UFO Research Newsletter - 1977 02 03 - Vol 05 No 04

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
Issue: Vol. V, No. 4
Date: February - March, 1977
Publisher: UFO Research Associates
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the UFO Research Newsletter, published by UFO Research Associates, covers a range of unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings and related phenomena reported primarily in late 1976 and early 1977. The newsletter details specific incidents, witness accounts, and potential implications, including physiological effects, electromagnetic interference, and radar tracking.

Key Articles and Reports

Physiological Effects Marks New Year's Day Sighting

This section details an incident on January 1, 1977, near Valence, France, where Mr. and Mrs. Francois Perez observed an oval-shaped object described as a "big glowing star." The object chased their car, landed in a field, and then zoomed off. The witnesses reported experiencing eye pain for two days following the encounter, and Mr. Perez's wristwatch reportedly stopped working.

Plane Crash, Pilots Attempt to Fire at UFOs Top 1976 Sighting Reports

This comprehensive report summarizes various UFO sightings from July to December 1976, spanning at least 10 states and three foreign countries. The sightings involved a wide array of phenomena, including UFOs causing a plane crash, pilots attempting to fire on objects, jets chasing UFOs, and objects hovering over sensitive sites like a telecommunications satellite base and an ERDA site. Other reported characteristics included objects that hit and dented mailboxes, disappeared upon jet approach, hovered near homes, formed halos around clouds, shone lights on the ground, and were described as being as large as a 747 jet. Many reports noted electromagnetic interference, physiological effects, temporary memory loss, emitted sounds, and frightened witnesses. The witnesses included pilots, control tower operators, Air Force personnel, meteorologists, and police.

Specific incidents highlighted include:

• Massachusetts Sighting (September 7, 1976): Frank Morgan reported a huge, bluish-white object hovering about 100 feet over his car, causing his car lights to dim.
• Boston Area Sightings (October 17, 1976): Police officers and others reported seeing a brightly lit object that rapidly changed colors. Radar at Boston's Logan Airport tracked the object for about an hour.
• North Amherst Sighting (November 16, 1976): Terry Cunningham saw a bullet-shaped UFO, described as the size of two cars, hovering behind a tree. It had a flashing red light and "mirrors or windows" emitting white lights. The object moved with her, appeared to be photographing her, and then vanished suddenly. Afterward, she reported temporary memory loss.

UFO Research Newsletter, Vol. V, No. 4 Details

The newsletter itself is published monthly or bimonthly by UFO Research Associates, located in Los Angeles, California. The editor is Gordon I.R. Lore, Jr., and the business manager is Marty D. Lore. Subscription rates are provided, with single copies costing $0.60 in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and $0.80 for foreign orders.

Other Notable Sightings and Reports

• Lancaster, Massachusetts (November 17, 1976): Robert Cafarelli saw a large, bright red smoky ball in a field, accompanied by house lights flashing and a humming noise. E-M effects cleared up after the object disappeared.
• Attleboro, Massachusetts (December 17, 1976): James Thibodeau observed a metallic, gray UFO, described as an inverted pie plate shape, approximately 200 feet in diameter and 50 feet high, ascending rapidly at 30-35 m.p.h. toward Attleboro. He took a photograph of it.
• Nearby Witness (December 17, 1976): Richard Owen saw a similar saucer-shaped object pass over his car, noting an outside ring that was spinning. Another witness described Owen's face as "white as a sheet."
• E-M Effects: Other reports indicated E-M effects on citizen band, police, and fire department radios.
• Danbury, Connecticut (August 30, 1976): Police Officer Peter Winter and others observed an object with flickering red, white, blue, and green lights that zig-zagged across the sky. Winter photographed the UFO using a telephoto lens.
• Martinsburg, West Virginia (September 7, 1976): Pilot Leon Senjanec, practicing take-offs and landings in his Cessna 150, was followed by a bright, blinding light that turned out to be a red-hot, pie-shaped object. The object was on a collision course, forcing Senjanec to crash-land. He described the UFO as having a smooth aluminum surface, a captain's window, and being under intelligent control. Other Martinsburg residents also reported seeing a UFO.
• Gastonia, North Carolina (November 1, 1976): Mrs. H.L. Amor observed an egg-shaped object with blinking white lights and "long legs lighted up." The object was seen for several nights, moving from southeast to east and then south.
• Lake View, South Carolina (October 28, 1976): Richie Britt and his father saw a bright light speed across the woods. Later, Richie alone saw the object reappear, emitting colored lights, and then hover near his porch. He described it as a large automobile-sized craft with triangular windows. In one window, he saw a pale white creature with smooth skin, claw-like hands, and two dark eyes. This encounter caused him extreme fear and hysteria, requiring a doctor's intervention.
• Florida Sightings (September 23, 1976): Two residents spotted UFOs flying at high speed and seemingly following each other.
• Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (September 23, 1976): A photographer captured images of objects described as "jumping all over the sky."
• Coral Gables, Florida (October 11, 1976): Alina Santos observed a strange situation at a traffic light where seven other cars were also stopped. The report mentions an "eerie-looking dark gray cloud" with a "pleasant golden reflection" behind it, and above it, a large, brilliant white saucer the size of a 747 jet with a dome, which spun and moved up and down before disappearing into the cloud, creating a "colossal rainbow."
• Michigan Sightings (September 8, 1976): NORAD officials confirmed radar tracking of UFOs near Port Austin AFS. Personnel also visually sighted lights. The objects were tracked at 30,000 feet, moving at speeds estimated at 681.6 m.p.h. The burglar alarm on the base malfunctioned coincidentally with the objects' disappearance from radar.
• Lake Huron Sightings (September 8, 1976): Carl A. Bailey and Becky Gish observed seven or eight bright glowing objects that changed color, shape, and moved at incredible speeds. Deputy Sheriffs also witnessed the objects.
• Manistee, Michigan (September 20, 1976): Mr. and Mrs. Jack Davis and their son watched "red and green flashing lights" in the sky, spotting two oblong-shaped UFOs made of aluminum-like metal.
• Texas Sightings (August 2, 1976): Two boys near El Paso saw a "flattened out object" hovering before it "shot off." A burned area was found on the ground afterward.
• Palestine, Texas (September 29, 1976): Albert F. Young heard a "squeaking noise" and saw a fast-moving object fly over trees and head toward his house. It descended near the ground, turned, and then hit a neighbor's mailbox, denting it.
• Idaho Sighting (September 28, 1976): Milton Havemann observed a UFO near Birch Creek, described as a discus shape, 50 feet in diameter, 10 feet high, with a concave top and robin egg blue front fading to light blue. It emanated intense heat waves and had tentacles or exhaust pipes. It moved counterclockwise and was estimated to be 50 feet in diameter.
• Twin Falls, Idaho (October 10, 1976): Mrs. Oliver Molyneux saw a large, brilliant light that moved erratically, got brighter, and sprayed sparks, causing her to be scared.
• California Sightings (August 27, 1976): Laura White and Gloria Mir saw a UFO with blue and red flashing lights and one headlight near Oroville, pacing their car before disappearing.
• Santa Cruz, California (August 29, 1976): Richard Golding observed a silver-gray saucer land at an intersection.
• Santa Cruz Sentinel Report (September 1, 1976): A witness described an object about 10 feet across and eight feet high, thick in the middle, with no lights or legs. It emitted green gas and began to glow. Ceramic bits were found at the intersection after the object disappeared.
• Ontario, Canada (August 25, 1976): Witnesses reported two mysterious objects hovering near the Telesat station, coinciding with microwave transmission difficulties.
• Argentina Sightings (July-September): Meteorologists and others observed luminous discs and a large object. Barometers indicated sudden falls in atmospheric pressure.
• Tehran, Iran (September 18, 1976): Mehrabad Airport control tower officials reported a UFO flashing lights at 6,000 feet. Two Phantom jets pursued the object, which reportedly moved at supersonic speeds and reversed course to chase the jets. Electronic appliances on the jets reportedly failed, and radio control was lost. One pilot reported a "bright object" breaking from the UFO. However, an alternative report from the Kayhan International suggested a less dramatic event, with no E-M effects or chase, only a bright light seen by a pilot.

Philosophers Discuss Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (ETI)

This section reviews the book "Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence: The First Encounter," edited by James L. Christian. The book contains philosophical essays exploring the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Isaac Asimov discusses science fiction literature's history of depicting extraterrestrial beings. Kendrick Frazier suggests the National Science Foundation consider the consequences of ETI contact. Actor Leonard Nimoy shares his experience playing Mr. Spock and how it influenced his study of human behavior. Ronald Smith discusses the "royal flush" of decentralizing man's perceived unique intelligence. Joseph Royce agrees that "cosmic man" might doubt Earth's species' intelligence. Herman Tennessen's essay on Hilary Finley von Habermann, who allegedly lived to 178 and visited the planet Zetetica, is also mentioned.

The review notes that while the essays are thought-provoking, some contain negative UFO comments, attributed to ignorance or scientific negativism. George Abell, a professor of astronomy, is quoted as saying that "virtually all professional astronomers... consider the extraterrestrial hypothesis the least likely explanation for the UFO phenomena," a statement the review challenges.

Alan Landsburg's "In Search of Extraterrestrials"

Alan Landsburg, executive producer of the TV series "In Search of...", assembled teams to gather information for his book. The review suggests the book is better than much UFO literature, engaging in intriguing speculation. Landsburg discusses the idea that "black holes" might be UFO enigmas or corridors to other universes. The review also references historical accounts like Giordano Bruno's postulation of innumerable suns and earths, and Jules Verne's "From Earth to the Moon," comparing it to actual space missions.

"Mysteries From Beyond Earth" Film Review

The film "Mysteries From Beyond Earth" is described as attempting to link psychic phenomena with UFOs. While potentially fascinating for novices, it is noted to be mostly speculative and fails to offer much new to serious researchers. The film covers various phenomena including the Pascagoula abduction case, Kirlian photography, cryonics, and the "hollow earth" theory. The review criticizes the film for not forging a convincing link between the phenomena discussed.

Library of Congress Suggests UFOs May Be ET

A report from the Library of Congress' Congressional Research Service suggests that UFOs may indicate the presence of extraterrestrial intelligence. The service directs interested individuals to consult various indexes for further information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently reports on UFO sightings with a focus on factual accounts and witness testimonies, often citing newspaper sources. There is a clear emphasis on documenting a wide range of phenomena, including physical characteristics of objects, their reported behaviors, and associated effects such as electromagnetic interference and physiological changes. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting evidence and accounts without necessarily endorsing any single explanation, while also acknowledging skepticism within the scientific community. The inclusion of book and film reviews suggests an effort to contextualize UFO research within broader discussions of science, philosophy, and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence.