UFO Newsclipping Service - 1970 06 - no 14

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The UFO Research Committee - U.F.O. Clipping Service," dated June 1970, compiles various international news reports and articles concerning unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. The service aims to publish clippings as they are received, with translations to follow, and seeks subscriber assistance in translating foreign-language reports.

Key Articles and Reports

'UFO' Seen Near City (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, April 28, 1970)

Airport Manager Wilbert W. Haase observed a green and red flashing object in the southwestern sky. He described it as having the intensity of an evening star and changing color, a hue he had not seen before. The object had no discernible motion relative to his position in the air and was located 10 to 15 degrees above the horizon. He watched it through a telescope after landing but saw no motion. The report was prompted by a call from a woman who asked airport officials to investigate.

Rocket-like UFO Sighted Near Burney (Burney, California, May 7, 1970)

Several Burney residents reported seeing a brilliant, unidentified flying object rising into the sky like a rocket. Alver J. Olson, a photographer, and Duane Seright, a department store owner, described a bright light followed by what looked like a fiery tail, similar to a rocket. However, the object was rising at an angle. It disappeared, with some observers believing it went into a cloud or exploded, creating its own cloud of smoke. The object was traveling from south to north, just above the horizon west of town.

Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Near Burdette, Arkansas, April 28, 1970

Two women reported seeing an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) hovering over a field near the Burdette-Interstate 55 interchange. Officials at Blytheville Air Force Base stated they had no explanation and would convene a board of "our people on intelligence" to discuss it. The women described the object as saucer-shaped, outlined with small white lights, hovering about 60 feet off the ground for three minutes. It then "cranked up," made a whistling noise, and moved off toward Blytheville so fast it was out of sight within seconds.

Unexplained Light Puzzles Pacific Police (Pacific, Washington, May 13, 1970)

Police in Pacific responded to a report of an unidentified, bright light illuminating an open lot. Mrs. Judy Watkins witnessed "three moving white lights" hovering over her neighbor's house. Reserve officer Bob Welch was with patrolman Jack Bray when they observed the light, which was as bright as daylight and lasted a few seconds. Mrs. Watkins described the lights as definitely coming from the sky, but without sound. She also noted the lights lasted about 15 seconds before vanishing. Mrs. Violet Smith, Pacific city clerk, reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Strange Lights Were Seen By Pacific Woman (Auburn, Washington, May 13, 1970)

Mrs. Wiley Porter of Auburn reported seeing strange lights mysteriously appear and disappear over Pacific. She was up at 4 a.m. when she noticed the lights, initially thinking it was the moon behind clouds. She described two lights that were not the moon, appearing like car headlights and twinkling like stars, only bigger. They did not move or make a sound. She then went back inside and awoke her husband, who dismissed it as an airplane. By the time she tried to wake her mother, the lights had disappeared. The sighting lasted about five minutes.

Object Seen In Say Fray Night (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1970)

Henry Whitfield reported seeing a large white light traveling at high speed over the mountains south of town with a friend. Whitfield, a helicopter pilot, described the object as traveling "about six or seven times faster than a jet." It was visible for 15 to 17 seconds, traveling from northwest to southwest, and appeared to have something behind it. There was no noise, and it was not traveling in a normal air traffic lane. It did not appear to be a comet, and there were no sparks or variation in speed.

Flying object Seen in skies over Washington (Monessen, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1970)

Several Washington County residents reported seeing an unidentified flying object. The object was described as rocket or cigar-shaped, traveling south. It showed no lights, but its exhaust was described as yellowish, with a yellow glow from the front. One report estimated the UFO at 2,000 feet altitude and taking five seconds to go from horizon to horizon.

Reports Strange Flying Object in Sky (Deland, Florida, July 6, 1959)

George Griffin reported seeing a strange, dark object in the sky about 1:20 p.m. on Friday afternoon. He described it as about the size of a water bucket, leaving a fiery trail which gradually disappeared. He watched it for some 15 minutes. The sky was clear at the time. The object moved slowly, leaving a white trail, though no flames were visible.

Coast Guard Promises Photo-graphs Today of Objects. SAUCER REPORTS TOTAL 432. (Washington, July 31, 1952)

The Air Force reported receiving 432 written reports on sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena so far that year. The Coast Guard stated it had received a photographic negative of a sighting in the Salem, Mass., area on July 16, and prints would be released the following day. The Dayton center had received the negative.

Bright Flash Seen Near Stillwater (Harrisonburg, Virginia, February 21, 1952)

A bright flash, believed to be a meteorite, was sighted northeast of Stillwater late Thursday night. The Associated Press reported it was also seen in Missouri, eastern Kansas, and northern Arkansas. The flash was preceded by a green streak similar to a disaster flare. Stillwater police received multiple reports. Newspapers and police in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas received numerous calls. The Kansas City weather bureau suggested it was a meteor, described as blue, green, and resembling a rainbow.

Flying Discs Seen Near Fayetteville (Arkansas, July 6, 1952)

Henry Seay reported seeing three "flying saucers" three miles north of Fayetteville. He saw the discs at twilight Friday and again the following night. He described them as glowing and moving at high speed, but clearly visible.

Flying Saucers Termed Optical Delusion (New York, July 6, 1952)

This article by Howard W. Blakeslee suggests that laws of human eyesight can explain many flying saucer reports. He argues that objects near the limit of sight appear round, especially when silhouetted against a bright sky. The description of flying saucers as round and flat fits with how eyes can play tricks under certain lighting and weather conditions.

FLYING DISCS NO MYTH, MYSTIFIED AAF DECIDES (Washington, July 6, 1947)

Capt. Brown of the Army Air Forces stated that the AAF acknowledged "something" to flying saucer stories but remained mystified. He noted that competent airmen and pilots had reported them and that the phenomenon was too widespread to be dismissed. Maj. Gen. John A. Samford, director of air force intelligence, discounted theories of alien or enemy threats, suggesting that any advanced object would need unlimited power without mass, implying a scientific impossibility. He also denied that the reports were of U.S. origin. The Air Force felt bound to investigate unexplained sightings not attributable to natural phenomena or physical causes.

Pile of Saucers in Sky (Washington, July 29, 1952)

Radar screens detected flying "whatzits" over Washington for almost five hours. Air force experts suggested they were layers of cold air, possibly reflecting searchlights. Maj. Gen. John A. Samford stated that while many credible reports of "incredible things" existed, there was no indication of a threat to the country. He implied that no country had developed a missile capable of such speeds. The Air Force acknowledged that about 400 out of 2,000 reported flying saucer sightings remained unexplained and were being checked adequately but not frantically.

'Saucers' serial (Sydney, May 5, 1952)

Reports of "Flying Saucers" being seen over the New South Wales coast have been received in Sydney from four widely-separated points in the State.

Balls of Fire Are Reported In Sky by West Coast Viewers (Springfield, Massachusetts, February 21, 1952)

Robert Carruthers and other carrier boys reported seeing three greenish balls of fire at dusk. Mrs. Mae Lee of Long Beach reported seeing a fiery red ball in the heavens. She described it as much higher than a plane, the color of the sun, and small. It disappeared into heaven, leaving a fiery trail. The sky was clear.

SOVIET SAUCERS (Flying, December 1952)

Underground sources in West Germany report on a special nuclear project headed by French scientist Dr. Joffe, possibly related to "Joffe Rays" designed to trigger atomic bombs from a distance. The name Dr. Schriever was also mentioned. Reports from Poland and Czechoslovakia describe aerial phenomena similar to flying saucer stories, leading some to wonder if they might be visual evidence of air defense rays or beams. Russian reports indicate Marshal Voroshilov is in charge of a project for atom bomb defense using the "Y" Ray.

Now, a Do-It-Yourself UFO (Popular Science, May 1970)

This article by David Heiserman explains how atmospheric temperature inversion can account for many UFO sightings. It describes a homemade refraction tank setup using a transparent box, mirror, magnifying glass, and plywood to demonstrate how light beams can be seen due to the interface between water and air, simulating the atmospheric effect.

Tourist "saw" mystery explosion (Canberra, Australia, April 22, 1970)

A Melbourne tourist may have solved the mystery of a huge explosion near Canberra. Harry Nicholls reported seeing a very bright flash, like a meteor, about 30 or 40 times the size of a normal star. Dr. H. A. Doyle suggested it could be an exploding meteor, though he noted that usually more people would see such an event. The explosion was recorded by seismographs and heard by residents in several areas.

UFOs Banned? (Canada, May 2, 1970)

This article discusses Dr. J. Allen Hynek's belief that reported UFO sightings warrant serious attention, contrasting it with the Condon committee's findings. It clarifies that UFO studies were not banned but that the U.S. government stopped investigations based on the Condon committee's recommendation due to a lack of positive benefits. The article criticizes the argument that rural people are more likely to report UFOs due to naivete, stating there is no scientific basis for it.

ATTEMPTED 'OFFICIAL DECEPTION' ON U.F.O.S (Toowoomba, Australia, May 11, 1970)

The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society criticizes officialdom's "greatest attempt at public deception" regarding UFOs. It notes that the disbanding of Project "Blue Book" was the fourth "closure" of the project, but investigations continued under different code names. The article mentions that the U.F.O. symposium at the American Association for the Advancement of Science was nearly canceled due to official pressure. It suggests that the CIA relies on the public's short memory to camouflage UFO investigations.

U.S. physicist steps on little green men (Montreal, Canada, April 4, 1970)

Dr. William Markowitz, a U.S. physicist, stated that there is "not a shred of evidence" that UFOs come from outer space. He argued that the vast distances between stars make such visits impossible with the types of craft described. He also noted that accepted laws of physics would need to be broken for such visits to occur, and that no evidence, such as "a razor ablade or chewing gum wrapper," has been found from extraterrestrial craft.

UFO REPORTED AT ONSLOW (Hedland, Australia, April 16, 1970)

A number of Onslow people reported sighting an unusual object in space on April 9. Skipper Bob Manton described it as aluminum colored with a white tail. A bushfire started at the supposed point of impact, and a hike was organized to determine the cause.

DOES THE UFO. REALLY EXIST? (Geelong, Victoria, May 9, 1970)

Mr. Kevin Arnett addressed students, questioning the existence of UFOs. He cited a photograph of a flying object resembling a saucer "nest" and figures clad in non-reflective silver suits. He also mentioned a sighting by a motorcyclist surrounded by intense bluish light, with a disc-shaped object hovering nearby. The testimony included claims of high speeds and figures that disappeared.

Interesting area for U.F.O.s (Lismore, Australia, May 13, 1970)

Mr. Ron Gunn, president of the Picton Unidentified Flying Objects Research Organisation, stated that the Lismore district was a "highly interesting" area for UFO sightings, with 70 sightings reported in 12 months. He noted that craft had been observed with four square windows and bright lights, changing color at different speeds. His organization was investigating the magnetic field of the objects.

Foreign clippings to be translated (Various locations, May 1970)

This section lists several foreign-language clippings from Denmark, France, and Portugal, indicating that these reports are awaiting translation and will appear in future service reports. The Portuguese reports from Angola mention a "flying saucer" pursuing a car and emitting strong light, and other sightings of "fireballs" and "flying saucers."

Rumgæsterne har tabt interessen (Denmark, May 1970)

This Danish article discusses that the public's interest in meteors or astronomical phenomena has waned, with most sightings now attributed to rockets, satellites, or space debris. It notes that some unexplained cases are attributed to foreign aircraft, while others are due to misidentification or fabricated reports, such as a "saucer" being a reflection from a streetlamp.

Toujours les soucoupes volantes (France, April 26, 1970)

A witness reported seeing a large, flying object resembling a "belted disc" with a crown of light, rotating over a region between Grand-Ballon and Mulhouse. The object was followed for nearly 20 minutes before it stopped blinking, vanished, and disappeared into the night.

Fliegende Untertassen? (Portugal, May 15, 1970)

Reports from Angola describe a "flying saucer" pursuing a car and affecting its driving. Other sightings include "fireballs" and "flying saucers." The director of the Mulembra Observatory noted strong light phenomena, initially mistaking them for Venus, but later concluding they were unusual. He suggested they might be parachutes with light bombs from the Portuguese Air Force.

Similar Sighting Reported At Pais (Lexington, Kentucky, May 2, 1970)

Residents of Crestland subdivision reported seeing an unidentified object shaped like a "huge kite" just before dark. The object appeared to have lights or reflect the sun's rays and moved erratically, disappearing between Winchester and Lexington.

UFO Observed For 15 Minutes By Lincoln County Man, Wife (Lexington, Kentucky, May 2, 1970)

A Lincoln County man and his wife observed a roundish object, like a pieplate or wheel with two perimeter lights and a pulsating greenish glow, for 15 minutes. They used binoculars and described the object as moving slowly, hovering, and then drifting behind a hill. The man did not report it to authorities, unsure whom to call.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent reporting of unidentified flying objects across various geographical locations, including the USA, Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe. There is a clear emphasis on witness accounts, often describing unusual shapes, lights, and movements. The publication also highlights official investigations, particularly by the U.S. Air Force, and the scientific community's attempts to explain these phenomena, with atmospheric conditions and optical illusions being common explanations. The editorial stance, as represented by the UFO Research Committee, appears to be one of documenting these reports seriously, even while acknowledging skepticism and the need for scientific rigor. The inclusion of foreign clippings suggests a global interest in the topic and an effort to provide a comprehensive overview of reported sightings and related discussions.

This issue of the Northwest Arkansas TIMES, dated Monday, June 1, 1970, features a prominent cover headline: "FOUR SPOT UFO HERE." The publication appears to be a local newspaper with a focus on regional news, but this issue includes several international and national reports on unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Cover Story: Four Spot UFO Here

The lead story details an incident in Camp-bell River, Canada, where three members of a family and another man observed a UFO for over an hour in the early morning hours of a Tuesday. Mrs. Patlerman described the object as "brighter than a star" and projecting a beam to the southwest. It reportedly "held steady and didn't move at all," dispelling any notion of it being a comet. Mrs. Herman contacted the Comox Air Base, but the duty officer could not see anything. This experience led Mrs. Herman to reconsider her skepticism about UFO sightings.

International UFO Reports

Several international reports are included:

• Bahia Blanca, Argentina (May 16th): A photographer reportedly captured five clear images of a formation of UFOs emitting intense, changing lights that moved erratically in the sky. The phenomenon lasted about fifteen minutes.
• Mahe, Seychelles Islands (May 16th): The British oil tanker Ennerdale was declared a "total loss" after colliding with an "uncharted object" off the port of Victoria in the western Indian Ocean. The object was presumed to be rocks, and the ship's crew were reported safe.
• London, England (Wednesday night): The British meteorological office reported that 30 people saw a bright streak of light traveling over London, described as a "rocket" or "meteorite." One witness, Prof. H. Jabukowski, suggested it could have been a German V-2 rocket.
• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and other global locations (March 29th): Reports from various parts of the world mention flying saucers. These include sightings in Carrara, Italy, described as "like a moon with a wake of fire"; Cagliari, Sardinia, where a saucer remained suspended for 20 seconds; Val d'Aosta, Italy; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Santiago de Chile; Nicosia Airport, Cyprus; Bogota, Medellin, and Cali, Colombia; and Barranquilla, Colombia.

US UFO Sightings and Reports

Several reports from the United States are also featured:

• Benton County, USA (Ongoing): County officials reported that an unidentified flying object, described as a bright light, had been observed nightly for two weeks. It appears white and blinks through red, green, and blue, hovering before disappearing westward. No audible sound has been reported.
• Joffers Gardens area, USA (Sunday night): Two unidentified flying objects were sighted, described as gray and round with flashing lights, moving at great speed (over 500 mph) at an altitude of about 2000 feet.
• Miami, USA (July 16th): Two veteran airline pilots reported seeing eight "huge discs" flying in formation at supersonic speeds near Norfolk, Virginia. They described the objects as "glowing, orange-red" and maneuvered in ways beyond human capability.
• Chicago, USA (May 22nd): An American Airlines pilot, Capt. W. R. Hunt, reported seeing a "bluish white star" moving at high speed (500-1000 mph) and performing unusual maneuvers, appearing to "play tag" with his airliner at 21,000 feet.
• Brackendale, Canada (April 9th and Sunday night): Residents reported spotting four low-flying objects with changing colors, moving slowly. The objects were also seen over Squamish.
• Jefferson County, USA (May 27th): Mrs. Flida Kent reported a "red-hot" cylindrical object landing in her garden after an explosion. The object remained hot for 10-15 minutes.

US Air Force Study on Unidentified Aerial Objects

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to a news release from the Department of Defense, Office of Public Information, dated October 25, 1955, regarding an Air Force study on Unidentified Aerial Objects (UFOs). The study, initiated in 1947, was conducted by a private scientific group under the Air Technical Intelligence Center. The results, released today, stated that "no evidence of the existence of the popularly-termed 'flying saucers' was found."

Secretary of the Air Force Donald A. Quarles commented that while the study found no evidence of such objects over the US, the "unknown three per cent" could have been explained with more data. He also noted the advancement of aviation technology, including vertical-rising aircraft and potential disc-shaped aircraft developed by AVRO Ltd. in Canada, which could be mistaken for UFOs.

The report analyzed 3201 cases up to the end of 1952. The identified categories included balloons (16%), aircraft (20%), astronomical phenomena (25%), and other (13%). Insufficient information accounted for 17%, and unknown cases were 9%. A revised program (Air Force Regulation 200-2) was established in 1954 to improve reporting and investigation, leading to a reduction in insufficient information cases to 7% and unknown cases to 3% by January 1955.

Other Articles

• "Do UFOs Really Exist?" (Sioux Center, Iowa): Mrs. Arie Olivier, initially skeptical, became convinced of UFO existence after she and others saw a large, illuminated object with multi-colored lights south of Sheldon on March 25th.
• "Canadian Scientists First" (Ottawa, Canada): Wilbert B. Smith, an engineer at the Transport Department, reported that a flying saucer sighting station's gravimeter was tripped, indicating an unexplained deflection. He was attempting to determine if it was an instrument failure or something unknown.
• "Army Planes Fail To Intercept Flying Saucers" (Washington, D.C., August 6, 1952): Reports of a "veritable fleet" of unidentified objects were observed on radar screens, but intercepting planes were unable to see anything.
• "Student Seeks Information On Silver 'Flying Cigars'" (Keysville, Virginia, February 27, 1952): A student described seeing a long, silver, cigar-shaped object in the sky.
• "Green Balls of Flame' Invade Richmond Skies" (Richmond, Virginia, February 20, 1952): Eyewitnesses reported seeing mysterious greenish balls of fire that darted downward and then westward.
• "Planets 'found' around star" (Washington): This article discusses astronomers' belief in the existence of other planetary systems, citing Dr. Peter van de Kamp's claim of identifying a planetary system around Barnard's star, though the planets themselves have not been directly observed.
• "BIG NOISE IN CONNECTICUT" (Danbury, Conn., February 13, 1952): A loud noise, believed to be from a jet plane exceeding the speed of sound, caused alarm.
• "Atom Expert To Discuss UFO Probe" (Santa Monica, California, May 16, 1970): Stanton T. Friedman, a nuclear physicist, stated that "flying saucers are real" and would discuss his findings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different continents and the ongoing efforts by governments and scientific bodies to investigate these phenomena. The inclusion of the US Air Force study suggests a historical perspective on official investigations, which, at the time of the study's release, concluded no definitive evidence of extraterrestrial craft existed. However, the sheer volume of witness accounts and the detailed descriptions of various aerial objects indicate a persistent public interest and a belief among some that these phenomena are real and warrant further investigation. The editorial stance, as reflected in the selection of articles, appears to be one of reporting on these events and investigations, acknowledging both skepticism and belief.