UFO Potpourri No 406

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 406
Date: SEPTEMBER 1996
Publisher: JOHN F. SCHUESSLER
Address: P.O. BOX 58485, HOUSTON, TX 77258-8485
Contact: FAX (713) 488-3121

This issue of UFO Potpourri, dated September 1996, presents a collection of recent UFO sightings and related news, focusing on unexplained aerial phenomena reported across different locations, primarily in the UK and USA.

Florida Close Encounter

The lead story details a close encounter experienced by a young resident in Pensacola, Florida, on the night of June 17, 1996. While driving home, the witness observed lights in the sky that resolved into a large, dark, triangular-shaped craft resembling an equilateral triangle. The object had white lights on each corner and a red blinking light in the center. It hovered directly over the witness's truck and another vehicle for approximately 20 seconds before moving off to the east and accelerating rapidly. The witness dismissed the possibility of it being a conventional aircraft, stating that a Harrier jet would have caused significant shaking.

Flying Triangle Over England

Reports from Southport, England, indicate that UFOs were observed hovering over the area, stunning motorists. One witness, driving along Meols Cop Road, encountered a triangle-shaped craft with white lights at the corners and a square green light in the center. The object remained motionless for several minutes before moving around a field and then disappearing rapidly. Experts in extraterrestrial affairs have reportedly backed these claims. Merseyside Police and the RAF stated they had no knowledge of such sightings, and a squadron leader from Woodvale categorically denied it was a plane from their base.

Another Flying Triangle

An article from the BRECON & RADNOR EXPRESS (March 28, 1996) describes a sighting by Sarah Barnard, a mother of two, near Penlan, Brecon, England. She and her children witnessed a large ring of lights close to the ground moving towards Groesffordd on March 14. The experience left them frightened and mystified. The report references a Saturday's DAILY MAIL article about a similar slow, silent object dubbed the 'Silent Vulcan' or 'Flying Triangle.'

Flying Wedge (Triangle) Over England

From THE WEEKLY NEWS (April 6, 1996), this section recounts a bizarre sighting investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority. Two British Airways pilots, while approaching Manchester Airport in January 1996 in their Boeing 737, observed a strange wedge-shaped object at 4,000 feet. The object, lit up like a Christmas tree, flashed by the plane's right side and vanished at astonishing speed. The pilots reported a near miss, but the CAA could not provide an explanation.

Large Black Triangle Over England

An article from the SUNDAY INDEPENDENT (May 5, 1996) reports on two teenagers, Steven Wright (17) and James Rawle (16), who were fishing near Milverton, England. They witnessed a large black triangle craft with a white light on each corner and another near the center. The object made a low-pitched humming noise and passed overhead at an estimated 200 to 300 feet. The teenagers described the experience as 'pretty scary' and fled the scene.

Silent UFO Zooms By

Reported in the PRESS AND JOURNAL (February 27, 1996), two workers for Highland Regional Council in Scotland observed a 'silent' UFO. While loading their road gritter at Achiltibule, they saw a strange object zoom over the tops of telephone poles without making a sound. The object was seen stationary above a point of land and then moved erratically, going up and down and backwards and forwards, for about 10 to 15 minutes before flying off towards the Brae of Achnahaird. The witnesses concluded it was a UFO, as it was not a helicopter or jet. The local weather center reported no unusual climatic conditions, and RAF Kinloss confirmed aircraft were flying as part of a NATO exercise.

Canada's X-Files Closed

This section reports from the Vancouver SUN (July 27, 1996) that Canada's X-Files have been shut down. For years, federal bodies like the Mounties sent UFO sighting reports to the National Research Council (NRC). However, the NRC's Solar-Terrestrial Physics Group is being phased out due to budget cuts, leaving no one to collect and catalog these reports. The article questions whether this closure might be related to government knowledge of UFOs and potential cover-ups. Physicist Fokke Creutzberg, who has studied the upper atmosphere for 30 years, acknowledges the possibility of a top-secret, deny-everything campaign, stating, "There could be... Nothing is impossible, OK?" The NRC's involvement in UFO files began accidentally through its meteorite research program in the 1950s, and reports continued to come in even after meteor research ceased.

V-Shaped UFO Over England

An article from the SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO (March 29, 1996) describes a sighting by a couple, Mike and Kay Rose, in Southend, England. While watching the comet Hyakutace, they saw a "V-shaped craft" with approximately 20 lights on its flanks. The object crossed the sky from east to west in about five seconds. Another woman reported a similar sighting later that evening. Astronomer Royston Dean expressed bafflement, stating, "I am at a loss to explain them."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the consistent reports of triangular and V-shaped craft, silent operation, and unusual aerial maneuvers across various locations. There is a clear emphasis on witness testimony and the lack of conventional explanations from authorities like the police and RAF. The closure of Canada's X-Files program and the potential for government secrecy are highlighted, suggesting an editorial stance that questions official narratives and supports the investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena. The magazine appears to be a platform for sharing and documenting UFO sightings, encouraging public reporting and raising awareness about the subject.