UFO Chronicle - Vol 1 No 2 - 1969

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO Chronicle
Issue: No. 2
Volume: Vol. 1
Date: March 1st, 1969
Publisher: H. E. Hill
Country: England
Price: 50 CENTS / 2/6 U.K.

This issue of the UFO Chronicle, the second publication, is presented as a source of information rather than speculation. The editorial by Gordon Emery expresses gratitude to subscribers for helping the magazine get off the ground and discusses the potential for expansion if circulation doubles. The editor notes the difficulty in obtaining newspaper clippings and proposes a shared cost clipping service using electronic stencils.

Contents and Features

New Features and Information Sources

A new feature introduced in this issue is the 'Browsers Page', which lists source material and dates of UFO articles found in other magazines and second-hand bookshops. This aims to help readers fill gaps in their background material. The magazine also includes a page of satellite decay information, intended to be helpful for those without ready access to official data on satellite reentries.

Reader Contributions and Queries

The 'In Orbit' section features numerous letters from readers, expressing interest and offering congratulations on the first issue. These include contributions from Finland, England, Australia, Holland, France, and Canada. Several readers praise the magazine's content and potential.

A 'Queries' section addresses a question from T. Evans of Plymouth regarding the ability of scientific equipment to detect approaching spacecraft. The response, attributed to Mr. Emery, argues that while not entirely wrong, the assertion is an oversimplification. The response details the limitations of current detection systems, including NORD detection sensors and the Space Detection Center at Colorado Springs, and questions the completeness of astronomical sky coverage.

Another query asks for information on a sighting of three orbiting UFOs tracked at DORAD HQ, and a separate query seeks details about reported UFOs in connection with the Hammarskjold crash on September 17/18, 1961.

'The Year of Arnold'

This section provides a detailed list of UFO sightings, cataloged by date and location, spanning from April to December 1947. Each entry includes a location and a series of alphanumeric codes, presumably referencing specific details or sources.

Satellite Re-Entries

A comprehensive table lists satellite re-entries from November 1968 to January 1969. It includes the name of the object, date of decay, time GMT, and location of re-entry. This data is presented as a helpful resource for those interested in space-related phenomena.

World Union of Flying Saucer Clubs

The 'World Union of Flying Saucer Clubs' (WUFSC) section details the establishment of the organization on March 15, 1968. It outlines the WUFSC's purposes, which include facilitating information exchange, broadening awareness of UFO research, helping with international conventions, and promoting the UFO subject. The section lists the founding Associate members from various countries, including the USA, Sweden, Finland, and England.

Other Publications and Organizations

Several other UFO research groups and their publications are mentioned, including COS-MOS, Merseyside UFO Research Group, G. E. P. A. (publishing 'Phenomenes Spatiaux' in French), N. O. B. O. V. O. - I. U. F. O. B. (publishing 'VSN' in Dutch), South Lincolnshire UFO Study Group (publishing 'SLUFOSG Newsletter'), and a UK contact producing the quarterly magazine 'Awareness'.

Information Sources

A list of 'Info Sources' is provided, detailing various libraries and institutions that hold copies of UFO-related publications such as 'Flying Saucer News Bulletin', 'Flying Saucer Review', and 'UFO Chronicle' itself. It also mentions a 28-minute sound film titled 'The UFO Story' and a filmstrip titled 'UFO Phenomenon 1. A Pictorial History'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO Chronicle positions itself as a provider of factual information and resources for UFO enthusiasts. The editorial stance emphasizes a desire to move beyond speculation and towards a more organized and informative approach to UFO research. The magazine actively encourages reader participation through subscriptions, the sharing of information, and the submission of queries. The inclusion of detailed lists of satellite re-entries and 'The Year of Arnold' sightings underscores a commitment to cataloging and presenting data. The promotion of the World Union of Flying Saucer Clubs reflects an effort to foster international cooperation and organization within the UFO community.

This issue of UFO Chronicle, identified as No. 3 and dated June 1st, provides a compilation of UFO-related events, satellite re-entries, and numerous sightings from various locations. The content is primarily in English.

Dateline

The 'DATELINE' section outlines upcoming and past events. These include:

• March 1st: A BUFORA meeting titled "Voice of the Members" at the Lecture Theatre of Kensington Central Library, London.
• March 6th: A showing of two NBC-TV films, "Flying Saucers Here and Now," by the Rev. Scothern at Denison House, London.
• March 20th: A COS-MCS meeting at The Tower, Fitzjohns Avenue, London.
• March 29th: A Sky Watch event organized by the Northern Sky Watching Bureau.
• April 12th: A BUFORA meeting at Kensington Central Library, London, featuring a talk titled "Verdict on a Contactee."
• April 26th: Another Sky Watch by the Northern Sky Watching Bureau.
• May 31st: A Sky Watch by the NSB.
• June 1st: The release of UFO Chronicle No. 3.
• August 15-17th: A UFO and Space Convention at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, with potential speakers including Arthur Shuttlewood, Jim Mosely, Dr. Frank Stranges, Patrick Troughton, and Frazer Fines. Southern and Thames TV teams were also expected to be present.

Re-Entries

The 'RE-ENTRIES CONT.' section lists satellite re-entry data, including:

• Cosmos 262 Payload (Jan 20/69)
• Titan 3C-4 Debris (Jan 21/69)
• Cosmos 261 Debris (Jan 22/69)
• Proton 4 Rocket Body (Jan 25/69) with orbital data (0516.8 min, 51.0N/111.0)
• OPS 7585 Debris (Jan 26/69)
• Cosmos 264 Rocket Body (Jan 30/69) with orbital data (2211.9 min, 51.5N/153.5)
• Cosmos 261 Debris (Feb 1/69)
• Titan 3C-4 Debris (Feb 2/69)
• OPS Nbr 7585 Payload (Feb 3/69)
• Cosmos 264 Payload (Feb 5/69)
• Cosmos 248 Debris (Feb 6/69)
• Cosmos 260 Platform (Feb 6/69) with orbital data (1430.8 min, 41.0N/105.0E)
• Cosmos 233 Payload (Feb 7/69) with orbital data (00075 min, 02.0N/97.0E)
• Cosmos 261 Debris (Feb 10/69)
• Molniya 6 Rocket Body (Feb 10/69)

The VFON (Volunteer Flight Officer Network) reports a total of 1,528 received reports, with 34 unidentified sightings.

Browsers

The 'BROWSERS' section provides a list of magazine issues available in second-hand bookshops, categorized by publication:

LIFT - American Edition

• July 21, 1947: "Flying Discs Break Out Over The US."
• Jun 26, 1950: "Farmer Trent's Flying Saucer."
• April 7, 1952: "Have We Visitors From Space."
• April 26, 1952: Discussion on an article.
• June 9, 1952: "Saucer Reactions."
• August 4, 1952: "Washington Blips."
• April 6, 1953: "Now They're In Italy."
• Nov. 29, 1954: "Strange Shapes Seen In The Sky."
• Dec. 5, 1955: "Saucer Session For Spaceship Sighters."
• May 27, 1957: "Saucer Session For Spaceship Sighters."
• August 3, 1962: "Well-Witnessed Invasion By Somethings."
• April 1, 1966: "Flying Something Touches Down In Brazil."
• Oct. 28, 1966: "Flying Saucers and A Dead Mare."
• April 1, 1968: "Flying Saucers and A Dead Mare."

LIFE - International Editions

• July 14, 1947: "The Week Of The Flying Saucers."
• April 17, 1950: "Flying Saucers: Spots Before Their Eyes."
• March 3, 1952: "Flying Saucers Again."
• August 11, 1952: "Kcroan Saucers."
• August 18, 1952: "Saucer Season."
• March 28, 1955: "Saucers Under Glass."
• Nov. 18, 1955: "Waiting For The Little Men."
• Nov. 25, 1955: "Seeing Things."
• August 11, 1958: "Skillie From The Sky."
• August 5, 1963: "Saucers and Smoking."
• April 4, 1966: "Ufology."
• May 19, 1966: "Pi In The Sky."
• Oct. 10, 1966: "Great Balls Of Fire!"
• Nov. 7, 1966: "UFOs For Real?"
• June 16, 1958: "Out Of This World."

LOOK

• Feb. 1950: "The Truth About Flying Saucers."
• June 17, 1952: "Hunt For The Flying Saucer."
• June 24, 1952: "Why Flying Saucers Show Up On Radar."
• Sept. 9, 1952: "Flying Saucers From Outer Space."
• Oct. 20, 1953: Discussion on the article.
• Dec. 1, 1953: "Is This The Real Flying Saucer??"
• June 14, 1955: "Outer-Space Ghost Story."
• Feb. 22, 1966: "board 1. Flying Saucer Part 1."
• Oct. 4, 1966: "board A Flying Saucer Part 2."
• Oct. 18, 1966: "Happening At Hoogdal."
• Nov. 14, 1967: "Flying Saucer Fiasco."
• May 15, 1968: "Flying Saucer Fiasco."

Stop Press

This section corrects errors from a previous issue. It clarifies that items 1 & 2 on page 5 were studies on circular and elliptical Clark Y airfoils, not UFO sightings. It also notes doubt about the US Govt. Printing Office printing item 4. An average difference of 3 months instead of 12 was corrected for page 7. A sighting in 1909 at Peterborough, UK, was corrected to one sighting on March 23rd, 1909, based on checks by the South Lincolnshire UFO Study Group. The Feb. 26, 1942 sighting from the "Tromp off Timor" is clarified, stating Timor is an island in the southern part of Indonesia, not Australia.

Recommended

This section recommends Jacques Vallee's two books as an indispensable part of any Ufologist's library for their excellent coverage, information, and provocative ideas.

Acknowledgements

The publication acknowledges receipt of exchange publications from various organizations, including MUFO Bulletin, SLUFOSG Newsletter, Awareness, Theta, V.S.T., Visiteurs Spatiaux, Phenomenes Spatiaux, IGMP-GB Newsletter, Zenith, Clypeus, BUFCC Bulletin, Flying Saucers Are Fact, Interplanetary 3, UFO Journal, SUFCI Reporter, CIUFOr ewsletter, Saucers, Space and Science, and Challenge.

Condon Report

This 1465-page report, published on January 9th, 1969, is described as the 1969 version of the 1953 Robertson Panel, expected to be heavily publicized.

THETA

THETA is described as a magazine for those who want to gain involvement, offering an 'ultra high vibration' rather than just another UFO magazine. A year's subscription (6 issues) costs 7/6 and includes 30 pages with photographs and illustrations. The address is 6 Catherine Street, Aston, Birmingham 6.

United Kingdom Sightings

This section details several UFO sightings within the UK:

• Jan. 10, 1969, North Sea: Mysterious distress signals coincided with an unidentified blip on radar. Radio messages placed the aircraft at 30,000 feet. Radar observers saw objects crossing the North Sea that appeared to land in Forth Lincolnshire. Police ordered aerial watches and ships to look for wreckage, but nothing was found. A Ministry spokesman suggested such contacts could be due to instrument sensitivity or wreckage falling from the sky.
• Dec. 27, 1968, Paignton, Devon: A lifeboat search was conducted following a report of a red light hovering off Paignton. A witness described a large red disc hovering about 150 feet up, changing color to silver and climbing away. The event was described as an "uncanny sight."
• Dec. 25, 1968, Wigston, Leicester: Two bright objects were observed. One was a bright light, the other a disc-shaped object with a raised dome. An orange-red glow appeared, and the object tilted slightly before a silvery flickering effect was seen. The witness, initially skeptical, was convinced by the event.

Continental Sightings

This section covers sightings outside the UK:

• December 1968, Tønsberg, Norway: Reports of glowing balls, about 2 inches in diameter, chasing a car and hovering over a house. A driver investigated a light near an island, which turned out to be a UFO that moved towards him.
• Dec. 1, 1968, Fiumicino, Rome, Italy: A UFO with a brilliant white light was observed traveling at high speed from west-south-west to east-north-east for about ten minutes.
• Nov. 27, 1968, Mouscron, Belgium: A luminous object with a zig-zag motion stopped above the city and disappeared vertically, described as a disc-shaped object.
• Nov. 13, 1968, Algiers, Algeria: About 15 luminous objects, described as flying saucers with a triangular shape, were seen flying north at high speed.
• Nov. 1, 1968, Los Monegros, Aragon, Spain: An enormous orange disc, described as metallic and cupola-shaped, landed on the side of the road. The car's engine, lights, and watches failed. The object rose gently and then accelerated violently. The witness found scrape marks on the ground where the object had been.

North American Sightings

• Sept. 18, 1968, Steinbach, Canada: Three grey, football-shaped objects connected by a "long, white arc or loop" were observed. Strange white strands of material fell from the objects. Scientists at the University of Manitoba are analyzing the material.
• Sept. 15, 1963, Cornwallis River, Nova Scotia, Canada: Four boys reported a sinking UFO, about 15 feet across and six feet high, hovering over the river. It was black, oscillated like a spinning top, and sank into the water without a splash. A magnetometer search yielded no results.
• Sept. 2, 1968, nr Vacaville, California: An object, described as glowing and bright red with white lights, was seen making an apparent landing. After the lights went out, deputies discovered a smouldering rectangular burn spot approximately 75 feet by 5 feet.

For Sale and Wanted

This section lists books and magazines related to UFOs for sale, including titles like "Anatomy of a Phenomenon," "Flying Saucers Through The Ages," and "The Flying Saucer Story." It also lists magazines like "UFO Chronicle" and "Saucer Forum" for sale. Additionally, it includes a 'Wanted' section for specific magazine issues and information on recent magazine articles about UFOs. Advertisers are offered rates for page blocks and word ads.

Exchange Publications

Several organizations offer publications for exchange or sale:

• Scandinavian UFO Information: Publishes a quarterly magazine "SUFOI - Reporter" in English.
• Interplanetary Space Travel: Publishes a magazine "Internianstary News" quarterly.
• I.G.A.P. - C.P.: Produces a newsletter edited by Cliff Poole.
• Benelux UFO Co-operation: Produces Information Sheets in English for exchange.
• Clypeus (Italy): Publishes an Italian magazine on Exobiology.
• Northern Sky Watching Bureau: Publishes "Challenge" monthly.
• Groupement Pour L'Etude des Sciences d'Avant-Garde (Belgium): Publishes "Visiteurs Spatiaux" quarterly.
• Contact (U.K.): Publishes "Zenith" monthly.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings across various continents, satellite re-entries, and the promotion of UFO research publications and events. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and disseminating information on UFO phenomena, encouraging reader involvement, and correcting factual errors. The inclusion of detailed sighting reports, book reviews, and exchange publications suggests a commitment to fostering a community of UFO enthusiasts and researchers. The 'Stop Press' section indicates a dedication to accuracy and transparency in reporting.