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Martin's report is a model of how retrospective 'cold case' investigation should be conducted and how, in some cases this can lead some hitherto unexplained UFOs to become IFOs.

The study demonstrates: (a) that there is indeed valuable material of interest to scientists lurking within the mass of noise that surrounds the UFO data, despite the dismissive attitude of CONDON and others and (b) there is a lesson to be learned by UFOlogists, e.g. that it is possible to resolve even the most troublesome UFO reports as novel or unusual phenomena - natural as opposed to supernatural or extraterrestrial - through objective investigation with a completely open mind to all possibilities. Martin has demonstrated this both in his fine work on this case and the Channel Islands incident (which remains unresolved).

David CLARKE
Sheffield, UK

[Dr. David CLARKE is author of several books on different aspects of supernatural belief and tradition, including volumes on UFOs, ghosts and angels. He is a regular contributor to the BBC History Magazine and to Fortean Times where he writes a monthly column ("Flyingsaucery") with Andy Roberts. CLARKE teaches journalism at Sheffield Hallam University and folklore at Sheffield University. His Ph.D in Folklore was taken at Sheffield's Centre for English Cultural Tradition. CLARKE's permanent employment is as a Lecturer in Journalism and Public Relations in the Department of Media Studies, Sheffield Hallam University.

Alongside journalism, Dr. CLARKE contributed to a range of radio and television productions dealing with folklore and unexplained phenomena. In 2009 he became consultant to the British National Archives for the release of the Ministry Of Defence's UFO files (see also http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ufos/). CLARKE's own blogspot is at: http://drdavidclarke.blogspot.com/]

Our reply :

David CLARKE's positive note on the BOAC Labrador sighting was actually a response to an announcement of Martin's article posted by Herbert TAYLOR on the PROJECT-1947 list, a web forum that groups researchers interested in the historical aspects of UAP research.

The complete report on the "Channel Islands incident" which David refers to can be downloaded at: www.guernsey.uk-ufo.org.

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High altitude balloons of that day were not of the size and volume of those sent aloft in the present.....  read more 

This is indeed a splendid case history and exactly the way forward for future research into specific high strangeness cases.....  read more 

An intriguing report, but what I found really astonishing is that apparently not one of the fifty-odd people and crew on board had a camera with them!?.....  read more 

I actually addressed this point in Something in the Air as it was one of the things we asked the air crew about when we did our interviews in the mid 90s because it occurred to me as a worthy question.....  read more 

For what it's worth, Charles BOWEN's account of the case in The Unexplained had it that there was only one passenger on board with a camera handy.....  read more 

Brilliant, brilliant work on the case! I can't tell you how much I admire that kind of research thoroughness.....  read more