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BACKWARD LOOK
Of the dozens of reports Earth's surface. Rookie astronauts might hit it. At the time we were drifting
associating astronauts with UFO McDivitt and White were headed for — without checking I have no idea
e n c o u n t e r s and photographs, the USA's first long-duration flight, the which way we were going" — but as we
undoubtedly the best was the June 4, first to attempt extensive visual drifted up a little farther, the sun shown
1965 sighting reported by Major James observations and photography. On the on the window of the spacecraft. The
McDivitt, command pilot of the two- second day, over Hawaii, the 35-year windshield was dirty — just like an
man Gemini-4. His testimony baffled old McDivitt reported seeing an object automobile, you can't see through it. So
even the super-skeptical Condon — "like a beercan with an arm sticking I had the rocket control engines going
Committee in 1969; a photograph from out" — which NASA offisials later again and moved the spacecraft so that
his flight has been widely published and announced had been identified by Air the window was in darkness again —
hailed as one of the "best UFO photos Force space radars as the thousand- the object was gone. I called down later
ever made." mile-distant Pegasus-2 (but that range and told them what had happened and
Yet McDivitt himself has never was too great, it turned out, for they went back and checked their
made much of his sighting, however McDivitt's object to have been the records of other space debris that was
often he has politely retold the tale to winged Pegasus satellite). Twice later, flying around but we were never able to
fascinated audiences and interviewers. other lights were seen in the sky. identify what it could have been. The
He remains of the mind that he saw Together with a mysterious "tadpole" film was sent back to NASA and
some unidentified but still man-made photo, the McDivitt report has reviewed by some NASA film
piece of orbital debris. There is no achieved UFO superstardom and has technicians. One of them selected what
evidence anybody in US government been firmly enshrined in UFO literature he thought was what we talked about,
agencies took 'the slightest official and lore. at least before I had a chance to review
notice, nor is there any record that the A poll of active UFO enthusiasts it. It was not the picture — it was a
astronaut ever filed a UFO report with attending a convention in 1983 picture of the sun reflection on the
Project Blue Book — which he, as an demonstrated that the McDivitt case window."
active duty Air Force officer, was still held great authority. A clear
obligated to do if he really thought he majority deemed it a "true UFO." CONDON REPORT
had seen a "true UFO." McDivitt himself described his
NASA has always insisted — encounter many times. He summarized A good place to start a careful re-
and this view has since been supported it in the following way on the Dick examination of the case is with the
by my research — that there was Cavett Show in November 1973 (as "professional skeptics" who were
nothing at all mysterious about the reported in FATE magazine, June themselves stumped by the report —
encounter and that the object was 1974): "I was flying with Ed White. He and had the honesty to say so. In 1968,
clearly terrestrial in origin (Soviet or was sleeping at the time so I don't have the Air Force seemed anxious to wash
American). McDivitt's own booster anybody to verify my story. We were its hands of the UFO business and find
rocket has been tagged as the culprit in drifting in space with the control justification for closing down 'Project
some studies. The famous photograph, engines shut down and all the Blue Book,' its widely-criticized small-
meanwhile, has been dismissed by instrumentation off (when) suddenly scale investigative effort. The
McDivitt himself and by other (an object) appeared in the window. It University of Colorado was contracted
investigators as having no connection had a very definite shape — a cylindrical to make a study of the whole UFO
with the actual sighting, but as showing object — it was white — it had a long phenomenon under the direction of
instead only one of many miscellaneous arm that stuck out on the side. I don't Professor Edward U. Condon. Most
blobs of light which abounded in the know whether it was a very small object UFOlogists regard the 'Condon Report'
actual flight film (the photo has, up close or a very large object a long as a whitewash of the Air Force's role
because of its tailed oval form, been ways away. There was nothing to judge and as a deliberate attempt to slant
dubbed the "tadpole"). by. I really don't know how big it was. evidence to fit a preconceived
We had two cameras that were just conclusion. Yet the Condon
GEMINI-4 floating in the spacecraft at the time, so Committee endorsed the mystery of
I grabbed one and took a picture of (the the McDivitt UFO sighting!
The facts are plain. On June 3, object) and grabbed the other and took Space scientist Dr. Franklin Roach
1985, Gemini-4 was launched into orbit a picture. Then I turned on the rocket
one hundred fifty miles above the control systems because I was afraid we (continued next page)
McDIVITT, Continued fraction of their capsule's maneuvering could have tracked satellites in the
fuel. However, the two objects (the Gemini orbit. As a policy, NORAD was
was the committee's specialist on the spacecraft and the booster), were by sometimes under instructions not to
astronaut cases. He found "visual that time in close parallel orbits, "paint" manned spacecraft with high-
sightings made by the astronauts while swinging first apart and then back powered radar beams, so as not to risk
in orbit which, in the judgment of the together again in the course of each 90- interference with on-board electronic
writer (Roach), have not been minute revolution around the Earth. equipment.
adequately explained.... Unexplained The attempt to rendezvous with An inquiry to the NORAD
sightings which have been gleaned from the 27-foot-long, ten-foot-diameter, Directorate of Public Affairs did not'
a great mass of reports are a challenge 6,000-pound stage h i g h l i g h t e d produce a definitive solution. "Your
to the analyst. Especially puzzling is difficulties in judging distances in space. comments on the NORAD role related
(McDivitt's sighting) of an object McDivitt complained about not having to (Gemini-4) appear to be logical,"
showing details such as arms proper equipment for judging range and replied NORAD Public Information
protruding from a body having a range rate to a target; he was unable to Officer Del W. Kindschi. "But our
noticeable angular extension. If the do so by eyeball alone: "I think that you space people tell me they no longer
NORAD (Air Force) listing of objects can't tell distances from a single light," have copies of the messages that were
near the GT-4 spacecraft at the time of he concluded, proposing additional sent to NASA Houston on the
the sighting is complete, as it running lights for rendezvous targets sightings," Kindschi added.
presumably is, we shall have to find a on subsequent flights. NASA experts
rational explanation or, alternatively, concurred; they later estimated that EYEWITNESS
keep it on our list of unidentifieds." McDivitt was consistenly reporting he
Those were his words: "a challenge to was five times closer to the stage than McDivitt's testimony has drifted
the analyst." he really was — possibly because of his somewhat from the precise facts of this
This conclusion is typical of the excellent eyesight and his inexperience aspect of the case. The false impression
power of 'astronaut UFO sightings.' with visual targets of that shape and has been given by some writers that the
Here is one such UFO case certified by size. But that was one of the main Gemini-4 was being tracked on radar at
the "anti-UFO" Condon Committee, purposes of the flight: determine an the time of the sighting, and nothing
supposedly commissioned by the U.S. astronaut's ability to 'eyeball' other showed up on the radarscopes at that
Air Force to do all it could to debunk objects in space, and specify the kinds very moment. McDivitt's own words on
the UFO phenomenon. Needless to of equipment to be needed to do the job this, during an interview broadcast on
say, this endorsement was received right. the 1977 UFO documentary "Mysteries
with tremendous enthusiasm and little The booster did not fall out of orbit From Beyond Earth," are as follows:
criticism or further research on the part and burn up for at least 50 hours, "We were....never able to identify what
of UFOlogists. according to tracking data later it was and all of our ground radar
But since 1969, when the Condon released by NORAD via the Goddard tracking data indicated that there
report was published, some new Space Flight Center. During that time, shouldn't have been another object
resources have become available it was close to the Gemini and then anywhere near us at the time." The
c o n c e r n i n g M c D i v i t t ' s UFO. gradually pulled ahead of it on its encounter occurred out of range of
Furthermore, Dr. Roach himself had decaying orbit. Now, this put it well ground tracking sites, and only
put his finger on the key to his logically within the thousand-mile range computerized extrapolations of known
compelled endorsement of the specified by NORAD for nearby orbiting objects were able to provide
McDivitt case, with the stated satellites at the time for the UFO any insight into what might have been
assumption: "i/ the NORAD listing...is sighting, yet it was not on that list close - as long as all candidate orbits
complete." released by NORAD. Why not? would have been considered, and we
A reasonable hypothesis is that have seen that all such objects were not
MANEUVERS NASA had only asked about all other considered.
space objects, not specifying any debris How did McDivitt describe the
One of the primary early objectives associated with Gemini itself. The UFO? His first brief report came in at
of the Gemini-4 flight was to practice NORAD computers would produce Mission Elapsed Time (MET) 29 hours
orbital rendezvous operations with the reports for only satellites launched 52 minutes 17 seconds. Five minutes
cast-off Titan-II second stage. The before Gemini-4, ignoring any objects later he described it better. "It had big
Gemini thrusted forward off the launched along with it. Alternately, arms sticking out of it, it looked like. I
booster as soon as they reached orbit, NORAD might not even have had only had it for a minute..."
but the astronauts quickly turned their accurate data on the booster, since On June 6 - while the flight was still
capsule around and attempted to null most of its radars were in northern in progress - ABC television science
out the velocity differences and make a regions optimal for spotting Soviet editor Jules Bergman reported that the
return to the spent rocket stage. space vehicles but beyond the range of UFO was really a secret U.S. military
This attempt was soon terminated American manned spacecraft. In 1965,
after the crew had used up a large NORAD had only one radar site which (confirmed next page)
McDIVITT, Continued there was this white object out there. It shaped cylinder floating in space above
looked like a beer can with a pencil a cloudy horizon.
reconnaissance satellite. Bergman sticking out of it at an angle." During an 1975 interview between
continued that space officials had been Maloney adds that the astronaut Mr. Philip Klass of Aviation Week and
unable to identify it because the DOD estimated that he got a 30-second look Space Technology magazine and
refused to admit the existence of such a at the object. Furthermore, McDivitt Colonel Bernard Szczutkowski of
satellite — and presumably thus draw said, the space agency made no NORAD, Klass mentioned his interest
attention to it. But that story is attempt to prevent his telling his UFO in investigating and solving UFO cases.
implausible at best and — to my story. The Air Force wasn't interested, Szczutkowski reached into his desk,
knowledge — has never been repeated. either: as far as can be determined, pulled out an 8x10 photo, and asked
And it is just not consistent with what McDivitt never even filed a UFO report Klass, "Do you want to see' a photo of
can be deduced about the UFO's with Project Blue Book. McDivitt's UFO?" Klass quickly
motion relative to the Gemini — it NASA did not bother with the assented.
would have flown past much too story, it seems, because nobody was The USAF officer handed Klass
quickly. particularly puzzled by the object. the PAO print of the Titan-II second
At a news conference on June 11, When queried by Congressman Robert. stage, floating above Earth's distant
McDivitt gave more details about the Michel (himself queried by a horizon. This, he told Klass, was what
object: "Near Hawaii...I saw a white c o n s t i t u e n t ) , NASA A s s i s t a n t McDivitt had seen but had been unable
object and it looked like it was Administrator for Legislative Affairs to identify. It was his own Titan booster.
cylindrical and it looked to me like there Richard L. Callaghan replied that "We Subsequently, Klass obtained a
was a white arm sticking out of it...It believe it to be a rocket tank or spent copy of the photo from NORAD and
looked a lot like an upper stage of a second stage of a rocket." sent it to McDivitt, asking if it did not in
booster." The astronaut gave few fact closely correspond to the verbal
additional details when interviewed by BOOSTER description of the UFO on the space
Dr. Roach of the Condon Committee in flight. McDivitt replied,
1968: "McDivitt saw a cylindrical- Thus, the mystery object looked "Thank you for sending me the
shaped object with an antennalike just like a second stage of a rocket, even slide of the Gemini IV photograph. I
extension," Roach reported. "The (in McDivitt's own words) a lot like the very quickly identified the object in the
appearance was something like the second stage of a Titan-II. So then, why photograph as the 2nd stage of the
second phase (sic) of a Titan...It is didn't McDivitt think it was his own Titan rocket which launched us....I am
McDivitt's opinion that the object was booster rocket? Could he have really sure that this is not a photograph of the
probably some unmanned satellite." seen his own booster and not object which I described many times
As the years passed, McDivitt recognized it? and which many people refer to as the
became something of a celebrity to The glare and contrasts of space Gemini IV UFO..."
UFO groups with his short, modest can trick even an astronaut's eyesight, So he was (and still is) certain his
story of a space UFO. After his as illustrated by this sequence from the UFO had not been the second stage.
retirement from NASA and the Air Gemini-4 voice tapes. Astronaut The reasons which McDivitt gave for
Force in 1971, he often recalled the Edward White (whose eyesight was this certainty, however, were very
event on television talk shows, radio even better than McDivitt's) has just interesting.
interviews, and even on a special long- spotted something out the window: • It was not because the objects
playing UFO record. For example, on "We've got an object out in front of us. were shaped differently at all. Instead,
the NBC TV show "The Unexplained," It's not flashing like it's the booster. It McDivitt explained, "At the time I saw
subtitled The UFO Connection' (Feb. appears that it's that type of an object whatever that object was the
21, 1976), McDivitt related that "I just unless it's picking up some glow from background was nothing but the black
happened to look out the window and the sun. It appears a very bright, very of space. There was not a horizon
there in front of me was an object which bright object.... (30 second pause)... It anywhere within my view." But that
was cylindrical in shape and had a pole was the booster. I can see the light field of view was only about 25 degrees
sticking out there. It would be about the flashing on it now...Just as it goes into across, showing less than 3% of the
same relative shape as a beer can with a darkness, the relfection of the sun on celestial sphere. The .horizon could
pencil sticking out one corner of it." the booster causes a very bright image. have been right past the edge of the
Speaking to Houston Post space That's the object I had seen earlier." window and still have been quite close
reporter Jim Maloney late in 1975, D u r i n g G e m i n i - 4 ' s close to the UFO, without McDivitt know it.
McDivitt gave new details: "I never maneuvers around the Titan-II upper In addition, McDivitt's reply to my
made a big deal out of it. It was stage, one of the astronauts made preliminary identification (in 1976) of his
something I definitely couldn't identify. I several shots with a movie camera. A UFO with the Titan-II second stage was
reported it to the ground.... Ed was still photograph from this sequence was equally explicit: "The reason I did not
asleep and we were rotating at a pretty later released by the NASA HQ Public assume that the object I saw was the
high rate in drifting flight. The windows Affairs O f f i c e and was widely
were dirty, I recall... All of a sudden distributed. It showed a beer can- (continued next page)
McDIVITT, Continued McDivitt at one point told the ground Houston: Okay, You don't have
that 'I thought those fumes around 24 any problem at all now with them?
upper stage of the Titan-II was simple. hours were bad. You ought to be up McDivitt: No problem at all.
During the first orbit of our mission, my here now!' " Though it was really bad between about
job was to fly formation with the upper The pure oxygen irritated the 18 hours and 36 hours.
stage of the rocket. This I attempted to astronauts' eyes after a day or so of As these same transcripts showed
do and I spent approximately ll/2 to 2 e x p o s u r e , and a s u b s e q u e n t earlier, the UFO was reported at 29
hours looking at this upper stage from mechanical failure made it worse. The hours 52 minutes, right in the middle of
various angles and distances, and was spacecraft's breathing-oxygen tank the period McDivitt judged his eyes
quite familiar with its appearance. The (located in the unpressurized aft end of "really bad." It is clear that his eyesight
object I saw later was indeed not the the vehicle) overheated and threatened was severely degraded at that time.
upper stage of the Titan-II used in to pop its pressure relief valve, so
Gemini IV. It may have been a lot of Mission Control engineers decided to ELAPSED TIME
other things, but it definitely was not vent the excess pressure through the
that upper stage." cabin rather than risk the fan's During the thirty seconds or so
Keeping in mind that astronaut unreachable valve from sticking open that McDivitt had the object in sight,
White, who had spent the same period and draining everything. This decision was he staring at it trying to identify it?
watching the same booster, had already was made because the relief valve in the Evidently not, and for good reasons. He
misidentified it at least once at a much cabin could be manually closed by the was instead grabbing for two different
closer range, let us take another look at astronauts in case of mechanical cameras and exposing a few frames
the visual conditions under which failure. To allow this procedure, the from each. The actual time he was
McDivitt saw the object and consider if cabin air pressure had to rise to six watching the object cannot have been
he might have made a similar mistake. pounds per sqare inch, significantly more than a few seconds.
The smudged windows (White higher than the normal level which had One other important subjective
tried to wipe them clean during his already proved irritating to the crew's impression McDivitt got was the object
spacewalk the day before, but only eyes. This buildup was initiated at could have been on a collision course
made them worse — "You smeared my Mission Elapsed Time 28% hours — with the Gemini. This conclusion
windshield, you dirty dog," McDivitt about an hour before McDivitt reported comes instinctively to a pilot when an
had joked at the time) can certainly be a sighting his UFO. object maintains a constant 'angle off,'
hindrance for visual identification of not changing its relative position in his
objects. Moreover, McDivitt was EYESIGHT field of view. If the object crosses the
looking toward an extremely intense field of view with any speed, it will not
light source: Two months after the flight, a collide.
"My small end was up above the NASA spokesman announced the Yet McDivitt recalled: "I was
horizon so I couldn't see the horizon. decision to eliminate another eye concerned that it was going to run into
As it came around towards the sun, I irritant. "A blotting material to absorb me." Roach interpreted further: "The
saw the — this other satellite, but then excess moisture, which might have reaction of the astronaut was that it
as the sun came in through the window I caused the eye and nose irritation of might be necessary to take action to
lost it because the sun was so bright." astronauts Edward White and James avoid collision."
Mission Control asked for clarification, McDivitt during the June 3 GEMINI IV Any pilot in the midst of a potential
repeating, "Roger. You were looking flight had been eliminated from the mid-air collision is not going to pay
into the sun, then, when you saw it?" GEMINI V spacecraft," reported the much attention to the license number of
McDivitt's reply was a single short Houston Chronicle. the incoming object. Yet because of the
phrase: "That's affirmative." Did a combination of these three high speeds of orbital flight, any satellite
Was there anything else which items really bother McDivitt and in a different orbit would have streaked
might have affected the acuity of possibly adversely affect his eyesight? by McDivitt's eyes in a matter of
McDivitt's eyesight during this part of The following extremely revealing seconds, as was seen by other Gemini
the flight, so that he would be observing conversation took place after three astronauts on other flights. On Gemini-
the booster under viewing conditions days in space (at about Mission Elapsed II, for example, a near miss (less than
significantly different from those of the time 72 hours 43 minutes). ten miles) with another satellite was
first few hours of the mission? Indeed Houston: Jim, the Flight Surgeon seen by astronauts Conrad and
there was. A space magazine reported wonders if he can say anything about Gordon, who never once suspected
two items of interest: "The 100% your eyes. Have you had jny problems? that a collision was imminent during
oxygen atmosphere created some red Any drying or anything at all? that very brief encounter.
eyes during the first day or so of the McDivitt: Yes. Listen, I had a lot of The conclusion is that the object
flight..." Furthermore, "Operation of trouble with my eyes at the end of the must have been in parallel orbit with the
the waste collection systems was (sic) first day. I wasn't sure I was going to be Gemini. That once again points to the
generally satisfactory, except for able to hack it. But they have cleared up
leakage of urine into the cabin... now... (continued on page 10)
8
NEWS 'N' VIEWS
11
SIGHTING REPORTS
Subject: Northwest Florida Case #5 have been purely a weather related driving a 1965 Grand Sport Buick
Type of Report: CE-1 with mist and coincidence (it was clear and 65 to 70°F (similar to a Buick Skylark).
odor when they arrived at the party). Diane observed a light (oval shape)
Place of Sighting: Ft. Walton Beach, "The object was beautiful. It was traveling east parallel to the witnesses,
FL, 30 block, Woodham Rd. about 11 feet long and 5 feet wide. It approximately 100 yards north of the
Local Evaluation: Ordinary unknown made no sound and glided gently (about railroad tracks, and pointed it out to
sighting 2 feet) over the power lines (in the front her husband. The witnesses were
yard, north to south). At one point it driving 65 m.p.h.
On 20 August 1985, Teresa Hand, paused a few seconds and then The lighted object was traveling a
a 31-year old school teacher in resumed movement." It was in view little less than 65 m.p.h., since it was
Pensacola, FL, called to tell me about a through the window for about 20 gradually dropping behind. The light
1973 UFO sighting. She got my phone seconds. was described as "not large, but not
number from an article about MUFON At the time of the sighting, Teresa small." After flying parallel and pacing
in the 19 August Pensacola News was 19 years old and single. She has had their car for about two minutes, the
Journal. She reported a glowing, little experience in chemistry classes, light made a distinct 90 degree turn and
yellow/white, oval object about the size and has still not identified the strong ascended straight up.
of a compact car about 70 feet away odor. She had not been using alcohol or It disappeared within 1 to 2
that caused a strange odor. During an drugs. She said she had no particular seconds. Diane was leaning over the
interview in her home on 3 Sep 85, she interest in UFOs; however, in 1971 her back seat to watch it ascend, since it
made the following statement. parents showed her about 10 distant was no longer visible to the driver
"I was at a party with my boyfriend night lights dancing in the sky that they through the left front window. Revard
when I noticed a very strange odor (the could not identify. She lost contact with volunteered the following information
windows were open). This odor was the others at the party when she when he was questioned during the
different from anything I had ever married and moved to Pensacola, so interview: There were other cars
smelled, and I was quite frightened by it. the other witness was not located. The proceeding east with them on I.H. 10
My verbal remarks were, This doesn't sighting location was checked, and it but none passed them traveling west at
belong here — it doesn't belong to our appears as she described it. the time of the sighting.
time.' I really was frightened and began I think this is a true account of an The driver's window (left front)
searching the house with others for the object so close it could not be a plane, was open, but no sound was heard. He
source. natural phenomenon, or hoax. This doesn't remember if the radio was
"My boyfriend and I looked out the unknown object is considered an turned on, but it probably was not due
front window and observed the object ordinary CE-1 that caused a mist and to the poor reception of both AM and
moving smoothly above the power lines strange odor. FM radio stations in that area and the
(phone and 110 v.). I was awe-struck -Donald Ware hour (2 a.m.). The engine functioned
and knew immediately that I was perfectly.
witnessing a UFO. During the sighting I They stopped at the next town,
was completely mesmerized. I was Date: May or June 1968 checked into a motel and stayed
unable to take my eyes off the object. Time: 2:00 am MST overnight. He does not remember the
My fear turned to awe. Location: Interstate Highway 10 in name of the town. When he was asked if
"As it moved from view my New Mexico (Railroad tracks ran there was a mountain range or hills
boyfriend and I sat motionless for about parallel to I.H. 10 on the north side) along the north side of I.H. 10 in the
one minute trying to grasp what we had Witnesses: area of the sightings, he said he was
witnessed. Reassuring each other that (1) Revard N. Vordenbaum unable to observe any due to the
we had both witnessed the same thing, Sari Antonio, Texas darkness.
we then tried to tell others. But they (2) Diane Vordenbaum (wife) One of the witnesses is a
laughed, so we ventured out on out businessman in San Antonio and was
own. The smell had decreased in Mr. Vordenbaum had recently exhibiting his merchandise and
intensity, and the object was no longer . been discharged from the U.S. Marine products at the Guadalupe County
visible. There was also a mist which Corp. He and his wife, Diane, were Fair.
seemed to clear as the object left (first driving from San Clemente, Calif, to
seen through the window). This may San Antonio, Texas. Revard was (continued next page)
12
SIGHTINGS, Continued report .the sighting to the Naval Air event. When they reached their
Station, since they had an appointment farmhouse to which they had been
Evaluation: Probably a UFO but in Beeville that evening. driving and told Lois' father, a minister,
not considered significant. The light or Evaluation: Significant CEI. about it, he became rather upset and
object performed a maneuver Estimated distance 12 feet. Two adult asked that they not talk about it to
inconsistent with earthly aircraft or witnesses. Observation time was one others. So they made no report to
known objects. Two adults witnessed minute. The classic UFO shape and anyone connected with investigation of
the light for two minutes. description. (Mrs. Nesloney is a school UFOs until mid 1985.
-Walt Andrus teacher.) Only recently did Lois learn that
-Walt Andrus her mother had had another UFO
sighting a few years after the first one.
Date: 1985 However, her mother does not now
Time: 8:00 CST (approximately) HOVERING UFO remember much of the details of it, and
Location: 12 miles east of Beeville, tends to get the two sightings confused
Texas and 7 miles east of Chase Field In 1962 (or possibly 1963), Lois according to Lois.
(Naval Air Station) on State Highway , Rueb, then about 22, was driving the -Jim Deardorff
202 in Refugio County. family car southward about 10-20 miles
Witnesses: south of Lincoln, Neb. With her were
(1) Mrs. Linda Nesloney her daughter of about 2 years and her
Luling, Texas mother. It was nearly dusk with the car
(25 years old on D.O.S.) lights not yet on, when they suddenly SAY YES TO MICHIGAN
(2) Bessie Swinnea (mother) noticed a UFO hovering a foot or two
Beeville, Texas above the field ahead and about 50 feet
(48 years old on D.O.S.) to the right of the road.
It was about the size of a "small 17TH ANNUAL
Linda Nesloney and Bessie house," and the tall grass directly
UFO
Swinnea were driving west on State underneath was observed to ripple or
Highway 202 toward Beeville, Texas undulate unnaturally. When almost
(Mrs. Swinnea was the driver). They abreast of it, it.started to rise, slowly at
were about seven miles east of Chase first and then faster. It then simply
Field N.A.S., but could not see the vanished, too quickly to have
obstruction lights around the field (flat disappeared in the distance. She said SYMPOSIUM
terrain). A rotating ball of light that this fact had bothered her ever since.
looked like aluminum metal, having a She was quite.relieved to hear that a
disc or saucer shape descended considerable fraction of UFOs are
directly in front of their automobile. reported to terminate their appearance
It was an extremely bright light. in that manner, as she had done no
JUNE 27-29
They were driving 55 m.p.h. prior to the reading up on UFOs.
sighting. The object was slightly above 1986
the windshield level. The diameter of LIGHTS & SOUNDS
the object was wider than the hood of
the car and was only 12 feet ahead of From her remembrance of the
them at the closest point. Mrs. Swinnea grass or grain, she feels that the KELLOGG CENTER
slowed their automobile because she occurrence was probably in late spring
throught she might hit the object, since or early summer. She said the UFO had FOR CONTINUING
it was so close. a saucer shape and a metallic EDUCATION
After pacing their car for about a appearance, and vaguely remembers
minute, the object ascended and noticing red lights around its rim. She MICHIGAN STATE
passed directly over their automobile. also remembers a humming noise UNIVERSITY
Both Linda and her mother turned to associated with it. The total sighting
see where it had gone, but didn't see it lasted only a couple of minutes. The
again. car's ignition was not affected by it.
Their radio was not turned on and Both Lois and her mother were
PRESENTED BY
the engine was not affected. not frightened by the object, and Lois
They heard no sound associated remembers their feelings of not wanting
with the object. The object was above it to leave.
the headlight high beams of their car, There were no houses nearby and
appeared saucer-shaped and looked no other cars around at the time, and
like polished aluminum. They did not she knows of no other witnesses to the MUTUAL UFO NETWORK
13
DELPHOS REVISITED: PART II
By Walt Andrus
INTRODUCTION
NORTH
wind direction
original
position
of limb
\ flight path
75 ft. to witness
RONNIE JOHNSON
\
tree knocked to ground
5 ft.
fence
DELPHOS, Continued manner due to the radiation or other lambing season was a female and the
exposure while in close proximity to the same fifty pound lamb that delivered
other than natural or artificial hovering UFO just outside of the sheep the developed lamb on June 12, 1972,
insemination. shed. the time interval is approximately 8l/2
Reconstructed data from Ronnie months. Since this newborn lamb (the
ASSUMPTIONS Johnson's F.A.A. records and the size of a cat) had formed hoofs and a
testimony of himself and his parents wool skin, it is conceivable that it may
The following speculative study is (Durel and Erma Johnson) confirm the have approached the normal 147 day
based upon the following assumptions: birth of one developed lamp that gestation period for sheep (4.9
(1) It is assumed that the five lambs survived one day, and the stillborn months). If the 4.9 month gestation
born prior to the UFO landing on delivery of two underdeveloped period took place, the ewe lamb
November 2, 1971, consisted of three premature lambs. If it is also assumed conceived when she was only 3.6
females and two males. (2) They were by the investigator that the first lamb
directly effected in some biological born on Oct. 1,1971, during the normal (continued next page)
16
DELPHOS, Continued
ON SECOND TUOU6UT
LET'S NOT £EPoer
THIS ONE.
19
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
by
Walt Andrus
The MUFON Board of Directors Section Director for MUFON from Gary Urban, J.D., an Attorney at
have increased the annual 1972 through 1985. His UFO research Law in Houston, Texas, volunteered
m e m b e r s h i p / s u b s c r i p t i o n dues has been concentrated upon the his services to MUFON as a Legal
effective February 1, 1986 to $25.00 in detection of electromagnetic effects Adviser, and Field Investigator Trainee
the U.S.A. and a single copy will cost through instrumentation and computer during a recent visit to the
$2.50. Second class mailing to all correlation studies. headquarters office in Seguin.
foreign countries will become $30.00 in Formerly the State Director for * * *
U.S. funds, paid by International Postal West Virginia, Ted Spickler, Ed.D. Beginning with the MUFON 1986
Money Order or a check written has agreed to serve as the State Section UFO. Symposium, to be held at
against a U.S. bank. The special Director for Hancock, Brooke, Ohio Michigan State University, a new award
student membership has been and Marshall counties. Dr. .Spickler will be given annual to the individual
eliminated. Since the study of the UFO joined MUFON in 1974 when he who has made the greatest contribution
phenomenon is frequently a family attended our UFO symposium in to the UFO subject in the past calendar
affair, additional members in the same Akron, Ohio. Mrs. Norma J. White, year. The award may be given for any of
family,.that is, identical home addresses of Hico, West Virginia, has joined the the following categories: research,
may. become members for $10.00 each West Virginia team headed by State investigations, public education. The
when one member in the family Director, David A. Bodner. She is the nominees for,the 1986 award listed
'subscribes at the regular rate, provided new State Section Director for Fayette, alphabetically are:-Marge Christen-
they so designate when submitting their Nicholas and Greenbrier counties. sen, Barry Greenwood, Budd
dues. Please contact MUFON in Mrs. White has investigated numerous Hopkins, Bruce Maccabee and Dan
Seguin for additional postage if you UFO cases in her area over the past few Wright. A ballot will be enclosed with a
desire to have your Journal sent Air years. She was recommended by both future issue of the MUFON UFO
Mail to foreign countries. George Fawcett and Ted Spickler. Journal, whereby each subscriber may
* * * * * * vote for his/her choice for this honor.
Twelve monthly issues of the James R. Melesciuc, State The theme for the MUFON 1986
MUFON UFO JOURNAL of 20 pages Director for Massachusetts, has UFO Symposium at Michigan State
for $25.00 annually is an exceptional appointed Victor W. Zeller, a college University on June 27, 28 and 29, 1986
value compared to the bi-monthly professor in astronomy and physics to is "UFOs: Beyond the Mainstream of
International UFO Reporter, the other be the State Section Director for Bristol Science." Speakers committed are
leading UFO magazine in the U.S.A., County. Mr. Zeller also serves as a John F. Schuessler, M.S.; Bruce
which only has six issues per year for Research Specialist in Physics. Wilson Maccabee, Ph.D.; Harley Rutledge,
$25.00. Renewal forms will continue to A. Powell, M.D. of Chevy Chase, Ph.D.; Michael Swords, Ph.D.;
be inserted in the Journal as a reminder Maryland, volunteered to be a Richard F. Haines, Ph.D.; David M.
to member/subscribers of their Consultant in Dermatology. Dr. Powell Jacobs, Ph.D.; Robert Bletchman,
membership expiration. joined MUFON in 1980. J.D.; and Alan C. Holt, M.S. Marge
* * * Robert Mack Dreyfus of Christensen will be the keynote
As an international organization, H i n g h a m , Massachusetts was speaker.
MUFON is proud to announce that Mr. approved as a Research Specialist in * * *
Kanishk Nathan has been appointed Hypnotherapy by James R. Melesciuc. Mrs. Jean Waller, State Director
Representative for India. He has a B.A. He obtained his B.A. from Syracuse for Oklahoma, conducted a meeting of
in economics and is a certified University in 1968 and has since taken the members in the Oklahoma City
computer programmer. Residing in two years of psychology courses at area on December 19,1985 in Norman,
New Delhi, Mr. Nathan is anxious to Boston U n i v e r s i t y , i n c l u d i n g Okla. Those attending in addition to
organize MUFON UFO chapters in the hypnotherapy. He hopes to utilize Mrs. Waller, were John Clem,
major cities of India. hypnotic regression as a research tool Simone Mendez (Staff Artist), and
* * *• in the study of the UFO phenomenon. Walt and Jeanne Andrus. Walt was
Francis L. Ridge, a veteran UFO Another new Research Specialist in the guest on a radio talk show on
investigator, has accepted the position Pilot Reports is Bernard Haugen, station KTOK in Oklahoma City,
of State Director for Indiana. From M.A., a retired scientist and educator in moderated by host Bob Riggins on
1960 to 1970, he headed up NICAP Oxford, North Carolina. Mr. Haugen
Indiana Unit No. 1 and has been a State joined MUFON in 1982. (continued on page 19)