UFO Analysis & Research Bulletin vol 1 no 4

Magazine Overview

This document is a special issue of the "UFO ANALYSIS & RESEARCH BULLETIN," identified as Volume 1, Number 4. The cover prominently announces "A REPORT OF OVER 1000 WORLDWIDE 1968 UFO SIGHTINGS." The issue was compiled, edited, and published by Patrick A. Huyghe, with contributions from American individuals like Ramona A. Clark, Mark R. Herbstritt, Bill Moore, and Dennis Stamey, as well as foreign contributors H. E. Hill (Europe), Garry Little (Australia), and Jader U. Pereira (South America). Joseph M. Erhardt served as a consultant. The publication is noted as a "SECOND PRINTING."

Acknowledgements

The editor, Patrick A. Huyghe, expresses gratitude to hundreds of individuals who pursued sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects for publication in their respective UFO-news media during 1968-1969. A list of those who reported one or more 1968 UFO sightings in their publications is provided, featuring a wide array of UFO-related newsletters and bulletins from various countries, including APRO Bulletin, Fate, Flying Saucer Review, Skylook, Spacelink, The American Flying Saucer Review, and many others.

Contents

The issue's contents are detailed, beginning with acknowledgements, followed by the extensive "1968 UFO Chronology" spanning pages 3-12. Other sections include a "Map of England" (page 13), "Map of the United States" (page 14), and various charts and graphs analyzing the number of reports per month, types of reports, and continental totals for 1967 and 1968 (pages 14-16). A "Summary & Survey of Chronology" is presented on pages 17-18, with a note about the "Next Issue" on page 18.

1968 UFO Chronology: Preliminary Notes & Abbreviations

This section provides important context for the main chronology. The editors state they do not claim to list all 1968 sightings but only those that came to their attention. They also acknowledge that they did not personally investigate most sightings, so claims regarding the accuracy of spellings, dates, or locations are not made. However, they consider the issue an important index for research and for drawing general conclusions. Potential error factors were considered. Abbreviations for countries (E for England, C for Canada) and directions (N, S, E, W) are explained. Abbreviations for dates (U-unknown, E-early, M-middle, L-late) and types of reports (O-Occupant, L-Landing, G-good, P-poor, A-average) are also detailed, along with capitalization conventions used to denote specific information.

1968 UFO Chronology (Detailed Entries)

The bulk of the document consists of the "1968 UFO Chronology," meticulously listing sightings by date and location. The entries are dense, with numerous locations cited from around the globe, including the USA, Canada, England, Australia, South America, Europe, and Asia. For example, January includes entries from Yokohama (Japan), Hanna (Canada), Greybank (Canada), Exmonth (England), Sintalluta (Canada), Castle Rock (USA), Ashkibula (USA), Belgrade (Yugoslavia), Oakland (USA), Nelson (Canada), Whitehorse (Canada), Belfast (Ireland), Birmingham (England), Jackson (USA), Whitesville (USA), Gaberones (Botswana), Catford (England), London (England), and Keswick (England).

The chronology continues through February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November, detailing hundreds of sightings. Each entry typically provides a date, followed by a location (often with country or region abbreviations) and sometimes a brief descriptor or abbreviation for the type of report. The sheer volume and global spread of the reported sightings are evident throughout these pages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the systematic cataloging of UFO sightings from a specific year (1968) on a global scale. The editorial stance, as stated in the preliminary notes, is one of data collection and indexing for research purposes, rather than definitive investigation or validation of each sighting. The publication aims to provide a comprehensive resource for those interested in UFO phenomena, acknowledging the limitations of the data collection method.

This issue of "UFO CHRONOLOGY" from 1968, published by UFOARB, serves as a comprehensive index and statistical survey of worldwide UFO sightings for that year. It aims to enable researchers to investigate cases in their respective areas and to identify broader patterns and "evidence" that could predict future occurrences.

1968 UFO Sightings: The Big Picture

The year 1968 was active for UFO history. While the USAF Project Blue Book reported only 392 sightings (3 unidentified), UFOARB collected 413 U.S. reports (46 "good"). Significantly, 1013 sightings were recorded worldwide. The publication estimates that these reported sightings represent only about 2% of all actual sightings, suggesting a total of around 50,550 sightings globally. This translates to an average of 140 actual sightings per day, with approximately 13 of these being landing reports (9.8% of the total) and about 6 occupant reports per day.

Notable Trends and Features

A particularly interesting feature noted in 1968 was the increased activity of landing and occupant reports near cemeteries, with examples cited in Quilnes, Argentina, and Coleraine, Quebec, Canada. There was also an increase in "silent contacts" involving a diverse range of individuals, including housewives, clergymen, law officers, students, and farmers. Landing and occupant reports peaked in June, July, and October, contrasting with the February, March, August, and September peaks of 1967.

Comparative Analysis with 1967

Comparing the graphs of average reports for 1968 with those of 1967 revealed a striking similarity in the rise and decline slopes from January to September. The peak in 1968 occurred in August, 10 months after the 1967 October peak. Similarities were also observed in "good reports," except for October and November. Average reports generally followed the total number of reports.

U.S. Sightings and Geographic Activity

The most active states in the U.S. for UFO sightings in 1968 were Ohio (47 reports, over 10% of U.S. sightings), Florida (42 reports, also 10%), Connecticut (39 reports, approx. 9%), Pennsylvania (38 reports, about 9%), and New York (35 reports, about 8%). These five states accounted for nearly 50% of all U.S. sightings, despite representing only 25% of the total U.S. population. In 1967, Ohio and California tied for first place with 21 reports each. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York remain consistently active states. Florida, California, and Connecticut are also noted as very active in both years.

International Patterns

A study of high activity periods in Canada, the United States, and South America revealed a pattern: South American "flaps" (peaks) preceded U.S. flaps, which were in turn followed by Canadian flaps. Three major world peaks were observed in 1967 (March, August, October) and 1968 (March, August, November).

Detailed Data and Analysis

Monthly and Daily Report Analysis

The results of a "Day of the Month" study (analyzing sightings on the first, second, etc., days of each month) proved inconclusive. However, the peak days of the months in 1968 did not align with those of 1967, though the daily drops in reports followed a similar pattern. Peak days of the week also shifted, with 1967 showing Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, while 1968 showed Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Fridays consistently showed a decline in reports across 1966, 1967, and 1968.

Specific Report Details

Dennis Stamey reported an increase in red-orange UFOs in early 1968, citing examples from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and Highland Park, New Jersey. He also noted potential patterns related to hoaxes (including strange voices and "little green men" reports) and sightings over or near military installations, such as naval bases and army ordnance plants.

George Fawsett of the Florida UFO Study Group received over 200 UFO reports for January 1968 alone. Approximately one-third (132) of the 1968 Project Blue Book reports were classified as "insufficient data." In 1968, approximately 11,742 witnesses reported seeing about 1,396 objects. Photographs were taken in about 30 cases. Over 30 electromagnetic (EM) cases, 8 radar cases, and 7 cases of exploding UFOs were reported.

English Sightings Map

A map of English sightings highlighted a large concentration of reports in the suburbs and outskirts of major cities.

Predictions for 1969

While full tabulations for 1969 reports would not be completed until the summer of 1970, the publication offered potential findings: a decrease in reported sightings, possibly due to the Condon Report; more "silent contacts"; and more "weirder," unbelievable reports. The predicted pattern of activity was a South American peak, followed by a U.S. concentration, and then a Canadian flap. Heavy concentrations of reports were expected in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida, with flaps occurring in March, August, and either October or December.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the systematic collection and analysis of UFO sighting data. The publication emphasizes statistical trends, geographic patterns, and the comparison of data across different years. The editorial stance, expressed by UFOARB, acknowledges the unpredictable nature of ufology, stating, "UFOlogy has always been in a state of flux... one never knows what may happen next."

Future Content

The upcoming issue of UFOARB (December-January) was announced to include details on Virginia 1969 UFO Sightings, a piece titled "The Coming of The Saucers" by Dennis Stamey, a "Code of Ethics for Ufology" by Larry W. Bryant, Canadian UFO Sightings for 1968 by Kurt Glemser, and "Ufo. Notes, Comments, And Queries."

Subscriptions to UFOARB were available for $2.00 per year, with the publication being quarterly.