Northern UFO News - No 51

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 51
Date: August 1978
Publisher: NORTHERN UFO NETWORK (NUFON)
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, dated August 1978, is a newsletter from the Northern UFO Network (NUFON), edited by Jenny Randles and Paul Whetnall. It serves as a coordination center for independent UFO organizations and researchers in Northern Britain.

Editorial: Ufology - a breeding ground for ego trips?

The editorial expresses concern about the proliferation of 'spin-off' UFO groups, likening it to cutting a worm in half to get two. It suggests that the 'in' hobby of UFO spotting, particularly the 'CE3 boom', is not helping to consolidate resources. The editors encourage readers to help newcomers interested in ufology, directing them to reputable local groups rather than NUFON, which does not have members. The core problem identified is the rising number of new groups, leading to a question of whether they are merely vehicles for 'ego trippers'.

Two examples are presented: one positive and one negative. The positive example is the launch of 'Southern UFO News', the first issue of which is out, published by John Makin. This initiative aims to coordinate southern England groups, and the editors express hope for collaboration with NUFON, while maintaining regional independence.

The negative example involves the British UFO Society and its Secretary, Ken Rogers. The editorial references a SUN article from February 23rd, where Rogers claimed ten top spotters, including himself, were hospitalized with nervous breakdowns after UFO sightings, blaming alien spacecraft. He also stated that none of the people involved in 1960s investigations were still around. However, a later SUN article on June 21st reported Rogers was back launching skywatches and making 'irresponsible claims'. The editorial questions Rogers' research and responsibility, referencing the Adamski saucer incident being debunked as a bottle cooler top.

Another negative interaction is mentioned with Richard Lawrence, Chairman of NUFON, who contacted the editors hinting that NUFON should change its name due to a clash with a new business venture called BUFOS. Lawrence apparently was unaware of FSR or MUFOB. The editorial criticizes BUFOS's business ventures (selling T-shirts, UFO photos) as potentially channeling youthful enthusiasm but not serving serious ufology. The editors express hope to be proven wrong but state their current belief.

Important Note: Jenny Randles and Paul Whetnall are on holiday from July 28 to August 13. Urgent investigation calls should be directed to Derek James at Stoke 514124.

News Round-Up

This section, compiled by David Rees of MAPIT, provides a summary of recent UFO-related activities and news:

• FUFOR Mini-Conference: Held in Crewe on June 10th, featuring speakers Lionel Beer and Tony Pace of BUFORA. Attendance was poor.
• CUFORT: Mike Cottrell is seeking information regarding NW MIB activity and unusual happenings.
• MAPIT: Published an article in the North Cheshire Herald titled 'Those Close Encounters are getting nearer home' and plans more articles in other newspapers.
• SKYWATCH: The next issue will review the FUFOR mini-conference and BUFORAS Nottingham conference.
• CHRYSIS: Reshaping and planning a new magazine called CHRYSIS 78.
• PULSE: Canceled a public meeting on July 8th due to lack of support.
• Joint Investigation Panel: DIGAP, MAPIT, and MUFORA are considering forming a joint investigation panel to cover Greater Manchester, South Lancashire, and North Cheshire, maintaining individual independence.
• Publications Reviewed: The issue mentions reviews of books and UFO magazines in 'Ancient Skills & Wisdom', including PULSAR, UFO RESEARCH REVIEW, and MUFOB.
• New Magazines: UFOJA (UFO over Jersey Association) is launching a magazine in October. EUFOSG has changed its journal to 'Earthlink'.
• Electronic Voice Phenomenon: A group is investigating links between UFO sightings and paranormal voices. Alan Cleaver is seeking contact.
• Book Delay: Peter Warrington & Jenny Randles' book 'UFOs: A British Viewpoint' is now scheduled for publication by Robert Hale in early 1979 (around February).
• 'The War of the Worlds' LP: An LP record of HG Wells' classic, featuring a musical version, has been produced and is recommended.
• Jeff Wayne's 'Close Encounters' Opinion: Jeff Wayne found the film 'Close Encounters' superb but boring, criticizing Spielberg for showing the aliens and answering too many questions.

Conferences: One down & One to go...

• SUFORS Conference (June 24): Held in Scunthorpe, attendance was disappointing (around 40). The afternoon featured lectures on UFOs and sociological implications, and the evening included a performance by Philip Jenkinson on sci-fi films.
• Leicester Posthouse Conference (September 23): A free conference with wide-ranging papers on photographic evidence, radar cases, and psychic overlap. Contact Leicester 826545 for details.

The Good (?) News... and the bad (?)

• Good News:
• 'Wedding Rights for Saucer Society': A society believing Jesus landed in North Devon in a flying saucer has been given permission to perform marriages. The Warrington branch has become the first registered church in Europe.

• Bad News (Possibly):
• 'Alternative Three' Mystery: The issue references ITV's 'Alternative Three' program, mentioning abducted scientists and mysterious deaths, and questions the disappearance and subsequent death of Professor George Kenner, a top organic chemist, during a period of high UFO activity.

ONE POSSIBLE ANSWER - a theory proposed by Derek James of UFORA Staffs

This theory suggests that UFOs are time machines. It proposes that by traveling into the past (e.g., 30 seconds), an occupant could appear to travel a distance due to planetary movement, potentially passing through solid objects and hovering. People observing would see rapid movement ('streak away') without experiencing G-forces as the movement is in time, not space. This could explain hovering, landing marks, and radar tracings. The theory also addresses why occupants might not communicate, suggesting that going back far enough would mean they were not yet born, making their speech unintelligible. The author acknowledges this is speculative but encourages thought, posing a question about the importance of Earth's frame of reference if traveling years into the past.

THE FEAR FACTOR - a research proposition from Nigel Watson of SUFORS

This section proposes that investigating witness reactions to UFO encounters can yield valuable information. Nigel Watson, referencing Richard F. Haines' work on 'UFO witnesses and field investigators', identifies 'fear' as a major witness reaction. He suggests constructing four categories to understand the reasons for this fear:

1. Strangeness: The more extraordinary the UFO event, the more fear it may evoke. Jacques Vallee's 'Seven Categories of Strangeness' and J. Allen Hynek's work are cited.
2. Environment: The more remote the observer, the more likely they are to react fearfully. Factors include locality, time, and weather.
3. Witness: Fear can be conditioned by fatigue, illness, depression, drug use, personal problems, or activity at the time of sighting.
4. Preconceptions: The unknown, or the potential danger of the unknown (e.g., radiation, abduction), is a significant source of fear. Modern concepts of UFOs as alien spacecraft, amplified by media, can create specific fears, as seen with the 1938 'War of the Worlds' broadcast panic.

Watson provides an example from Summer 1947 in North Yorkshire, where a witness saw a beam of light and heard a strange sound. The witness, woken from sleep in a remote locality, felt an impression not to speak of it for 25 years, possibly due to fear of ridicule or personal responsibility.

The analysis concludes that understanding these factors (Strangeness + Environment + Witness + Preconceptions) can illuminate mysterious aspects of sightings.

MULTI WITNESS EVENT FROM EAST LOTHIAN

Report by Davi Sydeserff of SMIO. This complex event from May 17, 1977, involved multiple witnesses (27) and encounters in East Lothian, Scotland. The report details six phases:

1. Phase 1 & 4: Pinkish oval objects moving slowly northwards over the bay, possibly attributable to balloons.
2. Phase 2 & 3: Objects described as 'sombrero hats' with white lights and a red light, seen near Tranent.
3. Phase 5: An oval object with a glowing aura seen near Pencaitland.
4. Phase 6: A silver domed disc with lights seen moving north from Ormiston towards Tranent.

The report notes the rarity of such correlated phenomena and deems it a case study.

Other Sightings Reports:

• 77/279 (December 1977, Morpeth, Northumbria): Boys saw a white light moving from behind them, slowing and accelerating away. Considered likely psychological or an aircraft/satellite observation.
• 77/280 (December 30, 1977, Exhall, Warwickshire): Mrs Edith Lane and family observed a golden oval object hovering over electricity pylons for several minutes before shooting off at high speed. A clearing in the sky persisted where it hovered.
• 7858 (January 26, 1978, Hinckley, Leicestershire): Two teenagers saw a red/orange ball of light, later identified as a jet with landing lights.
• 7859 (February 1978, Killamarsh, Tyneside): A nurse named Linda heard a loud, pulsating noise and saw a low-flying, cigar-shaped object with white lights. The area is heavily industrialized with a gas research station and electricity substations.
• 7860 (March 8, 1978, Edith Weston, Leicestershire): Reports of a fast-moving creamy/white light that faded or disappeared downwards.
• 7861 (March 14, 1978, Newbold Verdon, Leicestershire): Two reports of a saucer-shaped object with colored lights.
• 7862 (March 17, 1978, Skipton, North Yorkshire): Witnesses observed a silver conical object with revolving parts moving at high speed. Color prints were taken.
• 7863 (March 29, 1978, Shenton & Earl Shilton, Leicestershire): Pulsating oval object reported.
• 7864 (April 6, 1978, Barton, Greater Manchester): A brilliant white light was observed, possibly an aircraft.
• 7865 (April 17, 1978, Burbage, Leicestershire): A circle of bright, color-changing lights observed moving slowly.
• 7866 (June 4, 1978, Durham City, Durham): Dozens of witnesses, including police officers, saw a glowing, pulsating object of indeterminate shape. Three pinpoints of light fell away, and the object disappeared.
• 7867 (June 10, 1978, Killingworth, Tyneside): A mystery humming noise, similar to a previous encounter, was heard. A strange object, hemispherical with lighted ends and a strobe effect, was seen hovering.
• 7869 (June 18, 1978, Prudhoe, Northumbria): A white spiral object with a retractable bottom was observed moving slowly and then breaking in two. Three photographs were taken, but it is likely a meteorological balloon.

MULTI-WITNESS LITS OVER STAFFORDSHIRE

Report from Derek (Columbo) James. This section details a series of sightings on June 12, 1978, across Staffordshire:

• Gnossall: Four witnesses saw a brilliant yellow light moving E to NW.
• Yarnfield (M6): AA patrolman saw an intensely white ball moving S-N.
• Tittensor: A man saw an orange circular light moving S-N.
• Newcastle-U-Lyme: A man and wife saw a triangle of lights (one white, two yellow).
• Congleton: A man observed a white oval light moving S and chasing it, which turned NW and vanished, emitting rays.

These events, occurring within a 30-mile radius, shared consistent sizes and speeds. The report notes that an executive jet passing overhead with landing lights on full matched some observations, suggesting a possible explanation for some events.

Other LITS (Lights in the Sky) Reports:

• 7870 (June 26, 1978, Levenshulme, Gtr Manchester): Two points of white light moving apart, one accelerating away.
• 7871 (June 28, 1978, Belmont, Lancs): An oblong object with a smaller dome on top, glowing bright orange, was seen. It merged into one and vanished, with an inverted V-shaped ray shooting to the ground. Weather conditions were not conducive to ball lightning.
• 7872 (July 7, 1978, Knaresborough, N Yorks): Several witnesses reported a bright white light moving W-E in an arc over several nights. Considered likely a satellite.
• 7873 (July 11, 1978, Rochdale, Gtr Manchester): A dark red/purplish light moving NNW to NE, zig-zagging substantially at an estimated height of 10,000 feet.
• 7874 (July 11, 1978, Heaton Norris, Gtr Mer): Seven amber arrowhead shapes moving NE to SW.
• 7875 (July 14, 1978, Hoole, Chester, Cheshire): Four witnesses observed a classic domed disc emitting an orange ray with portholes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Northern UFO News strongly emphasizes the importance of organized, research-driven ufology, contrasting it with what is perceived as ego-driven proliferation of groups. The editorial stance is critical of unsubstantiated claims and highlights the need for careful investigation and responsible reporting. There is a clear effort to document and analyze UFO sightings across the UK, with a focus on providing detailed case reports and exploring theoretical explanations, such as the time-travel hypothesis. The magazine also serves as a platform for promoting collaboration between different UFO research organizations while maintaining their independence. The recurring theme is the ongoing effort to understand the UFO phenomenon through rigorous investigation and open discussion, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by misinformation and the potential for personal agendas within the UFO community.