SOUTH LINES UFO STUDY GROUP NEWS LETTER

Magazine Overview

This document is Newsletter No. 27 of the South Lines UFO Study Group, covering reports from August, September, and October 1970. The cover features a hand-drawn title with stylized clouds and illustrations of UFOs, indicating the primary focus of the publication.

Sighting Reports

The newsletter details several UFO sighting reports:

• Saturday, July 4th: Kent police received reports of four bright orange or red lights seen traveling in formation over the channel at approximately 2,000 feet.
• Thursday, July 30th, 11:30 pm (Heacham, Norfolk): While discussing binoculars, two objects were observed separating vertically and then changing direction horizontally. One object became brighter (green appearance) and began darting or swimming in place for 20-30 minutes, while the other did not brighten. The observers ruled out aircraft and cloud formation.
• Friday, July 31st, 11:15 pm: From the same address as the previous sighting, one object was seen moving south, similar to the previous observation.
• Thursday, September 24th, 8:25 pm: An extra 'star' was noticed in the plough constellation. It moved in a southerly direction, became stationary, and dimmed. Three witnesses observed this event. The witness is identified as A.S. from Spalding, Lincs.
• August 23rd, approx. 7:45 pm (Barretby): A white, glowing, oblong object, about the size of half a moon, was seen about 10 degrees above the horizon in the S.W. It stayed in position for a while and then seemed to melt away into the cloud. The witness, Clive Barwood, concluded it was a UFO.
• October 19th (near Saxilby): At approximately 10:03 pm, under good conditions with a strong north-westerly wind, an object was sighted about one mile east of Saxilby. It was described as a very bright red flashing light, estimated at 100' elevation and about two miles away, moving N.N.W. of the observer. The observation lasted about 15 minutes. The witness, Richard Thompson, noted that the light was stationary and very brilliant. He attempted to get a telescope for a closer look, but as a vulcan aircraft from Scampton Aerodrome approached, the light either dimmed considerably or moved away. He could not be sure. The vulcan circled the area, and the light disappeared. Thompson contacted Scampton station commander, who reported no unusual activity. Thompson questions how a plane could be stationary and why the light disappeared when the vulcan arrived.

Hoaxes and Misidentifications

• Rocket Boys Fool Village (Great Shelford, near Cambridge): A story is recounted about two 14-year-old schoolboys, Peter Hoy and Andrew Ingle, who built a three-foot round 'spaceship' from scavenged parts for 5 shillings. They intended to 'give the neighbours a bit of a fright'. The police were called due to public reports of a UFO coming down. Superintendent Geoffrey Dear of Cambridge police confirmed it was a hoax and that everyone had a good laugh.
• 'UFO' Stops Flights (Baginton, Lincoln): Martin Cooke, a kite maker, was flying a large kite in a field near Baginton Airport when the Airport Control Officer stopped all incoming and outgoing flights due to a UFO sighting. It was eventually discovered to be the kite, and Cooke was forbidden to fly it in that area again.

Articles and Discussions

• The UFO & the Big Question ---Hostile or Not? by David Prockter: Prockter explores his long-standing interest in space travel and alien beings. He critiques conventional science's approach to alien life and seeks answers beyond ordinary science or witchcraft. He believes UFOs exist and do not come from Earth, with some being manned and others not. He argues that advanced civilizations capable of interstellar travel would likely have advanced recreation and communication, potentially replacing religious beliefs. Prockter poses the question of whether UFOs are hostile, clarifying that the 'Flying Saucer' is merely the machine. He criticizes American publishers for printing sensationalized content about UFOs, which he believes unfairly demonizes alien pilots and their vehicles, stating that "we know nothing whatsoever about these people and their vehicles."
• Ocean Floor Was Once Top: Two Columbia University scientists, Dr. Bruce C. Heezen and Paul J. Fox, found evidence in the Puerto Rico Trench suggesting the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean was once at the surface, based on coral reef remnants found at a depth of 27,000 feet.
• Our Polluted Planet: This section compiles dire warnings from various experts about the state of the planet:
• Dr. Paul R. Ehrlich, an ecology expert, expresses serious doubt that man can last out the century, stating "It may already be too late."
• Dr. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, a biologist, declared, "At present, we are on the road to extermination."
• Zoologist Wayne Davis warned that toxic materials are being spewed out rapidly, predicting civilization's collapse within the decade, with the U.S. being hit first, and that "We're living on borrowed time now."
• A Daily Mail report indicates that parts of the Nevada Desert have been contaminated with Plutonium for up to 24,000 years, with 250 square miles affected. Forty-nine areas are fenced off due to high radiation levels, though the commission claims plutonium carried by wind is 'not dangerous'.
• According to the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, the last vestiges of clean air disappeared in the U.S. six years prior. Biologist Alfred Hulstrunk defined air pollution and estimated metropolitan areas average 15,000 particles, increasing by 1,500 annually. He predicted that within 10-15 years, most animal and plant life in the northern hemisphere would die, requiring humans to wear semi-space suits outdoors. He stated, "We have no solution."
• Each Canadian accounts for five pounds of garbage daily, totaling 100 million. Dr. L.K.Wade warned about the "sheer waste of billions of glass bottles." Dr. Crawford Holling cautioned that Canada's collapse due to pollution is a real possibility.
• The Canadian Magazine reported that "beautiful Canada will be dead in 10 years, unless we start to save it today." It predicts smog, noise, disease, and violence by 1980.
• The Canadian Society of Zoologists stated, "The very survival of mankind is at stake."
• U Thant suggested a deadline of ten to fifteen years, while Daniel Moynihan gave man less than a fifty-fifty chance of surviving until 1980.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and the investigation of such phenomena, as evidenced by the dedicated "Sighting Reports" section and the "UFO Study Group" title. The newsletter also delves into broader philosophical questions about alien life and the potential hostility of UFO occupants. Alongside these ufological topics, there is a significant focus on environmental concerns, with multiple expert opinions highlighting the dire state of pollution and the potential for ecological collapse within the coming decade. The inclusion of hoaxes and misidentifications suggests a balanced approach, acknowledging that not all reported phenomena are genuine. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs while also expressing deep concern for the planet's environmental future.