Northern UFO News - No 145

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 145
Date: October 1990

This issue of Northern UFO News, edited by Jenny Randles, provides a comprehensive look at current events, theories, and case reports within the UFOlogy community. The cover features a striking illustration of UFOs and a bold headline promising "All the news, views and up to date cases". The content spans a wide range of topics, from detailed case histories to discussions on the evolving nature of UFO research and its place within mainstream science.

Content Highlights

Editorial and Personal Reflections

Jenny Randles opens with "J. R. Comments," apologizing for delays in publication and expressing gratitude for reader support. She alludes to legal obligations preventing her from discussing certain events but offers a general caution about the toll journalism can take on one's health. Randles also addresses a letter from a BUFORAS investigator who advocates for UFO organizations to focus on unexplained cases rather than delving into psychological or geological aspects, a sentiment Randles agrees with, emphasizing the need to eliminate mundane explanations before passing cases to scientific establishments.

The Meaden Vortex and Crop Circles

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to the crop circle phenomenon and the Meaden Vortex theory. Randles discusses her own reservations about the theory, while acknowledging its potential to explain certain phenomena. She stresses that the title of a book, 'Crop Circles: A Mystery Solved' (co-authored with Paul Fuller), was not their choice and that the vortex is not a universal panacea, but rather a significant part of the puzzle. Randles also critiques the term 'UFOlogy' itself, suggesting it might be a "millstone" due to its strong association with the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH).

Case Reports and Investigations

The issue includes "Brief Cases" and "Overseas Connections," detailing various sightings and incidents. A notable case from Montana, USA, describes a potential UFO crash in 1925, with eyewitness accounts of a "flaming circular object" and subsequent discovery of a burnt area years later. Another report from Nevada in 1990 details a "cigar shaped" object observed by a reader. The "Aveley Abduction" case from 1974 is highlighted as Britain's first abduction case fully retrieved by regression hypnosis, with details from the UFOIN files now managed by the IUN.

Media Matters and Public Perception

The "Media Matters" section examines how UFOs are portrayed in the public eye. It discusses a BBC Radio 1 discussion on UFO spotters, the "Belgian wave" of sightings, and media coverage in publications like the Wall Street Journal and the Yorkshire Post. The section notes the contrast between detailed reporting in some international outlets and the more dismissive approach often seen in the British press. It also touches on the argument of "secret US planes" being responsible for some sightings and Ian Ridpath's suggestion that the Belgian sightings might be related to Mars.

New Publications and Resources

Several new publications and resources for UFO enthusiasts are reviewed. These include "The Wild Places" magazine, "The Circular," and "The Crop Watcher." Books such as Howard Blum's "Out There" and "The Aveley Abduction UFOIN Case Report" are also featured, offering readers avenues for further exploration of the subject. Contact information for various organizations and publications, including BUFORA, MUFON, and UFO Times, is provided.

The Trouble with the Weather

This section delves into the ongoing debate surrounding the explanation of crop circles, particularly the "weather theory." Paul Fuller's new magazine, "The Crop Watcher," is mentioned as a platform for case investigations. The author contemplates whether atmospheric phenomena alone can explain the increasing complexity of crop circle pictograms, or if something more is at play. The idea of belief itself generating phenomena, potentially through a quantum level effect influenced by strong beliefs of individuals open to close encounters, is explored as a theoretical possibility.

Behind the UFO Conspiracy?

An account from California details an alleged conversation with a "Dr O," who claimed to have background in classified military research with NASA and CIA involvement in UFO study and capture. The story suggests a government "cover up" is motivated by a fear of admitting a lack of control and knowledge, with an ongoing "education programme" leading to a future revelation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Northern UFO News consistently champions rigorous investigation and the pursuit of evidence-based understanding within UFOlogy. The magazine encourages a critical yet open-minded approach, urging researchers to eliminate mundane explanations and to consider all possibilities, including those that challenge conventional scientific paradigms. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between genuine unexplained phenomena and misinterpretations or hoaxes. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocating for UFO evidence to be taken seriously by mainstream science, while also acknowledging the limitations and potential pitfalls within the UFO research community itself, such as infighting and the over-reliance on specific theories like the ETH. The magazine aims to be a platform for diverse viewpoints and detailed case reports, fostering a more informed public discourse on the UFO phenomenon.

Title: Northern UFO News
Issue: 11-
Volume: 11-
Date: November 1972 (with articles referencing events up to 1990)
Publisher: NUFORC (National UFO Reporting Center)
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of Northern UFO News delves into various unexplained aerial phenomena, with a strong focus on misidentifications, mass sightings, and personal encounters. It highlights the investigative work of organizations like NUFORC and MUFORA, and features a range of case histories from different parts of the UK.

Lasers and Misidentifications

The lead article, 'MASS UFO INVASIONS' - THE FIFTH THIS YEAR', addresses the nuisance of mass sightings caused by powerful lasers used in pop shows. An investigation by Ernie Still for NUFORC in July 1990 is cited, where witnesses described 'flashes of white light, looking like searchlights moving at very fast speed'. The article explains that these are powerful lasers projected skyward, and their beams are visible due to dust or mist. NUFORC traced such sightings to a Tina Turner concert in Woburn, Bedfordshire. The author recounts a similar incident in the Manchester area on October 15th, where a 'new laser machine' caused a flood of calls. Witnesses described circling lights. The source was eventually traced to the re-launch of a nightclub in Manchester centre. Phil Sayers assisted in a 'live demystification report' to defuse panic.

Case Histories

The issue presents several detailed case histories:

• CASE 7238 LUFOIC Nov 1972 (Mountsorrel, Leicstershire): Mrs M reported seeing an object at 19:00 that was 'like two saucers joined at the rim, with soft-ly illuminated windows around the top half' and was sprouting a 'long, bright orange-red flame' from its side. It hovered over open ground. Her six-year-old son also saw the object, describing it as grey with a flame making a rushing sound. The nearby A6 was noted as being quiet.
• CASE 8842 MUFORA 6 Sept 1988 (Bramhall, Cheshire): Mr M, a TV scenic artist, saw a bright light through his landing window at 02:15. It increased in size and hovered over rooftops. The object was described as unusual, with '30 bright lights on the rim' (mostly white, some red), grey metallic in colour, and silent. It moved horizontally and then accelerated vertically northeast. The proximity to Manchester Airport was noted, but it was deemed unlikely to be air traffic.
• NIGHT SOUNDS: TWO IMPRESSIVELY SIMILAR CASES (Investigation by Peter Hough):
• May 7, 1990 (Widnes, Cheshire): Mr J, aged 24, was woken by a 'rocket jet-like noise' that swept along his road and past his window, causing the house to shake. The object was described as a 'huge white ball of light' hovering above the road. Notably, only Mr J heard the sound, and local police and press had no reports.
• June 27, 1990 (Wicklewood, Wymondham, Norfolk): Mr and Mrs B were woken by their son crying. They then heard a 'very distinctive sound' like a 'large object moving at high speed through the air' and saw a 'very bright light' illuminating the room. A local admitted hearing similar noises in the past. Police enigmatically commented that their patrols 'had witnessed similar phenomena on past occasions.' MUFORA speculated about 'gliding' aircraft, but noted that both areas later had crop circles nearby.
• CASE 9009 MUFORA 30 May 1990 (Dervaig, Isle of Mull, Scotland): A teacher saw two pale blue spheres with long tails, side by side, rushing south. The duration was 4-5 seconds. Birds stopped singing, and the area was briefly lit. Explanations considered included meteorites or a military rocket launch.
• CASE 9010 MUFORA 20 June 1990 (Clifton, Bolton, Lancashire): Mr F saw two lights, twinkling red and green, low on the horizon, barely moving.
• CASE 9011 MUFORA 13 July 1990 (Kettlebrook, Tamworth, Staffs): Mr W saw two white lights merge into one, surrounded by a blue aura, shooting across the sky at high speed (estimated at least six times faster than aircraft).
• CASE 9012 MUFORA 29 July 1990 (Coppenhall, Cheshire): Mrs W saw a 'horseshoe-shaped object with sparklers all around it' above houses. It ejected 'quills' to the ground, fading out as dying embers. A slight 'sizzling' noise was heard. Mrs W also reported a cigar shape falling into a canal in 1977.
• CASE 9013 MUFORA 13 August 1990 (Knutsford, Cheshire): Two people saw a 'huge glowing white cigar (with windows)' growing bigger and moving off southwest. Clouds were lit up by it. The report notes they were near Manchester Airport, suggesting a possible explanation.
• CASE 9014 MUFORA 25 August 1990 (Winsford, Cheshire): Mr L saw an oval object with a black base and silver top. The object drifted away and was lost. The reporter notes a fete was taking place nearby, suggesting a fairground balloon as a possible explanation.
• CASE 9015 MUFORA 3 September 1990 (Chester, Cheshire): Mr M saw a bright white light with a red light mingled, hovering for five minutes before moving east. The reporter suggests it was likely a light aircraft.

Abductee Encounters

• ABDUCTEE HAS NEW ENCOUNTER (NUFORC Rreport by Ernie Still): Elsie Oakensen, a well-known abductee, reported a sighting on September 27, 1990. She saw a 'bright mass of orangey-yellow light' that changed shape over five minutes. The local paper reported her story, and she accepts that 95% of UFOs are explained. It was proposed she saw the moon through cloud layers, a misperception that the author acknowledges has occurred in other cases.
• HOME OR AWAY?: Bedroom visitors in Western Australia: Mrs P described an experience in 1985 where she felt she was in her bathroom and saw a figure appear in the mirror. She describes 'guides' who seemed casual and uninterested, asking 'Am I progressing properly?' and receiving the answer, 'Yes - Just keep on the way you are. Just don't get mixed up in any hanky panky'. The guides were tall, human-like with high foreheads and brown-blond hair, wearing blue 'ski suits'. Mrs P connected this with UFOs after reading about 'Abduction' and noted the guides' lack of 'love and care'.

News and Events

• WORDS: The issue reports the tragic death of author and UFOlogist D. Scott Rogo, who was murdered in California.
• Events:
• 'The Northern Debate' hosted by FUFOIG on November 17th in Blackpool, covering UFOs, abductions, monsters, and crop circles.
• The 'Sixth International UFO Congress' from August 16-18, 1991, in Sheffield, featuring speakers like Dr Eddie Bullard and 'star abductees'.
• NUFON Regional Groups: A list of regional groups across the UK is provided with contact details.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the frequent misidentification of aerial phenomena, particularly with lasers and aircraft, and the persistent reporting of unusual lights and sounds. The magazine also continues to document abduction experiences and other personal encounters, presenting them with a degree of investigative skepticism but also acknowledging the baffling nature of some cases. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the reporting of sightings while also seeking rational explanations where possible. The inclusion of events and regional group contacts suggests an effort to foster a community of UFO researchers and enthusiasts.