Northern UFO News - No 138

Magazine Overview

NORTHERN UFO NEWS - August 1989

This issue of Northern UFO News, dated August 1989, is number 138 and features a cover illustration of a camera with a UFO scene in its lens. The main cover headline focuses on "American UFOlogy - the truth". The issue is edited by Jenny Randles and the cover art is by Stephen Graham. The content promises articles on American UFOlogy, crop circles, various UFO cases from Lancashire and Staffordshire, a Scottish heather landing, and cases from Cheshire and Nottinghamshire, as well as a conference line-up for Autumn 1989.

J. R. Comments...

Jenny Randles' editorial comments address the perceived regression of American UFOlogy to the 'dark ages' of the fifties and sixties, where the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) is dominant. She questions whether the situation is as bad as it seems, acknowledging the significant impact of books like Whitley Strieber's "Communion" and Budd Hopkins' work in the US public sphere. Randles contrasts this with the more experience-filtered approach to UFOlogy in Britain, Europe, and Australia. She highlights positive aspects of American UFOlogy, praising "International UFO Reporter" (IUR) under Jerry Clark's editorship as the best regular UFO magazine, and commends "Caveat Emptor" and "STRANGE" for their responsible, humanistic approach. MUFON Journal is noted for its ET bias, but IUR is seen as reflecting the best of the subject. Randles regrets the cessation of Center for UFO Studies conferences. She also mentions Jacques Vallee's paper "Five arguments against the extraterrestrial origin of UFOs" and anticipates his new book "Confrontations" in March 1990. Vallee's work suggests that neither simple IFO (Identified Flying Object) nor straightforward ETH fully explains the phenomenon, proposing instead exotic natural phenomena or 'alien' intelligences communicating non-standardly. Randles concludes that American UFOlogy is not solely composed of 'wide eyed believers' and that both approaches (natural phenomena and alien intelligence) are essential.

NEWS ROUND UP:

This section reports on several items: The Royal Photographic Society is to stage an exhibition of paranormal photographs, including UFOs, in Bath, opening on December 8th. Details of a full conference line-up for autumn are mentioned, and two new recruits to NUFON affiliate groups from the Wirral and Worcestershire are noted. A UFO quip from the Scottish TV soap "Take the High Road" is recounted. Dramatic late news from the USA concerns the MJ-12 files, with Bill Moore reportedly admitting to spreading disinformation on behalf of US authorities, though not recently or in connection with MJ-12.

UFO CALL PHONE LINE

A 24-hour UFO Call Phone Line is available in the UK, charged at 38p per minute (25p evenings/weekends), accessible by dialing 0898 12 18 86.

FOR YOUR PERUSAL:

This section lists major articles from various UFO publications:

• UFO TIMES (July 1989): Police capture UFO on motorway, Project Pennine, Discovery space shuttle UFO.
• MAGONIA (July 1989): Criticism of critics, Pennine ghost/UFO case.
• IUR (May/June 1989): Analysis of Billy Meier and Gulf Breeze photos, review of abduction cases and child abuse syndrome.
• MUFON Journal (various issues): Dr Michael Swords on life in the cosmos, Dr Kenneth Ring on 'imaging' theory for abduction cases.
• UFORAN (May 1989): Update on the Mundrabilla case.
• ORBITER (June 1989): Article attacking MJ-12 critics.
• JUST CAUSE (June 1989): News on 'cover-up' research.
• AFU NEWS (1989): Review of 'ghost rocket' wave and Soviet UFO congress.
• THE LEY HUNTER (108): Earth mystery sites, leys, and earthlight research.
• UFO AFRINEWS (June): In-depth cases from Zimbabwe.
• Rattler's Tales (second issue): Easily digested stories and comments.

POWERFUL CIRCLES

This section discusses the surge in media attention on crop circles in the summer of 1989. It traces the phenomenon's history, noting early reports in NUN and the 1986 BUFORA debate. The article contrasts the work of FSR (Colin Andrews and Pat Delgado) in their book "Circular Evidence" with Dr. Terence Meaden's "The Circles Effect and its Mysteries," which proposes a meteorological hypothesis. BUFORA's updated book, "Controversy of the Circles," is also highlighted for its comprehensive approach. The section notes that over 200 crop circle patterns appeared in 1989 and promises further details on events in the NUFON region.

BOOKS OF THE MOMENT:

• "Fire in the Sky" (BUFORA publication): An investigation into the 1973 Trindade Island photographic case, proposing a new hypothesis.
• "Lines on the Landscape 1989" by Nigel Pennick and Paul Devereux: A comprehensive and logical book on leys and earth mysteries.
• "Alternate States of Consciousness 1989" by Hilary Evans: Explores altered states of consciousness and their relationship with the 'entity' phenomenon, providing a valuable sourcebook.

MEDIA MATTERS:

This section reports on a positive mention of Northern UFO News in the Staffordshire Newsletter, describing NUFON as a group of serious people seeking to solve the UFO mystery. It also details an advertising agency's interest in using UFO photos for Singapore Airlines, which was ultimately dropped due to the agency's focus on 'bona fide unexplained UFOs'. The section criticizes the agency's use of Barnsley UFO photos, which were later proven to be faked.

BRIEF CASES:

This section presents several UFO case reports:

• Case 8828 (Frodsham, Cheshire): Evaluated as a sighting of Venus, with a similar phenomenon reported from Musbury, Devon, involving a reddish light moving erratically.
• Franklin, Kentucky Sighting: A police sergeant reported seeing six objects in formation, described as 'the bottom of an iron' and 'metal grey', flying south. The report notes this is the same town as the Captain Thomas Mantell crash, where wreckage was described as 'full of holes'.
• Hawaii Sighting: A retired USAF communications officer reported seeing red lights in formation and a brilliant green light shining through palm trees.

CASE HISTORIES:

• A SPRINKLE OF SCOTTISH HEATHER (Part 3):
• Case 8754 (Clackmannan): A brilliant red/yellow light was observed, moving in a zig-zag pattern. It was initially thought to be a star or planet, but a helicopter is also considered.
• Case 8835 (Newmilns, Ayrshire): A 17-year-old girl reported a bright white light, followed by red lights and a circle of red and blue lights. Ground traces were attributed to cattle, and the lights to a farmer driving a tractor at night. The case was concluded as a misinterpretation.
• Case 8836 (Aberdeen): Witnesses reported orange lights drifting over the city, with one 'light' falling to earth. This was explained as a simple physics experiment involving bin bags filled with hot air.

• THE HEYWOOD LIGHTS (MUFORA-IUN report):
• Case 8903 (Heywood, Lancashire): Two ambulance drivers reported seeing several lights in the sky, one of which appeared to fall. The lights later responded to the ambulance's flashing blue light. Media reports inflated the incident, suggesting aurora or other astronomical explanations, but the witnesses believed a temporary phone cut-off was related to Piccadilly Radio's live link. The case was ultimately deemed not to be a UFO, possibly due to atmospheric distortion of stars.

• UFO ATTACKED BY TORNADO OVER BLACKPOOL:
• Case file 8906: A taxi driver reported seeing a red-orange ball UFO followed by an RAF Tornado fighter jet. The jet was described as flying very low and fast, silently, with afterburners alight, and possibly launching a missile. The investigators found the witness sincere, but the case is considered a puzzler due to the lack of radar coverage and the improbability of the scenario.

• 1988: Marple, Cheshire:
• A local cutting describes an event where hay rose from a field in a tight spiral, forming an oval shape, and then moved laterally. This phenomenon is compared to effects described in UFO close encounter cases.

• 1989: Mansfield, Nottinghamshire:
• A single elliptical crop circle was discovered, with evidence of clockwise rotation and a path cut through the oats. A multiple-witness UFO sighting had occurred in the area shortly before.

WORDS

This section highlights the significant number of UFO events scheduled for autumn in Britain, suggesting there is something for everyone.

CALENDAR

The calendar lists upcoming UFO events:

• September 2: BUFORA lecture on abductions and inner space (London).
• October 7: BUFORA lecture on the Bromley poltergeist (London).
• October 14: SPI/BUFORA Scottish UFO day (Edinburgh).
• October 21/22: Planned Open University seminar on UFOs (Port Talbot).
• October 21/22: Residential UFO conference (Crowborough, Sussex).
• October 28: Stanton Friedman on MJ-12, crashed UFOs, etc. (Sheffield).
• November 18: MUFORA/BUFORA Manchester UFO day (Manchester).

NUFON Regional Groups

A list of NUFON regional groups is provided, including SPI (Scotland), NLUFOIG (Cumbria), HSUL (Nth Lancs), FUFOIG (Fylde Coast), VAPIT (Sth Lancs), EARTHQUEST (Virral), MUFORA* (Cheshire), IUN (Yorkshire), CUFOSC (Shropshire), SSPR (Derbyshire), PARASEARCH (V.Midlands), LUFOIC (E. Midlands), and NUFORC (Northants).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a balanced approach to UFOlogy, encouraging critical thinking and the investigation of all possibilities, from natural phenomena to potential extraterrestrial contact. It appears to be critical of sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims, particularly in the media, while valuing rigorous research and objective reporting. The editorial stance, as expressed by Jenny Randles, favors a broad perspective that acknowledges the complexities of the UFO phenomenon and avoids dogmatic adherence to any single hypothesis. There is a clear emphasis on providing detailed case histories and reviews of relevant literature, aiming to inform and engage serious researchers.