UFO Newsclipping Service - 1982 01 - no 150

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated January 1982, compiles a wide array of UFO sightings and related news from late 1981. The publication features reports from various newspapers across the United States, highlighting public interest and ongoing investigations into unidentified flying objects.

Key Articles and Reports

Corte Maderans' Close Encounter (Twin Cities Times, Oct. 8, 1981) This article details an encounter by Jerry and Lori Morgan in Corte Madera, California, on September 15, 1981. They reported seeing a large, gray metallic craft, described as a rounded disc with square headlamps and a pink and blue aura, hovering silently over trees and moving toward San Francisco. Seven months prior, on February 19, they had a similar first encounter with a craft of similar description. The Morgans believe their experience was a 'religious experience' and that their purpose is to find truth and meaning. They also suggest that their encounters may be related to preparing society for upcoming changes. The article also mentions a similar sighting by a Kentfield family on September 17, 1981.

UFO Sightings Reported Over McCook (Daily Gazette, Oct. 21, 1981) Several McCook, Nebraska, residents reported seeing multi-colored lights west, southwest, and northwest of the city on two consecutive evenings. Descriptions included blue, red, green, and yellow lights moving in a counter-clockwise direction, appearing as a bright star without binoculars but showing distinct colors and movement with them. Another report mentioned a bright white light hovering on M Hill south of McCook that slowly moved away. One individual compared the lights to Mars, the evening star, but noted they were lower in the sky. McCook Police Chief Richard Brunswick stated his department received a call but officers saw nothing unusual. Robert Gribble, director of the Unidentified Flying Object Reporting Center, suggested many reports might be bright stars, but acknowledged an object picked up on radar near North Platte had no explanation.

Round, Lighted Object Seen Over Williamstown (Berkshire Eagle, Nov. 6, 1981) Local residents in Williamstown, Massachusetts, reported a round object with bright lights hovering over Maple Street. The object was seen by a crowd of about 200 people. Officer Jeffrey Card also reported seeing a strange object with white lights. The object disappeared before another patrolman arrived.

UFOs Sighted in Central Marin (Twin Cities Times, Oct. 8, 1981) This article revisits the sightings in Corte Madera and Kentfield. Jane F. Rogan reports on the Morgans' national media coverage and their refusal for a more in-depth interview, suggesting personal reasons. She also details the experience of the Kentfield family who, after seeing a large object, felt scared and distrustful of their own perceptions. Rogan contacted various agencies (NASA, FAA, FBI, CIA) and found no confirmation of experimental aircraft. She notes the pervasive belief in extraterrestrial visitors among religious-oriented groups since the 1950s and contrasts the Morgans' spiritual approach with the skepticism of the Kentfield family, finding the latter more believable due to their uncertainty.

UFOs Over Atlantic (Monitor, Nov. 17, 1981) Andrew Snyder, a recently discharged Navy Radar Operator, recounts seeing four planes in formation moving at incredible speeds over the Atlantic Ocean en route to Spain. The objects halted and hovered directly over his ship for 30-45 seconds before bolting in a northerly direction with a blast of orange, reddish light, disappearing in 2-4 seconds. He questions the uniqueness of human life in the galaxy and hopes for future contact.

Group to Sue Air Force to Obtain Secret UFO Data (Morning News, Oct. 28, 1981) Peter Gersten, a lawyer for Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS), plans to sue the Air Force to obtain documents related to UFO sightings involving strategic air command bases. The Air Force is refusing to release approximately 40 documents, citing national security concerns. Gersten argues that if UFOs are not a threat, there's nothing to hide, and if they are, the public should know. The article mentions CAUS's lobbying for a presidential proclamation to declassify UFO reports and a national fund-raising drive.

Groton Man Also Saw UFO (Enterprise, Nov. 26, 1981) Dave Norman of Groton reported seeing a string of white lights in a pattern, similar to lights seen over Laconia on November 10. He watched the lights for five minutes, noting they were at the altitude of a jetliner and seemed to be getting closer. This marks at least the fifth sighting in the area in two weeks.

Island Observers Are Puzzled by 'UFOs' (Daily News, Nov. 7, 1981) This commentary discusses sightings over Mount Desert Island, Maine, on October 14 and 24. Malcolm Salisbury Jr. reported an object like a mini-comet descending. Southwest Harbor Police and the Coast Guard also reported a similar sighting. Investigations involving NORAD, Loring AFB, Brunswick Naval Air Station, and Pease AFB yielded conflicting or inconclusive information. Massachusetts Air National Guard reported practicing radar intercepts with a B-52 bomber and fighters, but the altitudes involved were too high to explain the sightings. Lt. Vernon Bennett of NORAD mentioned an 'IR route' maneuver involving a sudden drop and turn, but again, the lowest altitude was still high.

Encounters of a Dubious Kind (Daily News, Nov. 7, 1981) This article details a legal battle initiated by Peter A. Gersten of CAUS to force the disclosure of 131 secret NSA documents concerning UFOs from 1975. The documents allegedly relate to sightings at sensitive military installations like Loring AFB. Gersten claims these prove UFOs exist and pose a national security threat, while the government cites national security risks in releasing intelligence-gathering techniques. Philip K. Klass, an aviation editor, disputes the cover-up theory, suggesting the Loring incident may have involved a helicopter used by an anti-Vietnam group attempting to steal a nuclear warhead.

UFOs Fill 'er up, mister? (New Hampshire Times, Dec. 2, 1981) John Davis, owner of a New Hampton Sunoco station, reported a shimmering, silvery saucer, about 40 feet wide, hovering silently over his garage for eight minutes. He described it as having three posts hanging down and pulsating fluorescent lights. Linda Brown and her passengers reported seeing the object earlier, emitting blue flames toward them on Route 104. The article notes that a refueling mission by six A-10s and a KC-135 occurred in the area around the same time, but the low altitude and lack of noise reported by witnesses contradict this explanation.

People Report Shimmering Saucer Hovered over Service Station (Evening Citizen, Nov. 16, 1981) This article expands on the New Hampton sighting. John Davis described the object as looking like a flying saucer or spaceship, silvery with pulsating fluorescent lights, hovering silently about 75-100 feet over his garage. Linda Brown and her passengers reported the object followed their car on Route 1-93, emitting blue flames, and then settled over the service station. They described it as a 'boomerang' shape. The article also mentions similar sightings in the Pemigewasset River Valley and a report from Richford, Vermont, about unusual orange lights.

Tazewell police note light in sky (Pantagraph, Nov. 19, 1981) Policemen and residents in Tremont, Illinois, reported seeing a bright white object with a rotating red light hovering in the sky. Authorities contacted air traffic control at Greater Peoria Airport and Scott Air Force Base, who reported nothing in the air. Policeman Tom Conover speculated the object was a reflection of the moon.

Dozens report UFO (Post Star, Nov. 20, 1981) In Ballston Spa, New York, at least a dozen witnesses reported seeing a UFO on November 12. The object, described as a series of bright white lights with a greenish tint, was seen dancing in the sky, moving slowly, and hovering. Notably, telephone service in the Saratoga area was out during the time of the sighting.

UFO Sightings Reported In Stevens Mill Area (News-Argus, Nov. 23, 1981) Three residents of Wayne County, North Carolina, reported seeing an unidentified flying object hovering over a field. One witness had previously seen the object sitting in the field. Descriptions included bright yellow and red flashing lights and a lack of sound. Officials at Seymour Johnson AFB denied having aircraft in the area at the time.

Odds for alien landing on earth a bit better (Star, Dec. 25, 1981) A British bookmaking company, Ladbroke and Co. Ltd., reported a significant drop in odds against an alien landing on Earth within the next year, attributed to heavy betting from followers of Ruth Norman, co-founder of the Unarius Educational Foundation.

Lights Linked To Refueling (Lakes Region Trader, Nov. 17, 1981) Suzy Brown and Frank Kokx of Franklin, New Hampshire, reported seeing darting lights in the sky on Thursday evening. Brown described them as moving without a regular pattern, while Kokx observed a triangular pattern that appeared to be a boomerang configuration with window lights. They heard a slight roar, possibly from jet engines. Col. Robert Reynolds of the 103rd Tactical Fighter Group suggested this could be explained by a refueling mission involving six A-10s and a KC-135, which would have had all their lights illuminated.

More People Report Sightings of UFOs (Evening Citizen, Nov. 19, 1981) This article follows up on sightings in the Laconia, New Hampshire area. Ken Davis and his wife Shelly reported seeing a mass of lights with no discernible shape, moving slowly and disappearing. Richard Fry reported seeing a boomerang-shaped object in the sky over Laconia. The article notes that many people are hesitant to report sightings for fear of being called crazy.

Those UFO's: What And Who's Out There? (News-Argus, Nov. 27, 1981) This editorial discusses the credibility of UFO reports, noting that many sightings defy conventional explanations. It highlights the reluctance of people to report such events due to fear of ridicule and suggests that authorities often dismiss these reports. The article questions the nature and origin of these unexplained phenomena.

Hendsbee: Wanting to forget (Morning Sentinel, Nov. 18, 1981) Harold "Bud" Hendsbee, a deputy sheriff, reported seeing an unidentified flying object that prevented him and his wife from continuing on Route 43 in Starks, Maine. The object had no discernible shape but emitted a bright light. After their story was published, Hendsbee was inundated with calls from media outlets, expressing regret for reporting the incident.

Ashland Woman Reports Sighting UFOs Off I-93 (Sunday News, Nov. 15, 1981) Mary Ann Wills of Ashland, New Hampshire, reported seeing two unidentified flying objects off Interstate 93. The first was round with a dome, windows, legs, and lights. The second was boomerang-shaped. She noted the objects made no noise. Her report was confirmed by others in the area, and the UFO center in Washington was reportedly going to investigate.

Strange Lights Seen In Sanbornton (Evening Citizen, Dec. 2, 1981) A Lower Bay Road resident in Sanbornton, New Hampshire, reported watching lights in the sky that appeared to be truck lights, about 6-8 inches in diameter, which shot fireworks three times. The object was silent and hovered close to the ground. The resident's television signal also experienced interference.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this collection of articles are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across diverse geographical locations, the common descriptions of objects (lights, discs, saucers, boomerang shapes), the consistent reports of silence from these craft, and the persistent skepticism from authorities and the public alike. Many articles highlight the witnesses' fear of ridicule and the difficulty in getting official confirmation or explanation. There's a clear undercurrent of questioning government transparency regarding UFO phenomena, exemplified by the legal actions to obtain classified documents. The editorial stance, as inferred from the selection of articles and commentary, is one of presenting the reported phenomena and the ongoing debate, while acknowledging the lack of definitive answers and the challenges faced by witnesses.

This issue of "Foreign News" from October 13, 1981, is a compilation of reports on UFO sightings and related phenomena from various international locations, alongside articles on Bigfoot and cryptozoological investigations. The magazine appears to be a collection of news clippings from different publications, indicated by the varied datelines and newspaper sources.

UFO Sightings and Reports

Canada

Charleston Lake, Ontario: Mel Coons, his wife Margret, and son Richard reported seeing three UFOs on September 16th. Mel described them as "like big, red moons," one appearing to head directly for their house. They were silent and moved at high speed. Florence Warren, a neighbor, also reported seeing similar lights.

Nakina, Ontario: Bus drivers Olef Solmonson and Carol Luxton reported separate sightings of two hovering white lights 15 km south of Nakina on a Wednesday morning. The lights moved off as they approached. The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) detected no objects in the area, and Ontario Hydro stated they had no lights on their lines in that region. A spokesman from Thunder Bay Airport control tower noted the description didn't fit a helicopter.

Argentina

Córdoba: Pilots of two commercial flights, Austral Airlines flight 408 and Aerolineas Argentinas flight 510, reported seeing a "bright, round, huge object" with a smaller bright object in the middle on a Saturday night. The object was at an approximate altitude of 180 meters near Marcos Juárez.

Mar del Plata: Numerous witnesses reported a UFO on November 21, 1981. While not a traditional "flying saucer," it was described as a glowing missile that extended wings and maneuvered without sound. A young night school student provided a detailed account.

Satipo, Peru: Three UFOs reportedly left the city without electrical power and halted radio communications. The objects were described as "blue-red" colors, emitting a white light, and flying over the city.

United Kingdom

Brucehill, Scotland: Kathleen Gillespie reported seeing a UFO on October 20th. She described a red light that hovered over Dumbuck Hill, moved out of a cloud, and appeared circular. It then changed to a bright white color and shot off at "unbelievable speed" over the Clyde.

Dumbarton, Scotland: Former town councillor Jim Kerr reported seeing a large, round, bright orange object with a dazzling white streak from his bedroom window on October 21st. He described it as traveling at an astonishing speed over the Clyde.

Wrexham, England: David Crewe reported seeing an unidentified flying object traveling so fast it passed from view in seconds. He described it as a bright circular-shaped object that dipped towards Minera Mountain.

Bolton, England: A letter writer, Ann Crompton, reported seeing a large, deep pink/red ball moving slowly over "Lantor" Mill with her son on November 7th. It was in view for about 30 seconds before disappearing.

Calderdale, England: An article notes an unprecedented wave of UFO sightings in the Calderdale area, with over 30 sightings of strange lights and shapes recorded in recent weeks, making the area second only to Warminster in UFO popularity.

Canary Islands, Spain

A two-part series begins with reports of dramatic UFO sightings between 1974 and 1979. The first incident detailed is a radar/visual UFO report from November 24, 1974, involving an Air Force Lt. Colonel, a radar station, and an Iberia airliner pilot. A brilliant white light was observed and detected by radar. The second incident, on June 22, 1976, describes a "close encounter of the third kind" where Dr. Francisco Padron and others saw a transparent spherical object with two large beings inside.

Bigfoot and Cryptozoology

Mount Shasta, California, USA

An article revisits a Bigfoot sighting claimed to have occurred five years prior by logger Virgil Larson. The piece details various historical Bigfoot accounts and descriptions from the region, including a creature described as 9-foot tall, hairy, and smelling strongly.

Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana, USA

Perry Ford discusses his late father Harlan A. Ford's interest in a creature in the Honey Island Swamp, reportedly seen about 10 years prior. The legend resurfaced after a truck driver found large, four-toed footprints. The Smithsonian Institute reportedly examined similar tracks found by Harlan Ford and determined they were authentic but not from an orangutan or Bigfoot.

Fort Custer, Michigan, USA

Four searchers, including Paul Rigney, failed to find evidence of Bigfoot in the Fort Custer area during a weekend expedition. They were equipped with lights and cameras but also high-powered rifles, which are prohibited in state lands. The recreational area supervisor, Bill Kosmider, who has reportedly seen Bigfoot himself, asked them to leave the weapons in their vehicle.

Rotherham, England

A UFO was spotted in the Rotherham area, described as two mysterious lights by driver David Green. A spokesman for RAF Finningley confirmed another sighting by a man from Sheffield who described a "dumbbell shaped object" with a bright light on each end.

Devon, England

Devon UFO enthusiasts are investigating several sightings reported over Plymouth, including a "flying cross with a defused light in the centre."

Happy Camp, California, USA

Al Casner found 13-inch footprints in the mud, initially thought to be bear tracks, but with an imprint of an "inseam and heel." Professor James Collins and students from the College of the Siskiyous examined the prints, which were too vague to definitively identify as Bigfoot, bear, or human.

Brockway Township, Michigan, USA

This section details ongoing investigations into disturbances at the William and Cindy Barone farm, initially attributed to Bigfoot. Mrs. Barone suggests the tracks might be from a tame bear that escaped two years prior. However, Bigfoot experts like Jon Beckjord and Wayne King express skepticism, with Beckjord suggesting a more unknown life form and King leaning towards an ape species. The article also touches upon a potential connection between Bigfoot and UFO sightings.

Scientific and Other Articles

Comets and Life: Dr. Armand Delsemme, an astrophysicist, proposes that comets "seeded" Earth with the ingredients for life billions of years ago, a theory gaining acceptance among scientists.

The Monster of Lake Massawippi: Ronald Sutherland recounts a personal encounter with a creature in Lake Massawippi, Quebec, describing a hissing sound and greenish eyes. He references local legends and the possibility of lake monsters.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent reports of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs) and the enduring mystery of Bigfoot and other cryptids. The magazine presents these accounts with a degree of seriousness, often quoting witnesses directly and including details from official investigations or expert opinions. While some articles lean towards skepticism or offer alternative explanations (like bears for Bigfoot), the overall tone suggests an open-mindedness to the possibility of these phenomena being real and unexplained. The collection of clippings from various newspapers indicates a broad interest in these topics across different regions and publications.