Pegasus - Vol 05 No 3

Magazine Overview

PEGASUS, Volume 5, #3, published by the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), is dated 4/1/96. The issue celebrates SIGAP's thirtieth anniversary, founded in 1966 by Omar Fowler, making it one of the oldest UFO groups.

Editorial Content

The editorial highlights the evolution of ufology over 30 years, noting a shift from skywatching for proof of UFOs to a greater emphasis on abduction reports, crop circles, and cattle mutilations. It speculates that revelations about alien presence could unite the world. The issue also announces a SPIG One Day Conference at Havant on April 20, 1996, featuring speakers like Omar Fowler, Gordon Millington, Graham Birdsall, and Anthony James.

"25 YEARS AGO, SIGAP members were already quite literally in the field!"

This section reprints an article by Ron Toft from the July/August 1970 issue of PEGASUS, detailing a sighting by farmer George Graham in the summer of 1968. Graham, while searching for foxes, observed a strange glow in a field, which then resolved into a dark circular UFO that rose silently into the air. The next morning, he found a large, keyhole-shaped marking in the field, approximately 40 feet long and 20 feet wide, where the grass and roots appeared to have been "plucked or sucked out of the ground" by a "giant vacuum cleaner." The article notes that Graham initially feared ridicule, which is why the sighting was not reported earlier. The UFO was described as dark-blue and "acetylene-like" in its glow, and it ascended rapidly without noise, only a "rush of air." The marking was described as being surrounded by a band about eight inches wide where the soil was bare.

Further details from the farmer indicate the UFO was "a good deal higher than a double decker bus" and that the "whoosh" sound was heard only after it had reached an altitude of about 100 feet. Twenty horses and an equal number of cattle in the field at the time appeared undisturbed. A week prior to Graham's sighting, two girls who keep horses at his farm saw a similar strange object in the same field, causing their dogs to bolt.

COMMENT

This section discusses the spherical UFO sighting, contrasting it with later disk and triangle sightings and crop circles. It draws parallels to similar topsoil removal incidents reported in 1963. The indifference of cattle to the UFO is noted as unusual, while the reaction of dogs to a prior event is considered more typical. The comment suggests that "prospecting" or "sampling" behavior by UFO crews was characteristic of the 1960s and 70s. It also observes that the reluctance of witnesses to report sightings has decreased due to increased public acceptance of UFO phenomena, though abduction experiences remain traumatic and often unreported. The discovery of the 1970 PEGASUS issue is credited to SIGAP member Jim Goddard.

"WATCHING THEM WATCHING US?"

This article explores theories suggesting that the Moon has been occupied by extraterrestrial beings for centuries, possibly millennia, with ongoing observable activity on and beneath its surface. It claims that astronauts and former NASA employees have witnessed the suppression of evidence related to this occupation. George H. Leonard's 1976 publication, "SOMEONE ELSE IS ON OUR MOON," is cited, which listed NASA Apollo photograph catalogue numbers supporting these claims. The article suggests that moon watching with binoculars could provide an alternative to less specific skywatching. It mentions instances of flashes and flares observed on the lunar surface by astronauts, including Apollo 17 pilot Harrison H. Schmitt near Grimaldi, and Apollo 16 and 17 astronauts reporting bright lights. Dr. Farouk El-Baz described these as "enormous flashes of light." Terrestrial astronomers have also reported bright lights in craters like Aristarchus and Plato. The article includes a diagram of visible major moon features.

Leonard's view is that these lights are created by the Moon's occupants during construction, mining, or repair activities, with potential entrances to underground installations in the Sea of Tranquillity. Promising locations for observation are identified as Mare Crisium, Mare Orientale, Ocean of Storms, and the Sea of Tranquillity, with specific craters like Copernicus, Grimaldi, Kepler, Plato, Posidonius, Theophilus, Tycho, and Eratosthenes noted as centers of activity.

"LAZAR - A CIA PATSY?"

This multi-part investigation by Nick Gleeson scrutinizes the claims of Bob Lazar, focusing on alleged inconsistencies and implausibilities in his story. The first part, "THE LAZAR FLAWS - Discoverer of 115," questions Lazar's claim that he identified the material he calls "Element 115," the supposed fuel for alien discs. The analysis points out that Lazar's total work time at S-4 was only about a week, making his claim to have identified a new element highly improbable, especially since others at Los Alamos, a highly advanced research facility, allegedly could not. The article suggests that Lazar might be mistaken, with Element 114 being a more plausible candidate for a stable isotope. Possible explanations offered include Lazar fabricating the story, being part of a psychological test, or having his mind manipulated.

"THE LAZAR FLAWS - The Birth Certificate" examines Lazar's claim that his birth, employment, and academic records were wiped out by a secret government manipulation. The article reviews accounts from interviews and books where Lazar and George Knapp reported being unable to find Lazar's birth certificate. However, it proposes a more plausible explanation: Lazar's adoptive status, which would mean his birth records were not with his natural parents, and the difficulty in obtaining records from hospitals versus official state repositories. It also notes that Florida law made birth records confidential in 1987, restricting access. The report mentions a "Pre-Sentence Report" from 1990 that indicates Lazar was born on January 26, 1959, to unknown parents and was adopted by Albert Lazar and Phyllis Berliner.

"THE LAZAR FLAWS - Odds and Ends" presents further curious points in Lazar's narrative. It questions his reported partial ownership of a legal brothel near Reno, which was not mentioned in his bankruptcy papers. It also disputes his description of the road to S-4 as being suitable for a bus, based on satellite imagery. The article questions how Lazar, with his alleged security clearance, would freely disclose classified information and arrange "group outings" for friends to witness flight operations. Finally, it touches upon Lazar's claim of possessing a small quantity of Element 115 after leaving the program, which was allegedly stolen from his home, and questions why such material would be left in "private hands."

"THE LAZAR FLAWS - Omicron Mode Operation" compiles Lazar's statements about the propulsion of alien craft in "omicron" mode, described as low-speed or hovering. The article highlights inconsistencies in Lazar's descriptions over time, noting that early accounts suggested the use of all three gravity amplifiers in omicron mode, while later accounts stated only one amplifier was used. This is presented as a contradiction rather than a flaw that can be checked for accuracy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, alien contact, and related mysteries. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting both historical accounts and contemporary investigations. There is a critical yet engaged approach to analyzing claims, particularly those of Bob Lazar, seeking to identify inconsistencies and explore alternative explanations while acknowledging the enduring public interest in these topics. The magazine also emphasizes the historical significance of ufology and the importance of documenting sightings and research.

This issue of 'UFO Reports' delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, focusing on the credibility of witness accounts, government involvement, and historical sightings. The publication critically examines the claims of Bob Lazar, a former alleged employee at a secret site, and presents declassified Ministry of Defence (MoD) files related to UFO investigations in the UK.

Bob Lazar's Claims Under Scrutiny

The article begins by analyzing inconsistencies in Bob Lazar's account of his work, particularly concerning the operation of gravity amplifiers on alien craft. Initially, Lazar stated the amplifiers ran at 100%, but later, on a tape recording, he claimed they were pulsed. The author finds this subtle change disturbing, suggesting possible fabrication or misunderstanding.

A significant portion of the analysis focuses on Lazar's story about a 'blown reactor' incident. Lazar claimed he was hired as a replacement for a scientist killed in an explosion while attempting to cut into an operating reactor removed from a disc. He provided varying dates for this event, ranging from April 1987 to May 1987, and described the blast as potentially in the 20-kiloton range. However, official Department of Energy (DOE) records show no unannounced nuclear tests in May 1987, and the announced tests in April 1987 were public knowledge. Furthermore, seismic records from the US Geological Survey for April and May 1987 do not indicate any 'mystery events' that could explain such an explosion. The analysis concludes that Lazar's story is either fabricated, based on misinformation, or a result of faulty memory.

Declassified MoD Files Reveal UFO Cases

The magazine then shifts focus to declassified files from the UK Ministry of Defence, spanning over a decade and released by Lord Henley. These files reveal that the government took UFO reports seriously and aimed to allay public fears. Several incidents are detailed:

• April 1957: Two RAF planes were dispatched to intercept unidentified objects over the Strait of Dover, but the objects could not be tracked by radar. Fighter Command initially believed they were other RAF jets on exercise.
• 1956: An RAF Venom jet was sent to intercept a UFO moving at very high speed. The pilot saw nothing, but two other aircraft that scrambled in pursuit reported a 'momentary contact'.
• 1963: Two airmen at RAF Cosford reported seeing an object resembling a flying saucer hovering near a hangar, with a trap door slowly opening. An internal inquiry dismissed this as 'youthful high spirits'.
• Early hours (date unspecified): A motorist driving near Luton reported seeing an object like a hovercraft flying about 30ft above the road surface. An unknown force slowed the car down to 20mph before the object suddenly flew off.
• Christmas 1961: Four police officers in Hessle, Humberside, observed a bright yellow light moving noiselessly across the sky for 20 minutes. The RAF later confirmed no activity in the area.

The MoD denied suppressing evidence, stating they do not debate the existence of life on other planets but affirmed there was no 'conspiracy body here with pointed ears'.

The Plains of San Augustin Sighting

The issue features a detailed account from Gerald Anderson, who, after 43 years of silence, recounts a sighting from July 4, 1947, on the Plains of San Augustin. Anderson, then a child, was with his father, uncle, and brother when they encountered a crashed silver disk, approximately 50 feet in diameter, on a hillside. Huddled in its shadow were four creatures: three were motionless, and one was having difficulty breathing. Anderson claims he touched one of the creatures and the ship, describing the metal as feeling like it came out of a freezer and the creature as cold.

He states that six other people, including a professor and college students, arrived shortly after, having seen what they thought was a fiery meteor. The professor attempted to communicate with the creature using foreign languages, but there was no audible response. Anderson also described a mental sensation of falling and tumbling when he looked into the upright creature's eyes, feeling its fear, depression, and loneliness.

Soon after, a military contingent arrived, and the creature became agitated. Anderson recalls the military's attitude as 'uncivilized' and remembers being threatened that if they divulged anything, the children would be taken away. He also noted that the soldiers did not appear surprised by the craft or creatures, suggesting prior knowledge.

UFO Literature Guide

The latter part of the magazine includes a comprehensive guide to UFO literature, categorizing books from 'naive believers' to 'fanatic debunkers'. It emphasizes the importance of reading widely to form an informed opinion and suggests that while the literature is not strictly scientific, it is growing in academic interest. The guide lists numerous books, providing author, title, publisher, year, page count, and ISBN, along with brief descriptions of their content and significance. Notable entries include works on the Roswell incident, abductions, government cover-ups, and specific case studies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of UFO witness testimony, the potential for government cover-ups, and the historical documentation of UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, encouraging readers to think for themselves while presenting evidence and analysis from various sources. The magazine aims to provide a balanced perspective, acknowledging the mystery of UFOs without succumbing to extreme beliefs or dismissals. The inclusion of declassified government documents and a detailed analysis of Lazar's claims suggest a commitment to investigating the subject with a degree of rigor.