SIGAP Newsletter No 25 1969-06

Magazine Overview

Title: SIGAP BULLETIN
Issue: No. 25
Date: June 1969
Publisher: SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOMENA
Price: 1/-

This issue of the SIGAP Bulletin focuses on a significant UFO sighting that occurred in the Hampshire village of Yateley and its surrounding district. The report details multiple independent accounts from witnesses who observed a glowing aerial object during the night of May 12th to May 13th, 1969.

Yateley UFO Sighting

The main article, "U. F. O. BUZZES HAMPSHIRE VILLAGE" by Ron Toft, compiles four independent reports of the phenomenon. The first witness was 8-year-old Diane Gardner, who described a glowing ball of light from her bedroom window, likening it to 'a saucepan without a handle' and noting it was 'very bright and white like the moon'. Her mother, Mrs. Joan Gardner, confirmed Diane's insistence on seeing the light.

Housewife Mrs. V.M. Denyer of Mickle Hill, Sandhurst, reported seeing a 'terrifically bright object' moving across the sky around 10 p.m. She described its light intensity as 'pretty constant' and noted it 'shot off at a terrific speed and disappeared to a pinhead'. She initially thought it might be a parachute flare but dismissed the idea as it did not descend.

Later that night, around 2:25 a.m., two operators on night shift at Clark Equipment's Blackbushe branch, Malcolm Lauchlan and Barry Robinson, witnessed a mysterious aerial object. Lauchlan described it as a 'star-like object' that approached and then hovered, oscillating, before silhouetting trees with its yellow glow and accelerating away at high speed. He estimated its altitude at 150 feet above the ground. Lauchlan and a colleague later saw a similar object between 3:30 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. SIGAP consultant Tim Childerhouse, a satellite expert, noted that a bright flashing Russian satellite was due over at 2:26 a.m. but did not definitively link it to the sightings.

Mrs. Dorothy Mead of Yateley reported seeing her U.F.O. at 4:20 a.m. She described a 'huge glowing ball of light' from which a narrow white beam emanated. Her dog reacted fearfully to the object. Mrs. Mead stated the U.F.O. moved slowly and silently, eventually moving towards Blackwater and Hartley Wintney. She firmly believed it was 'out of this world'. She also mentioned that she and her husband had seen a U.F.O. the previous year, which her husband seemed reluctant to discuss.

The bulletin notes that the Yateley sightings spanned nearly seven hours and, despite some variations in descriptions, it is considered highly probable that all witnesses saw the same phenomenon. A report of 'GOLDEN LIGHTS IN SKY' over Blackwater, Hampshire, on May 18th, less than a week after the Yateley sightings, is also included. Miss Dorothy Watts described these lights as 'two big golden headlamps' that were very bright and moved slowly from the Yateley direction, making no noise and not leaving a vapour trail.

SIGAP's Third Annual Meeting

The bulletin also covers SIGAP's third annual meeting, held on May 6th in Guildford. Approximately 25 people attended. SIGAP Bulletin Editor Ron Toft gave a talk on the moon, using a detailed photographic map to highlight geological features and the landing sites of Russian and American space probes. He also discussed data sent back by probes and showed lunar photographs, including those from the Apollo 8 mission.

The current SIGAP Executive Committee consists of Omar Fowler (Chairman), Dick Beet (Secretary), Mrs. Jean Fowler (Treasurer), and Ron Toft (Bulletin Editor). Ordinary members include Dan Butcher, Graham Raine, Dick Munford, P. Parkinson, and Miss M. Dalley. The group has 86 paying members, with 59 serving as area investigators.

Chairman's and Secretary's Reports

Omar Fowler's Chairman's Report highlights SIGAP's active year, including attendance at several conferences and participation in 'mini' sky-watches. He notes the increasing number of reports attributed to satellites and rocket debris but confirms that major UFO sightings still occur. He mentions the Cosmos 253 satellite incident as an example of a man-made phenomenon. The report also touches on SIGAP's international contacts and future plans, including a new magazine, participation in National Skywatch, and a convention at Woburn Abbey.

Due to rising costs, SIGAP has increased its annual subscription to 15s Od. They also intend to restrict membership to 100 to manage administrative workload, focusing 95% of their time on UFO investigations.

A breakdown of 58 sightings reported within the last year (out of a total of 151) shows 18 classified as UFOs, with the remainder attributed to aircraft, satellites, meteors, or other explanations.

Dick Beet's Secretary's Report details SIGAP's three representatives on the B.U.F.O.R.A. National Executive Committee and their role as Regional B.U.F.O.R.A. Evaluators. This increased responsibility necessitates enlarged investigation procedures, including new preliminary and standard sighting report forms, and investigator report forms. Plans are also underway for investigator training and the compilation of a 'Manual for U.F.O. Researchers'.

Other Reports and News

Satellite News: Tim Childerhouse reports on the predicted decay of the Russian spacecraft PROTON 4 around June 15th, noting its size and purpose of monitoring cosmic ray particles. He advises that its visibility pattern will be difficult to predict due to short summer nights.

U.F.O. Talk: Omar Fowler gave a talk on U.F.O.s to approximately 70 people at Broadwater Secondary School, Godalming, which generated significant interest and questions.

Truth Stranger Than Fiction: The cancellation of the TV show 'The Invaders' is attributed to the impending resignation of its star, Roy Thinnes, reportedly due to threats related to the show's 'too hot to handle' topics. Thinnes himself offered no comment beyond suggesting there is 'more truth behind the T.V. plots that most people realise'.

National Skywatch: The annual National Skywatch Day is scheduled for June 28th, with headquarters at Pewley Down, Guildford. Volunteers are needed for various shifts from 7 p.m. on June 28th to 7 a.m. on June 29th. Participants are advised to bring notepads and pencils, with optional items including cameras and binoculars.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin consistently highlights the ongoing nature of UFO investigations, differentiating between potential misidentifications (like satellites and aircraft) and genuine unexplained phenomena. There is a clear editorial stance supporting the serious investigation of UFOs, with SIGAP actively collecting data, training investigators, and disseminating information through its bulletin and other channels. The organization appears dedicated to the scientific study of aerial phenomena, while acknowledging the public's fascination and the potential for 'truth stranger than fiction' scenarios. The increasing costs of operations and the need for administrative efficiency are also recurring practical concerns for the group.