UFO Newsclipping Service - 1973 07 - no 51

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO Magazine, dated July 1973, with issue number 51, focuses on a wide array of UFO sightings and related investigations from various locations. The cover story highlights the scientific search for the source of mysterious lights over Piedmont, Missouri, by Project Identification.

Piedmont Investigation

The continuing search for the source of mysterious lights in the sky over Piedmont-Farmington, Missouri, is detailed. Dr. Harley D. Rutledge, head of the physics department at Southeast Missouri State University and director of Project Identification, reports that their intensive three-week investigation is in its second week. He emphasizes that it is a scientific endeavor using scientific methods, telescopes, telephoto lens-equipped cameras, and electromagnetic and color spectrum analyzers. A radar unit is being acquired for Piedmont. Rutledge notes several sightings but refrains from speculation, expecting to report findings to the scientific community in the fall. Team members include Dr. James Sage, Mike Mudd, and John Wilson.

Regional Sightings

Springfield, Missouri: Two witnesses, Susan Lederer and Steve Fotter, reported seeing a blue, cylindrical shaped "unidentified flying object" making two low passes over Springfield on May 20-21, 1973.

Pekin, Illinois: Mrs. Charles Phillips reported a large "unidentified flying object with an orange glow" hovering over Pekin on May 19, 1973. The object appeared to have a dome with an emanating orange light and a pulsating motion, with no sound detected.

Colorado Springs, Colorado: Five U.S. Air Force pilots reported seeing an unidentified, flaming flying object moving in a south-to-north arch as they took off from Peterson Field on a Sunday afternoon. NORAD stated the case was closed, unable to correlate the object with known phenomena.

York Village, USA: Martha York reported that a UFO had appeared over York Village every night for a week, visible between 9:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. on clear nights.

Claremore, Oklahoma: Sheriff Amos Ward investigated a report by Frank Lewis Jr. of a blue light seen over his ranch on a Monday night. The light disappeared without touching the ground.

Lexington, Alabama: Assistant State Editor Harold Lynch reports on hundreds of people lining roads near Lexington to see "strange lights" since January. Publisher Wilsey Mashburn of the Lexington Suburban News stirred interest with published photos. Investigator Stanley Ingram has interviewed over 25 people, noting consistent descriptions. Sightings are reported across North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. Mrs. Lera Washan, news editor of the Pulaski Citizen, described seeing a round, glowing ball with no sound. Two types of objects are noted: one with multiple lights and a "round glowing ball." The Lexington city dump is a popular viewing spot.

St. Louis, Missouri Area: Sightings similar to those in Lexington were reported near St. Louis, with photos of lights in the night sky published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Australia:

• Kalyan, Western Australia: Farmer Mr. R. R. Zadow reported his truck's engine and lights cutting out when a bright, glowing object appeared on his property. After the object departed, his truck restarted.
• Murray Bridge, South Australia: Mechanic Neville Blaxwell reported his car's engine and lights cutting out as a UFO, estimated at 40 ft. above ground, hovered nearby. The object did not illuminate the ground. After it departed, his vehicle restarted.
• Ballarat, Victoria: Mrs. Penny reported seeing unidentified flying objects between 6 and 7 p.m. on Spencer Street. Another reader observed an object traveling at "aircraft speed" in the east. Maureen Penny saw a revolving object in the west. A large, flashing red and orange object was viewed from Magpie Street.
• Northam, Western Australia: The RAAF is investigating a mysterious object seen near Northam with flaring and receding lights, traveling at the speed of a twin-engined aircraft. No air activity was reported in the area. A similar "silvery object" was seen over Goomalling eight years prior.
• Murray Bridge, South Australia: Christine Gerogles, 14, submitted a photo of a round object she claims was taken during a barbecue, though she later admitted it was a photo of a paper plate in flight. She maintains she will believe in UFOs when she sees them.

USA - Other Locations:

• McComb, Mississippi: Betty Brumfield and Lynn Spainhour report on unusual flying things sighted by several area persons. Jimbo and his brother Ooper saw lights, and Gwin Jones, Dennis Ready Mix Concrete Co. executive, reported seeing a bright, orange light rise from a lake.
• Portland, Oregon: Jim Davis, assistant planetarium director, confirmed the abundance of meteor showers but expressed skepticism about UFOs, stating that about 97% of sightings can be explained as natural phenomena.
• Watsonville, California: Reports of unidentified flying objects seen in the valley over the holiday weekend, described as "very similar to box-kites with red markings," were observed by Bob Stein and others.
• Schaumburg, Illinois: Police switchboards received numerous calls about unidentified flying objects, described as "bright lights." Illinois State Police suggested the "illusion" was caused by landing lights of planes approaching O'Hare Airport. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, professor of astronomy at Northwestern University, noted these sightings matched descriptions of "nocturnal lights," which are unexplainable.
• St. Charles, Missouri: Christy Bertelson reports on four objects described as "brightly glowing balls of whitish light" seen by Robert Baumbach and others. Police confirmed the sightings, with Detective Darrell Tullock calling them "weird."
• Princeton, Illinois: Three young women at an Interstate 80 rest stop reported seeing a silver-gray object with an eerie yellow-green light. A Milwaukee man allegedly photographed the object.
• LaSalle, Illinois: Reports of UFOs in the northwest suburbs on Thursday night ranged from airplane lights to nocturnal lights.
• Ottawa, Illinois: A UFO sighting near Divernon, south of Springfield, was reported by a Jacksonville man and his friends.
• Butte, Montana: Mr. and Mrs. George Hamblin reported seeing a flashing object hovering over the city on Monday night. FAA reported no other UFO reports, but noted an airplane and helicopter activity.

Hoax and Skepticism

Tucson, Arizona: L. J. Lorenzen, international director of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, declared the alleged 1897 spaceship crash and burial in Aurora, Texas, a "patent hoax," stating that found metal bits were likely modern aluminum alloy.

Project Access: Stuart Nixon, a UFO investigator for the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), is developing a computer program called Project Access to analyze UFO data. He recounts a case where photos of a "flying saucer" were revealed to be a model suspended by a thread, highlighting the need for careful investigation.

UFO Detector: Nixon also demonstrates a sensitive magnetometer designed to detect electromagnetic field changes, which he calls a "UFO detector."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently highlights witness accounts of unusual aerial phenomena, often described with specific visual characteristics and behaviors. While some reports are investigated scientifically (Project Identification) or by law enforcement, others are met with skepticism or attributed to conventional explanations like aircraft lights or atmospheric conditions. The magazine appears to present a range of sightings, from the potentially explainable to the seemingly inexplicable, fostering a sense of ongoing mystery and the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation. The editorial stance leans towards documenting these events and encouraging further investigation, while acknowledging the challenges of verification and the prevalence of hoaxes.

This issue of the "Marlborough Express" (New Zealand) from May 15, 1973, prominently features the headline "UFO SEEN OVER SOUNDS 'BIGGER THAN FULL MOON'", indicating a focus on unidentified flying object sightings. The publication date suggests a collection of recent reports from various locations.

Key Articles and Reports

"BIGGER THAN FULL MOON" - Marlborough Sounds Sighting

An unidentified flying object was sighted over the Marlborough Sounds by Mr. Martin Wilkie, a Picton store manager, at 6:43 AM. Wilkie described the object as having an intense white center, about 10 times stronger than a bright star, and appearing much larger than a full moon. He noted a field of radiating bright light around the center, similar to filings around a magnet. The object did not appear to be falling and stayed in one place for a time before moving rapidly east. Wilkie speculated it might have been debris from the American Skylab launch but noted the absence of a typical falling object trail. He also mentioned a previous sighting in Kenepuru Sound where five adults and two children saw twin objects rapidly climb into the sky.

Pulsating Lights Seen Over P.N.

Strange lights were reported over Palmerston North, New Zealand, to Mr. Harold Fulton, director for New Zealand of the Midwest UFO Network. A child and an adult reported seeing brilliant, coloured twin lights in the south-east sky, which they watched for over 30 minutes. Later, a man and his family saw a brilliant glowing light in Te Mata Road. In another instance, witnesses in cars saw twin lights that seemed to pulse or flicker, appearing bigger and brighter than a motor vehicle's headlights. The child also reported seeing a dark, cylindrical form behind the lights. Later, only one light remained, climbing higher and disappearing behind clouds. An NAC aircraft was observed coming from the south behind the lights. Another sighting involved a hovering, stationary light over the Tararuas that sped away steeply and silently. Milson Airport reported NAC aircraft movements that would have been westward of the witnesses. A senior airport official also reported seeing a bright light to the east, identified as a private aircraft. Mr. Fulton is seeking more independent observations.

If it was a U.F.O. Il Left Marks On Old Junee Property

This article from Australia reports on a potential UFO sighting on June 6, 1973, near Old Junee. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Bayliss observed shimmering yellowy-orange lights in the distance while driving. They initially thought they were vehicle lights but realized they were on Mr. Frank Hurt's property. The lights appeared to hover, and when the Baylisses investigated further, the lights went out. The next day, Mrs. Bayliss and Mrs. Lucy Shoemark, along with some Oehm children, investigated the area. They discovered a circular indentation in a paddock, about fifteen feet in diameter, with several 'plod marks' around it. A heavier indentation in the center appeared to have slightly scorched grass. The experience is compared to a similar incident on a Ganmain property.

Lights Over Lake Ontario Cause Furore

Bright lights were seen above Lake Ontario on a Monday night, witnessed from both the United States and Canadian shores. Coast guardsman James Davis in Rochester, NY, and Constable Angus Riddle in Brighton, Ontario, reported the phenomenon. The lights appeared around 9:30 PM and faded two hours later. Officials found no unusual shipping on the lake, and the Canadian Armed Forces Air Base at Trenton reported no aircraft flying at the time. Meteorologists offered theories, including reflected light from shoreline communities or clouds, but Trenton meteorologist John Pelto disagreed, stating the clouds were too high for such a bounce.

Lights 'draw UFOS' - Soil test key to a puzzle

This Australian report details two mysterious circles found near Bellbridge on the shores of Lake Hume. One circle is about 22 ft. in diameter, and the other is about 30 ft. The smaller circle was found by Merven Eyers during a fox-hunting trip. The marks are a quarter of a mile apart, close to a creek. A foot-wide path around the circles is bare of grass, with dry, hard earth containing a white powdery substance. The area outside the rings is lush with grass. Mr. Eyers plans to send soil samples for analysis. The article also mentions a theory that flashing car lights might attract UFOs, citing an experience at Kingscliff Beach where two men claim to have lured a saucer-shaped object with a ball of light above it by flashing their car lights in code.

Mystery ring of Melrose

This Australian report describes a perfect 30-ft circle found on the Russell family property in Melrose, near Horsham. The circle, marked by a 20-inch wide band, had earth inside devoid of grass. Peculiar grey dust was found within the band. The grass inside the ring was a vivid green, unlike the surrounding pasture. The farmer, Jack Russell, recalled similar rings found by Geoff Bibby in Navarre, which had earth below the surface impregnated with a white substance. The Navarre rings were 78 to 84 ft. in diameter and appeared after reports of unidentified flying objects.

Mystery shape hovers over Riding

This report from England details a mysterious shape seen over the East Riding countryside for nearly half an hour. Reports to the Hull Daily Mail described a shape that changed formation several times before fading away. A local astronomer suggested it might be a gas cloud from a weather research rocket, but the Defence Department stated no such rocket was launched on that day. Patrick Moore, an astronomy personality, suggested it was likely a gas cloud from a research rocket, while others speculated about Russian spacecraft.

The night the UFO attacked Morwell!

An ambulance officer in Morwell, Australia, reported seeing an unidentified flying object that appeared to hit high voltage wires, causing a great flash and a power outage. It was later identified as a gas-filled home-made balloon, about 8ft in diameter and 5ft high. The impact caused approximately 30 street lights to explode and blacked out half of Morwell. The balloon, made of copper wire and plastic, struck the power line and set fire to the grass. Local SEC branch acting manager Ken Edwards noted the potential danger if the balloon had fallen into a power production area. The balloon was suspected to be made locally and came from the west.

Police hit at 'UFO fireball' menace

This report from Slough, England, explains that a 'mystery of flaming Unidentified Flying Object which crash-landed on Slough' was solved. The objects were identified as amateur hot-air balloons, powered by naked fire-lighters, launched from plans given in the Automobile Association's Drive magazine. The AA spokesman stated their balloons are safe if instructions are followed, but warned against flying them in towns. The balloons were described as 'black blobs' and were seen in various colours, with flames up to 18 inches high.

UFO OVER HUNDALEES?

Two young men from Blenheim, New Zealand, travelling to Christchurch, reported seeing an unidentified flying object in the western sky. They described it as hovering with a flashing green light in its center, and each time it moved, it rose up with a circle of flashing lights. It hovered for about 60 seconds with revolving white lights before moving further west, then down, and appearing to come towards them. Trees obscured their view. They stated it scared them.

Hunters spot objects in sky

Four bright objects moving across the sky were spotted by two hunters in the Motu area, New Zealand. They kept the objects in view for about four minutes. The hunters initially thought one was a satellite, and then saw three more travelling in the same direction.

FLYING OBJECT SPOTTED IN CENTRAL OTAGO

An unidentified flying object was seen over Alexandra, New Zealand, at 6:40 AM. It was described as a large round ball with white lights and a haze on each side. It was observed travelling down the Manuherikia Valley before disappearing. The witness ran back to inform his wife, who also saw the object. The object had a half-circle haze on each side. Mrs. Esdaile is anxious to know if others witnessed the object.

STRANGE LIGHT SEEN ELSEWHERE

This brief report from Cambridge, New Zealand, notes that a strange light seen in the evening sky by a Karapiro resident was also sighted in other areas, including Maramarua, Hahei, and Hikutaia. The object was described as travelling across the sky and likened to an Olympic torch with a flaming tail.

OTHER REPORTS

• A farmer from Southern Brook, Western Australia, described seeing a luminous, blood-red winking light that moved from east to west, similar to other reported sightings.
• A Temuka woman and her husband saw seven mysterious bright star-like objects moving from west to east. A spokesman for Mt John Observatory stated there were many space objects orbiting Earth, and some had highly polished surfaces that made them appear bright.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different countries and the variety of descriptions and phenomena reported. There is a clear interest in unexplained aerial events, with multiple reports detailing sightings, ground traces, and potential explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these events factually, presenting witness accounts, and exploring various hypotheses, from the mundane (weather balloons, aircraft) to the extraordinary (extraterrestrial visits). The inclusion of scientific opinions, such as Professor R. V. Jones's view that most sightings can be explained by natural phenomena or misinterpretation, alongside the persistent reports of unexplained events, suggests a balanced approach to the topic.