UFO Newsclipping Service - 1977 06 - no 98

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, Number 98, dated June 1977, published by CUFONI, focuses on a variety of UFO sightings and related phenomena reported from around the world, with a particular emphasis on incidents in Chile and the United States. The cover headline highlights a soldier's five-day ordeal with a UFO, while other articles delve into mysteries baffling space experts and specific sightings.

Soldier Loses 5 Days to UFO

An Associated Press report from Santiago, Chile, details the strange experience of Cpl. Armando Valdes, a Chilean soldier who claims to have lost five days after investigating a UFO. While on patrol in the desert country, two bright objects descended. Valdes went to investigate one that landed near the camp and vanished for fifteen minutes, reappearing unconscious. His watch showed only 4:30 a.m. when he reappeared, despite it being 7 a.m. The date on his watch had advanced five days, and he had grown a week's worth of beard. He reportedly said, "You do not know who we are, nor where we come from. But I tell you that we will soon return."

Skeptics and Further Sightings in Chile

Following Valdes's account, dozens of other unidentified flying objects were reported across Chile. Skeptics suggested desert mirages, but other sightings occurred in various regions. Oscar Bravo, a radio announcer from Punta Arenas, described seeing two bright orange objects emitting a strong light that moved rapidly and opened like a 'v' before disappearing over the straits. Passengers on a bus in southern Chile also reported seeing a similar object. Witnesses estimated the objects' size at about 12 feet in diameter, often described as round or oval like a "huge wagon wheel."

Man Says he Saw a UFO at Silver Lake

John Dunaway Jr. of Marianna, Florida, reported seeing a UFO on Easter Sunday at Silver Lake. While taking photographs, he saw a "silver, whitish streak" and captured it on film. After taking the picture, he saw nothing unusual. However, the developed photograph clearly showed the object, with a dark spot in the water resembling its shadow and a thin white haze around it, possibly heat or radiation. Dunaway stated the object made no sound.

Colombian Pilot Says He Was Blinded By UFO

An Associated Press report from Bogota, Colombia, states that a pilot claimed he was blinded by an unidentified flying object. The pilot circled Bogota for two hours in his single-engine plane before being helped to land and taken to a hospital. Four planes were dispatched to guide him safely.

Spacemen Touch Down in W. Pitt

Three 14-year-old boys from West Pittsburg, California, claimed to have seen a "flying saucer" from which three "human shaped" figures materialized. The boys, Lenny Young, Pat Morrison, and George Ferreira, were reportedly frightened and agreed to take a lie detector test. The incident occurred in a marshy field. The figures were described as shrouded in a fog-like substance.

UFO Sightings Stir Up Colusans

Colusa residents have been reporting UFO sightings. One incident on a Wednesday night involved Gregg Dowden seeing a bright yellow light in the sky. A more detailed sighting on March 22 described an oblong disc, about 35-40 feet across, flying at high speed. Bill Bryant and his wife reported seeing the craft emit a bright blue light through its windows.

Thing in the Sky Alarms Bronx

Dozens of Bronx residents reported seeing a sphere of spinning lights over the Throgs Neck Bridge. Police received numerous calls from perplexed residents. Officials at LaGuardia Airport could not explain the sighting.

Memphis UFO Sighting

Five Memphis law enforcement officers reported sighting a huge, triangular object with red and green blinking lights hovering about 200 feet off the ground. The object was described as standing on its edge and emitting a white glow. It moved at high speed, disappearing quickly. Air traffic controllers confirmed tracking a target but had no radio communication with it and it did not show up on radar.

'Majesty About the Whole Thing'

The Robert Coffey family of Pleasanton reported seeing a UFO on March 13. Robert Coffey, who has a background in weather observation, described the object as immense, estimated at 10,000 tons and 100-125 feet long, hovering silently. He felt a sense of "majesty about the whole thing" and believed it was under intelligent control.

Well, Maybe It Was A High-Altitude Balloon

An investigator from the Center for UFO Studies suggested that a UFO sighted over the Quad-Cities was likely a high-altitude balloon, ruling out outer space visitors. Allen Hendry noted that while air controllers detected a blip on radar, it was attributed to a light aircraft. He explained that many research balloons are released, making them difficult to track.

Like a Ship Suspended in Air

This article continues the account of the Robert Coffey family's sighting. Charlene Coffey heard a humming sound before seeing "blinding lights." They described the object as having a bell-shaped outline with three lights forming a triangle. It moved silently and effortlessly. Bobby Coffey described it as "sleeker than that" and saw it turn vertical, which amazed him. The family felt exhilarated by the experience.

UFO Sightings Continue But Not In Erie Area

Erie Police Captain Walter Tofel speculated that the lack of UFO sightings in the Erie area might be due to ice on windshields. However, Robert L. Cowell of the Pennsylvania Center for UFO Research disagreed, stating that at least one sighting in Punxsutawney was "genuine." Cowell noted that the federal government might still be investigating UFOs, despite official project closures.

Carter's UFO Is Evening Star

Robert Sheaffer, a UFO debunker, identified a UFO seen by Jimmy Carter in 1969 as the planet Venus. He based this on the planet's brightness and position at the time of the sighting reported by Katy Bowser, who described two large headlights that turned into a bright blue light.

UFO or Airplane?

This section discusses a sighting by Rick Aldridge near Lost Nation Airport in Willoughby, Ohio. Aldridge and others saw a V-shaped formation of orange-yellow lights. A control tower operator classified it as an aircraft, but witnesses insisted it was unusual.

UFO Sightings Reported Here

Anchorage, Alaska, saw reports of bright objects hovering together, confirmed by the FAA and an airline crew. Air traffic controller Terry Siegrist first spotted four objects on radar, which then stopped, accelerated, and zipped east. A Northwest Orient pilot reported seeing one bright object at high altitude.

Was UFO Hovering Over City?

Karl Gillard of City Police in Lake Charles, Louisiana, reacted to a sighting of a large, bright red "spot" hovering over the city. About 20 calls were received from concerned residents.

Do UFOs Fly In Colorado?

This article details reports of "Big Mama" and a smaller "baby UFO" observed in Logan County, Colorado, since November. The objects are linked to cattle mutilations. Sheriff Harry L. "Tex" Graves is investigating, exchanging information with officials in 20 other states. "Big Mama" can change shape and color, and the "baby UFO" emerges from it. The objects hover and move at high speeds. "Pot marks" found near mutilated cattle are also discussed, with reports of strange lights preceding the incidents.

The Logan County UFO

This section includes photographs taken by Bill Jackson for the Gazette Telegraph, showing "Big Mama" and its "babies." The images depict elongated lights, pinwheel effects, and round lights with unexplained tentacled lights. The objects are described as frequently sighted in Logan County.

More Than One Witnessed UFO

Mrs. Nancy Allocco of Harding Township reported seeing a large, glowing, motionless object in the sky, similar to a sighting by Miss Leslie Hendricks. Hendricks described an "oversized moon, glowing orange red" that flashed across the sky. Vestiga, a local organization, is investigating these reports.

Woman Confirms March 10 Sighting of UFO's Here

Mrs. George Johnson of Fallston confirmed seeing four flying saucers on March 10, corroborating an earlier report. She described them as "definitely saucer-shaped" and noted they made no noise. State Police had previously attributed similar sightings to helicopters.

Sky's Night Lights Puzzle Witness

Pat Thompson, a high school senior from Enfield, reported witnessing a formation of about 20 glowing objects making "strange shapes" in the evening sky. The objects formed diamond, arrow, and wedge shapes before disappearing. Police suggested it might have been an ambulance, but Thompson discounted this.

Meteorite Possible UFO... City Man Says

A Charleston man, Donald Vaughan, believes a bright, flashing object seen by residents was a meteorite, not a UFO. He and his wife observed the object while traveling. However, Dan Isaac, a science teacher, believes it could still be a UFO, having recorded sightings for 14 years.

UFO center probing area reports

The Pennsylvania Center for UFO Research is investigating reports of a brilliant object that disintegrated in a shower of sparks in McKean County. A St. Bonaventure University professor suggested the phenomenon might be atmospheric. Reports from Clearfield County described an unusual missile. The center director noted that 90 percent of such reports are identifiable.

UFO shocked police captain

An East Cleveland police captain, George Williams, reported seeing a UFO over Lake County. He described it as a "huge glowing thing" and initially thought it was a blimp. He estimated the object's altitude and speed, noting four orangish lights and a red light. Cleveland approach control radar tracked a target but had no radio communication. Other witnesses also reported similar sightings.

UFO sighted

An unidentified flying object was reported in Jackson, Wyoming, described as a silvery, oblong disc with a fluttering tail. Police officer Robert Russell could not identify it. A reporter from KIRX described it as "like a big comet, bright, silverish, with a long tail." The object was later identified by the Idaho Falls Flight Service as a balloon released from Aberdeen, South Dakota.

UFO sightings reported here

This section covers multiple sightings: a pilot in Anchorage reported a bright object flying at 60,000 feet; air traffic controllers confirmed observing four blips on radar that moved unusually. A sighting in Lake Charles, Louisiana, involved a large, bright red "spot" hovering over the city.

UFO data collection is rejected

State senators rejected a proposal to allocate $2,400 to Kearney State College for a UFO data collection service. The proposal was voted down 2-26.

Growing Conflict Stirs the World of U.F.O.'s

This article discusses the conflict between scientists and lay "ufologists" at the First International Congress on the U.F.O. Phenomenon in Acapulco. Scientists acknowledge unusual phenomena, while ufologists focus on extraterrestrial beings. Dr. J. Allen Hynek noted the urge to find pseudoscientific explanations. The article mentions the growing membership of belief groups and rising scientific interest, but also the embarrassment scientists feel due to the sensationalism.

Muddying the Watre

Dr. Hynek stated that "religious nuts muddy the waters" and that people seek pseudoscientific explanations. He believes UFOs are proof of extraterrestrial intelligence. The Rev. Salvador Freixedo believes UFOs are related to parapsychological phenomena.

A Pattern in Sightings

Dr. Hynek and Dr. Jacques Vallee identified patterns in sightings: occurring between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., in uninhabited regions, clear weather, by people of all ages. Daytime sightings often involve disc or cigar-like forms, while nighttime sightings are fast, erratically moving lights.

U.F.O. Buffs Want U.S. Help

Frustrated by lack of progress, UFO enthusiasts are pressing the U.S. government to open its files. They claim the CIA and armed forces are suppressing information. They are encouraged by rumors of President Carter's interest in UFOs and hope for a more open policy.

#### Project Blue Book

Project Blue Book, the Air Force's UFO study from 1952-1969, registered 12,000 sightings but never accepted extraterrestrial origins. Dr. Allen Hynek, a consultant, called it a "cover-up" with no scientific approach, where the "party line was that all sightings were misperceptions."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings across diverse locations, the ongoing debate between scientific investigation and ufological speculation, and the persistent mystery surrounding these phenomena. The magazine presents numerous witness accounts, often highlighting the unusual characteristics of the observed objects and the bewilderment of those who see them. There's an underlying tone of seeking explanations, whether through scientific inquiry, government disclosure, or the acknowledgment of the unexplained. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these events and the surrounding discussions without definitively endorsing any single explanation, while also acknowledging the growing public interest and the challenges faced by researchers.

This issue of the magazine, dated May 9, 1977, features a prominent cover story titled "Sprinkle Expects Increase In Soviet UFO Sightings" by Tom Callaghan. The issue also includes articles on a Wellsville police chief's UFO sighting, a UFO rattling a TV antenna in Lake Helen, Florida, and various other UFO and cryptid-related reports from across the United States and internationally.

Key Articles and Reports

Sprinkle Predicts Soviet UFO Surge

Dr. Leo Sprinkle, a UFO investigator and psychologist from the University of Wyoming, predicts a significant increase in Soviet UFO sightings in 1977. He bases this prediction on a pattern of UFO concentration that has shifted globally in five-year cycles since 1947. Sprinkle categorizes UFO sightings into five types, with the fifth being the most concerning: actual spacecraft from alien or hidden civilizations. He notes that while 98% of sightings have natural explanations, thousands remain unexplained. Sprinkle also questions whether all of Project Blue Book's findings have been released to the public, suggesting some unexplained cases might have been kept secret.

Wellsville Police Chief Spots UFO

Ron Orton, chief of the Wellsville Police Department, reported seeing a bright white, automobile-sized object moving erratically in the sky about 50 miles east of Wellsville. A staff member from the UFO Reporting Center in Seattle suggested the object was the planet Venus, explaining its apparent movements as possibly due to cloud activity or eye distortion. The center also receives many calls from alarmed observers mistaking Venus for a UFO. Orton expressed a wish not to see such an object again.

UFO Rattles TV Antenna Atop Mobile Home

In Lake Helen, Florida, Mrs. Leonard Twidt reported her TV antenna shaking violently and observed bright lights through her bedroom window shades. Rushing outside, she saw a huge round object with flashing colored lights moving slowly at tree-top height. Her husband, Leonard, only caught a partial view as it disappeared. The couple regrets not calling neighbors to verify the sighting, though neighbors attest to the Twidts' credibility.

UFOs Don't Seem To Like Montgomery County

This article reports that Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, receives very few UFO reports, with Norristown Police and State Police at Limerick seldom receiving any. However, the Pennsylvania Center for UFO Research in Westmoreland County frequently receives reports. Burton Woods of Clearfield County described a high-pitched whining object, unlike anything he had seen before. He managed to snap two photographs, which were turned over to the Pennsylvania Center for UFO Research. Joan Jeffers, executive director of the center, believes Woods saw an unidentified craft and noted that symptoms like headaches and fatigue are typical after close encounters. The article also mentions a recent wave of sightings in the Punxsutawney-Dubois area. The Pennsylvania Center for UFO Research, staffed by volunteers, has over 1,200 UFO reports on file and studies the psychological, physical, and medical aspects of alleged encounters. Jeffers notes that about 53% of U.S. citizens believe in UFOs, and many claim to have been contacted or taken aboard craft.

Officer Calls UFO 'Work Of The Lord'

In Taylorsville, Mississippi, Officer Steve Sasser reported seeing a strange object near the Leaf River Bridge. He described it as oblong, with a whitish glow, moving up and down without sound. Sasser, who previously did not believe in UFOs, now does, calling the object "the Lord's work."

Earth Invaded by G.I. Joe

This is a humorous report from New York about a UFO landing in Manhattan. Two policemen found a metal object shaped like a cone with a yellow powder circle and a tiny, humanoid body. The "creature" turned out to be a G.I. Joe doll, and the "capsule" was dismantled into two tape recorders and wire. The hoax occurred across the street from Baker Field.

Tusseyville Resident Reports UFO Sighting

A Tusseyville man reported seeing a bright light traveling fast and low to the ground, which turned blue and sped out of sight. His wife also saw the object.

Bright red object over South Bay

Callers reported a bright red object in the sky over South Bay. Descriptions varied, including oval-shaped, tree-shaped, and round with white lights. UFO sighting centers could not confirm the presence, though pilots also reported seeing "something."

UFO Was Seen Here By 11 People On Same Evening

In Harford County, Maryland, eleven residents reported seeing four objects, one red and three white, flying low to the ground with a humming sound. The objects were described as saucer-shaped and flying close to the ground, separating and moving in different directions.

Many UFO Sightings In 4 State Area Investigated

Robert D. Barry, director of the 20th Century UFO Bureau, reported a mild wave of UFO sightings in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. In Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania, a "burning ball of fire" was reported, with evidence suggesting a UFO landing and subsequent fire on Robert L. Brown's property. Mr. Barry believes a UFO may have landed, causing indentations in the ground. A Geiger counter reading was elevated in the burnt area. Military helicopters were also seen investigating the site.

Foreign News: More UFO Sightings

Chased by a flying football: In Pembrokeshire, Wales, Mrs. Josephine Hewison reported seeing a 40-foot flying saucer parked next to her greenhouse. Pauline Coombes and her family reported being chased for over a mile by a "flying football" described as a yellow ball with a torch-like beam. Mr. Peter Burford also reported seeing a thin orange-red light.

UFO just a lot of hot air: In Hawthorn, Australia, a weather balloon is believed to have caused a UFO sighting. Mrs. Fay Anderson described an object much higher than a helicopter, not balloon-shaped, but rectangular with ripples and flashes of light. A spokesman for the Weather Bureau suggested that with good visibility, the balloon could have been seen.

What Is Known About UFOs?

This section features quotes from various scientists and experts on UFOs. Dr. Carlton Coon, Dr. Louise Jilek Aall, Dr. Grover Krantz, and Dr. Majorie Halpin discuss Sasquatch and the possibility of academic study of monsters. Dr. J. Allen Hynek expresses frustration with the dismissal of UFO evidence and plans to re-examine the Condon Report. Carl Sagan notes that while interstellar travel is possible, there's no indisputable proof of UFO visitation. Phillip Morrison emphasizes the need for high reliability and exoticness in UFO claims.

When President Carter Saw A Flying Saucer

This article recounts a sighting by American schoolboys in Connecticut of a saucer-shaped object hovering above Blueberry Mountain. It also mentions Dr. Allen Hynek's criticism of the suppression of UFO evidence and his involvement with Steven Spielberg's film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The article also touches on General Carlos Cavero's admission of seeing a UFO and the Condon Report's conclusion that UFOs are not a threat to security.

Mystery

This section briefly mentions the mystery of Montauroux, France, where land was left flattened after UFO sightings, and discusses the tendency to "explain away" strange phenomena.

Official

This brief section notes that the Condon committee rejected a report because it did not reach them through official channels.

Three Men See UFO

Three men in Wagga, Australia, reported seeing an unidentified flying object with a short flame trailing behind it, moving across the western sky. They described it as surrounded by lights and disappearing over the horizon.

Police Seeking 'Vampire'

In Lauderhill, Florida, an individual dressed as a vampire has been scaring elementary school children. Police are searching for the person.

Sasquatches Head the Agenda

This article previews an upcoming academic conference on monsters, including Sasquatch, to be held at the University of British Columbia. Speakers will include Dr. Carlton Coon, Dr. Louise Jilek Aall, and Dr. Grover Krantz. The conference aims to bring academic attention to the study of monsters.

Sasquatch Sighting Was Elaborate Hoax

Four individuals confessed to orchestrating a Sasquatch sighting in Vancouver, Canada, using a monkey suit and shoulder pads. They aimed to fool passengers on a bus, and the hoax involved planting a phony witness.

Bigfoot Lobbies His Case

In Salem, Oregon, the House voted to provide protection for Bigfoot. The measure urges educational institutions to document Bigfoot's existence and habits and asks state agencies to establish procedures for encounters.

Bullet for Bigfoot?

Dennis Gates, a Sasquatch researcher, believes the mystery of Bigfoot will end with the first hunter who successfully shoots one. He suggests that scientists will then want to study the carcass. Gates, a former bear hunter, has researched Sasquatch full-time since retiring from the phone company.

No clear evidence Bigfoot searchers probe Sites farm

Investigators from the Society for the Investigation of the Unknown (SITU) and Vestigia are clashing over the investigation of a "Bigfoot sighting" in Wantage, New Jersey. Six members of a family reported seeing a seven-foot-tall creature with long hair and red, glowing eyes. Investigators found dead rabbits and hairs, but preliminary examination suggests they may be from small animals.

Florida protects 'skunk ape'

Florida has passed a measure to protect the "skunk ape," Florida's version of Bigfoot or Sasquatch, making it a misdemeanor to harm or molest the creature.

Does Newaygo County lake harbor sea monster?

Lydia Briggs of Newayga County, Michigan, believes she saw a 30-foot creature with a long black neck and two humps in Nichols Lake five years ago. Wildlife biologists are skeptical, but the lake's depth and remote location could provide hiding places. The U.S. Forest Service is scheduled to survey the lake with electronic detection equipment.

Lowell Man Flees Hollis After Sighting 'Monster'

A man identified as Mr. St. Louis reported seeing a 10-foot-tall hairy animal with "human-like" features shaking his pickup truck at the Hollis Flea Market. He fled to the police station and has not been seen since. Police suspect a bear.

Boat Sinks, Man Missing

A 23-year-old Lynnwood man is missing after his pleasure boat sank near Mukilteo. His wife was hospitalized for exposure and chill. The boat sank rapidly after the engine stalled.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), cryptids like Bigfoot and Sasquatch, and other unexplained phenomena. There's a clear interest in presenting witness accounts and expert opinions, ranging from scientific analysis to more skeptical viewpoints. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, acknowledging the existence of unexplained events while also presenting rational explanations and debunking hoaxes. The inclusion of diverse reports from different regions suggests a broad scope of interest in the paranormal and anomalous.