LUFORO Bulletin - Vol 1 No 03 - 7 May 1960

Magazine Overview

This document is a bulletin, issue No. 3, dated May 7, 1960, from the LONDON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT RESEARCH ORGANISATION. It presents proposals for the organization and operation of a Federation of UFO Researchers.

Federation Proposals

The bulletin outlines a scheme to create a Federation of UFO Researchers, comprising both individuals and groups. The hope is that representatives from all UFO groups in the British Isles will meet to discuss this plan, with similar initiatives encouraged in other countries. Readers are invited to submit comments and offers of assistance. The proposal is to form a Federation in each country or group of countries with a sufficient number of researchers, which would then unite as an INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION.

Name

Potential names for the Federation include "Federation of UFO Researchers," "Federation of UFO Investigators," or "Federation of Ufologists."

Aims

The primary aims are the furtherance of ufology study, and the immediate and efficient collection, dissemination, and investigation of reports of unidentified flying objects.

Organisation

Central Information Bureau: To be formed in the capital city or a location with the largest population or most group headquarters, staffed by voluntary workers.

Local Bureau: To be established in different parts of the country where sufficient staff are available, ideally at group headquarters.

Rooms: Rooms used as bureaus should belong to members or groups, allowing free use.

Secretary: A secretary or several co-secretaries would be needed to run each bureau. A governing council or special committees may be elected after the Federation's formation to organize matters not yet decided.

Formation

The Federation would not be officially formed until full arrangements for its efficient operation are completed. A date would then be fixed for a well-publicized meeting to officially vote it into existence.

Collection of Reports

Printed Reports: Every newspaper and publication likely to include UFO reports would be read by a specified member. Printed reports would be copied, with one copy sent to the central bureau and another to the local bureau.

Broadcast Reports: News bulletins and programmes on sound radio and television (including cinema newsreels) would be monitored by a specified member. If the member does not have a tape recorder, the local bureau must be telephoned immediately to record the program. The central bureau would be notified by post, and the local bureau by telephone. Recordings would be transcribed as soon as possible, with copies of the text or tape sent to central and local bureaus.

Observations: Local and central bureaus would be immediately notified of all observations reported by members. Individuals or groups observing UFOs should telephone the local bureau as soon as possible. A local bureau might alert local observers by telephone upon hearing of a sighting. Information could be telephoned from bureau to bureau along the line to the central bureau. Publicity is desired so that non-members know where to report observations.

Observers

Cooperation would be sought from official observatories (e.g., Jodrell Bank, Royal Observer Corps., certain RAF establishments), artificial satellite tracking stations, radar stations, individual astronomers, astronomical societies, and satellite "moonwatch" observers. This cooperation would involve reporting UFO observations immediately and participating in pre-arranged sky-watches. Arrangements would be made for observers to be on watch at different times, including housewives during the day, to maintain a constant sky watch day and night across the country.

Receipt of Reports

Upon receipt of a report, the central bureau would enter details in a register, code-number the report, and create a list showing the sender's name, reference, notification date, receipt date, and register number. Each week, representatives from at least two separate groups would check this list and sign an acknowledgement of receipt. Copies of this list would be sent to groups, bureaus, and subscribing members. Signed receipts might also be sent directly to the reporter if a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed. These measures are to ensure no information is withheld. Anyone discovering a report is not listed must complain immediately.

Collection of Statements

Network of Investigators: All groups would pool their area investigators. Upon receiving a report, the local bureau would inform the two nearest investigators. They would then visit the witness, have them write and sign a statement of their observations (with carbon copies made), or record their statement on tape before questioning. Investigators would then question the witness to deduce their reliability in observance and judgment. Investigators would write their own notes and evaluations and send them with reports to local and central bureaux. Tape recordings would be transcribed, and the text signed to confirm accuracy. If staff are not satisfied, they would ask investigators to obtain further details.

Committee of Experts

A committee would be formed with qualifications in astronomy, radar, meteorology, science, aeronautics, and statistics, whose voluntary assistance could be obtained. At the Central Bureau, all reports would be collated and preliminarily analyzed. Details of unidentified objects would be prepared for the committee. The committee would study reports, existing photographs, and material evidence, advise on further investigations, and provide comments and conclusions. Proceedings of committee meetings would be tape-recorded and transcribed, or minutes kept. Follow-up investigation results would be presented to experts at later meetings.

Dissemination of Information

Bulletins describing all reports, investigations, and committee meetings would be written and displayed in the Central Bureau reference library, accessible to members and the public. Copies would be sent frequently to local bureaux, groups, and subscribing members. The Central Bureau would send bulletins to news agencies immediately, and local bureaux would do the same by informing the local press.

Continental Bureau

Eventually, a bureau would be formed in each continent. Each continental bureau would send a copy of every report to a central continental bureau, where reports would be collated and translated. Copies or summaries would be sent to all central bureaux based on their ability to pay.

Files

Files would be kept in the Central Bureau, accessible to all members. Originals of written statements or newspaper cuttings would be sent to and kept by the Central Bureau, unless the member who sent the report wishes to retain the original.

Finance

Federation Entrance Fee: Determined by the exact cost of printing and postage for forms, instructions, and stationery. Each member would receive sighting report forms, blank paper, carbon paper, instructions, and envelopes.

Subscription to Bulletins: Payment for printing and postage of bulletins would be made to individual bureaux where they are duplicated and dispatched. Bank accounts and statements would be maintained for each bureau.

Clerical and Telephone Expenses: Bank accounts and statements would be shown for all expenses. Costs would be paid by bureau staff and local donors. After formation, a committee would discuss finance and determine an annual membership fee.

Donations: To be given for specific objects, with donors specifying the item for which the money is to be spent.

Funds: Sales of work, etc., could be held to raise money for particular objects.

Meetings

An annual conference would be held, along with conferences across the country. Members would be given names and addresses of others in their area who wish to meet, and encouraged to arrange their own meetings in consultation with their local bureau. Representatives from these meeting-groups could send suggestions and requests to their local and central bureaus.

Attempted Communication

Considering the possibility of UFOs being extraterrestrial, organized attempts should be made to contact possible occupants by radio, light beam communication, etc. All claims of individuals seeing or contacting UFO occupants would be seriously investigated, and hoaxers exposed. Careful study would be given to the social, military, and religious consequences of visiting extraterrestrial craft.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this bulletin is the establishment of a structured, organized, and collaborative approach to UFO research. The stance is proactive and systematic, emphasizing the need for efficient information gathering, rigorous investigation, and broad dissemination of findings. There is a clear intent to professionalize UFO research by creating a formal federation with clear aims, organizational structures, and expert analysis. The document also acknowledges the potential significance of UFOs, including the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation, and calls for serious investigation into these aspects and their consequences. The publisher, the London Unidentified Flying Object Research Organisation, appears to be taking a leading role in proposing this continental and potentially international framework for UFO research. The tone is one of earnest proposal and a call to action for the UFO community.