UFO Potpourri No 292

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 292
Date: September 20, 1985
Publisher: JOHN F. SCHUESSLER
Location: Houston, Texas, USA

This issue of UFO Potpourri, dated September 20, 1985, presents a collection of recent and historical accounts related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

New Wave of UFO Sightings

The lead article, "PILOTS REPORT NEW WAVE OF UFO SIGHTINGS," highlights that newspaper accounts of UFOs are frequent, but many lack credibility due to the witnesses. However, a significant number of highly credible reports come from pilots. The new wave of pilot reports is described as both exciting and puzzling.

Gansu, China Encounter (June 11, 1985)

The Chinese newspaper, People's Daily, reported that a Chinese Boeing 747 jetliner encountered a large, bright unidentified flying object over the city of Gansu on June 11, 1985. The UFO and the aircraft were both flying at an altitude of 32,800 feet. The pilot described the object as 30 feet in diameter, encircled with brilliant light, and having an extremely bright spot radiating from its center. The object traveled extremely fast, pacing the aircraft in a southerly direction for about two minutes. The pilot reported the encounter to flight controllers, anticipating an emergency landing, but the UFO disappeared from view.

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Encounter (Late July 1985)

In late July, scores of people in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, described a reddish and rounded object hovering at an altitude of 7,000 feet above the city. Two Zimbabwean Hawk jet fighters were scrambled from the Thornhill Air Base. The pilots had visual contact with the UFO as they attempted an intercept. Suddenly, the object climbed vertically at high speed, easily avoiding the approaching jets. The Air Commodore reported that the UFO then followed the jets as they returned to Thornhill and hovered over the base for several minutes before flying east.

Tehran, Iran Encounter (August 5, 1985)

Iranian antiaircraft batteries fired on a UFO over northeastern Tehran in early August. Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency quoted a source at the Joint Staff Command stating that the shining object flew from west to east over Tehran at 8:15 p.m. on August 5th. There were no reports that the UFO had been hit or downed.

Stories of Outer Space Alien Buried in Aurora Cemetery

This section addresses a query from a reader named T.W. about a story heard years ago concerning a spaceman buried in Wise County, Texas. The article delves into the legend of an alien buried in Aurora Cemetery.

The 1897 Aurora Crash Legend

In 1973, officials from the International UFO Bureau from Oklahoma City visited the Aurora Cemetery in Wise County to investigate the possibility of an outer space alien buried there. They were looking for witnesses to the crash of a spaceship in 1897, based on a legend that a cigar-shaped spacecraft crashed into a windmill on a Judge Proctor's farm on April 17, 1897. The story goes that the people of Aurora cleaned up the wreckage and buried the pilot in the town cemetery. The Dallas Morning News published a story about the incident the following day, written by S.E. Hayden.

Hayden's account describes the "airship" colliding with Judge Proctor's windmill, going to pieces with a terrific explosion, and scattering debris. The pilot was believed to be the only one aboard, and though his remains were disfigured, enough of the original was recovered to suggest he was not from Earth. T.J. Weems, a U.S. signal service officer and astronomy authority, opined that the pilot was from Mars. Papers found on the pilot contained hieroglyphics and could not be deciphered. The ship was too damaged to determine its power source.

Investigation and Local Skepticism

During the 1973 investigation by UFO officials, Wise County historians stated that the entire Hayden story was fiction, and most citizens considered it a hoax. Dr. Tom Gray, a physicist from North Texas State University, analyzed metal samples dug up near the windmill site. He found the metal to be somewhat different from most metals but noted that given the frequency of meteorite impacts, it was difficult to rule on the origin of the metal.

UFO Group's Interest and Cemetery Association's Opposition

The UFO group wanted to dig into the grave where the spaceman was reportedly buried. However, the cemetery association obtained an injunction to stop any digging not authorized by the courts. The UFO group did not pursue a court order.

Metal Detector Findings

Metal detectors were used by the UFO hunters, who claimed the signals from the grave matched those recorded at the crash site. Based on these signals, they claimed the person buried there was not an inhabitant of this world.

Alternative Explanation

Local citizens stated that the grave contains the body of an itinerant farm worker named Carr, who died of spotted fever around the time of the alleged spacecraft crash.

Conclusion of the 1973 Investigation

After all investigations were completed in 1973, it remained unknown who or what was buried in the unmarked grave in the Aurora Cemetery.

Contact Information and Services

The "Contact" section provides information for readers to submit queries, with an address in Denton, Texas. It also lists a phone number for information on "people services" in Denton County.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers UFO sightings and related phenomena, presenting accounts from various sources including pilots and historical records. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, acknowledging both credible reports and skepticism from local communities and historical analysis. The publication aims to investigate and report on these mysteries, providing information and seeking answers for its readers.