South Lincs UFO Study Group Newsletter - No 22 - 1970

Magazine Overview

This document is the January 1970 issue, number 22, of the "SOUTH LINCS U.F.O. STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER". The cover features a hand-drawn illustration of UFOs and the group's name and publication date. The newsletter is based in Windon, Bourne, Lincs., United Kingdom.

Fireball

The newsletter begins with an account from Mr. Charles Cleaver of Stamford, Lincs., who reported seeing a "white ball of fire with bits breaking off it, rather like a shooting star" on Wednesday, January 21st, at 7:45 am. The object was travelling extremely fast and slightly south of east, appearing from almost overhead. The sky was clear with a low bank of cloud to the east. Cleaver described the object as brighter and larger than stars, round, with no vapour trail, smoke, or sound. He observed it for about 3 to 5 seconds before it disappeared behind the clouds. A Miss Dunn of Stamford also saw the object at the same time. The 'Met' office at RAF Wittering stated they had received no reports of the sighting.

Soviet Craft Over Lincs?

An article reports on a meeting of the Lincoln Astronomical Society where members were told that an unusual flying object seen over Lincolnshire on Saturday night, November 1st, was probably part of a Soviet Cosmos satellite burning up as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Mr. Alan D. Dickens of Wrawby, Brigg, described the object as having a "very small head with a very long yellow tail" and that it sped across the sky to the south west. Mr. David Barker, Area representative of NASA, suggested it was likely a doomed Russian satellite. The "Lincoln Echo" reported this on 6.11.1959.

Life On Other Planets

This section features a statement from Dr. W.H. Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology, made in Auckland, New Zealand. Dr. Pickering, responsible for the American unmanned satellite and space program, stated that life must exist on some of the planets scattered throughout the universe. He identified Mars as the most promising planet for life in the solar system. He emphasized that the search for life is a primary task for planetary research programs. He noted that while there are many stars beyond our solar system, they are currently beyond reach. Dr. Pickering mentioned that the first opportunity to search for life on Mars was planned for 1973 with the first landing. Current information from Mariner probes flying past Mars was not sufficient to determine if life existed. This report is attributed to "Time & Tide. 1-7 January 1970."

Lost In Time

This is a narrative account of an event that supposedly occurred just before midnight in the small Siberian village of Mishaven. The local priest, Father Litvinov, was praying in his church when he heard a furious hammering at the door. He cautiously opened it to find a young man of about 20, dressed in a velvet jacket, ornate cuffs, and knee breeches, with an expression of incredible terror. The young man identified himself as Dimitri Girshkov and claimed he was to be married that day and needed help. Litvinov, who had been the village priest for over 15 years, did not recognize him. Dimitri recounted an incredible story: he had come to be married, but on the way to the church, near the graveyard, he was overcome with sadness remembering his friend Alexei, buried there. He recalled impossible vows they had made as children to share the same wedding day. Dimitri felt compelled to visit Alexei's grave. Leaving his wedding party, he went through the trees and encountered a strange light and a grey mist near a stream. He saw Alexei standing there, bathed in an unearthly glow, who invited him over. Dimitri was petrified but managed to say he had come to say goodbye as he was being married. Alexei insisted, "Never goodbye, my friend," and invited Dimitri over the bridge. Dimitri felt a compulsion that if he crossed, he would never return. He fled back through the woods, but the track and the village seemed different, with strange buildings and no wooden houses. The church was also different, and Father Barinchev, his family, friends, and bride were gone. Dimitri, gripped by fear and confusion, ran out of the church and towards the graveyard, shouting, "I must find my family...my friends." Litvinov followed and saw the boy disappear into the grey mist. When the mist vanished, Dimitri was gone, and there were no footprints apart from Litvinov's own. The priest wrote to his bishop about the experience, and the bishop assured him he wasn't mad. The bishop advised him to check parish records, revealing that on three occasions in almost two centuries, two other priests and a local schoolmaster had also seen the boy who came out of the past and heard his sad story. The story is continued in the next newsletter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena, including potential satellite re-entries and the scientific search for extraterrestrial life. It also delves into more speculative and anecdotal accounts, such as the time travel narrative. The editorial stance appears to be open to investigating and reporting on a wide range of unexplained phenomena, from eyewitness accounts of aerial objects to historical mysteries and the scientific exploration of space. The inclusion of a continuation note for the "Lost In Time" story suggests a commitment to following up on intriguing cases presented to the group.