UFO MAGAZINE

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO MAGAZINE
Issue: Volume 4, Number 10
Date: Summer 1968
Publisher: UFO Magazine Publications
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of UFO Magazine delves into the perceived conspiracy surrounding UFO phenomena, questioning the objectivity of official investigations and highlighting numerous recent sightings and encounters. The cover features a photograph of a purported UFO taken by a boy in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, accompanied by headlines about a conspiracy to withhold UFO facts and a boy burned by a UFO in Ohio.

Articles and Content

"WHERE ARE THE SCIENTIFIC UFO INVESTIGATIONS?" by Robert S. Easley

This article critically examines the U.S. Air Force's investigation into UFOs, headed by Dr. Edward U. Condon at the University of Colorado. Easley cites John G. Fuller's reporting in LOOK magazine, which labels the half-million-dollar project a "Flying Saucer Fiasco" and a "trick" to make Americans believe it was objective. The author asserts that Condon and Project Coordinator Robert J. Low deliberately took a negative approach, aiming to present the study as objective to the public while internally signaling a lack of expectation for finding evidence of saucers. The article suggests that American taxpayers have wasted money on a study that is essentially a "circus." It also touches upon the global implications, noting that other countries may be influenced by the U.S. policy of confusing the public. The piece mentions Dr. James E. McDonald's talk at the United Nations about UFOs being a significant global threat, and U.N. Secretary-General U Thant's subsequent retraction.

"Around And About The Saucer World" by Rick Hilberg

This section reports on recent UFO sightings and incidents from around the world. It notes an increase in sightings and wonders if the summer will bring a "flap" similar to past years. Several cases are detailed:

• Vashon Island, Washington (February 18): Teenagers reported a car-sized object near a pond that shot off a beam of light. The incident left a pit of water covered in ice, despite it raining that day.
• New Castle, Pennsylvania (March 1): Seven people witnessed a whitish-pink, pancake-shaped object hovering over a farm for about ten minutes. No sound was detected.
• Childress, Texas (March 2): Police Chief Alvis Maddox pursued a UFO for about fifteen miles, describing it as a light between 500 and 1000 feet in the air.
• Monroe County, Ohio (March 19): A 13-year-old boy, Gregory Wells, claimed a UFO hovered over a tree and a beam knocked him to the ground, burning his arm and starting a grass fire. He also reported seeing the object hovering two days prior.
• Washington Courthouse, Ohio (April 9): Lee and Emma Rowland saw a large ball of fire, followed by a second, larger object described as flat with a bright blue light and a white dome.

"NEW CONTACTEE CLAIM FROM TEXAS" (Carroll Wayne Watts)

This section details a claim by Carroll Wayne Watts, a 29-year-old farmer from the Texas Panhandle. He provided a photograph of an alleged UFO. Watts claims he was pressured to fail a lie detector test by men with automatic weapons. He describes an incident on March 31 where he saw a dull, gray cylindrical object, 80 to 100 feet long, floating 18 inches off the ground near an abandoned house. He reported that the object contained machinery and a voice that offered a painless physical examination. On April 11, he encountered an ovoid object with four occupants, described as 4-5 feet tall with wrap-around eyes, superficial ears, and slit mouths. He was given a physical by a machine and knocked unconscious.

Editorial

The editorial staff, including Rick and Janie Hilberg, Edward Biebel, Robert Easley, and Thomas Nealings, discuss their busy schedule, which includes planning for "Clevecon '68" and teaching a class on UFOs at Case-Western Reserve University. They announce the publication of two books and a forthcoming full-length manuscript. The editors recommend "THE SAUCER ENIGMA" for a general overview of UFOs and "MIB" for those interested in the "Men In Black" phenomenon, noting that Assistant Editor Easley and Editor Hilberg were personally involved in a bizarre "MIB" case.

The editorial strongly criticizes the Condon Committee, calling it a "conspiracy to bury the UFO problem." It argues that the need for such a "hoax" indicates the importance of the saucer enigma. The editors express hope that "dedicated Ufologists" attending the Congress will develop a coherent plan for action, stating that the responsibility now falls on "sincere amateurs" to pursue the truth.

Book and Publication Advertisements

The magazine advertises several of its own publications:

• "MIB" by Robert S. Easley and Rick R. Hilberg: Described as a book about mysterious individuals silencing UFO witnesses and researchers, presenting facts that suggest no UFO witness or researcher is safe. It details an incident where an author was shot at and received telephone threats.
• "THE SAUCER ENIGMA" by Robert W. Miller and Rick R. Hilberg: A history of UFO phenomena with previously unpublished sightings, including details about a motion picture of a UFO over Newark, Ohio, and pressure from officials on the photographer.
• "SAUCER ALBUM" edited by Rick R. Hilberg: Contains accounts of green fireballs, saucers, ancient monument alignments, and major saucer "flaps," with photos and facts.

It also promotes the UFO MAGAZINE'S NEWS BULLETIN, edited by Robert S. Easley, which promises to report news and sightings without "pulling punches" and to delve into new theories. Additionally, it advertises "DISSENTER-DISINTER" magazine and RMCF PUBLISHER MAGAZINE.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the alleged conspiracy and cover-up surrounding UFO phenomena by governmental and scientific bodies, the increasing number of UFO sightings, and the importance of independent research and citizen action. The editorial stance is critical of official investigations, particularly the Condon Committee, which is portrayed as a deliberate attempt to discredit UFOs. The magazine champions the work of independent researchers and ufologists, urging them to unite and pursue the truth. There is a strong emphasis on the "Men in Black" as agents of suppression and a call for readers to stay informed through the magazine's publications and events.