Pegasus - 1981 March-April

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: MARCH APRIL
Volume: 1981
Publisher: JOURNAL OF THE SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOMENA
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of PEGASUS, the journal of the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), dated March/April 1981, presents a collection of UFO reports and investigations. The cover features a line drawing of a winged object, described as the 'Crashing Plane UFO' from Aldershot, Hants.

Editorial and Contents

The editorial notes a scarcity of UFO reports due to overcast skies but highlights the 'Crashing Plane UFO' incident as a recent report of interest. It raises the question of whether UFOs might be mimicking human aircraft, referencing a discussion in Flying Saucer Review titled "Do They Mimic". The editorial also touches upon the "1897 Airship" controversy, noting its reported speed of around 1,000 mph, and ponders why advanced UFO technology would exhibit shortcomings in copying human craft, such as inconsistent lighting and aerodynamically unstable wings.

The contents list includes:

• "The Crashing Plane UFO" (Aldershot, Hants.) - Pages 2/3
• "The Unexplained-Explained" (Aldershot, Hants.) - Page 4
• "The Scottish Newsletter" by Peter A. Hill - Page 5
• "The Segmented Beams Of Light" by Jean Bastide (France) - Pages 6/7
• "The Uninvited, Fact or Fiction?" - Book Review - Pages 8/9
• "Picture Page" (Ref: SIGAP visits) - Page 10
• "SIGAP Have A Police Record" (T.V. Session) - Page 11
• "Tale Enders" (Odd News Snippits) - Page 12

Article Summaries

"The Crashing Plane" UFO: Aldershot

Investigated by Brian Maguire, this report details a sighting on the night of March 26th, 1981, by two witnesses, Mrs A. Huntley and Mrs P. Martin. While driving near Aldershot, they observed a low-flying, silent object resembling a large aircraft. Initially thought to be landing or crashing, the object later hovered for about three minutes before moving towards Guildford. They then saw a white light, initially mistaken for a helicopter, but it was also silent. The object returned, and as it turned, a low humming noise was heard. Mrs. Huntley described the object as cigar-shaped with square wings and colored lights on the front and wings (white, green, blue, red, yellow). The object was described as massive and oval-shaped. It was last seen disappearing behind trees near Runfold. Despite local newspaper coverage, no other witnesses came forward. The investigators shared the witnesses' conviction that it was an extraordinary phenomenon.

"The Unexplained-Explained"

Investigated by Omar Fowler, this report from January 11th, 1981, over Aldershot, involved three witnesses who saw an object described as round or toadstool-shaped, colored bronze or reddish-brown. The investigator, present in the area at the time, heard a high-pitched buzzing sound and spotted a small winged object at approximately 1500 feet, identified as a powered hang glider with a slim wing design and a tiny engine. The object moved at about twenty miles an hour. Fowler concludes that the witnesses had mistaken this powered hang glider for a UFO, with the bronze color likely influenced by the setting sun.

Scottish Newsletter No 3

By Peter A. Hill, this newsletter from May 1981 reflects on the passage of time since the last report and mentions an upcoming paper on the "Livingston close encounter" at the second London International UFO Congress. It recounts a report from The Edinburgh Evening News (August 30, 1980) about a "large" UFO over Dumfries, described as oblong and well-illuminated, with clusters of lights, sighted near cloud level for twenty minutes. Authorities were baffled, and potential explanations like aircraft, meteors, or satellites were ruled out. The newsletter also details the author's experience attending the SUFOI Conference in Copenhagen in October 1980, including a meeting of the Provisional International Committee on UFO Research. It mentions a report in The Scotsman (April 1981) of a bright green meteorite sighted over Scotland. Finally, it promotes the first National Conference of BUFORA to be held in Edinburgh in March 1982, encouraging SIGAP members to attend.

"The Segmented Beams Of Light"

By Jean Bastide, this article describes an incident on October 18th or 19th, 1965, in Mogy-Guacu, Brazil. Witnesses saw two luminous objects, approximately 2 km apart. One object projected a beam of light onto a balcony pillar, from which a small, light-colored humanoid shape appeared. The beam then projected vertical lines towards the other craft, followed by a flash and the disappearance of both objects. During the incident, oil lamps went out, and matches could not be struck, suggesting electromagnetic effects. A similar French case from February 25th, 1974, where a diesel engine was stopped by a UFO, is also mentioned. A "Canadian Beam Case" from January 1st, 1970, describes an egg-shaped object emitting a thin, segmented beam of light that came down in a curve and vanished. The article notes that in both the Brazilian and Canadian cases, the light beam disappeared upon hitting a solid object or the earth, sometimes accompanied by a loud noise or flash.

"The Uninvited" - Fact or Fiction?

By Omar Fowler, this article reviews a book about strange happenings at Ripperstone Farm. The incidents, reported in publications like Flying Saucer Review and "ALPHA", occurred in Wales and are questioned by the author as potentially being the result of psychic phenomena. Fowler visited the area and spoke to locals, who confirmed frequent UFO sightings. An incident near the local school involved pupils drawing similar sketches of observed craft. The article highlights electrical failures and overloads at the farm, with an electrician suggesting a "force field." It also discusses reports of "radiation traces" and military activity, including soldiers, army trucks, and frogmen, on a coastal path near "Stack Rocks," where a "craft" was reported to have landed and "beings" with "elongated" and "rectangular shaped" heads were seen. The author invites comments at the next SIGAP meeting.

"SIGAP Have A Police Record"

This section refers to a T.V. Session related to SIGAP's involvement with police records, though details are not provided in the scanned pages.

"Tale Enders"

This section is described as containing "Odd News Snippits," but the content is not detailed in the provided scans.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the investigation of specific UFO sightings, the analysis of witness testimonies, and the exploration of potential explanations ranging from misidentification of conventional aircraft to more unusual phenomena like electromagnetic effects and psychic influences. The magazine also touches upon the historical context of UFO research with mentions of the "1897 Airship" and international UFO conferences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various cases and encouraging critical analysis, while acknowledging the extraordinary nature of some reported events.

This issue of PEGASUS, published by SIGAP, focuses on the organization's involvement with law enforcement in UFO investigations. The cover headline, "SIGAP HAVE A POLICE RECORD...", introduces the theme of police cooperation. The magazine is bi-monthly and intended for SIGAP members, with copies available for purchase by non-members.

SIGAP Assists Kent C.I.D.

The lead article details how SIGAP was approached by the Kent C.I.D. to assist with an investigation project for officers attending an 'Advanced C.I.D. Course' at the Kent Police Headquarters in Maidstone. Mike Prewett and Omar Fowler visited the Police H.Q. on November 20th. They were given a tour, including a demonstration of a computer that could identify car registration numbers and owners' details. Following this, they were guests for lunch and then discussed UFOs and their implications. This discussion led to a video TV recording session in the police's own studio that evening. The half-hour program, featuring Omar F. and Det. Sgt. Graham Knight, was filmed 'straight off the top of their heads' and was considered a success, with only one short 'retake'. The evening concluded with Prewett and Fowler being presented with Kent C.I.D. ties. Detective Sgt. Knight described the final presentation on the UFO project as an "outstanding success" and thanked the SIGAP group for their assistance.

Historical Case: The Claybourne Creature

An extract from "The New Scientist" titled "Nature Seen, Nature Lost" recounts a story from 1893. A farmer named Claybourne, near Apsley Guise, north of London, discovered a creature crawling out from under corrugated iron. The creature was described as dying, with rattling breaths. Upon closer examination, it was found to have a human-like form but with frighteningly strange details: larger eyes, a continuous furry eyebrow, long narrow hands with only four fingers, and dressed in a dark, tough, one-piece material. The creature was dead when the vicar was called.

Witness Report: Basingstoke Light

Reported by the Basingstoke Police on April 17, 1981, a witness reported a very bright light to the south of Basingstoke at 21:34. The light was flashing white, red, and green and had also been seen by the police. SIGAP contacted local member Hilda Downes, who viewed the light through binoculars and commented that it was "almost certainly a planet." The report from the witness was still pending.

Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)

The magazine also provides information about the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), founded in early 1967. SIGAP's primary mission is to investigate UFO reports in Surrey and surrounding counties, contributing to studies across Southern England. They have a 'Hot-line' (Farnborough 41012) that triggers an immediate response. Their preliminary enquiry procedure aims to eliminate obvious explanations, noting that over 80 percent of reports can be explained by natural or man-made phenomena. If no immediate explanation is found, SIGAP investigators interview witnesses, visit sites, and consult their own experts. The group liaises with similar organizations and sends significant reports to the Center for UFO Studies in Evanston, Illinois, USA, run by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who was a consultant to the US Air Force on UFOs for 20 years.

Contact Information and Publication Details

Group Secretary is Michael G. Prewett, and Chairman & Investigation Co-ordinator is Omar Fowler, both based in Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey. The magazine is published bi-monthly and costs £0.50 per copy for non-members. All articles are copyrighted by SIGAP.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the intersection of UFO investigation with official bodies like the police, the documentation of historical and contemporary UFO sightings, and the operational methodology of a dedicated UFO research group (SIGAP). The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry and collaboration, aiming to demystify UFO phenomena through investigation and information sharing, while also acknowledging the challenges and the need for rigorous analysis. The magazine promotes SIGAP as a credible organization contributing to the field of UFO research.