Northern UFO News - No 64

Magazine Overview

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, dated September 1979, is the 64th issue and serves as the monthly newsletter for the Northern UFO Network (NUFON). It is published eight times per year in series with 'Northern Ufology'. The cover features a map of the UK with various locations marked, suggesting a focus on UFO sightings and investigations within the region.

Editorial: "Another Network?"

The editorial, likely written by Jenny Randles, addresses the current state of NUFON in 1979, acknowledging the departure of two active groups but asserting that NUFON still fulfills a unique role in the UK ufology scene by connecting groups and fostering a community. The editorial discusses the advantages and disadvantages of NUFON's loose-knit structure. It highlights attempts to establish a British Network system, noting the failure of previous counterparts and the current dormant state of the latest effort by a WATSUP member. However, the editorial expresses concern about new moves to establish a 'British UFO Group Network' involving ex-patriot groups and respected southern groups, with a meeting planned for mid-September. The primary concern is that this new initiative seems to be developing 'apart from' NUFON, raising questions about whether it intends to be an alternative or rival. The editorial argues that ufology in Britain does not need another distinct body and criticizes the secrecy surrounding the new network's development, suggesting that a central meeting with all active UK groups invited would be a more logical approach. It emphasizes the potential for NUFON to fit into an embryonic national scheme if flexibility is embraced and if the moves are towards cooperation rather than competition. Terry Hooper of UFO INTERNATIONAL is mentioned as being interested in views on this development.

The editorial also calls for reader contributions to the 'UFO Research - What should we do?' theme for the October issue, noting a lack of responses so far.

News Review

The 'News Review' section provides updates on various UFO groups and activities:

• CHRYSIS has been involved in a TV series on UFOs titled "Summer Skywatch," which was cut short by an ITV strike. CHRYSIS reportedly found the series' focus on the extraterrestrial hypothesis to be too heavy.
• MUFORA has gained local publicity, coinciding with the publication of the book "UFOs: A British Viewpoint" by Jenny Randles and Peter Warrington.
• CUFORO, part of the East Midland mini-network, has a new contact address.
• Kevin McClure, UFOIN coordinator of the UAPFOL team, has a new address in Market Harborough. He is involved with a working party by the Society for Psychical Research and BUFORA on 'psychic overlap' cases.
• The death of ufologist Dave Gittens is reported. His Cheshire group, NAPRA, was a founder participant of NUFON. Paul Lark, who took over NAPRA's files, is now joining forces with the Merseyside group MIGAP.

British UFO Magazines - Checklist, September 1979

This section provides a checklist of independent and group UFO magazines available in September 1979:

• Independent Magazines:
• FSR (West Malling, Kent): Bi-monthly, 32pp glossy litho, £4.85.
• MUFOB (New Malden, Surrey): Quarterly, 16pp litho, £1.75.
• FORTEAN TIMES (London): Quarterly, 56pp litho, 75p.
• STRANGE PHENOMENA (Wolverhampton): Monthly, 38pp litho, 75p.
• CNK (ceases publication this Winter).
• FSR features international reports and articles, focusing on psychological and sociological implications.
• FORTEAN TIMES covers paranormal phenomena in the style of Charles Fort.
• STRANGE PHENOMENA covers UFOs, paranormal phenomena, and psychic aspects.

• Group Magazines:
• MAGIC SAUCER (Kidderminster): Duplicated, bi-monthly, 25p.
• UFO RESEARCH REVIEW (Nottingham): Litho, bi-monthly, £1.10.
• IRISH UFO NEWS (Belfast): Quarterly litho, 32pp, £3.00 pa.
• CHRYSIS (Domanstown, Cleveland): Bi-monthly photocopied.
• SKYWATCH (Stockport): Bi-monthly duplicated.
• UFO INSIGHT (Crewe): Quarterly duplicated.
• PROTEUS (West Bromwich): Quarterly duplicated.
• QUEST (Bristol): Duplicated, bi-monthly.
• ESSEX UFO.SG. JOURNAL (Dagenham): Quarterly duplicated.

The section notes that BUFORA and CONTACT, the two national associations, also publish their own magazines.

Magazine Round-Up

This section briefly reviews recent issues of other UFO publications:

• FSR Vol 25 No 2: Features the Denbigh CE1 on the cover, a CHRYSIS investigation, and a new ETH-based theory.
• BUFORA JOURNAL (June 79): Contains news, reports, and information on the LINCON preview.
• CNK (Jun/Jul 79): Covers origins of man, anti-gravity, and UFO stories.
• MAGIC SAUCER (Jun/Jul 79): Features articles and reports from the Midlands.
• QUEST (Jun/Jul 79): Includes a full report on Lowestoft CE3 cases and cases from the USA and France.

New Books

Reviews of recent UFO-related books:

• "The UFONAUTS" by Hans Holzer: A paperback rehash of CE3 cases with some remarkable statements about 'intelligent beings' but lacking justification. Recommended for those who enjoy classic UFO stories.
• "LIFETIDE" by Lyall Watson: The fourth book in Watson's series on paranormal phenomena, focusing on UFOs and favouring the Vallee viewpoint, suggesting UFOs are produced by the subconscious.
• "The UNINVITED" by Clive Harold: A journalistic 'mystery story' about the South Wales escapades of contactee Pauline Coombs. It is described as entertaining but lacking ufological depth, and readers are advised to wait for Randall Jones-Pugh's book.

The section also mentions upcoming books by Randall Jones-Pugh ('The Dyfed Enigma'), Jenny Randles, and Frank Johnson.

Strangeness Ratings.... A Proposal by William Hayes of UAPROL

This section details a proposal by William Hayes for a system to objectively assess the strangeness of UFO cases. The system involves splitting cases into 'criteria' such as SHAPE, COLOUR, LUMINOSITY, SIZE, SPEED-MANOUEVERABILITY, SOUNDLESSNESS, MODE OF DISAPPEARANCE, and INSTRUMENTATION EFFECTS. Each criterion met earns one point, up to a maximum of 9 (SR - Strangeness Rating). A 'Witness Groupings' (WG) factor is calculated based on the number of independent groups reporting the phenomenon, and 'Witness Numbers' (WN) are also used. A 'Probability Rating of the Strangeness' is calculated by multiplying SR x WG x WN. The proposal invites comments from groups.

UFO Data: Low Definition Activity

This section lists and briefly describes several UFO sightings with limited detail:

• Ref 7960 (Jul 9): St Helens, Merseyside. Man and wife witness a steadily moving fuzzy bright white light heading NW.
• Ref 7961 (Jul 11): Rainhill, Merseyside. Fuzzy orange ball seen moving slowly SW for 3 minutes by a single male witness.
• Ref 7962 (Aug 6): Winsford, Cheshire. Seven witnesses saw W LITS moving slowly towards NE, changing to deep red.
• Ref 7963 (Aug 15): Bolton, Gtr Manchester. Two children saw a white streak of light (lightning) with W LITS passing from cloud to cloud.

Case 7957 "The Stars that moved"

Investigated by Mark & Graham Birdsall. A 31-year-old textile worker in Morley, W. Yorks, reported seeing a star-like object appear, hover, and move on Jan 5th. Later, he heard a generator-like noise, and about six 'plotted' stars streaked out of sight. On Jan 5th night, a huge dark mass with two orange lights and many white lights underneath was seen, estimated to be 30 feet away. On Jan 26th, a brilliant star 'exploded with white streamers', forming a 'black hole' which then disappeared, leaving three 'e-shaped' lights. On Feb 11th, two orange lights were seen near Kirkstall Power Station, which descended, hovered, and vanished. Investigators found no reason to doubt the witness's sincerity.

UFO Data: Medium Definition Activity

This section details sightings with more descriptive information:

• Ref 7344 (Oct 06): Hazel Grove, Gtr Manchester. An engineer and 30 others observed two amber ovals changing shape and moving randomly in the sky for five minutes. No sound was reported. Size was about the full moon.
• Ref 78-233 (Oct 8): Bangor, Gwynedd. A police constable and his fiance observed a yellow fuzzy oval over Anglesey, moving slowly for 5 minutes, the size of a 2p piece at arm's length, which vanished into thin air. This report is linked to case 78-143.

Case 6616 "The Supersonic barrage-balloon!"

Investigated by Mark & Graham Birdsall. A young woman driving a car in North Yorkshire in Summer 1966 encountered a grey metal balloon-like object with flickering lights hovering over a bridge. It spanned the bridge width and hovered for 2-3 minutes before shooting away at terrific speed.

Case 6812 "Another Teenage Witness"

Investigated by Martin Keatman (UFORA). Occurred around November 1968 in Trentham, Staffs. A 24-year-old woman, Debra Nithsdale, heard a loud noise and saw a classic UFO-shaped object hovering above trees. It was estimated to be 40 feet high with an angular dimension of about 1½ feet at arms length, made of shiny metal with a real diameter of about 10 feet. It had a flat base with a shallow hat-shaped dome, a row of white lights that flashed on and off, and no windows. The object shot away to the northeast with tremendous acceleration. The witness also claimed to have smelt her dead grandmother's perfume and seen a glass fly through a window without being touched. The case is rated RCM = 8 M,S.

Case 78-237 "Shape changing sausage at Stone"

Investigated by Maryin Keatman (UFORA). Occurred on October 7, 1978, near Stone. A witness spotted a yellow sausage-shaped object at a 15-degree elevation. It was half the size of the full moon with several brighter yellow areas. As the witness approached, the object remained stationary for about 40 seconds before being replaced by a series of lights at a 30-degree elevation with a green base and red dome. The mass moved off south, climbing to a 45-degree elevation. The case is classified as Insufficient Data (RCM= 8 M,S).

Case 78-238 "UFO watches fireworks display"

Investigated by Martin Keatman (UFORA). Occurred at Wolverhampton on November 5th. Two people saw a ball of solid light glowing pink, moving slowly towards them at a 70-degree elevation. Its apparent size was like the full moon, but estimated real size was small, like a football. A beam of light was projected from its base, which was conical and solid. One witness looked into the beam, and another saw it strike the ground. The object moved away northwards, accelerating rapidly. Duration was 4 minutes. This case is compared to case 78-150 (Dec 78 NUN) and a report from a psychic woman in Wolverhampton.

Almost a Perfect Case

Investigated by Brian Fishwick (MIGAP/MUFORA). Occurred on June 18, 1979, in Crank, Merseyside. A 14-year-old girl, Victoria Clark, and her mother observed a yellow/gold vertical strip of light over trees. They photographed the phenomenon with an Instamatic and an SLR camera, but the film showed only trees, skyline, and cloud, with no UFO visible. Liverpool ATC reported no unusual air traffic. The cause of the phenomenon is listed as UNKNOWN (Case 7959, 6 M,P,S, Level A).

Multi-Witness Phenomena at Leicester

Investigated by William Hayes (MED/CE1, UAPROL). Occurred on September 12, 1978, in Leicester. This event involved 5 phases and 17 witnesses, reminiscent of the East Lothian sightings. Objects seen were described as a red light, an orange rugby ball, and a red object with flashing lights. Witnesses attempted to photograph the objects, but they were not visible on the film. One witness described an object as reddish-orange oval, about 20 feet wide and 16 feet high, which caused a feeling of being 'in a daze' and 'floating on air' before vanishing. The case is rated Level A/B.

Total Reports

A summary of the reported cases: 14 total reports, with 7 classified as Insufficient Data, 1 as Aircraft, 1 as Lightning, and 5 (36%) as UFO.

Skywatch

UFO INTERNATIONAL is holding a skywatch on the night of September 22-23. NUFON groups interested in participating are asked to contact Terry Haper.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes the importance of networking and cooperation within the UK ufology community. The editorial highlights the challenges and potential benefits of forming a unified British UFO Network, expressing a preference for collaboration over competition. There is a clear focus on data collection and analysis, as evidenced by the 'Strangeness Ratings' proposal and the detailed reporting of UFO sightings. The magazine also serves as a crucial platform for reviewing other UFO publications and books, indicating a commitment to keeping its readership informed about the broader ufological landscape. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious optimism regarding organizational developments, advocating for transparency and inclusivity in the formation of new UFO bodies.