BUFORA Newsfile - No.62 - Jun II 2007

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA NEWSFILE
Issue: Number 62
Date: June 1997

This issue of BUFORA NEWSFILE delves into various UFO sightings and related phenomena, featuring reports from across the UK and touching upon the broader cultural impact of UFO interest.

Lincoln Mystery Object

The lead story reports on baffled stargazers in Lincoln who witnessed a mystery object in the skies over the city on April 21, 1997. Residents of Boultham Park Road described a bright flashing object, a round rotating craft with red, green, and white lights, moving slowly at a high altitude. The object was observed for over half an hour before disappearing over RAF Waddington. One witness, Brian Blades, who had previously been sceptical, expressed a newfound uncertainty about the existence of UFOs.

Worthing Lights 'Spoil Night'

In Worthing, a 'space flower' spotlight on the roof of the Mansion House caused a stir, jamming police switchboards with reports of close encounters. Astronomers complained that the lights were obscuring their view of celestial bodies like Comet Hale-Bopp. The High Court ruled that the lights constituted advertising and required planning permission. The owner stated the lights were on for only six hours a week and turned off at 12:30 am, with Worthing Council set to debate the issue.

'Rescue Mystery' in the Peak District

Stephen Mera, a Sale-based UFO expert, claims there has been a cover-up regarding a mystery crash in the Peak District. He believes a top-secret military aircraft came down near Ladybower Reservoir on March 24, 1997, and that the armed services immediately secured the area. Reports from the public mentioned a loud explosion and a white flash of light. Mera suggests the incident involved police, mountain rescue teams, the RAF, and the Army. South Yorkshire Police confirmed receiving reports of a light aircraft going down and launching a seven-hour search involving 11 teams and an RAF Sea King helicopter, but found nothing.

UFO Files Release

A brief mention is made of a new 'UFO Files' release, noting the current high interest in extraterrestrial activity and the popularity of such documentaries.

'News' Reporter Scott Rhodie's UFO Encounter

Reporter Scott Rhodie recounts his personal experience of seeing a UFO on August 16, 1995. While driving home, he and his parents, along with friends Jim and Jean, witnessed a tear-drop-shaped object made of liquid metal, approximately ten metres long, hovering silently in the middle of a street. The object displayed shifting colours from white to green and then darted away at high speed. Rhodie connects this experience to reports of hundreds of people phoning the police about a meteorite crossing the Scottish skies, arguing that meteorites do not behave in such a manner. He also references a NASA discovery of fossilized life on Mars and questions why aliens would approach a self-destructive human race.

Star-gazers in UFO Encounter (Cheltenham)

A family in Cheltenham reported seeing a blazing shape with 15 lights flying towards the town on March 19, 1997, while looking for Comet Hale-Bopp. The object was described as extremely low, no more than 100ft high, and emitting a low engine or humming noise. Robin Cole of the Circular Forum, a Cheltenham-based UFO society, is investigating and believes there is no other logical explanation for the sighting. Another report mentioned a pulsating light moving low among trees on Cleeve Hill the same evening.

UFOs More Than They Seem

An article discusses the growing interest in UFOs, partly fueled by television programs like 'The X-Files'. It highlights that belief in UFOs is often based on evidence rather than faith. While many sightings have rational explanations, some remain unexplained. The article mentions testimony from credible witnesses like pilots and astronauts, including Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto. It touches upon the debate about whether UFOs are military craft or of non-human origin. The government's stance, as stated by Prime Minister John Major, is that there are no plans to allocate resources to researching extraterrestrial phenomena.

Chris Fowler's Interest in UFOs

Chris Fowler became interested in UFOs after witnessing an unexplained grey light in Cardiff in 1991. He has since seen numerous other strange lights and found that calls to authorities have provided no answers. Fowler believes in UFOs and questions the official explanations for sightings.

UFO Sightings on the Up (Dorchester)

Local researcher David Kingston claims that the Dorchester area is experiencing a high number of UFO sightings, with a 50 percent increase in the past year. He attributes over half of the 118 sightings in the last year to military exercises or meteorites, leaving 58 unexplained. Kingston notes that people are becoming less concerned about being labelled 'cranks' when reporting UFOs, with interest boosted by programs like 'The X-Files'.

Shropshire Residents Report 'Flying Saucers'

Astonished Shropshire residents reported seeing two shining, disc-shaped objects moving silently and quickly across the sky near Shrewsbury and Telford on July 1, 1997. The Ministry of Defence is investigating these sightings.

Happy Birthday, Aliens!

This article reflects on the 50th anniversary of the term 'flying saucer', coined by a journalist after Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting. It notes the Pentagon's denial of UFOs being spacecraft or alien craft, which ufologists dismiss as a cover-up. The article also mentions the scientific possibility of life on Jupiter's moon Europa and highlights the commercialization of UFO interest through books, films, and conventions.

UFO Concern and Satanic Control

Stephen Bailey, Rector of Betchworth and Buckland, refutes suggestions that flying saucers are controlled by the Devil. He argues that if alien intelligence visited Earth, it would be irrational to associate it with evil. His views are prompted by a report in the Church Times about a group called UFO Concern, which claims alien intelligences are operating among mankind. Bailey criticizes the church's historical tendency to condemn what it doesn't understand and suggests that UFO encounters are not necessarily satanic.

UFOs and Money

The article points out the significant financial gains from UFO-related phenomena, citing the popularity of 'The X-Files' and the blockbuster film 'Independence Day'. It also mentions the commercial success of the spoof film 'Mars Attacks!' and anticipates more alien-themed movies. Jenny Randles, an author of sceptical books on UFO sightings, expresses concern that money and sensationalism are harming serious ufology research, stating that 95% of sightings have rational explanations.

UFO Appeal to Star-gazers (Teesside)

The British UFO Research Association is appealing to sky watchers who saw unusual lights in the south-to-south-west sky on a Saturday evening to contact them, particularly if they have photos or film footage of the phenomenon.

City Rocked by 'UFOs' (Manchester)

Police in Las Vegas responded to reports of UFOs over Sam Boyd stadium, only to find the rock band U2 setting up for a concert.

Debut of the East Coast UFO

Exciting video footage of a triangular-shaped unidentified flying object over the East Coast is set to be publicly shown in Burnley. The Lancashire UFO Society has obtained the film, taken at 3 pm, and will feature it at its meeting, along with other evidence of daytime UFO sightings and footage from Mexico and Russia.

Close Encounters (Cornwall)

Two people in Threemilestone reported seeing a strange object in the sky, described as a black ball-like object, which rose up and disappeared. The Cornwall UFO Research Group is seeking other witnesses.

World Homes in on Our UFO Sightings

This section highlights that UFO sightings above Winter Hill have attracted national attention from paranormal researchers. Reports from 1996 are being compiled for the magazine 'Alien Encounters'. A triangular craft sighting over Winter Hill and other sightings of bright lights are mentioned. The Direct Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (DIGAP) has been investigating and obtained a photograph of a triangular object over Rivington.

Mystery of Winter Hill

This article focuses on the Winter Hill UFO sightings, with reports compiled for 'Alien Encounters' magazine. It mentions a triangular craft and bright lights, with DIGAP investigating and obtaining a photograph. The possibility of a top-secret plane being developed by British Aerospace is also raised.

Did You See UFO? (Wandsworth)

A witness reported seeing a large metal object with wings hurtling to the ground over Clapham Common on March 20, 1997, disappearing in a cloud of smoke, with no subsequent reports of a plane crash.

Crop Circle Theory

New research suggests that microwave energy could be responsible for mysterious crop circles, rather than hoaxers. US bio-physicist Dr. William Levengood believes microwave energy is the cause. The East Midlands branch of the Centre for Crop Circle Studies is appealing for evidence, noting that around 300 crop circles were spotted nationally last year.

Riddle of Biggest UFO Yet

A giant V-shaped object, the size of three football pitches, with red and white lights, was sighted over Arizona for nearly two hours. The slow-moving UFO was visible to pilots and air traffic controllers, and despite three months of computer analysis, no explanation has been found. A trucker described seeing three fighters scramble to intercept the craft before it shot straight up and disappeared.

Ever Seen an Alien?

A call for readers to share their real-life X-Files reports and any paranormal experiences, including close encounters with aliens.

UFOs and Arias! (Kingston)

Kingston opera director Michael McCarthy is producing 'The Roswell Incident', a chamber opera based on the 1947 UFO crash in New Mexico. The production explores the mystery through the memories of people who were in the vicinity at the time.

UFO Shock for Student (Cornwall)

Matt Punter, an 18-year-old student from Pensilva, claims he had to slam on his car brakes after encountering a UFO near his home. He described seeing four different coloured lights in a square, with a white light, blue, red, and yellow one. The highest light was about eight metres in the air and stopped for only a second.

UFOs are out there... in Otley

UFO watchers in Otley are preparing a special 104-page issue of 'UFO Magazine' to mark the 50th anniversary of the term 'flying saucer'. The issue will be distributed nationally and internationally, aiming to become a reference work on UFO history.

Matt in panic after UFO encounter (Westcountry)

An 18-year-old Westcountry student, Matt Punter, recounts his experience of seeing an unidentified flying object over his car. He described it as four different coloured lights in a square, with a white light, blue, red, and yellow one, hovering about eight metres in the air. He felt panicked and told everyone about it.

Back to front 'comet'

Keith Robinson of Bournemouth reported seeing an orange glowing object that appeared to be a comet but was 'back to front', with the tail in front. He then saw another identical object. He described the objects as moving slowly but faster than a comet, with orange-red tails and white ball-like objects.

Alien Riddle of the Greens and Royals!

An astronomer, Duncan Lunan, claims that two children who lived in a 12th Century English village were aliens from outer space. He believes they had green skin, ate only green food, spoke an unknown language, and that one of them married into royalty. Lunan suggests they were sent from another planet by mistake and that they have descendants alive today.

Gordon Atkinson's UFO Sightings

Feature writer Dinah Robinson talks to Northamptonshire UFO spotter Gordon Atkinson, who believes he has witnessed more than a dozen craft hovering over his home in Salcey Forest. Atkinson's sightings range from saucer-shaped discs to triangular craft, cigar-shaped objects, and oval craft, with descriptions of their speed, colour, and behaviour. He notes that he often wakes up in the middle of the night, which usually precedes a sighting.

Mistaken Identity (Sydney)

A giant, fluorescent-yellow, football-shaped object seen floating over Sydney was initially feared to be a UFO, but was later identified as the Whitman's chocolate company blimp making its debut flight.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings, the debate surrounding their origin (extraterrestrial or secret military craft), and the potential for government cover-ups. There is a strong emphasis on witness testimony and the growing public interest in the paranormal, fueled by media and popular culture. The magazine appears to present these reports with a degree of seriousness, encouraging readers to share their own experiences and to consider the possibility of alien life. The editorial stance leans towards acknowledging the unexplained nature of many sightings and questioning official denials, while also noting the commercial aspects of UFO interest.