UFO Newsclipping Service - 1976 09 - no 89

Magazine Overview

Title: U.F.O. NEWSLETTER
Issue: No. 69
Date: September 1976

This issue of the UFO Newsletter focuses on various UFO sightings and related investigations from across the United States.

UFO's Sighted At Gitchie Manitou

The cover story details multiple sightings of unidentified flying objects near Gitchie Manitou State Park. Linda Sehr, who lives near the park, reported seeing a large, oblong, glowing white object with flashing lights that appeared to be low over the road. When she slowed down, the object moved very fast to the side. She later saw it again hovering over a field.

Roger Rygh, whose property is closer to the park, initially disbelieved his four sons' reports of seeing a UFO. However, his sons Chris (11), Tom (9), Andy (8), and Joel (6) described hearing strange noises and seeing a tall figure behind a bush. They then witnessed a glowing object emerge from behind a tree, hover, and speed away. The boys are now afraid to go into the park.

Mrs. Linda Roozenboom reported being awakened by barking dogs and seeing a pulsating oblong light hovering southeast of her home. She described it as "just too big to be anything I knew of" and "white or bluish white."

Mrs. Sara Streich also noted her dogs acting up, leading her to fear a prowler, but nothing was found.

UFO Hoax Claims

Philip J. Klass, editor of "Aviation Weekly," and Bill Spaulding, director of Ground Saucer Watch, have accused the National Enquirer and the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) of perpetrating a hoax regarding the alleged abduction of Travis Walton. They claim evidence indicates the incident was a hoax and that Walton failed a polygraph test administered by John J. McCarthy. Klass suggested that Rogers, a contractor, may have used the UFO story to void a contract with the Forest Service.

Other Sightings and Incidents

Fireball Believed Meteor: In Los Angeles, a lecturer in astronomy at Griffith Park Observatory suggested a brilliant fireball that exploded over Northern California was a meteor possibly the size of a football.

Sky Lights Seen In Berlin: About 12 residents of Berlin, Pennsylvania, reported seeing five or six bright, yellowish-white lights in the eastern skies that appeared and disappeared at intervals.

UFO Reported Over Chico: A San Bernardino woman reported watching an unidentified flying object hover over Chico Municipal Airport during a fireworks display. She described it as triangular-shaped with a large white light that changed to green and red.

Another Near Gridley: Four men near Gridley, California, reported seeing an unidentified flying object that stopped, hovered, and then departed at a rapid speed. They described it as having two bright lights in front with "red lights on all four corners" and a large, blunt front end.

Strange Objects Seen Above Tooele: Eight witnesses in Tooele, Utah, reported seeing a series of disc-shaped flying objects in formation moving at high speed. Pastor Vernell Leeper described them as "fluorescent blue" at first, then a "yellowish glow."

Flying Object Spotted Here Said Man-Made: In Middletown, Connecticut, a Wesleyan astronomer, Jack MacConnell, studied a UFO that appeared over South Main Street. He concluded it was "definitely man-made" but "really strange," describing it as 15 to 30 feet long, shaped like a "garment bag" with a framework.

UFO Sighted Over Pine River: Heidi Stotzheim reported seeing an unidentified flying object with red lights near Pine River, Wisconsin.

Strange sky object puzzles UFO investigator: In Council Bluffs, Iowa, UFO investigator Ralph DeGraw expressed puzzlement after investigating a sighting of a strange object above Eldon's Standard Service Station. Witnesses reported an oblong object with windows and lights, and the station's wiring was reportedly burned out by an apparent lightning strike, though no lightning was reported.

UFO lights Levittown sky: In Levittown, Pennsylvania, about 20 people watched unidentified flying objects described as large, bright, oblong objects with flashing red and green lights. Witnesses reported the objects moved slowly and then shot to the side.

Silver UFO Frightens Counselor, 13 Campers: In Winsted, Connecticut, a counselor and 13 campers reported being scared away by a small flying saucer hovering over Blueberry Mountain. They described it as silver-colored, upside down saucer-shaped, and making a noise similar to feedback.

UFO sighted in Gastonia: A woman reported seeing a bright, yellow-green star-shaped object hovering over Gastonia, North Carolina.

A Sky Lights: A report from Kansas City, Kansas, describes lights seen in the sky that appeared and disappeared.

'Stars' Fell on County (1927): This section recounts a historical event from August 2, 1927, in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, where residents reported seeing "stars" fall from the sky, with some interpreting it as a religious miracle or a manifestation of Jesus Christ.

UFO Leaves 'Em at a Loss: Officials in Winstead, Connecticut, were unable to explain a reported sighting of a small flying saucer by 14 persons hiking on Blueberry Mountain.

Saucers in the Park: In Alexandria, Minnesota, Douglas County Deputy Scott Eustice and Jeff Banke reported observing a disc-shaped, lighted object hovering over Carlos State Park.

No Confirmation on UFO Sightings: A spokesman at Selfridge Air Force Base stated they could not confirm reports of unidentified flying objects in the Pontiac, Michigan area, and that the Air Force no longer investigates such reports.

UFO Sighting Stir National Interest: The director of the Connecticut Aerial Phenomena Research Organization began an investigation into a reported sighting of a flying saucer near Camp Delaware. The story received significant publicity.

The fireball: A report from Redlands, California, discusses a meteor shooting across the sky and the predictable calls to police from people who thought it had landed. It mentions Ron Orti at the Griffith Observatory as a knowledgeable source on meteors and fireballs.

UFO sighted: A report from Royal Oak, Michigan, mentions a sighting of a round object with spinning lights near Lake Franklin.

UFOs, France Awaits You!: The village of Ares, France, has installed what it believes is the world's first landing field for unidentified flying objects.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently presents witness testimony regarding UFO sightings, often highlighting the fear and confusion experienced by those who observe these phenomena. There is a clear interest in investigating and documenting these events. The inclusion of expert opinions, such as Klass and Spaulding's claims of a hoax, suggests an editorial stance that acknowledges skepticism while still prioritizing the reporting of sightings. The historical account from 1927 also indicates an interest in the long-standing nature of UFO phenomena and public fascination with them. The publication appears to be a platform for sharing and analyzing UFO reports from various sources.

This issue of the "UFO" magazine, dated August 13, 1976, focuses on a variety of unexplained phenomena, with a prominent cover story detailing a UFO sighting in Levittown, Pennsylvania. The magazine presents witness testimonies, potential explanations, and related reports from various locations.

Levittown UFO Sighting

The main cover story, "'UFO' lights Levittown sky as 20 believers watch," by Art Carey, details an event on Wednesday night where approximately 20 people in the North Park section of Falls Township, PA, witnessed unidentified flying objects. Patricia Stanec reported her son first alerted her to a bright, flashing light that changed from red to green. Later, she observed two large, bright objects moving slowly, then suddenly shooting sideways. She described one object as oblong-shaped and very bright, with another smaller one to its left. She also noted two or three smaller lights flashing red and green around the main objects. At one point, a large object flashed across the sky, appearing the size of the moon and colored like the moon. Mrs. Stanec described a frightening moment when two yellow lights, like headlights, approached, and the object appeared octagon-shaped with six or eight flashing green, blue, and yellow lights. Dennis Lewanowicz, another witness, spent five hours observing the UFO and taking pictures, noting that the object would hang in the sky for long periods before taking sudden shots sideways, up, and down.

Other witnesses in the Levittown area also reported sightings. Helen Lang saw a shaped dome with a revolving white light and two red lights. Edward Spears and Lilly Phillips described seeing two bright, white lights that were very low over homes and trees, appearing multi-colored and fluorescent. Spears noted the object was about 50 feet above the houses and moved slowly. Phillips stated there was no discernible shape and that it seemed like a plane at first.

Falls Township police reported receiving no reports of the sighting, nor were any recorded by the Franklin Institute's Fels Planetarium. Val M. Gonzales, assistant director of the planetarium, suggested the sighting might have been the Perseid meteor shower or noctilucent clouds. However, Mrs. Stanec expressed certainty that it was not a star and described it as "something unusual," looking like a "flying saucer."

Perseids Meteor Shower as a Possible Explanation

Another article, "Were Perseids Star Of UFO Show?" by Diane Curtis, explores the possibility that some sightings, particularly those occurring around August, could be attributed to the Perseid meteor shower. Allan Hendry, managing editor of the International UFO Reporter, suggested that Helen Lang's sighting, which occurred Thursday morning, was likely a Perseid meteor. He explained that the Perseid shower occurs annually between August 8 and 16, with up to 50 or 60 stars per hour appearing to shoot from Perseus. Hendry noted that while meteor showers and Jupiter can often be mistaken for UFOs, the descriptions provided by Spears and Phillips "doesn't sound like a meteor."

UFO Sightings in Other Locations

The magazine includes several brief reports of UFO sightings from other regions:

• Cape May, New Jersey: Robert D. Barry, Director of the 20th Century UFO Bureau, discussed the UFO question from a religious perspective, linking it to scripture. He also recounted a story from Dr. Q, a scientist affiliated with a secret CIA branch, about a crashed spacecraft in New Mexico in 1962. Inside, two deceased humanoids, 42 inches tall, were found. Their bodies were studied, and their breathing system was identified as nitrogen-based. Barry claimed that the material of their uniforms was advanced and could revolutionize the fabric industry.
• Spain: General Carlos Vavero, commanding officer of the Spanish Air Force in the Canary Islands, reported seeing a UFO hovering above the village of Sababa. He described it as giving off a brilliant light and traveling at extraordinary speed, covering 30 km in two seconds. He personally believes UFOs come from other planets. Dr. Francisco Padron corroborated the sighting, describing a round object emitting a blueish light and reporting seeing two tall figures dressed in bright red inside.
• England: A report from Stoney Close, Yateley, describes Bill Leith seeing two red lights in the sky during a thunderstorm, which he initially mistook for an airplane but later realized were two separate objects that veered off south.
• Sheffield, England: Families claimed their homes were "buzzed" by unidentified flying objects for nearly three weeks, describing glowing red cones that swooped at high speed. The Ministry of Defence has received similar reports.
• Japan: National Police Agency (NPA) staff members reported seeing an unidentified flying object circle the Imperial Palace for about 10 minutes. They described it as about 10 meters in diameter, colored brown or black, and changing shape from round to square and then to amoeba-like.
• Devon, England: Mrs. Mavis Carruthers recalled seeing a cigar-shaped object pulsating with brilliant light over South Devon in August 1967. Another witness in Torquay reported seeing an object too big and bright to be a star, which hovered and moved for about two hours.
• Tulse Hill, London: A sky-watching event was organized to observe UFOs and stars.
• Redruth, England: Approximately 90 children and three adults at Treleigh CP School watched a spherical object that resembled two dinner plates face to face, described as white and spinning.

Other Unexplained Phenomena

Beyond UFOs, the magazine also touches upon other mysterious occurrences:

• Bigfoot Sightings:
• In White Meadow Lake, New Jersey, boys reported seeing a large, hairy creature about 10 feet tall, described as black and hairy, with three toes. They chased it and found a footprint believed to be its.
• In the Rogue River National Forest, Oregon, Frieda Hayes and Patrick Kennedy Jr. reported seeing a creature they described as "Bigfoot" for about 20 minutes. They noted heavy breathing sounds and described the creature as about seven feet tall with broad shoulders, mimicking their movements.
• A report from Coos Bay, Oregon, suggests that alleged Bigfoot footprints found in a ravine were a hoax, created using a wooden foot replica for a film project.
• Cattle Mutilations:
• A report from Logan County, Colorado, details a series of confirmed cattle mutilations, with specific descriptions of surgical removal of body parts and lack of tracks. The total count for the county reached 51 confirmed incidents.
• Another report from Sterling, Colorado, describes a "classic mutilation" where an animal was found dead with a missing tongue, rectal area removed, and skin peeled away.
• Loch Ness Monster:
• John Robert-Blunn writes about his search for Loch Ness monster expert Tim Dinsdale, detailing his efforts to document evidence of the creature. Dinsdale has been researching for over 16 years and has written books on the subject. The article mentions Dinsdale's belief in the existence of the Loch Ness monster and other potential creatures in Loch Morar.
• The article also discusses photographs taken by Dinsdale and Frank Searle, which appear to show the head of a monster.
• Wisconsin Farm Pond 'Gator Hunt:
• In Monroe, Wisconsin, an alligator-like footprint, strange bellowing noises, and splashing in a farm pond have led to a search for a possible escaped alligator.
• Water Monster Reported:
• Fishermen near Fintry, British Columbia, reported seeing a large, blue-black creature estimated to be 40 to 60 feet long in Lake Okanagan, moving in a caterpillar-like fashion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the unexplained and the mysterious, with a strong emphasis on eyewitness testimony. The magazine appears to present these reports without immediate dismissal, allowing for the possibility of genuine phenomena beyond conventional understanding. There is a clear interest in UFOs, cryptids like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, and unexplained events such as cattle mutilations. The inclusion of scientific and official perspectives, even when offering skeptical explanations, suggests an attempt to balance reporting with critical analysis. The overall stance seems to be one of open inquiry into phenomena that challenge current knowledge, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond the ordinary.