 In June 1974 , Lennon and Pang returned to live in New York City . Lennon stopped drinking and concentrated on recording . As Lennon had previously had cats in Liverpool — while living at his aunt Mimi 's house — he and Pang adopted two cats which they named Major and Minor . In the early summer , while Lennon was working on his Walls and Bridges album , the couple moved into a penthouse apartment at 434 East 52nd Street , where Lennon and Pang claim to have seen a UFO on August 23 , 1974 , from their terrace , which had a panoramic view of east New York . To gain access to the deck Lennon and Pang had to climb out of their kitchen window . On the night in question , a naked Lennon excitedly called Pang to join him on the deck outside and they both watched a circular object silently floating less than 100 feet away . Lennon called Bob Gruen — Lennon 's " official " photographer — and told him what had happened . Gruen suggested Lennon should call the police , but Lennon laughed it off , saying , " I ’ m not going to call up the newspaper and say , ' This is John Lennon and I saw a flying saucer last night ' " . Gruen called the local police precinct which confirmed that three other people had reported a sighting , and the Daily News said that five people had reported a sighting in the same area of New York where Lennon and Pang lived . 
