UFO Research Newsletter - 1973 01 02 - Vol 02 No 10

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO RESEARCH NEWSLETTER, Vol. II, No. 10, published by UFO Research Associates (UFOR), covers the period of January-February 1973. It provides a monthly report on unidentified flying objects and includes a look back at the significant UFO events and discussions of 1972. The newsletter details numerous sighting reports from around the world, scientific opinions on the subject, and critiques of prominent UFO research and publications.

A Look Back at 1972

The year 1972 was marked by a substantial increase in UFO sighting reports, described as the largest in at least five years. Despite predictions of a 'flap,' the event did not fully materialize in terms of major media coverage, possibly due to the lingering influence of the Condon report and the closure of the Air Force's Project Blue Book. UFOR received hundreds of significant reports globally, revitalizing interest in the subject after a comparatively dismal 1971.

The National Enquirer played a significant role in keeping the UFO subject in the public eye by forming a UFO reward panel. This panel offered $50,000 for proof of extraterrestrial (ET) vehicles and $5,000 for the best evidence submitted by an individual. The distinguished scientific panelists included Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Dr. Robert F. Creegan (philosophy professor at SUNYA), Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle (psychologist at the University of Wyoming), Dr. Frank Salisbury (Utah State University), and Dr. James Harder (University of California at Berkeley). Although the deadline for reward submissions passed, the panel's decision remained unknown at the time of publication. The article speculates that the top reward is unlikely due to scientific reputations at stake, but a lesser reward might go to Ronald Johnson for his witness account of the Delphos, Kansas sighting on November 2, 1971, which is described as possibly the most thoroughly-investigated UFO report on record. Dr. Creegan kept UFOR informed about the panel's activities and its investigation of the Delphos case. Creegan also taught a UFO course at SUNYA.

Sighting Reports Increase

The newsletter provides a sampling of significant UFO reports from 1972:

• January 13: San Angelo, Texas - An arrow-shaped UFO hovered parallel to a car and swooped in front of it.
• February 2: Near Davis-Monthan AF Base, Ariz. - Three A7 combat aircraft chased a UFO tracked on radar.
• February 8: Near Catamarca, Argentina - An Argentinian Airlines crew observed an object pace their plane.
• February-August: Kansas - Numerous sightings of UFOs were reported across the state.
• March 8: Muskegon, Mich. - Control tower personnel, Coast Guardsmen, and police officers viewed an object that may have caused a strange "code transmission."
• June 17-18: Near George AF Base, Calif. - Two airmen saw a gigantic UFO, and a family was terrorized by a similar object at their campsite.
• June 26: Near Ft. Beaufort, South Africa - A farmer and policeman shot at a UFO that changed color.
• July 5: South African Airways (SAA) Boeing 727 crew observed a brown UFO fly under their plane.
• July (first week): SAA Boeing 727 crew flying over Durban witnessed an object pacing their aircraft.
• July 7: Fishing Creek, N.J. - A photographer saw and took pictures of a round UFO that emitted a sound and sped north.
• July 19: Over Lake Michigan, near Chicago, Ill. - Peter Reich witnessed a UFO that stopped suddenly, reversed course sharply, and flew in a downward curve.
• July 26: Campos, Brazil - 2,000 soccer fans saw a huge "mother ship" followed by eight smaller objects.
• August 9: Near Clear Lake, Ore. - Russ Morgan and his family observed an object that dove fast and darted back up.

Eskimos See Object Land

• August 16-17: Stebbins and St. Michael, Norton Sound, Alaska - Eskimos reported a UFO landing that left physical evidence, including a hole and burned grass.
• August 19: Andover Township, N.J. - A large "egg" object emitted a humming sound and caused witnesses' eyes to hurt.
• August 21: Near Waukesha, Wisc. - An automobile experienced electrical failure, and its radiator boiled, while the occupant saw a large orange disc emitting a "beep beep" sound.
• August 27-28: Northern Territory and South Australia - Two women saw a UFO that covered a road and terrified them.
• September 9-10: North Bay, Ontario, Canada - A UFO tracked on radar was also seen by police.
• September 14: West Palm Beach, Fla. - A cigar-shaped object tracked on radar was chased by F106 fighter pilots and seen by police.
• September 22: A TWA flight crew saw a "brilliant bluish-white ball" traveling at "outer space speed."
• September 29: Hanoi, North Vietnam - A French correspondent reported a UFO caused the launching of three surface-to-air missiles.

Additional Details on Elliot Lake Case

UFOR received additional details about the Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada, sighting from July 17, 1972. Witnesses Marilyn Coulis and Heather and Cindy Stewart saw an "oval shaped orange-red object" emitting a "beeping sound." They observed it for 15-20 minutes. The noise was alternately loud and dim, and they heard "what sounded like magnified voices coming from something behind the high school." They were too scared to investigate further after the object went down behind a hill.

Condon's UFO Views Termed a "Hatchet Job"

The newsletter highlights a statement by Dr. Edward U. Condon, director of the University of Colorado's UFO Project, admitting to a "certain bias" in the UFO presentation. This statement, made in a speech titled "UFOs I Have Loved and Lost" in May 1969, was suppressed until late 1972. Journalists Robert B. Klinn and David Branch obtained a copy, revealing Condon's view that UFOs were "silly business" and witnesses were likely "foaming at the mouth." The article criticizes the Condon report for its negative prejudice, which it claims significantly reduced public and press interest in UFOs. Condon also stated that the project's files were his property and only "qualified" people would be allowed to examine them, implying he would determine who was qualified, potentially excluding figures like Dr. Hynek.

Scientists Continue to Study UFO/ET Link

Scientific opinion on the link between UFOs and extraterrestrial (ET) life was outspoken in 1972. Dr. Hynek's book, "The UFO Experience; A Scientific Inquiry," was published, considered a significant work due to Hynek's long association with the AF and access to classified data. Despite not causing the hoped-for major flap, its influence is expected to be substantial. Other scientists, including Dr. Creegan and members of the Enquirer's reward panel, continued to scrutinize the field. In November, Dr. Wernher Von Braun stated his disbelief that UFOs were ET, but he and other scientists reaffirmed their opinions on the existence of life elsewhere in the universe.

Harold Masursky of the U.S. Geological Survey noted that data from Mariner 9 greatly improved the odds of life developing on Mars. A Russian scientist, A. Trofimov, stated the USSR would use "robot biologists" to search for life on Mars. The U.S. launched Pioneer "F" with a pictorial message to ETs. The world's largest radio telescope was planned near Socorro, N.M., site of the Lonnie Zamora UFO sighting. Dr. Leroy Dubeck of Temple University taught a course on "Unusual Physical Phenomena," likely including UFOs.

A committee of the National Academy of Sciences indicated a "high probability that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe." Dr. P.M.H. Edwards of the University of Victoria reiterated his belief that UFOs are real visitors from space. Ronald Smith, an astronomy instructor, made a similar statement.

ET Life Search Gains Support

In July, Australian astronomers detected a spectral pattern suggesting chemical turmoil leading to life. Sir Fred Hoyle suggested constructing electronic gear to send messages to ETs. Russian scientist Alexander Oparin stated that life must originate on other planets. A panel discussion at NASA and Boston University explored intelligent ET civilizations. Carbon monoxide gas clouds in the M-33 galaxy were discovered, suggesting "basic building blocks of life." Christopher C. Kraft of NASA stated that astronauts might one day greet beings on other planets. Dr. Bruce Murray noted Mars was beginning to "boil" due to radioactive decay, potentially leading to an atmosphere similar to Earth's.

The newsletter expresses caution about making predictions for 1973, acknowledging past inaccuracies. However, it asserts that the UFO subject remains active, and dedicated scientists, scholars, and investigators will continue their work.

Enquirer to Extend UFO Panel Through 1973

The National Enquirer announced it would extend its UFO reward panel through 1973, potentially renewing the $50,000 offer for proof of ET vehicles. Numerous $1,000 rewards would also be offered for "challenging UFO cases." The panel had received over a thousand sighting reports from March 1972 to January 1, 1973.

Sighting Capsules

The newsletter includes a section of "Sighting Capsules" detailing numerous reports from August 1972:

• August 10, 1972: Thames, New Zealand - A "disc" hovered for three hours.
• August 10-12, 1972: Portland, Ore. - A round object with "about 30 lights around the outside and one light in the middle" was seen.
• August 11, 1972: East Dallas, Texas - A "pretty good ball of fire" burned out, leaving ashes.
• August 12, 1972: Near Prosser, Wash. - A star-like object with a "silver nose with an apparent fiery trail" hovered.
• August 12, 1972: Near Madison, Nebr. - "Three balls of fire" apparently hit the ground.
• August 13, 1972: Near Woodstock, Ontario, Canada - A "round flaring object about the color of a harvest moon" reflected light on a river.
• August 13, 1972: Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan, Canada - A UFO with "the intensity of 10 car headlights" disappeared into clouds.
• August 14, 1972: St. John's, Newfoundland - "Bright lights moving through the air and descending toward the ground" were observed.
• August 15, 1972: Logan, Kansas - A round object with two white and two red lights dimmed.
• August 16, 1972: Acton, London, England - A light "four times as bright as Venus" appeared circular with black spots.
• August 16, 1972: Wilburton, Okla. - A "low flying object topped with a blinking light" was reported.
• August 17, 1972: Newcastle, England - A white, then orange flying object was seen.
• August 22, 1972: Iola, Kansas - An "elongated, brilliant, steady light" moved northerly and disappeared.
• August 22, 1972: Thames, New Zealand - An object with "flashing green, red and white lights" moved slowly for about two hours.
• August 23, 1972: Marathon, Ontario, Canada - A huge cigar-shaped object "with both ends pointed" moved "up, down and sideways at varying speeds."
• August 24, 1972: Near Russellville, Ark. - An object with five or six green lights appeared to land, leaving no trace.
• August 25, 1972: Fort Scott, Kansas - An object with "flashing red and green lights" hovered over the city.
• August 26, 1972: Near Cincinnati, Ark. - An object with "red and white lights and fire shooting out the back" traveled from northeast to southwest.
• August 27, 1972: Near Rugby, N.D. - A red, whitish-green UFO disappeared and reappeared, and a "bald spot" with "rock-like clinkers" was found in a field.
• August 30, 1972: Wick City, Pa. - An object with "flashing red, green and yellow lights" was seen for three hours and remained stationary.
• August 31, 1972: Glide, Ore. - Objects with red, green, and white flashing lights were seen.
• September 8, 1972: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada - A "yellow, oval-shaped object" hovered for about an hour.
• September 13, 1972: Near Cody, Wyo. - "Frequent flashes of light" like "giant fireworks" were observed.
• September 16, 1972: Mt. Pleasant, Victoria, Australia - A "flying saucepan" emitting an orange glow hovered over an observatory.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently reports on UFO sightings and related scientific investigations, often highlighting perceived biases in official reports or publications, such as the Condon report. There is a clear emphasis on presenting evidence from credible witnesses and scrutinizing claims that dismiss UFO phenomena. The editorial stance favors open inquiry into UFOs and the potential link to extraterrestrial life, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous scientific investigation and caution against premature conclusions. The publication aims to keep its readership informed about the latest developments in UFO research, including sightings, scientific studies, and public discussions on the topic.