Awareness - 1972 - Vol 01 No 2 - September

Magazine Overview

Title: AWARENESS
Issue: Vol. 1 no. 2 (New Series)
Date: September 1972
Publisher: N/A
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of "AWARENESS" magazine, subtitled "A MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE MYSTERIES OF TIME AND SPACE, OLD AND NEW," presents a collection of articles and reports exploring various aspects of the UFO phenomenon and related mysteries. The magazine serves as a platform for discussion and information dissemination within the ufological community.

Editorial: A Wind of Change

The editorial, penned by the Editor, notes a significant shift in the public perception of UFOs. The fundamental question of whether UFOs exist is now rarely raised, indicating a widespread acceptance of their reality. The focus has moved towards understanding the propulsion, entities, and motives behind these aerial visitants, and their secretive nature. The editorial welcomes the increasing number of scientific articles on UFOs appearing in magazines and the more serious approach taken by some newspapers, like the Daily Mail. It criticizes sensationalist and bizarre theories, such as telepathic beams used by UFOs, and encourages the trend towards scientifically oriented articles.

Peripheral Ufology: No. 3. Some Thoughts on the So-Called Yaddlethorpe Meteorite

By J.B. Delair

This article examines the Yaddlethorpe meteorite incident of June 8, 1963, where a stone fell with a faint swishing sound near Scunthorpe, UK. Despite the circumstances appearing to be a meteorite fall, detailed geological examinations by R.D. Morton and W.A.S. Sarjeant, and Dr. M.H. Hey of the British Museum, concluded that the stone was mineralogically unlike any known meteorite. It was found to be composed primarily of graphite-rich cast iron with glassy inclusions, and lacked nickel-iron content. The geologists noted that its composition was similar to blast-furnace slag and suggested it had undergone terrestrial weathering. However, they acknowledged that the circumstances of its arrival were "exactly correct for a meteorite." Delair speculates on alternative explanations, ruling out volcanic eruptions, birds, or aircraft, and suggests an extraterrestrial origin, positing that the weathering might have occurred on another world.

That Was The Programme – That Was

By R. Roebuck

Richard Roebuck, producer and editor of two BBC Radio Oxford programmes on UFOs, reflects on the broadcasts. He explains that the programmes were intended as an informative feature for a general audience rather than for dedicated ufologists. Roebuck recounts how the first programme provided a general summary of the UFO controversy, including interviews with witnesses, the Ministry of Defence, Professor J. Allen Hynek, and Brinsley Le Poer Trench. The second programme focused on discussions with members of Data Research Division, including D.N. Mansell, John Howse, and Fred Passey. He mentions the serendipitous timing of an ATV camera crew filming a UFO at Enstone while he was discussing the possibility of a documentary.

You and Me

By Brinsley Le Poer Trench

Brinsley Le Poer Trench begins a regular column intended as a forum for readers' ideas and discussions. He notes the historical shift in ufological thought, from the 1950s/60s focus on Extra-Terrestrial (ET) origins to the current emphasis on Parallel Universes. Trench argues against discarding the ET theory entirely, citing prominent astronomers like Harlow Shapley, Sir Bernard Lovell, Fred Hoyle, and Carl Sagan who have postulated the existence of intelligent life on other planets. He also touches upon Professor John A. Wheeler's theories on space travel, suggesting that instantaneous travel might be possible, which could also apply to UFOs visiting Earth. Trench concludes that the origin of UFOs might be a combination of both ET and Parallel Universe theories.

Mysteries From Forgotten Worlds

(A review by J.B. Delair)

This review discusses Charles Berlitz's book, "Mysteries From Forgotten Worlds," praising its objective and dispassionate approach to controversial material. The book covers topics such as the Great Pyramid, lost continents, cyclopean stonework, and evidence of advanced prehistoric cartography. Berlitz suggests these are pieces of a larger puzzle concerning the origins of civilization and a powerful, ancient global civilization. The review highlights the book's references to early flying machines, massive monuments, and ancient maps, suggesting they point to a technologically advanced prehistoric society. The book is recommended for ufologists.

UFOs Over the Southern Hemisphere

(A review by J.B. Delair)

J.B. Delair reviews Michael Hervey's book, "UFOs Over the Southern Hemisphere." He notes that the book is a timely and valuable contribution, compiling numerous UFO cases from Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and New Guinea, with a significant portion being previously unpublished. The review states that UFOs are seen as commonly in these regions as elsewhere and that the cases are absorbing. Despite the title being inaccurate as it doesn't cover all of the Southern Hemisphere, the book is considered the best source of information for studying UFOs over Australasia. It is described as free of theories and hypotheses, making it a must-read for those interested in the UFO puzzle.

News From Data Research

This section reports a notable absence of UFO sighting reports in the first half of 1972, followed by an increase in the latter half. It urges people to report sightings promptly (within one month) to allow for verification with official sources like the Ministry of Defence and Weather and Tracking Stations.

Recent UFO Reports

This section provides brief accounts of several UFO sightings from June to August 1972:

• June 26th, 1972: Fort Beaufort, South Africa - A glowing red oval object seen by witnesses, including police, changed colour and was fired upon.
• June 28th, 1972: Scarborough, UK - A stationary, round/spherical object was observed for an hour before moving northeast.
• July 1st, 1972: Wellington, South Africa - An object hovered over mountains for five minutes, emitting a whitish light.
• July 5th, 1972: Stockton, UK - An object changed shape from a capsule to a boomerang, with lights, and moved erratically before speeding up.
• July 20th, 1972: Durban, South Africa - An object hovered above the harbour, changing colour and moving at high speed.
• July 22nd, 1972: Durban, South Africa - Two glowing pink objects were seen hovering over the harbour and then disappeared.
• July 22nd, 1972: Ashburton, South Africa - Two motorists and police witnessed a giant dazzling white light on a bridge that emitted a blinding light before shooting upwards.
• July 27th, 1972: Campos, Brazil - 2000 witnesses at a football match saw eight orange, silent objects, seven following a "mother" craft.
• August 3rd, 1972: Auckland, New Zealand - A bus driver reported a mysterious white light exploding into a glow like "10 million candles" over the city.
• August 10th, 1972: Hounslow, Middlesex, UK - Police officers observed a bright white light, stationary for 22 hours, with considerable height.
• August 15th, 1972: Liverpool, Lancashire, UK - Witnesses saw objects rise vertically, grow in size, and emit brilliant fluorescent red lights.
• August 18th, 1972: Nottingham, Notts, UK - A gleaming, ball-shaped object flew silently, appearing diamond-shaped as it ascended.

Satellite Re-Entry and Decay Dates

This section provides a catalog of satellite debris, including catalog number, satellite source, name, and estimated decay date, primarily listing USSR and US satellites.

Galaxy Press and Perception

This section advertises "Galaxy Press," a publication dealing with saucers and the paranormal, and lists several books available for purchase, including "UFOs-Realm OF THE FANTASTIC" and "UFOLOGY AND THE UFO." It also promotes "Perception," a newsletter described as an open forum for UFO discussions, encouraging readers to send for a free copy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the growing acceptance of UFOs as a real phenomenon, the exploration of potential origins (extraterrestrial vs. parallel universes), and the critical examination of evidence, such as the Yaddlethorpe meteorite. The magazine encourages a more scientific and less sensational approach to ufology, while also providing a platform for diverse opinions and recent sighting reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, urging readers to draw their own conclusions based on presented facts and opinions.