SIGAP News - No 6 1978 August

Magazine Overview

Title: Sigap News
Issue Date: August 1978
Publisher: Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (Sigap)
Price: 20 P

This issue of Sigap News, dated August 1978, features an editorial titled 'WALKING THE TIGHTROPE' which discusses Sigap's long-standing commitment to independent UFO investigation and its strategy for handling and disseminating reports. The magazine also includes several detailed sighting reports, a summary of recent incidents, and commentary on the state of UFO research, particularly in the UK.

Editorial: Walking the Tightrope

The editorial explains Sigap's decision to remain an independent investigation group for 12 years, contrasting this with larger organizations that they believe have failed to act scientifically. The core question addressed is what to do with completed UFO reports. Sigap's approach is to make these reports available to the wider world or scientific bodies, rather than passing them to larger groups that may lack resources or prioritize internal power struggles. The editorial notes that inter-group rivalry has been detrimental to some larger organizations. Sigap aims to investigate fully and then pass reports for further study, specifically mentioning sending reports to the Center for UFO Studies (run by Dr. J. Allan Hynek) and Flying Saucer Review for publication. They emphasize their continued cooperation with other groups but maintain their chosen 'tightrope' approach is the correct one.

Next Meeting Announcement

An announcement for the next Sigap meeting on Wednesday, August 9th, at the Prospect Country Club, Ash Vale, Aldershot, is included. The meeting is free admission and will feature a report by Mike Prewett on his recent visit to the US, including movie films of a satellite launch, and a presentation by Peter Hicks from RADIO LION.

Open Reporting: Navy Tracks UFOs Near Ocala

This section reproduces an item from 'Today', a Florida daily newspaper, detailing an incident near Ocala. Unexplained lighted objects were sighted and tracked on radar at a Navy electronic warfare centre. Naval personnel confirmed that one object hovered and then sped away after an unusual 'hairpin turn' that eluded computerized tracking. Lt. Commander John Sullivan, base commander of the Pinecastle Electronic Warfare Range, permitted interviews with base personnel. SK-1 Robert J. Clark reported receiving a call from a civilian about flares, followed by a call from a man who, with seven others, saw an object 50-60 feet in diameter with flashing lights fly over their vehicle. The object was later sighted with binoculars from a tower, appearing stationary at approximately 1500 feet. Navy radar technician Timothy Collins described the object's rapid directional changes as unlike any aircraft. The article highlights that the report was treated seriously by the US media, unlike how similar cases might be handled in Britain, where the Ministry of Defence (MOD) might withhold information.

An Unusual Incident at Churt

This section details Case S817, an incident that occurred on April 6, 1978, near Farnham, UK. Two local girls, aged 13½ and 14, reported seeing an oval-shaped object with green, red, and white flashing lights hovering over trees. After five minutes, they returned home and later observed the object again, estimated to be 400 yards away, glowing, silent, and lower through the trees. They described it as silvery and shimmering, with green lights flashing faster than the others. The object had unusual 'windows' described as 'insect eyes'. The incident occurred during the April 'flap', and no other witnesses have been traced. The lights were noted as: Red (top right), White (top left), Green (bottom). The investigation was conducted by Omar Fowler.

Publishing News: Nova Magazine

A brief announcement about 'Nova', a new magazine from Penthouse Publications, scheduled for release in late September. It is described as the 'first magazine of the space age' and aims to combine science fiction and science fact, written by leading science writers to present a balanced view of the future.

Summary of Sightings (January - May)

This section provides a detailed list of 100+ UFO sightings recorded by Sigap between January and May 1978. Each entry includes a number, date, time, details of the incident, remarks, and whether it was recorded on tape. Sightings include glowing square objects, UFOs flying alongside cars, cigar-shaped objects, multicoloured lights, metallic pie-shaped objects, lights descending, red balls, 'Mexican hat' UFOs, wingless metallic objects, and bright objects changing colour. Locations mentioned include Mytchett, Hanworth, Farnborough, Basingstoke, Yateley, Wimbourne, Dorking, Chertsey, Winchester, Bristol, W Byfleet, Farnham, Ash, Aldershot, and Jupiter.

Report of the Last Meeting (17 May)

This report, by Ann Dent, covers a meeting featuring guest speaker Ken Rogers, Chairman of the British UFO Society. Mr. Robert Stevens of Tongham reported seeing two vivid lights in the night sky which turned out to be a cigar-shaped object with two lights at the front, two at the back, and a red static light in the middle. He watched it for four minutes before reporting it to the Royal Aircraft Establishment and Omar Fowler. Another sighting was reported by Peter Inwood of Ash, involving a bright white light that changed colour to red and blue. Ken Rogers presented a list of sightings from April 5th across various UK counties, emphasizing the need for a unified national body for UFO investigation and a single publication. He criticized existing groups for acting like 'secret societies' with reports ending up in filing cabinets. Mr. Rogers suggested a government grant could organize ufology, but the Ministry of Defence is primarily interested in security. Richard Beet and other Surrey members expressed reservations about commercialization, fearing it would detract from scientific aspects. Omar Fowler noted 32 substantial reports in Surrey during the year, with 11 being close encounters.

Sigap Film Project

A note indicates that a short documentary about Sigap's work, filmed by students at the Television Production Department of Farnham College of Art and Design, has completed filming and the results are awaited.

Cigar Shaped Object Tracked Across Southern England

This detailed report, investigated by Omar Fowler, describes Case S832 from May 9, 1978. A journalist first saw a bright white light near Lamberhurst, Kent, which later appeared as a red light as well, flying silently at an estimated 2,000 feet. Later that evening, a 32-year-old man in Tongham, Surrey, saw two bright lights side-by-side, which he identified as a cigar-shaped object with no wings, about the size of a BAC 111 jetliner. It had a red light on top and two bright lights at the front and rear, flying at an estimated 1,000 feet and moving at approximately 85 mph. The object changed direction slightly before heading off towards Aldershot. The witness's wife also observed the object. The report concludes that the sighting is fully substantiated and cannot be explained by conventional standards.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the challenges and methodologies of UFO investigation, the importance of independent research versus larger, potentially bureaucratic organizations, and the perceived lack of transparency and scientific rigor in official responses to UFO phenomena, particularly in the UK. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of open reporting, scientific study, and a unified approach to understanding UFOs, while criticizing the secretive nature of some groups and the government's stance on aerial phenomena. The magazine advocates for a Freedom of Information Act to aid in solving the UFO mystery.