Modern Space Flight Association / UFO Newsletter

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Modern Space Flight Association / UFO Newsletter, dated October 11, 1972, focuses on two primary topics: a potential meteorite event in New Brunswick, Canada, and multiple UFO sightings and photographic evidence from Okinawa, Japan.

New Brunswick Meteorite Event

The cover story, "'Bump' May Have Been Meteorite," details events in the Pre d'En Haut area of southeastern New Brunswick on Wednesday night, October 20, 1972. Residents reported an earth tremor strong enough to shake houses, and the Moncton weather office received reports of a brightly colored mass heading towards earth. A seismographic marking of a "small bump" was recorded at 11:20 p.m. by Dalhousie University. The Department of Energy, Mines and Resources in Ottawa was awaiting seismograph readings from the University of New Brunswick to confirm if a meteor hit was the cause. The timing of the seismographic marking (11:20 p.m.) coincided with the reported sighting.

Reports from residents in areas like Dorchester, Dorchester Cape, Memramcook West, Hillsborough, Surrey, and Hopewell Cape described the tremor. One resident in Dorchester noted two distinct bumps. A Hillsborough resident thought an explosion had occurred. A Hopewell Cape resident and a Dorchester Cape resident felt their houses jarred. The article also references historical seismic activity in the Maritimes, including a significant earthquake in the Moncton area on February 7, 1855.

UFO Sightings in England

Separately, a brief report from the Rossendale Free Press (England) dated November 4, 1972, mentions four young boys from Crawshawbooth reporting seeing an unidentified flying object on the night of November 4th. Lawrence Windley described it as "no real shape, just glowing red and green," visible for about five seconds. Rawtenstall police stated they had no other UFO reports.

UFO Activity Around Okinawa, Japan

The bulk of the newsletter is dedicated to UFO activity in Okinawa, Japan, primarily concerning sightings and photographs taken on the night of September 22, 1972. The "RYUKYU SHINPO" newspaper reported on a photographer, Tatsuro Okazaki (41), who submitted a photo of a strange object. Okazaki, owner of "Mikuni Photo," explained he was attempting to photograph the moon's successive positions over the night of the Harvest Moon. He used a Fujica 701 camera with a 28mm Wide Angle lens, taking exposures every 30 minutes from around 10 p.m. on September 22 to 5 a.m. on September 23. The resulting composite photo showed six images of the moon. An "enigmatic trail of something" was also captured in the top right corner, described as a "tail of light just as drawn by a fine brush, with a starry point," and featuring a faint knot and side arm.

Newspaper comments initially suggested it might be the Planet Venus, but this was dismissed as Venus could not be in the western sky at that time. Experts from Osaka Municipal Electrical Science Museum and Kyoto College of Arts and Textile offered explanations such as a meteor trail or aerial electric discharge, with one suggesting it might be a camera malfunction. The newsletter's chairman, Jun-Ichi Takanashi, leans towards the "trail of a meteor" hypothesis but questions how a meteor could take such a curved path, considering wind effects.

Further data on UFO activity around Okinawa is presented, referencing reports from "RYUKYU SHINPO" and "OKINAWA TIMES." The newsletter corrects four place names in Okinawa for pronunciation accuracy. Mr. Masahiro Asanuma (21), a student, and his classmates and teacher Mr. Yoshio Takaesu, witnessed a "fluorescent-coloured light" on the night of September 22, described as bright as the harvest moon and progressing straightforward. Asanuma captured two photos with a Cannon 35mm CL camera after initial flash attempts failed. These photos caused a sensation.

• Several sightings on the same night at different locations in Okinawa are detailed:
• September 25: Near Haneji, Nago City, a red object with a long tail was seen flying southward.
• Yagaji district: A similar object was witnessed.
• City street district: A boy reported seeing a similar object.
• Misaki Omiya-no-mori: A merchant saw an object fly from Misaki Omiya-no-mori towards Kushi.
• Chinenson: 13 salary men saw the same object.
• Ogimison: Shioya Oh-hashi and three colleagues saw a firework-like object flying from north to south, trailing a long tail, disappearing into clouds after 2-3 minutes.
• Hentona Senior High School area, Yonaha, Ogimison: Mr. Yasuo Kinjo and two others saw an unidentified object flying from Okuma Beach towards the mountain at Kijoka, trailing a comet-like tail, described as reddish and moving slowly, possibly like a landing airplane. They observed it for about two minutes.

There is a discrepancy in reported sighting durations, with some newspapers stating 30 seconds while others, including Mr. Asanuma, reported 2 minutes.

Another sighting occurred on September 25, 1972, when Miss Mariko Ire (20) in Naha City saw a similar object that "proceeded and also receded."

Opinion Divides

The "OKINAWA TIMES" and "RYUKYU SHINPO" newspapers differed in their interpretation of the Okinawa object. "RYUKYU SHINPO" favored a "flying saucer" explanation, while "OKINAWA TIMES" leaned towards "Big meteor or fireball" or "ball lightening," quoting Mr. Sadao Murayama of the National Science Museum in Tokyo.

Look into the Sky

This section highlights the British UFO Research Association (Bufora) and its efforts to gather accurate information on Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Bufora has issued a handbook advising witnesses on how to document sightings, emphasizing a serious approach to ufology. The article suggests adapting Bufora's advice for Canadians, noting that the climate might require different scenarios than picnicking, such as being "stuck in mud or in a snowdrift."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently reports on UFO sightings and related phenomena, presenting witness accounts, photographic evidence, and expert opinions. There is an effort to analyze the evidence critically, as seen in the detailed examination of the Okinawa photographs, which explores potential explanations beyond the object's actual movement. The publication appears to maintain a serious and investigative stance on UFOs, encouraging detailed reporting and analysis, while also acknowledging differing interpretations and the challenges of photographic evidence. The inclusion of the Bufora handbook suggests an interest in standardized UFO investigation procedures.