UFO Potpourri No 291

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: Page 12, Section 8
Volume: 29
Date: Sunday, October 20, 1985
Publisher: Houston Chronicle
Country: USA
Language: English

Article 1: UFO hunters keep their eyes on the sky

This article, by David Tortorano of United Press International, profiles a group of five amateur UFO investigators in northwest Florida. Led by retired Air Force pilot Col. Donald Ware, the team includes Ralph Dalton, who became interested in UFOs after a childhood experience and a recurring dream.

Dalton underwent eight weeks of training, including a 100-question test on light, optics, physics, and the 'UFO experience,' before becoming an investigator. The training covered topics such as identifying the president who claimed to have seen a UFO (Jimmy Carter), the pilot whose sighting coined the term 'flying saucer' (Kenneth Arnold), and the year a presidential inauguration shared headlines with UFO sightings (1952).

The investigators, who also include a homemaker, a corporate pilot, and a retiree from electronics, use equipment like tape measures, cameras, and magnifying glasses, along with specific forms to record observations, including animal reactions and weather conditions. They acknowledge that overall UFO sightings have declined in recent years.

Raymond Fowler, chief investigator for the Texas-based Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), is quoted extensively. Fowler explains that MUFON has been investigating UFOs for 16 years and that their investigators can explain about 90 percent of the 20 to 30 sightings they receive daily. Only two or three per day are classified as unexplained.

Fowler notes the challenges investigators face, stating, "We don't have a vast radar network, we don't have paid personnel, and we don't have laboratories at our disposal." He also mentions that while authorities and witnesses take the subject seriously, they don't always take the investigators seriously. MUFON's Field Investigator's Manual offers tips on how investigators should present themselves professionally.

Physicist Willie Smith, another MUFON member, is compiling a computer database of "exceptional UFO sightings." He emphasizes that this is the first time such a comprehensive listing is being built, focusing only on sightings deemed credible enough for inclusion.

Col. Ware expresses a desire for MUFON to go on record, suggesting that a majority of its board members believe "at least some UFOs are spaceships controlled by advanced intelligence." He advocates for finding out where these UFOs come from and how they arrive.

Ware has prepared a resolution acknowledging that millions have seen UFOs and some have fired upon them. The resolution calls for a policy of not shooting at UFOs, regardless of how frightening they may appear.

Article 2: UFOs are in the limelight at conference in Beverly

This article by Nelson Benton from the News Staff reports on a Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) conference held in Beverly, Massachusetts. The conference focused on phenomena like the one witnessed 33 years prior by a young Coast Guard photographer.

On July 16, 1952, the photographer, Shell R. Alpert, stationed on Winter Island in Salem, captured an image of four large lights in the daytime sky. This photograph, released several weeks later, gained international attention. While military and scientific experts suggested the lights were a natural occurrence or reflections, others remained unconvinced.

The conference, held at the Beverly Golf & Tennis Club, brought together individuals who believe such phenomena may indicate visitors from outer space. Notable speakers included Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a leading UFO expert; John Schuessler, former flight operations manager for the Space Shuttle program; and Dr. David Jacobs, author of "The UFO Controversy in America."

Marge Christensen, MUFON's Massachusetts state director and national public relations director, discussed the Salem picture. She noted that the military's explanation of reflections was challenged by a student who recalled seeing the same lights from the Beverly side of the harbor. Christensen declared, "So it couldn't possibly have been a reflection."

Raymond E. Fowler, author and MUFON member, also commented on the Salem picture, stating that the Air Force's explanation of reflection or double exposure was met with laughter. He added that the Air Force was furious with the local Coast Guard commander for releasing the picture.

Alpert himself, in a contemporary account, could not explain the lights but doubted they were flying saucers due to their appearance. The article notes that there was an unusually high number of unidentified flying object sightings in the United States in July 1952, with 114 reported, significantly more than in previous months.

The Salem Harbor incident, though spectacular, was not the only report of flying saucers during that period. The National UFO Information Week, of which the conference was a part, aimed to increase public awareness of the UFO phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO Potpourri, presented by the Houston Chronicle, adopts a stance of reporting on the ongoing efforts and beliefs of UFO enthusiasts and investigators, particularly those associated with MUFON. The articles highlight the dedication of amateur investigators, their training, and their pursuit of answers regarding UFO phenomena. There is an underlying theme of challenging official explanations and seeking evidence for extraterrestrial intelligence. The magazine presents both the investigative efforts and the historical context of UFO sightings, suggesting a continued public and private interest in the subject, despite a perceived decline in reported incidents. The editorial tone appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, giving voice to those who believe in the possibility of alien visitation.