YUFOS Journal vol 2 no 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of the YUFOS JOURNAL, Volume 2, Number 1, dated March 1983, is published by the Yorkshire UFO Society. The cover features an illustration of a flying saucer over a city skyline and indicates a price of 50p. The journal is the second year of production and aims to continue for many years, with plans to increase the number of pages and include more drawings and photographs despite rising costs.

Editorial

The editorial, written by N. Morris, the Journal Editor, expresses satisfaction with the journal's continuation and acknowledges the necessity of a price increase due to rising costs of paper, ink, and stencils. The editor thanks contributors and welcomes new ones, providing contact details. The editorial mentions the success of a talk at Intake School in Leeds and an Investigators Seminar. It also looks forward to a trip to Aylesbury, a meeting point for members and those at Data Research, the nerve centre of Contact International. The editor notes that UFO sightings continue to be reported and encourages members to submit old cases for forwarding to Oxford. The editor hopes readers will enjoy the new cover design.

Contents

• The contents page lists several articles and sections:
• "Friend or Foe? How it all began for me" by Phillip Mantle
• "First Encounter, William Tree"
• "UFO Shapes"
• Advertisements
• "Look Review"
• "AIROS Index"
• "UFO Update"
• "Idea of E.I.I."
• "Investigators Seminar"
• "UFO Organisations"
• "Photo Spot"

Yorkshire UFO Society Information

The Yorkshire UFO Society is identified as the official branch of Contact International, the world's largest UFO study movement. The journal states that it abides by the written constitution, aims, and intentions of Contact International. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor, staff, or the society, unless otherwise stated. All material is copyright Contact International.

• A directory lists key personnel:
• Co-ordinator: G.W. Birdsall
• Treasurer/Memberships: M.I. Birdsall
• Journal Editor: N. Morris
• Hon. Committee Members: P. Green, G. Townsend, T. Dodd, C.W. & M.I. Birdsall, N. Morris.

UFOs Friend or Foe? (Article by M.I. Birdsall)

This article explores unexplained aircraft crashes that may be linked to UFO involvement. It begins by referencing an article by Graham, "Triangle of the Damned." The author notes that while evidence sometimes points to military involvement, the true cause remains unknown.

Iceland Incident: An American jet fighter was vectored to intercept two unidentified objects near a US air force base. The pilot lost visual contact, and the jet plunged into icy water. A rescue team recovered the jet, but a Major Cardener stated they "could not explain the crash." The official airforce statement in 1950 claimed both pilots died during a routine training mission.

1939 Incident: Before WWII, thirteen American servicemen died on a military transport plane flight from San Diego to Honolulu. The plane experienced trouble, and an emergency landing was executed. Examination revealed large, gaping wounds on the men, indicating extreme destructive power. The crew's Colt 45 automatics were found empty. The plane reportedly had a "rotten egg odour," and personnel handling wreckage showed a mysterious skin infection. The author highlights that the plane was hit from the outside.

Cincinnati Incident: A military jet testing a sophisticated new instrument near Wright Patterson AFB was nearly caused to crash by three UFOs described as "huge silver discs with portholes." The UFOs moved menacingly close to the plane, and the pilot descended to 1,000 ft. The UFOs clung to the plane, one on each wing and one above the fuselage. The pilot attempted to shake them off, and the plane shot off in a vertical climb.

Further Details on Cincinnati Incident: The pilot reported his instruments went haywire and he lost all sense of time. The UFOs were confirmed by base radar. The objects made an impossibly sharp turn at 518mph in an arc of only three miles, a maneuver that would normally require eight to ten miles for a plane.

Unexplained Jet Incident (circa 1972): Military radar picked up a blip over an AFB. Three jets were scrambled. The UFO circled, then headed towards the jets. The jets spread out, but the UFO accelerated to a higher elevation. All four objects vanished from radar. The UFO remained on radar briefly before streaking off. Nothing was found of the aircraft, and the incident occurred when base radar had a range of over two hundred miles.

Calcutta Airport Incident (circa 1963): A BOAC jetliner crashed five minutes after takeoff from Dum-Dum airport, killing all 43 passengers. An investigation suggested the plane was struck by a "fairly heavy body." The crash was not attributed to poor construction, other aircraft collision, or lightning. A Dr. P.B. Walker stated that the examination of the plane's mainplanes and tailplane gave the impression they had been "torn off by a giant."

Mexico Incident: A private aircraft pilot, Carlos Antonio de Los Montiel, flying from Zihuantanejo to Mexico City at 15,000 ft, experienced his plane shaking and vibrating. He saw two disc-shaped objects, 10 to 12 ft in diameter, on either side, described as "about 4ft high and dark grey in colour" with a small window and an antenna. A third UFO approached head-on and hit the underside of the aircraft. The pilot's controls failed, and he could not shake off the UFOs. He managed to land his aircraft, and an investigation found a dent and scratches on the fuselage.

Montiel Incident Follow-up: The objects made a 270-degree turn at 518mph in an arc of three miles. The radar tracking team reported that "The objects on the planes wings rose up and merged into one body before moving off." The author notes that many pilots who witness UFOs do not report them due to potential questioning and release from flying duties. Many aircraft crashes remain unexplained or unreported.

How it all began for me (Article by Phillip Mantle)

Phillip Mantle recounts his journey from skepticism to belief regarding UFOs, starting with reading "U.F.O.S. a British Viewpoint." He visited Warminster with a friend in Easter 1979. After arriving and settling in, they visited Cradle Hill. At 10:30 PM, they observed an object "about half the size and brightness of Venus." The object moved slowly, then shimmered and picked up speed, zig-zagging across the sky for four to five minutes before disappearing. This experience, along with subsequent research, turned him from a skeptic to a "firm but open minded believer."

Mantle also mentions a sighting four years prior to his Warminster experience, which he did not initially report. He joined Contact and YUFOS to seek answers to his questions and invites others who have been to Warminster and seen similar things to share their experiences.

The following is a personal account by William Tree

William Tree recounts a sighting from 1955 when he was twelve years old. While with his father and younger brother at their allotment in Leeds, he saw a "very fast moving star or shooting star" in the blue sky. The object stopped suddenly over Elland Road football ground and then headed towards him, growing larger. Within four seconds, it was 50 yards away, hovering above rooftop height. Tree described it as "the length of 3 double decker buses, had a saucer shaped come on top with a less prominent dome below. All the way round the centre of the outer edge of the saucer were round portholes. This part was slowly rotating, whilst the top dome was spinning very fast." He looked into the portholes and saw a brilliant light. The saucer was "silver metallic colour all over." He tried to get his father and brother's attention, but they dismissed it as a joke. The saucer moved off in the direction it came, disappearing from view. It made no sound but moved at "terrific speed." The following Monday, a newspaper report indicated that 200 people across Leeds had seen the same thing.

UFO Shapes (Illustrations)

• Page 7 features drawings of UFO shapes based on witness descriptions:
• A drawing by William Tree from 1955, described as silver/metallic, 3 bus lengths.
• A UFO Report (9) from Crossgates, Leeds, Summer 1978, described as 120 ft long, all colours.
• A UFO Report (25) from Harehills, Leeds, 14/9/80, 1-48 am.
• A UFO Report (29) from Roundhay, Leeds, 16/3/81, 10-30 pm.

The text states that similar UFO shapes have been drawn by witnesses and that the complete file is available for examination by Y.U.F.O.S. members.

Advertisement

An advertisement for Bramley Business Machines, "The Photocopying Specialists," offering sales, service, and rental of new and reconditioned copiers, as well as copies of reports and manuals. They claim to offer the best price in Yorkshire at 5p a printed copy.

Announcement

An Annual General Meeting for the Yorkshire UFO Society is announced for Saturday, March 26th, 1983, at Centenary House, Leeds. Admission is 50p, with concessions for under 16s, CAFs, and members. The meeting starts at 2:00 PM.

Advertising Rate

Advertising rates are provided for the journal, ranging from £6.00 per page for 6 issues to £0.10 per line of 12 words.

Book Review For February: The Kaikoura U.F.O.S.

This section reviews the book "The Kaikoura U.F.O.S." by Captain Bill Startup and Weil Illingworth, published in 1986. The reviewer, Graham Townsend, was very impressed with the book, describing it as an account given by a professional airline pilot, meticulously researched, and corroborated by radar evidence. The book covers the famous Kaikoura UFO sightings and includes excellent photographs. Townsend mentions that the Horizon programme tried to discredit these sightings. He corresponded with Captain Bill Startup, who confirmed the research and mentioned that authorities tried to suppress his findings. Startup also noted a Polish computer scientist studying UFO phenomena and suggested that Eastern Block countries have proof of the phenomena's source and means of movement, possibly involving "MAGNA-CRAFT."

Y.U.F.O.S. INDEX No 2

This section provides a list of UFO reports investigated by the society, numbered from (32) to (56). Each entry includes the Number, Location, Year, Investigator(s), and Class (all listed as "Yellow"). Locations include various places in Yorkshire, such as Huddersfield, Leeds, Moortown, Skipton, Bradford, and Otley. The compilation is by M.I. Birdsall.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, unexplained aerial phenomena, and the investigation of these events. The editorial stance is one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging members to share their experiences and contributing to a growing body of evidence. The journal aims to document and analyze UFO reports, providing a platform for discussion and research within the UFO community, particularly in the Yorkshire region and as part of the wider Contact International movement. There is a clear emphasis on personal testimony and the challenges faced by witnesses and investigators in gaining official recognition or acceptance.

This issue of 'UFO UPDATE' presents a collection of recent UFO sighting reports and related articles, primarily focusing on events in the United Kingdom during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The magazine also includes reviews of books on UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence, a directory of UFO organizations, and a report on an investigator seminar.

UFO Sightings and Reports

The issue details several specific UFO incidents:

Otley, West Yorkshire (December 31st, 1978)

Mr. and Mrs. Atkins reported seeing three cigar-shaped objects in the northeast sky. Their son independently confirmed seeing the same objects. The objects reportedly traveled in an arc, hovered, and then disappeared behind a building. The investigator noted the family's certainty about the sighting.

Bradford, West Yorkshire (January 14th, 1983)

A witness and her son observed a green glow, about the size of a cricket ball, traveling from north to south in the western sky. The object stopped, then fell to earth like a brick, changing color from green to white and appearing to shrink.

Bradford, West Yorkshire (January 12th, 1983)

A male witness reported seeing an orange light in the sky while driving. He described it as an orange glow lit from inside, moving slowly and silently. He lost sight of it near the ambulance station. The witness requested anonymity, and the report notes that while it could be an aircraft, the details offer little definitive information.

Earby, Lancashire (December 22nd, 1982)

Mr. Brian Gudgeon described seeing a large ball of brilliant white light in the sky. The object moved across the sky, stopped and hovered for several minutes, then disappeared. Subsequently, a beam of brilliant white light appeared, extending towards the ground. Mr. Gudgeon, experienced with aircraft, found the object to be a mystery.

Bridlington, Yorkshire (February 14th, 1983)

Workmen discovered a metallic object, described as oval and shaped like a small mine, measuring five inches by two, at a construction site. The object baffled the bomb disposal team and army personnel, with no satisfactory explanation obtained.

Otley, West Yorkshire (February 16th, 1983)

Vincent Gibson reported seeing a vivid fluorescent blue object, shaped like a 'Mr. Kiplines Bakewell Tart,' with a red light on top. It was estimated to be about 1,000 feet high and remained visible for about five minutes before vanishing.

Arnscliffe Craxe (February 21st, 1983)

Vincent Gibson reported seeing what he believed to be the same object again, pulsating and blue, traveling slowly in the east. He noted that no aircraft were identified in the vicinity at that time.

N/A (February 16th, 1983)

Peter Mannion observed a light in the sky moving northwesterly, which brightened, faded, and then disappeared. He compared its size to the star Betelgeuse.

Book Reviews and Articles

"Earth Lights" Review

The issue features a review of Paul Devereux's book "Earth Lights," which offers a new explanation for the UFO phenomenon, linking it to ancient sites, meteorology, and psychical abilities. The book introduces the concept of "PHOTO-ENTITIES" and suggests that UFOs materialize in response to electromagnetic events and interact with the human mind.

"Alien Contact" Review

Derek Naylor of the Yorkshire Evening Post reviewed Jenny Randles and Paul Whetnall's book "Alien Contact," which details a Welsh family's encounters with alien beings and animals between 1976 and 1980. The review touches on the public's acceptance of alien spaceships in fiction versus skepticism towards real sightings and questions why aliens might contact ordinary people rather than authorities.

Advert for "Mice" Description

An advertisement from 'Flying Saucer Review' offers $100 for descriptions of mice killed or injured by UFOs, noted as a potentially cynical method for governments to discredit UFO reports.

History of Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence Ideas

This section traces the historical development of the idea of life on other worlds, from ancient philosophers like Lucretius and Teng Mu to the Aristotelian geocentric model, the Copernican revolution, and the work of Giordano Bruno and Bernard Le Bouvier De Fontenelle. It discusses the shift in understanding the universe and the possibility of other civilizations, concluding that with the advent of radio telescopes, the search for extraterrestrial signals is ongoing, implying "WE ARE NOT ALONE."

UFO Organizations Directory

Page 8 provides an extensive directory of UFO organizations across the United Kingdom, Australia, and Brazil, listing their names, addresses, and contact information.

Skipton Area UFOs

Page 9 highlights unusual landmarks in the Skipton area of North Yorkshire where UFOs have reportedly been spotted, including a gas pipeline inspection cover, an old stone base, and a government transmitting station. Other unusual features in the moors are also mentioned, such as old mine workings, stone circles, and the Pendle District known for its legends of witches.

The Yorkshire UFO Society and Journal

Pages 10 details The Yorkshire UFO Society, an official branch of Contact International. It describes the society's bi-monthly publication, "The Yufos Journal," which covers local and regional UFO phenomena. The article encourages subscriptions and mentions the society's non-profit status and activities like skywatches and meetings.

Report on Investigators Seminar

A report on an investigators seminar held on February 19th, 1983, outlines its purposes: to train aspiring investigators and assess the skills of attendees. The seminar covered the procedures for investigating UFO reports, including information gathering, documentation, and the importance of photographic evidence to prevent faking. The report emphasizes the time-consuming and detailed nature of UFO investigation and the collaborative effort required.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, the historical and philosophical context of extraterrestrial intelligence, and the organizational efforts within the UFO community. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena, encouraging detailed reporting and investigation while acknowledging the challenges and skepticism surrounding the subject. There is an underlying belief in the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the significance of the ongoing search and potential future encounters.