Pegasus - Vol 18 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: Volume 18, #2
Publisher: Surrey Investigation Group into Aerial Phenomena
Date: April 29, 2004 (based on article date)

This issue of PEGASUS delves into UFO phenomena through personal accounts and critical analysis of media and government handling of the subject. It features contributions from an air traffic controller detailing his experiences, an examination of media corruption by Steven Greer, and a discussion on the semantics and politics of UFO research by Hal McKenzie.

Unidentified: A UFO Sighting at Finchampstead

The issue begins with an account of a UFO sighting at Finchampstead, near Sandhurst and the Aldershot military area. The significance of this sighting, according to the author (G.M.), lies in the fact that it was observed by an experienced and competent individual who would have been able to identify any conventional aircraft, star, planet, or balloon. The observer, despite performing all the correct procedures, could not identify the object. The author notes that such events are often not reported in the media and expresses hope that the Freedom of Information Act will lead to more accurate reporting of UFO sightings.

Media Play: The Corruption of the Press

Steven Greer, M.D., Director of The Disclosure Project and CSETI, presents a critical perspective on the role of the media in society. Greer argues that the concept of a free press acting as a check on government secrecy is a "fantasy" and that "Big Media" is fundamentally corrupted and controlled by vested interests. He contends that media freedom exists only within a sphere of influence that lacks critical significance, and that important stories, particularly those involving government secrecy, advanced technologies, and UFOs, are suppressed or ridiculed. Greer cites an example where senior producers were prevented from running exposés on UFOs despite having "smoking-gun evidence" and "dozens of credible, corroborated, top-secret witnesses." He highlights the electronic jamming of The Disclosure Project's 2001 press conference as an example of suppression. Greer calls for a "Disclosure Network" to conduct independent investigative reporting and for the public to spread the truth.

UFO Experiences of an Air Traffic Controller

This section features detailed accounts from a 35+ year veteran Air Traffic Control Officer (ATC) who wishes to remain anonymous for legal reasons. The controller, who has a lifelong interest in UFOs, shares several incidents that caused him alarm, emphasizing that he is offering the facts without explanation.

North Africa (Late 1960s): While working at an international airport with nearby military radar facilities, the controller was involved in tracking an unidentified object that approached the airbase. The object did not display an IFF label and was monitored by both radar and Ground Controlled Approach (GCA). The military became nervous, initiating an alert phase. The object then overflew the airbase without noise and accelerated towards the desert at an estimated 1300 knots, leaving the controllers shaken.

Incident 2 (North Africa): Following the closure of a civil airport, the controller was overseeing a VIP flight departure. An extremely bright ball of light appeared stationary east of the airfield. The departing aircraft's crew also sighted the object. After the aircraft took off, the light vanished. The pilot later reported that the light had moved at considerable speed towards them before disappearing as they climbed.

Incident 3 (null date): During a quiet afternoon shift, a bright shining object, appearing like a "metallic ball," was observed through binoculars. The Watch Supervisor initially identified it as a meteorological balloon, but the met office had no record of any ascent. Enquiries to the nearby military air base yielded no information.

Incident 4 (null date): A week or two after Incident 3, a similar object was observed again.

Oxford Airport (1971): The controller recalls a "UFO" being recorded by a TV crew, describing it as a "very fast moving trail in the sky."

Heathrow (null dates):

• Incident 6: A UK registered passenger jet crew reported an orange disk-shaped object passing close to their aircraft near the Ockham holding area. It was not detected on radar. The crew filed it as an "airmiss" for proper investigation, but the results were inconclusive.
• Incident 7: A foreign-registered passenger jet near Lambourne reported a black "missile-shaped" object passing by. It was not seen on radar, and the investigation's outcome is unknown. Some suggested it might have been a stray missile.

Finchampstead (2004): The controller, now retired, observed a glinting object in the sky that appeared to be a "shiny metallic ball." It was higher than regular aircraft and moved slowly, fading and brightening. It was observed for over 45 minutes and bore a resemblance to objects seen in North Africa.

The controller concludes by stating that these are "Unidentified Flying Objects," not aliens or flying saucers, and provides an email address for contact.

Denial, Belief and Semantics, and UFOs

Hal McKenzie critiques the common framing of the UFO phenomenon, arguing that the terms "believe" and "UFO" create a "semantic straitjacket" that hinders rational inquiry. He asserts that UFOs are facts, not matters of belief, and that the "denial syndrome"—where individuals or society reject facts that challenge their existing belief systems—is prevalent.

Mckenzie draws parallels between UFO denial and other societal taboos, such as incest, where painful truths are suppressed. He criticizes the media's tendency to label those who report UFO experiences as "believers" rather than acknowledging their rational conclusions from observed data. He argues that the government's policy of secrecy and disinformation, exemplified by reports like "Blue Book" and the Condon Report, has fostered this denial. McKenzie proposes using the term "off-world craft" instead of "UFO" to frame the issue more directly and advocates for political activism, such as forming "truth squads" and lobbying groups, to force the government to address the issue of UFO secrecy.

He believes that ending the denial syndrome requires political action and that politicians will only act if they feel a constituency behind them. McKenzie suggests that a politician who successfully breaks the "off-world denial syndrome" will be remembered as a great liberator.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of unexplained aerial phenomena, the critical role of media in shaping public perception, and the impact of government secrecy on the investigation and understanding of UFOs. The magazine adopts a stance that challenges conventional explanations and encourages a more open and rational approach to the subject, advocating for transparency and direct investigation.

Title: Pegasus
Issue: 28
Volume: 21
Date: Spring 1996
Publisher: SIGAP
Country: UK
Language: English

Arguments Against Psychosis Explaining the 'Alien Abduction' Scenario by Brian P James

Brian P James presents a personal argument against the theory that alien abduction experiences are merely the result of psychosis, drawing on his own history as a 'repeater' UFO witness and experiencer, and the severe mental decline of his late mother, Doris.

Personal Background and Early Experiences

James emphasizes that his interest in UFOs and the paranormal is not a result of childhood exposure to sci-fi imagery, as mainstream media was limited during his childhood in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He notes that his interest in these subjects was generated independently, and details of his experiences have been published in various UFO research magazines and can be found on www.apra.org.uk.

Mother's Dementia and Hallucinations

James recounts the progressive decline of his mother, Doris, starting in the years prior to 1999. Initially attributed to old age, her mental abilities significantly deteriorated by 1999. A holiday in August of that year, coinciding with a solar eclipse, marked a dramatic decline in her faculties and short-term memory. Despite concerns of senile dementia, the family GP initially dismissed them. By June 2000, his mother lost her grip on reality, experiencing delusions and hallucinations. She began to misinterpret her surroundings, seeing 'women' and 'children' that were not there, and even mistaking objects like coats and cushions for people. She would converse with these hallucinations, referring to them as her sisters and brother from her childhood in the 1930s. Subsequent medical evaluations, including tests at the Radcliffe Infirmary and scans, confirmed Alzheimer's disease and degeneration of brain tissue. James highlights that his mother's hallucinations were always human-like, never hinting at anything 'non-human' or monstrous, which he uses as evidence against temporal lobe degeneration causing 'alien encounters'.

Author's Own Experiences and Stress-Induced Psychoses

James then details his own experiences, which he states have been published elsewhere. These include repeated UFO sightings and alien/ET experiences from his earliest memories, night-time visitations, out-of-body experiences, and repeated paranormal events. His experiences intensified after a serious illness in January 1992, which led to a near-death situation and a spiritual awakening. From 1994 onwards, he began experiencing 'shadow entities'.

He notes that his own stress levels increased significantly due to his role as primary carer for his mother, leading to a minor breakdown in mid-2001. His GP recommended medication, and he was prescribed drugs such as Venlafaxine, Amitriptyline, and Clozaril. These medications had dramatic, but negative, effects, inducing intense psychoses, including hypnopompia and hypnogogia. He describes these 'gogic' experiences as painful, involving scenarios like being operated on by a maniac surgeon or falling from a building, resulting in physical injuries. These drug-induced psychoses, however, did not involve any UFO or alien components, despite his lifelong history of such experiences.

Argument Against Psychosis as Explanation

James argues that the absence of UFO or alien themes in his drug-induced psychoses, despite his extensive history of such experiences and his subconscious likely containing relevant imagery, provides clear evidence that his 'alien encounter' experiences are not simply a result of psychosis. He posits that his conscious mind and memories allowed him to differentiate these experiences from normal dreams, even during periods of stress and medication.

References

The article includes a list of references, citing works by Robert Jay Lifton, Richard McNally and Susan Clancy, Martin Kottmeyer, RIMA E. LAIBOW, Stuart Appelle, Don Donderi, John Mack, and Budd Hopkins, covering topics related to resilience, alien abduction studies, and UFO phenomena.

News in Brief / Sightings Roundup

Mars - Rover Opportunity Washed With Water?

This brief report from New Scientist magazine describes an unexplained phenomenon where the Mars Opportunity rover appears to be regularly cleaned of dust from its solar panels during the Martian night. This cleaning has significantly boosted its performance, allowing it to operate at near maximum power output.

Scientists Fear Alien Attack on Earth

This news item reports on scientists' concerns about the potential for Earth to be contaminated by deadly diseases from Mars. Space probes exploring Mars may carry microorganisms that could pose a risk to life on Earth, for which there are no known cures. Experts, including Jeffrey Kargel of the US Geological Survey, emphasize the need for planetary biological protection measures before sample returns or human missions to Mars.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the exploration of the nature of 'alien abduction' experiences, specifically challenging the psychological explanation of psychosis. The author, Brian P James, uses his personal experiences and his mother's case to argue for the reality of these phenomena beyond psychological interpretation. The 'News in Brief' section touches upon themes of potential extraterrestrial life (Mars) and the risks associated with space exploration, including the possibility of alien contamination. The editorial stance, as indicated by the disclaimer, is that the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor or SIGAP.