by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear
On November 19, 1987, the Sentinel out of Gulf Breeze, Florida, published three pictures of a well-defined, lit-up UFO under the headline, “UFO Sighted Over Gulf Breeze.” The caption under the photo asks anyone who saw the object or had information about it to call the Sentinel. Along with the photos is a letter from the photographer that begins, “To whom it may concern.” The writer explains that the pictures were taken on November 11th and that he showed them to “Ed.” According to him, “Ed, in turn said the photos should be shown to the press.” He adds, “That is why he is showing them to you.” While he emphasizes that he is a “prominent citizen” and needs anonymity, he says he might come forward “if these photos and story spark any interest in your readership.” The photos became the subject of a long investigation led by the Mutual UFO Network. More photos and a videotape followed, and the photographer remained anonymous until just before the publication of his book. At around the same time, a discovery in the attic of his former house by the new owner cast serious doubt on his story.
The Sentinel stuck with the story for over two years due to Editor Duane Cook’s faith in the photographer’s credibility. The December 3, 1987, Sentinel has the article (page 6 of the pdf) headlined, “UFO – Follow Up – More Sightings Reported.” It begins with the background that the Sentinel has been keeping tabs on local UFO sightings since it published the photos taken on November 11th. It is reported that a photo of a “similar object” taken over a year earlier in June of 1986 had been submitted and it is printed below in the section headed “Letters to the Editor.” The November 11th photo is printed next to it for comparison, and the objects pictured in both are more identical than similar. The photographer of the 1986 photo wrote that he/she was “relieved to see the UFO photos” as they looked “just like the photos I took last June ‘86.” Even though there is only one photo from the writer published, he/she says that two photos were taken while facing south on Shoreline Drive. This photographer also wished to remain anonymous. Read more
Martin Willis welcomes Navy veteran Jimmy Hernandez III and filmmaker David Beaty for a closer look at the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac encounter. In his first live public interview, Jimmy recounts hearing Commander David Fravor’s startled radio communications while working in Primary Flight Control, witnessing men removing recordings, and signing a nondisclosure agreement. He explains why he remained silent for years, even with his wife. Beaty discusses his expanded documentary, The Nimitz Encounters, as the conversation explores conflicting witness accounts, missing data, radar spoofing theories, and the unanswered questions surrounding this remarkable UFO case.
Serving UK Police Inspector Roy Teague joins Martin Willis to discuss Close Encounters of the Police Kind and his interviews with more than 300 serving and retired officers about UFO and paranormal experiences. Roy shares accounts of a police helicopter crew watching a craft apparently disappear into a “hole in the sky,” an unusual RAF radar incident, and a black triangle encounter involving electrical failures and missing time. They explore alleged abductions, Roy’s investigative methods, and the professional stigma that can keep officers silent for decades.
In last week’s 
Guitarist Kevin Estrella joins Martin Willis to recount a 2014 UFO sighting over Hamilton, Ontario, and the ongoing encounters he believes have influenced his music as Pyramids on Mars. Kevin describes “musical downloads,” invisible visitors, and a melody he believes translates to “Do you hear me?” Martin asks about evidence and the purpose of these reported encounters, while audience questions explore telepathy, first-contact predictions, and humanity’s readiness for contact.
Longtime UFO researcher Norio Hayakawa joins Martin Willis to explore whether UFO encounters could involve something other than physical extraterrestrial spacecraft. From his father’s reported 1947 sighting in Japan to the Socorro encounter and the mysteries of Dulce, Norio shares the experiences and research behind his unconventional perspective. Topics include his “paraphysical” theory, government secrecy and disclosure, the Farmington sightings, Fátima, Project Gasbuggy, and cattle mutilations. Martin offers questions and pushback throughout a conversation that examines the distinction between witness reports, personal beliefs, and verifiable evidence.
British UFO researcher, author and publisher Philip Mantle joins Martin Willis to discuss UFO Reflections and more than four decades of investigation. Topics include Charles Forgus’s claimed Roswell testimony, the Alien Autopsy hoax, the reported 1980 Normanton UFO landing, and new witnesses and recordings connected to the Pascagoula encounter. Philip also reflects on his friendship with Calvin Parker, the importance of preserving forgotten testimony, and the growing challenge of AI-generated UFO misinformation.
Former U.S. Navy F/A-18 pilot Alex Dietrich joins Martin Willis for a candid conversation about the November 14, 2004, Tic Tac UFO encounter off Southern California. Flying alongside Commander David Fravor, Dietrich witnessed an unidentified white object near an unusual disturbance in the ocean during a routine training mission with the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. Dietrich recounts what she saw, the uncertainty she felt, and what she learned years later about the USS Princeton’s unusual radar contacts before the encounter. She also reflects on the personal challenges of speaking publicly and why acknowledging what we don’t know matters. It’s a thoughtful firsthand account of one of the most widely discussed UFO encounters in modern history.
In 1969, just before the December 17th press 
Martin Willis interviews Dean Merchant live at the Rye Public Library for a fascinating discussion about UFOs in New Hampshire, including the legendary 1965 Incident at Exeter. The program features firsthand testimony from Mike Geanoulis who describes seeing a massive object with extremely bright red lights over the Exeter area, as well as retired Exeter police officer George Dufour, who served on the force at the time and personally knew officers Gene Bertrand and David Hunt. Dean also explores the Betty and Barney Hill case, Stratham Hill, Pawtuckaway, Raymond, Ossipee, the White Mountains, and other New Hampshire UFO hotspots, along with theories involving nuclear activity, geology, and decades of unexplained sightings across the Granite State.
Veteran UFO researcher Rich Hoffman joins Martin Willis to discuss his remarkable six-decade journey, from investigating sightings near Project Blue Book as a teenager to helping lead the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies. Rich examines the Tic Tac encounter, reported radar jamming, government transparency, private defense contractors and the limitations of UAP videos without adequate data. They also explore the New Jersey drone wave, AI-generated UFO footage, common misidentifications, near-death experiences and the possibility that science has only begun to understand the true nature of UAP and consciousness.
Australian UAP researcher, activist and podcaster Grant Lavac joins Martin Willis to discuss Australia’s continuing reluctance to investigate unidentified anomalous phenomena, despite its participation in the Five Eyes UAP Caucus Working Group. Grant examines Australia’s lack of a formal reporting system for military personnel and civilian pilots, what his Freedom of Information research suggests may be happening behind closed doors, and why some Australian pilots have instead submitted reports to Ryan Graves’s Americans for Safe Aerospace. The conversation also explores new developments surrounding the 1966 Westall UFO incident, the mysterious disappearance of pilot Frederick Valentich, and the Australian government’s failure to respond to calls for an independent Westall inquiry. Martin and Grant also confront the UFO community’s growing “disclosure fatigue” and ask whether it is finally time for firsthand witnesses, verifiable evidence and receipts.