UFO Magazine - vol 3 number 3

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO MAGAZINE
Issue: Volume 3, Number 3
Date: Spring, 1966
Price: 25¢

This issue of UFO Magazine focuses on the ongoing investigation and reporting of unidentified flying objects, featuring a prominent photograph of a UFO taken over Newark, Ohio in 1961 on its cover. The magazine covers the 1966 Congress of Scientific Ufologists, details recent UFO sightings, and explores specific phenomena like Green Fireballs.

1966 Congress of Scientific Ufologists

The magazine extensively covers the upcoming 1966 Congress of Scientific Ufologists, scheduled for June 23-26 in Cleveland, Ohio. It provides a detailed agenda for the Open Session on Saturday, June 25, 1966, held at the Valley Forge High School Auditorium. The schedule includes a roll call, presentations on the accomplishments of the Third Congress, talks by various ufologists and editors from publications like UFO Magazine and SAUCER NEWS, and a featured speaker, Gray Barker, editor of Saucerian Publications. A question-and-answer period with a panel of ufologists is also planned. Information is provided for delegates wishing to attend and for out-of-town visitors regarding accommodation at the Park Brook Motel. Advance sale tickets are available for $1.00 for adults and 75¢ for students.

Editorial: Air Force Cover-up and Project Greyfile

The editorial expresses skepticism towards the Air Force's explanations for UFO sightings, particularly the 'swamp gas' explanation for the Michigan reports, viewing it as a cover-up. It notes that the factual reporting seen in the previous summer has given way to what is termed 'ridiculous Bluebook swill.'

However, the editorial also announces the establishment of a civilian scientific project to analyze UFO reports, called 'Project Greyfile.' This project is being conducted in conjunction with the Congress of Scientific Ufologists and involves cataloging reports from newspapers and group files. These reports will be placed on IBM cards for computer analysis to identify definite UFO patterns. Mr. Glenn Cohen of Parsippany, New Jersey, is mentioned as working on the computer program for this project.

New Saucer Flap Strikes the Midwest!

This section, authored by Rick R. Hilberg, details a series of significant UFO reports from the recent Midwestern flap, aiming for a middle-road approach. Several incidents are described:

• March 20, 1966 (Ann Arbor, Michigan): At least forty people, including twelve policemen, reported seeing an unidentified flying object. Sheriff's deputies observed eerie blinking lights, and one policeman reported a formation of four or five saucers. One machine allegedly came within ten feet of a patrol car. The Air Force and Dr. J. Allen Hynek later attempted to explain such reports as glowing 'swamp gas.'
• March 21, 1966 (Hillsdale College, Michigan): A county Civil Defense director and eighty-seven coeds witnessed a hovering saucer settle in a hollow. The object was described as round and oblong, with many lights, and later displayed yellowish lights and a red light in the center.
• March 25, 1966 (Upper Sandusky, Ohio): Everett Will reported seeing an object resembling an upside-down top or Christmas tree, with glowing red lights and a halo at tree-top level. Sheriff's deputies found nothing at the scene.
• March 25, 1966 (Lucas County, Ohio): Deputies Robert Schultz and Stanley Nalepa reported a huge object with glowing red lights and a halo at tree-top level that disappeared when they approached.
• March 28, 1966 (Columbus, Georgia): An airport control tower operator reported a glowing, oblong object maneuvering high in the sky, tracked on radar in Columbus and Atlanta. Doyle Palmer observed a greenish-white cigar-shaped machine for over an hour. Six Columbus policemen also witnessed it.
• Undated (Green Bay, Wisconsin): Four police officers and a high school science teacher sighted a glowing green or white saucer.
• April 1, 1966 (Berea, Ohio): Two policemen saw an 'orange glow as big as a house' floating above trees. They described it as an unidentified flying object, visible for about forty-five seconds.
• April 1, 1966 (Springfield, Ohio): A farmer reported a burned spot in his wheat field, about twelve feet long and two feet wide, described as dark brown and dry. Neighbors suggested a UFO might have caused it.
• April 17, 1966 (Portage County, Ohio): Deputies Dale F. Spaur and W. L. Neff encountered a blinding white light from a huge, disk-shaped object with a dome. They chased the object for nearly two hours, estimating its diameter to be fifty to sixty feet. The object had two spotlights that converged on the ground. Police Chief Gerald Buchert of Mantua, Ohio, took a photograph of the object. The Air Force later claimed the object was Venus, a claim disputed by the magazine due to Venus's visibility.

The Challenge of the Green Fireballs

Allan J. Manak discusses the phenomenon of Green Fireballs, suggesting they may hold a key to solving the UFO enigma. These fireballs, first discovered in the fall of 1948, are described as globes of green fire with a brightness more intense than the full moon, with witnesses indicating a color band at 5200 angstroms. Unlike meteors, they are not found in meteorites, are rarely found in the upper atmosphere, and do not leave fragments upon exploding. They travel in straight lines and are silent.

Manak contrasts Green Fireballs with 'Lightning Type Fireballs,' which can be associated with thunderstorms and noises. He notes that Green Fireballs have been reported extensively in the Southwest since 1948 and later across the United States. The Air Force established 'Project Twinkle' in 1949 to investigate them, but the project faltered and failed. The phenomenon saw a resurgence in 1951, with a notable sighting on November 2, 1951, attracting over 165 reports. The article cites H.B. Darrach, Jr. and Robert Genna from LIFE magazine, stating that magnetic disturbances cannot account for them. Reports increased again in 1952 and saw another surge in 1957, coinciding with UFO flaps. In 1963, reports increased again, often following designated UFO flap years.

Manak concludes that UFO flaps coincide with increased incidences of Green Fireballs, suggesting a relationship between the two phenomena.

Book Review: Gray Barker's Book of Saucers

Edward Biebel reviews Gray Barker's 'Book of Saucers,' published by Saucerian Books. Biebel, an active ufologist since 1964, critiques the book chapter by chapter:

• Chapter One, They Saw The Saucers: Covers UFO reports from 1963, drawing from newspaper articles and magazines like SAUCER NEWS. It's considered a good source for newcomers to ufology.
• Chapter Two, When the Saucers Landed: Deals with controversial contactee stories, which Biebel suggests might keep the public skeptical.
• Chapter Three, Cosmic Kidnappers: Features contactee stories, including one from the APRO BULLETIN, which Biebel finds difficult to believe without concrete evidence.
• Chapter Four, Life on other Planets: Discusses scientific theories on extraterrestrial life and includes material on George Adamski, whose stories Biebel states have been proven false.
• Chapter Five, Fortean Fauna: Covers Fortean events like the Loch Ness monster, which are interesting but not directly related to flying saucers.
• Chapter Six, The Air Force Files: Details the Air Force's history in ufology, including investigative units like Sign, Grudge, and Bluebook, as well as Air Force regulations. It also reports on James Moseley's trip to ATIC and Project Bluebook, with Barker being skeptical of Moseley's accounts. Barker criticizes Dr. Donald H. Menzel's book for its explanations of saucers.
• Chapter Seven, Home to Jupiter: This chapter, about contactee Gloria Lee, is deemed to have little to do with the UFO field.
• Chapter Eight, Visitors From the Bird World: Another contact story involving people in a bird-shaped saucer, which Biebel questions due to its second-hand nature and Barker's endorsement.
• Chapter Nine, Saucer Flight From Uranus: A story about a UFO landing in Great Britain, but the origin from Uranus is unclear.
• Chapter Ten, Saucer over Palomar: Discusses Michael G. Mann's series of three photographs of a saucer-shaped object. Biebel expresses skepticism about Mann's ability to capture clear photos of an object making erratic maneuvers, especially compared to his own photographic experiences.

Biebel notes that Mann has not allowed experts to see his photographs. He concludes that while the book has negative points, the positive aspects, including Gene Duplantier's artwork, make it a worthwhile addition to a saucer library.

UFOs in Retrospect Part II

Robert W. Miller's article continues the retrospective on UFO phenomena:

• Newark, Ohio Case (October 16, 1958): A man named M.S. photographed an unknown object with a protuberance on its top. The pictures and story were published locally, and the negatives were obtained by the author. M.S. reportedly threatened to involve authorities. The case was investigated by the FBI and Air Force, with those involved being told to keep quiet.
• Newark, Ohio Case (May 29, 1961): During a skywatch, the author's local group observed an object that was ball-shaped with a tail trailing behind it. The object disappeared, and the tail section then vanished, leaving a solid light. The sighting was filmed, and the results were as expected. The film was shown to the NEWARK ADVOCATE, and a story appeared on June 22, 1961. Mr. A.B. Ledwith of NICAP stated the object resembled cone-shaped objects reported since 1957. Science teacher Virgil Ashcraft stated that 'something had to expose the film.' Four copies of the film were made and sent to APRO and NICAP.

UFO Shapes and Characteristics

The article summarizes common UFO shapes and their characteristics:

• Disc or Dome shape: Photographed 142 times, often in formations. Flown under intelligent control, they have been tracked by radar and seen near aircraft. Colors range from black to silver-white, with reports of lights and portholes. They exhibit magnetic qualities that affect electronics.
• Cigar-Shaped UFO: Photographed 18 times. Theorized as 'mother ships' from which discs and domed UFOs are launched. Described as black with fins, or with bands, and brilliantly lighted with a bluish-white luminescence.
• Crescent-Shaped UFO: Photographed 15 times, seen singly or in groups. Tracked by radar, they possess an ability to change shape, suggesting they might be non-solid. Sizes range from ten to twenty-seven feet across, with speeds up to 7,550 m.p.h. Colors include black, reddish-green, and orange, with apparent windows or ports.
• Saturn-Shaped UFO: Filmed twice, resembling the planet Saturn with an egg shape and a ring. These objects have no single color and their speed is not clocked.
• Half-Globe UFO: Photographed five times at various altitudes, with colors ranging from red to white. They cast bright lights, appear to have a magnetic force field, and sound like they have a stepped-up electric motor when moving.
• Green Fireball UFO: Known for their tremendous size and brilliance, ranging from bright blue to green. They are ball-shaped or globular, seen mostly at night, and emit their own light. They do not maneuver or hover and are visible for short durations. Sizes range from 50 to 200 feet in diameter. They do not leave fragments upon striking the ground and appear in large numbers over short periods.

Unknown Substances and UFO Hostility

The magazine discusses 'angel hair,' a substance expelled by UFOs, described as long threadlike material that usually disappears quickly. Falls of this substance occurred in France in 1952 and elsewhere, but it disintegrates before it can be studied. Some attribute it to spiders migrating, while the magazine questions this explanation.

General Douglas MacArthur is quoted from the NEW YORK TIMES on October 8, 1955, suggesting that nations might have to combine against attacks from other planets. The article then posits that UFOs may be hostile, citing two cases of aircraft disappearances after encountering UFOs: an F-86 jet fighter that merged with a UFO on radar and disappeared, and a transport plane with twenty-six passengers that vanished after its radar blip united with a UFO's.

Life on Venus and NASA Findings

The article touches upon the possibility of life on other planets, specifically Venus. It references Professor John Strong of Johns Hopkins University, whose research based on data from the Mariner II spacecraft and a robot telescope suggests the presence of water vapor on Venus. This finding, combined with known carbon dioxide on Venus, forces a re-examination of the possibility of life. While Mariner II reported a uniform surface temperature of 800 degrees Fahrenheit, Dr. Strong's calculations indicate the existence of water vapor in the atmosphere and potentially on the surface. NASA scientists acknowledge Strong's findings but do not rule out the possibility of relatively cool oases on Venus where life could propagate.

Advertisement: Vital Information on a Vital Organization

This section advertises the American UFO Committee (AMUFO), founded in October 1963 through a merger of the Illinois Aerial Phenomena Agency and the United Research Council of UFology. AMUFO aims for open-minded investigation of UFO phenomena, public education, and fostering a dynamic spirit within ufology. Its directors are experienced individuals, including Allen Greenfield (Editorial Director), Ricky Hilberg (Administrative Director), Allan Manak (Communications Director), and Dale Rettig (Associate Director). AMUFO has sponsored radio programs, co-hosts the Congress of Scientific Ufologists, and cooperates with other UFO groups. Members receive a subscription to the official magazine, AMERICAN UFO COMMITTEE REVIEW, and outstanding members are eligible for the SPECIAL DIVISION, which includes INNER CIRCLE BULLETIN. Membership is $2.00 per year, with editorial and administrative offices listed in Atlanta, Georgia, and Cleveland, Ohio, respectively.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical stance towards official explanations of UFO phenomena, particularly those from the Air Force, viewing them as attempts to cover up the truth. There is a strong emphasis on reporting sightings and phenomena that challenge conventional scientific understanding, such as the Green Fireballs and various UFO shapes. The publication actively promotes ufological organizations and events like the Congress of Scientific Ufologists, encouraging public participation and investigation. The recurring theme is that UFOs are a genuine phenomenon, potentially extraterrestrial in origin, and that official explanations are inadequate or misleading. The magazine also explores the possibility of UFO hostility and the potential for life on other planets, reflecting a broad interest in the implications of UFOs for humanity.