Northern UFO News - No 102

Magazine Overview

NORTHERN UFO NEWS Summer Report

This issue of the Northern UFO News Summer Report, dated Jul/Aug 1983, is presented as a 'Report' rather than a full-sized magazine. Edited by Jenny Randles, it covers the state of British UFO literature, discusses various UFO cases and investigations, and includes a review of other UFO publications.

The State of British UFO Literature

The editorial highlights that in 1983, Northern UFO News is in a new publishing phase, producing six copies including four full-sized magazines and two 'Reports'. The UK has a healthy magazine industry, with titles like FSR (Flying Saucer Review) and books from Paul Devereux and EARTHLIGHTS. However, the author expresses concern about the current state of UFO magazines.

FSR, the flagship publication, is seen as losing its bearings. John Rimmer, in the current MACONIA, discusses the difficulties, exacerbated by the illness of Charles Bowen and the editorship of Gordon Creighton, who admits to being 'out of touch' with the UFO scene. The next few months will reveal if FSR can regain its respected position.

A new publication, PROBE REPORT, edited by Ian Mrzyglod, is praised for its vital, thrusting approach, unafraid to expose untruths while standing up for mystery. It is made available to BUFORA members as part of their subscription. However, support for PROBE REPORT has been lacking, raising doubts about its future.

On the skeptical side, FUFOR (UFO INSIGHT) and NUFUIS (UFO RESEARCH REVIEW) are mentioned as past excellent publications, but FUFOR disappeared, and NUFOIS has been quiescent. UFO RESEARCH REVIEW has appeared less often with less content. COMMON GROUND, edited by Kevin McClure and distributed by ASSAR, is noted for reaching readers and featuring UFO articles, offering healthy debates and stimulating pieces.

The publication itself, NORTHERN UFO NEWS, has not broken even but aims for improvement in 1984. This report is half-sized to maintain format, and readers are invited to provide feedback. The magazine intends to continue reflecting news, views, and activity in northern Britain.

News Round Up

• WEST YORKSHIRE UFO SOCIETY (WYUFOS): A new group formed by Nigel Mortimer, part of the UFO Research North team. No membership fee is envisaged.
• Book Offer: An amusing offer from ENCOUNTERS book club combines 'UFOs: A British Viewpoint' by Peter Warrington and the editor with Erich Von Daniken's 'Signs of the Gods?' for £5.90.
• ASSAP Executive Meeting: The ASSAP secretary, Hu Pincott, is also the elected Labour candidate for a London constituency, facing an election on the same day as the meeting.
• London Witness: A witness claims to see UFOs often and believes they are 'BLACK HOLEs', with trains disappearing from Paddington Station.
• Post Office Delay: The editor attributes potential delays in delivery to the Somerville Village Post Office.

For Your Perusal

• THE RUNNING WELL MYSTERY: An 82pp book with maps and photographs, described as an excellent detective story of an investigation into village mysteries. Tips on technique are provided.

Summer Report 1983 - Publications Reviewed

• PROBE REPORT (Apr 1983): Features include 'The Birth of the UFO Myth', a dissection of George Adamski, and a skeptical reappraisal of the Rendlesham Forest UFO crash.
• NORTHERN EARTH MYSTERIES (Issue 21): Continues the earthlights debate with an article by Paul Devereux.
• MAGONIA (No 12): Includes 'Confessions of a Fortean Sceptic' by Jerome Clark and advice on handling skeptics.
• UFORM NEWS (Issue 3): Reports on a wave of sightings in January 1978 at Burbage Common.
• COMMON GROUND (Issue 7): Features a critique of the Earthlights hypothesis, UFOs and sci-fi, and the Warminster myth.
• INFINITY (No 2): Describes a wave of sightings in Southern Scotland.

Books of the Moment

• WHEN THE SNAKES AWAKE by Dr Helmut Tributsch: This book examines animal disturbance prior to earthquakes, proposing that inhaled charged particles raise Serotonin levels in the brain. The author suggests the piezo-electric effect within water trapped in rocks as a source of these particles. The book is considered relevant to ufology, noting that UFO sightings could enrich the collection of earthquake light reports.
• LANCASHIRE'S GHOSTS & LEGENDS and YORKSHIRE'S GHOSTS & LEGENDS by Terrence Whitaker: These books are described as lively and exciting, packed with tales of apparitions and boggarts. They offer information about haunted locales and are valuable for ufologists as reference tools for UFO sighting locations.

Media Matters: A Look at UFOs in the Public Eye

Media reportage of UFOs has significantly decreased, with press cuttings received by BUFORA down 50% compared to the previous year. A factual article in LANCASHIRE/CHESHIRE/YORKSHIRE LIFE featured an interview with the editor about 'The Pennine UFO Mystery'. The 'Skyrack Express' (Garforth) allegedly reported a 'UFO Grant Zapped' incident where a 'UFO Watch' group's application for research funding was rejected.

A humorous piece links the hunt for the 'great British cat' to UFOs, with a reader suggesting a link between sighting dates and the Great Pyramid, proposing Venus as a Saturnian space station manned by pumas.

A La France

Psychologist Claude Mauge presented a paper at the Boulogne conference, 'HOW GOOD ARE TODAY'S ARGUMENTS FOR A FUNDAMENTALLY NOVEL UFO PHENOMENON?'. Mauge defined a system for describing cases: PRE-UFO (before investigation), IFO (explained), QUASI-UFO (unexplained but potentially explainable), and TRUE UFO (cases that stand the test of time). He argues that reducible TRUE UFOs are limited and that the 'con' argument (socio-psychological answer) holds sway, criticizing the 'Residue hypothesis' where 'unexplained cases equals unexplainable cases'. He suggests that ufologists often reinforce beliefs, playing a fundamental role in the ET myth.

Brief Cases: Some Current Investigations

Case totals for 1982 were low (46), and 1983 had only two cases on NUFON files by mid-May, despite three new UFO groups forming. A weekly series on RADIO CITY has not significantly increased case reports.

• The 'Code of Practice' Test: A case developed when a man reported a UFO sighting at Whiston, Merseyside, at approximately 4:00 AM on May 2. This coincided with a fatal accident where two young men were killed by a train. The witness lived near the boys, and the police were appealing for information. The editor, following the 'Code of Practice', contacted the CID, who were receptive to the possibility of a UFO connection.

A Case of Conspiracy?

• MUFURA Investigation by Mike Sacks: Mrs RS of Haslingden reported a UFO sighting while Christmas shopping. She described a white light flying in circles over the town, later appearing with red and blue lights. She recounted two childhood experiences involving her father, a security-cleared government scientist: one in 1954 involving an aircraft and a white ball of light that entered it, causing a crash, and another in 1957 where she saw a torch-like object with a red clock face dial, which her father attributed to a 'mini-UFO' or a new 'gem-warfare dispenser'.

Final Words

• New CE3 Cases: Two independent reports from January 1983 involve men walking by canal banks who saw UFOs and encountered entities. One case involved entities asking the man to go with them, while the other involved entities inspecting a machine and leaving silver powder. UFONI also has a similar case.
• Channel Four TV Show: The editor, Jenny Randles, will be appearing on the show 'TILL THE TRUTH' as an expert ufologist.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes critical thinking and rigorous investigation within the field of ufology. It emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between different types of UFO reports (PRE-UFO, IFO, QUASI-UFO, TRUE UFO) and cautions against the uncritical acceptance of the extraterrestrial hypothesis. The editorial stance is one of open-minded skepticism, encouraging readers to engage with the evidence and contribute to the ongoing research while acknowledging the challenges and limitations of the field. There is a clear effort to document and analyze cases, review relevant literature, and engage with media coverage of UFO phenomena.