THE NEWS AMERICAN

Magazine Overview

This issue of THE NEWS AMERICAN, dated Thursday, December 6, 1973, features a prominent cover story titled "Area woman sifts UFO sightings" by Ed Blunden, along with a secondary headline "Photographer of UFO Plagued by Miseries." The publication appears to be a local newspaper or a section of a larger one, focusing heavily on UFO phenomena reported in late 1973.

Area Woman Sifts UFO Sightings

The main article introduces Janet Fleischmann of Oxford Twp., Michigan, who claims to be an ordinary housewife and mother. She, along with her seven-year-old daughter Kelli, reported seeing an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) on October 24th around 8 p.m. The object was described as approximately 12 feet in diameter with red and white lights around the bottom. Mrs. Fleischmann states she was stunned rather than frightened. She and her daughter observed the object for about three minutes before a smaller one emerged from Tan Lake and they both proceeded northwest toward Granger Road. Mrs. Fleischmann claims other neighbors also observed the object.

Following this sighting, Mrs. Fleischmann has been contacted by numerous individuals who claim to have seen UFOs in the north Oakland County area. She has been appointed by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, chairman of the astronomy department at Northwestern University, to serve as his coordinator for UFO sightings in the region. She placed a letter in the Oxford Leader asking for reports, and has received 152 calls, which she states were not crank calls but from people afraid of ridicule for reporting their experiences.

Mrs. Fleischmann's husband, Edward, a machine and tool designer at Pontiac Motor Division, and their two sons, Keith (15) and Kevin (17), have also reportedly observed UFOs. The couple themselves observed a UFO over Tan Lake the previous Thursday. Mrs. Fleischmann theorizes that these objects have an affinity for water and may be intrigued by the large gravel pits in the Oxford area.

She suggests that people who see UFOs are simply more sensitive and that "Most people don't know what to look for." She also notes that even their poodle was sensitive and refused to go near where a sighting was made.

Mrs. Fleischmann's letter to the Oxford paper revealed that other people have reported similar sightings. Two families from the Lake Orion area identified the same object she did. She also recounts a story of a UFO landing in St. Ignace where three people allegedly emerged from the craft onto the ice, and another story of a man and his son who reportedly entered an abandoned flying saucer.

Mrs. Fleischmann is reluctant to share her specific theories about the origins of UFOs but indicates they might be from elsewhere in the universe and possibly scouting Earth, which she calls a "war-fighting planet." She observes that UFO sightings occur in "bunches or waves" and that while there are no sightings currently, she expects them to return. She was appointed as a UFO researcher by Dr. Hynek while he was in Detroit for a television show. Dr. Hynek is scheduled to lecture on the subject at Oxford Junior High School on January 26th.

Photographer of UFO Plagued by Miseries

This section details the unfortunate experiences of Falkville, Alabama, Police Chief Jeff Greenhaw. A month after he photographed what he believes to be a silver-suited creature from outer space, he has lost his automobile, his home, and his wife. Greenhaw gained national attention on October 17th when he photographed a metallic-looking "being" after a woman reported an unidentified flying object had landed. He became a national celebrity, but subsequently received threatening phone calls. His car engine blew up on October 21st, and three days later, his wife left him, leading to a divorce. His mobile home was destroyed by fire while he was at a football game. Greenhaw feels it's as if "somebody or something wants me to leave Falkville," but states he is determined not to leave. He now believes the object he photographed was an alien being and questions why there shouldn't be life on other planets.

Whatzit Flames During Landing

This article, datelined Altus, Oklahoma, and referencing the Times-Democrat, describes an incident involving a "flaming 'whatzit'" that landed in Altus during a storm. Hubert Young saw a ball of flame pass in front of his car and land in a bar ditch. His mother, Rosie Young, described it as "lit up like a bunch of candles." While driving home, Young narrowly avoided an accident. Upon investigation of the scene, a deep rut and trail were found where the "whatzit" hit the ground. The object's outer surface appears ashen. S.K. Satchel, a friend of the family, estimates the object weighed about 300 pounds and suggests it might be "out of this world."

UFO Sightings from Various Locations

Several other brief reports detail UFO sightings from different regions:

• Texans Report UFO Stalking Car: Faye Seeley and Faye Hileman of Rosebud, Texas, reported a bright object that paced their car on Interstate 5 near Wilsonville. It was described as triangular-shaped, alternating between bright and dim, and pacing their car before disappearing straight up.
• Launch Brings Reports of UFO: A research satellite launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California triggered numerous UFO reports over the San Fernando Valley. The object was described as a "bright orange flame that looked like a flare or a burning airplane."
• Woman Reports Crashed UFO: Oregon state police are investigating a reported unidentified flying object that allegedly crashed in Lobster Valley. A woman reported a red object with flashing lights flying into a valley hill. An investigation revealed a large burned area with a strange fungus.
• Sparking Object In Sky Sends Lawmen On Chase: An unidentified flying object was chased across three Oregon counties. It was described as "greenish fire color, with sparks coming out of it." It was seen hovering over Monmouth and performing "figure-eights."
• UFO Sighting Reported Here (Towanda, PA): Leslie Spencer and Diane Snyder reported seeing a round object with blinking red lights over Towanda, moving across the sky for about 10-15 minutes before disappearing. Spencer described it as "bigger than any star" and theorizes it couldn't have been too high due to its apparent size.
• UFO Gives Chase, Bend Area Reports Odd Flying Objects: At least eight persons in Bend, Oregon, reported spotting unidentified flying objects. One report involved a square-shaped object "chasing" a car. Another described an object like "an upside-down pickup truck" that was dark blue or grayish with flames coming from its blunt end.
• Big, Beautiful UFO Sighted Near Town: Mrs. Ben Peters of Oak Bay, Washington, reported a "beautiful blue" UFO that was about 100 feet long, with a rosy pink tail, hovering over the water.
• UFO Sighting "Dramatic" for Phoenixville Couple: Edward Dotson of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, described an experience with a "traumatic" UFO sighting. He and his wife saw a white light that grew very bright, resembling a triangle with rounded edges and a red flashing light in the center. It moved slowly parallel to the road.
• U.S. Covering Up UFO Information?: Dr. James Harder, a researcher, presented his findings to an audience at Hartnell College, asserting that UFOs are real and that the U.S. government is attempting to conceal information. He cited witness interviews, analysis of photographic negatives, and government reports suggesting a cover-up.
• Albany man sees UFO Sunday: Roger Hawthorne of Albany, Oregon, reported seeing a bluish-white light that exploded three times and then sloughed off small pieces, possibly landing in the South Jefferson Junction area. He had a similar sighting about 14 years prior.
• 3 City Police Observe UFO (Vineland, NJ): A police sergeant and two officers in Vineland, New Jersey, along with residents, observed a strange object moving back and forth across the sky, described as "bigger than any star" and changing colors.

Topics of the Hour: USS Enterprise in orbit over Southampton?

This section, by Tom Bargate, discusses a sighting over Southampton, England. Mr. Leslie Webb and his family reported seeing a bright object moving from the west at a steady speed. They initially thought it was Comet Kohoutek but noted its position was not consistent with that. The object was described as a bright white ball with a long tail, like the end of an arrow. A Southampton Weather Centre forecaster suggested it might be a satellite burning up or a Russian satellite flying normally. The article also mentions that Comet Kohoutek is faintly visible around sunrise.

Other International Sightings

• U.F.O.'s Spotted (England): Mr. H. Edwards and his father-in-law reported two stationary glowing objects in the sky, with a smoke trail behind them. Two schoolboys also saw a red object heading north.
• UFO sighted (Canada): A Huntsville, Ontario, woman and her husband reported an unidentified flying object that appeared to be torpedo-shaped with blinking lights, disappearing after hovering.
• U.F.O. Chased (Australia): A private Italian pilot reportedly chased a mysterious flying object over Turin airport. The object was described as round, emitting flashes of red and violet light, and traveling erratically.
• Stampeded by flying saucer? (France): Speculation arose in Nimes, France, that a flying saucer might be responsible for the drowning of 65 bulls. Reports of a red, saucer-shaped object flying low over marshes and power failures coincided with the incident, leading to a theory that the bulls were panicked by ultra-sounds and lights from an extraterrestrial vehicle.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the prevalence and variety of UFO sightings reported by ordinary citizens and, in some cases, law enforcement officials. There is a clear emphasis on witness testimony and the apparent reluctance of some individuals to report their experiences due to fear of ridicule. The inclusion of Dr. J. Allen Hynek's involvement and Dr. James Harder's assertions about government cover-ups suggest an editorial stance that takes UFO phenomena seriously and explores the possibility of official non-disclosure. The international scope of the reports indicates that UFO sightings are considered a global phenomenon. The issue also touches upon the potential dangers and mysteries associated with these sightings, ranging from personal misfortunes to unexplained animal deaths.