EUFOSG Journal - 1977 11 - November 1977

Magazine Overview

Title: EUFOSG The Official Journal
Issue: No.6
Volume: Volume 1
Date: November 1977
Publisher: Essex Unidentified Flying Object Study Group
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of the EUFOSG Official Journal, dated November 1977, is Volume 1, Issue No. 6. It is published by the Essex Unidentified Flying Object Study Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating UFO phenomena. The cover features a stylized circular graphic and the headline 'Essex Unidentified Flying Object Study Group'.

Editorial: UFOs galore!

The editorial discusses the frequency of UFO sightings, noting that some witnesses report an unusually high number of encounters. It highlights Russell Smith of Basildon, who is thought to have seen between 100 and 200 objects over two years. A shorter-term record is attributed to Ken Brockett, an amateur astronomer from Barking, who witnessed approximately 50 UFOs in three evenings in September 1975. The editorial also recounts a remarkable sighting by a lady from Basildon on May 21, 1977, who saw 23 UFOs simultaneously, including a large stationary saucer-shaped 'mother ship' and 22 smaller 'scout craft'. The piece briefly touches upon potential world records for UFO sightings, mentioning George Friedrich of Custer, Wisconsin, USA, who logged 55 UFOs in three days in July 1973.

Next Group Meeting

Announcements are made for the next EUFOSG meeting on Friday, January 27, 1978, at 8:15 p.m. at Harts Lane Hall, Cowbridge Lane, Barking, Essex. The meeting was scheduled to feature a guest speaker and a talk by Mr. Ron Markwick on 'Spring-Heeled Jack' and a speech by Gillon on Southern T.V.

Group Meeting - October 28th, 1977

This section details a previous meeting held on October 28, 1977. The meeting was well-attended, with members traveling from various locations including Watford, Harlow, and London. Mr. Ron Markwick, the Group's Technical Advisor, gave a general talk on UFOs, mentioning phenomena like Spring Heel Jack and official rules regarding military UFO sightings. He also quoted extracts from the Bible, calling it 'the best UFO book ever written'.

Following a coffee break, a raffle was held with prizes including autographed copies of Richard Spencer's book 'Diary of an Alien'. Mr. Dan Goring then presented an account of a UFO landing at Hainault, Essex, on May 3, 1977. Despite discussions and consideration of newspaper reports, no concrete explanation was established. Another case described was a sighting over Parsloes Park, Dagenham, on September 4, 1977, involving a saucer-shaped object with unusual movements and six evenly spaced windows around its rim.

Mr. Malcolm Jay presented his magnetic needle UFO detector, and Mr. John Saville discussed other electronic UFO detection methods.

Investigations: UFOs 'invade' Barking (Case No. 1977-5-6) Level A

This report details a sighting on Thursday, May 19, 1977, near the River Roding in Barking, Essex. Young Terry Mills and his wife, Maureen, witnessed a bright yellow ball encircled by a slowly rotating white rim. The object, described as having a hollow underside with a spiral pattern, emitted humming and whistling noises. It performed unusual maneuvers, including 'leap-frogging' over an approaching aircraft, before speeding east.

Subsequent sightings by the Mills family are also recounted. On Sunday, May 22, 1977, a similar object appeared from the south and performed various movements for about half an hour. On Wednesday, May 25, 1977, Terry witnessed a brilliant green ball that descended, hit a maisonette roof, and exploded with a 'puff' noise, followed by a yellow-orange UFO. The report notes that neighbors and friends had also seen these objects, but were reluctant to get involved with the media. The Mills' television reportedly experienced interference, with yellowish-green lines and humming noises, coinciding with UFO sightings.

'The Hun'

This section details a case involving a witness named Terry, whose sightings were initially dismissed by an investigator. The EUFOSG was called in on June 17, 1977, to investigate. The object, nicknamed 'The Hun', was reportedly heard up and down the country. Despite skywatches, Terry's anxiety led him to identify almost anything that moved as a UFO. The report suggests that Terry may have been influenced by UFO books he acquired after his initial sightings. The editor notes that while some sightings seemed ufological, others were less convincing, with some possibly being aircraft or satellites.

Editor's comments

The editor reflects on a visitor who called at the Mills' house on July 6, 1977, claiming to be from the Government. The visitor warned Maureen and Terry to leave UFOs alone, threatening to 'make' them stop if they didn't. The editor believes the visitor was genuine and that this incident marked the end of the sightings for the Mills family.

Report No. 2 (Case No.1977-10-4) Level A: Strange object seen from Saffron Walden, Essex.

On October 6, 1977, an EUFOSG investigator received a call from Saffron Walden Police about a UFO sighting. The following evening, investigators Mr. Bill Eden and Mr. Bernard Gowing interviewed witnesses. Neil Newman, 18, observed a bright white light that changed color (pink to deep red) and moved erratically. He later used binoculars to observe the object, which appeared to be a rotating cone shape with red lights along its length and two green lights at the pointed end. Two bright white lights were visible when viewed head-on. The object was described as having a 'bow-tie effect' due to flared beams of light. Mrs. Newman also reported seeing a second, smaller object. The sighting lasted about 35 minutes. Air traffic control had no knowledge of any aircraft in the area.

EUFOSG Directory

• The journal includes a directory of EUFOSG officers and their contact details:
• Head Office: 16 Raydons Road, Dagenham, Essex RM9 5JR.
• Editor: Mr. Daniel J. Goring (Jr.), 5 Carlton Terrace, Great Cambridge Road, London, N18 1LB.
• General Secretary: Mrs. Gloria Saville (Head Office).
• Public Relations Officer: Mr. Douglas Canning, 29 Cheddington Road, London, N18 1LT.
• Technical Advisor: Mr. Ronald Markwick, 58 The Drive, Ilford, Essex.
• Field Research Equipment: Mr. John Saville (Head Office).
• Treasurer: Mr. Ronald Rider, 16 Mayflower Close, South Ockendon, Essex.
• UFO Research: Mr. D. J. Goring.
• Journal Production: Mr. and Mrs. J. Saville.
• Cover: Mr. D. Canning & Mr. T. Gough.

Subscriptions

Subscription rates are provided: UK £2.50/year (adults), £1.75/year (under 16), with single copies at £0.43. Overseas rates are £3.60/year, with single copies at £0.60. Cheques and P.O.s should be made payable to 'Essex UFO Study Group' and sent to the Secretary.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are detailed UFO sightings, witness testimonies, and the investigative efforts of the EUFOSG. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting various cases and encouraging reader participation through correspondence and sharing of sightings. There is a clear emphasis on documenting and analyzing reported events, while also acknowledging the challenges in verifying such accounts and the potential for misidentification or hoaxes. The inclusion of a directory and subscription information highlights the organization's structure and its aim to disseminate information through its journal.

This issue of UFO DATA, dated November 1977 (Volume 11, Issue Nov'77), focuses on witness accounts and critical analysis of UFO phenomena. The cover headline is "The witnesses," highlighting the testimony of Neil Newman and his family, along with Mrs. Wickens, a teacher with military experience, regarding their UFO sightings.

Witness Accounts

The article "The witnesses" presents Neil Newman as a credible witness due to his experience as an aircraft spotter. His family also reported sightings, though only Karena Newman did not believe in UFOs. Mrs. Wickens, with her background in the Forces, stated that what she saw did not resemble any aircraft lights or phenomena she was familiar with. The object's location was estimated to be north of Haverhill, Suffolk, or possibly within the Cambridgeshire border.

Some Thoughts on the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis

Ian Ridpath, a writer on astronomy and space, offers a skeptical perspective on the extraterrestrial hypothesis. He concludes that the UFO evidence is "very poor indeed," with no confirmed cases of extraterrestrial spacecraft. He notes that many sightings are identified as bright stars, planets, aircraft, or meteors, and points to the existence of elaborate hoaxes. Ridpath acknowledges that UFOs exist in the sense that people see unidentified objects, but argues that genuinely exceptional events lack reliable, specific evidence. He cites examples like a meteor in August 1972 and the fuel dump from the Saturn V rocket in December 1968 as examples of conclusive, confirming evidence that never accompanies UFO reports. He introduces the "UFO Uncertainty Principle," stating it's impossible to have a sighting that is both highly reliable (many independent witnesses) and highly specific (detailed descriptions of craft and occupants). He dismisses claims of meetings with UFOnauts and abductions as sensationalized journalism, calling the modern industry of flying saucer paperbacks a "con trick."

Ridpath suggests that if humanity were truly being visited by aliens, we would either know about it definitively or it would be obvious. He contrasts the ease of establishing contact via radio messages with the unproven concept of frequent personal visits, noting that no interstellar radio messages have been detected. He argues that the belief in UFO visits stems from a geocentric outlook, similar to religion, assuming humanity is special enough to warrant such attention. He points out that since Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting, scientists have accepted phenomena like ball lightning, but UFOlogy has failed to produce concrete examples of extraterrestrial visitation. He questions whether natural and man-made phenomena in the sky are sufficient to explain UFO reports without resorting to the alien hypothesis.

Fireball Over the Soviet Union

A report from TASS details an extraordinary fireball seen over the western USSR on September 20, 1977, near Leningrad and Petrozavodsk. Observers were uncertain if it was a meteor. The object was described as a "jellyfish" moving slowly, emitting beams of light, and stopping over the town. The Director of the observatory in Petrozavodsk, Dr. Gromow, stated that such a sight was unprecedented and that atmospheric recordings showed no anomalies, nor had any technical experiments been conducted that could explain it. Additional details from "Daily Colonist Victoria" mention grey clouds with a "semi-circular aperture bright red in the centre" appearing after the object moved towards Lake Onega from Petrozavodsk.

The Star of Bethlehem

This section explores possible explanations for the Star of Bethlehem. It notes that the star is mentioned only in the New Testament (St. Matthew 2:2, 7-10) and appeared to move in an extraordinary manner. The article questions the commonly accepted birth year of Christ, suggesting it was incorrectly calculated by Dionysius Exiguus and may have been around 4 B.C., possibly in March. The date December 25 is also noted as incorrect. Several astronomical explanations are considered:

1. Appearance of a Planet: Unlikely, as King Herod would have known if it were a planet.
2. Appulse: A close visual approach between planets. While Jupiter and Saturn were close in 7 B.C., they were not close enough to be mistaken for a single object.
3. Nova / Supernova: A possibility, but not mentioned in old astronomical records.
4. Variable Star: Another possibility, but not supported by old records.
5. Comet: Possible, with Halley's Comet appearing in 11 B.C.
6. Meteor: Unlikely, though a meteor could have been confused with another. The description of the star stopping over the child's location makes this less plausible.
7. Unidentified Flying Object / Flying Saucer: Considered the most controversial possibility, suggesting Christ could have been of extraterrestrial descent or that the star was a spacecraft.

The article concludes that none of the explanations are totally satisfactory but hopes to provoke thought.

C.S.U.I. (Coalescence for the Study of the Unusual)

This two-part article concludes by detailing the activities of C.S.U.I., an Italian association for studying the unusual. The association is in an experimental stage, with secretary offices primarily in Italy. It lists various regional groups (Piemonte, Lombardia, Toscana, Lazio, Puglia, Liguria, Abruzzi) and their affiliations. C.S.U.I. also has associated bulletins, including "VIMANA," "CIRCOLARE," "GIORNALE UFOLOGICO," "ANDROMEDA," and "ALPHA ORIONIS." Other magazines are also mentioned. Study committees focus on navigational astronomy, archaeology, parapsychology, telepathy, Kirlian photography, and historical ufology (1600-1900 A.D.). Groups in Rome and Piemonte are logging UFO reports from specific periods. The article emphasizes that C.S.U.I. aims to amalgamate smaller groups lacking experience and documentation, offering a collaborative approach to Italian ufology. Contact information for administration and the central seat is provided.

More Triangle Puzzles

This section discusses the ongoing research into the Bermuda Triangle, a project involving American and Soviet scientists financed by MIT. The research aims to study oceanographic phenomena, magnetism, and whirlpools. Explanations range from natural phenomena like whirlpools to advanced civilizations or energy sources from Atlantis. Research has included magnetic aberrations noted by Charles Lindbergh. Charles Berlitz, author of a best-selling book on the topic, plans a submarine expedition to find a giant pyramid on the ocean floor.

Letters

A letter from Mrs. J. Pillings (EUFOSG member) references a pyramid-shaped object picked up by sonar near Egypt, described as 128m high with a 164 sq.m. base.

Another letter discusses the study of UFOs, mentioning the "Centre for UFO Studies" in Illinois, USA, and its use of computerised systems. The author acknowledges the attempt to find patterns but questions whether the mystery can be solved with "primitive" equipment. The letter outlines the role of small UFO groups like EUFOSG, which should focus on publicizing facts, stimulating interest, collecting and evaluating UFO events, and passing data to larger centers.

Skywatches

Reports on EUFCSG skywatches are included:

• October 15, 1977: Held near the River Roding at Barking, Essex. A bright star-like object was seen and identified as Jupiter.
• November 19, 1977: Held in Parsloos Park, Dagenham, Essex. Due to bitter cold winds, only four members attended, and nothing was seen.

A special Christmas skywatch was scheduled for December 17, 1977, in Basildon, Essex.

Advertisements

Advertisements include:

• "Viewpoint Aquarius": A newsletter on UFOs, Theosophy, Yoga, etc.
• "Skywatch": A publication covering UFO news, sightings, letters, and articles.
• "Res Bureaux Bulletin": A newsletter on UFO sightings and Fortean phenomena.
• "The Ley Hunter": A magazine of Earth mysteries.
• "Essex Healers' Association": Publishing a newsletter on spiritual healing.

Other Publications and Items

• "Diary of an Alien" by Richard Spencer: A book about Hoses.
• "Essex UFO Sightings for 1976" by Andy Collins: A publication detailing UFO investigations in the Essex area.
• "Foresight": A bi-monthly magazine on spiritual aspects, psychic phenomena, and UFOs.
• A note on UFOs responding to flashing lamps, suggesting red cellophane can be used to attract them.

• "Man Bites U.F.O!": A mention of Steven Spielberg's movie "Close Encounters of The Third Kind" and Dr. J. Hynek's involvement.
• "Psychic Australian", Vol.ll, No.4, April 1977.
• Back issues of the JUFOSG JOURNAL are available.
• Inquiry about the defunct publication "Warninster 'Fountain Journal'."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of UFO evidence, the skepticism towards the extraterrestrial hypothesis, and the reporting of various sightings and related phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, presenting both supportive and skeptical viewpoints, with a clear emphasis on the need for rigorous evidence and scientific analysis. The magazine also highlights the activities of UFO research groups and publications, suggesting a community actively engaged in the study of the unexplained.