UFO Newsclipping Service - 1976 10 - no 90

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated October 1976, presents a collection of recent UFO sightings and related news from across the United States. The publication focuses on eyewitness accounts, official confirmations, and ongoing investigations into unexplained aerial phenomena.

Key Articles and Reports

AF Confirms 'Radar Returns' On Night Of UFO Sightings

This article reports on the official confirmation from the U.S. Air Force's NORAD Combat Operation Center in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, regarding "radar returns" detected by the 754th Radar Squadron at Port Austin, Michigan. These returns occurred simultaneously with private citizens and police officers reporting sightings of bright, glowing objects. The objects reportedly changed color and shape, moving at incredible speeds. Two Huron Sheriff deputies observed the objects for several minutes, estimating altitudes from 40,000 feet down to 1,000 feet. One deputy attempted to photograph the objects. The radar returns were observed for approximately 30 minutes and posed no apparent threat. The Air Force statement noted that personnel also visually sighted lights in the sky. The article concludes that no plausible explanation has been given for the objects observed.

UFO Over Colusa? Bill Pecha's Story

This feature details the experience of Bill Pecha, Jr., a resident of Colusa, California, who reported seeing a large, unidentified flying object on a Friday night. During a power outage, Pecha observed a "huge glowing thing" hovering over his house, described as a "huge inverted cup and saucer" about 150 feet across and 10 to 18 feet high, emitting bluish light beams. He noted the object's outer brim spun clockwise and an inner disc spun counter-clockwise. Pecha reported feeling a strange sensation, as if the hair on his body was being pulled up. He also saw two smaller objects near a high power line. The objects made no noise and maneuvered at amazing speed. Pecha awakened his wife and children, who also witnessed the event. He drove into town to report the sighting, and the Arants, neighbors, also saw the object. The UFO reportedly headed toward the fairgrounds and disappeared in a southeasterly direction. Pecha's account is contrasted with a theory suggesting the power overload might have caused static electricity, but he dismisses this, emphasizing the terrifying reality of his experience.

UFO Sighting Ruled Bonafide

This report from Winsted, Connecticut, details an investigation by Paula Holmes, president of the Northwest Connecticut Chapter of APRO, into a July 28 UFO sighting. Holmes determined the sighting by 14 persons, including young hikers from Camp Delaware and a counselor, to be "bonafide" and possibly involving a robot-controlled disc. The object was described as saucer-shaped and was observed hovering on Blueberry Hill. No physical traces like imprints or scorched vegetation were found. The object ascended vertically and disappeared rapidly. Copies of the report are being sent to APRO headquarters and other UFO study centers. Holmes speculated the object might have been "prospecting" for magnesium, a component found in the hill's composition.

'Martian' practical joke gets pair day in court

This brief report from Owensboro, Kentucky, describes Bernard Wink and Bonnye Bell Bacon, who dressed as Martians and played a prank on a friend. They were charged with violating a city ordinance for wearing masks and sentenced to 20 hours of volunteer work.

Ball of fire: Was it UFO?

This article from Yakima, Washington, discusses sightings of a flaming object streaking across the sky. Firemen and the Ellensburg state patrol received numerous inquiries. The object was described as having a bright-orange "head" with a tail of flames and was seen flying below cloud cover at an estimated altitude of 2,500 feet. Sightings were reported as far south as Utah.

UFOs cavort above Helena

This report from Helena, Montana, details multiple UFO sightings over the weekend. Reports included a flaming object that broke up and dropped into hills, and a "wedge-shaped UFO" with colored lights hovering over the Broadwater Hotel before zooming off. Law enforcement agencies theorized the flaming object might have been a meteor.

Policemen Claim UFO Spotted Here

Three individuals, including two Greenwich policemen, reported seeing an unidentified flying object over Glenville, Connecticut. The object was described as changing colors from red to green to white. Police reported the sighting to the UFO Sighting Hotline.

Regional sightings cheer UFO watcher

This article from Bellaire, Michigan, highlights the work of John Shepherd, founder of "Operation STRAT," a UFO tracking station. Shepherd received reports of a large round object with pulsating lights seen hovering and darting near Manton and Bellaire. He believes these sightings might indicate a breakthrough in contacting extraterrestrial life, as his station emits radio signals designed to attract UFOs.

UFOs over Laramie?

Two boys in Laramie, Wyoming, reported seeing a bright, white light hovering over the University of Wyoming campus. The light was stationary for about five minutes and then moved faster than commercial airplanes. The FAA stated that stars or satellites can sometimes produce similar effects.

Police Site UFO Near Prineville

Oregon State Police reported a UFO sighting southeast of Ochoco Reservoir. An immediate search yielded nothing. The object was described as a meteor, satellite, or other phenomenon. The FAA received multiple calls but stated no planes were unaccounted for.

Meteor 'like 727 going down in flames'

This report from Seattle, Washington, describes a meteor streaking across the sky, observed by air traffic control towers. A wheat farmer described it as looking like a "727 going down in flames."

UFO Reappears, Week After It First Sighted

This article from Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee, reports a second sighting of a mysterious lighted object in the sky, one week after the initial sighting by deputies and police. The object was described as tiny, with a flashing light, and visible for only one hour, compared to two hours the previous week.

UFOs here in Green County?

This report from Green County, Wisconsin, discusses recent UFO reports, including a "bicentennial UFO" that allegedly followed a car, and another sighting near New Glarus. The article questions whether these sightings are a result of Mars exploration or imagination.

2 report sighting UFO

Two residents of Racine, Wisconsin, reported seeing a cigar-shaped object hovering near the Civil Air Patrol building. The brightly colored object had two pillars extending upward and three blinking lights. It hovered for about three minutes before leaving the area.

Flying Saucers Land at Archives

This article announces that the National Archives has transferred Air Force UFO reports, known as Project Blue Book, to microfilm. The material includes 42 cubic feet of records, photographs, and sound recordings. The project was terminated in 1969 after studying over 12,600 sightings, with 701 remaining unresolved.

Deputies spot UFO-like lights over D.M. area

This report from Des Moines, Iowa, describes strange lights seen by Polk County sheriff's deputies and a high school football coach. The lights were described as green and red sparkles around a white strobe light, stationary for at least 20 minutes. The deputies contacted UFO Central for information. A spokesman for the National Weather Service suggested it might have been a commercial airplane, but the lights remained visible for hours.

Merged man puts 'nugget' from space to the real test

This article details Tom McCully's discovery of a golf-ball-sized object in the high Sierra, which he believes might be from a UFO. The object, non-magnetic and not detectable by a metal detector, was sent for testing. Initial results from the University of Chicago's Argonne Laboratory indicated it was 90.4 percent iron, a finding that scientists found perplexing as such a composition is theoretically impossible under normal conditions. NASA has also expressed interest in examining the object.

Tests show space nugget 'can't exist'

This follow-up article reports on the mysterious 'nugget' found by Tom McCully. Laboratory tests revealed it to be 90.4 percent iron, a composition that scientists find impossible. The nugget has been tested by the University of Chicago's Argonne Laboratory, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is next. NASA is also interested. The material is described as extremely hard but brittle.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different regions of the United States and Canada, the persistent reporting of these phenomena by ordinary citizens and law enforcement, and the ongoing efforts to investigate and document these events. The publication appears to maintain a neutral stance, presenting eyewitness accounts and official statements without explicit endorsement or dismissal, while also highlighting scientific investigations and the archiving of historical UFO data. The editorial stance leans towards documenting the phenomenon and encouraging further inquiry, as evidenced by the inclusion of contact information for UFO reporting centers and the archiving of Project Blue Book files.

This issue of the magazine focuses on UFO sightings, with the main cover story detailing a series of events in Huron County, Michigan, in September 1976. The article, titled "UFOs are showing up once more," reports on multiple sightings by local residents, including law enforcement officers and U.S. Airmen, who observed unusual aerial phenomena.

UFOs in Huron County, Michigan

The primary focus is on a 10th-year event of UFO sightings in Huron County. On September 8, 1976, two deputies and two U.S. Airmen witnessed what they described as "blazing, darting, color-changing blobs of light" for at least 90 minutes. This followed similar phenomena reported in 1956 and 1966. While some witnesses described the objects as resembling stars without color, others believed they might harbor visitors from another planet.

More exciting events occurred when pulsating blobs of light were seen hovering over Lake Huron. Officials from the 305th Aero Space Rescue and Recovery Squadron of the Air National Guard at Selfridge Air Force Base explained these as part of a night rescue practice. However, the initial report from September 8, supported by Huron County deputies Gregory Gordon and Gary V. Krug, and alerted by Carl A. Bailey and Ms. Becky Gish, was considered the most "explicit UFO report ever in our country" by the sheriff's department.

Deputy Gordon's report detailed an incident at 3 a.m. when the radar squadron reported "unidentified objects on the screen" over Lake Huron. Maj. Richard W. White, station information officer, stated that their scope covers hundreds of square miles and may have many "UFOs" on screen at any time. He clarified that Port Austin is a radar station and cannot scramble fighter planes. The information from the deputies was telephoned to command headquarters in Duluth, Minn., where it was deemed not a serious problem.

Deputy Gordon also reported that while en route to the scene, they were informed of a burglar alarm malfunction on the base, which had never happened before. In his report, Gordon described observing a bright light in the sky with a round shape that changed color and shape, descending rapidly before returning to its original height and moving at unbelievable speed.

Deputy Krug described the experience as exciting and stated that the airmen confirmed the objects were on the radar screen and they didn't know what they were. He expressed wonder about what might be out there.

Carl Bailey reported that UFOs had been hovering over his campground every night since September 7, describing one large, bright one and a formation of smaller UFOs. He theorized that the UFOs are fast and their operators are advanced.

Lights in Sky Puzzle - Lake Ontario

Another section reports on strange lights seen over Lake Ontario, with 500 calls received by Reptune Research Centre. Harry Tokarz, a spokesman, stated that 90 sightings of a bright, white object were reported on one Monday night alone. He described these lights as "definitely not commercial aircraft" and cataloged them as unidentified. A Toronto executive reported seeing an object that grew a white tail, turned orange, then red, and vanished.

Foreign News - UFO Sightings Abroad

The magazine also includes several reports from international news sources:

• England: A report from the Aberdeen Press and Journal (August 3, 1976) details a sighting in Aboyne where Mr. Gordon McIntosh and children observed a silver, rectangular object with no wings or tail fin, emitting a low humming sound. A letter to the Herts Advertiser (August 13, 1976) describes a sighting of an unidentified flying object over St. Albans on a Monday evening, noting its straight course and slight zig-zagging.
• England: The Barnstaple, North Devon Journal-Herald (August 12, 1976) reports on a "Mystery UFO Seen Again In Sky" near Chittlehampton, described by Gunter and Phyllis Richthofen.
• Spain: An article discusses over one hundred sightings of "flying saucers" in Spain over the past year, including a report from General Carlos Cavero, chief of the Spanish Air Force, who described an object giving off a brilliant light and traveling at extraordinary speed.
• USA: Reports from various U.S. locations include a sighting in Torquay, England (Torquay Herald Express, September 6, 1976), where a couple reported a strange rotating light. A report from Japan (Japan Times, August 18, 1976) details France opening its first "UFOport" in Bordeaux. Another report from Japan (The Daily Yomiuri, September 7, 1976) describes an unidentified flying object over Tokyo.
• USA: A report from Falmouth, England (Falmouth Packet, August 20, 1976) details an "elderly couple" sighting a "great glittering exclamation mark in the sky."

Bigfoot and Other Cryptids

The magazine also includes several articles on Bigfoot and other cryptids:

• Bigfoot Tracks 'Hoax' in Canada: An article from Coos Bay, Oregon (The World, August 26, 1976) details how four Marshfield High School seniors admitted to faking Bigfoot tracks as a class project.
• Bigfoot Eludes Expedition in Canada: A United Press International report (September 3, 1976) discusses an expedition in Northern British Columbia searching for Bigfoot, noting the difficulty in finding traces of the legendary Sasquatch.
• Eagle Lake Possesses 'Monster': A report from The Roundup (August 25, 1976) mentions a Loch Ness monster-like creature sighted in Eagle Lake, California.
• 'Big Foot' reported in area: An article from Worthington, Minnesota (Globe, September 1, 1976) discusses a sighting of a six-foot-tall, hairy creature near Ocheyedan, Iowa, and the discovery of large footprints.
• Reader: sighting of 'Big Foot' was not a joke: A letter to the editor from Mrs. Howard Radunz of Ocheyedan, Iowa, defends her son's sighting of Bigfoot.
• Pair of hairy creatures spotted in San Antonio: A UPI report (September 2, 1976) mentions two families asking wildlife officials to address two "awkward, hairy creatures" in their neighborhood.
• Marietta resident says Sasquatch was sighted: A report from Bellingham, Washington (Herald, August 4, 1976) details a Marietta resident's sighting of a 7 1/2-foot, husky, black creature.
• IN FOCUS: 'I'd Heard About Bigfoot. There He Was Watching Me': A Washington Star Staff Writer (August 1, 1976) recounts a personal experience of a man named Al who claims to have seen Bigfoot in the Mt. Jefferson wilderness.
• 'Bigfoot' hotfoots it out of Hills: A report from Somerville, New Jersey (Courier-News, August 19, 1976) discusses a "mysterious 'bigfoot'" that youngsters claimed to have heard in the woods, with the discovery of 17-inch footprints.
• Yowie! has Aussies stumped: An article discusses the Yowie, an Australian cryptid, with reports of strange three-toed footprints and sightings of the creature.
• Therapist hunts 'Thing' in N.C. that makes vicious dogs cower: A UPI report (August 5, 1976) details Jim Hollingsworth's investigation into reports of a seven-foot-tall, ape-like creature in Eastern North Carolina.
• Vigilantes roam in Logan, Ohio - Mutilation alarms town: A report from Toronto, Ontario (Star, September 15, 1976) discusses fears and vigilante activities in Logan, Ohio, following a series of animal mutilations.
• Horse mutilated in Martin County: A report from Fairmont, Minnesota (Sentinel, August 10, 1976) details the mutilation of a horse in Martin County.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and the persistent mystery surrounding them, alongside reports of other unexplained phenomena and cryptids like Bigfoot and the Yowie. The magazine presents a variety of witness accounts, expert opinions, and news reports from different regions, highlighting the global nature of these phenomena. While some articles debunk hoaxes or offer scientific explanations, others emphasize the unexplained aspects and the enduring public fascination with these mysteries. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena, presenting different perspectives without necessarily taking a definitive stance, but acknowledging the widespread interest and the lack of conclusive answers in many cases.