UFO Newsclipping Service - 1980 02 - no 127

Magazine Overview

This issue of NEWS, dated December 6, 1979, from Cambridge, England, features a prominent cover story detailing a remarkable UFO sighting that occurred in the village of Harston and surrounding areas.

The Night UFOs Held a Cambs Village Spellbound

The main article, reported by Paul Markillie, recounts the experiences of residents in Harston, Hauxton, and Foxton who witnessed a 'firework display' of unidentified flying objects for approximately three hours on the night of November 29th. The event escalated from a spectacle to a source of fear for some, particularly when a massive UFO hovered low over homes and a village pub.

Villagers, including many who identified as UFO skeptics, described a variety of phenomena:

• Brilliant flashing lights: Both stationary and moving configurations of colored lights were observed.
• A white light: A ball of brilliant white light that appeared, drifted, and vanished.
• A red light: This light was seen to pulse and dash rapidly across the sky.
• A boomerang shape: Described as having various colored lights, and one account mentioned a white searchlight-type beam.
• A massive object: This object was described as coasting silently across the sky with illuminated 'windows,' resembling a 'railway coach' or an 'airship.'

David Flood, a laboratory technician, was driving near Shepreth when his girlfriend spotted what appeared to be a 'rather large low-flying aircraft.' Upon stopping at the Old English Gentleman pub in Harston, they found most of the patrons outside observing the sky. Flood described the object as being like a 'large railway carriage with two lines of brilliant lights visible on its port side,' noting the absence of wings or standard aircraft lights.

Michael Bradford, the pub's landlord, stated that the lights began appearing early in the evening and by 9 pm, about 15 customers were outside watching. He described the initial sightings as 'rather like a firework display.' He then witnessed a silent, airship-shaped object with a white light at each end and a yellowy glow from what appeared to be windows, moving towards Cambridge. He called the police, but by the time an officer arrived, the object had vanished. Bradford also mentioned seeing unusual lights in the sky over previous periods.

Ken Mansfield, along with his family, witnessed an orange glow followed by a red flash and a second orange light on London Road in Harston. Despite being a UFO skeptic, he believed these were not aircraft.

Jeremy Hooper, a solicitors' managing clerk, observed odd lights with his family from his home in Hauxton. Using binoculars, he described various configurations of lights and a 'wedge or boomerang shape' moving slowly above the rooftops. He found the experience alarming and difficult to explain, noting the absence of aircraft engine noise.

Other witnesses reported similar dramatic accounts. One housewife described shielding her eyes from the glare of the 'coach-type' object, finding it 'unreal' and too quiet to be an aircraft. Another witness, a young man, drove out of the way to avoid a similar object's flight path.

A spokesman for Cambridge police confirmed that an officer responded to a call but saw nothing. The officer conducted observations from a hill in Newton but again saw nothing. The police stated the incident was unexplained.

Dr. David Dewhirst, staff astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy, noted recent reports of unusual lights in southern Cambridgeshire but could not offer an explanation for the Harston sightings.

The British UFO Research Association has been contacted by Michael Bradford and plans to send an investigator.

The Welsh Triangle

A separate article discusses Peter Paget's book, 'The Welsh Triangle,' which compiles UFO sightings from Pembrokeshire in 1977 and 1978. It touches upon historical sightings in Wales, including reports from 1905, 1913, and a peculiar encounter in 1909 involving a cylindrical construction and strange beings. The article also explores the theory of ley-lines and their potential connection to UFO navigation, citing authors like Robert Temple and the historical research of Alfred Watkins.

Strange Light Seen Over Aberdeen

This section reports on a sighting by Roddy McKenzie in Kingswells, Scotland, who observed a strange light or object moving upwards at an angle. His wife and sons also witnessed it. Colleagues at work also reported seeing something similar. The Met Office and Air Traffic Control could not explain the phenomenon.

Mystery Night Sights in Folkestone

This brief report mentions two strange lights seen over Cheriton, Folkestone, in the early hours of a Sunday, shortly after reports of mystery noises and flashing lights in the town. Andrew Hall of the British UFO Research Association expressed interest in hearing from witnesses.

UFO Investigators in Area

Senior members of the Victorian Unidentified Flying Object Research Society, Paul Norman and John Thompson, visited Warracknabeal, Australia, to investigate local sightings. They noted that UFO sightings often occur in 'waves' and that the current period was relatively quiet. They interviewed residents Andrew and Mercina Eliades about a sighting of a 'big orange light' described as round with protrusions.

U.F.O. Sightings in Donegal

This report details several UFO sightings in North-West Donegal, Ireland. A Garda patrol car observed yellow and green lights from a stationary object that moved off at high speed. A student reported seeing a fast-moving object with flashing lights over Loughmore. Other sightings include a man in Ballycastle who saw a UFO pass between Rathlin Island and the mainland. A resident near Creeslough reported seeing a slow-moving object with flashing green and yellow lights that emitted a 'high pitched drone' upon departure.

UFO Followed Italian Jet

A declassified report from the Italian Defence Ministry details an Air Force pilot's account of being followed for 23 minutes by an unidentified flying object in February 1977. The object glowed brighter than the moon and stars and maintained a distance of 800-900 yards.

Riddle of the Glowing UFOs

This article describes mystery lights of a cigar-shaped UFO hovering over Aldershot, England, on two consecutive evenings. Witnesses described a reddish glow and the object moving slowly. The object was seen to be stationary for extended periods, ruling out conventional aircraft.

I Saw UFO Over Town Says Mum

A Rushden woman, Mrs. Alexandra Smith, reported seeing a circular object with flashing lights crossing the sky silently. A spokesman from RAF Alconbury stated it was unlikely to be from their base.

Animal Mutilations Create Nightmare for Farmers

This extensive report details the phenomenon of cattle mutilations, focusing on cases in Iowa and other parts of the United States and Canada. Gene Anderson of Dunkerton, Iowa, found his prize bull calf mutilated with a circular hole, reproductive organs removed, and its blood drained. Investigators like Jerry Shanahan of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Ken Rommel, a federal investigator, are examining these cases. Theories range from cult practices and well-financed organizations to wild animals. The report notes the appearance of mysterious aircraft, often described as helicopters, near some mutilation sites. Gabe Valdez of the New Mexico State Police has investigated numerous cases, noting the surgical precision of the mutilations and the possibility of aircraft transporting the carcasses.

'Bigfoot' Observed at Test Site in Nevada

A reliable employee at the Nevada Test Site reported seeing a large, hairy, man-like creature, estimated to be between 6 and 7 feet tall, walking erect along a road. The creature disappeared into the sage brush. Security personnel investigated but found no tracks or other evidence.

'Bigfoot' or Hoax... It's the Question

This brief report from Oelwein, Iowa, mentions a footprint found in a yard that was compared to 'Bigfoot' prints. Police are investigating, and plaster molds were taken.

'Bigfoot'-Like Tracks Found in N.E. Iowa

This article details strange, large tracks found in the snow in northeastern Iowa. Delaware County Sheriff Bert Elledge photographed the tracks, which were 9½ inches long and 4½ inches wide, with a stride of 19½ inches. The creature was estimated to weigh up to 250 pounds. The sheriff also noted a report of a train crew seeing a hairy creature carrying a calf.

Scientists Review Siberia Blast

This report discusses a new study suggesting a meteorite weighing over five million tons caused a massive explosion in Siberia in 1908. The explosion leveled trees over a large area and is believed to have killed all living things. The meteorite may have contained traces of diamond and graphite.

Manchester's Dynamic Duo: Devilish Creature, Bigfoot

This article connects two separate incidents in Manchester, Iowa: a railroad engineer's sighting of a 'mean-looking devil' eating a dead carcass, and the discovery of 'Bigfoot'-like tracks. Sheriff Elledge is investigating both, noting the tracks indicate an upright-walking creature and the 'devlish creature' was seen on all fours. The article also mentions the legend of Bigfoot and the possibility of it being a missing link in human evolution.

Cattle Mutilations Found in County

A brief report from Pottawatomie County, Kansas, states that authorities have no clues regarding the mutilation killings of two cattle, which were found with gunshot wounds and missing body parts.

Fairbank Mystery

Officials are investigating a mystery at the Ed Deuhr farm in Iowa, where a 700-pound steer was found mutilated with its ear and genitals cut off, and its blood drained. No tracks or blood were found around the animal.

Hunt Goes on for Hairy Giant of Forest

This article profiles Wayne King, director of the Michigan Bigfoot Information Center. King is a dedicated hunter of Bigfoot, believing it to be a real animal that needs to be protected. He describes Bigfoot's physical characteristics and habits, estimating a significant population in Michigan. The article touches upon the challenges of proving Bigfoot's existence and the potential dangers involved in hunting such a creature.

Now Nessie Search Goes into Orbit

This piece describes an English businessman, Roger Parker, planning to use satellite technology to search for the Loch Ness Monster. Containers with sensors will be suspended in the loch, collecting data and transmitting it to a spacecraft.

Killer Beast Roams Woods - What Is It? Town Asks

Residents of Lone Jack, Missouri, report sightings of a sleek, black, beast-like creature, described as having a long, rope-like tail. Several pets have been killed and partially eaten, leading to speculation about the creature's identity. State conservation agents have found no evidence of black panthers in the area.

'Big Foot' or Hoax... It's the Question

A brief report from Oelwein, Iowa, mentions a footprint found in a yard that was compared to 'Bigfoot' prints. Police are investigating, and plaster molds were taken.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, animal mutilations, and the legend of Bigfoot. The magazine presents various eyewitness accounts and investigations into these phenomena, often highlighting the unexplained nature of the events and the skepticism or belief of the witnesses and authorities. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these unusual occurrences, presenting different perspectives, and leaving the ultimate conclusions to the reader, while acknowledging the persistent mystery surrounding these events.