The New SIGAP Bulletin No 6 1978-08

Magazine Overview

Title: SIGAP NEWS
Issue: 6
Date: August 1978
Price: 20 P

This issue of SIGAP NEWS, published by the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena, features an editorial titled "Walking the Tightrope," discussing the group's independent approach to UFO investigation and its challenges.

Editorial: Walking the Tightrope

The editorial, written by Omar Fowler, reflects on Sigap's 12-year history as an independent investigation group. Fowler explains that this stance was not due to a desire for secrecy but because larger organizations were perceived as failing to act scientifically. The core question addressed is what to do with completed UFO reports. Sigap believes in making reports available to the wider world or scientific bodies, rather than passing them to larger organizations that might lack resources or file them away. The editorial notes that in recent months, Sigap members have heard from executives of other UFO investigation groups, revealing similar dilemmas regarding UFO reports. A significant issue highlighted is the prevalence of power struggles and inter-group rivalry within larger organizations, which has drained their effectiveness. Despite these challenges, Sigap emphasizes that life goes on, and their group has managed to settle differences quickly to continue the search for answers to the UFO mystery.

Sigap's current course of action, which involves passing reports to the Center for UFO Studies (run by Dr. J Allan Hynek) and to Flying Saucer Review for publication, is deemed correct for scientific study. The group also continues to cooperate with other groups and share interesting cases for comparison. Fowler concludes that the 'tightrope' Sigap has chosen is the right one.

The editorial also includes a notice for the next Sigap meeting on Wednesday, August 9th, at the Prospect Country Club, Ash Vale, Aldershot. The meeting will feature a report by Mike Prewett on his visit to the US, movie films of a satellite launch, and a presentation by Peter Hicks from Radio Lion.

Open Reporting: Navy Tracks UFOs Near Ocala

This section reproduces an item from 'Today,' a Florida daily newspaper, detailing a sighting near Ocala. Unexplained lighted objects were sighted and tracked on radar by naval personnel at a Navy electronic warfare center in the Ocala National Forest. Lt Commander John Sullivan, base commander, confirmed the events. The objects were observed over a two-hour period on a Sunday night. SK-1 Robert J Clark, the duty officer, received a call from a civilian asking about flares, which were not in use. A second caller, who did not give his name, reported seeing a 50-60 foot diameter object with flashing lights fly over his vehicle along with seven others. The object was described as stationary for 15-20 minutes when viewed through binoculars from a tower, approximately 1500 feet above the trees. Navy radar technician Timothy Collins described the object's ability to change direction instantly, stating, "planes just don't have a turning radius like that."

The article's commentary notes that this report was treated seriously by the Florida newspaper, unlike typical British media treatment of UFOs. It suggests that in Britain, such information would likely be suppressed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and military witnesses would face ridicule.

An Unusual Incident at Churt

This report details a sighting on April 6, 1978, involving two local girls, aged 13½ and 14, in Churt, near Farnham. They observed an oval-shaped object in the sky with green, red, and white flashing lights, hovering over nearby trees. After about five minutes, they returned to one girl's home to tell her parents. Upon returning outside, they estimated the object was about 400 yards away, glowing and silent, moving lower through the trees. They studied the object in more detail, noting it was silvery and glowing, with the green lights flashing faster than the red and white. The girls described "windows" around the top of the object as resembling "flies eyes." The incident occurred during the April 'flap,' and no other witnesses have been traced. The report notes the light features: red on the top right, white on the top left, and green on the bottom. The investigation was conducted by Omar Fowler.

Stand By for Close Encounters of a Publishing Kind

This section announces the upcoming launch of 'Nova,' a new magazine from Penthouse Publications, described as the first magazine of the space age combining science fiction and science fact. Gerard Van der Luen is quoted as saying 'Nova' will not be a "nutter's magazine" but will be written by top science writers, offering a balanced view of the future.

Summary of Sightings (January - May)

This is a detailed list of 32 UFO sightings reported between January and May 1978. Each entry includes a number, date, time, details of the incident, and remarks, often indicating if the report is on tape or categorized (e.g., CE1, LITS, Sirius). The sightings include various shapes and behaviors, such as glowing square objects, UFOs flying alongside cars, cigar-shaped objects, multicoloured lights, metallic pie-shaped objects, orange lights falling from the sky, and 'Mexican hat' UFOs. Locations span across the UK, including Mytchett, Hanworth, Farnborough, Basingstoke, Yateley, Dorking, Chertsey, Winchester, Bristol, W. Byfleet, Farnham, Ash, Aldershot, Epsom Downs, Hook, Dunsfold, and Surrey.

Report of the Last Meeting (17 May)

This report covers a meeting where Ken Rogers, Chairman of the British UFO Society, was the guest speaker. The report, by Ann Dent, details two vivid lights seen by Robert Stevens of Tongham, investigated by the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena. Mr. Stevens described a cigar-shaped object with lights at the front and back and a red static light in the middle, observed for four minutes. The UFO was also reported to the Royal Aircraft Establishment and Mr. Omar Fowler. Another sighting by Peter Inwood involved a bright white light that changed color to red and blue, seen by his family and a local police constable. Mr. Rogers presented a list of sightings from April 5th across various UK counties. He advocated for a single national body for UFO investigation, with evaluation panels and a central publication, to improve efficiency and public access to information. He criticized the amateurish and underfinanced nature of many UFO groups, likening them to "secret societies" whose reports end up in "filing cabinets." He suggested that government grants could properly organize ufology, but noted the Ministry of Defence's primary interest is security. The Surrey members, however, expressed reservations about commercialization, fearing it would detract from scientific aspects. Mr. Omar Fowler reported 32 substantial reports in Surrey during the year, with 11 being close encounters detailing shape and size.

Cigar Shaped Object Tracked Across Southern England

This report details a sighting on Tuesday night, May 9, 1978, of an unusual cigar-shaped object travelling slowly across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and North Hampshire. The first report came from a newspaper journalist who saw a bright white light. Later, the journalist observed the object overhead, estimating its altitude at 2,000 feet. The object had a white light and a red light, did not blink, and made no sound. Gatwick Air Traffic Control could not explain the sighting. A second witness, a 32-year-old man in Tongham, observed two bright lights side-by-side approaching from the direction of the 'Hogs Back.' Based on this report, the object was travelling at approximately 85 miles per hour. The witness, an aircraft spotter, described the craft as having no wings, a body the size of a BAC 111 jetliner, a red light on top, and two bright lights on the front and rear. The object was silent and flying at an estimated altitude of 1,000 feet. It was also seen by his wife. The report is considered fully substantiated and unexplainable by conventional standards. It was investigated by Omar Fowler.

An illustration of the object is provided on the facing page.

The issue concludes with information about Sigap News being printed and distributed by the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena, a voluntary organization established in 1967. Material is copyrighted by the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the challenges and methodologies of UFO investigation, the perceived lack of scientific rigor in larger organizations, and the contrast between US and UK approaches to UFO reporting and government transparency. The editorial stance, as articulated by Omar Fowler, emphasizes the importance of independent, scientific investigation and the need to make findings publicly accessible. There is a clear critique of internal politics within UFO groups and a call for greater cooperation and a more unified approach to understanding UFO phenomena. The issue also highlights the importance of witness accounts and the role of media in reporting such events, contrasting the serious treatment in the US with the skepticism often found in the UK. The need for a Freedom of Information Act in the UK is presented as crucial for advancing the understanding of UFOs.