SIGAP Newsletter No 12 1968-05

Magazine Overview

This document is the 12th newsletter from The Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (S.I.G.A.P.), dated May 1, 1968. S.I.G.A.P. is affiliated with the British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association and aims to promote unbiased investigation and research into UFO phenomena. The newsletter covers several UFO sightings and organizational updates.

Schoolboys See Five UFOs Over Lightwater

The lead article by Ron Toft details a series of sightings by two schoolboys, David Wye (15) and Stephen Clue (14), in Lightwater, near Bagshot. On the evening of Sunday, April 14, 1968, at approximately 8:15 p.m., the boys observed what they initially thought were bright stars. These objects, seen between 50° and 60° above the south-west horizon, changed colour from white to red to turquoise-blue, then to red, yellow, green, and back to white. They appeared to be rotating and would remain in one position for a few minutes before moving sharply to a new position and repeating the colour changes.

A second object appeared in the east, exhibiting similar colour-changing behaviour. Both objects had fuzzy edges and varied in brightness, appearing about the size of a pea held at arm's length. Stephen estimated they were very high up, possibly 150 miles. The boys watched for about 1.5 hours, from 8:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., but did not see how they disappeared as they had to return home.

Upon returning home, David found that his brother, sister, and her boyfriend had also seen the objects. The following evening, April 15, David and Stephen, accompanied by their friend Andrew Osborne, returned to High Curley and observed two similar objects again. Stephen described them as revolving and signalling to each other, shooting what looked like sparks. He noted they made no sound, were not aircraft or Army flares, and emitted no smoke or vapour. He also stated the objects were brighter than the sky background. David reported no cloud on Sunday but occasional cloud on Monday, with moderate temperatures and a light breeze on both evenings.

The boys reported the sightings to Camberley police, who forwarded the details to Bagshot police for investigation. Stephen also mentioned his elder brother Alan had seen one object on Sunday evening. On Wednesday, April 17, at 9 p.m., Stephen and David saw another star-like object changing colour from Macdonald Road, but they did not report this sighting to the police.

When asked about their belief in flying-saucers, David remarked that he wondered about them now, and Stephen admitted his mind had changed from thinking they were 'a load of rubbish' to believing in them.

Investigator's Report

The investigator expressed initial skepticism due to the witnesses being schoolboys, but after meeting Stephen and David on April 16, he became convinced they had seen something unusual. He noted minor discrepancies in their reports, which he considered natural and indicative of truth, as a hoax would likely result in identical statements. The fact that the boys reported the sightings to the police and that other family members also saw the objects further supported their credibility.

High Curley is described as a shrub-covered hilly area about 400 ft. above sea-level, offering an excellent UFO observation post. The investigator accompanied Stephen Clue to the site on April 19, took compass bearings, and estimated the angle of elevation, finding his figures matched Stephen's. He attempted to observe again that evening but was hindered by cloud cover.

S.I.G.A.P. News and Activities

Annual Meeting and Membership

S.I.G.A.P.'s annual meeting was scheduled for Monday, May 6, in the canteen of the Plastic Coatings factory in Guildford at 8 p.m. The group had grown to 52 members. Tony Wake resigned as Treasurer due to work pressure, with Graham Raine appointed Acting Treasurer. A new member, Michael Prewett, a scientific civil servant working at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, joined the group.

Member Information and Outreach

S.I.G.A.P. planned to publish a list of its members' names, addresses, and qualifications to facilitate connections. Members were asked to notify the secretary if they objected to their details being published. Dick Beet, the S.I.G.A.P. secretary, gave a talk on UFOs to the Guildford Astronomical Society. Graham Raine had written to Radio Moscow hoping to contact the recently formed Russian UFO Agency, and Radio Moscow had responded positively, passing his letter to their science correspondent who had previously interpreted for cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

National Recognition and Statistics

S.I.G.A.P. was noted as a trendsetter, with Mr. Stephen Smith, Secretary of the British UFO Research Association's National Advisory Council, urging other groups to undertake similar projects. He praised S.I.G.A.P.'s publication of basic statistics on 1967 sightings, including temporal distribution and tables of UFO types and colours, and invited other groups to submit their statistics for a special circular edition.

The S.I.G.A.P. Newsletter was highlighted as the only monthly group publication in the UK providing comprehensive local UFO news. UFOLOG, a publication from the Isle of Wight UFO Investigation Society, was mentioned as a monthly catalogue of recent sightings.

Research Projects

Artist and S.I.G.A.P. member Dan Butcher was to analyze the group's files and UFO sightings from the previous year, focusing on shapes, with potential sketches to be displayed at a future meeting. S.I.G.A.P. was also establishing a historical section to study ancient Surrey UFO reports, inviting interested individuals to contact the Editor.

Area Investigators

The newsletter listed the main S.I.G.A.P. area investigators and their respective areas: R. Beet (Guildford), N. Wynn (Godalming), O. Fowler (Aldershot & Farnborough), A. Franklin (Guildford), G. Raine (Camberley), R. Toft (Camberley & Bagshot), R. Munford (Dorking), R. Colborne (Woking), and A. Cockburn-Smith (Esher). The group also had 18 assistant area investigators covering various districts, and anyone with transport could become one.

Other Sightings

Ball of Fire Over Surbiton

Kevin Woodgate and his wife reported seeing a glowing ball of fire from their bedroom window in Surbiton shortly after midnight on April 4. The object, described as bright reddy-orange, flashed on and off like a police light. It remained stationary for about two minutes before moving slowly towards London. The sighting lasted six to eight minutes, with no noise heard. Its size was estimated to be about six times that of an aircraft landing light when flashing, and its shape was not discernible beyond the light, which seemed to project outwards horizontally.

Cigar-Shaped UFO Seen

Site engineer Robert Young reported seeing a bright blue flash from his room at 1 a.m. on April 9. Looking out his window, he saw a huge oblong shape light up the sky with a vivid white light and blue tint. The object travelled extremely fast, then stopped, and a bright orange glow appeared underneath it before it descended out of sight. An inspection of the estimated landing area yielded no results.

Upcoming Events and Publications

Guest Speaker and Publication

Mr. K. Miles was announced as the guest speaker for the annual meeting, who would present slides of a UFO encounter in Valansole, France, and its effects on the ground. Readers were encouraged to buy "Flying Saucer Review" for updates on the international UFO scene.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the S.I.G.A.P. Newsletter strongly emphasizes the importance of unbiased investigation and the collection of detailed witness testimony. The group actively seeks to document and analyze UFO sightings, encouraging members and the public to report their experiences. There is a clear commitment to scientific rigor, as evidenced by the investigator's report on the Lightwater case and the planned analysis of UFO shapes and statistics. The newsletter also highlights S.I.G.A.P.'s role as a central hub for UFO information in the UK, fostering connections among researchers and promoting the study of aerial phenomena. The editorial stance is one of open-minded inquiry, moving beyond initial skepticism to seriously consider the evidence presented by witnesses.