PROJECT RED BOOK

Magazine Overview

This issue of Project Red Book, Volume 6, Number 5, published by YUFOS (Yorkshire UFO Society) in January 2002, presents a diverse range of articles on paranormal phenomena. The cover features a drawing of a spiral galaxy and highlights an interview with Bill Eyre, close encounters in the Peak District, and other features.

Contents

The magazine includes the following articles:

• 1) AN INTERVIEW WITH BILL EYRE: Dave Baker interviews Bill Eyre, Research Officer of the Chesterfield Psychic Studies Group, about his lifelong interest in psychic phenomena, his involvement with various research organizations, and his experiences investigating hauntings.
• 7) PUMA-LIKE ANIMAL KILLS FARM DOG: A brief report on sightings of large, 'cat-like' animals in Wales, including an incident where one attacked and killed a dog. It mentions a large-scale search operation in South East Wales and statistics from the British Big Cats Society.
• 8) LACK OF EVIDENCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTION TO THE ET HYPOTHESIS: An article by John Harney, reprinted from Magonia, critically examines the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) for UFO sightings. Harney argues that the lack of concrete evidence and the tendency to overlook mundane explanations are significant objections to the ETH.
• 11) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE PEAK DISTRICT KIND: Dr. David Clarke investigates the village of Bonsall in the Peak District, exploring claims that it is a UFO hotspot.
• 13 A VIEW FROM BRITAIN: THE JENNY RANDLES COLUMN: Jenny Randles reflects on the UFO phenomenon after 30 years of investigation.
• 17) UFOs - SUB ROSA (PART 2): Bill Chalker continues his review of the Australian Government and military's investigations into UFOs.

Interview with Bill Eyre

Bill Eyre discusses his journey into paranormal research, starting with an interest in hypnosis and dreams, leading to Spiritualism and involvement with the Chesterfield Psychic Study Group (CPSG) and ASSAP. He describes his experiences with physical mediumship, including ectoplasm and transfiguration, and his shift towards investigating spontaneous psychic phenomena like hauntings. Eyre believes that paranormal phenomena are real but emphasizes that each case must be considered on its own merits. He categorizes ghost sightings into several possibilities, including misperception, hallucination, and genuine spirit entities. Eyre notes that about 20% of hauntings he investigates have rational explanations. He also discusses his investigation of the 'Penbury School' case and the Lowes Cottage haunting, concluding that some activity at Lowes Cottage was paranormal. Eyre expresses skepticism about scientifically proving ghosts due to their subjective nature but notes potential correlations with electromagnetic fluctuations. He believes that serious scientists are reluctant to accept findings that challenge established thinking. Regarding hauntings, he states they can occur at any time, though overnight vigils are common for investigations. Eyre considers UFO photographs generally to be misidentifications or hoaxes, with few exceptions. He suggests using infra-red video cameras for ghost photography but notes that spontaneous photos are often the best. His typical investigation equipment includes EM sensing equipment, video cameras, audio recorders, and pen and paper. Eyre believes that some ghostly apparitions may be linked to stronger electromagnetic fields, while others might cause them. He suggests poltergeists can be either discarnate entities or subconscious psychokinesis. Eyre advises caution for those with existing mental health issues and stresses the importance of distinguishing fact from fantasy. He rejects some New Age phenomena like divination via rune stones or tarot cards as lacking substance, though acknowledges they might help some practitioners focus. He has witnessed many mediums, finding some mental mediums superb, while others are mediocre. He also describes witnessing physical mediumship, including what appeared to be ectoplasm. Eyre believes that most mediums today are not outright frauds. He mentions the 'Michael Bentine' trophy awarded by ASSAP for investigative reports. His interests extend to UFOs and cryptozoology, but his main focus is psychic phenomena, approached from a research and investigation angle. He sees potential links between different unexplained phenomena, such as sleep paralysis and alien abductions, and ET intervention in crop circles. His future research aims to understand the origin of communications from table tilting and Ouija boards.

Puma-Like Cat Kills Farm Dog

This section reports on sightings of large, unidentified 'cat-like' animals in Wales. Farmers are advised to be cautious, patrol in pairs, and carry torches. An incident is described where a farmer's dog was killed by such an animal. A large search operation involving helicopters and police marksmen was conducted in South East Wales following sightings. The British Big Cats Society has received over 800 reports of big cat sightings in the UK, with experts believing they are offspring of animals released in the 1970s.

Lack of Evidence is the Most Important Objection to the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis

John Harney presents a critical argument against the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) for UFO sightings. He contends that while most UFO reports can be explained, a small number remain unexplained. Harney argues that when seemingly impressive cases are investigated further, mundane explanations or inconsistencies often emerge. He cites the Trindade Island case as an example where witness agreement was lacking. Harney outlines objections to the ETH, including the failure of surveillance systems to detect UFOs, which he considers a sound objection, questioning why UFOs are not tracked by satellites and why they don't appear on satellite pictures, despite claims of secret tracking.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores paranormal phenomena, with a strong emphasis on investigation and critical analysis, particularly evident in the interview with Bill Eyre and John Harney's article. The editorial stance appears to favor empirical investigation and a cautious approach to extraordinary claims, while remaining open to the possibility of genuine unexplained phenomena. The inclusion of columns by Jenny Randles and ongoing reviews of UFO investigations suggest a continued focus on these topics within the UFO community.

This issue of PRB, identified as Vol. 5, #6, published in January 2003, features a cover story titled "CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE PEAK DISTRICT KIND" by David Clarke. The magazine appears to be a publication focused on UFOs and related phenomena, with a particular emphasis on investigative journalism and analysis.

Analysis of UFO Objections and the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH)

The issue begins with an analysis of common objections to the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH). The author systematically addresses and often refutes several points:

1. Gravitational and Atmospheric Considerations: The argument that extraterrestrials couldn't function on Earth due to atmospheric or gravitational differences is dismissed as speculative, as we lack information about alien physiology. The author emphasizes the need for verified facts before theorizing.
2. Statistical Considerations: The objection that distant worlds couldn't dispatch enough spacecraft is countered by the theoretical possibility of self-reproducing 'von Neumann machines' that could build an unlimited number of spacecraft at no extra cost.
3. Elusive, Evasive and Absurd Behaviour: The author suggests that expecting ETs to behave as humans would is unreasonable and that observations should not be taken too literally.
4. Isolation of the UFO Phenomenon (Cheshire Cat Effect): This refers to UFOs appearing and disappearing, often seen by only a few witnesses. The author notes that this can suggest psychological explanations, as per Jenny Randles' 'Oz Factor'.
5. Space 'Unworthiness' of the UFO: The idea that UFOs are too small to sustain a crew over vast distances is dismissed, positing that larger craft would orbit while smaller ones enter atmospheres.
6. The Problem of Astronomical Distances: While acknowledging the vast distances, the author notes that generation starships and suspended animation are theoretical possibilities that make interstellar travel not impossible.

The author concludes that most objections to the ETH lack validity, with the primary valid objection being the lack of detected UFOs entering or leaving Earth's atmosphere and the absence of undisputed physical evidence.

Close Encounters of the Peak District Kind

This section, by David Clarke, focuses on the village of Bonsall in the Peak District, UK, which gained notoriety as a 'UFO capital'. The article details how the Barley Mow pub, run by landlord Alan Webster, became a hub for UFO enthusiasts. Webster actively encourages reporting of sightings and organizes 'UFO walks'. The article recounts the history of sightings in the area, including 'spooky' visions of fog, cloud columns, and coloured lights, and mentions a significant event in April 2001 when UFO walks were featured on BBC's Country File. The article highlights a specific sighting in October 2001 by Sharon and Hayden Rowlands, who captured six and a half minutes of camcorder footage of a disc-shaped object. This footage, described as a 'flying saucer' with yellow, orange, and blue lights, gained national attention and was reportedly sought by Hollywood studios. However, the article notes that despite initial excitement, no documentary has appeared, and the footage remains elusive.

The article also touches upon alternative explanations for sightings, such as aircraft, blimps, and meteors, citing UFO researcher Jenny Randles' skepticism. It humorously suggests Mick Pope's explanation that UFOs might have trouble with their windscreen wipers due to the high altitude.

A View from Britain: The Jenny Randles Column

In her column, Jenny Randles reflects on her 30 years of involvement in UFO research. She notes a shift from simplistic questions about alien origins to a more complex understanding. Randles emphasizes realism, stating that if answers were simple, proof would have emerged by now. She advocates for a 'middle road' approach, recognizing UFOs as genuine scientific anomalies without necessarily assuming they are extraterrestrial craft. Randles highlights the broadening scope of UFO research, incorporating topics like near-death experiences, precognition, and spontaneous human combustion, suggesting a connection to the UFO mystery. She also points to the apparent psychic abilities of close encounter witnesses and the significance of out-of-body experiences and energies involved in some encounters.

Randles critiques the concept of a singular 'UFO phenomenon', comparing it to 'weather' – a term that conveniently describes diverse phenomena requiring separate explanations. She argues that UFOlogists often seek a unifying 'glue' that may not exist, hindering progress. She suggests that climatology, which studies the interaction of weather phenomena, could be a model for 'socio-ufology', studying the social and psychological forces behind UFO reports and beliefs.

Other Lessons Learnt

This section offers further reflections on UFOlogy. The author stresses the importance of 'solved cases' (IFOs) over unsolved ones, arguing that IFOs provide concrete data about perception and reporting, which is essential for understanding the phenomenon. The author criticizes the current state of UFOlogy, describing it as lazy and overly focused on theoretical arguments and conspiracy theories, such as demanding government disclosure. Instead, the author advocates for a return to basics, utilizing improved technology, similar to how ghost hunters have advanced their methods. The piece calls for a re-evaluation of objectives and an admission that current methods are not working, suggesting that a focus on 'smoking UFOs' rather than 'smoking guns' (conspiracies) would be more productive.

UFOs: Sub Rosa Down Under - The Australian Military & Government Role in the UFO Controversy (part 2)

This article by Bill Chalker delves into the history of Australian military and government involvement in UFO investigations. It begins by referencing the term 'Sub Rosa', meaning 'in secret'. The article details early reports from 1920 involving mystery lights and the disappearance of two aircraft in Bass Strait. It then covers the first official RAAF UFO investigation in 1930 concerning mystery aircraft near Warrnambool. The piece mentions further 'mystery aircraft' reports in the Pacific and Papua New Guinea in 1930 and RAAF denials in 1931. It highlights the 1935 photograph taken at Nobby's Head, described as a 'definite circular object'. The article also recounts a 1944 incident involving a Beaufort bomber and a 'dark shadow' object over Bass Strait, during which instruments failed. Moving to the 1950s, it discusses a 1950 nocturnal light sighting at Bass Point and a significant 1952 encounter by a Government Aircraft Factories test pilot flying a Vampire aircraft near Rockhampton, who observed a large circular light with smaller lights emerging from it. This report remained classified. The article also details the 'Drury Affair' concerning a daylight film of an unidentified 'missile' over Port Moresby, taken by Tom Drury, which became a controversial piece of evidence in the Australian UFO 'cover-up' argument.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the critical examination of UFO evidence and hypotheses, the historical investigation of UFO sightings particularly in the UK and Australia, and a call for more rigorous and technologically advanced research methodologies. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories, advocating for a scientific and evidence-based approach to understanding the UFO phenomenon. There is a strong emphasis on distinguishing between speculation and verifiable fact, and a critique of the current state of UFOlogy for its perceived stagnation and focus on unprovable theories. The magazine promotes the idea that UFOs may represent a diverse range of phenomena rather than a single, unified mystery.

This issue of 'UFO' magazine, dated January 2003, delves into the historical T.C. Drury UFO film from 1953, shot in Papua New Guinea. The publication, identified by the publisher 'PRB' and associated with 'theozfiles.com', focuses on the film's extraction by Australian intelligence agencies, its subsequent analysis, and the controversy surrounding its contents and availability.

The T.C. Drury Film and Intelligence Involvement

The article details how documents related to the Drury film were extracted from a separate DCA file, classified SECRET, which contained information about possible enemy activity in Papua New Guinea. These extracts included copies of folios from the original DAFI file, which was also classified SECRET and later 'lost'. The Australian military's interest in the film was initially framed within the context of potential prosaic threats to security, such as the 'red' peril, especially in light of the Petrov affair and the McCarthyism era.

The author suggests that intelligence organizations may have manipulated the UFO controversy, fearing prosaic forces more than 'saucer' enthusiasts. Tom Drury himself believed that ASIO was involved. Interviews with two ASIO operatives who were in Papua New Guinea at the time yielded little information, with one stating their role was merely as a 'courier' for the film's passage to Melbourne, the headquarters of DAFI, DCA, and ASIO.

An ASIO document from January 15th, 1973, indicated that copies of the film were passed to the USAF and the RAF. Drury reportedly received a print of the film back, but without any UFO shots. Mr. Drury suspects that the processing and analysis by the intelligence community may have destroyed the film. It is known that the film went to the United States for study, potentially under CIA scrutiny via Art Lundahl's photographic analysis group. A 1955 RAAF UFO file suggests that DAFI sold prints of the 1953 UFO pictures to civilian researchers.

Edgar Jarrold's Analysis and Claims

Edgar Jarrold, publisher of the Australian Flying Saucer Magazine, examined 94 prints from the Drury film. In the February 1955 issue, he described a shiny, disc-like object whose behavior could not be attributed to natural phenomena or conventional aircraft. He noted a distinct cloud from which the object emerged at a right angle, then dashed rapidly, zoomed straight up, and leveled off, making abrupt right-angled turns. Jarrold emphasized that the object's behavior ruled out any man-made object or meteor.

Jarrold later stated that he was possibly the only civilian to have seen blown-up still pictures from the film before it left Australia, due to an American request. He described the object as extra-terrestrial and reiterated that its flight path and behavior were inexplicable by conventional means. However, the article notes that Jarrold's claims of 90° turns are not corroborated by others who saw the film or prints, and the limited quality of available prints makes independent analysis difficult.

Contradictions and Limited Access

Documentation examined in DCA and DAFI files contradicts Jarrold's claims of being the sole recipient of the prints. A letter from the Department of Air in December 1953 stated the film was sent to the United States for technical processing and would not be available until early the following year. The Minister for Air, Mr. McMahon, confirmed in January 1954 that the film had been flown to the U.S. for enlargement, as the object was too small for detailed study.

A DAFI letter to Mr. Wiggins of the DCA in July 1954 stated that the 'Flying Saucer' film had been subjected to detailed study and processing, but only a blur of light moving across the film could be established. This suggests that Jarrold likely received his prints around July 1954, possibly during a meeting with Air Force intelligence. Fred Stone also received copies of the same prints in late 1954.

Stone, in a 1973 letter to the Director of Air Force Intelligence, stated that the original film was clearer, and he presumed its use by various US and Australian military bodies led to its degradation. He asserted that the prints were never shown publicly, only to select UFO groups and societies.

The 'Holy Grail' and Lost Frames

The original Drury film became a 'holy grail' for Australian ufology, with numerous unsuccessful attempts made over the years to secure it. A 1966 RAAF document summarized efforts to find the 'excised' frames, concluding they were either still in DAFI archives, destroyed, or lost.

Further inquiries in 1973 led to another file search. DAFI then stated that prints had been made available to civil researchers in 1954. Through Fred Stone, the RAAF obtained a copy of prints that had been provided to him in 1954. These third-generation copies of prints from the Drury film are now in RAAF files. The author arranged for copies of these prints to be sent to Tom Drury. The article concludes that the affair does not reflect well on 'cover-up' claims.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly implies a pattern of intelligence agency involvement in UFO phenomena, potentially for purposes of national security or to suppress information. The focus on the Drury film highlights the difficulties in obtaining and analyzing evidence, as well as the role of researchers and the media in disseminating information. The article suggests that while official analyses were inconclusive or downplayed the significance of the object's behavior, civilian researchers like Jarrold saw compelling evidence of an extraterrestrial phenomenon. The recurring theme of 'lost' or 'excised' frames and limited access to original materials points towards a potential 'cover-up' or at least a lack of transparency.

The editorial stance appears critical of official handling of UFO cases and supportive of the efforts of independent researchers to uncover the truth, while also acknowledging the limitations of the evidence and the potential for misinterpretation or exaggeration.