UFO Magazine News Bulletin issue 18

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO MAGAZINE NEWS BULLETIN
Issue: 18
Date: October, 1978
Publisher: Not explicitly stated, but published from Cleveland, Ohio.
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the UFO MAGAZINE NEWS BULLETIN marks a transition to a bi-monthly publication schedule, moving from a "mini-magazine" format to a more standard newsletter. The subscription rate is $2.00 for six issues. The publication is noted as a member of the National UFO Conference. The editors are Robert S. Easley and Rick R. Hilberg, with Carol J. Hilberg as managing editor.

Around And About The Saucer World

This section, written by Rick R. Hilberg, details the format change and expresses hope that the increased frequency will allow for more effective reporting on the UFO scene. It also reports the sad news of the death of long-time UFO researcher John J. Robinsom on August 2nd in Jersey City, New Jersey. Robinsom was a staff member and writer for SAUCER NEWS and a supporter of the National UFO Conference, heading its Robinson Committee.

The article recounts the staff's attendance at the 1978 MUFON UFO Symposium in Dayton, Ohio, organized by the Ohio UFO Investigators League. Speakers included Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Leonard Stringfield, Richard Hall, Ted Bloecher, and Major Donald E. Keyhoe. Hilberg expresses disappointment with Leonard Stringfield's presentation, where expected "conclusive proof" of government possession of crashed UFOs and occupants turned out to be "unsubstantiated testimony."

UFO Conferences and Publications

The issue mentions the 15th Annual National UFO Conference in Cleveland on August 12th, hosted by the newly-formed Northern Ohio UFO Group. The 1979 Conference is scheduled for New Haven. An open session in Cleveland featured speakers like Jim Miller, Timothy Green Beckley, Geneva Steinberg, Ron Schaffner, and Perry Collins.

Bob Easley, Allan Manak, and Rick R. Hilberg have published a short anthology titled "SAUCER TREK," available for $3.50.

Recent UFO Sightings

June 17th, 1978, 1:20 P.M.: Linda Arosemena, a professional photographer, captured an image of President Carter's helicopter departing Fort Clayton, Panama. Upon development, an oval-shaped UFO was visible near the helicopter, though it was not reported by witnesses or detected by radar. The object was photographed using a Nikon camera with Kodak Tri-X film at 1/250 second at F/16. A similar object was reportedly seen by women fishing the day before.

June 28th, 1978, 11:00 P.M.: Fourteen residents in Richland County, Ohio, reported a bright yellow light hovering for about thirty minutes before descending, dimming, and appearing to take off. Officials at Mansfield Airport could not explain the phenomenon.

Creature Sighting in Richland County: The area is also experiencing reports of a seven to nine-foot tall creature, dubbed "Bighead," with red bulging eyes and a head as wide as a tractor tire, seen in the wooded areas around Mohican State Park and near Butler, Ohio. Large footprints have been found.

June 6th, 1978, 11:15 P.M.: Two individuals in Linden, California, reported seeing the same UFO. Janet Calle, a student, described it as over 100 feet long, pinkish-orange, softly luminous, and saucer-shaped with a bell-like top. It had three white lights and one large red light, sounded like an electric fan, and appeared to have lights coming from its windows or ports. Ken Snyder, a firefighter, corroborated this description.

July 18th, 1978, 9:40 P.M.: Mr. and Mrs. Milton Guth and their children witnessed a huge oval lighted object from their home in Lyndhurst, Ohio. Mrs. Guth described very bright white and red lights with a blue flicker outside, hovering over a neighbor's house. The object appeared no higher than a treetop, had many flashing bright lights, and square bottom lights. It spun rapidly and disappeared.

August 23rd, 1978, 6-6:30 A.M.: A young woman in Westlake, Ohio, saw a large boomerang-shaped object while driving between Clague and Columbia Roads. She initially thought it was an aircraft but noted it was stationary. The object had four white lights on its underside, described as brighter than streetlights, and appeared to have an opening or "door." The witness became scared and drove away, but the object had vanished upon her return.

The Ohio UFO Coalition

This article by Robert S. Easley details the formation of the Ohio UFO Coalition, initiated by Rick R. Hilberg and Easley (representing the Northern Ohio UFO Group) meeting with Charles Wilhelm, James Miller, and others from the Ohio UFO Investigators League. The coalition aims to foster cooperation and information sharing among Ohio UFO organizations and researchers to improve the quality of UFO investigation in the state.

Active groups in the coalition include the Northern Ohio UFO Group, Ohio UFO Investigators League, Tri-County UFO Study Group, and the Page Research Library. Groups not active include UFO Hotline, Cleveland Ufology Project, and the Flying Saucer Investigating Committee. Easley criticizes the non-active groups, suggesting they are more interested in self-promotion than cooperation, naming Earl J. Neff, Dean Haslege, and Larry Moyers as examples of "ego-worshipping researchers."

Notes From The Saucer's Cup

• This section provides brief updates:
• The television program "In Search Of...", hosted by Leonard Nimoy, has been renewed for a third season, covering topics like UFOs, ghosts, and strange phenomena.
• On June 22nd, a moon named Charon was discovered orbiting Pluto, with a 6.3-day orbital period. The discovery was made by astronomer James W. Christy at the Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
• A humorous item from THE CLEVELAND PRESS on June 19th, 1978, jokes that the absence of UFO landings in Duluth in January proves intelligent life exists on other planets.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around recent UFO sightings, the ongoing efforts and challenges within the UFO research community (highlighted by the formation of the Ohio UFO Coalition and the critique of non-active groups), and the reporting of UFO-related news and events. The editorial stance appears to be one of earnest investigation and a desire for genuine progress in understanding the UFO phenomenon, coupled with a critical eye towards unsubstantiated claims and self-serving individuals within the field. There is a clear emphasis on reporting factual accounts of sightings and research activities, while also acknowledging the difficulties and controversies that plague ufology.