UFO Research Newsletter - 1978 02 03 - Vol 05 No 10

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
Issue: Vol. V, No. 10
Date: February - March 1978
Publisher: UFO Research Associates
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the UFO Research Newsletter focuses on a variety of UFO-related reports, investigations, and analyses, including a significant photographic case, updates on governmental studies, detailed accounts of sightings, and reviews of relevant literature.

Photographer Films UFOs from Plane Window

The lead story details an incident on April 11, 1977, where Fred and Eva Svihus, passengers on a Boeing 747 jet flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco, witnessed and filmed four oval, glowing objects. The objects were observed at approximately 20,000 feet altitude near Vandenburg Air Force Base, moving in an "echelon formation" at an estimated 5-7 miles distance and slightly lower than the airliner. Fred Svihus, a professional photographer, captured the event on his Bolex movie camera, with the UFOs flying in the opposite direction of the jet. Paul C. Cerny, Western Regional Director for MUFON, reported that the objects continued on out of sight, suddenly breaking formation and scattering. Reflections were ruled out due to the camera's proximity to the plexiglass window. The UFOs were visible for 4-5 seconds and appeared on 32 individual frames of film. Cerny noted that the objects' relative positions remained consistent, suggesting that photographic analysis could reveal more details. The size of the UFOs was estimated to be about one-third to one-quarter the size of the moon visible at the time.

NASA, UN Shelve UFO Studies

Both NASA and the United Nations have decided to shelve their proposed UFO studies. According to a NASA release, the decision was made due to an "absence of tangible evidence available for thorough laboratory analysis" and the inability to devise a "sound scientific procedure" for investigation. NASA stated this does not indicate any conclusions about the phenomenon itself. Meanwhile, the National Enquirer urged readers to write to President Carter to "order a full, scientific investigation of UFO phenomena." The paper also noted that several congressmen and former Project Blue Book head Hector Quintanilla, Jr., called for a "crash program on UFOs." On the UN front, Grenada Prime Minister Sir Eric Gairy withdrew his resolution for a UN agency to study UFOs, proposing instead a draft resolution for a study on UFOs and "the prospects for contact with extraterrestrial life."

UFO Lands Near Home in Maryland

On October 6, 1977, Mrs. Norma McAda of Towson, Maryland, observed a small, green, "Derby-type, hat-shaped object" resting on the grass next to her asphalt driveway. The object, about 44 inches wide, moved "as if on rollers" and then rose, passing above trees. It displayed two yellow headlights that later changed to white, and its green color appeared to twinkle. No discernible tracks or marks were found, and a radiation check was negative. Mrs. McAdam and her family reported upset stomachs that day, though no direct correlation was made.

AIAA Symposium Adds Little to Subject

A joint symposium titled "Our Extraterrestrial Heritage: From UFOs to Space Colonies" held in Los Angeles offered limited new insights. Dr. William F. Hassel chaired the session, which assumed UFOs were extraterrestrial. Thomas M. Gates presented on the "Zeta Reticuli Episode," discussing the Betty and Barney Hill abduction case and Marjorie Fish's interpretation of a star map shown to Betty Hill, suggesting the UFO originated from the Zeta Reticuli star system. Dr. Richard F. Haines lectured on "UFO Drawings by Eye Witnesses and Non Eye Witnesses," emphasizing the need for more research into perceptual processes. Dr. Daniel H. Harris of Project Starlight International (PSI) discussed the slow progress in UFO investigation, attributing it to the limited number of cases examined in detail and the focus on accumulating reports by major organizations. PSI aims to gather hard data through direct observation and experiment.

The Happy Camp, California, Sightings -- Part II

This section, by Paul Cerny, details two encounters in Happy Camp. The first involved a "creature" sighting and a Ford Bronco suspended with its wheels spinning. The second, on October 26, 1975, described a glowing, orange-red, disc-shaped object rising from near where witnesses had seen the creature and following their vehicle down the mountain road. The object appeared to be about 40 feet in diameter. A subsequent event on February 7, 1976, involved Tom Gates and the author observing an orange glow behind a ridge, followed by a large, rectangular-shaped object that rose and descended twice. During the initial encounter, witnesses experienced a "choking sensation" and difficulty breathing, leading to speculation about mind manipulation.

Hynek, Lorenzen Books Top Latest Literary Crop

This section reviews several recent books on UFOs. "The Hynek UFO Report" by J. Allen Hynek is described as offering limited insights into Project Blue Book, with much of the content drawn from declassified files. The review notes its focus on cases up to 1969 and suggests it's more suitable for novices. "Abducted! Confrontations with Beings from Outer Space" by Coral and Jim Lorenzen is praised for its detailed accounts of abduction reports investigated by APRO, including the Travis Walton case. "Encounter Cases from Flying Saucer Review," edited by Charles Bowen, is presented as a collection of bizarre events from the magazine. "UFOs, the Eye and the Camera" by Adrian Vance is criticized for its focus on attacking organizations like NICA and APRO rather than UFO photographs, and for inaccuracies. Finally, "Alien Meetings" by Brad Steiger is characterized as a mix of UFO cases with other phenomena, with a lack of documentation and a tendency to cite sensationalist sources.

Close Encounters -- Again and Again

This editorial by Gordon I.R. Lore, Jr., discusses Steven Spielberg's film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Lore argues that the film is more than just a movie; it's a phenomenon that offers an "ultimate sensory and emotional experience." He suggests that many serious UFO researchers are "turned off" by the film because they may have become too focused on the serious aspects, leaving little room for open-minded speculation. Lore defends the film as not being a documentary but an artistic work that takes liberties with UFO facts. He concludes that the film's production is evidence that humanity can stand before a descending ET craft and feel awe and excitement.

Enquirer Awards Iranians $5,000 for Best UFO Evidence

The National Enquirer awarded six Iranians $5,000 for the best UFO evidence reported in 1977. The award was given to an Iranian charity due to military/government restrictions. The report mentions a UFO sighting over Tehran on September 18, 1976, where two F-4 Phantom jets attempted a chase, but their communications, navigation, and weapons control systems were jammed by the UFO. The Enquirer continues to offer its $1 million award for "positive proof that UFOs come from outer space."

New Mexico Witnesses See Discs

A group of witnesses in Clovis, New Mexico, observed about 39 "white discs of light" moving in formation on the evening of September 10. The discs were described as "extremely bright lights" that sometimes zigzagged and flew in erratic patterns. They were reported as silver and "dipped" several times.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently covers a broad spectrum of UFO phenomena, from photographic evidence and witness testimonies to government investigations and scientific analyses. There is a clear emphasis on reporting detailed accounts of sightings and encounters, often with a critical eye towards official explanations or lack thereof. The reviews of books and films like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" suggest an editorial stance that values open-mindedness and the exploration of the phenomenon's potential implications, while also maintaining a degree of critical analysis regarding the research and reporting within the field. The publication appears to advocate for continued investigation and a willingness to consider extraordinary explanations for observed phenomena.