Magazine Summary
SOUTH LINCS UFO STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER
Summary
This issue of the South Lincs UFO Study Group Newsletter from September 1971 details numerous UFO sightings across the UK, primarily in the Lincolnshire and Leicestershire regions. Reports include descriptions of golden, reddish-orange, and white lights, spherical objects, and fast-moving, noiseless craft. Witnesses describe hovering, stationary, and rapidly moving phenomena. Official responses from RAF Wittering and the East Midlands Airport suggest no conventional aircraft or balloons were responsible, leaving 'flying saucer' as a possible explanation. The newsletter compiles these accounts, highlighting the frequency and variety of reported aerial anomalies during this period.
Magazine Overview
Title: SOUTH LINCS UFO STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER
Issue: No. 23
Date: September 1971
Publisher: South Lincs UFO Study Group
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
This issue of the South Lincs UFO Study Group Newsletter presents a collection of recent UFO sighting reports, primarily from the Lincolnshire and surrounding regions of the United Kingdom, dating from August and September 1971. The newsletter compiles witness testimonies, often quoting local newspaper reports, to document these unexplained aerial phenomena.
Sighting Reports
Peterborough Evening Telegraph (August 20, 1971) Mrs. Con O'Shea of Baston reported a golden light that interrupted her view of the Milky Way. She described it as hovering over the church, stationary, and having a beautiful color similar to the harvest moon. She noted it was still there when she looked again a few minutes later.
Spalding Guardian (August 28, 1971) - Lost Couple Saw UFO A couple, who wished to remain anonymous, reported seeing what they believe might have been a UFO while on holiday in Norfolk. Driving near Fakenham around 10:30 PM, they encountered a huge reddish-orange glow that seemed to cover a diameter of about 200 yards. The glow appeared on both their right and left sides but did not approach, seeming to be at hedgetop level, possibly a reflection. They observed it for about ten minutes before stopping at a pub.
Peterborough Evening Telegraph (September 3, 1971) - 'Bright light' UFO spotted over Aldwinkle Space activity was noted over the Peterborough area. Mr. and Mrs. David Reed of Dogsthorpe sighted a bright object travelling very quickly across the night sky over Aldwinkle. Mrs. Reed described it as moving very fast, while her husband noted it was completely noiseless and very high up. RAF Wittering stated that no planes or weather balloons were known to be in the area.
Leicester Mercury (September 3, 1971) - More UFO sightings: boffins' theory says 'satellite or Mars' Following several reports in Leicestershire, theories of a satellite or the planet Mars were put forward. The Leicester University Observatory suggested a satellite or Mars, noting Mars is bright and red but unlikely to move quickly. The Midland Air Safety Centre at RAF North Luffenham could offer no explanation. The Leicester Astronomical Society suggested it was Mars.
- Countesthorpe Sighting: Mr. Gordon Lennox reported seeing a bright object travelling at speed from south to north, pulsating with light and no sound. It cleared a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds.
Unknown Location (Tuesday night) - Mr. Geoffrey Richardson Mr. Geoffrey Richardson reported seeing an object on a Tuesday night land in a field near Uppingham and then take off again. He was driving with his girlfriend at 9:30 PM when he saw a large spinning top-like object, round and glowing, circling in the air. He stated it could not have been an aircraft due to its quick takeoff after landing.
Leicester Sighting (Last night) A Leicester man, standing in his garden with his son, reported a mysterious pulsating white light seen whizzing across the southern sky. He described it as a fast-moving object with no noise and no red or green navigation lights, ruling out a plane. He estimated its speed at 2,000 miles per hour and confirmed it was not a planet or satellite.
Between Copt Oak and Coalville (Tuesday night) Five people, including Mr. Ian Hodges, reported seeing a horizontal, flame-like object, about an inch long, colored red and orange, appearing to quiver and be red-hot. It was moving in a north-north-westerly direction. Mr. Hodges and his son had seen something similar a year prior, described as an orange object that shot straight up into the sky. The meteorological office in Nottingham had no theories, and the Air Traffic Control at East Midlands Airport stated that while Viscounts and a Chipmunk were in the area, the description did not sound like an aircraft. They suggested it could have been a flying saucer, as they could offer no reasonable explanation.
Peterborough Evening Telegraph (September 4, 1971) - Schoolboy Claims He Saw UFO Peter Mindham, a 14-year-old schoolboy, reported seeing a silver spherical object travelling across the sky over the brick-yards near Aldwinkle, describing it as similar to the object seen in a previous report.
Halifax Paper (September 7, 1971) - Another UFO sighting claimed Mr. Harold Hiley of Illingworth reported seeing an unidentified flying object about 15,000 to 20,000 feet up. Described as a round, blurred metal shape, it appeared like a single-engined plane but higher. After a plane disappeared into cloud, the object performed a U-turn and disappeared east at phenomenal speed, out of sight in less than nine seconds. Mr. Hiley stated its speed amazed him.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The recurring themes in this issue are the frequency and variety of UFO sightings reported across different locations in the UK, particularly in the Midlands. The newsletter consistently presents witness accounts, often emphasizing the unusual characteristics of the objects observed, such as their speed, noiselessness, and unconventional shapes and movements. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious reporting and documentation of these phenomena, presenting them as genuine mysteries that defy conventional explanation, as evidenced by the quotes from airport and meteorological authorities.
That leaves us with the popular theory that it could have been a flying saucer. This airport can offer no reasonable explanation at all.
Key Incidents
Mrs. Con O'Shea reported a golden light hovering over a church, described as stationary and beautiful like the harvest moon.
A couple reported seeing a huge reddish-orange glow, about 200 yards in diameter, at hedgetop level while driving near Fakenham.
Mr. and Mrs. David Reed sighted a very bright light travelling very quickly and noiselessly across the night sky over Aldwinkle.
Multiple reports of mysterious objects in the sky led to theories of satellites or the planet Mars, though Leicester Astronomical Society suggested Mars.
Mr. Gordon Lennox reported a bright object travelling at speed from south to north, pulsating with light and clearing a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds.
Mr. Geoffrey Richardson reported seeing an object on a Tuesday night land in a field near Uppingham and then take off quickly.
A Leicester man reported a mysterious pulsating white light seen whizzing across the southern sky at high speed, with no noise and no navigation lights.
Five people reported seeing a horizontal, red and orange, flame-like object moving north-north-west at high speed.
A 14-year-old schoolboy, Peter Mindham, saw a silver spherical object travelling across the sky over the brick-yards.
Mr. Harold Hiley reported a round blurred metal shape, like a single-engined plane but higher, which performed a U-turn and disappeared at phenomenal speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of the South Lincs UFO Study Group Newsletter?
The newsletter focuses on reporting and documenting UFO sightings and related aerial phenomena, primarily from the South Lincolnshire area and surrounding regions.
What types of UFOs were reported in the September 1971 issue?
Reports include golden lights hovering over churches, reddish-orange glows at hedgetop level, bright lights moving quickly, pulsating white lights, spherical objects, and flame-like or top-shaped craft.
What explanations were offered for the sightings?
Some suggested possibilities included satellites or the planet Mars. However, official sources like RAF Wittering and East Midlands Airport could not provide conventional explanations, leading to speculation about flying saucers.
Where were most of the reported sightings concentrated?
Most of the reported sightings in this issue were concentrated in the Peterborough, Stamford, Spalding, and Leicestershire areas of the United Kingdom.
In This Issue
People Mentioned
- Con O'SheaMrs.
- XMrs.
- David ReedMr.
- Lucy ReedMrs.
- Gordon LennoxMr.
- Geoffrey RichardsonMr.
- Ian HodgesMr.
- Mark Hodgesson
- Peter Mindhamschoolboy
- Harold HileyMr.
Organisations
- South Lincs UFO Study Group
- Peterborough Evening Telegraph
- Spalding Guardian
- RAF Wittering
- Leicester Mercury
- Leicester University Observatory
- Midland Air Safety Centre
- RAF North Luffenham
- Leicester Astronomical Society
- East Midlands Airport
Locations
- South Lincs, United Kingdom
- Baston, United Kingdom
- Norfolk, United Kingdom
- Heacham, United Kingdom
- Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom
- Fakenham, United Kingdom
- Aldwinkle, United Kingdom
- Peterborough, United Kingdom
- Stamford, United Kingdom
- Spalding, United Kingdom
- Dogsthorpe, United Kingdom
- Oundle, United Kingdom
- Leicestershire, United Kingdom
- Leicester, United Kingdom
- +6 more