Synchronicity - 2001 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: Synchronicity
Issue: #6
Date: December 2001
Publisher: APRA (Anomalous Phenomena Research Agency)
Price: £1.00

This issue of Synchronicity, the journal of the Anomalous Phenomena Research Agency (APRA), is the final publication of 2001. The editorial reflects on the year's events, including the impact of September 11th, and touches upon the ongoing efforts to bring the 'reality of UFOs' into public discourse. It also announces changes in APRA's meeting formats and the magazine's transition to a fully viable commercial product.

Contents

The magazine features a variety of articles, including:

• Bits & Pieces: Updates on skywatching events, future astronomical observations (Mars in 2003), and a discussion on whether ghost reports are declining, potentially due to mobile phone technology's impact on electromagnetic signatures.
• A UFO Experience had on a beach on Kihei by Rita G: A personal account of a profound and emotional experience on a beach in February 1997, involving a sense of being overwhelmed, spiritual release, and encounters with strange lights and entities.
• The Men In Black. Who Are They. Where Do They Come From? by James A Hill: An exploration of the enigmatic Men in Black (MIBs), detailing their common descriptions, vehicles, and behavior, along with various theories regarding their origin, including alien hybrids, military groups, or psychological phenomena.
• Reports & Sightings: A collection of recent UFO sightings from various locations:
• Waterville, Maine, USA (November 7, 2001): A small, reddish-orange, erratically moving light observed.
• Nottingham, UK (November 2000): A bright light hovering and maneuvering in a 'tick'-type shape.
• Northern Portugal (October 6, 2001): A large, silent object with flashing lights that appeared to lift a cow into the air.
• Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK (August 26, 2001): A sudden bright object observed moving at extreme speed.
• North Durham coast, UK (October 31, 2001): A large aircraft accompanied by two reddish lights flying in formation.
• Wisconsin, USA (October 2000): A report of a 'shadow of a person' causing a fall during rock climbing.
• Avebury, Wiltshire, UK (November 1, 2001): A bright light observed stationary and then moving, not matching Iridium flare data.
• Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire by Brian Allan: Discusses issues of cover-ups.
• Aerial Intrusions - A New Defence Significance? by Brian P James: Explores the implications of aerial intrusions on defense.
• Photographic Analysis: A section dedicated to analyzing photographic evidence.

Detailed Article Summaries

Editorial

The editorial reflects on the year 2001, acknowledging the impact of the September 11th events and questioning the relevance of 'no defence significance' claims regarding UFO reports. It mentions efforts by individuals like Dr. Steven Greer to bring UFOs to the public agenda, expressing skepticism about the success of his Disclosure Project. The editorial also outlines APRA's plans for more varied meeting formats and the magazine's need to become a commercial product to cover production costs. It notes the significant international reach of the APRA website.

Bits & Pieces

This section covers upcoming skywatching events, including the 2002 Avebury Skywatch on August 3rd. It highlights the close approach of Mars in August 2003, predicting an increase in UFO reports due to its brightness. The section also discusses a Society for Psychical Research (SPR) press release suggesting a decline in ghost reports, with mobile phone technology and its associated electromagnetic radiation being proposed as a potential cause. The author posits that altered EM signatures could affect human brainwaves and potentially trigger paranormal phenomena or even influence 'windows to otherworlds'.

A UFO Experience had on a beach on Kihei by Rita G

Rita G recounts a deeply personal and transformative experience on a beach in February 1997. Initially feeling overwhelmed and crying, she describes a sense of transmutation occurring at the speed of light. She experienced spitting up saliva filled with negative beliefs and felt a lost part of herself. The encounter escalated with a strange green light, a surge of energy, and a feeling of being pulled by an unknown force. She describes seeing two small gray figures, followed by a deep red glowing light that turned white, which she initially mistook for a plane but then realized was something else entirely. The experience involved a sense of time distortion and a feeling of paralysis. Later, she saw multiple ships and felt the presence of 'small beings' and a greater presence. The encounter left her feeling disoriented, scared, and struggling to process the events, which she links to repressed childhood memories and a need for validation.

The Men In Black. Who Are They. Where Do They Come From? by James A Hill

This article delves into the phenomenon of the Men in Black (MIBs), individuals often reported to harass or intimidate those who report UFO sightings. The author describes their typical appearance: impeccably dressed in black suits, white shirts, black ties, and black shoes, with jet black hair and expressionless faces. They are often seen in large, black, old-fashioned cars. The article presents several theories about their origin: they could be a human-alien hybrid race, a specialized military group operating from secret bases (like Rudloe Manor or Menwith Hill), or agents from security forces such as M.I.5 or M.1.6. A more skeptical view suggests they are merely a product of an overactive imagination.

Reports & Sightings

This section compiles several witness accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena:

• Charles C (Waterville, Maine, USA): Reported a small, reddish-orange light moving erratically in the sky on November 7, 2001. He notes the absence of trails and the object's movement, distinguishing it from conventional aircraft.
• 'Dax' (Nottingham, UK): Recounts sighting a bright light hovering in the sky in November 2000, which then maneuvered in a 'tick'-type shape before vanishing. The witness questions if any aircraft can perform such maneuvers.
• 'Marta' (Northern Portugal): Describes seeing strange lights on October 6, 2001, which grew larger and were completely silent. The object, described as 'alheira'-shaped and about 100 meters long, with flashing lights, was observed to lift a cow into the air before disappearing into the UFO and flying away.
• 'Silma' (Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK): Reported a sudden bright object in the northeastern sky on August 26, 2001, which became the brightest in the sky and then moved at extreme speed, fading quickly. This was later identified as a likely Iridium flare, a conclusion the witness accepted.
• Kenneth (North Durham coast, UK): Observed a large aircraft flying northwest on October 31, 2001, accompanied by two reddish lights flying alongside it. The objects moved at similar speeds, and the witness noted the lack of noise and the unusual proximity of the lights to the aircraft. The article suggests this might be related to air-to-air refuelling zones.
• Kim Del Rio (Wisconsin, USA): Relays a report of a 'shadow of a person' that distracted a rock climber, causing him to fall 100 feet. The witness believed the shadow caused the fall, and his friends did not see it.
• Rita G (Avebury, Wiltshire, UK): Describes seeing a bright light stationary in the sky on November 1, 2001, which then moved and vanished. Despite initial assumptions of an Iridium flare, subsequent checks with the Heavens Above website did not yield a match.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Synchronicity revolve around UFO sightings, the mysterious Men in Black, and the broader spectrum of anomalous phenomena. There's a consistent effort to analyze reports, seek mundane explanations where possible (like the Iridium flare identification), but also to acknowledge the genuinely unexplained. The magazine appears to adopt a stance of open-minded investigation, encouraging witnesses to share their experiences while also seeking factual corroboration. The editorial's reflection on the post-September 11th world and its implications for UFO discussions suggests a continued focus on the societal and defense aspects of these phenomena. The magazine also emphasizes the importance of research groups like APRA and ASSAP in the scientific study of these topics.

Title: Synchronicity
Issue: 6
Date: 2001
Publisher: APRA
Country: UK
Language: English
Cover Headline: Liar Liar, Pants on Fire

This issue of Synchronicity, published by APRA, focuses on the intersection of advanced technology, military secrecy, and unexplained phenomena. The cover story, "Liar Liar, Pants on Fire" by Brian Allan, investigates the "Hutchison Effect" and its potential links to covert military projects, while other articles explore photographic analysis of anomalous images and the evolving landscape of air defence in the post-9/11 era.

Liar Liar, Pants on Fire

Brian Allan's cover article begins by exploring the "Hutchison Effect," a phenomenon where metallic and other objects spontaneously levitate and move when specific electrical test equipment is in use. This investigation quickly led Allan into the realm of "black" projects and superscience within military intelligence. He recounts his attempts to obtain a report on John Hutchison's findings from the US Army Intelligence Department at Ft. Meade, which were initially met with denials. These denials were not entirely unexpected, given the secretive nature of agencies like the NSA, which is also involved in highly classified experiments.

Allan details how his requests were met with claims of ignorance, and later, that enclosed documents were forgeries. The responsibility for the report was passed to other agencies, including The Space and Missile Defence Command in Huntsville, Alabama. Eventually, the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) admitted that agents paid by the US Army had compiled the report. It was revealed that key contributors, such as George Hathaway, were working for US intelligence, and another individual, Anderson, was a serving US Army intelligence officer.

Despite LANL confirming the report's existence and who prepared it, they claimed the original report and the one paid for by the Army had been destroyed. Allan finds this unlikely given the sensitive nature of the subject matter. Hutchison also informed the Canadian Government of his discoveries, but they refused to disclose the outcome of their evaluation, citing national security. Allan's considered opinion is that Hutchison inadvertently uncovered aspects of covert projects being developed by the US Army.

The article further discusses how advancements in technology blur the lines between science fiction and fact, with many developments serving military advantage rather than direct public benefit. While spin-off benefits like increased national security and employment exist, there is concern about potentially dangerous technologies. Allan notes that the practical use of EM fields for "beam weapons" or propulsion is being developed by companies like Sandia Labs, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon. These "black" projects are said to be capable of lifting significant weights and are being evaluated for airborne use. The article posits that the effects of these EM fields could explain phenomena attributed to "Alien Abductions."

It is suggested that the military may deliberately falsify and encourage UFO mythology to create a smoke screen for their own advanced weapons systems development. Examples include a laser device tested on cattle, producing clean, cauterised incisions, and the removal of organs, presented as part of a UFO/Alien disinformation campaign.

Other advanced designs under development include Xenon Drives, electro-hydrodynamics, scram jets capable of Mach 30 speeds, and gravity modification. The article emphasizes that this technology is not extraterrestrial but rather a product of human ingenuity, potentially stemming from concepts like those of Viktor Schauberger, who observed how water could be diverted into eddies and vortices to generate energy. These developments were pursued by Nazi scientists and later by the Russians, before being reactivated by an American physicist and subsequently classified by the US Government.

Allan also touches upon the "Star Wars" program, noting its reactivation and the involvement of science fiction writers in defining its requirements. He warns that while superscience can be a savior, it can also be a nemesis.

Epilogue

Brian Allan's epilogue stresses the compulsive lying nature of government agencies. He shares a personal experience of his computer being regularly hacked, suggesting that anyone involved in similar research should install intruder alerts and firewalls. He also mentions the increased electronic surveillance due to systems like Echelon, which monitors internet and telephone traffic for specific keywords.

Aerial Intrusions - A New Defence Significance?

By Brian P James, this article examines the implications of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, for military and commercial aviation. James notes that during the flight ban in the USA, there were spurious reports of "phantom aircraft," echoing the paranoia of December 1941. He questions how many UFO reports during that period might have been misidentifications of natural objects or potential aerial threats.

James discusses the "Evaluation of Possible Military Threat to Allied Forces in Europe" study by SHAPE in the late 1950s, suggesting that NATO and WARPAC powers would have taken unknown incursions into airspace seriously due to the threat of Mutually Assured Destruction. He dismisses many publicised "encounters" where interceptors flew out to meet Soviet reconnaissance aircraft as ritualistic games, not genuine threats.

He raises the question of how interceptors would react to a true unknown aerial incursion, given the risk of it being a nuclear first strike. The Belgian events of the late 1980s are cited as an example where the Belgian Air Force scrambled aircraft to intercept unknown targets, while NATO did not mobilize its defensive aircraft. James suggests that someone in the command chain may have failed to inform the Belgians about the situation.

He also references the Rendlesham Incident in December 1980, which was also deemed of "no defence significance." James points out the tense geopolitical climate at the time, with martial law enforced in Poland and Britain preparing for nuclear war.

The article then shifts to the loss of TWA flight 800 in July 1996, mentioning conspiracy theories about it being downed by a rogue missile or linked to the Montauk Project. A near-tragedy involving a Nations Air Charter Boeing 727 on February 5th, 1997, is detailed, where the aircraft was intercepted and buzzed by two F-16 fighters of the 177th Fighter Wing of the USANG. The pilots of the 727 had to take evasive action, and the passengers experienced a rough ride. The F-16 pilots claimed they were responding to proximity warnings and had to get close to identify the aircraft, which was transmitting its identity to civilian air controllers via its transponder. However, the Navy insisted they had ordered the pilots to disengage.

James acknowledges a potential lack of communication between USANG, USN, and civilian air controllers but emphasizes that the US military remained vigilant to aerial intruders. He questions what the USAF and ANG were doing on September 11th, 2001, once it became clear that the first airliner hitting the World Trade Center was not an accident. He notes that hijackers turned off transponders, making airliners invisible to normal traffic control, but questions why air defence radar did not track them. He also mentions statements attributed to Vice-President Dick Cheney about six airliners being unaccounted for.

Following the 9/11 attacks, the US and British governments have empowered air defence fighters to shoot down commercial aircraft deemed potential threats. James expresses fascination in how the RAF will now react to "UFO" reports and anomalous radar traces, predicting that there may be no real change in air defence policy.

Photographic Analysis

This section presents an analysis of three unusual images captured on camera between 1993 and the summer of 2001 by a photographer named "Margaret" and her family. The analysis is based on inkjet prints, which may affect optical quality due to lower resolution compared to original 35mm prints.

Figures 1a and 1b: These photos, taken in Zakynthos, Greece, in 1997, show a white object that lacks solidity. The analysis suggests it is more likely a printing artifact, such as dust or scratching, rather than a genuine object. While some light and shade might suggest dimensionality, it could be due to scanning artifacts.

Figures 2a and 2b: These images, taken in Llangollen, Wales, in the summer of 2000, depict an unusual "trail" that is suggestive of an aircraft trail but without a visible conventional aircraft. The trail appears to be in front of or under a cirrostratus cloudbase. The analysis cautions against interpreting it as a "depth of field illusion" and notes that a 3x enlargement does not reveal more structure. The original photo included a car bonnet, but it did not help confirm or deny the trail's presence.

Figures 3a and 3b: Taken in Sherdley Park, Cheshire, in the summer of 2001, these photos show a silvery sphere observed through a car sunroof. However, after the film was processed, there was no silvery sphere, but rather a blue/purple "trail" in the sky. The similarities to the trail seen in Llangollen are noted, but the analysis states that a 5x enlargement fails to reveal any sign of a sphere. The article suggests that cases where the human eye and camera see different things are not uncommon, often being "opposite" in nature.

Preliminary analysis of the Llangollen and Sherdley Park photos suggests a similar structured trail, but with apparently different causes. The article indicates that these photos, and others, will be examined further in future issues.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Synchronicity revolve around government secrecy, covert military research, and the potential misinterpretation or manipulation of unexplained phenomena. The magazine appears to adopt a critical stance towards government agencies, highlighting instances of deception, denial, and the classification of information. There is a strong emphasis on the idea that many phenomena attributed to extraterrestrial sources may actually be the result of advanced, terrestrial technology developed in secret by military powers. The publication also seems to advocate for a more thorough and critical examination of photographic and anecdotal evidence related to UFOs and other anomalies, while also acknowledging the potential for misidentification and the impact of technological advancements on perception.

The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards official narratives and a pursuit of hidden truths, particularly concerning the military-industrial complex and its role in developing and potentially concealing advanced technologies. The magazine encourages readers to question official explanations and to consider alternative interpretations of events, especially when official sources are perceived as untrustworthy.