Ariel school UFO incident (1994)

[Isaac Koi]

Here is a rather preliminary draft of an outline timeline relating to the Ariel school UFO incident in Zimbabwe in 1994 (just to start organising my material and thoughts on this incident before I bother other people with some questions, such as Gunter Hofer, Gilles Fernandez and some of the witnesses).

I've recently been going through some of Cynthia Hind's investigative files, the children's drawings and related interview notes etc, public sources and some other material on this incident.

I thought I'd share this (incomplete) list of resources, since I would have found such a document useful when I started...

1994 : John Mack’s book “Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens” published. 1994 09 14 – Numerous reports of sightings over Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and southern Zambia at approximately 9pm. 1994 09 14 – Re-entry of the Zenit-2 rocket from the Cosmos 2290 satellite launch. 1994 09 15/16 – Press reports of sightings on evening of 14 September 1994. 1994 09 16 (Friday) – Ariel school incident, during a school break that began at 10am. 1994 09 16 (Friday) – A BBC correspondent, Tim Leach, called Cynthia Hind about the incident just after 2pm 1994 09 20 (Tuesday) - Tim Leach, Cynthia Hind, Gunter Hofer and Michael Hind visit Ariel school between 10am and 11.30am. Shown 42-or-so pages of drawings. Interviewed children on camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q6o9tWomPQ 1994 09 22 (on or about – Cynthia Hind has said “two days later” than the visit on 20/09/1994) – Tim Leach visited the area again. Following weekend : Gunter Hofer took samples from the area. 1994 11 22 (on or about – this was the date of his planned arrival) : John Mack arrived in South Africa 1994 11 22 – South African TV Channel 1 broadcasts item on Ariel incident, featured John Mack 1994 12 02 - John Mack visited Ariel on 2 and 3 December 1994 with his associate Dominique Callimanopulos. He met 12 of the children, the headmaster and most of the teachers. 1994 1207 – John Mack left Zimbabwe 1994 12 – MUFON Journal publishes article by Cynthia Hind featuring the Ariel school incident 1995 – Callimanopulos (cited by John Mack in his book Passport to the Cosmos). 1995 02 – Cythnia Hind’s “UFO Afrinews” newsletter (Issue 11) includes an article on the Ariel school incident. 1995 07 – Cythnia Hind’s “UFO Afrinews” newsletter (Issue 12) includes an article on the Ariel school incident. 1995 Summer – The Summer issue of the United Kingdom’s “FSR” magazine (Volume 40, No 2) featured an article by Cynthia Hind entitled “Report from Africa” focusing on the reports from 14th and 16th September 1994 (at pages 21-22). 1995 – The proceedings of the 8th BUFORA International UFO Congress contained (entitled “UFOs: Examining the Evidence”) contained material on the Ariel school incident presented by Cynthia Hind (at pages 35-38). 1995 12 – The Australian UFO Bulletin issue for December 1995 includes an article on the Ariel school incident, citing UFO Afrinews issue 11 (at pages 12-15) ?????1996 - Sightings TV episode featured John Mack talking to some of the Ariel school children 1997 – Cynthia Hind’s book “UFOs Over Africa” features the Ariel school incident. 1997 03 - Michael Hesemann visits Ariel school and interviews children and two teachers and some parents. 1997 04 – “Fate” magazine includes an article by Cynthia Hind on the Ariel school incident (Volume 50 No 4 [issue 565] at pages 46-47). 1997 – MUFON’s Symposium Proceedings includes a paper by Cynthia Hind entitled “Sightings From An African Casebook” featuring the Ariel school incident. 1998 – Michael Hesemann’s book “UFOs: The Secret History” contained several pages on the Ariel school incident (at pages 491-496). He refers to his visits to the school in March 1997 and concludes that “this is most certainly one of the most significant cases in the history of the UFO phenomenon”. 1999 – John Mack’s book “Passport to the Cosmos” features the Aril school incident (particularly at pages 40-41, 90, 186-187, 196, 262 2000 – Jerome Clark’s book “Extraordinary Encounters” has a short section on the Ariel school incident, referred to as “the most remarkable CE3 of the 1990s” (in the entry entitled “Close encounters of the third kind”, at pages 66-67 – citing Cynthia Hind’s 1997 book “UFOs Over Africa”) 2000 08 21 – Cynthia Hind passed away 2002 – Loren Gross includes Ariel school incident in his book UFOs: A History – 1954 June-August, Supplemental Notes” at page 42-43 (quoting Michael Hesemann’s “UFOs: The Secret History” (1998)]. 2008 04 16 – News24.com website published an article by Stephen Coan on the Ariel school incident, entitled “The day the aliens landed” , focused on Randall Nickerson’s filming of a documentary about the Ariel school incident. (Republished on the UFO Updates email discussion List on 23 April 2008 and in the July 2008 issue of MUFON Michigan’s newsletter at pages 12-13) https://www.news24.com/witness/archive/The-day-the-aliens-landed-20150430 2008 08 26 – The Cape Argus of Cape Town, South Africa, features an article by Tom Powell entitled “UFO Sighting in Zimbabwe”, focused on Randall Nickerson’s filming of a documentary about the Ariel school incident. (Text republished on the UFO Updates email discussion List on 26 August 2008 and in The Weekly Blitz of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 27 August 2008 which was in turn republished on the UFO Updates email discussion List on 29 August 2008) 2008 Summer – The Summer edition of the United Kingdom’s “FSR” magazine featured an article entitled “Highlights from an African Casebook” containing material by the late Cythnia Hind on the Ariel school incident (at pages 23-24). 2008 09 – “UFONEWS UK” newsletter features material on the Ariel school incident, focused on Randall Nickerson’s filming of a documentary (at page 37). 2009 – Tim Donovan’s book “Revealed! The Greatest UFO Secrets” has a short section (at page 38) on the Ariel school incident, stating that “The ERs timed their appearance to coincide with a teacher’s meeting indoors … As sophisticated operators, the ETs had everything planned perfectly”. 2009 05 31 – The Boston Herald includes an article entitled “Film Takes Closer Look at African UFO ‘Sighting”, focused on Randall Nickerson’s filming of a documentary and the screening by the Mack Institute of Nickerson’s unfinished film called “Encounter in Ruwa : The Ariel School Sighting”. 2011 - “Paranormal Underground” magazine (Volume 4 Issue 3) features the Ariel school incident (at pages 33-34) 2011 – Ariel school incident featured in a paper on mass hysteria in African schools in the “Malawi Medical Journal” [Kokota, D. "Episodes of mass hysteria in African schools: A study of literature." Malawi Medical Journal. 1 Sep. 2011, Volume 23, Number 3: 74-77] 2012 – Ronald Story’s book “The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters” includes an entry by Michael Hesemann entitled “Ruwa (South Africa) landing” about the Ariel school incident (at pages 623-624 of the PDF version). 2013 01 08 – Thread started on the ATS discussion forum entitled “Ariel School, Zimbawe UFO Research 1994 to 2012 (Full Info Documentary NEW)” (41 flags) https://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread915801/pg1 2014 – Christie, S. "Remembering Zimbabwe’s great alien invasion." Mail & Guardian. Mail & Guardian Online, 4 Sep. 2014. https://mg.co.za/article/2014-09-04-remembering-zimbabwes-great-alien-invasion/ 2014 10 01 – Martin Wallis podcast features Randall Nickerson discussing the Ariel school incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPJaPsPtl-M Automated transcript: http://files.afu.se/Downloads/Transcriptions/Audio/Podcasts/Podcast%20UFO%20(Martin%20Willis)/Martin%20Willis%20-%20Randall%20Nickerson%20Interview,%20Ariel%20School%20UFO%20Encounter,%2010-01-2014_QPJaPsPtl-M%20-%20transcript%20(automated).pdf 2015 03 12 – Martin Wallis podcast features Randall Nickerson discussing the Ariel school incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0rD-IVXMIc Automated transcript: http://files.afu.se/Downloads/Transcriptions/Audio/Podcasts/Podcast%20UFO%20(Martin%20Willis)/Martin%20Willis%20-%20Thom%20Reed%20Abductions,%20Randy%20Nickerson%20on%20Ariel%20School%20Phenomenon%2003-11-2015_i0rD-IVXMIc%20-%20transcript%20(automated).pdf 2016 – In his book “UFOs : What is the Government really covering up?”, A R Roberts briefly discusses the Ariel school incident (in Chapter 7, at pages 112-113 of 256 in the PDF version), with footnotes 192-195 2016 02 20 – Emily Trim gave a lecture about the Ariel school incident at the 2016 International UFO Congress, with UFO researcher Luigi Vendittelli. https://ufocongress.com/emily-trim/ https://ufocongress.com/luigi-vendittelli/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaLvp-BkqAo https://twitter.com/search?q=Luigi%20Vendittelli&src=typed_query 2016 06 21 – Earthmysterynews.com publishes an article entitled “Zimbabwe UFO Child Conactee Speaks Publicly For The 1st Time”, focusing on a video presentation by Emily Trim. https://earthmysterynews.com/2016/06/21/zimbabwe-ufo-child-conactee-speaks-publicly-for-the-1st-time/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaLvp-BkqAo 2016 06 26 – Gilles Fernandez published an article on his skeptical blog "Skeptics vs. the Flying Saucers" http://skepticversustheflyingsaucers.blogspot.com/2016/06/rencontre-rapprochee-ariel-school-ruwa.html 2016 07 20 – Robert Sheaffer published an article entitled "A New Investigation of the 1994 Ariel School Case” on his skeptical blog “Bad UFOs: Skepticism, UFOs, and The Universe. Robert Sheaffer”, https://badufos.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-new-investigation-of-1994-ariel.html 2017 – Reddit “Ask Me Anything” featuring Randall Nickerson and Salma Siddick: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/77o49s/i_am_randall_nickerson_director_of_doc_on_ariel/ 2016 08 16 – UFO Mail includes an article by Henning Dethlefsen entitled “Ufoer over skolegården” focused on the Ariel school incident (at pages -37). That article concludes with a useful list of references. 2017 – SUFOI’s Annual Report includes an article by Henning Dethlefsen entitled “Ufoer over skolegården” focused on the Ariel school incident (at pages -37). That article concludes with a useful list of references. 2017 09 08 : Thread started on the ATS discussion forum entitled “New documentary coming for one of the best UFO cases: Zimbabwe Ariel School” (33 flags) https://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1184782/pg1 2017 10 19 – Martin Willis podcast features Salma Siddick and Randall Nickerson discussing the Ariel school incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rtJpw_WWDg Automated transcript: http://files.afu.se/Downloads/Transcriptions/Audio/Podcasts/Podcast%20UFO%20(Martin%20Willis)/Martin%20Willis%20-%20Ariel%20School%20Encounter%20Witness,%20Salma%20Siddick%20&%20Filmmaker%20Randall%20Nickerson,%2010-18-17_1rtJpw_WWDg%20-%20transcript%20(automated).pdf 2017 11 01 – “Where Did The Road Go?” Podcast features Jeff Ritzmann, Joshua Cutchin, and Seriah discussing the Ariel school incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7D1SLhg4as 2017 – “Expedition Unknown : Hunt for Extraterrestrials”, hosted by Josh Gates, features the Ariel school incident. Expedition Unknown: Hunt for ExtraTerrestrials 2018 – MUFON presentation 2018 01 22 – Gunter Hofer creates “UFO Afrinews” Facebook discussion group, featuring material on the Ariel school incident. https://www.facebook.com/groups/334963700319711 2018 03 29 – Richard Dolan show features an interview of Randall Nickerson discussing the Ariel school incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PchLSwC04xc 2018 07 28 – Martin Willis podcast again features Salma Siddick and Randall Nickerson discussing the Ariel school incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAz6N5R4YlQ Automated transcript: http://files.afu.se/Downloads/Transcriptions/Audio/Podcasts/Podcast%20UFO%20(Martin%20Willis)/Martin%20Willis%20-%2007-28-18%20Salma%20Siddick,%20Ariel%20School%20Incident%20Witness%20&%20Randle%20Nickerson_BAz6N5R4YlQ%20-%20transcript%20(automated).pdf 2019 10 19 – Martin Willis podcast features Emily Trim and Randall Nickerson discussing the Ariel school incident. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhosxOMHTME Automated transcript: http://files.afu.se/Downloads/Transcriptions/Audio/Podcasts/Podcast%20UFO%20(Martin%20Willis)/Martin%20Willis%20-%20Ariel%20School%20Encounter%20Witness,%20Salma%20Siddick%20&%20Filmmaker%20Randall%20Nickerson,%2010-18-17_1rtJpw_WWDg%20-%20transcript%20(automated).pdf 2020 – The “Aliens & Artists” podcast features a 2-part interview of Emily Trim discussing the Ariel school incident https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/aliens-artists/emily-trim-part-one-fQNGOvSIWa1/ https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/aliens-artists/emily-trim-part-two-kfZ-tNiRFA6/ 2020 – Joe Rogan Experience #1574 features Jacques Vallee and James Fox. Includes a discussion of the Ariel school incident. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TukvVnadRic 2020 05 19 – Martin Willis podcast features Randall Nickerson and Francis Chirimuuta discussing the Ariel school incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPOafeaLkDw 2020.1229 – Brian Dunning’s “Skeptoid” podcast Number 760 focused on the Ariel school incident. https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4760 2021 - BBC “witness history” podcast - The schoolkids who said they saw 'aliens' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-57749238 2021 07 21 – Reddit thread entitled “I compiled 38 pictures drawn, 8 video interviews, 6 map references and 1 Reddit AMA from the students that were at the 1994 Ariel School UFO Incident in Ruwa, Zimbabwe. Every adult student interviewed still sticks with their story. They saw a UAP land and humanoid beings emerge. Links in comments” https://www.reddit.com/r/ufo/comments/ootz9o/i_compiled_38_pictures_drawn_8_video_interviews_6/ https://imgur.com/gallery/yALWO9S

All the best,

Isaac

[R Heiden]

Is any of you in touch with Peter Davenport and his UFORC? My recent emails to both
<dire...@ufocenter.com> and
<webm...@ufocenter.com>
bounced.

Maybe one of you has a working email address. Or ask him to write me.

Thanks!

Rich Heiden

[Isaac Koi]

Hi,

I'm expanding and deepening the draft outline timeline I posted last year in relation to the Ariel school (Ruwa, Zimbabwe, 1994) incident, so am collating relevant press articles covering the mass sighting in the region at about 9pm on 14 September 1994.  (I've now also started reaching out to some researchers that visited Ariel school in the 1990s and some of the witnesses).

I have a few complete articles and also (frustratingly...) some incomplete/unattributed articles. The main "UFO"/fireball sightings were over Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and southern Zambia at approximately 9pm on 14th September 1994 (2 days before the Ariel sightings). Relevant keywords include "UFO", "rocket debris", "Russian rocket", "meteor", "meteorite", and "fireball". I've post what I have so far on Facebook (and will be uploading PDF copies of these, and a lot of other Ariel material, to a new folder soon):

https://www.facebook.com/isaac.koi/posts/pfbid02tnrdCDiMBq4ewHMS5Q52aNFdu8ze3x4MmzGKBWx1SJQyp1EewhMFEt3cBmnJjc6Ql

1994 09 00 - Metro - INCOMPLETE
1994 09 00 - UNKNOWN
1994 09 15 - The Chronicle
1994 09 15 - The Star
1994 09 16 - Daily News
1994 09 16 - Daily Telegraph (scan 1)
1994 09 16 - Daily Telegraph (scan 2)
1994 09 16 - The Chronicle
1994 09 16 - UNKNOWN - INCOMPLETE

I'm sure there will be more relevant articles from 14th to 16 September 1994.

All the best,

Isaac

On Fri, Aug 27, 2021 at 5:31 PM Ulrich Magin <Magin....@web.de> wrote:

Hi Isaac,

 

just two additional bibliographical notes - there must be more hidden in my memory ...

 

1997 Hesemann publishes RUWA Zwischenfall - 62 Kinder beobachten UFO Landung in "Magazin2000", 6/1997, (September 1997) p. 40-46 (own interviews)

1997 Susan Michaels, ed.: "Sightings: UFOs". Fireside Book, New York, p. 131-139: Visitation in Zimbabwe. Why Would 62 Schoolchildren Lie? (interviews by MUFON)
 

Ulrich

 

 

Gesendet: Freitag, 27. August 2021 um 15:07 Uhr
Von: "Isaac Koi" <isaa...@gmail.com>
An: ufo-col...@googlegroups.com, EuroU...@groups.io
Betreff: [EuroUfoNet] Ariel school UFO incident (1994)

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