Cos-Mos - Vol 1 No 09 - 1970

Magazine Overview

COS-MOS, Issue No. 9, dated May 1970, is a UK-based publication focused on UFOs and unexplained phenomena. The cover features the magazine's title prominently, alongside an illustration of a classic flying saucer and a silhouetted figure in a space suit. The main cover headline declares the magazine 'aims to Contact Space-Men Or Saucers'. The issue includes a table of contents listing articles such as 'WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. LANCASHIRE? - an unusual contact claim', 'THE DREAMERS', and 'SPACE GODS OF SCANDINAVIA', along with 'PLUS UFO NEWS, VIEWS, REPORTS.'

Editorial Stance and Key Personnel

The editorial team includes President Dr. G.G. Doel, Vice-Presidents J. Cleary-Baker and Lucius Farish, and Director & Editor Norman Oliver. Co-Directors Brian Simmonds and Janet Gregory, and Membership Secretary Sylvia Shaw are also listed. The publication is affiliated with 'SAUCERS' and The Saucer & Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society, U.S.A.

Norman Oliver, in his editorial, addresses the tendency for researchers to dismiss evidence as 'Space Hoax' when confronted with potential fakes. He argues that blaming 'evil space entities' is a cop-out and that 'hoaxing HUMAN nature' is a more likely explanation in many cases. He stresses the importance of investigating within the UFO community ('on our own doorstep') before invoking the intangible, to maintain credibility with the public.

Feature Articles and Case Studies

What Happened to Mr. Lancashire?

This section details the contact experience of Albert Lancashire, which occurred in late summer 1942 near Newbiggin-on-Sea, Northumberland. While on guard duty, Lancashire witnessed a yellow light surrounded by a 'black cloud'. He was then impelled outside and drawn towards a light, where he was seized by 'pygmy-sized men' and taken aboard a spacecraft. The crew included beings of human height, one identified as the 'captain' with dark hair and goggles. He was made to lie on a couch and underwent a medical examination, though details are vague. He recalls being back in his sentry-box with a significant memory gap of 25 years.

Years later, in October 1967, Lancashire experienced psychic incidents that may have triggered his memory. These included a vision of a human head that appeared in his bedroom and a 'presence' felt as a bright light with a man-like figure. He also reported seeing a dark object with blinking red lights that stopped and displayed a dome-shaped light before moving off at high speed. Another incident involved a green light glowing on a signal-box wall. In December 1968, he and another signalman observed a bright white object hovering near a mill chimney, which then sped away rapidly.

Investigators Eric Richards and Sean Ainscough were impressed by Lancashire's account, deeming him sincere and above average intelligence. Ainscough noted striking similarities between Lancashire's experiences and a case described in 'Physical Examination by Miniature Martians' by Gordon Creighton, particularly regarding blinding light, powerless creatures, physical examination, and the influence to make the experience seem like a dream. They suggest these similarities add validity to Lancashire's claim and explain the gradual return of his memories.

The Dreamers

This section presents two accounts related to dreams and UFOs. The first, by R. Eabel, describes a dream where the dreamer sees a flying saucer and interacts with it by tossing apples, which pass through the object with distinct sounds. The saucer lands, appearing damaged. The dreamer had been interested in UFOs for years, and apples are noted as symbols of happiness.

The second account, by Ed. L. Blandford, discusses how dreams might be actual experiences when the physical body is released in sleep, potentially involving mental creations or encounters with other people's consciousness. He suggests that many UFO experiences might have occurred on a 'purely mental' level. The author then recounts a vivid 'dream' from February 1970 where he encountered several small, neutral-suited 'ufonauts' who mentioned three prerequisites for landing and stated, 'We'll come again.'

Autochthon in Automobile - Or Auto-Suggestion?!

This article, taken from Canadian UFO Report, details an incident on November 2, 1967, involving two Navajo Indian youths, Will Begay and Guy Tossie. While driving, they were blinded by a flash, and their car stopped as a small domed UFO appeared. They saw two humanoid figures inside. One creature, about three feet tall with a scarred face and thin lips, emerged and entered the car. The creature jabbered at the youths before returning to the UFO, which then departed. The article speculates on whether the ufonauts navigated by 'Autochtheny' and questions if it was a genuine encounter or auto-suggestion.

The Bisected Book

Norman Oliver recounts an unusual experience where he received only half of a book titled 'THE SCORITON LYSTERY' three weeks before its scheduled publication. He describes the peculiar situation of opening a half-book in his office and the cryptic, rhyming note that accompanied it. The note mentions a man who lent books to Bryant, a plot hatched in Devon, and names like 'Scotty Newton' and 'Brinsley Trench'. Oliver intends to discuss the significance of these verses further, noting that the mention of Brinsley Le Poer Trench is purely incidental.

Other Content

Mailbag

Letters from readers include one from F.C. Gardner, Editor of South Herts Journal, complimenting the magazine's meetings and Arthur Shuttlewood. Another letter from John A. Keel expresses concern about public apathy and skepticism towards UFOs, urging ufologists to regroup and find more fruitful research methods. An unsigned letter contains a cryptic string of characters (MCQLXFXAPFQYIVHSGNFKXJMWK) and a request to forward it to U.F.O. Headquarters, which the magazine staff cannot decipher but suggest might be from a Ouija board session.

UFO & Space Books - Tapes

Lists are provided for books and tapes, with Miss S. Stebbing handling UFO & Space Books and Lionel Beer handling latest UFO Booklists.

Flying Saucer Facts

A new quarterly magazine called 'Flying Saucer Facts' is advertised, featuring UFO articles, book reviews, and UFOs and the Bible. It is available from F. Gething for 2/6 per issue.

Essex UFO News

This section announces the formation of the Essex UFO Group, which produces a magazine with DAPRO, available for 2/6 a copy with a membership of 10/-.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around credible UFO contact cases, the nature of evidence in ufology, and the importance of rigorous investigation. Editor Norman Oliver's stance is clear: a call for critical self-examination within the UFO community, prioritizing the investigation of human factors and potential hoaxes before resorting to extraordinary explanations. The magazine also touches upon the role of psychic phenomena and dreams in UFO experiences, and the diverse theories surrounding the origin and nature of UFOs and their occupants. The inclusion of various letters and reports suggests an active and engaged readership interested in sharing and discussing UFO-related phenomena.

This issue of 'Flying Saucer' magazine, identified by its issue number '10' and dated February 13th, 1970, focuses on a startling UFO sighting and explores connections between mythology and aerial phenomena. The cover headline proclaims 'FLYING SAUCER GIVES GIRLS SUCH A FRIGHT!', setting the tone for the primary report.

Canning Town Sighting

The lead article details an incident on Thursday, February 5th, involving three teenage girls – Gillian Turpin (15), Christine Francis (14), and Sharon O'Brian (13) – who were walking down Silvertown Way, Canning Town. They reported seeing a 'bright shiny object' with flashing lights hovering in the night sky, described as a 'strange night sky 'air ship''. The object was cigar-shaped, small, and hovered about 600 feet in the air near the Tate and Lyle building. The girls stood 'hypnotised' for over a minute before the machine disappeared as suddenly as it arrived. Afterwards, they ran to Christine's home and burst into tears. Mr. Herbert Francis, Christine's father and a policeman with the Port of London Authority, stated that the girls had seen something that gave them a 'real fright' and that he was convinced it was not a case of imagination. Gillian later described the object as 'sort of silvery and cigar-shaped' and admitted being scared to tell people for fear of being thought 'nutty'. The report notes that police at North Woolwich and at Tate and Lyle's had received no other similar reports. This account was originally featured in the Stratford and Newham Express on February 13th, brought to the magazine's attention by Dave Rowe.

Other Sightings and Incidents

Following the main report, a section titled 'I'm forever SEEING bubbles.....pretty bubbles in the air' presents other unusual aerial observations.

In December 1965, Mrs. Sheila Hadley of Hampton, Middlesex, witnessed a mysterious 'thing' hovering at roof-top level. She described it as the size of a tennis ball, resembling a bubble, which then shot away at tremendous speed.

An older report from the BUFOA Autumn 1963 Journal, a letter from Mr. J.P. Painter of Coventry, recounts an incident from the summer of 1952. While strolling, he saw a bubble-like object, about the size of a golf ball, floating in the air. More bubbles appeared, circling and hovering. They then merged into a larger bubble, described as 'a goldfish bowl, dirty inside the glass', before disappearing rapidly.

A Customs officer at Agua Prieta, Mexico, reported an experience in December 1963 where two white, ball-shaped objects appeared about 50 feet up. Two landed and bounced across a field, appearing roughly circular and about six feet across. Their bounces carried them several feet into the air. Contact with trees and bushes tore at them. After a heavy rainstorm, the balls had disappeared. The texture of these balls was noted as being like small interlocked bubbles.

Skywatches 1970

The magazine announces a series of 'Skywatches' organised by COS-MOS, with the hope of YCU participation. These events aim to conduct experiments including INFRA-RED and STANDARD PHOTOGRAPHY, PERCEPTION PROBLEMS, and PSYCHICAL nature experiments. Participants will be provided with cloud identification charts, satellite details, and star maps.

• Southern Watches are scheduled for:
• May 16-17 at Beachy Head, Sussex.
• June 27-28 at Warminster, Star Hill.
• August 15-16 at Petersfield, Hants.
• September 19-20 at Warminster, Heavens Gate.
• October 10-11 at Warminster, Heavens Gate.

Members interested in participating are asked to contact Southern Field Officers Charles Carpenter or Lincoln Richford.

• Northern Watches will be held at the entrance to the BLUE JOHN Caverns, opposite MAM TOR, Castleton, Derbyshire, on the following dates:
• May 17
• June 27-28
• August 15-16
• September 19-20

Members interested in the Northern Watches should contact the Northern Field Officer, Mr. Eric Richards. The Castleton watches are noted as being at the site of an alleged Saucer landing.

Mythological Connections: Space Gods of Scandinavia

A concluding article by J. Raymond Drake, titled 'SPACE GODS OF SCANDINAVIA (Conclusion)', explores the mythological figures of Norse and Teutonic cultures and draws parallels to potential 'Space Beings' or UFO phenomena.

Tyr, the God of War, whose name is linked to 'Tuesday' and 'Tiwas', is described as chaining the wolf Fenrir and sometimes travelling in Thor's thunder-chariot. Loki, the 'evil genius', wore winged shoes and could appear as a bird, symbolising flight. His misuse of magic led to Baldur's death, and he was punished by being chained to a rock.

Freyja, the Scandinavian Venus, associated with 'Friday', drove a chariot drawn by cats or a 'featherschiff'. She was worshipped as a fertility Goddess and feared for her occult arts. The Valkyries, winged maidens who bore souls to Valhalla, are suggested as a possible 'race memory of Space Beings'. Their rising through the air and the 'dew' from their horses' manes are linked to 'manna' or 'ambrosia' from Spaceships. Gna, like Mercury and Iris, served as a Messenger of the Gods, flying to Earth and communicating with mortals, suggesting a Space Being.

In Teutonic mythology, Woden is depicted as a one-eyed Giant with a sky-dome hat and sky-cloak, sometimes driving a star-chariot. He was feared as the Wild Huntsman, Headless Rider, or Earl Konig. The article notes that German folklore is steeped in mysticism and fear of Dark Forces. It mentions the Church's pursuit of witches and the fascination of eighteenth-century writers with the Supernatural.

Goethe's poem 'Erl-konig' is mentioned as evoking phenomena suggestive of Spacemen, describing a phantom threatening to carry a child away.

The Wild Huntsman is described with a curious hat, a pack of fiery dogs and wolves, and aerial speed, resembling descriptions of UFOs. The Schirmelreiter or Headless Rider is also mentioned.

The belief in alien 'astromuts' is said to have persisted in Teutonic minds since Charlemagne, with laws against 'aerial demons'. A report from 'Anzeigen', Vol. 4, F. 304, describes a violent thunderstorm followed by a naked female falling dead from the sky.

Another incident from 'Deutsche Volksfeste' mentions wizards flying through clouds who were shot down. In Carinthia, people shot at storm-clouds to scare away 'Evil Spirits'. The article concludes that today's UFO literature abounds with alleged hostilities from Spacemen.

Meetings and Announcements

International Skywatch: Announced for June 13-14, individuals can participate from any vantage point. Reports should be directed to Derek Mansell of CONTACT (U.K.). Discussions are ongoing regarding cooperation between BUFCRA, CONTACT (U.K.), and COS-MOS.

CONTACT (U.K.) Meeting: Scheduled for Saturday, May 16th, at Caxton Hall, Westminster, with an Annual General Meeting at 2:00 p.m. and a 7:00 p.m. meeting featuring Mrs. Jacqueline Thorburn, President of the Atlantean Society, chaired by the Hon. Brinsley Le Poer Trench.

BUFORA National Skywatch: Proposed dates are May 16-17 and June 27-28. These will coincide with COS-MOS Skywatches, forming a national network. The watches will be separate events led by COS-MOS Field Officers.

Did You Spot It?: A puzzle is presented where a deliberate mistake in the text is to be found. The first postcard with the correct word, beginning with a capital letter, will win free entry to two COS-MOS meetings. Postcards should be sent to the Editor, COS-MOS Journal, 95, Taunton Road, London, S.E.12.

Meetings 1970-1971: A series of meetings at Kensington Library is being arranged by Jim Saunderson. Dates include Saturdays September 19th (AGM), October 24th, November 21st, January 9th, January 30th, February 27th, and March 27th. Speakers will be announced. The AGM date clashes with a sky-watch, and arrangements are being made to transport members from the library to the sky-watch site in North Kent.

Submissions for the next issue are requested by June 13th.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes the reality and significance of UFO sightings, presenting them as credible events that warrant serious investigation. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness towards unexplained aerial phenomena, encouraging public participation in skywatching and the reporting of sightings. The inclusion of mythological parallels suggests an attempt to frame UFOs within a broader historical and cultural context, hinting at ancient origins or interpretations of such phenomena. The magazine actively promotes its own organised events and encourages reader interaction through letters and puzzles, fostering a community of interest in the subject.