The Ufologist - vol 1 no 6

Magazine Overview

Title: the Ufologist
Issue: Vol. 1 No. 6
Date: October-December 1992
Publisher: North Bridge Corporation
Country: USA
Theme: UFOs, 1957 UFO Wave, Levelland Sightings

The Levelland Sightings: A Look Back

The issue delves into the November 1957 UFO wave, focusing on the Levelland, Texas, sightings. Multiple witnesses reported a blazing oval-shaped object landing on highways and then taking off at tremendous speeds. These incidents, reported in the Amarillo Daily News on November 4, 1957, involved car engines stalling and lights going out when the object was near. Sheriff Weir Clem himself saw the light from the object, though not the object itself. The reports also included sightings of unexplained lights and pulsating green flashes in other parts of Texas.

James A. Lee, a member of the National Investigations Committee of Aerial Phenomena, rushed to Levelland to investigate, intending to send a report to Washington. He speculated that the object was a "space craft from some of the neighboring planets." A Texas congressman also called on the Pentagon for an explanation.

Several witnesses described the object's characteristics. Ronald Martin described a light orange object moving at great speed, which stopped about 200 feet off the ground and landed on the highway. He described it as "round as a ball" and about the size of two cars. Newell Wright reported a "fiery bright" object shaped like a loaf of bread that stalled his car and lights. Pedro Saucedo described the object as "torpedo shaped" or like "a rocket," but much larger. Other witnesses included Jim Wheeler, Jose Alvarez, Frank Williams, and James D. Long, who also reported car malfunctions and described the object as "egg-shaped, and about 200 feet long."

Connection to Sputnik and Broader Context

Anne Ecker's article, "Why dig up a thirty five year old UFO Wave?", posits that the Levelland sightings, part of a worldwide UFO flap, occurred coincident with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik II carrying the dog Laika. She suggests that a new look at old files reveals hitherto unnoted correspondences, possibly including attempted canine abductions. Ecker criticizes the superficial nature of Air Force investigations and the tendency to impugn witnesses' character. She argues that public attitudes have changed, with more people accepting the possibility of extraterrestrial life and becoming more cynical about government veracity.

International Incidents

The issue also reports on two international incidents:

• Fort Itaipu, Brazil, November 3, 1957: Coral Lorenzen's account details a flying saucer assaulting a Brazilian Army fort, shutting down its electrical power and severely injuring two sentries with heat and a humming sound. The fort was placed under martial law, and a top-secret report was submitted.
• Dante, Tennessee, November 6, 1957: A twelve-year-old boy, Everett Clark, reported seeing a cigar-shaped "spaceship" land in a pasture. He described two men and two women who entered the ship, apparently without opening a door. A faint, cigar-shaped imprint was found in the grass.

Radar Network Alerted

A Santa Fe New Mexican article from November 5, 1957, reports that the Air Force alerted its nationwide radar network to watch for a "brilliant mystery object" flying in a crazy pattern over Texas, New Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico. The object was described as "egg-shaped," about 250 feet long and 75 feet wide, and was reportedly seen by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sebago moving at high speeds and changing direction.

Retired Technician's Tale

The issue includes an interview with "Ron," a retired NASA employee and electronics technician. Ron claims that in late July 1956 (though the article notes discrepancies in the date, suggesting 1957), he and three other film crews filmed the launching of a rocket and then spent eight hours filming a mile-long, cigar or submarine-shaped object hovering over the Trinity site at an altitude of 24,000 miles. This object discharged and received smaller objects, appeared black and featureless by day, but glowed at sunset, and left at Mach 6. Ron's story is presented as potentially feasible but not confirmed by existing records. The article notes that the F-104 aircraft mentioned in Ron's story was not in production until 1958, though prototypes may have flown earlier.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the unexplained aerial phenomena of 1957, particularly the Levelland sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical examination of official explanations and a belief that the UFO phenomenon warrants serious attention, challenging government secrecy. The magazine highlights the perceived superficiality of Air Force investigations and suggests that public attitudes towards both extraterrestrial life and government credibility have evolved since the 1950s, making a re-examination of these cases timely. The connection between the UFO flap and the Sputnik launch is also presented as a significant point of interest.

Title: The Ufologist
Issue: Vol. 1 No. 6
Date: November 5, 1957 (with a mention of a 1992 incident)
Publisher: The Ufologist
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The Ufologist focuses on UFO phenomena, particularly detailing the "Stokes Case" from 1992 and the extensive "November UFO Crisis" of 1957. It presents a critical examination of the Air Force's handling of UFO reports, contrasting official explanations with eyewitness accounts and evidence.

The Stokes Case (1992)

On November 4, 1992, James Stokes, a missile engineer from Holloman, reported sighting a "brilliant, egg-shaped object" on Highway 54 near Orogrande, New Mexico. The object, estimated to be 500 feet long, was described as coming from the northeast at Mach 2 (2,500 mph) and an altitude of 1,500 feet. It reportedly passed within two miles of the highway, causing several autos to stall and their engines to fail. Stokes described the object as having no visible portholes or propulsion, but the group felt heat and "a slight pressure." Holloman spokesmen deemed Stokes competent and accepted his report as bona fide. The Air Force Missile Development Center appointed Maj. Dwight N. Hillis as coordinator for UFO reports.

The November UFO Crisis (1957)

The magazine dedicates significant space to the events of November 1957, which saw a surge in UFO reports, particularly in Levelland, Texas. The Air Force's response to these sightings is a central theme, with NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena) presenting its findings.

Levelland, Texas Sightings (November 2-4, 1957)

Several incidents occurred in Levelland and surrounding areas:

• November 2, 1957 (midnight): T/Sgt Harold D. Wright reported unusual lighting and static on his radio, followed by a large lightning bolt that caused his car's lights and radio to temporarily fail.
• November 2, 1957 (midnight): Mr. Newel E. Wright, Jr., driving home from Lubbock, experienced his car's ammeter discharging, the motor cutting out, and the lights going out. He then saw an oval object, described as baseball-sized, white with a greenish tint, which disappeared straight up.
• November 2, 1957 (2300): Mr. Pedro Saucedo, driving west of Levelland, saw a large flame that moved over his truck, causing intense heat and stopping his engine and lights. He described the object as 200 feet long and six feet wide, traveling at 800 mph. The ATIC later suggested this might be an illusion due to excitement, or possibly ball lightning.
• November 3, 1957 (0115): Patrolman Lee Roy Hargrove saw a strange flash, red to orange-red, moving low to the ground.
• November 3, 1957 (0130): Sheriff Weir Clem saw a streak of light with a reddish glow moving rapidly, estimated at 800 feet long.
• November 4, 1957 (2045): Mr. J.B. Cogburn saw a red object, the size of a basketball, swinging in an arc with flames emitted from its ends.

NICAP member James Lee witnessed Sheriff Clem's interviews and stressed the witnesses' sincerity, convincing both him and the sheriff of the reports' truthfulness. Later, two grain combine machines near Levelland also stopped simultaneously with the Levelland incident.

Air Force Investigation and Response

The Air Force's official stance, as reported by spokesmen, was that the November sightings were a "combination of errors, lies, incompetence, hysteria, and the inability of even highly trained aerial observers to recognize familiar objects." They blamed some sightings on hysteria caused by Sputnik. NICAP, however, presents evidence of the Air Force labeling credible witnesses, including a Coast Guard officer and radar experts, as incompetent. A rocket engineer at White Sands, initially deemed satisfactory, was later publicly labeled a hoax. A Navy pilot was reportedly told not to appear on television. The senior Public Information Officer at Los Angeles had expressed serious Air Force concern about the sightings.

Other Notable Sightings (November 1957)

• November 2, 1957 (2000): Odis Echols in Clovis, New Mexico, saw a strange glowing object speeding southeast.
• November 2, 1957 (evening): Ground Observer Corps in Midland, Texas, logged reports of a large bluish object flying west at low altitude.
• November 2, 1957 (2320): CAA tower operators at Amarillo Airport saw a peculiar bluish object moving through the sky.
• November 3, 1957 (2000): A two-man patrol near White Sands Proving Grounds sighted a bright object hovering 50 feet from the ground, described as 200-300 feet long.
• November 3, 1957 (2255): Tech. Sgt. Jack Waddell at Dyess AFB saw an oddly lighted object glowing neon-red.
• November 3, 1957 (2353): A Navy pilot reported a UFO at Amarillo, Texas, climbing and descending.
• November 4, 1957 (0312): Elmwood Park, Illinois police officers and a fireman saw a glowing orange-red object hovering over a cemetery, which caused their spotlight and headlights to dim.
• November 4, 1957 (morning): Air Force Intelligence studied teletype reports from various locations, including Texas and Colorado Springs.
• November 5, 1957 (1550): Six "saucer shaped objects" were reported operating at high speed over Long Beach Airport, described as circular and shiny.
• November 5, 1957 (1805-1925): Personnel at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station reported continuous UFO sightings.
• November 5, 1957 (evening): A strange "ball-like" object glowing red was seen hovering over the Atomic Energy Commission's Savannah River Plant near Augusta, Georgia.
• November 5, 1957 (morning): Police Capt. Clyde C. Rush and others in Beaumont, Texas, reported a sighting.
• November 5, 1957 (morning): Two sheriff's deputies and a police sergeant in Chicago, Illinois, saw an oval shaped UFO.
• November 5, 1957 (morning): Capt. Irving Kravitz of TWA reported seeing a strange object moving swiftly through Nebraska skies.
• November 5, 1957 (morning): Citizens in St. Petersburg, Florida, reported an early morning UFO sighting.
• November 5, 1957: Edward L. Kramer stated UFOs are extraterrestrial and described seeing a bright orange object over Buffalo.
• November 5, 1957: Dr. Lincoln LaPaz suggested the objects were either American or Russian.

Other Incidents and Reports

• Kearney, Nebraska: Reinholdt Schmidt reported a contact with occupants of a flying saucer, but his story was met with skepticism due to a prior prison record and a subsequent mental illness complaint.
• Kodiak, Alaska: A dazzling red ball of fire was seen, accompanied by radio interference.
• Barahona Province, Dominican Republic: Hundreds witnessed several discs hovering.
• Ottawa, Canada: Professor Jacques Hebert reported a rocket-shaped UFO.
• Spooner, Wisconsin: A bright oval-shaped object was seen streaking across the sky.
• New Orleans: Coast Guard radarmen on the cutter Sebago picked up a strange flying object, which was also visually sighted by four men on deck.
• Selma, Alabama: Three Air Force pilots reported seeing a UFO similar to the Sebago case.
• Johannesburg, South Africa: Reports of two disc-shaped objects, one maneuvering at high speed and another hovering, with a Sabrejet pilot failing to intercept.

Scientific and Official Explanations

Several scientists offered explanations:

• Dr. Donald Menzel (Harvard Observatory): Suggested Levelland and Alamogordo cases were mirages and that "nervous feet" could stall cars.
• W.W. Talbott (former Weather Bureau observer): Claimed ball lightning caused the Texas and New Mexico reports.
• J.C. Ballard (U.S. Weather Bureau): Denied Talbott's claim, stating ball lightning is usually small and does not move in concentric circles.
• Dr. W. R. Dornberger (Bell Aircraft): Suggested witnesses saw "whirling air turning at seven machs," creating magnetic and luminous fields.
• Air Force: Attributed sightings to balloons, aircraft, stars, meteors, comets, reflections, searchlights, birds, kites, blimps, clouds, sundogs, spurious radar indications, firework displays, flares, fireballs, ice crystals, bolides, and hoaxes. They concluded only 1.9% to 3% of reports were "unknowns."
• ATIC: Concluded the Levelland case was primarily caused by a severe electrical storm stimulating public excitement, leading to inflated stories.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents a critical view of the Air Force's handling of UFO reports, highlighting instances where credible witnesses and evidence were seemingly dismissed or explained away. The editorial stance favors a serious investigation of UFO phenomena, suggesting that official explanations are often inadequate or deliberately misleading. The recurring themes include eyewitness testimony, military and governmental secrecy, the search for credible explanations, and the contrast between official narratives and the experiences of ordinary people and trained observers. The magazine champions the idea that many UFO reports warrant serious consideration beyond simple misidentification or hysteria.

Title: The Ufologist
Issue: Vol. 1 No. 6
Date: November 1957

This issue of The Ufologist delves into a flurry of UFO sightings reported in November 1957, alongside an exploration of the holographic nature of reality and its potential connection to paranormal phenomena.

UFO Sightings and Official Responses

The magazine details numerous UFO reports from across North America and beyond. Colonel Hess of the Pentagon expressed concern and called for thorough investigations, emphasizing the public's right to know the nature of these objects. Despite this, the Air Force consistently issued disclaimers. For instance, an Associated Press story revealed the Air Force had held up a UFO picture for over a year, showing a jagged trail believed to be radiation vapor. Dr. Menzel offered explanations like "bubbles of hot air" for some sightings.

Reports included a UFO chase by six Royal Canadian Air Force interceptors near Winnipeg, Canada. Thousands witnessed a glowing, metallic object over Western New York, with observers at the Buffalo Filter Center reporting it appeared to be made of highly polished metal or was glowing brightly. In Michigan, police and deputy sheriffs reported an unknown lighted object. Waldron Stewart, editor of the Adrian Telegram, described an object that accelerated from hovering and climbed steeply, disappearing after speeds over 100 mph.

An Air Force sighting at Edwards AFB in California involved six MPs reporting an orange ball-shaped object flying at about 200 feet over the test center. This leak prompted Edwards AFB officers to ask local sheriff substations to watch for the UFO.

Colonel Dean Hess reiterated the Air Force's claim that there was no evidence of flying saucers, a statement that seemed a reversal to some who had heard him previously. The issue notes that NICAP received letters suggesting Colonel Hess had been ordered to retract his earlier statements.

A verified case involved two Illinois State troopers who chased a "brilliant flying object" that changed from white to orange, moving at a "terrific rate of speed." Their radio mysteriously went dead during the chase but was functional before and after.

Lieut. John Henry of the Urbana police district accepted the troopers' reports as genuine, vouching for their reliability. However, the Air Force made no comment on other Wednesday reports.

Later, a UFO report from Alamogordo, New Mexico, was leaked. Six Holloman AFB airmen sighted an "unidentified flying light" that changed color and made a whistling sound. An official warning was issued at Holloman AFB not to talk about UFOs without contacting the Information Services Officer.

Other reports included one from Mt. Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, Australia, where astronomers sighted a luminous object moving westward, brighter than anything in the sky except the moon. Back in the U.S., a verified report described a round silvery object flying ahead of a jet bomber near Ausable Forks, New York, which sped up to stay ahead.

On November 9, an Eastern Air Lines flight crew and ticket agents saw a bright UFO hovering above Lafayette Airport in Louisiana. Captain Truman Gile Jr. described it as a "big shiny rounded object."

A Pentagon statement on November 9 declared that Air Force pilots had orders to shoot down unidentified flying objects if they became "hostile." The statement defined a UFO as any object detected and not identified, and mentioned that if such an object did not land or showed hostile intent, it would be intercepted or destroyed.

Reports also came from Norway and the Netherlands of a mysterious object flashing overhead. By the end of the week, astronomers at the National Observatory in France sighted a mysterious yellow elliptical object, and in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, police observed a large bright aerial object emitting cones of light.

Spokesmen at Truax AFB suggested objects seen in Wisconsin were "traveling meteorites." In Hammond, Indiana, three policemen chased an "elongated object" that emitted a loud beeping sound, causing radio interference.

NICAP members Lou Corbin and Paul Parker were attempting to learn the Air Force's next move regarding UFO statements. Major L.J. Tacker stated that Stokes had been hospitalized for "nervous tension" and now believed he had seen a weather phenomenon.

On November 15, the Air Force issued its statement, labeling November sightings as hoaxes, mistakes, or natural phenomena. Specific cases addressed included:
1) Levelland incident: attributed to ball lightning or St. Elmo's fire; stalled cars due to wet electrical circuits.
2) Alamogordo case: originator pulled a hoax.
3) Coast Guard report: radar operators misread the scope, tracked planes, and were misled.
4) White Sands MPs: one object was planet Venus, the other the moon.
5) Kearney case: considered wholly unreliable.

Despite the Air Force's focus on hoaxes, some observers remained unconvinced, and the issue suggests the next "flap" might be harder to explain.

The Holographic Universe and Reality

The issue includes a review of Michael Talbot's book, "The Holographic Universe," which explores the idea that reality behaves like a hologram. The book traces the holographic analogy from the work of quantum physicist David Bohm and neurophysiologist Karl Pribram. Bohm viewed reality as analogous to a holographic image, stemming from a deeper, "implicate order." Pribram's research on memory storage suggested memory is distributed throughout the brain.

Talbot explains that holograms, created with laser light, have properties like containing the whole image in each piece and storing vast amounts of information. These characteristics drew the attention of researchers like Pribram and Bohm.

The book discusses how the holographic metaphor can shed light on psychic healing, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorders, and lucid dreaming. Talbot explores the relationship of concepts like chakras and auras to the holographic view, citing Dr. Valerie Hunt's research on human energy fields and their frequencies.

Talbot postulates that time has no meaning in the implicit order, suggesting this could explain clairvoyance, psychometry, ghosts, and out-of-body experiences. He also discusses near-death experiences (NDEs) and reincarnation, viewing them as journeys into an "imaginal" plane.

Regarding UFOs, Talbot discusses the "indisputably holographic nature of many of the published recent encounters." He concludes that the "imaginal is no longer confined to the afterlife realm, but has spilled over into the seeming solidity of our sticks and stones world." He quotes Orpheus and Vallee, who describe UFO phenomena as an "intelligence of incredible complexity" communicating from a "multiverse."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the UFO reports is the discrepancy between numerous credible sightings and the official explanations provided by the Air Force, which often dismiss them as hoaxes or natural phenomena. The magazine appears to question the official narrative and highlights the efforts of organizations like NICAP to uncover information. The editorial stance is critical of government secrecy and encourages readers to critically evaluate official statements and witness accounts. The inclusion of the review on "The Holographic Universe" suggests an openness to exploring unconventional explanations for phenomena that defy conventional scientific understanding, linking the mysterious nature of UFOs to broader questions about the nature of reality itself.