UFO Potpourri No 390

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 390
Date: June 1995
Publisher: John F. Schuessler
Location: Houston, TX, USA

This issue of UFO Potpourri explores several facets of the UFO phenomenon, from the psychological impact of sightings to government secrecy and recent reported encounters.

Are Vivid UFO Memories Real?

The lead article, "ARE VIVID UFO MEMORIES REAL?", investigates why individuals reporting UFO experiences often have intense, detailed, and lasting memories of the event, while memories of activities surrounding the event may be absent. The article cites studies on memory enhancement, explaining that emotionally charged events trigger the 'fight or flight' reaction. This physiological response, involving hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline, not only prepares the body for survival but also primes the brain to meticulously record the circumstances that initiated the reaction. The article posits that this creates a distinct emotional memory system, separate from ordinary information storage, which is crucial for remembering threatening situations. A UFO close encounter is presented as a prime example of such a threat, thus explaining the vivid recall.

Can You Keep a Secret?

This section, referencing The Houston Chronicle, discusses the U.S. government's extensive efforts in managing classified information. It highlights the sheer volume of secrets declassified daily versus those created, suggesting that the idea of the government being unable to keep UFO information secret is a notion that should be met with amusement. The article points out that in fiscal 1993, the government created over 6.4 million secrets.

Multiple Sightings at Gulf Breeze

Reporting from the Islander newspaper in Pensacola Beach, FL, this segment details multiple UFO sightings that occurred on the evening of January 19, 1995, between 7 and 8:30 pm, observed by sky watchers at Shoreline Park. Four distinct events were recorded:

1. At 7:05 pm, an amber, elongated light UFO blinked in over the Yacht Club and was observed for 3.5 minutes moving west.
2. Around 7:20 pm, a UFO near the Dunes Hotel appeared to be spinning and flashing red irregularly, lasting about a minute.
3. At 8:00 pm, another UFO was seen moving west, which at one point appeared to stop, dim, and brighten.
4. The final event began at 8:35 pm above the Holiday Inn, observed for 7 minutes as it flashed on and off while moving west. It reappeared after a 3-minute absence and disappeared completely at 8:50 pm, showing no forward movement when it was off.

The weather was cold with a strong west-northwest wind.

Water is Found in Outer Space

This article addresses a common argument against the prevalence of extraterrestrial life: the belief that Earth is unique in possessing water. It counters this by citing astronomical discoveries. According to The London Times (June 3, 1994), astronomers have detected water at a distance of 200 million light years away in a galaxy known as Markarian 1. This discovery, made using a radio telescope, adds significant weight to the belief that water, a crucial ingredient for life, may be widespread throughout the universe. James Braatz from the University of Maryland and Jack Welch from the University of California, Berkeley, are quoted, with Welch calling the discovery 'very exciting' and suggesting it supports the idea that life could emerge in many places. The article also notes that interstellar water was first found in the Milky Way in 1969.

UFO Buzzed Airliner

This section recounts an incident involving a British Airways jet and a UFO, as reported in several British newspapers in January of the publication year. On an evening flight from Milan, Italy, to Manchester Ringway airport on January 6, the Boeing 737, carrying 60 people at 13,000 feet over the Pennines, was reportedly buzzed by a "triangular-shaped flying object." The two pilots, Captain Roger Wills and first officer Mark Stuart, initially feared ridicule and did not report the sighting immediately. However, BA management was informed, and reports with sketches were sent to the Joint Air Miss Working Group, part of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), for investigation. Air traffic control at Ringway confirmed no other aircraft were on radar. The pilots observed the UFO travel at great speed down the right side of their airliner. Despite the passengers' unawareness of the event, the plane landed safely.

Pentagon Reveals Saucer

From The Houston Chronicle (June 3, 1995), this report details the Pentagon's unveiling of a $10 million, saucer-shaped reconnaissance plane named Darkstar. Developed at Lockheed-Martin Skunk works, the pilotless aircraft is designed to detect a basketball from 45,000 feet, even in poor weather. Major General Kenneth Israel is quoted on the future reliance on pilotless aircraft for battlefield reconnaissance. The plane has a 69-foot wingspan, stands 5 feet high, cruises at 180 mph, and is capable of automatic launch and landing with a range of 500 miles and an endurance of over eight hours.

Kidnapped by Aliens

This brief account, from the British Express & Star (November 23, 1994), describes the experience of Carol Thomas and her daughter Helen, two cleaners from Birmingham. They claim to have been kidnapped by aliens in 1988 on their way to work. Under hypnotic regression, they recalled being lifted into an alien spaceship, probed by aliens, and having eggs extracted. They have reportedly suffered from headaches and a burning curiosity since the encounter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the credibility of UFO experiences, the potential for life beyond Earth, and the role of government in information control. The editorial stance appears to favor the serious investigation of UFO phenomena, presenting scientific explanations for memory recall, reporting on official investigations (like the BA airliner incident), and highlighting astronomical discoveries that support the possibility of extraterrestrial life. There is a clear skepticism towards the idea that governments can easily keep such information secret, framing it as a point of interest rather than a barrier to disclosure. The publication aims to inform readers about various UFO-related events and scientific perspectives.