UFO Times - No 09 - Sep 1990

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO TIMES
Issue: 9
Date: September 1990
Publisher: BUFORA (British UFO Research Association)
Country: United Kingdom
ISSN: 0958-4846

This issue of UFO Times, published by BUFORA, focuses heavily on the controversial MJ-12 documents and the US government's involvement in UFO research, featuring an exclusive interview with investigative journalist Howard Blum. The magazine also includes articles on crop circles, abduction cases, film reviews, and organizational updates from BUFORA.

Exclusive Interview: Howard Blum on 'Out There'

The centerpiece of this issue is an extensive interview with Howard Blum, author of the book 'Out There'. Blum, a reporter with no prior UFO interest, discusses how his investigation into the MJ-12 documents led him to uncover a covert US government program. He reveals the existence of a 'UFO Working Group' operating from a secure room at the Pentagon called 'The Tank', and secret funding for the SETI project. Blum expresses skepticism about the MJ-12 documents themselves, suggesting they might be part of a government disinformation plot aimed at harassing UFO believers and covering up illegal spying activities. He notes that the FBI could not determine the authenticity of MJ-12 after two years of investigation. Blum believes the government's secrecy stems from a paternalistic attitude and the inherently secretive nature of governmental and military administrations. He also touches upon the possibility of inter-governmental information exchange regarding UFOs.

Blum clarifies that his book is not based on his opinions but on facts gathered through extensive research. He explains that while the Gulf Breeze case was significant, the 'UFO Working Group' paid it little attention, believing the sightings were too similar to military test flights in the area due to its proximity to Cuba. He also discusses the complexities of ufologist Bill Moore's relationship with intelligence services, differentiating his own approach as a spectator from Moore's believer status.

Blum hopes his book will prompt American lawmakers to question the vast sums spent on UFO and SETI research and to reveal their findings. He anticipates that Congressional outcry and media attention will force a final admission from the government regarding UFOs, especially given the alleged illegality and unethical nature of the disinformation campaign. He suggests that the alien abduction question is currently being investigated by the UFO Working Group, though not necessarily accepted as real.

Editorial: A Gulf from the Truth

The editorial addresses the controversy surrounding the alleged Gulf Breeze UFO model, found behind wall insulation in Ed Walters' former home. The discovery of drafting paper, signed by Walters and dated after his photographic sessions, raises questions about the model's presence and the integrity of the case. The editorial criticizes the media, particularly the Pensacola News Journal, for attempting to discredit the Gulf Breeze Sentinal and its support for Ed Walters and other witnesses. It argues that the media plays a key role in shaping public perception through confusion and distortion, a common theme in ufology.

The editorial then shifts to the enigma of crop circles, noting that despite years of investigation, little has been learned. It questions the intelligence of 'higher intelligences' supposedly communicating through circle patterns, suggesting they would have changed their approach if their message wasn't getting through. The author calls for more scientific recording of crop circle phenomena, rather than mere theorizing, and laments that UFOs are often sidelined during the 'circles season'.

Other Articles and Features

• Chairman's Statement: Steve Gamble provides an update on BUFORA's activities. He announces that the annual subscription rate will remain at £18, with efforts to encourage early renewals and investigate Direct Debit facilities. Gamble emphasizes the need to expand membership and reduce member turnover, noting that BUFORA's member loss rate has decreased. He also discusses BUFORA's efforts to promote meetings, publications, and regional events, and the ongoing search for a central headquarters, which has been hampered by legal issues.
• Legal Action: The Chairman's statement details a serious legal action initiated by Stanton Friedman against the Manchester Evening News (MEN) and Jenny Randles, with BUFORA also being sued. The claim stems from an article that included an interview with Randles, who is an officer of BUFORA. BUFORA maintains that Randles was not acting as a spokesperson and that the organization does not hold corporate opinions. This legal battle has diverted significant resources and time from UFO research and has damaged BUFORA's reserve fund.
• Impossible Radar Returns: Manfred Cassirer writes about unexplained radar returns.
• Research Update: Steve Gamble presents an update on BUFORA's research initiatives.
• Abduction: A Regressional Case in Question: Mike Wootten recounts a new abduction case with a unique twist.
• Reviews: This section includes a critical review by Gaynor Wootten of the film 'Communion - The Movie'.
• Investigations Diary: Edited by Jenny Randles, this section likely details recent UFO investigations.
• Skywatcher: Edited by Gary Anthony, this column probably covers astronomical observations and related UFO phenomena.

BUFORA Organization and Membership

Page 2 provides detailed information about BUFORA's structure, including its President (Major Sir Patrick Wall), Vice President (Lionel E. Beer), Council members, and key officers like the Director of Research (Stephen Gamble) and Director of Investigations (Jenny Randles). It outlines BUFORA's aims: to encourage, promote, and conduct unbiased scientific research of UFO phenomena in the UK, collect and disseminate UFO data, and coordinate research efforts globally. Membership is open to supporters of BUFORA's aims, with applications handled by the executive committee. The page also lists associated member societies and associate groups.

Computer Supplies Advertisement

An advertisement on page 8 offers discounts on Amstrad PCW consumables from BUFORA, including floppy disks and ribbons, with trade prices for small quantities and details for UK orders.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

A notice on page 10 announces the SIXTEENTH Annual General Meeting of BUFORA Ltd, scheduled for Saturday, April 6th, 1991, at The London Business School. The meeting will cover the Chairman's Report, Council's Report, Treasurer's Accounts, and the appointment of an Auditor.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the alleged government cover-up of UFO information, the nature of disinformation campaigns, and the challenges faced by UFO research organizations like BUFORA. The editorial stance appears critical of media sensationalism and supportive of rigorous, scientific investigation into the UFO phenomenon, while acknowledging the complexities and controversies within the field. There is a strong emphasis on witness confidentiality and the importance of maintaining the integrity of UFO research despite external pressures and legal challenges.

This issue of UFO Times, dated October 13, 1990, features a cover story titled "Impossible Radar Returns" by Manfred Cassirer. The magazine explores various facets of UFO phenomena, including radar anomalies, case studies, and abduction experiences, with contributions from multiple investigators and researchers.

Impossible Radar Returns by Manfred Cassirer

Manfred Cassirer's article delves into the complexities of radar malfunctions and their potential connection to UFO sightings. He posits that while mechanical failures are common, malfunctioning can also be symptomatic of anomalies, possibly related to electromagnetic effects or 'rays' from UFOs. Cassirer critiques the tendency to attribute such phenomena solely to EM effects, noting that it fails to account for related issues experienced in other contexts. He references Dr. Robert Morris's research into computers malfunctioning in the presence of certain individuals and discusses cases of UFOs tracked by radar, sometimes with simultaneous visual sightings, as recorded by Ruppelt, former head of Project Blue Book.

A key challenge highlighted is assessing radar returns that lack visual contact. Cassirer recalls the 'Washington scare' where visual sightings and radar targets often coincided, but notes that prior to this, simultaneous sightings were rare. He cites the June 1st, 1952 flap in California, where a radar site near Riverside detected a presence ten miles away, despite nothing being visible and temperature inversions being ruled out. The Condon Report's Case No. 21.5 is also mentioned, where operators of two separate airports reported a target on radar while the control tower saw nothing, leading to the conclusion of a radar 'artifact' and dismissal of the 'reflector hypothesis'.

Cassirer also introduces a parapsychological explanation: psychokinetic energy from the operator, akin to the 'observer effect,' which can compromise control experiments. He suggests this possibility was unlikely to be considered by the U.S. Air Force. The article touches upon the U.S. Air Force's vacillation between attributing UFOs to extraterrestrial sources and dismissing them, noting that findings from psychical research (parapsychology) are often ignored.

A Critic Responds..... by Ken Phillips

Ken Phillips responds to Manfred Cassirer's article, stating that some of Cassirer's assumptions are incorrect. Phillips highlights the ANAMNESIS & MICIS protocols, which have studied the psychic experiences of UFO witnesses since the early to mid-eighties. He asserts that these studies reveal a history of personal ESP experiences among witnesses, contrasting sharply with control groups. Phillips mentions that ongoing ANAMNESIS results from Austria, Argentina, and West Germany show a similar ESP trait among witnesses.

RESEARCH UPDATE by Steve Gamble

Steve Gamble, Director of Research, introduces the 'Research Update' series, aiming to expand on projects detailed in annual reports for the AGM. He plans to provide more detailed descriptions of research projects and case report numbers for easier cross-referencing. Gamble mentions that Nigel Smith has recently discussed photographic cases in two parts.

Computerisation

Gamble provides an update on the computerization of the report index. The project began using a Sinclair Spectrum computer with a Microdrive, but due to the Microdrive's obsolescence, the data has been transferred to Masterfile 8000 on an Amstrad PCW, which is expected to serve their needs for several years.

Northamptonshire Case Studies

This section discusses a joint cataloguing project with the Northamptonshire UFO Research Centre (NUFORC). The aim is to conduct an intensive study of UFO reports for Northamptonshire, examining case files from BUFORA and NUFORC, as well as local newspapers. A preliminary analysis of some data was published by Ernest Still. The project aims to catalogue all known events between 1950 and the present day, including historical reports like that of Constable Kettle in 1909. The team has discovered around 200 reports so far. The article notes that newspaper clippings often reference BUFORA and NUFORC, as well as now-defunct local UFO groups.

#### Supporting Evidence

Some clippings provide supporting evidence for previously known cases or point to new ones. The project aims to reinvestigate cases with little or confusing information. In addition to press cuttings, UFO journals and books have been consulted, including back issues of Spacelink, Gemini, and FSR.

#### Local UFO 'Hotspot'

The research has identified a potential local UFO 'hotspot' around the villages of Little and Great Houghton, near the A428 road. Several incidents involving round white lights have been found in this area, including two mentioned by Jenny Randles in her book 'Abduction'. One case involves a young man who reported seeing a brilliant white light and inexplicably found himself miles away from his car. Another case (BUFORA case number 83-035) is being investigated further.

#### Globe

A witness described seeing a "bright white globe in the sky very low about 3FT off the adjoining field about 9inches wide and just hovering, then swaying from side to side like a pendulum." This description is compared to other reports of strange light phenomena from the area.

#### On the Rails

This section discusses reports of round lights possibly following powerlines, railway lines, and rivers. The old Northampton to Bedford railway line runs parallel to the A428, passing through Great Houghton. Several reports of small round white lights are mentioned, including one from 1948 chased by an F-51 pilot near Fargo, North Dakota, which was described as a ball of intense white light not exceeding 30 centimetres in diameter.

Reports from Little Houghton include a yellow round object seen by Geoffrey Gayton in August 1960, a round object following Mr and Mrs Brown in October 1972, a blue-white light reported by Mr Robert Deacon in May 1962, a bright reddish orange object seen by Geoffrey Gayton in October 1966, and a green object reported by a schoolboy and Mrs Rudman in March 1971.

#### Piezo-electric

This section explores the possibility that round UFOs might be a form of charged atmospheric phenomenon, possibly generated by Paul Devereux's Piezo-electric effect or Terence Meaden's charged vortices, which are proposed as agents causing crop circles. The idea is that these phenomena could cause variations in the local electrical field, attracting UFOs. George Wingfield's work on Cornfield Circles, showing them laid down near overhead power cables, is mentioned as suggestive of cable followers.

LANDING LIGHTS OF UFO BRING IT DOWN TO EARTH (Reporter Chris Hilsden)

This is a humorous news item about a 'purple alien' that landed in Wellingborough. The alien, described as a 'purple people eater,' was stopped by a police sergeant who inquired about its landing lights. The being, on a tour of Britain and other galaxies, was allowed to continue its journey.

ABDUCTION: A REGRESSIONAL CASE IN QUESTION by Mike Wootten

Mike Wootten presents a new, unpublished report of an alleged abduction experience in Essex, gleaned from hypnotic regression. The witness, referred to as 'M,' was driving on a cold November night when his car began to misfire and lose power. He noticed a bright light to his right, which grew larger and more spheroid in shape. Despite his instincts, he felt an uncontrollable urge to follow the light.

Event Abstract - The Hypnosis Session

M found himself inside a craft with a triangular-shaped room, bathed in light. He encountered shadowy figures and experienced an electrical sensation in his arm, followed by an incision. He then found himself back in his car, with an hour having passed. During the hypnosis session, M showed signs of genuine fear and anxiety, and suffered from exhaustion afterward.

Past Experiences

Looking back, a series of recurring dreams experienced by M since childhood were discovered. These dreams involved entities chasing him and shadowy figures, suggesting a possible connection to the abduction experience.

Bringing the Case into Perspective

Wootten discusses the implications of the case, noting that in typical abduction investigations, such dreams would be interpreted as corroborative evidence. He references Budd Hopkins' research, which suggests entities are conducting genetic research on humans. However, Wootten argues that for M's case, this assumption would be incorrect and potentially damaging.

He states that while many abduction witnesses are sincere, the source of these phenomena remains unconfirmed, and ufology has not yet reached a definitive understanding of the abduction experience.

Conclusion

Wootten concludes that while he cannot draw definitive conclusions, he believes the scenario M related under hypnosis was likely gleaned from his studies of UFO and abduction phenomena, rather than being a forgotten memory. He acknowledges the sincerity of most abduction witnesses but maintains the possibility of fabricated experiences.

The Strieber Entity

This section briefly mentions that UFOs and abduction experiences are well-known topics, with a particular reference to 'Hopkins entities.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO Times demonstrates a commitment to exploring diverse aspects of the UFO phenomenon, from scientific investigations into radar anomalies and case studies to the more controversial areas of parapsychology and abduction experiences. The magazine presents a balanced approach, featuring both detailed research and critical analysis, as seen in Ken Phillips' response to Manfred Cassirer. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging further research and discussion within the ufological community, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous investigation and caution, particularly in sensitive areas like abduction cases. The emphasis on detailed case studies and the computerization of data suggests a move towards more systematic and organized research within the field.

This issue of UFO Times, dated October 1990, is primarily a review-focused edition, with a prominent section dedicated to the film 'Communion'. The magazine also includes reports on UFO sightings, space news, astronomical data, and a diary of upcoming events.

'Communion' - The Movie Review

The review of the film 'Communion', directed by Philippe Mora and written by Whitley Strieber, details its general release on October 12th, 1990. The screenplay, written by Strieber himself, is based on his book about alleged abductions in 1987. The review notes that members of ASSAP and BUFORA were invited to a preview. Christopher Walken and Lindsay Crouse star as Strieber and his wife, with Walken's performance noted as Oscar-winning. The acting is described as good, considering the script. The photography is singled out as superb. The film's narrative begins with Strieber experiencing strange dreams. The review highlights scenes of Strieber at his writing, simultaneously watching himself on TV, which is interpreted as egotistical. The plot follows the Strieber family's trip to their country house in upstate New York, where Strieber and his son have encounters with 'aliens'. The review questions whether the events are dreams or reality. The film reportedly includes a needle mark behind Strieber's ear and depicts his wife Anne becoming concerned about his behavior, leading him to seek medical help. He is referred to a hypnotist who helps him relive abduction experiences, including a rectal probe. The review concludes that the film's depiction of aliens, including disco dancing and blowing raspberries, has set back witness credibility. The reviewer, Gaynor Wootten, suggests the film might be a private joke and recommends it for researchers but doubts its appeal to the general public or witnesses.

Communion Fact

A brief section notes that Whitley Strieber's book 'Communion' was the 45th bestselling book in the country according to the 'Authors and Artists Yearbook 1990'.

New Publications

The magazine introduces 'The Cereologist', a new tri-yearly publication focused on crop circle studies, which aims to be receptive to news and theories from various groups. The inaugural issue includes monographs by George Wingfield and an article by Ralph Noyes on the 'W' phenomenon in crop circles.

Books for Sale

A list of books on UFO-related topics is provided, including titles like 'Abduction' by Jenny Randles, 'Intruders' by Budd Hopkins, 'Phenomenon' edited by John Spencer & Hilary Evans, and 'Crop Circles' by Jenny Randles & Paul Fuller. Prices and ordering information are included.

UFO Sightings - Investigations Diary

UFO Formation Over Dublin

On July 30th, 1989, an elderly couple in Dublin witnessed an unusual aerial phenomenon. They observed an orange ball, the size of the sun, followed by a second, and then approximately 100 more, usually in twos, emerging from a larger object and drifting across the sky before disappearing silently. Investigators checked aircraft and balloon launches without success and were baffled by the event, especially as no one else reported seeing it.

Crackling UFO Scared My Cat

On October 24th, 1989, in North Arbury, Cambridge, a 15-year-old and his friend saw two white lights, one flashing, moving slowly. Their radio began crackling during the sighting. The same light was observed the following night. Later, a shaft of white light came through the curtains and struck the wall and ceiling. The reviewer notes that while a combination of normal circumstances could explain some aspects, the witness insists the events were strange.

International UFO Conference, Spain

Details are provided for an International UFO Conference in Spain from October 12th-14th, 1990, with speakers from various countries. Contact information for booking is included.

Skywatcher

This section provides astronomical information for September and October 1990, focusing on the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, including their magnitudes, rising times, and positions relative to other celestial bodies. It also lists meteor showers, specifically the Orionids, with their peak times and radiant coordinates.

Space News - A Mission to Earth

The 'Space News' section highlights the upcoming launch of the first European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS 1) in the next few months. ERS 1 is part of a new generation of international missions aimed at studying Earth's environmental changes. The 'Mission to Earth' project, a large cooperative effort involving multiple countries, is also discussed, focusing on monitoring the complex interactions between natural and human factors affecting the planetary environment, particularly ocean circulation. The European Space Agency is also planning a polar platform for a space station. Information is credited to ESA and NASA.

Fortean Times

A brief advertisement for 'Fortean Times' magazine is included, highlighting its content on strange phenomena, including historical cases, folklore, and current weirdness. Issues 54 and 53 (a crop circle theme issue) are featured.

Diary

The 'DIARY' section lists upcoming events in October and November 1990, including BUFORA lectures and an ASSAP tea party. Details on locations, speakers, and entry fees are provided. A note encourages readers to submit events for free publicity.

Research

This section briefly mentions the book 'Battlefield Earth' by L. Ron Hubbard and discusses a project to create a catalogue of UFO reports, cross-referenced with BUFORA and NUFORC archives.

UFOCALL

An advertisement for 'UFOCALL', a telephone service presented by Jenny Randles, offers the latest UFO news, cases, and event details. Call charges are listed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO phenomena, including movie reviews, eyewitness accounts, and scientific/astronomical updates. The magazine appears to cater to ufologists and those interested in unexplained phenomena, providing information on research, events, and publications. The editorial stance seems to be one of reporting and investigation, with a cautious approach to interpreting evidence, as seen in the 'Modern Myth' section's questioning of abduction memories and the emphasis on not instilling confusion among abductees.