BUFORA Newsfile - No.43 - Sep 1996

Magazine Overview

This issue of BUFORA NEWSFILE, dated September 1996, is a UK publication priced at £1.00. The cover story, "Nightmare in Dreamland," focuses on a significant legal battle involving Area 51, a secret US Air Force base. The magazine also features numerous reports of UFO sightings from around the world, discussions on the nature of UFO phenomena, and potential explanations for these encounters.

Area 51: A Legal Nightmare

The lead article by Ed Vulliamy details a high-stakes lawsuit brought by workers at the real Area 51 (also known as 'Dreamland') in Nevada, USA. These workers claim to have developed fatal diseases while building advanced aircraft like the Stealth fighter bomber and the Aurora. Their lawyer, Jonathan Turley, a director of the environmental law project at George Washington University, is threatened with 10 years in jail and the loss of his legal license if he refuses to hand over classified documents related to the case. The US government is asserting the right to classify evidence of its own alleged crimes, a claim unprecedented even by the Nixon and Keanan administrations. Turley argues that complying would leave whistleblowers without legal representation. The lawsuit names President's National Security Adviser Anthony Lake, Secretary of State for Defence William Perry, and Air Force chief Sheilah Widnall as defendants. Clients include Helen Frost, whose husband died of skin diseases and chemical burns after working at Area 51, and other former colleagues suffering similar illnesses.

The article notes the surreal parallel with the movie "Independence Day," which features aliens and a secret base called Area 51. The real Area 51's existence is denied by the government, and it does not appear on maps. Despite this denial, the magazine reports that clandestine images of the base are available on the internet. The facility was originally developed to test prototypes for the Blackbird spy plane and later became a hub for UFO and alienology enthusiasts, fueled by theories about the Roswell crash. Currently, it is believed to be a laboratory for next-generation fighter aircraft, including the Aurora, capable of speeds up to 3,000 mph with no radar trace. The government's defense hinges on the non-existence of Area 51 and the claim that allegations affect national security. Turley won an initial round when the court ruled that national security did not trump environmental laws. However, the government then demanded Turley's case papers, alleging they contained classified information, and sought to compel him to hand them over under threat of contempt.

International UFO Sightings and Encounters

Brazil: The Varginha Incident

A report from Varginha, Brazil, details an incident that began with three young women encountering a strange creature in a vacant lot. Described as having oily brown skin, rubbery limbs, and bulging red eyes, the creature also emitted a strong odor. This sighting became intertwined with other unusual occurrences in the town, leading to the conclusion that aliens had crash-landed and were captured and mistreated by the Brazilian army. Despite military denials, public suspicion remains high. The town's mayor sees potential in the event, planning an international UFO conference and a park in honor of the alleged alien visitors. The incident is compared to the Roswell event of 1947.

Scotland: Bonnybridge - A UFO Hotspot

An article by Christopher Middleton explores why Bonnybridge, a small town in Scotland, has become a UFO hotspot, with two-thirds of all sightings in Scotland occurring there. Residents like Bill and Mabel Bestall report witnessing UFO activity, including a large circular light and smaller objects. Councillor Bill Buchanan estimates that 3,000 people have seen unusual phenomena in the skies. Other witnesses include Anne Stewart's daughter Carol, who had a night encounter, and Marlene Fleming's elderly friend who saw a bright light following him. John Jenkins, a piano tuner, became a UFO investigator after his own sighting. Andy Swan, an electrical layer, reported seeing a large, black, 'toblerone bar'-shaped object crash and hover, causing him to lose an hour of unaccounted time.

Two men, Colin Wright and Garry Wood, reported a jet-black, disc-shaped object that caused them to lose two hours of time. Their accounts, obtained through hypnotherapy, describe being transported by a beam of light and subjected to examination by creatures with child-like bodies and pear-shaped heads. The Ministry of Defence's response to such incidents is often to state that they do not pose a threat to national security.

UK Sightings: Pennines, Halberton, and More

Jane Kelly reports on a sighting by pilots of BA flight 5061 on January 6, 1995, over the Pennines. Captain Roger Wills and First Officer Mark Stuart saw a triangular, silver object with a dark stripe hurtling towards their aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigated and termed the object 'unassessable,' acknowledging the pilots had seen an unidentified flying object. The article also mentions the 'Silent Vulcan,' a supposed top-secret American military aircraft, and Nick Pope, a former Ministry of Defence investigator who headed the 'UFO desk.' Pope's book, "Open Skies, Closed Minds," details his investigations, including a 1993 sighting of a craft that defied conventional explanation.

Alan Mitchell, a photography student, captured an image of a UFO near Halberton, UK. Doug Cooper of the British UFO Research Association considers it a very good sighting, estimating the object's size and suggesting it was distant. Other reports include sightings in Stenhousemuir, Scotland, and a case from 1947 near Hereford, UK, involving 'silver-suited beings' and a dome-shaped disc.

Other Reports and Explanations

Reports from Worthing and South Devon mention mysterious lights, some of which were later attributed to a nightclub. A report from Swansea details a new UFO group receiving over 20 sightings in a month. An article discusses Tom Gwinnett's experience of his car's electrics failing near a field where he witnessed a 'red ball' of sparks forming a crop circle, an event featured on a CD-ROM about unexplained mysteries.

Health: Alien Victims 'Just Dreamers'

Dr. Susan Blackmore, a researcher into the paranormal, suggests that people who believe they have been kidnapped by aliens may be experiencing 'sleep paralysis.' This common, though unnerving, experience occurs in the near-sleep state and can involve hallucinations of sounds, lights, and sensations, including sexual encounters. Dr. Blackmore believes that many 'alien abduction' narratives are rooted in this phenomenon, which can be induced to create out-of-body or flying sensations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings and alleged alien encounters, often highlighting the skepticism of authorities and the persistence of witnesses. There is a clear emphasis on the unexplained and the possibility of extraterrestrial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation into these claims, providing a platform for witnesses and researchers, while also acknowledging potential psychological explanations like sleep paralysis. The recurring theme is the ongoing mystery surrounding UFOs and the government's often secretive approach to the subject.