Lantern - No 09

Magazine Overview

LANTERN, Spring 1975 issue, published by the Borderline Science Investigation Group (BSIG), is a quarterly magazine dedicated to exploring unexplained phenomena. This issue offers a variety of articles, aiming to provide 'food for thought'. The cover story, "Ghosts of the Air," explores aviation-related hauntings and phantom sightings. Other features include a case study on 'psychic photography,' an investigation into 'Suffolk Landscape Geometry' and ancient sites, and a look at local legends.

Contents

The issue features the following articles:

• Ghosts of the Air by W.J.Chambers (page 2)
• The Buried Gods, Book Review (page 3)
• A Case of Psychic Photography? by E.J.Self (page 4)
• Comment (page 5)
• More Than A Legend by I.A.W.Bunn (page 6)
• Suffolk Landscape Geometry by Nigel Pennick (page 7)
• Local Curiosities (page 9)
• News Round-up (page 10)

Ghosts of the Air

This article, by W.J.Chambers, asserts that aviation has a rich ghost-lore, often more dramatic than that of other professions. It recounts several cases:

• Lieutenant David E. M'Connel: In December 1918, Lieutenant M'Connel of the RAF was reported to have returned from a flight as an apparition. He was seen by a colleague, wearing the cap of the old Royal Naval Air Service, despite having died in a plane crash.
• Sir Michael W.S.Bruce's Account: In 1953, Sir Michael wrote to a London paper about seeing a small aeroplane dive into a wood near Stonehenge before D-Day. No plane was found, but a cairn commemorating an early aviation fatality (though inaccurately dated in the letter) was present.
• Airship R101 Crash: The disastrous crash of the airship R101 near Beauvais in 1930 is mentioned. Two days later, during a seance, the 'spirit' of the captain, Flight-Lieutenant H. Carmichael Irwin, provided a detailed technical explanation of the accident.
• Barmouth Lifeboat Coxwain's Sighting: In 1922, a ghostly aeroplane was seen by the coxwain of the Barmouth lifeboat and a companion as it fell slowly into the sea. They found nothing.
• Aerodrome Hauntings: The article notes hauntings at old aerodromes, including inexplicable singing and a ghostly motorcyclist at Croydon, and a ghost in RAF uniform with unexplained noises at Bircham Newton. A recent report of night cleaners at Heathrow being attacked by a 'ghost' is also mentioned.

A Case of Psychic Photography?

Written by E.J.Self, this article details experiments in 'psychic photography' or 'thoughtography'. The author notes that the phenomenon has been known since at least 1920, referencing Conan Doyle. He describes a group in Chelmsford in 1961, mostly employees of Marconis Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd., who shared an interest in psychic events. One member developed clairvoyant powers, and another could enter and exit a 'trance' state.

Experiments involved a camera with infra-red film and a temperature-sensitive switch. They found that IR film and gadgets weren't essential and that the 'trance medium' enhanced results. The author personally took 18 photographs under controlled indoor conditions using a Twin Lens Reflex camera and Verichrome Pan film. The results included:

• 9 recognisable pictures of people's faces, animals, and scenery, none of which were present in the room.
• 2 pictures showing bubbles or smudges of light.
• 1 picture completely blank.

A second film yielded 5 recognisable pictures, 2 with light smudges, and 5 blank. A third film was entirely blank. The negatives containing images were described as 'exceedingly dense', as if exposed to brilliant light, contrasting with the transparent blank negatives. None of the photographs were recognisable or significant to those present.

One photograph showed a clock tower, which, with a clue from a BSIG member, was identified as being in St. Albans. The matter was under investigation. The author notes similarities between these results and those of Ted Serios, whose work was investigated by Dr. J. Eisenbud.

The article concludes by mentioning a photograph dubbed 'The Martian', which the author finds unlike anything known on Earth. The events took place between 1961 and 1963, and the author keeps the negatives safely.

Comment

This section, likely written by the editors or a contributor, addresses the 'psychic photography' article. It notes that the negatives are being examined by the Lowestoft Photographic Society. However, due to the lack of strictly controlled conditions and independent corroborative proof, the author states it's impossible to offer a definitive comment. Mr. Self is commended for his openness and willingness to share his findings. The comment acknowledges that 'Psychic Photography' or 'thoughtography' is not new, referencing two books: 'Clairvoyance and Thoughtography' (1931) by Tomokichi Fukurai, detailing experiments from 1910-1913, and the work of Ted Serios, investigated by Dr. J. Eisenbud, which produced recognisable pictures on photographic paper. The comment laments that the pictures were not obtained under verifiable conditions.

More Than A Legend?

This article by I.A.W.Bunn investigates a local legend associated with the Ferry Inn in Horning, Norfolk. The inn, the third on the site, has a history dating back to the 15th century. The legend tells of two monks who, in a drunken state, raped and murdered a young girl, dumping her body in the river. Her ghost, described as a glowing white figure, is said to haunt the river bank, sometimes wearing a green cloak, and appearing only once every twenty years.

The author recounts a letter from Mr. W. Robinson, who, in 1928, while fishing on the river Bure opposite the Ferry Inn, saw a young girl, 'all in white and glowing,' walk across the river and disappear. Mr. Robinson stated he had no prior knowledge of the legend and that his experience was completely true and vivid. The article suggests that the legend might be more than just a legend, and the apparition can still be seen under the right circumstances.

A 'WANTED' section solicits personal strange experiences from readers for potential investigation by BSIG.

Suffolk Landscape Geometry

This article by Nigel Pennick discusses the work of Dr. J. Heinsch and Alfred Watkins concerning 'Prehistoric Sacred Geography' and 'Leys'. Michael Behrend, a Cambridge mathematician, attempted to verify or disprove these theories. Behrend discovered two constant units of length, X (295.3 metres) and Y (465 metres), which appear in landscape relationships of ancient sites across various regions.

Studying the area south of Bungay in Suffolk, the author found exceptional geomancy, with sites linked by whole-number multiples of X and Y, and numbers derived from combinations of 2, 3, 5, and 7. 'Retreat Farm' near St. Margaret South Elmham emerged as a significant centre, with over 30 lines radiating from it to churches and moats.

The article includes a detailed map showing numerous sites and the distances (in multiples of X) between them, radiating from 'Retreat Farm'. Examples include lines to churches, moats, and ruins. A diagram illustrates the 'Retreat Farm: The South-West Triangle Complex', showing a ley line bisecting an isosceles triangle and intersecting with other lines. The author suggests 'Retreat Farm' may have been a centre for spiritual renewal for local ecclesiastical communities.

A footnote indicates that the present farmhouse at 'Retreat Farm' dates from 1875, but an older building on the site was also called 'Retreat Farm'. The origin of the name is unknown.

Local Curiosities

This section presents several intriguing local incidents:

• Ashill Burglar Alarm: On February 12th, 1974, police responded to a burglar alarm at Mr. Kenneth Broadhead's home in Ashill, Norfolk. They found the house secure, with no theft, but noted a single row of footprints from the same foot leading to a wall. A ghost was reported to have dematerialized through a door. The tradition of a one-legged Jesuit priest ghost at the house was mentioned.
• Ludham Dragon: In the 16th century, a dragon, described as 12-15 feet long with scales, a large mouth, and wings, terrorised Ludham, Norfolk. It lived in a tunnel and villagers attempted to block its lair, but it always escaped. It eventually disappeared into the vaults beneath St. Benet's Abbey.
• Deremy's Stone: A recent story in the East Anglian Daily Times reported the re-erection of a stone at Mersea, Essex, known as 'Deremy's Stone'. Found by a local antiquarian, it marked the boundary between East and West Mersea and was erected in the 11th century. The name 'Deremy's' is puzzling, but it is noted that 'Diarmid' was a name of the Celtic god Mabon.

News Round-up

This section provides brief updates on ongoing investigations and news:

• 'Ghost' Seen Near Snape, Suffolk: The Psychical Research Section of BSIG received details of an apparition seen on the Snape to Sternfield Road on December 22nd, 1974. A husband and wife described a 'grey figure, adult height,' moving from the road into a hedge and vanishing. The figure was described as being made of 'solid smoke'. The witness felt icy cold and had her hair stand on end. The case was under investigation.
• Oxfam Shop Tape Recordings: The Psychical Research Section has found someone to analyze mysterious tape-recorded 'voices' from ghost watches at the Oxfam shop in Norwich. EMI Tape Laboratories will examine the tapes, though they expect to identify what the voices are *not* rather than what they are.
• Catalogue of Unexplained Phenomena Being Compiled: BSIG has begun cataloging all unexplained phenomena in East Anglia. This project involves creating a card index file for each item, covering subjects from ghosts and ley lines to fairies and UFOs, aiming to provide a valuable resource for researchers.
• Affiliation with BUFORA: The UFO Research Section of BSIG will affiliate with BUFORA, the British UFO Research Association. This collaboration aims to share UFO reports, improve knowledge of UFO activity, and provide BSIG with investigation resources and reporting forms.
• Stop Press - Sizewell UFOs: Reports of Unidentified Flying Objects near the Nuclear Power-station at Sizewell, Suffolk, were coming in at the time of going to press. The Summer edition of LANTERN will detail these reports.

The section also announces that the Summer edition of LANTERN will be available in June.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of LANTERN are ghosts, paranormal phenomena, and local mysteries, with a particular focus on East Anglia. The magazine serves as a platform for reporting on investigations conducted by the Borderline Science Investigation Group (BSIG) and related organizations like BUFORA. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting cases and findings for readers to consider, while acknowledging the need for verifiable evidence, as seen in the 'Comment' section regarding psychic photography. The publication encourages reader participation by soliciting personal experiences and information related to the investigated phenomena.