Northern UFO News - No 186

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 186
Volume/Date: Summer 2001
Publisher: NUFON
Editor: Jenny Randles

This issue of Northern UFO News, dated Summer 2001, presents a comprehensive look at the state of UFOlogy, featuring a mix of investigative reports, news, book reviews, and analyses of recent sightings. The cover headline, "Should UFOlogy shut up shop?", sets the tone for a discussion about the perceived crisis in the field.

Contents Overview

The magazine opens with a discussion on whether UFOlogy should cease to exist, followed by news items including the passing of individuals associated with the field and the return of Project Hessdalen. It explores scientific explanations for UFO phenomena, such as the 'Oz Factor' for time distortion, and features interviews and articles on various UFO-related topics. Book reviews cover paranormal subjects and historical UFO cases. Investigations into specific sightings, including the 'Cumbria flap', a Cheshire encounter, and the 'Isle of Man skycrash', are detailed. The issue also revisits historical events like the 1896 airship hype and reports on unusual phenomena like EM sky blasts and a Derbyshire wave causing significant media attention.

JR Comments: Time to go home?

This editorial piece by Jenny Randles addresses the perceived crisis in UFOlogy, noting a decline in sightings and magazine subscriptions, and the alleged closure of the British Flying Saucer Bureau (BFSB). Randles argues that this is not the end of UFOlogy, comparing its cyclical nature to that of crop circles. She traces the history of the BFSB, an offshoot of the US Flying Saucer Bureau, noting its decline in prominence as other groups like BUFORA emerged. Randles questions the media's hype surrounding the BFSB's closure, suggesting it was a self-fulfilling story that became bigger than the actual event. She concludes that while UFOlogy has changed, it remains a subject driven by the desire to solve mysteries and is here to stay.

News

REQUIEM...

This section announces the deaths of two notable figures in UFOlogy in 2001: Desmond Leslie, known for bringing George Adamski to public attention and being one of the first UFO book authors, and Robin Lindsey, who documented UFO lectures and conferences. The passing of Arnold West, long-term chairman of BUFORA, is also noted.

THE VOICE SILENCED

Barry King, known as 'The Voice', announced his retirement in April after 34 years. King, a witness and researcher, was a co-investigator with Andy Collins in the 1970s, pursuing famous cases and compiling reports. While Collins moved into 'neo archaeology', King continued to produce provocative magazines commenting on the UFO movement. The article expresses hope that King's retirement is not due to serious ill health.

Major Articles Elsewhere

This section provides brief summaries and reviews of articles from other publications:

• Fortean Times: Covers January's investigation into WWII aircraft sightings, February's report on a 1783 fireball wave, and a June article on alleged UFO deaths and the Mantell case.
• BUFORA Bulletin: Features an interview with Tony Bassett about building a time machine.
• Awareness (CONTACT UK): Explores topics like mind waves, alien technology's effect on humans, and Bible visions.
• IUR (CUFOS, USA): Highlights articles on the Walesville UFO crash, Orthoteny, Swedish military and UFOs, abductee surveys, Rendlesham Forest, Chupacabras, and French government UFO studies.
• MUFON Journal (USA): Mentions articles on an Amazon River flap and a potential UFO connection to Marilyn Monroe's death.
• MAGONIA: Includes articles on sexual motifs in abduction narratives and the Walton abduction hoax theory.
• Strange Times: Features an article on a haunted African mountain, a UFO 'crash' in public records, underground bases, vampires, multiverses, string theory, Cumbrian UFO sightings, and remote viewing.
• Project Red Book (YUFOS): Praises the UK's best local group magazine, highlighting interviews and discussions on time travel and UFOlogy in Scandinavia.
• UFO Network UK: Lists news and events from a West Yorkshire group.
• OVNI 94: Now bi-monthly, offering investigations from PRA.
• SUFOG: Provides updates on media coverage of UFOs.

UFO Historical Review (USA)

This review discusses Barry Greenwood's analysis of old US cases, including the Kirtland affair.

The Researcher MARA Merseyside Anomalies

This section praises the journal's design and highlights articles on a 'foo fighter' mystery, a Canadian UFO wave, Isle of Man legends, urban myths, and a Liverpool hobgoblin.

Paranormal Newsletter IUFOPRA

This review mentions a look at Irish legends like the Banshee.

Dead of Night

Described as a collection of weird things under the full moon, from monsters to legends.

The Skeptic

This section reviews articles on Nazi flying saucer legends, seeking God, fantasy proneness in mediums, and sleep paralysis.

Folklore Frontiers

Despite 'dubious taste' in covers, this publication is noted as a good source for digests of modern urban myths and legends from the UK media.

The Circular (CCCS)

This quarterly journal is praised for its news, maps, and images of crop circles.

Books of the Moment

Cosmic Test Tube by Randall Fitzgerald

This book is described as a digest of UFO literature compiled for new readers, covering Ancient Astronauts, UFOs and occupants, Contactees & Abductees, Debunkers and Skeptics, and Contacting ET. While it provides an overview of key books, the reviewer criticizes its American parochialism and the limited inclusion of UK titles, noting that only two British books are digested in depth. Despite this, the book is considered a useful reference, particularly for those interested in the 'ETH style' of UFOlogy.

Supernatural Peak District by David Clarke

This review highlights the book as a good value regional survey of myths and legends, featuring colour photos. While it covers UFOs and the Longendale Lights, its primary focus is on folklore and supernatural stories rooted in the Peak District. The reviewer notes the book's objective and well-informed coverage based on first-hand investigation.

Investigation: Latest UFO Sightings

This section details several recent UFO sightings:

• Camouflage Triangle (Case 9813): A large black triangle with irregular markings was seen over Flimby, Cumbria, moving at high speed and returning multiple times.
• Yes - they can be Sirius (Case 9911): A bright, flashing object near Stoke was initially reported as a UFO but later identified by Jodrell as the star Sirius, with observed motions attributed to autokinesis.
• EM effects care of Stealth Fighter? (Case 9912): In Egremont, Cumbria, witnesses reported a power loss followed by a loud roaring noise and the sighting of a black object without lights, possibly related to a stealth fighter.
• Bubble, no squeak (Case 9913): A silver ball surrounded by a white aura appeared over Flimby, Cumbria, creating an eclipse-like effect before disappearing. A similar sighting of a bubble ejecting smaller bubbles was reported days earlier.
• Curiouser and curiouser (Case 2000/7): In Helsby, Cheshire, a witness reported a huge orange searchlight with 'sprouting flames' crossing the sky in silence, followed by a brilliant white light hovering.
• Snaefell sky fall (Case 2001/2): On the Isle of Man, an object struck a telecommunications mast, causing a power loss and a large search operation. Initial reports suggested a 'sky crash', but no wreckage was found, leading to speculation of a cover-up involving a military drone.
• Altrincham, Cheshire (Case 2001/4): A conical object was spotted in the sky, suspected to be an aircraft due to the high volume of air traffic in the area.
• Stars in her eyes (Case 2001/1): An amateur astronomer in Macclesfield reported seeing a 'huge star' with occasional red flashes that moved slightly before coming to rest.

Return of the 1896 Airship wave!

This article discusses a bizarre story that echoes the famous airship wave of the American Midwest in 1896, noting how press coverage often exaggerated or invented tales, including the infamous 'cownapping' saga.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the perceived state and future of UFOlogy, with a significant portion dedicated to discussing its potential decline and the factors contributing to it, such as media sensationalism and the rise of the internet. However, the editorial stance, particularly in Jenny Randles's commentary, is one of resilience and continued interest in UFOlogy as a means of solving mysteries. The issue also emphasizes the importance of investigative journalism, reviewing various publications and detailing specific case investigations. There's a clear interest in exploring both modern sightings and historical UFO phenomena, as well as examining potential scientific or psychological explanations for reported events. The magazine also highlights the role of folklore and local legends in understanding supernatural reports, suggesting a continuity between past and present unexplained phenomena.

Title: Northern UFO News
Issue: 11
Date: July 2001

This issue of Northern UFO News delves into recent UFO and strange phenomena reports, critically examining media sensationalism and offering potential explanations. It covers incidents in the UK and the US, alongside upcoming events and organizational listings.

Liverpool UFO Sighting: A Case of Media Overreach

The lead story discusses a UFO sighting over Liverpool on July 3, 2001. Reports described a long, silver, cigar-shaped object drifting silently over the city, witnessed by numerous people and causing a flood of calls to Liverpool airport. Estimates of its size varied up to 300 feet. However, the article contrasts the media's sensationalized coverage, which evoked comparisons to historical 'airship wave' stories and even the Aurora, Texas alien burial myth, with the likely reality. Tony Eccles of MARA suggests it was an 'IFO' (Identified Flying Object) and that many stories were 'daft.' The object was ultimately identified as an advertising blimp that had lost control and was flying at a low altitude, explaining why it wasn't detected by radar at the airport, which was aware of its potential hazard to air traffic. The author speculates that this is a common pattern, where simple events are transformed into extraordinary tales, similar to historical UFO waves.

Mysterious Energy Blast in Hartsville, Tennessee

Geologist Harry Mason reports on an extraordinary event in Hartsville, Tennessee, on July 6, 2001. At 10:45 AM, a mysterious energy blast struck the town under clear, calm skies, with no electrical storms. The local country music radio station was severely affected, along with phones and computers in several blocks. Power transformers were blown up, one catching fire. Notably, no lightning was observed. The most disturbing discovery was a number of birds found dead and 'frazzled,' with severe damage to their wings, tail, and feet. Some birds survived but were badly burnt. Experts concluded the burns were not from power lines and that the number of affected birds suggested a widespread effect. Radio workers reported hearing a loud electrical hum that overloaded before the power failed. Electrical experts were baffled, noting that some affected computers were not even plugged in, suggesting the energy affected equipment through induction. Rumors linked the event to a nearby abandoned nuclear plant, with local callers alleging strange humming noises and sightings of unmarked helicopters and flying triangles near the plant.

Parallels and Past Events

The article draws parallels between the Tennessee event and other UFO-related incidents. It mentions the Risley, Cheshire episode in March 1978, where a power surge blew up a van's radio transceiver and potentially affected local wildlife. It also notes similarities to events in and around Rendlesham Forest, highlighting that both Risley and Rendlesham have nuclear power plants or experimental radar facilities nearby. The author questions if these events are coincidental.

Derbyshire UFO Wave and the Bonsall Video

The issue also addresses a wave of sightings in the Matlock area of Derbyshire, UK, since the previous autumn. While some locals joke about 'dirty windscreens' and others see tourist potential, the article expresses concern about some sightings. Witnesses are reportedly seeing bright stars, planets, meteors, aircraft, and military activity. The village of Bonsall is noted as a focal point for sightings of bright lights. However, the main story here is a video taken by a woman in Bonsall on October 5, 2000, allegedly showing a three-mile wide UFO. This video reportedly stunned US experts, and a US TV network paid £20,000 for it. The author, however, remains skeptical, suggesting the 'huge ringed mass' seen on film might be an artifact of the camera's autofocus struggling to lock onto a distant light source, creating a blob-like shape. Despite this skepticism, the author acknowledges the visual impact of the footage.

Coming Attractions and Organizations

The magazine lists upcoming BUFORA lectures, including one by Brenda Butler on recent weird events in Rendlesham Forest and another by Steve Gerrard & Steve Rider on UFOs/ghosts in the Southampton area. Details for BUFORA lectures at the Quaker International Centre are also provided, including attendance fees. A comprehensive list of UFO groups in Northern Britain is included, such as SPI SCOTLAND, SEMR, Haunted Scotland, SRUFO, NUFORI, Connect, UFO Network, YUFOS, NLUFOIG, LAPIS, MARA, NARO, PRA, SUFOG, and IUFOPRA, along with their respective locations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious skepticism towards sensationalized UFO reports, emphasizing the need for critical analysis and the tendency for simple events to be exaggerated by the media. The magazine highlights the importance of distinguishing between genuine unexplained phenomena and misidentifications or hoaxes. There is a recurring theme of questioning the official explanations for strange events and exploring potential connections between UFO sightings and proximity to nuclear facilities or experimental technology. The magazine aims to provide a more grounded perspective on UFOlogy, encouraging readers to question narratives and seek evidence-based conclusions.