OVNI - 1994 08 - August

Magazine Overview

This is the August 1994 issue of the newsletter "<OVNI>", published by the Phenomenon Research Association (PRA). The PRA is led by Omar Fowler and based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK. The issue is priced at £1 for non-members and free for members.

Crop Circles Galore!

The lead article, "CROP CIRCLES GALORE!", discusses the abundance of crop circle designs appearing in Wiltshire during the 'season'. It references John Macnish's video 'Revelations,' which suggests the possibility of an overall intelligence behind the formations. The video reportedly discloses that large, illuminated balloons with controlled flashing lights, released at night over Wiltshire fields, could explain many of the strange sights. However, the video does not address all phenomena, such as a 'glowing tube of light' or a small silver ball observed over wheat fields, which might be an observation vehicle. The article notes that some academics believe there is an underlying mystery to crop circles. The issue includes aerial photographs by Busty Taylor and ground shots by PRA members Tony and Claire Upton, along with a review by Pat Delgado of John Macnish's 'Revelations' video.

Circle Vision: Crop Circle Communique 2

This section, authored by P. Delgado, critiques the introduction of the 'Revelations' video, finding it similar to previous documentaries and not warranting special comment. It suggests that the crop circle competition coverage fairly showed that crops can be flattened into patterns by manual means, implying that a determined hoaxer can create patterns that meet the criteria for 'genuine' circles. The author acknowledges the existence of hoaxers and the role of practice. Dr. Robin Allen of the Wessex Sceptics is cited regarding details of circle making, such as braiding and layering of crop stems, which Dr. Terence Meaden had suggested could not be man-made without specialized study. The article posits that inexplicable circles might be caused by unknown energies capable of functions beyond human understanding. It dismisses the recording of humans making crop circles at night as insignificant, highlighting the lengths some people go to for attention. Ken Brown's implication that kinked stalks are a natural occurrence is mentioned, with the author suggesting that inexplicable circles might indeed be 'just one of those things that happen'. The article reiterates the belief in a basic phenomenon of simple crop circles appearing for thousands of years. It questions the motivating power behind crop patterns and suggests psychological research into how inexplicable means and energies might work through humans. The video is deemed fairly well produced for Macnish's purposes, despite interspersed familiar scenes. The author notes John Macnish's courage in making a 'complete U turn' from his 1990-1991 documentaries to his most recent one, attributing it to a powerful driving force.

Photographs are included with captions: "LOCKERIDGE Wilts. Crop Wheat 19 June 94" (Photo: Busty Taylor) and "AVEBURY "Avenue" Wilts. Crop: Wheat Date Formed: 30 June 94 The "Galaxy" situated at the south of the avenue below tumuli. "Tails" tightly curved. Note 'grapeshot'. Farmer rotovated centre of circle and destroyed crop. O/D of circle approx. 200'. Photo: Tony & Claire Upton" and "Wilsford, Wiltshire (Devizes Rd.) July 94 Photo: Tony & Claire Upton". Further photographs are captioned "West Kennet 10-7-94 Photo: Busty Taylor" and "Barbury Castle 7-7-94 Photo: Busty Taylor".

Another School Surveillance Case

This section details a report from G.R. Myers regarding a sighting of a hazy light in Burton Joyce, Notts., on June 8th, 1994. However, an earlier incident from Mr. Myers' childhood is presented as more fascinating. When he was seven or eight years old, at Rise Park Junior School in Nottingham (approximately eighteen years prior to the report), he remembers a 'silver egg' shaped UFO hovering over the school playground. He recalls being told that a satellite was going to fall that day. The object was described as a beautiful, unblemished silver egg, making no noise. It moved away very fast and silently. All the children and staff witnessed it, but no one spoke of it afterwards, which the witness finds strange.

A sketch accompanies the report, illustrating the object moving off, and depicting the school playground with a fence and a 'Rise pole Junior School'.

U.F.O. Sighting Report......December 15th 1987

This report details a 'Close Encounter of the First Kind' witnessed by Mr. F and at least four friends in 1987. After a 3-hour memory block, Mr. F became excited and contacted local radio, newspapers, and the airport, but found no interest. The local police station and the Ministry of Defence were contacted. Two weeks later, Mr. F spent five hours with a 'Sightings Co-ordinator' from the National UFO Investigation Network, providing a report and a drawing of the 'Mothership'. The sighting was described as a quarter of a mile long, with dull pastel green and yellow static lights, travelling at around 2,000ft and 50mph from Weston on Trent towards Kegworth. The object was moving slowly with a low frequency humming noise. An encouraging aspect was learning that a local couple in Long Eaton had made an almost identical sketch and reported smaller objects moving in and out of the craft. The object was described as blotting out stars in the shape of a large Gothic style letter 'T'.

A detailed breakdown of the sighting is provided: Visibility: Clear to Infinity, Weather: Cold & Dry, Time: 5:30pm on 15/12/87, Location: Castle Donington. Object: Colour Black against dark sky, Height: About 2,000 ft, Speed: 50mph, Sound: Low frequency hum, Lights: 2 rows pastel green + yellow all static, Direction: South, Angle: About 60deg, Size: 12 inches wide (arms length), Duration: 3 to 4 minutes. The comment states the object appeared to be following national grid power lines between Castle Donington Power Station and Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station.

A drawing of the object observed by Mr F and friends is included.

Tale Enders

This section contains several short items. The Canadian UFO Network has sent an abduction report concerning Mrs Betty Stewart Dagenais of Ontario, detailing five encounters from 1925 to 1979, including being floated into a craft and having an implant removed. The tissue was examined but found to be unusual.

'ELITE FILES' are mentioned, referring to the Captain Mantell incident, claiming his plane was hit by a 'beamship' and crashed, explaining his missing body. The editor comments that Captain Mantell's Mustang aircraft was likely investigating a 'skyhook' balloon and crashed due to flying above the maximum permissible height without oxygen. The editor assures readers that diving from such a height would result in the aircraft being in small pieces.

The 'ELITE FILES' also claim Jenny Randles is a government agent, Budd Hopkins is an informer, and Phillip Mantle does not believe in UFOs. The editor expresses disappointment with the 'ELITE paper'.

A query from a reader asks about cigar-shaped UFOs over Derby in the 1950s.

Busty Taylor is announced to be speaking at the Cricklade Theatre, Andover, on Tuesday, September 27th.

A new journal, 'THE NEW UFOLOGIST', is advertised, with contributors including Paul Fuller, Jenny Randles, and Andy Roberts.

Details for 'THE UFO EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE' on October 8-9 in North Haven, Connecticut, USA, are provided, with speakers including Erich Von Daniken and George Fawcett.

A notice states there will be no meeting this month due to a holiday period.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are crop circles, UFO sightings, and abduction reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, acknowledging both potential hoaxes and genuine mysteries. While the magazine presents explanations for some phenomena, such as illuminated balloons for crop circles, it also emphasizes that not all questions are answered and that there may be underlying mysteries and unknown energies at play. There is a critical perspective on sensationalist or unsubstantiated claims, as seen in the dismissal of the 'ELITE FILES' and the editor's commentary on the Captain Mantell case. The PRA positions itself as a research organization, collecting and disseminating reports from witnesses and researchers.