UFO Newsclipping Service - 1973 01-02 - no 45-46

Magazine Overview

This issue of U.F.O. magazine, titled 'The Flashing Quill' and published by the UFO Research Committee, covers a range of UFO sightings and related topics. The cover story focuses on 'The Ellenboro UFO' in North Carolina, detailing an encounter by Billy Gowan. The publication date is listed as JAN-FEB 1973, with a note indicating a delay due to increased workload and a new Xerox 1000.

The Ellenboro UFO

The lead article by Ron Paris recounts the experience of Billy Gowan, a freshman, who reported seeing a 'red and gold thing' land in his yard on a Monday morning. Gowan described the object as about a foot high and four to five inches in diameter, squarish, with orange-colored flame-like emissions. He stated it hovered, blew snow, and then landed. After he took a picture, the object took off vertically with a sound like a shotgun firing. Gowan noted that the landing site had a hole in the snow, black particles, and a greenish-looking substance, which he collected. He speculated the object might have been controlled by radio. The article also includes a brief mention of a legislator, Robert A. Jones, and an associate, Bill Blair, who were involved in receiving a related call.

UFO Discovered in Candler County

An article by Jeannette Fish reports on a sighting by a couple near Metter, Georgia, who observed a 'silvery object' hovering near their home for about 30 minutes. The object, described as shaped like an upside-down saucer, glowed red as it took off at high speed. The couple provided Polaroid pictures and planned to report the incident to the Air Force and a private agency. The woman's 80-year-old mother also reported seeing a similar object the previous night.

Brilliantly-Lit UFO Sighted In Santa Ana

By Bob Kirkpatrick, this article details reports received by The Register about a brilliantly-lit unidentified flying object seen maneuvering in the evening sky in Santa Ana, California. The object was viewed by at least eight persons and described as large, perhaps fifty feet or more in diameter, oval with a high dome, and exhibiting red, green, blue, amber, and yellow glowing lights. Mrs. Ann Druffel, an investigator for NICAP, interviewed the observers. One witness described it as a metallic silvery gray, elliptical, with a band of brilliant amber light and spinning like a top.

UFO Sightings: Old as Man?

Mark Eicher's article revisits the Exeter, New Hampshire UFO sightings from September 1965. It highlights the experience of Officers Eugene Bertrand and David Hunt, who reported a bright, round object. The article notes that while the Air Force's Project Blue Book closed in 1968, private organizations like NICAP continue to investigate. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, an expert on UFOs, is quoted stating that a significant percentage of reports are not easily explained and that the phenomenon appears cyclical. The article also mentions the 'Missouri Monster' (MOM) as a contrasting event from 1972.

UFO Was Really Weather Instrument

Cal Samra reports on an object found near Bedford, Pennsylvania, initially feared to be a UFO. It was later identified as a U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA National Weather Service Radiosonde, a weather instrument released from Pittsburgh. The object consisted of an orange kite, a burst balloon, and a plastic box containing a radio transmitter.

Other Reports and Observations

Several smaller reports are included:

• Cross Country News (Fort Worth, Texas): A report from Kit Carson County, Colorado, about a "strange white glowing object" seen by Geraldine Ludwig and her family, which reportedly landed in a corn field.
• The Letter Box (Marshfield, Wisconsin): Mrs. Lyle R. Miller reports seeing a glistening, football-shaped object without wings or a top propeller near Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
• Enterprise Sun&News (Santa Susana, California): A report from Simi Valley about "strange goings on" involving two men and a "large plastic pillowcase" object.
• Courier Times (Levittown-Bristol, Pennsylvania): Mrs. Herbert Hammer of Wrightstown reports seeing a bright object in the sky.
• News (Parkersburg, West Virginia): A report of "UFO Over Belpre? Shucks, Just Gas Station Lights," identifying mysterious lights as beams from gas station spotlights.
• The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee): An article by Jimmy Riddle discusses how many "flying saucer" sightings are mistaken for weather balloons, citing an instance where a balloon discharged an instrument package.
• Indiana Daily Student (Bloomington, Indiana): A report of an "Eerie UFO" emitting a ghostly light that hovered over Bloomington for over two hours.
• Las Cruces Sun News (New Mexico): An article featuring Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who discusses the classification of UFOs and the stigma associated with them. He notes that while many reports are explainable, some remain mysterious.
• Wausau Record-Herald (Wisconsin): A brief report of a "bright object" seen hovering over a neighbor's home, which deputies also observed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent reporting of unidentified flying objects, the challenges in explaining them, and the public's varied reactions ranging from serious investigation to ridicule. The editorial stance, as suggested by the UFO Research Committee's publication and the inclusion of expert opinions like Dr. Hynek's, is one of open inquiry into these phenomena, acknowledging that while many sightings have mundane explanations, a portion remains unexplained and warrants further attention. The publication aims to document these events and provide a platform for discussion, even while acknowledging the stigma often attached to the subject.

Title: AND NOW... MENTMORE
Issue: Weekly
Date: 16 JAN 1973
Publisher: BEDS & BUCKS OBSERVER
Country: England

Main Article: UFO at Mentmore

The lead story details the mysterious incident of a burning object falling from the skies onto Lord Rosebery's estate at Mentmore, England. The object, sighted by 19-year-old insurance clerk Andrew Perry, was described as a round shape, approximately 24 feet in diameter, and glowing a deep orange-red as it descended.

Perry reported seeing the object just after midnight while driving home along the public road through the park. He described it as coming across the sky and downwards. After the object landed, Perry investigated and found a heap of burned metal and wire on the ground beneath the trees. He described the material as being about two feet in diameter and six to nine inches high, surrounded by a nest of very fine wire and paper-thin strips of aluminium metal.

Upon handling some of the metal, Perry experienced a tingling sensation in his fingers for several days. He informed an estate employee, who removed some of the metal, and the police were also notified. However, Thames Valley Police stated they had no knowledge of the incident.

Both the Ministry of Defence for Air and the Space Department of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough were consulted. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence for Air stated that the object "did not fit in with any known pattern." Similarly, a spokesman for the Space Department at RAE Farnborough was mystified, confirming that no satellite had landed in the area and the description did not match anything they knew. They acknowledged that they might not be aware of everything launched by other nations.

The possibility of a private experiment was raised, with the caveat that such individuals would be unlikely to confess. The article concludes with a somewhat sardonic remark that if the experimenters were aiming for the moon, they failed dismally.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article reflects a common theme in UFO reporting: the sighting of an unexplained aerial phenomenon, the collection of physical evidence, and the subsequent inability of official bodies to provide a definitive explanation, leading to a sense of mystery and intrigue.

This issue, dated December 16, 1972, from The Milwaukie, Oregon, Journal, focuses on the year 1972 as a significant period for reports of 'Monsters and Saucers.' The main article, "1972 Was a Very Good Year for Monsters and Saucers" by John Keel, details a wide variety of unusual reports from around the world.

Key Articles and Reports

1972: A Year of Monsters and Saucers

John Keel's comprehensive article highlights the resurgence of UFO activity in 1972. He notes that after a lull, 'little green men' attempted a comeback, but a '7 foot tall hairy monster' with a 'serious perspiration problem' in Louisiana, Missouri, dubbed 'Mo Mo,' stole much of the publicity. This creature was reported soon after sightings of strange lights in the sky. Keel points out several patterns in UFO sightings, including a tendency for them to occur on Wednesdays around 10 p.m., and peaks in certain months like March, April, July, August, September, and January, with an unusual number of sightings on the 24th.

Physical Evidence and Phenomena

The article details how UFOs periodically 'dump their garbage,' contributing to environmental problems. In April, formations of bright objects over Pennsylvania dropped metallic stripes composed of aluminum and silicon, which have been found globally in the wake of UFO sightings. West Virginia residents call this 'space grass.' In 1963, two strange metal spheres were found in Australia, which scientists could not cut open. In Iowa, three-foot-wide holes filled with unidentified silver dust appeared on farms. 'Fairy circles,' perfect circles burned into fields where plants fail to regrow, also appeared in Canada and Mexico, with theories of lightning causation disproven.

International Sightings

Reports span globally: New Zealand experienced sightings of mysterious 14-inch diameter metal spheres in 1972. France saw a massive wave of sightings, including reported landings, starting March 21. In Iowa, farmers found holes filled with silver dust. Policemen in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, fired on a 'ball of fire' in June. Yugoslavia experienced a 'UFO flap' in October 1971, with astronomers spotting and photographing a pentagon-shaped flying object. Spectators in Sid, Vojvodina, watched a white circular object. Sightings behind the Iron Curtain increased in 1972.

Sea Serpents and Hairy Man-Beasts

Beyond UFOs, the year saw reports of other strange phenomena. The Loch Ness monster season had a rocky start with pranksters, but Nessie did make appearances. Witnesses claimed to see a gigantic creature in New York's Lake Champlain. In California, the legendary Bigfoot was reportedly prowling, with two witnesses describing it as a 'gorilla with rusty brown hair.' Expeditions searched for Sasquatch in British Columbia and the Abominable Snowman in Nepal.

Scientific Inquiry and J. Allen Hynek

Professor J. Allen Hynek, an American astronomer and expert on UFOs, argues that UFOs exist and warrant scientific study, though he distinguishes them from 'flying saucers' and suggests they might be unknown natural phenomena. He criticizes the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book investigation for being unscientific and determined to discredit UFO phenomena. Hynek's book, 'The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry,' is written for those puzzled by the question. He categorizes UFO reports into nocturnal lights, daytime disc-shaped objects, radar-visual cases, and close encounters. He concludes that UFOs are not all misperceptions or hoaxes.

Specific Case Analysis (from appended reports)

The appended reports detail numerous specific sightings from January to July 1951:

• Sioux City, Iowa (Jan 20, 1951): A pilot reported a strange, bright white light attached to an airplane with unusual speed and maneuverability.
• Sweden (Jan 25, 1951): A shining object was chased by a Swedish Airforce plane.
• Detroit, Michigan (Jan 28, 1951): Strange blue-green flashes or a blinding streak of light interrupted radio and TV reception.
• Eureka to Stockton-Vallejo, California (Feb 1, 1951): A white aerial object with a red tail, and a brilliant green object crossed the sky.
• Galena, Illinois (Feb 3, 1951): A 'fiery-red baseball bat' shaped object moved with lightning-like flashes.
• Rockford, Illinois (Feb 3, 1951): A round, brilliantly white disc left a trail of fireworks.
• Freeport, Illinois (Feb 3, 1951): A blazing streak of light was observed.
• Monroe, Wisconsin (Feb 3, 1951): A blue aerial object with blue sparks was seen.
• Elizabethville, Belgian Congo (Feb 13, 1951): Two glowing circular aerial objects were chased by a plane.
• Alamagordo, New Mexico (Feb 13, 1951): A milk-white, flat aerial object hovered near a weather balloon.
• Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya (Feb 19, 1951): A dazzling object was seen hovering above the peak by airliner passengers.
• Redwood Valley, California (Feb 24, 1951): A bright light began circling repeatedly at high speed.
• Ukiah, California (Mar 1, 1951): A circular glowing light moved westward across the sky.
• Ukiah, California (Mar 18, 1951): An unknown aerial object followed by a bluish-white flash and smoke trail crossed the sky.
• Central Tennessee (May 17, 1951): A 'meteor' exploded nearby.
• Kansas (May 21, 1951): A bright aerial object maneuvered in the sky, following an airplane.
• International Falls, Minnesota (May 22, 1951): Aerial objects resembling crystal balls were seen.

Analysis of Saucer Reports (Jan-July 1951)

An analysis of these early reports identifies patterns, such as multiple sightings on the same latitude parallel (Sioux City, Detroit, Galena) and a concentration of reports in Mendocino County, California. The analysis also notes the increase in reports during May, coinciding with Mars's extreme opposition, and compares the speed and maneuverability of reported objects to known aircraft, often finding them superior.

Other Mentions

• Canada: Reports from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Fort Nelson, B.C., detailing sightings and investigations.
• England: Sightings over Lakenheath bomber base and reports from Havering.
• Australia: Sightings in New Norfolk and Hobart.
• USA: Reports from various states including Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, Minnesota, New York (Lake Champlain), and California.
• Vampire Scare: A brief mention of a man who died in England, apparently due to fear of vampires.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), strange aerial phenomena, and encounters with unusual creatures like hairy monsters and sea serpents. There's a clear emphasis on presenting witness accounts and the challenges of finding scientific explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, giving credence to the idea that these phenomena warrant investigation and are not simply misperceptions or hoaxes, as championed by figures like J. Allen Hynek. The inclusion of historical reports from 1951 alongside contemporary 1972 accounts suggests a long-standing and ongoing mystery that continues to puzzle observers and researchers.

This issue of Life magazine, dated December 26, 1972, is notable for being the final issue of the publication. The cover story highlights the disappointment of Big Foot hunter Ronald Olson, whose anticipated six-page feature was set to appear in this last issue.

Big Foot Hunter's Moment Dies With Life Magazine

The lead story details the personal disappointment of Ronald Olson, a Springfield, Oregon resident who has dedicated himself to hunting for Sasquatch, or 'Big Foot.' Olson was to be featured in a six-page, color spread in the upcoming issue of Life magazine, which he believed would bring significant national attention to his efforts and the North American Wildlife Research Assn., which he heads. However, Time-Life Inc. announced that the December 26th issue would be the last for the magazine, crushing Olson's hopes for widespread publicity.

Richard Woodbury, the Life staff correspondent who wrote the story, expressed his own disappointment, calling it "one of the most fascinating stories the magazine ever produced" and lamenting that no other publication would be able to run it as planned. John Frook, the Life editor who organized the story, confirmed that the spread was laid out for six pages with color photographs, including shots of Olson searching for tracks, his trap area, his equipment, and a life-size painting of Big Foot. The story was rescheduled for early January and almost ran in a December issue before the magazine's closure.

Olson, who finances his full-time investigation of the Sasquatch legend through member contributions from the Pacific Northwest, sees this as a cruel twist of fate. Despite the setback, he finds solace in still having his job, unlike the staff of Life magazine.

Skeleton of Reptile Discovered

A brief report from Porto Alegre, Brazil, announces the discovery of the skeleton of a giant 180-million-year-old carnivorous reptile. Professor Mario Costa Barbarena of the local university stated that the 15-foot-long skeleton possesses four-inch teeth and a cranium measuring three feet in circumference. These reptiles, known as 'thecodonts,' are considered the ancestors of dinosaurs and crocodiles.

Cadets Moved by The Spirit

This article reports on an incident at West Point, the U.S. Military Academy, where a room reportedly haunted by a "ghostly old gentleman" was declared off-limits to cadets. The apparition, described as having a large handlebar mustache and wearing a Union Army cap, was seen walking through walls. At least three cadets claimed to have witnessed the figure. An academy spokesman confirmed the room was vacant and no one was allowed in after cadets armed with cameras and tape recorders attempted to 'trap' the ghost.

Navy Confesses 'Goat for Ghost' In Academy Prank

This piece details a prank orchestrated by Navy midshipmen at West Point as part of the ongoing rivalry between the two service academies. Midshipman Lt. William Gravell admitted responsibility for creating a "ghost" of a soldier from the early 19th century to haunt West Point's dormitory halls. The prank involved photographing a midshipman dressed in period clothing, underexposing the image, and taping it over a flashlight to create the ghostly effect. Gravell stated the goal was to embarrass the West Point cadets and that the prank was timed before the Army-Navy football game. He also mentioned that cadets claimed to have used spirits to chase the phantom away, and that the ghost didn't appear on nights when the midshipmen didn't go up to West Point.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue touches upon themes of the unexplained (Bigfoot, ghosts), the history of journalism (the closure of Life magazine), and inter-service rivalry (the Navy prank on West Point). The editorial stance, as reflected in the selection of these stories, appears to be one of reporting on intriguing, sometimes unusual, human interest stories and historical events, with a particular focus on the impact of media changes and the lighter side of institutional rivalries.