Northern UFO News - No 49

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue Date: June 1978
Publisher: NORTHERN UFO NETWORK (NUFON)
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, the 49th, is presented as a newsletter from the Northern UFO Network (NUFON), an organization dedicated to coordinating independent UFO research in Northern Britain. Edited by Jenny Randles and Paul Whetnall, the publication covers a range of UFO-related activities, including conference plans, group news, and detailed reports of sightings.

Editorial: An Action Campaign for Official Recognition?

The editorial, written by Stephen Twine, addresses the persistent lack of government action on the UFO problem. It references a previous editorial from December 1977 that deemed past petitions fruitless. Twine suggests that with the heightened public interest generated by the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' now is the opportune moment to form a unified 'UFO Truth Association' or pressure group. The aim would be to raise public awareness and exert pressure on the government to disclose what it knows about UFOs. The editorial highlights the French government's admission of unexplained phenomena and their subsequent investigation as an example of a more proactive approach. It advocates for a continuous, moderate campaign involving letters to officials, media exploitation, and public actions like poster campaigns and leafleting. The goal is to force a change in the government's stance, which has remained unchanged publicly for a quarter of a century. The editorial concludes that even if the ultimate truth isn't revealed, increased public awareness of the UFO phenomenon and its implications would be a positive outcome.

NUFON Conference Plans and Future Meetings

Plans are underway for the 1978 NUFON conference, organized by the Scunthorpe UFO Research Society, to be held at the Scunthorpe Film Theatre on June 24th. The conference theme is 'UFO CLOSE ENCOUNTERS' and will feature three sessions: a morning talk by UFO photographic expert Barry King on UFO movies and stills; an afternoon session with talks on 'new' ufology by Roger Sandall, Jenny Randles, John Hind, and John Rimmer; and an evening discussion on science fiction and UFOs by BBC TV film critic Philip Jenkinson. The cost is 60p per session or £1.50 for the full day. SUFORS is available to assist with travel and accommodation information. The event will also include visual displays, bookstalls, and a space art exhibition.

Looking ahead, UAPROL, a Midlands group, is planning the next NUFON meeting for September 23rd at the Post House Hotel in Leicester. Details of speakers and times will be announced later.

News Round-Up

Paul Whetnall provides a roundup of recent activities from various UFO groups:

• HAFI is planning a cinema display to coincide with the film 'Close Encounters.'
• SUFORS is busy organizing the conference. Nigel Watson recorded a Radio Humberside program and had a stand at the Quibell Park show, promoting the conference and the film.
• Nigel Watson is also heading to Warminster for a break. A humorous poster by him features Patrick Moore with UFOs, Captain Kirk, and Mr. Spock.
• SMIO (Scientific Mysteries Investigation Organisation) is a new group covering Mid Scotland, headed by David Sydeserff.
• MAPIT and CUFORT have commented that NORTHERN UFO NEWS is too focused on sightings and suggested more articles from group members.
• The publication is considering integrating 'NORTHERN UFOLOGY' (a quarterly magazine) with NUN as a smaller newssheet for missing months, under a single subscription starting in 1979.

Around the Groups: UFORA Staffordshire

Authored by Terek James, this section details the history of UFORA Staffordshire. Originally a BUFORA branch founded in the mid-1960s, it operated under Paul Gregory. In 1975, it organized the first BUFORA conference. A split occurred due to Paul Gregory's departure and internal issues with the BUFORA link, leading to the group being renamed UFORA Staffs. Their investigative zone narrowed to Staffordshire and parts of the West Midlands. A policy change restricted membership to active individuals, intensifying investigation and research. The group also expanded its scope to include paranormal phenomena with psychic aspects. In 1977, three members became UFOIN investigators, and one holds a pilot's license. UFORA is noted as one of the most active groups within the NUFON setup, with an extensive list of official contacts generating regular reports. The section concludes with a call for more group biographies.

Publications

This section reviews recent publications:

• 'WHY INVESTIGATE UFOs?' by Robert Morrell of NUFOIS: A 10p pamphlet (plus postage) serving as an introduction to the UFO field, recommended for those new to the subject. It may provoke discussion regarding its views on the paraphysical side of UFO phenomena.
• MAPITS report on 1973 cases: Available for 40p.
• 'CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE NORTHERN KIND': NUFON's special publication on the UFO scene in 1978 for the north and midlands, also priced at 40p.
• FSR (Vol 23 No 6): Contains a full report on the Rainford CE3 case and is available for 70p per issue or £4.20 per annum from FSR Publications.

That Saltaire Photo...

This segment revisits a photograph taken by three boys in Saltaire, West Yorkshire, in September 1977 (case 77/116). Nigel Watson of SUFORS investigated the case and found that the witness's account had some discrepancies. Notably, there was no teacher witness to the object when the photograph was taken, although the witness claimed teachers had examined it under a microscope and deemed it genuine. The witness's account describes hearing a buzzing sound, taking the photo with a friend's camera without focusing, and then losing the original photo. The story was published in the Telegraph & Argus. The editor's note highlights the witness's statement about the object's disappearance and the subsequent loss of the photo.

Investigations

This section details several UFO sighting investigations:

• UFO OVER AMUNITION DUMP? (4701): Investigated by Nigel Watson, this report from Scorton, North Yorkshire, describes a guard on duty at 2 am who heard a pulsating vibration and saw a brilliant, metallic blue light that remained still for a minute before fading upwards. The witness felt compelled not to divulge the experience and was certain it was not an aircraft.

• August 1962 (6207): Near Morecambe, Lancashire, Allan Farrell observed two bright stars that disappeared and reappeared. They then transformed into a cigar shape with stubby wings, glowing brightly, and moved at an incredible angled turn upwards.

• June 6 1976 (76/151): In Didsbury, Greater Manchester, Jacqueline Carp witnessed a fast-moving, lollypop stick-shaped object glowing bright red with a heat haze. The object moved SW, and the witness suggested it might have been a cover for other UFO activities during the fireball event that night.

• STRANGE PHENOMENON OVER LEICESTERSHIRE (77/266): On June 21, 1977, near Hinckley, Jan Rygelski, an ex-RAF pilot, and his wife observed a stationary pinkish glow with a dark central oval and pulsing bluish flames. As it vanished, two bright yellow lights appeared and moved east.

• November 3 1977 (77/268): In Crewe, Cheshire, two witnesses saw an orange ball of light with a fuzzy tail appear in the NE, streak across the sky at high speed, stop, and then streak away into the distance.

• January 31 1978 (7847): In Northwich, Cheshire, Mrs. Buckley observed a hazy, roughly round object with two dark patches, appearing the size of a tennis ball, which moved NE and faded.

• April 5 1978 (7849): In North Ashton, Merseyside, Phyllis Wilson saw a large, fiery oval that remained stationary over rooftops for ten minutes, occasionally obscured by cloud. It seemed to move when not directly observed.

• MULTI-WITNESS EVENT OVER LEICESTER (7846): This report correlates several observations from Leicestershire. Mr. Howe saw an orange ball that changed into a large cigar with steady red and blue/green lights. Mrs. Eld saw three lights in a triangle. Other witnesses reported reddish lights, white and blue/green lights, and a ring of lights rising into clouds. Checks confirmed no aircraft were in the area.

Shape Changing UFO at The Rectory

March 18 1978 (7848): This intriguing case from Borley, Essex, involves five witnesses who were looking for ghosts but instead observed a strange star-like object. It moved erratically, resolved into an orange dragonfly shape, then changed into a flattened oval, split in two, deepened to an orange color, and grew in size. It moved up and down before vanishing. One witness attempted to take a photograph, but the film was loaded incorrectly, and he experienced a photographic jelly incident. The report notes a possible link to a CE4 experience with entities and time loss experienced by Ken Edwards in Risley, Cheshire, on the same night.

Another UFO with Light Beams

April 14 1978 (7851): This report from Stafford, Staffordshire, details an observation by the editor's acquaintance from Irlam. An object seen heading NW was initially dismissed as a helicopter. However, a report from 60 miles SE of Irlam describes an amber-colored oval, the size of a golf ball, moving very slowly NW. It stopped several times, emitting beams of light in an arrowhead fashion before vanishing. The sky was light at the time of the initial sighting.

UFO Sighting

April 15 1978 (7852): In Bucknall, Staffordshire, a young married couple observed a strange, egg-sized light in their windscreen. It had a dark orange center with a fluorescent sheen and a yellow outer edge. It moved very fast SE-NW, stopping three times before accelerating away eastwards. The witnesses attempted to chase it but were unsuccessful.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent mystery of UFO phenomena, the need for rigorous investigation, and a strong advocacy for official government recognition and disclosure. The editorial clearly outlines a proactive stance, urging readers and UFO organizations to unite and exert public pressure. The detailed reporting of various sightings across the UK underscores the ongoing nature of the phenomenon. The publication also highlights the activities and collaborations between different UFO research groups, suggesting a growing network and a shared commitment to understanding UFOs. The inclusion of paranormal elements, as seen in the Borley Rectory case, indicates a broader interest in unexplained phenomena beyond conventional UFO sightings.