As I write Channel 4 is showing this documentary on flying saucers written by Nick Cook.
His case is that the phenomenon has nothing to do with little green men but can be accounted for by occasional sightings of experimental American technology. This developed the work of German scientists during World War II and was later deployed in the Cold War.
More than that, the American authorities encouraged people's interest in extraterrestrial visitors as a way of covering defence activities.
His argument is convincing, but will come as no surprise to fans of my favourite writer when I was a child: Malcolm Saville. In his Saucers Over the Moor, published in 1955, flying saucers are taking off from a secret station on Dartmoor and attracting the attention of foreign spies.
As ever, the great man was there first.
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You may be interested in this? from http://www.witchend.com/
4th-6th June 2010
We will be exploring parts of Dartmoor which were the setting for Malcolm Saville's Lone Pine books, Saucers Over the Moor and Where's my Girl?. My two previous visits to the area with the Society have both been in November and involved an awful lot of water (rain and swollen streams/rivers) resulting in some pretty extreme walking; so I've decided on visiting in June - although my record of weather at this time of year is somewhat suspect! (see my picture from last year's trip to the Dales on 5th June-page 9 Acksherley! No. 40) This is primarily a walking weekend but of a fairly gentle nature. The Saturday walk will be about 8 miles long and the Sunday one will be shorter and can be tailored to individual wishes.
If you are interested in attending this event, you can register your interest by filling in this form on the web site
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