SIGAP Newsletter No 05 1967-10

Magazine Overview

Title: The S.I.G.A.P. Newsletter
Issue: No.5
Date: October 6th, 1967

This newsletter from The Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (S.I.G.A.P.), affiliated with the 'British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association', aims to promote unbiased investigation and research into Unidentified Flying Object Phenomena. The secretary is R.Beet, located at 195, Epsom Road, Guildford, Surrey.

Meetings and Events

Representatives of the group were scheduled to attend a meeting of the BUFORA National Advisory Council on Saturday, October 7th, at the Kensington Central Library, with members from seventeen affiliated groups expected. Following this, a group meeting was planned for Tuesday, October 10th, at 8 pm in the canteen of Plastic Coatings Ltd. Mr Edgar Hatvany, the BUFORA projects officer, was expected to attend, with the meeting intended for general questions, answers, and discussions on UFOs.

September Sighting Investigations

The newsletter notes a decrease in reports during September, attributed to overcast weather. Despite this, the reports received were of particular interest, with six reports documented.

Report 1: Tolworth, Surrey (September 9th, observed August 21st, 1967)
Mr P.E.Brackfield reported seeing a pale whitish light appear in the EAST around 10:30 pm and move rapidly to the WEST, lasting about seven seconds. The report dismisses a satellite due to its movement direction (West to East). A meteor is considered a strong possibility due to its color, speed, and angle of approach. The following morning around 6 am, Mr Brackfield heard a noise like a loud gas jet, distinct from an aircraft using reheat. This is compared to a report from Bromley, Kent, the previous month, of a saucer heading N.W. (towards Surbiton/Tolworth area) at 6 am, suggesting a possible regular UFO route.

Report 2: Sandhurst
Mr D. Childerhouse reported observing a strange object hovering over the woods. After five minutes, it sped off, emitting blue rays during its observation. A sketch of the object, showing rays above 'WOODS', is included.

Report 3: Winchelsea Camp Site near Rye (September 9th report, incident night of September 21st/22nd)
A report from the 'International Sky Scouts' detailed campers being woken at 12:30 am by a whirring sound, described as similar to a 'milk shake' machine. This sound had also been heard the previous night. A policeman reportedly saw a UFO over Worthing the same night.

Report 4: Guildford (September 21st)
On Thursday, September 21st, at 7 pm, two girls aged 11-12 saw an orange ball of light bobbing above trees near the new university site in Guildford. They were confident it was not a crane light. Mr Alan Franklin of SIGAP was alerted, and by 7:30 pm, several members were on watch. The sky was overcast with slight mist. The report acknowledges the possibility of imagination but also the potential for it to have been significant.

Report 5: Guildford (September 19th)
Mr Heath of Bellfields Estate, Guildford, reported seeing a small star-like object moving up and down on the right side of the moon at 12:15 am on September 19th. He watched it for several minutes before losing sight of it. This sighting is linked to a similar report received from BUFORA and a mention by Mr Magnet of Farncombe of observing a small light near the moon while night fishing.

Report 6: Worthing, Sussex (September 24th)
This is described as the most startling report. Mr Fowler investigated after receiving newspaper cuttings. Mr Glover and Miss Moloney, with a friend, reported seeing a UFO land on the South Downs. At about 2 am, they spotted a red light approaching the top of the downs. As it touched the ground, the light went out. Shortly after, huge beams of light spread over the downs from the area where the light had been, followed by brief flashes shooting into the sky and an answering flash from the night sky. This activity had been ongoing since May. Tape recordings of interviews with Mr Glover and Miss Moloney were to be played at the Tuesday meeting.

Group Organization and Information Gathering

The newsletter outlines plans to contact members willing to investigate sightings, with the possibility of organizing 'cells' in areas with multiple members. Efforts will be made to tabulate members willing to investigate within a 24-hour period and within a five to ten-mile radius. These members will be briefed and provided with necessary information.

An extract from the USAF Handbook is provided as a typical example of information required for reporting flying objects. This includes characteristics such as:

• Number
• Shape (elliptical, disc, cigar, propeller, conical, rocket-like, meteor-like, with tails of flame or fire)
• Colour (spectrum details, metallic or luminous characteristics)
• Speed and Acceleration (comparable to aircraft or meteors)
• Size
• Altitude
• Sound (rumbling, whining, humming, swishing, explosive, jet, rocket type)
• Relative Brightness (brilliance or dullness, comparison to moonlight or metals)
• Manoeuvres Direction
• Range
• Initial & Final Elevation
• Date of sighting
• Time of sighting
• Duration
• Map reference
• Witness name, address, sex, and age

Additional details helpful for identification include the relation of the object's size to the moon or sun, and specific sound types.

Angular Velocity Chart

A chart compiled for S.G.A.P. defines angular velocity scales from 0-15 degrees/sec (Very Slow) to 75-90 degrees/sec (Extremely Fast), categorizing balloon, aircraft, and meteor speeds.

S.I.G.A.P. Skywatch September 16th

A planned all-night vigil on Pewley Downs was hampered by poor weather. Although the sky cleared to 4/10's by midnight, mist soon brought complete cloud cover, and the watch was called off. The only event occurred at 9:29 pm when Mr G.Raines' new U.F.O. Detector emitted a strong signal of magnetic field interference for several seconds. The detector continued to activate until the interference weakened. Despite nothing being seen, the initial test was considered encouraging and was reported in the Surrey Advertiser. The R.A.E. students, described as 'terrestial hoaxers', visited the Sky Watch group and posed for a photograph with a 'saucer' prop, raising £1 for charity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently emphasizes the importance of unbiased investigation and detailed reporting of UFO phenomena. It highlights the collaborative efforts between different UFO research groups like S.I.G.A.P. and BUFORA. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, encouraging members to gather precise data and investigate sightings thoroughly, while also acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes and the need for careful analysis. The use of a structured reporting format, like the USAF Handbook extract, underscores a commitment to scientific methodology within the context of UFO research.