UFO Canada - vol 1 no 5

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO CANADA
Issue: VOL. 1 NO. 5
Date: November 1977
Publisher: UFO CANADA
Country: Canada
Language: English

This issue of UFO CANADA, a monthly journal of ufology in Canada, presents a collection of articles and reports focusing on UFO phenomena, with an emphasis on a scientific and investigative approach. The cover features a striking illustration of a UFO and a quote from astronaut Ed Mitchell: "...We all know UFOs are real. The question is-where do they come from?"

Editor's Notebook

Howard Gontovnick, the Editor, introduces the fifth issue and notes the publication's growing popularity. He announces the appointment of Robert Sapienza as Assistant Editor and Aviation Consultant. Sapienza, a flight operations officer with expertise in aviation and related fields, is expected to enhance the journal's investigative capabilities. Gontovnick outlines the editorial policy, emphasizing an open-minded yet serious approach to UFO research, acknowledging the evidence supporting the Extra-terrestrial hypothesis while not exclusively proving it. He stresses the importance of co-operation with other UFO groups and reassures readers that the publication has the facilities to analyze reports for authenticity, warning potential hoaxers of exposure.

Featured Articles

UFOS OVER MONTREAL

This detailed report, co-authored by Robert Sapienza and Howard Gontovnick, documents a sighting on October 23, 1977, involving at least twelve witnesses from three families in the Montreal area. The primary witness, referred to as Mr. A, described a luminous, half-moon-shaped object hanging motionless, accompanied by a streak resembling a jet's vapor trail. The object was red-orange and reflected sunlight. After approximately 15 minutes, the vapor trail executed a large loop around the main object and sped off, leaving a sputtering trail. The main object then followed. The report includes testimony from the Pfeiffer family of Dorval, who saw a bright metallic object with a smoke trail, and the M. Ward family of Ville St. Laurent, who observed two objects: one gold and semi-circular, the other silver and cylindrical. The authors evaluate several possibilities, including research balloons, astronomical bodies, and aircraft, ruling them out based on witness accounts and prevailing conditions. They conclude that it was likely a genuine multiple-witness observation of possibly two UFOs, considering hallucination and hoax highly improbable.

UFO SIGNALS AIRLINER

Authored by Robert Sapienza, this article recounts an incident on January 21, 1977, involving AVIANCA flight 132 over Bogota, Colombia. Captain Gustavo Ferreira and his crew spotted an extremely bright light on a collision course. Simultaneously, an Air Traffic Controller in Bogota was tracking a blip three times the size of the airliner, zig-zagging at speeds exceeding 20,000 m.p.h. The UFO changed from a white light to red when landing lights were activated, and then flashed green lights when the captain switched his lights on and off. The object then sped off and executed a 90° turn. Captain Ferreira, with 22 years of flying experience, stated he could no longer deny the reality of UFOs after this encounter, which was also detected on ground and airborne radar. The article cites sources from the International Herald Tribune, El Tiempo, National Enquirer, and Flying Saucer Review.

LANDING TRACES FOUND IN MANITOBA

Howard Gontovnick reports on the discovery of four large, donut-shaped imprints in wheat fields near Rossburn, Manitoba, in September 1977. According to a reporter from the Brandon Sun, the circles appeared as if a large saucer-like object had landed vertically and rotated. Eleven circles were visible from the air, ranging from 15 to 18 feet in diameter. The soil was not noticeably indented, but the wheat was flattened. The imprints in the smaller circles were counter-clockwise, while those in the larger circles were clockwise. An RCMP constable suggested the marks were made by unidentified flying objects. The Manitoba Centre of UFO Studies is investigating the case.

MEDIAGRAMS

This section presents several brief reports:

• Russian Scientist Suggests Tungus Blast Was Exploding Spaceship: Alexei Zolotov, a leading Soviet physicist, suggests that the 70-year-old Tungus explosion in Russia might have been caused by an exploding spaceship from another world. The explosion, accompanied by nuclear reactions, has puzzled scientists for years.
• Life on Jupiter?...Maybe!...Says Sagan: Dr. Carl Sagan, a renowned exobiologist, speculates about the possibility of huge, balloon-shaped creatures existing in Jupiter's atmosphere. He suggests that the planet's redness might be due to these creatures. The upcoming MARINERS 11 and 12 missions may shed light on this theory.
• UFO Documentary Being Filmed in Quebec: The University of Quebec has provided a $1500 grant to Michel Minguy for a 30-minute documentary on UFO research in Quebec, featuring interviews with members of UFO-QUEBEC. The film aims to present startling evidence of frequent UFO visits to the region.

SEVEN MAXIMS OF UFOS: A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH (PART 5)

Authored by Peter Millman, this installment focuses on the maxim "BEWARE THE PRINTED WORD." Millman uses the example of the Fogl photo, taken in December 1957, which was widely published as evidence of an alien spacecraft. Over the years, it appeared in various journals and magazines, including 'Flying Saucer Review,' 'The Illustrated London News,' and 'Life Magazine.' However, in the fall of 1966, Fogl confessed to creating the hoax using a model aircraft hung by a silk thread. The article notes that despite the exposure of the hoax, the Fogl photo continued to be published without indication of its fraudulent nature in some publications, including a Canadian journal in February 1968.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

UFO CANADA positions itself as a serious, objective, and reliable publication dedicated to investigating UFO phenomena. The magazine advocates for a scientific approach, encouraging critical thinking and skepticism towards printed reports, as exemplified by the analysis of the Fogl photo hoax. The editorial stance supports the possibility of extraterrestrial origins for UFOs while remaining open to other explanations and emphasizing the need for co-operation and solidarity within the ufology community to solve the UFO enigma. The publication aims to elevate the reputation of UFO research to that of a serious and contemporary science.

Title: Canadian Scientist
Issue: September 1968
Content Focus: Analysis of media coverage of UFOs, specifically newspaper reporting.

Media Criticism of UFO Reporting

The article, attributed to PETER M.MILLMAN, critiques the way newspapers handle UFO sightings. A significant point is made about the timing of reporting: scare headlines and detailed coverage often appear on the front page so quickly after a sighting that minimal fact-checking is possible. This rush leads to the omission of important details and the over-emphasis of inaccurate information, resulting in stories that are biased towards sensationalism.

The author argues that in many instances, subsequent detailed investigations completely solve the sighting. However, newspapers are reluctant to publish these resolutions because they lack 'news value.' When follow-ups are published, they are typically relegated to small notes on inner pages. Consequently, Millman concludes that conducting a statistical study based on a large collection of newspaper clippings is a 'pure waste of time' due to these inherent biases and reporting practices.

The piece also references a faked photo, suggesting it is part of a history spanning over 11 years, implying a long-standing issue with photographic evidence or its reporting.

UFO Canada Subscription Information

Following the editorial content, the page provides contact and subscription details for 'UFO CANADA.' Interested individuals are instructed to send mail to: UFO CANADA, 1424 Vendome Avenue, Chomedey, Laval, P.Q., H7W 1S1 CANADA.

• Subscription rates are listed as:
• $6 dollars in Canada & United States.
• $10 dollars in all other countries (via airmail).

Additionally, back issues are available upon request for $1 each.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the critical examination of how the media, particularly newspapers, report on UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as represented by Peter M. Millman's commentary, is one of skepticism towards sensationalized reporting and a call for more rigorous, unbiased investigation and follow-up, even if the findings are less sensational. The inclusion of subscription details for 'UFO CANADA' suggests the magazine or publication is aligned with UFO research and aims to engage a readership interested in such topics, potentially offering a more in-depth or critical perspective than mainstream media.