UFO Brigantia issue 25

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO BRIGANTIA
Issue: No. 25
Date: March-April 1987
Publisher: The Journal of The West Yorkshire UFO Research Group

Editorial Stance and Content

This issue of UFO Brigantia, the journal of the West Yorkshire UFO Research Group (WYUFORG), presents a diverse range of articles focusing on UFO phenomena, historical investigations, and the nature of witness testimony. The editorial, written by A. Roberts, addresses a controversy raised in ASSAP NEWS regarding the treatment of witnesses in UFO investigations. Roberts sympathizes with Marion Sunderland's argument for respecting witnesses but emphasizes that investigators must strive to find rational explanations, even if unpalatable to the witness, while upholding the witness's right to privacy and reply.

WYUFORG is described as a group active since 1983, a member of BUFORA and MUFON, and involved in Hilary Evans' BOLIDE project. They adopt a skeptical yet open-minded approach, focusing on evidence-oriented research rather than belief-oriented research, aiming to collect and investigate UFO-related phenomena from their area and make the information available.

Key Articles and Investigations

Current Investigations: Hull UFO Mystery

This section details an investigation into a UFO sighting by the Derek Mason family in Hull on July 29, 1986. The family reported seeing a tube-like object with a bright rear light moving slowly across the sky. The report includes drawings by the father and son, Alex. The WYUFORG comment suggests two possibilities: an aircraft, possibly explained by sunlight reflecting off a high-altitude jet, or meteor/space debris burning up. The duration of the sighting and the description of the rear light are noted as potentially fitting the latter theory. The case is left open due to insufficient data, but a natural explanation is considered likely.

The Pennine Phantom Helicopter and Other Scares (PT2)

Authored by David Clarke, this article delves into historical reports of aerial phenomena, particularly focusing on the period around World War I. It discusses persistent reports and rumours of airships and aeroplanes flying at night, which were often interpreted as enemy German aircraft due to the public's conditioning and expectations of aerial warfare. The article highlights how a frame of reference, such as the fear of enemy incursions, can lead to misinterpretations of ordinary lights or objects. It mentions specific reports from the Lake District and Scotland, and the official investigations that followed, including the deployment of Royal Flying Corps pilots. The author draws parallels between these historical 'scares' and modern UFO waves, suggesting that similar psychological and social factors, such as rumour generation and media influence, are at play.

Clarke also examines the 'phantom helicopter' sightings of the 1970s and compares them to the WWI airship reports, noting similarities in the noise of aircraft, lights seen at night, and seemingly solid machines observed in daylight. The mystery of fuel sources and landing strips for these craft is also a recurring theme. The article touches upon the unreliability of eye-witness testimony, citing a study on rumour generation during WWI, and how cultural contexts influence the interpretation of anomalous aerial phenomena.

M.I.B. Encounter in Bradford

Written by Martin Dagless, this piece recounts an encounter with Men In Black (MIBs) experienced by a paperboy named Raymond Field in Bradford on July 10, 1986. The witness described being approached by two men in a black Cadillac who warned him to cease his UFO study. The article details the appearance of the MIBs and their vehicle, noting similarities to classic American MIB reports from the 1950s and 60s. The author discusses the witness's background, including his previous involvement with WYUFORG and a history of T.V. epilepsy, which causes sensations like pins and needles. The conclusion suggests that the encounter might have been a complex hallucination, possibly influenced by the witness's reading about MIBs and his subjective experiences, rather than a genuine MIB encounter.

The Aeronauts of Victoriana

Authored by Iain Johnstone, this article explores early concepts of flight and space travel, linking them to the idea of UFOs. It begins with a quote from Konstantin Tsiolkovsky's 1882 fantasy 'On the Moon,' highlighting his prescient ideas about artificial satellites, solar motors, and jet propulsion. The article mentions other early visionaries like Maurus Jokai and Frigyes Karinthy, who conceived of electric flying machines and concepts of suspended animation and cybernetics. Johnstone then discusses the mysterious airship sightings of the 1890s, often referred to as 'Scareships.' He notes the striking similarity between descriptions of these sightings and passages from Jules Verne's novel 'Robur le Conquesant' (published in 1886), raising the question of whether life was copying science fiction or if Verne was inspired by actual reports of aerial phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO Brigantia consistently emphasizes a critical and evidence-based approach to UFO research. The editorial and the investigation into the Hull sighting highlight the importance of seeking rational explanations and the challenges posed by witness testimony. The historical articles on WWI airship scares and Victorian-era aerial concepts underscore the recurring nature of aerial mysteries and the influence of cultural context, expectation, and rumour on their interpretation. The magazine appears to lean towards a skeptical but open-minded stance, encouraging thorough investigation and discouraging uncritical acceptance of phenomena, while also acknowledging the subjective experiences of witnesses. The recurring theme is the careful examination of evidence, historical context, and psychological factors in understanding anomalous aerial reports.

Title: UFO BRIGANTIA
Issue: MAR/APRIL '87
Volume: 87

This issue of UFO BRIGANTIA, dated March/April 1987, delves into the historical context of flying machines, early inventors, and the intersection of science fiction with reported aerial phenomena. It also addresses internal community disputes and critiques sensationalist claims within ufology.

Victorian Aeriel Warfare and Early Inventors

The magazine opens by exploring the rich vein of Victorian-era popular fiction that featured aeriel warfare and revolutionary airships. Authors like L. J. Beeston, G. Griffiths, E. D. Fawcett, and H. G. Wells are cited for their imaginative depictions of flying machines. The article draws parallels between these fictional craft and reported 'Scareships', suggesting that early attempts at powered flight, whether heavier or lighter than air, were likely undertaken by private individuals in secrecy, rather than by governments. The text quotes H. G. Wells, who noted that a small deflated airship could be easily hidden, making its construction simpler than that of a wooden boat.

Illustrations from Albert Robida's work in the 1880s are presented, highlighting startling similarities to descriptions of 'Scareships'. The issue speculates that a struggle for air travel supremacy may have existed between nations like France, Germany, America, and Britain during the Victorian era, akin to the post-WWII space race.

The Mysterious 'Vilson' and Early Airship Navigation

The article touches upon the mysterious 'Vilson' airship that reportedly appeared in America in the 1890s, suggesting this individual might have been a private inventor. A photograph of Graf Von Zepplin with Union army staff during the American Civil War, including an officer named Wilson, is presented as a potential connection. Navigation in early airships would have been challenging, relying on searchlights or lanterns at night and posing risks of disaster if disabled. The low temperatures at high altitudes would have necessitated warm clothing for aeronauts, drawing a comparison to the 'mysterious men' in the Lethbridge case of May 1909. Experimental airships are described as likely being small, carrying crews of two to five, and constructed from light wood or metal, possibly aluminium, with silk gas bags.

UFOs and Cancer: A Controversial Link

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a critical review of claims made by Derek C. Samson, founder of the 'National Committee for Aerial Phenomena', as presented on a UFO hotline. Samson's claims, reported daily from Monday to Friday, linked Wilhelm Reich's discovery of 'Orgone' to both a cure for cancer and the phenomenon of 'flying saucers'. According to Samson, Orgone supposedly surrounds UFOs, preventing radar detection, and Reich was shunned by scientists for his beliefs and knowledge of UFOs. Samson also suggested a connection between Reich's work and Einstein, and implied that AIDS might have originated in outer space. He further posited that early humans were not descended from apes but were spacemen, and that UFOs have been scientifically proven to exist in rock paintings.

The reviewer dismisses Samson's claims as sensationalist and a 'mish-mash' of Von Däniken-style theories, stating that Reich's work was taken out of context. The reviewer expresses concern that such unsubstantiated claims could damage the credibility of ufology, especially in the context of the 40th anniversary of Arnold's sighting.

Ufology Community Disputes: MUFORA vs. YUFOS and CONTACT UK

The magazine addresses a public dispute between MUFORA ( a UFO research group) and YUFOS (Yorkshire UFO Society), with CONTACT UK also involved. Jenny Randles, writing on behalf of MUFORA, responds to accusations of being 'cowboys' and misrepresenting facts. MUFORA clarifies its formation date (1963) and its objective investigative approach. The article highlights a contentious issue regarding a letter from Peter Warrington, a former chairman of MUFORA, which YUFOS allegedly quoted out of context in their journal QUEST to imply Warrington had left MUFORA due to dissatisfaction.

Randles also details an attack on MUFORA in QUEST concerning a 'Cheshire case' involving photographs of a glowing object taken by an elderly witness. CONTACT UK published these photos prematurely, while MUFORA, after investigation, declared them a hoax. MUFORA's analysis, conducted by wildlife photographer Tony Marshall, concluded with 99% certainty that the photos were a hoax, suggesting the object was added during enlargement. MUFORA criticizes CONTACT UK's claim that Oxford University had verified the photos as genuine, stating they would happily retract their findings if presented with evidence.

MUFORA asserts that their actions in both the Cheshire case and the Cracoe Fell case (involving WYUFORG) were driven by a desire to prevent myths from being foisted upon the public and to uphold investigational integrity. They contrast this with what they perceive as the lack of such integrity at YUFOS and CONTACT UK.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO BRIGANTIA demonstrates a commitment to investigating UFO cases with a focus on evidence and critical analysis, while also exposing what it deems as hoaxes and unsubstantiated claims within the ufology community. The magazine appears to champion a rigorous, evidence-based approach, contrasting it with what it views as sensationalism and 'muck-raking' tactics employed by some other groups. The editorial stance is critical of unsubstantiated theories, particularly those presented on hotlines or in certain publications, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining credibility in the field of ufology. The publication also highlights the historical roots of aerial phenomena in both fiction and early invention.