MUFOB - New series - No 01

Magazine Overview

MUFOB, the Merseyside UFO Bulletin, presents its first issue in a new series, designated as number 1, following a hiatus of a year and a half. The relaunch is attributed to John Harney's move to the London area, which resolved geographical separation issues. The editorial panel includes John Harney, Peter Rogerson, and Roger Sandell, with John Rimmer serving as the editor. The bulletin aims to maintain its previous format, blending serious articles with controversy and humor. It plans to continue the extensive catalogue of Type I Sightings compiled by Peter Rogerson and introduce a 'Work in Progress' feature for researchers.

Editorial and Content

The editorial notes that the title 'Merseyside UFO Bulletin' is no longer entirely appropriate as none of the editorial team reside on Merseyside. They are seeking suggestions for a new title that retains the MUFOB acronym. The editorial also reflects on the infamous disappearing trick of John Stonehouse MP, humorously comparing it to the Bermuda Triangle. It announces that February 1976 marks the tenth anniversary of MUFORG Bulletin, the forerunner of MUFOB, and appeals for preserved copies of this publication.

The Phantom Ship & the UFO

The lead article, 'The Phantom Ship & the UFO' by Peter Rogerson, delves into the archetypal themes of folklore that influence the UFO myth, particularly the 'Ship of Souls' or phantom ship that sails in the clouds. This tradition, present throughout Europe until the eighteenth century, is linked to the 'Flying Dutchman' legend and has features found in 1897 airship reports. The article cites examples from Cornwall, Yorkshire, and Holyhead, as well as an American story from the Bay of Fundy about ships seen in the air. It discusses the belief that the crew of these aerial ships were drowned by air, similar to sea sailors drowning in the sea. A tale from Ireland describes a phantom ship whose anchor became caught in a church, leading to a sailor's near-drowning. Gervaise of Tilbury and an incident in Merkel, Texas, are also mentioned. Archbishop Agobard of Lyons is quoted regarding 'Magonia,' a region from which ships sail in the clouds to collect storm-damaged crops, suggesting a link to the dead and storm wizards. This legend is seen as a significant theme in ufological myth, connected to Atlantis and Hy-Brazil.

The article further explores the belief that crops destroyed by storms are used as food by the dead, who are transfigured into storm spirits. Ancient Aryan beliefs about the dead possessing astounding powers and travelling like the wind are discussed. The appearance of the phantom ship is often seen as a warning of storms, as depicted in Gustav Dore's illustration of the Flying Dutchman. The victims of the mob, mentioned by Agobard, are possibly human sacrifices to storm gods, as the cloud ships took not only crops but also souls. Tales of the dying being taken by these ships to the land beyond the west or the underworld are recounted, including a graphic account of a Cornish wrecker's death and the subsequent fiery destruction of his coffin.

Beliefs about phantom ships as a gentle release for the good dead, taking souls to Avalon, are mentioned, with traditions found in modern times, such as the 'Galley' appearing on Loch Fyne. The article notes that the phantom ship can appear on specific anniversaries, such as All Souls' Day in Normandy, where a ship appears and disappears, accompanied by the cries of shipwrecked sailors. Similar events occurred in New Haven, Connecticut. The dead are described as jealous of the living and seeking to take them to their own country, with woe betiding those who aid the phantom ship. The Flying Dutchman is presented as an omen of disaster.

The phantom ship is also described as a shape-changer, appearing in the guise of contemporary vessels, similar to UFOs. Examples include a strange Faroes drifter seen in Reykjavik in 1927 and the Falkenbergs Ship, accompanied by yellow lights, seen in Sweden in 1958. The article connects these modern reports to the folklore of Western Europe and the myth of the 'Ship of Souls,' which takes the dead to the nether-world. This belief is considered ancient and universal, with parallels in Egyptian mythology (the sun-god Ra's boat) and Middle-Eastern cults, suggesting the UFO and phantom ship share a common origin as vessels of gods. The name 'Magonia' for the phenomenon's home is also highlighted.

The article touches upon the mythological structure of the phantom ship and its cultural context, noting that while the culture has vanished, the anomalies remain powerful intruders from outside history. A list of references is provided, citing various books and articles on folklore, flying saucers, and ghosts.

A postscript by Roger Sandell discusses a dream interpreted by Carl Jung, involving a disc-like UFO manned by spirits fetching the souls of the dead. Jung's interpretation suggests the UFO might be a modern equivalent of Charon, the ferryman of the dead. The postscript notes that the apparent increase in UFO sightings might lead to conclusions about a corresponding increase in deaths, a concept interpreted similarly in earlier centuries as portents of 'great dying,' war, and pestilence.

Book Reviews

This section reviews three books on the Bermuda Triangle: Charles Berlitz's 'The Bermuda Triangle,' David Kuesche's 'The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved,' and Martin Ebon's 'The Riddle of the Bermuda Triangle.' The reviewer notes that the Bermuda Triangle mystery has replaced the Ancient Astronaut theory in popularity among paperback publishers. The books are criticized for repeating each other's content and lacking proper references. Berlitz's book is highlighted as the most popular, but the reviewer points out inconsistencies in his claims about the number of vanished ships and planes. Berlitz's suggestion that UFOs might be involved and that victims may have vanished into 'a different dimension' is discussed, as is his treatment of ancient maps and archaeological dating methods. David Kuesche's book is praised for its thorough checking of contemporary press and official reports, which allegedly destroys the 'concocted mystery' by revealing many cases to be fictitious or unrelated to the Triangle. However, the reviewer regrets that Kuesche does not specifically quote the well-known Triangle books and focuses on destroying the legend rather than analyzing its growth. Martin Ebon's book is described as a compilation of articles offering various viewpoints.

Von Daniken in London Debate

Roger Sandell reports on a debate between Erich von Daniken and Gerry Palmer, a college lecturer, held in London on February 22, 1975. The meeting was well-attended. Von Daniken began by refuting attacks on his theories with affidavits. Palmer raised valid points but was interrupted by the chairman. In the audience Q&A, a Mr Ratan from Turkey claimed descent from Piri Re'is and stated a family tradition that the admiral's map, which von Daniken claims shows evidence of aerial surveys, was dropped by a flying disc. Documentary evidence was reportedly destroyed in the Greco-Turkish War. Another speaker claimed an ancient spaceship was buried under Longleat estate. Von Daniken was challenged on his claim that the pyramids were built by spacemen, initially denying it before reasserting that slave gangs could not have built them. The debate concluded with von Daniken discussing asteroids as remnants of a planet destroyed by nuclear war, which he called 'Planet Six,' and an audience member claiming to have deduced this from the Apocryphal Book of Enoch. The meeting cost 75p and lasted just over an hour.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the intersection of folklore, mythology, and UFO phenomena, particularly the phantom ship legend as a precursor or parallel to UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, as evidenced by the book reviews that debunk the sensationalism surrounding the Bermuda Triangle and the report on the von Daniken debate, which highlights challenges to his theories. The publication aims to provide a platform for serious UFO research while acknowledging the historical and folkloric roots of the subject.

MUFOB, Volume 1, Issue 1, dated March 1973, is an informal journal dedicated to ufology and related subjects, published independently by its editors. This issue serves as a supplement to the International Catalogue of Type I Reports, focusing on historical UFO and airship cases, primarily from the 1890s.

Book Reviews

The issue begins with a review by Roger Sandell of a contribution by Martin Ebon, who analyzes the appeal of the Bermuda Triangle mystery as a substitute for declining religion, suggesting that its supernatural hints fill a void. Sandell notes that Ebon's analysis includes contemporary data on disappearances and reprints of relevant information.

Following this is a review by Peter Rogerson of Ralph Blum and Judy Blum's book, 'Beyond Earth: man's contact with UFOs'. Rogerson highlights that the book is based on material from an aborted NBC documentary and includes a detailed account of the Parker-Hickson (Pascagoula) contact case of October 1973, based on Blum's investigation and interviews. The book also covers a general history of the subject, from 'cave drawings' to the post-Arnold phenomenon, and discusses official investigations like those by the USAF and the Condon Report. Chapter 13 explores UFOs and healing, referencing cases like Tres Arroyos and Villas-Boas, and notes a potential relationship between these and the Brazilian healers, though Rogerson expresses skepticism about the authenticity of some claims. He also points out the inclusion of the Gallipoli 'kidnapping' case and criticizes the book's blurb. Rogerson commends the book for including references, a bibliography, and an index.

International Catalogue of Type I Reports: Supplement

The core of the issue is the continuation and updating of Peter Rogerson's International Catalogue of Type I Reports. This supplement focuses on parts 5 and 6, which were previously omitted due to production difficulties. It lists various publications and references related to UFO phenomena, primarily from Spain, the Southern Hemisphere, and other international sources.

References to Part 5 (MUFOB 6,3, January 1974) and Part 6 (MUFOB 6,4, April '74)

• This section provides bibliographic details for several works, including:
• 'Platilles Volantes en Ibero-america y Espana' by Antonio Ribera, noted for its abstracting by Richard Heiden.
• 'UFOs over the Southern Hemisphere' by Michael Hervey.
• 'Flying Saucer News', a publication of the British Flying Saucer Bureau.
• 'Spacelink', published by the Isle of Wight UFO Society.
• 'SAGA UFO Special No. 3'.
• 'What we really know about Flying Saucers' by Otto Binder.
• 'Flying Saucers over Australia' by James Holledge.
• 'Flying Saucer Conspiracy' by Donald E. Keyhoe.
• 'Inexplicable Sky' by Arthur Constance.
• 'COS-MOS' (Periodical) edited by Norman Oliver.
• 'Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery' by Aine Michel.
• 'OURANOS' (Periodical) edited by Marc Thirouin.
• 'Les Apparitions de Martiens' by Michel Carrouges.

A note is included regarding the MAGONIA case being omitted from Part 6 as it was considered a definite hoax by Snr. Ballester Olmos.

Acknowledgements are extended to Jerold Johnson, Ted Bloecher, Bernard Delair, Michael Jaffe, and Barry Greenwood.

The editorial explains a change in format: material additional to the basic report will now be given in brackets after the report to which it refers, rather than as a series of references at the end of each section. This aims to improve flexibility and indicate possible hoaxes or poor cases, though full details of different versions will not be provided due to space constraints.

Supplement to Part I of the International Catalogue (1897 Airship Cases)

This section presents a detailed chronological listing of numerous reports of aerial machines and their occupants, primarily from 1897. Each entry includes a date, location, a brief description of the sighting or encounter, and references to the sources. Many entries are noted as potential hoaxes or undocumented reports.

• Notable entries include:
• A report from Louisville, Kentucky (July 28, 1880) describing an object like a man.
• An incident in the Atlantic Ocean (March 19, 1887) involving luminous objects and a severe storm.
• A claim by an electrician in San Francisco (November 26, 1896) of being taken on an airship.
• Reports from Texas in April 1897 detailing descents from the sky, landed airships, and encounters with occupants.
• An encounter in Maysville, Missouri (April 12, 1897) where an aerial machine landed for repairs, with an occupant speaking Norwegian.
• A sighting in Farmersville, Texas (April 15, 1897) of a dim light with occupants resembling men and a large dog.
• An encounter in Springfield, Missouri (April 16, 1897) with occupants described as beautiful, speaking a foreign language.
• Reports from various locations in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Illinois detailing airship sightings, landings, and occupant encounters.
• An encounter near Chattanooga, Tennessee (late April 1897) with an aerial machine shaped like a shad.
• A report from Conroe, Texas (April 23, 1897) where witnesses declined an offer to tour an airship crew's craft.
• An incident in Kountze, Texas (April 23, 1897) involving a damaged aerial machine and crewmen.
• A landing in Deadwood, Texas (April 23, 1897) where crewmen took on water.
• An encounter in Jenny Lind, Arkansas (May 4, 1897) involving an aerial machine and pilots offering a trip.
• A sighting in Sweden (July 17, 1897) of an aerial object resembling a balloon.
• A report from Tring, Hertfordshire, England (September 1899) of a luminous ball moving at a trotting speed.

This section also includes corrections and amendments to Part 1 of the catalogue, updating references and correcting inaccuracies, such as the summary of the 'Operation Trojan Horse' case.

Editorial Stance and Contact Information

The MUFOB is presented as an informal journal devoted to ufology, published independently. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the editors. Correspondence regarding the International Catalogue of Type I Reports should be sent to Peter Rogerson, while all other correspondence should be sent to the Principal Editor, John Rimmer.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the historical documentation of UFO and airship sightings, the critical evaluation of these reports (including identifying potential hoaxes), and the compilation of comprehensive catalogues of such phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent archival work, aiming to present factual data and source information for historical cases, while acknowledging the challenges of verification and the speculative nature of some reports. The reviews of books indicate an interest in the broader cultural and psychological aspects of UFO belief systems.