Northern UFO News - No 140

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 140
Date: December 1989
Cover Headline: please note pp 2-3 are currently redacted

This issue of Northern UFO News, dated December 1989, is the 140th edition and features a cover with a stylized graphic and the magazine's title. The editor is Jenny Randles, and the cover art is by Bill Callaghan. Subscription details are provided as £6 for 6 issues. The content list indicates articles on 'A red faced Berry?', 'Brief cases from Cheshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Manchester, Northants, Nottinghamshire', a 'Case History' titled 'Anneka Rice from outer space?', and mentions 'Plus all the usual features'. A prominent note states that pages 2-3 are currently redacted.

News Round Up

The "News Round Up" section begins by welcoming back Nigel Mortimer and mentions his new investigations through a group called CONNECT. It also teases upcoming news on the 'Cracoe Fell affair'. Gordon Millington of the Open University UFO group is quoted regarding his analysis of 53 CE 3 and CE 4 cases, noting none occurred on a Saturday. Kevin McClure contributes a comment on the US magazine 'Saucer Smear' and discusses the author's book "Alien Abductions: The Mystery Solved", suggesting it rebrands 'Abduction' for a US audience and that the author claims 'alien beings are increasing the number of abductions of humans', which the author clarifies might be triggered hallucinations. The section also includes a plea from Mr and Mrs Mair for a copy of Budd Hopkins' book "Missing Time", and provides details for two upcoming conferences: a BUFORA event in July 1991 and the fourth 'Rencontres de Lyon' in France from April 28-30, 1991.

For Your Perusal

This section reviews various publications and articles of interest to UFO enthusiasts. It highlights Dr. Terence Meaden's vortex work in 'J. of. Meteorology' and mentions articles on the 1917 Fatima 'UFO' Miracle and 'Circular Evidence'. 'Folklore Frontiers' is noted for its enquiries into folk legends, including MIBS and 'green monsters'. The 'MUFON Journal' is reviewed for its coverage of a 'UFO crash' case at Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, and John Spencer's publication on witness-led abduction research. 'Orbiter' is mentioned for its forthright views on MJ-12, and 'OVNI Presence' is described as an interesting French-language read, with this issue focusing on Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs).

Books of the Moment

This section notes that Tim Good's new book is available but was not sent for review. It then discusses a 16-page publication called UFOREN, which stands for UFO Research Notation, a complex system for abstracting and coding cases, developed by Robert Moore.

Italian Publications

Two Italian publications are highlighted: Maurizio Verga's "ITACAT (Italian Close Encounters)", a 260-page collection, and Paolo Toselli's "UFOs in Advertising", a summary of how the UFO myth is used to promote goods. The latter misses the UK TV campaign for MACE superstores. Contact details for both publications are provided.

Updates

The "Updates" section reports on the Voronezh incident, where the local police lieutenant now claims he saw a 'body flying in the sky' moving noiselessly at high speed, rather than aliens. The boys involved in the close encounter are named as Vasya Surin, Zhenya Blinov, and Yuliya Sholokhova. They described seeing a pink shining object, a ball of deep red with a hatch, and an entity with silver overalls and bronze boots. The report also mentions a shining triangle and a robot, and an alien firing a 'gun' that made a child temporarily vanish. Regional health officials stated there was no panic. Extra troops were considered if aliens returned. Holes in the ground were found, described as resembling elephant footprints. The section concludes that the Voronezh incident remains unresolved.

Media Matters

This brief segment touches on public perception of UFOs, noting that jovial comments about the 'Sunday Sport' newspaper seem to have offended some people, leading to an attack on BUFORA and its Chairman, Arnold West.

A Red-Faced Berry?

This lengthy section critically examines articles by Adrian Berry in the 'Telegraph'. The author refutes Berry's claims that people reporting spacenappings are 'lunatics or hoaxers or of extremely low intelligence'. The author states they wrote a refutation to the paper, which was not published. Berry is also criticized for reviewing Tim Good's book in the 'Sunday Telegraph' with 'arrogant tones', dismissing MJ-12 as a forgery and attributing the Rendlesham Forest incident to a 'naive American colonel' mistaking a lighthouse beam. The author expresses strong disapproval of such distortions, calling it a disgrace to journalism and urging a concerted effort to counter such misrepresentations.

Brief Cases

This section presents several brief UFO sighting reports:

• CASE 7479 (IUN): A semi-saucer object seen at cloud height over Blackley, Manchester, which disappeared after hopping behind a cloud. Insufficient detail for investigation.
• CASE 75-169 (BUFORA): A grey-silver disc seen over Lancaster, which tilted and disappeared. The report notes the similarity to weather balloons.
• CASE 75-169 (NUFORC): A rapidly moving light, described as glowing purple with an orange centre, seen in Manchester.
• CASE 8262 (MUFORA): A slate grey disc seen over Stretford, Manchester, which glided slowly and vanished suddenly. The witness suggested a possible time lapse.
• CASE 8551 (NUFORC): A diamond-shaped UFO with humming sounds was seen over Higham Ferrers, Northants, near the RAF Alconbury base.
• CASE 8839 (MUFORA): A formation of white, red, and green lights was seen gliding over rooftops in Warrington, Cheshire.
• CASE 8840 (IUN): A bright saucer shape with a rotating light was seen stationary over Rushden.
• CASE 8907 (NUFORC): A formation of white lights flew low and fast over Daventry, Northants.
• CASE 8908 (NUFORC): A round yellowish-white ball was seen moving slowly northwards over Corby, Northants.
• CASE 8909 (PARASEARCH): Large green lights were seen falling from the sky over Weston-under-Penyard, Hereford, described as '11 large greenish objects - silent'. The report suggests it might have been a laser show.
• CASE 8912 (MUFORA): An object described as a 'shooting star' was seen near Langwith, Nottinghamshire, and a 'dull metal in colour' ellipse was observed in Hyson Green, Nottingham.

Case Histories

Anneka Rice from Outer Space (Connect Report by Nigel Mortimer): This case from Addingham, West Yorkshire, involves multiple reports. Mr M witnessed a metallic oval object with lights over Beamsley Beacon. His 6-year-old daughter reported seeing a human-like figure climbing the stairs, described as a 'fight creature' with angry eyes and puffed-out cheeks. The figure vanished. A similar event occurred two days later. Mrs M also recalled seeing a man in 'dark clothing' briefly in 1983, accompanied by strange mechanical bleeping phone calls. CONNECT notes similarities to other UFO records and John Keel's books, and that the girl referred to the figures as 'ghosts'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the reporting of numerous UFO sightings across the UK, detailed case histories, and critical analysis of media coverage concerning UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards sensationalist reporting and a desire to present factual accounts, while also acknowledging the potential for misinterpretation and the need to distinguish between credible reports and the 'lunatic fringe'. The publication seems to champion detailed investigation and critical evaluation of evidence, as seen in the critique of Adrian Berry's articles and the discussion of the Voronezh incident. There is also an emphasis on international UFO research, with mentions of publications and conferences from the US and France.