UFO Brigantia issue 17

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO BRIGANTIA
Issue: 17
Volume: N017
Date: March 1986
Publisher: West Yorkshire UFO Research Group
Price: 50p

This issue of UFO Brigantia delves into various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, with a strong focus on investigations, personal accounts, and critical analysis of official explanations. It highlights the work of the West Yorkshire UFO Research Group (WYUFORG) and features articles that explore both the empirical and subjective dimensions of UFO encounters.

Article: Mr. Burgess's Sighting (Settle, 1960)

The issue begins with an account of a sighting by Walter Burgess, a bus driver, in July or August 1960 near Settle. While driving the Yorkshire Kendal-Leeds night bus service, Burgess observed a peculiar sight in the sky: a large chain of circles. He described the object as being like an old-fashioned pocket watch, with the main object at the top and smaller objects forming a chain underneath. The object was a deep golden color, with rings of a softer yellow. Burgess stopped the bus to point it out to the passengers, who all saw it and experienced feelings ranging from amazement to spiritual inspiration. Burgess, a former pilot, was convinced it was a solid object at approximately ten thousand feet, unlike anything he had seen before. This experience profoundly changed his outlook and sparked his interest in strange phenomena. The investigation of this case was made difficult by the passage of over twenty years, lack of other witnesses, and vagueness about the exact date. While a conventional explanation like an unusual cloud formation is considered, Burgess's account of clear skies with only a few cirrus clouds seems to discount this. The memory of the event remained vivid for over two decades.

Next Month's Issue

The 'Next Month' section previews the April issue, promising part two of 'The Saltfleet Incident' by Martin Dagless and the final part of 'Alien Friends' by Nigel Watson. It also mentions 'Classic Case, Current Investigations, Research, News & Reviews' and encourages readers to support the publication by persuading others to buy it.

Stop Press: WYUFORG Acquisitions

A 'Stop Press' announcement details that WYUFORG has been offered a large collection of cuttings, magazines, and reports pertaining to ufology, specifically from West Yorkshire, by Trevor Whitaker, a former BUFORA investigator. This collection reportedly dates back to the 1940s, highlighting the potential for uncovering historical UFO information.

Editorial and Subscriptions

The editorial details for UFO Brigantia are provided, with Andy Roberts listed as Editor and Martin Dagless as Co-ordinator. Subscription rates are given as £7.50 per annum (12 issues) or £3.80 for six months, with single copies and back issues costing 70p. Readers are encouraged to submit letters, comments, articles, and reports of unusual sightings. All material is copyright WYUFORG unless otherwise stated, and reproduction is permitted with credit. Readers with unusual reports are asked to contact Bradford (0274) 638338, with assurances of confidentiality.

Article: Patrick Moore and Spiritualism

An article highlights the surprising claim that Patrick Moore, known as a debunker of UFOs, is also a Spiritualist. The author contrasts the 'scientific' definition of observation with the 'spiritualist' definition of departed spirits' influence, suggesting that belief in the afterlife is more outlandish and unprovable than belief in UFOs. The article critiques the scientific establishment's view of reality as being determined by consensus and the potential for scientific theories to be shaped by prevailing attitudes rather than objective truth. It uses the example of the space shuttle disaster to illustrate how events are framed to maintain the public's perception of scientific infallibility.

Article: The Saltfleet Incident - 'A Visitor From The Sea'

This section begins an in-depth report on the Saltfleet Incident, which occurred on April 22nd, 1984. The investigation, undertaken by Nigel Mortimer and WYUFORG, is ongoing. The incident involved Mrs M. and her mother, Mrs B., who witnessed a large, unfamiliar object in the sky. The object was described as a ring of bright white lights with a formation of smaller red lights, and a single white light above it. Initially estimated to be 500 ft high and stationary, the object later displayed more lights, began to revolve, and emitted colored lights. It moved south, leaving a diamond shape of four large white lights. Mrs M. attempted to get a better view with binoculars, and the object was seen to make a sharp left turn towards the east and out to sea. The article includes diagrams illustrating the object's structure and path.

Article: Events in the Annals of Arran

This piece describes a group's experience on the Isle of Arran, focusing on a night spent in a derelict house near megalithic sites. The witnesses reported a brilliant light emanating from the loft and then from outside, followed by tubes of light emerging from the ceiling and walls. This was accompanied by a deep humming noise and beams of light shining through the windows. The following night, a bright orange glow was seen on a mountain summit, followed by a ball of light rising from the hills. The author presumes these to be 'Earthlight' manifestations. The narrative also includes an account of Joe, who experienced a deep humming noise and saw a glowing oval object from which a female entity emerged.

Article: Alien Friends (Part Three)

This is the third part of an article by Nigel Watson, continuing the account of the Sunderland family's encounters with extraterrestrials. It details further sightings by Mrs Sunderland and her husband, including a yellow-colored light and a white circle of light. The article also recounts Gaynor Sunderland's experience of being taken into a black tunnel and meeting aliens named Arna and Pars, who showed her a city beneath a red sun. The author, Peter Rogerson, proposes hypotheses that UFO experiences might be the result of psychological effects, shock, or cognitive dissonance, suggesting that Gaynor's account could be a subjective dream influenced by a physical injury. The article also analyzes Darren's encounter as reflecting his character and being derived from Gaynor's story.

Article: UFOLOGY AND SCI-FI: A CONNECTION?

By Iain Johnston, this article explores the parallels between science fiction stories from the 1950s and UFO encounters described in contemporary reports. Johnston notes how early sci-fi magazines depicted aliens and scenarios that eerily resemble modern UFO accounts, citing examples like 'Jeff Hawke' and 'Swift Morgan'. He discusses the 'Good and Bad Guys Syndrome' prevalent in sci-fi, mirroring the categorization of 'beings' in contactee reports as either malignant or benign. The article suggests that UFOs may fulfill a 'messiah complex' for humanity, offering salvation from global problems.

Article: UFO Research Using Statistics

Nigel Mortimer discusses the challenges and importance of investigating UFO sightings. He emphasizes the need for in-depth, unbiased attitudes and accurate reporting, particularly when dealing with potentially 'exotic' phenomena. Mortimer highlights the vast amount of UFO data collected over decades, questioning what has truly been learned and advocating for the active use of this information to find answers. He mentions the Saltfleet case as an example of a significant investigation that yielded mysterious consequences for those involved.

Article: A FORGOTTEN ANNIVERSARY

Jimmy Goddard writes about the 25th anniversary of the STAR Fellowship, an organization founded by Tony Wedd that focused on contact with space craft occupants rather than just collecting sightings. The Fellowship's achievements included connecting 'Orthoteny' with 'Leys' and re-establishing the group to counter the rejection and ridicule faced by those who believe in extraterrestrial visitors. The article also touches upon the 'Earthlights' theory, suggesting that some lights and sightings might be natural phenomena, but firmly maintains that a crucial minority of cases represent genuine extraterrestrial visits.

Article: Classic Case: The Mantell Incident

Darren Chanter critically examines the Mantell Incident of January 7th, 1948. The incident involved pilot Thomas F. Mantell pursuing a large, unidentified object near Goodman Air Force Base, Kentucky, and subsequently crashing. Initial explanations by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) suggested Venus as the object, but this was met with public skepticism. Later, the USAF revised its explanation, proposing an experimental 'sky hook' balloon as the object. The article notes that despite the plausibility of the revised explanation, the public's desire for a more fantastic, UFO-related cause kept Mantell's name prominent in ufology. The article also references 'The UFO Encyclopedia' and 'Project Blue Book'.

Other Sections

• For Sale: A classified section offers a wide range of books and magazines on ufology, ESP, parapsychology, and related subjects.
• Circles: Settle: A brief mention of an investigation by Ian Johnston into a UFO sighting near Settle.
• OG and the Ancient Astronauts: A comic strip by Eric Von Torrican.
• GALAXATIVE: A comic strip by Iain J.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the UFO phenomenon through investigative reports, personal testimonies, and critical analysis. There is a clear interest in distinguishing between genuine unexplained phenomena and conventional explanations, while also acknowledging the subjective nature of some experiences. The publication seems to advocate for open-minded research and the collection of data, but also questions the limitations of purely scientific approaches when confronted with the unexplained. The recurring theme of 'contact' with extraterrestrials, whether through direct encounters or through the lens of science fiction, is also prominent. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking to understand the UFO phenomenon from multiple perspectives, including historical, scientific, and psychological.