BUFORA Newsfile - No.35 - Jan 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA NEWSFILE
Issue: No 35
Date: 1 January 1996
Price: £1.00

This issue of BUFORA Newsfile, dated January 1, 1996, presents a comprehensive look at UFO phenomena, featuring a range of eyewitness accounts, investigative reports, and expert opinions. The cover story, "Mother baffled by UFO sighting," highlights a local incident in Ashford, while other articles delve into sightings in Tenterden, Newmarket, Cornwall, and across the UK.

Key Articles and Reports

Local Sightings and Investigations

The issue opens with a report on Teresa Murray's sighting of a bright light over Ashford, initially thought to be a meteor. Jim Leng from Tenterden claims to have filmed a UFO, sending the tape to Gloria Dickson, an investigator for the British UFO Research Association, who notes an "enormous upsurge in reports." Steve Ling, a newspaper worker, recounts seeing "cloud-like 'UFO' lights" follow him for 15 miles near Newmarket, describing them as "small clouds in three perfectly-shaped circles" that were spinning and making no noise.

International and Regional Cases

In Cornwall, UFO-hunter David Gillham reports two incidents: a "strange pink triangle" seen over Pool on November 4, and an "elongated object with brightly lit portholes" over Trispen a couple of weeks later. The Sunday Independent (Plymouth) covers these cases, noting that the Ministry of Defence has no evidence of extraterrestrial life, though David Gillham is keen to hear from more witnesses.

The 'X-Philes' Debate: Personal Experiences and Theories

A significant section of the magazine is dedicated to "The X-'Philes," featuring four viewpoints on the alien/human interface.

• The Healthy Sceptic: Frank Black (musician) discusses the "compounding of information in the media" since the 1940s and the difficulty in separating real experiences from media influence. He recounts a childhood UFO experience and questions the nature of evidence for extraterrestrial life, suggesting that if beings can travel the galaxy, they might not leave hard evidence.
• The Investigator: John Spencer (President of the British UFO Research Association) distinguishes between "lights in the sky" and "close encounters," noting that close encounters typically involve fewer witnesses. He expresses a desire to find rational explanations but acknowledges the existence of unexplained phenomena. Spencer is critical of some abduction research methods, particularly the use of hypnosis, fearing it can lead to false memories.
• The Abductee: Rowan Hinton shares her experience of being abducted by aliens, describing them as having "very, very big, dark eyes" and a "dull and grey" appearance. She works in a mental hospital and presents herself as a rational individual.
• The Psychologist: Dr Susan Blackmore suggests that many abduction experiences may stem from psychological states like sleep paralysis and temporal lobe disorders, which can create vivid hallucinations and a sense of presence. She notes that these phenomena are often interpreted through the lens of popular culture, such as alien encounters.

Ministry of Defence Perspective

Nick Pope, who worked at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) investigating UFO reports, shares his insights. He explains that the MoD's role is to establish whether UFO sightings pose a threat to UK security. While the official stance is that there's no evidence of extraterrestrial life, Pope admits that his personal view is that some unexplained phenomena might indeed be extraterrestrial in origin. He highlights the Rendlesham Forest incident as a key case and notes the significant number of UFO reports received annually (258 in 1993).

Notable Cases and Historical Context

The magazine details several significant UFO incidents:

• The Rendlesham Forest Incident (December 27, 1980): Described as an "article of faith" among conspiracy theorists, this event involved security policemen seeing unusual lights and a landed object in the forest near RAF Woodbridge.
• The Roswell Incident: Mentioned in relation to a controversial film and theories about a government treaty with aliens.
• The Bonnybridge Triangle: Central Scotland is identified as a "hotspot" for mysterious sky sightings, with investigator Malcolm Robinson having a busy year probing such cases.
• The 'Flying Saucer' Era: The issue traces the origin of the term 'flying saucer' to pilot Kenneth Arnold's sighting in 1947 and discusses the subsequent rise in reports and the establishment of Project Blue Book in America.
• The 'Alien Nation' Map: A comprehensive, cut-out-and-keep guide to major UFO sightings in Britain over the past 50 years is presented, detailing incidents from Bennybridge, Scotland (1989) to Withdean, Sussex (1951), including sightings, visitations, and abductions.

Other Features

• Reg Presley (musician) discusses crop circles and his belief that aliens are already here, possibly from another dimension or our future, and are interested in humanity for reasons related to saving the planet.
• Liam 'Skin' Tyson (musician) expresses a belief in "energies" being released that are making people more aware, linking this to crop circles and aliens who are "coming here with love."
• Gerald (UFO Agnostic) shares his views on the likelihood of intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy and the potential for interdimensional beings.
• The Discovery Channel is promoting a documentary about UFO visitations, featuring quotes from CIA agents and astronauts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine adopts a stance of open inquiry, presenting a wide spectrum of views from sceptics and believers alike. It highlights the persistent public interest in UFOs, linking it to cultural shifts and anxieties, such as the approaching millennium. The editorial tone seems to lean towards acknowledging the reality of unexplained phenomena while also exploring rational and psychological explanations. There's a clear emphasis on eyewitness testimony and the challenges of obtaining concrete evidence. The recurring theme is the enduring mystery of UFOs and the human need to understand our place in the universe, with a particular focus on the UK context. The magazine encourages readers to keep an open mind and to investigate the evidence themselves.