South Lincs UFO Study Group Newsletter - No 17 - 1969

Magazine Overview

This document is Newsletter No. 17 of the South Lincs U.F.O. Study Group, dated Summer 1969. It is a compilation of news items, reports, and theories related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and other anomalous phenomena, drawing from various newspapers and contributors.

Contents

Lights Baffle Publican

A Wiltshire publican, Mr. Harold Wilson of the Holford Arms in Sherston, reported seeing mysterious red lights hovering above his inn. He described them as being about 5,000 feet high and moving together like butterflies.

Solved: UFOs as Psychic Phenomena

Paul Twitchell, the American leader of Eckankar, suggests that UFOs are not extraterrestrial visitors but psychic phenomena visible only to those with extra-sensory perception.

UFO? Great Balls Of Fire!

Two scientists, Dr. Martin Uman and Dr. John Lowke from U.S. Westinghouse Electronics, propose that many UFO sightings might be explained as ball lightning. They describe ball lightning as glowing grapefruit-sized spheres of extremely hot air and soot, lasting about five seconds and as bright as a 100-watt bulb. However, they acknowledge this explanation doesn't cover fast-moving, glowing objects of various colors and shapes that stay visible for longer periods or at greater distances.

Watch Out For The Flying Saucer Brigade

A Cape Town team is developing a wide-ranging, unmanned flying saucer, nicknamed the 'bushbaby,' intended for security operations. Its designer, Mr. Roland Wood, claims it will be virtually indestructible and anti-gravitational, capable of scanning terrain to reveal hidden terrorists. The craft is expected to be ready for trials the following year.

Space-Shots That Come From Jupiter

Professor Sergei Veskhsvyatsky, a Russian astronomer, theorizes that Jupiter may be ejecting objects into space. He believes these are comets, characterized by long tails, composed of rocks, gas, and ice. His theory suggests these comets are spewed from the planet due to volcanic eruptions. A special observatory is being built in Kiev to study this phenomenon. The Royal Observatory finds the theory reasonable but notes that more research is needed.

Apollo 11 Is To Blame

Jack Hewitson from Southsea suggests that the unusual weather experienced on Tuesday, July 29th, was not natural but a 'ring ripple' of atmospheric disturbance caused by the Apollo 11 moonflight. He notes that similar disturbances have followed other moon rocket launches.

Lonely Girl Who Waits For The Men On The Moon

This article from Hongkong relays a legend about Sheung Ngor, a maiden said to have lived on the moon for over 4,000 years after flying there using a magic drug. Chinese people reportedly pray to her during the Moon Festival, and some are asking the Apollo astronauts to look for her.

Homo Sapiens and Ancient Man

An excerpt from 'The Silent Past' by Ivar Lissner discusses the physical and mental relationship between modern humans and ancient hominids, suggesting that sapiens-like man existed in East Africa at least 300,000 years ago.

Space, Mars And The Moon

• This section covers several topics:
• Space Junk: There are approximately 1,722 pieces of junk, including rocket parts and satellites, orbiting Earth.
• Diamond Clouds: Vast interstellar dust clouds are thought to be composed of diamonds due to intense heat.
• Mars Atmosphere: Methane and ammonia gases have been detected on Mars, considered crucial for life's evolution on Earth. Russian experiments suggest cacti can survive Martian conditions.
• Moon's Orbit: New measurements indicate the moon is slowly falling towards Earth, with some scientists predicting it will break up and form a ring around Earth rather than crashing.
• Moon Dust Composition: Titanium has been found in moon dust, which is made of glass fragments and minerals. Professor Samuel Tolansky reported the moon's surface is covered with marbles. The dust also contains rare gases like helium, neon, argon, krypton, and zenon. Chemical analysis of moon rocks suggests they could be up to 4,500 million years old, aligning with theories of the moon's formation by capture by Earth's gravity.

It Just Fell Out Of The Sky!

• This section compiles several unusual incidents:
• Ice Blocks: In August 1968, Mrs. Jane Williamson of Sevenoaks, Kent, found 18 ice blocks in her garden after hearing a thunder-like bang. A neighbor found a larger ice block.
• Explosion in Bunny: In November 1968, a loud explosion occurred in Bunny, Leicestershire, which police could not distinguish from other excavation-related blasts.
• Flying Brick: Mr. Geoffrey Harrison of Loughborough reported a brick embedded in his gravel drive, which police could not replicate by throwing.
• Fish in Gardens: In August 1968, live fish were found in gardens in Harlow, Essex, leading to speculation about their origin.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently explores the unexplained, presenting a mix of eyewitness accounts, scientific hypotheses, and speculative theories. There is a clear interest in UFO sightings, their potential explanations (ranging from natural phenomena like ball lightning to psychic origins), and technological advancements related to aerial craft. The publication also touches upon space exploration, ancient mysteries, and unusual terrestrial events, suggesting a broad curiosity about phenomena that defy conventional understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various viewpoints without necessarily endorsing any single one, and encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond the ordinary.