OVNI - 2014 01 - January-February

Magazine Overview

Title: OVNI
Issue: January/February 2014
Publisher: JOURNAL OF THE PHENOMENON RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Country: UK
Price: £4 UK: EU:5 Euros incl: pp

This issue of OVNI, 'The Journal for the discerning researcher', delves into a variety of intriguing phenomena, from recent space exploration to historical accounts of unexplained aerial events and encounters.

Chinese Spacecraft Lands on the Moon

The magazine reports on China's historic achievement on December 14, 2013, becoming the third nation and the first in 37 years to land an unmanned craft on the moon with the Chang'e-3 mission. The accompanying 'Jade Rabbit' rover's activities are detailed. Significantly, new images released by the Chinese space agency show areas on the moon in green and purple hues, which the article suggests could indicate vegetation and/or bacterial life. This is presented as a stark contrast to NASA's long-held assertion that the moon was gray, dead, and devoid of color, potentially undermining established protocols and described as 'world breaking news' unlikely to reach mainstream media. The article questions how long the Chinese will broadcast these images and anticipates NASA's attempts to explain them away as issues with exposure or the angle of the sun.

California Crop Circle Sparks UFO Talk

An article by Jonah Lustig details an unexplained crop circle that appeared in Salinas, California, USA, on December 31, 2013. The intricate patterns were discovered by aerial photographer Julie Belanger during a flyover on December 30, 2013. The phenomenon captured the attention of alien enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists nationwide. Adding to the mystery, a YouTube video showed two friends encountering the patterns after witnessing green lights emanating from the field. Initially, Echelon Security Co. was hired to protect the land, but the landowner's identity remained undisclosed. However, the mystery was resolved on January 8, 2014, when NVIDIA Computer Company (USA) released a documentary revealing they were responsible for the crop circle. It was an apparent publicity stunt to promote their new computer chip, described as 'The fastest chip in the Universe,' with careful planning having taken place two weeks prior to its mapping.

UFO Craft Disrupts Bremen Airport (Germany)

On January 7, 2014, a UFO reportedly disrupted operations at Bremen Airport in Germany. The object appeared on radar multiple times between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Police were alerted, and a patrol car also sighted the object. A police helicopter was dispatched but could not locate it, though it was reportedly visible through binoculars from the traffic control tower. The UFO flew over the German city and passed within 300 meters of the Werder stadium. The incident forced the closure of the airspace for approximately three hours, causing delayed flights. A police spokesman stated, "There was something there, but we don't know what it was." German Air Traffic Control described it as having normal lights, red and green, with an approach light on both sides. Eyewitness Dominique Höber reported the object flying at 100-200 meters, describing it as "looked like a plane... It had lights but was a lot louder." Possible explanations offered included a drone or a balloon-like aircraft. In a separate incident on the same Sunday in Zwickau, Saxony, an unidentified aircraft landed, later identified as a remote-controlled model airship.

Silent Colorful Spherical UFO Spotted Over Blackburn, UK

This section reports on UFO sightings received by the Lancashire Telegraph newspaper. Following coverage of a sighting in Barnoldswick, England, the newspaper solicited reports from tweeters. One picture, taken in July over Blackburn, was published. Another sighting from December involved a witness in Accrington describing a "half spherical object that was bright lime green in colour with loads of red pulsating lights underneath it." The object was estimated to be the size of a golf ball at arm's length and disappeared over Longridge Fell about 15 miles away in 12 seconds, making no noise and travelling very fast. A tweeter named @Bloddys_world shared photos from July 11, 2013, in Blackburn and recalled a sighting from the late 1970s of a bright cigar-shaped light that affected electricals.

'Did you see that?' Heathrow Jet Pilot Saw High-Speed 'UFO'

An article by Sam Webb details a report released by the UK Airprox Board concerning a near-miss incident in July 2013 near Heathrow Airport. The captain of an A320 flying west of the airport reported seeing a silver, cigar-shaped metallic object flying at a similar altitude, seemingly directly at his plane. The pilot described the object as being within feet of his cockpit and, fearing a collision, ducked and alerted his co-pilot. Air authorities initially suggested it was likely a reflection from an aircraft to the west. However, investigators ruled out meteorological or helium balloons. The report noted the pilot's "powerful impression of immediate danger." While acknowledging the possibility of a reflection combined with head movement, the investigation concluded that the "overall dearth of information relating to the event rendered any meaningful finding impossible." The incident occurred while the A320 was cruising at 34,000ft, about 20 miles west of the airport.

An Historic Alien Event in October 1973

This section details an event from October 1973 in Falkville, Alabama, USA, based on a report from 'News Extra' dated February 17, 1974. Police Chief Jeff Greenshaw responded to a call from a woman who claimed to have witnessed a landing. Greenshaw encountered a six-foot metallic creature covered in silvery tin foil material. He described the creature as moving stiffly and soundlessly and noted its featureless face and a short antenna. The creature ran down the highway at a speed faster than any human. Greenshaw managed to take four Polaroid photos of the creature before it fled. Despite potential skepticism about the authenticity of the photos, Greenshaw remained convinced of what he saw.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of OVNI revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, extraterrestrial encounters, and the exploration of space. The magazine appears to adopt a stance of open-minded inquiry, presenting various accounts and evidence for readers to consider, while also critically examining potential explanations and the role of media in disseminating such information. There is a clear interest in challenging established narratives, as seen in the coverage of the Chinese moon images versus NASA's statements, and in presenting historical cases alongside contemporary events.

Title: OVNI
Issue Date: January 14, 2014
Content Focus: UFOs, alien encounters, paranormal research, and scientific commentary.

Alabama Cop Hexed by UFO

This article details the alleged experiences of Patrolman Jeff Greenshaw of Falkville, Alabama. Greenshaw reportedly photographed a mysterious silver creature walking along a country road. Following this incident, he claims to have been subjected to a series of misfortunes, including threatening phone calls, harassment, his car engine exploding, his wife leaving him, his house trailer being destroyed by fire, and his eventual dismissal from the police force. The article suggests that an unknown entity or force may have been responsible for silencing Greenshaw. The OVNI editor expresses skepticism about the report, noting inconsistencies in Greenshaw's accounts, such as the number of photographs taken and the description of the alien's appearance, questioning the 'silver suit' narrative in light of modern understanding of alien appearances.

Crashed Saucer near Edwards Air Force Base

This piece, authored by Billy Booth, recounts an incident from the summer of 1971 near Edwards Air Force Base, California. A small, dull gray, mushroom-shaped craft, approximately 3-3.5 meters in diameter, crashed. Onboard were three gray humanoids, one of whom was alive, and a human female abductee identified as Lorraine Dvorak Cordini. The craft, described as smooth and molded in one piece with no visible windows or seams, was reportedly covered by the military and removed. A witness, Debbie Clayton, reported hearing a loud roaring sound followed by a crash. Civilians attempting to document the event had their cameras confiscated and equipment smashed by military personnel. The cause of the crash was later attributed to a technical malfunction. Lorraine Dvorak Cordini, despite alleged attempts by the military to erase her memory, recalled being returned to Earth from a mother-ship in space. She described the extraterrestrial crew and a tall, female 'captain' from the mother-ship who communicated sorrow. She also recalled being placed in a limousine and later waking on a cold metal table in a hangar, attended by military personnel and an alien with a pumpkin-shaped head. Her memory of being taken away involved seeing flashing red lights and being told it was the police, before ending up stranded in San Francisco.

Seasonal Greetings from New Zealand

This section features a photograph of members of the Tauranga UFO & Paranormal Society, dated December 2013. It notes that the PRA (presumably the publisher's organization) exchanges information with Ian Lucas of the TUFOPS group and Derek Kendall in New Zealand, highlighting the global interest in the UFO subject. A separate image shows a New Year's greeting for 2014 from 'UFO Researchers: Belgium'.

Lloyd Pye Has Died

This article announces the death of Lloyd Pye on December 9, 2013, after being diagnosed with cancer. Pye was known as an author and paranormal researcher, particularly for his promotion of the Starchild skull, which he claimed was a human-alien hybrid, though DNA tests indicated it was from a human male. He also supported the existence of Bigfoot and believed aliens had intervened in Earth's history. The article details Pye's background, including his education at Tulane University and his service in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence specialist. Tributes from his Facebook page are included, describing him as a kind, thoughtful, and inspiring friend. Loren Coleman and Andrew Johnson provide personal anecdotes, highlighting Pye's dedication to his research and his gentle nature. The OVNI editor notes that Lloyd Pye had visited Derby in September 2012.

Tale Enders

This section contains several short reports:

• Gigantic Sunspot: Reports on a massive solar flare from sunspot AR1944 on January 7th, described by NASA as one of the largest in ten years. The sunspot's size and proximity to Earth posed a threat of geoeffective eruptions and geomagnetic storms.
• Derby UFO: A brief query from Mr. C. Harris asking if a stationary light observed on December 25th, 2013, in Derby was reported.
• BBC Horizon Programme ‘Comet Ison’: Andrew Johnson provides commentary on a BBC Horizon documentary about Comet Ison. He criticizes the program for missing evidence that comets are not primarily made of water/ice and for promoting theories about the origin of the solar system. Johnson points out a factual error made by Dr. Melissa Morris regarding deuterium oxide and accuses scientists of promoting misinformation to secure funding, citing a NASA statement about Comet Borrelly as an example of ignoring contradictory evidence.

An announcement for the next PRA meeting in Allenton, Derby, on January 28th, 2014, is included, featuring presentations on UFO videos and local 'Flying Triangle' sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of OVNI revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, alien encounters, and the potential for extraterrestrial influence on Earth. There is a consistent exploration of alleged UFO sightings and abductions, often presented with a degree of skepticism or critical analysis, as seen in the OVNI editor's comments on the Jeff Greenshaw case. The magazine also delves into fringe science and cryptozoology, exemplified by the tribute to Lloyd Pye and his theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, while also maintaining a critical perspective, particularly regarding scientific claims and media portrayals. The inclusion of reports on astronomical events like solar flares suggests a broader interest in phenomena that might intersect with UFOlogy or challenge conventional scientific understanding.