Project Red Book vol 6 no 12

Magazine Overview

Title: PROJECT RED BOOK
Issue: Vol 6, # 12
Publisher: YUFOS Yorkshire UFO Society
Date: 2003

This issue of Project Red Book, published by the Yorkshire UFO Society (YUFOS), delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena, UFO sightings, and paranormal investigations across the UK.

Contents Overview

The magazine features a diverse range of articles, including:

• The View from Britain: The Jenny Randles Column: A critical look at the Pennine "UFO hotspot" of Bonsall by renowned UFO author Jenny Randles.
• UFO Over Burnley: A report on a mysterious flying object witnessed by a local cabbie and his passenger.
• Clapham Wood Investigation (Part 2): Gary Crompton of YUFOS/COTC details further investigations into the ominous Clapham Wood, uncovering more strange anomalies.
• A Return to Crocodile Lake: An expedition by YUFOS's Mark Martin and the CFZ to search for a crocodilian cryptid.
• Psychologist Bids to Create Scientific 'Haunted House': Dr. Richard Wiseman's plans for scientific study of haunted phenomena.
• Strange Sounds at Burbage: An account of unsettling sounds experienced by rambler Tim Cooper.
• The Cusworth Cat: A hunt for an 'Alien Big Cat' in Doncaster.
• Mystery After UFO Sighting Baffles Experts: A report on an unexplained UFO sighting.

Detailed Article Summaries

The View from Britain: The Jenny Randles Column

Jenny Randles discusses the "Pennine Window," a region in the southern Pennines around Matlock, Derbyshire, which has generated significant UFO attention. She notes that while public interest in UFOs has waned, this area remains active. The region is characterized by undulating hills and gorges, historically separating Yorkshire and Lancashire. Statistics suggest a significantly higher likelihood of UFO encounters in this sparsely populated moorland. Randles mentions phenomena such as "time slip replays" of World War Two events and sightings of pterosaurs. She also highlights the "Humming Hills," where rocks emit a strange, high-pitched noise, and reports of people receiving mild electric shocks from standing stones, as well as "reverse lightning" phenomena. The article touches upon the "big one" case near Bonsall, involving a video of a large, circular object. However, Randles expresses skepticism, suggesting the object's appearance might be an artifact of the camcorder's focus limitations, possibly distorting a smaller light source like a star or planet. She emphasizes that while she doesn't dismiss all local sightings, many are likely misperceptions or explainable phenomena (IFOs).

UFO Over Burnley

This article recounts a sighting by Burnley cabbie Steve Haworth and a passenger on a clear Saturday morning. They observed a silver, cigar-shaped object with a pulsating light that hovered, changed shape, and moved erratically before vanishing. The object made no noise and left no vapour trail. Haworth, after dismissing conventional explanations like aircraft, concluded it was a UFO. The article notes that Burnley has a history of UFO sightings dating back to 1869, with descriptions varying from discs to lines of lights and cigar-shaped objects.

Clapham Wood Investigation (Part 2)

Gary Crompton details a second investigation of Clapham Wood with Charles Walker and others. Despite initial setbacks due to team members falling ill, they proceeded. The investigation focused on the "worship" tree and the "Chestnuts" area. They observed evidence of tree hexing and discovered a circle of burnt matter, approximately one meter in diameter, with a smaller burnt circle inside. This was linked to "Friends of Hecate" rituals. Later, they found a dismantled "hide" structure and a strange tree formation that appeared to be levitating, possibly serving as a signpost for other group members. The team also encountered a second, partly constructed hide. The article notes the difficulty in explaining these phenomena, with theories ranging from occult practices to unknown natural occurrences. A third investigation on April 26th, 2003, involved meeting with Charles Walker and C.O.T.C. again. They discovered more evidence of "hides" and discussed the possibility of local involvement or knowledge of these activities.

A Return to Crocodile Lake

Mark P. Martin reports on a CFZ expedition to a lake in Hendnesford to investigate mystery crocodilian sightings. The team included veteran UFO researcher Nigel Wright and members from "Beastwatch." Richard Freeman, an expert in large crocodiles, provided advice on handling potential encounters, emphasizing the powerful bite of crocodiles and the technique of lassoing them. The team launched an inflatable boat, "Water Horse," equipped with a fish finder and sonar device, to map the lake's bottom and search for the creature.

Other Articles

• Psychologist Bids to Create Scientific 'Haunted House': Dr. Richard Wiseman's project to build controlled environments for studying paranormal phenomena.
• Strange Sounds at Burbage: Tim Cooper's account of unnerving sounds heard during a walk on Burbage.
• Mystery After UFO Sighting Baffles Experts: A brief mention of an unexplained UFO sighting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of UFOlogy, paranormal phenomena, and potential occult activities. There is a clear emphasis on investigative journalism, with contributors actively visiting locations and gathering evidence. The editorial stance, as indicated by Dave Baker, is open to possibilities but also encourages critical analysis, as seen in Jenny Randles's skeptical approach to the Bonsall video. The magazine acknowledges that many UFO sightings may have conventional explanations but maintains an interest in the genuinely unexplained. The "Friends of Hecate" and their alleged involvement in occult practices at Clapham Wood is a recurring theme, suggesting a possible link between UFO phenomena and ritualistic activities. The publication also highlights the importance of eyewitness testimony and the challenges of interpreting photographic and video evidence.

PRB, Volume 6, Issue 12, is a magazine focused on paranormal investigations, UFOs, and cryptid sightings. This issue, dated around 2003, features articles on a strange sound incident at Burbage, an investigation into a potential 'crocodile' sighting that turned into a UFO encounter, and an in-depth report on a reported jaguar sighting in Doncaster.

Strange Sounds at Burbage

This article by Dave Baker details an unusual experience reported by Tim Cooper during a moonlit walk at Burbage. Cooper heard a strange, repeating, electronic-sounding 'whizzing' noise that moved rapidly and erratically, sometimes seeming to be directly ahead, then to the side, or above him. He described it as having a 'stereo image' and a 'buzzing' quality, unlike any natural sound he knew. Cooper, a self-proclaimed sceptic, struggled to explain the phenomenon, considering possibilities like a remote-controlled aircraft, an electronic pulse, or an unusual bird or insect, but found none entirely satisfactory due to the sound's behaviour and perceived targeting. The article notes that a subsequent YUFOS skywatch in the same area yielded no unusual findings.

The Staffordshire Encounter: Crocodile or UFO?

This piece recounts an expedition by the Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) to investigate a reported disturbance in a pool in Staffordshire, initially thought to be a large reptile, possibly a crocodile. The team, including Peter Channon, Neil Goodwin, and Wilf Wharton, used boats and spotlights to search the area. While searching, the author and Graham had a brief sighting of a dark, flat head, about nine inches long, which could have been a large pike or a crocodile. Later that night, while searching with spotlights, the team, including Chris Mullins and Nigel, witnessed an extremely bright white circular light moving at high altitude. This object was silent, moved faster than an aircraft, and its trajectory changed. The sighting was filmed on two video cameras. The author draws a parallel between this UFO sighting and cases chronicled by John A. Keel, noting that 'these things happen when you are Monster Hunting.'

The Cusworth Cat: A Jaguar Sighting in Doncaster

Dave Baker investigates a report of an out-of-place jaguar sighting by 9-year-old Charlotte Clarke near Cusworth Hall in Doncaster. Charlotte described a sandy-coloured animal with black spots, approximately waist-high, crouching in a field. Her mother, Diane, who had previously seen a 'black panther,' believed her daughter and identified the animal as a jaguar from a mammal book. The investigation involved speaking with local police, who confirmed previous big cat reports in the area, and visiting the sighting location. The article explores several theories for the presence of large cats in the wild, including escaped exotic pets from private owners or circuses, and illegal imports for hunting. It mentions a local exotic pet dealer who went out of business and a legend of a 'Barnburgh Cat' from 1455. The investigation also touches upon rumours of a search and rescue dog team training to track big cats and a worker at Cusworth Hall who mentioned a neighbour keeping big cats. The author notes the difficulty in confirming the sighting due to the passage of time and the field being recently ploughed, but finds Charlotte's testimony compelling.

Psychologist's Bids to Create Scientific Haunted House

This section reports on Dr. Richard Wiseman, a psychologist from the University of Hertfordshire, who plans to create a 'haunted house' to study paranormal phenomena. Wiseman believes that experiences attributed to ghosts can be explained by psychological factors like fear, combined with environmental effects such as infrasound, electromagnetic fields, temperature changes, and lighting. His goal is to control these variables to produce scientific results and publicity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, with a focus on eyewitness accounts and investigative efforts by organizations like the CFZ and YUFOS. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting various theories and evidence without necessarily endorsing any single explanation. The articles demonstrate a pattern of investigating specific cases, interviewing witnesses, and attempting to corroborate or debunk the claims through research and fieldwork. There is a clear interest in cryptids (like the 'Cannock Crocodile' and 'Cusworth Cat'), UFOs, and other anomalous events, often linking them to broader patterns of unexplained occurrences.

Title: PRB
Issue: Vol. 6, # 12
Date: September 3, 2003
Publisher: PRB
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of PRB magazine features a prominent article on baffling UFO sightings near Fyvie, Scotland, and also includes a follow-up on an investigation into potential Big Cat sightings in the UK.

Mystery After UFO Sightings Puzzle Experts

The lead article, sourced from the Aberdeen Evening Express on September 3, 2003, details a series of mysterious lights observed over Fyvie, Scotland, on consecutive nights. A local resident, Graham Lawther, who is also an Evening Express reporter, witnessed sixteen lights travelling rapidly across the clear, moonless night sky. These sightings occurred on Thursday evening, starting around 10:30 PM, and continued into Friday night and Saturday morning.

Lawther described seeing a small white light appear in the southern sky and move extremely fast to the north, crossing the entire sky in under 10 seconds, which he deemed too rapid for an aircraft. He observed seven such lights between 10:35 PM and 11:20 PM on Thursday, and six more between 12:15 AM and 12:45 AM. On Friday night, three more lights were witnessed, with one heading south and two heading north.

These lights, described as having a white glow and appearing at the altitude of a high-flying aircraft, have baffled experts. Air traffic control and aviation experts have ruled out aircraft and satellites due to their speed. Astronomy experts have also dismissed them as 'shooting stars' because they were travelling too slowly and from different directions.

One North-east UFO expert, when interviewed, was unable to offer a straightforward explanation and suggested the sightings should be logged as genuine close encounters with unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Further investigations by National Air Traffic Services in Aberdeen and Prestwick revealed no reports of activity on those nights. The Royal Observatory in Edinburgh suggested the lights could potentially be satellites in high orbit, though they noted that such large satellites are rarely seen with the naked eye, and never in such numbers within a short period. They are also typically observed shortly before dawn or after dusk.

Ian Taylor, an Aberdonian who has been studying UFOs for over 50 years, stated that the North-east of Scotland is a global hotspot for UFO sightings. He believes the sheer number of phenomena observed above Fyvie makes it difficult to explain them away as conventional aircraft, satellites, or shooting stars. Taylor asserted that these were aerial objects, either self-luminous or reflecting light, and described the activity as "straightforward UFO activity." However, he cautioned against jumping to conclusions about extraterrestrial craft, stating they were "certainly unexplained observations of unidentified objects."

Taylor highlighted the immense frequency of sightings in the region, encouraging people to look up in the evening, especially in winter, to witness unbelievable things.

• Recent North-east sightings mentioned include:
• A hovering ball of light seen from Kincorth for two hours in January.
• A silent red light following a car on the A90 south of Aberdeen in December 2002, which shot off vertically.
• Two "bright globes" spinning above Cruden Bay in October 2001, which faded after 10 minutes.
• A black wing-like object that glowed and buzzed a home in Aboyne, also seen by a driver between Daviot and Oldmeldrum.

Big Cat Investigation Follow-up

The magazine also includes a section titled "AFTERWARDS," detailing the conclusion of an investigation into potential Big Cat and wolf-hybrid sightings. The author and a companion explored the area near the Clarke's home and Potterick Carr Nature Reserve, which is known for alleged wolf-hybrid sightings and the "Beast of Bessacar" sighting in 1999.

Despite the expansive nature of the area, they found no physical evidence, such as tracks, due to dry weather conditions. They noted that large cats typically cover their droppings. While they could easily imagine an animal like a large cat existing in the area, they found no concrete proof.

They also visited the field where Charlotte had previously seen a jaguar but found no signs of the animal, as the tall grass had been cut and the field ploughed.

The author mentioned that the case continues and that he has been working to establish ties with the South Yorkshire Police, being added to their database. He has been assured that he will be informed of any further Big Cat sightings reported.

After the investigation, they picked up Tom Bolloxinski and stopped at a local hostelry for drinks.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of PRB magazine focuses on unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings, highlighting a cluster of mysterious lights in Scotland that defied conventional explanations. The magazine also demonstrates an interest in cryptozoology, with a follow-up on a Big Cat investigation, suggesting a broad scope within the paranormal and unexplained. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting expert opinions and witness accounts while encouraging further investigation and cautioning against premature conclusions. The emphasis on detailed reporting and expert consultation suggests a commitment to exploring these phenomena seriously.