Northern UFO News - No 80

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFOLOGY
Issue: 80
Date: January 1981
Publisher: Northern UFO Network (NUFON)
Country: United Kingdom
Price: £3.60 for 12 issues
Cover Headline: UFOS EXIST BECAUSE?.....

Editorial: WHAT'S THIS?... EPIC UFOLOGY c/o THE BBC:

The editorial section discusses the BBC-1 TV play "The Flip-side of Dominic Hide," screened on December 9. The play is praised as a breath of fresh air compared to previous UFO-themed television productions. While not explicitly about ufology, it's described as a humorous and touching science-fiction saga that explores trans-temporal travel. The play's premise involves using "flying saucers" to travel into the past for study, with strict rules against landing. It weaves in details about how time travelers might become 'ufonauts' and touches upon the consequences of breaking rules, referencing a story about a traveler named Tom Cochran who landed in Ohio in 1955. The editorial highlights the play's brilliant execution, plausible depiction of the future world of 2130, and its insightful presentation of the 'time travel hypothesis' for UFO sightings. The author expresses a personal bias towards this hypothesis, finding it a compelling explanation for why 'aliens' resemble humans, their interest in minor details, and the consistent nature of sightings throughout history. The article concludes that the play, intentionally or not, has served ufology by bringing attention to this concept.

NEWS

Joint Meeting: A significant event is announced for February 7, 1981: the first joint meeting between all British UFO groups, bringing together the northern network (NUFON) and southern counterparts (MAUFOG) in Birmingham. The meeting is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm at the Birmingham Midland Institute and Conference Centre. Attendees are urged to make an effort to be represented.

NUFON Conference: As of January 1981, no group has yet offered to host the 1981 NUFON conference. The success of the October event in Birmingham, which focused on CE4 cases, has led to requests for similar future events. The idea of basing conferences on specific themes, such as 'UFOs - THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,' is being considered. Future conferences will be organized by a committee.

NUFON Administrative Panel: A NUFON administrative panel has been formed, consisting of Jenny Randles, Peter Warrington (MUFORA), Syd Henley, and Les Hall (NUFOIS). This panel will oversee organization and planning, in conjunction with the group hosting the next conference.

Northern Groups Directory: Appeals for updated group details for a 1981 directory have received a poor response. Groups are urged to send their address, equipment, policies, and membership strength.

Ted Horton: Ted Horton, former UFOSIS investigations coordinator, has temporarily left ufology due to personal problems. Communications for UFOSIS should now be directed to the address provided in the news section.

Film Release: Readers are advised to watch the new film 'HANGAR 18,' a fictional thriller loosely based on Len Stringfield's articles about crashed saucers, cover-ups, and alien bodies. While the film is described as well-dramatized, its claim of being 'TRUE' is met with skepticism.

UFO Identification Articles: The magazine mentions a short series of articles by the editor on UFO identification and notes a request from a non-English speaker for information on obtaining the 'FLYING SAUCE REVIEW.'

• ELSEWHERE THIS MONTH: Brief mentions of other UFO publications and their contents are provided:
• MAGONIA 5: Features conspiracy theories and a CE4 case.
• SKYWATCH 38: Includes an article on psychological disturbance, 'psychic' UFO reports, and a review of the NUFON Oct 11 conference.
• MAGIC SAUCER 12: Covers children's sightings and stories.
• NORTHERN EARTH MYSTERIES 10: Focuses on Atlantis, earth energies, and stone circles.
• PEGASUS (SIGAP): Reports on a CE3 at a children's home.
• PROBE 3: A glossy magazine with articles by Arthur Shuttlewood and others, including physical traces, CE4 cases, and misidentifications.
• GUERNSEY UFO RESEARCH GROUP: Provides news on activity in the Channel Islands.

UFO BOOKS 1980

• This section reviews UFO books published in the UK during 1980, noting a significant development in fictional ufology. Books mentioned include:
• MIRACLE VISITORS by Ian Watson (Panther): Praised as a terrific sci-fi story with a new theory on contacts and regression.
• GODS OF AQUARTUS by Brad Steiger (Panther): Described as a look at contactee messages and the new age.
• ALIEN ANIMALS by Janet & Colin Bord (Granada): A collection of alien animal encounters related to UFOs.
• HARMONIC 33 and HARMONIC 695 by Bruce Cathie (Sphere): Considered old hat and unconvincing regarding a UFO-grid system.
• BLACKPOOL VANISHES by Richard Francis (Panther): A satirical sci-fi book.
• UFO-UK by Peter Paget (NEL): A catalogue of UK UFO sightings.
• UFO HANDBOOK by Allen Hendry (Sphere): A superb analysis of IFO cases, described as essential reading.
• THE INTERRUPTED JOURNEY by John Fuller (Souvenir): An updated account of the Betty and Barney Hill saga.
• GENESIS by W.A. Harbinson (Corgi): A novel about UFO investigators.
• THE UFO PHENOMENON by Johann Von Buttlar (Star): Criticized as a rip-off.
• THE JANOS PEOPLE by Frank Johnson (Spearman): An interesting story but lacking analysis.
• PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE UNKNOWN by Bob Rickard & Richard Kelly: Features Fortean photographs.
• THE UFO ENCYCLOPEDIA by Ron Story: A comprehensive reference tool with contributions from leading ufologists.
• ALIEN INTELLIGENCE by Stuart Holroyd (Abacus): Deals with other forms of intelligent life on Earth.

The section notes that 1981 is already seeing new book releases.

UFOS EXIST BECAUSE?.... (1)

Brian Fishwick argues that the existence of UFOs is supported by the fact that people need something to believe in, akin to a belief in God. He posits that there is more concrete proof for UFOs than for God. Fishwick draws evidence from the Bible, citing Genesis where it states "God made man in his own image" and "The sons of GOD came down to earth and took them women of earth for their wives," suggesting these passages imply beings resembling humans and multiple divine entities, thus supporting the idea of UFOs and superior beings.

UFOS EXIST BECAUSE?.... (2) Hilary Evans

Hilary Evans, UFO coordinator for the Society for Psychical Research, addresses the question of UFO reality. She states that conviction often requires personal experience, but intellectually, the question is whether UFOs possess objective reality. She acknowledges that many witnesses are competent and honest, but considers the possibility of misperceiving natural phenomena. Evans is not convinced by debunkers' explanations for the majority of cases. She focuses on the 'fourth seem' – whether witnesses, despite good faith, had an illusion of seeing something. She suggests that sightings might be mental constructs or psychological phenomena, but finds this explanation inadequate for many UFO cases, especially those with physical traces and multiple witnesses. She presents three cases as examples:

1. THE FARLOW CASE (Hampshire, England, 6 NOV 1967): A truck driver reported an egg-shaped object causing electrical failures in his truck and a vet's Jaguar. Substantial traces were found, and the road was later resurfaced.
2. THE PARTINGTON CASE (Gtr Manchester, 14 NOV 1977): Four passengers witnessed a massive dark object with curious lights that moved silently.
3. THE VOLVIC CASE (France, 6 JUNE 1975): School staff and pupils saw a luminous object like a flattened hat darting and reappearing.

Evans concludes that these cases, due to their "either-or" nature, suggest that witnesses either lied or saw something real enough to leave physical traces. She believes these cases provide sufficient grounds for believing that UFOs possess some kind of objective existence.

UFOS ARE REAL

Patricia Austin shares her personal experience and argues that UFOs exist because many people see them, experience them, and have their lives altered by these encounters. She notes the steady flow of reports globally and mentions that some scientists are beginning to consider objective research. She draws a parallel with ball lightning, which was eventually accepted by science after numerous reports.

UFOS EXIST BECAUSE? (3)

This section continues the discussion on the reality of UFOs. The author acknowledges that while many explanations exist (lightning, retinal images, etc.), resistance from science is breaking down. The author believes that the flow of UFO experiences will eventually lead to acceptance. The idea that UFOs are purely subconscious or dream-based is challenged by the observation that there must be an external stimulus. Citing Jacques Vallee's findings that UFO experiences are more likely in remote areas, the author suggests it's not solely a human brain function. The section also notes that UFO occupants display skills and use equipment that are ahead of current human advancement, citing examples like airship waves and telepathic communication. The author concludes that if UFOs are a product of the subconscious, then that subconscious must be drawing from advanced scientific thinking. The article also mentions the 'elephant effect' theory and the idea that only one civilization is needed to permeate the galaxy. The author believes UFO close encounters might be a side-effect of a pervasive influence, and that UFOs must really exist.

PROOF OR DELUSION?

Jenny Randles reflects on the reluctance of ufologists to directly address the question of UFO existence. She notes the rise of 'sceptical believers' and the tendency to dismiss evidence. Randles outlines her reasons for believing UFOs are real, distinguishing this from believing in a genuine phenomenon. She presents three logical arguments for a hypothetical super-skeptic:

1. Consistency of Reports: UFO reports are consistent in their basic essence across diverse geographical and social locations, suggesting a common underlying stimulus rather than purely psychological or sociological trends.
2. Consistent Responses: The phenomenon generates consistent psychological and physiological responses in both humans and animals, indicating a real stimulus.
3. Evidential Proof: While acknowledging the lack of definitive proof, Randles compares the photographic evidence for UFOs to that of lightning before it could be duplicated in a lab. She points to cases like the Peter Day movie film as evidence of something unknown.

Randles concludes that there is evidence highly suggestive of a physical enigma, but warns against overstressing interpretations of this evidence, which can deter scientific inquiry.

UFOS EXIST BECAUSE? (5) What the experts have to say.

Charles Bowen and Lord Clancarty offer their perspectives. Bowen cites the sheer volume of reports from diverse witnesses as evidence of a stimulus, noting that even illiterate individuals describe similar phenomena. He is impressed by radar/visual evidence from trained military sources. Lord Clancarty emphasizes the caliber of witnesses, many of whom are trained observers. He also points to the role of governments in concealing information and suggests that "the governments would not cover-up nothing."

UFOS EXIST BECAUSE? (5)...8

This section details numerous UFO sightings and encounters, categorized by location, date, and type (Level A, B, C, D). The entries include:

• LOW 6210 (November 1962, Rochdale): A boy saw a star split and rejoin.
• LOW 79-147 (November 1979, Weaverham): A couple saw a pulsing white light that hurt their eyes.
• MED 78-267 (June 1978, Birmingham): A security guard saw a yellow object like a full moon bobbing and moving rapidly.
• MED 79-145 (January 4 1979, Llay): Two men saw strange vibrating lights below Venus, which descended silently.
• MED 79-146 (October 1979, Lockerbie): A 19-year-old girl saw two oval objects, one of which approached her and her horse before speeding away.
• MED 8045 (September 28 1980, Bebington): A couple saw a slow-moving white ball.
• MED 8047 (November 27 1980, Barnard Castle): Two women and a man in a car were followed by a dark dome with red lights.
• CEI PSYCHO (October 31 1980, Crookham): An 18-year-old man saw yellow and white lights on a disc that hovered and silenced the area.

Each entry includes an evaluation of the data (e.g., Insuff data, Eval: STAR, Eval: Possible aircraft).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the assertion that "UFOs Exist." The magazine consistently presents arguments, eyewitness accounts, and analyses of cases to support this claim. The editorial stance is clearly pro-ufology, encouraging discussion and investigation into the phenomenon. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of credible witness testimony and physical evidence, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by skepticism and the need for scientific inquiry. The issue also highlights the role of ufological organizations in the UK and promotes upcoming events and publications within the field.