UFO Research Newsletter - 1973 02 03 - Vol 02 No 11

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
Issue: Vol. II, No. 11
Date: February - March 1973
Publisher: UFO Research Associates
Country: USA

This issue of the UFO Research Newsletter provides a comprehensive report on unidentified flying objects, featuring a prominent statement from Apollo 17 Commander Eugene A. Cernan and a collection of late 1972 sighting reports from around the globe. It also touches upon academic interest in the UFO phenomenon and recent astronomical discoveries.

Apollo 17 Commander Believes UFOs are ET Vehicles

The lead story on the cover features a quote from Captain Eugene A. Cernan, commander of the Apollo 17 mission. Cernan stated publicly that while he had never personally seen a UFO, he believed they were vehicles from "some other civilization." He expressed this view at a press conference in Houston, Texas, on January 5, 1973, alongside his crewmates Ronald E. Evans and Harrison E. Schmitt. Cernan elaborated on the statistical probability of numerous other civilizations existing and the exciting prospect of future contact.

Late 1972 Sighting Reports

The newsletter details numerous UFO sightings from the last three months of 1972 across five states and two foreign countries. These reports include objects that caused physical effects like rattling windows, emitted sounds, reacted with animals, and exhibited unusual characteristics.

Maryland Sightings: Two incidents investigated by Odyssey in Maryland were deemed unidentified. On November 18, in Rockdale, teenagers Todd Quick and Craig Snair observed a "round cereal bowl" UFO, approximately 30-40 feet in diameter, which was red and blue while stationary and turned bright white when accelerating rapidly from 0 to 60-80 m.p.h. in five seconds. The object was seen at an altitude of 5,000-6,000 feet, flying into the wind. FAA radar and local authorities reported no unusual activity.

Maryland Sighting (Pleasant Hill): On November 5, the Magaw family and Anita Reynolds observed two yellow lights emitting sparks, which later changed to red and blue lights. The object, described as having a fuzzy perimeter, moved slowly then accelerated rapidly. It was estimated to be 15-25 feet above the trees, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet. Police were called, but officials ruled out weather balloons and conventional aircraft.

• New Jersey Sightings:
• Millville: On December 7, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Willis reported a "cylindrical white light" UFO that hovered, descended, and appeared to land in the woods, leaving a cleared site about two feet in diameter with a two-inch wide, four-inch deep hole in the center. State police investigated, and radar installations 50 miles away reported nothing.
• Rocky Hill: On November 23, Mrs. Lisa Brenner observed a large, bright, fast-moving disc with raspberry-colored lights and a quiet motor sound that appeared to nearly hit the trees before making a sharp turn. Two women in Princeton later reported seeing a similar object.

California Sighting (Redding): On October 27, Mrs. Beverly Allen and others witnessed a "mushrooming thing" over Redding. Described as a "helicopter with a searchlight," the light moved backward. It then "exploded" without sound, creating a luminous cloud, followed by a second explosion forming a cloud shaped like two bowls. A sheriff's deputy also witnessed the event. A missile launch from Vandenberg AF Base around the same time was considered a possible explanation but deemed unlikely.

Pennsylvania Sightings: On October 9, meteorologists George McCloskey and Virgil Sala observed a UFO over Tinicum Township and Ferndale. The object moved horizontally, then exhibited a start-stop pattern before moving rapidly. It was described as "brilliant" and "spark-shedding."

North Carolina Sighting (Badin): On October 8, Victor Devereaux observed a silver-colored UFO, described as "as large around as a house" and about 120 feet long, moving from northeast to southwest.

• England Sightings:
• Beoley: On November 11, police and witnesses saw "three lights" that moved erratically, changed color from red to white, disappeared and reappeared, and were silent. Witnesses were certain they were not planes.
• Deeping St. Nicholas: On or about October 1, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jeffrey reported a red, revolving light with a white light underneath flying over the village at high speed, accompanied by a terrifying noise. A Royal AF spokesman stated no jets were in the vicinity.

Canada Sighting (Aldergrove, B.C.): On October 18, Mrs. Marg Kocsis and her brother George reported a loud sound and a bright spherical light that disappeared quickly with a "rushing wind" sound, causing farm animals to react. On October 5, Mrs. R. Rennie observed an orange, oval-shaped object rise from the ground, move erratically, and hover over a small mountain.

University Courses Highlight UFO Problem

The newsletter reports on two university courses focusing on UFOs. Dr. Robert F. Creegan at the State University of New York at Albany is teaching a course with approximately 150 students, dedicating about half the class time to UFO problems, with the remainder covering ET questions, psychical research, artificial intelligence, and time travel. Dr. Arlen Zander at East Texas State University will offer a course exclusively on UFOs, including speakers, films, and witness interviews.

Mars and Jupiter's Moons "Come Alive"

Recent scientific discoveries suggest that some planetary neighbors previously considered dead are now known to be alive or possess conditions that could support life. Data from the Mariner 9 spacecraft indicates Mars was wracked by volcanoes and washed by rivers, increasing the probability of past or present life. Scientists like Dr. Bradford Smith believe the probability of finding life on Mars is now higher due to evidence of water. Dr. Arthur L. Lane at JPL finds Martian life problematical due to lack of nitrogen, but other evidence suggests a molten core. Harold Masursky of the U.S. Geological Survey stated, "We think it has been alive all the time." The volcano Nix Olympica on Mars is noted as being larger than Hawaii. Astronomers have also identified water-ice on at least two of Jupiter's moons, Europa and Ganymede. Additionally, a theory suggests Jupiter's "great red spot" is a hurricane-like storm of hot wind.

Computer Calculates UFO at 12 Miles Up

This section details several 1970-1971 reports from Australia and New Zealand. A meteorological radar officer in Christchurch, New Zealand, tracked an object at 30,137 feet that exhibited unusual heights and speeds, capable of climbing 63,274 feet with a rate of climb up to 7,000 feet per minute. The object appeared to have noticed a constant level balloon and changed course to examine it.

West Australia Sighting: Copper mine workers at Thaduna reported seeing a bright red light that changed color and moved erratically. The object was described as "100 times brighter than any other star."

Australia Sighting (Murtoa North): A red ball UFO was observed by the Schilling family, which then split into two. Half became a blue cylinder, and a bright red line of light descended from it before fading.

Australia Sighting (Perth): Michael Gottfrie observed a large, bright, circular object that took on a flatter shape as it moved, then "belched dark, red flames" and moved away rapidly with a noise.

Sighting Capsules

This section provides brief summaries of numerous additional UFO sightings:

• September 18, 1972 (Topeka, Kansas): A woman reported an object changing colors from red to white to green.
• September 19, 1972 (Quapaw, Oklahoma): Mr. and Mrs. George McWatters saw a bluish-green and white object joined by two others.
• September 19, 1972 (Lamar, Missouri): Witnesses saw an object "scintillating" in the sun's rays.
• September 20, 1972 (Central Oregon): George Zahl and others saw a "brilliant, spark-shedding" object resembling a "Fourth of July rocket."
• September 21, 1972 (Centralia, Washington): State Trooper J.D. Wadsworth and others witnessed a "fiery object" fall straight down.
• September 22, 1972 (Milan, Missouri): Mr. and Mrs. Jewell Propps saw four UFOs, two heading east and two north.
• September 23, 1972 (Dundas, Ontario, Canada): Mr. and Mrs. C. Smith observed a yellow-orange object hovering.
• September 28, 1972 (Thames, New Zealand): Witnesses saw lights that stayed still, vanished, and reappeared higher up.
• October 1, 1972 (Southeastern USA): Many people reported seeing UFOs across Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Indiana.
• October 5, 1972 (Greenwood, Mississippi): Mr. and Mrs. Granville Flint observed a silver light from which a reddish light broke off and descended.
• October 10, 1972 (New Brunswick, Canada): An unidentified man spotted a round object emitting a white glow with red and blue lights.
• October 11, 1972 (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada): Mrs. Marjorie Parker and son observed a large elliptical object with whitish-yellow lights from multiple openings.
• October 13, 1972 (Mississippi): Witnesses observed a "man-of-war fish"-shaped object with the sun reflecting off it.
• October 16, 1972 (Broadus, Montana): Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Gotfredson watched an object resembling a "fire ball" move slowly downward and disappear.
• October 20, 1972 (Wisconsin): Verlyn Rollins reported seeing a red and white UFO that moved "up and down."
• October 22, 1972 (Lewisville, North Carolina): Joan Winfrey and family viewed "two long objects" giving off a bluish glow, rising and falling.
• October 22, 1972 (Texas): Numerous witnesses saw "fiery orange objects" with "puffs of smoke" streak across the sky.
• November 10, 1972 (Shropshire, England): Grammar school students saw two orange-red discs moving in circles.
• November 19, 1972 (Superior, Montana): John A. Anderson reported "three flashing lights" drifting southward.
• November 24, 1972 (Southern Oregon): James and Doris Hunt and others saw "a burning object fall from the sky."
• November 24, 1972 (Waco, Texas): Lawrence Lykins reported seeing "something like a fireball, greenish in color, and fragmented."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the belief in extraterrestrial intelligence as a potential source of UFOs, the detailed reporting of numerous contemporary UFO sightings, and the growing academic and scientific interest in the phenomenon. The newsletter presents these reports factually, often including official denials or probable explanations (such as weather balloons or fireballs) while still highlighting the unexplained aspects of the sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena without necessarily endorsing any single explanation, while also acknowledging scientific progress in related fields like astronomy.