BUFORA Newsfile - No.22 - Aug 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA UFO NEWSFILE
Issue: No. 22
Date: August 1994
Price: £1.50

This issue of BUFORA UFO NEWSFILE delves into a variety of UFO phenomena, historical accounts, and contemporary sightings, reflecting the ongoing interest in unexplained aerial events.

Great Cosmic Balls of Fire

The lead article, "Great cosmic balls of fire," explores historical accounts of luminous aerial phenomena. It begins with an incident in South Africa in 1903 where Mr H Bourhill reported a sound like a cannon followed by a terrifying explosion and a whizzing noise, but found no damage to his house. Another account from the same year describes William Butlin, a merchant ship's second mate, witnessing a deep red and bright yellow fireball fall into the sea off the Dutch coast, accompanied by three explosions. More recent events are also mentioned, including a massive explosion and flash in Ford, West Wiltshire, in 1977, which terrified residents. The article suggests these events could be explained as 'fireballs' or intense lightning strikes.

Weatherwatch: Paul Simons

Under the "Weatherwatch" banner, Paul Simons contributes a piece that touches on meteorological phenomena that might be mistaken for UFOs. The article highlights historical incidents, such as the 1903 South African event and the Dutch coast fireball, suggesting they could be related to atmospheric electrical discharges or meteoric activity.

Great Ball of Fire Sparks ET Theory

This section reports on a sighting in Langley where residents claimed to have seen a low-flying, spinning ball of fire arc across the sky. One bystander described it as flying faster than a plane and looking like a spinning ball of fire, though not saucer-shaped as expected from UFO depictions. Tony Fanning of the Herschel Astronomical Society offered a more mundane explanation, suggesting it could be a sporadic meteorite or car headlights reflecting off low clouds, noting that the Scorpiids meteor shower was ongoing but unlikely to produce such a large object.

Touch of the Paranormal

A resurgence of interest in UFOs and the paranormal in the UK has led to the establishment of a conference in Meigle, Perthshire. Led by Welsh expert Gary Rowe, who has 35 years of research experience, the conference aims to explore unexplained happenings and the possibility of 'other worlds'. Mr Rowe will investigate the area's sacred geometry and standing stones. Frances Grant Hutton, the organizer, highlighted Mr Rowe's expertise and the exciting nature of the weekend. The conference also offers a chance to learn from different cultures' coping mechanisms.

Roger Bray: Travel Editor - Unidentified Flying Objects

Roger Bray's contribution discusses how unidentified flying objects are typically outside the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) purview, with reports usually passed to the Ministry of Defence. However, a case involving combine harvesters had the CAA experts puzzled. It turned out to be a blade from farm equipment that had broken loose and flown for over three-quarters of a mile. The CAA's safety data and analysis unit at Gatwick has investigated numerous falling objects, with analysis head Henry Leather attributing many to carelessness, such as access panels coming loose in airflow.

Strange 21st Turns Heat on Esoteric

This article covers the "UnConvention 94," a two-day symposium organized by the Fortean Times celebrating its 21st anniversary. The event attracted hundreds of enthusiasts interested in phenomena such as spontaneous human combustion, cryptozoology, alien abduction, and psychic experiences. TV presenter Jeremy Beadle expressed his enjoyment of the anecdotal and apocryphal nature of the presentations, stating that the truth of the matter was irrelevant to his entertainment.

Dr David Jacobs lectured on emerging patterns in alien abduction research, describing accounts of women being impregnated by aliens and undergoing subsequent 'alien abortions'. He emphasized that the abductees were not psychologically disturbed.

Night-time Encounters

Joan Wilkinson of Orton Wistow reported a sleepless night ending in a close encounter with a UFO. While on a stroll, she saw a bright light resembling a planet, which through binoculars appeared as an object like a light aircraft but with a very bright white light at the back. She described it as silent and having visible windows. Nick Pope, a UFO desk officer for the Ministry of Defence, suggested it could be a plane, but checks revealed no military air activity at the time.

Driver Reports UFO Over Strensall

Ron Cowl reported seeing what he believes was a flying saucer over Strensall Common. He described a yellow light, estimated to be six to ten feet in diameter, flying at speed. People in North and East Yorkshire have reported over 20 sightings of strange objects in the sky so far this year.

Now, Flying Onions

John Hunt, a postman from York, claims to have seen a mystery onion-shaped UFO flying at high speed above his houseboat. He described it as lemon-coloured and darting over the River Ouse. He estimated its size to be six to ten feet in diameter and watched it for half a minute before it disappeared.

Letter to the Editor

John Mitten writes to the Western Morning News, stating he has been researching UFOs for over 20 years and is undertaking a project into the subject. He requests information from readers to aid his research.

Star Blows Fortune on UFO Probe

Reg Presley, star of The Troggs, is reportedly spending £1 million in royalties from the film "Four Weddings and a Funeral" on investigating UFOs. He plans to use the money to examine crop circles, which he believes are made by alien spacecraft. Presley's song "Love Is All Around" was a hit in the film.

Snapshot

UFO investigator Nigel Mortimer is scheduled to give a talk on his close encounters and other UFO mysteries at the Clarke-Foley Day Centre in Ilkley. He will discuss his first UFO sighting in 1980.

'These aliens had a few at the pub!'

Farmer Philip Fidler has complained about 'weirdos' invading his fields after a series of crop circles appeared. He humorously suggested the aliens responsible might have had a few drinks at the local pub.

UFO, Not a Helicopter

Lindsey Zein, a 17-year-old from Upton, reports seeing a round, misty shape with flashing lights that moved at high speed near her car. She states it was not a police helicopter and that its speed and sudden disappearance were unusual. She also references a similar sighting by Debbie Holt in Barnsley.

Lights in Sky

JC Kilner of Holmfirth reports seeing a circular patch of bright lights, about 20 yards in diameter, stationary for several seconds. He heard no helicopter and believes it was not a plane due to the lights not moving. Inspector Terry Jepson of Holmfirth police verified that various reports of bright lights over the moors have been made, speculating they could be landing lights of planes or laser beams.

UFO Spotter Gordon Stewart

Gordon Stewart plans to lobby the Government over an alleged cover-up of alien activity. He is involved in the Alien Acknowledgement Campaign and believes the government is concealing the existence of extraterrestrials. He runs the Northants branch of the London UFO Studies group and will join others in lobbying the Ministry of Defence and the House of Commons.

Strange Lights Over Scarborough

This article discusses recent sightings of strange lights and unexplained objects in the skies above Scarborough and Pickering. It notes North Yorkshire's history of UFO reports, including a York taxi driver's claim of seeing an alien craft set fire to the Minster in 1984, and a 1986 incident where a York team bus was reportedly buzzed by a UFO. It also mentions a 1988 sighting of a pumpkin-shaped object and a 1992 photograph of a Polo mint-shaped object. North Yorkshire is highlighted as having the most UFO sightings in England.

UFO Spotter Steve

Judith Kirk reported seeing a pair of very large bright lights flying parallel at high speed over Paul. She described them leaving a vapour trail and being accompanied by two smaller craft. She later heard a report about a similar mystery craft over the west coast of Ireland, with Air Traffic Control having no record of a flight.

MPs Urged to Lift Veil on Aliens

Local MPs John Ward, John Butterfill, and David Atkinson are to be presented with a letter urging them to investigate and reveal the truth about UFOs. This is part of the 'Operation Right to Know' campaign, which aims to lobby the Ministry of Defence and the US Pentagon. The campaign lists six points of evidence for UFOs, including documented reports of non-human technology, landing traces, witness testimonies, and animal mutilations.

999 - Help! The Martians Are Coming

A meteor breaking up in the atmosphere caused panic across four counties, with frantic calls to police reporting 'Martians landing'. The event caused an orange glow in the sky over Norfolk, Suffolk, East Anglia, and Essex. Police confirmed no damage or sightings of little green men.

UFOs Not Just Pie in the Sky, Says Sceptic

Richard Millen, a UFO investigator from Newark, expresses skepticism about alien invasions but acknowledges the possibility of extraterrestrial existence. He has investigated mysterious lights in the sky and is appealing for anyone who sees anything unusual to contact him. He notes that Newark and Southwell have been locations for several flying saucer sightings.

UFO Alert for MPs

A group called the Alien Acknowledgement Campaign is delivering a document to the House of Commons urging MPs to investigate visits to Earth by aliens and UFOs.

Rabbit's Head

Reports of craft shaped like a rabbit's head have been mentioned in relation to flying saucer sightings.

Cones from Outer Space

This piece discusses UFO sightings over the West Midlands, with the author expressing frustration with what they perceive as alien activity causing chaos. They describe the objects as red, cone-shaped, and part of an invading army.

Video Footage of a Possible Unidentified Flying Object

Video footage of a possible unidentified flying object over Radcliffe-on-Trent will be shown at a meeting of the East Midlands UFO Research Association. The film shows three silent lights in the night sky.

UFO expert's gift to town

Ken Rogers, a UFO expert from Warminster who died in January, left thousands of pounds to the town in his will. His gift is expected to be between £40,000 and £70,000. Books and manuscripts from his research into the 'Warminster Thing' have been left to the Dewey Museum.

UFOs have landed

A group claiming that space aliens have landed on Earth is pressing the government to release documents they believe prove their case. The Alien Acknowledgement Campaign founder, John Holman, stated that there is overwhelming evidence of UFO landings and that the Ministry of Defence has more information.

The Bottle-Cooling Machine That Fooled the World

This article recounts the story of George Adamski, who in 1952 claimed to have photographed a UFO that landed in the Arizona desert and that he shook hands with a man from Venus. The 'pictures' were later identified as the top of a bottle-cooling machine.

One Sceptic in UFO Gathering

Police officer Kevin Semprini attended a convention of 500 UFO believers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He found the event 'bizarre,' particularly a speaker's claim about a 'face on Mars' being carved by ancient astronauts. Semprini was one of the few sceptics present.

Roberta Puhalski's Sighting

Roberta Puhalski of Connecticut reported seeing her first extraterrestrial in 1988, describing a figure with a huge head, frail frame, and overly extended arms, similar to creatures from 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.

UFO expert's gift to town

Ken Rogers, a UFO expert who died in January, left a significant sum of money to Warminster. His research into the 'Warminster Thing' is also being preserved.

World to End in 50 Years..

Green medium Ann Walker predicts the world will end in 50 years unless more trees are planted. She claims to communicate with an alien named 'White Arrow' and has received predictions about the future, including a baby within two years who will do something out of the ordinary.

Message of Doom from Five Aliens

This section details predictions from Ann Walker's book, allegedly received from five aliens. These include the Earth's orbit shifting, leading to earthquakes and tidal waves, destruction of landmasses, and a collision with a comet. The only way to save the planet is to stop destroying rainforests and start replanting trees.

'Invading' UFO Gives Kiwi Mates Big Scare

A bizarre encounter on a West Auckland beach involved a UFO charging at a group of people. Daisy Kirkby, who has started an Abductee Support Group, explains that many people don't remember abduction experiences because aliens can put them in a state of suspended animation. She notes that sightings are becoming more graphic, with people experiencing 'tightening things'.

Realisation of Ancient Prophecy..

UFO expert Daisy Kirkby suggests that numerous UFO sightings in New Zealand are the realization of an ancient prophecy made by Mexican priests in 755 AD. The prophecy foretold a new era of cosmic awareness following the solar eclipse of July 11, 1991, during which two metallic disc-shaped UFOs appeared. Kirkby believes that craft involved in this prophecy may have shifted their attention to countries like New Zealand.

The Galacto Guys

A comic strip titled 'The Galacto Guys' is included, featuring aliens discussing furniture and dining rooms.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, alien encounters, and the paranormal. There is a consistent exploration of both mundane and extraordinary explanations for these phenomena, with a leaning towards acknowledging the unexplained while also presenting scientific or skeptical viewpoints. The magazine appears to be a platform for reporting a wide range of UFO-related news and personal accounts, encouraging public engagement and investigation.