UFO Newsclipping Service - 2008 09 - no 470

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO Newsclipping Service, dated September 2008, Number 470, is a compilation of news reports and articles related to UFO sightings and phenomena. The cover story, "Fight over UFO photos pits family versus newspaper," details a dispute over the famous McMinnville UFO photographs taken by Paul and Evelyn Trent in the 1950s. The Trent children are seeking the return of the negatives from the McMinnville News-Register, which argues they should be part of a permanent historic display in Yamhill County. The issue also includes a variety of other reports from different publications, covering sightings and alleged encounters across the UK and USA.

McMinnville UFO Photos Dispute

The lead article focuses on the ongoing conflict between the Trent family and the McMinnville News-Register regarding the negatives of the iconic 1950s UFO photographs. Bruce Maccabee, a UFO investigator who held the negatives for 25 years, stated that the Trent children are the rightful owners. However, the newspaper, under Phil Bladine, claims Paul Trent indicated he wanted nothing more to do with them, and thus the newspaper believes they should be preserved for historical display. The current publisher, Jeb Bladine, declined an interview due to potential legal proceedings.

Witness Accounts of Strange Lights and Objects

Several articles present eyewitness accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena:

• Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Multiple people reported a dramatic cosmic event around 10:15 p.m. on a Sunday, describing an intense, colorful object shaped like an oblong cylinder that broke apart and emitted a bright white flash.
• Scripps Howard News Service Survey: A survey found that about eight percent of Americans claim to have seen a mysterious object in the sky. Reports often describe objects as lighted orbs, hovering silently, or in V formations.
• Lititz, Pennsylvania: Joe and Galen Kane described seeing a bright, colorful object that moved intensely before breaking apart and disappearing with a flash.
• Roydon, UK: Readers reported seeing bright lights passing over Roydon for several consecutive nights, appearing oval and wobbling, and sometimes joining together.
• Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: An unidentified flying object shaped like a large triangle was seen hovering with a loud hum and white lights underneath.
• Calder Valley, UK: Numerous sightings of silently moving bright yellow or orange lights have been reported, described as not resembling conventional aircraft or hot air balloons.
• Mytholmroyd, UK: Seven orange lights were seen coming over in groups, described as not being helicopters due to their color.
• Stretford, Manchester, UK: A massive white ovoid object with a red light underneath was observed over meadows late at night.
• Weston, UK: More people claimed to have seen ball bearing-shaped objects hovering silently over the town, backing up a previous report.
• Caversham, UK: A mum-of-two reported being woken by a steady engine sound and seeing a bright green light, described as a bold round block, which then vanished.
• Hounslow, UK: A teenager claims to have seen a strange craft, about the size of a small trampoline, with flashing lights, make a crash landing on Hounslow Heath, leaving behind flattened grass and broken branches.

UFOs and Government/Military Involvement

• Texas UFO Claims: Radar documents examined by MUFON suggest evidence of UFO activity, with an enormous aircraft traveling at high speeds and making impossible turns, similar to witness reports in Stephenville and Dublin.
• Astronaut Edgar Mitchell: The Apollo 14 astronaut stated that aliens have been visiting Earth for 60 years and that governments have covered it up. NASA denies this claim.
• Gary McKinnon Case: The article details the case of Gary McKinnon, a hacker who searched US military computer networks for UFO information and faces extradition to the US on charges of unauthorized access and causing damages.
• RAF Involvement: Reports from the UK mention fighters from RAF Bentwaters and Lakenheath being sent up to check out UFOs caught on radar, with the sightings remaining a mystery.
• North Devon Sightings: Several readers reported seeing bright orange balls or objects in the sky, described as stationary or moving slowly without noise. A spokesman for 22 Squadron Search and Rescue stated that no UFOs have been officially logged by their unit.

Historical Cases and Hoaxes

• McMinnville Photos (1950s): The origin and ownership dispute of the Trent UFO photos are detailed.
• Fairless Hills Abduction (1973): A woman, her mother, and sister recount an alleged UFO sighting and abduction experience.
• Elstow Depot Incident (1956): A police officer reported a flaming arrow-like object landing, leaving a scorched circle, with the incident linked to a book on UFOs.
• Mars Monkey Hoax (1953): The story of a hoax where three men presented a monkey carcass as an alien.
• Alan Godfrey Case (1980): The well-documented case of a British policeman who encountered a UFO and experienced missing time.
• Saunton Family Sighting: A family claims to have seen a dark, undefined UFO over Chivenor, with one member having had a previous encounter.

Public Opinion and Beliefs

A survey by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University found that most Americans believe intelligent life exists on other planets, but a smaller percentage believe aliens have visited Earth. The survey also noted that people in rural areas are more likely to report UFO sightings, and those who attend church regularly are less likely to report such experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent nature of UFO sightings across different regions and time periods, the ongoing debate between believers and skeptics, the potential for government cover-ups, and the legal and personal ramifications of UFO investigations. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting various accounts and perspectives, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also highlighting specific cases and ongoing disputes within the UFO community. The inclusion of both alleged sightings and hoaxes suggests a balanced approach to the subject matter.

This issue of the Harborough Mail, dated July 10, 2008, focuses heavily on UFO sightings and related mysteries, with a prominent cover story detailing multiple reader reports of unusual aerial phenomena over the Harborough area. The magazine also includes reports from other regions and delves into other cryptid investigations.

UFO Sightings Above Harborough

The lead article, "UFO sightings take off in skies above town" by Ian O'Pray, details numerous reports from Harborough residents. Rachael Berry, an office worker, described seeing a "shiny, metallic-looking ball" hovering above fields near Brampton Valley Way on a Wednesday afternoon. She noted its size, shape (perfectly round and very shiny), and its movement, which included hovering, moving at a good pace, and stopping and starting. She also mentioned a rigid 'tail' hanging from it. Jessica Ingram and William Turner also reported seeing a similar object on June 25th. Caroline Marriott also contacted the Mail with her own sighting.

Other UFO Reports

The issue also includes reports from other parts of the UK. Mr. and Mrs. J. Grainger from Codnor reported a sighting of a "rugby ball shaped" object with a bright white light that moved at great speed, stopped, turned, and vanished instantly. Thames Valley Police confirmed they received a report of a UFO over Berkshire, described as a "stubby winged object with an enormously bright green light going smoothly, effortlessly, across the sky." This sighting was passed on to a specialist organization. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports on holidaymakers who believe they captured footage of the Loch Ness Monster.

Bigfoot and Yeti Investigations

Several articles delve into the search for other cryptids. The Washington Post reports on David Paulides, a private investigator who has spent years researching Bigfoot and has detailed his findings in a new book, "The Hoopa Project: Bigfoot Encounters in California." Paulides claims to have found consistent patterns in sightings across the Western United States, particularly in the Hoopa Valley. He emphasizes the importance of witness accountability and has used forensic sketches to analyze descriptions.

Meanwhile, The Independent on Sunday reports on new evidence for the Yeti, with "hairs found in Indian jungle are of 'no known species' say scientists." Ian Redmond, a primatologist, is coordinating DNA tests on hairs found in the Garo Hills of India, which he believes could be the best evidence yet for the Yeti's existence. These hairs bear a resemblance to those brought back by Sir Edmund Hillary and have failed to link with any known species.

Further Bigfoot claims are detailed in the Daily Democrat and Tri-Valley Herald, which report on the controversy surrounding a purported Bigfoot carcass found in Georgia. Two hunters, Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, claimed to have found the body and presented DNA evidence. However, subsequent reports suggest the carcass was a hoax, revealed to be a rubber gorilla suit after it was thawed out.

The Northern Territory News in Australia also features multiple reports of UFO sightings, with readers submitting pictures of various objects, including dark disks and strange lights.

Explanations and Skepticism

While many reports focus on the mystery, some articles offer explanations. The Harborough Mail article on UFOs over Woodley identifies the "bright orange globes" as fire lanterns. UFO expert Michael Soper acknowledges that fire lanterns are often mistaken for UFOs and notes that many sightings are influenced by wind. He also states that there is enough evidence to suggest UFOs definitely exist, whether in a physical or psychological dimension.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this collection of articles are the persistent human fascination with the unknown, the challenges of verifying extraordinary claims, and the role of media in disseminating these stories. The editorial stance varies across the publications, with some adopting a more sensationalist approach to UFO and cryptid reports, while others, like The Washington Post and The Independent, maintain a more analytical and skeptical tone, highlighting expert opinions and potential hoaxes. There is a clear interest in the possibility of undiscovered creatures and unexplained aerial phenomena, but also a recognition of the need for rigorous investigation and evidence.