Pegasus - Vol 01 No 2 August 1969

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: Vol. I, No. 2
Date: August, 1969
Publisher: Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)
Type: Monthly Journal

Editorial: The Drive for the Stars

The editorial, penned by Ron Toft, reflects on humanity's recent achievement of landing on the Moon on July 21, 1969. Toft emphasizes human curiosity as the driving force behind space exploration, viewing the Moon as merely a stepping stone to more distant worlds. He argues that space research is a vital investment, advancing science and medicine, and creating jobs, and dismisses critics who suggest the funds could be better used for humanitarian aid, suggesting such money would likely be diverted to military spending. The editorial concludes that humanity's ultimate destiny lies among the stars.

Death Blow to Condon Report

This section features the views of Dr. Allen Hynek, a prominent American astronomer and UFO consultant to the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Hynek believes the persistence of UFO phenomena will ultimately discredit the Condon Report. He notes that the taboo surrounding UFOs has intensified due to the report, but expects this to be temporary. Dr. Hynek is scheduled to present a paper at an upcoming symposium by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where he intends to focus on UFO cases with clear physical effects, such as interference with automobiles and effects on animals, as these are harder for skeptics to dismiss than simple visual sightings. He plans to exclude single-witness accounts, prioritizing cases with multiple witnesses of unimpeachable reputation.

Dr. Hynek previously wrote an article in the "Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists" criticizing the Condon Report, calling it "a strange sort of scientific paper" that did not fulfill its title's promise. He feels the Condon Committee paid too much attention to conventionally explainable sightings and not enough to the truly baffling cases. He criticizes the report for leaving a "strange inexplicable residue of unknowns," similar to the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book, and notes that the percentage of unexplained cases in the Condon Report appears even higher. He highlights the report's limited examination of UFOs affecting automobile engines, questioning the report's reasoning for dismissing such effects. Dr. Hynek is puzzled by the endorsement of the Condon Report by the National Academy of Sciences, which concluded further investigation was pointless, despite the existence of "glaringly there an outright challenge to human curiosity."

Dr. Hynek argues that the Condon investigation was flawed by including too many trivial cases that could be easily dismissed (e.g., misidentifications of planets or stars), thus cluttering the study and diverting attention from genuinely puzzling reports. He states that from his own experience, he would have disregarded nearly two-thirds of the cases in the Condon Report as "potentially profitless." He distinguishes the UFO problem from the extra-terrestrial intelligence hypothesis, asserting the primary issue is whether a legitimate UFO phenomenon exists. He compares the current scientific understanding of UFOs to that of the aurora in the last century, suggesting that phenomena reported by thousands over time should not be dismissed as unworthy of scientific attention. He concludes that the UFO phenomenon itself will ultimately judge the Condon Committee's work.

The article expresses regret that more open-minded scientists like Dr. Hynek are not prevalent, and hopes that others will adopt his perspective. It also provides background on the Condon UFO Committee, established by the U.S. Air Force in 1966, which was intended to solve the UFO enigma over two years but instead posed more questions.

250-Year Old Space Mystery

Tim Childerhouse recounts a curious parallel between Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" (written in 1726) and the discovery of Mars's moons, Phobos and Deimos. In the story, astronomers aboard the flying island of "Laputa" discover two Martian satellites, one with a period of ten hours. Swift's prediction of the number and orbital periods of these moons was remarkably accurate, with their actual discovery not occurring until 1887, 150 years after Swift wrote the book. This remains a mystery.

Objects in Orbit

Mr. Anthony Wedgwood Benn, Minister of Technology, announced in the House of Commons that there were 1,750 objects orbiting Earth, including 371 satellites from various nations and organizations, as well as rocket and satellite debris.

Did a Saucer Land in New South Wales?

On April 16, 1969, Mr. T. J. Heffernan, a farmer in Bungawalabin, Australia, discovered a flattened area in a saccaline crop, measuring about 16 by 20 feet, with two circular patches. The stalks were broken at ground level and oriented north to south. No footprints were found. Mr. Heffernan believes an object landed and then took off. The incident occurred on the property of Mr. Ian L. Robinson, a Member of the Federal Parliament, leading to expectations of a more official investigation. Mr. Robinson is convinced it was not a natural phenomenon like a cyclone. The article notes similar imprints have been found elsewhere in Australia, including Tully, where a flying saucer was reportedly seen taking off from a "nest."

Man Sees UFO and Dies

A report from Colombia, South America, states that Arcesi Bermudez died from a mystery illness after claiming to have seen a blue and orange disc-shaped craft with flashing lights in his garden. He reportedly approached the craft before returning to his house. A week later, he was diagnosed with gastro-enteritis but had an extremely low body temperature and repeatedly claimed to have seen a spaceship.

National Skywatch '69

By Omar Fowler, this article details SIGAP's third annual skywatch event held on June 28 at Pewley Downs, Guildford. The event served as the United Kingdom Skywatch H.Q. for the British UFO Research Association. Four duty members were positioned away from the main site to minimize distractions. Communication was facilitated by walkie-talkie sets. Observers were equipped with instruments including an astro-compass, tape-recorder, movie camera, and binoculars. A list of satellite timings was provided by SIGAP consultant Tim Childerhouse. The main site housed cars, radio equipment, a BUFORA van (providing coffee), a mobile generator, UFO detectors, telescopes, and a transmitter aerial supported by six helium-filled balloons.

The watch officially began at 1900 hours and lasted 12 hours. Initial observations included usual aircraft contrails, and one instance where a silver disc was mistaken for a UFO but was later identified as another aircraft reflecting sunlight. The weather was good, with visibility up to 15 miles. As night fell, a "sun-dog" phenomenon was observed and photographed. Several satellites were tracked throughout the night. At 0100, the radio station closed due to static. Despite efforts, contact with other UK groups and Australia was not achieved, but contact was made with several radio "hams." Six balloons with lights attached were released, with one cluster seen floating NE at approximately 1,500 feet, exhibiting behavior resembling a UFO. The experiment yielded no unusual reports, suggesting that bright craft can hover over towns without being reported. After numerous aircraft reports and meteor sightings, the skywatch concluded at 0700 on June 29. The author thanks all participants and those who loaned equipment.

SIGAP Membership and New Groups

Alain Howard is noted as SIGAP's 100th member. A list of other new members is provided. Additionally, a new UFO group called the South West Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Investigation Group has been formed in the West Country. The group, led by Gerald Lovell, aims to seriously investigate aerial phenomena and publishes a bi-monthly bulletin called ZENITH. The annual subscription is 15s.

The History of Flying Saucers - Part 2: Pilot Chases UFO - And Dies

By Ron Toft, this installment recounts the incident involving Captain Thomas F. Mantell on January 7, 1948. While on routine flights near Godman Field Air Force Base in Kentucky, Mantell and two other pilots were alerted to a huge glowing disc moving towards the base. Mantell pursued the object, reporting it as colossal, between 500 and 1,000 feet across, and cruising at 250 m.p.h., with a metallic appearance. He left his companions and climbed after the disc, which accelerated to 400 m.p.h. Mantell's last message was reportedly "Going to 20,000. If no closer will abandon chase." His plane wreckage was found scattered, with individual pieces showing peculiar lines. It is believed Mantell blacked out from lack of oxygen, causing the plane to crash. The cause of the lines on the wreckage remains unknown. The article dismisses theories that the object was the planet Venus or a meteorological balloon.

Following this incident, the Air Force realized UFOs were not a passing phase. On January 22, 1948, Project Saucer was established at the Air Technical Intelligence Centre (A.T.I.C.) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, with a 2A priority classification. The project aimed to solve the mystery within months. After extensive investigation, Project Saucer issued a report in September 1948 suggesting the source of "hard-core" UFOs was likely interplanetary. However, the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, refused to accept this conclusion due to insufficient evidence. This led to a division within the Project Saucer team, with some researchers pressured to attribute UFOs to conventional explanations to appease the General.

In February 1949, Project Saucer was renamed Project Grudge. The first report from Project Grudge stated that 30% of UFOs could be explained as misinterpretations of conventional objects, with an additional 30% predicted to fall into the same category. The second and final report, issued in December 1949, concluded that all UFOs were either hoaxes, hallucinations, aeroplanes, balloons, or natural phenomena, and the project was wound up. Despite this, public suspicion grew that the Air Force knew more than they revealed.

Divorce for UFO Man

Mr. William Brinsley le Poer Trench, author of several UFO books, was granted a decree nisi in London on grounds of desertion by his wife. He resides in Kensington and is the half-brother of the Earl of Clancarty.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of PEGASUS revolve around the ongoing investigation and analysis of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and broader aerial phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry, with a critical examination of official reports like the Condon Report and early U.S. Air Force projects. The magazine champions the pursuit of knowledge, particularly in the realm of space exploration and the potential existence of UFOs, advocating for open-minded scientific investigation. The editorial stance appears to be one that supports serious, evidence-based research into UFOs, challenging skepticism and encouraging further study, as exemplified by the prominent coverage of Dr. Allen Hynek's critical views on the Condon Report and the detailed reporting of SIGAP's activities.

This document appears to be a collection of scanned pages from a local newspaper, the 'Surrey Advertiser', dated July 11, 1969, and a publication titled 'Pegasus', the monthly journal of the Surrey Investigation Group On Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP).

Space and UFO Convention

A final reminder is given for Britain's first National Space and UFO Convention, scheduled to be held on August 17 at Woburn Abbey. The event will feature standholders including SIGAP, the Bedford UFO Society, the Interplanetary Space Travel Research Group (U.K.), Contact U.K., Unidentified Flying Object Researchers, and Neville Spearman Ltd., a publisher of UFO books. Arthur Shuttlewood, author of "The Warminster Mystery" and "Warnings From Flying Friends", is highlighted as a noteworthy lecturer. The convention opens to standholders at 8 a.m., to the public at 11 a.m., with an official opening at 1 p.m. The closing time is expected to be around 9 p.m.

Omar Fowler, SIGAP Chairman, attended a meeting in London to finalize arrangements. He reported that the convention would attract a large number of UFO groups with diverse viewpoints. The convention president, Mr. M. V. Parry, has invested personal funds to ensure its success and aims to provide a stabilizing influence. Participating groups include the Kingdom Revival Crusade, Lunic Enterprises (featuring John Searle on space-travel), and the Aetherius Society. The nearest railway station is Flitwick, with coaches running to the Abbey. Interested members are advised to contact Group Secretary Dick Beet for lift arrangements.

Letters to the Editor

Due to space limitations, letters to the Editor have been postponed until the next issue.

Next SIGAP Meeting

The next SIGAP meeting is scheduled for September 9 at the Plastic Coatings Factory in Guildford, starting at 8 p.m. The guest speaker will be Ren Toft, Editor of "Pegasus", who will deliver his second talk on the Moon.

Advertisements

Two advertisements are present:

1. FOR SALE: A 3-inch Ottway Refracting Telescope with finder, objectives, tripod, and precision-built instrument for £60. Contact Brian Leighton at "Tangley Cottage", Wonersh, Guildford.
2. FLYING SAUCERS ARE FACT INVESTIGATION SOCIETY: A general meeting and lecture will be held in October (date to be fixed) at the Friends Meeting House, Hartshead, Sheffield 1. Guest speakers include Philip Rodgers, Norman Oliver, and Roger Stanway. Advance tickets are 5/- or write to C.N.Rose, 8 Findon Place, Sheffield 6, with a stamped, addressed envelope.

Village Hit by Ball Lightning Tremor

This article, reprinted from newspaper cuttings and dated July 11, 1969, details a dramatic incident in Ewhurst where ball lightning struck. Mr. A. E. Davies of High Edsa Farm and Mr. John Risbridger of Paws, Faracres Road, Ash Vale, witnessed the event during a thunderstorm at 3 p.m. Mr. Davies described a blinding flash, an intense explosion, and a concentrated ball of light that travelled about 100 yards, raising a cloud of yellow dust. Mr. Risbridger initially thought an aircraft might have crashed.

The ball lightning struck a telegraph pole, gouging a deep hole and burning the surrounding area at Loseley Farm. It disintegrated telephone and earth wires as it moved, digging a furrow and eventually landing 50 yards away, creating a small hole in the ground. The earth trembled, and residents in Ewhurst and Cranleigh felt the tremor. Telephone services to the farm were cut. No one was injured.

An article in the "Surrey Advertiser" from the previous year, by Mr. Richard Beet (secretary of the Surrey Society Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena), described ball lightning as a luminous or pear-shaped mass, typically blue or orange, varying in size. It often made a hissing sound and exploded on contact, leaving a smell of ozone. Mr. Beet emphasized its danger and association with thunderstorms, earthquakes, tornadoes, and strong electrical fields.

A telephone engineer at the scene confirmed that wires were melted for 300 yards and staples holding them intact were also affected. The cause of ball lightning is not fully understood, but one American theory suggests it occurs when high-tension power lines are overloaded or when certain atmospheric pollutants and meteorological conditions combine, potentially producing discharges along these lines.

Why Not Join S.I.G.A.P.?

This section promotes membership in SIGAP, highlighting its monthly journal, library, and meetings. It provides contact information for Richard C. Beet Esq. at 23, Coatham Place, Cranleigh, Surrey. The subscription for the monthly journal is 15/- per year (20.75). Cranleigh Reprographic Services (JE & CA. Barker) is also listed for printing, photo-copying, duplicating, and typing services.

UFO.s over SURREY!

This section features a photograph of SIGAP's first exhibition, held in the front window of "Gammons" in North Street, Guildford, in July of the previous year. The exhibition was organized by Group Secretary Dick Beet and Chairman Omar Fowler. It showcased U.F.O paintings by SIGAP member Dan Butcher, U.F.O books, magazines, photographs, satellite models, a geiger counter, and a U.F.O detector.

Pegasus - Monthly Journal of the Surrey Investigation Group On Aerial Phenomena

This section provides details about the "Pegasus" journal and SIGAP. Articles for publication are welcomed and should be sent to the Editor, Ron Toft. Views expressed in "Pegasus" do not necessarily represent those of the SIGAP Executive Committee. Extracts may be used with credit. Individual copies are available for 1s 6d each (plus 3d postage). Exchange publications and advertisements should be sent to the Editor. Advertising rates are listed: Classified (2d per word for members, 4d for non-members), Display (Quarter-page 15s, Half-page 30s, Full-page 55s).

Contact information for SIGAP officials is provided:

• Chairman: Omar Fowler, 149 Mytchett Road, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey (Tel. Farnborough 41012).
• Secretary: Dick Beet, 23 Coatham Place, Cranleigh, Surrey (Tel. Cranleigh 4420).
• Treasurer: Mrs. Jean Fowler, 149 Mytchett Road, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey.

Committee members include Omar Fowler, Dick Beet, Mrs. Jean Fowler, Ron Toft, Dan Butcher, Graham Raine, Richard Munford, Miss Marjorie Dalley, and Philip Parkinson. General inquiries should be directed to the Secretary. U.F.O. reports go to the Chairman. Ordinary membership is 15s per year, and Junior membership (14-16 years) is 12s.

SIGAP's Board of Consultants includes:

• John Adams (Optical Physics)
• Tim Childerhouse (Space & Satellite Research)
• Rev. Norman T. Cockburn (Theology)
• Stuart Miller (Psychology)
• Ronald Pilkington (Meteorology)
• Professor Frank B. Salisbury (Exobiology)

"Pegasus" is printed and published by the Surrey Investigation Group On Aerial Phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this document are UFO phenomena, scientific investigation of aerial phenomena, and related events such as unusual atmospheric electrical discharges like ball lightning. The editorial stance, particularly from SIGAP and its publication "Pegasus", is one of active investigation, information sharing, and encouraging public participation and membership in their organization. There is a clear focus on documenting sightings, holding conventions and meetings, and publishing findings. The inclusion of a ball lightning incident, which shares some characteristics with UFO reports (unusual aerial phenomena, unexplained causes), suggests a broad interest in anomalous events.