OVNI - 2010 03 - March-April

Magazine Overview

Title: OVNI
Issue: March/April 2010
Publisher: Phenomenon Research Association
Country: UK
Theme: UFOs, Phenomenon Research

This issue of OVNI, the Journal for the discerning researcher, dated March/April 2010, focuses heavily on the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD) decision to close its UFO desk and the implications for UFO reporting in the United Kingdom. The magazine also delves into alleged US aerospace craft, potential alien life, and specific UFO sightings.

MOD's UFO Reporting Policy Changes

The lead article, "MOD - 'UFO'S - WHAT UFO'S?'", highlights the MoD's apparent rush to save costs by eliminating the necessity of logging UFO reports, particularly those categorized as 'Lights In The Sky' (LITS). The authors express frustration in finding a government body responsible for logging UFO reports in the UK, despite the possibility that these sightings could represent an aerial threat or simply be of interest as unknown intruders. The article suggests a potential 'hidden agenda' behind the MoD's actions.

A letter from Dr. David Clarke, an associate in the UFO field, dated 13th February 2010, corroborates these concerns. He confirms receiving a notice from the MoD ending their UFO reporting responsibility, which dates back to the 1950s, and that they are discouraging public reporting to the military. Dr. Clarke explains that the changes are primarily to stop public reporting of 'lights in the sky,' which cost the MoD time and money. He notes that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) retains responsibility for investigating 'Mandatory Occurrence Reports' (MORs) and air-miss incidents, and that UFO incidents reported as such would be assessed by a joint CAA-MoD working party. He advises that civilian air traffic controllers or aircrew should report incidents to the CAA as MORs. He also points out that the police, while potentially receiving reports, have no responsibility to investigate, log, or analyze them, unlike their French counterparts, and that police UFO reports tend to be destroyed quickly.

Further details emerge from a Freedom of Information Act request by Dr. Clarke and Joe McGonagle, released on 25th February 2010. This 11-page document reveals that the MoD intended to destroy all UFO reports received after 30th November 2009 within 30 days of receipt to avoid liability for future FOI requests. This controversial revelation is discussed on Dr. Clarke's blog.

M.O.D. Released Reports

Another section, "M.O.D. RELEASED REPORTS", details files released in February 2010, covering UFO-related documents from 1994-2000. These files include close encounters, strange illnesses, flying 'Toblerones,' and unidentified objects tracked on radar. Approximately 24 files of top-secret sightings, letters, and Parliamentary Questions have been released as part of a three-year project by the MoD and the National Archives, totaling 6,000 pages of material.

Examples from these files are provided, including a report from The Telegraph on 18th February about a large triangular UFO spotted above the former home secretary Michael Howard's home in March 1997. Eyewitnesses described a 'humming' object, the size of two passenger planes, hovering about 300 meters off the ground. Further newspaper cuttings mention Chris Rolfe of UFO Monitoring East Kent (UFOMEK) warning that the UFO might have been looking for Mr. Howard. The editorial staff of OVNI disagree with the interpretation that this could have been a conventional aircraft, citing their experience with 'Flying Triangle' craft.

The article also mentions a 1954 UFO sighting from Smethwick, West Midlands, and includes a drawing of an object with specific characteristics: approximately 12 feet above the observer, moving at 5 mph, with blue-white lights, three portholes, and a silent operation, leaving a trail of smoke. The article notes that the MoD files contain reports from 'overzealous ufologists' and 'persistent correspondents,' including the Alien Acknowledgement Campaign. The files also indicate that scientists, air traffic controllers, pilots, and even Sir Winston Churchill have shown interest in UFOs. A memorandum from Churchill in 1952 asked for a report on flying saucers, to which Lord Cherwell replied that a 1951 intelligence study concluded incidents could be explained by astronomical phenomena, mistaken identification, optical illusions, psychological delusions, or hoaxes, adhering to Occam's razor.

A letter from retired MoD official Ralph Noyes confirms that UFOs were often treated as a joke in Whitehall in the 1950s, but he recalls seeing gun camera film of UFOs taken by RAF fighter pilots in 1956, which could not be traced in later archive searches.

American Aerospace Craft in Earth Orbit?

This section explores the possibility of American aerospace craft in Earth orbit. It references video clips of mysterious lights approaching space stations and shuttle vehicles. The article highlights mysterious craft observed on deep space video footage taken by American researcher Ed Grimsley, using enhanced night viewing equipment. These observations included objects criss-crossing each other and apparent laser beams being fired. Similar photographs have appeared on YouTube, purportedly taken over Dublin.

The article also discusses the ongoing legal battle of computer hacker Gary McKinnon, who is accused of hacking into NASA and other US military computers. McKinnon believed the US was suppressing alien technology and UFO evidence. His prosecutors claim he hacked into dozens of computers, including those at NASA, the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Department of Defense. He was reportedly convinced by witness testimonies from the Disclosure Project that anti-gravity was involved. A NASA photographic scientist allegedly told him that UFO images were airbrushed from satellite imagery. McKinnon claimed to have found folders labeled 'Processed' and 'Unprocessed,' containing images of what looked like an elongated satellite with domes, lacking rivets or seams, suggesting non-human manufacturing. He also claimed to have discovered an organization listing 'Non-Terrestrial Officers.'

Photographs taken by the PRA Sky camera over Derby on 1st February 2010 show a delta-shaped craft moving across the sky. The magazine suggests that the United States is operating antigravity craft, possibly developed through reverse engineering extraterrestrial vehicles, citing information from Col. Philip Corso's book 'The Day After Roswell.' The article speculates about the American TR3B, a 'Black Budget' craft believed to use atomic power/plasma drive and anti-gravity, and mentions other craft named 'Astra,' 'Boomerang,' and 'Chameleon.'

Royal Astronomer: 'Aliens may be staring us in the face'

This section features comments from Lord Martin Rees, the Queen's astronomer and president of the Royal Society. He stated that aliens might be 'staring us in the face' in forms humans are unable to recognize, suggesting that extraterrestrial life could exist in forms beyond human understanding. He hosted a conference on the possibility of alien life and questioned whether its discovery would cause terror or delight. Lord Rees noted that improved telescopes enhance the chance of finding extraterrestrial life. In contrast, Dr. Frank Drake, an 'ET hunter,' expressed concern that satellite TV and the digital revolution are making humanity invisible to aliens by reducing the transmission of analogue signals into space.

The editorial comment strongly disagrees with astronomers' focus on space, urging them to 'come down to Earth and investigate the evidence of Alien contact here in their own backyard!'

Multiple Sightings of LITS over Shirebrook Notts.

Neil Cairns reports on multiple sightings of 'Lights In The Sky' (LITS) over Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire, on February 14th, 2010. He describes seeing an intense red light, followed by a second glowing red light, both moving slowly westwards and intermittently switching off and reappearing. Later, he observed a ball of intense orange light hovering, which moved directly above his car and disappeared. He also reported a second orange ball of light appearing from the southeast, which came straight over him and vanished. His friend's brother reportedly had a photograph of one of the sightings.

Another sighting in Shirebrook on February 12th, 2010, involved a man witnessing an unusual orange mass with a triangle and a shape on top in the sky, described as large and petrifying.

UFO seen in Phear Park, Exmouth

This report details an encounter by Roy Shaw, a retired engineer and self-proclaimed UFO skeptic, in Phear Park, Exmouth. He described seeing a white, shimmering, round object, approximately 30-feet in diameter and 100-foot long, with blue and red flashing lights. The object appeared to land and then moved horizontally before shooting off at high speed. Shaw's dog, Sydney, reacted fearfully to the object. Exmouth UFO expert Nigel Wright described this as a 'close encounter of the third kind.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the changing landscape of official UFO investigation in the UK, particularly the MoD's withdrawal from the field, and the potential implications for public awareness and scientific inquiry. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official explanations and a call for more grounded, empirical investigation of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, particularly in the comments by 'ED,' advocates for a focus on tangible evidence and direct investigation of alleged sightings on Earth, rather than purely theoretical or astronomical approaches to the question of extraterrestrial life.

Title: OVNI
Issue Date: January 29, 2005 (Cover Date for first article), with subsequent articles dated up to February 2010.
Content Focus: This issue of OVNI, a publication likely focused on UFOs and unexplained phenomena, presents a collection of intriguing reports from various locations and time periods, alongside a scientific theory on human origins.

Article 1: Learning to communicate with Extra Terrestrials – young children in India-China Himalayas use strange sign language

This article, dated January 29, 2005, reports on unusual behavior observed in children in the deep region of the Himalayas, spanning the India-China border. These children are said to be using a sign language unknown to their families and anyone around them. Many of them draw pictures of triangular objects flying in the sky, and they do not know what they saw or how they learned these signs. Some inhabitants of the Aksai Chin region believe these children regularly communicate with extraterrestrials, who are only visible to them and communicate via spiritual telepathy. The children are learning this sign language to communicate back to these beings from another galaxy or universe. The report draws a parallel to similar behavior manifested by Mexican children during a period of frequent UFO sightings in their area. According to teachers, these young children are exceptionally agile and talented, with increased problem-solving skills and discipline. They use this strange sign language among themselves, but cannot teach it to adults. Locals believe UFOs have been visiting the area for thousands of years, with a recent resurgence after a pause. Indian and Chinese local authorities are reportedly indifferent, considering the behavior normal and children playing amongst themselves. The article includes a map highlighting the region.

Article 2: South Carolina ‘FT' UFO 18 December 2009

This report details a sighting near the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in South Carolina on December 18, 2009. The witness saw bright lights above the treetops at 5:40 PM, initially fearing a plane crash. The object moved slowly and silently, level with the ground, hovering over houses. A white light shone down, and the witness determined it was not a helicopter due to the lack of sound and blades. The object was described as flat on both sides, round in the middle, and resembling a rounded-off triangle. It had two large yellow stripes on its metallic underside and rotated as if to turn its front towards the observer, making a swishing hydraulic sound. It then moved sideways very slowly. The craft was described as solid, with no wings or propellers, featuring two large red lights and a string of brilliant white small lights around the sides. The witness observed it stop over a retirement village, heading towards the GSP airport flight path but very low and slow. Indentations or seams were visible on the bottom, possibly for landing gear. The witness, familiar with aircraft, stated that a plane or helicopter hovering so low would have caused significant disturbance, but this object had no vibrations or air movement. The report is attributed to MUFON CMS & Andrew Badham, and the editor notes its resemblance to an 'Alien Flying Triangle' craft with typical characteristics documented over many years.

Article 3: MYSTERIOUS OBJECT CRASHES IN MONGOLIA—19th FEBRUARY 2010

This brief report from February 19, 2010, states that an object crashed near Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, and was estimated to weigh approximately 2 tons. Details are scarce, but the crumpled wreckage and visible design features suggest it might be a section of space debris, possibly a satellite. The article expresses surprise that the entire object did not burn up during re-entry. It is noted that the object does not conform to known Alien structured craft and lacks their sophisticated design. Two objects were reportedly found, with the other section being much smaller and weighing only a few pounds. The report anticipates more information becoming available.

Article 4: saucer sightings in Lancashire 'UFO Valley' from 'The SUN' February 12 2010

This piece, sourced from 'The SUN' on February 12, 2010, discusses UFO sightings in Lancashire, UK, an area dubbed 'UFO Valley'. The editor notes that to produce a coherent report, they had to ignore the 'puerile language' accompanying a photograph of the event. This specific incident is claimed to be the 44th strange sighting in the area since 1977. The latest sighting involved Aron Sacks, a carpenter, who photographed a mysterious object on his mobile phone. He described it hovering for less than a minute before silently zooming off at high speed, stating it was 'amazing' and 'certainly not a normal aircraft'. Aron's father has reportedly seen three UFOs near their home in Stackstead since 1978.

Article 5: Punch Hole Clouds & Other Rarely Seen Cloud Formations

This section, with thanks to Busty Taylor and www.Dark Roasted Blend, discusses unusual atmospheric phenomena. It features an image of a 'Crop Circle in the Sky' with 'cute little tails sticking out of them', described as a circular absence of clouds with wispy tendrils. The article mentions previous coverage of bizarre cloud formations, including a 'tsunami-looking fog wave' and these 'gateways in the sky'. It also presents 'Cloud Vortices', described as another 'holey' sky phenomenon. Theodore von Karman's 'Cloud Vortices' are explained as forming when wind encounters a barrier, such as the Aleutian Islands, creating flowing eddies of cloud in a weird pattern. An image photographed from the International Space Station shows a double row of vortices rotating in opposite directions.

Article 6: TALE ENDERS - MATLOCK AREA UFO. (DERBYSHIRE)

This report from February 11, 2010, details a sighting near Matlock, Derbyshire, UK. The witness observed an orange light in the sky, initially mistaken for a low plane. It was flying at the speed of a helicopter, a perfect round orange ball illuminated from within, and seemed to be following the A6 road. After some distance, it stopped, went up through the cloud, and out of sight. The witness emphasized that it was not drifting in the wind but flying in a perfectly straight line.

Article 7: MARCH 10, 1961; RAF UPPER HEYFORD, ENGLAND. UK.

This entry from March 10, 1961, describes a sighting at RAF Upper Heyford, England. At 9 p.m. local time, a very bright white or yellowish circular object was observed at about a 45-degree angle, appearing stationary. Observers noted its extreme brightness. Ground radar also picked up the object, which was moving very slowly. It was described as orange and the size of a basketball. The object was observed visually for approximately 10 minutes and on radar for about 20 minutes. There were no reports of air traffic or balloon releases in the vicinity. Among the observers were two Air policemen and a Control Tower Operator (Dan Wilson, Ohio, USA).

Article 8: UFO LIGHTS SEEN OVER ALVASTON, DERBY. (Mid Jan 2010)

This report from mid-January 2010 (possibly January 17th) describes lights seen over Alvaston, Derby, UK. The witness and others watched 6 red lights hovering, then performing rapid manoeuvres before shooting skyward. The witness was adamant that the lights were not 'Chinese Lanterns'.

Article 9: QUEBEC CITY, CANADA; June 11, 1975

On June 11, 1975, at 2100Z, a large, shiny triangular object was observed estimated to be above 40,000 feet over Quebec City, moving very slowly to the NNE. The object was seen by a T-33 A/C at 29,000 feet and a DC-8 at 31,000 feet, and also by personnel at Quebec Terminal. No radar contact was made due to outages. The source is cited as the National Research Council of Canada/ RG 77, vol. 308.

Article 10: ALL HUMANS CAME FROM OUTER SPACE?

This section presents the research of Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, who suggests that all humans were once aliens. His conclusions, published in Cambridge University's International Journal of Astrobiology, state that life on Earth was delivered via comets approximately 3,800 million years ago. He posits that as new planetary systems form, surviving microbes find their way into comets, multiply, and seed other planets. The article encourages readers to see his findings at 'Humans Come from Aliens' and speculates that this might explain why some forefathers were 'so strange'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of OVNI are UFO sightings, mysterious aerial phenomena, and the possibility of extraterrestrial contact and influence. The magazine presents a variety of reports, from children communicating with ETs to unexplained crashes and aerial observations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, presenting witness accounts and scientific theories without overt skepticism. The inclusion of the 'All Humans Came from Outer Space?' article suggests an interest in broader cosmological and origin-of-life questions related to extraterrestrial possibilities. The publication also includes practical information for enthusiasts, such as details for the 'NEXT PRA MEETING' and a new DVD series by Richard D. Hall.