South Lincs UFO Study Group Newsletter - No 45 - 1973

Magazine Overview

This document is the January 1973 issue, number 45, of the South Lincs. U.F.O. Study Group Newsletter. It is a multi-topic publication with a focus on unexplained phenomena, history, and space exploration.

Articles and Content

A Shining Cross

This section recounts a legend about the Picts and Scots at war with the Saxon English. The night before a battle, the King of the Picts reportedly saw a vision of St. Andrew, who promised victory. The next day, the Picts saw a shining St. Andrew's Cross in the sky, which greatly encouraged them to charge and win the battle. This victory led to the Cross of St. Andrew becoming the Scottish ensign and St. Andrew becoming the patron saint of Scotland.

Wim Wams

This piece, originating from a letter in 'Lincs. Life' from June '68, discusses the meaning of 'wim-wams'. It is suggested that 'wim-wam' might relate to throwing something at dogs, with 'wim-wam' itself being a hobgoblin of minor order meant to cause fright. This is linked to older beliefs about mischievous or evil spirits like hobgoblins and boggarts that were said to lurk in woods and plantations.

A Flying History

Compiled by Patricia Barnes, this section provides a chronological list of significant dates in the history of flight:

• June 4th, 1783: First balloon ascents by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier.
• December 17th, 1903: Orville Wright made the first controlled flight by aeroplane.
• April 1st, 1913: Formation of the R.A.F. (previously the Royal Flying Corps).
• June 14th-15th, 1919: First flight across the Atlantic by Alcock and Brown.
• October 4th, 1957: First artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, launched by Russia.
• April 12th, 1961: Major Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the Earth.
• July 10th, 1962: Launching of 'Telstar', the first communications satellite.

The Oldest Object

This short piece, referencing the Peterborough Evening Telegraph (31.1.73), reports that a New York scientist stated a meteorite that crashed in 1968 near a Mexican village had been dated back 4,600,000,000 years. Dr. Gerald Wasserburg of the American Physical Society mentioned that this meteorite was 60 million years older than anything else discovered on Earth.

Spiritual Leader Says UFOs Are Astral Phenomena

This section discusses an article by Paul Twitchell, described as a world-famous authority on ECKANKA (the ancient science of Soul Travel), which was to appear in the next SLUFOSG Newsletter. Twitchell posits that the mysterious flying objects observed are not from outer space but are astral phenomena. He suggests that the government's UFO project at the University of Colorado is likely to fail because it does not account for this. Twitchell believes that some individuals possess extrasensory perception or clairvoyance, enabling them to see these phenomena. He explains this further in his book, 'The Tiger's Fang', noting that UFOs closely resemble physical objects, leading observers to believe they are extraterrestrial visitors.

Twitchell is also noted for his ability to be in multiple places simultaneously and is featured in books by Brad Steiger.

Jupiter

This brief item from the Sunday Express (3.12.72) mentions America's unmanned spacecraft heading for Jupiter, which is described as surviving its worst hazard. Controlled by radio from Earth, it is halfway through an avalanche of asteroids. Pioneer 20 is scheduled to reach Jupiter on December 3rd, 1973, with no landing planned, but it will transmit TV photographs.

How Did The Moon Get There?

This article, from the Sunday Express (28.5.72), addresses the 'mascons' encountered by the first moon landing crews. Mascons are described as invisible features on the Moon, identified as 'mass concentrations' – dense areas of material embedded below the lunar surface. These mascons exert a higher gravitational pull, which was known before the Apollo crews landed in the Sea of Tranquillity, allowing them to compensate. The mystery of their origin has puzzled scientists since irregular gravity readings were received from satellites. A new theory by two American scientists, Dr. Hannes Alfven (Nobel prize winner) and Dr. Gustav Arrhenius, proposes that mascons are actually mini-moons swallowed by the Moon at the dawn of creation. This theory is based on lunar rock samples suggesting the Moon was originally an independent body, not torn from Earth. It is theorized that Earth may have had five to ten moonlets, which were either captured by the larger Moon or sent into deep space. Evidence supporting this theory includes large dents or basins on the Moon's surface where mascons occur, possibly caused by collisions with these orbiting moonlets. The article also speculates that if the current Moon hadn't formed, Earth might have had a ring of smaller moons or a halo of light like Saturn.

News On A Space Mystery

Referencing the Peterborough Evening Telegraph (30.1.73), this piece introduces the topic of mysterious quasars, described as immensely bright sources of light and radio waves in far-distant space. Their brightness has baffled astronomers, leading them to be treated as a separate class of object. Dr. Jerome Kristian of the Hale Observatories in Pasadena, California, has located quasars at the heart of six galaxies, suggesting they are part of galactic evolution. Although tiny compared to galaxies, quasars are up to 1,000 times brighter. Dr. Kristian's findings could be a significant step towards understanding the origins of the universe.

Mythology References

The newsletter includes a list of Roman and Greek gods and their associations:

• Mercury: God of traders, messenger of the gods, conductor of the dead to Hades.
• Venus: Goddess of beauty and love.
• Mars: God of war, agriculture, protector of flocks and herds; the wolf was sacred to him.
• Jupiter: Father of Heaven, god of justice and virtue, guardian of the law.
• Saturn: God of sowing or seed corn.
• Uranus: 'Heaven' in Greek mythology, husband of Ge (Earth) and father of the Titans.
• Neptune: God of water and the sea.
• Pluto: Giver of wealth.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter covers a broad range of topics, including historical legends, folklore ('wim-wams'), significant milestones in aviation and space exploration, scientific theories about celestial bodies (mascons, quasars), and mythological figures. The editorial stance appears to be one of curiosity and exploration into unexplained phenomena and scientific discoveries, with a particular interest in UFOs and related subjects, as indicated by the organization's name. The inclusion of mythological references suggests an interest in ancient beliefs and their potential connections to modern mysteries.