Irish UFO News - No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: IRISH UFO NEWS
Issue: Vol. 1 No. 2
Date: July 1976
Publisher: BUFORA (IRELAND)
Country: Ireland
Price: 20p

This issue of the Irish UFO News is a ufological journal published twice a year by a group associated with the British UFO Research Association's Irish Branch. The content is intended to be of interest to ufologists in general, across both parts of Ireland. The publication welcomes articles and reader letters, with opinions expressed belonging to the individual correspondent or editor, and BUFORA holding no corporate views.

Contents of this Issue

The issue features a range of articles and reports:

• Editorial: John Hind discusses the need for the publication to become financially self-supporting through subscriptions and to broaden its appeal to a wider audience. He also calls for contributions from ufologists and readers, setting a deadline of the tenth of the month for submissions.
• News and Comment: This section includes "UFO Research-A New Direction," "The Viking Invasion of Mars," and "The Manna Machine."
• A New Irish Close Encounter Report: By Mark Malony, detailing a significant sighting from Christmas 1945 on the west coast of Ireland.
• A Historical Sighting From Ireland: By Edward Downey, referencing a medieval event.
• Anatomy of a Flap: By John Hind, analyzing the phenomenon of concentrated UFO flap periods.
• UFOs and Secrecy: By Miles Johnston, exploring why governments might keep UFO data secret.
• BUFORA Irish RIC's Report: By Miles Johnston.
• BUFORA Dublin News: By Chris Gaffney.
• Investigations: Modifications to the Sighting Weighting System, Sighting Summaries.

With This Issue: Special Investigation Reports from the Irish UFO Research Centre are included: No.1 "The High Intensity 1 Week Flap Period in November 1975" and No.2 "The Mrs. Hamilton (Psychic Contactee) Case."

Special Supplement: Due to the nature of some sightings, a supplement containing photocopied items like an interview transcript with Mrs. Hamilton, newspaper articles, and a letter related to the close encounter report is available separately.

Editorial - John Hind

John Hind's editorial addresses the administrative and financial challenges of producing the journal. He announces a decision to upgrade the publication and offer it on a subscription basis to both BUFORA members and non-members to ensure financial viability and wider reach. The subscription is set at 50 pence for two issues. He encourages members of BUFORA (Ireland), Sky-Skan, and the general public to subscribe. Hind also opens the journal as a forum for publishing research and investigation reports from any source, provided they are accurate and logically argued. He reiterates the submission deadline and requests feedback in the form of letters.

News and Comment: UFO Research-A New Direction

This article by John Hind argues that after thirty years of research, progress in understanding the UFO problem is lacking due to an unwillingness or inability to theorize and test hypotheses. He suggests that the focus should shift from merely collecting reports to using quality instrumentation, citing the work of groups like the "Extraterrestrial Society" in Britain and Project Starlight International (PSI) in the US. These groups employ advanced equipment, including lasers, magnetometers, and tracking systems, to detect potential extraterrestrial spacecraft. The Irish UFO Research Centre is also exploring the design of semi-automatic tracking apparatus, recording magnetometers, and all-sky cameras, and seeks assistance from individuals with expertise in electronics, mechanics, optics, or photography. Hind emphasizes the need to move beyond traditional investigation methods and embrace instrumental research to analyze the growing volume of UFO data.

The Viking Invasion of Mars

Miles Johnston discusses the Viking spacecraft missions to Mars, highlighting their primary objective: the detection of extraterrestrial life. The article details the biological experiments designed to identify photosynthesis, metabolic functions, and respiration in Martian soil. It also mentions molecular analysis of the atmosphere and soil, a seismometer, and a weather station. The Viking lander cameras are described as building panoramic and 3-D pictures by scanning. Despite potential issues with the biological laboratories during the flight, they were rectified. The article notes that scientists believe there is a good chance of finding simple bacterial life on Mars, which would have profound implications for understanding life's origins and the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs.

The Manna Machine

This section speculates on a "Manna Machine" mentioned in a "New Scientist" article. The theory suggests that the biblical manna, which sustained the Israelites, might have been produced by a machine from a visiting spacecraft. The machine, theoretically reconstructed from ancient texts, could produce protein-rich food from single cell cultures, making it ideal for providing sustenance for crews on long interstellar voyages.

A New Irish Close Encounter Report: Mark Malony

This report, sent anonymously, describes a close encounter that occurred around Christmas 1945 on an island off the west coast of Ireland. The witness, alone on a beach, saw a bright flash and an object described as square with a metallic dome descend into the sea with great speed. The object then moved to a nearby field, where two figures emerged. These figures were described as having short, square legs and disproportionate bodies, wearing black-grey rubber-like suits. One figure walked over the water to place an object, and another used a device on a dog, which then entered a box and was taken aboard. The witness observed a fleet of five to six craft flying overhead and a beam of light scanning the area. The figures then entered the craft, which ascended. The witness fled to a nearby house, where the occupant mentioned similar sightings and advised against reporting it for fear of ridicule.

A Historical Sighting From Ireland

Quoted from Jacques Vallee's "Passport to Magonia," this report dates from about 1211 A.D. in Cloera, Ireland. During Mass, an anchor with a rope was seen to drop from the sky, catching in a church door arch. A ship with men on board was seen floating nearby, and a man appeared to swim to the anchor. The townspeople attempted to seize him but were forbidden by the Bishop. The man was freed, and the ship sailed away.

Anatomy of a Flap: John Hind

John Hind analyzes the phenomenon of short, concentrated UFO "flap" periods, specifically referencing the November 1975 flap. He argues that it is a mistake for researchers to automatically attribute all flap reports to a single cause, such as an alien hypothesis. Hind proposes that flaps are often initiated by one or two individuals reporting a sighting, which then gains media attention. This increased public awareness makes people more likely to report unusual aerial phenomena, which are then described in terms of UFOs. He suggests that the presence of UFO organizations can exacerbate this by prompting public appeals for reports, creating a feedback loop. Hind advocates for treating flap reports with the same criteria as any other report and cautions against assuming a higher "S-P rating" (strangeness and probability) simply because a report is part of a flap. He also suggests that UFO investigators should consider maintaining a low profile during flaps to avoid influencing the data.

UFOs and Secrecy: Miles Johnston

Miles Johnston discusses the belief that governments possess more information about UFOs than they disclose, potentially related to advanced technology. He argues that in a world of increasing militarization and global instability, any government acquiring knowledge of superior technology would likely keep it secret to maintain a military advantage. Johnston posits that a benevolent alien intelligence would not openly reveal itself in such a volatile environment. He cites George Ward's opinion that advanced technological information, even from an extraterrestrial source, would be classified due to its potential for military exploitation. Antony Hewish's experience with a potentially intelligent space signal is mentioned as an example of the complex political and security issues involved in disclosing such information.

BUFORA News: Miles Johnston (BUFORA Ireland R.I.C.)

Miles Johnston announces a reorganization of BUFORA's investigation efforts in Ireland, aiming to form small, local investigation groups with shared addresses and phone numbers for reporting UFOs. He offers administrative support and publicity material production. Plans are underway to establish two main centers in Belfast and Dublin, with the "Irish UFO Research Centre" in Belfast already operational. This center accepts reports, conducts investigations, and plans regular meetings and research projects, including instrumental UFO research and a mobile investigation team. Membership is informal. Johnston also reports on the establishment of good relations with Sky-Skan, another major UFO organization in Ireland, leading to an exchange of published material and reports, and cooperation on skywatches. A major project is the investigation into designing a semi-automatic tracking device to record color photographs, height, distance, dimensions, velocity, and metamorphosis of aerial objects. John Hind is leading this design effort and is seeking experienced individuals to assist.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the analysis and reporting of UFO sightings, with a particular focus on Irish cases and historical accounts. There is a strong emphasis on the methodology of UFO research, advocating for a more scientific and instrumental approach, while also critiquing the potential for bias in flap reporting. The issue also touches upon the broader implications of UFOs, such as the possibility of extraterrestrial life (highlighted by the Viking mission coverage) and the reasons for government secrecy. The editorial stance, as articulated by John Hind, is one of promoting a more organized, financially stable, and scientifically rigorous approach to UFO investigation and publication, while remaining open to contributions from a wide range of sources. The journal positions itself as a platform for detailed reporting and analysis, distinct from mere sensationalism.

This issue of IRISH UFO NEWS appears to be a newsletter or magazine focused on UFO research and sightings, primarily within Ireland. The content spans several pages, including news from BUFORA Dublin, summaries of reported sightings, and subscription information. The publication seems to be transitioning, with BUFORA (Ireland) no longer able to support it financially, leading to a separate publication model.

BUFORA Dublin News

Chris Gaffney reports on the situation in Dublin, noting the folding of Contact (Eire) but the establishment of cooperation with Sky-Skan. He expresses a desire for greater cooperation among Dublin-area members and welcomes new active member Tom Higgens. The report mentions a joint skywatch with Sky-Skan on Sugar Loaf mountain, which, despite not yielding sightings, was considered a positive step for inter-organizational collaboration. Gaffney also notes that some members have become inactive but new ones, D. McConnell and Tony Cervi, have joined. He suggests assigning specific areas of responsibility to members for dealing with sightings and encourages country members to connect for better branch efficiency. Contact information for report forms is provided, with Chris Gaffney's address listed as 3 Hazelwood Park, Artane, Dublin 5.

New Members Welcomed

The publication welcomes several new members to BUFORA (Ireland): Tom Higgens (Co. Kildare), Barry O'Hara (Lurgan), Peter Boyd (Helen's Bay, Co. Down), Kenneth Hunter (Belmont, Belfast), Philip Day (Belfast), and Tommy Cullen (Dunmurry).

Investigations and UFO Research

The issue highlights the ongoing research efforts, including participation in NUFON (Northern UFO Network) and subscribing to 'Flying Saucer Review' for global updates. Reports are submitted to NUFON, Contact, and BUFORA. The article mentions a previous investigation of the Mrs. Hamilton case, originally published in the BUFORA Journal.

Modifications to the Sighting Weighting Scheme

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to the review and modification of the statistical weighting system used for UFO reports. This system, adapted from Hynek's, is based on two indices: probability (defined as the reportee's accuracy in describing an event) and strangeness (the measure of inexplicability). The report notes an error in the previous issue where the probability scale was inverted and provides a formula to correct it. The system assigns subjective ratings, with probability 0 representing certainty of a false report and 10 representing certainty of an accurate report, though these extremes cannot be assigned. The ongoing research aims to establish a more objective basis for these ratings.

Report Summaries

Several specific sighting reports are detailed:

• N-26 (Summer 1974): A 15-year-old witness in Bundoran, Co. Donnegal, observed a circular white object with a grey center moving SE at an elevation of about 45 degrees for about 10 seconds. Evaluation: Unknown. Probability: 3. Strangeness: 3.
• N-27 (September 29, 1975): Mr VP Carter and children observed a small, white round object drifting NW. Through a telescope, it appeared to have a defined outline and a smaller object composed of two cones suspended underneath. Evaluation: Balloon, probably weather. Probability: 4. Strangeness: 1.
• N-28 (November 20, 1975): Edward Mulhern reported three small, white lights in an equilateral triangle formation in Belfast. The objects were stationary and silent, then moved slowly before accelerating to high speed, maintaining perfect formation for about 1 minute before disappearing. Evaluation: Unknown. Probability: 3. Strangeness: 4.
• N-29 (November 25, 1975): Michael Duffy and Mr. Adams observed three objects (two white, one red point sources) in a line moving fast in a N-S direction southwest of their location at St. Louises Comprehensive School. Evaluation: Possible Helicopters. Probability: 4. Strangeness: 3.

Additionally, three other sightings are briefly mentioned: 3 Helicopters, 1 other aircraft, and 1 parachute flare.

Subscriptions and Future of the Publication

The 'IRISH UFO NEWS' announces that BUFORA (Ireland) can no longer support the publication financially. For the current issue, non-BUFORA members are charged 20 pence, while BUFORA members receive it free. Future issues will be available for direct purchase at 30p or by subscription at 60p for two issues. A special rate of 50p for two issues is offered to members of BUFORA, Sky-Skan, or NUFON groups. Starting with the next issue, the 'News' will be published entirely separately from BUFORA (Ireland) and will contain articles of interest to ufologists in general. It will be published twice a year, in December and July, with the same general size and format. Subscription forms are provided for individuals to register their interest.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the reporting and analysis of UFO sightings, the organizational structure and activities of UFO research groups (particularly BUFORA Ireland and its collaborations), and the development of methodologies for evaluating such reports, exemplified by the statistical weighting scheme. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent research, data collection, and a desire for objective analysis, while also fostering community and cooperation among researchers. The transition to a self-funded publication model indicates a commitment to continuing the dissemination of information despite financial challenges.