SUFOG Newsletter No 026

Magazine Overview

This document is the Newsletter No. 26 from the Southampton UFO Group, dated December 1992. The organiser is Steve Gerrard, with contact details provided for his address and telephone number in Woolston, Southampton.

The primary focus of this issue is a compilation of media reports on UFOs from November 1991, categorized by the type of publication (Regional Newspapers, Crop Circles, Magazines, Local Newspapers, World Articles, National Newspapers, Southampton Echo, American Newspapers).

Media Coverage: November 1991

Regional Newspapers:

The newsletter lists numerous articles from various regional newspapers across the UK, covering a range of UFO-related topics. These include reports on "Super Naturalists," "How UFO Mania Really Took Off," discussions on whether "UFOs & Astronomy Are Worlds Apart," and questions about "Why the Cover Up?" Specific sightings and events are also mentioned, such as a "UFO Mystery Deepens" in Stroud, a book review titled "No Title" from Eastern Evening News, and "I Forgot the Alien Man" book review from Aberdeen Evening Express. Other articles include "Shedding a Light on 'UFO' Mystery," "Steve's Plea to UFO Spotters in Wigan," "UFO Spotted in Israel," "Europe on UFO Alert," "UFO Brings Down to Earth Anxieties," "Stroud UFO Sightings Linked to Belgium," a "'Flaming' UFO Hits Four Oaks," "Close Encounter?" in Wiltshire Times, a "Couple on Skywatch" in Durham Advertiser, an "Object in Sky Was Out of This World" in Wigan Evening Post, a book review "Things That Go Bump" from Southend Evening Echo, and a question "Was This Humming Object a UFO?" from Somerset County Gazette.

Crop Circles:

Reports on crop circles include "Scientists Reports on Hoax Circles" from Wiltshire Times, "Circling a Crop of Crackpots" from Daily Express, "A Fine Crop of Mystery Circles" from Daily Mail, and a review of "Creations of the Dark" from New York.

Magazines:

No specific magazines are listed in this section.

Local Newspapers:

No specific local newspapers are listed in this section.

World Articles:

A single article is noted from the Melbourne Australia Post: "I Have a Lover From Outer Space."

National Newspapers:

Articles from national newspapers include "They Came From Outer Space," "No Green Men," and a review of "UFO Report 1992 Book Review" from the Daily Telegraph, and "Mystery of UFO in Earth Fly-Past" from Mail on Sunday.

Southampton Echo:

No specific articles are listed for the Southampton Echo.

American Newspapers:

Reports from American newspapers include "Barefoot on the Beach" from Pensacola Islander, "Just How Groundless Are Reported UFO Sightings?" from Detroit News, "Out of This World" from Los Angeles Times, a "Journalist From Germany Witness UFO Sighting" from Pensacola Islander, "Beam Him the Truth Scotty" from Denver Rocky Mountain News, and "20 Century Angels & Other True Stories" from Seattle Weekly.

Press Cutting Collection

Steve Gerrard maintains a monthly running total of his newspaper and magazine article collection. As of the newsletter's publication, the collection includes:

• Crop Circles: 634
• Nationals: 720
• Regional: 2115
• Locals: 77
• Unknowns: 392
• Magazines: 170
• World: 52
• Southampton Echo: 387
• Times (The): 133
• American: 458
• Bermuda Triangle: 2
• Big Foot: 4
• Philadelphia Exp: 1
• Cattle Mutilations: 10
• Stealth Bomber: 1
• Faces on Mars: 2
• Aurora: 1

Total: 5159

He invites readers to do a 'swap' of press cuttings and mentions he is unable to provide a complete listing due to the sheer number of articles.

General Information

Useful Address:

Information is provided for Northern UFO News Magazine, c/o Jenny Randles, in Stockport, Cheshire.

Slides:

A list of around 300 slides is available from Quest International, though the list may not be up to date. Readers are directed to see an advertising page for the address.

Audio Tapes:

Steve Gerrard has a collection of around 110 audio tapes on UFOs and crop circles, ranging from 20 minutes to 4 hours in length. Copies can be supplied at the price of a tape, plus packaging and postage (£2-£3 per tape).

Forthcoming Lectures/Meetings/Events

• 1993 Lectures:
• "UFOs: Fact, Fraud or Fantasy?" on 14th & 15th August at Sheffield Polytechnic. Contact Stewart Smith for details.
• Wembley Arena 9th & 10th January 1993: First International Conference that exposes a Global Deception. Cost: £31.00 for two days, or £20.50 for Saturday or Sunday.
• Third World UFO Congress: Tromso, Northern Norway, 14th - 18th May 1993.

New Books to Look Out For

• Timothy Good's new book, "The UFO Report 1993," was initially expected in November 1992 but was delayed due to publisher problems, with a new release date anticipated for March/April 1993.

Press/TV/Radio Matters (15.11-15.12.92)

Television:

On 16.11.92, Sky News featured a report on UFOs lasting about 25 minutes. It included individuals such as Roy Lake (London UFO Studies Group) and abductee Alan Godfrey. The report was considered too short.

Magazine Review:

This section reviews several magazines and newsletters:

1. London UFO Studies: Three magazines supplied by Roy Lake. These are described as well-produced with interesting reports and sightings from the London/Home Counties area. Details available from Roy Lake at 10A Tudor Road, Barking, Essex IG11 9RX, priced at £4 for 4 magazines.
2. Crop Watcher Nos 12 & 13: Described as a very good and well-produced magazine on crop circles from Paul Fuller. Details from Paul Fuller, 3 Selbourne Court, Tavistock Close, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 7TY, priced at £1.50 per issue or £9.00 for 6.
3. Two Newsletters/Magazines from Edward Harris:
* The first is The World UFO Journal, containing material on crashed UFOs, Roswell, and sightings. Contact Edward Harris at 16 Newton Green, Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1DU.
* The second is Cosmology Newslink (Summer-Winter 92 No 45), covering UFOs, witchcraft, cosmology news, and time travel. Details from the same address.
4. UFO Magazine (Quest International) Vol 11 No4: A well-presented magazine that should be read with an open mind. It covers subjects like Foo Fighters, Aurora, and aliens in England. Details from 18 Hardy Meadows, Grassington, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 5LR.
5. Fortean Times: Available from newsagents. The current issue contains little on UFOs but other material is noted as good reading. Priced at £2 per copy.

UFO Hot Lines

Provides information on standard and peak rate charges for UFO hotlines, and the BUFORA Weekly News Update number (0898 121 886).

Computer UFON Network/UFO Reporting & Information Service

Details for connecting to a computer network, including baud rates and operating hours (20:00 - 08:00 WST). Reporting/information services are available from 08:00 - 20:00.

News/Views & Gossip

Specific Article Mentions

• Daily Telegraph (5/12/92): An article headed "Plane 'Can Circle Globe in 5 Hours'" discussed the Aurora Project in America. It is described as triangular, with a 75% nose, flying top-secret test missions at Mach 8 (5,280 MPH) for perhaps three years. It has been reported in the Mull of Kintyre and rattled windows in Los Angeles. The information stems from an oil rig worker who saw a wedge-shaped aircraft flying between two F-111 fighter-bombers and a Hercules tanker in 1989.

Books for Sale

• Mankind - Child of the Stars by Max Flindt & Otto Binder (PBK. £1.00)
• Communion by Whitley Strieber (PBK. £0.50)
• Operation Earth by Le Poer Trench (PBK. £1.00)
• The Cosmic Connection by Carl Sagan (PBK. £1.50)
• (Prices do not include postage/packaging).

Two Videos for Sale

Two VHS tapes are advertised:

1. E-180 (3hr Tape):
* A/ BBC Scene Today with John Spencer discussing his new book and the forthcoming 1991 IUN/BUFORS/NUFON Conference in Sheffield.
* B/ UFO The Unsolved Mystery, hosted by Mike Farrell.
* C/ Unsolved Mysteries: Gulf Breeze documentary on UFOs.
* D/ American video material on a current affairs programme (Inside Investigation) with interviews with Stanton Friedman & Bud Hopkins.
* E/ Irish interview with Whitley Strieber.
* F/ Newsnight: UFO Lands in Russia.
* G/ Philip Mantle on Motormouth.
2. VHS (3hrs Tape):
* A/ The Gamma Chronicles: Documentary on UFOs.
* B/ Granada TV Up Front: Discussion on UFOs.
* C/ In Search of UFOs - Documentary USA.
* D/ Stories in the Night: Interview with Timothy Good, Hilary Evans & an Abductee.
* E/ Timothy Good on Pebble Mill.
* F/ Jenny Randles & Patrick Moore on Breakfast TV.

These videos are priced at £7.00 each, or both for £6.50 each, plus postage & packaging.

Subscription Details

The newsletter normally consists of at least 4 double-sided A4 pages, including new cuttings. An extra page is added in the summer months for crop circle coverage. The newsletter costs £5 per year, including postage.

The next newsletter is due out around 15.1.93.

Computerisation of Collection

Steve Gerrard is in the process of putting his newspaper collection (around 5,200 items) onto his Amstrad PCW9512 computer. He hopes to finish this over the next month or two and is looking for others with Amstrads who might be interested in a copy of the index, which runs on Locofile. Discs would be updated on a 6-month basis.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter appears to be a comprehensive digest of UFO-related news and media coverage, with a strong emphasis on cataloging sightings, media reports, and available resources. The editor, Steve Gerrard, actively collects and disseminates information, encouraging reader participation through the 'swap' of press cuttings and offering his own collection of audio tapes and video materials. The publication also promotes upcoming events, books, and other UFO-related journals and networks, such as the Independent UFO Network and BUFORA. The editorial stance is one of information gathering and sharing, presenting a wide array of UFO phenomena and related discussions without explicit judgment, though the inclusion of book reviews and event promotions suggests an engagement with the UFO community's interests. The focus on media coverage indicates an interest in how UFOs are perceived and reported in the public sphere.