EUFOSG Journal - 1977 07 - July 1977

Magazine Overview

This issue of EUFOSG, the official journal of the Essex Unidentified Flying Object Study Group, is dated July 1977 and is Volume 1, Number 4. The cover prominently features the organization's name and a stylized graphic, along with a description of its mission to investigate UFO phenomena. The issue includes a table of contents detailing various articles and sections.

Editorial: Groups and Networks

The editorial discusses the landscape of UFO groups in the UK, highlighting two major organizations: CONTACT (UK) and BUFORA (British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association). It notes the existence of numerous smaller, local groups, some of which operate independently. The editorial mentions the Northern UFO Network (NUFON), run by Jenny Randles, as a successful model for regional cooperation. It also touches upon the potential for a Southern UFO Network (SUFON) and expresses EUFOSG's interest in participating. The piece concludes by emphasizing the recent moves towards unification within the UFO community.

Other Associations and their Publications

This section lists several other UFO organizations and their publications, including:

1. CONTACT (UK): Publishes "Awareness" quarterly. Membership is £3.00.
2. Northern UFO Network: Publishes a monthly newsletter for £2.00 subs.
3. British UFO Documentation Centre: Publishes a quarterly bulletin for £2.00 subs.
4. Nottingham UFO Investigation Society: Publishes "UFO Research Review" quarterly, with single copies at £0.25.
5. Borderline Science Investigation Group: Publishes "Lantern" quarterly for £0.85 subs.
6. Wessex Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomena: Publishes a journal sporadically, with single copies at £0.25.
7. "Flying Saucer Review": A bi-monthly publication with subscriptions at £4.20.

Group Meeting (held 24/6/77)

The journal reports on a group meeting held on June 24, 1977, featuring Mr. Norman Oliver, Editor of BUFORA Journal, as the guest speaker. The meeting coincided with the 30th anniversary of the phrase "flying saucers." Mr. Oliver discussed UFO flaps, defined as geographically confined appearances of UFOs, noting that waves of sightings tend to occur at ten-year intervals (e.g., 1957, 1967, and potentially 1977). He highlighted a current flap in South-West Wales and shared contactee cases, including that of Mr. Lancashire, who reported a 1942 encounter involving a craft and psychic experiences. The meeting also included a coffee break and a raffle. Following Mr. Oliver's talk, Mr. Ron Markwick, the Technical Advisor, presented on Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting and discussed other cases from that period. The meeting concluded at 10:50 pm.

Investigations

This section introduces a new "Investigation Level" system for categorizing UFO cases, developed in collaboration with Ms. Jenny Randles of the Northern UFO Network and Mr. J.B. Delair of CONTACT (UK). The levels are:

• Level A: On-site investigation by experienced investigators.
• Level B: Interview with the witness by an experienced investigator.
• Level C: Witness fills out a special UFO report form without an interview.
• Level D: Letter or written account from the witness with no special follow-up.
• Level E: Unconfirmed report (e.g., newspaper cutting, verbal account).

The journal notes that there hasn't been a significant increase in UFO activity, but a major flap is expected later in the year. It also appeals for reports of UFO sightings in Essex that may have been missed by the organization.

Report No.1 (Case No. 1975-S-1): When UFOs Collide

This Level A investigation details an incident on a summer afternoon in 1975 involving Mrs. May (a pseudonym) in Loughton, West Essex. She observed two identical "aeroplanes" approaching each other at a normal cruising speed above Epping Forest. The objects were described as black, silent, and lacking visible engines, propellers, or insignia. As they appeared to be on a collision course, one "aeroplane" emitted a loud engine noise and vanished into thin air, while the other continued on its path. Mrs. May estimated the sighting lasted three minutes. Additional details include the objects being seen in the north-north-west at a constant elevation of 20 degrees under clear, warm, sunny skies.

Report No. 2 (Case No. 1976-WE-1): Landing in Epping Forest?

This Level B report describes a sighting between 11:00 p.m. and midnight in early 1976. Mrs. May observed a cigar-shaped object with five oval windows, from which yellow light streamed, moving slowly from right to left above Staple's Hill. The object then dropped vertically and was lost to sight behind trees. There was no noise, smoke, or vapour trail. The object appeared large and was estimated to be 14 inches long at arm's length. Mrs. May and her husband are described as psychic, and a friend of the family mentioned that the area over Loughton is known as a UFO air-corridor, with NATO reportedly possessing a large file on UFOs.

RESULT OF A STUDY - PART III

This section continues the analysis of UFO phenomena in Essex during 1975 and 1976. Previous issues presented graphs on monthly distributions, diurnal variations, and daylight hours. This installment focuses on "UFO Shapes."

U.F.O. Shapes (Essex area only)

A table presents data on probable UFO shapes and possible misidentifications from November 1, 1975, to December 31, 1976. The shapes analyzed include LITS (Lights in the Sky), Various, circ., cigar, Disc, Bird, Egg, and Pear. LITS constitute the largest category (48%), but are often difficult to resolve into definite shapes. The "disc" or "flying saucer" shape accounts for 17% of the remaining definable shapes, compared to 25%-50% worldwide.

Different types of UFO Sightings

This subsection introduces the CUFOS (Centre for UFO Studies) classification system, developed by Dr. J. Allen Hynek. The system includes:

• NL (Nocturnal Light): A distant light-type UFO seen at night.
• DD (Daylight Disc): A distant object seen during the day.
• RV (Radar/Visual): UFO seen by radar and vision simultaneously.
• CE I (Close Encounter of the First Kind): UFO seen within 500 feet.
• CE II (Close Encounter of the Second Kind): A CE I that leaves a physical trace.
• CE III (Close Encounter of the Third Kind): A CE I with humanoid(s) seen.

A table then applies the CUFOS system to sightings in Essex, showing counts for probable UFOs and possible misidentifications across these categories.

Duration of sightings (Essex area only)

Another table analyzes the duration of sightings in the Essex area. It indicates that over half (54%) of sightings lasted less than four minutes, and nearly a quarter (24%) lasted less than one minute.

The witnesses (Essex area only)

Analysis of witness data from November 1, 1975, to December 31, 1976, reveals that most cases involved one witness (27 cases with 1 witness, 27 cases with 2 witnesses). The data suggests that UFO sightings are not solely the product of individual imagination. A graph plotting witness ages shows that younger people are more frequently witnesses or reporters of UFOs, with a noticeable absence of girls under 10 years old, possibly due to sample size.

The section concludes by stating that while no definitive answers to the UFO phenomenon have been found, the data suggests it possesses some degree of credibility.

ABDUCTION BY A MASSIVE UFO

This article details an investigation conducted by MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) in the USA concerning a terrifying encounter involving three Kentucky women. The women, described as having excellent reputations and being lifelong churchgoers, reported being driven by an "awesome force" from their car towards a "huge flying saucer." They experienced an 80-minute "blank" in their memory, after which they found themselves in a different town. Hypnosis sessions conducted by Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Wyoming, revealed that the women were taken from their car and subjected to a frightening and painful examination in a strange chamber. Physical evidence, including a three-inch burn on each woman's neck, was found to corroborate their accounts. UFO expert Len Stringfield declared it one of the most convincing UFO cases on record, and Dr. Sprinkle firmly believes the women described real experiences, citing the consistency of their accounts across separate hypnotic sessions as evidence against lying.

The three women, Elaine Thomas (48), Louise Smith (44), and Mona Stafford (35), were returning home when the incident occurred on January 6, 1976. Louise Smith's drawing of the UFO depicts a bluish-white, disc-shaped object with yellow and red markings, and it is noted that the nightmare ended in Hustonville, near Liberty, Kentucky.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of EUFOSG include the organization and networking of UFO study groups, the detailed investigation and classification of UFO sightings, and the reporting of specific cases, including a notable abduction incident. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious, methodical investigation and a desire for greater unification and information sharing within the UFO community. The publication aims to present evidence and analysis, encouraging reader participation through reporting sightings. The emphasis on structured investigation methods (like the Investigation Level and CUFOS system) and the presentation of statistical data suggests a commitment to a scientific approach to the UFO phenomenon.

Title: UFO STATION
Issue: July'77
Volume: 11
Date: July 1977
Publisher: Manchester Aerial Phenomena Investigation team
Country: UK

The Hustonville Encounter

The issue opens with a detailed account of a UFO encounter experienced by three women, Louise, Mona Stafford, and Elaine Thomas, while driving near Hustonville, USA. Louise, the driver, described the object as "metallic grey with a glowing white dome, a row of red lights around the middle and three or four red and yellow lights underneath." The UFO stopped ahead of them and then circled behind their car. The vehicle's speedometer registered 85 miles an hour, and Louise found she couldn't control it. This was followed by an "80-minute gap" in their memories, after which they found themselves entering Hustonville, eight miles from where they had last seen the UFO. Upon returning to Louise's home, they discovered identical red marks on their necks, described as "like a fresh burn that hadn't blistered, three inches long and an inch wide." These marks vanished two days later.

Hypnotic Recall

To investigate the missing time, the women underwent hypnotic sessions conducted by Dr. Sprinkle. During these sessions, they vividly recalled events from the time their car was pulled backward until they reached Hustonville. Elaine Thomas remembered lying on her back in a narrow, incubator-like chamber, with "dark figures, small, looked about four feet high" passing by. She described a blunt instrument being pressed against her chest and feeling something encircling her throat, causing her to be choked into silence. Elaine cried softly at times during hypnosis, expressing fear and distress.

Louise Smith recalled being in a "hot, dark" place with something placed over her face. She was briefly allowed to look but closed her eyes due to the frightening sight. Under hypnosis, she pleaded for help, expressing fear of the darkness and a desire to die, before eventually seeing "a light" and feeling she was "going fast, so fast."

Lie Detector Tests and Expert Opinions

All three women were given lie detector tests by Detective James Young, a senior polygraph examiner. Young stated in a signed statement that "It is my opinion that these women actually believe they did experience an encounter." Dr. Sprinkle added that it was "very difficult if not impossible for these women to fake their impressions," noting the similarity to other abduction and examination experiences.

Sheriff Bill Norris of Lincoln County reported "a number of UFO Sightings in the county" during January.

UFO Research: The Grid Theory

The magazine features a report from a member of the Danish IGAP group (International Get Aquainted Programme), founded by George Adamski. This report details the work of their research department, DELTA 76, which is investigating the "Grid theory." This theory, based on the work of Air Captain Bruce Cathie, posits that UFOs track special routes calculated from plotted observation points on maps of UFO reports. Cathie believes these routes are associated with a grid system containing energy that UFOs might utilize. The IGAP group has built a special aerial to test this theory, placing it at a point where two grid lines cross. They have been monitoring it for seven months, measuring a slight rise in temperature, which they are investigating.

DELTA 76 plans to run its own UFO tracking station in 1977 to measure changes in the local magnetic field and gravity when a UFO passes. They are also developing an ultrasonic device to potentially detect UFO "engine" sounds. The program is supported by donations, and the group hopes to have significant results by the end of the year.

Letters to the Editor

A letter from Barry King of Dagenham, Essex, discusses a UFO sighting from 1944/5 reported in a previous issue. King questions the accuracy of the witness's account of four V-1 buzzbombs flying in line, stating it would be a practical impossibility due to the technology of the time. He also addresses the possibility of the object being a small "spy" saucer made by Shorts of Belfast, but argues against it due to the Shorts aircraft being noisy and unable to hover motionless, unlike the object described.

In response, the editor notes that the V-1s appeared in line and the diagram was schematic. They consulted the Imperial War Museum, which stated that it was not impossible to see six V-1s in the sky at once, as the Germans could launch them in salvos. The editor agrees that the Shorts "spy" saucer explanation is likely incorrect.

Australian Yowies

The issue includes a section on "Australian Yowies," describing an expedition based in Scone, Australia, led by Rex Gilroy, Director of the Mount York Natural History Museum. The expedition aims to gather evidence for the existence of the "8ft tall 600 lb Australian gorilla-man" known as the Yowie. Sightings of Yowies are reported across the continent, with a long history in the Barrington region dating back to the 19th century. Rex Gilroy believes the Yowie is related to the Tibetan Yeti and the US Bigfoot. The article recounts a sensational incident from September 1968 where Mr. George Gray claimed a four-foot tall hairy, web-toed creature entered his sleeping quarters and tried to drag him from his bed. Gray described the creature's skin as "loose" and its bones palpable, noting it was "dirty grey hair, bristly like a pig's." He concluded, "It wasn't a pig. It was a man of some description."

Advertisements and Publications

Several advertisements for UFO-related publications are included:

• "VIEWPOINT AQUARIUS": A newsletter covering UFOs, Theosophy, Yoga, Meditation, and Healing, with news from abroad. It costs 35p per copy or a donation, with 11 issues per year.
• "FORESIGHT": A bi-monthly magazine focused on spiritual aspects, Psychic Phenomena, Mysticism, and UFOs. Single copies are 15p plus 7p postage, with yearly subscriptions at 90p plus 42p postage.

Skywatches

The "Skywatch" section reports on UFO skywatches organized by the EUFOSG. A skywatch on Saturday, May 28th, 1977, in Coppermill Lane, London, E.17., reportedly produced eight "LITS" type of UFOs, described as three red lights at the rear and one yellow light at the front, moving horizontally. Other skywatches on June 4th, July 2nd, and July 9th yielded nothing unusual. The July 2nd skywatch had the largest turnout ever, with over 50 people attending. Future skywatches are scheduled for August 20th, September 17th, October 15th, and November 19th, with an effort to coordinate with other groups.

Other Sections

Brief mentions of other newsletters are included: "Skywatch" (general UFO news, letters, articles, advertisements), "Essex Douser" (dowsing), and "Essex Healers' Association" (spiritual healing). A "RES BUREAUX BULLETIN" is also mentioned, covering UFO sightings and Fortean phenomena.

An errata note corrects the attribution for a report on page 5 of the May 1977 Journal, crediting Mr. R. Markwick.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings, encounters, and investigations, with a particular emphasis on abduction experiences and the phenomenon of lost time. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting witness accounts, expert opinions, and ongoing research efforts. The inclusion of hypnotic recall, lie detector tests, and scientific investigations into theories like the "grid theory" suggest a desire to explore the phenomena from multiple angles. The coverage of the "Yowie" indicates a broader interest in unexplained creatures and anomalies. The magazine also serves as a platform for community engagement through its "Skywatch" events and advertisements for related publications, fostering a sense of shared interest and investigation within the UFO community.