Irish UFO News - No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: Irish UFO News
Issue: No. 4
Volume: 4
Date: July 1977
Publisher: IUFON
Price: 25p

This issue of Irish UFO News, a twice-yearly magazine focused on ufology and parapsychology in Ireland, presents a variety of articles and reports. The cover features a striking illustration and highlights key topics such as the Naas sightings, the Voyager deep space probes, and a review of parascience.

Editorial: A Special Plea for Sanity

The editorial, written by J.A.H., addresses the pervasive interorganizational strife within ufology. Drawing on Jacques Vallee's observations from ten years prior regarding American UFO groups, the author notes a similar tendency in the UK for groups to waste energy on internal feuds, power struggles, and disputes over publication rights rather than focusing on genuine research. The editorial criticizes the "hordes of people with ludicrous titles" and the "petty imperative dictates" that hinder independent investigators. It expresses hope that Ireland, being new to organized ufology, can avoid these pitfalls and develop a rational, sensible investigation system, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and a less self-serious approach among ufologists.

News and Views

A Major Wave in England and Wales: This section reports on a significant increase in UFO sightings in England and Wales, including a detailed account from Broadhaven School in West Wales involving a landing and an entity. Other reports include close encounters, flaps, and updates on the Bowles case. The UFO Investigator's Network (UFOIN) also notes a rise in high strangeness reports.

Ufologists At War: This article delves into the discord within UK ufology, detailing the conflict that arose when Jenny Randles (Northern UFO Network) published critical articles about BUFORA. The criticism focused on BUFORA's perceived bureaucracy, inefficiency, and lack of achievement. Lionel Beer, chairman of BUFORA, responded by asking Randles to resign, which escalated into a broader dispute that also involved NUFON. This has led to a polarization between the NUFON/UFOIN bloc and BUFORA, making cooperation difficult.

The UFO Investigator's Network (UFOIN): This section introduces UFOIN as a new concept for UK ufology, aiming to create an informal group of independent investigators who produce high-quality reports. UFOIN offers financial support, links with FSR for publications, expert backup, and liaison with authorities. Membership is by personal recommendation and a test procedure involving investigating a case and submitting a report.

Meeting of Irish UFO Groups - Naas, 19 June 1977: Representatives from Spectrum, the UFO Research Association (UFORA), Irish UFO Research Centre (IUFORC), and BUFORA (Ireland) met to standardize investigation procedures, particularly following the Newbridge case. UFORA and Spectrum agreed to merge, with Spectrum handling Dublin-area sightings. Cooperation on data exchange and potential joint investigations with UFOIN were also discussed. The meeting was organized by Tom Higgins, and TMG Johnston (RIC, BUFORA) reported on the proceedings, noting that past problems were largely due to communication difficulties.

News From the Final Frontier: This segment provides an update on NASA's space program. The Enterprise, a prototype space shuttle, has completed captive test flights. The first free flight was delayed. The article mentions the upcoming Voyager probes and the challenges faced by NASA due to budget restraints, which may impact projects like the space telescope and the Jupiter Orbiter probe.

The Voyager Deep Space Probes

Written by Miles Johnston, this article details NASA's ambitious "grand tour" mission of the outer planets using the "sling-shot" effect. Two spacecraft, Voyager 1 and 2, are scheduled for launch in August/September 1977. These updated Mariner spacecraft are designed for long-duration missions, featuring sophisticated computer systems and high-frequency communication capabilities. The probes will fly by Jupiter (March/July 1979), Saturn (November 1979/August 1980), and Uranus (around 1986). Neptune was initially considered but later scrapped. The article highlights the immense distances involved and the resulting communication challenges, as well as the spacecraft's power source (plutonium oxide radioisotope generators) and scientific instruments. The conclusion emphasizes that these robotic probes will be crucial for planetary exploration for the foreseeable future, as manned missions are unlikely until the end of the century.

Some Subjective Aspects of the Naas Sightings

Authored by John Hind, this article revisits the Naas sightings previously reported in the magazine. Hind addresses a critique from spiritualist Olivia Robertson regarding the omission of a "psychic sitting" that occurred before the sightings. Hind explains that while "psychic sittings" are not typical for him, he participated out of a desire to understand the phenomena. He argues that the objective details of the sightings were not affected by subjective factors, but that the "psychic sitting" is relevant to understanding the co-incidences and subjective aspects of the case. Hind describes his personal reactions to two sightings, noting a feeling of witnessing a phenomenon organized for his personal benefit, a sensation that was more pronounced in the second sighting. He also lists four "co-incidences" that suggest something more than objective phenomena was at play: the prior "psychic sitting" hinting at a sighting, the investigation of similar sightings beforehand, a prediction of the second sighting by Chris Gaffney, and the ideal positioning for observation.

Reviews

REVIEW: Exploring Mysticism by Frits Staal: This review, by John Hind, discusses Frits Staal's book, which examines mysticism from a scientific perspective. The review notes that Staal's work is a serious attempt to understand mysticism and that the book is divided into two parts: one dealing with the scientific study of mysticism and the other with the phenomenology of mystical experience.

REVIEW SPECIAL: New Scientist on Parascience: This review discusses an article in "New Scientist" that examined parascience. The review highlights that "New Scientist" is taking a more open-minded approach to parascience, acknowledging that some phenomena may not be easily explained by current scientific paradigms.

Investigations Report: Data Presentation Systems

This section, by TMG Johnston, discusses data presentation systems used in investigations. It mentions the importance of preserving "raw data," such as tape recordings of interviews, for future reference. The report also touches upon the need for clear and organized presentation of findings.

Letters

The "Letters" section includes an apology from the editor for typing and spelling errors, attributing them to a "gremlin in his typewriter." It also mentions price increases for subscriptions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Irish UFO News demonstrates a strong editorial stance favoring rational, evidence-based investigation within ufology, while acknowledging the importance of subjective experiences and the need for cooperation among researchers. The magazine actively critiques internal conflicts and organizational inefficiencies within the broader ufology community, particularly in the UK. There is a clear emphasis on promoting a more scientific and less sensationalist approach to the study of UFO phenomena. The inclusion of articles on space exploration, such as the Voyager probes, suggests an interest in the scientific context surrounding potential extraterrestrial life. The magazine also appears to be a platform for sharing sighting reports and fostering discussion among its readership, as evidenced by the "News and Views" and "Letters" sections.

This issue of IUFON (Issue 4) focuses on the intersection of mysticism, ufology, and investigative methodologies. It includes reviews of books and other publications, detailed case reports from Ireland, and discussions on how to approach the study of anomalous phenomena.

Review: Exploring Mysticism by Frits Staal

The reviewer discusses Frits Staal's book, which aims to provide guidelines for a rational enquiry into mysticism. Staal challenges the common western preconception that mysticism is not amenable to rational study, arguing that while a precise definition may not be possible at the outset, the subject can be studied logically. The book covers religious experience, meditation, and drug-induced states. Staal emphasizes that while Western mysticism, particularly Christian mysticism, is often seen as irrational, Eastern traditions have a long history of 'rational' mysticism. The reviewer highlights Staal's critique of past methods of studying mysticism, including the dogmatic, historical, phenomenological, and physiological/psychological approaches, suggesting they are limited without direct experience.

Staal proposes studying mysticism through direct experience, addressing the common misconception that one must accept dogma to achieve mystical states. He notes that in Eastern systems and modern offshoots like Yoga and Transcendental Meditation, mysticism can be separated from dogma. Two methods for attaining mystical experience are discussed: the use of a 'guru' and the use of hallucinogenic drugs. Staal suggests that while the resulting states may be similar, the methods themselves might lead to different experiences, comparing a person who climbed a mountain to one who was airlifted.

The book is described as 'tough going' but 'readable' due to Staal's wit and writing style, recommended for those interested in religions, the occult, and the non-nuts-and-bolts side of ufology.

Magazine Reviews

MAPIT's 'Skywatch': This bi-monthly magazine from the Manchester Ariel Phenomena Investigation Team is noted for its high quality and international readership. A quote from an article by R. Markwick on contactee cases is highlighted for its intriguing nature.

UFO Research Review: The Nottingham UFO Investigation Society's magazine is ranked third among British UFO publications. The latest issue features an article by Jenny Randles challenging the extraterrestrial theory of ufology.

UFORUM'Commentry': The first issue of this monthly magazine from UFORUM is mainly composed of extracts from other UFO magazines, with expectations for more original content as it establishes itself.

Pulse's 'Pulsar': This publication is not solely a UFO magazine but is devoted equally to ufology and 'leyography'—the study of ancient site alignments. The connection between leyography and ufology is traced back to the 1950s and Aimee Michelle's work on UFO witness alignments. The reviewer notes that while statistical verification of alignments is lacking, the field is subjective. 'Pulsar' is recommended for those interested in practical and empirical studies in leyography and 'off beat archaeology'.

REVIEW SPECIAL: NEW SCIENTIST ON PARASCIENCE

This section reviews a special issue of New Scientist focusing on 'parascience'.

• The Bermuda Triangle: An article by Graham Massey is highlighted for its original research, debunking sensationalized accounts by authors like Charles Berlitz. Massey's research indicates that many 'strange disappearances' are exaggerated by inaccurate reporting, and the claim of a disproportionate number of losses in the Triangle area is not supported by figures.
• UFOs: An article by Ian Ridpath is criticized as superficial, offering a historical resume of the UFO story primarily from a US perspective and an 'extraterrestrial' viewpoint. The reviewer finds Ridpath's treatment of cases like the Betty Hill abduction and the Pascagoula case to be oversimplified and biased, particularly his dismissal of hypnotic revelations as 'imaginative gloss' and the use of an unqualified operator for a lie detector test.
• Spoonbending: The issue also covers research into 'spoonbending' or the 'Gellar effect', noting that while subjects appear sincere, experimental controls make results difficult to repeat, leaving the phenomenon's existence unproven.
• 'Finding a Home for a Stray Fact': This article reviews books by William Corliss that collect and cross-reference anomalous observations. Corliss aims to challenge scientific hypotheses, suggesting that either the information is false or science has much fundamental work to do. These 'source books' have proven useful in areas like ball lightning and could be applied to ufology.

LETTERS

Psychic Phenomena: Thomas Higgins writes from Naas, Co. Kildare, expressing a growing interest in psychism and proposing the establishment of a wholly psychical investigation department within the Irish UFO Research Association. He argues that ufologists should explore all avenues of potential investigation, including psychism, rather than solely relying on material evidence, and challenges those who claim an open-minded approach to consider this proposal.

INVESTIGATIONS REPORT

This section details the current state of UFO activity in Ireland, noting a low level of monitored activity. IUFORC investigators have been refining their data presentation system.

• Code Numbers: 'N' codes will continue to be used internally and cross-referenced with other organizations.
• Sighting Type: The Hynek system (NL, DD, RV, CE I, CE II, CE III) has been adopted, with modifications to DD, CE I, and CE III definitions for generality and metric unit compliance.
• Reliability of Investigation: A system based on NUFON's suggestion is adopted, with levels A (on-site investigation) to E (unconfirmed report).
• Probability: Probability is assessed in three categories: High, Mid, and Low. It applies mainly to lower strangeness events, as complex cases like the Hill or Pascagoula cases are too complex for simple probability estimates. The concept is limited to 'observations' rather than 'experiences'.
• Strangeness: Strangeness is measured using Jacques Vallee's system, categorizing phenomena from slightly strange (Category 1) to 'Reality Gap' cases (Category 7). Table 1 provides a decoding of these categories.

Case Reports:

• N. 42 (Whitehall, Dublin): A witness reported seeing a three-jet military plane and a UFO underneath it. The UFO was described as having faint outlines of two ovals surrounded by a darkish blur. The jet appeared to take evasive action. The UFO travelled eastwards and then curved downwards. The investigation level was D, and probability was High, with strangeness estimated as Category 2 or 3.
• N. 43 (Near Donaghadee, Co. Down): A witness observed a stationary, sharply defined, oval object, described as milky or pearly white, about twice the apparent size of the full moon across its major axis. The observation lasted about 30 minutes. Possible explanations considered include a moon-based illusion or noctilucent cloud. The area has folk-lore connections, including a 'Fairy Hill' and Bronze Age sites. The investigation level was A, probability was Mid, and strangeness was Category 2.

Note on the Newbridge Case: The Newbridge photo case is concluded to be a probable hoax based on a technical report from BUFORA's photographic analysis department. Further analysis is ongoing.

Statistics and Data Presentation

A graph (Figure 2) shows the relationship between reported cases, unreported cases, and strangeness categories, as well as how cases are reported to different entities (police, military, scientists, newspapers, amateur organizations).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the rigorous investigation of UFO phenomena, the exploration of related fields like mysticism and parapsychology, and the development of standardized methodologies for data collection and analysis. The editorial stance appears to favor a rational, scientific approach to ufology, while remaining open to exploring unconventional avenues of investigation, as evidenced by the inclusion of the letter on psychism and the review of Staal's book on mysticism. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between objective observation and subjective experience, and on the importance of critical analysis in evaluating reports.