UFO Newsclipping Service - 1973 04 - no 48

Magazine Overview

This issue of "UFO" magazine, dated April 1973, features a cover story titled "Family Spots Manned UFO in Field," highlighting a sighting by the Donahower family in Robesonia, Pennsylvania. The publication is presented by the UFO Research Committee and includes a variety of reports from different locations.

Pennsylvania Sighting: Donahower Family Encounter

The lead article details the experience of Clyde O. Donahower and his wife, who were awakened by a rumbling noise and saw a bright, changing-colored object in a field near their home. They observed it for about 20 minutes, describing it as having a changing shape and color, with a black, stick-like figure moving inside. Police Chief Norman Brunner confirmed the family's consistent testimony, though no physical evidence was found in the field.

Missouri Sightings: Piedmont Residents Report UFOs

Reporter William Clark documents numerous sightings in Piedmont, Missouri, where residents have reported bright, multicolored lights hovering and moving in the night sky since February 21. Witnesses include Maude Jefferis, who photographed an object, and radio station manager Dennis Holvis. The sightings have sparked local speculation ranging from secret military experiments to alien spacecraft. The article also mentions a state representative's plan to introduce a resolution for a state investigation.

California Youths Capture UFO on Film

Two 14-year-old youths from Conejo, California, reported seeing a bright, half-round object with diamond-shaped lights that moved silently and fast. Months later, two 15-year-old youths, Richard Coimbra and Curt Huettner, photographed an object they described as silent, rotating, and about 70 feet in diameter.

Redding Police Search for Saucer

Redding, California police investigated an eerie wailing sound and observed a vague outline of a large object reflecting in the Sacramento River. The object was later identified as a storage shed, and the noise was attributed to a burglar alarm.

Wisconsin Sky Mystery Solved

An unidentified object that smashed into the ground near Herb Krug in Wisconsin Rapids was identified by pathologists as likely being an aircraft septic holding tank.

International Sightings

New Zealand Reports

Several reports from New Zealand detail UFO sightings. In Dunedin, an object was described as "huge," bright yellow, and cigar-shaped, with a minimum speed estimated at 1800 mph. Another report from Timaru describes a brilliantly white, cigar-shaped light seen by three residents. A sighting in Ngatea involved red and white flashing lights and a faint humming sound.

England and Canada Reports

In Cosham, England, two schoolboys reported seeing a large, shining object, about the size of a football, moving silently. In Burlington, Canada, Edward Groves reported seeing an object with no definite shape and spots of light moving at high speed, which appeared to land near a hospital.

Historical and Scientific Perspectives

'Whirlwind' as Spaceship?

Joseph F. Blumrich, chief of systems layout at the Marshall Space Flight Center, suggests that the "whirlwind" described in the biblical prophet Ezekiel's vision might have been a spaceship.

Early UFO Reports and Government Response

The magazine revisits early UFO reports from the late 1940s and 1950s, including the Kenneth Arnold sighting in 1947. It notes the initial skepticism and eventual acknowledgment by the Air Force that a significant percentage of sightings were unexplained. The article also touches on the government's stance, including the closure of Project Bluebook and the assertion that there is no threat from extraterrestrial beings.

Space Debris and UFOs

Reports from Australia discuss the discovery of objects identified as fuel tanks from Russian space vehicles. The magazine also mentions that items of space hardware returning to Earth are subject to international regulations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "UFO" magazine strongly leans towards the reality of unidentified flying objects, presenting numerous witness testimonies and highlighting the lack of satisfactory conventional explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation while also acknowledging the challenges in obtaining official confirmation or investigation. The recurring theme is the persistent presence of unexplained aerial phenomena and the public's fascination and sometimes fear surrounding them.

This issue of the Yellowknife News of the North, dated January 31, 1973, with a circulation of 3,650, focuses heavily on unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings reported across various locations in Canada, Australia, and England. The cover headline highlights the Defence Department's interest in these phenomena.

Defence Department's Interest in UFOs

The lead article reveals that the Defence Department is seeking information about UFOs. Analysis of sighting reports from late last fall in the Territories suggests two brilliant fireballs were viewed for 15 to 20 minutes apart, moving from northwest to southeast. A spokesman for Northern Region Headquarters stated that one object appears to have terminated in Hudson's Bay or the Atlantic Ocean, following a southeasterly path. Another object was seen passing near Peary River and Whale Cove, with the latter moving in a more easterly course over Great Slave Lake and Hudson's Bay. The Canadian Press Clipping Service notes that members of the Canadian Meteorites Committee, who met recently in Ottawa, were impressed by the accuracy of the observations and believe that reports from residents who witnessed the events are of great scientific value to Canada and could be a source of supply. An NRIIQ spokesman pointed out that unusual cinder-like rocks found during the winter period might not penetrate ice cover, making them good as smaller meteorites. Any awards for discoveries would be turned over to the Meteorite Committee.

Witness Accounts from Australia

Several reports originate from Australia. A Leader delivery driver, Mr. Tim Mc. Caughey, described seeing a mysterious unidentified flying object near Barraba on a journey from Warialda to Barraba on Wednesday. He watched the object, described as 'like a blazing arrow,' for more than 90 minutes. He noted that the lights were inconsistent and seemed to fluctuate. He first saw it when he started his journey back from Warialda and it could have been there all the time he was driving. He described it as having a very small light at one end and a large, extremely bright light at the other, connected by a shaft of light. He has been on the northern delivery run for 20 years and knows what the morning stars look like.

Two hitch-hikers waved Mr. McCaughey down, who then picked them up. They claimed to have experienced a similar event two weeks prior, where two lights such as this appeared to be following them. They were scared and ready to flee.

In Surfers Paradise, the Gold Coast hinterland has seen multiple sightings of strange lights in the night sky over the past three weeks, described as 'flying cigars,' 'flying eggs,' and 'street lights.' These objects were seen heading west over Nerang. Mrs. Owen described one object as a 'cigar shaped yellowish light, with orangey yellow prongs sticking out all around it.' The objects were seen heading west, passing over Nerang on a course for the hinterland mountains. About 30 people have reported their sightings to the Unidentified Flying Objects Society. Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Owen described an object they saw through binoculars as 'about the size of a small dinner plate.' Another couple described a similar UFO as 'more egg shaped' with what appeared to be port-holes and a second big white light at the bottom. Alderman D. O'Connell, a Gold Coast City Council representative and professional fisherman, described a bright light moving sideways. The reports are to be investigated by the Queensland Flying Saucer Research Bureau.

In Wagga, three women claimed to have seen an unidentified flying object shaped like a shark with lights in the nose and along its side. They described it as travelling quickly eastwards.

Lismore Police were unable to explain flashing red and green lights seen in the sky. Two police constables claimed to have seen a dozen star-like objects through binoculars. The lights appeared to be stationary or travelling slowly from east to west. Many people in Lismore and Goonellabah reported seeing them.

UFOs in England

In England, a motorist reported seeing a large amber flaming ball flashing across the sky near Dover. Mr. Barry Watts saw the object while driving towards Dover and described it as taking off like a rocket from a field. He could not describe the object in detail, calling it 'unbelievable and weird.'

Two schoolboys from Duke of York's School in Guston claimed to have seen a triangular-shaped object in the sky, their second sighting in a few months. They noted it was different from the previous object.

West Midland weathermen were called in by a man in Bilston to help track a 'stray' UFO. Mr. Anthony Grigg reported seeing a bright light that always appears in the same place. He has called in 'officials' to help track it, and the Edgware Observatory stated they would be keeping watch.

Drivers near Hertfordshire reported seeing a mysterious object hovering near a road. Three eyewitnesses described it as a big, yellow glowing ball. One witness reported his car cutting out for no reason when the light rose. St Albans police confirmed a third eyewitness reported the sighting. The British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association stated the sightings would be investigated.

A recently taken colour film of an unidentified flying object over the Oxfordshire countryside was shown publicly for the first time at a meeting in Longton. It showed an orange object hovering in the sky and is being investigated by the British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association.

UFOs in Canada

A bus driver, Lawrence Lind, and his young passengers sighted a brilliant, cigar-shaped object with flashing lights and exhaust near Buck Mountain, Alberta. It hovered for about an hour before vanishing.

A Kingston man reported seeing a glowing object in the sky, described as a pinkish-purple light, hovering and dropping illuminated particles. He described it as looking like a fire from a Roman candle and about 1,500 feet above the city.

UFOs in New Zealand

An unidentified flying object was sighted over Dunedin by several people. It was described as 'huge,' bright yellow and red, cigar-shaped, and travelling at a minimum speed of 1800 mph. One witness, a professional mechanical engineer and amateur astronomer, calculated its speed based on its trajectory and duration of observation. He did not believe it was a meteor due to its trajectory and duration. The object was described as luminous and cigar-shaped with a small 'ball of fire' following it. Another report from East Taieri described the object as huge, with a bright yellow nose changing to bright red toward the tail, making no noise and appearing to take off like an aircraft but going far too fast. It seemed to have a flaming tail and vanished after about 20 seconds. The Aerodrome superintendent suggested it might have been a weather balloon.

Army and air force officials received hundreds of telephone calls reporting an unidentified flying object, described as a 'trail of white lights leaving a bright vapour trail across the sky.' Reports came from various locations in Victoria. The chief flying instructor of Pipeair Flying School at Moorabbin airport reported seeing 'three bright lights' flash across the sky while flying near Bendigo, estimating its speed at about 3000 miles per hour.

Explanations and Investigations

One article offers an explanation for some UFO sightings, suggesting they can be accounted for by contemporary knowledge, specifically the appearance of planets Jupiter and Venus. The author posits that their prominence in the sky, combined with their orbital paths and diameters, can make them appear joined or unusually bright. The article also mentions a similar event involving Jupiter and Mercury. The author suggests that better public awareness of regular astronomical events could help people distinguish between actual phenomena and misidentified objects.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed to the Kentish Times that a sighting reported by Mr. Ron Evans was being investigated. The Meteorological Office stated that weather balloons released daily from Gatwick Airport are allowed to drift and show up in a brilliant colour when illuminated.

A spokesman for the British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association stated that sightings would be investigated. The newly formed Staffordshire branch of the association aims to unravel the complex problem of UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings, the variety in descriptions of the objects, and the ongoing efforts to investigate and explain these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these events factually, presenting witness testimonies, and acknowledging the official interest and investigative efforts, while also offering rational explanations where possible, such as planetary alignments. The inclusion of reports from various countries highlights the global nature of UFO interest during this period.