SIGAP Bulletin - No 24 1969 05

Magazine Overview

Title: SIGAP BULLETIN
Issue: No. 24
Date: May 1969
Publisher: SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOΜΕΝΑ
Price: 1/-

This issue of the SIGAP Bulletin, dated May 1969, is primarily dedicated to reporting and analyzing a significant meteor sighting that occurred across Britain on April 25, 1969. It also covers other UFO sightings, satellite news, and discussions on ufology research and conventions.

Meteor Lights Up The Sky

The lead article, "METEOR LIGHTS UP THE SKY" by Ron Toft, details a fiery meteor event witnessed by hundreds across Britain, including London, Belfast, and Wick. SIGAP Chairman Omar Fowler reported seeing a brilliant whitish-yellow ball of fire with a long greenish-yellow tail, estimating its height at 80 miles and its direction between 290° and 300° W.N.W. Other witnesses provided additional details, such as Mr. C. Hopper of Guildford, who described the object as electric-blue in color with two tails, moving through 20° of sky. Astronomers from the Royal Edinburgh Observatory suggested the remnants landed in the sea off the North Scottish coast, while the consensus leaned towards Northern Ireland. A particularly vivid account comes from Mr. Willie Greer of Ballymurphy, County Down, who believed the object, a greenish-blue light about 2,000 feet up, had crashed into a bog near his home, causing the ground to shake and a nearby hall to resonate.

Initially, Mr. Kenneth Gatland, Vice-President of the British Interplanetary Society, speculated the fireball might be the remains of the Russian satellite Cosmos 265, but later revised his opinion after calculations.

Later in the issue, under "LATE NEWS", it is reported that two fragments of the meteor have been found. One, weighing 16 lb., is being examined by atom scientists at Harwell, and a smaller part of the other fragment has been sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

UFO Sightings and Reports

Worplesdon Sighting: The bulletin notes a lull in local UFO activity followed by a resurgence. A report from Worplesdon on April 14 describes a glowing rugby-ball shaped UFO seen by six people. Witnesses Ted Kinge, Mick Dobson, Terry Cater, Tony Heather, David Watts, and Bill Webb observed the object giving off a blue-whitish fluorescent light. Mr. Kinge described it as too large for a plane, moving at the speed of a very fast aircraft, and disappearing behind a house.

Hayling Island Sighting: A retired Hayling Island nurse reported seeing a UFO on March 18 between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. She described it as brighter than a star, moving in various gyrations, descending vertically, hovering, and then ascending at a 90° angle. The object was dazzling white with a shower of glistening light beneath, having a pointed end and a dark band. SIGAP Chairman Omar Fowler interviewed the witness, who he found to be mentally alert despite being in her late 70s, and concluded it was unlikely to be an aircraft or a natural phenomenon.

Satellite News

A SUMMER VISITOR: Tim Childerhouse writes about the return of the naked-eye satellite SAMOS 2, visible from April to September in the northern hemisphere. Launched on January 21, 1961, it has an apogee of about 550 km and perigee of 450 km, and is expected to remain in orbit for another five or six years. The article notes that its period of revolution will change, making its nightly pass less regular. SAMOS 2 is affixed to an Agena rocket, forming a large object, and is usually a 4th magnitude satellite, though it can appear as 6th magnitude when rolling.

ECHO 2: This satellite, described as the brightest in orbit and the 'big brother' to Echo 1, is predicted to decay by the end of May. There is speculation that its plastic skin might survive re-entry. Observers are encouraged to look for a bright, fast-moving object going north, which could be Echo 2 on one of its final orbits.

Mr. Childerhouse's Talk: Mr. Tim Childerhouse, a SIGAP consultant working at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, gave a talk on "New Satellites in Space" at the April meeting. He informed members that on March 1, 1,610 objects were in orbit around Earth. He highlighted that many satellites, some with reflecting mirrors or small searchlights, can be mistaken for UFOs, and that military space vehicles can change orbit. He noted that the satellite Pageos A was passing over during the Worplesdon sighting, but the reported UFO's direction, height, and speed precluded it from being Pageos A.

UFO Conventions and Publications

FIRST U.F.O. CONVENTION: Britain's first National Space and UFO Convention is scheduled for Woburn Abbey on Sunday, August 17. Organized by the Interplanetary Space Travel Research Group (U.K.), it aims to provide a platform for UFO groups to showcase their research and publications. The event will feature prominent speakers, a film show, and refreshments. SIGAP hopes to have a stand at the convention.

SPECIAL ISSUE: "The Humanoids": The publication "Flying Saucer Review" has released a special 72-page issue titled "The Humanoids," focusing exclusively on reported UFO landings and alleged occupant contacts. It is priced at 12/-.

U.F.O. Research and Investigation

A CHANGE OF MIND: The article discusses Dr. Hynek's evolving perspective on UFOs. Initially dismissive, he now views UFOs as a scientific problem and advocates for their study on par with other scientific issues. He developed a double scale for classifying sightings, including a strangeness index and a credibility index. Dr. Hynek laments the lack of scientific talent and equipment dedicated to UFO investigation and expresses disappointment at never having personally witnessed a UFO. He offers advice for potential investigators: gather witnesses, obtain photographs if possible, and use comparative objects for estimating size, speed, and shape.

CAMBRIDGE U.F.O. SEMINAR: A seminar held at Churchill College, Cambridge University, on April 19, aimed at improving UFO researchers' proficiency. B.U.F.O.R.A. Information Officer Richard Farrow discussed extracting facts from witness reports, emphasizing the tendency for witnesses to exaggerate size and the importance of compass bearings. The discussion included the idea of checking witness bookshelves for science fiction or UFO books. B.U.F.O.R.A. has a psychologist, Mr. Stonebridge, and other consultants like Dr. Cleary-Baker, Anthony Durham, and Norman Hardy to help analyze reports.

Stephen Smith, B.A., Research Director for B.U.F.O.R.A., interpreted the Condon Report, stressing the need for intensive investigation of major cases and proper documentation. He appealed for assistance from affiliated groups.

Anthony Durham spoke on "Perception," highlighting natural phenomena that can be mistaken for UFOs, such as ball-lightning, meteorites, and atmospheric effects. He noted that five percent of the male population and one percent of the female population are color blind, and that Venus, satellites, and aircraft account for 50 percent of UFO sightings. He also mentioned temperature inversions and mirages as potential explanations.

Stewart Miller discussed witness reliability, advising interviews within 24 hours and encouraging witnesses to write down their accounts without interviewer influence. He stressed the importance of observing the witness for signs of nervousness or imagination, cautioning against accepting the first statement as gospel truth, as hallucinations can be caused by lack of sleep, drugs, or even antibiotics.

Roger Stanway and Anthony Pace shared experiences from their "flap" investigations in Staffordshire, advising prompt recording of details and conserving energy. They recommended keeping a UFO activity diary and restricting information given to the press to avoid influencing potential witnesses.

The seminar was deemed highly useful for its wide range of expressed views on UFO investigation.

NEWSPAPER SENSATIONALISM: Early reports of a talk by Air Marshall Sir Victor Goddard suggest that he did not reveal UFO secrets as headlines implied. He reportedly spoke about Extra Sensory Perception and suggested a metascientific study of the UFO problem. He also denied rumors of USAF and Ministry of Defence UFO secrecy.

New Appointments and Future Plans

NEW APPOINTMENTS: Ron Toft has been appointed official English correspondent to the Argentinian UFO publication "Espacio," and Senor Guillermo Aldunati will represent SIGAP in Argentina. Ron Toft has also been appointed English representative for the U.F.O. Research Committee (U.F.O.R.C.), which has researchers across the States and representatives in Argentina and Chile.

SPECIAL EDITORIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: "PEGASUS" Magazine: SIGAP announced plans to launch a new publication called "PEGASUS," named after the star constellation and mythological horse. It will replace the "SIGAP Bulletin" and be in a quarto duplicated format, featuring local and foreign UFO news, SIGAP projects, and developments in astronomy and space research. The first issue is expected shortly.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The SIGAP Bulletin consistently promotes a serious, investigative approach to UFO phenomena, encouraging scientific rigor and detailed reporting. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between actual sightings and misidentifications of natural phenomena or man-made objects like satellites. The publication also highlights the importance of witness reliability and proper investigative techniques. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, seeking to understand UFOs as a legitimate area of study, while also being critical of sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims. The transition to a new publication, "PEGASUS," signifies an ambition to expand their reach and coverage of UFO-related topics and astronomical developments.