UFO Newsclipping Service - 1984 03 - no 176

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFOLOGY magazine, dated January 1984, delves into a wide array of UFO sightings, unexplained phenomena, and related mysteries from various parts of the world, spanning from the 1950s to the early 1980s. The publication features reports from Canada, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, Australia, West Germany, and Siberia, offering a comprehensive look at global interest in the unexplained.

Canadian UFO Investigations and Sightings

The lead article by James Rusk from The Globe and Mail details the declassified files of the Canadian Department of National Defence on Unidentified Flying Objects, covering the period from 1947 to 1964. These files reveal a systematic approach to collecting reports, including interviews with witnesses ranging from Inuit to RCAF personnel and the chief test pilot for Canadair. The article highlights the bureaucratic process, including the creation of 'Project Second Story,' and the skepticism faced by those reporting sightings. It also touches upon the government's eventual decision to downplay public interest to avoid increasing the number of reports.

Several Canadian sightings are detailed: a 1951 report from Barrie, Ontario, by a WWI veteran describing three space ships; a 1952 report from Lindsay, Ontario, concerning flying saucers; and an incident at Trenton air base where a radar echo was initially thought to be an unidentified object but was later identified as the planet Jupiter. The article also mentions a 1959 sighting in Hamilton, Ontario, of a silent vehicle with orange lights.

Lawrence Fenwick, a ufologist teaching a course at Humber College, is featured, advocating for investigation before criticism. He recounts a personal sighting in 1977 of a long, lit-up object near Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue in Toronto. The article also notes the National Research Council's stance, discounting UFO sightings as primarily meteors, aircraft lights, or Venus.

Manitoba Sightings and Astronomical Perspectives

Chris Rutkowski, a UFO investigator and astronomer, claims that thousands of people have seen something unexplained. He has catalogued about 600 sightings in Manitoba, with 10-15% remaining unresolved. Rutkowski suggests that UFOs might be integrated into Indigenous legends, citing the 'bear walk' ritual. He mentions recent incidents in southern Manitoba, including a disc-shaped object seen near Selkirk and nocturnal lights reported in the Virden area. More bizarre cases include reports of 'aliens' in silvery suits near MacGregor and Beausejour in the 1970s, a 1967 incident near Falcon Lake where a man sustained chemical burns and a grid pattern on his chest after approaching a UFO, a mysterious ball of light nicknamed 'Charlie Redstar' over Carman in 1975, and a UFO with searchlight beams observed near Sundown.

International UFO Reports

The magazine presents a collection of international UFO reports:

• Argentina: A UFO reportedly landed on a farm near Romang, San Javier, leaving circular imprints. Another sighting in Oruro and Araní described a UFO with a luminous body and reddish lights. A UFO also landed in San Vicente, leaving a circular imprint and drying plants.
• Chile: A businessman took a photograph of a UFO over Chillán without seeing it at the time, with technicians ruling out a hoax.
• Spain: A UFO was sighted over San Carlos, Málaga, and a photograph was taken.
• United Kingdom: Two women reported seeing three lights near Camberley, with one described as a 'blob' and the lights sending out beams. Another report details a close encounter at Ash.
• West Germany: A pharmacist couple in Hemer reported a flying saucer with shining black stripes heading towards Arnsberg.
• France: Renato Nicolai reported a 'flying saucer' landing near his house in Trans-en-Provence, leaving a circular outline and skid marks, with scientific analyses confirming an 'unexplained event of great importance' involving soil fracture and heat.
• Australia: Police agents in Perth reported seeing a luminous object lift off at great speed.
• Siberia: A Bronze Age cave painting in the Ienissei region is compared to depictions of 'extraterrestrials'.
• Brazil: A journalist reported on a message from 'Cabala,' warning about weapons of mass destruction and imperialism, and mentioning the preservation of human life.

Cryptozoology and Mysterious Creatures

Bell Township, Pennsylvania: The Frew family reported numerous strange occurrences since a barrel-shaped object fell in the woods behind their home in 1979. These include hearing eerie noises, seeing alien creatures, and experiencing unexplained power outages. They described two types of animals: a 10-foot tall Bigfoot-type creature and a panther-like animal. Diane Enion, an expert on the unexplained, notes that UFO sightings are often followed by reports of strange creatures, suggesting they might be 'interdimensional.'

Murphysboro, Illinois: A group of journalists, a lawyer, and an insurance man investigated reports of strange occurrences near Murphysboro, including sightings of a tall, hairy creature and eerie noises. Their expedition into 'The Scatters' swamp yielded no definitive proof but left them with a sense of the uncanny.

China: Reports from the Chinese Wild Man Research Institute suggest the existence of 'wild men' (Ye Ren) in the Hubei Province, with claims of footprints, sightings of ape-like creatures, and ancient Chinese legends.

Lake Champlain: Joseph W. Zarzynski, an investigator for the Lake Champlain Phenomena Investigation, reported 24 sightings of 'Champ' in 1983, including five instances where multiple creatures were seen. He advocates for the protection of these animals and further scientific inquiry.

Other Mysteries

The Crystal Skull: The article discusses the mysterious Crystal Skull, found by Anna Mitchell-Hedges in 1924. Its origin and creation are unknown, with estimates of its age ranging from 20,000 to 500,000 years. Speakers at a seminar suggested it was created in Atlantis and serves as a 'crystal data bank' containing Atlantean knowledge.

Moodus Noises: Crews are set to drill in East Haddam, Connecticut, to study an area known for small earthquakes and the 'Moodus Noises,' which have been reported since pre-colonial times.

Vanishing Goo: Blobs of jelly-like goo found in North Reading, Massachusetts, have baffled state laboratory scientists, though preliminary tests show they are not toxic.

'Extra Dimension' TV Show: A review of a TV pilot called 'Extra Dimension' highlights its focus on supernatural topics like numerology, voodoo, ghosts, psychics, and mediums, featuring interviews with celebrities discussing their beliefs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the theme of unexplained aerial phenomena and encounters with unknown beings. It presents witness testimonies, expert opinions, and historical accounts, often highlighting the skepticism faced by those who report such events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging investigation and consideration of possibilities beyond conventional explanations, while also acknowledging the lack of definitive proof in many cases. The recurring theme is that there is 'something out there that doesn't belong here,' suggesting a reality that extends beyond our current understanding.