UFO Times - No 17 - Spring 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO TIMES
Issue: Number 17
Date: Spring 1992
Publisher: A BUFORA PUBLICATION
Country: United Kingdom
ISSN: 0958-4846

This issue of UFO Times, a publication of the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA), features a range of articles exploring controversial cases, investigative findings, and theoretical perspectives within ufology. The magazine adopts a critical yet open approach, encouraging submissions and aiming to provide a platform for unbiased research.

Editorial: Warminster – A Ufological Monument About to Fall?

The editorial, penned by Mike Wootten, questions the validity of long-held UFO cases, using Warminster as a prime example. It posits that if key cases like the 'Warminster Thing' can be debunked, it challenges the foundations of British ufology. The article highlights John Spencer's investigation into the Faulkner photograph, suggesting it was a hoax. The editorial also touches upon the role of Arthur Shuttlewood, a key figure in publicizing the Warminster events, and raises questions about his potential knowledge of the hoax. While acknowledging loose ends, the editorial concludes that a significant doubt has been cast over the Warminster events.

Changes

Mike Wootten announces changes to the magazine's format, including a new, vitalised layout and the handover of typesetting and design to printers Newton Mann Ltd. He notes a reduction in page count but an increase in text density, effectively providing more content. The editor reaffirms that UFO Times remains open to contributions from anyone wishing to submit papers, irrespective of their viewpoint, aligning with BUFORA's aims.

News

Vallee Comes to Britain

Reported by Mike Wootten, this section covers Jacques Vallee's visit to Britain to launch his book 'Revelations.' Vallee presented his research, focusing on South American cases, particularly in Brazil, where he claims villagers are experiencing regular close encounters. He emphasized the importance of these cases due to the percipients' lack of awareness of popular UFO perceptions, leading to more accurate correlations with reported experiences. Vallee presented statistical studies suggesting a 9:00 PM observational peak and mirrored duration correlations globally. He concluded that the UFO experience involves a physical reality interwoven with a psychic non-reality, suggesting multiple answers rather than a single one.

New Earth Mysteries Group Opens in London

A new group called TEMS (Travel & Earth Mysteries Society) has been established in South-west London, catering to people interested in various earth mysteries, including UFOs. TEMS is a social and study group planning a program of speakers, events, and site trips, covering topics like ancient sites, crop circles, dowsing, and hauntings.

UFO NEWSLINE

A hotline number (0352-732473) is provided for readers to submit hot UFO news stories.

YUFOS in 'Secret' BBC Film Scam

The Yorkshire UFO Society claimed the BBC was withholding a film sequence showing a UFO. However, TV producer John McNish easily accessed the footage, finding no secrecy notice, and obtained a copy. Veteran UFO researcher Alan Staiths dismissed this as another 'YUFOS fantasy.'

Busty Bets on 1992 Circles

Crop circle researcher Busty Taylor predicts a shift in circle formations for the 1992 season, moving away from Wessex, and anticipates the continued appearance of pictograms.

The Warminster Hoax by John Spencer

John Spencer recounts his personal introduction to UFO research, sparked by a 1965 Daily Mirror front-page photograph of 'The Thing' from Warminster. He details Arthur Shuttlewood's role as a prominent figure in publicizing the Warminster events and leading 'skywatches.' Spencer discusses the scientific attempts to study UFOs in Warminster during the late 1960s, acknowledging their amateurish nature in hindsight. He highlights John Cleary-Baker's 'Project Warminster' aimed at investigating and analyzing UFO reports. Spencer then focuses on the Faulkner photograph, presenting evidence from Roger Hooton that it was a hoax created as a practical joke. Hooton provided details about the construction of the model used for the photograph, which was made from everyday items. The article questions Arthur Shuttlewood's knowledge of the hoax, noting that his son was aware of it. The investigation into Shuttlewood's son's involvement and Arthur Shuttlewood's own knowledge has reached a dead end due to Shuttlewood's ill health.

Spencer details the alleged hoax process, including the use of a model, the photographic challenges, and the publication in the Warminster Journal, suggesting editor Charles Mills may have been aware of the prank. He contrasts the limited coverage in the local paper with the sensational spread in the Daily Mirror, facilitated by Arthur Shuttlewood. The article also mentions other reports from Warminster, including car stops, strange sounds, and animal deaths possibly linked to UFO phenomena, as well as early crop circle damage.

Spencer reflects on how the Warminster photograph, even if a fake, served to focus attention on UFO research and Arthur Shuttlewood, contributing valuable material to the subject. He expresses a tinge of sadness that his childhood excitement was based on a false premise but remains grateful that it led him to this important subject.

Glowing Object with Tornado in Pursuit by Joseph Dormer

Joseph Dormer investigates a report by taxi driver Andrew Billing concerning a UFO sighting over Blackpool on July 6, 1989. Billing described a large, red-orange, glowing object moving at high speed, followed by an RAF Tornado flying low and fast. Billing believed an air-to-air missile might have been fired. However, British Aerospace confirmed no Tornados were in the area, and Blackpool Airport's radar was not operational. Billing's account contained discrepancies regarding the time and the object's size. Further investigation revealed that Billing had previously reported sightings that were later identified as misidentifications or staged events, including a Russian booster rocket and model helicopters. Despite these inconsistencies, Dormer and other members of FUFOIG found Billing to be sincere. The article concludes that while Billing's account is difficult to explain conventionally, his sincerity and the absurdity of the story suggest it was not a deliberate hoax. Enquiries to the MOD yielded no results.

American Geologist backs Earthlights Theory

This report by Mike Wootten details US Geological Survey geophysicist John S. Derr's findings presented at the Seismological Society of America's annual meeting. Derr suggests that approximately 95% of UFO sightings have natural explanations. His theory posits that underground stress generates radio signals before earthquakes, and a similar phenomenon could explain 'quake lights' or ball lightning. Derr's study analyzed UFO sightings in New Mexico from 1951-1952, finding clusters near earthquake epicenters. While some, like seismologist Martha Savage, expressed skepticism about the correlation, others, like Kendrick Frazier of the Skeptical Inquirer, found the study interesting and cautiously supportive. The report notes that the geological community's growing awareness of this phenomenon is vital for further research.

Livingston Close Encounter Set in Stone

This brief item reports on the erection of a plaque at the Dechmont Law site in Scotland to commemorate the 1979 Livingston close encounter. The plaque, unveiled on January 31st, is possibly the first memorial to a close encounter to be officially erected. The case involved forestry worker Bob Taylor, who encountered a UFO and smaller objects, rendering him unconscious and leaving ground traces.

Get the Latest T-Shirt

This section advertises a limited edition T-shirt with a unique design by artist Kevin Flannery, available from UFORIA for £5.50, including postage.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently grapples with the tension between sensational claims and rigorous investigation. The editorial stance appears to favor critical analysis and the debunking of hoaxes, as exemplified by the detailed examination of the Warminster photograph. However, it also acknowledges the importance of eyewitness testimony and the need for open-mindedness, as seen in the coverage of the Blackpool Tornado incident and the inclusion of theoretical papers like Serena Roney-Dougal's on the Pineal Gland. The magazine champions BUFORA's aims of encouraging, promoting, and conducting unbiased scientific research into UFO phenomena, while also serving as a platform for diverse viewpoints and ongoing investigations.

This issue of UFO Times, dated September 1991, features a cover story titled "UFOs, States of Mind and The Pineal Connection" by Serena Roney-Dougal. The magazine also includes regular sections like "Newscuttings," "Investigations Diary," "Skywatcher," "Space News," and "Readers Write," along with various editorial comments and announcements.

UFOs, States of Mind and The Pineal Connection

Serena Roney-Dougal's article explores the intricate relationship between UFO phenomena, human consciousness, and the pineal gland. It posits that electromagnetism (e-m) acts as an interface between matter and spirit, body and mind. Electrostatics, responsible for phenomena like lightning and electric sparks, is linked to UFO-related light phenomena. The human body's electrical nature and sensitivity to electromagnetic fields (EMF) are discussed, along with the concept of the 'L-field' or aura. The Earth's magnetic field is highlighted as a significant factor to which humans are sensitive, influencing our sense of direction and circadian rhythms, potentially through the pineal gland. The article suggests that changes in EMF intensity can affect psychic sensitivity, leading to increased reports of telepathy and clairvoyance during periods of decreased EMF, and deathbed apparitions during solar storms.

The second part of the article, "The Pineal Gland and the Earth's Magnetic Field," further elaborates on this connection. It notes that sensitivity to psychic information is affected by EMF changes. The pineal gland's role in processing psychic information and its potential link to the 'fairy faith' and ancient megalithic sites are explored. The article suggests that barrows might be constructed to affect consciousness and enhance receptivity to psychic phenomena, while stone circles might be related to effects linked with an increase in magnetic field.

Earth Magic

This section delves into the concept of 'Earth Magic,' describing matter as a complex interplay of electric and magnetic fields. It discusses electrostatics, the human body's electrical sensitivity, and the healing properties of magnetism. The Earth's magnetism is presented as being influenced by the solar cycle, affecting weather, plant growth, and even social change. The article highlights the human sensitivity to the Earth's magnetic field (EMF), suggesting it provides a 'sixth sense' for direction, possibly linked to the pineal gland. It also touches upon the piezoelectric properties of bone, teeth, and hair, and how ground magnetism might affect our circadian rhythms and emotions.

Sacred Sites

The magazine explores the folklore linking stone circles and sacred sites with psychic events, UFOs, and fairies. Britain's reputation as a 'psychic country' is noted, with statistics on ghost sightings and out-of-body experiences. The geological makeup of Britain, with its numerous stone circles often situated near geological faults, is discussed. The article posits that these stones might act as condensers for electrostatic energy, creating an environment conducive to psychic phenomena. Ley lines are also mentioned as places associated with UFO sightings and hauntings, possibly linked to subtle Earth currents concentrated along these lines. The construction of barrows is theorized to affect consciousness and enhance psychic awareness, while stone circles are linked to increased magnetic field effects.

The Fairy-Faith Philosophy

This section examines the legends of the 'fair folk' and their connection to UFO reports. It suggests that these legends represent a remnant of an old animistic religion, now resurging as Wicca and Paganism. Four types of fair folk are described: country fairies, white ladies, British elves, and pagan deities. The article draws parallels between the reported shapes and characteristics of these beings and those described in UFO literature. Fairyland is presented as a supernormal state of consciousness accessible through dreams, trances, or even after death, linking it to reincarnation philosophies and imagery often associated with UFO sightings.

Newscuttings for 1991

This section reports that the total number of UFO-related cuttings for 1991 was 1110, a slight decrease from 1990. A significant portion of these cuttings (over 60%) concerned crop circles, many without any mention of UFOs. This trend continued into 1992, with January producing 65 cuttings, 18 of which were about crop circles.

Accredited Investigators

There has been a significant increase in requests for provisional status for investigators, pushing the number towards 50. A new postal training course is being developed, with 14 members already having applied.

New R1 Form

A new, improved R1 form has been developed, which is described as a "first rate new form."

Broadcast News

Timothy Good made several appearances to promote his book 'Alien Liaison'. The author also recounts his own appearances on Radio 1 and BBC-1's 'People Today,' discussing UFOs and the paranormal. He mentions a forthcoming 13-week series on ITV about "aliens and the paranormal" hosted by Jonathon Ross, expressing hope for more sober coverage of these issues.

Investigations Diary

This section presents a series of UFO sighting reports from the "CASEFILECASEFILECASEFILECASEFILE" archive, dating from 1940 to 1991. The entries include details of the date, location, witness, and a brief description of the sighting. Notable cases include a "metallic 'wasp'" object in Alperton (1940), an "irregular mass" in Walthamstow (1987), a "white 'star'" in Woodville (1989), a "pulsating red patch of cloud" in Pembroke (1991), and a "small white object" in Sidmouth (1991).

Great Balls of Fire

A report details a brilliant fragmenting fireball seen over the Bristol and Swansea area on January 10th, 1992, described as fiery and breaking into six elongated pieces, possibly caused by space-debris re-entry.

Ulysses Update

On February 8th, 1992, the Ulysses solar-polar space probe encountered Jupiter's gravitational field for a manoeuvre to propel it towards the Sun's poles. The probe is now heading for the Sun at an incredible speed of 11.4 km/s. Ulysses is equipped with sophisticated instruments to measure particles, gas, dust, magnetic fields, and solar wind, and will also search for radio emissions, plasma, and gravitational waves.

Earthlights: An Independent Consensus

In a letter to the editor, Paul Devereux clarifies his work concerning 'Earthlights' and its relationship with the theories of Persinger and himself. He states that his book "Crop Circles: A Mystery Solved" provides context for the work of others, including Tributsch. He defends his position, asserting that his book "UFOs: A British Viewpoint" (1978) already discussed atmospheric and meteorological processes that could explain UFO data, coining the term UAP. He notes that his later book, "The Pennine UFO Mystery," developed these ideas further by examining data from the Pennine Hills. Devereux emphasizes that his work and that of Terence Meaden were independent but reached similar conclusions, validating the UAP concept. He also mentions his books "Science and the UFOs" and "Mind Monsters," which further explore these themes.

Editor's comment (on Earthlights)

The editor acknowledges the ethical issues surrounding the publication of investigators' work. He confirms that Andy Collins gave permission for the publication of the Aveley abduction account and notes that BUFORA's case files, though previously disorganized, are now being computerized and bound. The editor contrasts this with the UFOIN files, which he describes as a lighter administrative exercise.

UFOIN Files: The IUN Respond

Andy Roberts responds to Jenny Randles' comments regarding the UFOIN files. He asserts that the files were given to the IUN and will remain there, stored in his house. He criticizes the previous storage of NUFON and BUFORA files in cardboard boxes, leading to their theft. Roberts states that the UFOIN files are now individually folderized and accessible for photo-copying. He also addresses Jenny Randles' ethics in publishing witness details, stating that personal details will be deleted unless otherwise marked or if the case has been in the media. Roberts expresses high regard for Jenny Randles as a researcher and a person.

R1 Comment

This section expresses gratitude for publishing an article on "Ufology in Ireland" in UFO Times no. 16. It also mentions the BUFORA sighting questionnaires as excellent and a vast improvement.

Editors comment (on R1 Comment)

The editor thanks the contributors for their support and constructive criticism regarding the new questionnaire. He notes that it was discussed at length and is expected to be available soon.

Are The fakers Faking?

John L. Clarke, writing from a police officer's perspective, comments on crop circles. He dismisses claims that crop circles can be made by moving in a straight line with a sight on a cap, comparing it to a boat skipper aligning with a distant mark. He questions why crop circles have only appeared in recent years if Terence Meaden's plasma vortex theory is correct. Clarke proposes that an "other intelligence" is creating these patterns to draw attention to a natural power grid system, potentially harnessing energy that could replace fossil fuels and nuclear power. He suggests that ancient ancestors may have built stone circles and barrows on 'sacred' ground associated with these lines, possibly related to extraterrestrial visitors.

Editor's comment (on Are The fakers Faking?)

The editor acknowledges the controversy surrounding crop circle claims. He maintains that the majority of complex circles are hoaxes, with fewer simpler genuine circles. He notes that evidence suggests circles have appeared in the past, though not to the current extent. He dismisses the idea that extraterrestrials are marking circles, arguing that a higher intelligence would communicate more intelligibly. The editor states that Stonehenge was closed to the public due to vandalism, not scientific investigation.

Brigantia Books

An advertisement for Brigantia Books, offering a large selection of second-hand and rare UFO titles in Britain.

UFO Newsfile

An announcement for UFO Newsfile, providing updates on UFO stories from the press, with subscription details.

Diary

This section lists upcoming events, including the IUN International UFO Conference in Sheffield, BUFORA London lectures, and the BUFORA 30th Anniversary Conference. Details for each event, including speakers and locations, are provided.

UFOCALL

An advertisement for UFOCALL, a telephone service presented by Jenny Randles, offering "the strangest close encounters on the telephone" with the latest cases, research news, and event details.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO Times strongly emphasizes the connection between UFO phenomena, human consciousness, and the environment. The articles explore how psychological states, electromagnetic fields, and even ancient geological sites might influence or be related to UFO experiences. There's a recurring theme of distinguishing between genuine phenomena and hoaxes, particularly concerning crop circles. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging investigation and the sharing of data, while also acknowledging the need for critical analysis and the potential for psychological or atmospheric explanations. The magazine promotes BUFORA as a central organization for UFO research and information dissemination.