Pegasus - 1988 May

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: May 1988
Publisher: Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)
Document Type: Journal

This issue of PEGASUS, the journal of the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), dated May 1988, features a collection of articles and reports related to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena. The cover prominently displays an illustration of two disc-shaped UFOs and the journal's title and affiliation.

Contents

SIGAP Newsletter

The newsletter section for May 1988 highlights contributions from group members. It mentions Colin Andrews' article detailing unusual happenings encountered during his investigation into the 'Swirled Circles' phenomenon, drawing a parallel to the experiences of researchers like John Keel. The article advises that investigating such subjects requires 'nerves of steel.'

Jeff Whitear presents his theories on an electrical mechanism for circle formation and is credited for clippings from The SUN newspaper. The issue also includes the first part of an article by nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman, titled "UFOs: Earth's Cosmic Watergate." Brian Corbett is thanked for a clipping related to a pilot's sighting. Lastly, Gordon Creighton, Editor of FSR (Flying Saucer Review), is thanked for clippings concerning sightings in Reigate and Rickmansworth.

BEWARE - IT'S A FUNNY OLD BUSINESS. By Colin Andrews.

Colin Andrews recounts a series of personal experiences that have occurred since he began researching 'mystery circles.' He notes the increasing appearance of these 'circular evidences' worldwide, particularly in Southern England, Australia, and Canada. Beyond the circles themselves, he describes extraordinary events on the 'fringe,' including blue flashes, crackling noises, and the appearance of 'devil darts' and white discs on film.

Andrews details a particularly perplexing series of events beginning on September 4th, 1986, after visiting a circle formation in Childrey, Oxfordshire. After leaving the site at 4:15 pm, he returned home and placed a soil sample in his 'Circles Office,' a secure building. Later that evening, his sophisticated intruder alarm system was activated for the first time, with no apparent cause. Later that night, at 4:15 am, another alarm, controlling the property's perimeter, was triggered. The cause was found to be a mains-operated time clock that had stopped at 4:15 am. This clock has not worked since.

Two days later, at 4:15 am, the perimeter alarm sounded again. Andrews discovered that a battery-operated wall clock had also stopped at 4:15 am. He notes that both clocks, one mains-powered and the other battery-powered, stopped at the exact same time, which he found deeply concerning. He discussed these events with Professor Archie Roy and his assistant, Helen Tenant, who suggested that researchers in this field often experience such phenomena.

Further unsettling events continued. On January 8th, the Circles Office alarm was triggered at 4:15 am. Andrews also recounts an incident from August of the previous year where, on a clear day, a chicken's egg exploded in mid-air above him, with the yolk and shell bursting past his head. He questions the origin of the egg's explosion.

Andrews mentions that many of these odd events are included in his book "Circular Evidence," co-authored with Pat Delgado and slated for publication by Souvenir Press. He concludes his article with a warning: "BEWARE, this is a funny old business!"

NEWSFLASH

A newsflash indicates significant interest from the House of Lords, with a Member in contact weekly. Farmers, landowners, and the police have also shown renewed interest. Most notably, the article mentions contacts with the M.O.D. investigation team looking into the cause of a pilotless Harrier Jump Jet incident near Stonehenge. Andrews has provided information that has reportedly made the M.O.D. uneasy about this and other aircraft accidents. Flying Saucer Review is set to publish an exclusive report by Andrews on this incident.

UFOs: Earth's Cosmic Watergate. By Stanton T. Friedman.

This article, authored by nuclear physicist and lecturer Stanton T. Friedman, addresses the long-standing charges of a government coverup regarding UFO data. Friedman states that for over 30 years, there have been claims of a coverup by US government personnel, often based on anecdotal accounts. He argues that while documentation has been scarce, it now seems possible to provide evidence that the US government, and likely others, have known for a long time that some UFOs are intelligently controlled extraterrestrial vehicles.

The article aims to review evidence of a coverup, correct misconceptions about secrecy, explore reasons for the coverup, justify some aspects of it, and suggest new directions for ufology.

Friedman debunks the 'popular mythology' that government involvement was limited to projects like Project Blue Book. He questions the notion that the government has no classified information on UFOs, asserting that the reality contradicts this. He rephrases the central questions from "Are UFOs alien spacecraft?" to "Are ANY UFOs intelligently controlled extraterrestrial vehicles?", to which he answers YES, based on his 23 years of study and investigation.

He outlines the complexities of government secrecy, explaining that access to classified information requires not only a security clearance but also a 'need-to-know.' He discusses the challenge of even discovering the existence of classified reports and the hierarchical nature of classification, where lower-level documents cannot reference higher-level ones. Friedman also describes two types of classified programs: those where the program's existence is public but technical details are secret, and those where the existence itself is classified. He uses the example of the General Electric Company's work on nuclear aircraft in 1958 to illustrate how technical details, like fuel element composition, were classified as Secret Restricted Data.

Friedman emphasizes that declassification is often a slow process, requiring persistent inquiry ('a squeaky wheel proposition'). He suggests this explains how some information is released through the press, often accompanied by significant publicity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, particularly UFOs and 'mystery circles.' There is a strong emphasis on personal experiences of researchers, the potential for government coverups of UFO information, and the idea that UFOs may be extraterrestrial in origin. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation into these phenomena, encouraging researchers while also warning of the potential psychological toll ('nerves of steel'). The inclusion of Stanton Friedman's article suggests a focus on challenging official narratives and seeking documented evidence of government knowledge and secrecy regarding UFOs.

This issue of AFRO-UFOhio, dated March 10, 1988, published by Watford and West Herts Review, focuses on UFO phenomena, government secrecy, and alleged alien encounters. The cover boldly proclaims 'E.T. HAS LANDED' with a sub-headline about 'Bodies found in UFO crash,' setting a tone of significant revelations.

Disinformation and Classified Programs

The article begins by discussing the nature of information presented in magazines, noting that some material might be speculative or even disinformation, designed to attract funding or mislead. It draws a parallel to historical disinformation efforts, such as the Allied deception before the Normandy invasion. The text then delves into classified government programs, using the Manhattan Project as an example of a massive, compartmentalized effort involving misinformation and secrecy. It highlights how individuals like Dr. Daniel Ellsberg, who released classified documents, faced legal repercussions, and that the penalties for revealing classified information are severe, deterring many.

Project Blue Book and Government Involvement

A significant portion of the issue questions the common belief that Project Blue Book was the sole government entity investigating UFOs. The author argues that Blue Book was a minimal, underfunded operation, particularly after Edward Ruppelt's departure in 1953. It suggests that the important activity was conducted elsewhere by high-budget, low-profile operators like the North American Air Defense Command, the CIA, and the NSA. The article cites General Carroll Bolender, who stated that reports of unidentified flying objects affecting national security were handled separately from the Blue Book system.

UFO Sightings and Evidence

The issue presents evidence suggesting that UFOs are real and are a matter of high national security. A memo from W. B. Smith in 1950 is quoted, stating that UFOs are a more highly classified subject than the H-bomb and that flying saucers exist. The memo also mentions a concentrated effort led by Dr. Vannevar Bush. The article touches upon the Roswell Incident, referencing evidence of a cover-up and General Ramey's alleged lie about a balloon. It also details recent UFO sightings, including mysterious lights over Rickmansworth, UK, and a strange object observed for hours over the Reigate area, confirmed by Gatwick Airport radar.

Alien Encounters and Physical Traces

A notable report details the disappearance of Secretary Jackie Smith, who claimed to have had a close encounter with UFO aliens who tried to kidnap her. She described blue dots on her ankles and neck, a classic sign of alien presence according to UFO investigator Jenny Randles. The issue also references the recovery of alien bodies from a crashed spaceship in 1947, a secret allegedly kept since the project's inception in 1947. Physicist Stanton Friedman is quoted calling the situation a 'cosmic Watergate.'

Theory on Crop Circle Formation

One section presents a theory on how crop circles may form, linking them to UFOs and electromagnetic phenomena. The theory posits that a UFO's strong rotating electric field and microwave energy can induce charges on plants, causing them to bend or be uprooted. The process involves static electricity, magnetic lines of force, and a 'capacitor effect' from mist clouds, leading to the formation of circular patterns. Reports of steam, blistering, and unusual plant structures are cited as supporting evidence.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes government secrecy and cover-ups regarding UFO phenomena. It suggests that official investigations like Project Blue Book were largely superficial, designed to manage public perception while more significant, classified research continued. The editorial stance appears to be that UFOs are real, pose a national security concern, and that governments have actively concealed evidence, including potential alien bodies and advanced technology. The article aims to expose these secrets and provide alternative explanations for observed phenomena, such as crop circles.

This issue of The Sun, dated April 13th, 1988, focuses heavily on UFO sightings and related phenomena, with a secondary article discussing the potential effects of microwaves and electric fields on plant patterns, possibly relating to crop circles. The publication's tone is sensationalist, typical of tabloid journalism, presenting witness accounts with a degree of skepticism but also highlighting the unexplained aspects.

Article: UP DATE ON THE MICROWAVE EFFECT & CONCLUSION OF THE ELECTRIC FIELD EFFECT

This section, attributed to J. WHITEAR, explores theoretical explanations for crop circle formation. The 'microwave effect' is proposed to remove moisture from plants and the ground, causing the ground to warm. This warmth is suggested to keep plant stems dry, enabling them to retain a 'charge'. If a UFO made contact, its induced opposite charge would be neutralized, and it would then instantly receive the same charge as the UFO, repelling the plants violently in the direction of the electric fields' movement. The collapse of stronger-stemmed plants is attributed to the splitting of stems as moisture expands under microwave energy, with warmth softening the stems. The 'electric field effect' posits that the electric field and its lines of force induce a high static charge on dried plants, influencing their direction of movement. This moving field sets the pattern observed when plants collapse. The precision of these patterns is explained by the electric field being at right angles to the inducing surface, suggesting patterns could be drawn by remote objects like straight lines or letters.

Article: MANY INCIDENTS of UFO sightings only come to light years later.

This article, written by Peter Hough of the Manchester UFO Research Association, details the case of retired RAF Wing Commander Cyril Townsend-Withers. While working as Principal Scientific Officer at Boscombe Down in the early 1950s, Townsend-Withers encountered a UFO while testing a new radar system on a Canberra PR7 aircraft. The object, described as glistening, about the size of a small jet fighter with a thirty-foot wingspan, appeared five miles behind his aircraft. As the aircraft ascended to 55,000 feet, the UFO followed. Townsend-Withers described it as 'very brilliant, almost fluorescent'. When the aircraft was within four miles, the object shot vertically upwards at 'terrific speed', vanishing without a vapour trail. Townsend-Withers contacted the Ministry of Defence (DS8), which was responsible for handling complaints of low-flying aircraft and UFO reports. He was informed that similar sightings had been reported over Warminster and other areas. The Ministry's response, dated November 11, stated they could not trace anything similar to Peter Todd's 1978 sighting (detailed in the next article) and suggested the witness location was in an area authorized for low-flying training for RAF pilots. Townsend-Withers felt this response was intended to diffuse interest.

Article: UFO hunters yesterday urged people to keep their eyes peeled - for flying ORANGES as big as houses!

This article, by Martyn Sharpe, reports on numerous sightings of large, orange-shaped UFOs in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. Witnesses described the craft as 'giant Jaffas' that hum and glow bright orange, some being the size of 'a pair of semi-detached houses'. Attempts to photograph these objects have been unsuccessful. A school dinner lady from Beeston, Notts, reported seeing several of these craft zooming low over the town, describing the experience as 'terrifying'. She noted that witnesses often complain of 'mild sunburn'. The UFO Investigation Society's national coordinator, Dennis Harriman, stated that police are allegedly withholding reports and that the objects can change colour, with some reports of yellow objects resembling lemons. He urged people to report sightings.

Article: Teabag UFO zaps Pauline

This short piece details an encounter by 14-year-old schoolgirl Pauline Emerson near Godmanchester, Cambs. While feeding animals, she saw a 'teabag-shaped UFO' that was black and had perforations. The object zoomed within five yards of her, and she reported that her radio went off and she felt a sensation of oxygen being sucked from the room. Her mother, Barbara, confirmed the house shook. An education welfare officer described Pauline as a truthful child.

Article: B-LIMEY! IT'S UFO LEMONS

This article expands on the 'flying oranges' theme, with alien expert Dennis Harriman of the National UFO Investigation Society suggesting that these 'Jaffas' can change colour to yellow, resembling lemons. He reported being inundated with sightings in the Midlands. The society claims police are withholding reports.

Article: Peter Todd's 1978 Sighting

This section details an interview with Peter Todd, a motor mechanic, about a UFO sighting in 1978. While at a service station on the M61, he and a workmate saw a large, metallic silver ball hovering in the sky. After about ten minutes, six jet fighter aircraft appeared. Three jets chased the silver ball upwards at 'phenomenal speed', while the others swept towards Bolton. Both the UFO and the jets eventually vanished. Todd's experience was investigated by the Ministry of Defence, who responded that they could not verify the incident and noted the area was used for low-flying training.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes are UFO sightings, particularly unusual shapes and colours (teabags, oranges, lemons, silver balls), and the potential involvement of military aircraft or government cover-ups. The articles present witness testimonies, often from ordinary people or individuals with credible backgrounds (like the RAF Wing Commander), and contrast these with official responses that are often dismissive or evasive. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these unexplained phenomena, encouraging public vigilance, and questioning official narratives, while also acknowledging the possibility of misidentification or hoaxes (as seen in the crop circle analysis). The use of sensational headlines and dramatic descriptions is characteristic of tabloid reporting.