South Lincs UFO Study Group Newsletter - No 32 - 1971

Magazine Overview

This document is the "SOUTH LINCS UFO STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER", Issue No. 32, dated Summer 1971. It is published by the South Lincs UFO Study Group from Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9AY.

Sighting Reports

Scunthorpe Dome-Shaped UFO

The Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph reported on November 25, 1970, a sighting by busman Melvyn Batty. While walking with his son, Paul (aged 3), Batty observed a silver, wingless, dome-shaped object moving across the sky faster than an aeroplane without leaving a trail. His daughter, Julie (aged 7), later reported seeing a similar round ball in the sky. Neither RAF Manby nor RAF Scampton had any unusual reports at that time. The article also notes that in June of the same year, an unidentified object resembling a smaller moon was sighted by several people, and the previous year, Scunthorpe police received four calls about an oval object the size of the moon.

London Red Circles

A report from a man on Radio 4 PM's programme on Wednesday, July 23rd, 1971, details a sighting on Sunday, June 13th, 1971, at 11 pm. Four red circles were observed moving from east to west over London, described as fully lit and possibly a UFO.

Bottesford Strange Lights

The Scunthorpe Star reported on Friday, August 13th, 1971, a strange event in Bottesford. On Thursday morning, four people heard a muffled bang, saw a bright blue flash, and sparks. Two witnesses were members of the 50 Missile Regiment in Germany. John Hoodless, celebrating his 21st birthday, described a bluish glow around a chestnut tree, with an object 15 to 20 feet in length that vanished. His friend, David French, was also present. John Fisher described a crack like a rifle shot, a blue flash, then red and green sparks. Rita and Robert Taylor also witnessed the lights. The next day, Robert Taylor found snapped branches around the tree but no scorch marks.

Stamford Flying Light

The Stamford Mercury reported on August 20th, 1971, an unusual case of a flying light. Stamford police received a report from RAF Wittering about an unidentified flying object seen on Monday night. It was described as an orange and gold coloured light, without a definite shape, at about 5,000 feet, moving slowly east to west. A police patrolman also saw it later. Mr. P. Hodgson of Stamford, using a telescope, described the object as appearing like a golf ball studded with pit marks, and too low to be a star.

The Weakest Link

Nigel Watson discusses the concept of the 'weakest link' in UFO reports, arguing that many theories are unconvincing due to missing evidence. He references the Mantell incident, where authorities attributed Mantell's death to lack of oxygen while chasing a balloon, contrasting with ufologists who suggest he was chasing a flying saucer and was affected by its force field. Watson also critically examines the case of Borley Rectory, noting how psychical researcher Harry Price's findings were later found to be misrepresented, with Price himself allegedly responsible for some phenomena.

UFOs and Space

Nigel Watson explores reports of UFOs encountered by crews of orbiting spacecraft, cautioning that these should be approached with skepticism. He quotes from 'Flying Saucers Are Hostile' by Brad Steiger and Joan Whritenour regarding alleged attacks on Russian space vehicles.

Voskhod 1 Incident

On October 12, 1964, the Soviet spacecraft Voskhod 1 returned to Earth after only sixteen orbits. The official Soviet explanation was enigmatic, with cosmonauts reportedly wanting to investigate 'interesting things'. Watson suggests this statement was officially prepared to conceal the truth. An account in a German newspaper claimed Moscow sources stated that Voskhod 1 was repeatedly overtaken by fast-flying discs that struck the craft with magnetic fields. Major Donald E. Keyhoe's UFO books were reportedly recommended to Soviet cosmonauts for study.

Voskhod 11 Incident

On March 18, 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Leonov walked in space from Voskhod 11. For several hours, the spacecraft lost contact with Soviet control stations and was found in deep snow near Perm. The press reported the ship coming down enveloped in flames with antennae burnt off. The astronauts admitted sighting an 'unmanned satellite' about half a mile away shortly before losing contact. Watson poses the questions of whether the cosmonauts landed to escape the UFO or if the UFO forced them to land.

Soviet Response

The Soviet view, as presented in the article, refutes the allegations of attack on Voskhod 1, stating the mission was fully carried out. They dismiss the idea of 'interesting things' to see in space beyond routine sights and state that Alexei Leonov's trip was also normal, with the ship only out of touch when on the far side of the globe. The 'enveloped with flames' remark is attributed to re-entry heat from atmospheric friction, not a saucer attack.

Other Items

The Word On The Moon

An article from Bible Society News, Spring 1971, reports that Astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell placed a fireproof packet containing the first verse of Genesis in sixteen languages on the moon in February. This material was prepared under the name of the United Bible Societies.

Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Research by two Queensland University scientists has led to the discovery that volcanic eruptions are preceded by changes in the earth's magnetic field near the volcano, which could lead to a breakthrough in predicting earthquakes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the newsletter focuses heavily on UFO sighting reports from the UK, including detailed accounts and newspaper references. It also delves into alleged UFO encounters with Soviet space missions, presenting both ufological interpretations and official Soviet denials. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, as evidenced by Nigel Watson's analysis of 'weak links' in evidence and skepticism towards official explanations, while still presenting a range of reported phenomena. The inclusion of unrelated scientific news (moon Bible, earthquakes) suggests a broader interest in unexplained phenomena and scientific discovery.