Pegasus - 1987 September

Magazine Overview

PEGASUS is the journal of the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), with this issue dated September 1987. The cover features a diagram of a Celtic Cross, symbolizing its connection to crop circle imagery, and the title 'PEGASUS'. The journal delves into various UFO and aerial phenomena topics, including recent crop circle activity, historical encounters, alleged government cover-ups, and international UFO reports.

SIGAP Newsletter

The 'SIGAP Newsletter' section for September 1987 begins by referencing the cover picture, a diagram of a Celtic Cross by Busty Taylor, noting its similarity to crop circle patterns. The main article, "ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND WE GO," discusses the persistent appearance of crop circles in 1987, noting their presence in various configurations across the Warminster area to New Alresford. A late-night vigil by SIGAP members at Cheesefoot Head on July 4th, the anniversary of previous appearances, yielded no results. The article mentions that five sets of circles appeared at Cheesefoot Head in the weeks following, with the latest on August 28th, coinciding with the television broadcast of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind.' A farmer on the Hants/Wilts border revealed that circles had been appearing on his land for 28 years. In total, over 50 circles were reported at 10 sites that year. The full story of the 1987 circles is to be recounted through videos and commentaries by Busty, Pat Delgado, and Colin Andrews at upcoming SIGAP meetings. The article also touches upon a BUFORA meeting where SIGAP members voiced disapproval of a lecture critical of Omar Fowler, founder of SIGAP. Paul Fuller, the lecturer, had criticized Fowler, while SIGAP member Colin Andrews received applause for his interpretation of circle phenomena. BUFORA's stance is that circles are caused by weather, an explanation that was poorly received by the audience. Pat Delgado, previously invited to speak, was excluded this year, with the author anticipating Colin might also be excluded in 1988. BUFORA is described as adhering to a strict line that all circles and UFOs are explainable within conventional criteria, not involving paranormal or extraterrestrial phenomena. However, Professor Archie Roy, a SETI member, believes circles are caused by an advanced intelligence and that alien probes are active in the solar system, with contact expected by the end of the century.

UFO Literature and Cases

The journal explores UFO literature and cases, noting a lack of technical evidence but abundant circumstantial evidence for the theory that spinning craft or force fields operated by an intelligence have formed crop circles. Reports from Canada and Australia show similar patterns. The book 'Aliens Over Antipodes' by Murray Stott is mentioned, detailing a CIA report of a spinning disc observed in the North Atlantic in 1950, traveling faster than 500 mph. The CIA officer noted the witnesses were 'very much upset' and had seen an 'unusual object' not identifiable as conventional aircraft.

The Moreland Case in New Zealand (1959) is recounted, involving astronomer Prof. Allen Hynek and astrophysicist Dr. James E. McDonald. Mrs. Eileen Moreland witnessed a saucer-shaped object with two green lights and humanoid figures inside. The object had two spinning bands with orange-green jets and made a humming noise. It rose vertically at high speed, leaving a wave of warm air and an ozone smell. The incident occurred near an air force base, and extensive tests were conducted. Mrs. Moreland suffered physical effects, including painful swellings and brown pigmentation of her facial skin, and radiation traces were found at the site. The air force report was not made public.

Three cases of spinning discs from 1954 sightings are also published: one in Bayreuth, Germany, where an object took off vertically with a spinning motion; a mathematics professor in France saw a silvery disc that rose without noise; and two witnesses in France saw a disc spinning rapidly on its edge before vanishing.

News and Other Reports

Under the 'News' section, it's reported that astronomer Patrick Moore, previously dismissive of 'mystery lights on the moon,' has begun studying them as 'Transient Lunar Phenomena.' An American pilot fired missiles in the Gulf, mistaking a radar blip for an Iranian plane. Pat Delgado received a UFO report from a bird watcher in Dorset. A BBC TV news bulletin in July showed a photo of a flying saucer without mentioning UFOs, with the newsreader stating they were 'just as mystified as you are.' The remainder of Pegasus includes news clippings and UFO reports from Busty himself, who has observed unusual objects for 20 years. A future issue will review J.F. Blumrich's book 'Spaceships of Ezekiel,' which suggests advanced craft are visiting Earth.

Sunday Mirror and Sunday Observer Articles

Several articles from the Sunday Mirror (May 24, 1987) and Sunday Observer (May 31, 1987) are included, focusing on alleged government cover-ups of UFO sightings in Britain. The Sunday Mirror article, "Jenny -The truth is being hidden," highlights Jenny Randles' claims of a massive cover-up, citing the Ministry of Defence's reversal of a decision to release UFO reports. It mentions the Rendlesham Forest incident, where security patrols encountered a hovering object, and one witness was found in shock. The article also references Jenny Randles' book 'The UFO Conspiracy,' which claims 1,000 UFO-related car breakdowns have occurred worldwide, including 60 in Britain. A case in Levland, Texas, in 1957, describes a truck driver's experience of his engine and lights cutting out when an object passed overhead, with the incident later attributed to 'streak lightning' by an investigator.

Another Sunday Mirror article, "Encounter with real-life terror," discusses the movie 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and its parallels to real-life events. It reiterates Jenny Randles' claims about UFO-related car breakdowns and mentions Pedro Saucedo's experience in Texas. An investigator from the Pentagon reportedly attributed the event to 'streak lightning.'

The Sunday Observer article, "Ministry 'scared of panic'," reports on two new books alleging a Whitehall cover-up of UFO evidence, supported by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Hill-Norton. Jenny Randles states the ministry fears public panic but that people would prefer facts to deception. She notes the ministry has locked away over 3,000 UFO reports and reversed a decision to publish them, citing lack of money and staff as a pretext. Lord Hill-Norton, a former Chief of Staff, asserts that British governments have deliberately concealed information about UFOs.

'Aliens' in silver suits and When the flying saucer took off

These articles from the Sunday Mirror (May 17, 1987) delve into specific UFO cases. "'Aliens' in silver suits" recounts a story from July 1947 about a young RAF officer who heard news of a spaceship crash in New Mexico. The article claims authorities called it a 'weather balloon,' but the discoverer spoke of a shiny disc and bodies wearing silvery suits. It also mentions a 1980 incident at RAF Woodbridge, where dozens of US airmen reported seeing a mystery craft, and Lieut-Colonel Charles I. Halt spotted a red sun-like object.

"When the flying saucer took off" details the Kenneth Arnold sighting on June 24, 1947, where he described 'flying saucers' skipping through the atmosphere. The government officially listed the incident as a 'mirage.' The article also discusses the Rendlesham Forest incident, where Colonel Halt's memo to the US Air Force Department reported depressions in the soil that were radioactive. Despite the memo, the Ministry of Defence initially denied any investigation, only admitting to seeing a copy when the story reached the British press. The article questions why no action was taken and suggests the memo must have prompted inquiries. It also mentions a case where housewife Lynsey Kent saw an egg-like object land near her home. Jenny Randles is quoted stating the truth about UFOs is being hidden.

Admiral of the Fleet Lord Hill-Norton is quoted supporting Jenny Randles' call for an end to the cover-up, urging the government to reveal the results of its investigations. The Ministry of Defence's standard reply is that there is no unit for UFO study.

Guest on a space ship

This piece details the experience of Alan Godfrey, a police constable who, on November 28, 1980, encountered a dome-shaped object hovering soundlessly above the road. His car engine cut out, and he later recalled being taken aboard the craft where he met aliens with grey-white faces who communicated telepathically. He was forbidden by his police force to discuss the event.

Close encounters of an alien kind

This article, from The Observer (May 31, 1987), discusses a 'top-secret document' obtained by British researcher Timothy Good, which claims that four alien bodies from a crashed UFO were recovered and examined by a special American Government team 40 years ago. The document, code-named Majestic-12 (MJ-12), allegedly details a committee set up by President Truman in 1947 to investigate and cover up UFO incidents. The document describes the aliens as human-like but with different evolutionary processes. The article notes that inquiries at the National Archives and other presidential archives failed to authenticate the briefing paper. However, new evidence from US Intelligence files includes a White House memorandum to General Twining about an MJ-12 briefing for President Eisenhower, declassified in January 1987. This memo is described as 'a very strange document.' Archivist Joanna Williamson confirmed its genuineness but noted the lack of supporting documents. The article raises the possibility of a sophisticated fraud, with the memo potentially manufactured to prove MJ-12's existence. The article also mentions the Ministry of Defence's alleged cover-up of UFO evidence, supported by Lord Hill-Norton, who stated that British governments have deliberately concealed information about UFOs.

U.S. and Russia vow to join forces against UFO onslaught

This article, by Mickey McGuire and Vladimir Chienko, reports on a secret superpower pact between the U.S. and Russia to combine their military might to defend Earth from alien attack. The pact was confirmed by a classified Soviet military briefing paper. The agreement calls for both nations to muster nuclear missiles, aircraft, and spacecraft for an 'all-out operation to repel alien invaders.' The paper mentions intelligence data indicating alien craft have landed on Soviet territory and that the pact aims to ensure a united capability to defend Earth. It highlights the potential threat of alien invasion, suggesting it could bring a global holocaust. The article notes that the pact was signed shortly after Alaskan radar trackers confirmed an immense UFO hovering near a Japan Air Lines 747 jetliner in November. The sightings are described as 'bigger than two aircraft carriers,' and hundreds of UFO sightings have been reported globally since October 1986. The pact includes the activation of strategic satellites to fire laser rays at attacking alien starships. The article concludes by quoting a Pentagon official who suggested that the Soviets could be the salvation of Earth.

Star discovery raises hope of life in space

This article, by Robin McKie, reports on findings by Canadian astronomers that suggest half of the stars in our galaxy may have planets. This discovery supports the belief that planetary systems and life are common. Professor Archibald Roy of Glasgow University states that with 10,000 million stars potentially supporting life, the chances of finding life are good. Research using high-resolution spectroscopy identified variations in starlight caused by orbiting planets. Two nearby stars, Epsilon Eridani and Gamma Cephei, were found to be affected by large bodies, and five or six others appeared to have unseen companions. These objects are calculated to be several hundred times more massive than Earth, and are almost certainly planets. The article mentions future projects like the Space Telescope and Hipparchus, as well as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program, which aim to provide answers to the question of whether humans are alone in the universe by the end of the century.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of PEGASUS are the persistent mystery of UFOs and crop circles, the alleged cover-up of such phenomena by governments (particularly the UK Ministry of Defence and the US government), and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence. The journal presents various eyewitness accounts, historical cases, and purported leaked documents to support the idea that these events are not easily explained by conventional means. There is a clear editorial stance favoring the investigation of these phenomena beyond standard explanations, often highlighting skepticism towards official denials and promoting the idea that a significant, possibly extraterrestrial, presence is interacting with Earth. The issue also includes a speculative piece on the potential for life in space, suggesting a scientific basis for the broader interest in the unknown.

This issue of the GUARDIAN, dated 25th June 1983, features an article titled 'Have you ever heard a stone talking?' by Susan Thomas. The article delves into the mysteries surrounding prehistoric stone circles, presenting findings from the Dragon Project and recounting several unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) sightings.

The Mystery of the Stone Circles

The article begins by describing the Rollrights stone circle in Oxfordshire, noting its ordinary appearance by day but its mysterious atmosphere at sunrise. It reports that the stones emit an 'eerie, regular clicking' which is identified as their language, detectable with ultrasound monitors. This phenomenon is suggested to be part of a wider network of communication between prehistoric sites across Britain, from Lands End to the Western Isles.

The Dragon Project, formed six years prior to the article's publication, comprises archaeologists, scientists, dowsers, and mystics. Their scientific adviser, Don Robins, PhD, an inorganic chemist, highlights the advanced geometry and alignments of these structures, questioning their purpose. He points to folklore about stones that dance or move, and emit light, suggesting a deeper meaning.

The project's research initially focused on radioactivity and ultrasound. A key discovery came from a naturalist who detected ultrasonic signals from a standing stone. This led the team to investigate force fields and the positioning of missing stones, aiming to reconstruct past events.

Their primary focus was the Rollrights, chosen for its accessibility and private land status. During dawn watches, particularly at the equinoxes (March and October), the stones were found to emit regular ultrasonic signals that faded as the sun rose. These signals occurred independently of weather conditions.

More remarkably, the stones were observed to create an 'ultrasonic barrier,' a cone of silence on the hillside, excluding background country sounds. This phenomenon was verified by walking in and out of the circle, where sound was present outside but absent within.

Geiger counters revealed unusual radioactivity levels at the sites, sometimes higher than those near radioactive isotopes. Paul Devereux, a writer and coordinator for the Dragon Project, noted that infrared photographs sometimes showed a light mist around the Kingstone and a ray beaming heavenwards.

Robins, initially hesitant due to the implications, sought scientific respectability. The findings were published in New Scientist and Unexplained, with surprisingly little shock from the establishment, suggesting a growing acceptance of the inexplicable.

The 'Stone Age Faraday Cages'

Researchers verified these findings at other prehistoric sites across Britain, including Cornwall, the Peaks, Wales, and Ireland. The concept of the stones creating 'holes in the landscape' by shielding the interior from certain energy fields, including cosmic radiation, led to the hypothesis that these were 'Stone Age Faraday Cages.' This idea was independently corroborated by Charles Brooker, a retired BBC engineer, who found a seven-ring spiral of magnetic intensity at the Rollrights. Brooker concluded that the ancestors knew exactly what they were doing by creating these magnetic refuges, though the purpose remains a mystery.

Unexplained Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Sightings

The article also includes accounts of several UAP sightings:

• October-November 1971, Bishopsdown, Salisbury: The author, driving down a slope, noticed a star-like object descending rapidly from the sky. It traveled along the horizon towards brightly lit buildings, slowed down, and faded out. The driver of the car did not notice anything.

• Mid-1970, Solent/Isle of Wight area: On arriving home, the author observed a spinning object moving from North to South, described as similar to a Catherine Wheel, leaving a small trail. The next day, the Echo newspaper reported a large unidentified object spotted over the same area.

• September 1967, near Andover: While driving back from Salisbury with Mr. Barry Sullivan, a white object was seen on the northern horizon. It reappeared after being lost behind a hill and looked like a full moon, despite it being a sunny evening with the sun setting. The object appeared to have a half-moon effect and was visible all the way to Andover. Several people had reportedly seen this object and reported it to the police.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article highlights a recurring theme of ancient sites possessing unexplained energies and phenomena, potentially linked to advanced knowledge or capabilities of our ancestors. The Dragon Project's work suggests a scientific approach to understanding these mysteries, while the inclusion of UAP sightings broadens the scope of the unexplained. The editorial stance appears open to exploring these phenomena, presenting the findings and anecdotal evidence without outright dismissal, and noting the scientific community's increasing, albeit cautious, acceptance of the inexplicable. The article concludes with a note of uncertainty about the future of the Dragon Project due to funding issues, and a philosophical reflection on how each age gets the monuments it deserves.