Project Red Book vol 6 no 8

Magazine Overview

Title: PROJECT RED BOOK
Issue: Vol 6 #8
Publisher: YUFOS Yorkshire UFO Society
Date: 2003
Price: £1:50

This issue of Project Red Book, published by the Yorkshire UFO Society (YUFOS), delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena, with a strong focus on UFOs, mysterious encounters, and folklore. The cover art features an alien figure and a dragon-like creature, setting the tone for the diverse content within.

Key Articles and Features

A View from Britain: The Jenny Randles Column

This column, originally published in The MUFON JOURNAL in February 2002, explores the concept of 'legitimate UFOs' by examining ball lightning. Jenny Randles argues that ball lightning, despite its controversial nature, is a phenomenon that scientists are increasingly willing to study, unlike many UFO sightings. She recounts a personal experience from August 1977 in Irlam, Lancashire, where a strange humming noise was followed by a bang, and a yellowish oval object was seen hovering above rooftops before vanishing in a flash. Randles suggests this could be a case of clear weather ball lightning, noting similarities to UFO reports such as localized cloud separation. The article discusses the scientific reluctance to accept ball lightning due to a lack of hard evidence and its paradoxical behavior, but highlights how a chance encounter by a physicist on a plane over New York in the 1960s helped elevate its credibility.

Randles draws lessons from the study of ball lightning for UFOlogy, suggesting that focusing on compiling records of scientists who have witnessed UFOs and moderating claims to what data can reasonably prove could help gain scientific acceptance. She also emphasizes the importance of addressing the hurdle of witnesses keeping sightings to themselves due to social status concerns.

The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui & Other Mountain Panics (Part 2)

Written by Andy Roberts, this article continues the investigation into the legend of the 'Big Grey Man' (BGM) of Ben Macdhui, a mountain in the Cairngorms. It focuses on the earliest recorded accounts, particularly that of Professor Norman Collie, a respected scientist who described a terrifying experience in 1891 where he heard footsteps behind him in the mist, leading to a panicked flight down the mountain. Collie was convinced something supernatural haunted the mountain.

The article examines variations and potential inaccuracies in the retelling of Collie's story, including claims that he saw the 'spectre' and a disputed account of him visiting New Zealand. It also presents the account of Dr. Henry Kellas, who, along with his brother, reported seeing a 'giant figure' on Ben Macdhui around 1903, which caused them to flee.

Further accounts include that of mountaineer Alexander Tewnion, who in 1943, fired his revolver at a 'strange shape' he perceived as the Fear Liath Mor. Peter Densham's experience in 1945 involved feeling a presence and a cold sensation, followed by a crunching noise and an overwhelming urge to run, without seeing any figure.

The article concludes that these four accounts are significant as they incorporate elements of the core BGM phenomenon and are not easily explained as Brocken Spectres. It notes that while Densham did not see anything, his experience of overwhelming fear and compulsion to flee is a key aspect of the BGM encounters.

The Dragons of Yorkshire

Authored by Richard Freeman (CFZ), this article explores the mythology of dragons, presenting them as one of the most widespread and ancient legendary monsters. Freeman categorizes different types of dragons:

1. The Heraldic or 'true' Dragon: A powerful, quadrupedal reptile with bat-like wings, armed with teeth, claws, and a tail, capable of spitting fire. These dragons were magical, possessing abilities like shape-changing, self-healing, invisibility, and mind-reading, and were difficult to kill due to their scales.
2. The Wyvern: Similar to the heraldic dragon but with only one pair of legs. Wyverns are depicted as smaller and possess a deadly barbed sting in their tail, believed to spread pestilence.
3. The Guivre or Worm: A common Celtic dragon, this was a vast, limbless serpent inhabiting lakes and rivers, which killed by crushing its victims and using poisonous breath.
4. The Lindorm or Blind Worm: Resembled the Guivre but with a pair of hind legs, and less associated with water.
5. The Amphiptere: A limbless winged serpent reported from the Middle East, North Africa, and currently in Namibia.
6. The Eastern Dragons: Portrayed as beneficial, controlling weather, seas, and rivers. Their development is described over thousands of years, starting as snakes and evolving into ornate, winged creatures.

Freeman notes that scholars have debated the origins of dragon legends, with fossilized dinosaur bones being a common hypothesis.

Other Features

• Book Review: Mark Martin reviews "Out of the Shadows" by Dave Clarke and Andy Roberts.
• Butchers from Beyond!: Jon Downes discusses mysterious animal mutilations from the UK.
• UFOs: Sub Rosa: Bill Chalker investigates Australian UFOs and military interest, including the Father Gill Sightings of 1959.
• Beast Number Two for Crayford: A report on a 'Big Cat' sighting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained phenomena, the challenges of gaining scientific acceptance for unusual claims, and the exploration of folklore and legends. The editorial stance, as indicated by the disclaimer, is that the views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or YUFOS members, suggesting an open platform for diverse perspectives within the field of ufology and the paranormal.

The magazine appears to adopt a critical yet open-minded approach, presenting detailed investigations and historical accounts while acknowledging the difficulties in proving such phenomena to a mainstream scientific audience. The comparison between ball lightning and UFOs highlights a strategy of finding common ground and transferable knowledge between different areas of unexplained phenomena.

This issue of PRB, Volume 6, Number 8, dated June 2003, is a publication from The Centre for Fortean Zoology, focusing on cryptozoology and unexplained phenomena. The magazine explores a range of topics including living dragons, mythical dragon legends, UFO sightings, and animal mutilations.

Living Dragons

The article begins by discussing living reptiles that can achieve immense size, such as crocodiles and large lizards. The Indo-Pacific crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) are highlighted as particularly large and dangerous. The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodensis) is also mentioned, along with the extinct Megalania prisca from Australia. The text notes that while these creatures are tropical, dragon legends are universal, suggesting a broader origin.

Dragon Legends and UFO Parallels

The magazine explores the idea that dragon legends might be analogous to modern UFO and alien abduction narratives. Both phenomena are described as cross-cultural, powerful, and often associated with water. The concept of 'missing time' and 'implants' in alien abduction cases is compared to folklore elements of people being kidnapped by elves.

Yorkshire Dragon Legends

The issue then delves into specific local dragon legends from Yorkshire, UK. These include:

• The Dragon of Wantley: A tale of a fire-breathing dragon killed by a knight named More of More hall, with a possible satirical interpretation involving a lawsuit.
• The Dragon of Filey: A story where a tailor named Billy Biter appeases a dragon with parkin, leading to the dragon's demise and the formation of Filey Brigg.
• The Worm of Loschey Mill / Slingsby / Kellington: Three similar tales of a poisonous worm killed by knights or shepherds, who then succumb to its venom.
• The Sexhow Worm: A worm that demanded tribute and was killed by a knight.
• The Handale Worm: A hybrid creature with a crested head and fire-breathing, killed by a peasant youth named Scaw.
• The Dragon of Well: A dragon whose reign of terror was ended by a knight named Latimer.
• The Bilsdale Dragon: A legend of a dragon guarding treasure in a barrow.

Sea Dragons and Sightings

The magazine reports on sightings of dragon-like creatures along the British coast. A notable incident occurred on February 28, 1934, at Filey Brig, where coastguard Wilkinson Herbert described a large, 'greenish' creature with a huge neck and body. Other sightings include Mrs. Joan Borgeest's account of a sea dragon off Eastington in 1938 and Mr. B.M. Baylis's sighting of a monster at Hilston in 1945.

Animal Mutilations and UFOs

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to animal mutilations and their potential links to UFO activity. The report by Nigel Wright details the discovery of a dead pilot whale at Otter Cove, exhibiting peculiar wounds around its genitals and anus, similar to those reported in cattle mutilation cases. The article notes that this occurred during a period of high UFO activity in the area. A previous stranding of a whale in the same area in 1987 is also mentioned, with its lower jaw missing, which is dismissed as a souvenir hunter scenario due to the difficulty and nature of the mutilation.

'Butchers from Beyond' by Jon Downes

This section features a taster from a forthcoming book by Jon Downes, focusing on attacks on domestic livestock, particularly in the St. Thomas area of Exeter in 1986. The incidents, initially attributed to natural predators or a schoolboy, are presented as potentially having a less tangible cause. The author recounts a personal experience involving a 'grey alsatian' and a woman's pet guinea pigs, where the evidence suggested something unusual.

Book Review: 'Out of the Shadows'

Mark P. Martin reviews 'Out of the Shadows' by Andy Roberts and Dr. David Clarke. The book is praised for its diligent excavation of Top Secret documents from the Ministry of Defence and Public Record Office, and for interviewing original witnesses. It argues that much UFO mystery can be explained prosaically, but acknowledges that some events remain truly paranormal. The review highlights the book's chronological approach, covering events from World War Two to the Rendelsham incident and the discovery of government files on the event.

Conclusion and Editorial Stance

The author concludes that living dragons are likely giant warm-blooded reptiles and that dragons continue to hold a significant place in the collective human consciousness. The article was reproduced from 'Animals & Men' magazine, with subscription details provided for 'The Centre for Fortean Zoology'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the enduring power of dragon myths, the potential overlap between folklore and modern unexplained phenomena like UFOs, and the investigation of mysterious animal mutilations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into these subjects, presenting evidence and theories without necessarily endorsing a single explanation, while acknowledging the scientific and cryptozoological significance of the cases discussed.

Title: PRB
Issue: Vol. 6, # 8
Date: 1996
Publisher: PRB
Country: Australia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of PRB, dated 1996, features the fifth part of a series by Bill Chalker titled "THE AUSTRALIAN MILITARY & GOVERNMENT ROLE IN THE UFO CONTROVERSY (part 5)". The series explores secret government investigations into UFOs, using the term "Sub Rosa" to denote secrecy. The issue also includes a report on a "Beast Number Two For Crayford" concerning big cat sightings.

The Australian Military & Government Role in the UFO Controversy (part 5)

The Boianai Visitants of 1959

The article details a significant UFO sighting that occurred in June 1959 in Papua New Guinea, then a territory of Australia. Reverend Gill and 37 other witnesses observed a bright white light that approached the mission, eventually hovering between three and four hundred feet up. The main UFO was described as a large, disc-shaped object, solid and circular with a wide base and a narrower upper deck. It appeared to have four 'legs' underneath and four 'panels' or 'portholes' on its side that glowed brighter than the rest. At intervals, the object emitted a shaft of blue light that shone upwards at an angle of about 45 degrees. Witnesses also reported seeing what looked like 'men' emerge onto a deck on top of the object; there were four men in total, with varying numbers visible at different times. The blue light and the 'men' then disappeared, and the object moved through clouds.

Following the Boianai observations, civilian UFO groups distributed Reverend Gill's report to the Australian federal parliament, urging members to press the Minister for Air for a statement. On November 24th, 1959, E.D. Cash, a Liberal politician, questioned the Minister for Air, Mr. F.M. Osborne, about investigations into these sightings. The Minister's response did not directly address the question but instead stated that most sightings were explained, with only about 3 percent of reported sightings of flying objects remaining unexplained.

Peter Norris, president of VFSRS, was informed by the Directorate of Air Force Intelligence that the department was awaiting "depth of evidence" on the New Guinea sightings. The Minister for Defence later requested a report on the "alleged sightings of UFOs in the Boianai area". The RAAF finally visited Reverend Gill on December 29th, 1959. According to Reverend Gill, the two RAAF officers from Canberra spoke about stars and planets and then left, and he heard no more from them. The interviewing officer, Squadron Leader F.A. Lang of All DAFI, concluded after a cursory investigation that while Reverend Gill might be a reliable observer, the incidents could have been natural phenomena influenced by past events and subconscious influences. He suggested that observed lights might have been planets like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, with light refraction, changing positions, and cloud movement creating the impression of size and rapid movement. Varying cloud densities could also account for human shapes and their sudden appearance and disappearance. However, a close analysis of the reports argues that the RAAF's explanation was unsatisfactory. The Boianai 'visitants' are still considered remarkable evidence for an impressive aerial anomaly and are regarded as some of the best entity reports on record. The article notes that this is part of a continuing series.

Beast Number Two For Crayford

This section reports on a separate incident from Wednesday, March 12th, 2003, concerning sightings of a large cat in the Crayford area, United Kingdom. Experts concluded that paw prints found at an allotment, measuring 4.5 by 4 inches, were likely those of a puma. Brad Clough, a representative of the British Big Cat Society, made casts of the prints, which were then studied by Ellis Daw, founder-owner of Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Daw stated with 90 percent certainty that they were puma prints, noting they were rounded with the right-shaped pads and lacked claw marks, distinguishing them from dog prints. He described the animal as being about two feet high and three feet long with a fawn-colored coat.

This discovery is considered the strongest clue yet to the presence of a second big cat in the area, following previous reports of a large black animal dubbed the "Beast of Bexley," which was recently caught on CCTV. Mr. Clough believes the puma may have been spotted in Bean, near Dartford, 18 months prior and that it travels long distances along railway lines. He expressed concern that the government should address the issue, as a population explosion could lead to these animals coming into towns.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in the first part of this issue is the investigation and potential cover-up of UFO phenomena by military and government bodies, particularly in Australia. The article highlights the discrepancy between witness accounts and official explanations, suggesting a pattern of dismissal or downplaying of credible sightings. The editorial stance appears to favor a critical examination of official responses and a belief in the significance of certain UFO reports, as evidenced by the analysis of the Boianai case. The second article, while seemingly unrelated, touches upon the theme of unexplained phenomena and the reporting of unusual creatures in the environment, suggesting a broader interest in mysteries beyond UFOs.