UFO Register - Vol 03 parts 1-2 1972

Magazine Overview

Title: THE UFO REGISTER
Issue: VOLUME 3 PARTS 1 AND 2
Year: 1972
Publisher: Data Research
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

This issue of The UFO Register, published by Data Research, serves as an annual report for recording and disseminating factual information related to the UFO phenomenon. It is the official organ of Data Research and CONTACT (U.K.).

Editorial Comment

The editorial highlights the significant increase in "special" meetings and conventions held by ufologists globally in the first half of 1972. These events, often organized collaboratively by multiple study groups and covering broader geographic areas, are presented as evidence against the notion that ufology is in decline. The editorial notes that while some earlier UFO publications have ceased or merged, others have emerged or continued, such as "Stendek", "Foresight", "UFO Report", "Flying Saucers Old and New", "Phénomènes Spatiaux", "Lumières Dans La Nuit", "Notiziario-Ufo", "UFO-Nyt", "Newsletters", "Bulletins", "Flying Saucers", and "Canadian UFO Report".

The publication emphasizes that despite claims to the contrary, ufos continue to be seen and investigated. It also addresses the ongoing debate within ufology regarding the balance between conventional, "nuts and bolts" investigations and those that delve into occult or metaphysical aspects of the phenomenon. The editorial cautions against prematurely linking occult or paranormal effects with UFO activity without positive establishment of the association, referencing Dennis Stamey's critique and John Keel's book "Our Haunted Planet".

Data Research is noted for supporting international collaboration and has been in correspondence with researchers in the U.S.A., Australia, and Argentina. Arrangements are being made with Lucius Farish to compile a world catalogue of UFO reports predating 1947.

The issue also commemorates the passing of Mrs Ruth Hyatt Verrill, a notable UFO investigator from Florida, and welcomes Mr John Loveridge to the Data Research team, while noting the temporary retirement of their electronics expert, Richard Woodwards. The editor expresses gratitude to all field investigators and individuals who contribute by sending reports, press cuttings, and analogous items.

UFOs Over Yugoslavia: A Special Report

This section features a significant report by Vincent Strmenik and Kiril Terziev on UFO activity over Yugoslavia and neighboring countries during the Autumn of 1971. The report is based on personal investigations, cross-referenced with official records of civilian and military flights, satellite trajectories, and meteorological balloon routes. The authors note that while most activity occurred in September and October, earlier sightings are also included.

Key Incidents from the Report:

• Case 1 (May 24, 1971): A DC-9 aeroplane flying near Zagreb detected a "head-on traffic" and an unknown object, described as an elongated arrow, passed by at high speed (estimated at 1,560 mph) and was tracked to the Hungarian border.
• Case 2 (June 14, 1971): A round, fiery object with a buzzing noise and glowing trail was observed over the Mislinja valley, Slovenia, at low altitude. Similar objects had been seen in the area previously.
• Case 3 (July 21, 1971): A star-like object traversed the Mislinja valley, soundless and with significant brilliance.
• Case 4 (August 2, 1971): Near Ohrid, a bright light appeared, stopped, and landed, resembling a plane with retractable wings, then a sphere radiating light. This event was also witnessed by a musical ensemble, the "Trubadors of Ohrid".
• Case 5 (August 6, 1971): A noiseless fireball-like object with a long luminous trail passed over the Mislinja valley from West to East.
• Case 6 (Late Summer 1971): Inhabitants of Ljubljana observed a bright luminous line extending across the sky.
• Case 7 (Late Summer 1971): An object brighter than any known star was seen over Srpska Crnja, repeatedly changing shape.
• Case 8 (September 27, 1971): A noiseless, high-speed, round object was observed over Slovengradec airport, leaving a well-marked vapour trail.
• Case 9 (September 29, 1971): A brilliantly white object was seen over Pula and Osor, with a newspaper printing a photograph alleged to be of the object, later deemed a fake.
• Case 10 (September 29, 1971): Similar objects were reported from the Medulin area east of Pula.
• Case 11 (September 1971): Undated reports of objects of UFO type over the Zrenjanin area of Vojvodina.
• Case 12 (October 2, 1971): A highly luminous object was observed over Zadar, with astronomical measurements estimating its altitude at 25,000 meters and size at 50 by 30 meters.
• Case 13 (October 2, 1971): Unidentified objects were sighted over Pula and Rijeka, one moving at considerable speed and changing color.
• Case 14 (October 7, 1971): A bright object was seen high in the sky over Niš, Serbia.
• Case 15 (October 3, 1971): The crew of a DC-9 aeroplane reported an unidentified triangular or cone-shaped object with a shiny metallic surface flying higher than their aircraft.
• Case 16 (October 3, 1971): An unknown object was observed over Kruševac, Serbia, described as a short cylindrical body with a pointed cone, changing shape and color.
• Case 17 (October 4, 1971): A high altitude object was observed over the Koritnik mountains.
• Case 18 (October 4, 1971): A silvery-grey object, different from a conventional balloon or flying saucer, was observed moving slowly from west to east over Skopje, Macedonia, appearing to be of immense size.
• Case 19 (October 8, 1971): Reports of a similar object were received from Kruševac and Belgrade.
• Case 20 (October 5, 1971): Another unidentified aerial body was seen near the Koritnik mountains.
• Case 21 (October 6, 1971): An unidentified object was seen by several individuals at various locations including Otočac and Gospić.
• Case 22 (October 7, 1971): Unidentified aerial bodies were seen over Kosovo Polje, Mali Lošinj Island, Rijeka, Modriča, Šamac, Gradačac, Odžak, and Orašje.
• Case 23 (October 7, 1971): A reddish-coloured shiny object of triangular shape traversed the sky in approximately 40 seconds over Sevnica.
• Case 24 (October 7, 1971): Another unidentified flying body, a bright moving light, was observed over Pula.
• Case 25 (October 7, 1971): A red-hued object, round with an apparent diameter of a "middle sized ball", was observed near Postojna, with a tail-like appendage.
• Case 26 (October 7, 1971): An object twice the apparent size of Venus, round or circular, trailed a small tail and emitted sparks when changing course over Ljubljana.
• Case 27 (October 7, 1971): An unidentified aerial object was seen passing over Rovinj.
• Case 28 (October 8, 1971): Unidentified flying bodies were seen over Sibenik and Foča.
• Case 29 (October 8, 1971): An unknown object, resembling a cut ball with a cupola-like structure, hovered over Bid mountain for over two hours.
• Case 30 (October 8, 1971): White coloured triangular or cone-shaped objects were observed over Rovinj, Mali Lošinj Island, Prokuplje, and Krk.
• Case 31 (October 8, 1971): A bright pentagonal-shaped object, apparently transparent, was observed over Niš, changing color to red and becoming fainter.
• Case 32 (October 8, 1971): Two objects were observed by flight control at Rijeka and Krk Island, and a pilot reported an unidentified flying body over Pula, described as rhomboidal in shape.

Remarks on the Balloon-Like Objects Reported in the 1971 Yugoslavian UFO Flap

This section, authored by D.N. Mansell, provides further commentary on the reported UFO flap in Yugoslavia. It includes remarks on balloon-like objects and their potential connection to the sightings.

A Preliminary Catalogue of Sources for Studying UFO "Nests" and Circles (Part Two)

This is a compilation by Data Research, continuing a catalogue of sources related to UFO "nests" and circles.

Illustrations

The issue includes illustrations: Fig.1 shows an object seen over Bič (Case 29), and Fig.2 shows an object seen over Niš (Case 31). Page 24 features a map of Yugoslavia indicating localities where unidentified aerial objects were seen during the Autumn of 1971.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the robust and active state of ufology, supported by international collaboration and a steady stream of reported sightings, particularly detailed in the Yugoslavian cases. The editorial stance firmly refutes claims of ufology's demise, emphasizing the continued interest and activity within the field. It advocates for rigorous, factual investigation while maintaining a cautious approach to speculative or metaphysical interpretations, stressing the need for evidence-based conclusions.

This issue of "The UFO Register", Volume Three, Part Two, dated December 1972, presents a detailed analysis of unidentified aerial phenomena (UFOs) observed in Yugoslavia during the Autumn of 1971. The publication aims for accuracy and careful presentation of facts in the field of ufology. The issue includes a comprehensive catalogue of sightings and a discussion on balloon-like objects.

Yugoslavian UFO Flap: Autumn 1971

The core of the issue is a chronological account of numerous UFO sightings across Yugoslavia from October to December 1971. These reports are presented as distinct cases, often referencing newspaper articles and eyewitness accounts.

October 1971:

• Case 39 (November 10th report): Children and their teacher in Mostar, Bosnia, reported a stationary balloon-like object visible for about 12 hours on October 9th, which later moved quickly north-west.
• Case 40 (October 9th): A resident of Trbovlje, Slovenia, sighted two saucer-shaped, luminous white objects moving at high speed. A similar object was possibly seen over Mt Velikagora, near Ribnica, and a photograph of a similar object was taken over Pula, Istria.
• Case 41 (October 10th): Bogoslav Fetejan of Pula observed a brilliant triangular or cone-shaped object. Residents speculated about meteorological balloons or military targets, but the strange behavior of some objects made these explanations inconclusive.
• Case 42 (October 11th): Citizens of Maribor, Slovenia, observed an oblong, glowing object over Meljsko Lake that appeared to oscillate and changed shape like a kite.
• Case 43 (October 11th): Unspecified objects were seen moving north to south over Ljubljana, possibly connected to two round objects seen near Novo Mesto.
• Case 44 (October 12th): Military radar units detected luminous aerial lights near Zagreb. The controller identified a private jet-plane as the only scheduled flight, but it was too far south and at too high an altitude to be the source. The lights subsequently "disappeared".
• October 13th: This day saw a high number of reports.
• Case 45: Zagreb air-traffic control center tracked an unknown object. A Yugoslav Airforce pilot attempted an investigation but ran out of fuel. Later, pilots of a British airliner and a Lufthansa flight reported seeing the same object, described as silvery-white and stationary at 35,000 feet. A Dutch charter airline pilot also reported seeing it.
• Case 46 (October 13th): A slow-moving, high-altitude object was seen over Novi Sad, Vojvodina, possibly identical to an object seen by spectators at a football match in Sid. It moved towards Belgrade, changing color to orange.
• Case 47 (October 13th): An unidentified aerial body was observed over Sremska Mitrovica, Vojvodina, and similar objects were seen in nearby towns.
• Case 48 (October 13th): An elliptically shaped object appeared over Subotica, changing color from silver to red and moving easterly. Similar objects were seen over multiple locations north and northwest of Belgrade.
• Case 49 (October 13th): A fast-moving object of indefinable shape was seen over Srpska Crnja, Vojvodina.
• Case 50 (October 13th): An unknown sky object was seen over Subotica, possibly hovering over the same spot as an earlier sighting.
• Case 51 (October 13th): Unidentified aerial bodies were seen over Modriča, Crvenka, and Sombor-Stapari.
• Case 52 (October 13th): Two educational officers witnessed a phenomenon resembling dense smoke over Bosanska Posavina, Bosnia. Similar "flying smoke" was seen by farmers at Kladar.
• Case 53 (around October 13th): Italians in Ancona, Monfalcone, and Trieste reported seeing unidentified aerial objects.
• Case 54 (October 14th): Unidentified aerial bodies were reported over Sombor, Senta, Kikinda, and Baška Topola, with an elliptical object reappearing over Subotica.
• Case 55 (October 16th): Students at Uskovnica observed a clearly defined, bright yellow-orange round object that moved abruptly and changed shape.
• Case 56 (October 18th): Reporter Egon Kaše obtained photographs of an object near the Sun, taken from Brnik, Slovenia.

November 1971:

• Case 57 (October 24th): Army cadets in Tacen, north of Ljubljana, saw a high-speed aerial object executing complex maneuvers and changing color.
• Case 58 (November 7th): A high-altitude unidentified sky object was noticed over Vukovar, Croatia.
• Case 59 (December 23rd): The chief of the air traffic-control center at Belgrade airport reported a high-speed aerial body leaving a bright trail.

Geographical Distribution and Analysis:

A map illustrates the geographical distribution of these incidents across Yugoslavia. The issue also includes a section titled "REMARKS ON THE BALLOON-LIKE OBJECTS REPORTED IN THE 1971 YUGOSLAVIAN 'UFO FLAP'" by D.N. Mansell. This section discusses how many reports might relate to conventional research balloons, citing their characteristics such as slow speed, changing shapes, brilliance, and high altitudes. It notes that while some objects may be balloons, others exhibit behavior inconsistent with balloons, such as traveling against prevailing winds. The author also considers deliberate mimicry or deception as a possible explanation.

Preliminary Catalogue of Sources

This section references previous publications and sources for studying UFO "nests" and "circles", including additional Australian examples from M. Hervey's "Ufos Over The Southern Hemisphere". It lists specific ground effect incidents from early 1968 in Australia and New Zealand.

The UFO Register - Contents

The issue also contains a table of contents for "The UFO Register Volume Three, Part Two", dated December 1972. This includes an editorial comment and sections on "1968: GENERAL ANALYSIS", covering general analysis, UFO calendar, new UFO types, and specific categories of sightings like landings, materializations, temporal distribution, noises, ejecta, disruptive effects, colors, motions, speeds, and observer statistics. A detailed catalogue of UFO reports from 1968 is presented with dates, times, localities, UFO categories, and references.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the systematic documentation and analysis of UFO sightings, with a strong emphasis on accuracy and careful reporting. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious investigation, distinguishing between potentially genuine UFO phenomena and misidentified conventional objects like balloons, while also acknowledging the possibility of deception. The publication aims to build a comprehensive database of UFO events for future study.

This issue of Flying Saucer Review, identified as Volume 14, Number 2, published in 1968, is primarily a catalogue of UFO reports and related phenomena. It includes a significant amount of data compiled from various sources, detailing sightings, landings, and other unusual events.

UFO Landings and Near-Landings

The year 1968 was noted for a large number of recorded UFO landings or near-landings. The catalogue lists numerous incidents, including those indicated by asterisks in the main listing, and also draws from other sources such as V.J.Ballester-Olmos's 'Survey of Iberian Landings' and J.D.Pereira's global list. Several previously unpublished events are included. Notable incidents mentioned include a landing at Clare, Australia, where the ground was reportedly scorched, and three landings involving entities or 'ufonauts' at Viamão (Brazil), Mendoza (Argentina), and Gerona (Spain).

Materializations and Dematerializations

Several observations of materialization and dematerialization, described as established features of UFO manifestations, are summarized. The data indicates that Category A, B, and C UFOs were involved in 3, 17, and 21 dematerializations, respectively, and 3, 1, and 16 materializations. Many dematerializing UFOs were observed to abruptly 'flip over' or reorient themselves before vanishing, a process often described as 'like a light being turned off'. With one exception, all dematerializations were noiseless.

Temporal Distribution

The distribution of UFOs over a 24-hour period in 1968 followed patterns observed in previous years, with the highest number of sightings occurring between 6 pm and midnight. The table provided illustrates this distribution across different categories of UFOs.

Noises and Emissions

Reports of noises allegedly emitted by UFOs in 1968 are categorized, including roaring, rattling, banging, hissing, revving, whirring, whooshing, whistling, whispering, throbbing, droning, and vibratory sounds. Voice-like and indistinct sounds were also noted. A total of 30, 22, and 23 UFOs were reported as noiseless in categories A, B, and C, respectively. Additionally, eleven category A objects were reported to have emitted a humming noise.

Ejecta

Several UFOs in 1968 were reported to have emitted rays, sparks, or other ejecta, usually noiselessly. These included angel rays, vapour, flashes, sparks, flames, smoke, and explosions. Category A, B, and C UFOs were involved in these phenomena. Two UFOs were recorded as having released odours, and one emitted intense heat.

Disruptive Effects

Various disruptive effects on terrestrial installations and mechanical equipment attributable to UFOs during 1968 are summarized. These include engine failure, light failure, compass interference, and effects on vehicles, buildings, and television/radio equipment. Authenticated cases are noted as being uncommon.

Colours

The colours of UFOs reported in 1968 are summarized, with white being the most frequently reported colour across all categories (A, B, C), followed by cream and yellow. Other reported colours include purple, violet, blue, pale blue, green, pale green, silver, grey, metallic, black, pink, and red.

Motions and Speeds

UFO speeds and motions in 1968 varied enormously, with velocities estimated by eyewitnesses. Categories of motion include wobbly, erratic or yo-yo, undulatory, very fast, fast, moderately fast, slow, very slow, stationary or hovering, erratic zigzag, spinning, and rotating or circular. The summary table shows the distribution of these motions and speeds across categories A, B, and C.

Animal and Human Reactions

Human reactions during confrontations with UFOs in 1968 varied widely, including fright, panic, wonder, excitement, shock, flight, fascination, curiosity, amazement, temporary immobilization, and a state described as 'as if hypnotised'. One case involved temporary skin discoloration. Animal reactions, such as fear, panic, restlessness, excitement, and avoidance of the area, were also reported, with dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, rabbits, and birds being mentioned.

Observer Statistics

Statistics on UFO observers in 1968 are presented, including age groups, sex, and occupations. The data indicates that observers came from a wide range of age groups and professions, with no significant differentiation from previous years.

A Catalogue of Historical UFO Reports

This section, authored by Lucius Farish, begins a catalogue of UFO or UFO-like activity pre-dating 1947. It aims to show that such activity has been constant from earliest times, reproducing the wording of original reports where possible. The first part of the catalogue includes incidents from AD 1200 (York, England), AD 1643 (Boston, USA), and AD 1742 (London, England), providing details of sightings and observations.

New UFO Types During 1968

Two new types of UFO were identified in 1968: umbrella-shaped and catherine-wheel shaped. Additionally, two further categories were introduced for coding: 'E' for cases where entities or beings are featured without associated ufos, and 'X' for cases involving loud or intense noises from undiscernible aerial sources.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the comprehensive cataloguing of UFO events, the analysis of their characteristics and effects, and the historical context of UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent data collection and statistical analysis, aiming to provide a detailed and objective record of UFO phenomena. The inclusion of historical reports suggests an interest in the long-term nature of UFO activity.