Northern UFO News - No 156

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 156
Date: August 1992
Publisher: Not specified
Country: England
Language: English
Price: £6 for six issues

This issue of Northern UFO News, edited by Jenny Randles and with art by Bill Callaghan, provides a comprehensive update on UFO-related news, views, and cases. It covers a wide range of topics including a significant UFO symposium, animal mutilations, the explanation of a famous UFO film, and the ongoing debate surrounding crop circles.

UFO Abduction Symposium at MIT

Jenny Randles reports on her participation in a major UFO event in late June, which she describes as the most important UFO event she has attended. The symposium, held at MIT, brought together approximately 150 individuals involved in the abduction phenomenon. The proceedings were kept confidential among participants, with plans for a large publication of over 100 papers by the Fund for UFO Research. Randles notes that the event was not a typical UFO conference but rather structured like a scientific meeting, with a focus on defining and attacking the abduction phenomenon. The participants included professional psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and abductees themselves. The symposium involved five intensive days of work, with papers presented under strict time limits, often as short as three minutes, which effectively prevented 'waffling' and ensured concise delivery of facts and experimental results.

Randles presented five papers herself: a statistical review of 43 British abductions, a review of her personally conducted hypnotic regression experiments with a clinical psychologist, a detailed presentation of a single evidential case, results of an experiment to duplicate the Lawson/McCall imaginary abductee work, and a global analysis of motivations offered by abductors. She emphasizes that the event was a comprehensive, fact-packed, and analytically based review of abduction evidence, surpassing UFO meetings of the past decade. She suggests that similar symposia, tackling issues like car stop cases or crop circles, could lead to real progress in UFOlogy, contrasting this with the stagnation often seen in public meetings.

The 'Killer Mink' Saga Debunked

The issue addresses the 'killer mink' saga, which began with reports of alleged animal mutilations on the Scottish Isles. Reader Dr. Peter Talbot investigated the claims on the islands and found no evidence. Victor Kean later reported on a documentary titled 'the return of the killer mink' which appeared to confirm the mutilations. However, Dr. Talbot's further research, including consultation with the documentary's producer, Mark Jacobs, revealed that the BBC Natural History unit and National Geographic Society co-produced program, aired in January 1992, was about the proliferation of American mink in Britain and the resulting deaths of small animals. The documentary did not feature animal mutilations of any unexplained sort, nor did it relate to the Scottish Isles. Dr. Talbot concludes that Miles Johnston's original assertion of a radical increase in animal mutilations on the Scottish isles was uncorroborated and that the documentary Victor Kean mentioned has no relevance to the issue. This case is presented as an example of how a story can spread and take on a life of its own within the paranormal community.

Mind Out of Time and Space

Andrew Kean offers comments on regression hypnosis, suggesting that memories surfacing during past-life regressions might originate from our present lives, filtered through our current consciousness, ideals, and conditioning. He posits that our minds sift through existing memories, which can conflict with 'real' past lives or experiences. He likens this to pouring a cup of water into a tank and trying to isolate the cup. He also touches upon the concept of a 'collected pool of thought' and its connection to the UFO phenomenon, questioning if our minds 'enfold' these phenomena into forms we can comprehend. Jenny Randles agrees that consciousness plays a role in close encounters, suggesting that abductions are conditioned by personal and cultural views, but argues that this does not dismiss the phenomenon. She sees the truth as more complex, involving space, time, and consciousness.

The Peter Day Film Explained?

This section revisits the debate surrounding the 23-second film taken by Peter Day on January 11, 1973. Steuart Campbell had previously claimed the film showed an F-111 jet dumping fuel, a theory discussed in BUFORA reports and OMNI articles. Peter Day disputed Campbell's claim, but his and other counter-arguments were ignored by a photography journal. New information from Aircraft Illustrated, featuring Anthony Thornborough, discusses the accident of an F-111 (Sewn 12) that crashed. The recordings show the F-111's problem beginning at 08:58:30, just two minutes after takeoff from RAF Upper Heyford, placing it precisely where the UFO was seen. A fuel line nut caused a leak and fire, making the plane unstearable. The pilot, Major Bob Kroos, reported the fire and initiated fuel dumping. The released fuel caught fire, creating a large streamer. Thornborough's article suggests this was erroneously attributed to a UFO. The aircraft was at 2000 feet and stopped dumping fuel shortly before 09:04, attempting a turn back to base. The plane lost control at 09:47, ejecting the pilot and crashing in a fireball near Milton Keynes. The F-111 was at the correct position, heading, and height where the cloud ceiling began, making it invisible from the ground. The sound output was likely low, and the ejection of fuel and subsequent fire could explain the visual phenomenon. The conclusion is that the object seen and filmed was the stricken F-111 jet.

ECLIPSING THE UNKNOWN (1) by Robert France

Robert France, described as an objective contactee, presents a different perspective on UFOs and aliens. He suggests that UFOs might be a mixture of unrecognized weather phenomena and manifestations from 'magical realms' rather than extraterrestrial craft from technologically advanced civilizations. He argues that contactees and abductees form the primary link to these intelligences, but after 50 years, there is little evidence of a technological basis for these entities. France criticizes the 'quasi-science' presented by some contactees, such as designs for perpetual motion devices, stating that it offers little meaningful technical knowledge. He notes that abductees report seeing such things but are unqualified to examine them. France further suggests that contactees are often chosen as spiritual figureheads or tasked with revealing alien presence, sometimes believing they are catalysts for a new moral and spiritual ethic. He also mentions individuals tasked with retrieving hidden artifacts or leading survivor colonies after a proposed global upheaval, describing discussions about 'Armageddon' with a detached air.

CIRCULAR LOGIC

This section, written in the style of Dickens, reflects on the summer of 1992 for the crop circle phenomenon, suggesting it was a time of both highs and lows. The author believes cereology should be paused for three to four years to allow the media hype to subside and for hoaxers to give up. He anticipates a return to simpler patterns once the phenomenon is viewed realistically. The author notes that media publicity has been minimal, which he considers good news. He states that since 1989, the explosion of circle numbers, designs, and publicity has been founded on 'quicksand of sociological hoaxing.' While acknowledging a 'REAL crop circle mystery' still exists, he laments that most researchers abandoned genuine investigation for more lucrative pursuits driven by media attention.

This year, only about 100 circles appeared in Britain, a significant decrease. Remarkably, many cerealogists rejected most of them as fakes. The author, flying with Busty Taylor and viewing circles with Paul Fuller, found most to be dubious, suspecting only a couple might be real. Researchers are now cautious due to past deceptions. The 'hoax-a-circle' competition, which the author did not endorse, backfired, with the best pictograms resembling real circles and created with minimal evidence. The media proclaimed this as vindication of widespread hoaxing.

Paul Fuller intends to continue 'The Crop Watcher' newsletter, aiming to chronicle the transition of the subject from a media sideshow to a mundane endeavor focusing on real circles. Many prominent crop circle figures are reportedly fading from the scene or moving to the USA. Michael Chorost has returned to the UK with scientists to conduct sampling for radioactivity and chemical changes. Despite the 1992 experimentation being described as first-class science, the lack of cereologists recognizing this year's circles as genuine makes the test results potentially interesting. Chorost has compiled a listing of 250 books, newsletters, and articles titled 'Circles of Note.'

Busty Taylor has released a book, 'Crop Circles of 1991,' showcasing aerial photographs that contributed to global interest in the phenomenon.

FOR YOUR PERUSAL

This section lists various publications and newsletters related to UFOs and the paranormal:

• OVNI (PRA Newsletter): Focuses on crop circles, with photos and reports on UFO sightings in Mansfield. Edited by Omar Fowler.
• SPI: Features Scottish mysteries, including Loch Ness, UFOs (abductions), and crop circles.
• Annals of the Enquiring: A small magazine with up-to-date stories, including Nessie sightings.
• Earthquest: A visually impressive publication with crop circle material and other unusual topics.
• Fortean Times: Covers a mix of news and in-depth features on weird topics, including a crop circle poster and a review of the 'Alternative 3' TV spoof.
• Folklore Frontiers: A potpourri of news items about modern folklore and urban legends.
• TLH: Covers earth mysteries, leys, earthlights, shamanism, and energies from ancient sites.
• The Skeptic: Features an article on producing hoax UFOs via homemade hot air balloons.
• Swamp Gas Journal: A digest of news and thinking with limited distribution.
• Orbiter: An objective look at American UFOlogy.
• Just Cause: Discusses 'foo fighters' via official archive data.
• Strange: Described as America's Fortean Times in spirit and content.
• MUFON Journal: Offers a wide diversity of topics with Dennis Stacy's editorship.
• IUR: Supports the work of J. Allen Hynek and features a debate on key Roswell evidence.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, particularly the abduction experience, and the critical examination of evidence. The magazine takes a skeptical but open-minded approach, aiming to debunk sensationalism while acknowledging genuine mysteries. There is a strong emphasis on rigorous research and analysis, as seen in the detailed explanation of the Peter Day film and the critical review of the 'killer mink' story. The editorial stance appears to favor a more grounded and evidence-based approach to UFOlogy, questioning the direction of the crop circle community and advocating for a return to serious investigation over media hype. The issue also highlights the importance of consciousness in understanding UFO phenomena and the need for robust research methodologies.

This issue of Northern UFO News, dated September 1992 (inferred from content), focuses on recent books, media coverage, and brief case reports related to UFO phenomena. The cover highlights "BOOKS OF THE MOMENT," featuring a review of the new album "Visions" by the Glasgow rock group CE IV and an "UFO ATLAS."

Books of the Moment

The issue reviews several significant books:

CE IV - 'Visions' Album

The Glasgow rock group CE IV has released a new album titled 'Visions'. This album is described as an enjoyable 10-song set, featuring 5 tracks from their earlier concept 'Abduction' with new studio re-recordings, plus 5 other new tracks. The album explores UFO or paranormal themes from the viewpoint of a percipient. It is available on tape for £6, with cheques payable to 'CE IV Music' at 102 Ferness Oval, Glasgow, Scotland G21 3SE.

'The Circle Makers' by Andrew Collins

This softback book, 350 pages with photos, is priced at £4.95. The reviewer praises Andrew Collins' ability to produce books superior to most professional publishing ventures, noting its superb cover, excellent design, and value for money. The book is described as an entertaining yarn that delves into crop circles and introduces the topic of Reich's Orgone energy. The reviewer suggests that Orgone energy, if real, could bridge the gap between plasma vortex concepts and the curiosities of cereology. The book is heartily recommended for those interested in crop circles, earthlights, and strange energy forces.

'The Omega Project' by Kenneth Ring

This hardback book, 320 pages, is priced at $20 and is not yet available in a UK edition, though hopes exist. It is considered one of the most important new books about UFOs in years, with a foreword by Whitley Strieber. Kenneth Ring, an American psychologist and founder of research into Near Death Experiences (NDEs), explores the link between NDEs and the abduction phenomenon. The book synthesizes avant-garde looks at abduction and goes beyond with research into the "Omega concept." Ring examines NDE evidence and abduction material separately, highlighting extensive parallels. A statistical survey concludes that something beyond imagination is happening, possibly reflecting the next stage in human consciousness evolution, termed the 'imaginal' realm. The reviewer notes that a section about the NDE/CE IV link from their own perspective was removed from a book they were writing due to publisher concerns about bringing UFOs into a book about life after death, highlighting the potential significance of this concept.

Media Matters

This section analyzes the media's portrayal of UFOs, noting a resurgence of interest following the UMIST conference in April. Jacques Vallee, George Fawcett, and the author presented differing views on the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH). A widely syndicated story focused on the idea of a 'hidden invasion by sophisticated aliens.' The article questions whether this was a premature notion, citing Philip Mantle's apparent shift from believing in ET visitation to seeing no evidence of extraterrestrial involvement, and a reported plunge in British UFO sightings from hundreds to 56 a year. However, the author disagrees, stating that while numbers decreased in the early 80s, there has been a recent upturn, and the overall UFO sighting rate is increasing, despite many cases being identified as IFOs.

The Rochdale Observer is highlighted for its continued coverage of UFOs, including a story about a 'UFO downed by laser canon in South Africa,' which Cynthia Hind (Africa's top UFOlogist) could not confirm. The article mentions a 'Quest' magazine report and congratulates the local UFO group and newspaper for their reporting. A skeptical response from 'ET' is also noted, along with a retort that a UFO-related project was found to be top secret.

The section also touches on a controversy involving a Rochdale UFOlogist's claim that the Observer's editor was 'silenced' in 1957 over a UFO sighting. The editor's reply suggests the incident involved two pranksters and an inflatable dinghy. The article references a 1989 Heywood Advertiser report about the MoD cautioning a reporter and a later incident in May 1989 where phones went dead during a UFO sighting. The author points out that NUN issues 137 and 138 covered the 1989 Heywood case, involving an investigation by MUFORA and IUN, police involvement, and interviews with witnesses, suggesting that claims of silenced witnesses might be exaggerated.

They Came From SW 19 by Nigel Williams

This is a review of a novel by Nigel Williams, described as a literary novelist compared to a modern Dickens. The novel, which includes UFOs and Spiritualism as themes, is characterized as comic opera on the subject of belief in a technocratic society. The plot involves a UFOlogist's disappearance, referred to as a 'spacenap,' and the narrator is a sardonic teenager. The book is praised for its writing style and insights.

Brief Cases

This section details several current UFO investigations and sightings:

• Case 7024 (Winter 1970): Drumchapel, Glasgow, Scotland. Witness saw a copper coloured dumb-bell shape pass slowly across the sky. Investigator considered the case credible.
• August 1979: Swansea, South Wales. Several people observed steady white lights moving in an arc for 1.5 hours. Coastguard and police attended. The investigator leans towards artificial satellites.
• June 1990: Malahide Beach, Dublin, Ireland. A 'UFO' appeared on a photograph taken on the beach, discovered after development.
• Case 9113 (Early 1991): New Earswick, North Yorks. A wife reported an object hitting her car windscreen, described as a pale blue, opaque ball. The car's headlight was later found smashed and covered in yellow powder. The incident is compared to ball lightning, but other events are noted.
• Case 9118 (27 September 1991): Ipstones, Staffs. A pale green light rotated and vanished, reappearing several times. A bright white light was also seen. The witness dismissed explanations like rabbit hunters.
• Case 9119 (12 November 1991): Worsley Hall, Wigan, Lancs. A 'rugby ball' with four coloured lights was observed hovering and moving erratically. Binoculars revealed green/white lights moving in zig zag paths. A laser light display in the area is considered a possible explanation.
• Case 9120 (22 November 1991): Walton, Liverpool, Lancs. Lights in a crescent shape were seen, mostly white with red ends, moving behind flats and then shooting across the sky. The witness also reported a dream of seeing a UFO with windows hovering outside.
• Case 9207 (31 March 1992): Huyton, Liverpool, Lancs. A domed shape with cream coloured windows and multi-coloured lights was observed moving away from view. Checks suggest a possible airship, but this is unproven.

Final Words

This section lists upcoming lectures and events:

• Sat 26 September: City Circles Symposium with Andy Collins at Conway Hall, London.
• Sat 3 October: Lecture by author 'Lazarus' (?) on UFOs for BUFORA at London Business School.
• Tue 6 October: Jenny Randles lecture on 'UFOs and how to see them' at Warrington Book Festival.
• Sat 24 October: One day BUFORA conference in Birmingham, featuring Robert France and Jenny Randles.

It also lists NUFON Regional Groups across the UK.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the analysis of UFO-related literature, the role of media in shaping public perception of UFOs, and the detailed reporting of specific UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical engagement, presenting various viewpoints and encouraging further investigation, while also acknowledging the potential for misidentification and hoaxes. There is a clear emphasis on providing detailed case reports and book reviews, aiming to inform readers about the latest developments in UFOlogy. The publication also seems to support the idea that UFO phenomena may be more complex than simple extraterrestrial visitation, exploring concepts like Orgone energy and the potential link between NDEs and UFO experiences.