UFO Newsclipping Service - 1973 03 - no 47

Magazine Overview

This issue, U.F.O. #47, dated March 1973, is from the UFO Research Committee and focuses on a surge of UFO sightings reported in various locations, particularly in the southeastern United States and Missouri. The publication compiles numerous eyewitness accounts, investigative efforts, and public reactions to these phenomena.

UFO Watching in Gaffney, South Carolina

The lead article, "UFO WATCHING" by Rodger Painter, details the growing popularity of UFO observation in the Gaffney, South Carolina area. Painter notes that the activity, or 'sport,' has become more prevalent, possibly due to a recent 'UFO flap' or interest generated by a previous story about a Highway 18 UFO landing. He recounts a report from a woman in the Blacksburg area who claimed a domed, saucer-shaped object with colored lights followed her car for about half a mile.

Painter emphasizes the difficulty in defining what a UFO is, stating that 'the embarrassing truth is we don't know what they are.' He dismisses conventional explanations like birds, planes, stars, or weather phenomena. The article presents several theories for UFO origins: extraterrestrial spacecraft, classified government craft, or time machines from the future. Painter expresses skepticism about the extraterrestrial theory, suggesting it might be a diversion. He also references the Air Force's long-standing conclusion that UFOs pose no threat and do not represent advanced technology beyond current capabilities.

Advice is given to those who encounter a UFO: remain calm, observe, use binoculars or cameras, and do not approach the object. The article notes that the Air Force no longer investigates UFOs and refers reports to local police, who are deemed ill-equipped. It recommends reporting sightings to serious UFO investigators, including the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, the National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena, and local investigator George D. Fawcett.

Highway 18 UFO Landing and Other Sightings

Page 2 continues the investigation into the Highway 18 UFO landing, with Rodger Painter reporting that while no physical evidence was found, the youth's story is consistent with many other UFO reports globally, as noted by Dr. J. Allen Hynek. The article questions the motive for fabricating such a story, especially details that might discredit it, such as the 'wiggling' motion of the occupants.

A drawing of the object seen on Highway 18 is reproduced, alongside a photograph from "Saga's UFO Special" for comparison. The article mentions John Keel's observation that UFO sightings often peak around specific dates in certain months.

Further reports include a sighting in Mount Airy, North Carolina, by George D. Fawcett, involving a 'blood-red circular' object seen by multiple witnesses. Another report from a teenage girl in Gaffney describes a glowing oval object with blinking lights that caused radio static. The article also notes a sighting in Muhlenburg, Pennsylvania, of a 'huge light' that circled the area before ascending.

Sky-watchers Found Looking Up When Night Falls

This section, by Bill R. Gibbons, details a mass gathering in the Draytonville Community, South Carolina, where hundreds of people lined roadsides to observe 'phenomenon' in the skies. Reports describe objects as 'cylindrical, cigar-shaped,' 'triangular,' and 'round like a saucer,' with red, orange, white, blue, and green lights. One witness described seeing four objects in formation, similar to target sleeves pulled by an airplane but with lights.

Several witnesses, including a science teacher, identified the objects as not being ordinary aircraft. The sounds reported were a gentle hum, like an electric motor. The article highlights the consistency of descriptions across different witnesses and locations within Cherokee County.

UFOs Being Seen Again

By Jack Truluck, this article revisits the UFO phenomenon in Gaffney, noting that since early January, the area has been frequently in the news for sightings. It mentions a past incident in 1966 where two Gaffney policemen reported seeing a UFO land and a small occupant emerge, leading to ridicule. The current wave of sightings involves farmers, businessmen, housewives, and policemen. Despite numerous reports, no pictures have surfaced. Sightings range in size from 'as big as a house' to 15-20 feet wide. The article notes that hundreds of cars gather in the Draytonville area for 'saucer watching.'

No Pictures Taken

This continuation from page 1-A elaborates on the descriptions of UFOs, including 'cylindrical, cigar-shaped,' 'triangular,' and 'round like a saucer' shapes, with various colored lights. It details a sighting by Rodger Painter and others of four 'unidentified flying objects' flying in formation. Painter also recounts a report from a girl who saw a saucer hover above her car, and a police officer who saw a 'big ball of light' moving rapidly.

UFO reported in Muhlenburg area Sunday

A brief report from Berwick, Pennsylvania, mentions an unidentified flying object seen in the Muhlenburg area, described as a 'huge light' that circled and then remained motionless before ascending. A similar object was reported two months prior.

Did They Really See A Flying Saucer?

This letter to the editor by George D. Fawcett commends The Charlotte News for its approach to the UFO enigma, investigating and reporting eyewitness accounts and photographs. Fawcett reaffirms a scientific principle: 'don't ridicule, don't censor, but do investigate.'

UFO Following Cars in Missouri

This article from the Los Angeles Evening and Sunday Herald Examiner reports on UFO sightings in Piedmont, Missouri, where hundreds of residents have reported hovering objects and lights following cars. Hayden C. Hewes of the 'International UFO Bureau' calls it a significant, well-documented sighting. Witnesses describe bright lights, some with pulsating colors, and objects that hover, move rapidly, and disappear. One report mentions interference with television sets. The article notes that jet aircraft were seen sweeping the area, possibly searching for the objects.

'EYEWITNESSES' TELL OF SIGHTINGS What Are They Seeing Up There In The Sky?

By Rodger Painter, this piece details sightings in the Draytonville Community, South Carolina, involving four red and yellow lights flying in formation, followed by a sequence of bright flashes on the horizon. Observers described the flashes as 'huge explosions' or 'flash of some giant cannon.' The article notes that sightings have been frequent in Cherokee County for several weeks, with people gathering to watch, hoping to see the phenomena. The editor notes the widespread interest and the lack of official substantiation or response from aeronautic officials.

It came out of a lake

This article from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reports on strange happenings in the sky above Piedmont, Missouri. Residents describe multi-colored spinning objects, with one resident suggesting it's a 'newfangled invention' by the government. A time-exposure photograph shows streaks indicating stars and possibly the objects.

That thing in the sky has Blacksburg agog

By Jonathan Segal, this article from The Gastonia Gazette details events in Blacksburg, South Carolina. Residents reported a silent, brilliantly glowing object with pulsating colored lights hovering over Whitiker Mountain. Assistant Police Chief Robert Childers investigated and confirmed seeing strange white and red lights. Motorists reported similar sightings, with one describing the object as having strange flashing lights. The article mentions that the phenomena have been reported in various areas of the county.

UFOs Spotted By Residents Of Pocono Area

This AP report from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, confirms state police reports of strange objects with flashing lights seen over the Pocono resort area. Trooper Jeffrey Huntz observed four objects traveling west to east, describing them as 'like a Christmas tree flying in the air' with no noise. One resident reported seeing 39 objects. The New York air traffic control center could not identify them, and the Pentagon stated no military aircraft were scheduled to fly over the area.

FOLLOWED "THING"

This section continues the Blacksburg, South Carolina, UFO reports. Doug Lee and his girlfriend saw a bright light fly toward the mountain. Frank Lee, his brother, described the object as too bright to make out its shape with binoculars but noted blue, red, green, and bright white lights that glowed intensely without a beam. Curtis Martin also saw the object. Harry Cook, a service station employee, heard police traffic about the UFO and tried to observe it through binoculars. Craig Reynolds and Bobby Davis reported seeing two UFOs hover over the mountain, with blinking colored lights, before flying off in different directions.

Assistant Chief Robert Childers, initially speculating about a fire, later admitted doubts due to the numerous confirmations. He stated that the sightings were the closest to Blacksburg in recent weeks. Cherokee County Sheriff Ernest Harrington declined to comment on the number of UFO reports.

LIGHT IN SKY SUNDAY REPORTED TO SHERIFF

A brief report from Dayton, Washington, mentions an unidentified light seen in the sky, reported to Sheriff Gary Von Cadow. Mrs. Robert Ward described the light as visible for about 45 minutes, changing color from red to green to yellow.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings, the consistency of witness descriptions across different locations and demographics, and the general lack of definitive explanations from official sources. The articles highlight the public's fascination and sometimes unease with these phenomena. The editorial stance, as implied by the selection and presentation of articles, is one of open investigation and reporting of UFO events, encouraging readers to observe and report their own experiences, while acknowledging the mystery and the need for further study. The publication positions itself as serious investigators of the UFO phenomenon.

This issue of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, dated Tuesday, March 6, 1973, features a prominent cover story titled "Shy but friendly sky visitor haunts Brushy Creek area," detailing sightings of an unidentified flying object in Piedmont, Missouri. The issue also includes reports from other locations, discussions on ancient astronaut theories, and other UFO-related news.

Shy but Friendly Sky Visitor Haunts Brushy Creek Area By JOSEPH T. GALLAGHER, Globe-Democrat Staff Writer The article details numerous sightings of an unidentified flying object (UFO) in the Piedmont, Missouri area. Residents describe the object as shy because it only appears on dark nights and quickly retreats, but friendly because it brightly illuminates the highway in front of cars. The first sighting was on February 21 by Reg Bone, coach of Clearwater High School, along with three players and two assistant managers, who saw a bright shaft of light beaming from the sky. When they stopped their car on Route 49 near Brushy Creek, they observed an object about 50 feet off the ground and approximately 200 yards away. Due to the darkness, its size and shape were indeterminate, but they saw four lights—red, green, amber, and white—spaced about three or four feet apart in a row. The object then moved directly upward with no noise and disappeared over a hill.

Word of the sighting spread, and the following night, Mrs. Kathy Keith, her brother Roy Burch Jr., and his wife reported seeing a similar object blinking with predominantly red lights. They attempted to catch up to it in their car, reaching speeds of about 70 mph before losing sight of it. They later encountered other Piedmont residents, including Bob Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Almon Coleman, who were also observing the object hovering over a field. One of the men tried to use binoculars but could not determine what it was due to the darkness. The object remained at the same height for about 10 minutes before disappearing over a hill. Missouri State Highway Patrol Troopers Jerome Burford and Alton Blake, who reside in Piedmont, stated they had not seen anything unusual on the road. Other individuals mentioned as having seen the object include Craig Twidwell, Tim Martin, and Fred Allen.

UFOs Sighted in Norwin Area A separate report details dozens of sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in central Westmoreland County, primarily in the Jeannette-Norwin area, on the night of January 26, 1973. Between 9 and 9:30 p.m., witnesses reported seeing a formation of five to six bright orange, round objects hovering for over 10 minutes. These objects then reportedly broke into two separate formations and moved in the direction of McKeesport. Approximately 30 minutes later, witnesses near Derry and Pleasant Unity reported similar sightings, including a large cigar-shaped object that appeared low in the sky, stopped, reversed direction, and remained completely silent. Between 10 and 11 p.m., more reports came from the Apollo area of three amber objects in formation. UFO investigators from the Westmoreland County UFO Study Group were dispatched to the areas. The report urges witnesses to send detailed written reports with sketches to the study group.

'Flying Christmas Trees' Spotted Over Saylors Lake, Pose Mystery By GEORGE FAWCETT, ALLENTOWN, PA. EVENING CHRONICLE State police in Stroudsburg confirmed reports of strange objects with flashing lights seen flying over Saylors Lake. Trooper Jeffrey Hontz described seeing four objects pass over Monroe County Lake from west to east, stating they were "like a Christmas tree flying in the air." He estimated their altitude at 1,500 feet, with most having white lights and others red or blue. Mrs. Howard Pfeiffer and 11 other residents saw 39 objects pass over Saylors Lake at 15-minute intervals between 7:25 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. She described the round objects as being about the size of a child's wading pool and taking about three minutes to pass over the lake. They came in slowly from the west, picked up speed, and disappeared. Maj. Larry Brown stated that the objects "shouldn't have been flying that low at night." John Doster, chief of the Federal Aviation Administration, had not been notified but suggested contacting scientific communities. Some sources did not rule out the possibility of these being part of the aurora borealis.

Hebrew Prophet's Account: Ancient Spaceship Gains Credence Joseph F. Blumrich, chief of the Systems Layout branch of the Program Development Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, believes that the prophet Ezekiel's description in the Old Testament of a spaceship landing on Earth 2,600 years ago is credible. Blumrich has analyzed Ezekiel's account for three years and concluded that it describes a feasible vehicle with good engineering. He believes the prophet saw a "shuttle vehicle" shaped like a cone with concave sides, which used atmospheric drag to decelerate and then employed four rotor blades for a final descent. Ezekiel's description, in the first chapter of his book, speaks of a whirlwind, a great cloud, fire, and a brightness, followed by a "whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it: and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber." The passage also describes four living creatures with four faces and four wings.

Alien Astronauts Came To Earth, Author Claims By CRILOU FARISH, Camden (Ark.) Camden News Erick von Daniken, author of the best-selling books "Chariots of the Gods?" and "Gods From Outer Space," insists that alien astronauts visited Earth in ancient times. Von Daniken, a Swiss innkeeper, posits that extraterrestrial visitors landed on Earth in prehistoric times, established the rudiments of human civilization, and then departed. He reinterprets these visitors as astronauts and their vehicles as nuclear rockets. His books, first published in Europe in the late 1960s and translated into 32 languages, have sold over 20 million copies worldwide. The American editions, published in 1970 and 1971, also sold well, with "Chariots of the Gods?" selling over one million paperback copies by the end of 1972. A film based on the books, released in early January 1973, significantly boosted sales, with "Chariots of the Gods?" becoming the second best-selling non-fiction paperback on The New York Times list.

Mystery Calls From Space? By CR: FRITZ KRON, Stanford Analysis Ronald N. Bracewell, an astronomer at Stanford University, suggested that mysterious radio signals recorded intermittently between 1928 and 1932 might have been an attempt by an extraterrestrial intelligence to communicate with Earth. Bracewell cited the work of Duncan Lunan, a Scottish scientist, who interpreted these signals as a television-like message from the Constellation Bootes. Bracewell believes that if Lunan's interpretation is correct, it would indicate a deliberate signal from outer space, urging humanity to maintain extreme attentiveness and alertness.

UFO Mining: Its Business? By CR: MATH WILLIAMS, SEATTLE PI A UFO researcher, Hayden C. Hewes, head of the "International UFO Bureau," theorized that the unexplained objects reported hovering over the Ozarks countryside near Piedmont, Missouri, might be engaged in a mining expedition from outer space. Hewes called the Piedmont sightings "the most significant, best-documented sighting in history." He noted that residents have become accustomed to such sightings since 1942. A specific incident on February 21 involved a bright light following a car carrying five players and their coach. The object stopped and hovered over a field before rising out of sight. Hewes's UFO Logging Bureau has photographs of what appear to be flying gyroscopes and has documented cases of television interference during nearby sightings. He suggested that the object might be mining for lead in the southern Missouri Ozarks. Another UFO was reported in Grand Tower, Illinois, described as an oval-shaped object with red pulsating lights hovering over a transformer yard.

Unusual Sightings in Other Locations Reports from various locations detail further unusual aerial phenomena. In East London, South Africa, Mr. and Mrs. W. Sucknow reported seeing a massive unidentified flying object, approximately 30 meters in diameter with large portholes, near Queenstown. They described it as glowing with an orange light and emitting orange smoke, and noted that the inside of their car became icy cold. In Alberta, Canada, Erick von Daniken's theories about alien visitors are gaining renown, with his books and a related film achieving significant sales. In Watson Witness, Saskatchewan, Canada, a pink dome-shaped sky was observed on a foggy Friday morning, attributed to the rising sun's rays on ice particles. In Australia, a spate of UFO sightings occurred over Rhodesia, with five reported in October, four in November, and several in December, a significant increase from the previous year. Members of the Salisbury Science Fiction Alpha Group are investigating whether UFOs are attracted to flaws in the Earth's crust. In Gosford, Australia, a UFO sighting was reported on the Central Coast, with an object described as mushroom-shaped and giving off a greenish light. Mr. Harry Griesberg is investigating these sightings. A report from Kimba, South Australia, describes an unidentified flying object on the Kimba-Iron Knob road, with witnesses reporting seeing a figure resembling a modern-day astronaut suspended in the middle of a light. In New South Wales, Australia, Mr. Ron Farrant reported seeing a huge wing-shaped object with dazzling lights near Stanthorpe. He had previously seen a similar object over Melbourne. A report from Canada mentions a "weirdest phone call" from a lady who saw a craft land in a field, after which she lost consciousness and found herself miles away.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the possibility of extraterrestrial contact, and the interpretation of ancient texts and phenomena through the lens of space visitation. The articles present various eyewitness accounts, scientific analyses, and speculative theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena and theories, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also highlighting the growing public interest and the efforts of various groups to investigate these occurrences. The inclusion of ancient texts like Ezekiel's prophecy alongside modern sightings suggests an attempt to connect historical accounts with contemporary UFO phenomena.