BUFORA Newsfile - No.56 - Mar 2007

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA NEWSFILE
Issue: Number 56
Date: March 1997

This issue of BUFORA NEWSFILE presents a collection of UFO sightings, alleged alien encounters, and paranormal reports from various sources across the United Kingdom and Italy, primarily from late 1996 and early 1997. The magazine aims to document and investigate these phenomena, often highlighting witness accounts and the challenges of finding definitive explanations.

Key Articles and Reports

Bill Eatock's Abduction Account (Part 1 & 2)

The lead story details the alleged abduction experience of Bill Eatock from Hindley, who claims to have been taken by aliens about five years prior to the report. In the first part, Eatock recounts testing walkie-talkies when he encountered a dense fog, a high-pitched sound that caused ear pain and disorientation, and a subsequent feeling of sickness and burning on the left side of his face. He also experienced a loss of time, noting that he was missing for about 30 minutes. The second part of his account, published in this issue, details the aftermath, including severe nausea, vomiting, ear bleeding, poor hearing, and a significant drop in white blood cell count, leading doctors to suspect he had worked at a power station. Eatock believes he was abducted and experimented upon, and that he has had numerous such experiences throughout his life.

Bretforton Flying Saucer Dispute

This report from the Evesham Journal covers a dispute over a 'flying saucer' sighting above Bretforton. Yvonne and Gary Lewis claim they saw a flying saucer, but a local woman suggested it was an illuminated Coca-Cola airship. However, another couple, Tim and Natasha Heath, also reported seeing a strange sight—a 'bright yellow oval shape'—which they were convinced was not an airship, noting the lack of engine noise and the shape being incorrect for an airship. The Heaths also reported a second UFO sighting on December 15.

Black Triangle and Mystery Lights in West Wales

The Cardiff Western Mail reports on a new society, the West Wales Paranormal Society, formed to investigate a spate of sightings of a mysterious black triangle craft and other unexplained balls of light in the sky around Cardigan Bay. The society is compiling a database of these sightings. Organizer Adam Whaley notes the difficulty in gathering evidence, stating, "But we have no videos, no photos and no multiple witnesses so it's a bit like trying to catch shadows." He mentions the black triangle craft has been seen worldwide since 1988, often preceded by a lightning flash, and moves at high speeds. Whaley believes it's likely a secret military craft.

UFO Sighting Probed by Expert

The Kettering Evening Telegraph reports on a sighting by a couple, Christine and Richard Crick, who saw a bright light drop at high speed near Desborough. They contacted police, who put them in touch with UFO researcher Iain McClements. McClements is investigating but has no other witnesses and suggests it might have been the Geminids meteor shower. A spokesman for Rigid Containers factory reported no unusual sightings.

Italy UFO Fever

Several reports from January 7-9, 1997, detail UFO sightings in Italy. Witnesses near Rome's main airport reported seeing a strange green light flash, described as a luminous green sphere speeding through the sky. Air traffic controllers suggested it might be an optical effect, but pilots also reported the phenomenon.

Totternhoe 'Machine' Sighting

The Dunstable Gazette features an account from Totternhoe where a large, black, round object was seen 'flying' across the sky. The witness described it as balloon-shaped but too large and powered, with no visible wings or tail. The object was described as almost perfectly round, slightly out of true, and the witness is seeking explanations or other sightings.

Chideock Speed Camera Misidentification

The Bridport News & Dorset County Journal recounts an incident where a man thought he saw a UFO in Chideock after seeing a flash of white light. Police investigated and discovered the light was from the town's newly installed speed camera. The moral of the story, according to police, is to avoid speeding.

Man's Night Swarm Fright

The Wigan Reporter shares an account from Rob, who was awakened by a high-pitched, piercing sound resembling a swarm of bees. The intense, vibratory noise subsided after about 20 seconds. Rob's wife was unaffected and asleep during the event. Rob reported feeling dizzy and agitated, and later shared his experience with investigator Bill Eatock.

V-Shaped UFO Above Hartlepool

The Hartlepool Mail reports two women, a 70-year-old and her daughter, claiming to have seen a motionless V-shaped object with flickering lights hovering above Hartlepool shortly after midnight on a Sunday. They described it as shaped like an ice cream cone on its side with rotating red, green, and blue lights. Coastguards reported no distress flares.

Ollerton Mysterious Lights

The Newark Advertiser reports on mysterious lights seen hovering over Ollerton, which baffled villagers and prompted them to contact UFO experts. Eleven people reportedly saw the object hovering for 30 minutes. A similar sighting was reported in Somerset in 1995. However, a later report in the same newspaper suggests the lights may have been from a new restaurant in Bawtry called Brewsters, using a powerful 3,000-watt light.

'ALF' - Alien Life Form

The Denbighshire Free Press & North Wales Times details a sighting by Dot Milnes and Pete Sinclair of pink and blue rotating lights that disappeared after an hour. They nicknamed the phenomenon 'ALF' for Alien Life Form and are seeking information from others who may have seen it.

UFOs Over Bridlington

The Bridlington Free Press reports on sightings of two silent blue lights zig-zagging in the sky above Bridlington. Pensioners Reg and Grace Waites described the lights as performing aerobatics. The Ministry of Defence, RAF Leconfield, and the Army Air Corp denied any operations that could explain the lights.

UFO Expert Baffled by Falkirk Video

The Falkirk Herald features UFO expert Malcolm Robinson, who was "flummoxed" by a video of two bright lights seen near Maddiston. Robinson, founder of Strange Phenomena Investigations, stated that 99% of videos can be attributed to aircraft, but his immediate reaction was that these lights could not be from aircraft. He reported the incident to Edinburgh Airport air traffic controllers, who confirmed no problems or unusual radar activity.

Triple UFO Claim Over Scottish Sky

The Stornoway Gazette & West reports that UFO Magazine claims three UFOs were detected flying north over the Scottish islands on the same day as mysterious explosions off the Butt of Lewis. The magazine alleges RAF Kinloss confirmed reports of the UFOs and mentions a partial transmission from a Nimrod involved in a search operation. The Ministry of Defence is questioned about why such details have not been made public. The report also notes a large NATO naval exercise in the area at the time.

Norfolk UFO Reports

The Eastern Daily Press reports that experts are to investigate sightings of a slow-moving, shining object seen over North Norfolk by two policemen. The object was tracked for 10 miles, and air traffic controllers recorded it as a UFO. The British UFO Research Association (Bufora) is collecting questionnaires from the officers.

Space Sighting Over Swansea

The Swansea South Wales Evening Post reports a bricklayer, Terry Thomas, claiming to have seen a spaceship cruising across the skies above Swansea. He described two bright lights moving slowly. The Swansea Astronomical Society suggested it might have been a satellite, possibly the Russian space station Mir.

Mysterious Lights Over Carluke

The Carluke Gazette features an account from Ivan Young, who saw a strange light in the sky over Carluke. He described it as cylindrical or triangular with red and blue lights, and white lights glittering. He watched it hover for about 30 minutes. A newspaper report mentioned a similar sighting near Bonnybridge.

Real Life City X-Files

The Sunday Independent (Plymouth) introduces a new group in Plymouth, the British Earth and Aerial Society (BEAMS), dedicated to investigating UFOs and paranormal phenomena. Student Nick Bolton is seeking members and aims to cover ghosts, poltergeists, and leylines in addition to UFOs.

Plane Chased UFO Over Sauchie

The Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser reports on a sighting by Margaret Dewar of something cigar-shaped, small, moving slowly, and leaving a trail of smoke or steam over Sauchie. She stated it was not an aeroplane and that a plane followed the object. Edinburgh Airport denied any unusual air traffic in the area.

Roswell: The UFO Town

The International Herald Tribune features an article on Roswell, New Mexico, describing it as the "UFO Town." It discusses the enduring mystery of a 1947 crash, the theories surrounding it, and how the town has embraced its UFO connection, including the International UFO Museum and Research Center.

Lights Spark UFO Claim in Village (Follow-up)

A follow-up report in the Newark Advertiser suggests the mysterious lights seen over Ollerton may have been from a new restaurant called Brewsters, which uses a powerful 3,000-watt light.

Light Fingered Thieves

The Retford Gainsborough & Worksop Times reports on the theft of a powerful Studio Due Space Flower light from the Casablanca Restaurant in Bawtry, which had been mistaken for UFO lights. A reward is offered for information leading to the recovery of the equipment.

UFO Theory: Sirius Star

The Annandale Observer discusses a UFO spotted over the Solway area, with an expert suggesting it may have been the star Sirius due to atmospheric refraction causing color changes and apparent shape shifting.

Out of this world! Could the visitors be back?

The Heywood Advertiser features a letter from John Butterworth questioning UFO sightings and a picture of a 'luminous cheese flan' from a previous issue. He expresses skepticism about 'Ufologists' and their reports.

Flying Cheese Flans are Flannel

A letter to the editor in the same publication criticizes the newspaper for printing 'nonsense from so-called Ufologists' and 'ridiculous pictures'.

UFO on Broomstick

The Guardian reports on Italian paramilitary police searching a pine forest near Rome after pilots and motorists reported seeing a bright green object streak across the sky. Authorities considered it might be a rocket or, playfully, the witch Befana.

A Couple's Close Encounter

The Wolverhampton Express & Star reports on a UFO group trying to track down sightings of flying saucers near Wolverhampton, following a report of a sighting on the M54 motorway. Witnesses reported bright lights moving rapidly and a rectangular white object hovering.

Lights Mystery (Bridlington)

The Hull Daily Mail reports on mysterious blue lights seen over Bridlington, which have alerted UFO spotters. Investigators suggest they may not be meteorites or military exercises and could signify visits by extraterrestrial lifeforms.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The BUFORA NEWSFILE consistently features reports of unexplained aerial phenomena, ranging from detailed personal accounts of alleged abductions and sightings to brief news items about mysterious lights. There is a clear interest in documenting these events, often presenting witness testimony without immediate judgment, while also including skeptical viewpoints and official explanations where available (e.g., Ministry of Defence, speed cameras, aircraft). The magazine appears to maintain an open but investigative stance, encouraging readers to share their experiences and contributing to the ongoing discussion about UFOs and paranormal activity. The recurring theme is the persistent mystery surrounding these sightings and the lack of definitive, universally accepted explanations for many of them.