UFO Brigantia issue 20

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO BRIGANTIA
Issue: 20
Date: June 1986
Publisher: The Journal Of The West Yorkshire UFO Research Group
Country: United Kingdom
Price: 50p

This issue of UFO Brigantia, dated June 1986, is the last of its monthly series, transitioning to a bi-monthly publication with an increased page count. The magazine covers a range of UFO and Earth Mysteries topics, featuring reviews of other publications, detailed case studies, and research initiatives by the West Yorkshire UFO Research Group (VYUFORG).

Editorial and Subscription Information

The editorial team, led by Editor Andy Roberts and Co-ordinator Martin Dagless, welcomes letters, comments, and articles on any aspect of Ufology. The subscription rate for six issues (one year) is £5.50, with single copies priced at 70p (or 90p for the bi-monthly issues). The magazine is now typed using an Amstrad PCV 8256 Word Processor, indicating an effort to improve layout and readability. The editor apologizes for the absence of the May edition due to a lost manuscript and notes that the June issue is better laid out and easier to read.

Reviews

The 'Reviews' section covers several UFO and Earth Mysteries publications:

• Magonia: Issue No. 22 (May '86) is praised for articles on the Phantom Hitch Hiker theme, a Spanish close encounter explained as a planet, and Hilary Evans' piece on 'The Little Man of Reneve'.
• The Ley Hunter: Issue No. 99 features John Michell and David Clarke on the Cotswolds Lights. The tenth-anniversary issue (No. 100) includes articles on Earth Zodiacs, the Brown Mountain Earthlights, and features by Alfred Watkins and John Michell.
• Northern Earth Mysteries: Issue No. 30 (Spring '86) contains articles on 'Will o' the Wisps' and Celtic Survivals.
• Northern UFO News: This issue includes cases from the north, an exposé of the Sunday Mirror's 'gutter press' tactics, a longer case involving 'cloudbusting IFO', and an investigation into a Psi-prone family.

NUFON Regional Groups

A list of NUFON (National UFO Reporting Centre) regional groups across Scotland and various parts of England is provided, along with their addresses.

Next Issue

The next issue, due at the end of July, will be a special edition focusing on the historical aspect of Ufology.

Brief Reports

This section presents a round-up of recent UFO cases:

• Skipton, West Yorkshire (1976): A red/orange disc was observed gyrating and moving erratically.
• Allerton, Bradford, West Yorkshire (1980): An orange pear-shaped object, flashing and gliding, was seen.
• Hartlepool (January 1986): Reports of a bright white light, possibly a meteor shower.
• Todmorden, West Yorkshire (1986): Four white lights in a rectangular formation were seen near a cliff.
• Bradford, West Yorkshire (February 1986): A star-like object moved erratically.
• Adel, Leeds, West Yorkshire (February 12th, 1986): A bright light flashed red and white, observed through binoculars.
• Adel, Leeds, West Yorkshire (March 6th, 1986): A hovering bright star-like light was reported.
• Ripon, North Yorkshire (January 1986): Two bright white lights caused radio interference.

A LOAD OF BOL'S - A Research Venture by Martin Dagless

This article discusses the prevalence of 'Balls of Light' (BOLs) sightings in the Yorkshire region. VYUFORG is initiating a research project to centralize data on BOLs, collaborating with the 'Ball of light international data exchange (BOLIDE)' formed by Hilary Evans. The project involves searching newspaper files from 1947 onwards to identify patterns and correlations. The article also mentions David Clarke and Granville Oldroyd's booklet 'Spooklights'.

THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE 'NEW STYLE LIAISON' by Nigel Mortimer

Nigel Mortimer details his experience with YUFOS regarding the Cracoe Fell photograph case. He expresses frustration over YUFOS's reluctance to share information and their denigration of VYUFORG's conclusions. Mortimer argues that YUFOS has omitted crucial facts from their investigation, particularly concerning potential light reflections from a nearby quarry that could explain the phenomenon. He plans to re-visit the site to gather further evidence.

NIGEL'S NEWS - CRACOE! FILLING IN THE GAPS

Nigel Mortimer outlines his thoughts on the alleged Cracoe Fell photographic UFO case. He believes that YUFOS's conclusions are too certain and that vital information, such as the possibility of light reflections from the fell's rock structure, has been overlooked or deliberately excluded. He notes that the location is more accessible than YUFOS suggests and that a local farmer, who was present when the photo was taken, also observed a similar light effect on the rocks.

The Missing Farmer

This section elaborates on the 'missing farmer' witness in the Cracoe case. The farmer, who wrote to the Yorkshire Post about his observations, is presented as a credible witness whose testimony about light reflections on the fell has been ignored by YUFOS. The article suggests that YUFOS may have deliberately excluded this information to maintain their conclusion of a 'True UFO'.

THE REVOLVING LIGHT SPHERES OF YORKSHIRE Compiled from WYUFORG Investigations by X. Dagless

This article details several sightings of revolving oval or spherical objects in Yorkshire. Cases from 1977 (Monk Fryston), 1983 (Clayton, Shipley), and 1986 (Sheffield) are presented, describing objects that changed shape, emitted light, and sometimes dispersed. The author notes a decline in such reports after 1983 and seeks further data from readers.

THE SALTFLEET INCIDENT: A VISITOR FROM THE SEA Part 3 by Martin Dagless

This installment continues the investigation into the Saltfleet incident of April 22nd, 1984. It details the investigative steps taken by Nigel Mortimer and VYUFORG, including interviews with witnesses and attempts to obtain information from the police. The article highlights inconsistencies in police reports and mentions photographs allegedly taken by a witness that were returned with frames blacked out. An on-site investigation by VYUFORG in October 1985 involved interviews with the family of witnesses, who described a large bright white light and associated phenomena, including unusual effects on their dogs. The analysis considers possibilities of military aircraft versus an extraterrestrial craft, noting the lack of noise and the object's unusual behavior.

CLASSIC CASE - The Boianai, Papua New Guinea Sighting, June 26-27 1959

This section reviews the controversial Boianai sighting. Reverend William Booth Gill and 37 Papuans reported seeing a circular object with two decks and figures. The object reappeared the following night with smaller accompanying craft. The article presents arguments from P.E. Norris and Donald Menzel suggesting planetary misperceptions or optical illusions, while also citing J. Allon Hynek's counterarguments regarding Gill's corrected spectacles. The author also raises doubts about the native witnesses' testimony and Father Gill's decision to leave the scene during the second night's sighting.

Galaxative.. By Iain T..

A comic strip titled 'Galaxative' with a humorous take on 'weirdo's and foreigners' and a UFO-themed joke.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a critical and investigative approach to Ufology, encouraging readers to question official conclusions and seek evidence-based explanations. There is a clear emphasis on research and data collection, as evidenced by VYUFORG's projects on BOLs and their detailed case investigations. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded but skeptical, aiming to differentiate between genuine phenomena and misperceptions or hoaxes. The magazine also highlights inter-group dynamics within the Ufology community, particularly the friction between VYUFORG and YUFOS.