UFO Newsclipping Service - 1980 04 - no 129

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated April 1980 (Number 129), presents a collection of reports on unidentified flying objects (UFOs) from various locations in the United States and Canada. The publication is co-edited by Lucius Farish and Rod B. Dyke and distributed by U.F.O. Newsclipping Service from Plummerville, Arkansas.

UFO Sighting Shocks Tylerites

The lead article, "UFO Sighting Shocks Tylerites," by Pat Record, details the experience of David and Kathy McBurnett of Tyler, Texas. They claim that on November 26, 1976, while driving back from Dallas, they saw a bright white, triangular, grayish object with red lights on either side hovering over trees. The object moved along the highway, appearing to float like a balloon, and at one point hovered over their truck. They felt they might have been abducted and were considering regressive hypnotism to recover memories. David's brother, Mark, and a friend, Randy Baker, also reported seeing a similar object in a field later that night.

Unexplained light in sky is sighted

This section reports on a sighting by Undersheriff Scott Griffiths of Phillips County, Kansas, who observed an orange light in the western sky for about 15 minutes. Logan city marshall Jim Morrison also reported a similar orange light moving about a week prior during a meteor shower.

'Large, Bright' UFO Seen Near Base

An article from the Alabama Journal (February 19, 1980) describes an unidentified flying object seen near Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Security Sgt. James Hall and others reported a "large, bright light" with red and blue flashes hovering near the base, visible until around 1:45 a.m. Flight Control personnel also tracked a target on radar moving northwest toward Prattville Airport.

In Eastern Loudoun

"UFO's Are Spotted" by Clayton Roberts in the Loudoun Times-Mirror (January 24, 1980) covers several sightings in eastern Loudoun, Virginia. Residents reported seeing bright lights and large, cone-shaped or oval crafts. Authorities like Robert Logan from the Dulles control tower stated they could not identify the objects on radar, and local police referred callers to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Five local bank employees sight UFO on Hwy. 205

An article from the Times, Jackson, KY (February 14, 1980), reports that five bank employees in Wolfe County saw an oval-shaped object with white, red, blue, and green lights on Highway 205. They described it as silent and moving across the highway.

More UFO Sightings Reported

Donna Pugh's article in the Northern Virginia Daily (January 25, 1980) compiles reports from the Tidewater area, including sightings by Virginia Beach families and police officers in Suffolk and Portsmouth. The objects were described as large, box-shaped, and brightly lit. A police spokesperson suggested the planet Venus might be responsible for some sightings.

Woman says she saw object in western sky

This article from The Spokesman, Redmond, OR (February 20, 1980), features an anonymous woman who reported seeing a bright object in the western sky, described as pinkish-red and yellow, or blue, brighter than normal. This sighting occurred on the same night Don and Edith Winters reported seeing a similar object.

UFO Burgers - Out of This World?

This article from the Gazette, Charleston, WV (January 28, 1980), discusses numerous sightings of strange lights over Ansted, West Virginia, since December 5. The local "Sandwich Hut" has even introduced "UFO Burgers." Residents describe objects resembling a "mother ship" and smaller "scout craft." City Police Chief Jim Hall acknowledges the reports but believes they have been exaggerated, attributing some sightings to bright stars.

Close Encounter at SB? Lawmen track down UFO

The Star Herald, Scotts Bluff, NE (March 8, 1980), reports on law enforcement officers tracking a UFO in Gering, Nebraska. A Gering woman reported a bright light over the Scotts Bluff National Monument that split into two and then rejoined. Officers and a park ranger observed the object, which was not detected by airport radar.

This 'Close Encounter' Raises Questions

This piece from the Star, Indianapolis, IN (March 16, 1980), discusses a recently published volume titled "An Account of a Meeting With Denizens of Another World 1871" by William Robert Loosley, with commentary by David Langford. The book details Loosley's alleged encounter with extraterrestrial beings in 1871. The article questions the authenticity of the account, suggesting it might be a hoax, particularly given Langford's background as a science fiction writer.

UFO sighted over Gladstone

An article from the Reporter, Escanaba, MI (March 12, 1980), describes a sighting by four local law enforcement officials in Gladstone, Michigan. They reported a large, bright object with green and red lights that moved erratically, described as a UFO. The object was observed for several hours before disappearing.

UFO Seen Here

Carolyn Belardo's article in the Trentonian, Trenton, NJ (March 14, 1980), reports on a Hamilton Square mother and daughter who claimed to have seen a bright, glimmering oval object hovering over their home. They described it as having red and green lights and moving at a "weird speed."

Four report UFO sightings in Monmouth Airport area

This article from the Press, Asbury Park, NJ (March 15, 1980), details reports of a bright light hovering near Monmouth Airport. Four persons called police, and one witness described a "large circular disc" with a "whitish-blue light."

Though There's No Trace....

This article from the Sentinel, Centralia, IL (February 3, 1980), discusses the legend of a "spaceman" buried in Aurora, Texas, following a reported UFO crash in 1897. While locals generally dismiss the story as a hoax, some tourists still visit the reported crash site and grave.

Strange Lights Dance in Sky, Police Report

An article from the Free Press, Burlington, VT (March 24, 1980), describes multiple sightings of bright lights over Malletts Bay, Vermont. Air traffic controllers and police observed radar targets and lights that performed unusual maneuvers, described as a "dance." The lights were seen between 10 and 11 p.m. and moved west toward New York.

Mystery light seen in Silvis

Kerry Schmidt's report in the Daily Dispatch, Moline, IL (April 1, 1980), covers a sighting of a bright, blinking white light in Silvis, Illinois. The light, described as about "10 times larger than a star," hovered and then moved out of sight. Police considered it might be a weather balloon, but airport radar detected nothing.

More claims about UFOs

This section from the Camberley News, Surrey, England (January 11, 1980), reports on four mysterious red UFOs spotted hovering over Aldershot and Camberley. A mechanic reported seeing three bright red lights in a line moving slowly without sound.

Star turn

This brief item from the Financial Times, London, England (March 8, 1980), mentions an event of "world importance" in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, where the "Jupiterians" were reportedly scheduled to land. It also touches on Brazil's history of extraterrestrial obsessions, including alleged encounters with Martian saucers and Brazilian ladies.

Quirk of nature cause of UFO puzzle?

An article from the Sun, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (January 16, 1980), discusses a strange phenomenon in dense bush near Peterboro, Ontario, where a 400-foot wide swatch of red pines collapsed. George Ripley, a hunter, found the site and believes it may be a UFO landing site. However, explanations offered by readers and experts lean towards natural causes like isolated tornadoes or heavy ice.

Believe it or not, Ripley says he saw UFO site

Another article from the Sun, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (January 11, 1980), details George Ripley's account of finding a possible UFO landing site in the woods near Peterboro. He described red pines compressed in a perfect circle, with bark that looked "melted." He believes something landed there, possibly on stilts.

Sparks fly in Ufo sighting

This report from Kidd's Beach, South Africa, mentions a UFO sighting by two farmers, Mr. Len Meter and Mr. Basil Green. They saw a bright, funnel-shaped object with blue and red sparks coming from its tail, moving from west to east before vanishing.

...and at Bedford

This brief report from the Natal Mercury, Durban, South Africa (February 14, 1980), mentions Mr. R. Barnes and his wife seeing a UFO similar to one reported by the Gallaghers, with sparks coming from it.

UFO encounter a hoax-expert

An article from the Sunday Times, Johannesburg, South Africa (January 28, 1980), discusses a UFO sighting by Mrs. Meagan Quezet and her son near Krugersdorp. However, a UFO investigator, Frank Morton, suspects it is a hoax due to lack of corroboration and physical traces, though he acknowledges the consistency of their story.

Australians to Search For Rocket-Like Object

This brief report from the Post-Bulletin, Rochester, MN (February 21, 1980), states that Australian authorities are planning a search for a rocket-like object that impacted in southwestern Australia.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes throughout this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena, witness accounts of unusual lights and craft, and the ongoing debate between skepticism and belief in extraterrestrial visitation. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these accounts, often with a degree of caution or by presenting alternative explanations, while acknowledging the persistent public interest in UFOs.

Title: Australasian Post
Issue Date: March 27, 1980
Country of Publication: Australia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Main Cover Story: Mysterious Object Smashes Tree at Glenalta Stud

The cover story of this issue of Australasian Post details a frightening first-hand account by Paul Tyson of a mysterious object that allegedly smashed a tree apart at the Glenalta Stud near Adelaide. The incident, reported by horse stud hand Daryl Browne, involved an object that emitted significant amounts of infra-red heat for hours after the event.

The Incident

Daryl Browne, 21, who works at the Glenalta Stud in Stirling, about 30 km out of Adelaide, initially did not give much credence to UFO stories, despite believing in extraterrestrial life. However, his experience on a recent Thursday night changed his perspective.

At approximately 9:45 PM, Browne was in his room with his children when their two dogs began to howl eerily. Within a minute, a tremendous crashing noise was heard, leading Browne to believe a tree had fallen on the house, despite there being no wind. Upon investigation, he found the dogs shivering and shaking. He then heard loud creaking and cracking noises from a large cypress pine tree near the house.

Shining a torch into the tree, Browne saw a large, long yellow object, estimated to be about 8 meters in length and resembling the hull of a boat, caught about 30 meters above the ground. The object was not making noise and did not appear to be moving, but the branches were creaking under its weight.

Browne contacted the police, who arrived but could not find the object after shining spotlights on the tree. The object had vanished.

The Aftermath and Investigation

The following day, the Glenalta Stud became a hub for media and UFO researchers. Tests conducted with a Geiger counter revealed no abnormal radiation. However, an infra-red detector showed that the tree was exuding large amounts of infra-red heat compared to the surrounding area.

UFO researchers Horrie Aspinall and Dean Piovesan from UFO Research (SA) examined the damage, noting that a large branch, about a meter in circumference, had been shattered. They found the branch to be healthy, making its breakage unlikely without a powerful impact.

Other unusual occurrences reported included the horses' manure in the stable being an unusual black color instead of golden brown, and a rug on a horse being unbuckled and placed by the gate. Amateur radio operators in the Adelaide area also reported a blackout of transmissions on the night of the sighting.

The incident is compared to a similar case in Meadows in June 1966, where 25 branches in a pine tree were smashed for no apparent reason.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue features a collection of reports on UFO sightings and related phenomena from around the world, including incidents in Spain, New Zealand, Argentina, Peru, Chile, West Germany, Italy, and the USA. There is a recurring theme of unexplained aerial phenomena, mysterious objects, and alleged encounters with extraterrestrial beings. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these events, often with a degree of skepticism or a focus on seeking natural explanations, as seen in the cattle mutilation study.

The magazine also touches upon other fortean topics, such as Bigfoot sightings and the mystery of the 'Bristol Hum'. The overall tone suggests an interest in the unexplained, but with an underlying journalistic approach to investigate and, where possible, provide rational explanations.