UFO Magazine - vol 4 number 7

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO MAGAZINE
Issue: Volume 4 Number 7
Date: Fall 1967

This issue of UFO Magazine delves into a variety of UFO-related topics, including follow-up investigations into previously reported incidents, historical accounts, and details about UFO conferences and expeditions. The magazine aims to provide information and analysis on the UFO phenomenon.

Articles and Features

Follow-Up on Texas Saucer Incidents

This section, by P. G. Navarro, investigates the saucer incidents in Texas reported in the previous issue. The author presents information gathered from newspaper archives, focusing on events from July 1947. Key incidents detailed include:

• Bryan, Texas (July 7, 1947): Twelve witnesses reported seeing a half-dozen mysterious saucers.
• Houston, Texas (July 4, 1947): Ten to twenty 'flying dinner plates' hovered over the city, described as larger than saucers.
• Palestine, Texas (July 4, 1947): 'Flying balls of fire' were observed, causing fear among residents.
• Near Gunter, Texas: A farm wife found a scorched, tinfoil-like object.

The article highlights two specific cases from July 8, 1947:

• Trinity Bay, Texas: A businessman named Norman Hargraves reported finding a 20-inch diameter, 6-inch thick aluminum disc. He later admitted this was a hoax, though the newspaper noted some mysterious facts in his initial report. He claimed to have been cautioned by a 'Colnel Voyce' from Army Air Forces Depot Spokane.
• Hillsboro, Texas: A newspaper man, Dan S. Schults, investigated a report by Bob Scott who found pieces of a 'spidery and dusty' material in his garden, described as bright and seeming to dissolve slowly.

The author also touches upon earlier UFO sightings from the 1890s and 1950s, including reports of 'airships' and 'strange lights,' and notes that scientists at the time offered explanations such as bright stars or misidentified terrestrial objects.

Guard Puzzles Over Report of Sea "Disaster"

This short piece recounts a report from Forest Ranger Earl Holle of a ship burning and sinking off the California coast, which was not confirmed by Coast Guard searches, leaving the event a mystery.

Historical UFO Reports (1890s-1950s)

This section revisits historical accounts of unusual aerial phenomena:

• 1897: Reports of meteors leaving unusual substances (Brenham, Texas), mysterious 'airships' (Childress, Texas), and bright lights moving swiftly (Longview, Texas).
• 1897 (Houston Daily Post): The newspaper expressed skepticism towards airship reports, suggesting they were fabrications.
• April 1897 (Houston Daily Post): Reports of 'lights' in Texas were noted, with a suggestion that Texas had reputable citizens who witnessed them.
• April 1897: Scientists attempted to explain sightings as bright stars.
• April 1897: The frequency of sightings over prohibition states was noted.
• Bartlett, Texas (April 1897): A merchant reported seeing a large ball of fire dropping smaller balls.
• April 1897: The Houston Daily Post reported on a 'strange lights' sighting, explaining it as a man with a large boiler and swinging lamps.
• Josserand, Texas (April 1897): Frank Nichols reported seeing a large vessel with brilliant lights resting in his cornfield, and conversed with its crew.
• Kountze, Texas (April 1897): A mysterious airship was reported to have broken down for repairs, described as cigar-shaped.

The author draws a parallel between the skepticism faced by witnesses in 1897 and that faced by UFO proponents today, suggesting that modern explanations like artificial satellites might be used to obscure extraterrestrial activity.

Around And About The Saucer World

By Rick Hilberg, this article discusses a hoax that occurred in England on September 4, 1967, involving six fibreglass 'saucers' that emitted sounds. Defense experts investigated, but the hoax was later revealed to be the work of two aeronautics students, Christopher Southall and Roger Palmer, who built the devices to test reactions. The article also mentions a flight of four 'somethings' seen in southern England with flashing lights.

UFO Expedition in Ohio

By Edward Biebel, Associate Editor, this report details a trip to investigate a reported UFO landing site in the Wayne National Forest, Ohio. Based on an account by John A. Keel, the area was rumored to be a landing site for UFOs, with specific instructions for investigators (e.g., stash compass, wear rubber-soled shoes). Biebel and Tom Nealings planned to visit but were apprehensive. Biebel and Karl Gawell visited the Wayne National Forest area and Tar Hollow State Park, searching three likely areas, but found no evidence of landings. They also visited a forest fire lookout tower. The article notes that the Wayne National Forest covers 109,000 acres.

Editorial

The editors, Rick R. Hilberg and Janie L. Ransom, report on the success of a Midwestern UFO discussion held in Cleveland on July 21-22, 1967. Delegates from Ohio and Michigan attended to discuss UFO investigation and potential projects. A list of delegates is provided, including staff members and individuals from various locations. Another UFO MAGAZINE sponsored meeting took place at the Conrad Hilton in Chicago, discussing 'three men' cases and the John Reeves incident in Florida. The editorial emphasizes UFO MAGAZINE's efforts to improve Ufology.

UFO Magazine Staff and Publication Details

Information is provided about the editorial staff, including Editors Rick R. Hilberg and Janie L. Ransom, and Associate Editors Edward Biebel, Karl Gawell, and Robert S. Easley. The magazine is published quarterly by UFO Magazine Publications, with a subscription price of $2.00 yearly in the U.S. and Canada. A new book on UFOs by Rick Hilberg and Robert Easley is announced, expected in early 1968.

Saucer Album

This section promotes a printed book titled 'SAUCER ALBUM' by the staff of UFO MAGAZINE. It contains information on the 1965 saucer flap, unpublished accounts, and an analysis of the 1966 flap in Michigan and the Midwest. It also covers the relationship between UFO sightings and ancient landmarks in England, and the mysterious 'green fireballs' of the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores historical UFO sightings, investigations, and the ongoing debate surrounding the nature of these phenomena. There is a clear stance in favor of investigating UFO reports seriously, despite skepticism from some quarters, and a dedication to improving the field of Ufology. The editorial team actively organizes meetings and publishes findings, aiming to keep readers informed about the latest developments and historical context of UFO research. The issue also highlights the prevalence of hoaxes within the UFO field, distinguishing them from genuine unexplained events.