Project Red Book vol 5 no 3

Magazine Overview

Title: PROJECT RED BOOK
Issue: Vol 5, # 3
Date: September 2001
Publisher: YUFOS YORKSHIRE UFO SOCIETY

This issue of PROJECT RED BOOK, published by the Yorkshire UFO Society (YUFOS), delves into a variety of paranormal and UFO-related topics, with a strong focus on the mysterious 'Owlman' of Cornwall. The magazine features an extensive interview with Jon Downes, founder of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, alongside investigations into a purported UFO crash in the Berwyn Mountains, the Apollo Moon landing conspiracy, and recent developments in cold fusion research.

An Interview with Jon Downes (Part Two)

The interview with Jon Downes, conducted by Dave Baker, continues the discussion about the Mawnan Owlman, a creature first reported in Cornwall in April 1976. Downes recounts the initial sighting by the Melling sisters, who described a 'feathered bird-man' hovering over a church tower. He also details subsequent sightings by teenage girls Sally Chapman and Barbara Perry, who described a large, owl-like creature with pointed ears and glowing red eyes. Downes acknowledges the skepticism surrounding the case, particularly from investigators like Mark Chorvinksy, but emphasizes the corroborating evidence and the reticence of local people to speak to outsiders. He explores various theories for the Owlman's existence, including the possibility of it being a tulpa (a thought-form manifestation) or a manifestation linked to the psychical infrastructure of the area and the experiences of young women. The interview also touches upon Downes's broader work in Fortean Zoology, his search for cryptids like the Chupacabra, and his other interests.

The Berwyn Mountains UFO Crash - A British Roswell? (Part 2)

Andy Roberts concludes his investigation into the events of January 24th, 2001, in the Berwyn Mountains. While initial reports of lights and an explosion led many to believe a UFO had crashed, Roberts presents evidence that the event was a natural earthquake of magnitude 4-5 on the Richter scale. He debunks claims that Mrs. Pat Evans, a nurse who witnessed a large illuminated ball of light, was turned back by military or police, stating she saw no one. Roberts highlights that the British Geological Survey had investigators in the area, likely contributing to rumors of official involvement. He suggests that the conflation of the earthquake with UFO sightings has created the 'crash' narrative.

Apollo & Fox TV - The Deception of the Century

This section features Clas Svahn from UFO-Sweden discussing the conspiracy theories surrounding the Apollo Moon landings. The article suggests that the landings were faked, likely for political reasons.

From Around the World...

This segment provides brief reports on various paranormal and UFO-related events globally, including cattle mutilations in Montana, a report on the Loch Ness Monster ('Nessie dead?'), a 'Lioness' sighting by motorists, and Turkish pilots reporting UFOs.

Park Life!

This short piece mentions YUFOS's presence at the Sheffield Show, indicating their active engagement with the public.

Cold Fusion Experiment Produces Mysterious Results

Jeff Hecht reports on a cold fusion experiment in California that yielded 'tantalising results'. While critics remain skeptical, Brian Clarke of McMaster University discovered a significant amount of tritium in the electrodes used in the experiment. However, the amount of tritium is insufficient to explain the excess heat produced, leading some to suggest it's an electrochemical effect rather than nuclear fusion. Michael McKubre, who performed the original SRI experiments, believes it's a nuclear process but not necessarily fusion. Clarke also investigated similar experiments in Japan that claimed to detect excess helium, but found no such evidence.

Weird War Tales

Jon Downes discusses his collaboration with Nick Redfern on the 'Weird War Tales' book series, which explores wartime mysteries. The first two volumes cover UFOs during WWII and 'Missing in Action' mysteries, including the Philadelphia Experiment and secret Nazi bases.

Theory on Fortean Phenomena and Social Change

Downes expands on his ongoing research project linking fortean phenomena with human political and social change. He notes a correlation between events like chupacabra reports and civil unrest in Latin America, and is mapping other paranormal events against socio-cultural and political shifts.

Word Association Game

Downes participates in a word association game, offering his views on topics such as Hominids (Yeti, Bigfoot), 'Alien' sightings, Thunderbird sightings, and 'Living Dinosaurs'. He expresses skepticism about Bigfoot being primarily a hoax, confirms seeing 'Aliens' twice, and plans to investigate Thunderbird sightings in Texas.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, with a particular interest in cryptids (like the Owlman and big cats), UFO sightings, and historical mysteries. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded and investigative, presenting various theories and witness accounts while acknowledging skepticism and the need for further evidence. The YUFOS society actively engages with its members and the public, as evidenced by their presence at events and their publications.

PRB, Vol. 5, #3, September 2001, is a compilation of articles on UFOs, conspiracies, fortean, and paranormal events, compiled by Dave Baker. The issue features in-depth investigations into the Berwyn Mountain Incident, the Apollo Moon landing conspiracy, and reports on cattle mutilations, the Loch Ness Monster, and aerial phenomena.

The Berwyn Mountain Incident: A Re-evaluation

The lead article critically examines the 1974 Berwyn Mountain Incident, challenging the UFO crash narrative. The author, Clas Svahn, presents evidence suggesting that witness accounts, including those of Nurse Pat Evans and farmer's son Huw Thomas, were likely misinterpretations of an earth tremor that occurred at 8:38 pm. The British Geological Survey (BGS) field team's interviews are analyzed, revealing that Pat Evans likely saw the police search party, not an alien craft. The timing of her observation, post-9:30 pm, places her seeing the anomalous light after the police were already on the mountain. Huw Thomas's account of encountering poachers and police moving a car also places the search team on the lower slopes around 9:40 pm. The BGS map showing the locations of the nurse's sighting, the poachers, and the police search party all in the same small area supports this conclusion. The author posits that the 'anomalous light' Pat Evans saw was likely the poachers' powerful lamps, possibly enhanced by atmospheric conditions, and that the police and poachers either lied or did not find it noteworthy. The article also addresses claims of military activity, suggesting these were conflated with later incidents, such as RAF Harrier jet crashes in 1982 and 1972 on the same mountain. The author concludes that the notion of an alien spacecraft crashing in the Berwyn mountains is redundant without hard, consistent evidence, emphasizing the importance of returning to source documents and witnesses to avoid misinterpretations and the flaws of perception.

Apollo and Fox TV: The Deception of the Century

This article by Clas Svahn (UFO-Sweden) scrutinizes the conspiracy theory that the Apollo Moon landings were faked, as presented in a Fox TV program. The program, 'Conspiracy Theory: Did we land on the Moon?', featured American conspiracy maker Bill Kaysing and British photographer David Percy, who accused NASA of staging the landings in a Nevada desert studio. The article systematically debunks 16 common claims made by conspiracy theorists:

1. No stars in photos: The camera shutters were adjusted for the bright lunar surface and sunlight, making faint stars undetectable.
2. American flag moves: The flag's movement was due to astronauts touching it, not wind. Objects swing in a vacuum.
3. No crater from Lunar Module (LEM): The landing site was chosen for its firm ground with minimal dust to prevent sinking. The engine's thrust dispersed dust.
4. No engine noise: The engine was located in a different part of the LEM, and microphones were inside the astronauts' helmets, isolating them from external sounds.
5. Footprints visible despite starter motor: The minute dust disturbed by the motor would have been cast away, not settled near the footprints.
6. No dust on LEM feet: Dust fell quickly back to the ground before the LEM landed.
7. No visible flame from LEM exhaust: The fuel produces a transparent flame not visible to the naked eye.
8. Astronauts circled Earth, not Moon: This would have been detected by amateur radio operators and the Russians.
9. Shadows in different directions: This is natural due to terrain and the two-dimensional nature of photography; multiple lights would create multiple shadows, which are absent.
10. Details visible in shadow: Bright sunlight, Earthshine (Earth reflects light 68 times brighter than the Moon does on Earth), and Moon dust reflection provide illumination.
11. Details in shadow areas: Multiple light sources (Sun, Earth, Moon dust) and ground reflection illuminate shadowed areas.
12. Same background in photos: Slight horizontal dislocation in backgrounds of two Apollo 15 photos indicates they were taken about 20 meters apart, not in a studio.
13. Backgrounds in Apollo 16 clips: Labeling errors during editing made scenes appear to be taken on different days, but they were taken within minutes of each other.
14. Camera hair crosses disappear: These are concealed by overexposed objects or equipment, as explained by space expert James Oberg.
15. Astronauts move at Earth speed: The dust falling in a parallel track indicates a vacuum, not the opposite.
16. Van Allen belt danger: While prolonged exposure is dangerous, the astronauts passed through the belt in about an hour, receiving a harmless dose of 2 rem.

The article criticizes the Fox TV program for presenting a one-sided, deceitful narrative designed for disinformation, exploiting viewers' lack of specialized knowledge. It notes that the program misrepresented the percentage of Americans who believe the Moon landing was faked.

From Around the World...And Beyond!!!

This section compiles shorter reports on various paranormal and unexplained events:

• Cattle Mutilations: Investigators in north-central Montana are baffled by a series of cattle mutilations involving the removal of facial parts, eyeballs, and genitals. These killings are similar to unsolved cases from the 1970s. While some speculate alien involvement, a deputy believes humans are responsible. The National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) is assisting, having previously found a statistical link between UFO sightings and cattle mutilations in the area.

• 'Nessie' May Be Dead: Robert Rines, a Loch Ness Monster investigator, suggests that environmental changes and pollution in the loch may have killed the creature. Despite fewer sightings and increased pollution from a hydro-electric plant and forestry, Rines remains hopeful and is conducting a new expedition using advanced sonar.

• Motorists Spot 'Lioness': Motorists at a Somerset petrol station reported seeing a large 'big cat', described as a cream-coloured lioness with a long body and tail, crouching in a field. Witnesses believe it was a puma, possibly an offspring of big cats released illegally years ago. Police and the RSPCA are investigating.

• Eyes to the Skies - Aegean Airspace Challengers... From Outer Space?: Two Turkish trainee pilots encountered a bright object that approached their plane at high speed and gyrated around them for about half an hour. The object was described as having an unusual shape, like a cross between a cone and a disc. Turkish and Greek air forces are investigating, and Turkey plans to report the encounter to international bodies, including NASA.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFO phenomena and conspiracy theories. The magazine adopts a skeptical yet open-minded stance, prioritizing evidence-based analysis and source verification. The Berwyn Incident and Moon landing articles, in particular, emphasize debunking unsubstantiated claims by meticulously analyzing official records, witness testimonies, and photographic evidence. The compilation of shorter reports on cattle mutilations, cryptids, and aerial phenomena showcases the breadth of unexplained events investigated, while the critical approach suggests a preference for rational explanations over sensationalism. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging readers to critically assess information and to seek verifiable proof, as highlighted by the concluding remarks on the Moon landing hoax article and the emphasis on returning to source documents.

Title: Project Red Book
Issue: Vol. 5, #3
Date: September 2001
Author: Dave Baker

This issue of Project Red Book, authored by Dave Baker, details the experiences of the UFO group YUFOS at the 'Sheffield Show' and presents several witness accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena.

YUFOS at the Sheffield Show

The article begins with an account of YUFOS being invited to hold a display at the Sheffield Show, held in the Sheffield on Offer Marquee over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The group set up display boards with information about UFOs and local sightings, and ran a constant stream of UFO videos on twin portable TVs. The event took place in Graves Park, and the marquee hosted a variety of clubs and societies. The author humorously notes the eclectic mix, including a martial arts school and the Northern Hamster Society, and contrasts the public's interest in UFOs with their fascination for the hamsters.

Richard Moss, YUFOS's web-master, humorously remarked that if the show was representative of Sheffield, he was glad to live in Rotherham. The display was positioned between a martial arts school and the Northern Hamster Society, leading to a humorous observation about which group attracted more attention from female visitors. The author notes that while people showed initial interest in the YUFOS stand, many were easily distracted by the hamsters.

Despite the distractions, the YUFOS stand was busy, particularly on the Monday. Hundreds of people perused the stand, picked up leaflets, or used it as a stopping point. Many browsed, some were too shy to talk, while others read the displays or watched the 'SIGHTINGS' clips. Some people stopped to ask questions about crop circles, alien abductions, or reported their own UFO sightings, with some agreeing to fill in YUFOS report forms.

The author acknowledges that many of the reported cases have not been fully investigated, and presents them without comment, inviting readers to form their own judgments on their validity.

Witness Testimonies and Cases

North Sea Oil-Rig Workers

In the 1970s, a group of North Sea oil-rig workers witnessed dozens of balls of light passing overhead at a high altitude. While one worker stepped outside during a film break, he saw points of white light moving in the sky. He described it as being 'like watching a busy cross-roads at night' and watched through binoculars for a few seconds. Colleagues joined him, and after a couple of minutes, they returned to their movie. The witness never saw anything similar on subsequent nights.

Hemsworth, Sheffield Sighting

In early 1997, around 10:00 pm, a Ms. J was sitting in her living room when she noticed something alarming in the night sky. She described the 'UFO' as 'huge,' a dark, sharply defined, metallic object with numerous different coloured flashing lights around its rim. It was circular, with a dome on top, and made a sound 'like a helicopter'. It moved on a zig-zagging path, its speed changing from 'extremely fast' to hovering. At one point, it seemed low enough to touch the roof of the house. The witness watched the object with her daughter until it vanished from sight.

Other Reports

Other reports mentioned include: unidentified and untraceable aircraft, possibly American helicopters and aeroplanes, that were scaring a witness, with no nearby airports or RAF bases. A bizarre UFO witnessed years ago by two young boys was later identified by one witness as an AWAC. A member of a ham radio club reported a strange UFO on the Snake Pass with a central light and other bright lights that suddenly blared to life and revolved to shine down at the road. Intriguingly, another member of the club, who was a radar operator at Fylingdales, mentioned that around the same time as this UFO sighting, Fylingdales had been put on orange alert.

Camaraderie Between UFO and Astronomy Groups

The article highlights a positive interaction with the Sheffield Astronomical Society, whose members Baker had contacted previously for research. He found it a pleasure to meet them, and over the two days, the groups became 'good mates,' promising to liaise as often as possible. This is presented as a counterpoint to the idea that UFO groups and astronomy groups cannot coexist.

Future Articles

The author states that there were other cases, some of which will be reported on in the next issue of Project Red Book, promising a second part to their adventures.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation into UFO phenomena, presenting witness testimonies and group activities without overt skepticism but encouraging readers to draw their own conclusions. The tone is often light-hearted and humorous, particularly in the description of the Sheffield Show. There is an emphasis on the community aspect of UFO research groups like YUFOS and a desire to foster connections with other scientific organizations. The recurring themes include public engagement, the collection of anecdotal evidence, and the reporting of specific sighting details.

Humorous Closing Remarks

The issue concludes with a humorous, almost mock-horror-themed preview of what awaits readers in the 'Beer Tent of Doom,' the 'Porta-loos of Hell,' and the price of a can of coke, all presented with a sense of playful exaggeration.