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Wednesday, 9 September 2015

Britains Haunted Skies!

 
As an historian and bibliophile I only tend to recommend or purchase books that I think will contribute to my own knowledge or to add to my own data base.

If you read the "About" at the top of this page you'll see I've been involved with the strange and unexplained and this started before I had even reached the age of ten because of personal experiences.  At school I got involved in a couple of mysteries.  And while at Greenway Secondary Boys School, Southmead, Bristol, I decided that I had heard enough family talk and ghost stories -I wanted to learn more and the paranormal eventually led to my getting involved in UFOs in 1974.

So, I have read a lot.  I have seen a number of "UFO Encyclopaedia" over -too many- years. They were so-so and generally focussed a lot on the United States -or were just pot-boiler explain-it-all-away type books that tended to have the author(s) heavy slant to them.

I initially read volume 2 (1960-1965) of Haunted Skies with the ennui that decades looking at these things bring. But I was impressed.  There is a mass of information in the book and a lot of fresh information dug up by the authors -Dawn Holloway and John Hanson.  Photographs, maps, sketches and more.  When I finally put the book down I decided that I really had finished a good book -and I am buying the rest!

Haunted Skies has been set the challenge to be "The Encyclopaedia Of British UFOs" and with eleven volumes to date it certainly is turning into that.  Have I written that I highly recommend the books yet?  Well, I do!

Now if you are interested then visit the Haunted Skies web site and buy through that -there are unauthorised copies being sold by others and the authors get no money from those sales!

http://www.hauntedskies.co.uk/index.html

John Hanson  Dawn Holloway




John Hanson is a retired CID Officer in the West Midlands Police and first became interested in the UFO subject in January 1995, after colleagues sighted a UFO hovering over some trees. This was the trigger for his curiosity; prior to that the very mention of UFOs and ‘flying saucers’ was impossible for him to accept as having any reality in the modern world. The publication of ten Volumes of Haunted Skies which painstakingly catalogue thousands of reports of UFO's/Close Encounter experiences by the public from 1940 onwards, is a project that John and his partner Dawn Holloway have been working on for many years.

Their objective is to educate the public and therefore have published the books at their own expense since the inception of the project.






Notable cases covered in the ten published volumes to date include:

The David Daniels case in which a man who alleged he was an alien actually met up with Admiral Lord Hill-Norton and Ralph Noyes, former head of the MOD.

An investigation into the Rendlesham Forest incident of December 1980, including amazing photographic anomalies from Rendelsham Forest itself.

The Rendlesham Forest incident will also be the subject of a future book looking at events from Colonel Halt's angle.



Eventually, Hanson and Holloway will have provided valuable historical volumes showing that Britain truly had Haunted Skies!

Pterosaurs Filmed Over Idaho and China! Really..?


From unexplained sightings of mythical and prehistoric creatures to UFOs; it's pretty safe to say that humans relish a good mystery.

And this bizarre footage captured in Idaho will surely whet the appetite of conspiracy theorists around the globe.

In the clip, which was captured by an amateur filmmaker, a huge bird-like creature flies across the sky over Boise, Ohio.

The bird-like creature was captured by an amateur filmmaker flying in the sky over Boise, Ohio
The bird-like creature was captured by an amateur filmmaker flying in the sky over Boise, Ohio


Its huge wingspan is immediately noticeable as is the distinctively large backwards-pointing crest, which protrudes from its skull.

As it glides through the sky with ease it flaps its wings a few times before flipping forward and looking towards the ground.
It then straightens itself back up and flies off into the distance and the video maker loses sight of it.

Zoomed in footage of the flight shows the bizarre creature up close and the claws attached to its wings - similar to a bat - are visible.
The huge wingspan of the creature was immediately noticeable as was its distinctively large backwards-pointing crest
The huge wingspan of the creature was immediately noticeable as was its distinctively large backwards-pointing crest


However there are no more clues as to whether the footage is in anyway genuine.
As expected the video has received a number of comments from sceptical YouTube users since it appeared online.

User Hades wrote: 'Super fake the shadowing is off and the wing flap doesn't match up,' while melody06 said: 'Special effects.'
A number of skeptical people have taken to YouTube to dismiss the footage as being fake
A number of skeptical people have taken to YouTube to dismiss the footage as being fake

YouTube user rasha singh offered a possible explanation by simply commenting: 'It's a bat.'
 
The Pterosaur, which means 'winged lizard', was a flying reptile and the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight.

They existed 228 to 66 million years ago and contrary to popular belief were not dinosaurs, but were instead close cousins to the prehistoric monsters.
The Pterosaur was a flying reptile and the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight
The Pterosaur was a flying reptile and the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight

Right, now here is the video in question:
And this one: 
 Now, okay, we have never seen a real pterosaur flying around.  Or have we? 

Fellow investigator-researcher, Stan Gordon deals with "Thunderbird" sightings in his book Really Mysterious Pennsylvania (2010) and his new book, Astonishing Encounters: Pennsylvania's Unknown Creatures, also deals with some flying mystery creatures.  In fact, I guess it's fair to say it's a subject a lot of people have written about -some quite dubious.

But this video footage: is it a genuine pterosaur?  No.  Why do I say that?  Because the whole thing is far too rigid and to "look back" is so mechanical...and the "feet" are obviously used as flight stabilisers because there is no real movement in them.  
Do I have to mention the end of the video?  That cheap old movie trick -you know, they are not going to crash a real aircraft or helicopter so when one does go down it dips behind a big building, hill or even -ta-daaaa!- a clump of trees.  If it was still flying why run, camera down as in so many cryptid videos?

Don't get me wrong -this is good fun but not the first pterosaur remote control device:

 80" Marston Pterodactyl radio controlled airplane flying at Visalia California, 2005. See the kit at PteroWorks.com

Oh, and regarding the Idaho pterosaur, need I remind everyone of the 2012 (?) footage of an alleged 'Pterosaur' filmed in flight, Yantai City, Shandong Province, China?

I rest my case.

Alleged UFO Crashes -Book

Some Things Strange & Sinister

My thanks to Steven who is quite right: if I mention my book deals with alleged UFO crashes and the Berwyn Mts/Llandrillo incident I ought to put a link to the book!

http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/some-things-strange-sinister/paperback/product-14958906.html

And it is currently on discount until the end of October, lucky you!

Lies and Defamation -The Berwyn Mountains 'UFO' Case UP-DATED!!

I just received the  most faked email ever! Sent from an "untraceable mobile phone device", I'm told which means someone wants to really "big up" their lives.  I make no comment here:

SECRET SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
WASHINGTON,DC 20528,USA.
 
Berwyn Mountains, Wales/UFO Investigators

Good day,Terry.
 Thank you for the update on this matter.

This is the Department of Homeland Security we have vital mission:
 to secure the nation from the many threats we face as well as internet 
Fraud. This requires the dedication of more than 230,000 employees in 
jobs that range from aviation and border security to emergency response,
 from cyber security analyst to chemical facility inspector. Our duties 
are wide-ranging, but our goal is clear - keeping America safe.
 
We are happy to inform you that your continued assistance regarding the 
Berwyn Mts incident funds valued at US$700,000 have been 
approved by the Treasury Department of the United States for continued 
operational funding and Black Information assessment.

Kindly get back to us for further directives.
 
Terry,note: Do not reply to any e-mail that comes from the FBI Director JAMES COMEY
 III. This may be an attempt to destabilise your current operations.  The FBI 
Director does not e-mail people; He will rather send an agent to your door step in 
person.

PLEASE DIRECT YOUR REPLY TO (mike.tepmpler@gmail.com)
 
Thank you and have a good day.
Signed:M Templer
Foreign Special Investigations Unit
 
******************************************************************* 

On the 7th September, just two days ago, I posted this:

Correcting The Record...AGAIN!!


In 1974 there was an alleged UFO crash in the Berwyn Mountains of North Wales. It was nothing alien though a great deal has been made of it.  There is also confusion in some accounts with the 1979 incident that I was involved in and the helicopter I was in "had a bit of a prang" as the flier put it.

You can read about the 1974 event here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwyn_Mountain_UFO_incident

Now, yes, as I wrote in Some Things Strange And Sinister, I do have fragments from an alleged "crashed UFO".  Graham Birdsall of UFO Magazine at one point tried everything to get pieces from me including, at one point before a solicitor became involved, threatening to reveal to the UFO community that I "was a British intelligence agent whose job it was to infiltrate UFO groups".  If he had asked nicely at the outset he might have gotten a fragment!

My big mistake was passing along a piece to Margaret Fry and including what I told her was "a completely false account by a hoaxer" but...oh boy.  Despite giving her the results of tests she told me she had the material tested and it "was unlike any material on Earth!"   I go into full detail in the book and the photos of metallic and other fragment are shown in photographs.

I wrote and urged and even spoke to Mrs Fry telling her the facts and asking her not even to mention my name if she decided to publish any of the things she was telling me.  "The truth must out!" she told me.  When her account was published it was all there and my name was included as I was silly enough not to realise that "They" had made sure my informant was discredited!

Then a man, Scott Felton (?) contacted me and re-stated all of Mrs Fry's claims and I made it very -very- clear that her account was wholly wrong and that I had nothing to do with it and nothing more to do with Ufologists on the subject.  Now, my letter to Mr Felton (and email) give my address as Bristol.  So, imagine my surprise when I read this:

" In the mid-90s, Margaret Fry received in the post, a sample of metal (see Appendix Three) from a man in South Wales called Terry Hooper.  He claimed he'd received samples from an airman who stated he'd been involved in clearing up the debris from the Berwyn UFO crash. He decided to pass these on to persons involved in the UFO scene. There is no proof that other samples existed, only the word of Terry Hooper supported the assertion.

That however was just the start. As will become apparent, the supplying of the metal sample to Margaret Fry was an attempt to seed disinformation into the UFO community. Whether Terry Hooper targeted Mrs Fry as he was part of the plot or whether he was not part of the plot and approached Mrs Fry randomly isn't clear as this guy refuses to cooperate. He certainly wouldn't cooperate with me when I approached him. He did claim that he didn't believe the metal had come from a UFO crash, but that could be just him attempting to look innocent."

As this idiot would know if he carried out even the most basic of research -Sach's UFO Encyclopaedia or any number of publications including Flying Saucer Review, BUFORA JOURNAL that I contributed to since becoming an active investigator in 1974, or if he had bothered reading the brief CV I sent him- he would find I have far greater credibility than someone who places Bristol in "South Wales" (?!!).

Also, I had known Margaret Fry from BUFORA as well as Contact (UK) and we corresponded up until the early 1990s until I took a rest.  Had he asked Margaret Fry about me?  BUFORA for whomn I did a lot of work?

No, he decided to make me part of some secret conspiracy and totally ignore everything I explained to him -including a pdf of the chapter from my book dealing with the case- because I would not send him fragments nor be interrogated by him on a subject I made very clear was a hoax and the only reason I supplied Margaret Fry with any fragment was because she asked me to in the hope of finding out if it was the same as another sample she had.

This is British Ufology at its best.  Totally ignore every fact you are given because it does not suit your narrow minded world view so blame an unknown man from South Wales who refuses to cooperate -and Felton knows full well who I am because I just checked the email I sent him and my cv is attached.

John Hanson of The Haunted Skies project has photos of the fragments and my account -I think I may have sent him a fragment, too.

Felton's entry is so defamatory that I think a solicitor needs to get involved.  Seriously, you try to defame me in print or online you better apologise.
************************************************************************
So I thought I'd be fair and give these people a chance to correct their "errors" and sent an email:


 Subject: Scott Felton & Berwyn Mts Case
 To: "conwyufogroup@btinternet.com" <conwyufogroup@btinternet.com>
 Date: Monday, 7 September, 2015, 18:52
 
 
 
 
 I am contacting you regarding the
 extremely inaccurate and defamatory account by the above on
 your The Berwyn Mountains UFO
 Incident - 23rd January 1974 site.
 
 I am currently
 discussing the matter with my solicitor.  My response
 to this defamatory piece of trash is given here.
 
 http://terryhooper.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/correcting-recordagain.htmlhttp://
 
 Unless a prominent apology is presented on the page I SHALL
 proceed with legal action.
 
 Terry Hooper
 Active UFO investigator (since 1974),
 researcher,lecturer,  author, TV and radio consultant
 and former member of BUFORA, Contact UK, British Flying
 Saucer Bureau, colleague of Lord (Brisley) Clancarty,
 contributor to BFSB New as well as editing publication and
 contributing to Flying Saucer Review. as well as noted
 naturalist.
             
Let  me point out that the additions after my name were not to show off but to make these people check their facts.  The link to this blog would have shown them how long it has been here and would allow them to check with other Ufologists and publications.  Also, my name is on technical wildlife papers -I am the most easily checked person in ANY field of interest and I'm all over the internet.

But do they respond to my email?  No. That I object to outright lies and falsification of facts -which is what the person involved has done, seemingly with his colleagues' support- is 'proof' that I have been "tipped off" which is why I "just appeared".  

This puts me in the position that I have to take steps to stop this. It means legal action against Margaret Fry, Scott L. Felton and the Conwy UFO Group as a whole.  Look for the truth by following facts -yes.  My exaggerated claims, lies and defamation of people who were chasing UFO sightings and studying reports decades before they got involved -no.

I give these parties one last chance to apologise and correct the record no later than Friday, 11th September, 2015

Monday, 7 September 2015

UFOs and APEN...and MIBs, too!




I was asked whether I had any dealings with APEN -Aerial Phenomena Enquiry Network in the 1970s and 1980s?

You can read about APEN here: http://magonia.haaan.com/2009/apen/

Well, yes, I did. After a very disruptive series of incidents involving my group UFO International, the British Flying Saucer Bureau and failed and HIGHLY disruptive Members of the Affiliated UFO Groups it was obvious that someone close to me in Ufology was behind the problems -even recruiting others into the work.

One evening I called on a certain Ufologist but he was out and so his wife suggested that I wait in the room where we held our meetings.  I noticed letters on the table, just typed and dated naming me, UFO International and various other Ufologists and groups.  The note paper was headed "Aerial Phenomena Enquiry Network" -APEN.

When my 'colleague' turned up I confronted him but he was full of bluster: "No one is going to believe you -the black's been put on you!"  By "the black" he was referring to lies, rumours -negative propaganda.  It was one reason why I left UFO groups behind and the AOP Bureau was formed.

And arriving home that night I was told by my grandmother how my 'friend' had called in earlier and explained all the trouble I had been creating.  He was very smooth -he had "tried" to sort things out and help but he could do no more.  My grandfather confirmed this.  I phoned my 'colleague' and with my grandparents as witness (via speaker phone) confronted him and asked how he dared come to my home and do this.  He then launched into a tirade unaware that two other people were with me. He was exposed and even admitted he was a leading APEN member.

As this former colleague is now dead I will not name him.  As for his other pals from APEN -I could not care less.  These were twisted and malicious little people -today with the internet we call them "trolls" and "flamers".

So, yes, I did have dealings with APEN.

As for the two "Men In Black" who threatened me on my doorstep all I can write is that I wished I had a photograph of my grandfather's face when he came round the corner to see me standing over two prone men, going through their pockets and checking their IDs!  They were two UFO group morons who were pulling this silencing act on Ufologists and seemed rather shocked at my reaction and their coming into contact with terra firma!

AOP Face Book

Sadly, no one joining the AOP Face Book page?  I had hoped it might encourage people to talk about their own sightings but if the interest is not there I'll close it in October and just keep to this blog.

Phenomena Books Sept.-Oct., 2015 Discount

From September through to the end of October 2015, Black Tower Books are cutting prices.  this is only temporary so take advantage.  Books are discounted by £5.00-10.00 ($10-20 US) and if you can't find anything here....you never will!

Here you go:
 
 
The Red Paper: CANIDS
 The Red Paper: CANIDS
Terry Hooper-Scharf


Paperback,
A4 format
202 Pages
Profusely illustrated with (including some very rare) photographs and maps
Paperback: £10.28 (excl. VAT)
Ships in 3–5 business days


The Red Paper: Canids Up-dated 2011 edition includes section on sarcoptic mange in foxes and treatment plus a list of wildlife sanctuaries and rescue centres in the UK. 

By the 1700s the British fox was on the verge of extinction and about to follow the bear and wolf having been hunted for sport for centuries. The answer was to import thousands of foxes per year for sport. 

But foxes kept dying out so jackals were tried. Some were caught, some escaped. Even wolves and coyote were released for hunting. The summation of over 30 years research reveals the damnable lie of "pest control" hunting but also reveals the cruelty the animals were subject to and how private menageries as well as travelling shows helped provide the British and Irish countryside with some incredible events. 

The Girt Dog of Ennerdale is also dealt with in detail.


And for the more curious minded...

 

Some Things Strange & Sinister -Who Needs Sensationalism!

Some Things Strange & Sinister
 
A4 Format
B&W
Paperback
358 pages
Heavily illustrated
Price: £15.00
After more than 30 years as an investigator and more than forty as a naturalist,the author has opened some of the many files he has accumulated dealing with such things as.. 
 
The Terrifying Events At The Lamb Inn, The Ghosts Of All Saints Church, Dead Aquatic Creatures of Canvey Island, captured bigfoot like creatures in India -all exclusively presented for the first time and with new added research previously unseen. 
 
PLUS a vastly expanded section on Spring-heeled Jack! 
 
Photographs, maps, line drawings and up-dated to make 358 pages looking at Things truly Strange and Sinister. 
 
Cryptozoologist,Ghost Hunter,Ufologist or Fortean:this book has something for everyone -including the just plain inquisitive! 
 
 

And....Some More Things Strange & Sinister


Some More Things Strange & Sinister

Terry Hooper-Scharf
Paperback,
A4
327 Pages 
Heavily illustrated
Price: £15.00
Follow-up to the hugely successful Some Things Strange & Sinister.


For those interested in Ufology, cryptozoology, hominology, unusual natural history, ghosts and mysteries in general.

The secret history of gorillas in the UK -before they were officially  'discovered'. The history of  the Wild men of Europe, the UK and US: something that in the 1800s become very "pop culture"  Very pop culture and totally forgotten today!

Hominology. Sasquatch and Bigfoot -is there evidence for their existence?  No sitting on the fence here -the Patterson-Gimlin film is looked at as well as other evidence.  The Author's conclusions? You might be surprised.

Giant snakes. Amazons. The Giant serpent of Carthage. The Girt Dog of Ennerdale -another big cult 'creature' amongst paranormal and cryptozoological circles. The Beast of Gevaudan -what was it and were there really descendents of the creature in the 19th century -one of which was actually brought to London? 

 Believe it or not more than one incident of historical crocodiles cases in the UK.  In fact, far more than even the Author had thought .

And, after more than a century of claims by 'researchers' that it no longer exists: The Silent City of Alaska and the near legendary 'lost' photograph taken of it.

 This and much more. Updated with extra pages and photographs. 
 
 

Pursuing The Strange & Weird:A Naturalists Viewpoint


Pursuing The Strange & Weird:A Naturalists Viewpoint



Pursuing The Strange & Weird:A Naturalists Viewpoint

Terry Hooper-Scharf
Paperback, 
A4
249 Pages
Price: £15.00
2013 UP DATE -From Dead Aquatic (Humanoid) Creatures, the giant squid and yet undiscovered sea creatures; submarine and ships crews encountering true leviathans.

There is a fully expanded section which also refers to the so-called ‘Ningen’ sightings and video footage. 
Extinct animals at sea that have been re-discovered. The subject of Sasquatch and other mystery Hominids around the world is dealt with including a look at the “Sasquatch-killer”, Justin Smeja.

Dr. Bryan Sykes and his DNA test results for TVs The Bigfoot Files as well as the controversial Erickson Project and Dr. Melba Ketchum’s Even more controversial Sasquatch DNA test results.

Also included are two early French UFO entity cases that still baffle. Ghosts, strange creatures and the Star-Child hoax. All dealt with by the naturalist and pursuer of the strange and weird