Pegasus - Vol 17 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: Volume 17, #2
Publisher: Surrey Investigation Group into Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)
Date: Not explicitly stated, but context suggests around February 2004 based on an article date.

This issue of PEGASUS, the bi-monthly journal of the Surrey Investigation Group into Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), features a range of articles exploring various facets of the UFO phenomenon, government secrecy, and related topics. The magazine is published by SIGAP, with Gordon Millington serving as President, Ian Wheatley as Chairman, and Paul Whitehead and Sonya Porter as Vice-Chairmen. The publication is based in Guildford, UK.

Editorial Content

Flying Saucer Review (FSR) Editorial

The editorial section discusses the importance of the publication 'Flying Saucer Review' (FSR) as the sole national publication covering the UFO field. While acknowledging a recent decline in its standard, likely due to the former editor's indisposition, the editorial emphasizes the historical significance of FSR and the need for continued support from enthusiasts. It suggests that a less lavish production with a lower subscription might improve sales. The editor expresses concern for FSR's success, viewing it as the journal of record for ufology. SIGAP members are offered a single copy of FSR for £4.

'Not For Your Eyes' by Gordon Millington

This article, extracted from 'UFOs and Humanity,' addresses the widespread belief in government cover-ups of UFO information. Millington posits that governments likely conceal information due to military and economic motives, or their own ignorance, rather than public panic. He cites Timothy Good's 'Above Top Secret' and Jenny Randles' 'The UFO Conspiracy' as evidence for the existence of such cover-ups. The article then focuses on the Rendlesham Forest incident of December 27, 1980, where two US Air Force policemen at RAF Woodbridge reported unusual lights. An investigation led to the discovery of a 'strange glowing object... metallic in appearance and triangular in shape' in Rendlesham Forest. The object reportedly had a pulsing red light on top and blue lights underneath, maneuvered through trees, and caused animals at a nearby farm to become agitated. Details are drawn from Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Halt's report to the British Ministry of Defence, which initially denied knowledge of the event. Halt's report also mentioned impressions left in the ground and high residual beta/gamma radiation readings. The article notes that the Halt document was released in June 1983 under the US Freedom of Information Act, confirming that USAF personnel had seen unexplained lights.

Colonel Halt's report further described observing a 'red sun-like light' that moved and pulsed, emitting glowing particles before breaking into five white objects. Subsequently, three star-like objects appeared, exhibiting sharp, angular movements and beaming light downwards. Millington expresses skepticism about senior army officers possessing the imagination to concoct such a story, suggesting the British government likely had its own information sources. Timothy Good's interview with Colonel Halt confirmed the memorandum's authenticity, with Halt stating there were more details not included in his memo due to a lack of response from the Ministry of Defence. These unmentioned details reportedly included accounts of a landed UFO with occupants, radar evidence, witness testimonies, film, audio tapes, and radioactive soil samples.

The article also references Admiral Lord Hill-Norton's 1985 letter to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the Rendlesham incidents, which received a reply stating the events were of no defense significance. The publication of the Halt memorandum in the News of the World caused a stir, with The Daily Telegraph providing further insights from its science correspondent, Adrian Berry, who suggested the lights might have been the Orford Ness lighthouse beam.

The article then shifts to the Roswell, New Mexico incident of July 2, 1947, described as the best-known case of government UFO cover-up, where a UFO allegedly crashed, killing its occupants whose bodies and craft were reportedly preserved at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The article criticizes the US government's accumulation of thousands of classified pages on the UFO phenomenon and its refusal to release them, even to a High Court judge. It highlights the strict enforcement of 'Top Secret' classifications in the USA and the absence of a Freedom of Information Act in Britain, making it difficult for ufologists to obtain information.

It also touches upon the concept of 'Men in Black' (MIBs), described as mysterious characters who question, threaten, and harass UFO witnesses and researchers. The article mentions Ed Walters, the protagonist of the Gulf Breeze sightings, who was visited by individuals claiming to be from Air Force Special Security Services demanding his UFO photos. The article notes that authorities invariably deny MIB activity.

'Above Top Secret' and Government Strategy

The article discusses the perceived risk of social panic if governments admitted the reality of UFOs, though recent guarded admissions by Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev have caused little comment. It suggests the USA might be close to a more frank public admission. The article criticizes the ridicule and disinformation directed at UFO organizations, which deters academics. It proposes that a likely clandestine government strategy involves funding a group of physicists to find answers. However, the author believes this hope is vain, asserting that UFOs are a physical reality but may also have a paranormal dimension. Researchers unwilling to consider this dimension are unlikely to find answers, leaving the role of amateur ufologists essential for high-strangeness problems.

Timothy Good's 'Alien Liaison'

Timothy Good's book 'Alien Liaison' is mentioned for its possible explanation of an incident in Whitley Strieber's 'Communion,' where abductors claimed a right to operate on subjects without consent. Good suggests a possible explanation for this claim: a deal between the US government and a species of UFO entity (presumably Greys) where the government would not disclose or prevent abductions of cattle or humans in exchange for technical information and assistance, including space vehicles. The article questions the proof of these allegations, asking what kind of proof would be acceptable, such as a public admission by the US President or signed statements from high-ranking officials. It acknowledges that Good's informants have not provided conclusive proof, but argues for qualified acceptance of the information given the government's security efforts.

Good's assertions are supported by claims that the US government possesses crashed extraterrestrial vehicles and bodies, and that UFO activities have been subject to campaigns of ridicule and disinformation. Good also notes a growing willingness by US authorities to admit that the cover-up cannot continue indefinitely and that the public needs to be prepared for the knowledge that humanity is not the only intelligent species. The article mentions that ufonauts regard humanity as 'containers,' possibly for germ plasm, and expresses hope that Earth is not merely a 'human farm.'

Robert Lazar and Alien Technology

The article highlights information from Robert Lazar, a physicist who claims to have worked on the propulsion system of extraterrestrial craft at a secret site in Nevada. Lazar describes a propulsion system based on gravity control using an anti-matter reactor powered by element 115, supplied by aliens. He claims this system can manipulate space and time and achieve invisibility. Lazar also reportedly saw craft in hangars and learned that aliens had influenced human physical and religious evolution. The article notes that Lazar's background as a physicist and consultant to Los Alamos has been questioned, with Jacques Vallée suggesting he may have been set up as a source of disinformation. Vallée interviewed Lazar and formed the opinion that he had been deliberately set up, having been approached by Naval Intelligence for employment at a secret site. Lazar described his work as 'back-engineering' UFO propulsion systems, but found the briefings nonsensical and his own knowledge inadequate. He reported being subjected to tests involving hypnosis and the administration of a yellow liquid.

Disinformation and UFO Investigation

The article discusses the purpose of disinformation exercises, which are intended to discourage investigation into UFO phenomena, especially by professional academics, and to cause amateurs to lose credibility. It suggests that the 'Majestic 12' memorandum, now discredited, consumed many man-hours of fruitless inquiry. The core question is what these disinformation exercises are designed to prevent people from discovering. Jacques Vallée suggests disinformation conceals advanced defense research, while Timothy Good proposes a co-operation agreement between the US government and UFO occupants. The author speculates that US spending on 'Star Wars' projects like HAARP in Alaska might be predicated on the possibility of an attack from Mars, possibly related to alien technology or a need for defense against an extraterrestrial threat.

The article also mentions a report by Pat Delgado about strange happenings in Highland, Kansas, in September 1991, involving symbols in cornfields and fluorescent lights, followed by a rapid cover-up by unidentified personnel. Rosemary Ellen Guiley investigated this, with Maurice Schwalm, an investigator with contacts in former US intelligence, unable to confirm Delgado's account.

Crop Circles: 'Signs' From Above or Human Artifacts?

By Jacques F. Vallée

Jacques Vallée explores the phenomenon of crop circles, questioning whether they are caused by aliens or are human artifacts. He notes that while some circles are acknowledged as the work of self-described 'artists,' many others appear with a high degree of mathematical accuracy and in a short time, defying simple explanations. Vallée suggests that these formations might be the result of sophisticated electronic warfare experiments conducted by defense contractors. He points to the precise drawing of patterns on wheat fields as a potential method for calibrating beams, with the energy required to vaporize water in plant nodes being a known quantity. The location of these formations near British defense establishment facilities further supports this theory. Vallée speculates that the technology might involve a combination of laser and microwave transmitters or masers, possibly directed from hovering dirigibles or aircraft, painting figures like an electron beam on a computer screen. He raises questions about why witnesses don't see these platforms and why experiments continue despite high levels of perceived perfection. Vallée suggests that the tests might have sociological rather than purely technological aims, or that the true nature of the crop circles is being hidden through disinformation as part of a psychological warfare experiment.

Vallée also considers the purpose of such beams, suggesting they could be used for missile destruction or to guide larger amounts of energy, potentially for fusing targets like biological laboratories or chemical factories, implying a more ominous message than communication from extraterrestrials.

Mystery Continues: Scientists Baffled by Spheres on Mars

By Robert Roy Britt, Senior Science Writer, Space.com, February 12, 2004

This article reports on new close-up images from the Martian surface revealing tiny spherical objects that have puzzled scientists. The 'Opportunity' rover has photographed these spherules, about the size of a BB pellet, on sandy soil and embedded in rocks. Researchers have reiterated that they do not know what process created them but believe biology is not involved. Scientists are investigating whether the spherules were created by water or volcanic eruptions. Mark Lemmon, a science team member, stated that there is 'much more than meets the eye' in the images, but could not elaborate. Wendy Calvin, a geophysicist, expressed being 'really stumped' and having 'no idea how they got there,' but added there was 'no reason' to assume biology was involved. The 'Opportunity' rover will continue its investigation, using its Rock Abrasion Tool to examine the rocks' inner compositions. Engineers experienced some problems with the rover slipping on a slope but have apparently solved it. The 'Spirit' rover is also active on Mars, continuing its drive toward a small impact crater. Despite a minor glitch caused by cold onboard temperatures, 'Spirit' is reported to be in 'outstanding health.'

Common Abduction Experiences

By Richard D. Butler

This section provides a brief description of the most commonly reported abduction experience (AE) types, intended to standardize classification in abduction research.

• [AE-1] Lucid Dream: Internally generated by the subject's subconscious, with no Human/ET interaction. Usually grandiose and lacking logical progression.
• [AE-2] Techno/Telepathic Lucid Dream: Internally generated by external forces (ET origin) through technologically enhanced psychic intrusion. Subjects report a disassociation from normal dreams and insertion of a scenario. Upon awakening, they may report a glowing circle of energy on the ceiling with a retracting shaft.
• [AE-3] Psy/Bio Energy Field Extraction: Involves the extraction of a conscious energy field from the subject's body, externally induced. Uses a white or bluish-white extraction beam, causing a feeling of deep penetration. The extracted field can perceive stimuli at an enhanced level. This type accounts for severe missing time memory failure as the brain is not physically present.
• [AE-4] Physical Abduction: Physical removal of a subject to an ET environment. Involves strict military-like protocols, tranquilization, and transport via shuttle, lifting beam, or direct transfer through a hyper-dimensional tunnel. Procedures include genetic experimentation, sperm, and ovum extraction. A screen memory is inserted upon return. This differs from AE-3 as memories are not erased.
• [AE-5] Past-Life Recall: Experiences that appear to represent events in an ET life form's existence, viewed from an ET perspective. Subjects recall being in underground facilities, on spacecraft, or other ET environments. This suggests a covert reconnaissance operation and raises the possibility that abductees are souls who have volunteered, implying they are not being abducted but are participating willingly.

Shamanism and UFO Abductions

By Douglass Price-Williams, Ph.D. Dept. of Anthropology, UCLA, April 16, 1999

This article presents an annotated bibliography on the overlap between shamanic initiations and rituals and aspects of the UFO phenomenon. Dr. Price-Williams, a professor emeritus of anthropology at UCLA, invites feedback from the anthropology community on this topic. The literature on shamanism is extensive, with various perspectives from comparative religion, regional studies, and focused analyses of individual shamans. The core of shamanism is described as a person entering an altered state of consciousness, undertaking a 'magical flight' to other worlds, and returning with capabilities such as dream interpretation and healing. The article suggests that the pre-shamanic phase, where individuals have spontaneous experiences, is where more fruitful comparisons with UFO experiences, particularly abduction experiences, can be found.

It notes that while expert shamans are in control, the beginnings of their journey may not be. Some shamans have had 'shamanism thrust on them' through severe illness, psychological problems, or unusual dreams and visions. The article cites Eliade's work, where the term 'abducted' was used to describe a man or woman made a seer by being bodily abducted by spirits. The phenomenon of light is highlighted as particularly salient in shamanic experience. The article draws parallels between the capture, examination, and aftermath of abductees and the narrative of a Siberian shaman's initiation, noting similarities in the 'implant and fluorescent examination room' experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of PEGASUS consistently explores the intersection of the unexplained with official narratives and scientific inquiry. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official denials and a belief in the existence of suppressed information regarding UFO phenomena. The magazine appears to advocate for continued investigation by amateur ufologists, given the perceived reluctance of mainstream academia and government bodies to engage with the subject. Themes of government cover-ups, the potential for advanced or alien technology, and the psychological and experiential aspects of encounters (such as abductions and shamanic parallels) are recurrent. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider unconventional explanations while critically evaluating available evidence and potential disinformation.

This issue of Flying Saucer Review, identified as issue number 28, delves into various UFO-related phenomena, drawing connections between ancient shamanic practices and modern sightings. The magazine highlights the quality of its content, established in 1955, and its international collaboration of experts. It appeals for subscriptions to ensure its continued publication.

Shamanism and UFO Phenomena

The issue explores the potential links between shamanic traditions and UFO experiences. It discusses how shamanic practices, particularly those involving light phenomena and descriptions of spirits, bear resemblances to reported UFO encounters. Eliade's work on Siberian shamanism is cited, noting the experience of height, ascent, and even levitation, which he suggests is a common feature of shamanic techniques. Richard Erdoes's accounts of Sioux folk in North Dakota describe tiny lights appearing and electronic equipment malfunctioning. The phenomenon of 'little lights' is presented as widespread, with mentions of similar folklore among the Tiv tribe of Nigeria and in Hawaii, where they are called 'akualeles'. Holger Kalweit's book on Shamanism is referenced for examples of bright flames hovering above shamans and their companions, and luminous clouds observed by a Huichol shaman in Mexico, identified as 'spirit beings'. The concept of 'implants' in shamanic traditions, where spirits insert sacred stones into a future medicine man, is also noted as a potential parallel to UFO abduction literature. The issue further details the variety of 'humanoid' spirit descriptions found in shamanistic accounts, comparing them to UFO reports. Examples include descriptions of horned beings, 'helping spirits' appearing as white women, little men with pointed heads, and shore spirits resembling dolls.

Larry Peters and Holger Kalweit are mentioned for their contemporary oral reports of 'little men' traditions in Nepal and Eastern Tibet, and on the island in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia.

Best UFO Cases: Iran, 1976

This section details a significant UFO incident that occurred over Tehran, Iran, on September 19, 1976. The event began around 0030 hours when the Shah's Imperial Iranian Air Force command post received multiple reports of a strange object in the sky. Some witnesses reported a bird-like object, while others described a helicopter with a bright light. When no helicopters were airborne, BG Yousefi, assistant deputy commander of operations, was alerted. Initially dismissing it as a star, he later confirmed seeing a very bright object larger than a star. An F-4 jet was scrambled from Shahrokhi AFB.

The F-4 jet proceeded to a point 40 nautical miles north of Tehran. The object was so brilliant it could be seen up to 70 miles away. At approximately 25 nautical miles, the F-4 lost all instrumentation and communications. The pilot broke off the intercept. Upon turning away, instrumentation and communication were regained. A second F-4 was scrambled and acquired a radar lock at 27 nautical miles. The object maintained a steady distance of 25 nautical miles from the F-4 as it moved. The object's radar return was comparable to a 707 tanker. Its lights alternated blue, green, red, and orange in a square pattern, flashing rapidly.

A smaller second object detached from the first and advanced on the F-4. The pilot attempted to launch a missile but again lost all instrumentation, weapons control, and communication. The F-4 pilot took evasive action, and the object fell in behind him for a short time before rejoining the primary object. Each time the F-4 turned away, instrumentation and communications were restored.

The F-4 crew observed another brightly lit object detach from the primary object and drop straight down. They overflew the site at a decreased altitude and marked its touchdown location. They landed at Mehrabad and noted interference and communications failure when passing through a magnetic bearing of 150 degrees from Mehrabad. A civilian airliner also experienced communications loss at the same position. On final approach, the F-4 crew sighted a cylinder-shaped object with bright lights. Mehrabad tower reported no other aircraft, but personnel could see the object.

The next day, the F-4 crew flew to the landing site, which was a dry lake bed with no visible traces. They detected a 'beeper' signal near a small house, where occupants reported a loud noise and a bright light like lightning. Investigations, including radiation testing, were apparently conducted but not made public. The Defense Intelligence Agency classified this report as 'outstanding' and a 'classic' for UFO studies. It was also detected by a military spy satellite (DSP-1), which is designed to detect infrared heat sources.

News in Brief / Sightings Roundup

UFOs Watch ISS Space Walk

This segment discusses an event during an ISS space walk on February 25, 2004. Cosmonaut Alexander 'Sasha' Kaleri made comments about 'dinosaurs' being needed and present, which surprised Jeff Chandler, the writer. Chandler notes that there is no official mention of 'dinosaurs' in NASA or Russian space program documentation. He speculates that 'dinosaurs' might be a code word for UFOs, especially given the context of mysterious objects and communication losses during the space walk. Houston Mission Control announced the ISS was 'Out of Range' of communication networks, even though it was directly above a ground station and a TDRS satellite. The writer suggests this was an opportunity to communicate with the crew about their sightings without public knowledge.

Canadian PM in UFO Scare - Ottawa (CP)

This report details an incident on Sunday, March 21, where Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin's Challenger jet had a close encounter with a UFO over Alberta. The pilot reported seeing a 'very bright light falling' through the air with smoke trailing. People aboard other planes also witnessed the object traveling at a very fast rate of speed from a high altitude. Chris Rutkowski of Ufology Research of Manitoba provided the report. While Rutkowski suggests it was likely a comet or asteroid fragment, the event is presented as a notable sighting. The report mentions that a record 673 reports of unidentified objects were made in Canada in 2003.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Flying Saucer Review consistently explores the intersection of unexplained phenomena, historical accounts, and contemporary sightings. The editorial stance appears to favor presenting detailed reports and encouraging further investigation, as evidenced by the 'Best UFO Cases' section and the 'News in Brief' updates. There is a clear interest in connecting seemingly disparate events, such as shamanic practices and modern UFO encounters, and in scrutinizing official explanations for unusual aerial phenomena. The magazine emphasizes the importance of content and quality over sensationalism, as stated in its appeal for subscriptions.