Northern UFO News - No 16

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: No 16
Date: SEPTEMBER 1975
Publisher: Northern UFO Network
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of Northern UFO News is a monthly publication of the Northern UFO Network, serving as an open forum for news, viewpoints, and information from UFO groups in the north of Britain. The publication aims to provide an information media for these groups and welcomes contributions.

Editorial

The editorial section, dated September 1975, addresses the delay in the previous month's issue and the return to using internal resources. The editor notes that comments received suggest a bi-monthly open sale magazine interspersed with a newsletter would be an ideal solution, easing financial worries and pleasing shops. Such a journal would feature in-depth studies, while the newsletter would serve as an information media for UFO groups. The October issue is planned, with features to be announced, aiming for readiness for an appearance on TV Screens on October 11th. The editor emphasizes the new format and quality improvements, and stresses that reader suggestions and contributions are essential, reminding readers that 'NUFON News is YOUR publication - use it!'. A postscript clarifies that 'Contact (UK)' publications are available for purchase, not just to members.

Contents

• The table of contents outlines the articles and sections within the magazine:
• Page 3: Editorial, Group News, In The Post
• Page 4: General News (TV Spot, Research) etc.
• Page 5: "ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT" Article by Pete Warrington
• Page 6: UFO GENERATION AT OLDHAM - Mufora Report
• Page 7: LIGHT BALL IN BEDROOM - Mufora Report
• Page 8: REPORTS IN BRIEF (Bufora Staffs, MUFORA, RICAP, WUFOS reports)
• Page 9: ASSOCIATED GROUPS
• Page 10: ADVERTISEMENTS
• Page 11: NEXT MONTH

Group News

This section introduces two new groups: LAPRO (Leicester Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation), noted for its proactive setup and office, and the Wigan UFO Research Organisation, which is just beginning its work. The benefits of inter-group cooperation are highlighted through an example involving MUFORA and another group. RIGAP is working on a research project correlating UFO sightings with weather conditions, and SUFORS is developing the soundtrack for a projected NUFON documentary film.

In The Post

Dave Gittens of NAPRA comments on a previous report about a UFO landing at Rainhill, noting the lack of a normal explanation and suggesting the prints indicated a vertical arrival and departure. The section also reflects on the impact of summer and school examinations on younger members' involvement in UFO work, with a mention of members potentially moving on to further studies. The editor also hints at a possible move, but assures continued interest in ufology and NUFON.

General News

Plans are underway for the next general, informal NUFON meeting, which aims to discuss investigation methods and coordination. A venue in Warrington is being sought for the following month, after a TV feature. NUFON has been given a ten-minute feature spot on BBC 2's 'Open Door' show, with a free rein in production, intended to clear ufology's name and gather sighting reports. Several planning meetings with the BBC have occurred, and transmission is expected for October 11th, with a repeat the following Saturday. Skywatch 75, a BUFORA coordinated event on July 5/6, was moderately successful, with a positive report from the MUFORA site on Winter Hill detailing eight unidentified white lights seen ascending, hovering, and descending. Research Projects are mentioned, with groups reminded to discuss three BUFORA schemes and comment to NUFON.

"ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT" - Article by Pete Warrington

• Pete Warrington, Chairman of MUFORA, critically assesses the quality of reports in the NUFON files, describing them as "poor" and "dismal." He intends to improve the standard of investigation. Warrington points out vague details in reports, such as "Cold for time of year," and the lack of opinions on the root cause of sightings. He emphasizes the need for depth and relevant information in investigations. The article provides guidelines for effective investigation, stressing the importance of:
• Obtaining full witness details (name, address, phone number).
• Conducting thorough interviews, ideally with two investigators.
• Avoiding preconceived ideas and allowing ample time.
• Reassuring witnesses and allowing them to recount the incident freely.
• Using large-scale maps to pinpoint locations.
• Visiting the site with the witness to confirm details.
• Taking samples if possible and photographing the site.
• Ensuring notes are accurate, explicit, and concise.
• Carefully handling young witnesses to avoid leading them.

Warrington concludes that the main purpose of investigations is to record observations, avoiding premature judgments. He invites correspondence on the subject.

UFO GENERATION AT OLDHAM - Mufora Report

This report details a sighting from just prior to Christmas 1974, involving a respected psychic witness in Denton, looking towards Werneth Low hill. The witness described two oval shapes reflecting the sun, one of which discharged seven small spherical objects that accelerated away to the south. The object then reverted to its original shape, rejoined the first, and both descended out of view. The entire sighting lasted 20 minutes. The conclusion notes that while the witness observed a real phenomenon, her psychic abilities raise questions about its objective or subjective nature. The report mentions that psychics sometimes observe UFO events due to a different scale of frequency awareness, and that shape-changing and the generation of UFOs are not unique phenomena. MUFORA plans an in-depth study of UFO phenomena in the Oldham area.

LIGHT BALL IN BEDROOM - Mufora Report

The witness in this case wishes to remain anonymous. On May 17, 1975, in Cheetham, North Manchester, the witness felt a magnetic pull towards his window while in bed. He saw a bundle of white sparks, 9-12 inches in diameter, radiating a grey/white color. He felt the cause was both inside and outside the room. The witness was frightened and cannot recall the last 40-50 seconds of the event. The conclusion states the witness does not claim it as a UFO event but a puzzling one, and considers a dream as a possible explanation, though he insists he was wide awake. The fear and the magnetic pull add validity. The witness cannot understand why he did not call his wife and child downstairs, as he felt there was danger. The report suggests the possibility of the witness being hypnotized and that regressive hypnotism might yield more data. The witness himself is unsure of what happened.

Reports in Brief

• This section summarizes several brief sighting reports:
• June 18, 1975 (Clayton, Staffs): A phantom jet sighting may have been a weather balloon, appearing as a black triangular shape that changed states and moved erratically.
• July 14, 1975 (Ellesmere Port): Two witnesses observed an object at Backford Cross, with preliminary evaluation discounting weather balloon, aircraft, or meteorological phenomena. The satellite Salyut was noted.
• July 28, 1975 (Heath Charnock, Lancs): A long-distance car chase involved three widely spaced lights (blue, red, orange) that flashed and hovered. A photograph was taken. The object was tracked and responded to the witness flashing his lights.
• August 9, 1975 (Lumb, Lancs): A twinkling, white point of light moving W-E was identified as Skylab.
• August 15, 1975 (Blackburn): Two witnesses reported an oval shape, spinning and flashing red/orange/yellow, moving NW-SE below cloud level. Further witnesses appeared in Darwen.

Associated Groups

This section lists contact details for various UFO research groups, including BUFORA, Contact (UK), MUFORA, RIGAP, WUFOS, and others. It encourages anyone wishing to join or report sightings to contact these groups and invites other UFO societies in the north to connect with NUFON.

Advertisements

• Members of NUFON groups can use the advertisement column freely; others pay 25p per insertion. Advertisements include:
• WANTED: Foreign Language Journals on UFO-related subjects.
• FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS: Services offered for ufologists in various languages.
• ASTROLOGICAL ANALYSIS: Personal and confidential character analysis and future life trend predictions for £3.

Coming Next Month

• Future articles and reports will include:
• A reliable witness's photo of a Domed Disc in Rochdale Area (July 1975) with Report & Analysis.
• A multiple witness case involving respected officials over Greater Manchester (August 16, 1975).
• A report on a UFO sighting over Alnwick, Northumberland in 1798, from Bernard Delair (Contact - UK).
• Suggestions on Publicity from WUFOS.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the reporting and investigation of UFO phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on the need for improved investigative standards, as highlighted by Pete Warrington's critical article. The magazine promotes inter-group cooperation and information sharing among UFO research organizations. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging witness reports and aiming to present UFO phenomena in a more objective light, as evidenced by the planned BBC TV feature. The publication also acknowledges the diverse nature of sightings, from unexplained aerial phenomena to potentially misidentified objects like weather balloons and satellites.