SUFOG Newsletter No 074

Magazine Overview

Title: SOUTHAMPTON UFO GROUP NEWSLETTER
Issue: 74
Date: December 1996
Publisher: Southampton UFO Group
Editor: Steve Gerrard

This issue of the Southampton UFO Group Newsletter, dated December 1996, is the last for that year and looks forward to 1997. The editor, Steve Gerrard, expresses hopes for increased cooperation within the UFOlogy fraternity and more government information release. He also apologizes for the newsletter being smaller and four weeks late due to a knee injury, promising to make up for it in the next edition after hospital treatment.

What the Press Had to Say in July 1995

The newsletter provides an extensive compilation of regional and national newspaper articles from July 1995 that reported on UFO phenomena. These articles cover a diverse range of incidents and reports, including:

• Regional Articles: Sightings in Penzance, Kent, Glasgow, Hartlepool, Stoke-on-Trent, and other locations. Reports mention musical UFOs, objects in the sky, alien mysteries, and UFOs being chased.
• National Articles: Reports from publications like the Mail on Sunday, The Independent, The Guardian, and The Sun, discussing topics such as 'ET Lives', 'Hot Property from Outer Space', 'How UFOs Behave', and 'Alien Man Flies Home'. Some articles delve into the debate over UFOs and the possibility of alien explanations.
• Magazine Articles: Mentions of articles from Satellite TV Europe, Bella, The Psychic News, EVA, and Yes Magazine, focusing on UFOs in films, alien encounters, and sightings.
• Crop Circle Articles: Reports from various local newspapers and magazines detailing crop circle investigations, including specific formations, theories, and witness accounts of UFOs associated with crop circles.

Press/TV/Radio Matters Over the Past Month

This section highlights recent media coverage and personal accounts:

• Press: A letter from the Southampton Evening Echo details a sighting over Fareham on November 15th, 1996, of a large bright orange light. Another letter references 'X-Files/UFO' experiences and recounts historical sightings in Hampshire from 1976 and 1977, including alleged alien contact.
• News of the World: An article titled 'UFO me a Million' reports on Joseph Carpenter, who bought a £1 million insurance policy against alien abduction and subsequently filed a claim, allegedly with video proof. The insurance company, GRIP, employed scientists to verify the claim, which was later revealed to be a hoax.
• Daily Mail: A question is posed about whether Patrick Moore has ever seen a UFO, with a response noting that many astronomers have observed unexplained objects but are reluctant to speak out. The article also mentions the world's first known UFO photograph taken by Jose Bonilla in 1883 and cites other astronomers, including J. Allen Hynek and Clyde Tombaugh, who reported UFOs.
• Southampton Daily Echo: A letter from Jenny Randles discusses UFOs and mentions Bob Price's book 'UFOs Over Hampshire'. Randles recounts her own 'watershed' experience in 1977 when a 'metallic triangle' hovered silently over her home in Portswood, Southampton, and was witnessed by several others.

TV and Radio Coverage

• TV: A list of programs from November and December 1996 across channels like Sci Fi Channel, Discovery Channel, BBC1, and Sky One, covering topics such as UFO sightings, autopsies, cattle mutilations, generational abductions, alien spacecraft, and crop circles. Specific programs mentioned include 'Bonneybridge UFO on Film', 'The Knowles Family UFO Encounter', and 'Arthur C. Clark's Mysterious Universe'.
• Radio: A report from Radio 5 Live on December 3rd, 1996, about a young man claiming £1 million for an alleged alien abduction, which was later confirmed as a hoax.

SUFORIA (ARTICLE NO.2)

This article explains the origin of the term 'Flying Saucer', tracing it back to a 1947 sighting by an American pilot. It discusses how the term was popularized by Captain Ed. Rupelt of the USAF, leading to the common acronym 'UFO'. The author intends to cover more cases in future articles and recommends Jenny Randles' book 'The UFO Conspiracy - The First Forty Years'. The article also touches upon the perception of UFOlogists as 'stupid' and mentions the Bentwaters Air Force Base incident in December 1980, where US and British Air Force personnel were reportedly chasing a UFO. A peculiar anecdote follows about a former US Air Force member receiving a 1p electricity bill in the USA after leaving the UK.

Group Meeting - 24.11.96

A report on a group meeting held on November 24th, 1996. Despite bleak weather, 18 people attended. The evening included a talk by Bob Price about his republished book 'UFOs Over Hampshire and the Isle of Wight', and a presentation on a 10-week UFO course at Totton College. The meeting concluded with a group discussion that became quite heated at times.

The Wheatear's Column

Issue 17 August 1996 - The Cerealogist

This column reviews 'The Cerealogist' journal, noting its new joint editorship. It highlights a three-page list of crop circles from the year, a report on soil samples by A.DAS, and an article by Richard Andrews aimed at beginners. The column expresses disappointment that crop circles were only mentioned in the last paragraph of one article and that the focus seemed to shift to UFO studies. It also questions the financial motives behind claims of UFOs making crop circles and notes the absence of commentary from George Wingfield on the year's crop activity. The Cerealogist is described as pricey at £3.

Reader's Sightings

Andrew Norton reports seeing a bright, egg-shaped light through his telescope that moved and stopped suddenly before vanishing.

Alan Kirby's Sighting

Alan Kirby reports a sighting on November 11th, 1996, at Ardleigh reservoir, Colchester. He observed a bright orange, perfectly round object descend behind a tree, emitting a light glow before disappearing. He states it was not a balloon or a plane.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently highlights UFO sightings, crop circles, and related media coverage. There's a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief that authorities are withholding information. The editor, Steve Gerrard, appears dedicated to compiling and disseminating UFO-related news and personal accounts, fostering a community for enthusiasts. The inclusion of historical cases and the recommendation of specific books suggest an effort to provide a comprehensive overview of the UFO phenomenon. The tone is generally informative, with occasional expressions of frustration regarding government secrecy and public perception of UFOlogists.