Pegasus - 1979 November-December

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: November-December 1979
Publisher: Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of PEGASUS, the journal of the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), presents a collection of UFO reports and investigations, with a focus on incidents occurring in late 1979. The editorial notes that the issue is slightly behind schedule due to the group's involvement in investigating new "incidents," and promises a report on all UFO reports for 1979 and a list of events in the next issue.

Contents This Month

The issue features the following articles:

• Pages 2-4: The Case Of The Mini-UFO : Blackbushe. This is the lead story, detailing an encounter at Blackbushe Airport.
• Page 5: Strange Lights and Animal Disturbance. A report from Farnborough.
• Page 6: Exploding Ball Seen Before? This article discusses a sighting and relates it to a previous report.
• Page 7: Mexican Round Up. A summary of UFO activity in Mexico.
• Page 8: Light Formation Over Guildford. A sighting report from Guildford.
• Page 9: The Spanish Aircraft Incident. An incident involving a plane and a UFO.

The magazine also announces the next SIGAP meeting, scheduled for Thursday, January 11th at 8 pm at the Prospect Club, Prospect Road, Ash Vale.

The Case Of The Blackbushe Airport Mini-UFO

Investigated by O. Fowler (Case 5930), this article details an encounter on the afternoon of August 27th, 1979, at Blackbushe Airport, a private airfield near Camberley, Surrey. Chief Flying Instructor Mr. Laurie Adlington and his pupil pilot Lt. James Plastow, from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, encountered an unusual "mini-disc" over the airfield.

The UFO was estimated to be between 9" and 12" in diameter and was described as a "flat blob of mercury" shining in the sunlight. As the pilots approached in their Cessna 150 aircraft, the object appeared stationary. It was described as being constructed of small hexagon panels, like a honeycomb, with each panel about one inch across. Lt. Plastow described it as looking like a flattened round doughnut. The object appeared to be in two halves, with a line or split in the middle, clamped by two clasps. Two short "aerials" were noted on top near the periphery. There were no visible signs of propulsion such as propellers or jets.

Lt. Plastow reported a slow rotation movement, and at one stage, believed the object flew around the aircraft. The disc demonstrated motive power, climbing to approximately 3,000' with the Cessna circling it. After about five minutes of observation, the pilots broke away. The object was eventually lost from sight behind the aircraft, heading towards London.

Both Mr. Adlington (an ex-RAF pilot) and Lt. Plastow considered the object to be "man-made."

The following day, August 28th, the "mini-disc" was reportedly seen again over the airfield by Mr. Simon Spence, another pilot from the Three Counties Aero Club. Mr. Spence estimated the height at 800-1000' and viewed the object from 200 yards before it flew towards Farnborough at an estimated 150 mph. His sighting lasted about a minute.

In a later interview, Lt. Plastow commented on the object's solid appearance and its construction from small sections, estimating twelve or thirteen hexagonal or pentagonal panels on the top surface and eight or nine around the circumference. Mr. Adlington reported that the object appeared to be "playing with the aircraft," turning at a slow speed (one revolution every four seconds). No noise was discernible over the aircraft's engine.

A postscript by M. Prewett details that information about this incident was shared with Dr. Richard F. Haines Ph.D. during a visit to California in September. Dr. Haines, associated with the Center For UFO Studies and working at NASA's Aimes Research Center, is particularly interested in UFO sightings from aircraft. The "mini-disc" incident and the "Trident Case" of 30/6/76 were discussed, and a pilot "Aerial Sighting Report" form designed by Dr. Haines was completed. Dr. Haines is the author of "UFO Phenomena And The Behavioral Scientist" and "Observing UFO's."

Strange Lights & Animal Disturbance

Investigated by Alan Franklin, this case (S935) occurred on the morning of October 4th, 1979, in Farnborough. A young couple, Mr. and Mrs. Susan and John Dudley, were woken at 12:30 am by a wave of heat and a bright light in the sky. They had gone to bed at 9 pm with the central heating off, and found the room "stifling." Fifteen minutes later, they were woken again by a humming noise and the sound of their pet rabbits running wildly in their cage.

Mrs. Dudley described the humming noise as muffled and seemingly distant. Both she and her husband simultaneously remarked, "it's a spaceship," despite not being particularly interested in UFOs. The room began to lighten, and there was no shadow cast by objects, unlike on a normal moonlit night. The throbbing noise lasted about three minutes, followed by the light for a couple more minutes. Mrs. Dudley, who lives near the Royal Aircraft Establishment, stated she knew all the noises they made and this was different.

The light was described as being like daylight, and Mrs. Dudley was too frightened to investigate. After about five minutes, the light faded. During this time, their two rabbits were making a great deal of noise, something they had never done before, even when put to bed.

Initially, they suspected a fox, but a torchlight search revealed nothing. An interesting postscript is that Mrs. Dudley's mother, Mrs. Marjorie Bunn, living in nearby Osborne Road, was also woken by a bright light at 12:45 am. Further inquiries suggested that neighbours' cats also behaved strangely that night. The case is under investigation, with numerous witnesses in the Farnborough and Aldershot area reporting unusual noises.

Exploding Ball Seen Before?

This section discusses a strange exploding ball of light reported in the September/October issue of "Pegasus" (case S929), comparing it to a case in Australia reported in the FSR: Flying Saucer Review. The Australian incident occurred on June 5th, 1961, near Toompang, Australia. Witnesses marking lambs heard what they thought was a jet, then saw an eagle hawk, followed by another sound. They then observed a round object, like a "silver star," over Wyalong, which was very high and far away. Seven witnesses observed it for possibly two hours. One man reported seeing one object leave the main object and go left, and later two others go right, then return. Another man claimed to see two objects go left.

The objects seen leaving the stationary object appeared round, but one that went left and overhead towards "Young" appeared V-shaped. The objects that left the stationary object on the right went out to the side and then straight up fast. The one that passed overhead was described as "really travelling."

Mexican Round Up

By Richard Colborne, this section offers a brief contribution from Mexico. Colborne notes that his "fellow-ufologists" are attractive but "fellow" is a "rather unsuitable adjective." He expresses a desire for Mexico to have an organization like BUFORA. He mentions a poster announcing a UFO conference where Pedro Ferrez of Spain will speak, organized by a theatrical agency, suggesting UFOs are not taken very seriously in Mexico. He has been unable to trace the source of a "landing" story, believing it came from a paperback magazine. Colborne anticipates returning to England in the New Year (by March) and plans to give a "chat" to SIGAP members about Mexico and UFO involvement.

Light Formation Over Guildford

Case S934, investigated by R. Harman, describes a sighting on the night of September 15th, 1979, by Miss P. Charman and Mr. G. Woodrow walking down Onslow Road, Guildford, Surrey. They saw a "Bright light, like a shooting star" descending from the N.E., which disappeared behind rooftops. Shortly after, they saw three bright, wing-like shapes moving silently across the sky towards the S.W., disappearing behind rooftops. They speculated it could have been one object with three lights or three individual craft in formation (one at front, two behind).

The sighting lasted about fifteen seconds, with no associated sound. The objects were described as having a "golden glow," being sharply defined, and in the shape of "wings."

The Spanish Aircraft Incident

This report, dated November 11th, 1979, concerns widespread publicity about an incident at Valencia. Reports appeared in the UK press, and information was forwarded by Richard, the Mexican agent, from "Ovaciones" (dated 12/11/79) and the "Majorca Daily Bulletin" (dated 15/11/79).

A group of Majorcan radio hams claimed to have spotted a flying saucer that chased a Spanish plane. The plane, which took off from Palma, made an unscheduled stop at Valencia airport after the pilot reported being pursued by an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO).

The radio hams described the UFO as emitting white, orange, and green lights, stating they had never seen anything like it before. It was first spotted by a radio ham near Soller, an area known for UFO sightings. He was talking to a friend in La Puebla, who confirmed the sighting. The object was described as shaped like a cigarette packet and moving in a zig-zag. A third radio ham in Paima also saw it, and all three reported interference in their radios.

A Visit To Ripperstone Farm

By Omar Fowler, this section details a visit to Wales, specifically Haverfordwest, to investigate incidents mentioned in the book "The Uninvited." Fowler spoke to several "locals" and visited Ripperstone Farm and other sites. He expresses that the claims in the book raised questions about the quoted facts and expects to have photographs available soon. The question of "fact or fiction" will be the subject of the next SIGAP meeting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings and related phenomena. The editorial stance is one of active investigation and information gathering, as evidenced by the group's involvement in new incidents and their promise to publish a comprehensive report on the year's findings. The magazine aims to present witness accounts, investigator's findings, and discussions on the nature of these events, often drawing comparisons to past cases or international reports. The inclusion of a postscript by M. Prewett detailing correspondence with Dr. Richard F. Haines highlights the magazine's engagement with the broader UFO research community. The announcement of SIGAP assisting the Kent C.I.D. indicates a growing interest from official bodies in UFO phenomena.

This document introduces the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), founded in early 1967. SIGAP publishes a bi-monthly magazine titled "Pegasus," which is primarily intended for its members but can be purchased by non-members for $0.25 per copy. The organization is dedicated to the study of Unidentified Flying Object phenomena.

SIGAP's Mission and Investigation Process

SIGAP's primary goal is to investigate UFO phenomena locally, particularly in Surrey and surrounding counties. Their investigation process begins with a preliminary enquiry designed to eliminate obvious explanations for sightings. The document notes that over 80 percent of reported phenomena can be explained by natural or man-made causes, especially given the increasing number of aerial activities generated by humans.

If an immediate explanation cannot be determined through preliminary inquiries, SIGAP investigators will proceed to interview witnesses and, if possible, visit the site of the observation. The group also utilizes the expertise of its own consultants to analyze the sightings. Furthermore, SIGAP maintains contact and liaises with similar organizations across the country, often identifying patterns of activity that are consistent with those reported in other regions.

Collaboration and Reporting

SIGAP contributes to studies in many parts of Southern England. Their most significant reports are forwarded to the Center for UFO Studies, located in Evanston, Illinois, USA. This center is led by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a Professor of Astronomy at Northwestern University, who served as a consultant to the US Air Force on UFO matters for 20 years.

Key Personnel

The document lists the key personnel involved in SIGAP:

• Group Secretary: Michael G. Prewett, residing at 20 Loman Road, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey.
• Chairman & Investigation Co-ordinator: Omar Fowler, residing at 149 Mytchett Road, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this document is the systematic and scientific approach taken by SIGAP in investigating UFO phenomena. The editorial stance emphasizes a rational and evidence-based methodology, aiming to distinguish genuine unexplained phenomena from misidentifications or hoaxes. The organization appears to be a serious research body, collaborating with other institutions and contributing to a broader understanding of UFO reports.