BUFORA NEWSFILE

Magazine Overview

BUFORA NEWSFILE, Issue Number 64, dated August 1997, is a publication dedicated to reporting on UFO sightings and related phenomena. This issue features a variety of accounts from the UK and touches upon the ongoing discourse surrounding the Roswell incident.

Strange Skies Over Ayrshire

The lead story, "Did the aliens zap Debbie's camera?" from the Kilmarnock Standard (July 11, 1997), details multiple reports of unusual aerial phenomena and malfunctioning gadgets in Ayrshire. The Ralston family from Saltcoats reported seeing "three layers of electric blue triangles inside an oval shape" hovering over Dundonald and Saltcoats on Friday, June 27. They described the object as disappearing and reappearing for up to an hour, finding the experience "very frightening." Philippa Knapp from Dundonald corroborated the sighting on the same night, describing an object that changed shape and swirled. The article notes that the "suggested visit of extraterrestrials is still very much in people's minds in Dundonald." Furthermore, reports of household lights and appliances malfunctioning are mentioned in connection with these sightings. Debbie McNally photographed "the thing," but the frame showing the mystery light on her sister Tracy's film was blank.

The Kilmarnock Standard is seeking more reports from the Kilmarnock area and provides a contact address for readers to share their experiences.

News Digest: UFO Spotted Over Swad

The Burton Daily Mail (June 10, 1997) reports that police in Swadlincote received a call about a UFO spotted hovering in the sky. A man from Chestnut Avenue described seeing a "crescent-shaped" object that was "brightly lit like the moon" which promptly disappeared. Swadlincote Police Station is appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Leicestershire: Is the county UFO crazy?

• This article from the Leicester Mail (March 20, 1997) by Richard Lomax continues an exploration of the paranormal, focusing on UFO sightings in Leicestershire. It recounts several incidents:
• October 1978: Over 200 people reported seeing a triangular object flying low over the county, with white spotlights and colored lights underneath, seen in Nuneaton, Hinckley, Ellistown, Coalville, Whitwick, and the Charnwood Forest area.
• October 1983: BBC Radio Two presenter David Jacobs reported seeing a "mysterious ball of light" hurtling across the sky while traveling on the M1.
• July 1984: Several people reported a saucer-shaped, blue and silver object hovering low over Clarendon Park playing field in Hinckley, which then shot off towards Nuneaton.
• May 1988: County police and media received over 30 reports of a bright yellow light that appeared to change shape.

The article also mentions the phenomenon of "crop circles," with the first Leicestershire circle appearing in Oadby in 1988 and a 70-foot circle found near Countesthorpe in June 1992. Despite various theories, no conclusive explanation has been found.

Hertfordshire: Passenger Jet Close Encounter

A report from the Stansted airport-bound BAe 146, believed to be flown by Aer Lingus, described seeing a "red, blue and white striped aircraft" pass close by at 9,000ft over Hertfordshire. Extensive inquiries by an aircraft proximity team failed to find any trace of another plane. The report concluded the incident "could only be assessed as confliction between the BAe 146 and an unknown object," noting that "there was no doubt that both pilots clearly saw something and agreed in some detail in their descriptions of what they had seen." The incident occurred on June 7, 1996, after the BAe 146 took off from Dublin.

UFO Sighted Over Bartlow

The Cambridge Evening News (June 23, 1997) reports that five men believe they saw a UFO over Bartlow. Paul Savage described seeing an "orange star" that became brighter, then dimmer, and enlarged to the size of the moon, before flashing red and white as if rotating. Cambridgeshire police stated they had received no reports of a UFO on that occasion and are seeking explanations.

North Shropshire: The Truth is Out There...

Residents in Myddle, North Shropshire, reported seeing "a series of strange narrow beams pulsing from every direction" on the night of June 19, 1997. The faint white or green lights flashed at irregular intervals. West Mercia Police reported no unusual activity.

York UFO Mystery

The Yorkshire Evening Press (June 6, 1997) details a sighting by Raymund Brookshaw of Skelton, who saw a "silver shape speeding silently through the sky." He described it as not a plane and resembling "silver foil." The object was visible for a short time before disappearing.

UFO Puzzle for Rhu Man

The Helensburgh Advertiser (July 3, 1997) features a report by Neil Reynolds about Ian Drummond, a 70-year-old man from Rhu, who spotted a "mysterious bright light in the sky" early on Monday morning. Drummond described it as a "bright white light in the sky" that moved very quickly. He contacted the British Astronomical Association, who suggested it might be a "weather balloon."

Paranormal and UFO Research Team

The Kent Today (Rochester Evening Post, March 20, 1997) mentions the Paranormal and UFO Research Team, led by Colin and Sally Walker, who are investigating ghost and alien activity. They are holding their first full meeting and are looking into two claims of alien abductions.

Is There Really No One There?

This article by Anthony Barnes from the Troon & Prestwick Times (July 3, 1997) discusses the US Pentagon's categorical denial of alien spacecraft and crashes, citing the 22-year Project Blue Book study. It contrasts this with scientific findings, such as the detection of life's building blocks on Jupiter's moons by the Galileo probe and NASA's claims of fossilized life on Mars. Professor Stephen Hawking warns of the potential dangers of contact with superior aliens. Arthur C. Clarke believes life in space is a real possibility. The article also touches on the Heaven's Gate cult's mass suicide, linked to the Hale-Bopp comet, and notes that BUFORA has seen a tripling of sightings in the past year, with over 900 reports in 1996. Gloria Dixon of BUFORA admits a lack of hard empirical evidence for alien visits but believes "there is something out there" that cannot be explained, citing sightings by ordinary people from all walks of life.

UFOs' Mystery Over Village

The Troon & Prestwick Times also reports on "UFO HYSTERIA" in Dundonald on Saturday morning, July 5, 1997. A caller reported seeing "red shapes in the sky," and teenagers claimed to have seen "several spherical objects floating above the village." Prestwick Airport's Air Traffic Control received an official report but could not identify the object. A caller from Springburn also contacted the tower about seeing "bright lights" over the village.

Dr Hendry's UFO Casebook: Recent Scottish Sightings

• The Fife Free Press (March 14, 1997) features Dr. Hendry's UFO Casebook, highlighting recent Scottish sightings. It notes 200 reports from Bonnybridge, Falkirk, between November 1992 and December 1993. The Ministry of Defence received 258 reports in 1993. Examples include:
• Ian MacPherson (1994): An artist from Rosyth sketched a disc-shaped object with lights on its underside rim near Dunfermline.
• Glenochil Jail (1994): A brightly lit object, about two feet in diameter, was seen on security cameras moving over the fence.
• Raymond Meyer (April 1996): A civilian engineer from Guardbridge saw an enormous bow-shaped sausage-like structure with greenish fluorescence, which appeared stationary before a piece detached and rejoined it.
• Mrs Margaret Ross (September 27, 1996): Filmed a pulsating, bright object that transformed into a half-moon shape with diagonal bars and then sped away eastwards.
• Barry McDonald and Jane Adamson (October 16, 1996): Saw an orange-colored saucer-shaped object low down in the sky near Falkirk, which turned white and vanished.

Ron Halliday of Scottish Earth Mysteries Research and Stirling University are examining Mrs. Ross's tape, with Halliday calling it "the best bit of daylight film of a UFO I have seen."

The Truth is Not Alien to an American Army Base

The Birmingham Post (June 18, 1997) by Martha Mendoza discusses how Roswell, New Mexico, is capitalizing on the 50th anniversary of the alleged Roswell UFO crash. Mayor Tom Jennings stated that the town has developed a "whole new industry tourism" around the event. Frank Kaufmann, a retired government intelligence agent, claims to have witnessed soldiers placing "put five dead aliens into body bags and haul a damaged spaceship onto a flatbed truck." Glenn Dennis, a mortician, recalls being asked to provide "several small, medically sealed caskets." The article notes the existence of a UFO museum and various alien-themed merchandise and events.

Pentagon Shoots Down Flying Saucer

The Times (June 25, 1997) reports on the Pentagon's release of a 231-page report, "The Roswell Report, Case Closed," which aims to debunk theories about the 1947 Roswell incident. The report concludes that the "bodies" were not aliens but dummies used in parachute tests, and the "spacecraft" was a high-altitude balloon from Project Mogul. The Air Force dismisses conspiracy theories.

Irish Pilots in UFO Mystery

The Sun (June 13, 1997) reports that two pilots on an Irish jet saw a "red, white and blue UFO" at 9,000ft above Hertfordshire. Air traffic controllers confirmed no other aircraft were in the area, and the object was not shown on radar. An Aer Lingus source described the sighting as "a mystery."

UFO Baffles Air Investigators

The Ipswich Evening Star (June 12, 1997) covers the same Hertfordshire incident, noting that air investigators were stumped after failing to identify the object seen by the BAe 146 pilots.

Lighting Up the Skies

The York Star (June 12, 1997) mentions that UFO sightings are expected to increase with the RAC's "Spirit of Mobility" airship, a 130ft long airship that will be flying across the UK. The article notes that similar airships in America have sparked UFO alerts.

Columnist: The truth is not here

This columnist from the Thurrock Lakeside Grays Post (April 11, 1997) questions the Pentagon's categorical denial of UFO existence following a survey of 22,000 cases. The columnist argues that the US Air Force is not an independent body, given accusations of cover-ups since the Roswell incident. The article suggests that governments worldwide would have to admit to "half a century of lying" if the truth about UFOs were revealed, impacting social fabric and organized religion. The columnist concludes that the latest Air Force statement carries "all the weight of a helium-filled weather balloon."

Aliens 'Are Taking Over Our Bodies'

An article in the News of the World (June 15, 1997) by Edward Trevor features claims by a former CIA agent, Derrel Sims, that aliens have secretly placed "sinister implants" in humans, which may affect behavior. Sims alleges he has been involved in removing 12 such implants, which were described as needle-like, about half an inch long, and encased in a substance difficult to remove. The material was reportedly found to be "meteoric in origin."

Levenmouth: UFO Hot-Spot?

The East Fife Mail (June 18, 1997) reports on strange lights seen over Levenmouth, Scotland, leading it to be considered a potential UFO "hot-spot." Sharon Coull, who collates UFO details, has heard of several incidents, suggesting Levenmouth may be busier than the reputed hot-spot of Bonnybridge. Reports include a "white light" and an object with a "trail of bright coloured lights."

Explanations for these disturbing occurrences

This section from the Daily Mail (May 15, 1997) explores various potential explanations for paranormal experiences, including hoaxes, false memory syndrome, hypnagogic/hypnopompic imagery, temporal lobe lability, electromagnetism, sleep paralysis, and child sex abuse. It also features an abridged extract from Nick Pope's book "The Uninvited," discussing the case of Patsy Ryan, who reported floating above a park and later developed a mysterious wound, and the case of James and Pamela Millen, who experienced missing time during a camping trip.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, alleged alien encounters, and the possibility of government cover-ups. The publication consistently presents reports of unexplained aerial phenomena, often from credible witnesses, and questions official explanations or denials. There is a clear editorial stance that "the truth is out there" and that the public deserves to know, despite official attempts to dismiss or explain away these events. The issue highlights a growing public interest in UFOs, fueled by popular culture like "The X-Files," and showcases the efforts of organizations like BUFORA to document and investigate these phenomena.