Northern UFO News - No 155

Magazine Overview

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, dated June 1992, is the 155th edition. It is priced at £6 for six issues and is edited by Jenny Randles, with cover art by Johnny Haudby and logos by Bill Callaghan. The content includes usual features, articles on an 'alien wasp' and Circular Logic, mid-air encounters over Britain, and a video case involving UFO interception by RAF jets.

'The UFOlogists' Documentary Review

J.R. (Jenny Randles) reviews a Radio 4 documentary titled 'The UFOlogists,' which aired on May 23, 1992. The program, recorded a year prior, focused on individuals within the UFO field rather than the phenomena itself. Randles notes that while the documentary offered a 'rich tapestry of moments,' the linking pieces were occasionally lacking. She felt her own interview, though edited down, came across as one-sided, emphasizing her skepticism and the 'little green man brigade' without the balance of her other points, such as the existence of real UFOs defying scientific theory and the need for deep study into abductions. Budd Hopkins was portrayed as 'Mr Frightening,' and Philip Mantle was used sparingly. Randles expresses concern about how witnesses were utilized, particularly Elsie Oakensen, whose testimony was presented in rhyme, diminishing its impact. She also praises the use of music from the Glasgow group CE IV but notes the lack of credit.

Randles acknowledges the documentary's merits and its different approach, stating it represented the UFO world 'warts and all.' She believes it was important to air these aspects publicly, countering the assumption that UFOlogists are merely 'zombies' waiting for starships. She notes the media's predictable apathy, with The Independent calling the program 'disturbing and funny' and The London Evening Standard being particularly dismissive. The article highlights criticism of the inspirational CE IV music track and a joke made by a BBC continuity announcer. Randles also discusses Budd Hopkins' claim that British abductees were flocking to him due to rejection by UFOlogy. She reflects on the magazine's own lack of commitment to CE IV probing and medically qualified psychologists, questioning if they have evaded critical issues out of fear.

Crop Circles: Circular Logic and Hoaxing

The magazine discusses the new crop circle season for 1992, which began slowly with simple circles in late April, largely dismissed as fakes. By May, more formations appeared, but caution remained due to previous summers' disasters. The Western Daily Press reported on a three-circle formation at Wonston, near Winchester, as bearing 'tell tale signs of faking.' The article mentions a 'great circle hoaxing competition' planned for July, which, despite good intentions, is seen as an invitation to vandals. The potential for large prizes (£6000 or £3000) is noted, suggesting that a 'rash of fakes' might precede the competitions as participants hone their skills. The organizers are urged to take responsibility.

The article also touches upon new books related to crop circles, including Pat Delgado's 'Crop Circles: Conclusive Evidence,' which is described as a pictorial jaunt around last summer's hoaxes. The 'Mandlebrot set' case is mentioned as a 'cause celebre,' with its proximity to Cambridge University and a prediction in New Scientist leading some to consider human intelligence as a more likely cause than extraterrestrial activity. Terence Meaden is mentioned as decoding Stonehenge in a new book. The Anglo-Japanese research on circles is kept confidential. Andy Collins is releasing a book linking crop circles and other phenomena, warning that 'people who have already made up their minds over the origin of the mysterious circles... could come a cropper.' Richard Andrews is leading £155-a-head weekend 'crop circle tours.' The June issue of Fortean Times is highlighted for its comprehensive guide to crop circles.

Mid Air Encounters Over Britain

This section details two mid-air encounters over Southern England. The first involved an Alitalia MD 80 jet near Lydd, Kent, on April 21, 1991, which was buzzed by a 'dark missile shaped' object tracked on radar. The MoD file on this case is mentioned. The second, more significant incident, occurred on July 15, 1991, when a Britannia Airways Boeing 737 descending over Sussex was passed by a 'small black lozenge shaped object' at close range (100 yards) and low altitude (less than 10 yards above). The object, moving at over 100 MPH, was tracked by LATCC but had no transponder and was not a known aircraft. The crew and passengers were not alerted, and no damage was reported. Despite investigations by the CAA and MoD, the objects were not identified. Balloons were ruled out due to height and speed. The objects were described as 'VERY SMALL (some 1½ feet in diameter) and very smooth and roundish.' The article criticizes media coverage, particularly The Times, for dismissing the event as 'silly season' or a balloon, while ignoring the facts that the objects were tracked on radar and unidentified.

News Round Up

The 'News Round Up' section covers several brief items:

• Victor Kean writes about an 'unusual time lapse' where a woman experienced a significant time jump while going about her evening routine.
• Maria Kritikos sends material on the Aurora aircraft project, suggesting that sonic shock waves from its landings at Groom Lake might explain mysterious booms and tremors in LA. The article suggests that UFOs in this area are becoming less likely.
• A French journal, Phenomena, is quoted praising British UFO magazines, and the article asks if readers have heard of the Sheffield UFO Group Newsletter.
• John Colombo is compiling 'The UFO Quote Book' and requests contributions of quotes from investigators, writers, and others.
• A bizarre letter claims that Lee Harvey Oswald did not die after shooting JFK but was spirited away, and that Kennedy was murdered because he knew UFOs were piloted by angels.
• The Mar/Apr issue of QUEST magazine is noted for an article on the 1987 Ilkley entity photograph, which is described as a 'belated exclusive' as the case was previously covered extensively in NUN.

Other Articles and Reviews

MORE ON THE ALIEN WASP: Ken Phillips of BUFORA adds details to a previous report about a 'mini-UFO reputedly disguised as a giant wasp' from World War Two. Phillips emphasizes examining the witness's psychic, spiritual, and social experiences rather than reducing the case to psychological factors.

• FOR YOUR PERUSAL: This section reviews several publications:
• ANOMALY (May 92): Praised for an interesting piece on deciding if a case is normal, paranormal, or somewhere in between.
• UFO Debate (Apr 92): Contains a mix of occult UFOlogy, abductions, and MIBs.
• OVNI: A magazine from a Derbyshire group that produces information on UFOs and circles, focusing on microwave effects.
• J. Meteorology (Apr): Features research on vortices and a Japanese circle case.
• The Skeptic (Mar): Described as a useful critical look at the paranormal.
• IUR Apr 92: Includes material from Gulf Breeze, a photo case analysis, and a Canadian crop circle case.

• BOOKS OF THE MOMENT:
• SIGNIFICANCE OF BENT STEMS IN CROP CIRCLES by Omar Fowler: Noted for its high cost but useful research on microwave radiation causing bent stems in crop circles.
• JOURNAL OF UFO STUDIES 3 (1991): Described as good value for its price.

MEDIA MATTERS: This section discusses scientists with 'extreme ideas' in the news, specifically mentioning Nicholas Humphrey, who received a £100,000 grant for parapsychology research. The article criticizes Humphrey's past report on the Bentwaters case. It also mentions Professor John Durrant of the Scotsman, who aimed to 'debunk some of popular science's most well-known theories,' pinpointing UFOs and crop circles as areas prone to pseudo-science.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical yet open-minded stance towards UFO phenomena. It scrutinizes media coverage, questioning sensationalism and bias, while also valuing rigorous investigation and evidence-based analysis. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between genuine unexplained phenomena and hoaxes or misidentifications. The editorial team appears to favor detailed case studies and research, as evidenced by the reviews of books and journals. Skepticism is presented not as outright dismissal, but as a necessary component of serious research. The magazine also highlights the importance of understanding the psychological and social context of witnesses and phenomena, as seen in the discussion of the 'alien wasp' case and the critique of the 'UFOlogists' documentary. The recurring theme of crop circles is treated with a mix of fascination and caution, acknowledging both the mystery and the prevalence of hoaxes.

Title: Northern UFO News
Issue: 16
Date: Unknown (implied to be late 1990s based on case dates)
Publisher: Unknown
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of Northern UFO News, despite an apology for not being the promised length, delves into several UFO-related topics, including media criticism, detailed case histories, and announcements of upcoming events.

Editorial and Media Criticism

The editorial section expresses strong dissatisfaction with journalists, particularly citing an incident where the Daily Star allegedly misrepresented a resolved airship sighting as a 'starship mystery finally solved' by 'flummoxed' UFO experts. The publication criticizes the media for portraying UFO investigators as gullible and for twisting facts to fit a sensationalist narrative. Another example involves the Exeter Express reporting on a 'guilty teacher' revealing a schoolboy prank from 1967, which the magazine dismisses as a trivial matter.

Key UFO Cases and Investigations

The 'Intercept UFO' Case (August 30, 1956)

This issue features an 'impressive newly reported aerial encounter case' from a retired RAF officer, identified as 'S'. While flying a Javelin aircraft with a navigator at 45,000 feet on a practice intercept mission, S observed an unknown object to his right. His navigator obtained a clear radar return at 19 miles. The object was visually estimated to be similar in size to a finger nail at arm's length, but subsequent calculations suggested a diameter of at least 600 feet. Permission was granted to break off the planned intercept to investigate. The object slowed its flightpath to match the Javelin's. A second Javelin aircraft confirmed the visual and radar sighting. The UFO then moved to a dead-ahead position and stopped, appearing stationary both visually and on radar at a distance of 15 miles. As the two Javelins closed in at full power, the object, described as a rounded discus shape of grey metallic color, was seen at 10 miles. At this point, S made a second size estimate, indicating it had grown to the length of his little finger at arm's length. At a radar-confirmed distance of 8 miles, the object suddenly accelerated skyward, becoming a blur and disappearing out of range at an estimated 5 miles per second (18,000 mph) from a standing start. Upon landing, the four officers submitted reports to the MoD. A ground radar station at Sopley also tracked the object. The article notes the significance of Sopley becoming famous for a later 'classic car and truck stop encounter' in 1967, suggesting the presence of a secret MoD radar unit there made the earlier interest in the encounter understandable. The search for records of this incident has been partially successful, but the file appears to be missing from public records. Attempts to trace the other three crew members are ongoing.

The Birchwood Mall Case (Part 3)

This section continues the report on a video film obtained at the Birchwood Mall shopping centre on February 25, 1991, depicting a soap bubble-like object. Attempts to resolve the footage had limited success. On April 26, 1991, a second camera on the site, separated from the first, captured a smaller version of the same object. The first recording showed the object moving as before, but closer to the camera. A security guard followed it, keeping it on screen for many minutes. Analysis of the footage, particularly an experiment where the infra-red spot beam was turned off and then back on, indicated that the UFO vanished when the spot beam was not in use. This suggests its appearance was a product of the infra-red lighting system. In the final seconds of the film, the object appeared huge, filling almost a third of the screen. Its eye-like shape with a hollow centre is compared to descriptions from the Rendlesham Forest tape recording. The article concludes that this case is not a UFO in the traditional sense and invites reader input on possible explanations.

Brief Cases - Some Current Investigations

• Summer 1964, Cardiff, South Wales: A woman woke her husband reporting a 'plane crashing'. He saw a 'squeezed sphere' that hovered and then shot away like a meteor. The witness reported that three hours had passed when he got inside, despite the sighting lasting only about 30 minutes.
• Late January 1976, Kirkby, Merseyside: Mrs C, a nurse, saw a white 'star' change to red and green, remaining stationary for about 50 minutes. Another object appeared underneath and shot away very fast, while the first object vanished. The case is noted for its long duration and stationary nature, suggesting a possible astronomical solution.
• Summer 1977, Cwmbran, Gwent, South Wales: Mrs R saw a white cucumber shape with light pouring from one end travel on a slight downward course across the sky, visible for about 10 seconds. It is described as resembling a bright fireball meteor or satellite debris reentry.
• October 1977, Chester-le-Street, Durham: Mrs B saw a stationary, dish-shaped object with a solid white light in the centre. It grew brighter, tilted, and 'imploded' on itself.
• February 24, 1979, North-West England: A series of linked UFO events included an object landing in a quarry at Bacup, witnessed by Mike Sacks. Other witnesses saw an orange ball of light tracking westwards. There is evidence of military jets chasing the object, and the case is linked to MP Robert Kilroy Silk. A security guard on Blackpool's central pier reported the pier shaking as if from a heavy sea swell or earth tremor, accompanied by a loud roar like a jet.
• November 1985, Great Snoring, Norfolk: Mr B saw a white LITS (Light In The Sky) similar to Jupiter, followed by smaller LITS in a train, which proceeded slowly across the sky and then winked out.
• September 1991, Hay Mills, West Midlands: A red light was seen descending slowly over rooftops. Investigation suggested it might have been a local police helicopter reflecting the setting sun.
• February 15, 1992, Warrington, Cheshire: Mr W and his girlfriend saw a UFO hovering over the Risley Nature Reserve. It was dome-shaped with rotating lights and floated into a cloud, never reappearing. The area sees significant aircraft activity, but no obvious explanation was found.
• March 4, 1992, Disley, Cheshire: Miss B observed a brightly lit 'donut' with a bump on the base and studded lights. It glowed brightly, moved at speed, and was close enough to be the relative size of two double decker buses. Her dog also saw it. No one else seems to have seen it.

Other Mentions

• The Night the Pier Shook: A report on Case 7929 by Joe Dormer of FUFOIG details a spectacular series of linked UFO events in north-west England on February 24, 1979, including an object landing in a quarry and an orange ball of light. It also mentions a witness who felt the pier shaking.
• Close Encounter with Britain's UFO girl: The article discusses a potential distortion of memory regarding a story about the author's own early interest in UFOs, which may have been the source of a syncronistic UFO legend.

Upcoming Events

• Sheffield Central Library Conference (August 15/16): The theme is 'ET or not ET, that is the question'. Special guests include John Keel and William Moore from the USA, offering different perspectives. Paul Devereux will also speak on earthlights research. Contact Philip Mantle for details.
• 'Ley Hunter Moot' (September 5): Held at the Birchcliffe Centre in Hebden Bridge, West Yorks. The event will feature lectures on earth mysteries, occultism, and ley-related topics, with an update on crop circles. Contact Andy Roberts for tickets and enquiries.

NUFON Regional Groups

The issue lists various regional NUFON (National UFO Network) groups across the UK, including their contact details and areas of coverage.

Final Words...

The editor apologizes for the issue's length and promises to deliver the missing pages later in the year, likely in the August issue. The section concludes with a brief mention of the upcoming events and the NUFON regional groups.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of UFO sightings through detailed case studies and investigations, the questioning of media reporting on UFO phenomena, and the promotion of UFOlogy as a serious field of inquiry. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards sensationalism and a commitment to presenting evidence-based accounts, while also acknowledging the unexplained nature of many reported events. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of thorough investigation and a distrust of journalistic shortcuts or biases.