Magonia - No 03 - 1980

Magazine Overview

MAGONIA is an independently published magazine dedicated to a broad examination of the UFO phenomenon and its interaction with society and the individual. This issue, Number Three, published in Spring 1980, is the successor to MUFOB (The Metempirical UFO Bulletin) and corresponds to MUFOB issue number 52. The editorial team includes John Rimmer (Editor), John Harney, Peter Rogerson, and Roger Sandell. Subscriptions and correspondence are handled by John Rimmer at his UK address. The magazine is available via subscription or exchange with other publications.

Editorial

The editorial notes that this issue is slightly delayed and slimmer than usual due to staff holidays, with some articles postponed to the next issue, MAGONIA 4, which will be 24 pages. The editors reflect on the response to their previous appeal for readers' thoughts on the ethics of UFO investigation, noting a lack of engagement which suggests ufology is still largely viewed as a hobby rather than a serious pursuit. They draw an analogy between ufologists and local politicians, both often amateurs driven by a sense of achievement rather than tangible reward, but emphasize that ufology, unlike stamp collecting, deals with people who may be undergoing traumatic experiences.

Airships & Invaders; Background to a social panic by Nigel Watson

This article explores the invasion and spy scares that coincided with the British airship waves of 1909 and 1913, suggesting these fears were present throughout the 1902-1914 period. Nigel Watson's research, primarily focused on the 1909 and 1913 periods, may present a biased view, and he suggests future research should survey newspapers from 1900 to 1914 to ascertain if these were isolated waves. Watson draws striking parallels between the social and political climate of the early 1900s and the modern UFO phenomenon. He notes that in the 1900s, the balance of power was maintained by troops and battleships, while today nuclear weapons serve a similar role, with similar military and political tensions. Fears about the rise of science and technology, alongside the rise of 'irrational' cults and the search for utopia, are also common to both eras. The ambiguity of airship sightings, fear of alien invasion, foreign spies, mad inventors, and secret government investigations in the early 20th century mirror contemporary UFO reports, including encounters with extraterrestrials, men in black, and secret government involvement.

The article posits that examining historical aerial phenomena offers an opportunity to understand the mechanisms and societal impact of such occurrences. It suggests that investigating culturally different countries' beliefs about mysterious aerial vehicles could provide further insight. Watson notes that in the years before World War I, Britain experienced significant social changes, with the established church struggling to cope with new problems, leading people to turn to spiritualism and astrology. New cults, such as the Theosophical Society, Christian Science, and the Higher Thought Movement, gained influence, and astrology became popular.

The social climate in Britain was marked by an awareness and fear of dramatic change, fueled by advances in science and technology, increased literacy, and mass-circulation newspapers that stirred public discontent. This discontent was reflected in both spiritual yearnings and the political aspirations of the suffragette movement. The press amplified fears of foreign intrusion, particularly from the growing German Navy, leading to popular fiction that portrayed Germans as the enemy, exemplified by books like Erskine Childer's 'The Riddle of the Sands' and William le Queux's 'The Invasion of England'.

The airship waves of 1909 and 1913 are presented as representative of these invasion scares. The article details specific incidents, such as the sighting of a sausage-shaped airship near Clacton-on-Sea in May 1909, which led to the discovery of a dropped indiarubber bag. It also covers the accompanying spy scares, including reports of German soldiers and arms caches in England, and suspicious activities in Grimsby, such as foreign visitors investigating docks and naval facilities. The press played a significant role in fanning these fears, with publications like the Illustrated London News publishing maps of alleged invasion sites.

During the 1913 airship wave, the press continued to emphasize the vulnerability of Britain's East Coast, with reports of German cruisers and reconnaissance activities. The War Office took an interest in the numerous airship sightings in Yorkshire. The article also touches upon parallel worries in Europe regarding foreign intrusion and military maneuvers.

Watson concludes that politicians and journalists were complicit in amplifying public fear of invasion to secure more funds for military purposes. The generation of war rumors, fueled by a process of self-suggestion, ultimately led the European powers towards World War I.

In a Wallasey garden by Jenny Randles

This section details an account from Miss Daisy J, an 84-year-old woman from Wallasey, Merseyside, who reported experiencing UFO phenomena and poltergeist activity. Her experiences began in childhood with encounters with a 'spirit' and visions. In 1967, while her house was being converted, she reported seeing a middle-aged man sitting on her bed and hearing footsteps. A spiritualist friend performed an exorcism, which she believes removed the spirit. She also experienced visions, including one of a fire that later occurred in a local ballroom.

In 1969, back in her own house, she experienced a poltergeist-like phenomenon involving her doorbell ringing repeatedly at night, coinciding with the illness and death of a male lodger. She later claimed to have seen the lodger's form emerge from a mist, accompanied by a sickly-sweet smell.

More recently, starting in Autumn 1978, Miss J reported acquiring a poltergeist, with money and other items disappearing and reappearing. She also found broken glass on her carpet with no apparent source, and her lampstandard's plug and flex vanished. Her most significant experiences began around Autumn 1977 when she saw a moving light in her garden, which she later identified as a silver-suited figure over six feet tall, with lights on its arms, floating a few inches off the ground. She has seen this figure or the lights almost every night since, becoming frightened of them. She also reported seeing the figure and lights fly from over a tall tree.

The final incident described occurred in early November 1979, when she saw an oval red light land in her garden. The next morning, she found weeds crushed down 18 inches and covered in a grey, furry material. This led her to write to the Society for Psychical Research.

The investigators noted that Miss J had never married and lived alone, and that her last close relative, a sister, had died in early 1978, around the time her UFO and poltergeist experiences began. Her early life was spent in remote parts of Wales and Ireland. The investigators found her to be a pleasant, elderly lady with a slight degree of senility but generally sound faculties. Her belief in Spiritualism was low, with some residual Catholicism. She reacted enigmatically to the investigators, particularly to the book 'UFOs, a British Viewpoint', by Peter Warrington and herself, implying that the investigators viewed UFO phenomena as psychological.

The physical traces found in the garden were identified as a common fungus, likely exacerbated by the decaying tree trunk nearby. The investigators concluded that it was more plausible that Miss J unconsciously adapted her tale to fit pre-existing traces rather than the other way around. They noted that her experiences might be a subconscious cry for contact, possibly related to her psychic abilities.

Notes & Quotes

This section features several short items. The Diplomatic Correspondent notes the overthrow of 'Sir' Eric Gairy, the eccentric dictator of Grenada, who had issued postage stamps depicting UFOs. The Skeptical Enquirer reports that the Republic of Equatorial Guinea also issued a UFO stamp featuring a George Adamski photograph, and that regimes issuing such stamps have subsequently been toppled, leading to speculation about a 'curse of the Venusians'.

An article discusses the relationship between UFO waves and periods of radical social change, noting that Iran, undergoing upheaval, has experienced UFO landing reports. The editors speculate that a significant UFO flap might occur in Iran.

Under 'Notes & Quotes', a quote from a prominent ufologist's 'credo' is presented, emphasizing loyalty to 'UFOLOGY' above the sighting claimant or fellow investigators. This prompts a discussion comparing ufology to politics, arguing that both involve responsibilities to individuals and communities, and that ufology should not be treated merely as a hobby.

Another item from the Liverpool Echo reports Iranian claims that the US was using flying saucers and helicopters in a psychological war against Iran, and that Iranian officials and students had reported mysterious helicopters and even flying saucers.

Books Extra

This section provides reviews of several books:

• 'Stranger than Truth or Fiction': A collection of articles from FORTEAN TIMES, covering a wide range of strange phenomena.
• 'The Andreasson Affair' by Raymond E. Fowler: Reviewed as a bizarre abduction story with Jungian symbolism. The reviewer notes that the book is a condensed manuscript but valuable, especially as it embarrasses the conscious beliefs of the witness and investigator. The reviewer suggests the symbolism of rebirth and the phoenix may stem from Betty's subconscious, attempting to reconcile her experiences with her fundamentalist faith. The reviewer also notes the connection between her experiences and her personal life events, such as her separation from her husband and the death of her sons.
• 'UFO phenomena and the Behavioural Scientist' edited by Richard F. Haines: A collection of twelve papers on various social science aspects of ufology. The reviewer highlights Berthold Schwarz's paper on psychiatric and parapsychiatric dimensions of UFOs, warning against amateur psychiatry by UFO buffs and emphasizing the need for caution when hypnotizing UFO percipients. Leo Sprinkle's investigation of Carl Higdon is described as a demonstration of how local investigators' beliefs can influence a percipient's story. Michael A. Persinger's articles suggest UFO experiences may be psychological artifacts catalyzed by poorly understood physical stimuli, such as piezo-electrical phenomena. Ron Westrum's articles discuss witnesses of UFOs and reporting dynamics. Armando Simon's 'The Zeitgeist of the UFO Phenomenon' is critiqued for its limited knowledge of ufology history. Phyllis Fox's study on social and cultural factors influencing UFO beliefs is noted as potentially valuable. The reviewer expresses disappointment with the overall collection, finding much of it repetitive or lacking thorough homework, but hopes for more provocative material in future volumes.
• 'The Devil Within' by Marc Cramer: A study of demonic possession from a Jungian perspective, viewing 'demons' as symbols of the Shadow archetype. The reviewer notes that the book lacks sufficient case-history, relies on outdated theories of witchcraft, and makes questionable claims about Mexican mythology. The reviewer suggests the book's themes of 'return to chaos' reflect a struggle between order and chaos rather than good and evil.
• 'Spacecraft in Fact and Fiction' by Harry Harrison and Malcolm Edwards: A book with interesting illustrations from science fiction, showing how popular spacecraft images have evolved. It notes similarities between early spacecraft depictions and later UFO sightings.
• 'The Welsh Triangle' by Peter Paget: Described as adding confusion to the Coombes story and influenced by sensationalism. The reviewer notes the authors' association with 'Professor' Hans Holzer.
• 'On the Margins of Science: the Social Construction of Rejected Knowledge' edited by Roy Wallis: This book examines science and pseudoscience from a sociological viewpoint, discussing the shift from viewing scientific orthodoxy as absolute truth to seeing it as socially constructed. It explores the challenges faced by parapsychology in gaining recognition from the scientific community and the strategies employed by 'deviant' sciences to achieve legitimacy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Magonia include the historical parallels between early 20th-century invasion and airship scares and modern UFO phenomena, the psychological aspects of anomalous experiences, and the ethical considerations within ufology. The magazine adopts a critical yet open-minded stance, seeking to examine UFO reports within their broader social and historical context. The editorial emphasizes the importance of treating percipients with respect and acknowledging the potential psychological impact of UFO experiences, while also encouraging rigorous investigation and analysis. The reviews section indicates a critical approach to UFO literature, valuing well-researched and insightful works while being skeptical of sensationalism or poorly substantiated claims.