Northern UFO News - No 62

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFOLOGY
Issue: 62
Date: July 1979
Publisher: Northern UFO Network (NUFON)
Editor: Jenny Randles

This issue of Northern UFology, published quarterly by the Northern UFO Network (NUFON) and in monthly series with the Northern UFO News, focuses on the theme "UFOS AND - THE GOVERNMENT." The cover art depicts a UFO landing with military personnel and aircraft in the background, setting the tone for the articles within.

Editorial and Purpose

The editorial section notes a positive response to the new format of Northern Ufology and explains its purpose: to allow readers to express their views on specific subjects and to showcase the varied approaches of ufologists to fundamental problems. Readers are invited to suggest themes for future issues. The theme for the October issue is "UFO RESEARCH - What should we do?"

News Review

Key news items include changes within the UAPROL group, with Trevor Thornton moving to Iran and Robert Shepherd taking over as secretary. UAPROL is also launching a series of filmed documentaries. There is a discussion about the potential return of 'Detailed Case Supplements' and the ongoing publication of NUFON reports, including one on the 1977 UFO wave. The upcoming book "UFOs: A British Viewpoint" by Jenny Randles and Peter Warrington is announced. Recent MUFORA lectures were well-attended, and a BUFORA conference is scheduled. The editor, Jenny Randles, will be on holiday from July 12 to 28.

Magazine Round-Up

This section reviews other UFO publications, including SOUTHERN UFO NEWS, MUFOB, and ASWR. It also mentions CHRYSIS 79 and SKYWATCH, highlighting articles on various UFO-related topics and interviews.

"Say What You Feel" by A. Lee. En

A. Lee. En expresses a sense of stagnation in UFO research, comparing it to scientific progress. The author questions the direction of research and suggests that perhaps the answers are not where ufologists are looking. The author proposes that the obvious step might be to explore other subjects or to scrap all UFO groups to allow for a fresh perspective. The author concludes by questioning whether the pursuit of UFO investigation is ultimately a waste of time.

UFOS AND THE GOVERNMENT Series

This issue features a series of articles examining the relationship between UFOs and governments.

1) "Some Thoughts" by Geoffrey Grundill

Grundill posits that governments are maintaining a UFO cover-up and that some UFO groups may also be silent for undisclosed reasons. The author speculates that these groups might have reached conclusions they do not wish to reveal. The role of 'Men in Black' (MIB) is discussed as agents who may be part of a government agency tasked with preventing the truth about UFOs from reaching the public, potentially even infiltrating UFO organizations.

2) "They Know!" by Ern: Sears

Sears believes that world governments are aware of UFOs but do not know why they are occurring. The author suggests that the current energy crisis might force a search for alternative propulsion methods, potentially leading governments to secretly acknowledge the existence of advanced craft. The government is also expected to investigate fields like telekinesis and ESP. Sears recounts personal UFO experiences that convinced him of government awareness and their subsequent silence and denials. Examples of alleged government cover-ups include the New Zealand 'ships lights' and photos from the Florida Computer Enhancement Centre.

3) "The Men In Black" by John Watson

Watson explores the theory that governments know more about UFOs than they reveal. Two main theories are presented: that UFOs are human-made experimental craft or weapons, or that they are extraterrestrial in origin and governments possess crashed craft. The lack of data makes it difficult to ascertain the truth. The article focuses on the 'Men in Black' (MIBs), who are described as sinister characters who attempt to coerce witnesses into changing their statements or forgetting them. Watson suggests they might be government agents working in secret.

4) "Official Encounters" by Ron Sergeant

Sergeant suggests that governments are aware that something unexplained is happening in the atmosphere and that some express belief in extraterrestrial origins. The British government, through the Ministry of Defence (MOD), is interested in UFOs from an airspace security perspective. Sergeant argues that it is logical for the government to have a study of UFOs in operation that extends beyond domestic concerns, acknowledging the reality of UFOs but uncertain about their implications. The author believes that a cover-up is driven by a potential threat to national defence and the need for secrecy to prevent public panic or the release of sensitive information.

5) "The Department" by David Sydeserff

Sydeserff argues for the existence of a government department, which he calls "The Department," separate from ministries but in liaison with them, likely involving the MOD, Home, Foreign, and Commonwealth Offices. This department's objective is to gather information on UFOs, potentially by infiltrating UFO groups. The author suggests that government employees who report UFOs are often directed to amateur groups, making it easier for "The Department" to monitor them. The author believes this is a logical approach to managing information and preventing public pressure.

6) "The Myth & The Reality" by Dr Robert Morrell

Morrell discusses the notion that governments have been shaken by UFO reports and publicity. The article mentions the organization 'Citizens Against UFO Secrecy' seeking access to alleged crashed UFO hardware. Morrell addresses the criticism of James Oberg, a US Air Force officer who writes for OMNI magazine. Oberg's critical analysis of UFO reports and government involvement has led some ufologists to view him as a 'front man' for the government. The article highlights a contradiction in statements made by Dr. J. Allen Hynek regarding the Moonwatch project, which Oberg questioned. Morrell notes that Oberg is condemned by some ufologists due to his military affiliation, with attacks focusing on the man rather than his arguments. The article also touches upon the public's potential apathy towards UFO claims and the government's efforts to limit information to prevent fear and maintain political stability.

7) "Secrecy, Complacamy, or Idiocy?" by Jenny Randles

Randles reviews the various contributions to the issue and poses three possible answers for government behavior regarding UFOs: a great deal (secrecy), a little (complacency), or nothing (idiocy). She accepts the MOD's claim of no files pre-1959 and suggests that Britain's conservatism led to a slower acceptance of the UFO phenomenon compared to the USA. Randles believes that the government's actions are logical in the context of keeping options open and playing down the significance of UFOs to manage public attention and staff resources. She also notes that the House of Lords and House of Commons subscribe to FSR, indicating government awareness. Randles doubts a sinister conspiracy, suggesting that the idea is often used by authors for commercial gain.

Reports on UFO Cases

A Wierd Case of UFO Stigmata

Reported by Ted Horton of UFOSIS, this case from November 15, 1978, in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, involves a man named Heywood who discovered marks on his arm that appeared to be etched with "U.F.O." and figures. The marks appeared after a vague dream about space. His neighbor reported seeing a peculiar electric blue light around 2 am on the same night. The marks faded and disappeared by November 25. The report also mentions a past experience of the couple involving sounds of gunfire and explosions shortly after their marriage in 1954.

Landing and Possible Traces Near Leeds

Reported by Mark & Graham Birdsall, this case from February 22, 1979, in Meanwood, West Yorkshire, describes two 14-year-old girls sledging when they saw a series of lights (three green and one red) descending rapidly with a whine. The object spiraled down towards them.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the complex and often secretive relationship between governments and the UFO phenomenon. The magazine presents a range of viewpoints, from accusations of deliberate cover-ups and government agencies actively suppressing information (as suggested by Grundill and Sydeserff) to more nuanced perspectives that attribute government actions to logical security concerns, complacency, or a lack of definitive answers (as argued by Sergeant, Morrell, and Randles). The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging open discussion and investigation, providing a platform for various opinions and case reports, while acknowledging the challenges in obtaining official information. The magazine aims to allow readers to form their own conclusions based on the presented evidence and arguments.

Title: NORTHERN UFOLOGY
Issue: 1
Volume: 25
Date: July 1979

This issue of Northern Ugology, published by FSR, focuses on UFO sightings and experiences primarily from the United Kingdom during the 1970s. The content includes detailed reports of alleged landings, contact experiences, and the physical evidence associated with these events.

Leeds Landing

The primary article details an event referred to as the 'Leeds Landing'. The account, reported by the UFOIN organization, describes an object that landed in the snow near Leeds. The object was observed to be lens-shaped and grey, approximately the size of a small car (eight by four feet), with 'fins' at each end. It emitted a whine that changed to a hum upon landing and then stopped. After remaining on the ground for a few minutes, it rose slowly, headed towards the observers, then back-tracked to land again on a steeper part of the slope. It then rose and accelerated away, vanishing in the distance.

Subsequent investigation of the site three days later revealed two peculiar marks impressed into compacted ice, measuring three feet across and seven feet apart. Additionally, blackened stones were found near these depressions. Samples of these stones were analyzed by Leeds University, which detected an unexpected presence of compounds such as fertilizers, lead, tin, and zinc, along with a heavy presence of coalite and carbon residue. The significance of these findings is noted as difficult to determine, with a full report promised for a future issue of FSR.

Bedside Experience in Humberside

Another significant report, filed by Martin Keatman for UFOIN, details a 'Bedside Experience' that occurred in Humberside in an unknown night in 1976. This case was part of a BUFORA allocation from the Daily Express. The investigation was reportedly hampered by the witness's refusal to be interviewed and threats of legal action, as the witness wished to maintain privacy regarding his 'good job and happy life'.

The witness, a 29-year-old rational laboratory assistant, claims he was awake and not dreaming. He awoke to a loud humming, described as being like an electric motor, and observed a wide light filling the ceiling and a dull white shaped glow beside his bed, approximately 10 feet in diameter. He found himself paralysed and unable to move, but reported feeling no fear or discomfort, describing the experience as 'pleasurable'.

Time lost meaning, and the witness described his 'consciousness' being pulled out of his body by an 'external force'. He felt himself fly around the room at great speed, circumnavigating obstacles. He then found himself back 'inside' his body, though he does not know how, with the white shape and humming fading away. He was then able to move and sleep with no after-effects.

The report notes that it is impossible to conclude whether this was a real experience or a hallucination, and it has no direct relevance to UFO studies.

Additional Case Note

As the magazine goes to press, a brief note mentions Gaynor Sunderland, a witness to a CE3 experience in Aakenholt, Flint. She claims to have undergone a contact experience on June 25, 1979, involving the same entities and information transfer about their 'home'. Full details are being evaluated and will be featured in a future issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO landings with associated physical evidence, and close-proximity contact experiences involving unusual sensory phenomena and alleged out-of-body events. The magazine appears to present these accounts with a degree of journalistic investigation, noting the challenges in verifying witness testimony and the analysis of physical traces. The editorial stance seems to be one of reporting on these phenomena, acknowledging the difficulties in definitive conclusions, and promising further investigation and publication of details.