<OVNI>

Magazine Overview

Title: <OVNI>
Issue: April 1992
Publisher: Phenomenon Research Association
Group Leader: Omar Fowler
Country of Publication: United Kingdom

This issue of the <OVNI> newsletter focuses heavily on the crop circle phenomenon, presenting a variety of reports, analyses, and related sightings from different parts of the world. It also includes updates on UFO activity, research, and upcoming events.

Crop Circle Reports and Investigations

German Hoaxes and Theories

The newsletter begins by addressing crop circles that appeared in a wheatfield near Keil, Germany on July 26th of the previous year. These formations, including circles, crosses, and semi-circles, have now been confirmed as hoaxes. North German television reported that four German students confessed to creating these patterns in ten fields, stating their intention was to demonstrate that they could replicate the English crop circles. A film was shown illustrating their method using planks to flatten the crops. Prior to this disclosure, Swiss author Erich Von Daniken had suggested to a German radio station that these symbols were attempts by aliens to contact Earth, describing them as 'Cosmic intelligence tests' rather than UFO landing sites.

Tokyo Tunnel Circles

In Tokyo, on March 24th, Professor Ohtsuki of Waseda University investigated small circles, approximately 1 inch in diameter, that had recently appeared on the walls of tunnels in the underground railway system. These were reported on Japanese Television, prompting warnings to the public against entering the tunnels. Professor Ohtsuki concluded that the circles were caused by plasma or hot and highly conductive ionised gas emanating from the high-voltage railway power lines.

Aerial Photography and Microwave Activity

An extraordinary aerial photograph of a large six-ring circle that appeared at Woodford, Northants, on August 24th, 1991, is reproduced in the April 1992 issue of Pat Delgado's Newsletter. The photograph, taken by the Milton Keynes Crop Circle Group, shows a circle with a diameter estimated to be around 430 feet. The PRA intends to reproduce this photograph in a future issue of <OVNI> if permission is granted. The newsletter also mentions research into microwave activity in Crop Circles, with "Busty" Taylor presenting findings at the CCCS AGM. Professor Archie E. Roy of Glasgow University commented that the PRA's work in this area is 'excellent'. This phenomenon of microwave activity in crop circles has been identified worldwide by researchers, and Taylor has supplied slides from Minnesota, USA, showing burn marks on maize stems.

Circles in Australia

A letter from John Clamp, dated March 10th, reports on crop circles heard on radio station SCK in Port Pirie, South Australia. The events occurred near the mining community of "Broken Hill", northeast of Adelaide. Radio reporter Jane Newland interviewed property owner Mr Ian Jackson, who discovered three circles in grassland. The first circle was described as 27 feet in diameter, with the vegetation bent outwards and the inside stems still green. Fifteen witnesses observed the discovery. Photographs and soil/vegetation samples were sent to a government department in Adelaide, but Mr Jackson is reportedly having difficulty retrieving his photographs. During the past month, numerous 'lights in the sky' have been observed in the "Broken Hill" area by station workers and shearers, including one light that circled a house. Another report describes a large orange-white light rising from the horizon and bobbing before disappearing. Mr Jackson noted that he would have investigated further if he had seen a landing.

Canadian Crop Circle Case (1980)

A report from the Canadian publication "Journal UFO" (March 1981) details a suspected UFO landing site in pastureland on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. A perfectly circular track, 21 feet 5 inches in diameter and 1-2 inches deep, was discovered. The track was 5-7 inches wide, with soil and vegetation thrown outwards. The ring was discovered around October 20, 1980, by Farquhar Anglin and Sam Debassige. Officer Keith Size examined the site and noted that the ring was still visible despite a few days of rain. A large boulder was found within the ring. No traces of anything being hauled into the area were found, and the phenomenon remained unexplained. Mr Size was informed by a local farmer of three similar rings discovered on his farm near Silverwater around 1964, with diameters of 45 feet and two smaller ones of 16 feet. Traces of radioactivity were detected in the soil, with higher readings from the surface and lower inside the trench. The cause of the ring remains unexplained.

Spanish Author's Interest and Easter Island

Your Editor visited Spanish author and media broadcaster Antonio Ribera in the mountains of Barcelona Province. Ribera, who has written over thirty books on UFOs, led a Spanish expedition to Easter Island in the mid-60s, including underwater exploration. He found answers regarding the fate of the missing "long ears" Island race and noted similarities between the Easter Island language and ancient Greek. Ribera studied the world-famous statues, describing how they were carved from pumice by island slaves. He discussed their movement with island natives, who explained they were pulled with ropes across wet seaweed, contrary to Erich Von Daniken's theories. Ribera interviewed Antonio Ribera on video in 1989. Ribera received an award from Jacques Causteau for his expedition. Currently recovering from an illness, Ribera was eager to discuss crop circles and intends to publish an article in a Spanish magazine on the PRA's work with burnt wheat stems and microwave activity.

Other News and Events

Tale Enders

Mark Hayward of the Mansfield UFO Group has postponed his talk on Ghost Hunting due to involvement in strange occurrences at a stately home in Nottinghamshire. Pat Delgado's new book, "Crop Circles: Conclusive Evidence," priced at £14.99, will be available in May and contains over 100 photographs. Autographed copies of "The Crop Circle Enigma" and crop circle postcards are also for sale. Jurgen Kronig investigated the crop circle nicknamed "The Brain" and "The Serpent" in Hungerford (August 1991), finding standing stems cut off at the top and blackened tops, suggesting authenticity. Prominent researcher Tony Dodd has left the "Quest International" UFO study group. The morning TV programme "This Morning" is scheduled to have a UFO "talk-in" on May 12th. Jeff Whitear has been plotting an increase in earthquake activity, noting that this was prior to the activity of Mount Etna and a large tremor in Germany. The newsletter lists reported earthquakes: 5 in 1989, 19 in 1990, and 28 in 1991, with a note to "hold onto your hat!" for 1992.

Manchester UFO Conference and Local Meeting

Readers are invited to exchange information with author and researcher Jenny Randles, who will be speaking at the Manchester UFO Conference on Saturday, April 25th. Tickets are £8 and available from Stuart Smith in Burnley. The next meeting of the Phenomenon Research Association will be held at the Stanley Club, Stanley Common, near Ilkeston, on Wednesday, April 22nd, at 8 pm. The meeting will feature a colour slide presentation of crop circle events worldwide, followed by a UFO feature. The new "Microdet" Microwave detector unit, invented by Paul Foster for field research in crop circles, will also be demonstrated. Non-members are welcome for a 50p entrance fee.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of <OVNI> demonstrates a strong focus on the crop circle phenomenon, presenting a mix of confirmed hoaxes, scientific investigations, and anecdotal reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, documenting various aspects of the phenomenon and encouraging further research, particularly into areas like microwave activity. The newsletter also maintains an interest in broader UFO sightings and unexplained events, as evidenced by the mention of earthquake activity and the upcoming UFO conference. The inclusion of international reports from Germany, Japan, Australia, and Canada highlights a global perspective on these subjects. The PRA positions itself as actively involved in investigating these phenomena, as indicated by their research into microwave activity and the upcoming demonstration of a new detection unit.