UFO Newsclipping Service - 1980 06 - no 131

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O. NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, Number 131, dated June 1980, is a compilation of various newspaper articles detailing UFO sightings and related phenomena from different locations and time periods. The service is co-edited by Lucius Farish and Rod B. Dyke.

UFO Reported Off North Shore (The Garden Island, April 4, 1980)

Alan Reiser and Lou Kono of Ha'ena reported seeing a bright, white object hovering above the ocean off North Shore, Kaua'i, on Tuesday night. The object, described as brighter than any star, also displayed a red flashing light. Reiser noted that the light "just faded" and became invisible. He was struck by the similarity to a 1975 sighting off Port Allen, where seven people reported a bell-shaped object that hovered before fading away.

More People Saw UFO Tuesday (The Garden Island, April 9, 1980)

Judy Ochsenschlager of Wainiha confirmed seeing a brilliant light in the sky on Tuesday night, which she initially perceived as a star "falling very slowly through the sky." This sighting adds to the reports from Alan Reiser and Lou Kono. A Westsider also reported seeing a similar brilliant object with red lights late Tuesday night near Kalaheo.

UFO Over Fresno Sunday? (BEE, Fresno, CA, May 20, 1980)

Mary Phillips of Caruthers reported seeing a disc-shaped object with red and green lights floating northwest over Fresno on Sunday night. She described it as unlike anything she had ever seen. A neighbor, Tim Watts, was more skeptical. The Lemoore Naval Air Station reported receiving calls about the object but had no radar confirmation. Phillips watched the object for 45 minutes before it disappeared.

Even UFO Expert Unable to Explain Bright Light (TRI-COUNTY NEWS, King City, MO, April 11, 1980)

Kermit and Sally Wells of the Empire Prairie-Star Chapel community reported a bright light that illuminated their entire yard on a Tuesday night. The light changed from whitish to brilliant orange, and neighbors reported a greenish glowing "thing" hovering over outbuildings. The Wells attempted to follow the object without success. The incident was accompanied by animals running back and forth in fear and a possible explosion-type noise. Guy Gray, a meteorologist from the U.S. Weather Bureau in Kansas City, stated there were no weather balloons in the area and that weather conditions could create illusions. Robert Gribble, from the National UFO Reporting Center, described the mass of light with changing colors and dimming as common in UFO sightings, and noted that reports of loud noises and animal disturbances are also common.

UFO? (NEWS, Anchorage, AK, April 21, 1980)

Residents in south Anchorage reported seeing a bright, lighted object on Friday night. The FAA suggested it was an airplane towing a lighted banner, but several witnesses, including Doris Coles and her sons, and an unidentified resident, vehemently disagreed, describing a silent, hovering, round object with spinning lights.

UFO Sighted in Springer Said to Be Star (DAILY OPTIC, Las Vegas, NM, April 23, 1980)

Springer Police Officer Manuel Medina reported seeing a bright, round object floating and changing color. Allan Hendry, chief investigator for the Center of UFO Studies, interviewed Medina and suggested it was likely the planet Venus, though acknowledging the object's movement was "too fast for a star." Hendry noted the center prefers sightings with physical evidence or radar confirmation. Medina described the object as round and bright, and G.F. Bushear of the U.S. Weather Service stated it was unlikely a weather balloon would have been sighted. Herman Pino, an air traffic specialist, reported no unusual radar activity.

Don't Make Jokes About Springer's UFO (DAILY RANGE, Raton, NM, April 25, 1980)

This editorial comments on the media attention given to Officer Manuel Medina's UFO sighting in Springer, New Mexico. It criticizes the public's tendency to make jokes about such events and defends Medina's actions as simply doing his job.

"Fireballs" Reported (NEWS REPORTER, Whiteville, NC, May 22, 1980)

Mrs. Ruth S. Smith reported seeing "balls of fire falling out of the sky" near Whiteville. She also noted a noise like an airplane. Debris and soil samples from impact holes were collected for investigation. Columbus County Civil Preparedness Director Howard Stanley reported no radiation.

Is Onalaska Pasture a UFO Landing Field? (CHRONICLE, Centralia, WA, April 23, 1980)

Adolf Balsemer, an Onalaska farmer, and Wilma Collins, Toledo clerk-treasurer, reported seeing nine perfect circles of dark-colored grass in Balsemer's pasture, each 20 to 22 feet in diameter. Balsemer believes they are unexplainable and possibly indicative of nitrogen, but has seen similar rings before. The article notes the historical context of UFO sightings around Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens.

A Letter from Junior (THE SPRINGS BULLETIN, Fort Mill, SC, May 29, 1980)

This section features a report by "Junior" to the Pentagon about a UFO sighting by Ray McManus and three other Springs employees on April 18. The group reported being followed by a silent, airship-like object with bright lights that hovered near the ground in Pageland, South Carolina. The object was described as diamond-shaped, about 30 feet wide and 10 feet high, and made no noise. Junior provides background on Ray McManus to establish his credibility.

'I firmly believe in UFOs'

Sue Lowery, one of the witnesses, stated that she and her husband firmly believe in UFOs, having seen lights in the sky before and being familiar with UFO-related media. She described the object as unlike anything on Earth, faster than anything known, and silent. She expressed concern that if they hadn't turned left, the object might have "gotten over the top of us and maybe taken us for a ride."

'It didn't make noise at all'

Lillie Mangum initially thought the object was a plane but was convinced otherwise by its silence and movement. She described seeing a glow that was difficult to discern details of. She and her husband Joe later saw the object again, far in the distance, with two red lights.

'All you could see were lights'

Joe Mangum, who was driving, primarily remembers the object's bright lights, which glowed and appeared to brighten and dim. He and his wife Lillie followed the object out of town, where its lights turned a bright red before it disappeared.

UFO Spotted By Police Official (TIMES, Essex, MD, April 10, 1980)

Officer George Hensler reported seeing a UFO on April 5 at 11:10 p.m. while parked in a shopping lot. He described an oblong object moving at a high rate of speed, with no visible lights and making no noise. The object had a dim glow on each end. Officer Mike Papesh, who was with Hensler, reportedly could not see the object.

Two UFOs Reported (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, Covina, CA, May 3, 1980)

Two UFO sightings were reported over Monrovia, but the FAA stated no aircraft matched the descriptions. One witness described a silent object that hovered for 15 seconds before tilting and speeding away. Another call reported a UFO glowing with yellow and red lights near Euclid and California avenues.

UFOs Rekindled (DERBYSHIRE TIMES, Chesterfield, England, May 9, 1980)

This article reports on renewed UFO sightings in Matlock, England. Mrs. Elizabeth Hicken described a brightly lit "torpedo-shaped" object, while Mrs. Mary Mount saw a large, vibrating, ringed object. These sightings follow previous reports of a dome-like object with bright lights seen by Charles Chandler and another woman.

Mammoth Cabbages, Onions, Mexican Farmer's Own Secret (STAR, Indianapolis, IN, May 31, 1980)

This article details how Mexican farmer J. Carmen Garcia attributes his giant produce (60-pound cabbages, 10-pound onions) to a formula given by an extraterrestrial. He has entrusted this "method" to the Rosicrucian Order of San Jose, California, for the benefit of humanity. Garcia emphasizes changing one's mentality before changing produce size. The Rosicrucian Order confirmed receiving the formula but could not validate it.

UFO near Inyanga (POST, Umtali, Zimbabwe, April 3, 1980)

An unidentified flying object was seen near Inyanga, hovering almost stationary for a few minutes before moving upwards into the clouds. Witnesses described it as definitely not an airplane or helicopter and noted it shone a light upwards.

UFO over Flixton (STRETFORD & URMSTON JOURNAL, Lancashire, England, April 17, 1980)

Ken and Janet Stewart reported being disturbed by a bright, white, balloon-type craft descending silently behind their home. They saw familiar red flashes and heard rumblings. Experts at Jodrell Bank dismissed fears of invaders as possibly caused by meteorites or man-made space hardware.

'Star Wars' Travel Might Be Only 12 Years Away (HERALD EXAMINER, Los Angeles, CA, June 5, 1980)

Al Holt, a scientist at NASA, theorizes that travel via "hyperspace," similar to "Star Wars," might be possible within 12 years. He suggests that each area of space has a frequency, and vehicles could be attuned to their destination's frequency for rapid travel. He explains this as bypassing space-time into another realm where faster-than-light travel is possible. He also discusses the potential cost of developing such technology and the importance of breakthroughs in space travel for global stability.

UFOs Spotted Over Village (CHRONICLE & ECHO, Northants, England, April 23, 1980)

Two UFO sightings were reported over a Northamptonshire village. A round black object with a glass domed top was seen flying near Long Buckby. Later, two bright lights were seen pulsating in the sky over Market Square.

UFOLOGY RETROSPECTIVE (ALL CLIPPINGS FROM THE FILES OF THE LATE GEORGE F. HAAS)

This section presents a collection of historical UFO sighting reports:

• Saucers (CHRONICLE, San Francisco, CA, July 8, 1947): Ralph Dinsmore reported observing a formation of 10 flying saucers over the Carquinez straits, with one saucer displaying a changing "5 cents" sign to "10 cents."
• Cavalry to Aid Mexico Mystery Bomb Search (EXAMINER, San Francisco, CA, Oct. 14, 1947): Mexican troops prepared to search for a mysterious flaming object that residents said soared over Caseta, Mexico, and exploded.
• Fourth Air Force Drops Disc Inquiry; Search Held Futile (EXAMINER, San Francisco, CA, Aug. 9, 1947): The Fourth Air Force declared its investigation into flying disc stories "fruitless," stating that reported fragments of metal were similar to local material and debunking a reported boat explosion.
• 3 Men Without Planes or Parachutes Reported Flying Over Washington State (EXAMINER, San Francisco, CA, April 10, 1948): Residents reported seeing three men flying over Longview, Washington, without planes or parachutes, accompanied by sounds like airplane motors.
• FLYING BOMB EXPLODES NEAR TEXAS BORDER (EXAMINER, San Francisco, CA, Oct. 13, 1947): Authorities reported a large bomb, about five feet long and three feet in diameter, exploded in the hills near Guadalupe, Mexico. Officials in Guadalupe claimed to have seen the bomb come from the direction of the United States.
• 'Glowing' Missile Seen in Sky - By Five Persons (NEWS, San Francisco, CA, Oct. 14, 1947): Five witnesses reported seeing a "glowing missile" or "celestial thing" traverse the California sky, described as the "biggest thing since Halley's comet."
• 'Little Men' in Flying Disc (EXAMINER, San Francisco, CA, Aug. 20, 1949): A desert prospector reported a "whizzing disc" crashed near Death Valley, from which two small, human-like figures emerged and disappeared into the sand dunes.

TRANSLATIONS

This section provides translated reports from various international sources:

• Spain (Dec. 3, 1979): A group of people reported seeing a strange, flashing light in the sky at Santa Ponsa that responded to automobile lights. One witness claimed to have seen a landing site years prior near Morón de la Frontera with burnt soil.
• Spain (Nov. 11, 1979): A group of Valencian ufologists suggested that a UFO sighted over Valencia, which forced a plane to land, could have been a United States fighter plane from the sixth fleet.
• Italy (March 21, 1980): Two youths from Orfei's circus reported being "burned by the red trail of a UFO" near Gioia del Colle, showing scalds on their bodies as evidence.
• Poland (April 6-7, 1980): A young couple in Lodz reported being terrorized by three bright balls hovering and spreading a blinding light.
• France (April 1980): A "UFO" was sighted near Bordeaux, described as a bright object that moved slowly and disappeared towards the Arcachon basin.
• Italy (April 12, 1980): Mysterious concentric circles and deep holes were found in a vineyard at Buseto Palizzolo, leading to speculation of a UFO landing. A compass reportedly behaved erratically in the area.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena, the variety of descriptions for these objects (from simple lights to complex craft), and the commonality of witness testimony. The editorial stance, as implied by the publication of these reports, is one of serious consideration for UFO phenomena, presenting witness accounts and expert opinions without overt skepticism, while also including reports of official explanations or dismissals. The inclusion of historical cases and international reports suggests a broad and ongoing interest in the subject. The publication itself, U.F.O. NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, positions itself as a collector and disseminator of such information.

This issue of Crónica, dated April 26, 1980, focuses heavily on UFO sightings and alleged extraterrestrial encounters reported from various locations, including Italy, Argentina, and Israel. It also includes ongoing investigations into cattle mutilations and mentions the phenomenon of Bigfoot.

UFO Sightings and Encounters

Catanzaro, Italy A report from Catanzaro, Italy, details an incident on April 24, 1980, where the Nistico family witnessed a luminous object in the sky. The object hovered for twenty minutes before moving horizontally towards the mountains. It then divided into three cigar-shaped parts that continued to move slowly before disappearing. The object reportedly emitted intermittent signals. The report notes that similar sightings had occurred in the same town the previous year.

Baterías, Mendoza Province, Argentina On March 24, 1980, in Baterías, Mendoza province, Argentina, multiple workers from YPF (Fiscal Oil Fields), including an engineer, a driver, and several workers, reported seeing a very luminous UFO with a small dome. Witnesses described characteristics similar to previous UFO phenomena. One worker was reportedly hospitalized due to a nervous breakdown. The report mentions that these workers had observed similar flying objects many times before.

Córdoba to Catamarca Province, Argentina An incident on April 2, 1980, involved a Guaraní plane from the Provincial Direction of Aeronautics flying from Córdoba to Catamarca province. The crew experienced tense moments when a UFO followed their plane. The object, initially appearing as a light, maintained a diagonal path with the plane. Copilot Martín Cuello described the object's light as white-bluish, diminishing to a red point, and noted its unusual speed and maneuverability, ruling out a helicopter or conventional aircraft.

Jerusalem, Israel On April 6, 1980, an object emitting luminous flashes overflew Jerusalem, alarming residents and leading to a police request for Army investigation. Initially, authorities considered a lost toy balloon as a possible explanation. However, witnesses described the object as 'suspended' and flashing at intervals before flying slowly towards the East. The first report came from two women and a man in a tall apartment building.

Santa Rosa, La Pampa Province, Argentina: The Fermín Sayago Case This section details a highly publicized incident involving Fermín Nelson Sayago in Santa Rosa, La Pampa province, on March 22, 1980. Sayago claims he was abducted by two apparent extraterrestrials who took blood from him. He described the beings as having skull-like faces without eyes and moving strangely. He experienced paralysis, intense cold, and a sensation of vacuum. His friend, Juan Talamet, found him in a state of desperation on his car's hood. Sayago's mother and wife corroborated his abnormal state, and medical checks at the hospital showed no alcoholic state or mental disorders. A general checkup was pending final results. The incident caused panic in Santa Rosa, with many residents avoiding going out at night. Witnesses, including Sayago's mother, reported seeing a large black bird-like craft. The local investigation group SIOVNI (Sociedad Investigadora de los Objetos Voladores No Identificados) stated that initial investigations suggested Sayago was not a science-fiction fan and tended to believe his version, pending confirmation of a time gap. The report notes that the exact events during the 30-minute 'blank' period remain unexplained.

Other Reports

Cattle Mutilations The issue briefly touches upon the ongoing investigation into cattle mutilations, mentioning that the Calgary RCMP has 'solid leads' and suspects cult groups, ruling out UFOs. The last reported incident was November 12, 1979, with 38 confirmed cases involving human involvement. The pattern of mutilations ceasing in winter and resuming in spring is noted.

Bigfoot An article from the SUN-STAR (Merced, CA) dated April 12, 1980, features Ron Morehead, a businessman who believes in Bigfoot. He and his hunting group claim to have had several close encounters with Bigfoot creatures in the high Sierras since 1971. They have collected evidence including footprints, vocalization tapes, and hair samples. Morehead believes the creatures are intelligent and have developed a 'rapport' with his group. He estimates the creatures to be between 12 and 15 feet tall based on track analysis. The article also mentions a report from the Antelope Valley Press about Bigfoot tracks found in the snow, with a stride of six feet, suggesting a creature 10 to 12 feet tall.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents reports of unexplained phenomena, primarily UFO sightings and alleged extraterrestrial encounters, with a focus on witness testimony and ongoing investigations. There is a clear interest in documenting these events, even if definitive proof remains elusive. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these phenomena without immediate dismissal, allowing for the possibility of their reality, while also acknowledging the skepticism and the need for further evidence. The inclusion of details about investigations into cattle mutilations and Bigfoot further reinforces the magazine's focus on anomalous events and mysteries.