BUFORA Newsfile - No.69 - Apr 1998

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA UFO NEWSFILE
Issue Date: April 1998
Publisher: Ashton & Audenshaw Reporter

This issue of the BUFORA UFO NEWSFILE, dated April 1998, presents a collection of UFO sightings and related phenomena reported across the United Kingdom and beyond. It features detailed accounts from witnesses, investigations by UFO researchers, and discussions on potential government cover-ups and the broader implications of extraterrestrial presence.

Audenshaw Sighting: Mysterious Lights in the Night

The lead story details an encounter by Steven and Annie Clarke of Audenshaw, who reported seeing two brilliant white globes of light gliding through the skies over their home. They described the lights as moving slowly and making a slight humming noise, unlike any aircraft they had seen before. The lights moved towards Ashton and then towards Moss, before disappearing towards Bradford. Paul Quest of the Manchester Anomalous Phenomena Investigation Team noted that several similar reports had been received from the Blackley area, indicating a need for serious investigation.

Ellesmere Port UFO Hiccup

A letter to the Ellesmere Port Pioneer questions a previous article about a UFO sighting, suggesting the object was simply the Goodyear airship and that witnesses should have their eyesight tested.

Primary School UFO-K Lesson

The Sun (Scottish) reports that primary school pupils are set to receive lessons on alien abductions and life on other planets, with UFO expert Malcolm Robinson scheduled to speak at St John's Primary in Alloa.

Downing Street Lobbying for UFO Inquiry

The Edinburgh Evening News highlights efforts by UFO investigator Malcolm Robinson and Councillor Billy Buchanan to lobby Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street, demanding a government inquiry into hundreds of sightings over Bonnybridge, Scotland's 'UFO capital'. They claim a government cover-up has occurred and are demanding the truth be told.

Great Munden Saucer Sighting

The Hertfordshire Mercury reports on a UFO sighting above Great Munden, where two sky-watchers described a saucer-shaped craft with flashing lights landing behind trees. The sighting occurred at midnight on September 16. The magazine 'Down To Earth' aims to unravel UFO phenomena and procure contact with extraterrestrial races. Herts police stated no strange sightings were reported in the area.

UFO Beats the Boffins: Hungarian Photograph

The Mirror features a story about Lajos Kosina, who took a photograph of his girlfriend with a UFO hovering above her shoulder in Erpatak, Hungary. UFO researchers, including Philip Mantle of the British UFO Research Association, believe the image is not a fake and is one of the most convincing ever taken.

Weymouth Airship Mistaken for UFO

The People reports that two traffic cops in Weymouth, Dorset, were fooled by the planet Venus, mistaking it for a UFO.

'Doomsday Gurus' and Alien Cults in Taiwan

The Observer details how 'doomsday gurus' are exploiting the fascination with aliens and UFOs in Taiwan, promising trips to nirvana in alien craft and swindling thousands. The Chinese Flying Saucer Research Association chairman, Ho Hsien-jung, criticizes these cults, stating that aliens belong to science, not religion.

Rendlesham Forest Encounter: A Comprehensive Account

The Bolton Evening News and Bradford Telegraph & Argus cover Jenny Randles' new book, 'UFO Crash Landing? Friend or Foe?', which provides a reappraisal of the Rendlesham Forest incident. The book examines witness accounts, 'live' tapes, and evidence, questioning whether security concerns are a cover-up for genuine alien encounters.

Bradford UFO Sightings Appeal

The Bradford Telegraph & Argus reports that a Bradford UFO research group is appealing for witnesses to two objects seen in the sky over Odsal Top. Russ Kellett of the group has sent out witness forms and is investigating the incident.

Airship Mistaken for UFO in Gloucestershire

The Gloucestershire Echo features a letter from R. Pope of Tewkesbury, who suggests that an airship seen over Cheltenham was mistaken for a UFO.

Halifax Residents Report Mysterious Lights

The Halifax Evening Courier reports on mysterious bright lights seen by people across Calderdale, following a BBC broadcast of UFO footage. Witnesses described the lights as moving slowly and disappearing suddenly.

Was it all a Tangerine Dream for UFO Andy?

The Halifax Evening Courier tells the story of Andy Higgins, who claims to have seen a large black dome-shaped craft hovering over the M11 near Harlow. He contacted Stanstead Airport and BBC Radio Cambridge, with another caller confirming seeing similar lights.

Calderdale Residents See the Light

Another article from the Halifax Evening Courier details reports of mysterious bright lights seen by residents in Calderdale, with some describing them as yellow lights moving slowly and silently.

Puerto Rico: Alien Base Theory

The Darlington Northern Echo features an interview with Timothy Good, a British author and UFO authority, who believes Puerto Rico may host an extraterrestrial outpost. He suggests that aliens may have been on Earth for a very long time, possibly even being responsible for mankind's existence.

X-Files Land in Wales: Numerous Sightings

The Western Cumberland Times & Star and the Halifax Evening Courier highlight numerous UFO sightings in North Wales, including a Pwllheli abduction case, a craft seen over the Dee river, and a 'banana-shaped' object near Denbigh. The British Unidentified Flying Objects Studies Centre (BUFOSC) is investigating these reports.

East Kilbride: Scotland's UFO Hotspot

The Western Daily Press reports that East Kilbride is becoming Scotland's UFO hotspot, with sightings similar to those in Bonnybridge. Engineer Reg Laird has seen triangular lights and diamond-shaped formations.

UFOs Over Cheshire

The Northwich Herald & Post discusses a spate of UFO sightings in Northwich, with the BUFOSC investigating reports of triangular objects. Eric Morris of BUFOSC notes a rise in sightings and local interest.

Cheltenham UFO Sighting: Airship Identified

The Gloucestershire Echo reports that Goodyear's airship 'Spirit of Europe' was responsible for a suspected UFO sighting above Cheltenham, being illuminated at night and mistaken for a spaceship.

'The Truth is Out There' Conference Report

The Gloucestershire Echo covers a UFO international congress in Laughlin, USA, where UK representative Ken Seddington stated that there is 'something out there' based on extraordinary film data.

Secret Dossier on UFOs

The Sandwell Express & Star reports on Nick Redfern, a Midland UFO researcher, who claims Whitehall will soon officially announce the existence of UFOs, citing Ministry of Defence documents of RAF pilots and radar crews reporting sightings.

Chorley: A Focal Point for UFOs

The Chorley Citizen reports that Chorley will be the subject of a discussion on the paranormal, with the Lancashire UFO Society noting that the town seems to be a focal point for sightings.

Stamford's 'Fox Mulder' Investigates

The Stamford Mercury introduces Justin Stubbs, who is investigating unexplained phenomena and asking local people to help him discover if Planet Earth is a tourist attraction for extraterrestrial visitors.

UFOs in Lincoln Dismissed as Optical Illusion

The Lincolnshire Echo reports that CCTV managers have dismissed claims of a UFO caught on video footage in Lincoln as an optical illusion caused by light reflection.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently highlights a strong public interest in UFO sightings and the paranormal. There is a recurring theme of alleged government cover-ups and a desire for official acknowledgement of UFO phenomena. Several articles emphasize the importance of rigorous investigation and the distinction between genuine sightings and misidentifications or hoaxes. The overall stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging the reporting of sightings while also seeking rational explanations where possible. The role of UFO researchers and organizations like BUFORA and the International UFO Research Network is prominent, suggesting a dedicated community actively pursuing the truth behind these unexplained events.