UFO Newsclipping Service - 1980 07 - no 132

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O. NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, dated July 1980, with issue number 132, focuses on 'Close encounters...' and presents a collection of UFO sightings and related phenomena reported from various locations.

Article Summaries

Close Encounters... This main article details several UFO sightings. Alfred Groer Jr. recounts seeing a 'Frisbee'-shaped object with multi-colored lights that hovered and then shot off. His father, Alfred Groer Sr., vouches for his son's credibility. The article delves into the history of UFO sightings, referencing biblical accounts and the 'Wheel of Ezekiel.' It also mentions early sightings like those by Kenneth Arnold in 1947 and an incident involving Alexander the Great. Joseph Gasslein, a UFO-ologist, shares his own 'close encounter' in 1962, describing a disc-shaped craft with a greenish dome light. The article distinguishes between 'close encounters of the first, second, and third kind,' with the third kind involving interaction with UFO occupants. It notes that the Air Force has ceased its UFO investigations, but organizations like the Center for UFO Studies continue to collect and analyze reports, with Estelle Postol stating that only 5-10% of reports remain unexplainable.

Is There Something Out There Watching? This section features Dale Schexnaider's account of a 'close encounter of the second kind' on June 17, 1977. While camping, he and two girls witnessed a large, disc-shaped craft with 'parking lights' and blinking lights. The craft emitted a bright 'studio-type' floodlight and deep-blue rays that enveloped them in an 'eerie blue aura,' causing a sensation of being trapped in a force field. Schexnaider describes the experience as 'awesome and unexplainable,' leading to a profound shift in his outlook. He also mentions a previous, less dramatic sighting in 1970. The article also includes brief reports of other sightings: a white, oval object over Crescent Grade, CA, on Tuesday morning; mysterious lights over McCook, NE, on April 20, 1980; and a 'fat cigar'-shaped object with a tail seen near Fanning Field, ID, on June 14, 1980.

UFO Sighting Aren't That Unusual; Several in Area Have Seen Them This article by Richard Sharkey highlights that UFO sightings are becoming more common and less stigmatized. Kent Courtney, who saw a UFO in 1944, notes that about one in 20 people he tells of his experience have had their own. The Center for UFO Studies has received over 75,000 reports from 133 countries. The article discusses various sightings, including Velva Fountain's experience with a bright, sparkling light on March 17. It also recounts Courtney's WWII sighting of two bright lights that flew alongside his transport plane. Henry LaCour claims to have seen hundreds of UFOs, attributing his frequent sightings to an innate ability to 'sense' them and his constant skygazing. The article also touches on sightings in Central Louisiana, mentioning a potential landing base in the Red Dirt area. It notes that while some sightings are explained as meteors or weather balloons, others remain unexplainable. The article mentions that the Air Force no longer actively researches UFOs, and the FAA has not confirmed certain sightings.

Changes Mind About UFOs Melanie Doan, a former schoolteacher from Cincinnati, describes her 'close encounter' on Interstate 75 near Petoskey, MI, where five objects with flashing lights followed her car. She reported the sighting to the Emmet County Sheriff's deputies and the U.S. Air Force. The objects were described as 'egg-shaped with red and blue-green lights flashing periodically' and were absolutely silent. She was certain they were not aircraft due to their silent movement and proximity.

Local Man Spots UFO Duane "Skeeter" Weiner reported seeing a glowing orange sphere over Sauk Center, MN, on April 17, 1980, at 2:30 a.m. The object emitted an 'energetic sound' and moved back and forth, spewing tiny bits of matter before disappearing. Police Chief George Trierweiler noted that Weiner is a reliable witness, and the incident occurred around the same time an electrical pole was smoldering, though a helium balloon and kite were also spotted.

'Puzzles' from space This article by Greg Bean focuses on Pat McGuire's farm in Wyoming, where he claims humanoid beings traveling in multi-colored UFOs have been visiting his farm since 1973. The UFOs are described as large (300 feet wide, 60 feet tall) and capable of amazing speed. McGuire's family and neighbors corroborate his sightings. He believes the beings instructed him telepathically to dig a well, which turned out to be a gusher. Dr. Leo Sprinkle, a parapsychologist, has worked with McGuire, using hypnosis to retrieve information about the beings, who are described as 6 feet tall, with large eyes, bald heads, and dressed in black. Sprinkle theorizes that these beings might be from 'another dimension' and are influencing humanity's past. The article also touches on cattle mutilations, suggesting they might be part of a study by aliens to monitor the effects of poisoning on the planet. McGuire believes the beings will make contact soon.

'Watching the show' This is a follow-up to the Pat McGuire story, detailing a visit by reporter Greg Bean, photographer Richard Foertsch, and parapsychologist Dr. Richard F. Fleck to McGuire's farm. They observed a strange light on the horizon that flashed blue, red, yellow, and bright white lights. The object moved up and down and then rocked back and forth before flashing across the sky. While they couldn't identify it, the experience left them with less skepticism.

Mesan reports strange objects in the sky Robert Navarra of Mesa, AZ, reported seeing four luminous white lights, described as 'definitely not military,' moving in two different directions on Sunday night. Bill Spaulding of Ground Saucer Watch is investigating, suspecting a military exercise. Navarra, an amateur astronomer, was skeptical of the military explanation, noting the objects moved in groups and stopped directly over his location. He also mentioned a daylight sighting. The article notes that the organization is involved in a lawsuit against the CIA regarding UFO cover-ups.

Mystery night light report This report from Dorset, England, describes Mrs. Stella Styan seeing a rotating light that appeared like a searchlight but disappeared before she could investigate. It was also seen by Mrs. Stevie Webber and husband Philip.

REAL space invaders A report from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, describes a UFO attacking an oil terminal with laser beams, causing a fire that destroyed two houses and a shop. Witnesses reported a bluish-red object spinning and emitting a laser beam.

UFOs still unexplained This article from Argentina discusses a phenomenon seen over a large part of the country, described as a flying saucer, a cloud with multi-colored flashes, or a flotilla of UFOs. The official version suggests an atmospheric or meteorological phenomenon, but the investigation is ongoing.

UFOs maybe only a frozen cloud front This report from Argentina suggests that the UFOs seen over Argentine airports might have been a frozen cloud front acting as a prism for sunlight. However, the theory is questioned due to the objects' movement and the clear conditions reported by witnesses.

UFOs may be Nasa tryout This article speculates that UFOs seen over Argentina might be part of a NASA experiment called 'Firewheel,' involving the injection of an artificial cloud to create a 'comet-like' effect.

¿OVNI sobre Rosario? This section includes a photo caption describing luminous points, possibly UFOs, seen over Rosario, Argentina, which moved slowly to the northwest, leaving a reddish trail.

UFOs: Cold front theory denied This report from Argentina refutes the cold front theory for the UFO sightings, stating that meteorological phenomena with light are static and do not move. Witnesses and airport personnel confirmed seeing objects that were not clouds, with one nearly colliding with a commercial plane.

'UFOs caused by French neutron device explosion' This report from Argentina suggests that UFO sightings on June 14 were caused by a French neutron bomb test in Antarctica, creating a bubble-like phenomenon that traveled over Argentine territory.

UFO SEEN OVER FAIRGROUND A report from Zambia describes a 'round brown object' hovering over a fairground for 15 minutes.

UFO probe over lost airman This article from Australia details a six-month investigation by the Victorian UFO Research Society into the 1978 disappearance of pilot Frederick Valentich, who reported a UFO before vanishing. The investigation will focus on sightings and electromagnetic studies in the area.

COLONIES IN SPACE IN 15 YEARS? This article discusses predictions by James Oberg and Erich von Daniken about the establishment of permanent Soviet colonies in space within 15 years and the possibility of extraterrestrial influence on human history and technology.

VISITED FROM SPACE 6 MILLION YEARS AGO... This brief report mentions space visionary Robin Collyns claiming that astronauts visited New Zealand six million years ago, presenting a sandstone rock with an embedded artificial metallic relic as proof.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, close encounters, and the ongoing mystery surrounding these phenomena. The publication appears to present a wide range of reports, from witness testimonies to expert analyses and historical context, without overtly taking a skeptical or credulous stance, but rather aiming to document and explore the subject matter. The editorial stance leans towards presenting the information and allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, as evidenced by the inclusion of various theories and the emphasis on the unexplained nature of many events.

This issue of La Razón, dated June 16, 1980, focuses heavily on widespread UFO sightings that occurred across Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil on June 14, 1980. The main headline, "THE UFO SHOW WE HAD THIS WEEKEND REVIVES THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE REAL EXISTENCE OF FLYING SAUCERS," sets the tone for an in-depth exploration of the events and the conflicting explanations.

UFO Phenomenon Across Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil

The primary article details the simultaneous appearance of alleged UFO fleets in numerous cities, including Buenos Aires, Rosario, Santa Fe, Paraná, Río IV, Córdoba, Rafaela, Corrientes, Resistencia, and Mar del Plata in Argentina, as well as Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay, and various locations in Brazil. The sightings occurred between 19:00 and 19:15 on Saturday, June 14, 1980.

Official Explanation vs. Eyewitness Accounts

Aeronautical experts and the National Meteorological Service offered a scientific explanation, attributing the phenomenon to a meteorological event involving frozen clouds acting as prisms that reflected sunlight, splitting it into various colors. However, this explanation was met with skepticism by many eyewitnesses.

Eyewitnesses consistently described the objects as having an intense white-yellowish luminosity. Photographer José Granata from 'La Capital' in Rosario reported seeing objects in a "spindle shape" that gave off a "blinding green light" and moved "vertiginously." He managed to photograph them, and enlargements revealed shapes resembling luminous triangles.

Personnel from the control tower at Jorge Newbery Metropolitan Airport, including operator Julio Cantero, insisted that the object observed was an "aerial craft, or at least a strange body." Cantero described it as an airship or strange body approaching the River Stadium area at an estimated altitude of 600 meters, hovering for four minutes over the runway. He noted it was enveloped in a cloud brighter than the disc itself, making precise observation difficult, and estimated its size as considerable when compared to the full moon. He dismissed the possibility of a frozen cloud due to the exceptionally clear sky and the object's trajectory.

Commercial airline pilots also reported sightings. One pilot stated that the "fleets, far from resembling 'frozen clouds,' were formed by objects shaped like spindles" that flew at great speed, stopped abruptly, and sometimes appeared to be on a collision course with planes.

Specific Incidents and Testimonies

• Buenos Aires Airport: Julio Cantero, in charge of flight control, insisted the UFO was an "aerial craft or strange body," appearing from the western sector and approaching runway 13. It hovered for four minutes over the runway at an estimated altitude of 600 meters before disappearing.
• Mar del Plata: Personnel from the control tower reported seeing "smoke rings" while a commercial plane was landing. The pilot reportedly saw the UFOs, which appeared to be about to collide with the plane and flew at tremendous speed.
• Uruguay: Fleets of UFOs reportedly overflew Montevideo and several districts, as well as towns in the interior like Durazno. Contacts were made at Punta del Este and Durazno, with objects appearing between 19:00 and 19:15.
• Uruguay - San José Incident: A married couple, Juan Froche and his wife, claimed to have been visited by two extraterrestrial beings. Froche reported being burned on the hands when trying to close the door. He described the beings as having extremely white skin, being strangely beautiful, dressed in lead-grey, and having identical scars on their foreheads. The visitors left burns in a circle behind the house, and the earth appeared dug up, with visible tracks.
• Mar del Plata - Persecution Episode: Lawyer Josefina Villareal, her husband Esteban Roberto Fraile, their daughter María del Milagro, and a school companion reported being pursued by a "circular flying mass" while driving on Route 7. They described it as dark in the middle with luminous white points at the edges, descending with vertical and circular movements and leaving a trail of whitish smoke. They felt hypnotized and panicked.
• Chilean Plane Incident: A Chilean passenger plane was reportedly approached by a UFO on a collision course while flying between Punta Arenas and Santiago. The UFO, emitting an incandescent yellow light, climbed abruptly and disappeared. The Punta Arenas control tower could not define its nature.

Official Investigations and Skepticism

Captain C. Augusto Lima, head of the central division of the National Commission for Space Research (CNIE), stated that the entity was gathering information to provide a scientific explanation. He considered the possibility of a "meteorological phenomenon, or a physical phenomenon in the upper atmosphere" that might not have been detected by the National Meteorological Service. However, he noted that similar events in the U.S. and elsewhere, initially attributed to UFOs, were later explained as physical or atmospheric phenomena.

The National Meteorological Service technicians rejected the "frozen clouds" theory, stating that there were no clouds in the affected regions during the time of the sightings. They also noted that the wind's velocity at 5,600 meters altitude discarded the possibility of clouds being displaced at great speed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue highlights a recurring debate between scientific/meteorological explanations and the persistent eyewitness accounts of anomalous aerial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to lean towards acknowledging the widespread nature of the sightings and the credibility of many witnesses, while also presenting the official explanations. The article questions whether the "old and inscrutable UFO mystery" will ever be solved. There's a clear emphasis on the lack of agreement between the official explanation and the detailed testimonies, suggesting that the controversy surrounding the existence of flying saucers is far from settled.

The article also touches upon the timing of these sightings, with an Uruguayan group of experts affirming that May and June seem to be the months when these objects appear most often. Investigations by the Uruguayan Air Force and private entities like the Center for UFO Research are mentioned as ongoing.