Awareness - 1974 - Vol 03 No 2 - Summer

Magazine Overview

AWARENESS, a publication of CONTACT (UK), presents its Summer 1974 issue, Volume 3, Number 2. The magazine is based in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, and is edited by J.B.Delair. The issue delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, including international reports, potential extraterrestrial messages, and the distinction between UFOs and aircraft.

Editorial

The editorial section begins by noting the official reorganization of UK administrative boundaries, which has led to a change in the address of the headquarters and the Data Research unit, now located in Oxfordshire. The editor then addresses the significant global increase in UFO activity during 1973, questioning the progress made in understanding these phenomena. The editor highlights that many individual cases and details are often missed, even by specialized organizations, leading to incomplete data for researchers. The solution proposed is concentrated reports from local agents and investigators in specific areas, suggesting that this approach, as exemplified by the reports in this issue, may be the way forward.

Articles and Reports

AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL MESSAGE?

This section features an editorial note about a letter from John Allison published in "Spaceflight" magazine. The letter describes "Earth creatures" (humans) as dangerous, unpredictable, quarrelsome, and stupid, incapable of working together for the common good. It suggests that efforts to instill cosmic responsibility have met with little success and warns of potential extinction due to environmental exploitation or self-destructive wars. The note questions whether this is a genuine extraterrestrial message or Allison's view of humanity.

A NOTE ON RECENTLY CHANGED AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION LIGHTS

Authored by D.N.Mansell, this article alerts skywatchers and ufologists to the new strobe lighting systems on aircraft. These lights are described as brilliant, flashing, and pulsating, located on the leading edge of wings. The author suggests that these lights, being different from older systems, could easily be mistaken for UFOs by inexperienced observers.

INTERNATIONAL BRANCH REPORTS (CONTACT) No:3. PUERTO RICO AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

This extensive report by Noel E.Rigau details UFO activity in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, particularly between July 1973 and early 1974. This period saw a significant "wave" of UFO activity, described as the most extensive and frequent in Puerto Rico. The report notes the press's interest, the abundance of Type I sightings, and a tendency towards more daytime sightings. It then proceeds to list five cases from the Dominican Republic and several from Puerto Rico.

Dominican Republic Sightings:

• July 29, 1973: Three ufos observed at 7.40pm. near Matas de Farfan, described as crossing each other.
• August 18, 1973: Two luminous clouds seen moving towards the south-east on the north coast, also observed at Cabarete beach and Rio San Juan.
• September 23, 1973: An object described as metallic and larger than the full Moon was seen near Dajabon.
• October 24, 1973: Four witnesses observed an object with a solid, metallic appearance descend and then disappear.
• December 2, 1973: A ufo with an intense yellow light and a red point was seen near Juan Dolio.

Puerto Rico Sightings:

• September 27, 1973: A silver-coloured, long object was seen in Mayaguez, leaving a trail of white foam.
• October 20, 1973: A group on El Yunque mountain reported hearing sounds and finding large footprints and broken branches after encountering strange creatures.
• October 23-24, 1973: Luminous objects were seen over the beach at Combata, with one passing low over a home.
• October 24, 1973: A round object, described as a cake with three levels, was photographed at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez.
• October 26, 1973: An intensely white, luminous UFO was observed between Lajas and San German, appearing twice the size of a house.
• October 26, 1974: (Note: This date appears to be a typo and likely meant 1973, given the context of other October 1973 sightings) Engineer Guillermo Bonet and technician Jorge Silvestri observed a UFO for over 20 minutes between Lajas and San German.
• October 30, 1973: In Adjuntas, a priest and parishioners reported seeing what was described as an "apparition of Christ", which looked like an optical illusion from a distance.
• Early November 1973: Senora Montserrat Cancel and neighbours saw a strange round object with green and yellow lights for 15 minutes.
• November 2, 1973: A strange oval object with a silver phosphorescence flew low and silently in Pina, Toa Alta, with a pilot who waved.
• November 9, 1973: Two luminous discs in military formation were seen flying at great speed from West to East in Villa Nevares, San Juan.
• November 10, 1973: Dozens of people in Maricao saw a luminous flying object with a rotative movement emitting "flames of fire".
• November 11, 1973: A series of sightings around San Juan included 6 ufos moving from North to South, and a luminous object that discharged sparkling lights.
• November 11, 1973: Another sighting in San Juan involved an oval ufo that rotated rapidly, followed by another object with three horizontal layers.
• November 17, 1973: A young man in Santana de Sabana Grande reported being approached by a luminous object that made a quick turn and rose up again.
• November 18, 1973: Residents in Cabo Rojo reported a strange object flying relatively low and at great speed.
• November 22, 1973: An object described as an inclined plate, extremely brilliant, advanced without sound at great speed in Mayaguez.
• November 24, 1973: A flying object in the form of a cube was seen moving at great speed over Mayaguez.
• November 24, 1973: Sra. Marta Troche and her daughter saw a red ufo with a white light circling it.
• November 24, 1973: Sra. Nidia del Valle de Agrait heard a strange sound and saw an object shaped like an eye with a central light, which ascended and caused a power decrease.
• Late November 1973: A "group of luminous objects travelling in 'V' formation" was observed over Ponce.
• Late November 1973: Sra. Dimaris Lugo reported a visit from a "strange man" who discussed moral issues and "other, better places".

OPERATION BIBLIOGRAPHY (1974)

This section, by E. Cox & W.Oldershaw, is listed on the contents page but not detailed in the provided text.

The Contact (UK) Directory

The issue includes a directory listing key personnel within CONTACT (UK), including the National Chairman, General Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Membership Secretary, Research Enquiries Officer, Senior Research Officer, and Research Programme Co-ordinator, along with their addresses and contact details.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, particularly international reports, and the challenges of UFO data collection and analysis. The editorial stance emphasizes the need for systematic reporting and investigation, while also acknowledging the potential for misidentification of conventional aircraft. The inclusion of the "Extraterrestrial Message?" piece suggests an openness to exploring more profound implications of potential extraterrestrial contact, albeit with a critical perspective on humanity's current state.

This issue of Flying Saucer Review, Volume 20, Number 1, dated 1974, focuses on UFO reports from earlier months in 1973. The primary content details a significant wave of UFO sightings and experiences primarily in Puerto Rico and, to a lesser extent, the Dominican Republic.

UFO Reports from Puerto Rico (Late 1973 - Early 1974)

The magazine meticulously documents numerous individual sightings, providing dates, locations, witness accounts, and descriptions of the objects observed. These reports cover a wide range of phenomena:

• November 1973, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico: Several cases are summarized, including Senorita Noemi Carreras seeing "three round lights of a red colour in Indian file" moving towards the sea, and Sr. Luis Correa observing a "luminous yellow light apparently rotating about itself and simultaneously pulsating."
• November 30, 1973, Guayabotas, Puerto Rico: Sr. Ramiro de Jesus Sanchez and Reinaldo de Jesus Reyes witnessed "four very luminous objects in the sky" flying in a "formation line" at about 500 feet altitude. They reported the objects were "pulsating, without giving off any sound" before disappearing.
• Late November 1973, Rayamon, Puerto Rico: Announcer Jose Francisco Roman reported that during a radio broadcast, a voice identifying itself as "extraterrestrial" interrupted the program, speaking in a strange accent and stating that people should remain attentive for "new messages." The voice departed with the remark, "We shall see each other again soon."
• November 29, 1973, Alturas de Bayamon, Puerto Rico: Sr. Manuel Serrano Feliciano, an ex-policeman, observed an "egg-shaped object, with 2 apparent focus lights at both extreme ends," which became opaque and disappeared.
• December 4, 1973, Ponce, Puerto Rico: Solicitor Padilla Maduro saw "about 6 or 7 luminous objects" emerge from a moving star.
• December 5, 1973, San Juan, Puerto Rico: About a dozen people saw "two brilliant objects" from the beach. On the same day, the publication "IMPACT" featured a UFO photograph taken earlier in Lares by Wilfredo Bonilla.
• December 10, 1973, Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico: Sra. Blanca Ruiz Arroyo reported seeing a strange illumination around her car and an oval object with lights, accompanied by a metallic noise, which moved away at high speed.
• December 17, 1973, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Manuel Padilla, a publicist, observed a "cylindrically shaped object, without protuberances," moving rapidly towards the north-east and leaving "two trails of white smoke."
• December 21, 1973, Bayamon, Puerto Rico: Ten firemen witnessed a "cone on 3 levels" object with lights, described as "like a mercury lamp," which moved at a speed faster than a jet and was estimated to be about 25 feet in length.
• January 3, 1974, Bayamon, Puerto Rico: A significant case involved children and adults in the Flamingo Terrace urbanization who witnessed a round object, described as "flat in its lower part, with a protruberance on its upper part, which looked like an inverted soup dish." The object displayed brilliant lights and emitted descending balls.

UFO Reports from the Dominican Republic (1973)

Additional reports from the Dominican Republic are included to complete the catalogue:

• April 24, 1973: A businessman reported seeing a "strange circular apparatus descending" near Villa Altagracia, which emitted a luminous ray and ascended at "vertiginous speed."
• April 24, 1973: A bus-conductor reported seeing a "strange object with brilliant lights flying at low altitude" near San Cristobal.
• April 28, 1973: A doctor reported seeing an unusual object "like a zeppelin" near Boca Chica - San Isidro, which stopped to allow five smaller objects to emerge and move away.
• Same date (April 28, 1973): Another person reported seeing "5 lights coming out rapidly from a star" while traveling from San Pedro de Macoris to Santo Domingo.
• End of April 1973: Jose Antonio Flaquer saw a "sky object 'which was very luminous'" descend to less than 500 meters, remain among trees for about six minutes, and then depart at "incredible speed."

Other Phenomena and Cases

• February 18, 1973, Puerto Rico: Commercial pilot Ruben Torres reported his plane colliding with an unseen object while flying between Vieque and Culebra.
• Early June 1973, Puerto Rico: Freight-truck driver Sr. Crisanto Marval Perez reported an encounter with three "strange beings" who approached his truck, examined its contents, and spoke in a sound "like that made by bats" before vanishing.

Conclusions and Analysis

The issue presents conclusions based on the analyzed cases:

• The 1973 UFO "wave" had repercussions in the Dominican Republic to a slight degree (eight cases) and a very marked degree in Puerto Rico (thirty-five cases).
• The Puerto Rico "wave" was the most extensive on record there. Notably, there was an absence of a proven case of a landing or direct contact with beings.
• The distribution of sightings showed a peak in November 1973. The majority of cases occurred at night (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM), though eight cases occurred in daylight.
• Major UFO activity areas in Puerto Rico were San Juan and its environs, and the west and south-east of the island. For the first time, sightings were noted with a non-rural tendency.
• Other related phenomena included an earth tremor in Ponce (December 4, 1973), unexplained fires affecting homes and plantations, and another earth tremor near Santo Domingo (January 9, 1974).
• The "wave" received significant press coverage in Puerto Rico, and a documentary film was being made.

Notes and Related Information

• The magazine references the mysterious disappearances of children in the recreational area at El Yunque, Puerto Rico, in 1965 and 1973, which remain unsolved.
• Photographs taken by William Rosario are mentioned as presenting a prototype of the observed objects.
• A case not directly linked with a UFO but considered part of the phenomenon involved a "miraculous" apparition and an unusual conversation with a "being."
• The issue notes that during the recent UFO wave in the U.S.A., cases of "strange beings" and "monsters" were also reported.
• It suggests referring to other publications for correlations between UFOs and earth tremors.

Operation Bibliography, 1974

This section announces the compilation of a comprehensive successor to Lynn Catoe's catalogue of UFO literature, inviting readers to submit press-cuttings, references, and old books.

Do You Collect Books About U.F.Os?

This is an advertisement for a book dealer specializing in UFO literature, offering a vast stock of books, journals, and back issues of magazines at competitive prices. They also stock books on related subjects like Atlantis, ancient civilizations, and parapsychology.

For Sale or Trade

An advertisement offering a large collection of UFO newspaper clippings from 1947 to 1971 for sale or trade, and seeking information about old UFO press clipping collections or libraries.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are detailed UFO sighting reports, analysis of UFO waves, and the broader context of the UFO phenomenon, including potential extraterrestrial contact and related unexplained events. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of UFO reports, presenting factual accounts and analytical conclusions based on the evidence gathered. The publication aims to catalog and disseminate information on UFO activity worldwide, with a particular focus on recent events in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

This document is page 20 of a publication, likely a magazine or newsletter, focused on UFOs and related topics. It features a section titled "BOOKS FOR SALE." and provides "News from: THE BRITISH UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT RESEARCH ASSOCIATION: (BUFORA).". The content is primarily text-based, listing available books and providing updates on the BUFORA organization.

Books for Sale

The "BOOKS FOR SALE." section poses the question, "SO WHERE ELSE CAN YOU BUY THESE TITLES?". It then lists several books with their prices, including:

• "THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF U.F.Os. 'The Condon Report'", 1080 pages with photographs and index, priced at £4.50p.
• "THE UFO EXPERIENCE", by Dr.J.Allen Hynek, priced at £2.65p.
• "FLYING SAUCERS ARE REAL", by Major Donald Keyhoe, priced at £1.55p.
• "TAMING OF THE THUNDERBOLTS", by C.Maxwell-Cade, priced at £1.10p.
• "FLYING SAUCER OCCUPANTS", by Coral Lorenzen, priced at 43p.
• "FLYING SAUCERS, HERE AND NOW", by Frank Edwards, priced at 33p.
• "UFO REPORT", by Irving Greenfield, priced at 24p.

Additionally, it mentions "Also books by Fort, Le Poer Trench, Velikovsky, Keel, etc.". All prices include postage and packing. Readers are invited to send a 9" x 4" S.A.E. for FREE lists on topics such as UFOs, ancient mysteries, gods and spacemen, and monsters. Remittances should be sent to LIONEL BEER at 15 Freshwater Court, Crawford Street, London, W1H 1HS.

News from BUFORA

The British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association (BUFORA), founded in 1964, provides several updates:

Research Headquarters

The Association has adopted Newchapel Observatory, a private astronomical observatory, as its research headquarters. Correspondence regarding research or visits should be directed to The Director of Research, BUFORA, Anthony Pace FRAS, at Newchapel Observatory, Newchapel, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.

BUFORA Journal

Dr John Cleary-Baker, who edited the quarterly journal from 1965, retired in 1973. Editorial correspondence and exchange journals should now be sent to the new editor, Norman Oliver, at The Editor, BUFORA JOURNAL, Norman Oliver, 95 Taunton Road, London, SE.12.

London Lectures

Monthly lectures are held on Saturday evenings, featuring distinguished speakers. These events are well-attended and offer opportunities for members to socialize. Programme cards, including details up to an illustrated lecture on 1st June 1974, are available upon request.

Membership

Membership is open to individuals who support the Association's aims, subject to executive committee approval. Reduced rates are available for students and pensioners. Information leaflets can be obtained from The Publicity Secretary, BUFORA (A), Miss C.Henning, 99 Mayday Gardens, London, SE.3.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The content strongly indicates a focus on UFO phenomena, book sales related to the subject, and the activities of a dedicated research organization (BUFORA). The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting UFO literature and providing information about a specific UFO research group, suggesting an interest in documenting and disseminating information within the UFO community.