Northern UFO News - No 83

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFOLOGY
Issue: 83
Volume: 3
Date: April 1981
Publisher: Northern UFO Network (NUFON)
Country: United Kingdom
Price: £3.60 pa

This issue of Northern UFology, a publication of the Northern UFO Network, focuses on the intriguing concept of "Window Areas" – locations that consistently generate a high volume of UFO reports. The cover features a sketch of a tower surrounded by UFOs within a swirling vortex, with the headline "WINDOW AREAS - What are they??".

Editorial: Hello Universe....Of Goodbye?

The editorial reflects on the BBC's Horizon program on SETI ('Hello Universe'), noting its brief mention of UFOs and the common human desire to believe in extraterrestrial intelligence. The editor recounts declining an invitation to appear on the program, finding the premise of presenting evidence for UFOs in a mere thirty seconds to be impossible. The editorial critiques the 'ETH' (Extraterrestrial Hypothesis) as potentially naive, questioning assumptions about alien recognition and communication methods. It suggests that the universe is vast and our understanding limited, and that advanced civilizations might use methods beyond radio telescopes for contact.

Articles and Features

1) TIMEWARPS - WINDOW AREAS:- What are they?? by Geoff Grundill

Geoff Grundill explores the nature of 'Window Areas,' proposing they could be warped areas of time and space, or 'black holes' that suck in or release anti-matter. He suggests UFOs might use these as signposts. Alternatively, he posits that natural events like the Earth's axis tilting could cause warped magnetic fields. He also considers the possibility that UFOs are projections of anti-matter or mirror images of ourselves from the future. The article references Dr. Paul Davies' book 'OTHER WORLDS' and mentions ongoing research in quantum physics.

2) THE PROBLEMS OF PUBLICITY, or ... Double-glazing for Window areas by Kevin McClure

Kevin McClure discusses how publicity, both national and local, plays a significant role in the perception and reporting of UFO sightings. He argues that media attention can create a 'snowball effect,' leading to increased reports, sometimes of misidentifications. McClure suggests that areas with more ufologists might appear to have more sightings due to this heightened awareness and reporting.

3) THE LUTON & DUNSTABLE FOCUS by Ken Phillips

Ken Phillips investigates why certain areas in the UK generate more UFO reports than others. He focuses on the Luton and Dunstable district, noting a cluster of well-attested reports dating back to 1957. He questions whether this is due to population density, press features, or an unknown terrestrial factor. He also compares this to Chingford, another 'window area,' and Enfield, a nearby area with fewer reports, suggesting that geographical features and human endeavor might play a role.

4) WINDOW AREAS: A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION by Granville Oldroyd & Ian Cresswell

Granville Oldroyd and Ian Cresswell confirm the existence of 'Window Areas,' defining them as localities with a disproportionately high number of reports over time, for both UFO activity and other psychical/paranormal incidents. They note that certain locations in the Morecambe Bay area and South Lakeland tend to generate more reports. They question whether this concentration is due to population density or a more deliberate process, suggesting that intelligence might be activating this energy for its own purposes. They propose that these areas act as 'psychic cinemas' where the UFO percipient is the viewer and the phenomenon is the screen.

5) U-FOCAL IF YOU WANT TO.... by Jenny Randles

Jenny Randles expresses her current position on 'UFOCAL/Window Area' phenomena, accepting that zones where UFO reports congregate exist (citing Warminster, Dyfed, and Clwyd as examples). However, she doubts that these areas are more than illusions generated by several factors. She posits that UFO reports gain public attention primarily through media or investigators. Randles argues that media coverage, especially local, can lead to a snowball effect of sightings, often including misidentifications. She suggests that areas with less media stimulus might have a higher proportion of genuine UFO sightings compared to those with significant media attention.

Case Studies:

The issue includes several case studies:

• CASE 8063 (May 15): A teacher returning home near Bidston, Wirral, reported a hovering white light that later resolved into an object with two rounded black cones emitting shimmering pink/red flames.
• CASE 8065 (Dec 30): Two men and an independent witness in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, saw a green oval object pass across the sky in an arc, likely a fireball meteor.
• CASE 8105 (Jan 26): An 11-year-old boy near Kingsley, Cheshire, reported a bright orange/red dish with white lights in the rim that shot across the sky very fast, causing nearby trees to rustle.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the exploration and explanation of "Window Areas" in UFOlogy. The articles collectively suggest that while genuine UFO phenomena may occur, the clustering of reports in specific locations can often be attributed to a combination of media influence, investigator activity, psychological factors, and potentially a more profound, yet unexplained, energy source linked to human consciousness. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, questioning simplistic explanations like the ETH and encouraging a deeper, more rational investigation into the nature of these phenomena. There is a clear skepticism towards sensationalism and a preference for evidence-based analysis, even while acknowledging the possibility of unknown factors at play.

This issue of "NORTHERN UFOLOGY" (issue number 10) focuses on a detailed account of a UFO sighting and encounter experienced by a man named Mario near Kendal, Cumbria, on November 21, 1980. The report, summarized from an NLUFOIG report by Gordon Barraclough and Ian Cresswell, highlights the witness's background and the specifics of the event.

The Luis Contact Experience

The central figure, Mario, is a 36-year-old mill-worker, formerly in the army, with a reputation as a local character who is well-liked and not prone to fabricating stories. He lives in Burneside, Cumbria, with his family and is writing a book about the local countryside. On the evening of November 21, 1980, at 20:15, despite pouring rain and wind, Mario was walking near his home. He noticed an object by a tree, initially mistaking it for a cow or sheep-shelter. Upon closer inspection, using a yellow plastic battery lantern, he saw a craft hovering about three feet off the ground. The object was described as stone grey, resembling a squashed helicopter or airplane, with a dark glass canopy and emitting no light. It bore strange insignia on the front and rear, near a tail fin. Its dimensions were estimated at 16 feet long and 8 feet wide.

Mario observed a door and a step underneath the craft. He then heard a squelching sound and saw footsteps. When he shone his lantern towards the source, a sudden flash of bright light emanated from a pencil-like object held by a female occupant. This light struck the lantern, smashing its glass and warping the metal reflector, which fell at his feet. Mario felt no force or recoil and remained in shock.

The occupants were described as about 5'6" tall, wearing dark, one-piece suits with a broad middle belt. They had pale, beautiful faces and blonde, page-boy style hair. The woman had a feminine figure and wore a dark cape. A puzzling aspect for the witness was that, despite the heavy rain and wind, neither the occupants nor their suits or hair appeared wet or out of place.

The woman spoke to Mario in perfect English, stating they had come in peace and he should not be afraid. She also instructed him not to reveal the markings on the craft, which were also present as a badge or emblem on their suits. Mario felt paralyzed in his legs but could move the rest of his body. The entities then entered the craft, which lifted vertically and vanished into the clouds, reappearing as a blue/white glow before disappearing completely.

Aftermath and Investigation

Mario, after regaining mobility, ran home and reported the incident to the police. A neighbor informed the press. His wife confirmed that he was white and shaking, and he suffered from nervousness, sleeplessness, stomach pains, and shock symptoms for several days, largely staying indoors for weeks.

Psychological tests were conducted on Mario, and he was found to be normal, though his belief in UFOs was strengthened, leading him to plan his book. He believes the entities come from space.

The damaged lantern was analyzed by police forensic experts for UFOIN, who concluded the damage could have been caused by a blowlamp. Further tests using an identical lantern type were underway with a professional electrical engineer. The site was analyzed by NLUFOIG, but no traces were found.

Recently, Mario contacted a MUFORA investigator (a solicitor who video-taped an interview) and asked for help finding a publisher, indicating he was ready to reveal the craft's markings. The case was ongoing, with a full report promised for publication in FSR.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue highlights the detailed reporting of UFO sightings and encounters, emphasizing witness testimony, physical evidence (the damaged lantern), and subsequent investigation by ufology organizations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, presenting cases with a focus on factual reporting and analysis, while also acknowledging the psychological impact on witnesses and the potential for future revelations, such as Mario's planned book and the disclosure of craft markings.