UFO Newsclipping Service - 1996 03 - no 320

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated March 1996, features a cover story titled "Flying Saucers Pay A Visit, But What's Become Of Bigfoot?" The publication delves into various UFO sightings, alien encounters, and related phenomena, drawing from newspaper clippings and reports across the United States.

UFO Sightings and Reports

The issue details numerous UFO sightings reported throughout 1995, particularly in Pennsylvania. Stan Gordon, a UFO researcher with 36 years of experience, notes that while many calls he received were explainable, 1995 was quieter than usual for Indiana County regarding UFOs. However, unexplained sightings did occur, including a pilot observing triangular objects with unusual lights on February 13th in Westmoreland County, and reports of strange lights in the sky on March 2nd in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Butler, and Cambria counties, which formed a complete circle around the horizon. A notable sighting on September 1st in Penn involved a man photographing a 'W with an extra extension' shaped object emitting a bright yellow-gold light near railroad tracks. On October 12th, a Centre County woman reported a huge, rounded-triangular object passing slowly overhead, accompanied by a roaring sound and vibrations.

Across the country, James Armijo videotaped three white, disc-shaped objects flying over Greenie Mountain in Colorado on January 25th, 1996. The San Luis Valley is noted for its 'mysterious' reputation. In Florida, a Pensacola woman reported spotting two UFOs with unusual flashing lights on February 4th, 1976. Huntington Beach, California, saw four witnesses report a spherical, reddish-orange object on February 5th, 1978.

Betty Hill, known for her 1961 abduction experience with her husband Barney, advocates for a 'common sense approach' to UFOs, distinguishing between the 'commercial UFO field' and the 'real UFO field.' She believes UFOs are extraterrestrial spacecraft piloted by beings '25,000 years ahead of us' and that they are the 'great hope for our future.' She recounts her own experience of being taken to caverns beneath Fish Creek in Arizona by a 'light being' in 1987.

Lina Whitewolf of Frederick County, Virginia, claims to have been repeatedly visited by aliens since she was 8 years old. She describes encounters with a 'light being' and subsequent experiences aboard spaceships, including surgeries and examinations. She believes she has special gifts, including psychometry and precognition, and that her experiences, though suppressed for years, have ultimately been positive.

Bigfoot and Other Phenomena

The issue notes a relative quiet year for Bigfoot sightings, which puzzles and saddens Stan Gordon, as Chestnut Ridge has been a hotspot for such reports. There were second-hand reports and unusual screams heard, and a rumor of a good quality Bigfoot photograph in Butler County, though it couldn't be located.

The Roswell Incident

The Roswell incident of July 1947 remains a central topic, with discussions about alleged UFO crashes and government cover-ups. The 'Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction' film on Fox Television is discussed, with many regarding it as a hoax due to discrepancies like the subject's apparent female genitalia, which contradicts the description of 'greys' as having no sex organs. The Air Force's 'The Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert' is presented as an official explanation, but many find it unconvincing. The report suggests the crash might have been a Project Mogul balloon, a top-secret effort to detect Soviet atomic bomb tests. Foreign media coverage of Roswell is noted, with film crews from France, Italy, and Japan investigating. The city's first annual UFO Encounter festival is mentioned, with plans for a larger 50th-anniversary commemoration in 1997. Researchers at the UFO museum are exploring a potential new crash site west of the Corn Ranch site in the Capitan Mountains.

UFO Investigation and Research

Anastasia Wietrzychowska, state director and senior field investigator for MUFON, discusses the role of UFO field investigators, emphasizing the need for extensive reading and a well-rounded perspective. She notes that MUFON has investigators ready in Connecticut and that activity is often reported near water, power sources, or electromagnetic fields. She recounts a case involving a woman who reported a UFO and found a large ring of black foam in her yard, the composition of which remains unknown.

Michael Lindemann, a featured speaker for the March Gulf Breeze UFO Conference, is debuting a new event called 'UFOs In Cyberspace,' designed to teach participants how to find UFO and metaphysical information online. He is also presenting a lecture on 'UFO Current Events.'

Media and Public Perception

The PBS 'Nova' episode 'Kidnapped by UFOs' is criticized for misrepresenting the abduction enigma by omitting details and featuring Carl Sagan's view that encounters come from 'inner space.' The article highlights the public's growing interest in UFOs and the challenges researchers face in gaining acceptance and funding for their work.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent mystery of UFO sightings, the ongoing debate surrounding the Roswell incident, and the personal accounts of individuals who claim to have encountered extraterrestrials or experienced abductions. The publication seems to present a platform for various perspectives on these phenomena, from scientific investigation to personal testimony, while also acknowledging the skepticism and controversy surrounding the subject. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these unexplained events, encouraging readers to consider the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation and the potential for government secrecy surrounding such matters.

This issue of "Foreign News" from February 5, 1996, features a prominent cover story titled "UFO spotted at NT party: 14 stunned," accompanied by a photograph of a man silhouetted against a bright light. The magazine compiles various international news clippings related to UFO sightings, alien encounters, and paranormal phenomena.

Key Articles and Reports

UFO Encounter Baffles British Aviation Authority

A report from the Globe and Mail (February 3, 1996) details a year-long inquiry by British aviation experts into a close encounter between a British Airways Boeing 737 and an unidentified flying object (UFO) near Manchester Airport on January 6, 1995. Captain Roger Wills described a wedge-shaped UFO with small white lights that buzzed the aircraft at the 4,000-foot level. The object was not detected on radar screens and made no sound. Mark Lloyd, a witness on the ground, also reported seeing a triangular-shaped object. The Civil Aviation Authority's Joint Airmiss Working Group concluded that the incident remains unexplained.

UFO Sighting in Darwin, Australia

The Northern Territory News (February 5, 1996) reports on a UFO sighting in Darwin, Australia, where 14 people, including Neil Veavea, witnessed a large orange light move across the northern suburbs skyline. Veavea described the object as round and bright, appearing for about 30 seconds before dimming and disappearing. The witnesses were left stunned by the event.

UFO Sighting on the Quantock Hills, England

The West Somerset Free Press (September 29, 1995) covers a UFO sighting reported by David and Greta Thrush, who saw a brilliantly-lit object hovering above trees on the Quantock Hills. They described it as a bright, oval yellow and red light that appeared to be going to land.

Somaliland Mystery

The Sun (February 5, 1996) reports that officials in Somaliland asked for international help to unravel the mystery behind two explosions from unidentified flying objects seen over the Gulf of Aden on December 5 and 7. Inhabitants reported various ailments following the explosions, and several children died.

Canadian UFO Reports

The Times Colonist (December 31, 1995) highlights the volume of UFO reports filed in Canada, with 186 official reports filed with police, military, and federal scientists. The article mentions various sightings, including strange lights in Alberta, a dark, arrowhead-shaped object seen by a North Vancouver stargazer, and a large donut-shaped object reported in Manitoba.

Alien Abduction Experiences

The Vancouver Sun (undated clipping) features Michael Strainic, national director of MUFON (Mutual UFO Network), who investigates reports of alien abductions. Strainic states that Canadians report more UFOs per capita than anywhere else and that the number of abduction cases in British Columbia has nearly doubled in five years. The article also includes the story of "Dana," an abductee who believes she was taken aboard a craft by "greys."

Scientific Speculation on Extraterrestrial Life

The Journal American (February 20, 1996) discusses astronomers narrowing the gap between science fiction and known fact regarding extraterrestrial life. Frank Drake of the SETI Institute expresses hope of finding signs of life by the turn of the century. The discovery of two planets outside our galaxy orbiting a star similar to our sun is highlighted as significant evidence. Scientists like Seth Shostak and Dan Werthimer discuss the implications of finding life elsewhere in the universe.

Instrumental Transcommunication (ITC)

The Denver Post (October 31, 1995) reports on Mark Macy's work with instrumental transcommunication (ITC), a method of communicating with the deceased through technology. Macy claims to have received messages from spirits, including one from the late Latvian psychologist Konstantin Raudive.

Sony Scientist's ESP Research

The Daily News (October 25, 1995) covers Yoichiro Sako, a senior researcher at Sony, who directs the company's ESP laboratory. Sako believes in supernatural phenomena and is researching ESP, though his work has drawn criticism from some scientists who question its methodology and potential for creating false memories.

Bigfoot Sightings and Habitat Protection

Eastside Week (January 31, 1996) discusses the designation of Sasquatch habitat in King County, Washington, as a protected wetland. The article touches on the folklore surrounding Bigfoot and the scientific research being conducted on alleged Sasquatch hair samples. The Dispatch (March 4, 1996) features Don Keating, who investigates Bigfoot sightings in Ohio and believes the creature is an undiscovered primate.

Loch Morar Monster "Morag"

The Times, London (August 28, 1995) explores the legend of "Morag," a creature said to inhabit Loch Morar, Scotland, similar to the Loch Ness Monster. The article recounts eyewitness testimonies of a large, unidentified creature in the loch.

UFOs and Animal Mutilation

The Sunday Life (October 29, 1995) links UFO sightings in Northern Ireland to a cow carcass mutilation, describing the event as similar to incidents that have occurred in the US and Britain.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, alien encounters, and the broader spectrum of paranormal phenomena. The articles present a mix of eyewitness accounts, official investigations, and scientific speculation. The overall stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena with a degree of seriousness, acknowledging the public's fascination and the ongoing debate between believers and skeptics. The inclusion of scientific perspectives, even those critical of certain research, suggests an attempt to provide a balanced, albeit often sensationalized, view of these mysterious events.