BUFORA Newsfile - No.36 - Apr 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA NEWSFILE
Issue: 36
Date: April 1996
Price: £1.00

This issue of BUFORA NEWSFILE, published in April 1996, delves into various UFO and alien-related phenomena, featuring reports from different publications and personal accounts.

BAe and the UFO files

This section, written by Shelagh Iredale, explores the possibility that unexplained lights in the sky over Lancashire could be linked to secret technology being developed at British Aerospace (BAe) Warton. A BBC programme, 'The UFO Files', is set to investigate claims that BAe is developing a secret radar-invisible fighter jet, and that strange sightings might be related to its flight testing. While BAe admits involvement in stealth technology, a spokesman stated that any futuristic ideas are still at the concept stage and that nothing like that is currently flying from their facility. The programme will also cover other sightings from the past 10 years, including one by two British Airways pilots who reported an object passing their jet silently at 4000 feet above Wilmslow. Ufologists in the North West have hailed this as a milestone in official recognition. The report mentions interviews with representatives from the North Lancashire UFO Investigation Group and Eric Morris from the British UFO Studies Centre.

UFO Zooms in for Oil Check

This report from 'The Standard' details claims by Saudi observers who reportedly saw a UFO near the country's second largest oil refinery. Witnesses described the area being bathed in a brilliant oval blue light for minutes, which then disappeared "in an unnatural fashion".

Desert UFO

'Liverpool Daily Post' reiterates the Saudi Arabian sighting, describing an unidentified flying object illuminated by a brilliant oval blue light that disappeared "in an unnatural fashion".

Skywatch Fans Spot Two UFOs

This article from the 'Basildon Evening Echo' reports a 'rash' of UFO sightings. Mike and Kay Rose of Southend described seeing a "V-shaped craft" with about 20 lights on its flanks, moving like a formation of ducks. Hawkwell resident Barbara Cook reported seeing a "terrific bright light" at about 9.15pm, which she described as "the head of a prawn, with light coming off it in arcs". Astronomer Royston Dean from the Astronomy Resource Centre in Hawkwell expressed bafflement, suggesting the second sighting might be the comet Hyakutake, but admitting it was a mystery.

UFO Seen Again

'Southport Visiter' reports more sightings of Southport's "Silent Vulcan" UFO. Two separate accounts mentioned seeing TWO triangular shaped craft hovering above the Ovington Drive area.

Out of this world.....a spaceship in my garden!

This feature by Nathan Rous from the 'Tamworth Herald' details the experience of Mrs Pauline Tew, who claims she saw a "massive shape" with green, red, and blue lights hovering about seven feet above her garden. She described it as "massive, spanning about three gardens" and making "absolutely no noise". She was transfixed for about five minutes. Her husband, Robert, confirmed her account. Mrs Tew contacted the Birmingham UFO Society for an explanation.

Baffled boffins at Birmingham's UFO Society say they are stunned by a dramatic leap in sightings of flying saucers.

This report, also by Darren Parkin, highlights a significant increase in UFO sightings reported to the Birmingham UFO Society, from about one call every six weeks to 35 in three weeks. Most sightings describe a "saucer-like object with a domed top surrounded by red, green and blue lights", while others report a "huge black triangle". Society expert Marilyn Aldworth expressed surprise at the sudden increase. The report also mentions a farmer who saw a saucer hovering over his horses, leaving them "almost paralysed". Professor Tony Dodd of Quest noted the "amazing" recent increases around Birmingham and stated that UFO experts are pressing the Government and Ministry of Defence for information, but they are reluctant to cooperate.

Earthlings Want UFOs Honoured

This article from the 'Daily Telegraph' discusses a proposal to rename a stretch of Nevada desert highway the "Alien and Extraterrestrial Highway" due to numerous UFO sightings. Tour operators take UFO enthusiasts to camp out and watch for "mysterious objects". The area is near Nellis Air Force base and Area 51, a secret military installation. Paula Clayton, manageress of the Little A Le Inn hotel, supports the renaming, citing tourism benefits.

Pilots' Close Encounter

'Daily Telegraph' reports on a British Airways passenger jet encountering an unidentified flying object. Captain Roger Wills and co-pilot Mark Stewart filed a near-miss report after spotting a "fast-travelling, wedge-shaped UFO" approaching Manchester airport. An official report was unable to explain the incident, noting good visibility and no radar contact.

A Senior Ministry of Defence official has confirmed the existence of UFOs, it was claimed yesterday.

This report from the 'Daily Telegraph' details claims made by an investigator, Jenny Randles, about a Ministry of Defence official appearing on a BBC2 documentary. The official reportedly revealed that "people at the highest levels of the Government who have not discounted the possibility of life on other planets". The documentary also features a former head of a Government UFO monitoring unit who confirmed radar reports of objects travelling at "4,000mph" and "as big as battleships". The report also mentions an incident in 1956 where two fighter planes were scrambled to intercept a UFO over East Anglia. A BBC spokesman stated the MoD "remain 'totally open-minded' about extraterrestrial life forms", though a Ministry spokesman downplayed the claims.

Stop this UFO baloney

This 'Gasbag' column expresses skepticism about UFO reports, questioning why people write to the publication instead of the police or RAF. The author dismisses reports of aliens shopping at a Spar shop or collecting lottery winnings as "baloney". The column highlights the lack of photographic evidence during alleged sightings, questioning why no one ever has a camera handy.

Welcome to Extraterrestrials

This article describes the erection of signs welcoming aliens and their transport in Nevada, near Area 51. UFO experts believe aliens may be living on the base and teaching scientists about flying saucers. The 'A 'Le' Inn' hotel has a "Welcome UFOs doormat". Bar owner Pat Travis notes that hundreds flock to the area hoping to see aliens, believing they have come to help.

UFO Probe

A TV programme is set to investigate whether UFO reports in the North West could be a new radar-dodging stealth aircraft being tested by British Aerospace.

UFO over hospital

Reports of UFO sightings over Clacton Hospital are mentioned, including a triangular-shaped object hovering over the hospital and similar objects sighted from the seafront and over Harwich harbour.

City light riddle

Experts are investigating a second reported sighting of a bright light in the skies over Derby. The Phenomenon Research Association is looking into another sighting.

UFO expert throws light on strange sights

An investigator discovered that a pulsating light in the sky over Yeovil was Venus, and later the star Regulus. Pollution in the atmosphere can make stars appear to move. Another report of yellow-white lights is being studied.

UFOs in Essex skies

A letter to the 'Essex Chronicle' expresses skepticism about UFOs, questioning the "Romulan cloaking device" and suggesting that extraterrestrials might be fans of MN8 and the Pasadenas, manifesting only when the laser at Club Zeus is switched on. The writer sarcastically concludes, "Remember, the truth is out there!"

Listen - and all will be revealed

Andover is set to host special events featuring "unexplained mysteries". Busty Taylor, an expert on crop circles, is organising talks by former US Army officer Robert O Dean, who claims to have read a detailed report on UFO activities compiled by the military. Robert Morning Sky, a Hopi Apache Indian, will also present his theories on crop circles as prophecies.

Northwich's UFO boffins in TV documentary

Members of the British UFO Society are to be featured in a BBC documentary, discussing their work and the inquiry into the sighting by two airline pilots above Manchester Airport.

Clacton's UFO mystery on TV

TV presenter Toyah Willcox explored UFO sightings around Clacton for Anglia's Magic and Mystery Show. Ron West of the Essex UFO Research Group discussed hundreds of sightings of triangular-shaped objects, dismissing claims they were military aircraft.

'UFO' follow-up

A Surrey-based UFO enthusiast contacted 'The Herald' to document a strange sighting near Coxbridge Roundabout for his quarterly magazine 'Pegasus'.

Have ALIENS in Britain?

This section features several accounts of alleged alien encounters:

I had a CLOSE ENCOUNTER of the third kind

Elsie Oakensen recounts an experience on November 22, 1978, where she saw a "dumb-bell shaped object" with red and green lights. She claims her car stopped, and she experienced a "time warp", losing 15 minutes. She later developed "healing hands" after this encounter.

I was ABDUCTED by six small aliens

Ros Reynolds describes an encounter where a "horse-shoe shaped set of lights" hovered overhead. The object then swooped down over her car, causing it to stop. She was then led by "six small silver-grey beings" to their craft, where she was undressed and examined. She later met and married Mark Parnham, a psychic investigator, who she believes the aliens "brought me love".

THIS ALIEN NATION OF OURS

This subsection compiles several brief accounts:

• Gabriella Verssacci reported being abducted by aliens after her car broke down.
• A young couple witnessed a "grey circular object with rotating lights" and suffered "time loss" and illness.
• Lisa disappeared during her 18th birthday party and was found in a strange room with "7ft aliens", experiencing sexual intercourse with one.
• A married woman from Liverpool reported "night visits by aliens" where she experienced sensations of sexual intercourse.
• A pregnant woman from Humberside claimed her foetus was stolen after an alien abduction.

Power to heal is from 'ghosts'

This article focuses on Elsie Oakensen's claims of developing healing powers after her UFO encounter. She describes her hands getting hot and tingling, and a medium confirming her abilities. She uses her "healing hands" to help others without charge. She also claims to have developed "psychic art".

The truth is out there

This section features a brief mention of Ruth Supple meeting a woman who claims an abduction by aliens has left her with special powers. It also mentions the upcoming 'Chronicle & X-Files' segment featuring a couple who communicate with the dead.

Question Time

This Q&A section addresses reader questions:

• What made you interested in UFOs? Chris Harrison, a member of the Southern Paranormal Investigations Group, became interested after reading a newspaper article 20 years ago.
• If alien life exists, what do you think it looks like? Harrison believes they might be similar to humans, including those who "take things without asking first".
• Do you think you will ever have the chance of encountering aliens? Harrison thinks it's possible and "short-sighted and narrow-minded to think they do not exist".

Gullibility or beliefs

This opinion piece argues that both UFO believers and disbelievers can be gullible. It notes that "thousands of UFOs have been seen by trained aircrew" and "thousands of landings have been observed by credible witnesses". However, it criticizes believers for seeing UFOs in "ordinary everyday phenomena" and embracing "wacky 'explanations'". The author also touches on the "Great International Cover-up Conspiracy", mentioning that the French Interior Minister admitted UFOs in 1964 and NORAD issues communiques on UFOs.

What have politics got to do with it?

This letter to the editor addresses a previous query about a writer joining the Labour Party after attacking the government over UFOs. The author, Guillaume Rivaud, states that his interest in Ufology is unrelated to his political beliefs and that many "professional people, including a large percentage of pilots, who have observed UFOs" continue to research the phenomenon. He suggests that if the government can mislead ministers, it can also cover up other issues.

Arkansas, the final frontier

This brief note announces the eighth annual UFO conference in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, featuring personal accounts, presentations, and discussions on the existence of UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are widespread UFO sightings across the UK and internationally, the potential involvement of secret government and military technology, personal accounts of alien encounters and abductions, and the challenges of obtaining official explanations or recognition. There is a clear division between those who actively investigate and believe in UFO phenomena, and those who express skepticism or dismiss reports. The magazine appears to lean towards presenting a wide range of perspectives, from detailed investigative reports to personal testimonies and critical commentary, reflecting the ongoing public fascination and debate surrounding UFOs.