LUFORO Bulletin - Vol 4 No 02 - Apr-May 1963

Magazine Overview

This document is the "London Unidentified Flying Object Research Organisation Bulletin", Vol. IV, No. 2, dated January/February/March, 1963, with an April/May cover date. It is published by LUFORO and is in English.

Editorial

The editorial section presents two main points for consideration by the readers. Firstly, it proposes the creation of a "UFO identikit" system, analogous to police identikits used for identifying wanted persons. This method would involve using transparent sheets of various features to build a composite picture of a UFO, which the editor believes would be easier than for human faces due to a potentially narrower range of variations encountered in UFO descriptions.

Secondly, the editorial questions the adequacy of the term "UFO" (Unidentified Flying Object) in all circumstances. The editor suggests that in some cases, sufficient evidence exists to assert that the object is a machine of extra-terrestrial origin, and proposes the term "ETM" (Extra-Terrestrial Machine) as a more direct designation, arguing that the invariable use of "UFO" can be unconsciously defensive.

Help Received

David Jones provided information about an undated cutting mentioned in the previous issue. The bulletin is still seeking information on two other cuttings and a specific 5/8ths inch typewriter ribbon.

The Year's Reports

This section begins a new feature aiming to provide a full list of UFO observations and related phenomena from the beginning of the year. The bulletin stresses the importance of knowing the date of occurrence, the place, and the reference of the original report for each sighting. A general schema for reporting sightings is provided, including Date, Place, Nature of observation, References and/or credit, and Comments (if any).

The following sightings are listed:

1. 1/1: Over Swaffham Forest, UK. Two discs of light, off-white, stationary at one time. (Source: CUGIUFO)
2. 2/1: Over Western Rootstown, USA. Object larger than a star with 6-8 red lights, stationary. (Source: Beacon-Journal, Akron, Ohio; Credit: N.R. April '63)
3. 4/1: Small park in suburbs of Rome, Italy. Landing and take-off of object, seen by a psychiatrist. (Credit: Roberto Pinotti)
4. 7/1: Over Bass Strait, Victoria-Tasmania, Australia. Slow-moving silver dot, observed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Source: Age, Melbourne; Credit: N.R. April '63)
5. 10/1: Montesano, Westport, Grayland area, USA. Five ascending objects resembling rockets. (Source: Twin Harbor Press, Westport; Credit: N.R. April '63. Note: Might have been military rockets.)
6. 14/1: Small village near Brindisi, Italy. Landing and take-off of object with a semi-transparent dome. (Credit: Roberto Pinotti)
7. 15/1: Holbaek, Denmark. Orange-red Saturn-shaped object larger than the moon. (Source: Ufo-Nyt, May '63)
8. 15/1: Durban, South Africa. Two square formations of large golden lights, brighter than stars. (Source: F.S.R., March-April '63)
9. 18/1: Jacobsaal, South Africa. Weird bright light, low on the horizon. (Source: Pretoria News, 19/1/63)
10. 21/1: Escombe, South Africa. Bright object like a star, moving south-east. (Source: Natal Mercury, 22/1/63)
11. 24/1: Johannesburg, South Africa. Brilliant red-brown stationary light with a tail and halo. (Source: Daily Dispatch, East London, 25/1)
12. 25/1: Mt. Pilchuck, near Granite Falls, Washington, USA. Delta-shaped silvery-bluish light, moving and stationary. (Credit: N.R., April '63. Also seen on 13/2, see No.18)
13. 28/1: Seattle, Washington, USA. Elliptical object, green and changing to other colours, seen around 10:30 p.m. (Source: Post Intelligencer, Seattle; Credit: F.S.R., May-June '63. Note: Might have been a meteor.)
14. 28/1: Shilton, near Coventry, UK. Yellow-orange cigar-shaped object with four portholes, seen at 5:20 p.m. (Credit: F.S.R., May-June '63)
15. 28/1: 15 miles inland from Durban, South Africa. Black cigar-shaped object, showers of light like sparks from the tail, seen around 11 p.m. (Credit: F.S.R., May-June '63. Note: The editor finds it interesting that three reports on this day describe cigar-shaped or elliptical objects.)
16. 29/1: San Diego, California, USA. Rumbling sounds heard intermittently all day. Seismologist reported no earthquakes, Navy reported no firing. (Source: Union, San Diego, California, 30/1/63)
17. 3/2: Totland Bay, Isle of Wight, UK. Two inverted-saucer-shaped objects glistening in sunlight. (Source: IOWUFOIS)
18. 13/2: As for No.12 above.
19. 15/2: Near Moe, 80 miles south-east of Melbourne, Australia. Thick grey disc, about 25 feet wide, with a transparent band round the circumference, number of scoop-like protrusions, made pulsating, whooshing sound as it revolved about 75-100 feet overhead. (Source: Auckland Star, 16/2/63. Note: In the same general area as No.4.)
20. 20/2: Arnes, Norway. Yellow-red, fierce, pulsating light. (Source: Ufo-Nyt, May '63)
21. 22/2: Tinglev, Denmark. Red inverted-saucer-like object, flames emitted when turning. (Source: Ufo-Nyt, May '63)
22. 27/2: Rome, Italy. Formation of five objects. (Credit: Roberto Pinotti)
23. 2/3: Yeovil, UK. Two white lights, moving and stationary. (Source: Western Gazette, 8/3/63)
24. 6/3: Bolton, UK. Dark silvery blue disc, hovering. (Source: Bolton Evening News, 8/3/63)
25. 6/3: Over Wimbledon Common, UK. Gleaming silver circular object. (Source: Wimbledon Boro' News, 15/3/63)
26. 8/3: Over Wallsend, UK. Grey-blue object like two discs joined together by a tube. (Source: Evening Chronicle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 21/3/63)
27. 10/3: Detroit expressway, USA. Cigar-shaped object. (Source: Weekly Research Magazine's Look-See Vol.8, No.5.)
28. 20/3: Off Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland. Two red flares seen by coastguards. (Source: News Letter, Belfast, 21/3/63)
29. 22/3: Copenhagen, Denmark. Three orange-coloured spindle-shaped objects with fierce light, and a rectangular orange-coloured object. (Source: Ufo-Nyt, May '63)
30. 3/4: Fiji Islands. Huge object glowing with green-white light, with a long fiery orange tail. (Source: Birmingham Post, 4/4/63; London Evening News, 30/4/63; Credit: C.D. Sutcliffe.)
31. 7/4: Copenhagen, Denmark. Circular object (or two close together), colour changing from glass-like to yellow-white to red, moving and stationary. (Source: Ufo-Nyt, May '63)
32. 28/4: Heap Bridge, Heywood, Lancashire, UK. Brilliantly-lit object hovering and landing, engine noise like a rocket taking off. (Source: Heywood Advertiser, 3/5/63; Credit: S. Whitehead.)

Abbreviations

• The bulletin provides a list of abbreviations used:
• CUGIUFO: Cambridge University Group for the Investigation of UFOs.
• F.S.R.: Flying Saucer Review.
• IOWUFOIS: Isle of Wight UFO investigation Society.
• N.R.: NICAP Reporter.

An Explanation

This section clarifies subscription options for LUFORO and BUFOA (British UFO Association). Members have three choices:
(a) Continue LUFORO membership by sending a yearly subscription of 10/- to the treasurer, Mr. V.W. Smithson, for the LUFORO Bulletin, meeting notices, and facilities.
(b) Become an individual member of BUFOA by sending an annual subscription of £1.1.0 to the appropriate regional representative to receive the BUFOA Quarterly Magazine.
(c) Join BUFOA while remaining a LUFORO member by paying a subscription of £1.1.0, entitling them to receive both the LUFORO Bulletin and the BUFOA magazine.

Correspondence

The "Correspondence" section features a letter from W. Jolliffe, which is awarded the 5/- prize for being the best of those received on questions posed in the last issue. Jolliffe critically examines the theory that UFOs are space-craft. He argues that the evidence from UFO sightings does not allow for classification into known object categories, leading to the deduction of them being non-terrestrial and machine-like. However, he contends that this "space-ship theory" is not based on an unbiased review of evidence but rather on a pre-conceived notion that UFOs are physical objects. Jolliffe states that, as far as he can ascertain, no satisfactory evidence has emerged over the years to suggest UFOs have a physical basis. He proposes that the most logical assumption, based on the available evidence, is that UFOs are non-physical. He then answers two questions posed in the bulletin:
1. Information that would convince him of a physical object report: "any evidence of a concrete physical kind."
2. Information that would cause him to doubt a physical object report: "the absence of evidence of a concrete physical kind."

Another correspondent, J. Clary-Baker, Ph.D., expresses partial disagreement with Jolliffe but shares the view that new ideas are needed in UFO research. He suggests that official investigations like "Project Bluebook" have yielded little beyond the presumption that UFOs are alien spacecraft. He believes that collecting and evaluating sightings alone will not solve the mystery and calls for a new approach.

Past Events

An apology is issued for a cancelled research meeting on March 23rd at "The Feathers," which was later found to be untrue, apparently due to a childish prank. The next research meeting is scheduled for around July 20th, with further details available from Eric Smith.

Those who attended the Polish Hearth on March 30th heard a lecture by Antoni Szachnowski. The bulletin hopes to cover this in a future issue and notes that Mr. Szachnowski is interested in reports of dumb-bell and triangular-shaped objects.

Future Events

• June 1st: A talk titled "THE HIDDEN FACTOR IN UFO PHOTOGRAPHS" by Basil Nubel at Kensington Central Library.
• June 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th: A thorough investigation of the "Adamski story" will be conducted at 106, South Hill Park, Hampstead, discussing technical, medical, photographic, and psychological aspects.
• June 8th: A rally of the STAR Fellowship at Chiddingstone, Kent, at 11 a.m., discussing topics including orthoteny, hypnotism, and past lives. Overnight campers are welcome.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin consistently promotes a scientific and evidence-based approach to UFO research. It encourages detailed reporting of sightings and critical analysis of theories. The editorial stance appears to be open to new ideas and challenges conventional thinking, as evidenced by the discussion on UFO terminology and the questioning of the physical nature of UFOs. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of verifiable data and a call for more rigorous investigation methods beyond mere cataloging of sightings. The publication also serves as a platform for communication among researchers, facilitating the exchange of information and ideas through its correspondence and events sections.