Skywatch - No 14 - 1970 09-11

Magazine Overview

Title: Skywatch
Issue: No. 14
Date: September/October/November 1970
Publisher: Contact S.A.
Country: South Africa

This issue of Skywatch, a quarterly publication of 'Contact' (S.A.), delves into the evolving landscape of Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) studies and the burgeoning field of telepathy as a means of communication, both terrestrial and potentially extraterrestrial.

Editorial: The Broadening Frontiers of Science

The editorial highlights that while UFO studies still face ridicule, the subject is gaining more serious attention. It references an article from a South African newspaper about Russian efforts to achieve intelligent contact with galactic beings. The editorial posits two primary methods for such contact: radio waves via advanced technology and telepathy, which falls under Extra Sensory Perception (ESP). Both Russian and American scientists are reportedly conducting tests on telepathy, yielding surprising results, including instantaneous communication over vast distances and a strong rapport between individuals.

The editorial notes that as the century nears its end, science is expanding its scope to include concepts previously confined to 'Ancient Wisdom Teachings.' It suggests that young men and women are challenging traditional investigative barriers, with some universities establishing chairs for metaphysical subjects and conducting experiments that scientifically validate past claims by seers and avatars. The issue emphasizes the importance of scientific study of UFOs, embracing both 'old' and 'new' science, and encourages readers to record observations using both senses and intuition.

A key quote from a 'great Teacher of Humanity' is included: "Spirit is matter in its highest form and matter is spirit in its lowest form."

Contact Magazines

This section lists other 'Contact' magazines published globally, providing their country of origin, magazine name, and editor's details. Readers interested in receiving these magazines are advised to write to the respective editors with subscription information. Listed are:

• U.K.: "Awareness" (10/-)
• Canada: "Topside" ($31.00)
• U.S.A.: "Contact" U.S.A.
• New Zealand: "Aquarius"
• South Africa: "Skywatch" (R1.20 / 12/- old rate)

The International Scene by Brinsley le Poer Trench

This article, taken from "Awareness" Contact (U.K.) journal of March 1970, provides an overview of the international activities of the 'Contact' movement. 'Contact' is reported to be operating in twenty-two countries.

The movement has faced 'teething troubles' globally, with some individuals leaving due to illness, lack of time, or insufficient interest. Despite setbacks, 'Contact' is growing steadily, with new enthusiasts taking on organizational roles. The article anticipates 'Contact' being established in Israel, Australia, and Yugoslavia.

The countries with the largest membership are the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Pakistan, followed by Norway and Puerto Rico. Many other countries have fewer than fifty members, often because they are new.

Contact (U.K.) has approximately 400 members, having recovered from a period of decline. They have elected a new national chairman, Mr. F.W. Passey, and have revitalized their committee. Jimmy Goddard continues as Hon. Secretary and serves on the editorial board of "Awareness". Derek Mansell is credited with building Contact (U.K.)'s reputation in UFO research, supported by a team of scientists, including a geologist from Oxford University. Miss Anne Patterson is organizing meetings and London groups. Committee members Doris Cropper, David Lloyd, and Adrian Turner are also acknowledged for their hard work. Silvia Staples has resigned from the committee due to work commitments at the BBC but continues to assist with correspondence.

Contact (South Africa) has four branches (Durban, East London, Johannesburg, and Pretoria) and maintains a liaison with the International Chairman. They hold regular meetings, skywatches, and publish their own magazine, "Skywatch".

Contact (S.A.)'s National Chairman is Mr. John H. Elliot, and the Hon. Secretary is Mrs. Evelyn van Vloten. The organization has a working arrangement with the South African Air Force for UFO information exchange.

Contact (Pakistan) is believed to be a well-knit organization, largely formed through the efforts of M. Habibullah Bahar.

Contact in Norway is supported by three individuals referred to as "The Three Musketeers": Nils Jacob Jacobsen, Knut Assheim, and Sverre Wiseth. They run a group called UFO Informasjon and participate in Contact.

Contact (Puerto Rico), an island in the West Indies, has gained autonomy within the Contact network. Noel E. Rigau has unified three separate UFO groups on the island, now boasting over 100 members. Noel is active in promoting the UFO subject on TV and radio.

International Committee Members and New Affiliations:

• Argentina: Professor Richard A. Frondizi is the international committee member. He is researching possible UFO bases in the Salta area and data concerning Lake Titicaca.
• Canada: Mrs. Carol Halford-Watkins has joined as the international committee member, taking over from Jim Deacove. Carol is also the Hon. Secretary of the Ottawa New Science Club and editor of the magazine "Topside".
• Fiji Islands: Yugeshwar Prakash is a young enthusiast who has gathered about twenty-five members and is working towards building up Contact (Fiji).
• Italy: Dr. Alberto Perego, a former Italian Consul and author of UFO books, will organize Contact (Italy). He recently wrote a paper titled "Forty Flying Saucers in a Cross over the Vatican City".
• Mexico: Ian Norrie, an Englishman and engineer, is leading an active group in Mexico.
• New Zealand: Mr. P.R. Austin is confident of forming a successful group after a previous attempt lacked support.
• Tasmania: Mr. Alwyn Bird is organizing Contact (Tasmania) and is exchanging information with Contact (U.K.)'s research officer.
• Belgium: The Comtesse R. d'Oultrement is the international committee member, assisted by flying saucer enthusiasts.
• Colombia: Albert Ron is building a group of young people for Contact.
• Cyprus: Mr. Coudounaris and his friends are launching Contact (Cyprus).

Challenges and Future Plans:

Contact countries often lack useful materials like books and UFO photographs. The issue proposes that U.K., South Africa, and Canada send their magazines free to international committee members to foster a sense of global unity. Yugeshwar has suggested a UFO course for members, potentially to be introduced into school curriculums, covering historical aspects, propulsion, and origins of UFOs. The feasibility of this depends on time and money, and reader input is sought.

An ambitious project is the creation of an international magazine for Contact, which requires financial support. Contact (South Africa) is exploring solutions. In the interim, an international newsletter will be circulated to international committee members to enhance connection.

Stop Press & Announcements

• Contact (Australia) has been launched, with Peter Burnham Jnr. as the international committee member. This brings the total number of member countries to twenty-three.
• Contact Rhodesia has started, with an inaugural meeting on June 17, 1970, in Bulawayo. Mrs. Rhona Dippenaar is the International Committee member.

The issue concludes by listing the twenty-fourth country to join Contact, Rhodesia, and provides a comprehensive list of all member countries:

Argentine, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ceylon, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Fiji Islands, Holland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rhodesia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, United Kingdom, United States.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the growing legitimacy of UFO research, the potential of telepathy as a scientific and communication tool, and the expansion and international networking of 'Contact' groups. The editorial stance is one of optimism and encouragement, emphasizing the broadening of scientific inquiry to encompass previously fringe topics and the importance of global cooperation within the UFO research community. There is a clear belief in the scientific validation of phenomena once considered esoteric and a drive to connect individuals and groups worldwide under the banner of 'Contact'.

This issue of the magazine, dated July 29, 1970, and published by Natal Mercury, focuses on "SIGHTINGS IN SOUTH AFRICA" and includes a prominent article titled "NEWS FROM RUSSIA" with the sub-headline '"Stone Discs suggest visit from another planet"'. The magazine features a collection of eyewitness accounts of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena, alongside scientific and anecdotal discussions.

Sightings in South Africa

The magazine presents several reports of UFO sightings from various regions in South Africa:

Umkomaas, Natal

On July 19th, at 2:30 p.m., approximately one hundred people reported seeing a "round and fluffy object" for twenty minutes. It was observed travelling in an Easterly direction. Port Natal Radio broadcast this information, and the matter was under investigation.

Durban, May 1970

According to the Daily News, a silent and mysterious object with a revolving orange light alarmed Durban residents. Dozens of people reported a "slow-moving, silent ball" that travelled low across the Bluff and moved upwards and eastwards until it disappeared. Inquiries with air-traffic control at Louis Botha Airport yielded no reports.

Eastern Cape, 9/7/70

The Cape Times reported that two Eastern Cape Golfers and a group of caddies claimed to have sighted an unidentified flying object (UFO). Mr. R. Dederick, a visitor from Cape Town, described the object as "a flying teardrop," while another thought it resembled a "rugby ball." All agreed it moved at "tremendous speed against the wind." The UFO was spotted around the Pearston Walsingham golf course at 5 p.m. by Mr. Eben de Villiers. Mr. de Villiers, secretary of the local divisional council, described it as a "tear or water drop, travelling at high speed from south-east to north-west against the wind." Mr. Johnny van Daalen, proprietor of the Pearston Hotel, saw the object as "shaped like a rugby ball, very high in the sky and of a bluish-green transparency," moving from horizon to horizon in about four seconds. His son Hans and a group of non-white caddies also confirmed the sighting.

Pietermaritzburg, 22/7/70

The Natal Witness reported on a sighting by Mrs. A.C. Dennison of a "red object in the sky." Her husband, rising at 5:25 a.m., saw a large red ball low in the east, almost as big as the sun and slightly oval in shape. It vanished after several minutes. The report notes that the sun rose at 5:50 a.m., ruling out confusion with sunrise.

Port Shepstone, Sunday June 14th, 1970

Tommy Mitchell wrote a letter detailing a sighting with Bernard Lowe. Approximately 12:35 a.m., they observed a "saucer-shaped object" about 2 to 3000 feet above the coast line. After ten minutes, two other saucers appeared. They then saw a "bright circular object" overhead, about twice the size of Venus, which performed a U-shaped manoeuvre before disappearing. The sky was overcast, and no stars were visible.

News from Russia: Stone Discs and Extraterrestrial Visits

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a report from Natal Mercury (29/7/70) about a Russian investigation into ancient "stone discs" received from China. These discs, numbering 716, are described as odd-looking, covered with unreadable hieroglyphics, and dating back several thousand years. Each disc has a central hole and a double groove extending to the rim. Chinese experts had grappled with the script for nearly 200 years without success.

A Chinese expert theorized that the discs, discovered in caves in the Bayan-Kara-Ula Mountains on the China-Tibet border, were "calling cards" left by "interplanetary travellers." These travellers were hypothesized to be the ancestors of a small, frail tribe living in the caves. Moscow scientists scraped the stones and discovered they emitted a vibration with an unusual rhythm, suggesting an electric charge or connection to an electrical circuit.

The 12,000-year-old "celestial orbs" remain a mystery, but scientists suspect travellers from outer space may have landed on Earth. The article notes that flying saucers are no longer dismissed in Russia, which has established a special scientific centre at the Byurakan-Astrophysical Observatory to study extraterrestrial civilizations and establish contact.

Prov. Mstislav Agrest's Theory

Soviet master of physico mathematical sciences, Prov. Mstislav Agrest, told Literaturnaya Gazeta that he believes a spaceship landed on Earth, and its visitors built a launching platform in the Lebanese Mountains. He suggests the Baalbak terrace in Lebanon might be related to this visit, possibly built by space travellers. He also mentions mysterious glassy bodies called "tektites" found in the Libyan Desert, which contain radioactive isotopes and are products of high temperatures and radiation, suggesting an age of at least a million years.

Nikolai S. Kardashev's Theory

Soviet Astronomer Nikolai S. Kardashev theorizes that "supercivilisations deep in space" are attracting attention by transmitting vast amounts of energy on radio frequencies. Russia anticipates establishing intelligent contact with beings in the galaxy.

Interview with Mrs. Matsiliso Jingoes

The magazine includes an interview with Mrs. Matsiliso Jingoes from 'Mamathes, Lesotho, conducted by Philipp Human. She recounts two significant experiences:

1942 Winter Sighting

While cooking outside in the evening, Mrs. Jingoes saw three "stars" come from the East. She described them as "big shining stars, they were high," and larger than her fist. The objects hovered above her house, and her entire family witnessed them before they moved on.

1969 Sighting

On May 14th, 1969, Mrs. Jingoes witnessed another event. She described a "big star" that covered the whole roof of the house and appeared to be able to make a hole in it. It looked like fire and was round with rays. She was very frightened and sought help from a witchdoctor, who indicated it was not witchcraft but something that could be cured by faith healers. She was advised to stop seeing witchdoctors and medical doctors. Later, she described a "huge, seven-pointed star" with smaller ones moving in and out of it.

Contact Organisation and Skywatch

South African flying saucer spotters participated in the world-wide "Skywatch" event organized by Contact, an international UFO research organization. Contact's London Headquarters received five confirmed sightings from South Africa. A spokesman for Contact's Rhodesian branch mentioned receiving a letter from the international chairman, Mr. Brinsley le Poer Trench, who expressed excitement about the South African reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to adopt a serious and investigative stance towards UFO phenomena, presenting eyewitness accounts, scientific theories, and anecdotal evidence without overt skepticism. The inclusion of reports from various sources, including newspapers and personal interviews, suggests an effort to document and explore sightings. The discussion of Russian research into ancient artifacts and extraterrestrial contact indicates a broad interest in the implications of UFO phenomena beyond mere sightings. The magazine seems to encourage the belief that these phenomena warrant serious attention and investigation, potentially linked to ancient history and future contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.

This document contains pages 19 and 2 of what appears to be the magazine "UFO-AFRIKA". Page 19 details a personal account of a UFO sighting and encounter from June 1969, written by Philipp Human. Page 2 provides a schedule of upcoming meetings for the organization in various South African cities.

Witness Account of UFO Encounter (Page 19)

The primary content on page 19 is a transcribed interview or testimony from an individual who claims to have encountered a UFO. The witness initially sought help from faith healers to remove a perceived "star" but was advised by Ntate and 'Me Human (Mr. & Mrs. Human) to welcome it, as it was believed to be a craft from another planet that meant no harm.

The witness was told to observe the "star" until it disappeared. Shortly after this advice, the "star" appeared, and the witness observed that there were three people inside it. This occurred in June 1969.

When asked about their appearance, the witness described the occupants as wearing long, red robes, similar to those worn by faith healers, with crosses on their backs. One occupant emerged from the craft, and then returned. The craft landed, and the occupants turned around three times, allowing the witness to see their backs, before the "star" disappeared.

The witness later saw the "star" again, and this time heard the occupants singing a song that sounded like a hymn. The song is partially transcribed: "Lumela, bana ba Ntate bana ... bana ... Children, children ...".

Nkhone 'Ma Human (grandmother Human) offered a spiritual interpretation, stating that these events were "Christian things." However, others suggested they were related to faith healers. The witness noted that they heard the song from these people, and they subsequently disappeared, and the witness had not seen them since.

The testimony is signed by Philipp Human.

Meetings for the Next Few Months (Page 2)

Page 2 lists the schedules for upcoming meetings in several South African cities:

Durban

• September: Friday, 21st at 8 p.m.
• October: Friday, 16th at 8 p.m.
• November: Friday, 20th at 8 p.m.
• December: No Meeting
• Meeting Place (After September): Progress House, Hermitage St., The Centre, 3rd Floor, Prince of Wales Building, 384 Smith Street, Durban.

Johannesburg

• September: Monday, 14th at 8 p.m.
• October: Monday, 12th at 8 p.m.
• November: Monday, 9th at 8 p.m.
• December: Monday, 14th at 8 p.m.
• Meeting Place: 17 Westmeath Road, Parkview, Johannesburg. New attendees are asked to contact Mrs. Neslie Schmultz at the above address.

Pretoria

• October: Friday
• December: Friday
• Meeting Place: Theosophical Hall, 424 Skinner Street. All are welcome. Chairman: Mr. Johan Jacobs, P.O. Box 215, Pretoria.

East London

• Meetings are held at irregular intervals. Please contact the Chairman, Mr. E.E. Buttner at 88, Frere Road, East London.

The correspondence address for the Secretary is P.O. Box 2320, Durban.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to focus on UFO sightings and related phenomena, with an interest in personal testimonies and their interpretation. The editorial stance, as suggested by the advice given to the witness, seems open to the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation and encourages a non-fearful approach. The inclusion of spiritual interpretations, such as the Christian perspective offered by 'Ma Human, indicates an attempt to reconcile these phenomena with existing belief systems. The detailed listing of meetings suggests an active organization aiming to engage with its readership and foster discussion on these topics.