Pegasus - 1979 March

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: MARCH 1979
Publisher: SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOMENA

This issue marks the return of 'Pegasus', the journal of the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), after a lapse of five years. The editors express gratitude for member inquiries and state that the amount of information to print justifies the return to a full magazine format rather than a 'news sheet'. They appeal for continued support and contributions to cover production and postage costs.

Contents This Month

The magazine includes the following sections:

• Page 2/3/4: A REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1978
• Page 5 & 6: A TABLE OF EVENTS : 1978
• Page 7: A NEW 78 REPORT plus LATEST 1979 INCIDENTS.
• Page 8/9/10: SPECTACULAR INCIDENT AT HAVANT : Jan. 79.
• Page 11: "PROJECT 971" plus NEXT MEETING INFO.
• Page 12: MEXICO SCENE.
• Page 13: REAR COVER: SIGAP GENERAL INFORMATION.

A REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1978

The year 1978 was described as very active from an investigative standpoint. A total of 91 incidents were reported, with 18 classified as CE1 (identifiable shape/craft) where the object appeared in close proximity to witnesses. The peak of activity occurred on April 5th and 6th. On April 5th, four incidents were reported, including one CE1 and three LITS (Light in the sky cases). Case S819 involved a sighting over Farnborough, Hants, of an object depicted in a sketch by investigator Carol Godsell, showing flashing lights of red, blue, and green. Case S820, on the same night, concerned a school caretaker at Ash, Mr. Peter Inwood, who reported a multicolored light in the sky, which gained significant publicity.

Further incidents from April 5th included Case S827, where Mr. James Dickinson observed three bright lights at high altitude over Epsom Downs, described as white and brilliant like stars. Mr. Dickinson, a Sales Manager in structural engineering, watched for an hour. Case S829 involved Mrs. Jean Moreton of Chilworth, Guildford, who saw a bright, hovering object that moved forward and shot out a jet of flame several times before disappearing.

On April 6th, Case S.817 detailed an incident at Churt, near Farnham, Surrey, where two teenage girls saw an oval-shaped object hovering over trees. This object was described as silver with prominent red, green, and white lights and unique windows described as "like an insects eyes". Case S818 reported by taxi driver Mr. Barry Woodhouse involved a metallic circular object, "flattened on the sides, like wings", that zoomed across the street lamps near Farnham. Case S821 reported by Mrs. Radford of Aldershot described a star-like object "flickering in various colours" in the direction of Farnborough. Case S848 involved Miss Amanda Brown and a friend seeing a white ball-shaped object flying steadily across the sky near Guildford, Surrey, with no noise.

TABLE OF EVENTS 1978

This section provides a detailed chronological breakdown of reported events throughout 1978, categorized by month. The coding explanation clarifies that CE1 refers to a craft with an identifiable shape, LITS to lights in the sky with no explanation, and UNO to unidentified noise. A question mark indicates a case still under investigation. The table shows a distribution of incidents across months, with April having the highest number of CE1 and LITS reports. The total for 1978, as of March 5th, 1979, was 18 CE1, 28 LITS, and 3 UNO. The publication notes that these figures are preliminary and may be adjusted, and that they reflect events in the particular area of investigation, not necessarily the overall UK trend.

UFO REPORTS 1979

This section details recent UFO reports from early 1979:

• Case S871 (Investigator K.G.Williamson): On October 24th, 1978, Trevor Darlington (11) reported seeing a bright glowing oval-shaped object hovering in the sky. The object was white and oval, with red and green lights on its underside. An alternating whining noise was also heard. The object remained stationary for about ten minutes.
• Report 906 (21/1/79): Lights in formation over Guildford. Under investigation.
• Report 907 (25/1/79): UFO event at Havant. Under investigation, reported on tape. Investigator: O. Fowler.
• Report 908 (22/2/79): Luminous object over Basingstoke. Under investigation by Police & R.C. Turner.

SPECTACULAR INCIDENT AT HAVANT : Jan. 79 (Case 907)

On the night of Thursday, January 25th, 1979, at approximately 11:35 pm, Mr. Johnson was driving near his garage in Leigh Park Estate, Havant. He noticed an oblong pinkish light hovering over a tree, which then turned towards him, revealing a pulsating white light. The object moved towards his car at a slow speed and hovered overhead at an estimated height of 200-300 feet. A faint humming noise was heard, which increased in volume as the white light at the nose of the craft brightened. Mr. Johnson observed the craft's underside, which glowed pink, with what appeared to be three sets of wings and two glass domes on the rear wings. He also noted a 'door' or hatch on the undercarriage. Frightened, Mr. Johnson started his car and drove into his garage. The pink flickering light was seen reflecting on the ground before the object suddenly disappeared.

Other Sections

Brief mentions are made of "PROJECT 971", the "MEXICO SCENE", and general SIGAP information. The exact content of these sections is not detailed in the provided pages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's primary focus is the documentation and investigation of aerial phenomena, particularly UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, evidenced by the detailed reporting of incidents, investigator notes, and the classification system for different types of sightings (CE1, LITS, UNO). The return of the magazine signifies a commitment to continuing this work, relying on member support and contributions. The emphasis is on presenting factual accounts and investigative findings related to UFOs and other unexplained aerial events.

Title: SIGAP BULLETIN
Issue: 3
Date: March 1979
Publisher: SIGAP (Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena)
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of the SIGAP Bulletin focuses on ongoing investigations and news from the UFO community.

Hilda Downes and "Project 791"

The bulletin highlights "Project 791", an initiative undertaken by Hilda Downes of Basingstoke. This project aims to correlate UFO cases, particularly those involving a specific type of craft described as a "skateboard UFO". The focus is on a case, designated S804, involving two boys who reported seeing such a craft on the night of January 30th, 1978, in Basingstoke. Hilda Downes, who is homebound, is being supplied with extensive reading material, including old "UFOLOG" series and "Flying Saucer Reviews", to study similar reported incidents. A full report on this project is slated for publication in "Pegasus", SIGAP's bi-monthly magazine.

Mexico Scene

This section features news from Richard Colborne, providing a look at "OVNI", a Mexican UFO publication. The page from "OVNI" includes an illustration of a UFO interacting with a car and a drawing of a human figure. The text, in Spanish, poses questions about the intentions of UFO occupants and their tendency to provide false information, suggesting that no one on Earth truly knows the answer to the UFO enigma. Richard Colborne is exploring the possibility of producing a UFO magazine in Mexico, leveraging his past experience for this challenging endeavor.

SIGAP's Investigative Approach

The Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP) is detailed as a group formed in early 1967 to investigate UFO phenomena locally. SIGAP's primary focus is on reports from Surrey and surrounding counties, but it contributes to studies across Southern England. The group employs a systematic approach starting with a 'Hot-line' (Farnborough 41012) to receive sighting reports. A preliminary enquiry procedure is used to eliminate obvious explanations, with the bulletin noting that over 80% of reports are explainable by natural or man-made phenomena. If no immediate explanation is found, SIGAP investigators interview witnesses, visit sites, and consult experts. The group also liaises with similar organizations and sends its most significant reports to the Center for UFO Studies in Evanston, Illinois, USA, headed by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a former consultant to the US Air Force on UFOs.

Meetings and Events

The bulletin announces the next SIGAP meeting will be held at the "Prospect Club" in Ash Vale on Tuesday, March 27th, at 8 pm. Additionally, it notes that SIGAP mounted an exhibition in the foyer of the Odeon in Reading for the showing of the film "Close Encounters", which was well-received by the public.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around active UFO investigation, the collation of sighting data, and the dissemination of information through publications like "Pegasus" and "SIGAP Bulletin". The editorial stance appears to be one of rigorous, scientific inquiry, emphasizing the need to eliminate conventional explanations before considering more extraordinary ones. There is also an international outlook, with coverage of UFO activities and publications in Mexico, and collaboration with a prominent US-based UFO research center. The group encourages public interest, as evidenced by their exhibition for "Close Encounters".