NORTHERN UFO NEWS

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 126
Date: July-August 1987
Publisher: NUFON

This issue of Northern UFO News, edited by Jenny Randles, features a cover design by Bill Callaghan and is published by NUFON. The issue number is 126, covering July-August 1987. The price is £5.40 for 6 issues, payable to 'NUFON'. The main cover headline is 'Northern UFO News is published by NUFON'.

Contents Overview

The magazine includes usual features plus several key articles:

• 'Above Top Secret' ? (pages 2/3): A discussion and review of Tim Good's book, exploring the concept of UFO secrecy and cover-ups.
• A Rendlesham Forest scenario (pages 6/7): An in-depth analysis of the Rendlesham Forest incident, proposing a theory of deliberate misinformation and a 'Sky Crash' scenario.
• The Communion Factor (pages 8/9): An examination of Whitley Strieber's book 'Communion' and its reception in Britain, discussing media portrayal and the author's experiences.
• Sightings from... (pages 10-12): A collection of UFO sightings reported from various UK locations including Cheshire, Humberside, Lancs, Lincs, North Wales, and South Wales.
• Case Histories: - More from Wales & The UFO Poltergeist (pages 13-16): Further detailed case histories, including accounts from Wales and a potential UFO-related poltergeist phenomenon.

Editorial and Key Articles

J.R. Comments (Page 2): Jenny Randles discusses the topic of UFO secrecy, prompted by Tim Good's book 'Above Top Secret'. She expresses admiration for Good's achievement in getting such a comprehensive book published by a major house but wonders if its scope might dilute its impact. Randles reflects on her initial skepticism about 'cover-ups' and how her views have evolved, particularly after the Rendlesham Forest case. She questions the authorities' motivation for a cover-up, suggesting it might be to hide their lack of understanding rather than to avoid panic. Randles also touches upon the potential for disinformation seeding with 'ultra-fantastic' material like dead aliens and crashed UFOs.

A REN DLE SHAM FOREST SCENARIO (Page 4): Jenny Randles presents a detailed scenario for the Rendlesham Forest incident. She suggests that the events of December 27th, 1980, involved a genuine phenomenon (possibly a 'Sky Crash'), which was then deliberately hidden by spreading rumors of a 'UFO crash'. This, she argues, was achieved by fabricating 'traces' in the woods and feeding a cock-and-bull story to intelligence officers and radar personnel. The subsequent sightings on the second night (December 29-30) are presented as a contrived event to add confusion and discredit any genuine reports. Randles theorizes that inexperienced men were selected and conditioned to misperceive the lighthouse through mist as a UFO, all of which was recorded on tape. She believes this was a smokescreen to hide the truth of the December 27th events.

THE CUMMUNION FACTOR (Page 5): This section analyzes the commercial performance of Whitley Strieber's book 'Communion' in Britain. Despite a substantial advance and initial success in the US, the book reportedly 'flopped' in the UK. The article attributes this to the overwhelming hype generated by the Aetherius Society, which overshadowed Strieber's own publicity. It notes Strieber's media appearances, particularly his interview on 'Wogan', where he was reportedly laughed off. The article contrasts the media's simplistic portrayal of UFOs with Strieber's own more nuanced view of 'visitors' rather than confirmed aliens. It also mentions that local papers were more sympathetic, but the national media's tone was often damaging.

MEDIA MATTERS (Page 5): This section provides a brief overview of UFOs in the public eye. It mentions the 'UFO hotline' in Yorkshire generating news, and the 40th anniversary of the UFO era prompting articles. It also notes a report about the Vatican starting a UFO section and priests being trained to handle UFO reports.

BRIEF CASES (Page 6): This section presents several shorter UFO case reports:

• Epping Forest (1953): A man reported seeing a 'flying saucer' and was advised by the Ministry to remain silent.
• Lees, Oldham (mid-1960s): A woman reported a round, buzzing object above a factory that rose vertically into the sky.
• Hull (1971): A woman experienced a strange vibrating noise and mental images while paralyzed in bed.
• Morecambe, Lancashire (1967): Three sightings involving a rotating disc of lights were reported by a couple, with one sighting alone by the woman.

A NEW FISHERMANS TALE (Page 7): A witness fishing near Oldham reported seeing four bright lights appear over a hill, spaced equidistant, which moved towards them silently.

THE PILIFLAM LI GITS (Page 7): An extensive report on a multi-witness case involving lights observed near Blyton, Lincolnshire, in 1984. The lights were of various colors and moved in an erratic path. Investigators ruled out astronomical bodies and aircraft from nearby bases.

Case 8543 August 1985 (Page 7): A strange object with two 'holes' inside a red pulsing light was observed moving slowly over the sea near Benllech, Anglesey, Wales.

Case 8544 5 November 1935 (Page 7): A red light was seen below cloud travelling east-west, identified as aircraft on final approach to Manchester Airport.

Case 8640 26 December 1986 (Page 7): A bright orange ball, possibly pulsating and stationary, was observed over Berrow Hill, Worcestershire.

IN A DRUNKEN STUPOR? (Page 7): A case involving Jenny Bates, who reported seeing an oval object with a ring of green lights beneath it, which shot off at high speed. The witness admitted to being slightly drunk at the time.

MORE FROM THE WELSH WAVE (Page 7): This section details sightings by the Hughes family in Llanfair Talhaiarn, Wales, including a landed UFO observed by Mr. Hughes senior and impressive sightings of red and white lights by his son Michael.

The exact date of this is hard to pin down (Page 8): This section continues the report on Mr. Hughes' sighting in Llanfair TH, describing a rectangular object with curved top edges and four square windows emitting red light that took off instantaneously, leaving behind burnt grass and markings.

THE CASE OF THE UFO POLTERGEIST (Page 8): This case involves Dawn, a woman from Cheshire, who reported two extraordinary close encounters. The first, in 1947 Tibet, involved 'grey swirling matter' and physical effects. The second, in 1981 Scotland, involved a grey mist surrounding her car and the stopping of electric clocks and watches.

FINAL WORDS (Page 9): This section provides updates on conferences and events. The Scottish UFO Open Day has been postponed to Spring 1988. The NUFON conference in the USA was a success, and readers are encouraged to support FUFOR. A calendar of upcoming BUFORA lectures and a list of regional UFO groups are also included.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO secrecy, the analysis of significant UFO cases (particularly Rendlesham Forest), and the presentation of witness testimony. There is a strong emphasis on critical investigation and the questioning of official narratives. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging readers to form their own conclusions while acknowledging the complexities and potential for disinformation within the UFO field. The magazine also highlights the importance of ufology as a field that has 'arrived' and is gaining more attention.