Pegasus - 1976 May - Esher May Fair Edition

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: Vol 4 No 5
Date: May 1976
Publisher: Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)
Country: UK
Price: 10 P

This issue of PEGASUS, a journal devoted to the study of unidentified flying objects, is presented as a "SPECIAL - ESHER MAY FAIR EDITION" and serves as the Journal of the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP).

Editors and Consultants

The editorial team includes Michael Prewett FBIS, Carol Godsell, Omar Fowler MISM, and Richard Beet FRAS MAIE. SIGAP's consultants comprise J M Adams BSc FRMetS, T C Childerhouse, Rev Dr N Cockburn MA BD, Prof F B Salisbury PhD, and R T Toft. The secretarial address for SIGAP is provided as 20 Loman Road, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey.

Editorial

The editorial welcomes visitors to the Esher May Fair, expressing hope that they are enjoying themselves. It addresses the potential perception of SIGAP as a "crank" organization, suggesting their invitation to the fair indicates a recognition that UFOs are a valid scientific phenomenon worthy of investigation. The editorial states SIGAP's aim is to collect and disseminate sighting reports to investigate all sightings, no matter how bizarre, in pursuit of this mystery. They highlight their use of special consultants, including an optical physicist, a satellite expert, a theologian, and a US university professor, to evaluate reports. For this special edition, SIGAP has assembled articles from past issues of Pegasus.

SIGAP Interviews Leading American Scientist on UFOs

This section features an interview with Dr. Joachim Kuettner, who became Chairman of the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) UFO sub-committee in December 1968. The AIAA's investigations led to a publication in the 'Journal of Astronautics and Aeronautics' titled 'UFO: An Appraisal of the Problem' in 1971. Their report is also referenced in Allen Hynek's 'The UFO Experience: A Scientific Enquiry'.

Dr. Kuettner met with Omar Fowler and Graham Raine of SIGAP. Although associated with ESSA Research Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado, Dr. Kuettner was recently working at the Bracknell Weather Centre. During the discussion, Dr. Kuettner revealed that his committee's conclusion was that UFOs presented a "scientific problem" and the answer was "YES." This contradicted the Condon Report, which, despite explaining 95% of sightings, was criticized for assuming the remaining 5% were also explainable without further information. The Condon Committee, though composed of open-minded people, lacked experience in UFO study. Dr. Kuettner noted that the stature of Dr. Condon made it difficult to neutralize his report and that many scientists were reluctant to jeopardize their reputations by engaging in UFO research.

Regarding the investigation of physical evidence, Dr. Kuettner stated that the path forward should be detailed statistical research. He also commented on the difficulty of accepting evidence from a single witness, recalling his own experience of seeing a UFO while flying at night, which caused a moment of shock and disorientation.

Dr. Kuettner also discussed UFO watches, noting that instruments like magnetometers were often useless, and cameras inadequate. He concluded that direct skywatching had not yielded important results, emphasizing the need to concentrate on statistical analysis. Finally, they discussed the apparent lack of interest from UK government bodies in UFO studies and the structure of UFO groups in the UK, many of which operate on a voluntary basis. The discussion touched upon Hynek's aim to form a major center for UFO investigation.

A photograph shows Omar Fowler and Dr. Joachim Kuettner.

Hawk Balloon or UFO near Guildford

This section presents two reports concerning sightings in July 1967.

Sq Ldr Shipwright's Sighting (Tuesday, June 27, 1967):

Sq Ldr Shipwright and his wife observed a snow-white object in a field near Albury Church, moving rapidly up and down a meadow for about ten minutes. It then moved slowly East to West along a hedge, appearing to investigate and measure its surroundings. The object paused near a hedge and trees, then rose above them and continued its quiet progress. Sq Ldr Shipwright described the object as about twice the size of a cow, with the appearance of a white egg with the shell taken off, and possibly having a black thing on one end. He analyzed its movements, concluding it could not have been a balloon or parachute and was definitely unidentified. He noted its movements were contrary to wind and gravity. He later learned of a "shimmering football" sighting over Guildford on the preceding Friday, which he realized was likely what they had seen.

Mr David Clarke's Sighting (Saturday, July 1, 1967):

Dick Beet and Omar Fowler interviewed Mr. David Clarke, an Art Teacher, about his sighting near Chilworth. Mr. Clarke described a silver sphere seen near Halfpenny Lane and White Lane, which had a bobbing motion but did not move from its position. While investigating, they spoke to a gardener at a nearby house called 'Whiteways'. The gardener explained that on Wednesday, June 28th, the duty gardener saw someone running from the gardens. The "Hawk Balloon" used there had been cut loose and shot into the air. These balloons are approximately 14' in diameter, made of white rubber, and are sometimes affected by the sun. A dummy hawk is suspended underneath to scare birds. They are filled with hydrogen and held by a 25-30 foot nylon cord. The gardener confirmed that one had been cut loose about a year prior. The 'Whiteways' house and another nearby house operated Hawk Balloons. The search was discontinued at 10 pm.

The article notes that the 'Whiteways' house is about a mile and a half NW of the field where Sq Ldr Shipwright saw the white egg-shaped object. Another house operating a Hawk Balloon is half a mile from the field.

The Mars Viking Mission - A Search for Life on Mars

This article, written by Professor Carl Sagan, Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University, details the Viking mission to Mars. The mission involves two unmanned intelligent machines landing on the Red Planet to search for life. Information will be monitored from Earth, with new data transmitted to the Viking Landers, and their memories and instructions reprogrammable.

The Viking lander is described as a stubby triangle with projections, featuring three legs for landing impact and scientific instruments, power sources, and antennae extending upwards. The lander is equipped with seismometers to detect marsquakes, which could provide vital information about Mars' internal structure and geological activity. It also carries meteorological instruments to measure wind speed, atmospheric pressure, and temperature, allowing for weather forecasts on Mars.

A key component is a sample arm that will collect Martian sand and dust for analysis. Experiments will examine the inorganic chemistry of the Martian surface, which is believed to be a mixture of volcanic rock and clays stained red. Another experiment will analyze the organic chemistry of Mars to determine if molecules produced by living organisms or those that led to the origin of life on Earth are present. Organic molecules are known to exist in meteorites that fall on Mars.

Three experiments are designed to search for Martian micro-biology. One involves dropping a Martian soil sample into an aqueous mixture of organic molecules, with radioactive carbon-14 used to detect any release of carbon dioxide from microbial metabolism. Another experiment tests the uptake or output of simple gases from a soil sample exposed to an aqueous nutrient medium. The third experiment exposes a dry soil sample to radioactively labeled CO2 to determine if Martian organisms can fix CO2 from the atmosphere, similar to how plants do on Earth.

The lander cameras will provide detailed visual information, examining rocks, sand dunes, clouds, and other celestial objects. They will also examine the Martian soil in trenches dug by the arm, potentially detecting Martian "macrobes" ranging in size from ants to giraffes.

Professor Sagan concludes that Viking represents a new era in planetary exploration.

A diagram of the Viking Lander is included, labeling its various components such as antennas, sensors, engines, and scientific instruments.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena and the exploration of space, specifically the Viking mission to Mars. SIGAP's stance is that UFOs are a valid scientific phenomenon worthy of rigorous investigation, contrasting with the perceived skepticism surrounding the topic. The magazine aims to collect, analyze, and disseminate UFO sighting reports, emphasizing a methodical approach to understanding these mysteries. The inclusion of Professor Sagan's article on the Mars mission highlights a broader interest in unexplained phenomena and scientific inquiry beyond Earth.

Title: Pegasus
Issue: V4 N2
Date: 1972
Publisher: Pegasus
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of Pegasus, dated 1972, features an in-depth retrospective analysis of UFO sightings, with a particular focus on the Banbury area and its UFO flaps. The cover headline is "BANBURY IN RETROSPECT," and the main article is written by Richard P. Colborne, with photography by Ron Toft.

Banbury in Retrospect: A Comparative Analysis of UFO Flaps

The article begins by acknowledging the author's personal experience with UFO reports, having just finished a large batch of reports from the Banbury area. He expresses a desire to relax and catch up on other UFO magazines, noting that some anonymous publications were predicting another "flap" in the Banbury area. The author expresses a personal hope that this prediction is incorrect, referencing a significant flap in 1971 that he believes surpassed previous records.

He voices doubts about the investigators and contributors of some other UFO magazines, suggesting they might have been out of the country during key events. The author then shifts to a comparative analysis of UFO figures from the 1967 flap and the more recent 1971 sightings. Despite the UFOs themselves appearing different in the two years, their behavior exhibited intriguing parallels.

The 1967 and 1971 Flaps: A Statistical Comparison

The year 1967 started slowly, with an indication of activity in early summer, followed by a significant flap in July and August. September was quiet, but October became a secondary peak, doubling the figures for the rest of the year. November and December saw little activity, similar to the early part of the year.

The 1971 flap followed a similar pattern: starting slowly, rising to a secondary peak in midsummer, levelling out slightly, and then exploding in October. Surprisingly, even the dates of the sightings matched up, with the closing days of October (26th, 27th, 28th) being the most hectic for both years. Similarities were also noted in the times of day and days of the week, though the author points out these patterns are not unique to these flaps but are suggested in statistics for other UFO and fortean phenomena. The conclusion drawn is that these "allegedly extraterrestrial visitors adhere to a distinctly terrestrial timetable."

Although the figures for 1971 were incomplete, it was predicted that the year would achieve parity with 1967's 700-plus reports, if not surpass them.

Case Studies from the Banbury and Oxfordshire Flaps

Oxfordshire, particularly Banbury, featured prominently in the 1971 flap, while Staffordshire topped the table in 1967. Surrey and adjoining counties also reported a high number of incidents in 1967, but SIGAP's immediate area seemed less affected in 1971, apart from a couple of reports from Bagshot.

Banbury Schoolboys Sighting (September 28th, 1971): Three schoolboys reported seeing a cigar-shaped object accompanied by four or five smaller objects. Two of the boys observed the smaller objects merge to form the cigar before it disappeared into the distance.

Daylight Sightings with Vapour Trails: A notable feature of the Banbury flap was that many good sightings occurred during daylight hours, with objects leaving trails of smoke or vapor. One witness described an orange ball that moved off at tremendous speed, traversing the sky in seconds with a delta-shaped tail of smoke.

Veteran Pilot's Observation (October 17th, 1971): A veteran RAF pilot, Mr. Ruck-Keene, observed a vapor-trailing object that produced a tail fanning out before abruptly finishing.

High-Speed UFO over Oxfordshire (October 26th, 1971): A UFO, described as belching flames and smoke, traversed the northern tip of Oxfordshire. Estimated by another ex-RAF pilot to be travelling at 5,000 mph, it stopped dead in its track and executed right-angle turns, proving its advanced capabilities.

Close-Range Encounter (October 26th, 1971): Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Burton encountered an object hovering near the ground, featuring yellow window-like lights and a redish-orange pulsating light. The object ascended slowly, moved slightly, and then vanished.

Photographic Evidence: Several color photographs were taken, including flaming orange cigar objects seen around Charlton (Oxon.) on October 27th, and a flashing red object photographed on October 19th.

The wealth of reports from the Banbury area in 1971 is highlighted as a significant event that should inspire ufologists.

Farmer Sees UFO Take-Off from Field (1968)

This section details a case investigated by SIGAP Secretary Richard Beet and the author, involving farmer George Graham of Hilltop Farm, Woodmansterne, near Banstead, Surrey.

The Sighting (Late August or Early September 1968): Mr. Graham, while waiting for foxes near a copse, noticed a strange glow about 100 yards away in a field. Initially mistaking it for a neighbor, he soon realized it was something else. He heard a loud 'whoosh' and saw a dark circular shape rise silently into the air, gathering speed and disappearing into the night sky.

Fear of Ridicule: Mr. Graham did not report the incident immediately due to fear of being ridiculed, a common reason for witnesses withholding information.

Interview Details: The interview took place between 10 pm and 10:30 pm. Mr. Graham described the glow beneath the UFO as dark-blue and "acetylene-like." The UFO took off about ten to fifteen minutes after he first noticed the glow. He reported no signs of life or other activity, and no noise other than a "rush of air" as it ascended straight up.

Physical Trace Evidence: The next morning, Mr. Graham discovered a huge key-hole shaped marking in the field, approximately 40 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a band of about 8 inches inside the edges. All the grass and roots within this band had been removed, as if "by a giant vacuum cleaner." Mr. Graham was adamant that the object was not an aircraft.

Witnesses and Cattle: At the time of the sighting, there were 20 horses and an equal number of cattle in the field, none of whom appeared distressed.

Photographic Documentation: The article includes photographs showing Ron Toft examining the marking and the general site. It also mentions a "litho photograph" showing a Martian crater, possibly as a comparison or related to previous articles.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the analysis of UFO "flaps," particularly comparing different historical events (1967 vs. 1971) and examining the patterns and behaviors of reported UFOs. There's a strong emphasis on collecting and analyzing witness accounts, photographic evidence, and physical traces. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into UFO phenomena, with a critical eye towards sensationalism and a belief in the factual basis of many reports, suggesting that these phenomena follow discernible, albeit unusual, patterns and timetables. The magazine aims to inspire further investigation into outstanding UFO cases.