Merseyside UFO Bulletin - Vol 4 No 4 - 1971

Magazine Overview

Title: Merseyside UFO Bulletin
Issue: 4:4
Date: September/October 1971
Editors: John Harney and John Rimmer

This issue of the Merseyside UFO Bulletin delves into the evolving landscape of ufology, featuring an editorial questioning the direction of the 'new ufology,' a defense of psychological interpretations of UFO phenomena, an analysis of the links between ufology and political extremism, and local UFO reports.

Editorial: Has the "New Ufology" gone too far?

The editorial expresses concern that the 'new ufology' movement, while stimulating research, has sometimes strayed into realms of fantasy and superstition, drawing parallels to medieval beliefs in demons and fairies. It suggests that while comparing bizarre modern reports to older tales is useful, these stories should be treated with a more modern, rationalistic approach. The editorial highlights the progress of science in dispelling ignorance and superstition over centuries and criticizes ufologists who reject psychological findings on perception and memory. It notes that the magazine's Science Editor, Alan Sharp, is preparing an article to critique the 'new ufology' and guide its proponents back to reality.

Letter to the Editor from Peter Rogerson

Peter Rogerson writes to address three points. First, he thanks Janet Gregory for her comments on his 'Sun Maiden' piece, which he believes supports his point that UFO experiences occur under conditions conducive to hallucinations. Second, he corrects omissions and inaccuracies in his previous contributions to MUFOD 4:3, providing detailed references for his article and a review. He also clarifies a reference to the 'Wanaque Reservoir flap' instead of the 'Warminster flap.' Third, Rogerson is compiling a supplementary catalogue of landing and Type I (Vallce) reports, with over 500 items, and requests details of unpublished reports, including precise dates, locations, witnesses, and essential descriptions. He expresses interest in corresponding with anyone engaged in similar projects.

Disenchantment by John Harney

John Harney recounts a visit to Warminster on October 9th, noting the town's shift towards tourism and the decline of its former ufological significance. He describes a visit to Cradle Hill, finding it devoid of activity except for an unofficial litter bin with humorous slogans related to UFOs. Harney observes a Saturday night skywatch where participants were initially hesitant and later mistook car headlights for UFOs, leading to disappointment. He contrasts the current atmosphere with the past, when Arthur Shuttlewood was a prominent figure. The article notes that sightings still occur and are recorded by Ken Rogers in his Warminster UFO Newsletter, but suggests these are now largely seen as souvenirs for tourists. The 'Farmer Giles Guest House' has been transformed into 'The Farmers' Hotel,' reflecting the town's commercialization.

Politics and Cultism by John A. Rimmer

John A. Rimmer's article examines the intersection of ufology with extremist politics, particularly racism, anti-Semitism, and crypto-fascism. He argues that these views are not isolated but may be integral to the fringe of ufology. Rimmer draws parallels between 20th-century fascism, which arose as a reaction against rational materialism, and the quasi-mystical pseudoscience often found in UFO literature. He cites Nietzsche's 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' as a precursor to fascist ideals and notes how British fascist movements have drawn on Arthurian and Elizabethan imagery. Rimmer suggests that the 'cultist' in ufology shares a similar despair with the fascist, seeing humanity's destiny as chaos and futility, and seeking salvation through a superior person or race, often through 'contact' experiences. This contrasts with a humanist viewpoint that emphasizes self-improvement. The article posits that the fascist ideal of reverting to perceived earlier cultural forms is mirrored in the imagery favored by UFO cultists, such as the Arthurian legend and the fascination with megaliths. Rimmer criticizes the 'neo-romantic drug culture' for aligning with racist and fascist elements. He argues that the messages from 'space-brothers' often promote a hierarchical system, reflecting abstract imaginings of the extreme right, and that UFO organizations can exhibit characteristics similar to political purges. He notes a common desire among some ufologists and political fringe members to be part of a minority, which can manifest as a form of masochism or a desire for an elite status. Rimmer concludes that the paranoid tendencies seen in ufologists, who believe they are targets of conspiracy, are also present in minority political movements. He suggests that the ideas and fantasies of political extremists have found an outlet in UFO cultism, and that isolating these elements may be unrealistic, as they might be inherent to the phenomenon being studied.

Psychological Theories of UFOs by Peter Rogerson

Peter Rogerson's article addresses the growing interest in psychological interpretations of UFO phenomena, acknowledging the criticism and skepticism this approach has faced. He specifically responds to critiques by Carl Grove, who argued against psychological theories. Rogerson focuses on the possibility of hallucination as a cause for UFO experiences, addressing two main points: whether hallucination can occur under UFO percipience conditions in psychologically normal people, and whether there is anything in UFO accounts that automatically rules out hallucination. Rogerson asserts that simple hallucinations occur in most people's lives and that about 15% of the population are prone to them. He argues that apparitions, often reported by 'normal' people, are the closest comparison to UFO percipience. He counters Grove's points by stating that sensory restriction, sleep deprivation, and even chemical substances can induce hallucinations. He also addresses the idea of collective percipience, citing the Fatima case as an example of collective hallucination, and argues that physical traces, photos, and radar tracks are rare and can often be explained by other means or are subconsciously woven into hallucinatory experiences. Rogerson also disputes Grove's assertion that UFO reports are predominantly rural, arguing that hallucinatory conditions are more likely in relaxed rural atmospheres. He touches on the Mars synodic period cycle and the lack of proven cases of hallucination in reliable UFO witnesses, suggesting that cases cited by Schönherr, Keel, and Vallee could be interpreted as hallucinatory. Rogerson concludes that any general interpretation of UFO phenomena must either violate accepted laws of physics or psychology, and that psychological theories are more plausible due to their greater flexibility.

Jung and the UFOs

This section discusses Carl Jung's theory that UFOs are archetypal symbols in the collective unconscious. It addresses Grove's criticism that archetypes cannot be inherited genetically, clarifying that Jung likely did not mean literal inheritance. The text suggests that learning may be inherited under certain conditions and that traditions passed down through generations could modify genetic structure. Jung's hypotheses are presented as an alternative to the 'ETH' (Extraterrestrial Hypothesis), which the author implies violates Occam's Razor. The section notes that many psychoanalysts still adhere to Jung's ideas, while psychological theorizing remains a field of significant controversy.

Conclusions

The conclusion reiterates that any general interpretation of UFO phenomena will likely challenge accepted laws of physics or psychology. It asserts that psychological theories are more plausible due to their less rigid nature compared to physics. The article dismisses Carl Grove's critique of the psychological hypothesis as containing unfounded statements and overgeneralizations, thus failing to establish its case.

References

The article lists several references, including works by Carl Grove, G.N.M. Tyrrell, Damon Knight, John A. Keel, Jacques Vallee, and Carl Jung, related to UFOs, psychological theories, apparitions, and political fringe movements.

Local UFO Reports

This section includes two local reports. The first is an excerpt from Peter Prescot's column in the Journal of Commerce, describing a sighting of a silent, fast-moving, bow-shaped object with bright headlights over Merseyside. The author dismisses official explanations and suggests it might be a 'defence' device. The second report, from Bernard Veale, briefly mentions a sighting on Sunday, September 5, at approximately 8:45 PM by a Mr J.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of ufology. The editorial stance is one of caution against uncritical acceptance of the 'new ufology,' advocating for a more rational and scientific approach. There is a strong emphasis on psychological explanations for UFO sightings, with Peter Rogerson's article serving as a detailed defense of this perspective. The issue also explores the socio-political dimensions of ufology, linking it to extremist ideologies and cultic behaviors. The editors appear to favor evidence-based analysis and a grounded approach to the subject, aiming to separate genuine inquiry from speculative fantasy and political manipulation. The decline of Warminster as a UFO hotspot is presented as a symbol of the changing nature of ufological interest, moving from active investigation to a more commercialized, tourist-oriented phenomenon. The overall tone suggests a desire to maintain intellectual rigor and critical thinking within the field of UFO research. The magazine positions itself as a platform for reasoned debate and a counterpoint to what it perceives as sensationalism or unfounded speculation in some UFO circles. The inclusion of Jungian psychology offers an alternative framework for understanding UFO phenomena, emphasizing symbolic and archetypal interpretations rather than purely physical or extraterrestrial explanations.

MUFOB, Volume 4, Number 4, dated October 1971, is a bulletin from Merseyside, UK, focusing on UFO phenomena and related topics. The issue is primarily composed of reports on local sightings, notes on scientific discussions, and administrative announcements.

UFO Sightings

Runcorn Sighting

The issue leads with a report of a UFO sighting in Runcorn. Five witnesses observed a glowing, yellow-orange disc that crossed the sky in a southeast to northwest direction over approximately 32 minutes. One witness's brother, using binoculars, perceived a bank of lights on one side of the object. The report notes that Mr. Clarke, one of the witnesses, has been a keen astronomer for about 30 years, suggesting experience in sky observation. The original report of this sighting was published in the Runcorn Weekly News on September 11, 1971.

Rock Ferry Sighting

Another local UFO incident is detailed, which occurred on October 23 at Rock Ferry and was reported in the Liverpool Echo on October 28. Two commuters, sales manager Mr. Peter Seymour-Dixon of Storeton and his colleague Mr. Stephen Lamb of Prenton, reported seeing a mysterious object in the sky. They estimated its altitude to be about 40,000 feet. Mr. Seymour-Dixon described the object as dropping very rapidly with a large flare out behind it to about 2,000 feet, where it came to an absolute standstill for about a minute before moving off in a horizontal direction. Mr. Seymour-Dixon checked with Jodrell Bank and Liverpool Airport's Air Traffic Control, neither of whom had any reports of the sighting.

Notes, Quotes & Queries

Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence

This section features a report, sent by Mr. Peter Booth of Cheadle, Cheshire, concerning the international conference on Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence. The conference was held at the Dyurakan Observatory in Soviet Armenia from September 5 to 11, 1971, as a joint project of the US and USSR Academies of Sciences. It was attended by 56 official delegates, including one from the United Kingdom. The delegates reportedly felt strongly that the subject is of potentially great importance, and it is anticipated that significant funds will be allocated to projects searching for signs of alien intelligence. The general consensus was that searching the radio wavelengths remains the most promising approach.

University Lecture

On October 19, John Harney delivered a lecture entitled "UFOs--physical or psychological?" to the Manchester University Physical Society. The lecture attracted an audience of approximately 300 people.

Change of Format

An announcement is made regarding a change in the magazine's page size. Starting with Volume 5, Number 1, MUFOB will transition from its current foolscap size to A4.

Editorial Information

This issue is identified as Volume 4, Number 4 of the Merseyside UFO Bulletin. The Editor is John Harney, with John A. Rimmer as Associate Editor and Alan W. Sharp as Science Editor. Contact information, including a telephone number and postal addresses, is provided. The bulletin states that opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily shared by the Editors and that it is printed and published by the Editors.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are local UFO sightings and the broader scientific pursuit of extraterrestrial intelligence. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting factual accounts of sightings and disseminating information about scientific endeavors in the field, while maintaining a neutral position on the contributors' opinions. The publication also shows an interest in the academic and scientific community's engagement with the UFO topic, as evidenced by the report on the SETI conference and the university lecture.