be visible 5-10 degrees above the horizon. A similar sighting on January 27, 1959, involving an Atlas missile, supports the visibility of such launches. The conclusion is that the rocket launch was the likely source, and the case should be removed from the Weinstein catalogue.

December 15, 1952 Goose Bay AFB, Labrador

This case review examines a radar-visual sighting of a reddish UFO that changed to white as it maneuvered. An F-94 obtained radar lock-on, and the UFO was observed visually as a red light changing to white. Donald Keyhoe's "Flying Saucers from Outer Space" is cited, mentioning other intelligence reports from Goose Bay AFB. The Blue Book file indicates the pilot was vectored by Ground Control Approach (GCA) and pursued the UFO for about 25 minutes at 375 knots. The object was described as having no definite size or shape, initially red, then red and white, fading away. Maneuvers were described as "gentle banks and turns and shallow descents and ascents." The F-94 radar operator reported only a momentary lock-on. The report notes that the same pilot had chased a UFO on November 26th. The Blue Book explanation was Venus, with radar contact attributed to malfunction. The Condon report agreed. However, Venus set around 2300Z on December 15th, making it unlikely. The November 26th sighting could have been Venus as it set around 2211Z. The author suggests Blue Book may have confused the two cases. The star Altair was low in the sky during the December 15th sighting and could have displayed changing colors and gradual movement. The conclusion is that Altair is a possible explanation, and the case, along with the November 26th incident, should be removed from best evidence lists.

The 701 Club: Case 3331 November 19, 1954 Corvallis, Oregon

This case involves a sighting by P.J. Gunn, an assistant professor of art at Oregon State University. The object was described as a bright white light that hovered for 8.5-9 minutes, then crossed 20 degrees of sky in 3-3.5 minutes. The Blue Book file, faded and difficult to read, suggests the "turn" was unlike any sighting and might have been an optical illusion. The object changed shape from diagonal to horizontal, initially a long thin line, then shorter and fatter. Its color changed from white to pink to red. It was initially at 270 degrees azimuth and 30 degrees elevation. The witness described a "north end" bending to become the "south end" and saw a "dark tip." The witness was the only observer, seeing it through a second-story window. The analysis suggests the object was visible some distance away, appearing small in angular size, with slow speed possibly due to distance. The description, changing shape, color, duration, and direction of travel conform to a contrail hypothesis. The newspaper clipping "Sorry no saucer, just vapor" from 1954 indicates that jet contrails were a novelty and could be mistaken for UFOs. The conclusion is that the case should be reclassified as probably an airplane contrail, and it is regrettable that the investigating officer did not conduct further investigation.

Project Blue Book case review: January - June 1961

This section provides a review of Project Blue Book cases from January to June 1961. The author examines each case to evaluate the merit of the Blue Book explanation and adds comments for clarification. Many cases are agreed upon as meteors, Venus, aircraft, or satellites. Some explanations are questioned, such as a Venus sighting in Oakland, CA, which is deemed "not Venus" due to conflicting data about its movement. A case in Naknek, AK, is listed as "UNIDENTIFIED." The review systematically goes through each month, providing the date, location, Blue Book explanation, and the author's evaluation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of UFO reports, the identification of mundane explanations for sightings (such as missiles, aircraft, meteors, Venus, and contrails), and the importance of skepticism in evaluating extraordinary claims. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of rational explanations and debunking unsubstantiated claims, echoing the philosophy of James Randi. The magazine aims to provide a more grounded perspective on UFOlogy by analyzing historical cases and questioning official explanations when evidence is lacking or contradictory.

This issue of UFO Investigator focuses on a detailed review and reclassification of UFO cases from January through June 1961, drawing from the Project Blue Book files. The analysis highlights the challenges in evaluating these cases, many of which contained insufficient information or could be attributed to known celestial bodies or satellites.

Case Review and Reclassification

The author evaluated 278 cases from the Blue Book files during the specified period. A significant portion, 91 cases (approximately 33%), were deemed to have been improperly classified. Furthermore, 42 of these reclassified cases (about 15% of the total, or 46% of the reclassifications) were initially listed as "insufficient information."

The review details numerous individual sightings, providing the date, location, the "BB explanation" (likely from the original Blue Book file), and the author's "My evaluation" or reclassification. Common explanations included meteors, aircraft, balloons, and celestial objects like Venus, Jupiter, and stars (Arcturus, Capella, Sirius, Procyon, Altair, Antares, Venus). The Echo Satellite is frequently cited as a plausible explanation for many sightings, with the author noting that Blue Book may not have always had readily available computer printouts for it.

Notable Cases and Explanations

• January 1961: Several cases are detailed, including a sighting in Misawa AB, Japan, classified as a meteor, and an "Aldebaran Occultation" in Roswell, NM. A report from Frankfurt, Germany, was agreed upon but lacked specific date, course, or duration. A significant event occurred near Pierce, FL, involving "Aircraft lights" that were agreed upon. A report from Rebun Island, Japan, was listed as "Insufficient data" and "Case file missing." A particularly detailed report from Akron, OH, was classified as meteor, but the witness's information was inconsistent, listing stars as visible when the sun had not set.
• April 1961: Cases include a "Missile" near Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, identified as a failed Titan missile or possible aircraft. A sighting in the Pacific was described as a "missile" with a "high rate of speed," possibly a meteor. A "Hallucination" case in Eagle River, WI, involving entities, was deemed not credible. A report from Sheridan, WY, involved an "Emotional" witness who heard noise others did not.
• May 1961: This month saw numerous sightings. A balloon incident near Yokota, Japan, involved an aircraft striking an object at 31,000 feet, assumed to be a balloon. A sighting in Indian Springs, NV, described Venus and the moon close together, lasting 4 hours and moving slowly west, possibly Venus but radar sighting was unrelated.
• June 1961: Cases include a "Balloon with fireworks" in Caracas, Venezuela, and a "Mirage/inversion" over Lake Shelton, WA, identified as Capella. A sighting in Washington DC involved an "Occultation of Regulus," with the explanation suggesting the proximity of Regulus to the moon might have created the effect.

Reclassification Section

A dedicated section details the "Reclassification" of cases, focusing on those initially listed as "insufficient information." The author provides reasons for reclassifying these, often identifying them as Venus, aircraft, or other celestial phenomena. For instance, a sighting in Oakland, CA, initially classified as Venus, was reclassified due to conflicting data and the witness stating the object moved rapidly.

Echo Satellite's Role

The author emphasizes the frequent appearance of the Echo Satellite in the analysis. It is stated that the Echo satellite was easily visible and seemed to align well with many of the cases classified as such. Out of the evaluated cases, thirty-eight were traced to the Echo satellite (14% of the total cases reviewed). Fourteen of the reclassified cases were identified as the Echo satellite, suggesting that Blue Book may have sometimes lacked the necessary data to identify it readily.

Unidentified Cases

One report from Naknek, Alaska, on January 9th, was reclassified as "UNIDENTIFIED." Despite the witness having claimed past UFO sightings, this particular report contained enough information to warrant a conclusion. The sighting's duration of 90 minutes and its movement from NE to SW made it difficult to explain as an aircraft or a typical astronomical object. The author solicits potential solutions for this case.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the thorough analysis of UFO reports, the importance of accurate classification, and the identification of mundane explanations for sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical investigation, seeking logical explanations for phenomena while acknowledging the existence of genuinely unexplained events. The author demonstrates a methodical approach, utilizing satellite tracking data and astronomical knowledge to re-evaluate historical UFO reports. The issue concludes by promising a continuation of the review with the second half of 1961 in the next issue.