OVNI - 2008 03 - March-April

Magazine Overview

Title: OVNI
Issue: March/April 2008
Publisher: JOURNAL OF THE PHENOMENON RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Country: United Kingdom
Price: £2+pp UK: 4 Euros incl: pp

This issue of OVNI, 'The Journal for the discerning researcher', focuses on a variety of UFO and UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) reports and investigations from early 2008. It features a mix of eyewitness accounts, expert commentary, and research group updates, covering incidents in both the USA and the UK, as well as delving into the complex topic of alien abduction.

Dozens In Texas Town Report Seeing Huge UFO (Jan.08)

This article, sent in by Daniel Wilson and written by Angela K. Brown, details a significant wave of sightings in Stephenville, Texas, in January 2008. Several dozen people, including a pilot, county constable, and business owners, reported seeing a large, silent object with bright lights flying low and fast. Some witnesses described the object as being a mile long and half a mile wide, and noted that its lights changed configuration, unlike an airplane. Steve Allen, a freight company owner and pilot, stated it was "positively, absolutely nothing from these parts." Machinist Ricky Sorrells described a flat, metallic object hovering about 300 feet over a pasture. Maj. Karl Lewis, a spokesman for the 301st Fighter Wing, stated that no F-16s or other aircraft from their base were in the area, suggesting the sightings might be an illusion caused by commercial airplanes due to the sun's angle. Officials at two Air Force bases also confirmed no aircraft were in the area, and noted that the Air Force no longer investigates UFOs. The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) planned to investigate, with approximately 200 UFO sightings reported monthly, mostly in California, Colorado, and Texas. Erath County Constable Lee Roy Gaitan reported seeing red and white flashing lights moving fast, but could not see the object itself, describing it as "not an airplane, and I've never seen anything like it," speculating it might be military craft.

UFO Sightings Continue in Texas

This section includes two personal accounts from Texas. The first, originally posted by Judy Siracusa from a MUFON report, describes a sighting on January 7, 2008. The witness saw a big, bright, stationary light that then moved south in a straight line, appearing to follow a fence line and estimated to be the size of a big house. It had numerous lights, some colored and blinking, and made a sound like a displacement of air. The object then turned sharply and moved east very fast. The witness's neighbor also observed it. The second account, from a "Name withheld-MUFON submitter" dated January 26, 2008, describes a loud object like a helicopter flying low and circling for about 30 minutes. The object had five lights on its underbelly in an irregular pattern. The witness experienced a severe headache during and after the event. When contacting the police, the dispatcher mentioned looking for someone but seeing nothing, and later claimed no knowledge of the event, which the witness found odd.

UFO ACTIVITY ALSO ON THE INCREASE IN THE U.K.

This section compiles several reports from the United Kingdom. Eileen Fletcher from Bamford, Nr Sheffield, reported seeing a silvery white light on January 30, 2008, around 2-3 am, which moved out of view without any audible sound. Dave Gillham, Chair-Founder of The Cornwall UFO Research Group, reports numerous sightings of red/orange lights. He mentions a sighting on February 24th near Backwell, where 5-6 lights were seen moving towards Stockport, with three photos taken. Gillham believes not all such lights are Chinese lanterns, citing reports of objects coming within arm's length and illuminating kitchens. He also recounts a sky watch on July 2007 near Camborne where about 10 red lights emerged from the sea, followed by another block of lights in a square formation. A specific sighting at Porthmeor Beach, Cornwall, on February 17, 2008, describes an orange/red orb seen over the sea, moving strangely, dimming and brightening, before moving inland. The witness confirmed others also saw the orb.

PRA 'SKY CAMERA' CATCHES SOMETHING STRANGE!

This short report details an upgraded PRA Sky camera that captured a photograph on February 11, 2008, showing two lights moving in the same direction, one slightly above the other. The camera operates 24/7 over Derby city and has previously captured satellites, meteorites, and lightning.

MORE UFO ACTIVITY AT LANGWITH, NOTTS. 12 Feb.08

Written by Neil Cairns, this article describes a sighting on February 12, 2008, at 7:30 pm. The witness saw a large ball of flames hanging on the horizon, described as like a small sun, unusual for nighttime. Footage taken with a digital camcorder showed a "sparkler streaking in the sky." The object appeared again at 8:12 pm. The witness was advised to look at a Chinese lantern website, but dismissed the idea, noting the size and behavior of the objects were unlike lanterns.

THE GREAT CAR PARK UFO MYSTERY

This piece from 'METRO' newspaper (February 13, 2008) reports on an amateur photographer, Hab Rahman, who captured an image of a disc-shaped object hovering in the night sky over a foggy car park in Portsmouth. Rahman, who did not see the object at the time, only noticed it after transferring the image to his computer. He expressed surprise, stating, "I've never really believed in UFOs but this is a bit weird and freaky." UFO 'expert' Hilary Porter of the British Earth and Aerial Mysteries Society confirmed it could be genuine. However, the editors suggest it might be a result of 'lens flare' due to the foggy conditions and photographing directly into lights.

STRANGE LIGHTS OVER HINCKLEY LEICS. 24th FEBRUARY 2008

This report, with thanks to Colin Saunders PRA, details a sighting by Nathan Phillips in Hinckley, Leicestershire, on February 24, 2008, at 8:38 pm. Phillips saw six bright lights moving slowly to the left, appearing smaller than a 5p coin at arm's length. Lights 2, 3, and 4 flashed on and off, while lights 1, 5, and 6 were constant. The lights followed the tops of houses and then travelled towards a Gas Tower, disappearing when blocked by it. Phillips described the lights as sharply defined, much brighter than stars, and moving slowly without noise. He noted two planes in the sky moving much faster. The event made him feel "a bit odd."

‘TWINKLING' UFO'S OVER HINCKLEY, LEICS. 11th DEC.2007

Mr Chris Gordon reported seeing three twinkling shapes in the sky on December 11, 2007, around 9 pm. One was diamond-like and static, while two were ball-shaped and rotated. They appeared to be about 35 degrees above the horizon and were slowly travelling from North to North-West. He judged their size to be that of a 10p and 5p piece at arm's length. The lights gave him an "uneasy feeling."

GLOWING BALL SEEN DESCENDING OVER HINCKLEY, LEICS. 21 DEC 07.

This brief report mentions a driver approaching Hinckley on December 21, 2007, who saw an 'ovoid' bright ball of light slowly descending behind buildings towards the East.

UFOINFO SIGHTING REPORT AT HINCKLEY, LEICS. Date: 13/09/07

A witness travelling home on September 13, 2007, saw a strange object in the sky, static and low, about the size of a large aeroplane. It had a V-shaped wing configuration with colored lights underneath and was moving slowly towards the M69. The witness could not identify it as any known man-made aircraft and observed it for about three minutes.

UFO ACTIVITY AROUND MANSFIELD, NOTTS. DEC.07

This article from 'Chad' newspaper reports that UFO hunters have been inundated with reports of strange objects, described as glowing orange 'balls of fire,' in the Chad area. These objects were seen hovering, zig-zagging, and disappearing quickly. TAPIT (The Ashfield Paranormal Investigation Team) leader Lee Roberts stated that checks with local air bases revealed nothing should have been in that airspace. TAPIT ruled out Chinese lanterns and hot air balloons due to the objects' speed and erratic movements, such as zig-zagging and shooting off into orbit. The article also mentions that Scott Price filmed two sightings of these 'balls of fire' near Shirebrook and loaded the footage onto YouTube. Some sceptics suggested they were Chinese lanterns, but TAPIT insists their behavior is inconsistent with lanterns.

ABDUCTION - IT COULD BE YOU!

This section addresses the topic of alien abduction. It poses questions about bad dreams, missing time, and close encounters, stating that one PRA member answered 'YES' to all three. The magazine contacted Bill Foster (USA) for advice. Foster reassures the reader that they are "NOT crazy" and that there are no pills for abduction, unlike for mental health issues. He describes his own abduction experience, detailing a "big guy" leader with hypnotic eyes and other "grays" who were shorter. He recounts being on a molded table and the craft having diffuse lighting with no visible source or shadows. Foster suggests that seeing a UFO within 100 yards makes abduction likely and that "Yes it will" happen again. He offers two choices: try to forget or undergo regression hypnosis. His wife chose the former, while he chose the latter. He advises compartmentalizing the knowledge gained.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence and variety of UFO sightings, the challenges in identifying them (often attributed to natural phenomena or conventional aircraft), and the ongoing efforts of research groups like MUFON and TAPIT to investigate. There is a clear interest in documenting and analyzing these events, even when official explanations are lacking or dismissed by witnesses. The magazine also highlights the more profound and personal aspects of UFO experiences, particularly alien abduction, presenting it as a serious phenomenon that warrants investigation and understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to share their experiences and to consider the possibility of unexplained aerial phenomena and extraterrestrial contact, while also presenting skeptical viewpoints and official explanations for balance.

This issue of OVNI magazine, dated November 1977 for the cover story and featuring articles from September 1956, January 2008, and other undated reports, focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena. The magazine includes personal accounts, analysis of potential hoaxes, and updates on space exploration.

A 'Flying Triangle' Sighting in 1977

Ernie Sears recounts his experience on November 28, 1977, at approximately 8 pm in Portswood, Southampton. While in his garden under a clear sky with a full moon, he observed a silent, metallic, triangular craft hovering about a thousand feet up. The craft had visible 'ribs' and 'rivets' beneath it and displayed 'weird coloured lights' around its edges. Sears, an amateur astronomer who had previously witnessed a UFO chased by RAF jets in 1960, was struck by the object's immense size and silence, feeling as though it was observing him. He called his wife to witness it, but within seconds of looking back up, the object had vanished. His attempts to report the sighting to the local airport at Eastleigh, the police, and the 'Echo' newspaper yielded no corroborating reports. He also contacted a musician friend who was a UFO enthusiast, but received no reply. Later, he learned of a mysterious 'Alien' voice interrupting a Southern Television News broadcast on November 26, 1977, and a comment from the Royal Observatory at Herstmonceux denying any hovering spaceships were spotted. The next morning, Sears spoke to his friend Monty, who reported that he and four other musicians had seen a 'Huge Triangle' dashing at high speed along the M27 at Burlesdon, about 5 miles from Sears' location. This confirmation relieved Sears, assuring him he wasn't imagining the event. The article includes a drawing by Ernie Sears depicting the 'FT' with labels for 'ribs', 'rivets?', and 'lights', and an arrow indicating the 'presumed direction of flight, to area of independent witnesses'.

'Flying Wedge' Replacing Familiar 'Flying Saucer'

This section reprints an article from The Salina Journal, Salina, Kansas, dated Monday, September 24, 1956. It details a sighting by three men north of Tescott, Kansas, on a Sunday. Earl Brown, Ralph Soldan, and Merle Buckbee were moving irrigation equipment when they saw an object flying above a KC97 plane, traveling from south to north. They initially thought it was a B-47 but realized it was not, as it accelerated and disappeared. Brown described the object as not cigar or saucer-shaped, but definitely under control, with no vapor trail, only a 'white flame licking out behind it.' He stated it was metallic and had a delta or swept-back wing, with no tail. The craft appeared to be the same size as a B-47 at 20,000 feet. Maj. Maurice Saunders, base director of operations at Smoky Hill AFB, suggested it was likely a formation of fighters seen under unusual atmospheric conditions and light reflection. The article also includes reports from Mrs. Glen C. Eberle, who saw an 'oval and oblong' object shining brilliantly with no vapor trail near Salina, and Mrs. Mirna Fox, who saw a cigar-shaped object, about a yard long and 12 inches wide, with a reddish-orange glow, which was also seen in Denver. An editorial comment notes that while experimental aircraft were flying post-WW2, the witnesses' descriptions of quick disappearance suggest it was unlikely to be conventional aircraft.

Authentic Hoax?

By Bill Foster, this article expresses frustration with fake UFO and alien pictures. Foster argues that hoaxers waste their time creating imitation photographs, which he believes have increased dramatically in the past year, particularly on sites like 'You Tube'. He likens the situation to the early 1950s with 'contactees' like George Adamski, suggesting that such hoaxes make even open-minded people dismiss the subject entirely. Foster proposes three possible reasons for these hoaxes:

1. To fool as many people as possible: He cites the Loch Ness Monster photo as an example, which was later revealed to be a small wooden model.
2. To make money: Hoaxers could sell copies of their photos to newspapers and magazines if enough people believe them.
3. Government intervention: Foster suspects that governments might fund hoax photos to maintain confusion about UFOs and promote the idea that the phenomenon is a myth.

He concludes by urging readers to question the authenticity of any UFO photograph, asking, "Could this be just another well done fake?"

The article is accompanied by a still image from a video titled 'UFO LIGHTS OVER INDIA', showing unusual aerial activity over South India on January 23, 2008.

New Mercury Revelations

This section reports on discoveries made by the MESSENGER science team after its spacecraft flew past Mercury on January 14, 2008, at a distance of 124 miles. The flyby collected 500 megabytes of data and over 1200 photos, covering nearly six million square miles. Mission scientist Scott Murchie described the data as 'wonderful.' A specific discovery highlighted is a 'Spider Shaped Crater on Mercury,' noted for its troughs, which has never been seen before in our Solar System. The credit is given to MESSENGER, NASA, JHU APL, and CIW.

Meanwhile Back on Mars, Someone Admires the View

This brief segment discusses an image sent back by NASA's Spirit rover on Mars. While initial inspections revealed nothing unusual, closer examination by amateur astronomers has identified an intriguing picture, though the specifics of the intriguing element are not detailed.

Tale Enders

This section provides brief news items:

• A Sad Passing: PRA member Ron Hunt passed away last month, with his funeral held on January 25th. His presence at monthly meetings will be missed.
• Jodrell Bank Facing Closure: Proposals to end public funding for the e-Merlin project, which links seven radio telescopes, threaten the closure of Jodrell Bank observatory. The article highlights Jodrell Bank's historical importance in astronomical discoveries, from tracking Sputnik to proving Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Scientists warn that this funding cut will destroy Britain's leading role in radio astronomy.
• Pop-Star Robbie Williams to Become a 'Ufologist'! The Sun reported on March 8, 2008, that Robbie Williams claims to have seen UFOs three times and intends to quit singing to study aliens. He described his experiences, including seeing a 'square thing' that passed silently overhead and a 'big ball of light.' He acknowledged that people might think he is 'mental.'
• France: Cigar Shaped UFO: A report from Western France describes a black cigar-shaped object seen from a plane on October 27, 2007. The object stopped, turned around, and flew off, leaving a trail of thick black smoke.
• UK Wales Cylinder: In Holywell, a witness saw a tall, thin object resembling an orange flame changing to bluish color on February 3, 2008. It was bright, flying low to the ground, and was filmed and photographed. Three hours later, smaller flashlights were seen in the area.
• Bury, Lancashire - UFO Lights: On February 12, 2008, five bright flame-like lights arranged in a square with one in the middle were observed. They were not moving, were low to the ground, and remained visible for five minutes.

The Next PRA Meeting

Announces the next PRA meeting at the Royal British Legion, Allenton, Derby, on Tuesday, March 25th, at 8 pm. The meeting will feature a DVD presentation by Wendell Stevens on 'Alien Contact' and the latest UFO news, with a free UFO book raffle for £1.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the analysis of potential hoaxes and disinformation, and updates on space exploration. The magazine presents personal accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena alongside critical examination of photographic and video evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider various possibilities while also being skeptical of unsubstantiated claims, particularly those that might be hoaxes or part of a larger disinformation campaign. The inclusion of space mission updates suggests an interest in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial phenomena. The publication notes that articles and opinions printed in OVNI do not necessarily reflect the views of the PRA, indicating a platform for diverse perspectives within the UFO research community.