UFO Canada - vol 2 no 5

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO CANADA, identified as Volume 2, Number 5, published in Summer 1978, presents itself as a quarterly publication dedicated to serious, objective research into UFO phenomena. The cover prominently features the title "UFO CANADA" with a stylized maple leaf logo and the headline "Exchange," along with the issue details: "QUARTERLY ISSUE SUMMER 1978 VOL. 2 NBR. 5." The ISSN is listed as 0705-4491. The publication is from U.F.O. CANADA, P.O. BOX 145, CHOMEDEY, LAVAL, P.Q., CANADA H7W 4K2.

Introduction

The "Introduction" section sets the tone for the issue, stating its intention to examine three aviation-related UFO reports from the 1950s that caused concern within the Department of National Defence (DND). The editors emphasize that the age of these incidents does not detract from their validity and that the reports contain "hard data." The issue includes copies of actual files in UFO CANADA's possession. Specifically, the first two pages feature three recent reports from British Columbia, part of what is described as a "mini flap," including one case with substantiated animal effects. The publication clarifies that it does not aim to be a "popular" UFO magazine but rather a resource for serious researchers, welcoming criticism and articles.

UFO Reports from British Columbia

Compiled by Howard Gontovnick, this section details three reports from the southern part of British Columbia, all occurring on April 6, 1978, between 1930 and 2200 hrs.

• REPORT #1: CHILLIWACK (2130 hrs. local): Elizabeth van Saane and her two brothers reported seeing an oblong object with flickering blue, red, and yellow lights in the western sky. Elizabeth later described the object as rectangular when viewed through binoculars, but its distance prevented detailed observation. Her brothers reported similar details, according to statements taken by the R.C.M.P.
• REPORT #2: PRINCE GEORGE (1930 - 2200 hrs. local): A witness named S.J. Boo reported a sudden flash of light that caused her horses to panic. One young horse was found with its hind legs trapped in the plywood floor, another was unconscious, and a third was agitated. Neighbors also observed a star-like, round, yellow object in the sky that hovered and moved up and down for approximately three hours. The horses were examined by a veterinarian and diagnosed with exhaustion and severe shock. Notably, other horses in the barn were unaffected.
• REPORT #3: PRINCE GEORGE (approx. 2000 hrs. local): A witness, identified only by initials, saw a blue-white object, twice the size of a small private aircraft, moving without sound. The object moved east to southeast, stopped, descended, and then the light went out. Fifteen seconds later, flashing red and green lights reappeared on an object with an orange underside. The witness went inside to get a telescope.

Aviation Reports of MOS

Authored by Robert Sapienza, this section addresses the skeptical question of why UFOs are not reported by qualified observers. Sapienza argues that aviation personnel, trained in aerial observation, are less likely to misidentify phenomena. He presents three reports from the 1950s, sourced from declassified Department of National Defence documents, individual pilots, and controllers, to counter this skepticism. He quotes James Harvey Robinson, a historian, on the nature of beliefs and convictions, suggesting they are often formed by "herd instinct" rather than knowledge.

• REPORT #1: OCTOBER 1, 1954: This report details an observation by an Operations Officer (test pilot) of CANADAI flying an F86 over Montreal at 30,000 ft. At 0932 hrs, while climbing to 51,000 ft, the pilot observed a contrail made by a single-engined aircraft with a round black dot appearance, heading southwest. The object was estimated to be between 60,000 and 65,000 ft and was not detected by ground radar. The pilot abandoned pursuit. The object and contrail later climbed at a 45° angle into the upper atmosphere and disappeared. The Eastern Air Defence Force and Continental Air Defence HQ investigated but found no identification. The report notes the pilot's account was authentic and reliable, and the object's round shape did not conform to known aircraft types. A table is included listing various aircraft types from the era (1947-1955) with their power plants, maximum speeds, ceilings, and first flight dates, to aid in comparative analysis. The analysis concludes that if the pilot's altitude estimate was correct, only the B-52 and Handley Page Victor aircraft come close in performance, but these should have been identifiable, registered on radar, and left multiple contrails.

• REPORT #2: JUNE 25, 1953: This brief report is a telex from the Canadian Air Defence Command's Central Operations Center to Air Force Head Quarters in Ottawa. It describes an unidentified aerial object sighted over Simiutak, Greenland, by an experienced weather observer using a theodolite. The object, described as red and rotating (delta or circular shape), was traveling at varied speeds and collided with a weather balloon at approximately 18,000 ft, disintegrating it. The object then hovered for fifteen seconds before rapidly departing. The report notes that this was not a misidentification of a weather balloon, as the balloon was in sight throughout the observation. The object's capabilities suggest it was self-powered.

• REPORT #3: APRIL 21, 1952: This observation involves multiple witnesses, including ATC Controllers, military personnel, civilian pilots, and members of the public. A telex from Canadian Air Defence Command to Air Force Head Quarters in Ottawa details a sequence of events. Initial reports from Cleveland ATC indicated objects heading west of Toronto, leaving vapour trails. Further calls from Lindsay reported three RCAF aircrew members seeing four objects traveling east to west. Centralia Tower sighted objects northeast, while Buffalo Tower saw vapour trails. London Tower reported trails north of London, with an operator estimating they crossed the horizon in three seconds at 30,000-35,000 ft. Approximately fifteen RCAF F51 and T3 aircraft were airborne, and most pilots reported seeing the objects. A woman south of Wingham reported an object with flames coming out of it hovering over her house before heading west, leaving a trail of fire. London Tower operators stated the objects were faster than jet aircraft. Pilots and a TCA flight saw five objects at approximately 1,500 ft but could not identify them. London and Centralia saw vapour trails lasting over an hour.

Summary

The "Summary" section concludes that while these reports do not definitively prove or disprove the existence of UFOs, they provide solid proof that unidentified objects are occasionally seen and remain unidentified, even by very experienced personnel. The issue also includes a follow-up note regarding the possibility of more details emerging.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the presentation of official, declassified documents as evidence, the emphasis on the reliability of observations made by trained personnel (pilots, military, etc.), and the challenging of skeptical viewpoints. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of serious, objective investigation, positioning UFO CANADA as a resource for researchers seeking factual data rather than sensationalism. The magazine aims to demonstrate that unexplained aerial phenomena are observed and documented, even by credible sources.

This document is a bibliography, likely from a magazine issue, dated April 12, 1978. It serves as a reference list for materials consulted or cited within the publication.

Cited Materials

Reports (Pages 1-2)

The bibliography first lists reports presented on pages 1 and 2. These originate from the National Research Council, specifically its Planetary Sciences Division. The reports are identified by non-meteorite file numbers: N78/083 and N78/084. Additionally, a specific issue of the "Chilliwack Progress" newspaper from Chilliwack, B.C., dated April 12, 1978, is cited.

Quotes (Page 3)

Quotes featured on page 3 are attributed to James Harvey Robinson, taken from his work "On Various Kinds of Thinking." Further context is provided by citing "The Borzoi College Reader," edited by Charles Muscatine and Marlene Griffith, published by Alfred A. Knopf in New York in 1967.

Reports (Pages 4-8)

Another set of reports, presented on pages 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, are identified as "Second Storey Project Documents" from the Department of National Defence, Canada. These documents were declassified in January 1978.

Aircraft Performance Statistics

Finally, the bibliography references "Jane's Pocket Book of Major Combat Aircraft." This book, edited by John W. Taylor and published by Collier Books in New York, is cited for providing aircraft performance statistics from personal documents.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the citation of diverse sources, including scientific reports, newspapers, academic readers, government documents, and specialized publications. This suggests an editorial stance that values evidence-based reporting and draws from a broad range of information, potentially related to scientific research, defense, or historical events, given the mention of declassified documents and combat aircraft.