UFO Commentary - vol 1 no 4

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO COMMENTARY
Issue: Vol.1; no.4
Date: Winter 1970
Publisher: Patrick A. Huyghe
Type: A journal of progressive ufology.

Editorial: Tiptoe Through the UFOlogists

The editorial reflects on the author's travels and attendance at the 1970 Congress of Scientific UFOlogists, observing the diverse age range (15-70) of individuals involved in UFO research, which bodes well for the field's future. The author notes a high degree of specialization among researchers, focusing on specific aspects like UN recognition, skywatching, or government censorship. However, this specialization often leads to a lack of broader awareness within the field. The editorial highlights intense criticism of others' work within both French and American ufology communities, which, while valuable for keeping individuals sharp, is linked to the inherent individualism of ufologists. This individualism is described as a drive to assert one's opinion, potentially stemming from a desire for escape from reality or a lack of challenge in it. The author concludes that this individuality is both a driving force and a potential downfall for ufology.

UFCCAT-70: UFO Activity in Relation to Day-of-the-Week

This article by Dr. David R. Saunders presents a statistical analysis of UFO sighting reports from the UFOCAT-70 database, which contains 15,278 entries. The study aims to determine if UFO activity correlates with the day of the week. The author reviews previous theories, including the idea that activity peaks on weekends due to partying and hallucinations, and John Keel's finding of a Wednesday peak. Saunders' own informal observation suggested a Tuesday peak, possibly influenced by debunking statements. The UFOCAT-70 data, after filtering for complete and valid dates, was tallied for 7025 events. Table 1 shows the distribution of sightings by day of the week for each year from 1921 to 1970. The analysis reveals a statistically significant tendency for unequal numbers of reports across the days of the week, with a chi-square of 22.806 and a remarkability value of 9.57 for the total data. The R-value for the total line is higher than for any individual year, suggesting a consistent pattern. The author notes that Saturdays show the lowest number of tallies, followed by Fridays and Sundays. This pattern is argued to weaken the 'natural phenomenon' hypothesis and contradicts both the USAF and Keel's views. The low Saturday count is speculated to be influenced by media reporting practices, as many papers might not publish breaking news on Sundays, thus potentially missing Saturday sightings. The article also explores a correlation with power failures, citing Paul J. Smith's analysis which shows a similar distribution curve, suggesting a possible link to 'level of UFO-interest in terrestrial goings-on' as a function of the day of the week.

UFO News Reports

This section compiles various recent UFO-related news items:

• Air Academy Tells Cadets Not to Discount UFOs: Cadets at the Air Force Academy are being advised to keep an open mind about UFOs, as detailed in a restricted 14-page chapter within a 500-page textbook. The chapter suggests UFOs have been reported for nearly 50,000 years and, while psychological causes are considered, it doesn't rule out alien visitors or alien-controlled UFOs, possibly from multiple alien groups. The textbook advises an open and skeptical mind.
• New York UFOs Traced to Venus: Several New Yorkers and boxer Muhammed Ali reported seeing unidentified flying objects at dawn, but astronomers attributed the sightings to the planet Venus, noting its brilliance and apparent movement due to atmospheric distortion.
• Mysterious Green Flash Over Honolulu: A brilliant green flash reported by residents, airline pilots, and the Coast Guard was later determined to be likely caused by a meteor, not an aviation disaster or re-entry of space hardware.
• Saucer Scare Rocks Penang: Six pupils in Malaysia claimed to have seen a flying saucer with small spacemen, causing a stir at their school and attracting public curiosity. The pupils' account was investigated by detectives.
• UFO Sighting Locations for Aug.-Oct. 1970: This section provides a breakdown of UFO activity by month and location, indicating worldwide sightings across North America, Europe, and Australia. The 'Australian flap' is highlighted as the most remarkable series of sightings during this period.

UFO Flap Over Australia

This report details a significant wave of UFO sightings in Australia from late June through October 1970. The flap began with sightings in Wilcannia in late June, followed by reports in Bellinger (possibly a meteor) and Chiltern in July. After a lull in August, activity intensified in September with numerous reports across the Southern Riverina region, including Berrigan, Yanco, Narrandera, Deniliquin, and Finley. Descriptions often mentioned a bright, glowing object changing color from yellow to red and remaining stationary before moving rapidly. Strange lights were also seen over Murrumburrah and Junee. In October, sightings continued over Ballarat, Leeton, Stanbridge, and Canberra. A particularly notable sighting occurred on December 8th near Perth, where mineworkers reported an orange-and-white object hovering and hissing for two hours.

A Tiny Planet Called "Betula"?

This section poses a question to readers about information regarding a 'tiny planet' named Betula, which was reportedly coming very close to Earth, approximately 14.5 million miles away. The planet, discovered about 10 years prior, was said to be about 50 miles in diameter and was of interest to scientists for measuring the Sun-Earth distance.

Book Review

This section, edited by Paul Braczyk, is not detailed in the provided pages, but its presence is noted in the table of contents.

Speculation, by William E. Moser

This section, authored by William E. Moser, is mentioned in the table of contents but not detailed in the provided pages.

The Mysterious Cohoke Light, by Jay Mundy

This article, authored by Jay Mundy, is mentioned in the table of contents but not detailed in the provided pages.

Editorial Notes

Several notes are included: the Special Research Issue is delayed to coincide with the first anniversary and will feature contributing supporters; the Fall issue incorporated the Aerial Phenomena Investigations and Research Center's publication UFO PHENOMENON; a planned Special Satire issue is delayed; Paul Braczyk and Richard Walton have joined the staff; and thanks are extended to readers for their support over the past year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO phenomena through a lens of progressive ufology, emphasizing detailed reporting and statistical analysis alongside speculative articles. The editorial stance, as expressed by Patrick Huyghe, acknowledges the inherent individualism within ufology, viewing it as both a strength and a potential weakness. There's a clear commitment to presenting data-driven research, as exemplified by the UFOCAT-70 analysis, while also keeping an open, yet skeptical, mind towards the subject matter, as advised in the Air Force Academy textbook excerpt. The publication also serves as a platform for news and discussions on various UFO-related events and theories, encouraging reader participation and support.

This issue of UFO COMMENTARY, identified as Volume 1, Issue 30, published by Aerial Research Systems in September 1970, focuses on various aspects of ufology and related phenomena. The cover features the headline "THE LIVING UNIVERSE" and a striking image of a spiral galaxy with a UFO silhouette.

Book Review: Charles Fort: Prophet of the Unexplained

Paul Braczyk reviews Damon Knight's biography of Charles Fort. While recommending the book, Braczyk notes that it relies heavily on direct quotations from Fort, which can make the biography feel repetitive and prevent Fort's individualistic personality from fully emerging. He suggests that there might not be enough original material on Fort to sustain a full biography, leading to the inclusion of "fillers" and speculative tangents, such as a lengthy section on Velikovsky. Despite these drawbacks, Braczyk praises the book as an excellent eulogy to Fort, particularly highlighting the chapters on Fort's childhood and the "X AND Y (1910 - 1918)" section, which details Fort's unpublished manuscripts about civilizations controlling Earth from Mars and another sinister civilization at the South Pole. The review concludes with a strong recommendation to purchase the book.

Speculations by William E. Moser

William E. Moser proposes that modern UFO sightings could be interpreted as reconnaissance missions by extraterrestrial beings. He outlines a series of steps that such probes might undertake, including:

• Ascertaining conditions and finding traces of life: Sending probes to examine the planet and its natural satellites.
• Discovering transport methods: Investigating vehicles used on the planet, explaining why UFOs are often reported near railways and roadways.
• Assessing threats: If occupants are hostile, investigating weapons, power sources (including atomic power), water reservoirs, and military installations. Moser references a 1964 photograph from England showing a "strange white spaceman" near a nuclear power station and a radio tracking base.
• Collecting samples: In manned expeditions, collecting mineral, vegetable, and animal samples from uninhabited areas.
• Establishing contact: If occupants are friendly, landing near populated areas and attempting communication, possibly after showcasing their vehicles.
• Risk assessment: If there is doubt about the safety of contact due to health or living conditions, contact might never occur, leaving UFOs as an enigma.

Moser is identified as the Honorary Secretary of Australia's largest UFO organization, UFOIC.

The Mysterious Cohoke Light by Jay Mundy

Jay Mundy recounts his investigation into a purported "mysterious light" on railroad tracks near Cohoke, Virginia. Initially a skeptic, Mundy describes several unsuccessful attempts to witness the phenomenon. His first trip with friends yielded nothing. A subsequent attempt on a dark, drizzling night also proved fruitless. After several more visits, Mundy, who had made about 15 trips in total, began to doubt the existence of the light. He notes that many people claimed to have seen it, but he found no factual basis for the tales of a "hanging tree" or a lynched conductor's ghost. Historical records from A. T. Dill, Director of Public Relations for Chesapeake Corporation, and interviews with retired railroad personnel like J. S. Gunn and G. C. Waddell, offered no corroboration for the ghost stories.

Mundy's investigation led him to research similar phenomena, including a report from eastern North Carolina concerning a light in Maco. He also contacted J. B. Rhine at Duke University, who recalled similar claims from eastern North Carolina but not specifically from the Cohoke area. Mundy eventually decided to test a hypothesis that the light might be reflections from car headlights. He and a friend, along with their girlfriends, conducted an experiment. While the girls drove a car along the tracks, Mundy and his friend waited. They witnessed a brief glow on the tracks, which Mundy identified as the light. He later concluded that this phenomenon, which appeared several times but never close enough for a clear view, was indeed the reflection of car lights. He also notes that the Sheriff of the area believed visitors were seeing car reflections.

Other Publications and Announcements

The issue also includes information about other UFO-related publications:

• UFO COMMENTARY's upcoming First Anniversary Special Research Issue, featuring articles on UFOCAT-70, Uncle Sam's UFO Literature, Airships, Public Libraries and UFOs, and a book review of Harmonic 33, plus an index to Volume 1. It is priced at $1.50 per copy.
• SAUCER NEWS, described as Gray Barker's UFO zine, professionally printed with photos and illustrations, available for $1.00 per sample copy or $4.00 for a four-issue subscription.
• OUTERMOST, a publication featuring new theories and experiences from respected ufologists, including a chapter from SILVER BRIDGE. It costs $1.50 per copy.
• UFO CHRONOLOG, a publication containing detailed sighting chronologies and analytical articles on UFO activity, costing $2.50 for a three-issue subscription.
• QUEST-UFO REPORT, published bi-monthly, covering UFOs, the supernatural, yeti, spooklights, sea monsters, and the Loch Ness Monster. It costs 50 cents per copy or $3.00 per year.

An advertisement for SENTINEL, a monthly journal from Aerial Research Systems, is also featured, promising an objective look at UFOs, astronomy, and aerospace research, priced at $4.50 for one year (12 issues) or $8.50 for two years (24 issues).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO investigations, book reviews pertaining to UFOlogy and fortean phenomena, and the exploration of speculative theories regarding the origin and purpose of UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, encouraging readers to engage with different perspectives and research findings, while also critically examining claims, as demonstrated in the review of the Charles Fort biography and the investigation into the Cohoke Light. The publication actively promotes other UFO-related journals and resources, fostering a community of interest.

This document is a page from a magazine, likely focused on unexplained phenomena or investigations, identified as page 20. The content discusses the "Cohoke ghost light," a local legend.

The Cohoke Ghost Light Investigation

The article begins with a personal account of witnessing a light that moved slowly, described as a 'small star.' The witness and a friend parked their car on railroad tracks to observe, spending several hours watching. While they saw lights, binoculars revealed them to be cars crossing the tracks. The author states they have not returned to the area.

Mr. Dill is quoted as summing up the phenomenon appropriately, suggesting the light comes from 'six packs' scattered in the area and that it's a local attraction that 'doesn't have to be seen to be believed.'

William F. Geeslin, Assistant Vice President of the Southern Railway System, responded to an inquiry about the strange lights reported near Mile Post F-170. He stated that the railway had no information about these lights and expressed the opinion that 'where one finds phenomena plus shenanigans, there are sure to be hooligans.'

The author concludes that there are 'just no facts' to support the existence of the light, having found no information in courthouses, libraries, or old records. The situation is described as a dark, lonely spot by the railroad tracks where people come to watch for a strange light, then leave convinced and spread the word.

The author's recommendation is simple: find a more interesting 'ghost' to watch. For the author, the bugs and the risk of trouble with rowdy visitors are not worth the effort.

Legal Restrictions and Penalties

Furthermore, the article highlights a county ordinance that forbids being in the area between sundown and sunrise for the purpose of 'watching for the light.' The ordinance, adopted by King William County on January 26, 1966, and adopted again on February 23, 1968, prohibits loitering in the vicinity of Cohoke. Violators face a fine of $300, confinement in jail for thirty days, or both.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the lack of verifiable evidence for the 'Cohoke ghost light,' despite local belief and witness reports. The editorial stance appears skeptical, leaning towards the idea that the phenomenon is either misidentification, local folklore, or possibly hooliganism, as suggested by the Southern Railway System representative. The article emphasizes the legal risks associated with investigating the site at night.