BUFORA Newsfile - No.42 - Aug 1996

Magazine Overview

BUFORA NEWSFILE, Issue 42, published in August 1996, is a BUFORA publication priced at £1.00. The cover headline highlights a motorist's close encounter with a mystery figure, raising fears of alien landings. The issue features a range of UFO reports from various local newspapers across the UK and Australia.

Key Articles and Reports

Gloucestershire Echo (14 JUN 96): Reports on the formation of a new branch of Global UFO Investigation Systems in Swansea, dedicated to monitoring UFO activity. A spokesperson emphasizes the importance of reporting all sightings, especially triangular craft, and seeks information from those who have had UFO encounters or possess photographic evidence.

Gloucestershire Echo (13 JUN 96): A letter from a reader thanks those who have responded to a plea for UFO sighting reports. The writer notes that most cases involve hovering lights moving at incredible speeds, indicative of 'craft not of the earth'. A case from Lucy Allen of Evesham describes solid objects with rounded fronts and tapering backs. The article also mentions Philip Green's 'mothership and scoutships' sighting and introduces the concept of alien abduction, describing common symptoms like time loss and amnesia, with aliens often depicted as small and grey.

Swansea South Wales Evening Post (11 JUL 96): Details the establishment of the Global UFO Investigation Systems branch in Swansea, providing a contact number for those wishing to report sightings.

Cambridge Evening News (20 MAY 96): Features Cambridge-born singer and actress Olivia Newton-John's claim of a UFO encounter in the Australian desert. She described a brilliant silver object that glowed with a halo of colors, moved at tremendous speed, and changed shape.

Keighley News (02 AUG 96): Reports on a surge in UFO sightings in the Keighley area and Britain. UFO experts are monitoring the situation, with the RAF reportedly scrambling aircraft. Pensioner Ken Ryder and Jean Myers reported seeing strange lights. Lynda Corduex described a gold octagonal shape. Investigator Tony Dodd calls the current activity 'incredible'. Local astronomer Eric Yaffey suggests Venus as a possible explanation for some sightings, while Mark Birdsall of UFO Magazine acknowledges that while most sightings are astronomical, some remain unexplained.

Wigan Reporter (11 JUL 96): The 'UFO Update' column by Jon Peake appeals for witnesses of recent UFO sightings over Wigan to come forward for a unique experiment involving computer graphics. A man named Mike from Worsley Mesnes recounts a frightening and painful encounter in his bedroom with small, 2ft tall beings with 'angelic' faces.

Birmingham Post (24 MAY 96) & Bolton Evening News (23 MAY 96): These articles report on UFO sightings over Gladstone, Australia, coinciding with the broadcast of 'The X-Files'. Police Constable Andrew Luhrs received calls about strange lights. An Air Services Australia spokeswoman mentioned a helicopter search in the area. The Chingford Edition of Waltham Forest Guardian reports on residents being 'foxed by close encounters', with a woman describing a long orange light that became a triangle and a star-like object that changed color. Carlton Television was reportedly filming in the area.

Dunfermline Press & West of Fife Advertiser (17 MAY 96): A bar stewardess, Margaret Mellon, reports a close encounter with a massive craft that lit up the sky above Saline Hill, tinged with orange and pale blue. She described flares and stated it was definitely a craft, not a meteorite.

Oxford Times (31 MAY 96): UFO investigators Contact International are probing a 'spooky beam of green light' seen above Abingdon. Police received calls about a light shining horizontally before rotating downwards. Investigator Bill Foley noticed the beam and experts are now investigating.

West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette (13 JUN 96): This article, titled 'zzed by an ALIEN!', focuses on Olivia Newton-John's UFO sighting in the Australian desert, detailing her description of the object.

Daily Mail (31 MAY 96): Discusses ancient cultures recounting visits from 'races from the stars', referencing the Dogon tribe of Mali and their astronomical knowledge. It also mentions Raymond Drake's research into Greek and Roman writings that describe 'blazing swords' and 'shields' in the sky.

Barnsley Chronicle (31 MAY 96): Gary Steadman has released video footage of a mysterious bright light hovering above Barnsley town centre. His inquiries with RAF bases and police have yielded no explanation. The article also features retired nurse Eileen Nightingale's description of a UFO resembling a dragonfly.

Annandale Observer (10 MAY 96): Reports on strange lights seen over Parkfoot, described as a bright light that appeared to be a 'dragonfly with long body, round head and wings'.

Cynon Valley Leader (16 MAY 96): Rita Mahagan reports witnessing inexplicable phenomena in the sky over Cynon Valley, including small, silver craft with many lights that were suddenly extinguished, and a humming noise.

UK Press Gazette (14 JUN 96): Introduces 'UFO Reality', a new publication from Ark Soundwaves, aiming to present an optimistic view of alien visitations.

Thanet Times (11 JUN 96): Bizarre reports of UFOs dropping parachutes over farmland at Acol are baffling Manston officials. Eyewitnesses reported seeing large parachutes descending from huge Hercules transport planes.

Western Morning News (01 JUN 96): Details the Cornwall UFO Research Group's (CUFORG) findings on mysterious sightings in Trispen, including silver discs and cigar-shaped objects. CUFORG spokesman Dave Gillham discusses his own sighting and the group's efforts to collect details from witnesses.

Barnsley Chronicle (24 MAY 96): Gary Steadman, who captured UFO footage, is seeking explanations. His inquiries with RAF bases and police have not provided answers.

Oxford Mail (10 JUN 96): The mystery of strange lights near Abingdon is solved, identified as a laser demonstration by Oxford Lasers for a customer, with civil aviation authority clearance. The Oxford Mail is seeking further 'spooky stories' for a regular feature.

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph (04 JUL 96): Retired detective John Hanson is appealing for information about UFO sightings in the Scunthorpe region during the 1970s for his book.

Holyhead & Anglesey Mail (05 JUN 96): A letter to the editor discusses numerous UFO sightings over the Bangor-Anglesey-Penmaenmawr area, emphasizing the importance of reporting these events and suggesting that while many phenomena may have feasible explanations, the extraterrestrial hypothesis remains a strong possibility.

Manchester Evening News (04 JUN 96): UFO author Nick Pope is investigating the mystery of British Airways flight BA5061, which was reportedly 'buzzed' by a V-shaped craft. Pope, formerly with the Ministry of Defence, believes the UK's air defences are routinely breached by advanced extraterrestrial craft.

Worthing Herald (24 MAY 96): A letter suggests that a reported UFO sighting near a college was likely the planet Venus, explaining that its brightness and position in the sky at that time could cause such misidentification. The letter also mentions atmospheric turbulence distorting starlight.

Edinburgh Evening News (27 MAY 96): Amateur astronomer Gerry Taylor explains that a spate of UFO sightings in Edinburgh was likely due to the planet Venus, which appears brightly in eight-year cycles. However, ufologist Ron Halliday believes other unexplained sightings suggest a genuine phenomenon beyond natural explanations.

The Weekly News (Scotland) (15 JUN 96): Bryan Mosley writes about a strange experience involving a dazzling white light that suddenly illuminated an area, which was then hushed up by local papers.

Andover Midweek Advertiser (14 JUN 96): Reg Temple proposes a 'chopper theory' for crop circles, suggesting they are caused by helicopter pilots and freak weather conditions, rather than aliens.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of BUFORA UFO Newsfile revolve around the persistent reporting of UFO sightings across various locations, the efforts of investigative groups like BUFORA and CUFORG to collect and analyze evidence, and the ongoing debate between conventional explanations (like Venus or atmospheric phenomena) and the extraterrestrial hypothesis. There is a clear editorial stance supporting the investigation of UFO phenomena and encouraging public participation in reporting sightings, aiming to build a body of evidence. The magazine also touches upon the historical context of UFO reports and the potential for government secrecy surrounding such events.