Awareness - 1985-86 - Vol 14 No 1

Magazine Overview

AWARENESS, Journal of Contact International, Issue 1, Volume 14, dated 1985-6, is a publication from Contact (UK) based in Wheatley, Oxford, England. The cover features a drawing of a flying saucer above a rocky landscape, with the main headline "AWARENESS" and the subtitle "JOURNAL OF CONTACT INTERNATIONAL".

Editorial

The editorial section begins by reflecting on celestial events, noting Halley's comet as a "damp squib" but hoping for a better view from the southern hemisphere. It then highlights NASA's recent transmission of superb pictures of URANUS and its moons from the Voyager probe, revealing more moons and a complex ring system than previously known. However, this scientific joy was overshadowed by the space shuttle explosion, leading the editor to comment on the naive stage of space development and the contrast with the propulsion methods of UFOs. The editorial also includes a "very, very, desperate appeal" from the treasurer for subscription renewals, stating that the bank account has ZERO funds and around £200 is needed within the month to remain solvent. It mentions that Data Research has found new contacts in Finland, specifically "UFO Research of Finland". The editorial also discusses exciting literature received from "El-Legions", described as "space people" who visited London and generated significant media attention, including a full-page article in the Sunday press and an appearance on a television program. The editor notes their PR skills and private consultations.

Articles and Content

Editorial

This section, written by "THE EDITOR", reiterates the points made in the main editorial, emphasizing the need for subscription renewals and the financial difficulties faced by the organization.

UFOs over North Wales

Authored by Margaret-Ellen Fry, this article details her experiences as an investigator for Contact International (UK) in Wales over the past two years. She describes how people in mountain villages, aware of her role, have shared UFO sightings. Fry clarifies her stance, stating she doesn't need to prove the impossible as she has experienced it herself on numerous occasions. She quotes Brinsley Le Pour Trench on the concept of an "invisible area" from which UFOs may emerge, and Ray Martin on the vastness and dangers of the psychic realm. Fry expresses impatience with "Ufologists" who theorize excessively, preferring the straightforward accounts of ordinary people. She recounts a spate of UFO sightings in North Wales in 1978/79, mentioning reports in local newspapers and a close encounter by Keith Jones near Denbigh in January 1979. She also notes a sighting by two Civil Servants near Abergele. The article describes a sighting by Mr. Bruce Mee and Mrs. Mee of a "Bee-hive shaped craft" hovering over pine trees near the Brenig Reservoir in the summer of 1979. Another incident involved a school bus driver, Mr. Roberts, and passengers who witnessed two "solid Metallic objects, bullet shaped, black and white" chasing each other near Abergele. Fry notes that North Wales, being remote and wild, is a suitable location for UFO landings. She also recounts a personal experience in October 1983 near Llansannan, where a wall of a farmhouse lit up with an "eerie light" for two minutes. In November 1983, she witnessed a bright light reflecting through a window, which moved and elongated, observed with her granddaughter. The article mentions that RAF Anglesey uses the area for target practice and radar evasion, leading to low-flying aircraft that frighten cattle, a matter of local protest.

Return of Itzamna

This section is a response to an article by Michael Soper titled "On the Ufonauts and the Skygod" from a previous issue (Awareness Vol.13 No.4). Bernard Delair and Brian Burden have provided additional information on the subjects raised.

Contact International Council

The issue lists the members of the Contact International Council, including Founder President Lord Clancarty, President Ruth Rees, Vice President Geoffrey E. Ambler, National Chairman (UK) John Sear, Hon. Treasurer Derek Mansell, Hon. Membership Secretary Mrs. Sandie Robb, Senior Research Officer Derek Mansell, Investigations Co-ordinator David Ridge, Research Enq. & Editor Geoffrey E. Ambler, Cataloguing and Typist Mrs. Frances Copeland, and Librarian Bernard Delair. John Loveridge and Robert Commiade are also listed. The cover design and artist is credited to David Ridge.

Advertising Rates

Advertising rates are provided for different page sizes and lineage, with options for 4 issues, 2 issues, and per line of 12 words.

Other Content

Subliminal Images

This is listed as a topic, likely an article, but no content is provided in the scanned pages.

Ufological Illusions

This is listed as a topic, likely an article, but no content is provided in the scanned pages.

Analysis of Classical Cases 15 & 16

This is listed as a topic, likely an article, but no content is provided in the scanned pages.

Letters to the Editor

This section is mentioned, and the editorial notes that details about the "UFO Research of Finland" group and a recent UFO case they have on file can be found here.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings and investigations, particularly in the UK. There's a strong emphasis on personal testimony and the experiences of ordinary people. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, while also acknowledging the financial struggles of the organization. The publication seems to value direct reporting of sightings and encourages contributions from its readership. There's also an underlying theme of the limitations of current scientific understanding when faced with unexplained aerial phenomena.

Title: UFO Nachrichten
Issue: 13
Volume: 13
Date: 1984-5
Publisher: UFO-Nachrichten
Country: Switzerland
Language: German
Price: CHF 5.00
Cover Headline: Ufonauten, Himmelsgötter oder frühe Hochkulturen? (Ufonauts, Sky-Gods, or Early Civilizations?)

This issue of UFO Nachrichten features a cover story by J.B. Delair titled "ECHOES OF UFONAUTS, SKY-GODS, OR EARLY LOST CIVILIZATION?" which critically examines Michael Soper's article "On the Ufonauts and the Skygod." The magazine also includes a section on the Donald Shawcross case and "Under the Knife," and presents declassified US government memoranda concerning UFO investigations in the 1950s.

"ECHOES OF UFONAUTS, SKY-GODS, OR EARLY LOST CIVILIZATION?" by J.B. Delair

Delair's article addresses several points raised by Michael Soper regarding early god-like benefactors identified as ufonauts, who were long regarded as sky-gods or great religious teachers of the ancient past. Delair seeks to clarify the subject to avoid erroneous conclusions.

Questioning the ITSAMMA-ITZAMNA Identification

Delair first questions whether Donald Shawcross's alleged ufonaut informant spelled the name "ITSAMMA" as heard, or if Shawcross's interpretation was accurate. He notes that Soper only later found the name ITZAMNA resembling ITSAMMA in mythological lore. Delair points out that the differences between the names are sometimes wide, and that arguing they refer to the same entity is premature and possibly spurious.

The Timeline of Culture-Heroes

Secondly, Delair challenges Soper's oversimplification of ITZAMNA's role and timeline. He states that ITZAMNA, whose full name was ITZAMNA CANIL, introduced useful plants and knowledge among primitive peoples, but this occurred long before the time of Christ. Delair places these culture-heroes, including ITZAMNA, Quetzalcoatl, Votan, Kukulkan, Kane, and Con Ticci, in the period immediately following the Noachian Deluge, approximately 11,500 years ago, or 9,500 years before Christ. He mentions a forthcoming detailed study of this major event.

Ancient Civilizations and Aerial Transport

Delair posits that these culture-heroes, active worldwide after the Deluge, appear to have been engaged in a concerted worldwide rescue operation, which would necessitate aerial transport. He notes that traditions from various nations, including Laplanders, Australian aborigines, Paraguayan tribes, and those of Tanzania, describe these beings using extraordinary mechanical devices and forms of aerial transport. He suggests that these highly civilized beings, possessing advanced knowledge and medical prowess, likely developed aerial transport, as hundreds of worldwide traditions suggest.

The Nature of Culture-Heroes

Ancient mankind regarded these benefactors as more or less human but slightly superior. Delair questions if this was because they were an elite race of knowledgeable antediluvian men who invented many things, or if they were ancient astronauts as espoused by writers like Von Daniken and Colosimo, or early ufonauts who established bases on Earth.

Delair cautions against jumping to conclusions based on superficial similarities between materials that may prove to have dissimilar origins.

Suggested Further Reading

A list of 18 books and their authors, published between 1875 and 1920, is provided, covering topics such as the native races of the Pacific States, mythology, and ancient cultures.

THE DONALD SHAWCROSS CASE AND "UNDER THE KNIFE" by Brian J. Burden

Brian J. Burden introduces Michael Soper's article about Donald Shawcross's experience, where a spaceman instructed him to "Seek Itsamma." Soper suggests that Itzamna was a Mayan god and that the qualities associated with him explain the message. Burden notes that Shawcross, not being an anthropologist, might have benefited from a clearer message, but the search for meaning is itself a form of meditation.

Connection to H.G. Wells

Burden draws a parallel between Shawcross's experience and H.G. Wells's story "Under the Knife," published in 1896. In Wells's story, a patient undergoing surgery has an out-of-body experience, sees a "clenched Hand" in space, and hears a voice say, "There will be no more pain." Burden highlights the archetypal themes connecting Wells's story to the Shawcross encounter, specifically the healing spirit of Itzamna, the "Great Hand" (Itzamna's father), and the mysterious rod held by the spaceman.

The American Cover-Up

This section presents a compilation of original memoranda concerning secret US government documentation of UFOs (Flying Saucers) carried out by the US armed forces and CIA during the early 1950s. The documents became public after 25 years under the Freedom of Information Act.

Memorandum for Secretary of Defence (Subject: Unidentified Flying Objects)

This memorandum from the IAC (Intelligence Advisory Committee) reviews the current situation regarding UFOs, noting that the Air Force had investigated approximately 1500 reports since 1947, with about 20% remaining unexplained. The IAC viewed the situation as having possible implications for national security due to the vulnerability of the US to air attack. It recommended an expanded scientific research program to reveal the nature of these phenomena and the means by which they could be identified.

Memorandum to Director of Central Intelligence (Subject: Flying Saucers)

This memorandum from the Assistant Director, Office of Scientific Intelligence, details an inquiry into the national security implications of UFOs. It found that only the Air Force's Directorate of Intelligence, through the Air Technical Intelligence Centre (ATIC), was studying the problem, investigating reports on a case-by-case basis. ATIC had received about 1500 reports since 1947, with 20% unexplained. The memorandum also notes that CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence consulted with Air Force Special Studies Group and reviewed intelligence reports.

Key Findings and Recommendations

The ATIC study was deemed valid for case-by-case explanation but did not address the fundamental aspects of determining the nature of the phenomena and identifying their causes and effects. CIA consultants suggested that solutions might lie in atmospheric, ionospheric, and extraterrestrial phenomena, possibly related to nuclear waste. They recommended forming a study group to analyze the problem, determine necessary scientific fields for investigation, and make research recommendations. Dr. Julius A. Stratton of MIT indicated that such a group could be constituted at MIT.

The flying saucer situation was identified as having two elements of danger with national security implications: psychological (potential for enemy use in psychological warfare and mass hysteria) and air vulnerability (difficulty in distinguishing real threats from phantoms, increasing the risk of false alerts).

Three operational actions were required: immediate steps to improve identification of visual and electronic phenomena, a study on the utilization of phenomena for psychological warfare and defense planning, and the establishment of a national policy for public information to minimize panic.

Other intelligence problems included determining Soviet knowledge and intentions regarding UFOs and the reasons for Soviet press silence.

Meeting of OSI Advisory Group on UFO (January 14-17, 1953)

An ad hoc panel of scientific consultants convened to review the UFO problem. The final report concluded:

1. No evidence indicated any physical threat to US security.
2. No evidence indicated the existence or use of unknown fundamental scientific principles.
3. UFOs were not of direct intelligence interest but of indirect intelligence interest concerning unsolved mysteries of the universe.
4. UFOs were of operational interest for three reasons: interference with air defense, overloading communications, and potential for psychological offensive by an enemy.

The report noted that these conclusions did not fully answer the needs presented in Appendix A.

Flying Saucers (OSI Briefing)

This section discusses the recent increase in Flying Saucer reports and the resulting public and official interest. General Samford stated that analysis showed no pattern of menace to the US, attributing some sightings to temperature inversions, ionized clouds, or ice formations, and emphasizing the role of instrumentation. He also stated that unexplained sightings could result from US experiments.

OSI evaluated the Air Force study, its methodology, and conclusions, considering various theories and intelligence implications. They reviewed their own intelligence, including Swedish sightings from 1946, and a large number of official reports, press, and magazine coverage. They also scanned Soviet press indexes and interviewed representatives from the Air Force Special Study Group and ATIC consultants.

Analysis of UFO Sightings

ATIC categorized sightings into visual, radar, and combined visual/radar. Visual sightings included spherical or elliptical objects of bright metallic lustre, varying in size, and also torpedoes, triangulars, pencils, and mattress-shapes. Night sightings consisted of lights, fireballs, moving points, and luminous streamers. These were reported as single objects or in formations.

Reported characteristics included hovering, moderate speeds (like conventional aircraft), and stupendous speeds up to 18,000 m.p.h. Violent maneuvering and high accelerations (up to 20 g's) were noted. Absence of sound or vapor trails and evasion upon approach were common.

Radars showed "blips" but no complete tracking. Combined sightings included a plane over Sandy Hook with a radar blip, a far east report of a target that split in two, and an incident at Wright Field where an object was captured on camera.

Since 1947, approximately 1500 official reports had been received, with a significant percentage unexplained.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the interpretation of ancient myths and legends in light of modern UFO phenomena, questioning established historical and mythological narratives. The magazine critically examines the evidence linking ancient culture-heroes to extraterrestrial or advanced beings, emphasizing the need for rigorous analysis and caution against premature conclusions. The inclusion of declassified US government documents highlights a historical concern with UFOs from a national security perspective, revealing early attempts to understand and manage the phenomenon and its public perception. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking to connect ancient mysteries with contemporary unexplained aerial phenomena through scholarly analysis and the presentation of documented evidence.

Title: Awareness
Issue: Vol.13 No.5
Date: July 1986
Publisher: Contact International (UK)
Country: UK

This issue of Awareness magazine presents a multifaceted exploration of UFO phenomena, astronomical observations, and related topics. It features discussions on the historical explanations for flying saucer sightings, the potential impact of subliminal imagery, and detailed astronomical notes for 1986. The magazine also revisits significant UFO cases and reports on a new investigation into a possible abduction incident.

Four Major Theories on Flying Saucers

The magazine begins by outlining four primary theories attempting to explain the phenomenon of flying saucers. The first theory posits that these are US secret weapon developments, a claim officially denied by the government, including Dr. Whitman, Chairman of the Research and Development Board. Despite denials, the alert status of Air Force commands and the risk of flights in established air lanes lend some credence to this idea.

The second theory suggests a Russian development. While acknowledging Russian advancements in elliptical and delta wing designs, the article states there is no intelligence to support such a technological leap, nor a logical reason for the security risk. A less supported thesis suggests a Russian high-altitude development from World War II using pre-set flares to check flight tracks.

The third theory, the 'man from Mars' or interplanetary travellers, is considered possible given the existence of intelligent life elsewhere and the feasibility of space travel. However, the article notes a complete lack of evidence, with no astronomical observations or indications of orbital paths to support it. Nevertheless, figures like Comdr. McLaughlin and others are reported to be convinced of this theory.

The fourth and current Air Force theory suggests that sightings, with adequate data, can be explained as misinterpretations of known objects or as yet little understood natural phenomena.

Subliminal Images and UFOs

An article titled "Subliminal Images" explores the possibility of transmitting undetectable images via television, which can be registered by the subconscious mind. This technique could be used for advertising or warnings, potentially leading to 'brain-washing'. The author raises the question of a connection between this phenomenon and UFOs, suggesting that certain UFO experiences, such as dematerialisation or appearance in dreams, might be instantaneous flash frames that register in the mind but not consciously in the eye. The speed at which UFOs are theorized to travel could mean they traverse a field of vision in a fraction of a second, leaving an image that might surface later from the subconscious.

Astronomy Notes 1986

"Astronomy Notes 1986" by G.E. Ambler provides a compilation of the movements of the five brightest planets for the year. Key observations include:

• Mars: Becomes very bright in summer, reaching opposition on July 10th. Visible all night from June to August.
• Venus: Seen in the early evening from March to October, becoming a morning object in November and December, reaching a brilliant -4.7 magnitude.
• Halley's Comet: Sightings applicable in the southern hemisphere until May; earlier predicted sightings in late 1985 were a non-event in the UK.
• Mercury: Difficult to see due to its proximity to the sun, visible at sunset in early March and sunrise in mid-August and early December.
• Jupiter: Visible before dawn from May, all night from July to October, and as an evening object in November and December, brightest in August at magnitude -2.4.
• Saturn: Visible as a morning object until May, all night in May and June, and as an evening object from July to September, brightest in May at +0.2 magnitude.
• Stars: Brightest stars and nebulae like Sirius, Pleiades, and Orion Nebula are visible in the UK between November and February during evening viewing.

The notes also clarify that 'magnitude' measures brightness, with more negative numbers indicating greater brightness.

Classical Cases

The magazine revisits two classical UFO cases with response figures from previous issues:

• Case No.15 Roswell, New Mexico, USA: 50% believe a UFO crashed and was captured with occupants, 25% consider it possibly a UFO crash with inconclusive evidence, and 25% believe it was a hoax. Comments suggest a scarcity of real facts and the importance of investigator integrity.
• Case No.16 Close Encounter on the Cambrian Coast: 75% believe it was a Close Encounter IV with witness abduction, and 25% consider it a deliberate hoax for unknown reasons. The comment expresses intrigue about the sudden journey described.

Letters to the Editor

Alan O'Dell from Bottesford, Nottingham, writes regarding an article on an "Alaska Sighting Special Report." He shares observations from a relative who is an electronic weapons officer with the Canadian Air Force involved in NATO weapons development. The relative disputes several points in the article concerning an F-15 fighter jet, stating it's a combat plane not suited for spy work, that USAF would use an officer pilot, not a civilian, and that the language used in a recorded pilot's account was not American. Furthermore, the relative claims a pilot would not feel heat from a laser and that laser beams travel in straight lines, not arcs, and cannot be photographed by satellite.

Another letter thanks the magazine for news on sightings in the Oxford area.

Possible Abduction on Pielinen Lake

This section details an incident that occurred on July 31, 1981, during the UFO Research of Finland's annual summer seminar. Two men sailing on Pielinen Lake in Eastern Finland encountered a black sphere surrounded by lights. A black object separated from the group, approached their boat, and one man was paralyzed. The object and lights then disappeared. The men found themselves in a different position on the boat and realized they had lost over six hours of time, waking up at 4:10 a.m. the following morning. They experienced after-effects including shaking hands, nightmares, and a derailed sense of balance for over a week. Astronomers Juhani Kyrolainen and Pekka Teerikorpi are conducting studies, including hypnosis attempts, and have ruled out a meteorite or Russian rocket launch. The phenomenon is not yet identified, and studies are ongoing in collaboration with the UFO Research of Finland.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO investigation, presenting various theories, case studies, and astronomical data. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to submit information and theories. There is a clear interest in exploring both well-known cases and new reports, such as the Pielinen Lake incident. The publication also engages with scientific and astronomical developments, linking them to potential UFO explanations. The inclusion of letters to the editor and detailed case analyses suggests a commitment to reader engagement and a thorough examination of evidence, even when it challenges established narratives.