Northern UFO News - No 30

Magazine Overview

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, dated November 1976 and identified as Issue 30, is a monthly forum for independent organizations and researchers in Northern Britain. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the network as a whole. The magazine is published by NUFON (The Northern UFO Network), with Jenny Randles serving as the editor. The subscription cost for 1977 is £2.

Editorial: 'A question of WHY???'

The editorial grapples with the fundamental question of why individuals dedicate themselves to UFO research. The editor posits that a primary motivation is the inherent challenge involved, drawing a parallel to the psychological need for engagement explored in Dr. Christopher Evans' book 'Cults of Unreason.' While acknowledging the potential for obsession, the editor expresses a desire for psychologists to study ufologists to understand common tendencies. The editor's personal interest lies in the unusual and unexplained, particularly phenomena with a demonstrable, physical basis, steering clear of spiritualism and psychic phenomena due to their perceived lack of scientific grounding. The editorial emphasizes the need for a clear methodology to prove the reality of UFOs and calls for a structured approach to research, citing the Northern England catalogue as an example of work aimed at producing results. The editor concludes by reiterating the need for a psychologist to develop questions to better understand the reasons behind ufological pursuits.

News

The news section reports the death of Mr. Tom Cassinelli of the Sheffield, Dinnington and Rotherham UFO Research Association, a well-known organizer. His group will continue under the direction of Peter Wakefield. BUFORA has published an investigative guide titled 'UFO INVESTIGATION' for £2.50 (£3.50 for non-members). UFOSIS has released the second issue of its magazine 'PROTEUS.' MUFORA is increasing its meetings to twice a month due to growing interest in ufology in Greater Manchester. BUFORA NORTHERN IRELAND has adopted the new name 'IRISH UFO RESEARCH CENTRE.'

Northern England Catalogue - Progress Report

This section details the ongoing project to create a comprehensive catalogue of all documented UFO reports in Northern England, from the Scottish border to the southern West Midlands. The project involves CONTACT UK and BUFORA, in addition to NUFON. The catalogue will be chronologically ordered and is expected to be completed by the end of 1976, with provisions for future updates. The work involves coordinating material from publications like 'Flying Saucer Review,' entering data, and amending details. Ian Cresswell is coordinating the project, with Bernard Delair and Jenny Randles contributing. Assistance is sought for researching local newspaper files, obscure magazines, and local group publications, as well as retrieving data from old philosophical records. Offers of help should be directed to Ian Cresswell. The final publication is anticipated to be a valuable resource with geographical and thematic indices, and statistical analysis. Compatible catalogues for Southern England, Scotland, and Ireland are planned, with a Welsh catalogue already in production.

NUFON UMIST Meeting

The fourth NUFON representative committee meeting was held on October 23rd, following a lecture by author Raymond Drake organized by MUFORA, which attracted over 160 attendees. Key decisions included a unanimous vote to support the aims and ideals of the British UFO Documentation Centre. A referendum on association and affiliation status resulted in a decision for all groups to notify whether they wish to be an ASSOCIATE or affiliated group, with associates required to send a representative to meetings. Mr. Robert Morrell is coordinating a working committee for the NUFON Spring 1977 convention. The NUFON executive was re-elected: Trevor Whitaker (Chairman), Jenny Randles (Secretary), and Peter Warrington (Treasurer and Records Officer). New committee members were also elected, and an updated Reference Data Sheet will be produced.

British Airways Crew Track UFO Visually and on Radar

This report details an incident investigated by SICAP for BUFORA, involving a British Airways Trident aircraft on July 30, 1976, flying to Faro, Portugal. The crew at 29,000 feet observed a UFO described as a big white headlamp, stationary, which they tracked visually and on radar. An aircraft ahead also reported seeing the UFO. Lisbon control was alerted, and the UFO was described as a brown sausage shape that materialized by its side, followed by a second similar object. A Portuguese Boeing 727 also reported seeing the object. Lisbon radar detected a huge shape, ten times the size of an aircraft, surrounded by two diffuse shapes. The investigation is ongoing.

Northern Ireland Report Part 1

This section presents several case reports from investigators Miles Johnstone, John Hind, and their team.

• July 26, 1975, Lurgan, Co. Armagh: Five police constables witnessed a brilliant white circular object moving northwest at high speed for 15-20 seconds. The local airport reported no radar activity.
• June 19, 1976, Celbridge, Co. Kildare: Paddy Galvin saw a dazzling white triangular object, stationary at about 500 feet, which vanished instantly after 10-15 seconds.
• July 23, 1976, Naas, Co. Kildare: A lady in a bog house saw a brilliant yellow oval object pass overhead from east to west for 3-4 seconds, accompanied by a loud hissing noise. It is considered possibly a meteor.
• August 11, 1976, Ballymena: Four witnesses reported a bright white oval object descending towards their car, keeping pace for three miles. The object then rose into a cloud, reflected light, descended rapidly, and vanished. Mrs. Erwin, a witness, felt unable to retrieve her camera, wondering if the object did not want to be photographed. She also experiences a severe static electricity effect. The incident is under full investigation.

This article is continued in the December 1976 issue.

NUFON Publications

Details are provided for two publications: 'SHEFFIELD CONVENTION PROCEEDINGS' (40p) and 'NORTHERN UFOLOGY No 1' (30p).

Notes on Past Cases

This section reviews several historical cases:

• November 1957 'Wave': Mentioned as a significant event that will be discussed further by Bernard Delair.
• Report 5302 (Bolton-on-Dearne): A woman saw a large object like the moon at 6:30 AM, stationary in the west. No further information could be gathered due to the passage of time.
• Report 6607 (Blackpool): A large number of people observed a flare-like object colored green and orange on December 4, 1966, explained as a meteorite.
• Report 7013 (Immingham): Two men described a metallic-looking ellipsoid with peculiar motions on November 16, 1970, which moved, faded, and shot arcs of light before disappearing.

The section also discusses the classification system used, highlighting a discrepancy where a less significant case (Report 6607) received a higher value than a more investigational one (Report 7013), suggesting a need for modification.

Current Reports

This section details recent sightings:

• Report 7649 (June 6, 1976, Rainworth, Notts): Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson observed an elongated object with two bright white lights at each end, pulsing, moving slowly and then slightly backward. Duration: 20 minutes.
• Report 7684 (June 22, 1976, Huthwaite, Notts): Two workmates saw a silver white object moving along hills, which altered shape to a 'dot.' Classification: C 4 b.
• Report 7685 (July 20, 1976, Mansfield, Notts): Mrs. Parry observed a shiny aluminium object, like a rugby ball end on, passing overhead at low altitude (60-70 feet) and moving silently. It disappeared after ten seconds.
• Report 7686 (July 21, 1976, Huthwaite, Notts): Mrs. Downing saw a red pulsating light that changed to an orange circular shape and then turned white before disappearing.
• Report 7687 (July 21, 1976, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts): Mrs. Castledine observed an aluminium object, like two saucers edge to edge, moving slowly, then rising and hovering, and finally vanishing.
• Report 7688 (July 22, 1976, Clumber Park, Notts): A retired couple saw a dish-shaped object surrounded by vapor, moving slowly. The object was seen again later at their home.
• Report 7689 (July 28, 1976, Mansfield, Notts): Paul Kennedy saw a round silver object moving very fast out of sight behind a hill.
• Report 7690 (August 1976, Merseyside): Mr. and Mrs. Brooks and their family saw two small lights that descended and grew into the size of a farmhouse, moving very fast.
• Report 7691 (August 27, 1976, Ilkeston, Derbyshire): A young joiner observed a black shape move across the sun, followed by a second one. Using a telescope, it appeared black with a slight bump.
• Report 7692 (August 29, 1976, Lockerbie, Scotland): A certified accountant, his wife, and son witnessed a flying 'bun' that accelerated rapidly from stationary to several hundred miles per hour.
• Report 7693 (September 28, 1976, Audley, Staffs): A GPO Engineer saw a silver light like a street lamp suspended low in the east, which disappeared. An AA Repair man also witnessed it.
• Report 7694 (October 6, 1976, Barrow, Cumbria): Several witnesses reported an object described as an elongated light bulb.

Multi-Witness Phenomenon Over Bolton

This section details a series of observations in the Bolton area on September 23, 1976, investigated by Arthur Tomlinson of DIGAP and Peter Hough of MUFORA. Interviews were conducted with nine sets of witnesses.

• Mr. & Mrs. Eastham: Saw a red round light surrounded by a silver rim, which moved horizontally and dropped behind trees. It was larger than the full moon.
• Mr. Draper: Saw an object streak overhead, described as one inch in diameter, red with a bulbous pink top.
• Mr. & Mrs. Nightingale: Described a round orange object surrounded by a thin yellowish band, which moved horizontally and then 'went out,' leaving a shower of sparks.
• Mr. Peel: Heard a noise like a rifle shot and saw a red flare falling behind trees, resembling a very flare but too high and large.
• Mrs. Harasimiuk: Described an object shaped like an ellipse and colored red pink, larger than the full moon, which traveled parallel with rooftops before falling steeply.
• Mrs. Foley: Described an elliptical object colored a deep pinky red, one and a half times the size of the full moon, which descended behind trees.
• Mrs. Parkinson & Baines: Saw an object red in the center with 'rose petals' of lighter color, moving slowly and turning white as it moved behind trees.
• Mr. Birch: Described a large red light, bigger than the full moon, at an elevation of 40 degrees.
• Mrs. Aspinall: Saw an elliptical object, rose red, streaming white light, moving very slowly and was the size of the full moon.

Investigation: The investigators ruled out aircraft and considered meteorites and fireworks. Dr. S. Hindley of the British Astronomical Association was consulted and was reasonably certain it was not a meteorite. Police initially suggested it was a firework but later admitted they could not trace anything to support this. The data obtained is inconsistent with a firework hypothesis.

Conclusions: The investigation plotted a sequence of events pointing to a large object (at least the size of the full moon) at an elevation of 45 degrees, descending and performing a steady horizontal flight followed by a steep drop. The duration was too long for a rocket. The object appears to have traversed some three miles before descending over Rumworth Lodge Reservoir. Based on witness accounts and elevations, the object was estimated to be about 25 feet in diameter and 3000 feet up, with a speed of approximately 800 Mph.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the exploration of the 'why' behind ufology, emphasizing the intellectual challenge and the need for scientific rigor. The magazine consistently presents detailed case reports, highlighting the importance of thorough investigation and data collection. The editorial stance favors a rational, evidence-based approach to understanding UFO phenomena, distinguishing it from spiritual or psychic beliefs. There is a strong emphasis on cataloging and organizing UFO reports, as exemplified by the Northern England Catalogue project, indicating a commitment to systematic research and the pursuit of demonstrable facts.