UFO Update - Vol 1 No 2 - 1977

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO UPDATE
Issue: Vol. 1 No. 2
Date: 1977
Publisher: NORTHEASTERN UFO ORGANIZATION
Country: Canada

This issue of UFO UPDATE, established in Canada in September 1977, is a non-profit publication dedicated to the UFO and related phenomenon. It is presented as a "Second Printing" in September/1978, indicating a demand for its content.

Key Articles and Features

Nazi Secret Weapon?

The cover story, and a significant portion of the magazine, is dedicated to the book "Nazi Secret Weapon?" by Christof Friedrich. This sensational, underground best-seller, in its 5th English edition, claims to reveal definitive proof that U.F.O.'s are real. The article details how Nazis allegedly sent a top-secret expedition to Antarctica before the war, discovering vast, ice-free areas and establishing bases. It questions whether these bases were expanded during the war and if a large convoy of advanced German submarines left Norway in 1945, potentially destroying an Allied force and carrying Hitler and Eva Braun. The book is said to explore whether Wernher von Braun and his rocket scientists were deliberately sacrificed to hide breakthroughs in weapons technology. It also touches upon Admiral Byrd's 1947 expedition to Antarctica, questioning its true purpose and Byrd's subsequent mental state. The article highlights the book's extensive use of photographs, engineering drawings, maps of UFO bases, and reproduced documents, promising to answer queries about Nazi UFOs with Hitler's own words.

Lake Ontario UFO Base

Malcolm Williams, a researcher for the Northeastern UFO Organization, posits the existence of a UFO base in Lake Ontario. He cites Ivan T. Sanderson's book "Invisible Residents" and infrared satellite photographs of the Great Lakes from the University of Toronto map library as evidence. Williams claims that UFOs have been seen and photographed diving in and out of Lake Ontario near Oakville and Burlington. He notes that high-voltage hydro installations in the area seem to attract these phenomena. Support for his findings comes from Harry Picken, an aeronautical engineer, who has observed strange light formations over the lake from his Niagara-on-the-Lake home. Both men describe the lights as usually orange, a color foreign to aircraft lights, indicating a high sodium content in the light source.

UFO Blinds Pilot

This section briefly mentions a case where a pilot was blinded by a UFO, though details are scarce within the provided text.

Bicentennial Project

This is listed as an article topic but is not detailed in the provided text.

NASA Moon Anomalies

The cover story also highlights "NASA Moon Anomalies," referencing a Russian photo taken by Soviet space probes Zond 111 and Luna 111. This photo, using infrared film, reportedly reveals 'hot spots' indicating extreme heat levels on the moon's backside. The article questions whether NASA is hiding this information from the public.

Search for Crashed Saucer

This is listed as an article topic but is not detailed in the provided text.

Editorial: CIA Accused of Hindering UFO Research

An editorial by Alan Robinson, based on a report from The News (Mexico City), details accusations by William Spaulding, director of Ground Saucer Watch, Inc., against the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Spaulding claims the CIA has interfered with UFO organizations and harassed researchers, recommending that UFO researchers be watched and considered "subversive." He alleges that the CIA has delayed the release of documents and photos, suppressed data since 1948, and confiscated 21 films taken by UFO observers, with many not returned or tampered with. The editorial also notes a challenge to Spaulding's claims by ex-CIA agent Bradley Ayers, who attributes UFO research issues to government inertia and a "conspiracy complex" among researchers.

UFO Photo File: Grand Bend UFO Cornfield Landing

This section details a significant cornfield landing case near Grand Bend, Ontario, on September 24-25, 1976. The summary, provided by Bonnie Wheeler of the U.F.O. RESEARCH GROUP, describes a flattened corn area approximately 40 feet in diameter, with 4 indentations measuring 4" x 2". The corn was bent, not broken, and in some rows, stalks were flattened up to 2 feet from the ground while remaining upright below. No burn marks or ground disturbance were noted. The report rules out a whirlwind or tornado, noting calm weather conditions. Temperature readings at various altitudes are also provided.

UFO Photo File: Different Lights Over Lake

This section includes photographs and descriptions of "different lights" over Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. One photo, by John Badowski, is captioned "U.F.O. BASE of Niagara Falls." Another photo, from WGR TV-2 Buffalo N.Y., shows a "saucer-shaped" object, orange in color, hovering over Lake Erie in November 1972, explained by Ron Hunter.

President Went Back on His UFO Pledge - Scientists

An article by Bob Abborino reports that three scientists—astronomer Dr. J. Allen Hynek, psychologist Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle, and nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman—claim President Carter is withholding government information about UFOs, breaking his campaign promise. They attribute this to political and military pressure, with Dr. Hynek suggesting Carter is overwhelmed by the implications of releasing such information, and Dr. Sprinkle warning of widespread panic, economic collapse, suicides, and insanity if proof of real UFOs were released. The article also notes President Carter's personal claim of seeing a UFO in Georgia and questions his subsequent silence.

UFOLK Magazine

A promotional piece for "UFOLK," Canada's newest photographic magazine featuring personalities in UFOlogy. Edited by Gene Duplantier, it promises candid photos, theories, and ideas from prominent ufologists, with topics including "Who's Who in Toronto," "Gray Barker feature," and "Ground Saucer Watch." A bonus offer of a FREE COPY of "Flying Saucer Treasure Trove" is extended to UFO UPDATE readers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO UPDATE revolve around the tangible evidence and ongoing investigations into UFO phenomena, particularly focusing on alleged Nazi involvement and potential extraterrestrial bases. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards government transparency, with explicit accusations of the CIA hindering research and suppressing information. The magazine appears to champion the work of independent researchers and authors who challenge official narratives, presenting their findings as "sensational revelations" and "proof." The editorial stance is clearly pro-UFO investigation, encouraging readers to question official explanations and seek out alternative sources of information, as exemplified by the "President Went Back on His UFO Pledge" article and the critique of government agencies.

Title: UFO Photo File
Issue Date: October, 1977
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of "UFO Photo File" delves into various UFO-related phenomena, including alleged landings in cornfields, mysterious anomalies on the moon, and government investigations into UFOs. It features photographic evidence, witness testimonies, and critical analysis of official reports.

UFO Lands in Cornfield

The issue begins by detailing an incident where a UFO reportedly landed in a cornfield, presenting photographic evidence and a list of collected evidence. The evidence includes bent and twisted corn stalks, with one piece showing an intact cob above the twist. The explanation is listed as 'Unexplained,' and the accompanying photographs show different angles of the site and the damaged corn. A sample of soil taken from the site unfortunately rained on before analysis, but the Nuclear Medicine Research Lab in London, Ontario, found no trace of radiation or unusual elements. The witness also provided a compass reading that placed the object's location over the Grand Bend area. The article also debunks the possibility of helicopters or hovercraft causing the damage, citing conversations with Great Lakes Helicopter in Toronto.

Lake City's UFO Landing Port

An article by Linda O'Dell discusses the fate of the 'First Official UFO Landing Port' in Lake City, Pennsylvania. This Bicentennial project, intended to be a lighted, radio, and radar-equipped landing pad for UFOs, gained international attention but has since fallen into disrepair. The site is now overgrown, with lights not functioning, and has become a home for bees. The town is considering dismantling it. The article touches on the initial idea stemming from discussions about UFO sightings in the area and the town's desire for a bicentennial project everyone could enjoy. Letters received from around the world showed varied interest, from design submissions to personal requests.

Moon Anomalies and NASA

Two articles question whether NASA is hiding anomalies on the moon. The first, referencing a photograph from the Soviet space probe Zond III taken on July 20, 1965, highlights a structure on the far side of the moon that appears building-like and is not visible from Earth. The second article, discussing a photograph from the Luna 3 Russian space probe taken on October 7, 1959, shows a similar area but with a different anomaly, possibly a pillar, leading to speculation about doctored images by NASA or the Soviets to hide evidence of extraterrestrial presence.

Government UFO Study

An article from the National Enquirer reports that the White House has ordered a UFO study. At the request of President Carter's science adviser, Dr. Frank Press, NASA will examine UFO records from the past 10 years to determine if a new, full-scale investigation is justified. This move is seen as significant, especially after the Condon Report concluded extensive study was not warranted. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, director of the Center for UFO Studies, and Walter Andrus Jr. of the Mutual UFO Network expressed support for this renewed investigation.

UFOs and Government Cover-ups

Tom Grey from Northeastern UFO (Canada) reviews the White House UFO study order and expresses suspicion that NASA is deeply involved in a UFO cover-up. He references a story about President Eisenhower's alleged helicopter trip to Edwards AFB to confirm UFO reality and questions what happened to related White House documents. Another report details claims from Radio Station CKLW of Windsor, Ontario, about the US government studying twelve bodies recovered from a spacecraft found in the Mojave Desert. Dr. Robert Carr, who worked with the US Air Force, described the bodies as three-foot tall humanoids. However, Dr. J. Allen Hynek stated he had no knowledge of these rumors being true, and Ken Rogers of the British UFO Society suggested that photographs of the alleged spacecraft were of an outdated bottle cooler.

Colombian Pilot's UFO Encounter

An account by Joseph M. Brill describes a dramatic incident involving a young flying student, Manuel Jose Lopez Ojeda, in Bogota, Colombia. While practicing maneuvers, his Cessna 150 aircraft experienced instrument failure and intense vibration after an encounter with an unidentified flying object. The pilot described an oval object with phosphorescent lights. Despite partial blindness and loss of control, he was guided to a safe landing at Eldorado Airport by other aircraft and radio assistance, while thousands listened to the unfolding experience.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent presence of UFO phenomena, the questioning of official narratives, and the potential for government secrecy or involvement in UFO matters. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards official explanations and a strong interest in presenting evidence and accounts that suggest extraterrestrial activity and possible cover-ups. The magazine actively promotes books and services related to UFO research and information.

Title: UFO Photo File
Issue Date: October 14, 1977
Publisher: Northeastern UFO
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of "UFO Photo File" presents a collection of articles and reports related to UFO phenomena, focusing on pilot encounters, photographic evidence, and the cultural impact of UFOs.

Colombian Pilot Blinded by a UFO

The lead story details an extraordinary incident involving a Colombian pilot, Lopez Ojeda, who was flying near Guaymanal when he encountered a UFO. According to Ojeda, the object, described as an aluminum mass about 15 to 20 meters in diameter, hovered near his aircraft. He reported that the UFO moved to the front of his plane, causing him to lose his sight and experience a disorienting sensation, feeling as if he were flying over a desert in a circle. He managed to declare an emergency.

Two training planes were dispatched from Guaymanal, and two more were added under the control of expert flight instructors. The rescue operation, codenamed "Lazarillo," involved skillfully guiding the blinded pilot. Flight operations at Eldorado airport were suspended during the emergency. The aerial rescue began at 10,500 feet. Instructors made multiple attempts to guide the pilot to land at Eldorado, but the aircraft's trajectory was erratic, causing anxiety among observers. Despite the pilot's impaired vision, a momentary recovery of sight enabled him to execute a perfect landing. He was found frozen to the controls and was assisted by fire department personnel and led to an ambulance.

Dr. Silva Moreno examined the pilot and found his physical condition satisfactory. The UFO was not detected by airport radars, which was attributed to the hilly terrain causing interference. The article notes that UFOs are often oval and have a small reflection surface. Air Traffic Controller Danilo Zambrano reported seeing UFOs on clear nights, including one on April 16, 1977, with a zig-zag trajectory, observed by a jumbo jet crew, estimated at 20,000 feet altitude. He also recalled seeing a fast-moving luminosity about a month and a half prior. On one occasion, a UFO was registered on radar as a blip, described as a flying disc that disappeared at high speed towards Girardot.

George Adamski: Part One

This section, written by Len Kornacki, delves into the life and work of George Adamski, a pioneer in UFOlogy who died in 1965. The article discusses the ongoing sightings and photographs of bell-shaped and cigar-shaped craft attributed to Adamski's style. It notes that many researchers have tried to discredit his photographs as fakes but have failed. The first photo of a bell-shaped craft was reportedly taken by Adamski using a six-inch homemade telescope at Palomar Gardens, California.

Adamski's pictures were examined by expert photographers and analysts, who found them difficult to fake, even with advanced equipment. Wright-Patterson Photo Reconnaissance Laboratory analyzed photographs taken between March 1951 and May 1952, initially suggesting they might have been taken with a Brownie camera, but could not definitively prove or disprove their authenticity. The article questions why the government and UFOlogists react hostilely to Adamski's name, suggesting it might be because he presented evidence that contradicted official reports like "Project Blue Book" or the "Condon Report."

Several other instances of bell-shaped craft photographs are mentioned, including an 8mm movie from West Virginia (July 23, 1966), and photos taken by Stephen Darbishire and his cousin Adrian in England (February 15, 1954).

George Adamski: In Memory of a Pioneer

This part continues the discussion on George Adamski, noting further photographic evidence from various locations and dates: December 23, 1966 (Lester Rosas, Puerto Rico), April 27, 1961 (Bruno Ghibaudi, Italy), December 1972 (Joakim Perssons, Sweden), and October 11, 1974 (Kazuhiko Fujimastsu, Japan).

An "Author's Comment" section expresses frustration with researchers who discredit contactee cases like Adamski's, Barney & Betty Hill, Herbert Schirmer, Charles Hickson & Calvin Parker, and Travis Walton, accusing them of causing mental anguish and harassment.

The "Adamski debunked" section cites a UPI report from The Toronto Sun (September 21, 1975), where Ken Rogers, chairman of the British UFO Society, stated after a 10-year investigation that Adamski was a "phoney" and his photos were of an old-fashioned metal bottle cooler.

Adamski Photo-copy or Original?

This article discusses a shift in opinion regarding Adamski's photos. According to the magazine UFO CONTACT, Richard Lawrence, secretary of the British UFO Association, reportedly changed his mind. Frank Nicholson, who designed a bottle cooler, stated he made it in 1959, modeling it on Adamski's 1952 picture. This led IGAP, publisher of UFO CONTACT, to suggest the bottle cooler was the fake, not Adamski's photo.

Images are presented: a Polaroid photo of an Adamski-style craft from Hugo Vega (Peru), and a UFO photo from Japan.

UFO Photo File: By The Camera

This section features two photographs:

• Left Photo: Described as a UFO cruising near the moon, taken by George Adamski from a second spacecraft hovering nearby.
• Right Photo: A photo of a "vacuum cleaner" hovering 12 feet in the air near trees, taken by Jerrold E. Baker.

The Search for a Crashed UFO: Fallen object creates A-pond

This article, from the Cleveland Press (January 13, 1977), reports on a mysterious incident in Wakefield, New Hampshire. Witnesses reported instruments detecting high levels of radioactivity from an object that fell into a pond on the McCarthy farm on a Monday night. The object reportedly smashed a three-foot hole through the ice and sank. Townspeople were allegedly ordered to keep quiet.

State Police and representatives from the State Attorney General's Office and Governor's Office swarmed the scene. The New Hampshire National Guard planned to drain the pond. Local residents were reportedly instructed not to discuss the object. Witnesses described seeing a black object through a three-foot hole in the ice, settling into the mud. Preliminary readings showed radioactivity hundreds of times above normal, though later tests indicated normal background radiation. A Pentagon spokesman mentioned the possibility of artificial satellites falling from orbit.

A-pond is ruled 'clean' but confusion remains

This follow-up article from the Cleveland Press (January 14, 1977) states that state officials declared the pond clean, dismissing rumors of a highly radioactive object. Governor Meldrim Thomson attributed the initial high radioactivity readings to faulty instruments in extreme cold. While the State Adjutant General's Office confirmed an object dropped into the pond, Thomson's office found no evidence of a foreign object. McCarthy's son described the pond's ice melting and turning to slush, with a hole about 16-18 inches across, and a second hole linked by a crack. Officials carried sediment samples for testing. A spokesman for the Energy Research and Development Administration noted that ice, water, and mud could shield any emissions.

The Mystery in Wakefield N.H. is Still Unsolved

This section, dated January 23, 1977, features a letter from Sara Kornacki of Northeastern UFO research organization to Mr. William McCarthy. McCarthy stated that an unidentified flying object created a 3-foot hole in the 18-inch thick ice of his pond. He described a black cube, approximately 12x12 inches, at the bottom. Authorities reportedly removed something from the pond in a bag and left quickly. McCarthy mentioned a second hole appearing and his intention to recover the object in the spring.

A letter from Mr. McCarthy to Sara and Leonard Kornacki explains that the pond returned to normal, but questions remain about the melted ice, radioactive readings, the official hush, and denial. He described the initial hole as 36 inches wide in 18 inches of ice, with a 12x12 inch black cube at the bottom. The surrounding area of 40x80 feet had turned to slush. He stated there were no springs or currents in the pond. First tests showed 4 roentgens on a 10-scale. He concluded that nature was unlikely to be the cause and mentioned recent UFO reports in the area.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND

This article, by David Sterritt from the Christian Science Monitor News Service (October 14, 1977), reviews Steven Spielberg's upcoming film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The title is explained as a scientific jargon for UFO encounters: first kind is a sighting, second is physical evidence, and third is contact with occupants.

The film stars Richard Dreyfuss as Roy Neary, a blue-collar worker who experiences contact. The article mentions a government coverup and an uncomprehending wife, with a woman who has had a similar encounter becoming his companion. A UFO expert, Francois Truffaut, is mentioned as helping Neary communicate with visitors.

Spielberg discusses the film's genesis, stating his interest stems from growing up in the 1950s and 60s, the era when Kenneth Arnold coined the term 'flying saucers.' He describes the movie as "serious" and optimistic, aiming to encourage further research into UFO phenomena. He emphasizes that the film is not science fiction but speculation.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, professor of astronomy and a former skeptic, served as technical advisor. Hynek notes similarities between the film's incidents and cases detailed in his writings, believing in the veracity of unexplained accounts. He suggests that media publicity for UFOs can lead to more reports, including misidentifications, but also makes reporting safer from ridicule.

Hynek believes the film might belong more to psychologists and psychiatrists, considering the subjects of rumor and hysteria. He refutes the idea that fictional films confuse the UFO situation and disagrees with narrow speculation about UFO origins, suggesting possibilities like visitors from outer space, inner space, other dimensions, or psychic technology.

The article highlights the film's impressive production team, including cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and special effects expert Douglas Trumbull. Filming took place in various locations, including Devil's Tower in Wyoming and a converted dirigible hangar. Spielberg describes the movie as "earthbound," with its climax occurring during a 38-minute sequence.

Spielberg sees the film as a response to a new national mood, where people seek answers beyond earthly concerns. Hynek views "Close Encounters" as more realistic than "Star Wars" and potentially the best film on the subject to date, suggesting it will leave audiences with a sense of awe and reverence for the possibilities it presents.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the direct encounters with UFOs, the challenges of documenting and verifying such phenomena, and the skepticism or denial often faced by witnesses. The magazine appears to present a platform for UFO reports and investigations, while also acknowledging the controversies and debates surrounding them, particularly concerning George Adamski's photographic evidence and the official responses to UFO sightings. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, encouraging the sharing of accounts and fostering discussion, while also highlighting the difficulties in obtaining definitive proof and the potential for misinterpretation or deliberate obfuscation by authorities.