UFO Research Newsletter - 1974 05 06 - Vol 03 No 12

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
Issue: Vol. III, No. 12
Date: May - June 1974
Publisher: UFO Research Associates (UFOR)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the UFO Research Newsletter provides a comprehensive report on numerous UFO sightings and related phenomena occurring primarily in late 1973 and early 1974 across the United States and Canada. It details specific incidents, witness testimonies, and descriptions of unidentified flying objects, alongside news and reviews relevant to the UFO community.

Important Notice

The newsletter announces that UFOR is relocating its operations to Albuquerque, New Mexico, effective June 6, 1974. Due to the logistical challenges of this move, the subsequent edition of the newsletter is scheduled for mailing around August 15, 1974.

Fantastic Sighting Reports Continue

This section compiles a wide array of recent UFO sighting reports, highlighting the diverse nature of these encounters. Reports include:

• Occupants of UFOs, one causing a witness to faint.
• Objects moving at speeds estimated to be 100 to 500 times faster than jet airplanes.
• UFOs emitting light beams onto cars or shining lights up and down creeks.
• An object that lifted a truck off a road, causing extensive damage.
• Objects chased at speeds exceeding 90 m.p.h. and pacing automobiles.
• UFOs appearing to communicate with each other or responding to signals.
• Objects disappearing as aircraft or cars approached.
• An object that nearly collided with a boat.
• Reports suggesting physical evidence may have been left behind.
• UFOs that landed and took off, causing electromagnetic effects and animal reactions, emitting sounds, and frightening witnesses.

These reports come from at least 14 states and Canada, covering the period from October 1973 to March 1974. Witnesses included law enforcement officers, a former radar operator, a welfare department chief, a college professor, and a television engineer.

Oklahoma Sightings

Oklahoma is highlighted as a state experiencing significant mysterious object activity. One detailed report involves Darrel Nickels, who was driving near Weatherford on November 29, 1973, when he observed a UFO with approximately 30 flashing, multi-colored lights. The object was estimated to be 16-20 feet wide and 9-10 feet tall, with several 'pads' on the bottom. Nickels stopped his car near a bridge and observed the object for about three minutes before a bright light shone from its side. He then drove away, and other witnesses, including police officers, reportedly saw a similar object along the creek banks.

Another incident occurred on the night of October 29-30, affecting the Grove-Jay-Westville areas. A UFO was first sighted near the ground at Grove. Grove Police Officer Dennis Steele pursued the object at speeds exceeding 90 m.p.h. before it ascended rapidly. In Westville, Police Officers Tom Bright, J.R. Berger, and Darrell Rector also observed the object as a brilliant white light traveling at 3,000-4,000 feet altitude. Jay police dispatcher Bryan Sweetwater noted the object remained in the area for several hours, exhibiting red streamers or sparks. Carl Williams, chief of the Delaware County Welfare Department, attempted to photograph the UFO without success.

Clay Knight reported seeing a shiny, silver object, described as 'the size of a bedroom,' near Vinita on February 18, 1974, during early morning milking. The object had flashing red or orange lights, emitted a shrill sound, and landed and took off three times from a pasture, causing his cattle to become so frightened they wouldn't give milk, and his herd dog to flee.

North Carolina and Mississippi Sightings

George B. Fawcett, a UFO investigator, highlighted sightings in North Carolina. On October 19, 1973, Mr. and Mrs. David A. Doby of Copeland saw a large, bluish, oval-shaped UFO hovering overhead. Mrs. Doby reported seeing a small, three-foot creature in a golden metallic suit in their front yard, prompting the family and their dog to flee.

In Mississippi, Bob Willians and Billy Smith reported a sighting at Cameron Lake on October 4. While watching television, they saw a brilliant flash of light and an object over the trees about 150 yards away and 200 feet above the ground. The object had two bright lights, dimmed and brightened, and turned red. They observed its reaction to a street light, noting it moved very fast to the right when the light was turned off.

Other US Sightings

• California: David Simpson was driving near Dobson on October 24, 1973, when his car's engine and headlights failed as an oval-shaped UFO landed nearby. A creature with 'balls of fire' eyes looked through the window, causing Simpson to faint. The car resumed normal function after the object left.
• North Carolina: Mrs. Clifford W. Samnis of Beaverdam Valley observed two long slits of light on December 28, 1973, which later coalesced into a large, bright light. This light disappeared when a car approached, leading Mrs. Samnis to believe the object was aware of the car.
• Texas: On February 19, 1974, over Hattiesburg, more than a dozen witnesses spotted a formation of seven UFOs, described as 'about the size of a small house,' which 'zipped across the sky for almost 90 minutes.' Harold Stanton, an engineer, followed five of the objects as they landed in a field and took off. The objects gave the impression of staring and would dim to a bluish halo-like affair.
• El Paso, Texas: On October 15, Jeffrey Dean and eight others observed three erratically moving objects resembling 'a fluorescent light.' One object alternately brightened and dimmed, and Dean heard a loud thumping sound. Their dogs reacted fearfully, and the family's television set briefly blacked out.
• Nevada: Haakon Hanson, a troubleshooter, saw a UFO over a school in Henderson on November 29, 1973. It had a red light in front, a green light in back, and a revolving greenish-white light. Hanson described it as long and flat, with no wings, flying at incredible speeds, and vanishing into thin air.
• California: Two brothers near Ely observed an orange disc about 10 feet off the desert floor on February 14, 1974, accompanied by three smaller blue objects. They experienced a blast of wind or force field that affected their truck, causing it to lose control.
• Maryland: Mrs. Rachel Gray and her family observed a bright red object with a bright light in the middle on October 20, 1973, which stopped over their car and then shot off rapidly. It reappeared when they stopped at a toll booth and seemed to follow them. The object disappeared completely when an airplane approached.
• New York: Police officers and others observed three diamond-shaped objects with white and dull yellow lights in upstate New York on October 22, 1973. Near Forestville, a couple saw two similar objects, and their television set ceased functioning while the UFOs were present.
• Missouri: Mrs. Margaret Porter and her children saw a silver, oval-shaped, rotating object on October 27, 1973, as big as a tractor trailer truck, with a soft glow. It moved quickly, ascended, turned coal black, and gave the witnesses a frightening feeling.
• Illinois: Lee Schuchardt, a former radar operator, observed a formation of four horizontal and five vertical lights of varying intensity on October 31, 1973. The lights circled and returned to their starting point. Schuchardt managed to take two photographs.
• Iowa: Mrs. Ramona Dicks and her daughters observed a strange light on December 5, 1973, which appeared as a green, domed, cupcake-shaped object that glowed yellow.
• Florida: Danny Prezkop and Jeff Sneed saw a brilliant, orange object with fire coming from its rear approach and descend near the Indian River on January 19, 1974. The cigar-shaped craft, estimated at 20 feet long and 10 feet high, emitted a hum and appeared to have windows. It slowed and dropped close to the water, nearly colliding with a barge or yacht before increasing speed and vanishing south. Mrs. Thomas I. Small and her son Michael also witnessed a similar bright object.
• California: Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Kendall and two friends saw an object with amber and white lights hovering over the ground on January 25, 1974. It took off with a hissing sound and emitted a clicking sound, demonstrating remarkable agility in changing altitudes.
• New Jersey: An unidentified witness and six others observed a 'strange object in the sky' on March 2, 1974, in Trenton.
• Nova Scotia, Canada: On January 2, 1974, youths skating on ice observed an oval-shaped, blue object descend from the sky. Some witnesses reported that community lights went out for approximately five seconds, and a radio transmitter went off the air briefly.

New Book Probes Pascagoula Incident

This section reviews the book "Beyond Earth: Man's Contact With UFOs" by Ralph and Judy Blum. The book focuses on the October 11, 1973, Pascagoula, Mississippi, incident involving the alleged kidnapping of two fishermen. While the book covers the broader 1973 UFO flap and rehashes older sighting reports, it is particularly valuable for its in-depth investigation of the Pascagoula case, including interviews with the witnesses, Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker. The review notes that while the book is generally credible, the senior author's limited experience with the subject is apparent.

UFO Disappears as Plane Approaches

This article details a sighting by Mrs. Rachel Gray and her family in Maryland on October 20, 1973. They observed a bright red object with a central light that stopped over their car and then shot off rapidly. The object reappeared when they stopped at a toll booth and seemed to follow them. It disappeared completely when an airplane approached, leading the witnesses to believe it was not a conventional aircraft.

UFOs Zeroed In On Nevada

This report describes a sighting by Haakon Hanson in Henderson, Nevada, on November 29, 1973. He observed a long, flat object with no wings, featuring red, green, and greenish-white lights, flying at incredible speeds. The object vanished into thin air after stopping in the air.

UFOs in California and Oregon

Two Orange County, California, brothers reported an incident on February 14, 1974, where they encountered an orange disc and smaller blue objects. Their truck experienced a blast of wind or force field, causing loss of control. The incident lasted approximately 20 minutes.

UFOs in New York and Pennsylvania

Police officers and others witnessed diamond-shaped objects in upstate New York on October 22, 1973. A couple near Forestville saw similar objects, and their television set malfunctioned during the sighting.

UFOs in Missouri

Mrs. Margaret Porter and her children saw a silver, oval-shaped object on October 27, 1973, described as large and rotating, with a soft glow. It exhibited rapid movement and a frightening quality.

UFOs in Illinois and Iowa

Lee Schuchardt, a former radar operator, observed a formation of lights on October 31, 1973, in Illinois. Mrs. Ramona Dicks and her daughters reported a strange green, domed object on December 5, 1973, in Iowa.

Object Nearly Collides With Boat

This article describes a sighting in Fort Pierce, Florida, on January 19, 1974, where Danny Prezkop and Jeff Sneed witnessed a brilliant orange object with fire emitting from its rear. The cigar-shaped craft, estimated at 20 feet long, descended close to the water, nearly colliding with a barge before rapidly ascending and vanishing. Mrs. Thomas I. Small and her son Michael also observed a similar bright object.

UFOs in California

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Kendall reported an incident on January 25, 1974, in Lemoore, California, involving an object with amber and white lights that hovered and demonstrated exceptional agility in changing altitudes. The object made hissing and clicking sounds.

UFOs in New Jersey

A witness and six others observed a 'strange object in the sky' on March 2, 1974, in Trenton.

UFOs in Nova Scotia, Canada

On January 2, 1974, an oval-shaped, blue object was observed in Truro, Nova Scotia. The sighting was accompanied by a brief power outage in the community and a radio transmitter going off the air.

UFO Project Director Condon Dies

This section reports the death of Dr. Edward U. Condon on March 25, 1974. Condon was the director of the University of Colorado's UFO Project (1966-1968), which was sponsored by the Air Force. His project's conclusions, which were widely interpreted as a denunciation of UFO phenomena, significantly impacted the field, effectively stifling serious research for over four years. The article notes Condon's distinguished career in physics and his controversial role in the McCarthy era. Dr. Ralph Lapp is quoted remembering Condon as an independent, fighting liberal.

Sighting Capsules

This section provides brief summaries of additional sighting reports:

• January 2, 1974, Yalaha, Florida: A resident saw a multi-colored flying object that hovered and swung back and forth (possible explanation: planetary illusion).
• January 5, 1974, Walden, New York: Five witnesses saw an object with multi-colored lights that moved up and down and around in circles (possible explanation: planetary illusion).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the sheer volume and diversity of UFO sightings reported, the varied characteristics of the objects observed (shapes, lights, speeds, behaviors), and the range of witnesses, including credible professionals and law enforcement. The newsletter consistently presents these reports without overt skepticism, implying an open-minded approach to investigating the phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and disseminating information about UFO activity, encouraging further research and awareness. The inclusion of Dr. Condon's death and the critical perspective on his project's impact suggest a continued engagement with the historical and scientific context of UFO research, contrasting the official denouncements with the ongoing influx of unexplained sightings.