UFO Commentary - vol 3 no 3

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO COMMENTARY
Issue: VOL.3 NO.3
Date: SPRING 1973
Publisher: UFO Commentary, Ltd.
Country: USA
Price: 75¢

This issue of UFO Commentary, a journal of progressive ufology, is dated Spring 1973 and presents a variety of articles and analyses related to unidentified flying objects. The cover prominently features maps of Pennsylvania and South Carolina, suggesting a focus on UFO activity in these regions, with the headline "FLAP OVER PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA."

New Features Introduced

The editorial section announces the introduction of three new features for the readership: "The Public Forum," which will be devoted to argumentative essays; "News in Capsule," providing summaries of significant UFO cases from the previous three months; and "Sighting Analysis and Interpretation," a statistical summary of UFO activity during the same period. The inaugural piece for "The Public Forum" is a controversial essay on the ufological population by John A. Keel, with readers invited to respond.

Techniques of Investigation - The UFO Landing Site - II

This article, authored by Sharon K. Lynch, M.S., and Niel Lynch, delves into the practical aspects of investigating UFO landing sites. It stresses the importance of immediate assessment of the situation, including the time elapsed since the event, the area involved, and the presence of witnesses. Key procedural steps include determining property ownership and obtaining permission, establishing coordinated approaches among investigators to prevent evidence loss or contamination, and managing public relations with local officials and landowners. The authors advise against intrusive methods and suggest a code word system for communication. They detail the process of securing the site, making initial observations, and sketching notable features. Photography is highlighted as a crucial step, recommending various film types (color negative, infrared) and techniques. The article also touches upon the importance of recording other sensory phenomena like unusual odors and sounds, and the subjective nature of witness testimony, cautioning that eyewitness accounts can be prone to inaccuracies. It further discusses the need for careful search patterns (quadrant, grid, spiral) and the proper handling and preservation of collected evidence, emphasizing the need for ufologists to be conscious of their public relations to avoid hindering future investigations.

The article is continued in the next issue, with the authors soliciting feedback from readers.

Sighting Analysis and Interpretation

This section, authored by Allen Benz, provides a statistical overview of UFO activity for the first three months of 1973 (January-March). A total of 129 sightings were logged, with the United States accounting for 72.8% (ninety-four sightings), suggesting a "flap condition" in the US during this period. A significant concentration of these US sightings, 61.2% (fifty-eight), occurred in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Other areas reporting activity are presented in an attached chart. Of the thirty-five foreign sightings, fourteen occurred in Australia, with nine each in Canada and England. The analysis also tracks monthly activity, noting that regardless of location, sightings started at thirty-five in January, increased to forty-six in February, and peaked at forty-eight in March. US sightings appear to have driven this trend, while global sightings followed a different pattern, peaking in February at seventeen and dropping to four in March.

Other Content

The issue also includes a "Cogito" section (cover ii), "News in Capsule" (page 9), "The Ufological Population" by John A. Keel (page 13), and "The World Sighting Index" (page 16), and "Future Directions for UFO Research" by Peter Rogerson (page 18).

An "Errata" section corrects information from the previous issue, listing bibliographic details for footnotes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance, as stated in the issue, emphasizes a broad hospitality to divergent ideas within ufology, aiming to advance knowledge rather than adhering to a single school of thought. The journal does not necessarily represent a consensus of belief, and opinions expressed are those of the authors. The issue highlights practical investigative techniques and statistical analysis of sighting data, reflecting a methodical approach to the study of UFO phenomena.

Title: News In Capsule
Issue Date: January 10, 1973
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of "News In Capsule" focuses on UFO sightings and the state of ufology in the United States. It features an eyewitness account of a landing, a family's encounter with a mysterious object, and a broader analysis of the ufological community.

Eyewitness Account: Billy Gowan's Sighting

The lead story details an encounter by Billy Gowan, a freshman at East High in Ellenboro, Pennsylvania. Gowan reported that while on the phone, his radio began acting strangely. He then observed an object in the air that "tilted slightly and was coming down toward the ground." It hovered, blowing snow, before landing. Gowan described the object as "red and gold thing 'really weird, with some kind of orange colored... I guess it was flame... coming out of it.'" He estimated its size to be "about a foot high and may be five inches in diameter," noting it was "squarish, not round." He was unable to get a perfect description as he stayed about 50 feet away. After taking a picture, he moved closer, and the object "took off." The object left a hole in the snow approximately three inches across, cleared to the ground, with black particles and a "greenish-looking stuff" around it. Gowan collected a sample of this material.

Family Spots Manned UFO in Field

This section reports on a sighting by Clyde O. Donahower of Robesonia, Pennsylvania. Donahower was awakened by a rumbling and screeching noise. He and his wife observed an object that was initially pale red, then changed to pale green. They described it as hard to judge in size due to distance, and it seemed to keep changing shape and color. Their eight-year-old son saw a "black figure... like a stick figure, only thicker, moving in the center" of the object, which he found "really scary." The object then "lit up so brightly" that Mr. Donahower thought it would explode. Police Chief Norman Brunner confirmed that the Donahowers' stories were consistent. The object "went out" as a pickup truck pulled away from a nearby dairy farm. Police found no signs of disturbance in the plowed field where they thought the object might have landed.

UFO Sightings in Berks County

The issue also compiles other recent sightings in Berks County, Pennsylvania. These include reports from several Cherokee Ranch residents who observed an object through a telescope that changed color from white to green and then to various shades of red. Earlier that evening, city residents reported seeing an object with green and red flashing lights "scooting" through the skies. Students at Kutztown State College also reported watching an object with red, white, and green lights circling northeast of Kutztown.

A spokesman at the Reading Municipal Airport traffic control tower suggested that the red and green lights could be caused by airplanes, but acknowledged that an alien craft might have a different electrical system.

The Public Forum: The Ufological Population

John A. Keel writes about the state of ufology in the United States. He defines a ufologist as someone who maintains a continuing interest and spends money on UFO publications and conventions. Keel notes that the ufological population in the U.S. has always been small, with NICAP claiming a large membership in 1966 (though suspect) and APRO having 800 members. Ray Palmer's magazine "Flying Saucers" had a circulation of 14,597 in 1966, but declined significantly to 2,861 by 1972. In 1971, NICAP's membership was around 900, and APRO claimed 450 investigators. Keel estimates the combined membership of both organizations to be less than 1,000. The 1960s saw an increase in regional newsletters, but most faded by 1969.

Keel argues that ufology is a "dying movement" in the U.S., partly due to a lack of leadership and the influence of extremists. He contrasts UFO "fanzines" with science fiction "fanzines," finding the latter to be more literate. He notes that the UFO fandom of the 1950s and 1960s failed to produce significant new professional writers, with only a few showing promise. He suggests that if current trends continue, "Flying Saucers" might fold by the end of 1974, with England's "Flying Saucer Review" dominating the field. Keel attributes the decline not to the Condon report, but to ufology committing "suicide."

Future Directions for UFO Research

Peter Rogerson offers suggestions for the future of UFO research. He proposes a major effort to document and re-investigate all Type I reports, including precise dates and geographical locations, and to publish regular catalogues. He also suggests investigating "Contact" and "MIB" reports, as well as psychological and parapsychological phenomena, with trained personnel. Rogerson advocates for a co-operative search for pre-1947 "waves" by scrutinizing newspapers and magazines, and considering information from elderly individuals. He also recommends examining the UFO phenomenon as a source of mythological data and folklore, conducting sociological studies of UFO cults, and researching the social and technological impact of UFO phenomena, citing the 1913 airship wave as an example.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, eyewitness accounts, and the analysis of the ufological community. The magazine presents a somewhat skeptical yet open-minded approach, reporting on sightings while also critically examining the state and future of UFO research. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting facts and encouraging critical thinking, as indicated by the closing statement, "And me? I just report...you can come to your own conclusions."

Title: UFO COMMENTARY
Issue Date: Published quarterly in March, June, September and December.
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of UFO COMMENTARY focuses on its 'Statement of Purpose' and presents a series of proposals for the advancement of ufological research. The journal positions itself as a scholarly publication dedicated to serious, critical inquiry into unidentified flying objects, aiming to be a quality journal that considers all aspects of the UFO problem without being dogmatic or narrow-minded.

Editorial Philosophy and Policy

The editorial policy emphasizes the importance of approaching the subject in the spirit of inquiry and critical thought, drawing a distinction between genuine research and the attitudes of 'dogmatists,' 'categorists,' and 'absolutists' who are unwilling to think or investigate. The journal explicitly states it will not feature articles based on unsubstantiated claims, such as 'I Was Seduced by a Venusian Transvestite,' unless they can be rigorously supported and scrutinized. UFO COMMENTARY operates as a non-profit entity with the sole purpose of providing the ufological community with a platform for in-depth reporting of UFO cases and other relevant material, as well as presenting findings from original research.

Proposals for Advancing Ufological Research

The issue outlines twenty proposals aimed at improving the quality and scope of ufological research. Key recommendations include:

• Organizational Structure: National organizations should shift from acting as bodies with corporate opinions to becoming documentation centers, coordinating research, and holding central catalogues and files. They should also organize symposia and facilitate publication.
• International Coordination: A private international coordinating body is proposed to provide global coordination of documentation and research, including translation services. This body, along with national organizations, should avoid holding corporate opinions or engaging in corporate activities.
• Bibliographical Services: There is a recognized need for high-quality bibliographical services in ufology, including bibliographies of UFO reports in the press and non-ufological literature, monographs, and an index of important articles. A comprehensive list of ufological journals is also recommended.
• Cataloguing UFO Reports: The creation of an internationally accessible, machine-readable general catalogue of UFO reports is suggested, incorporating all existing catalogues.
• Publication of Catalogues and Journals: The publication of this catalogue, with standardized abstracts, is seen as crucial for further investigation. The establishment of at least one international scientific journal devoted exclusively to ufology, aimed at the scientific community and serious researchers without editorial comment, is advocated. This journal should serve as a platform for serious workers, distinct from the attitudes of 'cultists,' and ideally be published in multiple major languages.
• National and Local Journals: The publication of national journals, either as modifications of existing ones or new ventures, and local 'report' journals should be encouraged.
• Investigation of Cases: Rapid and in-depth investigation of cases involving alleged physical evidence, landing sites, and photographs is recommended, utilizing appropriately qualified experts. For photographs, publication should be delayed until 'high strangeness' is well-evidenced and duplication attempts have failed.
• Official Files: Efforts should be made to recover material from official files, accepting any conditions, especially that such material may only be made available to reputable scientists.
• Legitimate Research: UFO research is defined as the scientific investigation of UFO reports and phenomena that may generate them, requiring impartiality and unbiased coverage of all aspects. Investigations aiming to demonstrate that reports are generated by mundane causes (e.g., mirages, intoxication) are not considered legitimate research.
• Interest Channeling: Newcomers to the subject should have their interest channeled along scientific lines, emphasizing that ufology requires hard work and more than superficial observation.
• Countering Sensationalism: Steps should be taken to counter the damage caused by sensationalists who provide 'sport' to the popular press.
• Respectability: The subject will gain respectability within the scientific community only if research and speculation are conducted scientifically, with speculation limited to scientifically valid notions. The tendency to invent fantastic pseudo-scientific cosmoses is deplored.

The author notes that the foundations for many of these proposals already exist, but the major obstacles are vested interests within UFO groups and general apathy. An example is given of a failed attempt to create a catalogue of Type I reports due to lack of interest.

Personal Research and Call for Contributions

The writer, Peter Rogerson, is currently engaged in compiling a card catalogue of Type I reports, which already contains nearly 1900 items and is growing. He urges researchers with similar activities to contact him and requests readers to send details of any unpublished or ill-published reports, personal information, or contributions from short-lived journals.

Reader Opinion Survey

To ensure the journal remains relevant and useful, a reader opinion survey is included. Readers are asked to provide feedback on what they like most and least about the journal, what they would like more of, and to provide demographic information such as gender, age, occupation, and education. They are also asked about their specific interests within ufology. Completed questionnaires are to be mailed to UFO COMMENTARY at an address in Twin Falls, ID.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the need for a more scientific, rigorous, and organized approach to ufological research. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of critical inquiry, evidence-based investigation, and the professionalization of the field, actively distancing itself from sensationalism and unsubstantiated speculation. The emphasis is on building a credible body of knowledge through systematic documentation, cataloguing, and peer-reviewed scientific publication.