SIGAP Newsletter No 08 1968-01

Magazine Overview

Title: S.I.G.A.P. Newsletter
Issue: No.8
Date: January 9th, 1968
Publisher: The Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

December Activity Reports

The newsletter begins by noting a quiet month for reports, attributing it partly to overcast skies and the festive season. Despite this, five reports were received, including three from November. The first report (S79 ab, 15/11/67, 5:30 pm) details a sighting by Bruge Button and two other witnesses in West Wickham, Kent. They observed two red lights flying from the South, heading North. The lights did not flash like an aircraft and travelled extremely fast with no sound. The objects suddenly became stationary, then moved South, disappearing behind a building. After approximately three minutes, they re-appeared, accompanied by a third object. All three lights were observed pulsating and performing various aerobatics until lost from sight around 6 pm.

Report S80 (5/12/67, 5:30 pm) comes from Miss C. D. Nelson, who reported a star-like object moving from North to East, which was later identified as the satellite Echo 2.

Report S81 (5/12/67, 5 pm) describes a flashing red circular object witnessed by Miss Brenda Nixon and two others over Guildford. It travelled from the North East to the West, made no sound, and was described as 'considerably bigger than a star'.

Report S.78 (5/12/67, 1:50 pm) is from Murray Holt, who reported seeing a strange object glistening in the sun at an elevation of 60° towards the South East while walking by Guildford Grammar School. The object was visible for half a minute before being lost from sight behind a building.

A stop-press UFO report mentions a golden cigar-shaped object sighted over Mytchett, Surrey, in mid-October. Mr. Paul Hodges described it as being 5" at arms length, with no visible doors or windows. The object suddenly began to disintegrate and vanished within three seconds.

UFO's and Air Disasters

This section links UFO sightings with unexplained air disasters.

Mackay, Australia (10th June 1960): T. H. Tindale, a radar observer at the Mackay 'met' office, reported plotting an Unidentified Craft twice on the night an airliner mysteriously crashed. Both plots were in the area of the main wreckage. The Brisbane board of inquiry stated the cause of the crash was unknown.

Buffalo, U.S.A. (29th September 1959): Around 10:37 pm, Braniff Airways Flight 542 was en route to New York. Around this time, UFO reports were coming in from the Buffalo area, including one from a U.S.A.F. Major piloting a C-47 aircraft. Within minutes, the Braniff airliner was torn into thousands of fragments. The question is posed: "Bomb or UFO?"

Now UFO's In Poland

Poland's network of meteorological stations is set to officially watch for 'Flying Saucers' during 1968.

Article: Was Christ an Intelligent Being From Another World?

By Ron Toft

This extensive article explores the possibility that Jesus Christ was an extraterrestrial being.

Historical Context of UFO Sightings

Ron Toft begins by referencing the 1947 Kenneth Arnold sighting of nine silver discs, estimating their speed at 1,200 to 1,700 m.p.h. He notes that UFO sightings go back hundreds of years, with mentions even in the Bible. Reports include saucer, globular, and cigar-shaped objects, as well as landings and contact with occupants. He mentions a report of a bell-shaped entity with a white rectangular head seen near Winterfold, Surrey, in November.

The Extraterrestrial Hypothesis for Christ

Toft argues that Christ was a messenger of goodwill from an advanced civilization outside our solar system, rather than the son of a supreme Universal Creator. He posits that the universe is vast, with billions of stars and galaxies, making it probable that other inhabited planets exist. He finds it more plausible that Christ was an alien being from an advanced race whose purpose was to guide humanity.

Reinterpreting Biblical Narratives

Toft critically examines the Genesis account of creation, pointing out inconsistencies such as the creation of plants before the sun, questioning photosynthesis. He also notes the discrepancy in land creatures being created before sea creatures, contrary to geological understanding.

He suggests that Christ's arrival on Earth was mysterious, with the Angel Gabriel (an alien) announcing his birth to the Virgin Mary. He proposes that Christ may have taken a human form to be visible and relatable, as his original form might have been invisible or repulsive. The story of Christ's birth in a stable and the guidance of the three astrologers by a 'star' are interpreted as potentially alien-orchestrated events, with the 'star' possibly being a UFO.

Toft draws parallels between the Star of Bethlehem and a UFO seen by Devonshire policemen, noting that its movement and hovering behavior are not characteristic of celestial bodies. He highlights Christ's advanced knowledge as a boy in the temple and his healing powers as evidence of his advanced origins.

The Resurrection and Ascension

Following Christ's crucifixion, Toft describes the resurrection and his subsequent appearances. He notes Christ's ability to appear and disappear suddenly and pass through closed doors, suggesting he existed in a different plane of matter. The ascension into the sky is interpreted as a UFO abduction, with the two men in white garments (likely aliens) explaining his departure.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit and Future Events

Toft discusses the disciples receiving the 'Holy Spirit' after Christ's ascension, describing it as a new power. He connects Christ's statement, "I am with you all the day until the conclusion of the system of things," to Armageddon, which Jehovah's Witnesses predict will occur in 1975. He expresses anticipation for a potential mass landing of saucers, suggesting that the ridicule faced by UFO investigators would be justified if such an event occurred.

Other Sections

Car Stickers: The newsletter announces the enclosure of a new SIGAP car sticker, free to members, with additional stickers available for purchase.

NEXT MEETING: The next meeting is scheduled for January 16th at 8 pm at Plastic Coatings LTD on the Guildford By-Pass. The speakers will be John Adams, B.Sc., R.Met.S., discussing 'Spectroscopic Analysis'.

In The News This Month: The group received press coverage for the 'Creature Report' (S77) and the Caravelle crash investigation (S75), aiming to raise public awareness of strange incidents.

Newsletter Articles: Contributions are welcomed from members, with the caveat that printed articles do not necessarily reflect SIGAP's views.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the investigation of Unidentified Flying Object Phenomena with an unbiased approach. It presents UFO sightings as credible phenomena worthy of study, linking them to potential extraterrestrial origins. The editorial stance, particularly in Ron Toft's article, is open to unconventional interpretations of religious and historical events, framing them within the context of extraterrestrial visitation. There is a clear effort to engage the public and encourage reporting of sightings, aiming to increase awareness and understanding of UFOs. The publication also serves as a communication channel for the group's activities, including meetings and merchandise.