SIGAP Bulletin No 22 - 1969-03

Magazine Overview

Title: SIGAP BULLETIN
Issue: No. 22
Date: March 1969
Publisher: SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOMENA (SIGAP)
Price: 1/-

This issue of the SIGAP Bulletin focuses heavily on UFO activity, particularly a series of "glowing phenomena" reported in Norway during 1968, and a survey of dog encounters with UFOs.

Norwegian UFO Sightings in 1968

The lead story, with the cover headline "AT LEAST 40 GLOWING PHENOMENA HAVE BEEN SEEN IN THE NORWEGIAN SKY DURING 1968", details reports from Norway. An article from the Norwegian newspaper "Tonsberg Blad" on January 13, translated for SIGAP, highlights that Scandinavia, and Norway in particular, has been a regular location for UFO sightings.

Wilhelm S. Simonsen, Chairman of the "Popular Scientific Association", stated that his organization registered 40 separate sightings in the past year, with over 100 Norwegians having seen UFOs. Simonsen acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining a complete picture due to multiple reporting groups but asserted that their data provided a good overview. When the "Tonsberg Blad" contacted astrophysical organizations for explanations regarding light phenomena seen in the Tonsberg area in early December, scientists suggested Venus, a star, or a satellite.

Simonsen expressed skepticism towards easy explanations, stating, "We are aware that a lot of scientists are willing to explain U.F.O.s away as natural phenomena, but in our view such answers are classified as popular and easy." He claimed that only a few of the 40 reports were likely misinterpretations of natural light phenomena.

The bulletin mentions the balloon satellite Echo II as a source of UFO reports, noting it appeared as a strong star. However, it contrasts this with observed UFOs that changed course and speed, stood still, and behaved differently from meteors or satellites.

Specific Norwegian Reports:

Several detailed reports from the "Tonsberg Blad" are presented:

• December 17, 1968: A glowing object was seen by a man in a car near a canal bridge and followed him towards Tenvik. It was described as a ball of light hovering at various altitudes, moving at speeds of 50-60 km/h, and disappearing and reappearing.
• December 14, 1968 (Saturday night): Multiple witnesses in the Tolvarod area reported TV disturbances (glimmering, waves, grating sound) during the period a UFO was visible. A driver discovered a UFO near the canal bridge, described as a ball of light hovering over Teie, then settling at about 100 meters, moving at approximately 50-60 km/h, and eventually disappearing and reappearing near Borgheim.
• December 14, 1968 (Saturday night): Two men reported seeing a flying object, described as a shining ball, one from an upstairs window.
• December 14, 1968: A couple saw a bright ball in the east at 8:15 p.m., coming from the west at slow speed and disappearing east. They initially thought it was a plane.
• December 14, 1968: A schoolboy saw a round ball of fire over the mountains near Teie, moving towards Notteroy at an estimated height of no more than 100 meters.
• December 14, 1968: A man from Slagenstangen reported seeing a glowing thing moving slowly from Notteroy towards Horten, described as white and flat, about the size of a small car.

Scientific and Observational Input:

A meteorologist from the Asmund Moene Institute stated that the weather situation discounted the possibility of the object being a fireball or electrical phenomena. An observer from the Astrophysical Institute at Blindern noted that natural phenomena could not account for the object seen over Notteroy, and while a fireball could explain a light following a car, it would typically be associated with thunder.

The Observatory confirmed receiving many UFO reports annually but lacked the time to examine them seriously, citing the difficulty of investigating with only witness accounts. They mentioned that many reports had simple explanations, such as weather balloons, aircraft, or satellites lit by the sun, and that they had "never had any reports of U.F.O.s that we believe in," attributing some sightings to the planet Venus.

Dog Encounters with UFOs: A Brief Survey (Part III)

This section, by Dan Butcher, continues a survey of cases involving dogs and UFOs. It presents several instances of dogs reacting to or interacting with unexplained phenomena:

• Doddrige County, USA (November 1966): A dog's "hair stood straight up" when two red reflectors were seen, and the animal ran into a field.
• Argentina (June 16, 1967): Dogs panicked due to a "hideous rumble" overhead and mysterious glaring lights.
• Tully, Queensland, Australia: A witness' dog suddenly went mad and bounded into a swamp, where "U.F.O. nests" (circular depressions) were found.
• Betty and Barney Hill case: Their dog showed signs of severe fright, trembling at the end of the contact.
• Ohio, USA: John Keel reports a shepherd dog crushed to death, with its body's bones broken and the surrounding grass flattened in a perfect circle, similar to the "U.F.O. nest" case.
• Maury Island incident (June 1947): A witness' dog was killed by slag falling from a UFO.
• Oscar Iriart case, Argentina (July 1968): A dog was paralyzed.
• West Virginia and Ohio (1967): John Keel noted common disappearances of dogs in vicinities of UFO sightings.
• Florida: Reports of encounters between dogs and "errant hairy monsters," with dogs sometimes refusing to pursue and other times being the aggressor. One dog returned with a chunk out of a monster's hide.
• Hexham, North Wales (1904): Charles Fort mentioned a "wolf or large dog" that ravaged sheep, whose trail could not be picked up by bloodhounds or foxhounds. This occurred during a period of mysterious lights.
• Texas County, Missouri (March 5, 1955): Buck Nelson claimed a UFO landed near his home, and three men and a huge dog emerged.
• Chalais, France (November 1954): A dog belonging to Charles Garreau was patted by UFO entities.
• Buck Nelson's experience: Nelson claims his dog made a space trip with him, unlike Howard Menger's dog which had to wait outside a UFO.

References:

A list of 41 references is provided for members interested in further research on these topics, citing authors like Aime Michel, Jacques Vallee, John Keel, and publications such as "Flying Saucer Review" (F.S.R.).

Other News and Meetings

• Mr. K. Clements' Sighting: A "flying-saucer" was reportedly seen by Mr. K. Clements while traveling on a train from Princes Risborough to Marylebone on Christmas Eve. He described it as silver, moving north, with three legs and a red light on top.
• COS-MOS Organisation: Norman Oliver, Director of the recently formed COS-MOS organisation, gave a talk on contact cases at a SIGAP meeting on February 11.
• New Members: Several new members have joined SIGAP, including Mrs. B. S. Blundell, Mr. Richard Harrison, Mr. Timothy Binstead, and Mr. K. Clements.
• Important Notice: Group Secretary Dick Beet is moving, and all future correspondence should be addressed to him at a new address from April 1.
• Forthcoming SIGAP Meetings:
• April 15: UFORUM with a guest speaker and informal discussion.
• May 6: SIGAP's Annual Meeting, featuring a talk by Editor Ron Toft on "The Moon and its Mysteries" and election of officers.
• Mid-June: National Skywatch (date to be fixed).

The bulletin concludes by soliciting preferences for SIGAP meeting days, which are usually held on Tuesdays at the Plastic Coatings Factory in Guildford.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The SIGAP Bulletin consistently promotes the investigation of aerial phenomena, particularly UFOs, with a critical stance towards overly simplistic scientific explanations. The editorial stance appears to favor the idea that many reported sightings are genuinely unexplained and warrant serious investigation, rather than being easily dismissed as natural phenomena or misidentifications. The inclusion of detailed witness accounts, especially from Norway, and the extensive survey of dog-related incidents, underscores a commitment to documenting and analyzing a wide range of unusual occurrences within the ufology field. The publication also serves as a communication hub for its members, announcing meetings, new members, and administrative changes.