Cos-Mos - Vol 2 No 03 - Sirius - Vol 1 No 4 - 1971

Magazine Overview

This is a combined issue of COS-MOS Vol 2 No 3 and SIRIUS Vol 1 No 4, dated November 1971. The magazine's title is "COS-MOS SIRIUS" and it is subtitled "UFO news and views". The cover announces a "Special combined issue" and features the logos of COS-MOS and SIRIUS.

Editorial Announcement: The Launch of GEMINI

An important notice from the editorial committees of COS-MOS and SIRIUS announces the disbanding of the two organizations as functioning societies in July 1971. The reason cited is the significant amount of time consumed by administration, which detracts from actual research. The journals of COS-MOS and SIRIUS will be retained and combined into a new quarterly publication titled "GEMINI", scheduled for launch in early 1972. The editorial committee for GEMINI will consist of the ex-editors and founders of COS-MOS and SIRIUS: Norman T Oliver, Mark Stenhoff, and C David Oakley-Hill. This committee intends to engage in private research and encourage other UFO research bodies. Subscribers are encouraged to conduct their own research and use GEMINI as a medium for publishing their findings. The publication is described as a non-profit venture. The issue also provides contact addresses for exchange journals and subscriptions, and lists the Director as Norman T H Oliver, with Dr G G Doel, John Cleary-Baker, and Lucius Farish as President and Vice-presidents, respectively. The COS-MOS address is given as 95 Taunton Road, Lee, London SE12 8PA, England.

COS-MOS SECTION

The Flintshire UFOs

This article details a series of UFO sightings that occurred in Flintshire, UK, beginning in October 1970. The sightings primarily involved Mrs Stella Dickson and her neighbours in Berthengan, near Holywell. The focus of the sightings appears to be a TV mast at Afonwen. The report includes a timetable of events:

• 10 OCT 1970: Sighting of a "Red Object" by Rhyl witnesses.
• 10 OCT 1970: Two Berthengan witnesses see UFOs.
• 11 OCT 1970: "Tangerine-shaped objects" sighted near the Afonwen TV mast.
• 12 OCT 1970: A "flattened globular object" sighted.
• 13 OCT 1970: Considerable TV interference reported.
• 15 OCT 1970: Sodom sighting and a "Radio Ham" mystery.
• 18 OCT 1970: UFOs seen "coming up from the ground".

COS-MOS investigator Eric Richards interviewed Mrs Dickson, and the author, Norman Oliver, visited the witnesses. Mr Hughes described seeing saucer-shaped, reddish objects like tangerines with "tails", followed by others at intervals. These objects disappeared quickly, described as "like someone blowing them off". They appeared solid and glowing.

Mrs Dickson reported seeing a "globular object" coming in from the west, glowing orangey-red, with a small protrusion. It "switched off" before reaching the mast, and a similar object reappeared later.

On October 15th, Mr Hughes observed an object "like a huge saucer on its side" coming up from the ground and moving horizontally. He also noted several objects "going all over the place", described as "huge balls of fire" resembling Roman Candles.

On October 18th, witnesses described objects that looked like they were "hanging on strings", with smaller "little ones" coming out of them. These were described as "almost like dotted lines with small little balloons at the bottom".

A significant event on October 18th involved a man with a "pick-up" van at Sodom, near the mast. He was seen scraping a "hole" in the leaves, fiddling with a box, and a bulb lit up on top. He was described as very tall and thin. Later, police were informed, and a man identified as a "radio ham" was questioned. However, Mrs Dickson noted this man was short and well-built with a heavy black beard, unlike the first man seen.

The article questions the nature of these UFOs, noting the time-lag between visual sightings and the van's arrival, and the peculiar "appendages" and brilliance of the lights.

Destination Unknown - 2

This article explores mysterious disappearances across several regions, suggesting a possible link to UFO phenomena. It highlights six areas of interest:

1. Australia, Tasman and Coral Seas: Mentioning the enigma of the "Joyita".
2. S.E. Africa and Madagascar: The disappearance of the "Waratah" ship in 1908 is detailed. The ship, carrying 10,000 tons of cargo, vanished after being sighted off the coast.
3. Mediterranean Area: Includes the case of RAF officers Day and Stewart whose footprints ended abruptly in sand in Iraq in 1924, and the British 1/4 Norfolk Regiment vanishing near Suva Bay in 1915.
4. Northern Argentina, Southern Brazil, and seas off Montevideo: This area is noted for numerous disappearances, sightings, and abductions. The disappearance of the Danish training ship "Kobenhaven" in 1928 is mentioned. The article also recounts R.A.Mafra witnessing his father disappear into a "cloud of yellowish dust" in Brazil in 1962, noting the association of gaseous clouds with disappearances.
5. Buenos Aires Attorney Case: In 1959, an Argentine businessman experienced a sudden enveloping cloud mass, lost consciousness, and found himself in a deserted spot far from his car, which was later found running at Bahia Blanca. This incident is linked to apparent teleportation.
6. Dr G Videl Case: In May 1968, Dr G Videl and his wife experienced a dense fog near Chascomus, Argentina, lost 48 hours, and found themselves in Mexico. Their watches stopped, and they established they had been away for two days. Their car was sent for scientific evaluation.

The author concludes by quoting Hamlet: "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio..."

SIRIUS SECTION

Green land beyond the pole

This article by R.W. Tibbitts reports on Rear Admiral R.E. Byrd's expedition to Antarctica in January-February 1947. The expedition, comprising 13 vessels and 4,000 personnel, conducted extensive aerial investigations. Key findings announced by Byrd included radical alterations to maps due to discoveries of great mountain peaks (15,000 feet high), new islands, peninsulas, and bays with mountain borders. A notable discovery on February 10th was an island oasis 500 feet above sea level, featuring "pea-green, muddy" lakes and dark brown mounds rising about 500 feet. The water in the lakes was found to be appreciably warmer than the surrounding ice.

Mail Bag

This section contains letters from readers:

• Rosina Bishop (Harrow): Praises articles on "Green Land Beyond The Pole", John Keel, and the Bermuda Triangle, while dismissing other content as "nonsense".
• Terry Irwin (Sheffield): Responds to Bernard Morton's letter about ouija boards, stating that experiments from November 1969 to April 1970 yielded no negative results until a different crew was involved. He notes that contact was advised to cease activity.
• Ted Harris (Dunmow): Comments that the recipient is likely the most talked-about person in UFO circles.
• David Rowe (Wickford): Critiques the previous issue of COS-MOS, finding some content "a load of old crap" but praising "Themes of Contact". He suggests splitting the magazine into two halves was not ideal and that information was presented in "scraps". He questions the detail provided about mental messages received by Ed Blandford and Joan Howard, and finds "Destination Unknown" and "Green Land Beyond" to be unoriginal. He urges for more content on "Occupants. Contacts, Landing and Communication."
• David Seaman (Southall): Questions the inclusion of three pages publicising SIUFOP's existence in a COS-MOS journal, suggesting the time should be devoted to COS-MOS instead of discrediting SIUFOP.
• Clare Branch (Honiton): Comments on the Spring issue, mentioning Orestes Wilson and the prediction of "Devastation Day". She speculates about different time-scales and calendars, including a ten-month year or a fifteen-month year, and the potential impact of a binary sun system.
• J Theakstone (Yeovil): Apologizes if his criticism of some articles as "childish" is considered unfair, but states that the majority are interesting and appreciates the effort in compiling the magazine.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include UFO sightings (particularly the Flintshire flap), mysterious disappearances and potential teleportation events, and reports on scientific expeditions with unusual findings (Antarctica). The editorial stance, as expressed in the announcement for GEMINI, is a strong emphasis on "research" as the primary concern, moving away from the administrative burdens of traditional UFO organizations towards a more focused, private, and collaborative research effort. The publication aims to be a medium for disseminating research results rather than a platform for organizational membership.

This issue of SIRIUS, the UFO Chronicle, published in October 1970, features a provocative cover headline: "Dead, but they won't lie down!". The issue includes a review by Norman Oliver of an article by Arthur C. Clarke in the Daily Mail, which declared flying saucers dead. The magazine also presents a variety of UFO reports, contactee accounts, and investigative pieces.

Review of Arthur C. Clarke's Article

Norman Oliver reviews Arthur C. Clarke's article, which dismisses flying saucers, attributing Clarke's own sighting to a weather balloon. Oliver argues that Clarke, while a respected science fiction writer, is not a top name in Saucer Research. He counters Clarke's assertion that flying saucers are dead by presenting three cases that he believes remain unexplained.

Key UFO Cases Presented

The issue details several significant UFO incidents:

• The 'Antarctic Bases' UFO Sighting (July 3, 1965): Personnel at Argentinian, Chilean, and British bases on Deception Island and Graham Land sighted a UFO that zigzagged and changed colour, hovered for 20 minutes, and then shot off at high speed. Ten photos were reportedly taken.
• The 'Trinidade Island' UFO (1958): The official photographer on the Geophysical Year ship Almiral Saldanha documented a UFO seen by many on board. It flew in a "figure 8" course over the island and out to sea, appearing translucent, pearly-grey, and "Saturn-shaped".
• The 'Father Gill' Sighting (June 16, 1959): Thirty-seven people at a Papuan Anglican mission witnessed a disc-like craft with four "humans" on board, operating a blue light emanating from the deck.

Oliver suggests that Clarke's claim of flying saucers being dead is premature, highlighting these cases as evidence of ongoing unexplained phenomena.

The Possibility of UFO Origins

An article by R. W. Tibbitts speculates on the origins of UFOs, referencing Byrd's expedition which discovered unknown mountain ranges and photographed vast new territories beyond the South Pole. Tibbitts questions if UFOs might originate from these unexplored polar regions or from dense tropical jungle areas and oceanic expanses.

"Flying Saucers Are Dead!" - A Rebuttal

This section directly challenges Arthur C. Clarke's assertion. The author argues that while many reported sightings are misidentifications (satellites, meteors, etc.), only one confirmed sighting is needed to prove the case. The author also points out that the "Condon Report" left some cases unexplained. Three key arguments are presented against the idea that radar systems would detect all incoming craft:

1. Any detected object would likely be classified immediately.
2. Radar systems are designed for specific parameters and would register "non-conforming" objects as "anomalous returns".
3. An intelligence capable of interplanetary travel would likely possess effective anti-radar devices.

The author also questions why a significant meteorite event went undetected by radar and why information about UFOs would automatically be shared.

The Dick Miller Story: Transmitted Contact

This extensive section details the alleged experiences of Dick Miller, who claims to have received communications from extraterrestrials via radio and later through a "Light-Beam" transmitter and receiver. Miller, an electronics engineer, began experimenting with short-wave radio in 1954 after attending a lecture. He reported receiving messages on the 11-meter band, some of which were signed "MASAR" and suggested contact with Adamski. He also received plans for a "Light-Beam" apparatus. Later messages hinted at contacts with US President Eisenhower and mentioned origins from Mars, Venus, and Alpha Centauri. Miller constructed the apparatus and claims to have received numerous messages and formulas from beings with names like Voltra, Bellarion, and Kla-La.

Joan Howard's "Mind Machine"

This section discusses Joan Howard's contact experience, which she described as an "astral" trip to a "military base" with space-suited people. She reported her physical body being worked on by a ray, and later discovered this was part of her contact with "ZIOFRAN" using an instrument she nicknamed the "Mind Machine". This device was used to contact and "pick up" minds, and "process" them to produce "mind-pictures" revealing personality traits.

Other Reports and Themes

• Report from Göteborg: Details a UFO sighting from April 25, 1967, involving an object of the "Adamski type" that changed colour and blinked.
• "Themes of Contact": This ongoing series explores various forms of contact, including radio, TV, and "Light-Beam" communications. The current installment focuses on "Transmitted Contact" and reviews Neville Spearman's book "The Saucers Speak".
• Mystery of the Tungusian Tundra: The final part of an article by A. Szachnowski discusses Professor Krinow's theory of a comet explaining the 1908 explosion, and elaborates on research by Dr. Zolotov regarding ballistic and blast waves, suggesting an internal combustion or nuclear reaction as the cause.
• Strange Lights over Mitcham: An investigation by Norman Oliver and C. David Oakley-Hill into a sighting by Margaret Argent of two large, bright lights that hovered and then vanished rapidly.
• Letters to the Editor: A letter from Douglas D. Daider criticizes the magazine as "junk" and anti-American for discussing UFOs, stating that if the Air Force says they don't exist, then believing in them is unpatriotic.
• Daily Mail Report: A brief mention of a Daily Mail report on October 11, 1971, about two policemen sighting a long, cigar-shaped object flashing a "blinding" white light.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing debate about the reality of UFOs and extraterrestrial contact, the challenges of identifying and verifying sightings, and the exploration of various communication methods with potential non-human intelligence. The magazine's stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, presenting evidence and arguments that challenge official dismissals of the UFO phenomenon, while also acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes and misidentifications. There is a clear emphasis on detailed case studies and personal accounts, encouraging readers to consider the evidence presented.

GEMINI, 'The twin UFO journal', is presented as a publication made possible by the amalgamation of COS-MOS and SIRIUS. This issue, dated November 1970, focuses on in-depth analysis of UFO phenomena, with a significant portion dedicated to the 1908 Tunguska explosion and its potential implications.

The Tunguska Event: A Nuclear Enigma?

The issue delves into the 1908 Tunguska explosion, presenting the findings and conclusions of Antoni W Szachnowski. He critiques the official explanation of an 'exploding head of a comet', citing evidence that suggests a nuclear reaction. The explosion generated immense heat and had an elongated, irregular damage pattern in the Tundra. Szachnowski posits that the event was not natural but caused by a manufactured, nuclear-propelled, intelligently controlled, unidentified flying object. He references editorial notes that cite studies by Dr E U Condon and Jacques Vallee, with Vallee concluding that an 'extraordinary body collided with our planet in June 1908', while Condon's report suggests a comet collision as the 'best guess'.

The article details the event: a rumble, a ball of fire brighter than the sun, a mushroom cloud, and a shockwave felt globally. The destruction of trees is described, with roots pointing to a central focus. Notably, some trees at the impact's center remained standing, albeit dead and scorched, which is inconsistent with a meteorite impact. The survival of these trees is explained by an explosion occurring high in the air. Furthermore, analysis of tree growth rings shows unusually wide rings for ten years following 1908, attributed to radioactivity, suggesting an artificial nuclear explosion.

UFOs: Origin, Power, and Characteristics

Alan Watts, a meteorologist and ufologist, delivered a talk on UFOs, discussing sightings since 1947 and potential technological advancements. He suggested UFOs might have utilized rocket techniques from 35000 BC, solar power, or nuclear power in ancient India. Watts's theories on UFO characteristics include their ability to inhibit car engines, emit heat and force-fields, and leave ground marks. He explained fundamental particles and how energy can be converted to mass, and vice versa. A theory called NU-ETHER by T M Derak proposes that the vacuum is not empty but contains particles that can produce matter.

Regarding UFO propulsion, the article speculates about a matter/anti-matter generator within 'saucer' craft, separating particles to create propulsive force. This could explain electromagnetic effects and the 'fuzziness' in photographs due to ionized air. The craft's shape, particularly the Adamski-type saucer, and its ability to hover are also discussed in relation to propulsion and gravity.

The concept of 'radiation image' is explored, where high magnetic fields refract light, potentially creating truncated images of a real object. The glow of UFOs is linked to the cyclotron principle, where electrons rotating at high speeds emit electromagnetic radiation. Holographic techniques for projecting 3D images are also suggested as a UFO capability. The article touches upon ancient structures and suggests a correlation with communication methods, possibly aerial transport. The existence of 'Vulcan', a hypothetical planet or celestial body, is mentioned in relation to extraterrestrial craft using a space-station in our solar system.

Review: 'Operation Trojan Horse' by John A Keel

Mark Stenhoff reviews John A Keel's book, noting its condensation from 2000 pages to 320. The review highlights Keel's theories, including the 'Wednesday phenomenon' (more sightings on Wednesdays), which is statistically weakly supported. Keel's theory posits that UFOs are temporary materializations, with discs and cigars acting as decoys. Other objects are described as 'soft', changing shape, and powered by intelligent energy operating at a high frequency spectrum. Keel suggests that this intelligence communicates with humans through various means, including religious visions and spiritualism, and regards humanity as unimportant. The review expresses skepticism about some of Keel's claims, such as meteors being under intelligent control, and the interpretation of specific phrases. However, it concludes that the book may be closer to the truth than many others on the topic and recommends it for further research.

SIRIUS Skywatch Report and Other Contributions

The issue includes a report on a SIRIUS skywatch event on June 26, 1971, which observed four satellites and a strange orange light identified as a distress flare. Another watch on June 30 was uneventful due to overcast skies. The report mentions the resignation of two committee members, Barry P Marsh and J Graham Cowell, from the SIRIUS staff due to increasing commitments.

Fred Gardner contributes an article titled 'Avenues of UFO Investigation', encouraging readers to conduct their own research rather than relying solely on others' reports. He suggests various methods, including organized skywatches, collecting UFO literature and media, studying mythology and religious texts, scrutinizing newspapers, considering psychological factors, and researching archeology and geology. Gardner emphasizes the importance of an open mind and personal judgment.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes an investigative and analytical approach to UFO phenomena, moving beyond simple acceptance of official explanations. There is a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry, with references to physics, nuclear reactions, and electromagnetic principles. The issue explores the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence and advanced technology, particularly in relation to historical events like the Tunguska explosion and modern UFO sightings. The editorial stance encourages reader participation and independent research, suggesting that the UFO enigma is a significant and complex subject worthy of deep study.