Awareness - 1974 - Vol 03 No 1 - Spring

Magazine Overview

Title: AWARENESS
Issue: Vol.3, no:1
Date: Spring 1974
Publisher: Contact (UK)
Type: (A Contact (UK) publication)

Editorial Content

Editorial

The editorial, written by The Editor (J.B.Delair), addresses the complex nature of ufology and the editor's role in balancing the content of the magazine to cater to a diverse readership, particularly paying members. The editor acknowledges requests for more actual sighting reports and states that while making no excuses for fewer reports in some recent issues, this current issue of AWARENESS includes a large number of reports. The editor stresses the time-consuming nature of checking reports and the commitment to presenting only authentic material.

Contents

The issue features a range of articles and reports:

• Annual General Meeting and Lectures: Details about the 1974 Annual General Meeting of Contact (UK), planned for May or September/October, to be held in London. Major lectures will be given by Brinsley Le Poer Trench and J. Bernard Delair. Book exhibitions are also planned.
• Annual Subscriptions: A reminder to renew subscriptions, with details on how to send them to the Treasurer, Mr D.N.Mansell.
• Close the Watergate, Those Darned UFOs are Running Amuck! by Lionel Beer: This article discusses the phenomenon of UFO flaps, linking them to periods of societal stress and dismissing theories that UFOs are a distraction. It highlights a surge in UFO activity in the USA during 1973, referencing reports from major newspapers. The article details the 1897 Aurora, Texas 'airship' incident, which was revived in mid-1973, and other UFO waves in Georgia and September. It also recounts the sensational Pascagoula, Mississippi incident of October 11th, 1973, involving two shipyard workers, Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson, who described encounters with alien beings and examination within a 'spacecraft'. Other sightings from Ohio and Louisiana are also mentioned.
• Some Notes on the Aurora (Texas) Incident of April 1897 by J.B.Delair: This article provides further details on the 1897 Aurora 'airship' crash, referencing a report from the DALLAS MORNING NEWS of April 18th, 1897, by S.E.Hayden. The report describes an airship colliding with a windmill and exploding, with the discovery of a disfigured pilot's body, believed by a signal service officer to be from Mars. The article lists contemporary newspaper accounts from the DALLAS MORNING NEWS and mentions other publications that discussed the sightings. It also notes that similar 'airship'-like objects were sighted across the USA in 1896-1897, particularly on April 16th, 1897, with numerous sightings reported in Michigan and Illinois. The article references Charles Fort's 'Lo!' and John A.Keel's 'Operation Trojan Horse'. It clarifies that the revival of the Aurora affair in mid-1973 was not solely due to Frank Kelly, with interest dating back to 1957. A list of newspaper articles from March to June 1973 concerning the Aurora incident is provided. The article concludes by referencing a report from the International UFO Bureau, which found the story not to be a hoax but lacking evidence for identification, and a statement from L.C. MacAulay regarding metal fragments found at the alleged crash site, which showed no unusual properties.
• Contact International Branch Reports: No:1 - YUGOSLAVIA by Vincent Strmenik: This section presents UFO reports from Yugoslavia between October 12th and December 16th, 1973. Case 1 describes a large, elongated, cigar-shaped UFO sighted near Piran on October 12th, flying at high speed, with a row of windows, and leaving sparks or smoke. Case 2 details a 'great ball of fire' seen over Ljubi Jano in October during the Middle East war. Case 3 reports a round, brilliantly shining object observed by four girls on December 5th near Velenje, which an airliner circled before proceeding on its route.
• Latest Book News and Reviews: (Details not fully legible from scan, but likely reviews of UFO-related books).
• Advertisements: (Pages 17-18).

Copyright and Disclaimer

Opinions expressed in this issue are not necessarily those of the editor, staff, or Contact (UK). All material is copyright Contact (UK) 1974.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, both contemporary (1973) and historical (1897 Aurora incident). There is a strong emphasis on presenting factual, authenticated reports, with the editor acknowledging the challenges of verifying such information. The magazine aims to provide a balanced perspective on the complex topic of ufology, catering to a wide range of reader interests, from detailed incident reports to historical case studies. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, advocating for the presentation of authentic material and exploring various aspects of the subject.

This document, titled "CONTACT INTERNATIONAL BRANCH REPORTS No: 2 ITALY," presents a compilation of unidentified flying object (UFO) reports from various regions of Italy, spanning the period from October 21st to December 24th, 1973. Authored by Luigi Guarrera, the information was gathered from diverse sources, including the press and firsthand investigations by Italian researchers. The issue also includes a section on "LATEST BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS" and a list of "BOOKS FOR SALE."

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The core of the document details specific UFO cases, numbered sequentially:

• Case 4: SMARTNO; December 11th and 12th: Pupils of Smartno grade school observed a "great ball of fire" that moved erratically and disappeared. A similar observation was made by police officers in Ljubljana.
• Case 5: SMARTNO; December 13th: Again, Smartno grade school pupils saw a "fiery object" moving and wobbling, which disappeared behind mountains.
• Case 6: MYSLYNIA VALLEY; December 14th: The writer reported atmospheric roars and trembling, followed by earth tremors, questioning if earthquakes are solely caused from below.
• Case 7: SARAJEVO; December 14th: Members of the Academic Astronomy-Astronautics Society observed a UFO through a telescope, obtaining 25 photographs. They stated the object moved at a constant speed, estimated at 75,000 feet, with a length of 150 feet, and changed color from reddish-orange to white.
• Case 8: SARAJEVO; December 15th: The same society observed an unusual "cannon-ball shaped body" moving quickly and exhibiting a reddish-orange color for 15 minutes. The possibility of it being an Earth-made object was considered.
• Case 9: TURYSKA VAS; December 16th: A boy reported seeing a "great ball of fire" rotating and hovering over a tree.
• Case 1: ROME; October 21st: A bright object was seen passing quickly over the city by two observers in different locations, precluding hoaxing.
• Case 2: GUBBIO; October 23rd: A circular, greenish object hovered over the town before racing north.
• Case 3: CHIGNOLO D'ISOLA; October 23rd: The village population witnessed a bright triangle, white with green prominences, which turned red and glided to the ground. A young man who approached reported an "intolerable light." The object later emitted three small devices and departed at high speed.
• Case 4: LA SPEZIA; October 26th: Two boys saw a round, bright, white object with a halo, which hovered over an E.N.E.L. thermoelectric station, causing electrical disturbances.
• Case 5: LA SPEZIA; October 29th: Another object was reported high in the sky.
• Case 6: GUBBIO, PERUGIA, ASSISI, etc.; October 30th: Various unidentified aerial bodies were seen in Umbria.
• Case 7: ROME; late November: Two fiery globes were seen descending at high speed, hovering at low altitude, and then moving away in different directions.
• Case 8: Near TURIN; December 2nd: A "Piper" pilot reported being followed by a "flying saucer," and ten other persons, including an airport director, also saw the object, which was tracked by radar. An Alitalia DC8 pilot also sighted it.
• Case 9: TURIN (Easelle Airport); December 3rd-6th: Objects resembling "flying saucers" passed over the airport and hovered at altitudes of 500-700 meters, described as bright bluish or violet. Similar objects were seen in the region, and photographs were allegedly taken.
• Case 10: PIEDMONTE REGION; December 4th: A woman and her sons saw a UFO land near a wood and then take off.
• Case 11: PIEDMONTE REGION; December 5th-10th: Three air force planes flew over the region. An O.T.A.N. field-officer reportedly investigated UFOs. A radio broadcast was disrupted by calls about "flying saucers." UFO activity extended over Milan and Genoa, with airports tracking objects on radar. The activity reportedly ceased after December 10th. Objects observed over Torino, Piedmonte, Val d'Acosta, Milan, and Genoa varied greatly in shape, color, speed, and movement.
• Case 12: ROME; December 24th: Many inhabitants saw bright bluish-white cylindrical objects at high altitude.

Latest Book News and Reviews

This section, by J.B.Delair, highlights recent and upcoming books and magazines on UFOs.

• Books Mentioned:
• "ALIENS FROM SPACE" by Major Donald Keyhoe (newly available).
• "UFOLOGY" by James M.McCampbell.
• "EXTRATERRESTRIAL VISITATIONS FROM PREHISTORIC TIMES TO THE PRESENT" by Jacques Bergier.
• "TIMELESS EARTH" by Peter Kolosimo.
• "THE SPACESHIPS OF EZEKIEL" by Joseph Blumrich.
• "IN SEARCH OF ANCIENT MYSTERIES" by Alan and Sally Landsburg.
• "MAN AND THE STARS" by Duncan Lunan.
• "PLANET IN TROUBLE" by Jerome Eden.
• "UFOS FROM BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN" by Ion Hobana and Julien Weverberg.
• "UFO Display Over Utah" by Dr Frank Salisbury (upcoming).
• "MYSTERIES FROM TIME AND SPACE" by Brad Steiger (upcoming).
• "IN SEARCH OF ANCIENT GODS" by Eric von Daniken (upcoming).
• Magazines Mentioned:
• "DATA-NET REPORT" (ceased publication).
• "GEMINI" (ceased publication).
• "SPACEDUST" by Gene Duplantier (newly launched, featuring Gray Barker).
• "PHENOMENA" (new quarterly magazine from "Aerial Phenomena Research").
• "UFO SIGHTINGS NEWSLETTER" by Janice M.Croy.
• "THE OHIO UFO REPORTER" edited by Bonita Roman.

Book Reviews

Two books are reviewed in detail:

• "GOD DRIVES A FLYING SAUCER" by R.L.Dione (Corgi Books: 1973): The reviewer finds this book to be of "rare interest," presenting plausible explanations for Christian religious events, such as the Fatima case, by suggesting that God is "supertechnological." The book examines how divine manifestations could be interpreted as technological prowess and posits that humanity is part of a vast experiment.
• "LOST WORLDS: SCIENTIFIC SECRETS OF THE ANCIENTS" by Robert Charroux (Souvenir Press: 1973): This book covers a wide range of subjects including Easter Island, Atlantis, and alchemy, with a specific section on UFOs. While entertaining, the reviewer notes numerous factual errors, inaccuracies, and poor reproduction of illustrations, possibly due to translation issues. Despite these shortcomings, the book is considered "wonderfully entertaining."

Other Publications and Services

• Lists of Canadian and U.S. UFO organizations and centers are available from Bill Bemis.
• A "world-wide UFO newspaper clipping collection (1947 to 1971)" is available for sale or trade from Albert Onori.
• A list of UFO books and space-age publications is available from Miss Susanne Stebbing.
• A list of UFO books for sale, including titles like "The Condon Report" and works by Hynek and Keyhoe, is available from Lionel Beer.

News from BUFORA

The British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association (BUFORA), founded in 1964, has adopted Newchapel Observatory as its research headquarters. The BUFORA Journal has a new editor, Norman Oliver. Monthly London lectures are held, and membership is open to supporters.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting of UFO sightings across Italy, the investigation into these phenomena, and the analysis of UFOs through literature and books. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO reports, while also critically reviewing related publications. There is a clear interest in connecting UFO phenomena with historical and religious events, as seen in the review of "God Drives a Flying Saucer."