OVNI - 2012 09 - September-October

Magazine Overview

This issue of OVNI, the Journal for the Discerning Researcher, dated September/October 2012, is published by the Phenomenon Research Association. The cover features various UFO illustrations and the prominent title 'OVNI'. The issue is priced at £3 in the UK and 5 Euros in the EU, with members receiving it for free.

Neil Armstrong Dies, First Man on Moon

The issue leads with the news of the death of US astronaut Neil Armstrong on August 26, 2012, at the age of 82. Armstrong, commander of the Apollo 11 spacecraft, was the first human to walk on the Moon. The article recounts his famous quote, "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind," and includes tributes from US President Barack Obama, who called him "among the greatest of American heroes." The piece details Armstrong's career, including his time as a Navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut, and his post-NASA career teaching aerospace engineering. It notes his modest nature and his self-description as a "white-socks, pocket-protector, nerdy engineer."

UFO Sightings and Reports

'LITS' News from South Africa

A UFO sighting from the Amanzimtoti area, south of Durban, South Africa, is reported, involving a green light seen near the moon. The 'Citizen News' also reported green lights over Alexandra township. A picture shows a green object moving relative to the moon, with a smaller bright object also visible.

Local UFO Sighting, Alvaston, Derby

Mr C. Harris reported seeing 5 white lights in a chevron shape moving between stars in Alvaston, Derby, on August 20, 2012. The lights suddenly disappeared. He estimated the object was significantly larger than a plane he was observing and regretted not having his camcorder ready.

Meteor Event Over The UK

A large glowing light was observed across the UK on August 27, 2012, believed to be a meteor. It was reported on radio news bulletins.

Ministry of Defence Rules UFOs Pose No Threat

An article by Richard Gray reports that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stopped investigating UFO sightings, concluding they pose no threat to the UK. This decision comes despite the head of UK Air Traffic Control admitting that the country is visited by approximately one unidentified flying object per month. Mr Deakin confirmed that his staff occasionally identify objects that do not conform to normal traffic patterns.

The article then details selections from MoD archives:

• UFOlogists File DEFE 24/1984/1: A 1996 Parliamentary Question from Martin Redmond MP inquired about MI6 and GCHQ monitoring UFO investigations, interpreted as monitoring UFOlogists. The agencies stated they do not undertake such activity but could not rule out monitoring individuals studying UFOs.
• File DEFE 24/1987/1: In 1997, Special Branch investigated a UFOlogist obsessed with a secret UFO facility rumour near RAF Rudloe Manor. While not deemed a security threat, they were alert to potential misuse of the individual.
• 'Welsh Triangle' and silver-suited spacemen (DEFE 24/2043/1): A series of UFO and alien sightings in West Wales in 1977 led to tabloid speculation. An MP received reports of constituents seeing a dome-shaped object land and two tall, silver-suited "faceless humanoids" emerge. Investigations suggested a practical joker might be involved, noting a silver suit displayed in a local shop.

UFO Sightings and Reports (Continued)

• 'Men in Black' visitation (DEFE24/2089/1): A report from Spalding, Lincolnshire, described a late-night visit from three tall men in black suits to a UFO witness's home. The friend who witnessed this hid and reported the men left in a black Jaguar.
• Sighting by RAF pilot 1958 (DEFE 24/2080/1): RAF Air Commodore Hugh Anthony Caillard stated in a 1978 memo that he had never dismissed UFOs and recounted seeing a brightly illuminated object at high altitude in 1958.
• Alien Abduction in Scotland (DEFE 31/189/1): A 1992 report described a UFO over the A70 that dropped a curtain of light, followed by regression hypnosis revealing an alien abduction story.

US hypersonic spyplane 'Aurora' (?)

References were made to a study of unexplained fatal accidents involving RAF aircraft and a possible link to the crash of a Chinook helicopter on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994. Conspiracy theorists linked this to UFOs and the US hypersonic spyplane 'Aurora'. Parliamentary Questions in 1992 by MPs Martin Redmond and George Foulkes concerned reports of 'Aurora' flying in UK airspace. While the MoD publicly denied knowledge of 'Aurora', internal briefings suggested UFO Desk Officers would "not be surprised if it did exist."

The issue includes a diagram and description of the Northrop B-2 ATB Stealth Bomber, suggesting it utilizes an "Electro-Gravitic Propulsion System" based on Thomas Townsend Brown's work, essentially turning the aircraft into a "flying capacitor."

British Civil Aviation Authority Highly Interested In Pilots' UFO Sightings

Despite the MoD ending its UFO investigations in 2009, the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) continued to collect reports involving UFOs with possible flight safety issues. David Clarke, a UK National Archives consultant, stated that the CAA was interested only in sightings bearing on aircraft or flight safety, not public reports. The Royal Air Force specifically requested that UFO reports submitted to the Department of Transport no longer be forwarded to the MoD, and the public is discouraged from expecting investigations.

UK pilots have reported a number of chilling near-misses with UFOs.

One incident involved British pilot David Hastings and co-pilot David Paterson, who encountered a rapidly growing speck that cast a huge shadow over their Cessna Skymaster plane over the Mojave Desert on September 9, 1985. The object made no noise and caused no turbulence. Hastings managed to take two pictures, one of which showed a "cigar-shaped" object that they were convinced was not man-made. The case remains unexplained.

Clarke suggests that aviation officials avoid discussing UFOs due to potential bad publicity and airlines' reluctance to have their aircrew involved in such reports.

Examples of other well known UFO reports:

• UFO Over Holloman Base: An unidentified flying object was photographed by a government employee over the Holloman Air Development Center in New Mexico in 1964.
• Roswell: America's most infamous UFO case, where some claimed an alien spacecraft crashed in 1947, though the military stated it was a weather balloon. The "Roswell Report" in 1997 countered alien claims by stating military officials recovered 200-pound dummies used in an experiment.

Another Complex Crop Circle: The Mystery Continues

An article details a complex crop circle at Hackpen Hill (3), near Broad Hinton, Wiltshire, reported on August 26th. The crop circle was left for two weeks for public viewing. Information is provided for a "Crop Circles & Sacred Sites Tour" including Stonehenge, Summer Lectures, and Glastonbury, with a website www.Sacred Britain.com.

Littleover Witness Recounts UFO Sighting From The 80's

This section details a UFO sighting experienced by a witness named 'David' in Littleover, Derby, during the early 1980s (around 1980-1982). David, who was about 6-8 years old at the time, heard a loud buzzing noise and saw a large object with lights floating outside his bedroom window. The object was described as rectangular with chopped corners. His family and a friend also reported hearing the noise. The sighting was reportedly mentioned in the Derby Evening Telegraph. The article notes that the Littleover area of Derby has a history of UFO reports and speculates about inter-dimensional origins. The witness's drawing of the object is shown, along with comparative sizes to a football pitch and a car. The peculiar lack of other witnesses for this event is referred to as the 'OZ' factor.

A3 Cobham Incident 17/9/80 0030Hrs.

Two customs officers reported seeing a brilliant light near Cobham, which resolved into two lights close together. They observed a slow-moving, massive object, estimated to be at least 200ft long, with red and green lights. The object had no glow but its shape was discernible. The witnesses felt immense power from the object. It passed overhead and was lost from sight over a hill. The incident was reported to Epsom Police Station.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of OVNI are UFO sightings and encounters, government investigations (or lack thereof) into these phenomena, and the legacy of space exploration, particularly the Moon landing. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, presenting witness accounts and official records while also exploring more speculative theories such as inter-dimensional origins for UFOs. The inclusion of crop circle reports and the discussion of advanced aircraft technology like the B-2 bomber suggest a broad interest in anomalous aerial phenomena and cutting-edge technology.

This issue of OVNI magazine, dated July 18, 2012, and spanning pages 10-14, delves into a variety of topics related to unexplained phenomena, space exploration, and potential extraterrestrial evidence. The cover story focuses on a former RAF leader's investigation into a reported Sputnik crash in the Scottish Highlands. Other articles discuss findings from NASA's Mars missions, including the Curiosity rover's exploration and intriguing geological formations, as well as a record-breaking space mission and a UFO-themed event.

RAF Leader Sought Evidence of Highland Sputnik Crash

This article, by Steven McKenzie, reports on David "Heavy" Whalley, a former RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team leader, who sought evidence of a Russian Sputnik satellite crashing in the Highlands approximately 50 years prior. Whalley was intrigued by a story from the 1960s where a shepherd reportedly found Sputnik remains on a moor above Ardgay in Sutherland. An RAF Kinloss team member sent to investigate found unusual debris and was allegedly told to "keep quiet." After becoming team leader in the late 1980s, Whalley tried to find records in the team's logs but believed the information was deliberately suppressed. He recounts that the recovered items included parts with Russian writing and pictures, and that a reward was offered for the satellite's return. Jack Baines, an experienced climber and later MRT leader, was among those who investigated. Whalley initially dismissed the story as an urban myth but was convinced by Baines. He found no official incident report in the team archives. The story is also mentioned in Frank Card's 1993 book ‘Whensoever’. Whalley's attempts to follow up the story with the BBC were met with dead ends.

Mars News! (From 'Filers Files #35 2012')

This section, dated August 5, 2012, discusses the landing of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, the Curiosity rover, in Gale Crater. The article notes that while Curiosity may not find direct signs of life, it could find organics, though new instruments might be needed for 'biomarkers'. It references previous findings of 'macrobiotic life' by Viking Landers in 1976. The author references 'Filer's Files #33' concerning purported Martian ROADS and BRIDGES, but expresses doubt about these interpretations. Instead, the author is certain there IS or WAS life on Mars, interpreting the observed formations as a "FUNGAL COLONY." The living body of the fungus is described as a mycelium made of tiny filaments called hyphae, which grow in all directions, often over and under each other. These white, road-like objects are approximately 150 feet wide and miles long, suggesting something unusual in the NASA/JPL photos. The author humorously states they would "NOT remove my environment suit while on Mars."

Where Will Curiosity Go First?

This article, dated August 17, 2012, follows up on the successful landing of NASA's Curiosity rover. Mission scientists are eager to move the rover. Project scientist John Grotzinger states they landed in an ideal location, the bottom of an alluvial fan, which is a pattern of sedimentary rocks deposited by flowing water, potentially indicating an ancient Martian river. This is considered an excellent place to search for clues of past habitability. The rover will head downhill to where water might have collected, looking for minerals like salts. The ultimate goal is to reach Mount Sharp, a 5000-meter tall mountain holding clues to life on the Red Planet. Deputy Program Manager Richard Cook compares the temptation to stop and examine sights to a family vacation. Curiosity is equipped with instruments to find chemical building blocks of life, including a laser to vaporize rock spots and a high-resolution camera (Mastcam). The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument will analyze atmospheric gases like methane and gases from rock/soil samples. Grotzinger guarantees that Curiosity will tell an "incredible story."

Mars Rectangular Monolith Boulder

This short piece describes an intriguing object discovered on the surface of Mars by amateur stargazers. Found in NASA images, the seemingly perfectly rectangular, upright structure bears a resemblance to the monoliths from the sci-fi film "2001: A Space Odyssey." The object was first spotted years ago via the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The article poses the question of whether it is an unnatural beacon created by aliens or a natural rock formation.

SPEEDY 'PROGESS'

This brief report, dated 2/8/2012, announces that a Russian spacecraft, 'Progress', has set a new record by reaching the International Space Station (ISS) in just six hours. This rapid ascent, achieved through a new approach maneuver, involved only four orbits instead of the usual 34, which typically take two days. Astronauts hope this method can be used for future manned Soyuz capsules to reduce rendezvous time.

NOT on The 6 O'Clock News

This page advertises an event titled "NOT on The 6 O'Clock News," described as "Covering issues no one else will... confronting a new reality..." The event features speakers Richard D Hall (discussing Media, Mind Control, Raoul Moat, UFOs, and Animal Abduction), Lloyd Pye (Starchild Skull, The New Evidence), Neil Sanders (Your Thoughts Are Not Your Own: Media Manipulation Of Perception), and Andrew Johnson (The Control of Information: 911, Energy and Sequestered Technologies). The event is scheduled for Sunday, September 30th, from 11 am to 10 pm at YMCA Derby, with tickets costing £15. A QR code links to tinyurl.com/not6news. The page also announces a "NEXT PRA MEETING" at the Royal British Legion, Allenton, Derby, on Tuesday, September 25th, at 8 pm, featuring an illustrated presentation by Ben Holmes titled 'A Brief History of UFO's'. A disclaimer states that articles and opinions in OVNI do not necessarily reflect the views of the PRA, and articles are reprinted with acknowledgement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of OVNI magazine revolve around unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs and alleged extraterrestrial encounters or evidence, and the exploration of space with a focus on potential signs of life. There is a consistent undercurrent of skepticism towards official narratives and a suggestion of suppressed information, as seen in the Sputnik crash story and the interpretation of Mars formations. The magazine appears to promote alternative perspectives and investigative journalism into topics often overlooked by mainstream media, as indicated by the "NOT on The 6 O'Clock News" event and the general content. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into mysteries, encouraging readers to question established accounts and consider unconventional explanations.