SUFOG Newsletter No 054

Magazine Overview

This document is the April 1995 issue, number 54, of the Southampton UFO Group Newsletter. The cover features stylized alien imagery and prominent branding for the group. The newsletter is organized by Steve Gerrard, with contact details provided. The content focuses on UFO-related news, media coverage, and reviews of other publications in the field.

Editorial

The editorial, dated April 1995, acknowledges the newsletter's late arrival due to the editor's acquisition of a new personal computer and inkjet printer, with hopes of improving newsletter quality and eventually including pictures. The editor mentions that the 1995 UFO conference in Portsmouth is drawing near, with around 200 tickets sold, and promises a review of the conference and details of a conference video in the next issue. The Roswell controversy and its associated video footage of an alien autopsy are highlighted as topics for the upcoming edition. The editor also hints at future content involving 'M.I.B' (Men in Black) or 'Man in Bufora' tales.

Media Coverage: February 1994

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to cataloging media reports concerning UFOs from February 1994. This section is divided into National Articles and Regional Articles. National articles are sourced from publications like the Daily Star, The Guardian, The People, and Mail On Sunday, with headlines ranging from 'Secret of little men in a UFO!' to 'It came from outer space...or did it?'. Regional articles cover a wide geographical spread across the UK, including reports from Grimsby, Kettering, Boston, Norwich, Bromsgrove, Glasgow, and many other towns, with titles such as 'Flying Saucers Probe', 'UFO mysteries', and 'Mystery sighting near base'.

Press Cutting Collection

The editor maintains a monthly running total of their press cutting collection, which has reached a total of 7538 items. The collection is categorized by subject, with 'UK Regionals' being the largest category with 3393 clippings, followed by 'UK Nationals' with 1006. Other categories include 'Crop Circles', 'Hampshire Articles', 'Magazine Articles', and specific topics like 'Bigfoot', 'Mystery Cats', and 'Loch Ness Monster'. The editor offers to provide articles for research purposes.

Press/TV/Radio Matters (March 15 - April 15, 1995)

This section highlights recent media mentions. A 'Mystery Light Show Sparks UFO Alert' in Hampshire is reported, with eyewitness accounts from residents in Southampton and Winchester, including student Terena Plowright and Mabel Burden. The reports describe slow-moving lights with various colors and swaying movements. A spokesman for Eastleigh airport stated no aircraft were flying at the times of the sightings. The 'Daily Mail' (28.3.95) article 'Little Green Men Or Big Green Dollars?' is summarized, focusing on the Roswell crash and alleged alien autopsy film, with Philip Mantle's conviction and willingness to testify being noted. The 'Daily Mail' (5.4.95) article 'Coming In A Wing And A Flare...' describes a Hercules C-130 aircraft ejecting flares over South Australia, clarifying it was not a UFO. The newsletter also seeks information on BBC Radio 1 segments featuring a pilot's UFO encounter and Philip Mantle's appearance. Television reviews include 'The X-Files' (21.3.95 and 28.3.95), praised for its abduction storyline, and 'Arthur C. Clarkes Mysterious Universe' (3.4.95), which discussed abduction scenarios without providing definitive answers.

Magazine Reviews

The newsletter provides reviews of several UFO-related magazines:

1. HEARTLAND UFO JOURNAL (No.31 Oct 94 - No.34 Jan 95): Praised as a great monthly magazine, with reviews of articles on alien abductions, UFO reports, and specific sightings.
2. IUFOPRA JOURNAL (Feb/Mar 95): Covers topics like 'A fireman's guide to UFO's' and 'Intruders'.
3. UFO REPORTER (No.4 1995): A British magazine featuring UFO case books, Isle of Man mysteries, and book reviews.
4. PEGASUS (Vol 4. No.1 1995): Highly recommended by the editor, covering topics such as the Krull Files, Lazar, Mystery Helicopters, and Ancient Astronauts.
5. OVNI (March 95): Focuses on UFO activity in Derbyshire, particularly 'Triangles'.
6. SKYLINK (No. 10 1995): Highly recommended, covering Rendlesham Forest, hybrid theories, and UFO mysteries.
7. CIRCLES RESEARCH (March 95): Features updates on UFO reports, crop circles, and anatomical anomalies.
8. EMUFORA (No.5 Spring 95): Includes articles on FOIA documents, UFOs in Sweden, and Flying Triangles.
9. SPI (April 95): Covers Crop Circles, press reports, and UFO reports from Derbyshire.
10. UFO Magazine (Vol 10, No. 2 March/April 95): An American magazine reviewed positively for its content on UFO Summits and conspiracies.
11. AWARENESS (Vol 20, No 2 1995): An older British publication covering sightings, Roswell, and cattle mutilations.

UFO Hotline and Subscription Details

Details for the UFO Hotline (charges per minute) and BUFORA Weekly News Update number are provided. Subscription details for the Southampton UFO Group Newsletter indicate it consists of at least 5 double-sided A4 pages, with extra pages for crop circle news in the summer, costing £5 per year.

The Visit of Dr. Leo Sprinkle & Friends

This section details a visit arranged by the editor involving Dr. Leo Sprinkle and his group, along with a British contingency including members from the Southampton UFO Group, London UFO Studies Group, and Andover UFO group. The visit included a trip to Danebury Ring, lunch in Warminster, and visits to Avebury and Stonehenge. The group aimed to foster inter-group cooperation and information exchange. During the visit, cameras belonging to one of the groups malfunctioned at Avebury and Stonehenge but were later found to be working correctly.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes UFO research and awareness, encouraging readers to share information and subscribe to various publications. The editor's stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, while also maintaining a critical perspective, as seen in the 'Daily Mail' article summary about the Hercules aircraft and the concluding remark about not believing everything seen in the skies. There is a strong emphasis on media monitoring and reviewing other UFO-related content. The newsletter also highlights the importance of local UFO activity and community engagement, as evidenced by the focus on Hampshire sightings and the group's activities.

This document is part one of an article titled "UFO SIGHTING ON THE USS FRANKLIN D.ROOSEVELT 1958. (PT I)", published by the Southampton UFO Group in 1995. It is presented as a letter from Chester Grusinski to Mr. Steve Gerrard, referencing a previous article by Gerrard.

The 1958 UFO Sighting on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt

Chester Grusinski, a witness, recounts an incident that occurred in 1958 while he was aboard the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier, USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42), during a shake-down cruise near Gitmo, Cuba. He describes a cigar-shaped object with a row of windows that approached the ship. Figures were visible inside the object, watching the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. At one point, the object turned a red-orange color, which allowed Grusinski to clearly see its cigar shape, as it was dark outside. The object then ascended very rapidly. The incident caused alarm on the ship, with the bridge watch urgently calling for the officer of the deck or bridge. The ship's maneuvers abruptly ceased for an unexplained reason. Grusinski states that the incident was kept quiet, and special CIA investigators boarded the ship shortly thereafter, allegedly to investigate gambling below decks, which he suggests was a pretext.

The 1952 Operation Mainbrace Encounter

Grusinski also reveals that years later, after he had left the navy, he and other researchers investigating the 1958 sighting discovered accounts of other UFO sightings by crew members of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. Specifically, he mentions an event in late September 1952, during NATO naval forces' maneuvers off the coast of Europe, known as Operation Mainbrace. During this operation, an object was photographed as it overtook the NATO fleet. Photographs were taken from the deck of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt by crew members, and the object was tracked on the ship's radar.

Investigation and Lack of Official Information

Grusinski details efforts to obtain information about these sightings through Freedom of Information Act requests submitted to the Navy department, CIA, and NASA. These requests yielded no information regarding the UFO sightings. Furthermore, he notes that no information about the sightings could be found in the ships deck logs, citing a regulation identified as JAN AP - 146 as the reason for their unavailability. Despite the lack of official records, Grusinski states he possesses letters from ship crew members who witnessed the UFOs, as well as copies of photos of the 1952 UFO sighting taken by a press reporter from the deck of the ship.

Editorial Note and Future Content

The editor's note (ED) indicates that Chester Grusinski kindly supplied letters, reports, and photographs related to the incident. The note also announces that part two of this "extraordinary case" will be published in the following month's issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article focuses on unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) encountered by military personnel, highlighting specific historical incidents. It emphasizes the challenges in obtaining official documentation and the existence of witness testimonies and photographic evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into UFO phenomena, suggesting a pattern of potential government secrecy or obfuscation regarding such events, as indicated by the CIA's involvement and the difficulty in accessing records. The publication aims to bring these accounts to light, promising further details in subsequent issues.