UFO RESEARCH NEWSLETTER

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
Issue: Vol. V, No. 5
Date: April - May 1977
Publisher: UFO Research Associates (UFOR)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the UFO Research Newsletter, dated April-May 1977, presents a collection of unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings and related news from late 1976 and early 1977. The newsletter covers a wide range of reports, including those with physiological and electromagnetic effects, physical evidence, and unusual aerial maneuvers, from various locations across the United States, Canada, and other foreign countries.

Object Over Los Angeles Observed by Many

The lead story details multiple sightings over Los Angeles in late March 1977. Mark Hogan, a cargo handler at Los Angeles International Airport, and a pilot friend observed two "teardrop"-shaped lights approaching from Santa Catalina Island and flying in formation over the airport runway. Hogan described them as "controlled vehicles." Around the same time, sheriff's deputies in Long Beach and Firestone, as well as a Huntington Beach police helicopter crew, also saw brilliant lights. An observer in Firestone reported that the UFOs "bathed his home in a flood of blue light." March Air Force Base spokesmen confirmed that personnel at the base had seen the objects and that no military tests could account for the lights.

Sightings from Massachusetts and Louisiana

On January 12, 1977, in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, John Kopinski and Ween Molongoski observed a "bright flash" followed by a "loud humming noise." They saw a UFO resembling a "large trash can cover in flight," and Molongoski took a photograph. In Yscloskey, Louisiana, on January 21, off-duty firemen Edwin Menesses and Robert Melerine were in a boat when they observed a "round globe, about 50 feet in diameter hovering 75 feet" above them. The object bathed them in light, and their boat became immobilized for a period, causing them to experience chills and fever later. A phone call from a refraction tower guard corroborated their account.

Canadian and International Sightings

Reports from Canada include a sighting on January 2, 1977, near Haines Junction, Yukon, where ambulance attendants Tom Banks and Ken Scholfield observed a brilliant white object that moved rapidly, paced their ambulance, and caused E-M effects to its electrical system. On January 5, near Fort St. James, an unidentified man witnessed a large saucer that "flooded the interior" of his truck with red light, swooped down, forced him into another lane, and caused his radio and motor to go dead. In Montreal, Quebec, Mrs. Florida Malboeuf observed an oyster-shaped object hovering over a building, and a 15-foot circle of snow had been melted away from the roof. In England, a couple walking their dog in Suffolk saw a huge saucer hovering over a field, which caused E-M interference to their television set.

First International UFO Congress

The newsletter announces the First International UFO Congress to be held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 24-26, 1977, marking 30 years since Kenneth Arnold's historic sighting. The event, sponsored by Curtis Fuller of Fate magazine, will feature UFO experts and witnesses, including Kenneth Arnold as an "honored guest." Topics to be covered include CIA-FBI coverups, contactees, abductions, propulsion systems, and physical evidence. The cost is $30 at the door or $25 in advance.

Astronomer Discusses Saucer Propulsion

Dr. Daniel Harris, an astrophysics and planetary studies professor at the University of Arizona, discussed UFO propulsion in a lecture. He stated that UFOs move with "very large acceleration... on the order of 300Gs," significantly higher than aircraft. Harris, who investigated sighting reports and studied over a thousand cases, concluded that UFOs have substantial weight, can be tracked at speeds up to 10,000 m.p.h. without sonic booms, and exhibit non-aerodynamic motion like zig-zagging and hovering. He also noted that UFOs can produce strong magnetic fields, evidenced by disturbances beneath them and magnetization of metallic items at landing sites.

Fawcett Studies 1976 Sighting Reports

Ufologist George D. Fawcett's analysis of 1976 UFO sightings highlights an increase in reported landings, occupant encounters, and physical examinations. Reports came from the U.S., Canada, Venezuela, Iran, Austria, Portugal, England, and Japan. The article details several occupant reports, including a "little man with big bulging eyes" in California, "giant-like creatures" in Spain, a UFO entity that touched a student in Japan, and a 3.5-foot tall creature in Michigan. The newsletter also promotes Fawcett's book, "Quarter Century Studies of UFOs in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee."

Indonesia Plans UFO Department

The government of Indonesia announced plans to establish a UFO department within its National Aviation and Interspace Institute (LAPAN) to cooperate with international UFO research centers. This follows a visit by Dr. J. Allen Hynek at the request of Indonesian Foreign Minister Adam Malik. Air Vice Marshal Salatun, LAPAN chairman, stated that eight UFO cases have been recorded in Indonesia.

Book Reviews

The newsletter includes reviews of two books: "The UFO Enigma; The Definitive Explanation of the UFO Phenomenon" by Donald H. Menzel and Ernest H. Taves, which is criticized for its dismissive tone and explanations of sightings as hoaxes or misidentifications. The review of Susy Smith's "Strangers From Space" suggests it lacks scientific rigor and original research, relying heavily on other sources.

Astronomers Urge Saucer Studies

A survey of American Astronomical Society members revealed that 53% believe UFOs should be studied, with 80% expressing willingness to help if a way could be found. Sixty-two percent of scientists surveyed indicated they may have been involved in UFO incidents. The survey was conducted by Prof. Peter A. Sturrock of Stanford University.

Former Top Secret UFO Report from U.S.S.R. Revealed

Reports indicate that a former top-secret UFO report from Moscow, authored by Dr. Felix Y. Zigel, has been circulating. Zigel reportedly presented findings on alien entities landing on Earth, capable of picking up tractors and reading minds. Another Soviet scientist, Prof. Alexei Zolotov, claimed a crashed object in Siberia in 1908 was a "nuclear powered vehicle from outer space." However, the Communist youth newspaper Komsomlskaya Pravda denounced the UFO subject.

Grenada Prime Minister Backs UFOs

Eric Gairy, Prime Minister of Grenada, believes UFOs are extraterrestrial and that other planets have visitors who have been visiting Earth. He has urged world governments to make their UFO information public.

Occupants, Time Lapse, Photos, Physiological Effects Characteristics of 1976 Reports

This section summarizes various UFO characteristics observed in late 1976, including occupants, time lapses, photographs, physiological and E-M effects, materialization, sounds, and witness fright. Specific incidents include a sighting in Canton, Massachusetts, involving a top hat-shaped craft; a police officer in Fairfax County, Virginia, who witnessed a craft of incredible speed; a medical student in Morgantown, West Virginia, who observed an irregular-shaped object with appendages; a sighting in Camptown, Florida, of a UFO resembling "two bowls"; and a blue-green object in Alexandria, Louisiana, that caused a power outage.

Further Sightings and Reports

Additional sightings include a "bright white oval" pacing a car near Ballymena, Ireland, which caused a severe static electricity effect. In England, a "wavering, low-flying craft" obscured trees and buildings. A "round silver object" was seen in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and a "glowing orange cigar" hovered over a grass verge in Hampshire, with a slim figure materializing nearby. A British Airways Trident and a Portuguese Boeing 727 encountered a UFO near Lisbon, Portugal, described as "10 times the size of an aircraft." A Puma helicopter in South Africa encountered a UFO with a "glowing light."

"Unsettling Disclosures" About UFOs Rumored by Year's End

A tidbit from "Washington Whispers" suggests that the U.S. Government, possibly the President, is expected to make "unsettling disclosures about UFOs" based on CIA information, which would reverse past official policy of downgrading UFO incidents.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different geographical locations and the variety of phenomena reported, including physical effects on witnesses and the environment. There is a clear editorial stance in favor of investigating UFOs, as evidenced by the coverage of the International UFO Congress, the astronomer's discussion of propulsion, and the reporting of positive scientific interest from astronomers. The newsletter also highlights international government interest and the potential for future government disclosures, while critically reviewing books that dismiss UFO phenomena. The overall tone is one of serious inquiry into the UFO subject, presenting evidence and expert opinions to support the reality of unexplained aerial phenomena.