BUFORA Newsfile - No.27 - Mar 1995

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA NEWSFILE
Issue: No 27
Volume: 2
Date: March 1995
Publisher: BUFORA

This issue of BUFORA NEWSFILE, a publication dedicated to exploring UFOs and related phenomena, presents a diverse range of articles, reports, and personal testimonies.

Mystery Face on Camera

Amateur photographer Alan Irving may be closer to solving the mystery of a strange face captured on his camera. The photograph, taken in October/November of the previous year, shows a circle of lights above his home in Coombe Road, Tovil, with a man's face seemingly visible. Two UFO investigation groups have offered to investigate the unexplained image. Mervyn Newell of the East Kent Research Unit is keen to speak to Mr. Irving. The photograph has drawn comparisons to the late Raymond Massey in the film version of H.G. Wells's 'Things to Come'.

UFOs Put Phones Out Here, Too

This article highlights the Russian Academy of Science's admission to studying UFOs, prompted by a sighting at Petrozavodsk in September 1977. The incident involved an object that rained down beams of light, rendering communications inoperable for witnesses, including border guards. The author, Michael Thomas, a ufologist and crop circle researcher, draws parallels to an experience by Heywood ambulancemen in May 1989, where three UFOs overhead caused phones to go dead. The ambulancemen also reported flashing headlights at the objects, which responded with coloured lights.

UFO Was Police Helicopter

An apparent UFO sighting over Clacton on New Year's Eve was identified as the Essex Police helicopter. Several readers reported seeing a large round object, but police confirmed their helicopter had been active in the area that night, searching for burglars.

Count Me Out If It's UFOs!

This opinion piece expresses skepticism towards UFOlogists, likening them to 'celestial train-spotters'. The author, while acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena, states a belief in UFOs only when one actually lands. The article references the work of George King and Eric von Daniken, and criticizes the claims of UFOlogists who believe in a worldwide conspiracy to cover up evidence, including alien bodies. The author also notes the commercial aspect of UFO culture, citing advertisements for UFO detectors and books in 'UFO Magazine'.

Our Lives in Space: The Real Close Encounters

This section features testimonies from individuals who claim to have been abducted by aliens. Psychologist Susan Blackmore's interviews with people who have had 'close encounters' reveal striking similarities in their accounts.

Wendy's Testimony: A mother from Pennsylvania describes being woken by 'grey beings' with large, black, liquid-like eyes and thin bodies. She was taken to a craft and a sterile metal room for examinations, including a gynaecological one. She believes embryos were implanted and later removed, and saw hybrid children in a nursery.

Carrie's Testimony: Carrie, from New York, recounts multiple abductions by 'grey beings'. She describes seeing incubators with babies and human-alien hybrids. A specific incident involved waking up to find her legs spread apart and experiencing intense pain, followed by a dream where she caught a tiny, human-alien foetus.

Rusty's Testimony: Rusty, from New York, recounts an abduction from a hotel room in Florida in 1980. He describes a figure with black, oval eyes and a greyish face. Under hypnosis, he recalled being taken to an alien spaceship and receiving an instrument that left a scar above his left knee.

Mary's Testimony: Mary, a US Defense employee, claims to have suffered gynaecological problems due to implants and egg removals by 'grey beings'. She experienced a telepathic communication from aliens stating her procedures were complete, leading to a resolution of her pain and a cancellation of surgery.

What the Experts Say

Experts suggest that claims of seeing aliens may be influenced by media, books, and films, or by the effects of hypnotists and UFO support groups. Another theory links paranormal experiences to abnormal activity in the temporal lobes of the brain, and alien abductions to sleep paralysis. Dr. Susan Blackmore states that while plausible reasons exist, the abductees are not lying and believe their experiences are real. The Ministry of Defence maintains that, as far as science is concerned, there is no life on other planets and no threat to the country.

UFO Activity in North Yorkshire

Investigator Andrew Rayner reports an increase in UFO activity in North Yorkshire, with close encounters ranging from sightings of human-type beings and crafts to abductions. Ilkley Moor is identified as a 'hotspot'. Rayner believes UFOs are not science fiction and encourages people to share their experiences without fear of ridicule.

Aspel's Aliens

This article discusses a segment from the ITV series 'Strange But True' featuring Michael Aspel investigating a significant UFO case involving senior air force officers, radar operators, and a former Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Defence. The case relates to events at Woodbridge and Bentwaters air bases near Ipswich in Suffolk, in December 1980, where a security patrol reported bizarre lights and indentations in the ground. The incident escalated when the deputy commander, Lt Col Charles Halt, and his team claimed to have seen a UFO, detected by a Geiger counter and night vision scope. A British radar operator also reported an inexplicable object.

UFO Spotting

A group of North-East UFO spotters, the North-East Unidentified Flying Object Reporters Magazine (NEUFORM), has pledged to help people who have had close encounters.

Close Encounters in Wales

An upcoming conference in Cardiff aims to bring together people who claim to have witnessed alien spacecraft and lights in Wales. Organised by 'UFO magazine', the meeting will focus on unexplained sightings in the region.

'UFO' photos probe

Expert UFO investigators are examining photographs believed to show a flying saucer over Bridgwater. The pictures, taken by Shaun Depledge, show a pulsing bright yellow trail.

On the Track of Close Encounters

Mrs Margaret Fry, a UFO expert from Llangernyw, reports being inundated with reports of mysterious sightings in the Denbigh area. She claims to have seen a UFO herself and mentions reports of triangle-shaped objects and bright lights. Mrs Fry believes in extraterrestrial life and suggests a cover-up by NASA regarding space probe missions. She is compiling a book about her experiences.

Strange Lights in the Sky Near York

Several people reported sightings of UFOs on a Saturday night near York. Descriptions included a 'whirlwind with a yellow coloured light' and a 'flashing blue light'. Experts were baffled, suggesting magnetic fields but noting conditions were not conducive.

Driver Spots UFO Over A1079

Helen Flaherty reported seeing a light in the sky over the border of North and East Yorkshire that was cottage-loaf shaped, moving fast, and then veering off and climbing before disappearing.

Party Lights Spark UFO Scare

Bizarre lights in the sky across South Wales triggered a UFO scare, with hundreds of calls to police. The lights were eventually identified as searchlight beams from an 18th birthday party.

UFOs Have Been Lighting Up North-East Imaginations

Dozens of readers contacted the Evening Express with theories about a mystery object seen at Bridge of Don. Explanations ranged from jumbo jets to dimension-hopping beings and the Second Coming. Jim Ferguson, an aviation expert, warned that it is difficult to judge aircraft height at night and suggested military aircraft as a possibility.

Eyes Up for ETs Over Wales

This article previews a conference in Cardiff for people who claim to have witnessed alien spacecraft and lights in Wales. Margaret Fry claims her car was followed by a UFO in 1955 and believes aliens have underground bases.

Star Trek is Still Boldly Going

This brief article notes the growing public interest in UFOs and space travel, reflected in dedicated magazines and popular TV series like 'The X-Files' and 'Star Trek'. It mentions an upcoming exhibition of Star Trek memorabilia in Edinburgh.

UFO May Have Been Space Debris

A TV documentary is set to investigate a mystery sighting in Oxfordshire from October 1971, where a large vapour trail stopped suddenly, followed by a visible circular object. This incident is one of 8,000 reported to the Ministry of Defence, with 400 remaining unidentified. A Ministry of Defence spokesman suggested space debris as a possible explanation.

'UFO' Was Spy Rocket Debris

A 'flaming flying object' seen over southern Africa was identified as the upper stage of a Russian rocket used to launch a spy satellite.

Ken Phillips: Editor of UFO Times

Ken Phillips, editor of 'UFO Times', expresses a bleak view of the UFO subject due to its 'eccentrics' and the difficulty in getting research grants. He acknowledges the need to accommodate various perspectives within the magazine.

UFO Sightings Are Not Proof of Extraterrestrial Spaceships

Peter Hough, author of 'Supernatural Britain', advises investigators to maintain objectivity, seek rational solutions, and use essential equipment like cameras and tape recorders. He emphasizes that UFO sightings are not proof of extraterrestrial spacecraft and warns against approaching crashed craft.

The Witness Support Group

Janice Georgiou and Ken Philips founded The Witness Support Group to help people who claim UFO experiences and face ridicule. The group supports witnesses who have experienced sightings and abductions, with many claiming physical examinations and genetic studies by aliens.

According to One Local Expert, the Last Living Alien Held in Captivity Has Now Died

John Omega, who has studied UFOs for 30 years, views aliens as 'extremely terrifying' and compares them to Josef Mengele, citing alleged medical experiments and mutilations. He advises keeping away from crashed craft. Barry Ayrton's article suggests that the US military and CIA hold parts of crashed alien spaceships and bodies, with the last living alien reportedly deceased.

Strange Lights 'Could Be Aliens'

David Robinson, a UFO expert, is seeking information about mysterious sightings in Anthorn and Wigton, suggesting they could be connected to aliens. He notes that the latest sightings were of strange lights but could not be more specific.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the theme of UFO sightings and alleged alien encounters, presenting a mix of personal testimonies, expert opinions, and skeptical viewpoints. There is a recurring emphasis on the possibility of government cover-ups and the challenges faced by individuals who report such experiences. The magazine appears to lean towards presenting evidence and accounts of UFO phenomena, while also acknowledging the need for rational explanations and scientific investigation. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into the subject, encouraging readers to share their experiences and theories.