South Lincs UFO Study Group Newsletter - No 14 - 1969

Magazine Overview

This document is Newsletter No. 14 of the South Lincs U.F.O. Study Group, dated March 1969. It is a two-page newsletter format, primarily focused on UFO sightings and related phenomena.

Sighting Report: Saxilby, March 28, 1969

The main article details a sighting by Mr. John Horton of Saxilby, near Lincoln, on March 28, 1969, at 2:35 am. The object was sighted approximately half a mile east of Saxilby, at an elevation of 100-150ft, in a generally north-easterly direction. The weather was fair with little cloud, and stars were visible.

Horton described the object's color as blue around the outside with yellow to orange in the center. Its size was estimated to be somewhat bigger than a full moon, and its shape was hazy. He could not determine if the object was metallic. Horton, who was on a night shift and going to repair work, initially mistook it for a Vulcan aircraft landing at Scampton aerodrome, but realized it couldn't be due to the darkness of the 'drome and the lack of noise.

The object's lights were described as pulsating, glowing from dim to bright. After about 30 seconds, it became exceptionally bright and then climbed away in a northerly direction at a very fast rate, disappearing from view in approximately 5-6 seconds.

Horton adamantly stated it was not any known craft he had ever seen, nor a star. He expressed bewilderment and apprehension, comparing the feeling to the wartime alert siren, with 'butterflies in the tummy.' He retraced his steps to the workshop and informed only his wife and the reporter for fear of ridicule. He continues to look at the sky nervously.

The report was interviewed and written by Mr. H.A. Thompson.

Invasion From Space? "Mystery" Satellite Seen By Astronauts

This section, attributed to Bruce Sandham of Cape Times, Weekend Magazine, July 20th, 1968, discusses unexplained phenomena observed by astronauts.

It begins by referencing the Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, who was killed in April 1967. It is stated that recordings of radio transmissions from the Voshkod spacecraft indicated the crew had seen something strange and inexplicable that terrified them, causing a hasty descent. The exact nature of what they saw has not been revealed by the Russians.

The article then broadens to mention that Komarov was not the only astronaut to sight or photograph inexplicable objects in space, describing them as unlike anything put into orbit by Russia or the West, and some were so large that existing rocket technology could not have launched them.

These are referred to as "mystery satellites" orbiting Earth, which no nation will officially discuss. The United States reportedly formed a special committee to investigate, but its findings were kept secret.

Early Discoveries and Observations

In February 1960, the first discovery of a mysterious "spy in the sky" caused a sensation in the U.S. Defence Department. The North American Air Defence System's radar tracked a satellite weighing at least 15 tons, far exceeding the capabilities of 1960 orbital launches. It was determined that this satellite was not launched by the US or Russia, partly due to its unusual polar orbit, unlike the inclined orbits of Soviet satellites.

This was followed by a series of strange space phenomena over the next eight years. On September 3, 1960, a mystery object was photographed over New York by a tracking camera at Grumann Aircraft Corporation's Long Island factory.

Astronaut Encounters

On May 15, 1963, Mercury capsule astronaut Major Gordon Cooper, during his final orbit, reported to the tracking station at Muchea, Australia, that he could see a "glowing greenish object" approaching his spacecraft at high speed.

Two years later, in June 1965, astronauts Edward White and James McDivitt, while passing over Hawaii in their Gemini spacecraft, saw a "weird-looking metallic object" with long arms. McDivitt took pictures, but they were never released. The official explanation from the US Air Force was that they had seen America's Pegasus satellite, which has protruding "arms" for registering micro-meteorite hits. However, the article points out that Pegasus was over a thousand miles away at the time of the sighting.

Despite the official explanations, the article notes that NASA specialists have privately acknowledged that objects photographed by McDivitt "looked like no satellite launched from Earth."

Conclusion on Alien Intelligence

The article concludes by suggesting that many reputable scientists are convinced that these "mystery satellites" can only have been placed in orbit by an "alien intelligence," implying that humanity is being watched.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter's stance is clearly in favor of investigating and reporting on UFO and UAP phenomena, presenting witness accounts and scientific speculation without overt skepticism. The articles highlight unexplained aerial phenomena and potential extraterrestrial involvement, framing them as serious subjects of inquiry. The recurring themes include unexplained aerial sightings, the possibility of advanced non-terrestrial technology, and the perceived secrecy surrounding such events by governments and space agencies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness and a desire to document and share information on these mysteries.