UFO Magazine

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO Magazine
Issue: Volume 4 Number 2
Date: February, 1967
Publisher: UFO Magazine Publications
Country: USA
Original Language: English

This issue of UFO Magazine focuses on a UFO sighting in Perkins, Ohio, and includes an editorial discussing the state of ufology. The cover headline announces "A REPORT ON THE PERKINS,OHIO UFO" by Janie L. Ransom.

A Report on the Perkins, Ohio UFO

The article details an investigation into a UFO sighting by Constable Butler of Perkins Township, Ohio. On February 10, 1967, Constable Butler observed a bright, blue object, approximately 20 feet in diameter, hovering about 40 to 60 feet off the ground over the NASA Plum Brook installation. The object was described as self-luminous and as bright as the sun, though appearing smaller at a distance. The sighting occurred around 3:42 a.m. to 3:46 a.m. The reporting team, consisting of Janie L. Ransom, Rick, and Mr. Earl J. Neff (representing NICAP), interviewed Constable Butler and a Deputy Sheriff at the Erie County Sheriff's Office in Sandusky. The Deputy Sheriff expressed interest in ufology and mentioned that two patrolmen from a nearby town had also sighted similar objects around the same time. Constable Butler was cooperative, providing details for a NICAP form, allowing tape recordings, and being photographed. The Deputy Sheriff also indicated an increased interest in the subject.

North Royalton, Ohio Sighting

Another sighting reported is from James Sherman, a resident of North Royalton, Ohio, on January 29, 1967. While driving east on Route 82 at 5:50 p.m., the observer spotted a disk-like object in the sky. After observing it for about 18 minutes, the object disappeared, and in its place, blinking red and green lights appeared. A smaller, shiny, silver object then dropped from the lights for about two feet before disappearing. The lights then ascended southward. The object was described as "smoke-like appearance" and "all black."

Related Sightings

On February 10, 1967, two Michigan State Patrol officers reportedly saw a similar black object with a puff of smoke, which they believed was on fire.

Editorial: A Time of Crisis

The editorial section, written by the editors of UFO Magazine, expresses concern about the current state of ufology. They argue that many UFO researchers and publishers have become "mercenary," prioritizing sensationalism and profit over factual accuracy. The editors lament that this "Golden Age" of Ufology, where public interest is high and media attention is available, is being squandered by the dissemination of "worthless trash." They call for a more serious and fact-based approach to the study of UFOs to build credibility and accumulate factual data.

Who Flies the Flying Saucers?

This section, responding to a question from the Summer 1966 issue, delves into the speculative topic of the pilots of flying saucers. The author acknowledges the difficulty in discussing this subject due to a lack of factual evidence, but posits that visitors from another world are likely. The pilots are speculated to be intelligent beings, possibly human-like or from different evolutionary paths, possessing an intelligence far beyond current human capabilities, evidenced by their advanced "space program." The author suggests that understanding who pilots these craft depends on humanity proving itself "worthy and capable of accepting them."

Article on Prejudice in UFO Research

Steve Erdmann's article, "THE UFOLOGICAL GAMES - or - HOW TO BE PREJUDICE BUT NOT 'PREJUDICE' AT THE SAME TIME," critiques what he perceives as prejudice and overly expert debunking in the UFO field. He criticizes writers like Menzel and Daniel Cohen for dismissing UFO reports without sufficient evidence, particularly referencing Cohen's critique of the Keyhoe report on the April 1964 Gemini test launch. Erdmann contrasts Cohen's view with information from the UFO INVESTIGATOR, citing quotes from Leo X. Abernethy and Alfred P. Alibrano that suggest the Gemini flight involved structural integrity tests and that the booster and spacecraft re-entered as a single unit. He also challenges Cohen's assertion that science fiction influenced saucer sightings, citing Jacques Vallee's work which suggests the opposite.

Special Offer

The magazine concludes with a special offer for "UFOLOGY: AN INFORMAL SURVEY," available for a limited time at 50 cents per copy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, investigative journalism in ufology, and critical analysis of the field itself. The editorial stance is one of concern for the integrity of ufology, advocating for factual reporting and a serious, evidence-based approach, while also exploring speculative aspects of UFO phenomena and critiquing debunking efforts. The magazine positions itself as a crusader for the field, willing to challenge established narratives and even former allies to uphold its standards.