UFO Newsclipping Service - 1984 11 - no 184

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated November 1984, number 184, focuses on a variety of UFO-related events and ongoing investigations. The publication features reports on legal battles, large public gatherings dedicated to UFOs, and numerous eyewitness accounts from different regions.

Plaintiffs in UFO Case Awaiting Day in Court

This article by Billy Cox details the ongoing lawsuit filed by Betty Cash and Vickie Landrum against the U.S. government for alleged radiation burns sustained from a UFO encounter on December 29, 1980. The plaintiffs claim the encounter involved a diamond-shaped, flaming object and subsequent helicopters, leading to various physical ailments. The U.S. District Court in Houston is handling the case, with assistant U.S. attorney Frank Conforti noting that the discovery process can be lengthy, potentially taking years. Peter Gersten, the attorney for the plaintiffs, is seeking information on military helicopter pilots on duty that night, including their medical records, to find patterns of radiation sickness. Betty Cash and Vickie Landrum continue to suffer from sores when exposed to sunlight, and Vickie Landrum expresses concern for her grandson Colby's psychological trauma.

UFO Conferees Gather from Brewster to Mars

This report by David Bushman describes the First Annual Conference on UFOs held at the Henry H. Wells Middle School in Brewster, NY, which attracted over 1,000 attendees. The atmosphere was festive, with people sharing UFO stories. While some attendees, like 14-year-old David Kilmer, noted the presence of 'loonies,' the prevailing sentiment was that 'there is definitely something out there - and people want to know what it is.' Lawrence Fawcett, a police officer and UFO researcher, asserted that the government knows about UFOs but withholds information, speculating that disclosure would lead to the creation of advanced air machines. Eyewitnesses, including Alice Salerno and Lillian Delease, shared accounts of sightings, often describing V-shaped formations of flashing lights. The article also touches on the serious discussions about government cover-ups and close encounters.

Teen Reports Seeing Flying 'Thing'

Laurie Fedon reports on a sighting by 17-year-old Jim Martin and his friend Brian Rockey in Bellefonte, PA. Jim Martin, who previously did not believe in UFOs, described an oval, orange-yellow object with red lights that hovered, spun, and then disappeared into the sky. He reported the sighting to the local police. The article also mentions a previous report of a circular object with red lights near Tyrone, which Scott Crain Jr. of the Mutual UFO Network noted might be similar to Martin's sighting.

Unraveling the UFO Phenomena

This article by Kathy Grantham profiles Peter Gersten, a lawyer known as the 'UFO lawyer' who represents 'Citizens Against UFO Secrecy.' Gersten uses the Freedom of Information Act to obtain classified UFO documents from agencies like the DIA, NSA, and FBI. He believes UFOs are technically advanced vehicles that may threaten human existence. The article recounts Gersten's involvement in a Texas lawsuit alleging UFO presence and injuries, where the government denied responsibility. It also mentions a Defense Intelligence Agency report about Iranian jets encountering UFOs with advanced technology. Gersten presented findings at a MUFON Symposium, asserting that government documents provide proof of UFO existence and advanced capabilities, despite official denials. The article also touches on a UFO sighting in Westchester and Putnam Counties, which generated over 300 responses to an ad.

UFOs by Moonlight

Foxy Gwynne writes about a UFO gathering at Henry H. Wells School in Brewster, NY, organized by Peter Gersten and featuring Dr. J. Allen Hynek. The event drew over 1,000 attendees, including media representatives. Speakers like Gersten and Hynek discussed UFO experiences and government cover-ups. Eyewitnesses shared accounts, including Noel Szundy's description of a silent, humming object with lights, and two Brewster golf players who encountered a 'squashy' object. The article notes the commonality of sightings in the Brewster area and the difficulty in dismissing them as mere hoaxes or aircraft.

Man Reveals Local UFO Hoax

Paul Steinmetz Jr. reports on a UFO hoax perpetrated about 20 years prior at East Lake Reservoir in Danbury, CT. A city employee, who was involved in the hoax as a teenager, described how he and friends used blinking lights attached to a board and twine to simulate a UFO crossing the lake. The prank attracted hundreds of people and police. The interviewee reflects on human nature's tendency to deceive and people's willingness to believe, while not ruling out the possibility of genuine extraterrestrial visitors.

Area Sightings Spark UFO Symposium

Linda Bruder covers a UFO symposium at Henry H. Wells School in Brewster, NY, attended by 1,000 people. UFO investigator Philip Imbrogno stated that the event aimed to gather eyewitness information and spark a full investigation into local phenomena. Attendees shared experiences and compared photographs of sightings. Speakers refuted explanations like ultra-lights and Cessnas, with some witnesses describing V-shaped objects and brilliant strobe lights. Lawrence Fawcett, co-author of 'Clear Intent,' alleged that the CIA and NSA are withholding UFO documents. The article highlights the public's right to know and the impact of shared experiences on witnesses.

UFOs Over South Jersey?

Rick Murray discusses the ongoing public fascination with UFOs and the lack of definitive proof of extraterrestrial visitation. He mentions Dr. Erick Zimmerman's UFO seminar at the Ocean County College Campus, which aims to examine UFO evidence in an unbiased way, though Zimmerman is presented as a skeptic. The article references Philip J. Klass, an author who believes interest in UFOs is waning among the intelligentsia, and J. Allen Hynek, who advocates for a scientific response to the UFO question. The article also touches on the Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project and local astronomy professors' views on UFO reports.

UFOs a Cloudy Issue

Beth Burrell reports on George Fawcett, a UFO investigator and assistant state director for MUFON, who calls government investigations a 'cosmic Watergate.' The article presents statistics on UFO sightings, government investigations, and MUFON's findings, including alleged injuries and abductions. Fawcett believes the government is hiding intelligence-gathering information. He shares his personal journey from skepticism to belief and his extensive research materials. The article also mentions a book by Fawcett titled 'Quarter Century Studies of UFOs in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee' and his dream of building a flying saucer-shaped museum.

UFOs Remain Unexplained

This letter to the editor by George D. Fawcett corrects statements made by Captain Miles Wiley of the U.S. Air Force regarding UFO lawsuits and document releases. Fawcett asserts that federal courts have not definitively ruled out the existence of UFO bodies and that the Supreme Court intervened in a lawsuit concerning NSA-UFO documents, deeming them a threat to national security. He states that UFOs continue to be monitored by various government agencies and that the 'unexplained' cases from the Blue Book project remain unexplained.

Extraterrestrials Shy About Trying City Life

Joe Soucheray questions why UFO sightings predominantly occur in rural areas, suggesting that extraterrestrials might be avoiding cities. He recounts a sighting in Thief River Falls, MN, and mentions other incidents in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the Warren incident where a deputy sheriff encountered a mysterious object. Soucheray expresses a desire for UFOs to visit urban areas to provide more definitive evidence and a proper welcome.

Woman Reports Seeing UFO in North of State

This Star-Tribune article reports on Evelyn Johnson's sighting of a lighted orange-white saucer-shaped object hovering near her farm in northern Minnesota. She described it as hovering silently above trees. The article notes that other people in the area have also reported seeing unusual objects, but are hesitant to speak out due to fear of ridicule.

UFO cover-up continuous, claims 'zealot'

Gwen Roath reports on Robert Hastings, an independent UFO researcher, who presented a lecture and film arguing that the government is engaged in an ongoing cover-up of UFO phenomena. Hastings cited de-classified documents and contrasted them with official government statements. He discussed incidents like the Betty and Barney Hill experience and the 1965 New York City blackout, linking them to UFO activity. Hastings believes the cover-up is partly due to UFOs being related to nuclear power facilities and ICBM silos. He recommended the book 'Clear Intent' and provided information on obtaining government UFO documents.

NMSU Sued Over UFO Class

This Associated Press report details a lawsuit filed by Lynn E. Rhoderick against Grants Branch College of New Mexico State University for denying him permission to teach a non-credit course titled 'Government on a Neighboring Planet.' Rhoderick claims the course is based on a mysterious book transmitted through a human subject and concerns UFOs. College officials denied the course, citing it as dealing with 'religious doctrine.'

Must We Identify U.F.O.'s?

Sydney H. Schanberg discusses the ongoing debate about UFOs, acknowledging the possibility of their existence and the potential for believers to gain recognition. He notes recent sightings in Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam, and Fairfield Counties, which police attribute to a hoax involving stunt pilots. Schanberg questions the police explanation and emphasizes the need to explore the idea of unusual aerial phenomena. He contrasts the government's stance, which dismisses UFOs as non-threatening, with the public's desire for answers and the possibility of phenomena beyond current understanding.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent public interest in UFOs, the alleged government cover-up of information, and the ongoing efforts by researchers and private organizations to uncover the truth. The articles highlight eyewitness accounts, legal challenges to obtain information, and the scientific and skeptical perspectives on the phenomenon. The overall stance of the publication appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs, encouraging the sharing of experiences and questioning official narratives, while also acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes and the need for rigorous investigation.

This issue of The Ipswich Evening Star, dated October 25, 1984, features a prominent headline: "UFO TAPE IS 'NOT A HOAX'". The cover story focuses on the alleged authenticity of a UFO tape recording from the Rendlesham Forest incidents.

Rendlesham Forest Incident: The "Not a Hoax" Tape

The main article details a dramatic 20-minute tape recording, allegedly made by panic-stricken American servicemen during a close encounter with an alien spacecraft in Suffolk's Rendlesham Forest. The tape is presented as a major new piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation into the alleged double landing in the forest on the nights of December 27 and 29/30, 1980.

Col. Sam Morgan, former base commander at Woodbridge airbase, has exclusively told the Evening Star that he believes the tape is authentic. He stated, "I do not think it is a hoax." He recounted hearing the servicemen's excited conversations and references to frightening strange lights, concluding, "I think the men really were out there that night and they saw something which frightened them."

Col. Morgan provided the tape, which had some parts inadvertently erased, to researchers. He stated there was "no reason not to" give it to them. The tape is due to be played at a London press conference to launch the book "Sky Crash A Cosmic Conspiracy," written by Dot Street, Brenda Butler, and Jenny Rendles.

The authors claim there has been a conspiracy to cover up the truth about the incidents. They allege that in the first encounter, three silver-suited "entities" were seen repairing their stricken spacecraft. Some witnesses also claimed contact was established with them.

The book's authors have demanded a full public inquiry into the incidents. They claim that official evidence, including the report by Lt. Col. Charles Halt (then deputy base commander), which was leaked, gave them a major breakthrough. This report was the first official confirmation of unusual lights and objects seen, and traces of radiation found in imprints on the ground and on a tree at the site.

Official Responses and Cover-Up Allegations

USAF and Ministry of Defence officials acknowledge that "something happened which we cannot explain." Capt. Victor Warzinski, commander of the USAF public affairs department at the Bentwaters/Woodbridge twin airbase, stated, "I do not think there was ever any doubt that something happened which we cannot explain." However, he added that there was "not the slightest shred of documentation" beyond Col. Halt's report, which is headed "unexplained lights."

Warzinski dismissed the idea of a cover-up, comparing the story to "the old fisherman's tale of the one that got away... it gets bigger each time it is told." He explained that USAF jurisdiction was limited to incidents on base, and off-base events were handled by the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Dermod Hill, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence's DS8 department, confirmed that the incidents were investigated but found to have no defence or military significance. Therefore, no further action was taken. He stated, "It was looked into and there being no military explanation we lost interest in it."

Regarding the alleged radiation traces, he described them as "only normal background counts."

Book Details and Further Claims

The book "Sky Crash A Cosmic Conspiracy" was written before the investigators heard the Halt tape, but the authors had heard from witnesses about passages in it. They claim the tape tells of a "red, sun-like light" which flies through the forest and silently explodes into multiple coloured lights. A small craft, similar to the one in the first alleged encounter, was seen on or close to the ground.

When the Star contacted Lt. Col. Charles Halt, he was said to be on duty at a "classified location" and unavailable for comment. His report was described as "thorough" and "basically all we have on our files about it."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this article are UFO sightings, alleged alien encounters, government cover-ups, and the search for truth. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting the claims of witnesses and investigators, while also including the official denials and explanations, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. The article highlights the persistent nature of the Rendlesham Forest incident and the ongoing efforts to uncover its true nature.