SIGAP Bulletin - No 25 1969 06

Magazine Overview

Title: SIGAP BULLETIN
Issue: No. 25
Date: June 1969
Publisher: SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOMENA
Price: 1/-

This issue of the SIGAP Bulletin focuses on a series of UFO sightings that occurred in the Hampshire village of Yateley and its surrounding district during May 1969. The bulletin presents four independent reports of a 'glowing U.F.O.' that was observed over several hours.

Yateley Village Sighting

The primary report details a U.F.O. observed between 10 p.m. on May 12 and 4:45 a.m. on May 13. The first witness was an 8-year-old schoolgirl, Diane Gardner, who described a glowing ball of light from her bedroom window as 'like a saucepan without a handle,' very bright and white like the moon, hovering above trees. Her mother, Mrs. Joan Gardner, confirmed Diane's insistence on seeing the light, though it had disappeared by the time she looked. Diane, a pupil at St. Peter's Primary School, stated she had never seen anything like it.

Sandhurst and Blackbushe Sightings

Later that night, around 10 p.m., housewife Mrs. V.M. Denyer of Mickle Hill, Sandhurst, reported seeing a 'terrifically bright object moving across the sky,' described as much bigger than a star and fluorescent white. She noted its light intensity was constant, and it suddenly shot off at a 'terrific speed' and disappeared. This sighting was noted as requiring full investigation.

Approximately four-and-a-half hours later, at 2:25 a.m. on May 13, two profile operators on night shift at Clark Equipment's Blackbushe branch witnessed a mysterious aerial object. Malcolm Lauchlan and Barry Robinson described it bathing a belt of trees in an 'eerie fluorescent light' before rapidly accelerating away. Lauchlan described it as a 'star-like object' moving towards them, which stopped abruptly and hovered, oscillating. He estimated it was about 150 feet above the ground and looked like 'a series of headlights or floodlights at Wembley.' The object then silhouetted trees with its yellow glow and accelerated away 'so fast it was gone in seconds.' Lauchlan and a colleague later saw a similar object between 3:30 a.m. and 3:45 a.m.

SIGAP consultant Tim Childerhouse, a satellite expert, noted that a bright flashing Russian satellite (Proton 4) was due over at 2:26 a.m., but did not definitively link it to the sightings.

Further Yateley and Blackwater Sightings

Mrs. Dorothy Mead of Frensham Close, Yateley, reported seeing her U.F.O. at 4:20 a.m. She described it as a 'huge glowing ball of light' from which a narrow white beam was projected onto her floor. The object hovered and moved backwards and forwards, causing her dog to become frightened. She stated, 'No-one can convince me it was an aircraft and it was obviously not a flare. I know flares.' She concluded, 'It must have been out of this world.' Mrs. Mead also mentioned that she and her husband had seen a U.F.O. the previous year, which her husband dismissed.

In a separate incident, 'GOLDEN LIGHTS IN SKY,' two brilliant golden balls of light were seen over Blackwater, Hampshire, on the early hours of May 18, less than a week after the Yateley sightings. Miss Dorothy Watts described them as being 'like two big golden headlamps - ever so bright,' moving slowly from the Yateley direction without noise. She stated, 'I've never seen anything like it. They were too bright to be aircraft.'

The bulletin notes that the Yateley area sightings spanned nearly seven hours and, despite some differences in description, witnesses likely saw the same phenomenon due to the remote chance of multiple U.F.O.s appearing on the same night.

SIGAP's Third Annual Meeting

The bulletin also covers SIGAP's third annual meeting held on May 6 in Guildford. Approximately 25 people attended. SIGAP Bulletin Editor Ron Toft gave a talk on the moon, using a detailed photographic map to highlight geological features and the landing sites of Russian and American space probes. He also discussed data from these probes and showed lunar photographs, including those from the Apollo 8 mission.

The Executive Committee was re-elected: Omar Fowler (Chairman), Dick Beet (Secretary), Mrs. Jean Fowler (Treasurer), and Ron Toft (Bulletin Editor). Ordinary members include Dan Butcher, Graham Raine, Dick Munford, P. Parkinson, and Miss M. Dalley. The group reported 86 paying members, with 59 area investigators.

Chairman's Report

Omar Fowler's report highlighted SIGAP's active year, including attendance at conferences in Manchester and Bristol, and a U.F.O. Seminar at Cambridge University. The group also conducted 'mini' sky-watches at Chanctonbury Ring and Wanborough, and a watch at Cradle Hill to investigate the Warminster phenomenon, though only satellites were identified.

Fowler noted the increasing number of reports attributed to satellites and rocket debris but confirmed that major U.F.O. sightings still occurred. He mentioned the Cosmos 253 satellite's re-entry on November 20 as a man-made event. SIGAP has expanded its international contacts, including those in Argentina, and published information on Norwegian U.F.O. activity. Future plans include a new magazine, more world U.F.O. news, participation in National Skywatch on June 28, and a presence at the National Space and U.F.O. Convention at Woburn Abbey on August 17.

Due to rising costs, the annual subscription was increased from 10s 6d to 15s Od. Membership is being restricted to 100 to focus on investigation, with 95% of time dedicated to U.F.O. investigation and 5% to administration.

At the time of the meeting, 151 sightings had been reported, with 58 occurring in the last year. Of these, 45 were in Surrey, broken down as: 12 aircraft, 1 star, 1 meteor, 16 satellites, 6 natural phenomena, 3 other explanations, 1 investigation incomplete, and 18 U.F.O.s.

Financial Report

Jean Fowler has taken over as treasurer. The financial state showed expenses for stamps and stationery (£28-0-9), National Skywatch (£3-8-4), Woburn Abbey fee (£1-1-0), books (£0-12-6), hire of space films (£1-12-0), printing costs (£2-5-5), and recording tape (£1-0-4), with cash in hand on May 1 being £4-6-2.

Secretary's Report

Dick Beet reported that SIGAP has three representatives on the B.U.F.O.R.A. National Executive Committee and has been appointed Regional B.U.F.O.R.A. Evaluators. This increased responsibility necessitates enlarged investigation procedures, including new preliminary and standard sighting report forms designed for computer analysis, and investigators' report forms. A 'Manual for U.F.O. Researchers' is being compiled.

Satellite News

Tim Childerhouse reported that the Russian spacecraft PROTON 4 was predicted to decay around June 15. Launched on November 16, 1968, it is a heavy spacecraft designed to monitor cosmic ray particles. Its visibility pattern would be difficult to predict due to short summer nights.

U.F.O. Talk

SIGAP Chairman Omar Fowler gave a talk on U.F.O.s to approximately 70 parents, teachers, and pupils at Broadwater Secondary School, Godalming, on May 2. The subject generated great interest, with pupils particularly knowledgeable about U.F.O. phenomena.

Truth Stranger Than Fiction

A brief note mentions the cancellation of the TV show 'The Invaders,' attributing it to the impending resignation of lead actor Roy Thinnes due to threats related to the show's controversial topics. Thinnes commented that 'there is more truth behind the T.V. plots that most people realise.'

National Skywatch

Details are provided for the National Skywatch Day on June 28, with headquarters at Pewley Down, Guildford. Volunteers are needed for shifts from 7 p.m. on June 28 to 7 a.m. on June 29. Participants are advised to bring a notepad and pencil, and optionally a camera, binoculars, or telescope. A pre-watch briefing was scheduled for June 24.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin consistently emphasizes the investigation of aerial phenomena, distinguishing between potential man-made objects (like satellites and aircraft) and unexplained sightings. There is a clear stance on diligently collecting and analyzing witness reports, expanding investigation procedures, and maintaining international contacts. The group appears dedicated to understanding U.F.O.s, as indicated by the allocation of 95% of their time to investigation. The editorial tone is factual and reportorial, presenting witness accounts and group activities with a focus on evidence and analysis.