UFO Newsclipping Service - 1984 12 - no 185

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated December 1984, focuses on the persistent government secrecy surrounding UFO phenomena, framing it as a "cosmic Watergate." The publication features articles by Hal McKenzie and J. Antonio Huneeus, alongside various news clippings from different publications, all contributing to the theme of alleged government cover-ups and the need for transparency.

Article: Media and public should act to end 'cosmic Watergate' by Hal McKenzie

Hal McKenzie argues that the U.S. government's official stance that it ceased studying UFOs after Project Bluebook is contradicted by thousands of documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. These documents reveal deep involvement by U.S. military and intelligence agencies in examining UFO sightings and artifacts since 1947. McKenzie asserts that the phenomenon of UFOs is real, regardless of their nature (extraterrestrial, misidentified craft, or natural phenomena). He criticizes the media for largely accepting the government's explanation and treating UFO reports with ridicule, making responsible research disreputable. The article highlights the "Catch-22" situation where the government denies having proof of UFOs while withholding evidence that could establish it. McKenzie draws a parallel to the "yellow rain" cover-up, where government policy initially suppressed evidence of Soviet chemical warfare until a change in political administration brought it to light. He contends that UFO secrecy is primarily a political issue, and public policy will only change when the original political decision to impose secrecy is reversed. McKenzie suggests that UFO groups should band together to form a political force to pressure the government. He also dismisses the idea that revealing the truth about UFOs would cause public panic, citing the popularization of UFOs in media. The article concludes by questioning the motivation for such long-standing secrecy, considering national security or a desire for military advantage over the Soviets, but ultimately argues that for a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people," Americans have a right to know.

Article: It's high time gov't opened Pandora's Box on UFO data by J. Antonio Huneeus

J. Antonio Huneeus discusses the ongoing efforts to retrieve government UFO records through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), spearheaded by organizations like Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS). He highlights the release of over 4,000 previously classified documents that are slowly changing public perception. Huneeus questions why military and intelligence agencies would spend significant resources investigating "phantoms" and "anomalous aerial objects" if UFOs were not real, and why certain records remain classified on national security grounds even after 15 years. He presents "high strangeness" cases from government files, including a UFO-F-4 Phantom jet "dogfight" over Teheran in 1976 and the "invasion" of SAC nuclear bases in 1975. Huneeus criticizes the Air Force's historical use of contradictory statements and statistics to minimize the impact of UFOs. He notes that while proof was elusive, the government still appears to be withholding information. The article mentions the "Bentwaters incident" in England, which, like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," is reportedly on film but hushed up. Huneeus emphasizes that the U.S. government is not alone in its UFO policy, with many other countries following a similar pattern of hushed military probes and public disclaimers. He advocates for the U.S. government to fully open its "Pandora's Box of UFO data," believing that the UFO phenomenon could contribute to a reassessment of mankind's place in the universe.

News Clippings and Reports

Several news clippings from various publications detail specific UFO sightings and investigations:

• "More UFO sightings reported" (MIRROR, Altoona, PA, Oct. 15, 1984): Reports on local sightings in Grazierville and Tipton, PA, with witnesses describing bright lights and streaks. Stan Gordon of the Pennsylvania Association of the Study of the Unexplained is quoted, suggesting the possibility of meteors but emphasizing his interest in unexplainable occurrences.

• "Raynes probes UFO sightings" (TIMES, Florence, AL, Sept. 10, 1984): Features Brent Raynes, a UFO investigator who believes about 90% of sightings have mundane explanations, but the remaining 10% are puzzling. He discusses his interest in "missing time" cases and the difficulty of obtaining concrete evidence.

• "UFOs show up in New Milford skies" (TIMES, New Milford, CT, Oct. 4, 1984): Describes sightings of aerial lights by multiple witnesses in the Kent area, including Harvey Conn, who saw a dazzling display of lights and a triangular formation. Ray Frost reported a large object flying silently over his head.

• "Unearthly sightings by some solid citizens" (INQUIRER, Philadelphia, PA, Sept. 28, 1984): Details sightings in Putnam County, NY, by credible witnesses like Monique O'Driscoll, Irene Lunn, and Dennis Sant, who describe large, silent, boomerang-shaped or triangular objects. The article contrasts these accounts with the official explanation of pilots flying in formation and notes the government's historical policy of debunking witnesses.

• "Bright lights fill the skies--Halloween prank or UFOs?" (HERALD, New Britain, CT, Oct. 31, 1984): Reports on multicolored lights seen over Putnam County, NY, on Halloween Eve. Authorities suspect a formation of ultralight aircraft, similar to a previous summer incident, but acknowledge the possibility of UFOs.

• "Researching UFOs: a 31-year pursuit" (SUNDAY POST, Bridgeport, CT, Sept. 23, 1984): Focuses on Fairfield Police Lt. George Lesnick, who has investigated thousands of UFO sightings over 31 years. He discusses the "Westchester Boomerang Mystery" and believes the government knows more than it reveals. Lesnick recounts his own personal UFO experience in 1976.

• "Experts, skeptics agree on need for study funds" (SUNDAY POST, Bridgeport, CT, Sept. 23, 1984): Reports on a consensus between UFO experts like Dr. J. Allen Hynek and skeptics like James Oberg regarding the need for increased funding for UFO research, albeit for different reasons.

• "Stars Discuss Stars" (ARKANSAS GAZETTE, Oct. 21, 1984): Features cast members of the TV series "V" discussing their beliefs about extraterrestrial life, drawing parallels between the show's themes and real-world UFO phenomena.

• "Lecturer says government knows of UFO presence" (SUN NEWS, Las Cruces, NM, Sept. 27, 1984): Covers a lecture by UFO researcher Robert Hastings, who claims government documents obtained through FOIA prove the existence of UFOs and government knowledge of extraterrestrial visits. He highlights reports of UFOs violating sensitive airspace over military installations.

• "In search of visitors from other worlds" (NEWS-PRESS, Fort Myers, FL, Oct. 2, 1984): Discusses the waning public interest in UFOs but highlights the continued dedication of researchers like Everett Walter and Shirley Fox of MUFON. It touches upon sightings in Florida, including the case of cattle rancher Jimmy Flynn, and the ongoing efforts to collect data.

• "Are The Lights In The Sky Really A Bunch Of Planes?" (JOURNAL, Lakeville, CT, Sept. 27, 1984): Reports on a sighting in Kent, CT, by Tom and June Davis, who described a large delta-shaped object with powerful white lights. Robert Gribble of the National UFO Reporting Center suggests it was pilots flying in formation, a theory questioned by the witnesses.

• "Those UFOs are still doing their thing" (JOURNAL-COURIER, New Haven, CT, Oct. 29, 1984): Briefly mentions ongoing UFO sightings in the New Haven area and the lack of official confirmation.

• "UFOs: 11 years later, he awaits their return" (TIMES-PICAYUNE, New Orleans, LA, Oct. 14, 1984): Revisits the Pascagoula UFO abduction case of Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker from 11 years prior. Hickson recounts the encounter with "humanoid creatures" and the subsequent investigation, including a polygraph test. UFO debunker Philip Klass dismisses the case as a hoax, while Dr. J. Allen Hynek maintains the witnesses were sincere.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overarching theme of this issue is the perceived government cover-up of UFO phenomena and the call for transparency. The publication consistently presents evidence from witness testimonies, leaked documents, and researcher investigations to challenge the official narrative that UFOs are either misidentifications or hoaxes. There is a strong emphasis on the credibility of witnesses, including professionals and ordinary citizens, who report seeing unexplained aerial phenomena. The articles advocate for a more open and scientific approach to UFO research, urging the government to release more information and for the public to take the phenomenon seriously. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of acknowledging the reality of UFOs and pushing for disclosure, framing secrecy as detrimental to public understanding and potentially hindering scientific progress. The issue also touches upon the psychological and societal impact of UFO sightings and the persistent skepticism faced by witnesses.

This issue of UFO Magazine, dated October 1984, features a diverse range of articles on unexplained phenomena, from UFO sightings and alien encounters to the enduring mysteries of Bigfoot and lake monsters. The cover story, "MEET MR UFOLOGICAL!", introduces Paul Norman, an Australian UFO researcher who travels the world investigating sightings. The magazine also includes reports on UFO incidents in the USA and UK, a deep dive into the legend of Bigfoot, and a discussion on the controversial Philadelphia Experiment.

Key Articles and Features

Meet Mr. UFological!

Paul Norman, an honorary vice-president of the Victorian UFO Research Society, has dedicated his retirement to researching UFOs globally. He travels extensively, attending conferences and gathering information, driven by a desire to understand the phenomena and counter negative opinions from the scientific community. Norman believes that about 80-85% of reported sightings can be explained as conventional aircraft or other natural phenomena, but he is interested in the remaining cases where physical evidence is left behind. He has also had personal experiences, including seeing a UFO in 1953 and a more recent encounter in Warminster, England, where he examined a strange sphere found in a cornfield.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The magazine presents several UFO sighting reports from various locations:

• Pascagoula, USA: Charley Hickson recounts his alleged abduction experience, detailing his interactions with aliens and his efforts to document his story in a book.
• Coventry, USA: Mark Parisella and Michael Rapoza Jr., two 17-year-old students, reported seeing a triangular, dull silvery object with bright lights hovering over an intersection. Parisella noted that his fog lights stopped working after the incident.
• Rochester, USA: An unidentified caller reported a multicolored stationary object hovering over his home, which police believed might have been a weather balloon.
• Malvern Hills, England: Roger and Linda Martin reported seeing two slow-moving, spherical objects with bright lights. Skyscan's investigation concluded these were likely military aircraft, though 5% of cases remain unexplained.
• Suffolk, England: A report mentions an alleged alien landing near a US Air Force base in 1980, with Gordon Creighton theorizing that aliens may be on the moon to monitor Earth and prevent nuclear war.
• Australia: A mystery surrounds a delta-winged shaped object seen by women golfers and residents in Brisbane. Olive-colored helicopters were also reported in the area.
• Oulton Broad, England: The mystery of unexplained lights in the sky deepens, with multiple witnesses reporting strange sightings, though explanations remain elusive.
• Tonbridge, England: A dramatic sighting of a silvery, egg-shaped object with black smoke and fire was reported by a 10-year-old girl in a field.
• Hyndburn, England: A group from Oswaldtwistle claimed to have made two UFO sightings of green and flashing objects in the sky.
• Ireland: Owen McQuail, secretary of the Spectrum Society, discusses over 4,000 documented UFO cases in Ireland, with about 70% having natural explanations but 30% remaining unexplained. He recounts two personal UFO sightings and mentions other reported landings and encounters.

Bigfoot and Lake Monsters

• Bigfoot: Tom Stienstra, an Examiner outdoors writer, recounts his three-week expedition in Northern California and Southern Oregon searching for Bigfoot in his eight-part series "In Pursuit of Bigfoot." He describes the rugged Kalmiopsis Wildland and a close encounter that turned out to be his fellow explorer, Jeff Patty. The article also mentions organized Bigfoot hunts and the enduring fascination with the creature. Peter Byrne, a long-time Bigfoot researcher, is also featured, emphasizing the creature's harmless nature and the scientific interest in fossil evidence like Gigantopithecus.
• Loch Ness Monster: Robert Rines, a lawyer and professor, discusses his continued efforts to document the existence of the Loch Ness Monster using advanced photography and sonar equipment. Despite initial successes, including a photo of a long-necked creature, definitive proof remains elusive.
• Other Lake Monsters: Reports of serpent-like creatures in Saddle Lake and Christina Lake in Alberta, Canada, are discussed, with a university professor suggesting further examination is warranted.

The Philadelphia Experiment

Jerome Weeks interviews Bill Moore, author of "The Philadelphia Experiment: Project Invisibility." Moore presents a convincing account of a top-secret US Navy experiment in 1943 that allegedly attempted to create radar invisibility for the USS Leon. The experiment reportedly went disastrously wrong, causing crew members to experience confusion, hallucinations, and disorientation. Moore explains that the experiment's effects were not optical invisibility but electronic camouflage, and that the Navy later shelved the project due to its dangers and the development of Stealth technology.

Mutilated Animals

• Enumclaw, USA: A gruesome mutilation of a cow near Enumclaw is reported, with the animal found dead shortly after giving birth, missing several body parts and having its blood drained. Police suspect a connection to unsolved sexual mutilations of horses in Pierce County.
• North Texas, USA: The mutilation slaying of a calf, with its tongue and ears cut off and blood drained, is decried, with speculation that "sadistic persons" may be active in the area.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, presenting a wide array of UFO sightings, alleged alien encounters, and cryptid phenomena. While acknowledging that many sightings have natural explanations (as highlighted by Skyscan and Paul Norman), the publication gives significant attention to cases that remain mysterious. There's a recurring theme of skepticism from mainstream science versus the persistent belief and investigation by dedicated researchers and witnesses. The articles often touch upon government secrecy and the difficulty of obtaining official confirmation for these events. The overall stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting evidence and theories from various perspectives without necessarily endorsing them as definitive fact, particularly in cases like Bigfoot and lake monsters where concrete proof is lacking. The magazine also touches on the intersection of science fiction and reality, as seen in the discussion of the Philadelphia Experiment film and its relation to Bill Moore's book.