SUFOG Newsletter No 044

Magazine Overview

Title: SOUTHAMPTON UFO GROUP.
Issue: NEWSLETTER NO 44
Date: JUNE 94.
Publisher: SOUTHAMPTON UFO GROUP.
Country: UK
Language: English

Content Summary

This issue of the Southampton UFO Group Newsletter, dated June 1994, is primarily a compilation of media reports from April 1993 concerning UFO sightings and related phenomena. The newsletter is organized into sections detailing what local, national, and regional newspapers and magazines had to say during that period.

Local Newspapers:

The "ANDOVER ADVERTISER" on 23.4.93 reported that a "UFO PROBE MAY CENTRE ON ANDOVER."

Magazine Articles:

Two magazine articles are noted: "THE CRACK (NEWCASTLE)" on 4.93 and "TAXI GLOBE" on 29.4.93, both with "NO HEADLINE."

National Newspapers:

The "DAILY TELEGRAPH" on 12.4.93 featured "HIGH TEA."

Regional Newspapers:

A comprehensive list of regional newspaper reports is provided, including:

• 1.4.93: "RHYL & PRESTATYN VISITOR" (NO HEADLINE), "SOUTH WALES ARGUS" (CURIOUSER & COURIOSER), "ILFORD RECORDER" (NO HEADLINE).
• 1.4.93: "MANSFIELD & SUTTON OBSERVER" (UFO GROUP MEETS).
• 2.4.93: "HONITON EXMOUTH WEEKLY NEWS" (ALERT AFTER 19 POLICE SPOT UFO), "SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE" (DON'T RUB YOUR EYES), "CARDIGAN & TIVYSIDE ADVERTISER (WALES)" (UFO BAFFLES AIR EXPERT).
• 2.4.93: "IRISH TIMES" (UFO COULD HAVE BEEN A SECRET U.S SPY PLANE).
• 3.4.93: "BATH & WEST EVENING CHRONICLE" (WE ARE NOT ALONE).
• 4.4.93: "WALES ON SUNDAY" (UFO FIREBALL).
• 7.4.93: "WELWYN & HATFIELD TIMES" (RIDDLE FOR LESLEY OVER MISSING 'UFO' PICTURE).
• 8.4.93: "CORNISHMAN" (WOMAN SIGHTS 'UFO'), "LONDON EVENING STANDARD" (PICK OF THE DAY).
• 9.4.93: "DEESIDE PIPER & HERALD (FORFAR)" (CAMERA'S CLOSE ENCOUNTER), "SUTTON COLDFIELD NEWS" (THE ALIENS ARE HERE !).
• 10.4.93: "BIRMINGHAM EVENING MAIL" (THE BRIGHT SIDE), "ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS" (THE FUN OF THE UFO).
• 16.4.93: "SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE" (OVER 20 REPORT UFO SIGHTINGS).
• 16.4.93: "WARMINSTER JOURNAL" (UFO EXPERT BACK IN TOWN).
• 17.4.93: "HELSTON, HAYLE & THE LIZARD LEADER" (SIGHTING OF 'UFO' AT PAUL ?).
• 20.4.93: "HULL DAILY MAIL" (NIGHT THE COUNTY HAD A CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE BAFFLING KIND).
• 22.4.93: "WESTERN DAILY PRESS (BRISTOL)" (PROBE AS 40 SEE WEST UFO), "EXETER EXPRESS & ECHO" (UFO PROBE), "WESTERN MORNING NEWS (PLYMOUTH)" (REPORTS FLOOD IN OF UFO OVER REGION).
• 23.4.93: "ST IVES TIMES" (UFO CONFOUNDS LOCALS).
• 24.4.93: "WESTERN MORNING NEWS (PLYMOUTH)" (BOOK REVIEW : ALIEN LIAISON).
• 25.4.93: "SUNDAY INDEPENDENT (PLYMOUTH)" (UFO IS SPOTTED BY POLICE).
• 30.4.93: "SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE" (STRANGE TALE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING JELLYFISH).

Newspaper Unknown:

Several undated or unassigned newspaper articles are listed:

• "CONSPIRACY 3 : UFO."
• "JOKES ARE ON THE UFO BELIEVERS."
• "DISPLAY ON UFO'S (KEN ROGERS)."
• "INVESTIGATING THE UFO PHENOMENA. (BOOK REVIEW)."

Press Cutting Collection:

The organizer, Steve Gerrard, maintains a monthly running total of his press cutting collection, offering articles for research. The collection includes statistics on various categories:

• CROP CIRCLES: 759
• UK NATIONALS: 915
• UK REGIONALS: 2810
• HAMPSHIRE ARTICLES: 95
• NEWSPAPER UNKNOWN: 641
• MAGAZINE ARTICLES: 247
• REST OF THE WORLD: 58
• SOUTHAMPTON ECHO: 389
• TIMES (THE): 139
• AMERICAN ARTICLES: 547
• BERMUDA TRIANGLE: 2

Other topics in the collection include BIGFOOT (4), PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT (1), CATTLE MUTILATIONS (13), STEALTH FIGHTER/BOMBER (5), FACES ON MARS (3), MYSTERY CATS (10), AURORA PROJECT (3), SEARCH FOR ET (2), and LOCH NESS MONSTER (2). The total number of press/tv/radio matters over the past month (15.5.94 - 15.6.94) is 6656.

Television:

• This Morning (17.5.94): Featured J.E. MACK Phd discussing his new book on "Abduction." The organizer managed to record only the second half of the interview, which involved callers sharing abduction/encounter stories. He found the content interesting and recommended the book.
• CBS News (28.5.94): The program "48HRS : ARE WE ALONE ?" presented a special news report on abductions, featuring Budd Hopkins and John E. Mack. It included interviews with people alleging alien encounters and abductions, described as an interesting look at the scenario, though covering some familiar ground.

Sightings (Sky TV):

• 3.6.94: Two subjects were covered: "Encounters in Space" featuring footage from Discovery on 12th September 1994, showing at least three UFOs, one performing a 90-degree turn. The second part looked at the Marfa Lights and a ghost update.

Forthcoming TV Items:

• 16.6.94: SKY TV - Details unknown, but more information expected nearer the time.
• 24.6.94: James Whale Show - Features Roy Lake. The organizer expresses caution, having seen previous cringeworthy UFO segments on the show.
• 25.6.94: SKY TV - Details unknown, but viewers are advised to watch TV magazines.

Press Reports:

• Sunday People (15.4.94): "Major Gets Rocket Over Ufos." This report details demands for John Major to reveal top-secret UFO reports, alleging a "massive cover-up" by British, US, and Russian governments. It mentions an investigation revealing beliefs that aliens abduct humans for experiments. John Holman of the Alien Acknowledgement Campaign is quoted stating the public's right to know and that the military is withholding information.
• Daily Express (20.5.94): Reviewed John E. Mack's book "Abduction: Human Encounters With Aliens." The review noted a fair assessment and mentioned that Mack's recent TV appearance sparked 700 calls from viewers who had experienced abductions or alien encounters.
• Daily Mirror (30.5.94): "999 HELP! THE MARTIANS ARE COMING." A meteor triggered a flying saucer panic across four counties when it broke up in flames. An orange glow was seen, and police received frantic calls. Coastguard and radar checks were conducted, but no damage or sightings of "little green men" were reported.
• The People (29.9.94): "UFO VIDEO SPARKS NEW ALIEN FEARS..." This article discusses video evidence of a mushroom-shaped "Spaceship" hovering over rooftops, examined by UFO experts. Residents claim to have seen the silent, sparkling object for up to an hour. The Earl of Kimberley, a member of the all-party UFO study group, supports these claims. Ray and Eleanor Baughn were among the first to spot the object.

Magazine Reviews:

The newsletter reviews several magazines:

1. CENAP - REPORT : NO 213 2/94: Covers topics like "The UFO Invasion of Puerto Rico," "UFO's in the press," "Cosmic Watergate," and "March on Washington." Contact: Werner Walter, Manheim, Germany.
2. CENAP REPORT : NO 214 3/94: Features TV programs on RTL TV, Groom Lake, book reviews, and UFO news. Contact: Werner Walter.
3. OMNI 4/94: Covers "Cosmic Conspiracy: Six Decades of Government UFO Cover-Ups," "Inside the Military UFO Underground," "The Great High Rise Abduction," and "Soviet Saucers." Available via mail order for 6 first-class stamps.
4. PEGASUS Autumn 94: Contains articles on "The Red Planet," "Mars Observer Investigation Report," "Lazar On The Greys," "Zecharia And The Ancient Astronauts," and "Project Moon Dust." Contact: SIGAP, Guildford, Surrey.
5. UNSOLVED UFO SIGHTINGS SPRING 94 (American Magazine): Covers UFOs, Angels, The Dearly Departed, Circular Evidence (Crop Circles), Flying Saucers Russian Style, The Bentwaters UFO 'Crash', and other articles. Available via EXCALIBUR BOOKS, Bangor, Co Down, Northern Ireland.
6. UFO. Vol 9 No 2 1994 (American Magazine): Covers the Roswell Incident, the Congressional Inquiry, and a new movie/book on the 1947 case. Available through EXCALIBUR BOOKS.
7. ANDOVER UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA INVESTIGATION NETWORK. 3/94: A new group investigating UFO sightings and crop circles in Wiltshire and Hampshire, also covering other unexplained phenomena. Contact: Malcolm Terry, Andover.
8. BUFORA PRESS CUTTINGS : No 17 December 1993: Collection of press items from British, American, and Australian press, covering March 1993 - January 1994. Contact: BM BUFORA, London.
9. BUFORA PRESS CUTTINGS : No 18: Covers UK and American press items from April 1993 - February 1994.
10. QUEST MAGAZINE Vol 13 No 1 Mar/Apr 94: Will be available direct from newsagents from June 1994. Covers "Unconventional Flying Objects," "The Warminster Thing Photo Case," "UFO Update," "Visitors at Rendlesham Forest," "Puerto Rico Photo," and more. Contact: Quest Publications International LTD, Grassington, Skipton, North Yorkshire.
11. OVNI May 94: Looks at John E. Mack's book, a silver ball UFO sighting over Derby, a police sergeant's UFO sighting from Nottingham, a Warminster hoax photo, and recent crop circle formations. Contact: Phenomenon Research Association, Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
12. COSMOLOGY NEWSLINK No 49: Edward Harris has separated UFO information into "World Ufo Journal." This magazine covers space matters, Mars Update, Ghosts, etc. Contact: COSMOLOGY NEWS, Great Dunmow, Essex.
13. ENIGMAS No 36 Vol 5 May/June 94: Covers UFO reports from Scotland, including dreams, humanoid forms, fireside tales, Loch Ness monster photo fakes, and UFO photos. Contact: Malcolm Robinson, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, Scotland.
14. I.U.F.O.R.P.A June 94: Monthly newsletter supplementing a group magazine, containing news about the group. Contact: IUFOPRA, Dublin, Ireland.
15. Axminster Light Centre. Summer 1994: Covers the Photon Belt, Space Communication, and "What, If Anything, Does The Bible Say About U.F.O'S?". Contact: Axminster Light Centre, Devon, England.

UFO HOTLINE:

Charges are 36p Standard Rate and 48p Peak Rate per minute. Bufora Weekly News Update number is 0891 121 886.

Newsletter Subscription Details

The newsletter consists of no less than 4 double-sided A4 pages and includes newscuttings. In summer months, an extra page covers crop circle news. The cost is £5 per year, including postage, and it is published monthly.

VHS Videos for Sale:

Two VHS videos are available for sale (3 hours each):

• VIDEO 1: "The Old Straight Track (Ley Lines)," "Kilroy Show - Ufo's," "The Time The Place," "Jane Morrison - Ufo Abductee." (£7 plus £1.20 postage/recorded delivery).
• VIDEO 2: "American Tv Items (Quality Not Very Good)," "Raf Woodbridge Ufo Encounter," "YUFOS Interviews," "Tony Dodd on Tv Am." (£7 plus £1.20 postage/recorded delivery).

1995 1 Day UFO Conference:

Proposed speakers include Paul Fuller, Gordon Millington, Roy Lake, and Malcolm Terry. The proposed date is 22nd April, in the Portsmouth area. Contact details are provided.

RECENT HAMPSHIRE UFO REPORTS:

• 6.5.94: Farnborough 2152 - UFO sighted, yellow and orange with lights, flying very fast.
• 6.5.94: Farnborough 2154 - Large UFO with yellow flashing lights, made a humming noise, disappeared fast towards Camberley.
• 25.4.94: Winchester 7.50 Am - Witness at Winchester Hospital saw a large disc-shaped object hovering over the downs, visible for 15 minutes. It had oblong windows with rounded ends, silver on top and bottom, and white around the windows. A footnote mentions a crop formation at Cheesefoot Head near Winchester on the same date and location as the UFO.

The Irish Ufo And Paranormal Research Association:

I.U.F.O.P.R.A. is Ireland's official and independent UFO and paranormal organization, producing the IUFOPRA JOURNAL and monthly newsletters. They offer journal exchanges.

Rumours:

Reports suggest a UFO crash-landed in Scotland, with a 300-foot hangar built to hide it. It may have crashed near a wooded area and is guarded by armed guards. The story is heard from three separate sources, with initial reports placing it near Birmingham and later in Yorkshire or Scotland.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter's primary focus is on documenting and disseminating information about UFO sightings and related phenomena, largely through the collection and presentation of media reports. There is a clear interest in UFO investigations, abduction accounts, and the potential for government cover-ups. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to share information and explore the subject matter, as evidenced by the call for video copies and the compilation of extensive press cuttings. The inclusion of magazine reviews and contact details for various research groups suggests an effort to connect enthusiasts and provide resources for further investigation.

This issue of the newsletter, dated 15.5.94 - 15.6.94, focuses on UFO sightings and crop circle phenomena. It includes a "UFO QUIZ!!" with photographic evidence and questions for readers, offering a free subscription as a prize for correct answers.

UFO Quiz

The quiz presents three questions related to photographs. The first question asks to identify individuals in a photo taken in 1967 and when one of them died. The second question asks to identify a person and when they saw their UFO, where they were, and when they saw it. The third question asks who took a specific photo, where it was taken, and when.

Scotland Sighting

The editorial section discusses a report of an obviously large object seen in the skies over Scotland. The author questions why newspapers have not picked up on such a story and wonders if a large movement of soldiers and military equipment has been observed. The piece warns readers to be aware of armored columns moving with low loader lorries and tarpaulins covering flying saucer-shaped objects, suggesting these could be secret military objects that have crashed.

Crop Circle Update

The newsletter features an article from the Daily Mail (23.5.94) about Reg Presley, a 1960s star, who anticipates significant royalties from his research into crop circles. Presley, who has been obsessed with crop circles for four years, is close to finishing a book on the subject and plans to film them from the air. He believes that while most crop circles are hoaxes, 25% are not, and some may be made by ETs.

A "Circle Update" section details recent crop circle formations in Wiltshire. A friend of the newsletter's editor, Mr. Bob Schindler of the Southern Paranormal Investigations Group, visited the Silbury/West Kennet area. He noted only one or two formations prior to the May bank holiday, but observed more appearing over the holiday weekend. These formations included single circles, circles with centers, circles with satellite circles, and circles with half moons. One circle measured approximately 60ft in diameter. A formation near Silbury was described as a scorpion with a 'sting in its tail', and a pictogram was also noted.

The author states they are not aware of any other formations found in the British Isles or other countries at present but hopes to provide an update in the next newsletter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, potential government or military cover-ups, and the phenomenon of crop circles. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging reader participation in the UFO quiz and presenting information on crop circles with a degree of skepticism towards hoaxes but an openness to extraterrestrial explanations. The publication aims to keep readers informed about unexplained phenomena and encourages them to share their observations.