UFO Research Newsletter - 1972 11 12 - Vol 02 No 08

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Research Newsletter, Volume II, Number 8, dated November-December 1972, is published monthly by UFO Research Associates (UFOR). It covers a range of UFO reports from the summer of 1972, with a particular focus on radar trackings and plane chases.

Radar Trackings and Plane Chases Add Spice to Continuing Summer Reports

The lead article details a significant event on September 13, 1972, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Early that morning, multiple residents, police officers, and airport officials reported sightings of unusual objects. The phenomenon was picked up on radar at Palm Beach International Airport at 4:25 a.m. Sheriff William R. Heidtman ordered helicopters to search, and planes from Homestead Air Force Base were placed on alert. Two F106 fighter interceptors were scrambled on orders from NORAD.

Initial witnesses, including Patrolman W.W. Smith III and others, described "large bright objects glowing red, blue, green and yellow" that moved erratically. Maj. Jerry B. Smith, one of the F106 pilots, reported getting height cuts from two military radar installations, suggesting an object was present. However, his own search radar detected nothing, and he visually identified what he believed to be Venus through a haze layer.

The article notes a discrepancy regarding radar capabilities: Palm Beach International Airport's radar is described as search radar, not height-finding radar, which should distinguish solid objects from weather phenomena. An airport radar operator stated he tracked the UFO for an hour, describing it as definitely not weather phenomena, flying at about 120 m.p.h. in an erratic pattern. He visually described it as "cigar-shaped" and "all lit up," estimated to be two miles away.

Tower personnel contacted the FAA in Miami, who also had the object on their screens. It was determined that the object was not any known aircraft.

Objects "Flip" and "Whirl"

Another report from the West Palm Beach area describes 11 UFOs with pulsating lights seen between 9:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. on September 12-13. Witnesses, including a family named Smith, a neighbor, and deputy sheriffs, described the objects as "flipping, whirling" and "flashing their tiny lights." The objects were disc-shaped and left a red tail when ascending. An FAA spokesman dismissed the sightings as "stars changing colors."

The editor notes that the prevalence of the name 'Smith' among witnesses might be for anonymity, and these are preliminary reports.

Evidence of "Building Blocks of Life" in Nearby Galaxy

This section reports on the discovery of huge carbon monoxide gas clouds in the galaxy M-33, suggesting they are "the basic building blocks of life." This discovery was made by Dr. Philip R. Schwartz and Drs. William J. Wilson and Eugene E. Epstein using the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's telescope. Carbon monoxide is believed to be a "daughter" product of more complex chemical molecules like ammonia and formaldehyde.

Kansas "Invasion" Continues

Reports from Kansas detail sightings from August 1972. Mrs. Patty Herman described a large object lighting up the highway near Salina on August 22, moving "very, very fast." Later, she saw a second object join the first, and both took off north at high speed. On August 19, Larry Smith and colleagues reported seeing a "very large" UFO with bright triangular-shaped lights north of McPherson.

Reports From Alaska

On September 2, Louise Segerquist in Palmer reported seeing a "bright object" moving at high speed. On August 16 and 17, sightings occurred in Stebbins and St. Michael. Eskimo scout Sgt. John Cheemuk and his wife described a large, football-shaped UFO with a cockpit and red lights that landed and took off. Sgt. Pius Mike reported an object landing at Stebbins, and Capt. Tom Williams inspected the site, finding a three-foot diameter hole with burned grass.

Physiological Effects in New Jersey Sighting

On August 19, campers in Andover Township, N.J., saw a large, white, egg-shaped UFO about seven feet in diameter, spinning and emitting a humming sound. The object reportedly dried up swamp water in the area, and witnesses' eyes were hurt, causing them to be "hysterical."

Pennsylvanians Report UFOs

Several police officers in Mt. Penn, Pa., observed a bright UFO on August 20, changing colors from white to red to bluish green. A police sergeant was told by the airport tower that it was a bright star, but it then ascended rapidly. On August 11, William McCarroll saw a "washtub"-sized object near Hanover Township that changed colors and moved east. On August 15, seven young people in Lehighton saw two saucers hover over Mahoning Mountain.

"Parachutes" Seen in Maryland

On September 24, in Greenbelt, Md., Robert A. Seabold and Linda M. Seibert reported seeing three or four "parachutes" descending, with a large, oval, dull light attached to the largest one. When Seabold flashed his headlights, the object faded. The Odyssey Club and FAA reported nothing in the area.

Okinawa Object Seen by Pilots, Captured on Film

On September 22, TWA Flight 745 crew members saw a "brilliant bluish-white ball" southeast of Okinawa, described as traveling at "outer space speed." The crew of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Flight 985 also saw it. Masahiro Asanuma, a student in Naha City, Okinawa, took two photographs of a similar object described as a "yellowish white belt of light."

UFOs Over Soccer Stadium

An estimated 2,000 people in Campos, Brazil, on July 26, saw a large "mother ship" followed by eight smaller objects that changed colors. Benedito Rubens, a lawyer, stated he now believed in UFOs after this sighting.

In Amiens, Australia, on August 6, Glyn Moss saw a "glowing bright red" UFO that changed shapes, including an S and a G, and moved erratically. In Kuraby, Australia, on July 19, an unidentified man reported a UFO landing and emitting six "aliens."

Object Paces Car

On August 22, in Market Deeping, England, John Burgess reported a red, globe-shaped UFO about 20 feet across that paced his car at high speed. Burgess, initially a skeptic, changed his mind after the experience. A power blackout in the Dovey Valley, England, was attributed to an "unclassified unidentified flying object."

Enquirer Panel Activities

The National Enquirer's scientific UFO reward panel met in Palm Beach, Fla., from November 3-5. Panel members included Dr. Robert F. Creegan, James Lorenzen (APRO), and Ted Phillips (Midwest UFO Network). Discussions included the Delphos, Kansas case, with samples of ring soil being examined. The panel also discussed continuing their relationship with the Enquirer and reviewed photographic evidence of night lights from David Akers. Richard Greenwell investigated a report of "silent flying objects" surveying titanium mining operations in Honduras, but the panel deemed the age of the sightings not worthy of priority investigation.

The panel noted the improving quality of cases received, with some involving physical evidence. They are studying eight to 10 new cases but have not yet found one worthy of the $50,000 reward, though several sightings are being considered for a $5,000 prize.

Photo Received in Fishing Creek Case

A photograph of a UFO taken on July 7, 1972, by Frank Markley in Fishing Creek, N.J., was received by UFOR. Markley described the object as emitting a "high generator sound" while hovering, and it then sped over the Cape May County Airport at about 10 m.p.h. Markley, a former skeptic, was amazed by the sighting.

Symposium on ET Life to Be Held

Professor Richard Berendzen of Boston University announced a symposium titled "Life Beyond Earth and the Human Mind" to be held at BU on November 18, sponsored by the university's astronomy department and NASA. The symposium aims to discuss the ultimate discovery of and communication with ET life forms. Panelists include Dr. Carl Sagan, Dr. George Wald, Dr. Philip Morrison, and Dean Krister Stendahl. NASA plans to film the symposium for an educational motion picture.

Sighting Capsules

This section provides brief summaries of numerous other sightings from June, July, and August 1972, across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA (California, Kansas, Florida, Massachusetts), and England. These include reports of orange lights, airborne glowing UFOs, red objects disintegrating, silver triangular objects, peculiar traveling lights, arrow-shaped lights, balls of fire, yellow objects like light bulbs, immense fireworks, and erratic-moving orange lights.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently reports on UFO sightings from diverse locations, often involving multiple witnesses, radar confirmations, and descriptions of unusual aerial objects with varied shapes, colors, and behaviors. There is a recurring theme of official explanations being questioned or deemed inadequate by witnesses or independent investigators. The publication also highlights scientific interest in extraterrestrial life and potential evidence, as seen in the M-33 galaxy report and the upcoming symposium. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena, while also acknowledging the preliminary nature of some reports and the need for further evidence, as indicated by the panel's assessment of cases for reward consideration.