SIGAP Newsletter No 10 1968-03

Magazine Overview

Title: THE SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOMENA (S.I.G.A.P.)
Issue: Newsletter No. 10
Date: March 6, 1968
Publisher: The Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena
Affiliation: British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association
Purpose: To promote unbiased investigation and research into "Unidentified Flying Object Phenomena".

Creature Reports

Cranleigh Creature Sighting

Last November, near Cranleigh, nine miles from Guildford, a carpenter named Philip Freeman and his girlfriend reported seeing a "hideous bell-shaped creature". Freeman stopped his car due to a "terrible burning smell" and then observed the entity. It was described as having a "white luminous head" with an "arm" protruding from it.

Whitmore Common Creature Encounter

Investigated by Alan Franklin, this report details an encounter in early January, near Whitmore Common, close to the Woking-Guildford railway line. A 22-year-old engineer, who wished to remain anonymous, and his girlfriend parked their car in a clearing. The engineer felt an "uneasy sensation" and saw a "shadowy figure" behind trees, initially mistaking it for a "Peeping Tom". Upon closer inspection, the "thing" moved behind a bush and was outlined in the moonlight. It was described as "black, rectangular-shaped, some five feet high and three feet across, and definitely not human or animal". The man stated it "made no sound and moved with great speed in a gliding motion" without bobbing, maintaining a consistent height. The couple fled the scene. A fortnight later, they returned and noticed a "pungent burning smell", described as "seaweed rotting in the hot sun", but did not see the creature again.

S.I.G.A.P. UFO Analysis

This section presents a preliminary analysis of UFO sightings reported to S.I.G.A.P. in the previous year (1967):

1. Active Months: October and November were the most active, with 21 UFOs (35% of the 1967 total) observed, correlating with a nationwide UFO flap.
2. Activity Times: Major activity occurred between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m., with the peak hourly period between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
3. Genuine UFOs: Approximately a quarter of the 75 investigated sightings were genuine UFOs. The majority were identified as satellites, aircraft, or natural phenomena. Some objects could not be positively identified but had terrestrial explanations.
4. Object Types: Out of 72 examined sightings, 23 UFOs (32%) were point sources of light, and spherical objects accounted for 13 sightings (18%).
5. Color Analysis: Based on 64 sightings, "plain light sources" accounted for 13 UFOs (20.25%), and ten UFOs were red (15.55%).
6. Witness Demographics: An analysis of 48 sightings indicated that most witnesses were 20 years old or less. Of these, 32 were male (66.5%) and 16 were female (33.3%).

UFO Date Frequency (1967)

A table shows the monthly frequency of UFOs, with October (18.33%) and November (16.67%) being the highest, followed by June and September (both 15.0%).

UFO Time Frequency

A table details the hourly frequency of UFO sightings, with the highest percentages occurring late at night: 22-23 (15.1%), 21-22 (10.1%), and 1-2 (10.1%).

Ministry of Defence Data

Since 1959, the Ministry of Defence has received 808 UFO reports. Most were explained as aircraft (225) or satellites and space debris (211). However, 84 cases lacked explanation due to insufficient information, and seven sightings were still under investigation. Annual totals for the past nine years (1959-1967) are provided, showing a significant increase in 1966 (95) and a dramatic peak in 1967 with 362 sightings, attributed to the "October flap". The newsletter emphasizes that these figures represent only reported sightings to the Ministry and not true totals.

Chairman's Chatter

Omar Fowler notes that February was a quiet month for ufological activity but saw an increase in correspondence. He raises the question of whether UFOs appear only to involved witnesses, with others in the vicinity remaining unaware. He also discusses cases where UFOs were seen over inhabited areas with only one witness, and mentions descriptions matching Adamski or cigar types. Fowler speculates if witnesses possess a form of "second sight" or are more sensitive to UFO passages. The previous S.I.G.A.P. meeting featured Ron Toft discussing "Life in the Universe - The Astronomer's View".

Editor's Comments

Omar Fowler, Dick Beet, and the editor attended a March B.U.F.O.R.A. meeting where Leonard Cramp, author of "Space Gravity And The Flying Saucer", gave a talk titled "Pieces From The Jig Saw". Cramp presented evidence of strange troughs in barley fields on the Isle of Wight, attributing them to a UFO. He showed over 50 slides and a movie illustrating his points. The troughs were described as broken, flattened, and threshed barley, definitively not the work of a machine or animal, baffling local farmers.

Upcoming Events and Appeals

The next B.U.F.O.R.A. meeting is scheduled for April 6 at Kensington Central Library, featuring a lecture on "Spacemen in Antiquity" by Raymond Drake. The editor appeals for letters, articles, and extracts from UFO books and magazines for the newsletter, noting a lack of response so far. An article on space exploration has been postponed due to space limitations.

National Sky-Watch Day

National Sky-Watch Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 15. B.U.F.O.R.A. is working with the G.P.O. to secure a special scientific radio frequency for communication between observation posts, with Mr. Roy Winstanley as the new communications officer.

English Scientists in UFO Research

English scientists are collaborating with American colleagues at the University of Colorado on a UFO study, initially funded by a £125,000 grant from the U.S.A.F., now increased to £200,000. The final report is expected in September. Edward Condon, the project director, expresses frustration, likening the study to "a study of cancer without any cancer patients" and wishing a UFO would land so he could examine it. Over 7,000 cases have been studied by computer, with five pieces of hardware claimed to be from UFOs also under examination.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO sightings, creature reports, and statistical analysis of reported phenomena. It promotes investigation and research, highlighting the work of S.I.G.A.P. and its affiliated organizations like B.U.F.O.R.A. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting data and witness accounts while acknowledging the unexplained aspects of UFO phenomena. There's a recurring theme of seeking explanations for unusual events and a desire for more concrete evidence. The publication also serves as a communication channel for members and the wider UFO community, appealing for contributions and announcing upcoming events.