SIGAP Bulletin No 15 - 1968-08

Magazine Overview

This document is Bulletin No. 15, dated August 1, 1968, from THE SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOMENA (S.I.G.A.P.). It details recent UFO sightings and investigations, with a focus on reports received in June and July of 1968. The chairman is Omar Fowler, and the secretary is Dick Beet.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

Wanborough Sighting

The bulletin leads with a report from Arthur Langley of Wanborough, who observed a "round ball, approximately three feet in diameter and slightly transparent," moving slowly over his property and the Hogs Back on July 6th at approximately 12:20 a.m. The object glowed brighter as it moved towards the Hogs Back, where a car had stopped. Langley and his wife observed the object for 15-20 minutes until it disappeared over the horizon. Mr. Langley's wife also reported seeing several peculiar lights, including six or eight fairly large, whitish lights in a semi-circle, about 20 feet below the Hogs Back, which she observed for about five minutes after initially being disturbed by her dog's howling.

Gatwick Airport Sighting

On June 30th at 5:10 p.m., Mr. A. G. Pyatt, a salesman, and a witness, Mrs. Ingersoll, saw a UFO over Gatwick Airport. Mr. Pyatt described it as a bright object in line with the runway, which appeared to be hovering and not moving. He noted it seemed cylindrical and not of aircraft shape, and was visible for three to four minutes. S.I.G.A.P. member Mr. R. J. A. Snow investigated this sighting and reported that the observer claimed there was no noise from the object, which is unusual for Gatwick Airport. Snow considered the story true and accurate, noting that both observers were not firm believers of UFOs and that the object eventually disappeared without sound or trace.

Hindhead Sighting

Miss Ellinor Austen of Hindhead reported seeing a silver, very bright, classic "flying-saucer" shaped object at 1:30 a.m. on July 6th. Standing outside her house, she felt that the object contained instruments and people.

Hogs Back Sighting

Mr. R. K. Thackray, an S.I.G.A.P. member, saw a "very bright large white light" over the Hogs Back at 11:25 p.m. on July 3rd. The object was seen by John Enever and Stuart Reffold as well. Mr. Thackray described it as moving steadily from west to east at a constant height, the size of a pea held at arm's length, with constant brilliance. He heard no aircraft noise and saw no navigation lights.

Guildford Sightings

Two star-shaped UFOs, appearing to be joined, were observed by Mrs. Dorothy White and Mrs. Irene Skinner in Guildford on June 13th around 10:30 p.m. Mrs. White described seeing an extra large bright star with a smaller one suspended beneath it, which was reddish and did not move. Mrs. Skinner's description was similar, noting they stood out as unusual but looked like stars and did not change color or move.

Wales Skywatch

During a skywatch on Pewley Down on June 15th, S.I.G.A.P. observers saw little, but in Wales, the Welsh UFO Research Association (W.U.F.O.R.A.) held an all-night skywatch. Mr. Derek Toombs, a Welsh S.I.G.A.P. member, reported several sightings on Caerphilly Mountain:

• S.97.A (23:52-23:53): A whitish-yellow star-like object moving zig-zag, pendulum, and curved from west to east.
• B (02:10): A small white star-like object moving zig-zag from south to north, making no sound. Ten people observed this.
• C (03:04-04:15): One large object and five or six small green objects with varying luminosities, behaving irregularly. The larger object moved from north-west to south-east. A diamond-shaped formation of UFOs was also seen moving east to south.
• D (03:48-04:04): An ellipsoidal-shaped UFO, its length more than three times its breadth, with a green leading edge and red-orange trailing edge. It had a bright white central area, sometimes appearing blue, and was pulsating constantly.

Surrey UFO Report

Richard Colborne reported seeing a yellow-white, cylindrical-shaped object with tapered ends while traveling to Woking on June 29th at 4 a.m. with Mr. Edgar Ingrams. The object was seen below cloud level above Guildford Technical College. They followed the UFO for two miles by road before it disappeared behind houses.

Lost and Found

An item from The Contact Group at Shepperton was reported: one of their folding chairs disappeared during the National Skywatch on June 15th. They are seeking its return.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this bulletin is the reporting and investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena. S.I.G.A.P. appears to be a dedicated group meticulously documenting eyewitness accounts of UFOs, often including details about the object's shape, color, movement, and any associated sounds or lack thereof. The organization's stance is one of serious inquiry, with members like Mr. R. J. A. Snow conducting investigations and providing assessments of the credibility of sightings. The bulletin aims to inform its readers about the latest UFO activity and the group's findings, suggesting a belief in the reality of these phenomena and the importance of documenting them.