SUFOG Newsletter No 047

Magazine Overview

This is the September 1994 issue, Number 47, of the Southampton UFO Group Newsletter. The newsletter is organized by Steve Gerrard and features a cover illustration of a grey alien. It aims to provide news, reviews, and information on UFO phenomena and related topics.

Contents

The main articles and features listed on the cover include:

• M.I.B OR M.I.Y THAT IS THE QUESTION.
• MAGAZINE REVIEW
• ROSWELL - THE MOVIE.
• U.F.O REPORT.....

Editors Corner

The editor reflects on the current year, noting that it has been a year of shifting loyalties within British ufology, with a tendency towards internal conflict rather than collaboration. The editor mentions attending several UFO conferences, including one in Wales where footage of an army helicopter chasing a light was shown, and another in Blackpool. Hopes are expressed for the success of the 1995 UFO conference in Portsmouth.

What the Media Had to Say in July 1993

This section provides a list of media articles related to crop circles and magazines published in July 1993:

Crop Circle Articles:

• 10.7.93: PAPER UNKNOWN - HOAXING IN THE SHEAVES.
• 18.7.93: SUNDAY OBSERVER - CORN JOLLIES.
• 30.7.93: PAPER UNKNOWN - CROP CIRCLE QUERY.
• 31.7.93: INDEPENDENT (THE) - A MISSION TO SQUARE THE CIRCLES.

Magazine Articles:

• 13.7.93: NATIONAL EXAMINER (USA) - BUGGED BY ALIENS ? WHO YA GONNA CALL ?
• 16.7.93: NEW STATESMAN & SOCIETY - FORTEAN TIMES.
• 28.7.93: TRAVEL WEEKLY (LONDON) - VIEW FROM THE SOUTH.

National and Regional Articles (July 1993)

This section compiles a comprehensive list of newspaper articles from July 1993 concerning UFOs, categorized by national and regional publications. Topics range from 'Saucer Spotting Weekend' and 'Lights in the Sky' to 'The Alien Has Landed', 'UFO Shock', and 'Ball Lightning'. Several articles discuss UFO sightings, expert probes, and conferences.

Notable regional articles include:

• Bristol Evening Post: 'UFO Watch by Experts', 'Keep Watching the Skies Plea', 'Ball Lightning Could Be the Answer'.
• Hull Daily Mail: 'The Alien Has Landed'.
• Birmingham Post: 'Who You Gonna Call? The Psiru of Course'.
• Hackney Gazette: 'Councillor's UFO Proves to Be a Lot of Hot Air'.
• Coventry Evening Telegraph: 'UFO Sighting Probe'.
• Bristol Evening Post: 'Experts to Focus on City UFO's'.

Newspaper Unknown Articles (July 1993)

This subsection lists articles from unknown newspaper sources, covering themes such as 'UFO's: Fact, Fraud or Fantasy?', 'The Alien Has Landed', 'Flying Saucers on Course for Ilkley Moor', and 'UFO Plot Thickens'.

Press Cutting Collection

The editor details their ongoing effort to maintain a monthly running total of press cuttings for research purposes. As of September 1994, the collection includes:

• Crop Circles: 788
• UK Nationals: 972
• UK Regionals: 3196
• Hampshire Articles: 93
• Newspaper Unknown: 653
• Magazine Articles: 274
• Rest of the World: 59
• Southampton Echo: 390
• The Times: 142
• American Articles: 569
• Bermuda Triangle: 3
• Bigfoot: 4
• Philadelphia Experiment: 1
• Cattle Mutilations: 13
• Stealth Fighter/Bomber: 5
• Faces on Mars: 3
• Mystery Cats: 12
• Aurora Project: 3
• Search for ET: 2
• Loch Ness Monster: 2

The total number of cuttings is 7211.

Press/TV/Radio Matters (15.8.94 - 15.9.94)

This section reviews recent media items:

• 23.7.94: DAILY MAIL - 'ONE POSITIVE UFO SIGHTING'. This was a book review of Patrick Harpur's 'Daimonic Reality', which discusses otherworldly experiences and the possibility of seeing such things.
• 26.7.94: WOMAN'S REALM - An article about UFO sightings by a Wiltshire couple, Ray and Eleanor Baughn, who often see objects hovering near Swindon.
• 28.7.94: CHRISTCHURCH ADVERTISER - Concerns a Dorset Ministry of Defence worker who believes his family was abducted by a UFO. The article included drawings of aliens and details of experiences onboard the craft.
• 21.8.94: MAIL ON SUNDAY - 'NIGHT & DAY....WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.' This article focuses on mystery cats in Britain, featuring photographs and accounts.
• 10.9.94: DAILY MAIL - 'UFO LEGEND THAT WON'T FLY AWAY'. This article discusses the Roswell crash, revealing it as a burst balloon from Project Mogul.
• 1.9.94: BOURNEMOUTH ECHO - 'TWO ALIEN VISITORS FROM OUTER SPACE 'LOST' IN LIBRARY'. This refers to a talk given by the editor at Fordingbridge library, accompanied by a photograph of two 'aliens'.

Television Mentions

• 18.8.94: MERIDIAN TV - Featured Reg Presley in a corn field using a Japanese device to measure brain activity, which was not very effective.

Police Stop!

This section humorously declares the crop circle phenomenon 'solved' based on a 'Police Stop' program that showed footage of police chases and a Range Rover driving through a corn field. The presenter suggested this was an explanation for crop circles.

Magazine Reviews

• ENIGMAS: ISSUE 37 No 5 AUG-SEPT 94. Malcolm Robinson's magazine covers haunted houses, abduction research, Stigmata, Loch Ness, and the Craiglusker UFO event. Contact: MALCOLM ROBINSON, 41 THE BRAES, CLACKMANNANSHIRE, SCOTLAND, FK10 2TT.
• AXMINSTER LIGHT CENTRE: AUTUMN 94. This edition discusses spaceships, unknown cloud phenomena, asteroids, and top-secret UFOs. Contact: AXMINSTER LIGHT CENTRE, 9 HILLHEAD TERRACE, MUSBURY RD, AXMINSTER, DEVON, EX13 5JL.
• OVNI: AUGUST 94. Omar's magazine covers crop circles, a review by Pat Delgado, and UFO reports from 1994, including the Barbury castle 'SPIDER'. Contact: OMAR FOWLER, 12 TILTON GROVE, KIRK HALLAM, ILKESTON, DERBYSHIRE, DE7 4GR.
• FORTEAN TIMES: No 76 1994. This issue includes articles on the Great Warminster photograph hoax, the Loch Ness monster photo hoax, and claims of contact with Martians in the 1890s.
• IUFOPRA NEWSLETTER: AUGUST 94. This newsletter discusses the challenges faced by ufologists, including ridicule from the press. Contact: I.U.F.O.P.R.A, PO BOX 3070, WHITEHALL, DUBLIN 9, EIRE.
• UFO MAGAZINE: SEPT/OCT 94. This magazine, now improved, covers the Hecksburg UFO mystery, an interview with Bob Oechsler, 'The X-Files', and Aurora. Available through W.H.SMITHS.

Other Publications Reviewed

• UFO: Vol 9 No 4 1994. An American magazine recommended for its coverage of 668 documents released by the State Department, Swiss military UFO files, triangular UFOs in Japan, and an illustrated Roswell report. It also reviews the movie 'Roswell'. Copies from Counter Productions, PO BOX 556, LONDON SE5 ORL.
• THE CIRCLE HUNTER: No 5 AUG 1994. A crop circle magazine with photographs and articles on the 1994 season. Contact: Anthony Horn, 23 SEA VIEW DRIVE, SCARBOROUGH, NORTH YORKSHIRE, YO11 3HY.
• A.U.N. (AMATEUR UFOLOGY NEWS): No 27, June 94. Recommended for its UFO reports, including a truck driver's sighting in Missouri and a missing time report. Contact: AMATEUR UFOLOGY NEWS, P.O BOX 440, LOCKWOOD, MO 65682, USA.
• A.U.N. (AMATEUR UFOLOGY NEWS): No 28, July 94. Features a pulsating red sphere seen near Hutchinson, Kansas.
• SOUTHERN PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS GROUP: No 9 1994. This group's publication covers an article about Jenny R andles, old UFO sightings, crop circle news, and the Gulf Breeze saga. Contact: Len Smith, 79 Leburnum Road, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 7EW.
• CIRCLES RESEARCH: SEPT 94. Maria Ward's newsletter is packed with UFO reports and crop circle updates from Kent, Wiltshire, Somerset, and London. The newsletter offers condolences to Maria Ward on the loss of her daughter.
• SKYLINK: No 8, August 94. The London UFO Studies group has changed its editor and layout, which is described as superb. This edition includes articles on aliens appearing on home computers, the abduction game, Apollo 11, and recent crop circle and UFO reports. Contact: ROY LAKE, 10a TUDOR ROAD, BARKING, ESSEX. IG11 9RX. Email: [email protected].
• IUFOPRA NEWSLETTER: SEPT 94. This newsletter contains group news, a Roswell update, and sky notes. Contact IUFOPRA at the address provided in the previous IUFOPRA entry.

UFO Hotline

Contact information for a UFO Hotline is provided, with charges for standard and peak rates.

Bufora Weekly News Update

A phone number is listed for the Bufora Weekly News Update.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, crop circles, media coverage of these phenomena, and reviews of various UFO-related publications. The editorial stance, as expressed in the 'Editors Corner', is one of concern over internal divisions within the ufology community and a call for greater collaboration. There is a critical undertone regarding the media's handling of UFO topics, as seen in the 'Police Stop!' section and the commentary on the Roswell incident. The newsletter actively promotes the sharing of information and provides contact details for numerous groups and publications, encouraging readers to engage with the subject matter.

Title: UFO REPORT
Issue: MONTHLY
Date: Monday, 12th September 1994
Content: This issue of the UFO REPORT newsletter provides details on a recent UFO sighting, discusses the movie 'ROSWELL - THE MOVIE', and reviews the 1994 crop circle season. It also includes information on a UFO lecture and subscription details.

Newsletter Subscription Details

The newsletter consists of no less than 4 double-sided A4 pages, including new cuttings of interest to the reader. During the summer months, around April, an extra page is included to cover crop circle news. The subscription costs £5 per year, including postage.

UFO Sighting Report

On Monday, 12th September 1994, at approximately 9 PM, a witness in his house sighted an object from his window. The object was triangular in shape and hovered at an altitude of about 7,000 to 8,000 feet. It displayed three white lights in a triangular formation, with a central smaller light that was flashing. The object moved faster than an airplane, traveling due West to East. It appeared to be flying due North of Fareham and was described as being the size of a new five pence coin held at arm's length. The editor requests anyone with information about this sighting to contact them.

Stop Press: Roswell Movie Release

The newsletter announces the release of the video 'ROSWELL - THE MOVIE', which is based on the alleged crash of a UFO in New Mexico in 1947. The movie was released in America on July 31st, 1994, and is not yet available in the United Kingdom. The editor has obtained a copy and offers it to readers upon request.

UFO Lecture Report

A UFO lecture was held on August 25th, 1994, at Fordingbridge Library. The author and Mr. Ernie Sears of the Southampton Ufo Group gave a one-hour talk. They had expected around 35 children aged 7-12 but were attended by approximately 17 children. The lower turnout was attributed to a nice day and people being on holiday. The talk was divided into two parts. The first 30 minutes covered the history of ufology, from biblical aspects to the present day, including video footage. During the video presentation, one child shouted, 'THAT'S A FRIZBY'. The next 30 minutes featured Mr. Sears discussing his UFO sightings (14 to date), which interested the children. Towards the end of the talk, two library staff members appeared dressed as 'ALIENS' and 'ZAPPED' the children and speakers. Two photographers, one from the Newforest Advertiser and another from the Bournemouth Evening Echo, were present. The talk was described as light-hearted, and the children enjoyed it. One child expressed a desire to save £30 to buy a telescope to see UFOs.

Man In Black Back in the News

The newsletter mentions that M.I.Y.'s (Men In Yellow) are now being seen near crop circle formations. It is also suggested that M.I.B (Man In Black) might be involved and that they might 'get together'. The implication is that traffic wardens near crop circle areas could be M.I.Y. or M.I.B. in disguise, warning readers to be vigilant.

The End of the Crop Circle Season 1994 (A News Roundup)

The 1994 crop circle season has concluded. This year was characterized by hoaxing and copycat creations, with fewer genuine formations. Farmers reportedly destroyed formations before they could be investigated, and M.I.Y. were seen roaming the areas. Hampshire had few formations, with only two reported in the devils punch bowl and one nearby, and Andover had a couple. The Alton Barnes area of Wiltshire, however, was heavily peppered with formations, leading the author to believe it has become a 'mecca' for hoaxers due to expectations and proximity to ancient burial sites and archaeological areas. Internationally, crop circles have been reported in Hungary, America, and Germany, though details are scarce. The author hopes to provide a full listing of the 1994 circles in the future.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO sightings, alleged UFO-related events (like the Roswell incident), and the phenomenon of crop circles. There is a clear interest in investigating and reporting on these topics, with a tone that is both informative and slightly speculative. The editor actively seeks reader input and encourages discussion. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into unexplained phenomena, while also acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes, particularly concerning crop circles. The inclusion of a lecture report and the mention of M.I.B./M.I.Y. suggest an engagement with various facets of the UFO and paranormal community.