UFO Newsclipping Service - 1982 12 - no 161

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, Number 161, dated December 1982, focuses on UFO sightings and investigations, featuring reports from various newspapers across the United States. The publication is co-edited by Lucius Farish and Rod B. Dyke and is based in Plummerville, Arkansas.

How a UFO Buzzed Loring

This article, by Nancy Thompson of the Herald, details a 1975 sighting by Steve Eichner at Loring Air Force Base in Maine. Eichner, then a crew chief on a B-52, described a red-orange, football-shaped object hovering over a nuclear weapons storage area. The object, which made no noise, disappeared and reappeared over an airstrip. Eichner and his crew approached it, observing it about 300 feet away. The craft was described as about the length of four cars and solid, with no visible doors or windows. When security forces converged, the craft took off at incredible speed, reportedly exceeding 1,200 miles per hour, and outmaneuvering an F-4 fighter jet. Communications were reportedly cut off during the incident. Officials later claimed it was a helicopter, a notion Eichner rejected. Larry Fawcett, a UFO expert and police officer investigating the 1975 sightings, believes the craft was not a helicopter and suggests a government cover-up. Fawcett is planning to write a book about these incidents, which he believes pertain to national security. Fawcett also shared his own UFO experience from 1965 in Manchester, where he saw a large, wingless craft recharge at an electrical substation, causing a power outage.

Pasture Burn Marks Prompt Questions

This report from the Daily News in Russell, Kansas, details strange burn marks found in the pasture of farmer George H. Brungardt. The marks, located about a half-mile into a mile-long pasture, formed a pattern about eight feet long and four feet wide, with two large burn marks at the base and eight smaller marks. An oily residue was found on the burned weeds and grass. There were no tracks indicating vehicles or signs of land entry or exit. Brungardt, who visits the pasture daily, had seen nothing unusual before. The incident is being considered as potentially caused by a prankster, a cult, or an unidentified flying object.

UFO sighted by Kulpmont woman

An article from the News-Item in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, reports a sighting by a resident of Pine Street in Kulpmont. The woman described seeing an unidentified object with a lot of lights in a small circular pattern high in the sky, flashing behind the object. She compared it to a Christmas wreath. The object appeared for about 20 seconds before moving southward and disappearing. The woman expressed excitement about her sighting.

Exploding object puzzles some Marysville residents

This Post-Register article from Idaho Falls, ID, investigates an incident where an object exploded over the Snake River near Marysville, Idaho, on August 15, 1982. Residents reported seeing an object in the sky flashing different colors and hearing a sound like distant thunder. Five pieces of unusual rock were recovered from the river the next morning by teenagers Dale Baler and Paul Lenz. The rocks have an ash-like outer crust surrounding a green and yellow glassy central core. A Ricks College science department contact suggested the rocks might have been formed by something extremely hot, possibly a meteor, but noted meteors are usually heavy and metallic. The geology department at Ricks College had no record of analyzing such rocks. The object was described as traveling at high speed from the south and exploding before hitting the ground. Air Force radar did not pick up any unusual objects.

A reliable source tells his UFO story

This article from the Columbian in Vancouver, WA, features an account from Jim A., a former county commissioner, who reported seeing a large yellow light descending to the Columbia River. The object, about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, tested its gravity pull near the water before rising in a zigzag pattern and then moving at high speed with sharp right-angle turns before disappearing. Jim called the sheriff's office and was asked to watch it.

The Reel Thing: Look to the Skies

This column by Susan Green discusses a call from Hollywood producer Arnold Shapiro, who is making a documentary about UFO sightings in Vermont. Shapiro plans to explore the phenomenon, which Vermont has reportedly experienced more than other areas in the US.

Agoura man probes extraterrestrials

This article by Karen Large from the News Chronicle in Thousand Oaks, CA, profiles John Tricas, a filmmaker and UFO investigator. Tricas became interested in UFOs while researching a TV segment. He recounts an experience in Wyoming in 1960 where he and a cameraman saw a green globe of electricity that performed a 90-degree turn and disappeared. They were able to take photos, but the film was damaged. Tricas also details the story of Pat McGuire, who claimed to have been abducted by beings he called 'Star People' and was guided to drill a well. McGuire's story was revealed under hypnosis by Dr. Leo Sprinkle. Tricas believes these beings are interdimensional and that the government is covering up information about crashed UFOs.

UFO? Milo woman isn't sure what she saw

This report from the Record-Herald & Tribune in Indianola, IA, describes a search for a low-flying aircraft or UFO near Milo, Iowa. Sheriff Tom McNamara stated that Des Moines Airport radar showed no aircraft in the area. A Life Flight helicopter was used to search a corn field. The woman who reported the sighting, who asked to remain anonymous, described the object as a "type of craft" she saw and expressed uncertainty about what it was, but was convinced she saw something.

Woman dies after 4-week wait for UFO

This article from the News-Tribune & Herald in Duluth, MN, reports the death of Laverne Landis, 48, who was found dead in a car near Loon Lake, Minnesota, after waiting for a UFO for over four weeks with Gerald Flach, 38. Flach was found semiconscious and treated for hypothermia, dehydration, and starvation. They told authorities they were researching hypothermia, but locals were skeptical. Flach reportedly believed he was receiving messages from a higher power directing them to the location. The couple had been living in the car, apparently drinking water from the lake and taking vitamins.

Lincoln And Gaston UFO Reports Checked

This article from the Times in Maiden, NC, details UFO sightings reported in the Lincolnton and Gaston Counties area. Eyewitnesses reported seeing brightly-lighted bronze objects and yellow-lighted objects near nuclear plants and the Timken Plant. Six to eight planes were observed searching the area after the UFO sightings. Deputy Chief Ben Wenning stated that the objects were not picked up by radar due to their low altitude. UFO investigator George D. Fawcett is collecting reports and asks witnesses to contact him.

Denver students up in air about existence of UFOS

This article from the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, CO, discusses an educational curriculum where eighth-graders evaluate evidence for and against the existence of UFOs. Some students and an assistant principal claim to have seen UFOs. Richard Segismond, a UFO believer, spoke to the students about his investigations and beliefs regarding extraterrestrial entities. The article contrasts the views of believers with skeptics who question the authenticity of photographic evidence.

UFO sighted Levelland

This article from the Post-Register in Idaho Falls, ID, discusses a sighting by the Pioneers Volleyball Team of North Arkansas Community College. The team watched a craft glide over trees, hover near their van, and silently move away. The object was described as having white and yellow lights underneath and a red blinking light on the tail. The Center for UFO Studies noted the unusual nature of 10 people viewing a single UFO. Coach McDonald contacted the airport radar tower and Dr. J. Allen Hynek of the Center for UFO Studies.

UFO seekers are they aren't suspected

This article by Peter Kobs from the News-Tribune & Herald in Duluth, MN, revisits the case of Laverne Landis and Gerald Flach, who died and was found semiconscious respectively, after waiting for a UFO near Loon Lake, Minnesota. The couple claimed to be researching hypothermia, but authorities and locals were skeptical. Flach reportedly believed he was receiving messages from a higher power. The article notes that the couple were not breaking any laws.

'Don't Shoot at Flying Saucers'

This article from the San Francisco News, July 30, 1952, reports that Robert L. Farnsworth, president of the U.S. Rocket Society, urged defense officials not to shoot at unidentified flying objects. He warned that hostile action might alienate mankind from "beings of far superior powers" and suggested seeking friendly contact. Farnsworth cited unconfirmed rumors that the Armed Forces had been ordered to shoot at such objects.

Flying Discs May Be Secret Planes, Says Local Designer

This article from the Daily Gazette in Berkeley, CA, presents the theory of Richard B. Johnson, an inventor, who believes that the reported "ghost discs" or "flying discs" are secret military jet planes capable of speeds up to 1200 M.P.H. Johnson patented a "flying disc" design in the early 1930s but abandoned development due to its potential for destruction. He suggests that these aircraft are designed for transonic and supersonic flight and may be appearing with a delay.

More 'Saucers' Seen

This article from the Daily Gazette in Berkeley, CA, discusses reports of "flying saucers" in Mexico and the United States. It mentions claims of a crashed saucer with a small pilot and government officials denying such events. The article also touches on theories that these objects might be Russian mapping devices or secret military aircraft.

Encroach of Fantasy?

This article from the Daily Gazette in Berkeley, CA, discusses the widespread reports of "flying saucers" and the skepticism from authorities. It mentions claims of crashed saucers and small pilots, as well as theories involving Venus as a misidentified object. The article also notes reports of "flying triangles."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include eyewitness accounts of UFO sightings, investigations into these phenomena, and the persistent question of government secrecy or cover-ups. There's a consistent effort to present witness testimony and evidence, even if anecdotal, while acknowledging skepticism and official denials. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting various perspectives and encouraging further investigation, as evidenced by the UFO Newsclipping Service's mission to collect and disseminate such reports.

This issue of FOREIGN NEWS, dated April 29, 1982, from Christchurch, New Zealand, focuses heavily on UFOs, advanced propulsion systems, and cryptozoology, with a prominent cover story about a Polish engineer's 'flying saucer' design.

Visiting Polish engineer has designed own 'flying saucer'

The lead article introduces Dr. Jan Pajak, a Polish engineer visiting Canterbury University. Dr. Pajak has developed theories on magnetically powered flight, predicting that such aircraft, shaped like inverted flying saucers, could be operational within 10 years. He bases his predictions on a principle of cyclicality in technological development, suggesting that a corresponding propulsion method for the electric motor should emerge by 2036. Dr. Pajak believes UFOs are spacecraft built on similar principles. His 'magnocraft' design features a crew cabin with walls impenetrable by magnetic fields, a central propulsion compartment, and nine stabilization units that generate a powerful pulsating magnetic field using Earth's magnetic field. The craft would be fueled by lithium and silver, producing pure tin as a byproduct. Dr. Pajak notes similarities between his design and known UFO characteristics, estimating the chance of this occurring by accident as one in 54,000 years. He has also researched Russian claims of material from a crashed UFO and chemical footprints caused by magnetic fields. He believes UFO research is taken seriously in the Eastern bloc.

Technician in close encounter

This section details an encounter by Thomas Quirke, a Midland technician named John Hurley. Hurley reported being pursued by a glowing, orange ball, described as the size of a small lorry, while driving home. The object hovered noiselessly about 60ft away, and when Hurley got out, it approached him. The Central Electricity Board could not explain the phenomenon, but Birmingham's UFO Studies Investigation Service is interested.

UFO drama: first film, now a book

This article reviews Quentin Fogarty's book, 'Let's Hope They're Friendly!', detailing a 1978 incident off the New Zealand coast where an Argosy freight aircraft with a film crew captured footage of UFOs. The sightings were also tracked on radar. The book explores the aftermath for Fogarty, who faced threats and rumors after releasing the story. The film was analyzed by US scientists, including Dr. Bruce Maccabee, who concluded the light sources were unexplainable by conventional means. NICAP endorsed the film, marking a significant moment for the organization.

More UFOs spotted

Several reports of UFO sightings are included:

• Nordin UFO base?: Marsha Hutchings reports on possible UFO activity near French Fort Cove in Nordin, Canada. A man who asked to remain unidentified reported seeing three objects resembling large balls of molten fire in 1970. More recently, two women reported seeing a strange light in the Nordin area on September 4, and two men reported seeing 'something' in the same location. Radar operators at CFB Chatham reported nothing unusual.
• More UFOs spotted (Wales): Police in the Cwmbran-Pontypool area of Wales reported three separate sightings. Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips saw a bright blue light. Stuart Blake and Jason Ree watched two flashing circular objects. Two women in Golf Road saw a narrow band of green light. In Monmouth, P.A. Jones saw a bright, white flashing light travelling very fast.
• 'UFO' sighting a puzzler for Pat: Patrick Coyne reported seeing several bright lights hovering in a clear sky near Horsforth, UK, which then vanished. Police, Leeds-Bradford Airport, and the UFO department at Manchester could not provide an explanation.
• 'Oval shape with flames': A photographer, John Ferris, captured an image of an oval-shaped object, described as the size of a small house with flames shooting from the top, over the Townhill area of Swansea, UK. While a weatherman suggested it could be ball lightning, Ferris remains mystified.
• City UFO witnessed: Staff at Morriston's DVLC in Swansea reported seeing a large, silver object landing in a field, corroborating the photograph taken by John Ferris.

Pilot's father keeps hoping

This piece focuses on Guido Valentich, whose son, pilot Frederick Valentich, vanished in 1978 after reporting being pursued by a UFO. Four years later, Guido Valentich continues to hope his son is alive and keeps a vigil at Cape Otway.

UFO OVER THE BRIDGE

Two teenagers in Pembroke Dock, UK, reported seeing a bright orange light above the Cleddau Bridge, which later changed to a bright white and reappeared several times.

Copping a UFO excites world

This article mentions that two police officers in Monmouth, UK, reported a sighting of a white light with blue and red flashes. The sighting has attracted international attention, with eight UFO societies from Los Angeles inquiring about it. The British UFO Society plans an in-depth study.

UFOs in Japan

This section discusses the work of the Japan Space Phenomena Society (JSPS) in investigating UFO reports. President Shinichiro Namiki emphasizes that UFO research is a serious and tedious business, with most reports being explainable by conventional means. However, a sighting in Yamagata Prefecture involving beams of light over mountains, retreating into a horizontal disc, is considered a genuine, unexplainable phenomenon by JSPS. The article also touches on the cultural context of UFO interest in Japan and the society's methods of data analysis.

'Bigfoot' Leaves Impression On 2 Ellington Farmhands

John Fuller and David Buckley, farmhands in Ellington, Connecticut, USA, claim to have encountered Bigfoot. Their story, sensationalized by The Weekly World News, has become a local talking point. State police investigated but could not confirm the creature's identity, though they believe the men saw something. Theories range from a prankster in a gorilla suit to an actual Bigfoot.

More talk about 'Bigfoot'

This article reports on a press conference at the University of British Columbia where anthropologist Grover Krantz stated that footprints found in the Mill Creek Watershed were made by a bipedal higher primate, not a human or ape. Krantz, an expert on Sasquatch, bases his conclusion on casts of the footprints, citing their depth, the dermal ridges, and the evidence of immense pressure. He contrasts this with the views of tracker Joel Hardin, who believes the tracks were faked. Krantz estimates there are 200-300 Sasquatch in the Pacific Northwest and believes the Paterson film is authentic. He advocates for bringing back a body part as definitive proof of Bigfoot's existence.

Huge footprints leading builder on Bigfoot hunt

Scott Brown, a building contractor, found large footprints near Washougal, USA, and made plaster-of-paris casts. He is convinced they were made by Bigfoot and not a hoaxer. He created a wooden model to test the weight required to make the prints, finding it significantly more than a human's.

The dog killer from Mars

A brief report states that scientists discovered a dog that died in Egypt was killed by a meteorite from Mars, identified by its mineral composition matching Martian rocks.

Is There Extraterrestrial Life? Scientists Say Now's the Time to Look and Find Out

This article discusses the growing support for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). It highlights that Congress has approved funding for NASA to study SETI capabilities, and the International Astronomical Union has established a section for SETI. Professor Michael D. Papagiannis suggests searching within our solar system, possibly in the Asteroid Belt, for intelligent signals. The article also touches on the urgency of SETI due to increasing radio interference and the possibility that advanced civilizations might be observing Earth without interfering, awaiting humanity's own development or survival.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings across various locations, the scientific and speculative exploration of advanced propulsion systems (particularly magnetic), and the ongoing investigation into the Bigfoot phenomenon. There is also a significant focus on the scientific pursuit of extraterrestrial life. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness towards these phenomena, presenting witness accounts and scientific theories with a degree of seriousness, while also acknowledging skepticism and the need for empirical evidence. The inclusion of multiple reports from different countries suggests a global interest in these topics.