LUFORO Bulletin - Vol 3 No 06 - Nov Dec 1962

Magazine Overview

Title: LUFORO BULLETIN
Issue: Vol. III No. 6
Date: November-December 1962
Publisher: London Unidentified Flying Object Research Organization

Editorial Announcement

The Executive Committee announces that the "LUFORO BULLETIN" will continue, possibly in an amended form, to ensure LUFORO's recognition as an independent society. The British U.F.O. Association will launch a quarterly Journal, professionally printed by Xerography, to cover British sightings investigated by its member societies. This Journal will feature readable reports of probable genuine UFOs, detailing investigations, conclusions, and expert ufologist comments. It aims to build an analytical index of sightings, fostering a progressive understanding of UFOs. The Journal will also include regional administration areas and organizer addresses. Members can receive the Journal by paying one guinea to their society, or become individual members. Payment is deferred until February.

Sightings and Investigations

FAST-MOVING "LIGHT" OVER MORECAMBE BAY

On December 28th, 1962, an unidentified white light was reported over Morecambe Bay. The Air Ministry Air Traffic Control Centre noted that a pilot had reported a similar object travelling east to west at 700-800 mph at an altitude of 6,000 feet. A witness from Levens Bridge described a similar object as 'green'. The "Morecambe, Heysham and Lancaster Visitor" noted that a green signal has no significance in the international distress code, ruling out a distress rocket explanation. Local coastguards suggested it was 'probably' a large meteor. This sighting, reported in "The Times", is being investigated by the Direct Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena at Stockport, with hopes for publication in the first issue of the British UFO Association's Journal.

STRANGE OBJECT SEEN OVER W. AUSTRALIA

On December 12th, 1962, an unidentified crescent-shaped object was sighted in Perth, Australia. Mr. Bernie Hall, head of the meteorological staff at the Albany post-office, observed the object for nearly three and a half hours, stating it was definitely not a weather balloon. No aircraft were in the area. The acting government astronomer, B.J. Harris, confirmed receiving information but could not identify it. The object was white, of considerable size, and crescent-shaped, moving south-westerly at spasmodic speeds of 320-560 mph. It was barely visible to the naked eye but clear through a balloon-tracking telescope and binoculars.

"ANOTHER LAKELAND FLYING SAUCER?"

On December 21st, 1962, Harold Threlkeld reported seeing a "huge disc thing" in the sky near Langdale, Lakeland. He described it as a "saucer upside down", hovering at about 700ft for a minute, then descending to about 150ft for two minutes before swishing away at tremendous speed. He estimated its size at 50-60ft across, metallic bluish in colour, and not spinning. He observed three projections underneath and a dome on top, with what appeared to be tables or benches inside. The object sounded like a loud flight of bees.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: UFOS Photographed over Massachusetts

On May 25th, 1962, four photos were taken of a UFO over Barlington, Massachusetts, showing a dark, circular object. That night, mysterious objects were also seen over Bridgetown, Mount Washington, and Fort Thomas in Ohio. Credit for the Massachusetts photos is given to Robert Gribble.

VENEZUELA: Luminous Object Seen by Highway Workers in Paysandu

Highway workers in Constancia, Venezuela, reported a strange, circular object with what appeared to be propellers. The noise produced was similar to an aeroplane, and the object rapidly disappeared with intense luminosity. This report is from a Venezuelan newspaper dated August 31st, 1962. A more detailed report on a similar sighting in Uruguay is mentioned as appearing on page 6.

FLYING SAUCERS OVER ITALY (CONTINUED)

April 30th, 1962: Eugenio Siragusa, an excise officer from Catania, Sicily, reported meeting two extraterrestrial pilots near Mount Manfre. They gave him a message of peace for world leaders, which he sent to various heads of state. The encounter was later reported in the magazine "LA DOMENICA DEI CORRIERE". Siragusa has formed the "CENTRO STUDI FRATELLANZA COSMICA".

June 26th, 1962: The Peregozza family in Veroa experienced a green light entering their bedroom, materializing a bald-headed giant figure. They believe this may have been a 3-D projection from a hovering flying saucer.

September 29th, 1962: A UFO was seen and photographed over Fiesole, near Florence. Its form was described as unusual, similar to "apiccas" seen in Flint, Michigan in 1952.

November 4th, 1962: A report of falling fibrous material ("Angels hair") occurred at Porto Garibaldi, Italy.

December 9th, 1962: Antonio Candau of Bologna claimed to have met two pilots from a landed flying saucer. They spoke briefly in an incomprehensible language before departing.

December 18th, 1962: Francesco Rizzi, a night watchman in Milan, witnessed a small flying saucer hovering in a factory courtyard. A small figure emerged from a porthole, was ordered back inside by another being, and the saucer departed with a hissing noise. Rizzi lost his job after reporting the incident, but the saucer was reportedly seen by many others in Milan.

December 22nd, 1962: Giovanni D'Agata and Italo Magri reported seeing a "Spaceman" walking in Piazza Spirito Santo, Catania. The figure was tall, wore a space suit and helmet, and walked with a palmiped gait. When approached, the "alien" disappeared.

REPORT FROM URUGUAY

Information published in "EL PAIS" on September 5th, 1962, details an event in Paysandu. Witnesses (Arthur Davinson, Ricardo Galetta, Luis Ma Cabrera) heard a humming sound and saw a brilliantly shining spherical object with prismatic light rays. It had four projections, each with a smaller sphere. The object's colour was described as aluminium or chrome. It wavered, oscillated, tilted, and then vertically rose and disappeared in a fraction of a second. Observers were amazed by its speed and sudden transition from inertia to rapid movement.

UFOS OVER BRITAIN

John Cleary-Baker presents an analysis of 60 UFO reports from the British Isles in 1956 and 1957. The analysis aimed to eliminate misidentified objects and natural phenomena. The distribution of reports was: Wales (1), N. Ireland (1), Eire (1), Scotland (8), and England (49). English counties with the most reports included Yorkshire (6), London Area (6), Lancashire (4), Nottingham (3), Warwick (3), Kent (3), Gloucester (3), and Oxford (3).

Further analysis of monthly reports showed deviations from the norm. The period April to July appeared to favour UFO visitations more than other times of the year. London and the North "hogged" a disproportionate share of these visitations, and coastal areas were more frequently visited than inland areas.

Cleary-Baker appeals to LUFORO members for cooperation in preliminary spadework for statistical compilation, noting the laborious nature of the task for a single individual. He emphasizes that theories and speculations are common but data sifting is crucial for extracting value.

FROM SHIPS AT SEA

An interesting UFO was observed in the Red Sea on November 1st, 1962, according to an official report. The Bulletin states that such reports from merchant ships or official sources will be published in the Association's Journal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The LUFORO Bulletin consistently focuses on documenting and investigating UFO sightings from around the globe, with a particular emphasis on British reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, aiming to move beyond mere speculation towards a more analytical and data-driven understanding of UFO phenomena. The publication of a professional quarterly journal by the British U.F.O. Association signifies a commitment to rigorous investigation and dissemination of findings. There is a clear effort to distinguish between credible sightings and misidentifications, and to encourage systematic data collection and analysis among its members.

This document appears to be a bulletin or newsletter from the London Unidentified Flying Object Research Organisation (LUFORO), a non-profitmaking society founded on July 11th, 1959, and a member of the British U.F.O. Association. The bulletin is printed and published by LUFORO.

LUFORO's Aims

• The aims of LUFORO are stated as:
• Unbiased scientific investigation of reports of Unidentified Flying Objects and associated claims.
• Collection of first-hand evidence of verifiable data.
• Publicising information in bulletins and by other means.
• Bringing about closer co-operation and understanding between UFO researchers.

Correspondence is to be addressed to the Honorary Secretary, L. Beer, Esq., at 61, Great Cumberland Place, London, W.1.

Disappearances of Persons

A significant section of the bulletin is dedicated to a list of 'DISAPPEARANCES OF PERSONS'. This list includes historical cases with dates, names of individuals or groups (often associated with ships), places of disappearance, and references to their sources. The entries span from 1850 to 1962:

• 1850: Crew of "Seabird" (Atlantic), referenced in Fate, April, 1953.
• c1865: Unknown man (Hammersley Fork, Pennsylvania), referenced in Jessup, M.K. (1955) 'The Case for the UFO'.
• 1872: Crew of "Marie Celeste" (Atlantic), referenced in Jessup (op.cit.).
• 23/9/1880: David Lang (12 miles from Gallatin, Summer Co., Tennessee, USA), referenced in Wilkins, H.T. 'Mysteries Solved & Unsolved' and Jessup (op.cit.).
• 1885: Isaac Martin (Salem, Virginia, U.S.A.), referenced in New York Sun, 25/4/1885.
• 24/12/1890: Oliver Lerch (South Bend, Indiana, USA), referenced in Fate, September 1950.
• 10/1902: Crew of Freya (Pacific), referenced in Jessup (op.cit.).
• 24/7/1924: Flt-Lt.W.T.Day & Pilot Officer D.R.Stewart (Mesopotamia), referenced in Sunday Express, 21&28/9/1924.
• 1953: Crew of Holchu (Indian Ocean), referenced in Times-Herald (Washington D.C.), 11/2/1953.
• 20/8/1962: Senhor Rivalino Mafra da Silva (Duas Pontes, Diamantina, Brazil), referenced in Flying Saucer Review, Nov-Dec 62.

The section concludes with a note: "Our thanks are due to Basil Nubel and S. Whitehead."

Gloucestershire Sighting

This section details a specific UFO sighting:

• Date: 24th November, 1962.
• Description: A large pale-blue moon-sized object with a fiery trail was observed.
• Movement: Moving north at not very great speed.
• Witnesses: Gloucestershire witnesses.
• Reporting: Witnesses rang the B.B.C.'s Bristol News Room. One witness was later interviewed on Radio Newsreel.

"FLYING SAUCERS" Magazine Advertisement

An advertisement is included for the American magazine "Flying Saucers", edited by Ray Palmer. The Librarian (R.G. Wyld) has a supply of back issues from March-April to November-December, and the January-February issue is also available. The price per copy is 2/10d (post included), and the annual subscription is 17/-. Interested parties are asked to write to R.G. Wyld, Librarian, Luforo, 69, Cranbourne Road, Northwood, Middx.

Future Meetings

Two future meetings are announced:

1. "Flying Saucers in History"
- Date: Saturday, 2nd February 1963, at 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Kensington Central Library (off Hornton Street, opposite Kensington High Street Underground Station).
- Speaker: Mr. J. Cleary-Baker, LUFORO's Historian.
- Topic: Mr. Cleary-Baker will discuss that UFOs existed long before 1947, highlighting the historical aspect of UFOs.

2. "Contactees I Have Met"
- Date: Saturday, 2nd March 1963, at 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Kensington Central Library (provisionally booked).
- Speaker: Desmond Leslie.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin reflects LUFORO's commitment to investigating and publicizing UFO phenomena. The inclusion of historical disappearances suggests an interest in unexplained events that may be linked to UFOs or other anomalies. The advertisement for "Flying Saucers" magazine and the announcement of lectures on UFO history and contactees indicate a focus on disseminating information and engaging the public in UFO research. The editorial stance appears to be one of scientific investigation and information sharing, aiming to foster understanding among researchers and the public.