UFO Potpourri No 432

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: No. 432
Date: March 2000
Publisher: John F. Schuessler
Contact: P.O. Box 369, Morrison, CO 80465-0369, Email: [email protected], Web Page: http://home.mho.net/schuessler/
Theme: Extraordinary Sightings by Very Credible Observers

This issue of UFO POTPOURRI, published in March 2000, focuses on documented sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) by individuals described as credible observers, primarily from the 1950s. The magazine compiles reports from news agencies and official statements, presenting a collection of encounters that have puzzled authorities and the public.

Flying Discs Reported Over Korea (February 19, 1952)

The first article, a United Press report from February 19, 1952, details the U.S. Air Force's disclosure of UFO sightings over Korea by crew members of two U.S. bombers. Four eyewitnesses described the objects as globe-shaped, bright orange, and emitting occasional flashes of blue light. The initial report came from two crew members of a B-29 Superfortress who observed the objects flying parallel to their plane around midnight on January 29, while over Wonsan, Korea.

Air Force Clams Up on Flying Discs (February 20, 1952)

An Associated Press report from February 20, 1952, highlights the Air Force's reluctance to comment on these sightings. Officers in Tokyo and Korea refused to provide statements regarding the orange globes seen over North Korea on January 29. A 5th Air Force spokesman in Korea stated, "To affirm or deny it would put us in the position of discussing it and we cannot discuss it." An Air Force spokesman in Washington confirmed that B-29 crewmen had reported sighting the objects over Wonsan and Sunchon in Korea.

Pilot Spots Flying Saucer Near Air Force Headquarters (March 27, 1952)

This United Press article from March 27, 1952, describes a sighting by Bertram A. Totten, a veteran private pilot, near Air Force headquarters in Fairfax County, Virginia. Totten reported seeing an aluminum-colored disc, approximately 40 feet in diameter and ten feet thick, at an altitude of 5000 feet. He stated the object was whirling about 1000 feet below him. When he dived towards it, the saucer zoomed up into the overcast. Totten estimated the object's speed to be "several hundred miles per hour faster" than his own plane, which was traveling at about 150 mph. He noted the disc appeared to have no propulsion gear or controls.

Saucer Outflies Jet Over Elgin (August 24, 1952)

The Chicago Herald American reported on August 24, 1952, an incident involving a jet pilot from O'hare Field pursuing a "flying saucer" over Elgin, Illinois. Ground observers directed the pursuit, which involved another jet pilot. The "saucer" was described as "five times as bright as a star" until it vanished. The pursuit lasted from 11:18 to 11:48 p.m. Capt. Everett A. Turner, operations officer of the Chicago Filter Center, confirmed the report. D.C. Scott, the center's supervisor at Elgin, stated that such objects had been seen "five or six times the last two months, but never in the same place." Scott described the object as a "yellowish white light" that appeared at about 2,000 feet, sometimes rising with great speed. He noted it looked like a light but cast no beam and had no discernible silhouette. The object was not detected by the filter center's radar, though Turner cautioned that radar does not always show everything, especially at lower altitudes.

Sightings Made Near Red Islands (January 21, 1953)

An Associated Press report from January 21, 1953, details mysterious flying objects sighted over northern Japan by American airmen on January 29. These objects were described as "rotating clusters of red, white and green lights." Intelligence reports linked these sightings to areas near Russian territory, specifically the Kurile Islands and Sakhalin. The report suggested "too many indications of the presence of something... to be considered an observation of nothing," and discounted the possibility of them being mere "reflections of light."

Col. Curtis R. Low, commander of the northern division of the Japan Air Defense Force, confirmed that the flying clusters were seen by fighter pilots and ground personnel and were tracked on radar. Col. Donald J.M. Blakeslee, a World War II ace, made detailed observations of a rotating cluster and attempted to intercept it in a jet. Blakeslee noted no change in the object's appearance or color scheme when he extinguished his aircraft's lights. The object increased speed and vanished in 30 seconds. A second approach five minutes later resulted in the object disappearing in five seconds. The clusters were also seen by crew members of an F-94 interceptor and a B-26 bomber, as well as five airmen on the ground, who described them as "circular Ferris wheel disc types with rotational red, green and white lights."

Flying Saucers? Yes Says Captain, Crew and Passengers (July 1, 1954)

This Daily Express article from London, England, dated July 1, 1954, presents the account of Captain James Howard, a 33-year-old ex-RAF pilot, who reported a formation of strange objects tracked by his B.O.A.C. Stratocruiser Centauaus over Labrador for 18 minutes. Captain Howard was sufficiently impressed to write 800 words in his flight report. His crew of 11 and a dozen of the 51 passengers also witnessed the objects: a large one attended by six smaller ones. The airliner's radio alert sent a Sabre jet fighter to intercept, but as the fighter approached, the objects "appeared to return to their base ship" and then faded away. The incident occurred 170 miles southwest of Goose Bay, Labrador. For 80 miles, the objects flew parallel to the Stratocruiser, maintaining a distance of not less than five miles. The large black object changed shape slightly, while the smaller ones did not. Captain Howard questioned whether they were aircraft or birds, noting that if they were birds, they would have to fly at 274 mph at 19,000 feet and maintain formation for 80 miles.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the reporting of UFO sightings by individuals in positions to make credible observations, such as military personnel, pilots, and aircrew. The magazine appears to present these accounts factually, often quoting news agency reports and official statements, while highlighting the mysterious nature of the phenomena and the often-evasive responses from military and government bodies. The editorial stance seems to be one of documenting unexplained aerial phenomena and presenting evidence that challenges conventional explanations, particularly those offered by official sources.