UFO Newsclipping Service - 1981 03 - no 140

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O. Newsclipping Service, dated March 1981, compiles a collection of recent UFO sighting reports from various locations across the United States, primarily from late 1980 and early 1981. The publication focuses on witness testimonies and attempts to document the characteristics of the observed phenomena. The issue also includes historical UFO reports from the 1950s, providing a broader context for the ongoing interest in unidentified flying objects.

Key Articles and Reports

UFOs over Payson

The lead story details a sighting in Payson, Arizona, on January 6, 1981, where Gila County Sheriff's Deputy Loyce Hamlin and two others observed four round, silver disks flying in a diamond formation for about two minutes. Hamlin, a former crop duster pilot, stated the objects moved too fast to be jet airplanes and had no visible wings or engine pods. Slim Anderson, a County Health Inspector, corroborated the sighting, describing the objects as 'aluminum-colored' and noting the absence of any noise. The sighting was reported to a UFO hotline.

Christmas Eve Encounter in Powell

In Powell, Wyoming, on Christmas Eve, Gary Morse reported seeing a cluster of eight to 10 headlights combined in a circular shape, with a dome-shaped object above. Morse described a humming sound, similar to a blimp, and observed the object moving slowly westward at an altitude of 300-400 feet. He described the lights as intense and at times obscured by a hazy, transparent shape. Morse, a self-proclaimed 'practical person,' could not identify the object as any known aircraft.

Clifton Area Sighting

Multiple responsible people in the Clifton, Arizona area reported seeing an unidentified flying object on Wednesday night, December 10, 1980. Descriptions consistently mentioned a triangular shape with rows of lights, often reddish in color. Witnesses reported the object circling, heading off toward New Mexico, and returning to circle an area south of town. It was described as large, low, and quiet, with only a soft, dull jet-like sound. Some witnesses saw yellow, jet-shaped lights on the bottom, with a white light shining backward underneath.

'Object Was Not Oval, but Triangle Shaped'

This article from Mount Union, Pennsylvania, features Patricia Vietch, who claims to have seen a UFO multiple times. She describes the object as a huge orange ball, glowing like a star, but triangular in shape. She observed rods connecting triangular dots and sparks being ejected. Vietch also reported seeing a blue object as big as a house with jagged edges, and a white ball-shaped object that was green and blue.

UFOs Reports Roll In (Mount Union)

This report from Mount Union, Pennsylvania, by C. Arnold McClure, investigates multiple UFO sightings in the area. Descriptions varied from a 'light that moves across the sky' to a 'metallic disc with windows and lights.' All agreed it made no noise and disappeared 'into thin air.' Patrolman Bill Park of the Mount Union Police Department took a call from a woman describing a metallic, silver-colored object, 'bigger than a car,' with windows and flashing yellow lights.

Three More UFOs Sightings (Payson)

Following Deputy Loyce Hamlin's sighting, three more UFO reports emerged from the Payson, Arizona area. Bud Farmer described a 'fireball, four times as big as the biggest falling star,' which moved erratically before disappearing. Diana Iles reported seeing 'lights and stuff' appearing in the sky. Tommie Woolwine described two objects flying one on top of the other.

'UFO' in Seymour

Three youngsters in Seymour, Connecticut, reported seeing an unidentified flying object hovering in the sky while sliding. They described it as a 'flying saucer' with a 'low roaring sound,' which kept disappearing and reappearing. They described it as round and dark-colored with a long tail.

Plane...2...or what?

A report from Willcox, Arizona, describes seeing 'lights slowly moving east to west across the sky' on December 19, 1980. The lights were described as white in the back and red in the front, not blinking like airplane lights. The witness speculated it might have been two airplanes fueling, but the Clifton UFO story prompted further thought.

Woman Says Flying Saucer Hovered Over W-G Plant

Florence L. Dion of Worcester, Massachusetts, reported seeing a flying saucer hovering beneath a cloud bank over the Wyman-Gordon Co. plant on January 6, 1981. She described it as circular with a hood on top and brilliant silver-white lights flickering on and off. She also reported hearing a distinct 'wee-oh, wee-oh' sound. Dion claims to have seen multiple UFOs over the years and questioned why radar cannot locate them.

UFO sighting reported (Dickinson)

A caller reported seeing a large silver object, 30 to 35 feet long, hovering near his farm home eight miles northwest of Dickinson, North Dakota. The object descended slowly, made a deep humming noise, and crossed power lines. The caller was attempting to operate a camera.

Albion's flying object cannot be identified

Analysts from the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) have determined that an unidentified flying object reported by four witnesses in Albion, Michigan, in October 1980 remains unidentifiable. The object was described as diamond-shaped with lights. The case is classified as a 'close encounter of the second kind' due to a reported physical effect on the witnesses' van, which stalled.

Golden spots possible UFO

Hank Golden, a Central School Principal in La Grande, Oregon, reported seeing a 'gigantic bright light' on January 9, 1981. He described it as too large and too bright for an aircraft, moving up and down and back and forth, with flashes of light. A clearing spot was found the next morning where the object had been.

Man says he saw UFO at 309 bypass

A West Rockhill, Pennsylvania, man claims to have spotted an oval-shaped object hovering over the 309 bypass. He described it as about 35 feet in diameter, blue-green in color, flying at about 25 feet above ground, with a circle of colored lights and trap doors. It disappeared after about 20 minutes.

Flashes in sky are reported by two residents

Two residents of Smith River and Crescent City, California, reported seeing flashes in the sky. One described a 'fiery ball' over the ocean that 'just went up and blew up.' The Federal Aviation Administration and the Coast Guard had no reports of unusual activity.

Airport UFO claim linked to quakes

County Geologist Jim Berkland suggested that UFO sightings at San Jose Airport might be linked to earthquake-related phenomena, theorizing that rubbing quartz rocks could produce electricity manifesting as balls of light. He noted that while no quakes were reported at the time of the airport sighting, animals sometimes react to such phenomena.

'Fireworks in the sky' produce curiosity, mystery

This article from Morris, Minnesota, details an investigation by a resident into a phenomenon seen on January 23, 1981, involving whitish-blue flashes and a sonic boom. The investigation explored possibilities including meteors and military aircraft, with a deputy sheriff reporting an object that emitted bright lights and appeared disc-shaped before changing color and disappearing.

'Horrible' UFO experience makes Texan believer

Lavell Morales of White Oak, Texas, reported a 'horrible' experience on February 23, 1981, involving a large orange and gray object hovering off U.S. 271. She described it as taller than a building and emitting bright orange lights. She felt an 'energy field' and was put in a light trance.

Has Anyone Here Seen 'Little Foot'? One Man Has

A resident of Westfield, North Carolina, reported an encounter with a creature described as 'Little Foot,' about 5 feet tall with a large head, frog-like hands and feet, and two large eyes. The creature was reportedly attacked by the resident's hunting hound.

Glowing, Glowing, Gone

This report from North Carolina details multiple UFO sightings since January 1, 1981. Ruby Campa described a 'star-shaped' object with many points, gliding and revolving. George Fawcett, an investigator for the Mutual UFO Network, noted several sightings in Gaston, Cleveland, and Lincoln counties.

3 hunters blink flashlight signal

Three hunters near La Vernia, Texas, reported seeing a strange object moving toward them, described as two lights like street lights. They observed it for about 10 minutes, estimating its size as that of an eight-room house. They heard a 'humming sound' and attempted to communicate with it using a flashlight.

UFO was big as Boeing 707

Jeff Pierdolle of La Vernia, Texas, described seeing an object about the size of a Boeing 707 on Sunday, February 22, 1981. He noted it had two bright white lights and a red light, moved very slowly, and emitted a 'rushing noise' like the wind. He initially thought it was a large aircraft.

Most LaVernians: UFO plane... but 5% still unconvinced

This article discusses the La Vernia, Texas, sightings, with most residents accepting the explanation that a C-5 transport plane was seen. However, 5% remain unconvinced, particularly regarding reports of smoke billowing from a supermarket and an acrid odor, which the C-5 explanation does not fully address.

Flying Disc Reports Like a Rash (1950)

This historical clipping from 1950 details numerous reports of 'flying discs' or 'saucers' across the Southern and Southwestern United States. Sightings included fleets of objects, objects with flaming exhausts, and discs maneuvering at high speeds. Some witnesses believed they were spaceships from other worlds.

Jet Chases, Can't Catch 'Flying Disc' (1951)

A report from Mitchell Field, New York, in 1951, describes two Air Force jet pilots chasing a mysterious, round flying object at an estimated 900 miles per hour for 30 miles without success. The object was described as white or silver-colored and about the size of a fighter plane.

Flying Disc 'Picked Up' By Air Defense Radar (1952)

In 1952, air defense radar 'probably' picked up a 'flying saucer' reported by Ground Observer Corps aircraft spotters in Santa Cruz, California. The Western Air Defense Force noted a trace of something but could not establish a direction or speed.

Jets Pursue, Fail to Catch Balloon (?) (1952)

This 1952 report from Columbus, Ohio, describes six armed jet planes chasing a mysterious object, which the Air Force identified as a weather research balloon drifting above 65,000 feet. Thousands of ground observers believed they were watching a flying saucer.

Saucer Is Seen Over Berkeley (1952)

Three individuals in Berkeley, California, reported seeing a 'large orange ball of fire' in the sky in 1952, described as shaped like a tennis ball and colored orange. It was seen streaking through the sky at high speed before exploding.

Glowing Monster in Hills

Eyewitness accounts from Sutton, West Virginia, in 1952, describe a tall, glowing monster with a blood-red face and green body, estimated to be 10 feet tall. The object reportedly had a metallic odor and left trampled brush.

Calif. Pilot Sees Eerie Sky Object

A California pilot reported seeing a brilliant white light, playing near high-altitude clouds near Kermit, Texas, in 1952. The object reportedly hovered, jumped miles, and disappeared. The pilot's radio went dead, and his propeller disintegrated.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes throughout this issue of the U.F.O. Newsclipping Service are the persistent reports of unidentified flying objects, the varied descriptions of their appearance and behavior, and the consistent lack of definitive explanations. The publication seems to adopt a stance of documenting these events without necessarily endorsing any single theory, presenting witness accounts and official responses side-by-side. There's an underlying implication that these phenomena are real and warrant investigation, as evidenced by the inclusion of reports from UFO research organizations and the historical context provided. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and information gathering, encouraging readers to share their own experiences.

This issue of FOREIGN NEWS, dated September 27, 1980, focuses heavily on UFOs and related phenomena, with a prominent cover story titled "'SPACE FABRIC' MADE BY MAN UNI SAYS." The magazine presents a collection of news reports and eyewitness accounts from various international sources, exploring claims of alien spacecraft, mysterious aerial phenomena, and cryptid sightings.

'Space Fabric' Analysis

The lead article, by Trevor Munnerry, reports on the analysis of material claimed to be wreckage from a UFO, found in Greenbank, Australia, in 1968. Australian scientists at a Sydney university have concluded that this "space fabric," believed to be fibreglass, is man-made. This finding contradicts earlier claims made in the book "Alien Honeycomb" by Melbourne researchers John Pinkney and Leonard Ryzman, who suggested the material contained unknown elements. Millionaire Dick Smith reportedly funded a researcher to acquire pieces of the material for testing. Leading UFO experts, including Philip J. Klass and Bill Chalker, express skepticism, with Chalker challenging Pinkney to provide scientific proof and debate his claims.

Eyewitness Accounts and Sightings

The magazine features numerous reports of UFO sightings from different regions:

England

• The Ashbourne Event: The Nottingham UFO Investigation Society has released an interim report on a series of 37 sightings in the Ashbourne area of Derbyshire on August 31, 1980. Investigators found these objects to be "totally unidentifiable," ruling out all probable explanations. Descriptions include pulsating objects larger than houses, covered in lights, and moving with buzzing sounds.
• Messingham Encounter: Howard Talbot reported seeing five to ten glittering, white, tadpole-shaped objects flying rapidly over Messingham.
• Lapworth to Kenilworth Incident: Lynn Simonds and Peter Higgins described seeing two unblinking lights (blue and red) descend and form part of a large, oval-shaped object that appeared to be tracking their car.
• Nottingham Sighting: A motorist near Hartshorne, Derbyshire, reported seeing a "red oval light" descend and move off rapidly.
• Welling Sighting: An investigation was launched into an enormous triangular-shaped object seen above Welling, described as black with a V-shaped beam and colored lights underneath.
• Misson Sighting: Schoolboy Steven Emsley photographed a UFO described as hovering over Misson, initially appearing like a light aircraft but then hovering for five minutes before moving off very fast.
• Parkstone Encounter: Mrs. Ethel Field reported seeing an oval-shaped spacecraft, the size of a double-decker bus, with silver-clad figures inside, hovering over her garden. The incident was accompanied by a humming noise and TV interference.
• Chilcomb Encounter: Joyce Bowles and Ted Pratt reported two encounters with men from outer space. The first involved a glowing cigar-shaped object hovering near their car, from which a tall, fair-haired figure emerged. The second encounter involved being transported to a dome-shaped room with three figures.
• Basingstoke Yellow Light: A mysterious yellow light seen near Basingstoke was identified by RAF Odiham as likely being an ordinary aircraft.
• Basildon Diamond Light: Brothers Andrew and Gary Reeves spotted a bright, glowing diamond-shaped light moving fast across the sky, which a forecaster suggested might be a weather balloon target.

Australia

• UFO Wreckage Analysis: The main cover story details the analysis of alleged UFO wreckage found in Greenbank, Australia.

China

• UFOs in China: UFOs have reportedly arrived in China, with sightings and a growing interest among believers. The Peking Evening News published what it claimed was the first UFO photo taken in China, though older photos later surfaced.
• Mysterious Lakes: In Yunnan province, residents claim that shouting loudly near certain lakes can induce rain, a phenomenon local experts theorize is related to atmospheric moisture and vibrations.

United States

• Bigfoot Sightings: Several articles discuss Bigfoot sightings and investigations:
• In Linton, near Lake Barkley, strange footprints, about 18 inches long, appeared in the snow, leading some residents to believe Bigfoot had returned.
• An expedition in Santa Clara County, California, searched for Bigfoot based on an eyewitness account of two large, hairy, humanoid creatures near a stock-watering pond. However, the tracks found were identified as belonging to a cow.
• Lake Champlain Monster ('Champ'): The Port Henry Village Board of Trustees passed a resolution to protect the 'Champ' creatures, declaring waters of Lake Champlain adjoining the village off-limits to anyone who would harm or destroy them. This action is seen as a precedent for protecting unexplained creatures.
• White River Monster: Protective measures were taken in Arkansas to secure the safety of the White River monster, with a resolution making it illegal to harm the creature within a designated refuge.
• Artesian 'Furry Thing': A woman in Artesia, New Mexico, reported seeing a tall, furry creature, about seven feet tall, in an alley, matching a description from a Carlsbad man.
• Georgia Sea Serpent: Sightings of a giant sea serpent, similar to the Loch Ness monster, have been reported in the Altamaha River in Georgia.
• Mutilated Cattle: Reports of cattle mutilations continue, with a case in Las Vegas, New Mexico, involving a mutilated horse. Officials note the precise removal of organs and lack of clues.

Other Reports

• Chinese Ships Lost: A Peking newspaper suggested that huge whirlpools in the South China Sea might be responsible for the disappearance of three vessels, referring to it as a "Devil's Triangle."
• Talking Elephant: The zoo in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, claims its eight-year-old Indian elephant, Batyr, can talk, with recordings of phrases like "Batyr good boy. Go away." Experts are divided on the authenticity of these claims.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes throughout the issue are the persistent reports of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), alleged encounters with cryptids like Bigfoot and lake monsters, and the ongoing efforts by both amateur investigators and, to a lesser extent, official bodies to document and understand these events. There is a clear emphasis on eyewitness testimony and the challenges of scientific verification. The magazine appears to present these accounts with a degree of seriousness, highlighting the persistence of these mysteries despite skepticism from some scientific quarters. The editorial stance leans towards presenting the information and allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also acknowledging the need for further investigation and potential protection for unknown species.