Project Red Book vol 3 no 7

Magazine Overview

This issue of YUFOS magazine, titled 'Project Red Book' (Vol 3 #7, January 2000), is published by the Yorkshire UFO Society and features a cover price of £1:50. The cover prominently displays the title 'PROJECT RED BOOK' and a drawing of a flying saucer with a humorous quote: "As soon as this millennium thing is over, we can have our ship back!". The issue highlights an interview with Bill Chalker, an article on Sheffield Saucers, and a debate between Bruce Maccabee and sceptics.

Key Articles and Features

AN INTERVIEW WITH BILL CHALKER (PT1)

This extensive interview with Bill Chalker, Australia's premier ufologist, begins by exploring the history of UFO reports in Australia, dating back to documented accounts from the early colonial period. Chalker discusses a 1793 observation by Lt. Col. Collins and a 1902 phenomenon witnessed at the Adelaide observatory. The interview highlights the 1909 'airship' wave that swept Australia and New Zealand, noting its similarities to modern UFO waves. Chalker also recounts the 1927 Fernvale events, which he investigated, and discusses the parallels between these experiences and modern UFO contactee and abduction lore, as well as shamanic traditions. He emphasizes the need for caution when interpreting these accounts and suggests that literal extraterrestrial explanations may be premature.

A CENTURY OF SHEFFIELD SAUCERS (Pt6) The '80s

Dr. Dave Clarke continues his study of Sheffield UFOs, focusing on events from the 1980s.

PROSAIC EXPLANATIONS - THE FAILURE OF UFO SCEPTICISM (PT1)

Bruce Maccabee challenges the arguments of 'Pelicanists' (sceptics) regarding UFO phenomena.

FROM AROUND THE WORLD...AND BEYOND!!!

This section provides brief updates on various topics including Area 51, Chinese Bigfoot, and Animal Mutilations.

The Tully Saucer 'Nest' of 1966

The magazine details the famous Tully 'Saucer Nest' case from 1966, describing it as a classic UFO physical trace case. George Pedley, the witness, reported seeing a large, grey, saucer-shaped object rise from a lagoon, leaving a circular cleared area in the swamp grass. The article clarifies misconceptions surrounding the event, refuting claims that it was a hoax or simply a wind vortex effect. It notes that the 'nest' activity recurred in the Tully area over several years, with some instances involving mysterious missing film footage.

The Boianai Visitations of 1959

Reverend Father Gill discusses the 1959 Boianai 'Visitations' case, which he considers strong evidence for an aerial anomaly and 'animate beings'. He recounts his interviews with Dr. Hynek and expresses his view that skeptical explanations, such as misidentifications or mirages, are unsatisfactory. The article defends the integrity of the witnesses and the reality of the affair.

UFOs and Aboriginal Mythology

The magazine explores the connections between UFO phenomena and Aboriginal legends. It highlights the 'Wandjina' as 'sky-beings' and discusses how aboriginal shamanic initiation experiences, involving 'celestial ascents' and 'ritual death and resurrection', share striking parallels with modern UFO abduction narratives. The article suggests that these experiences might be interpreted as 'cosmic shamans' or related to subtle forces affecting humans, rather than solely extraterrestrial encounters.

Other Content

Other articles include an editorial thanking contributors and members, and a brief mention of the 'Modern Era' of UFO reports starting with Kenneth Arnold.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores historical UFO cases, with a particular focus on Australian and New Zealand sightings. There is a strong emphasis on presenting evidence and challenging skeptical explanations. The editorial stance appears to be open to the reality of UFO phenomena, while also encouraging critical analysis and considering alternative interpretations, such as the connection to ancient myths and psychological factors. The magazine also highlights the importance of community and contributions from its members.

This issue of YUFOS magazine, dated January 2000, features a lengthy review by Andy Roberts of Tony Dodd's book "Alien Investigator: The Case Files of Britains leading UFO Investigator." The review is highly critical of Dodd's claims and evidence, questioning the veracity of his numerous UFO sightings and photographs.

Review of "Alien Investigator" by Tony Dodd

The reviewer, Andy Roberts, begins by recalling his early encounters with Tony Dodd in the 1980s through YUFOS and their magazine QUEST. Roberts notes Dodd's background as a police officer, which lent him credibility as a witness, and his claims of having seen and photographed over 200 UFOs. However, Roberts highlights a "contradictory nature" in Dodd's claims, particularly concerning photographic evidence versus his eyewitness accounts.

The review focuses heavily on the controversial Cracoe Fell photographic case from March 1981, where two police officers reportedly saw a dazzling object. Roberts points out that this case is omitted from Dodd's book, despite its significance. He suggests the object was likely a rock reflection, a prosaic explanation that Dodd reportedly ignored, even after Roberts reproduced a similar phenomenon on film in 1986.

Roberts recounts a visit to Dodd's home in Threshfield, where he and others discussed earthlights research with Dodd. Despite having previously critiqued Dodd's work, they were received hospitably.

The review criticizes Dodd's subsequent stories, published in QUEST and later in UFO Magazine (which evolved from YUFOS), as becoming increasingly "weirder." Roberts expresses concern over Dodd's involvement in the Jason Andrews abduction case, deeming it an abusive amplification of a child's trauma for profit.

Roberts states that Dodd's book represents the "paranoid, American influenced end of the UFO spectrum in these isles" and recommends it for understanding the direction of UK ufology. The introduction is described as a "killer," detailing a dramatic account of an informant being chased while trying to deliver a video allegedly showing aliens on warships and in underground bases.

The reviewer dismisses much of the book's content as "old tosh," including Dodd's early life and his nocturnal missions. Roberts questions the reliability of police officers as witnesses, suggesting they are as prone to misperception as anyone else. He points out that Dodd himself has been proven wrong, citing the Cracoe Fell case again.

Roberts scrutinizes Dodd's claims regarding animal mutilations, suggesting that natural causes or human actions are more likely explanations than alien involvement. He finds the photographs of mutilated animals and humans disturbing and questions the ethics of publishing such images without family consent.

The review also critiques Dodd's linking of human deaths to UFOs, often relying on obscure cases and anonymous sources. Specific cases like Zygmunt Adamski's death (linked to UFOs due to a shared name with George Adamski) and the Thomas Mantell case are mentioned, with Dodd's interpretations being dismissed as speculative.

Roberts is particularly critical of Dodd's account of the Berwyn Mountains UFO Crash, stating that Dodd is "plain old fashioned wrong about everything but the date." He refutes specific details about the nurse's involvement and observations, suggesting Dodd has altered the narrative.

Roberts concludes that while Dodd has presented many stories, he has revealed little of substance, leaving readers no closer to understanding the phenomena. He likens Dodd to Donald Keyhoe, a popularizer of cover-up theories, and suggests Dodd lives within a belief system that embraces such ideas.

EDITOR'S NOTE

The editor invites readers who disagree with Andy Roberts' review to submit their responses, promising a lively debate.

Ufology. It's good, innit?

A brief, lighthearted comment on the state of ufology.

PROSAIC EXPLANATIONS: THE FAILURE OF UFO SKEPTICISM by Bruce Maccabee

This article by Bruce Maccabee challenges the skeptical viewpoint, particularly that of Philip J. Klass, who claims that nearly all UFO sightings have prosaic explanations (misidentifications, delusions, or hoaxes).

Maccabee argues that while Klass has offered explanations for many sightings, his analysis actually demonstrates that some cases remain unexplainable. He critiques Klass's methodology, suggesting that Klass's proposed explanations are sometimes wrong or unconvincing. Maccabee uses the case of police officer Val Johnson of Warren, Minnesota, as an example. Johnson reported his police car being attacked by a bright light, causing damage. While Klass suggested it was a hoax, Maccabee points out that the police department did not accuse Johnson, and Klass himself offered two alternatives: a malicious UFO attack or a hoax, implying no other prosaic explanation existed.

Maccabee contends that Klass's claim of providing "prosaic" explanations is technically correct but misleading, as it implies these are the actual explanations, which is not always the case. He suggests that Klass's work, by failing to provide convincing prosaic explanations for some cases, actually supports the existence of "True UFOs" (TRUFOS).

The Case of the Damaged Police Car

This section details the Val Johnson incident, describing the damage to his police car (broken headlight, cracked windshield, dented hood, bent antennas) and Johnson's account of being attacked by a bright light. It notes that studies found no evidence Johnson damaged his own car and that his friends described him as not being unusually interested in UFOs.

UFO In The Snake River Canyon

This section discusses the case of A. C. Urie and his sons, who reported seeing a "flying disc" in the Snake River Canyon in 1947. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, initially a skeptic, offered an explanation of an "atmospheric eddy." Maccabee critiques this explanation, arguing that an eddy could not bend light in the way described or create the observed phenomena, calling it a "failed prosaic explanation."

A CENTURY OF SHEFFIELD SAUCERS Part 6 - The 80s by Dr. David Clarke

Dr. David Clarke recounts his early experiences as a UFO investigator in the 1980s, starting with a case involving William Clark-Graham in Ranmoor, Sheffield. The family reported seeing a mysterious moving light that they were convinced was not an aircraft. Clarke's initial investigation involved checking with the local astronomy society and meteorological office, suggesting possibilities like satellites or balloons.

Clarke notes that this case was typical of "bread and butter" sightings and marked the beginning of a significant UFO flap in Sheffield and South Yorkshire in the winter of 1987-88. He reflects on how the subject became inundated with claims of alien autopsies, abductions, and interbreeding, disseminated via the internet. Clarke emphasizes the importance of understanding human perception and deception through witness interviews.

He mentions that over 90% of "Lights in the Sky" reports can be accounted for by mundane explanations, such as bright stars, meteors, or satellites. Clarke recounts a case involving two night nurses in Doncaster who reported seeing a "dome-shaped" flying saucer with portholes, which he concluded was a misidentification of the moon due to its prolonged visibility and apparent features.

Clarke also discusses a case involving a courting couple in Stannington who claimed to be chased by a dome-shaped object with a humanoid figure. He notes that such cases, with parallels to psychic experiences, led him to believe there was more to the mystery of flying saucers than simple alien visitation.

The article also touches upon a "missing time" story from Swinton, near Rotherham, involving an object described as bus-sized with green lights. Another case involves Jean Ford, who reported seeing a "space machine" with pale figures in blue uniforms. Clarke notes that Jean Ford experienced other paranormal phenomena as well.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical stance towards sensational UFO claims, particularly those presented by Tony Dodd, emphasizing the need for rigorous investigation and prosaic explanations. There is a clear skepticism towards unsubstantiated accounts and a preference for evidence-based analysis. The review of Dodd's book highlights the author's concern about the direction of ufology, moving towards paranoia and unsubstantiated theories. The article by Bruce Maccabee, while challenging skepticism, still focuses on the need for credible explanations, even if they are not always prosaic. The recurring theme is the careful examination of UFO reports, distinguishing between genuine mysteries and misidentifications, hoaxes, or exaggerated claims. The magazine appears to champion a more grounded, investigative approach to ufology, contrasting with what it perceives as more speculative or sensationalist trends.

This issue of YUFOS magazine, dated January 2000 (Volume 3, Issue 7), compiles reports on UFOs, conspiracies, paranormal, and fortean events from around the world, compiled by Dave Baker. The magazine's cover headline is 'FROM AROUND THE WORLD... AND BEYOND!!'.

Test Site Gains Contaminated Land

This article reports on a story from the Las Vegas Review Journal stating that Area 51 is being relinquished by the Department of Energy. According to an Energy Department statement, the Nevada Test Site has expanded by nearly 200 square miles due to surface contamination from a 1968 nuclear test and a new law signed by President Clinton. This law aims to correct land use and jurisdiction misalignments. Consequently, the Air Force will take control of the DOE's rectangle around Groom Lake, an area previously under a secret agreement. This location, known as Area 51, was a 38,400-acre rectangle primarily in Lincoln County, belonging to the Department of Energy but controlled by the Air Force and not officially shown as part of the Nevada Test Site. The "misalignments" were deemed outdated and inefficient due to evolving mission needs of the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense.

Chinese Bigfoot Tracked at Nature Preserve

On December 5, 1999, the China Daily reported that a scientific team in the Shennongjia mountains of Hubeir Province, China, found physical evidence of a large hairy hominid, dubbed "a wild man." The creature is described as standing eight feet tall with long red hair. Chinese scientists are investigating after a hunter reported seeing such a creature in the Shenongjia Nature Reserve. The scientists discovered 16-inch footprints, brown hair, and chewed corncobs, concluding they were not left by a bear.

Mutilations Match Those Elsewhere, Investigators Discover

This report from the Amarillo Daily News details how law-enforcement officers in Hereford, USA, found a connection with officers in Taos, New Mexico. On December 9, 1978, Hereford officers discovered that a metallic material on the hides of mutilated cows was nearly identical to material found on mutilated cows in New Mexico. According to Globe-News files, these unexplained mutilations occurred during the previous summer, with 15 to 20 cases near Hereford and another 12 cattle killed inexplicably in northern New Mexico. In both locations, the mutilations were discovered after local people reported seeing UFOs. The animals had their udders, rectums, tongues, ears, testicles, and sometimes tails cut off with sharp instruments, with entire reproductive tracts missing from some. The substance found at both sites resembled slivers of gray paint containing high amounts of potassium and magnesium, believed to be some type of Teflon, though not fully identified at the time. No tracks or traces of human activity were found near the dead cattle.

UFO Laser Blinds Motorist Near Guyra

On December 6, 1999, at 2:30 a.m., Brian Renwith was driving his Subaru station wagon on the New England Highway in northern New South Wales, Australia, when he encountered a peculiar array of lights on the roadway. Renwith, traveling between Armidale and Glen Innes, saw what he described as an "island in the middle of the road," a "maze of reflectors" on both sides and down the middle of both lanes, spaced about ten feet apart. He was struck by a red light that illuminated everything. As he approached, the object seemed to rise and move behind him, described as a "laser-type beam the thickness of a broom handle" that hit his side mirror and flashed back, causing him to feel heat. Renwith was instantly blinded, pulled over, and sat for over an hour with streaming tears. His vision eventually cleared enough to drive away. After hearing about the Guyra UFO crash on TV, he contacted the Australian UFO Research Network and was interviewed by ufologist Diane Harrison. Renwith still suffers from severe eye irritation.

Guyra UFO Mystery Solved

This article from AAP reports that the mystery of an unidentified flying object that crashed into a northern New South Wales dam has been solved. Police divers recovered sediment and fragments from the Guyra dam, which geologists identified as coming from a small meteorite the size of a golf ball. The meteorite penetrated the mud and embedded about four meters into soft granite, making removal impossible. The incident began when a council worker discovered a 15m area of flattened reeds in the Guyra Reservoir. Locals had reported seeing an object falling from the sky between Monday and Wednesday morning. Emergency services initially cut off the town's water supply due to contamination concerns, but experts later confirmed the water was safe and reinstated the supply.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on unexplained phenomena, including government secrecy surrounding military sites like Area 51, cryptid sightings such as Bigfoot, and mysterious events like cattle mutilations and UFO encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these events with a degree of seriousness, often citing local news sources and UFO research networks, while also acknowledging official explanations when available, as in the Guyra meteorite case. The inclusion of personal accounts, like Brian Renwith's, highlights the subjective and sometimes frightening nature of these experiences.