OVNI - 1997 11 - November-December

Magazine Overview

Title: OVNI
Issue: Nov/Dec
Volume: 1997
Publisher: Phenomenon Research Association
Type: Bi-monthly Newsletter

Editorial Decision: Transition to Bi-Monthly Publication

The editorial team of OVNI has decided to change the publication frequency from quarterly to bi-monthly. This decision was driven by the fast-changing UFO scene and the desire to keep readers informed about the continuing developments in the UFO arena. The newsletter acknowledges that 'a week is a long time in politics,' but suggests it is an even longer time in the field of UFO research.

Intense Activity Along the East Coast

Investigator David Dane reports significant UFO activity along the East Coast of the UK, particularly in the Lowestoft, Hopton-on-Sea, and Oulton Broads areas of Suffolk. Witnesses have described "Astonishing and mind-blowing" video footage, including a giant 'Flying Triangle' and other UFO craft observed on multiple occasions. Some reports detail UFOs entering and leaving the sea, and lights seen beneath the water. An unconfirmed report from Ron West of the Essex UFO Group mentions a fishing boat and its occupants disappearing off the coast near Orford Ness. Strange events have also been reported in Thetford Forest. David Dane believes there is interaction between witnesses and alien intelligence, with one witness experiencing paranormal activity. He suggests a plan is unfolding, with events occurring rapidly.

One witness who captured spectacular UFO video footage is unwilling to release it, reportedly seeking a monetary deal from the media, which the PRA finds lamentable given their policy of free information exchange.

Your Editor's Mysterious Visitor!

On the night of October 1st, at 6:50 pm, the editor's next-door neighbour, an engineer at Rolls-Royce, witnessed a hovering UFO craft at Sinfin, Derby. The object, described as being about the size of a beer mat at arm's length, had a metallic silver top and bottom, with a central rotating band of vertical colored lights (green, blue, yellow, and red) moving clockwise. It emitted a bright whitish glow. The witness, who had not previously been interested in UFOs, was astounded. The craft moved away slowly at first, then rapidly in an 'S' like movement, disappearing skyward with a trail of light. The entire incident lasted about fifteen seconds.

The editor notes that they were indoors at the time and were unaware of the event, humorously suggesting the visitors left a 'calling card'. A sketch by the witness depicts a disc-like object with glowing bands.

Harpour Hill (Derbyshire's UFO Capital?)

Mike Wray explores Harpour Hill in Derbyshire, an area known for tales of strange lights, particularly around a quarry. He recalls stories from a local man named Jim about installations at the RAF Camp at Harpour Hill, described as concrete foundations with concrete linings, similar to above-ground swimming pools. Wray, with his background in the aviation industry, suggests these might be related to servicing or refuelling aircraft, noting the presence of pits around the bases. He also heard tales of rockets being stored there. Jim claimed to have seen lights emerging from the hill, dancing in the sky, and flying away rapidly. Jim has since passed away.

The camp was later sold off to the County Council. Years later, Wray was intrigued by reports of triangular UFO sightings in Derbyshire, which reminded him of Jim's stories. He discovered that Derbyshire Police had received reports of both a triangle and a black unmarked helicopter acting strangely in the area. The police could not trace the helicopter's source. Wray questions if Harpour Hill holds secrets and if it is connected to the triangular sightings.

Mysterious Light Near Minehead

On November 4th, 1997, Simon Bushell was driving home from Porlock to Luxborough, near Minehead, Somerset. Amidst mist, he saw a light descending, which split into three segments and landed on his car bonnet. The car's engine, headlights, and radio cut out. The light remained on the bonnet for about five minutes before disappearing. Subsequently, the car's radio and lights came back on, and the car restarted. Bushell later discovered his dashboard clock had also stopped. He also learned that his watch was five minutes slow. The Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton reported no activity in the area at that time. The article notes that engine and electrical failures are common in close encounter cases and raises questions about time manipulation by aliens, citing other cases where time seemed to stand still or rain stopped abruptly.

Bradford 'FT' Spotted on 10th November

Caroline Needham reports a sighting near Bradford, West Yorkshire. A friend and his wife were woken by a barking dog and observed a large, boomerang-shaped object shining with a very bright creamy white light, accompanied by a smaller round ball of light. The objects hovered for about five minutes before turning off like a light bulb. The witnesses watched from their house in Undercliffe, noting the objects were over moorland towards Denholme and Haworth, areas with modern windmill generators. Despite a clear night, no noise was heard. A cloud or mist seemed to surround the boomerang object as it went down to the ground. The witnesses did not wish to fill out a formal report.

UFO Investigations & Research Unit (U.F.O.I.R.U.) Sighting Report

An 11-year-old boy, Peter Scutt, reported a triangular-shaped UFO hovering in the skies near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on February 25th. While driving home with his friend David Evans, Peter saw what he initially thought was a star or comet, but realized it was triangular. The object stopped and hovered, displaying two white lights at opposing corners. David Evans saw a burst of flame from the rear, and the triangle moved off with a roaring sound, described as not like a jet engine. It traveled with its flat edge forward, like a 'stealth bomber flying backwards'. The altitude was difficult to determine, but Peter stated it was very large. The sighting lasted approximately five minutes, around 10:30 pm. David Evans was not interviewed due to personal problems unrelated to the sighting.

Skywatch Diary

News From 'The Islander' Gulf Breeze, Florida, U.S.A. by Carole Baker

Kim, a resident of Pace, Florida, reacted strongly to a computer graphic of a sighting published in 'The Islander' newspaper, confirming she had seen a similar phenomenon. While fishing with her husband near Pensacola on September 7th, 1997, at around 10:00 p.m., she observed seven or eight bright, spotlight-like objects in a row, slanted at a steep angle, which disappeared instantly. She described them as being about an inch to an inch and a half long at arm's length. Her husband initially dismissed it, but the newspaper article validated her experience.

Steve Doherty reports a daylight sighting by his mother-in-law near the New Hampshire border. She saw a 'cardboard colored rectangle' in the sky, which, upon closer inspection, appeared to shrink to a line and then collapse from top to bottom.

A sighting from Grand Bay, Alabama, on August 26th, involved an unusual orange pulsating light moving slowly across a clearing. It was observed for about five minutes before disappearing. This sighting was later linked to a similar report in the Mobile Press Register on September 9th, describing a large red, glowing object floating over Ladd Stadium.

Texas Sighting

Doug from Cedar Creek, Texas, reported seeing a 'speck' on October 1st, initially like a large star, moving east to west. It then became the size of half a dime and ascended at a forty-five-degree angle, reducing in size until it disappeared. Doug conjectures it was an object flying at high altitude that then used a rocket to enter outer space rapidly. This sighting is noted as occurring on the same night as other anomalous lights were reported.

Florida Sighting Revisited

Kim from Pace, Florida, reported another experience. On September 7th, while driving with her husband and friends near Pensacola, she saw three large, bright yellow lights in a triangle shape. They disappeared and reappeared. Later, near Avalon Beach, a huge fireball appeared in the sky, moving and much larger than a quarter at arm's length. It blinked off suddenly. Many people witnessed this fireball, and it caused a significant reaction.

Earthquake in Lower Alabama

A 4.9mg earthquake occurred in Escambia County, Alabama, on October 24th, 1997, lasting approximately four seconds. Its epicenter was forty miles east-southeast of Jackson, Alabama. A previous quake of 3.1mg occurred in Flomoton, Alabama, on May 4th. These are the only recorded quakes in the area since 1916, with the USGS only recording quakes of 3.5mg and above.

The Evening Sky - November 1997

This column, by Walter Berg, discusses astronomical observations for November 1997. It highlights the Great Square of Pegasus as a guide to stars like Jupiter, Capella, Saturn, and Vega. The planetary display includes Venus and Mars in the southwest, Jupiter in the south, and Saturn in the southeast, with Mercury becoming visible at the end of the month. The Leonids meteor shower is mentioned, with its 33-year cycle peak approaching in 1999, and the current year's conditions are noted as poor due to a bright moon. The Cassini spacecraft launch and its seven-year journey to Saturn, with the Huygens lander destined for Titan, are detailed. The Mars Pathfinder lander also carried names of space enthusiasts. The column touches on the scientific consensus that the Moon formed 4.5 billion years ago from debris ejected by a colossal impact on Earth. It also discusses the MIR space station, its 11 years of successful operation, and its role in preparing for the international space station. The author emphasizes the importance of vision, adventure, and accepting risk in exploring new worlds, stating that 'to go boldly where no one has gone before is what it means to be human.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of OVNI are diverse UFO sightings across the UK and USA, including aerial phenomena, lights, and unusual craft shapes like triangles and boomerangs. There is a focus on witness accounts, the potential for interaction with non-human intelligence, and the unexplained effects associated with these encounters (e.g., electrical disturbances, time anomalies). The newsletter also covers related topics such as government interest (intelligence officers interviewing witnesses), the challenges of obtaining evidence (witnesses seeking monetary deals), and the role of organizations like the PRA in disseminating information. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, encouraging witness reports and sharing information freely, while also acknowledging the scientific and astronomical aspects of space exploration. The inclusion of the 'Evening Sky' column suggests an interest in broader space-related topics beyond just UFOs.

This document, titled "NEWS FROM OUR COLLEAGUE IN GUATEMALA," focuses on a significant UFO sighting reported by Dr. Oscar Rafael Padilla Lara. The issue includes detailed accounts of the sighting, related UFO phenomena, and upcoming events in the UFO research community.

Great Triangular-Pyramid Space Ship

Dr. Oscar Rafael Padilla Lara recounts an experience on Saturday, August 23, 1997, at 19:45 hours, while on kilometer 27.5 of the highway running from Guatemala City to El Salvador, near the village of Santa Elena Barillas. Accompanied by his wife, Telma Aracely Santizo Franco, and their young children, Giordana Desirée (3 years, 11 months) and Milkah Fiorella (2 years, 6 months), they observed a remarkable aerial phenomenon.

While driving his Suzuki four-wheel vehicle, Dr. Padilla Lara noticed a large, triangular-pyramid-shaped spacecraft. He describes it as being in line with the "Agua" Volcano, approximately thirty-five kilometers away. The object was perceived to be about two meters long, but he estimated its actual length to be around 300 meters, with an altitude no higher than 3,000 meters.

The object was characterized by three very strong red lights at each corner, each about as big as the sun. The shape was considered a geometric figure, an isosceles triangle. At times, the lights became stronger and exhibited a swaying movement, indicating it was a single object, not three separate ones. The pyramidal shape was attributed to one side being higher than the other two, which were horizontally below. These lights appeared to be connected by thin ropes covered with lights. A smaller light flashed from the upper part every three minutes.

The observation lasted for about 20 minutes. Dr. Padilla Lara noted that the experience was significant enough to include in his book of personal experiences, classifying it as one of 13 triangular objects observed in Guatemala, and the best one he has seen.

During the observation, Dr. Padilla Lara attempted to contact others via radio transmitter, including Mr. Miguel Alfredo Aguilera and Mr. Andelino Hernandez, who are interested in UFO phenomena. He also tried to contact the Maya Tecun base of channel 32, part of the 11 meter band association of Radio Club 25. However, there was too much interference, preventing communication. He speculates that the triangular pyramid flying object might have been the cause of this interference.

Tale Enders

This section presents several brief reports on UFO-related incidents and news:

• An Amazing Revelation: A meeting in 1954 between an Alien named 'Janus' and Squadron Leader Peter Horsley is mentioned, with details to be published in the memoirs of Air Marshall Sir Peter Horsley.
• The M25 Visited by an 'FT': On Monday, July 14, 1997, between 11:45 pm and 12:15 am, a witness and his fiancé spotted an object with a bright light on the front hovering over Junction 29 on the M25. A 'humming' sound was reported, and the object's behavior suggested it was 'looking for something'. This report is sourced from Ron West Essex UFO Research Group.
• Grim Outlook: A woman from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, claims to be constantly abducted and resorts to tying herself in bed with a rope. A full report is promised for the next issue of OVNI (Jan/Feb 98).
• UFORM (Stourbridge): Omar Fowler gave a talk on 'UFO's Past & Present'. During a break, a member recounted an experience near Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, where he and his wife saw 'matchstick figures with big heads' running from Aliens in their headlights.
• 'FT' Spotted in Western Oklahoma: On Saturday, October 4th, at 7:15 pm, Elk City Police observed a large, bright, roughly triangular object with a hole in the center. Another UFO appeared at 7:35 pm above the first. This report is sourced from Paul Whitehead & UFO Roundup Oct. 12th, 1997.

Next Meeting

A meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 27th at 8 pm at the Royal British Legion in Derby. The guest speaker will be Tony Weaver, who has recently returned from a visit to Area 51 Nevada and will share his experiences with a color slide presentation. The cost is £1 for non-members.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around direct UFO sightings, particularly unusual shapes like triangular pyramids, and encounters with alleged extraterrestrial beings. There is a focus on eyewitness accounts and the reporting of these phenomena through various UFO research groups and publications. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious reporting and investigation into UFOs, encouraging public engagement through meetings and sharing of experiences. The inclusion of multiple brief reports under "Tale Enders" suggests a broad interest in diverse UFO-related events.