UFO Newsclipping Service - 1970 01 - no 9

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFORC Clipping Service, dated January 1970, focuses heavily on the United States Air Force's decision to close down Project Blue Book, its long-standing investigation into unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The cover prominently features the headline "Flying Saucer Hunt Ended by Air Force," alongside a related article titled "UFO Studies Scrapped by U.S. Air Force."

Air Force Ends UFO Investigation

Multiple articles detail the Air Force's decision to terminate Project Blue Book, which had been investigating UFO reports for 21 years and had amassed thousands of files. Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans Jr. announced the closure, stating that the project "cannot be justified either on the ground of national security or in the interest of science." This decision was influenced by a $539,000 report from the University of Colorado, led by Dr. Edward U. Condon, which concluded that most sightings were ordinary phenomena and that further extensive study was not expected to yield scientific benefits. The report was later endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences.

Several publications, including the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Globe and Mail, and the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, report on this development. The articles highlight that Project Blue Book investigated 12,618 sighting reports at a cost of several million dollars. Despite the Air Force's conclusion that UFOs posed no threat to national security, some UFO enthusiasts believe this closure is an attempt to suppress information.

Scientific Debate and Preservation of Records

The closure of Project Blue Book has sparked debate among scientists. While some, like Dr. Edward U. Condon, have dismissed UFOs as "nonsense," others, such as Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a consultant for the project, argue that the UFO problem is far from solved and that scientific interest has increased. A symposium held in Boston as part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting discussed the future of UFO studies. Participants expressed concern that the Air Force might destroy its secret UFO records and called for their preservation, fearing that these files could be valuable for understanding future sightings and the phenomena responsible for them.

UFO Sightings and Related Incidents

Despite the official closure of the investigation, reports of UFO sightings continue to be featured. A Walla Walla, Washington resident, Margarite Wilson, reported seeing a "bright white object" moving erratically on the night of the Air Force's announcement. The Seattle Times reported a "Fireball Seen In Midwest" near Kansas City, initially thought to be a meteorite. Other articles mention sightings in various locations, including:

• A "bright object" or "tumbling neighbor" observed by Apollo 12 astronauts.
• A UFO sighting in the Kirk-Fuego area, Oregon, attributed to a routine missile firing.
• Strange lights seen by residents in the Area, Iowa, and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
• A UFO sighting near Liberty, Arizona, described as a "bright light" with colored lights beneath.
• A UFO at Vermilion, Alberta, Canada, described as a "bright, white ball with a prominent blue flame-like tail."
• An unidentified object described as "greyish, saucer-shaped, with a transparent centre" seen over an elementary school in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada.
• An unidentified flying object sighted near Melita, Manitoba, Canada, described as a "reddish colored tower light."
• A "Flying Saucer Mystery" in Ngatea, New Zealand, involving dead manuka trees, and claims of increased radiation.
• A farmer in Mangatarata, New Zealand, reported seeing an unidentified flying object.
• Blackened water plants found in a "Mystery Circle" near Te Kuiti, New Zealand, with concerns about radioactivity.

UFO Enthusiast and Activist Reactions

While the Air Force's decision was influenced by scientific reports, some UFO activists, like Stuart Nixon of NICAP, welcomed the move, believing it would allow UFOs to be given "serious scientific attention" free from "military considerations." Nixon suggested that a federal-private agency should take over UFO investigations. However, others, like Joseph Bryan of NICAP and Dr. James McDonald, expressed disappointment, feeling that the UFO problem "cries for vigorous scientific study" and that the Air Force was "writing off" the issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the official end of government-sponsored UFO investigation in the United States, the scientific and public debate surrounding UFO phenomena, and the continued reporting of sightings. The editorial stance, as suggested by the selection of articles and the "End of the U.F.O. Hunt" commentary, appears to be that while the official investigation is over, the phenomenon itself remains a subject of interest and debate, with a leaning towards skepticism regarding extraterrestrial explanations but an acknowledgment of unexplained cases and the need for continued observation and potential scientific inquiry outside of military purview. The commentary also suggests that taxpayer money could be better spent than on the Air Force's UFO investigations.

This issue of "STRANGE IN SKY" from October 17, 1969, focuses on numerous reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) across England and Ireland. The publication appears to be a compilation of clippings from various local newspapers, highlighting public interest and sightings of aerial phenomena during that period.

Unidentified Flying Objects Over Skerries, Ireland

The lead story details a sighting over Skerries on Saturday night. Many witnesses were convinced it was not a conventional aircraft or space vehicle. Mr. Luke Kinsella of North Strand described seeing a cigar-shaped object giving off a glow like an oxy-acetylene flame. He watched it for half an hour as it moved north to south. Two other men at the harbour also witnessed it. Mrs. Maura Keane of South Strand maintained the object was stationary and hovering above a church, describing it as 'glowing white' and having a 'nimbus' around it. Nineteen-year-old student Mr. David Lally, a member of the Irish Astronomical Society, observed a 'white diffuse cloud-like object' facing dead north through binoculars for fifteen minutes, noting no movement and that it did not appear solid. He expressed skepticism about UFOs, suggesting it was likely a patch of cloud.

'White Hot' Flying Object Narrowly Misses Pensioner in Hull

A Yorkshire Post report describes an incident in Hull where a 'white hot' round piece of metal, one foot long and one inch in diameter, smashed into the side of a pensioner's house, shattering the window. Experts at RAF Leconfield were baffled, stating it was not from their helicopters as they were grounded. Mr. Thomas Brough, a retired docker, found the object in his flower-bed. He noted it was still white hot when he tried to pick it up. He had heard an aircraft droning overhead shortly before the impact, but it was too high to see.

UFOs of Many Colours in Bromley Cross

A report from the Bolton Evening News mentions two unidentified flying objects seen after dark in Bromley Cross. Mr. Michael Harrison described them as appearing silvery at first, then changing colors from red to green to blue, and moving away at very high speed as if aware of being watched.

Strange Object Over Cornagrade, Ireland

A reporter for the Northern (N.I.) Ireland section noted that many people in Enniskillen saw a strange object in the sky over Cornagrade on Saturday night. It was described as looking like the moon but with a mist surrounding it, and it disappeared by 8:15 p.m. Dr. Eric Lindsay of Armagh Observatory suggested it might be a barium cloud ejected by a Russian spacecraft, though he admitted it was a guess.

Mystery Object Over Brixham, England

The Herald Express (Torquay) features a story about a woman in Brixham who wishes to remain anonymous after seeing a 'mystery flying object' the previous Thursday evening. She described it as a burning red light that grew larger, then appeared as three pulsating red lights, followed by a blinding white light. She later saw what looked like an aircraft fuselage without wings, with a slow thudding engine sound. Her colleague independently described a similar object over Stoke Gabriel the same night. Other witnesses, including Mrs. J. Kimberley and Mrs. P. Giret, reported seeing red and white lights. Mr. T. Blackmore saw intense bright lights and heard a slow thudding sound. Mr. H. G. Shepherd and his father reported seeing a cluster of red lights and flashing red lights.

UFOs in South Devon Sky

Following the Brixham report, the Herald Express confirms that many people saw a mystery flying object in the sky over South Devon. Miss Lilian Eyre, of Brixham, initially wished to remain anonymous but came forward after others corroborated her sighting. Mrs. J. Kimberley saw three red lights travelling towards Brixham, which then became a white flashing light. Mrs. P. Giret saw a red light above Sidmouth that became brighter and moved. Mr. T. Blackmore heard a slow thudding sound and saw bright lights. Mr. H. G. Shepherd saw a cluster of red lights over Torquay, and later, with Mr. R. Smith, observed closely clustered lights and flashing red lights.

Mystery Circles in New Zealand

Scientists are studying mystery circles in scrub and grass on farms near Auckland, New Zealand, to test claims they were made by flying saucers. Thousands have visited a 42-foot circle of dead tea-tree scrub. Tests found the trees to be radioactive, with their moisture vaporized. Scientists are investigating the possibility of high-frequency radiation or an outside object causing the phenomenon.

Space Debris

A report from Colorado Springs states that since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, man has dumped 4,111 objects in space. Of the remaining debris, most are from the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Golden Balls in the Sky Over Farnham

The Farnham Herald reports two readers saw unidentified flying objects. Mrs. Wendy Raymond described a large golden object passing low across West Street, about the size of a football and oval-shaped. Mandy Cole saw several bright, round objects in a ragged line that disappeared one by one.

UFO Seen by Drumoak Man

The Press & Journal (Aberdeen) reports Mr. Fird Munro of Drumoak saw what he believes was a satellite, described as two stars moving apart, then one moving on a straight course to the south-west.

Stationary UFO Above Leicester

The Leicester Mercury reports George Helyar, a Gas Board worker, claims to see a stationary, silvery 'satellite' with antennae every clear night for three months, estimated at 70 to 90 miles high.

Was 'UFO' Seen at Tintinhull?

The Yeovil Press reports a mysterious object seen at Tintinhull, described as an intense red light that seemed to hang in the sky. Mr. Ivor Copley described it as spherical, about a foot in diameter, encased by dark bars that revolved. It was seen for 25 minutes, travelling slowly.

UFO Sighted in Scotland

The Scottish Daily Mail reports that experts were trying to solve the mystery of an unidentified flying object seen over Scotland, described as bright, cigar-shaped with a long tail. Explanations included 'noctilucence' and weather balloons.

What Was That in the Sky Last Night?

The Sunday Express reports police and coastguards were alerted across Scotland due to hundreds of reports of an unidentified flying object, described as bright, fluorescent, cigar-shaped with a long tail, seen from the Borders to Oban and the Western Isles. Potential explanations included Russian satellites or 'noctilucence'.

Another U.F.O. Spotted

The Ashton-under-Lyne Reporter features Mr. Bernard Smith, who saw a 'strange light in the sky' described as a bright light moving among the stars, visible for ten minutes, moving, stopping, and fading.

'Flying Jellyfish' Dropped in for Coffee

The Bournemouth Evening Echo reports on a sighting of what appeared to be a 'flying jellyfish' or 'translucent jellyfish' by Mr. Alastair Mackenzie and his family. It was described as about five inches across and glowing slightly.

Flying Saucer Lair Found

A report from Washington suggests that the wreckage of two battered aircraft found in a Maryland barn might be prototypes of flying saucers. The air force used the term 'prototype' to denote the first model from which an airplane develops. The inventor, Jonathan E. Caldwell, had previously made claims about developing such craft.

Pilot Describes Weird Flying Objects

A pilot reported seeing seven V-shaped objects flying within 1,500 or 2,000 feet of his civilian aircraft over the Mountain Home desert. He described them as flying at a tremendous rate of speed and having no visible means of propulsion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread sightings of unidentified flying objects across the UK and Ireland in late 1969. The articles present various eyewitness accounts, often with detailed descriptions of the objects' shapes, colors, and behaviors. While some reports are accompanied by skeptical explanations from meteorological offices or scientific bodies, the sheer volume and consistency of sightings suggest a significant public interest and concern regarding these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these events as they occurred, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also presenting official or scientific perspectives.