SIGAP Bulletin - No 19 1968 12

Magazine Overview

This issue of the SIGAP Bulletin, dated December 1968, is the 19th monthly publication from the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena. It is priced at 1/- and edited by Ron Toft, with Omar Fowler as Chairman and Richard Beet as Secretary.

Key Sightings and Reports

"Saucer" Seen Near Henley

The cover story details a classic "saucer" shaped U.F.O. sighted hovering near Henley-on-Thames on November 4. The object was observed by Mr. Richard Froud, an employee of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at Culham, Berkshire. Mr. Froud saw the U.F.O. at 7:25 a.m. while driving from Wargrave to Henley-on-Thames. He described the object as appearing on his windscreen, initially mistaken for a reflection, but confirmed to be outside. It was hovering and seemed to be glowing like a fluorescent strip-light. The sighting was brief as trees obscured his view. Mr. Froud, who has maintained an open mind about "flying-saucers" for years, stated with certainty that "they are here". A sketch of the object, noted as bearing resemblance to the "Adamski" type but slightly more elongated, is included.

Thousands See "Balls of Fire" in Sky

On page 2, Ron Toft reports on the widespread sightings of "balls of fire" across the country on November 20, which initially raised hopes of a new U.F.O. wave. However, these were identified as a Russian rocket burning up during re-entry. Mr. Desmond King-Hele, a satellite expert from the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, explained that the object was a booster section from the satellite Cosmos 253, launched on November 13. The booster section was approximately 20 feet long and weighed 1.5 tons. While pieces could have reached the ground, the R.A.E. had only received two accurate reports out of thousands of sightings, and sought precise compass positions and elevations. SIGAP also received numerous reports, with Chairman Omar Fowler receiving eight calls and Secretary Dick Beet three. Dorking police were so overwhelmed that they contacted SIGAP Area Investigator Dick Munford.

Mrs. Pamela Green of Woking reported seeing the re-entry for three to four minutes, observing 30 to 50 separate pieces, mainly white with red and orange, appearing as a cluster of lights. She compared the effect to a rocket on Guy Fawkes night, noting that while speed was difficult to assess, it was comparable to an aircraft at 500 m.p.h. at 2,000 feet. Members who took measurements were asked to send them to the editor. The article also notes that recent UFO reports in the Surbiton area turned out to be searchlights used in the filming of "The Battle of Britain".

Glowing Object Hovers Over School

Page 3 details a sighting on July 24 by six Chertsey schoolchildren, who saw a "round yellow glowing object" hovering over Meads Secondary School at approximately 9:30 p.m. Lesley Otley and Marlene Bremner were the first witnesses, later joined by Burt Scuffham, Michael Wardley, and Douglas Antill. They reported the object accelerated rapidly and shot away. Stephen Williams, another pupil, saw the object later that night, describing it as coming from the Staines direction and disappearing over Addlestone.

Lesley Otley described the object as large, glowing bright yellow, and moving considerably faster than a plane. It was initially stationary, then moved quickly behind trees, reappeared, and returned to its original spot before moving away and descending. Burt Scuffham, who has long been interested in flying saucers, expressed shock and uncertainty about what he saw, suggesting it could be extraterrestrial or more tangible.

An Addlestone couple, Mr. John Read (23) and his wife Veronica (24), also reported seeing "The Thing". Mr. Read saw the object at about 10:30 p.m. hovering over their caravan site, growing very bright, and then fading away towards Shepperton. They described it as a red and white light flashing, moving faster than any plane. A sketch by Burt Scuffham shows "spherical globes" with a "white, yellow glow".

British U.F.O. Research Association Annual Meeting

Page 4 reports on the British U.F.O. Research Association's (BUFORA) Annual Meeting on November 23, 1968. Omar Fowler was elected to the Executive Committee. An open debate on U.F.O. research was initiated by Stephen Smith, Director of BUFORA Research, and Dr. John Cleary-Baker, Editor of the BUFORA Journal. Stephen Smith suggested researchers should focus on investigating sightings rather than challenging authorities, noting 200 investigators nationwide. Dr. Cleary-Baker proposed concentrating on U.F.O. landings or near landings, though all aspects should be probed. Lionel Beer, Vice-Chairman, suggested recording all reports, however insignificant. Anthony Durham of Cambridge University discussed advances in collecting U.F.O. data for use with the IBM 7090 Computer, with SIGAP's new sighting report forms intended to include facilities for machine-readable data. Richard Farrow, SIGAP Area Investigator, advocated for member-societies to cover all areas to ensure prompt investigation of sightings. Dr. Cleary-Baker suggested training for investigators, which SIGAP strongly endorsed. Edgar Hatvany inquired about using a computer to establish sighting probabilities, with Anthony Durham estimating the capital cost for data handling equipment and one year's operation at around £2,000.

The meeting concluded with a mention of investigations by amateur astronomers Roger Stanway and Anthony Pace in Stoke-on-Trent, who wrote "The Flying Saucer Report" and proposed their new work, "Manual for U.F.O. Investigators and Researchers", as the standard BUFORA Manual.

SIGAP Titbits

Four new members joined SIGAP: M. A. Searle, Miss M. L. Lampard, A. Sholl, and R. J. Timmis, all from the Guildford area.

Other News and Announcements

Page 5 notes SIGAP's listing in the Guildford telephone directory under "Research and Development Organisations". John Adams gave a talk on spectroscopy, and a commercial spectroscope is available from "Proops" for £3-10-0d. Mrs. Jean Fowler, wife of SIGAP Chairman Omar Fowler, will audit BUFORA's accounts.

A letter from Aleksandr Kazantsev in Russia, translated by Gordon Creighton, states there is no specific UFO organization in Russia, but the USSR Academy of Sciences plans to publish "THE INHABITED UNIVERSE" in 1969, which may contain answers to UFO questions. The collection can be ordered through NAUKA Publishing House in Moscow.

The next SIGAP meeting was scheduled for December 17, 1968, featuring two space films: "Doorway to Tomorrow" and "Legacy of Gemini".

Forthcoming BUFORA meetings include a Brains Trust on January 4, 1969, and a talk on "UFO Occupants - Methods and Motives" by Gordon Creighton on February 1, 1969.

Finally, about 15 luminous UFOs, described as "roughly triangular", were reported over Algiers on November 14, flying at high speed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin consistently focuses on UFO sightings and research, acting as a conduit for reports and information exchange between various organizations like SIGAP and BUFORA. There is a clear emphasis on collecting data, investigating sightings, and sharing findings within the UFO research community. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness and a commitment to rigorous investigation, while also acknowledging and debunking misidentifications like the Russian rocket re-entry. The publication also highlights the practical aspects of research, such as data handling and the need for accurate reporting.