UFO Research Newsletter - 1971 10 11 - Vol 01 No 07

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Research Newsletter, Vol. I, No. 7, published monthly by UFO Research Associates (UFOR) and edited by Gordon I.R. Lore, Jr., covers the period of October-November 1971. It presents a collection of UFO sighting reports, investigations, and commentary on the scientific and governmental approach to the UFO phenomenon.

Australian Occupant Report Heads Sighting List

The lead section details UFO sightings from Australia and India that reportedly contained occupants. One incident on June 24, 1971, in Greenacre, Sydney, Australia, involved Mrs. F and her daughter observing a large, "Japanese lantern"-shaped UFO hovering over a football field. They described the object as having a transparent top and a metallic bottom with three large holes. Through the translucent dome, they saw three "humanoid-like figures" who were slim and taller than six feet. One figure pointed at them, another seemed to be operating controls, and there appeared to be a door with lights. The cab driver, frightened, accelerated away from the scene. This report was investigated by Martin Drawbridge and Barry French and published in the U.F.O.I.C. Newsletter.

UFO "Attacks" Automobile

Another significant report from Australia details an incident on April 13, 1971, near Brunswick Junction. Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Richards reported a light that suddenly raced up to their car at approximately 500 miles an hour. The object, described as having two lights, "attacked" the car four times and made three rushes at it, changing color from red to white. The incident was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Object Possible Cause of E-M Effects

In Ben Lomond, California, on June 18, 1971, at 12:55 a.m., Mrs. Josephine Clark and Mrs. Minna Thompson noticed their house lights and television sets flickering and dimming in a pattern described as "similar to Morse code impulses." Leonard Clark and Tom Thompson were alerted, and they observed the television antenna and power lines across the street "snapping and buzzing." The lights of nearby towns also appeared to be reacting similarly. This report was featured in the August 1971 issue of Data-Net.

Occupants Highlight Reports (Continued)

Continuing the theme of occupant sightings, Mrs. Minna Thompson reported seeing a "tremendous, orange ball" hovering low, which "sparkled, scintillate, or twinkle steadily" with round edges, appearing as large as the full moon. It hovered between two pine trees and suddenly disappeared, leaving an odor of ozone. A power failure occurred exactly one hour later, affecting approximately 10,000 customers in the Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley areas.

Indians Spot Object Over Tea Plantation

In Hewaheta, India, on July 17, 1971, Par Abeywickrema and his assistants witnessed a brilliant round object larger than the full moon approaching at "lightning speed." It stopped 90 meters from their automobile and descended to about 30 meters from the ground. The object was described as approximately eight meters in diameter with "two tapering wings on either side." An estimated 200 people reportedly saw this object.

Light Beam Emitted from UFO

On July 15, 1971, in Bowie, Maryland, Duane Stewart and friends observed a circular metal object with about 20 small white lights coming towards them. When directly overhead, it hovered and made a "whirring sound." The craft was described as round with a dome and a red light on top. A beam of light, about five or six feet wide, flashed from the bottom of the craft, scanning the ground as if inspecting a landing place. The report appeared in the Bowie Blade and Post-Times.

Erratic-Moving Craft Seen in Illinois and Ohio

David Krause of Decatur, Illinois, reported seeing a large, orange, bell-shaped UFO hovering just above a TV antenna on June 22, 1971. The object moved erratically, changed color to red, and disappeared. In Braceville Township, Ohio, on August 12, 1971, two campers saw a "large shiny object, round with blinking light," which flew at high velocity, moving erratically and reportedly dropping "silver objects similar to shooting stars."

Sighting Capsules

This section provides brief summaries of numerous sightings from six states since June:

• September 7, 1971 (Decatur, Illinois): A UFO with flashing colored lights rotated clockwise and climbed slowly northeast.
• August 25, 1971 (Beckemeyer, Illinois): A small light descended, hovered, and changed color from white to red.
• August 24, 1971 (South St. Louis County, Missouri): Three "round blobs of bright red light" traveled fast from north to south.
• August 17, 1971 (Rochester, N.Y.): A "basket-type," cylindrical object with bright headlights was observed, and a "piece" fell from it, reportedly bursting into flames. The editor notes possible explanations like seaplane planes or a hoax balloon.
• August 13, 1971 (Carlyle, Illinois): A "bright, round orange ball" was seen coming from the north.
• August 8, 1971 (Springfield, Oregon): An object resembling a comet without a tail was seen, followed by reports of meteorites.
• July 19 and 22, 1971 (Fulton, Mercer, and Adams Counties, Illinois): Witnesses, including police, saw objects with multi-colored, blinking lights that "stayed there all night."
• July 15, 1971 (Fayetteville, Arkansas): A "large streak of fire in the sky" was observed, tapering toward the back and emitting sparks, with characteristics similar to a meteor but with a longer duration.
• July 12, 1971 (Sweet Springs, Missouri): A "saucer with streamers of multi-colored fire" was seen flying south, followed by a similar "disc with colored streamers."
• July 10, 1971 (Centralia, Illinois): Teen-agers saw an object with a "cluster of gold-colored lights" that "shot across the sky."
• July 6, 1971 (Boulder, Illinois): A round UFO approximately four feet in diameter appeared to change color and moved back and forth.
• July 1, 1971 (Carlyle Lake, Illinois): Brilliant yellowish-orange objects, approximately twice the size of Venus, were observed on five occasions, with one object "went out like a light bulb."
• June 18, 1971 (Beckemeyer, Illinois): A bright orange light hovered motionless over the southwest section of town.
• June 17, 1971 (Carlyle, Illinois): A housewife saw a white comet-like object that appeared to make a revolution every 15 seconds.
• June 16, 1971 (Beckemeyer, Illinois): White lights were followed by "a few round, dark-colored discs... flying in an oval formation" that changed formation and disappeared.

Investigation Nets Negative Results in British Photo Case

This section reports on the investigation of a case where a British constable, Leslie Leek, snapped photographs of a "disc" over Aldridge, Staffordshire, England, on August 16, 1971. The Staffordshire Chief Constable remarked that releasing the photos was "not in the public interest." Constable Leek described an "egg-shaped object" that was "bright, silvery yellow" and moved slowly. He took photographs with the help of Mrs. Joyce Smith, the station telephone operator. Other constables also saw the object, which reportedly changed shape and color. However, an investigation by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Julian J.A. Hennessey, and Roger Stanway concluded that the object viewed was the planet Mars, and possibly the star Vega. Hennessey's report detailed how prismatic compass bearings and astronomical data pinpointed the object's position as Mars. Tests on the photographs suggested they might have captured a street lamp image, with blank negatives between those bearing images, and the photographer moving during the shots. The report concluded that people often mistake Mars or Venus for unusual objects, especially when the atmosphere is charged or the planet is in close opposition.

Science, Technology, and UFOs

This section features excerpts from a statement by the late Dr. James E. McDonald, a senior physicist. McDonald argues that science has built a strong framework but does not yet know all fundamental scientific knowledge. He posits that technology will continue to expand exponentially. He also notes that modern man, in his struggle against superstition, has developed a disposition to reject anomalous observations, especially those that challenge current scientific understanding. McDonald believes that the UFO problem requires a radical shift in scientific attitudes, urging an end to dismissive laughter and hollow assurances from official agencies.

He criticulates the Air Force's UFO studies over the past 15 years as "abysmally limited" and a "whitewash job" lacking scientific talent, despite public assurances. He acknowledges that the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) seems improbable due to the propulsion problem of crossing interstellar space but argues that the rapid advancement of technology should give pause to those who dismiss the possibility of interstellar travel. McDonald suggests that if the ETH is correct, it could lead to enormous technological gains. He concludes that current scientific attitudes towards UFOs must change, and that official agencies have "incredibly mishandled" the problem, with his own inquiries yielding "zero-point-zero" results.

Scientist Proclaims Possibility of Life on or Near Jupiter

Astronomer Karl G. Henize stated that there is a possibility of life on or near Jupiter. Despite the planet's extremely low temperature, certain atmospheric layers containing methane and ammonia could support life. Henize, who hopes to take a Skylab flight, believes that life forms could be floating between atmospheric layers, though evidence is not strong.

Attention Subscribers

The newsletter requests subscribers to send in any UFO reports, new or old. It also includes information about the upcoming Vol. I, No. 8, which will feature excerpts from a speech by Dr. James McDonald.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include detailed accounts of UFO sightings, particularly those involving occupants and unusual object behavior, and a critical examination of official investigations and scientific skepticism towards UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, particularly evident in Dr. McDonald's contribution and the editor's critique of the Air Force study, is one of advocating for a more open-minded, rigorous, and scientifically-grounded approach to the UFO problem, challenging the prevailing dismissiveness within the scientific and governmental communities.