Northern UFO News - No 31

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 31
Date: December 1976
Publisher: NUFON (Northern UFO Network)
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, a monthly forum for independent UFO organizations and researchers in Northern Britain, addresses the complex relationship between ufology and mainstream science. The editorial, "Where does science fit in?", highlights a perceived conservative attitude among scientists and the creation of the British UEO Documentation Centre (BUDC) as an attempt to bridge this gap. While NUFON supports the aims of the BUDC, concerns are raised about its implementation and the potential for division between amateur investigators and professional scientists. The magazine also features a detailed report on the "Mossley Close Encounter" and numerous other sighting reports from across the UK.

Editorial: 'Where does science fit in?'

The lead editorial discusses the ongoing debate about the involvement of scientists in ufology. It notes the conservative stance of many scientists, which has led to the creation of organizations like the British UEO Documentation Centre (BUDC). NUFON has voted to support the BUDC's aims, but the editorial cautions against getting carried away, emphasizing the difference between supporting ideals and putting them into practice. The author stresses the importance of scientific interest in UFOs, acknowledging that ultimate answers may lie in physical, psychological, or other realms. However, it is argued that amateurs, often non-scientists, have unique contributions to make, as ufology is a complex subject that even skilled scientists may not fully grasp. A significant fear among amateurs is that the BUDC might be divisive, setting scientists apart and ignoring the contributions of experienced investigators. The editorial proposes the establishment of a UFO center developed along the lines of a scientific institute, where professionalized amateurs and scientists can collaborate. A working party is suggested to prepare detailed proposals for such a center.

News and Group Status

The NUFON Representatives meeting in October saw a motion passed concerning affiliation and association status. Several groups have notified their intention to be ASSOCIATE groups, with a full list to be published later. The editor announces that they expect to be in hospital for most of December and apologizes for any disruption in communication, urging correspondents to write 'NUFON' on envelopes. Urgent telephone messages can be directed to Peter Warrington or Trevor Whitaker.

A BUFORA regional seminar is scheduled for January 8th, 1977, in Manchester, aiming to discuss the role of local UFO groups and their integration with national policies. Participants are invited to raise grievances and ideas directly with the BUFORA committee.

Information is requested for the N-CAT (North England catalogue) project, requiring details such as date, time, location, object shape, color, estimated height, direction, duration, number of witnesses, and special features. NUFON is also cooperating with HUMCAT, a humanoid catalogue.

A BUFORA branch is being set up in Edinburgh by Peter Hill. The December 1976 issue of 'OFFICIAL UFO' contains an article by Jenny Randles that includes a photograph of an object taken from an aircraft over the Midlands, which was not included with her permission and is stated to be a reflection of the aircraft's tailplane.

Two individuals are seeking correspondence with British ufologists: Diana Covet from Ohio, USA, and Paul Zvicus from New York, USA.

The next NUFON meeting is scheduled for Birmingham on Saturday, February 12th, 1977.

Derek James of UFOR STAFFS offers a service to supply new forms developed by BUFOR to UFO groups without their own forms.

The process of setting up a reference library of UK and foreign publications is underway, with UK and Overseas sections being indexed. Publications from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan, and Argentina are being collected. The library will operate as a RESEARCH REFERENCE service, with administrative and postal costs envisaged per item.

NUFOIS holds meetings at their HQ in Nottingham on the last Tuesday of each month, with topics including map reading, aircraft lights, and finding one's way around the heavens. MUFORA is holding an open meeting at the GPO club in Manchester on December 7th, with similar open meetings to continue monthly. DIGAP also holds open meetings on the second Friday of each month.

Important Notice: The Nottingham UFO Investigation Society has stated its opposition to the structural basis of the British UFO Documentation Centre and does not wish to cooperate. NUFON clarifies that its resolution was in support of the AIMS AND IDEALS of the BUDC, not necessarily the organization itself.

UFOCAT: A Unique Tool for UFO Research

This section details UFOCAT, a computer file of approximately 79,500 UFO reports, created by David Saunders and donated to CUFOS. UFOCAT is used for statistical studies and to provide specialized catalogues of reports based on factors like geography, report type, date, and special features. Approximately 22% of reports are European, and this number is increasing due to contributions from NUFON and BUFORA. The magazine expects to have access to a computer catalogue of all NUFON reports by Summer 1977. Use of UFOCAT is encouraged for those with a scientific interest who are willing to share their findings. A readout costs approximately £10-£15.

Sightings Investigations

Northern Ireland Report Part 2: An extraordinary, though possibly hoaxed, report from an anonymous letter describes an incident in December 1945 involving an old man who witnessed a large object with a silvery dome and purple lights land on the sea and then in fields. Two figures emerged, and a red ray was fired at a dog. The report is considered potentially significant but difficult to verify.

British Antarctica Survey Case: On May 22, 1966, two witnesses near Mount Gundrey, Adelaide Island, observed a dense cloud rising vertically, emitting a buzzing sound. A black ray struck the ground, and a snow devil was observed. The incident was reported to meteorological services and the US Air Force but received no follow-up.

Dublin Sighting: On June 21, 1974, two witnesses near Dublin reported seeing two white balls moving slowly across the sky without sound.

South West England Flap: The issue notes a series of unexplained explosions occurring nightly in mid-November in the South West of England, which scientists have proclaimed are not UFOs. This period also saw close encounters with humanoids, electromagnetic effects, and physical traces. NUFON has received only one report for October and November combined, compared to thirty at the same time the previous year.

Report 6808 (October 8, 1968, Lymm, Cheshire): An investigator saw an object like a cross with lights, which hovered, moved off slowly, and made a sharp right angle turn. It was in view for five minutes.

Report 7465 (October 23, 1974, Glasgow): A sparkling white, circular object was observed moving northwards quite slowly. The conclusion reached was that it was ball lightning.

Report 7466 (December 10, 1974, Annan, Scotland): An oval, silvery object, lit like a tungsten lamp, drifted north slowly, then shot off two red flames and disappeared. Streaks of red, like exhaust, were seen. The conclusion was that this was a form of ball lightning.

Report 75/141 (Various dates October 1975, Shipley, W. Yorks): A report concerns a red 'saucer' shaped object seen hovering over Wrose Hill Reservoir. Nine UFOs have been seen in the Bradford area in 1976, with 27 of them potentially being hoaxes.

Report 7663 (July 21, 1976, Hucknall, Notts): An elderly lady saw an object like two saucers stuck together spiral down from a cloud, appearing to spin. The color was described as light, coppery gold.

Report 7695 (June/July 1976, Macclesfield, Cheshire): A goldish shooting star appeared and flashed to the ground, followed instantly by a similar object. This happened three times in three seconds, possibly an unusual form of electrical phenomenon.

Report 7696 (September 9th 1976, Huntington, N. Yorks): Two white lights moved across the sky at an interval of four minutes, faster than aircraft, and disappeared into cloud. Local RAF reported no radar or aircraft.

More Information on the Barrow Lightbulb (Report 7694): An object shaped like an elongated light bulb was seen hovering and then moving away south-eastwards. Further witnesses reported seeing a cross-section of a saucer tilted towards the observer. The sky was overcast.

Detailed Investigation Report: The Mossley Close Encounter

Case Number: 75/140
Date: August 1975 (likely 31st)
Time: 20:00 hours
Location: Upland moor region on the A635, near Holmefirth, West Yorks.
Classification: C 2 c

This case came to MUFORA's attention following a radio program. The witness, a service engineer referred to as DJ, was travelling alone in his mini-van through hill mist when he noticed a white light by the side of the road. As he approached, the object appeared as large as a farmhouse. He stopped, and the object, shaped like a barrage balloon without fins, moved towards him, crossed the road at an angle, and then descended into the valley. The object was estimated to be 7.5 meters long, 7.5 meters wide and 4.5 meters high at the front, tapering to 6.0 meters wide and 3.6 meters high at the rear. Its color was white, bright enough to leave an after-image, and described as like translucent plastic with a light inside. Two white shapes, identified as sheep, appeared out of the mist and followed the object down the valley. The witness experienced his ears popping as the object disappeared behind an outcrop of rock. The total duration of the stop was seven minutes. The area itself revealed no unusual indications, but the proximity of the observation and the detail of the report make it significant. DJ has provisionally agreed to undergo hypnosis. MUFORA classifies this report as unidentified.

The Birmingham Conference

This section briefly mentions the Birmingham Conference, stating that a full report will appear in BUFORA JOURNAL and Flying Saucer Review. Approximately 130 people attended lectures on diverse subjects, including plasma phenomena and photographic analysis. Lectures will be available on the NUFON tape library scheme, and BUFORA will issue a proceedings booklet.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing debate about the role of science in ufology, the importance of accurate data collection, and the reporting of numerous UFO sightings and encounters across the UK. The editorial stance appears to advocate for a more integrated approach between amateur investigators and professional scientists, while also expressing concern about the potential marginalization of experienced amateurs. There is a strong emphasis on the need for rigorous investigation and documentation, as exemplified by the detailed report on the Mossley Close Encounter and the mention of the UFOCAT database.