NORTHERN UFO NEWS

Magazine Overview

Northern UFO News - November/December 1984 Issue

This issue of Northern UFO News, Number 110, published in November/December 1984, is the publication of NUFON (Northern UFO Organisation) and edited by Jenny Randles. The cover features a striking graphic of a city skyline under a stylized sunburst, with the main headline hinting at the Rendlesham Forest news. The issue is 12 pages long, a reduction from the usual 16 or 20 pages, attributed to financial constraints.

Key Articles and Features

Rendlesham Forest News and 'SKY CRASH'

The lead article delves into the Rendlesham Forest incident, discussing its coverage by the 'News of the World' and the subsequent publication of the book 'SKY CRASH'. The author, Jenny Randles, expresses frustration that despite the book containing evidence, including the 'Colonel Halt' tape and a statement from a former Ministry of Defence (MOD) official suggesting a cover-up, the national media has shown no interest. A press conference held in London, attended by the MOD and an all-party defence committee chairman, failed to attract any national media attention. The article highlights the positive coverage by East Anglian papers, quoting the former Base Commander who believed the men saw something frightening. It also notes the retraction of a statement by Capt Warzinski, who initially dismissed the event as a 'fisherman's tale', later admitting that 'something happened which we cannot explain'. The article contrasts this with the MOD's dismissive stance and criticizes the media's perceived subservience to government narratives, especially in contrast to international interest, including documentaries in the USA and Japan.

The book 'SKY CRASH' is described as having faced significant rejection from British bookshops and clubs, with some advised not to stock it due to its content. The author suggests this rejection, coupled with the publication of a book calling the case fiction, indicates that 'SKY CRASH' is close to the truth. A follow-up book, 'SKY CRASH 2', is planned to explain what happened.

Subscription News

Due to financial difficulties, Northern UFO News is only 12 pages. The subscription for 1985 is £5.40 for six issues. A special offer is available for those subscribing before January 31st, allowing them to pay the 1984 rate of £5. A further discount is offered for joint subscriptions with a new subscriber. The magazine emphasizes the need for more subscribers to maintain its size and quality.

News Round-Up

This section reports on the cessation of 'COMMON GROUND' magazine, with its editor Kevin McClure joining forces with 'MAGONIA'. It also introduces two new ventures: 'SPECTRUM', a magazine covering a wide range of phenomena beyond UFOs, and a bi-monthly research digest from 'UFO RESEARCH AUSTRALIA'.

NUFON Conference Report

The report details the first NUFON conference in years, held at Saltaire. Despite initial issues with acoustics, around 100 people attended. Highlights included a video presentation by Harry Harris, an abduction testimony from Alan Godfrey, and new data on the Rendlesham Forest case presented by Jenny Randles. An investigators' meeting discussed computerization and photo analysis. The report expresses gratitude to the WYUFORG team for their work and notes the temporary retirement of Nigel Mortimer, founder of WYUFORG, due to personal circumstances.

Anamnesis Training

A report on a BUFORA 'Anamnesis' road show in Warrington discusses a witness-centred investigation technique developed by Dr Alex Keul. The technique involves testing witnesses' perceptions by asking them to sketch UFOs and estimate duration. While some aspects were accepted, there was debate over the relevance of certain questions and a general unhappiness about subsuming investigation to one doctor's methods. A call for more elucidation from Keul is made, with his planned visit to Britain next year.

For Your Perusal

This section provides brief reviews of other UFO publications:

• ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA REVIEW 2: Features articles on a Derbyshire photograph of 'angel hair' and a detector for EM effects.
• MAGONIA: A special issue reviewing the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH), with contributions arguing for and against it, and a radical new pseudo-ETH proposed by Jenny Randles.
• YUFOS QUEST: Discusses military encounters, Rendlesham research, a possible suspicious death after an encounter, and events at Leeds/Bradford.
• FATE: Reports on instrumentally tracked UFOs from FOI files.

Book Review: 'CLEAR INTENT'

'CLEAR INTENT' by Larry Fawcett and Barry Greenwood is reviewed. The book, published in the USA, examines documents retrieved from lawsuits against the CIA, FBI, etc., concerning UFOs. The reviewer finds the book's presentation of extracts to be sometimes lengthy and undigested, and criticizes its strong focus on conspiracy without sufficient analysis of the data. While acknowledging its success in showing that authorities take UFOs seriously, the reviewer expresses disappointment that more significant cases like Rendlesham are given limited attention. Despite these criticisms, the book is deemed essential reading for anyone seriously involved in UFO research.

Media Matters

This section discusses recent media coverage of UFO investigators. It mentions articles featuring Philip Taylor (BUFORA), Steve Balon (DIGAPS), and Jenny Randles herself, noting the often sensationalized titles and framing of these interviews. The section also critiques Steuart Campbell's skeptical stance, which predicts UFOs will return in 1990, linking it to atmospheric electricity and sunspot activity. It highlights a 'UFO boom' in Oxfordshire reported by the 'Oxford Star', though BUFORA investigators were unaware of it. A satirical piece from the 'East Anglian Daily Times' about 'Yawning men in pinstripe suits' is also mentioned.

Brief Cases

Several brief case reports are presented:

• A DEVILISH ENCOUNTER: An entity observation in Rotherham involving a humanoid figure with goat-like features.
• Case 8256: A bright white light observed over Cheslyn Hay.
• Case 83-025: A stationary orange/red ball of light seen near East Kilbride.
• REPEATER BALL LIGHTNING OR A UAP?: A case in Burbage Common involving bright lights on the ground and a greenish-yellow light, with associated electrical power losses at the witness's house. This is compared to a past ball lightning encounter.
• ANOTHER MOONSHINE ENCOUNTER: A case in Leicester where an oval object was initially reported but later identified as the moon.
• Case 8409: Reports of a bright white light with noise near Malvern, identified as a Hercules military aircraft.

Case History: THE INTRUDER ON RUNWAY 27

This detailed case report from BUFORA describes an incident in Eastern England where three air traffic control operators witnessed a brilliant white object, described as a spherical ball, that approached and then rapidly ascended. The object's speed and maneuverability were beyond conventional aircraft capabilities. The secrecy surrounding the case is attributed to the operators' reluctance to report due to perceived regulatory ambiguity and the fact that relevant radar was shut down for the Easter holidays.

Case History: THE RUSSIANS HAVE COME!

This report details an incident in Lower Walton, Cheshire, where two schoolgirls observed a dome-shaped object with lights hovering over a brewery. The object moved off and disappeared. The incident is linked to speculation about a Russian UFO investigation and a possible Russian attempt to spy on the plant. The author also mentions a personal sighting that might be related.

Case History: Mrs Brenda Catterall's Observations

In Hindley Green, Gtr Manchester, a telephonist reported a series of phenomena including a bright white light, a sky glow, and broken dots in the cloud. While MUFORA concluded it was a combination of a planet, the moon, and an aircraft, the witness was puzzled and amazed by the events.

Calendar

Upcoming events include a National Investigations Committee meeting and an 'Earthlights Debate' in London, and a YUFOS conference on the 'cover-up' in Leeds, featuring Timothy Good and Jenny Randles.

UFO Research North - Regional Groups

A directory of regional UFO groups across the UK is provided, including contact details for SCUFON, NLUFOIG, DIGAP, WAPIT, MUFORA, WYUFORG, TUFOS, SSSPR, SUFORS, NUFOL, SKYSCAN, and NUFOIS.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent allegations of UFO cover-ups by government and military bodies, the challenges faced by independent investigators in getting their findings recognized by the media, and the detailed reporting of specific UFO and UAP sightings across the UK. The editorial stance, as expressed by Jenny Randles, is one of critical inquiry, a strong belief in the reality of unexplained phenomena, and a frustration with the lack of serious media engagement with UFO evidence. There is a clear emphasis on witness testimony and the collation of data, alongside a skepticism towards official explanations when they appear to contradict evidence or witness accounts. The magazine champions the work of independent researchers and groups like NUFON and BUFORA, while also highlighting the financial struggles faced by such publications.