OVNI - 2011 07 - July-August

Magazine Overview

Title: OVNI
Issue: July/August 2011
Publisher: JOURNAL OF THE PHENOMENON RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Cover Headline: OVNI

This issue of OVNI, 'The Journal for the discerning researcher', delves into several intriguing cases and topics within the realm of unexplained phenomena. It features articles on a potential UFO hoax, the final moments of NASA's Spirit rover on Mars, a mysterious incident at a US nuclear missile base, and the curious case of lost Australian UFO files, alongside a detailed archival report of a UFO encounter near Oxford.

The 'Ticknall' FT—Could This Be the Answer?

This article investigates a sighting on April 10, 2011, by Paul Bignall and his son Sam, who were fishing in a small lake at Ticknall, near Melbourne, Derbyshire. They observed a small black triangular object with pin-point white lights approaching them. Mr. Bignall captured video footage, from which stills were taken. Initially, the white lights were a mystery, but 'whiz-kid' consultants identified them as a result of the mobile phone camera compressing the image and causing light distortion. Further checks revealed similar light distortions around tree branches when viewing the scene from ground level. The article poses the question of what the triangular object itself was and suggests that a new type of hot air balloon, possibly a hoax, might be the explanation. The following pages explore this possibility further.

HOAX HOT AIR ‘UFO' BALLOONS!

This section proposes a probable explanation for the triangular craft seen over Melbourne, Derbyshire: a new type of hot air balloon. These balloons can be heated by a hair dryer or other hot air source, enabling them to launch and rise rapidly. The triangular balloon is presented as a progression from a tubular shaped 'UFO' balloon photographed over Nottingham on April 25, 2004, by Anthony James, chairman of EMUFORA. This earlier object also caused confusion but was later identified as a man-made object. The article includes images of the triangular balloons and instructions on how to use them, highlighting that they can travel significant distances and reach altitudes of around 20,000 feet. The PRA has ordered two of these balloons for its own research.

Spirit's Last Dispatches from Mars

Authored by Stephen Clark of Spaceflight Now, this article reports on the final transmissions from NASA's Spirit rover. Scientists last heard from the rover in March 2010, when it went silent during the Martian winter. Assembled from publicly available NASA imagery by Dr. Ken Kremer and Marco Di Lorenzo, the mosaics show Spirit's final resting place. The rover, which reached Mars in 2003, far surpassed its three-month mission goal, operating for over six years. Its end was attributed to being stuck in a sand trap with two broken wheels, preventing it from moving. Despite the predicament, scientists hoped it would survive as a stationary research station. The article includes images of Spirit's final photographic contributions, emphasizing that its data will continue to be analyzed for important insights.

Did UFO Cause Power Failure at Nuclear Missile Base?

This article, by a Daily Mail Reporter, investigates a communication failure at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming in October 2010, which resulted in 50 nuclear missiles losing touch with the control centre for almost an hour. While the Air Force cited a 'hardware issue' with an underground cable, three missile technicians have raised concerns, reporting UFO sightings that coincided with the incident. UFO researcher Robert Hastings claims the power interruption lasted much longer than the Air Force admits, potentially up to 26 hours. The witnesses reported seeing 'a large cigar-shaped object high above the missile field' throughout the weekend. They described the object as not being a commercial blimp, but having an aspect ratio similar to a WWI Zeppelin. While the witnesses did not claim the UFO was directly connected to the outage, Hastings has previously reported UFO sightings at nuclear missile sites, including a press conference where former Air Force officers alleged aliens have been hovering over and deactivating nuclear weapons since 1948.

Alien Abduction? (Australian) Defence's X-Files Are Lost in Space!

Written by Linton Besser, this article reports that the Australian Department of Defence has 'lost' its UFO X-Files. For decades, Defence officials investigated UFO sightings, responding to reports of floating lights, flat saucers, and vapour trails. While the British government released thousands of pages of UFO documents, the Australian version appears to be largely missing. Fairfax sought access to these files, but the department could only locate one file titled 'Report on UFOs/Strange Occurrences and Phenomena in Woomera', with others reportedly destroyed or lost. Searches of various Defence Record Management Systems and Archives failed to locate the missing files. The department stated that previous FOI applications for similar files had also been destroyed as 'normal administrative procedure'. The remaining material is described as sketchy, consisting of old press clippings and scattered correspondence. One incident report from October 1952 concerning an object's flight path near Woomera concluded the anomaly was a snow cloud. The earliest located file dates from 1952-1955 and was classified 'Secret'. In 2000, the defence chiefs decided to stop collecting UFO reports, with the RAAF ceasing its handling of Unusual Aerial Sightings (UAS) in 1996, deeming no compelling reason to continue investigation and referring inquiries to local police or civil UFO organizations.

From the Archives: A UFO Contact Near Oxford on 24th November 1984

This archival report, investigated by Derek Mansell and Geoff Ambler, details a UFO sighting on the A40 near Oxford. On November 24, 1984, a man and wife were returning home when they observed a very bright orange ball approaching from the north-east. The object was described as enormous, globular in shape, with millions of glowing orange balls on a dark background and a dark central core. It was estimated to be at least 120 feet in diameter. As it approached within 150 yards and 100 feet of their car, they were convinced it was about to land, but it suddenly shot up vertically at great speed with blue and yellow flashes. The witnesses described the object as resembling a fairground Big Wheel or a moulded cover on a disco loudspeaker. The car experienced engine missfires and dimmed lights, and the male witness reported his right arm becoming numb and cold for two days. The witnesses felt the temperature rise as the object approached and were uncertain about any sound above their car engine. The male witness's watch also showed the wrong date. The female witness reported a vivid dream of her husband's arm elongating. Investigators checked the location and found it to be a fairly open expanse. Enquiries to local police and military bases yielded no corroboration. The report notes that electrical storms were seen on the horizon that night, and suggests the object might have been a manifestation of ball-lightning, or an entity creating atmospheric disturbances. The effects on the witnesses are described as classical UFO reactions, and the object's rapid manoeuvre suggests superior technology.

Comments

Two comments are included. The first, by 'HaHal | Uranus', states that by definition, UFOs exist, and if identified, they wouldn't be called UFOs. The second, by 'Professor Rosseforp', suggests that government insiders sometimes provide information as a misinformation exercise. They posit that the US government, by the early 1960s, realized UFOs posed no threat to national security but that the psychological aspect of the phenomenon was key for control, implying the US may have planted UFO stories to influence public perception.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of OVNI include the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, the potential for hoaxes and misidentifications, and the role of government in investigating or concealing information about UFOs. The magazine appears to maintain a critical yet open stance, presenting evidence and theories while also exploring mundane explanations and potential government cover-ups. The editorial stance seems to favor thorough investigation and the sharing of information with its readership, as evidenced by the detailed reporting of cases and the inclusion of comments from readers.

This issue of OVNI magazine, dated Page 10, 11, 12, and 13, focuses on revelations about national security secrets related to UFOs, recent sightings, and a new UFO book. The primary article features Annie DeRiso, widow of William Pawelec, who shares her late husband's experiences with top-secret projects and his alleged encounter with alien technology.

William Pawelec's Widow Reveals National Security Secrets

The article, written by Mary Joyce, details William (Bill) Pawelec's career in top-secret security projects. In 2000, Pawelec participated in a video interview for Dr. Steven Greer's 'Disclosure Project,' with the stipulation that the video would only be released after his death. Pawelec died in 2007, and three years later, his wife Annie DeRiso discovered a letter from Greer among his papers, leading her to the interview video. After watching it, she granted permission for its release, and it gained viral attention in December 2010.

Annie DeRiso shares further secrets, stating that seeing an alien craft changed her husband's life. Pawelec, who joined APRO (Aerial Phenomena Research Organization) while in the Air Force, embarked on a lifelong quest to understand extraterrestrials. DeRiso recounts that while Pawelec had seen craft in the skies, a specific experience in a secret facility beneath the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada left him convinced of alien presence on Earth. She describes how Pawelec, using his professional access, was taken to a building at Tonopah where a large section of the floor was an elevator descending many floors. There, he allegedly saw an alien craft being reverse-engineered. This craft is the basis for the Testors model kit 'Area S4 UFO Revealed,' also known as 'The Sport Model,' and is based on Bob Lazar's description, though Lazar worked at Area 51 while Pawelec saw the craft at Tonopah.

From the PRA Sky Camera

Page 11 features a 'still' from the PRA new high definition sky camera, operating 24/7, showing a meteor passing over Derby on the night of July 13, 2011.

More Strange Lights Seen Near Mansfield, Notts.

This section presents a photograph taken by Neil Cairns showing a glowing string-type UFO with brilliant individual lights. The article notes that this unexplained phenomenon has been photographed by other researchers and fits a recognizable pattern. It is speculated that the individual points of light might be small UFOs being transported by the main glowing string.

A New UFO Book

Page 12 introduces a new UFO book by veteran researcher Margaret-Ellen Fry, titled 'Link to the Stars,' with a foreword by Desmond Leslie. Margaret Fry's background includes being brought up in the Himalaya during the British Raj and education by Irish nuns. Her family returned to the UK in 1947. She became conscious of aerial phenomena from an early age, and a significant event was a UFO landing in Bexleyheath, Kent, on July 17, 1955, witnessed by over 170 people, including herself and her son. This event profoundly changed her life. She joined BUFORA in 1964 and co-founded Contact International UK in 1967 and the Wales Fellowship of Independent Ufologists in 1993. For 46 years, she has investigated hundreds of UFO reports in England and Wales, including the Berwyn Mountains incident of January 23, 1974. The book contains sketches and color plates and can be ordered from the WFIU Secretary for £12.50.

Amazing Photographs of the Chilean Volcano

Page 13 displays striking photographs of the Puyehue volcano eruption in Chile. The volcano near Osorno erupted on June 4, 2011, for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuations for 3,500 people and sending ash clouds to Argentina. The National Service of Geology and Mining reported an explosion producing a gas column 10 kilometers high. The accompanying images show lightning flashes around the ash plume of the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain near Entrelagos on June 5, 2011. The eruption belched ash over 6 miles into the sky, fanned towards Argentina, leading to the evacuation of thousands of residents. The photos are credited to REUTERS/Carlos Gutierrez PHOTO/CLAUDIO SANTANA.

Tale Enders

This section on Page 14 includes several brief notes. Philip Mantle has resigned as editor of UFO MATRIX magazine, with further details to be provided later. NASA is in the final stages of selecting a landing site for the Curiosity rover, scheduled to launch to Mars in November. A report from Guildford, UK, describes a sighting on July 7, 2011, of two orange lights moving at speed, followed by another orange light. A sighting from Elm, Texas, on July 8, 2011, describes an object moving fast and flickering. There is also a note about OVNI's 'World Trip,' involving a PRA colleague in New Zealand, and an announcement for the next PRA meeting in Derby on July 26, featuring a presentation by Andrew Johnson on 'The Strands of Disclosure,' along with UFO news and a book raffle.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers UFO phenomena, including alleged encounters with alien technology, sightings, and research. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, presenting witness accounts, research findings, and news from the UFO community. The inclusion of a new book review and announcements for meetings suggests an active engagement with UFO research and enthusiasts. The magazine also touches upon the intersection of UFOs with national security and scientific exploration (e.g., Mars rovers).