The S.I.G.A.P. Newsletter

Magazine Overview

Title: The S.I.G.A.P. Newsletter
Issue: No 1
Date: 1st June 1967

This is the inaugural newsletter from the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (S.I.G.A.P.), established one month prior to its publication. The newsletter aims to welcome members, report on group activities, and share UFO-related news and sightings.

Group Activities and Affiliations

The newsletter announces that S.I.G.A.P. has received excellent publicity from the "Surrey Advertiser" and the "Evening Standard" as a result of their participation in the forthcoming National Sky Watch Day on Saturday, June 24th. Notably, the group has affiliated with BUFORA, the main British UFO research Group, and is working in close co-operation with them for the organized night watch. BUFORA's mobile research headquarters, a van equipped with UFO detection equipment, may be present in the area.

S.I.G.A.P. has also been contacted by the International Sky Scouts, based at Shepperton, and has been invited to their meeting on June 10th to discuss mutual benefits for the sky watch. To finalize plans for the June 24th event and discuss the meeting's outcomes, S.I.G.A.P. will hold its first meeting on Monday, June 19th, at 7:30 pm in the canteen of Plastic Coatings Ltd (behind Grays Garage on the By-Pass). This meeting is intended as an informal gathering for members and interested friends, with plans to invite London-based lecturers in the future once membership increases. The group currently has twenty members and aims to increase its local membership to better trace sightings within the population.

UFO Reports in Surrey

Over the past twelve months, and prior to the official formation of the Group, fifteen sighting cases were investigated, and twenty-five people were interviewed. One interview was conducted on behalf of the Cambridge University Group (CUGIUTO). Specific cases mentioned include the Guildford 'Double Bubble' mystery and a report from April 29th detailing a star-like object moving across the sky and hovering. A more recent report, received in late May, describes a cone-shaped object seen over Caterham. S.I.G.A.P. hopes to interview the witness and, if the details are significant, will pass the information to BUFORA, especially if it resembles reports in the "Sunday Express" of May 21st.

Newspaper Reports On UFO's

Coastguard Report

Coastguards reported to the RAF and Ministry of Defence a cone-shaped object seen flying over Brixham, Devon, for nearly an hour. The object appeared to hover at 15,000ft and, as it slowly rotated, a door was visible on its side. The Ministry initially denied receiving reports but later suggested it might have been a reflection of car headlights or a meteorological phenomenon, occurring at midday.

"Mystery Of The Missing Sputnick"

An article from the "Evening Standard" on Tuesday, April 14th, discusses a space mystery involving a Russian spacecraft, Sputnick MOLNYA 2, which allegedly fell out of orbit. Western Scientists questioned whether it fell or was pushed. This spacecraft was believed to be a communications satellite, the second of four relay stations for telephone calls, radio, and TV launched since Spring 1965. It had an egg-shaped orbit ranging from 350 to 24,000 miles out in space. Despite laws of nature suggesting it should have stayed up for at least 20 years, it came down after 18 months. Western tracking stations found no trace of it on radar screens since March 17th, the day before Russia's new spaceship returned to Earth after an eight-day mission.

News From Australia

Adelaide Sightings

The newsletter shares accounts from friends who moved to Adelaide, Australia, near Para Hills, an area known for UFO activity. A letter dated November 23rd, 1966, describes seeing a flying object from a lounge window, witnessed by several people. A subsequent letter from April 12th, 1967, details police investigating a Flying Saucer seen over the Northern Area of South Australia. These objects were described as being as big as cars and had stopped some cars on a road. The driver of one car reported that when the object hovered over him, it emitted a 'mercury glow' and then stopped the car's engine, which restarted after the object flew off. Another report mentions an object 'rising like a sky rocket, then rotating and hovering over a paddock, but making no sound'. The writer notes that these sightings are being reported because people are there to tell the story, suggesting that similar activity might be occurring elsewhere without being reported. The aborigines in the Northern Territory refer to UFOs as things from "dreamland".

SIGAP Library Books

S.I.G.A.P. is building a library of UFO books, magazines, and tapes, funded by member subscriptions. Lists of available books are expected to be distributed shortly, along with tapes covering various interviews and talks.

Stop Press

A latest sighting reports a light over Guildford at 1 am on May 27th.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter reflects an active and investigative stance towards UFO phenomena, emphasizing the importance of collecting reports, interviewing witnesses, and collaborating with other research organizations like BUFORA and the International Sky Scouts. There is a clear focus on gathering evidence, including photographic proof, and a desire for official government investigation. The inclusion of newspaper extracts and international reports broadens the scope of UFO interest beyond local sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, acknowledging the potential danger of UFOs while actively seeking to understand them. The group's primary goal is to increase membership and public awareness of UFO activity in their local area.