UFO Research Newsletter - 1979 10 11 - Vol 06 No 08

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Research Newsletter, Volume VI, Number 8, dated October-November 1979, is published by UFO Research Associates (UFOR) and covers a wide array of UFO-related topics. The cover headline highlights 'APPARENT UFO ATTACK LEADS SIGHTING REPORT LIST,' indicating a focus on significant and potentially alarming encounters.

Sighting Reports and Incidents

The newsletter details numerous UFO sightings from February to August 1979, spanning at least four states and four foreign countries. These include:

• Taylors, Illinois (April 26, 1979): Two high school students reported a UFO hovering above the ground with a light beam resembling a spotlight and emitting a humming sound. Dogs in the area were barking.
• Flat Rock, Michigan (around June 26, 1979): The Kneshtel family witnessed a UFO with red and white flashing lights and bright blue spotlights that nearly blinded them. A smaller craft reportedly appeared in pursuit of the larger one.
• Columbia Heights, Minnesota (February 26, 1979): Two women observed a large light in the sky that moved slowly, then turned northwest, displaying headlights and blinking red lights.
• Near Stephen, Minnesota (August 27, 1979): Deputy Val Johnson reported a brilliant beam like a spotlight that approached his car, causing the interior to light up intensely, resulting in 39 unaccounted minutes and eye injuries. His patrol car sustained damage, including a smashed headlight and windshield, and its mechanical watch and electric clock stopped for 14 minutes.
• Near Colusa, California (May 26, 1979): Two brothers fishing spotted a UFO that appeared suddenly, hovered, and emitted bright headlights. It produced a sound like a vacuum and caused animals to stir.
• Bukit Mertajam, West Malaysia (May 19, 1979): Students at a primary school observed a tiny flying saucer with four occupants. One witness attempted to grab an alien and was shot with a pistol-like weapon.
• Saint-Pierre-de-Maille, France (March 16, 1979): Bruno Mathe saw a disc hovering about a meter above his field, emitting a radiance that caused paralysis and arm pain.
• Bigand, Santa Fe Province, Argentina (April 7, 1979): A UFO reportedly landed in a field, leaving a burned circle. Witnesses described a luminous object emitting intense light that blinded them and affected car engines.
• Near Belo Horizonte, Brazil (May 5, 1979): Police officers observed a UFO land, emit red and orange lights, and cause car engines and radios to cease functioning.
• Waimata Valley, Gisborne, New Zealand (November 29, 1977): Investigator Hamish McLean observed a bowler hat-shaped craft hover and then emit a bright blue beam of light that illuminated a dead tree, causing sheep to flee.

Book Reviews and Research Methodologies

Hendry Tome Punctures the Balloon of Complacency

The issue features a review of Allan Hendry's book, 'The UFO Handbook; A Guide to Investigating, Evaluating and Reporting UFO Sightings.' Hendry, chief investigator for the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS), is presented as challenging the methods and beliefs of many UFO investigators. The review highlights Hendry's claim that 90% of reports can be ruled out with a practical handbook. He questions the reliance on hypnosis, radar, photography, radiation detectors, and polygraphs, suggesting more research is needed. Hendry also notes that witnesses in Identified Flying Object (IFO) cases exhibit similar emotional responses to UFO witnesses, and that occupation does not truly reflect susceptibility to misperceptions. He challenges the extraterrestrial (ET) hypothesis, stating that strong claims require strong evidence, which has been lacking for 30 years. The review also points out statistical problems in UFO reports and criticizes UFO organizations for their possessiveness of reports and lack of effective networking.

Other Book Reviews

• 'Creatures From UFO's' by Daniel Cohen: This book is described as a "supremely amateurish effort" likely aimed at young people, with better sources recommended for that audience.

UFOs and Space Travel

NASA Scientists and Engineers Study UFO Reports for Clues to Space Travel: The newsletter reports that a group of NASA scientists and engineers are studying UFO reports as part of their work on a theoretical space propulsion system. Alan Holt, a Spacelab Systems supervisor, stated that UFO propulsion data closely matched the physical effects generated by hydromagnetic fields. This research could potentially lead to a breakthrough in propulsion for manned spacecraft through interstellar space, possibly using pulsating lasers or superconducting magnets.

UFO Entity Types and Research Perspectives

Dr. Alvin H. Lawson, a professor of English, discusses six prevalent classes of UFO entities: human, humanoid, animal, robot, exotic, and apparitional. He notes that many descriptions are tied to traditional cultural sources, such as Greek myths and fables. Lawson suggests that while some CE-III reports may be accurate sensory experiences, it's uncertain if they represent physically 'real' events. He concludes that some UFOs are intelligently controlled vehicles originating outside our solar system, and arguments against the ET origin are based on flawed reasoning.

Stanton T. Friedman, a nuclear physicist, strongly supports the ET hypothesis, believing that objections are voiced by those who haven't studied the data. He urges a more open-minded approach, suggesting alien visitors might view humanity as primitive due to tribal warfare.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue emphasizes the need for more rigorous scientific investigation into UFO phenomena, questioning established methodologies and the reliability of witness testimony. It highlights the potential for UFOs to be extraterrestrial in origin, while also acknowledging the complexity and ambiguity of the subject. The newsletter also touches upon the cultural context influencing UFO reports and the challenges faced by witnesses. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging serious, critical inquiry into UFOs, moving beyond simplistic explanations and towards a deeper understanding of the phenomenon and its implications, including potential technological advancements derived from studying UFOs.