THAMES DISTRICT 'A UFO CENTRE'

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Thames Star, dated Monday, April 17, 1972, focuses heavily on UFO phenomena, with the cover headline proclaiming 'THAMES DISTRICT 'A UFO CENTRE'' and a claim that aliens have been seen leaving reconnaissance saucers. The main article details this assertion by Contact New Zealand, an organization aiming to sight, track, and record unidentified flying objects and make contact with their crews.

Aliens in the Thames Area

Geoff Quirk, organiser for Contact New Zealand, claims that aliens have been seen disembarking from reconnaissance saucers in the Thames area. These aliens reportedly took human form, dressed in red overall-type flying suits, and worked among the local populace to learn more about human psychology. Radar sightings of saucers are reported to occur every 24 hours, with pilots spotting about one a week, and ground sightings about once a month. Quirk also stated that alien crews told members that they came from the planet Saturn and used Deimos, one of Mars' moons, as a staging post. Contact New Zealand members reportedly communicate with visiting aliens through mental telepathy.

'Space Balls' and Other Sightings

The issue also reports on 'Space balls' found in Australia, recalling a similar occurrence in 1963. Two metal balls found near Ashburton were examined by scientists who concluded they fell from a space vehicle, though neither US nor Soviet authorities admitted knowledge.

In New Zealand, a resident of Sumner reported seeing two swan-shaped lights in the sky. The Bay of Plenty Times reported a 'UFO' in Tauranga described as being like a locomotive in the sky, making a loud noise and featuring a big red light. The New Plymouth Astronomical Society's F. M. Stephenson wrote a letter to the editor, defending serious UFO study against 'crackpots' and 'ridicule', and emphasizing the need for discussion and comparison of sightings.

International UFO Reports

Reports from other countries include a request from Ireland for people to share their UFO experiences. An Australian newspaper reported an all-day search for a crashed UFO in Queensland that failed to yield results. In Canada, a high-school teacher and author, Jean Fergusson, claimed there is more fact than fiction to UFO phenomena and that the public has been kept from knowing the truth. He cited cases in northwestern Quebec, including two Val d'Or miners who reported an object hovering above their car, causing minor burns and blistering the car's paint. Another case involved a Macamic housewife who saw a UFO collide with a Hydro line.

Scientific Investigations and Theories

In England, the Waltham Forest area has seen a rash of UFO reports, being investigated by the British UFO Research Association. Plans include an all-night skywatch. Captain Bruce Cathie, an expert on UFOs, commented on mystery alloy balls found in the South Island, ruling out pranks due to the scarcity of titanium alloy and expressing interest in their origin. He also noted circular patches of dead grass, one of which was consistent with UFO activity.

UFO Talks and Theories

A national convention on UFOs in Tauranga featured several speakers. Theories about UFOs were discussed, with some speakers not fully believing in them. Mr. B. C. Musker presented theories that challenged Captain B. L. Cathie's harmonic theories, while Mr. B. Dickeson suggested a link between UFO sightings and television programmes, noting a shift in sighting peaks. Mr. I. Boyes, who claimed to have been in a spaceship, promoted a group called Integral Structures Systems Utopia. Mr. P. Austin, editor of the UFO magazine Contact, suggested that biblical angels and the star of Bethlehem were related to UFOs or spacecraft.

Specific Sightings and Evidence

Further specific sightings include a white 'craft with an orange-red light on top' seen over Brighton, Tasmania. In Denmark, a farm family reported a large, round, pulsating object between red and yellow, emitting a whitish beam of light. A photograph taken in Grenaa harbor, Denmark, captured a mysterious object with a sharply-outlined fog-trail, which experts described as one of the best UFO photos seen, and which could not be explained by aircraft or camera defects.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different countries, the ongoing efforts by various organizations and individuals to investigate these phenomena, and the persistent mystery surrounding their origins and purpose. There is a clear editorial stance supporting serious investigation into UFOs, as evidenced by the inclusion of expert opinions and detailed reports, while also acknowledging the presence of 'crackpots' and the need for credible evidence. The issue highlights the growing public interest in UFOs and the desire for transparency from governments and authorities regarding this subject. The possibility of alien contact and the nature of the objects themselves remain central to the discussions presented.