LUFORO Bulletin - Vol 2 No 02 - Feb 1961

Magazine Overview

Title: LUFORO BULLETIN
Issue: Vol.II No.2
Date: February 1961
Publisher: London Unidentified Flying Object Research Organisation (LUFORO)
Country: United Kingdom
Price: 6d.

This issue of the LUFORO Bulletin provides a comprehensive look at UFO research and related topics in early 1961. It features an editorial, letters to the editor, reports on meetings, a detailed account of Brazilian government admissions regarding UFOs, and a compilation of UFO sighting reports.

Editorial: Explaining UFO Sightings

The editorial, written by Lawrence G Moore, addresses the common tendency to complicate UFO investigations by misidentifying familiar aerial phenomena. It highlights Venus as a frequent culprit, especially when visible in the evening sky against clouds, and discusses the increasing number of satellite sightings that can confuse the public. The editorial also notes the Daily Telegraph's service of publishing satellite visibility details. It references a previous report of a sighting at Shoreham-by-sea, which was later identified as the American Balloon Satellite Echo 1, and thanks the coastguard, Mr Morris, for his assistance. Furthermore, the editorial provides an official list of identification lights on civil and service aircraft to aid in distinguishing them from UFOs, noting that while civil aircraft lights flash on landing and take-off, they are permanently on in flight, whereas service aircraft lights are permanently on except during landing and take-off.

An instructional section details how to build a simple instrument for determining the height of an object above the horizon using a cardboard tube, a protractor, and a weighted thread.

Letters to the Editor

Green Fireballs: Roy Stemman writes in response to an article on 'Slow moving green fireballs and UFOs', suggesting a connection to 'FALLING ICE' as a potential explanation for phenomena appearing as UFOs, with historical reports of ice falling from the sky.

Suggestions for accurate data-finding regarding UFO sightings: Eric R. Smith emphasizes the importance of a balanced and critical approach to UFO data. He critiques the common fallacy of observers assigning discrete distances and sizes to objects without sufficient basis. Smith outlines three methods for estimating size and distance: binocular vision, using 'size comparables', and trigonometry. He notes the lack of detail on estimation methods in previous reports and suggests that subjective events might explain some sightings, citing the Hamburg sighting as an example. He also proposes that information from meteorological offices regarding the Norfolk sightings could provide valuable data for trigonometric analysis.

Forthcoming London Meetings

Announcements for April, May, and June meetings are pending. Meetings are held at Caxton Hall, Westminster, with admission at 2/6d. A lecture on "Human Perception and Its Interpretation As Applied to UFOLOGY" by Mr C.C. Stevens was scheduled for Saturday, March 11th, 1961, discussing data evaluation processes.

Brazilian Government Admits Existence of UFOs: Trindade Island Sightings

This section presents a précis of an article by Olavo T. Fontes M.D. from "Flying Saucers" magazine. It details a series of seven Navy sightings around Trindade Island in the South Atlantic Ocean between November 1957 and January 1958. These included theodolite sightings, observations of silent craft, and an object circling a Navy ship. Notably, a UFO was photographed by a Navy sergeant, with the photos later authenticated by the Navy's photographic laboratory and a South American photo lab. Despite initial attempts at censorship, the Brazilian President received copies of the photos, leading to their publication in newspapers and subsequent public impact. The Navy's initial report was refuted, and under public pressure, an official release was issued, prompting a Congressional inquiry. Admiral Gerson de Macedo Soares, Navy General Secretary, stated his belief in the reality of flying saucers, even if they originated from another planet. Admiral Alves Cavera, Navy Minister, also became convinced after seeing the photographic evidence. The article concludes that the Brazilian government finally admitted the existence of these unidentified objects.

Report on the February Meeting: The Brains Trust

The LUFORO meeting held on February 11th, 1961, featured a panel of five experts: Reginald Dutta (Flying Saucer Services Ltd.), Desmond Leslie (author), Dr Bernard Finch (investigator), Leonard Cramp (author), and Eric Smith (physicist). The panel discussed various UFO-related questions, including the nature of 'space people' and their intentions. Desmond Leslie suggested that space beings might be as curious about humans as humans are about them. The panel agreed that approximately 10% of reported sightings could be attributed to temperature inversions, and they criticized Dr. Menzel for dismissing convincing reports as meteorological phenomena. Opinions on infra-red photographs of UFOs varied, with some suggesting they represented fourth-dimensional states or 'gaseous caterpillars'. The discussion also touched upon the Ariel Mythology and the possibility of 'space animals'.

Regarding 'contacts' with space people, Desmond Leslie defended the integrity of figures like Adamski and Truman Bethurum. The panel noted that only about 1% of sightings involve contact. A significant point of discussion was government censorship of UFO information, with Reginald Dutta citing an instance where a pilot's report was dismissed with an 'official explanation'. Desmond Leslie mentioned a politician who believed censorship was necessary to protect government standing, and another suggestion that censorship at airports was to prevent switchboard jamming.

The report concludes with a vote of thanks to the panel and a note regretting the lack of a tape recorder or shorthand writer for the meeting.

News Items

Debunking Campaign by U.S. Air Force: News from the "UFO Investigator" reports on a U.S. Air Force debunking campaign, which is itself being challenged by NICAP. The campaign centers around a book by Lt. Col. Lawrence J. Tacker, which NICAP claims contains statements contrary to documented facts.

Kenneth Allsop Reviews Tacker Book: A review by Kenneth Allsop in the Daily Mail criticizes Tacker's book, "Flying Saucers and the U.S. Air Force," calling it a "morning of bitter consternation for ufologists." Allsop notes that Tacker dismisses flying saucers as figments and suggests that with advances in space technology, humans are more likely to visit planets than vice versa. However, Allsop concludes that the report remains inexplicable to USAF investigators and ufology may not be entirely demolished.

Moon Dust Bombs Earth!: A report from the British Interplanetary Society's "Satellite News Bulletin" states that Dr. Whipple disclosed that the Moon is bombarding Earth with high-velocity dust, which gathers in a halo about 100 miles above Earth before falling.

U.S. Air Force Regulation No. 200-2: An extract from this regulation defines Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOB) as airborne objects that do not conform to known aircraft or missile types and cannot be positively identified as familiar objects, which include balloons, astronomical bodies, and birds.

Tasmania Sighting: A report from the "Australian Saucer Record" mentions that Rev. Lionel Browning of the World Council of Churches reported seeing an object on October 4th, 1960.

Index of 1960 & 1961 UFO Sighting Reports

The bulletin includes a detailed index of UFO sighting reports received since the previous publication. This index lists the date, time, duration, witness number, location (country and city/region), description of the object, direction of observation, and the source or reference for each sighting. The reports cover sightings from May 1960 to October 1961, with a significant number originating from Brazil, followed by reports from Canada, the United States, the West Indies, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the scientific investigation of UFOs, the importance of accurate data collection and identification, and the role of official bodies and governments in acknowledging or denying UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as represented by LUFORO, is one of unbiased scientific inquiry, aiming to explain sightings through known phenomena where possible, but also to document and investigate unexplained cases. There is a clear emphasis on critical analysis and avoiding sensationalism, while also acknowledging the public's interest and the need for transparency.

This issue of the BULLETIN, Volume 7, dated November 1961, is published by the London Unidentified Flying Object Research Organisation. It serves as a compilation of reported unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings and related activities, primarily from late 1961, with a focus on international reports.

Sightings and Reports

The magazine presents a detailed list of UFO sightings, categorized by date, location, and brief description. These reports originate from various countries including Germany, USA, Poland, Irish Republic, Burma, France, Canada, Argentina, and South Africa. The descriptions of the objects vary widely, encompassing:

• Shapes: Discs, cigar-shaped craft, square objects, lens-shaped clouds, round balls of light, and balloon-shaped objects.
• Colors: Glowing, red, white, blue, pink, and bluish-white.
• Behaviors: Intense glowing, fast maneuvering, sudden disappearances, hovering vertically and horizontally, stopping, climbing abruptly, approaching with beams of light, descending, climbing steeply, pulsating lights, and being chased by smaller UFOs or jets.
• Sizes and Speeds: Descriptions range from 'moon-sized' to specific estimates like '30ft.across' and '30ft.' for saucers. Speeds are generally described as 'fast'.
• Altitude: Objects were observed 'low in NE' or at altitudes 'below 4,700 feet'.
• Physical Traces: In one instance, 'pieces found at Duff' were mentioned.

Notable specific reports include:

• A sighting near Cressy, Tasmania, of a 300ft cigar-shaped mother ship and six flying saucers, which was reportedly substantiated by local residents and taken seriously by government officials.
• A 'silvery star' followed by a bright pink cigar-shaped air-ship seen over Ringwood, Hants, England, on January 6th, 1961, reported by Rev. J.P.Grant.
• A UFO sighted and tracked by radar in Iowa, USA.

Meetings and Organization Activities

The BULLETIN also announces an upcoming event: a 'Research Get-together' scheduled for April 22nd, 1961, at 7:30 p.m. in the Borough of Kensington's New Central Library, near Kensington High Street underground station. Refreshments were to be available, with an admission fee of 2/6d.

The publication includes an extensive index of abbreviations for various UFO research organizations and publications, such as APB (A.P.R.O. Bulletin), BCE (Bad. Neuesten News), FSR (Flying Saucer Review), ISSRA, LUB (LUFORO Bulletin), NAC (UFO-nachrichten), and UFI (U.F.O. Investigator), among others. This indicates a network of international collaboration in UFO research.

Call for Reports

Readers are actively encouraged to submit any UFO reports that come to their notice, including press cuttings. These submissions are to be addressed to Mr. G.N.P. Stephenson at 12, Dorset Road, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey, England, or via telephone at VIGilant 1773. This highlights the organization's reliance on public input for its research.

Future Content

The magazine also teases future content, mentioning that the next issue will include a resume of 37 reports from Bristol sightings from the previous year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the cataloging of UFO sightings, the promotion of UFO research through meetings and information sharing, and the active solicitation of public reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of unexplained aerial phenomena, fostering a community of researchers and enthusiasts. The detailed listing of sightings, coupled with the organizational abbreviations, suggests a systematic approach to collecting and cross-referencing information within the UFO research community.