1966

  • 1966.0000 Movie “Invasion”

     

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    “Invasion”
    The movieInvasion” (1966) was directed by Alan Bridges.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0119 Tully saucer nest

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    On 19 January 1966, Mr George Pedley of Tully, Queensland, Australia had a sighting, which involved claims of an area of flattened swamp grass (commonly referred to at that time as a “saucer nest”).

    This incident is Case 99 in Isaac Koi's "Top 100" article,  since it was referred to in 28 of the books covered by that article.

    This incident has also featured in a list of cases produced by Bill Chalker for the Fortean Times in 2007 as part of a survey of various researchers of the ten cases from 1947 onwards that interested them the most.

     

  • 1966.0201 Air Force press release

     

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    Air Force press release
    On 1 February 1966, the US Air Force issues a press release that reiterates explanations for UFOs.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0203 O’Brien Committee

     

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    O’Brien Committee

    A United States Air Force (“USAF”) Scientific Advisory Board (“SAB”) Ad Hoc Committee (the “Ad Hoc Committee to Review Project Blue Book”, commonly known as “the O’Brien Committee”) met for one day on 3 February 1966 to review Project “Blue Book” under the chairmanship of Dr. Brian O'Brien. Issued a report dated March 1966.

     

     

     

     

  • 1966.0208 Fuller article

     

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    On 8 February 1966, an Issue of Look magazine containing an article by John G Fuller entitled “Outer Space Ghost Story” appeared on newsstands.

     

     

  • 1966.0300 O’Brien Committee report

     

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    O’Brien Committee report

    During March 1966, a short report was produced by the “Ad Hoc Committee to Review Project Blue Book”, under the chairmanship of Dr. Brian O'Brien.

    For relevant references, see the entry for the meeting of the O’Brien Committee(3 February 1966).

     

  • 1966.0303 Project NERVA

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    On 3 March 1966, Project NERVA (“Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application”) operates a nuclear fission engine at full power.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0320 Dexter, Michigan sightings

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    On 20 March 1966, there were reports of observations of lights near Dexter, Michigan, including a sighting report by Frank Mannor and his son (Ronald).

     

     

     

  • 1966.0321 Hillsdale dorm sighting

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    On 21 March 1966, college co-eds at the dorm in Hillsdale, Michigan claim to have repeated sightings of UFOs

     

     

     

  • 1966.0325 “Swamp Gas Theory”

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    On 24 January 1966.0325, the infamous “Swamp Gas Theory” was offered by Dr J Allen Hynek at a press conference.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0328 Gerald Ford letter

     

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    Gerald Ford letter
    On 28 March 1966, Congressman Gerald Fordwrote to the Armed Services committee criticising the Air Force investigations and proposing that a Congressional committee schedule hearings on the subject of UFOs.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0328 Stephen Pratt photos

     

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    Stephen Pratt photos
    On 28 March 1966, Stephen Pratt claimed to photograph three UFOS at Conisborough, near Sheffield.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0405 House Armed Services hearing

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    On 5 April 1966, there was a one day House Armed Services Committee hearing on Unidentified Flying Objects, chaired by H Mendel Rivers. Witnesses at the hearing were Harold Brown (Secretary of the Air Force), Major Hector Quintanilla Jr (Chief of Project Blue Book) and Dr J Allen Hynek.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0417 Ravenna police sighting

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    Police chase a bright light starting near Ravenna, Portage County, Ohio during early morning of 17 April 1966. This incident involved Deputy Sheriff Dale Spaur and Mounted Deputy Wilbur “Barney” Neff. Dale Spaur sometimes referred to the light by his own middle name, “Floyd”.

    This incident is Case 73 in Isaac Koi's "Top 100" article,  since it was referred to in 39 of the books covered by that article.

    This incident featured in a list of the ten “best” case published by Ronald Story in his book “UFOs and the Limits of Science” (1981). 

     

  • 1966.0422 Beverly, Massachusetts incident

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    On 22 April 1966, the Beverly, Massachusetts incident occurred. This involved several sightings reportedly above Beverly High School. Witnesses included several members of the Modugno family.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0508 Gallup poll results

     

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    Gallup poll results
    On 8 May 1966, Gallupreleased the results of the third Gallup Poll to include questions on UFOs. The results indicated that 96% of Americans had either heard or read something about UFOs. 46% considered UFOs to be “real”.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0509 Air Force contract announced

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    On 9 May 1966, the Air Force announced that it was seeking a contract with a leading university to undertake a program of intensive investigations of UFO sightings.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0510 Walter Cronkite show

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    On 10 May 1966, there was a national broadcast of a news show relating to UFOs produced by the CBS News Department and narrated by Walter Cronkite. Most sources state the program was entitled “Flying Saucers : Friend, Foe or Fantasy?”, although some refer to “UFOs: Fact, Fiction or Fantasy”.

     

     

     

  • 1966.0718 Gemini 10 sighting

     

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    Gemini 10 sighting
    There was an alleged UFO sighting on Gemini 10 by astronauts Michael Collins and John Young on 18 July 1966.

    As with several other alleged astronaut sightings, a wide variety of contradictory dates are given for the alleged sighting in the various relevant sources.

     

     

  • 1966.0801 Hynek letter to Science

     

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    Hynek letter to Science

    On 1 August 1966, Dr J Allen Hynek wrote an open letter to the editor of Science magazine about misconceptions in relation to UFOs.

     

     

     

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