BUFORA Journal - Volume 01 No 05 - Summer 1965

Magazine Overview

This is the Summer 1965 issue, Volume 1, Number 5, of the BUFORA JOURNAL AND BULLETIN, published by the British U.F.O. Research Association. The cover features the title prominently, along with publication details and a stylized illustration. The issue is dated Summer 1965 and is edited by J. Cleary-Baker, Ph.D., with the editorial address in Winchester, Hants.

Editorial

The editorial, titled "EDITORIAL," by J. Cleary-Baker, Ph.D., addresses the non-committal stance taken in BUFORA's aims regarding the true nature of UFOs, emphasizing the need for scientific investigation. While acknowledging that evidence is largely circumstantial, the author expresses a personal opinion, shared by many UFO researchers, that the evidence strongly supports the theory of UFOs being spacecraft controlled by alien intelligences. The editorial contrasts this with other viewpoints, such as those in the United States that suggest earthly origins for UFOs, including 'cranky and cultist' theories and more rational ones, like Dr. Leon Davidson's suggestion that the CIA might be perpetuating a UFO myth. The author notes a shift in informed opinion towards the spaceship theory, citing James Moseley of "Saucer News" as an example. The editorial speculates about the origin of these spacecraft from planets orbiting other stars and discusses the possibility of life on Mars and Venus, while dismissing the idea of non-standard life forms. It touches upon historical UFO activity over the last three thousand years, suggesting a long-term presence of UFO-denizens sharing Earth. The author posits that UFOs might be concerned with preventing World War Three, not for humanity's sake, but for their own, as a devastated Earth would be unsuitable for them. The editorial also links UFO activity to scientific and technological advancements, particularly the development of atomic weapons and rockets, and mentions the appearance of 'Foo-fighters' in 1943, 'Ghost Rockets' in 1946, and large-scale 'flying saucer' activity in the United States from 1947 onwards. It notes that atomic and rocket installations, as well as early-warning systems, are often targets of UFO observation. The author concludes by reflecting on the possibility of alien forces seeking to establish a worldwide political hegemony and suggests that secrets may be 'sat upon,' with more going on than is known to the public or rulers, hinting that UFO research can lead to unexpected discoveries.

Contents Overview

The table of contents lists various articles and sections, including an Editorial, Annual General Meeting details, an article on "The Sun," a request for reader contributions, "UFO Sighting Reports - A New Policy," an account of an "Air Force Secretly Warns Pilot of Danger," "Letters to the Editor," a "Book Review," "Strange Signals - T. T.," "UFO Sightings in South America," "Radioactivity and the UFO," "UFOs & The Antarctic Icecap," "Publications Received," "UFO Sighting in the Antarctic," "A UFO Stops The Clocks," and further "UFO Sighting Reports."

BUFORA Organization Details

Page 3 provides information about The British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association (BUFORA), founded in 1962. Its aims are to encourage and promote unbiased scientific investigation and research into UFO phenomena, collect and disseminate evidence, and co-ordinate UFO research nationally and internationally. It lists numerous Member Societies, including the Anglo-Polish UFO Research Club, British Flying Saucer Bureau, and Cambridge University Group for the Investigation of UFOs, as well as Branches in Halifax and Stratford-on-Avon. The Officers of the association are listed, including President G. F. N. Knewstub, Vice-President L. G. Cramp, Chairman G. G. Doel, and General Secretary M. C. Holt. Membership is available for one guinea annually, with application forms obtainable from the Membership Secretary, Mr. N. T. Oliver. The Journal is published quarterly and is available only to members. Advertisements are accepted, and correspondence should be sent to the General Secretary.

Article Summaries

The Sun: This article discusses the sun as a vital star, providing its statistical properties such as diameter, surface temperature, and composition (81% hydrogen, 18% helium). It explains sunspots as whirling storms on the surface and mentions faculae. The article details the photosphere, reversing layer, chromosphere, and corona, describing phenomena like prominences. It also touches upon the sun's place in the galaxy and its movement. The article concludes by discussing solar and lunar eclipses and the sun's energy source, the Carbon-Nitrogen cycle.

Your Help is Requested: This section appeals to readers for contributions to the journal, which is expanding to 20 pages. It encourages readers to submit sensible information about UFOs and related matters, typed on one side of the paper with double spacing, for potential publication.

UFO Sighting Reports - A New Policy: This article outlines BUFORA's new policy for publishing UFO sighting reports. Henceforth, only reports with sufficient data for evaluation will be included, along with their evaluations. The focus will be on sightings that cannot be easily explained by known objects or natural phenomena, though some explained sightings may be published for interest. The policy aims to move away from publishing lengthy lists of dubious sightings. It also mentions that some member societies are doing excellent investigative work, while others are not yet fully embracing scientific investigation methods. BUFORA provides a Sighting Report Form, similar to the U.S. Project Bluebook form, and encourages its use. The article also refers readers to the "UFOLOG" publication from the Isle-of-Wight U.F.O. Investigation Society.

Air Force Secretly Warns Pilot of Danger: This reprinted report from the NICAP "UFO Investigator" details an incident where a former Navy pilot was allegedly warned by an Air Force major about a radiation hazard after three UFOs circled his private plane on August 13th, 1959. The pilot, flying a Cessna 170 near Albuquerque, New Mexico, experienced his Magnesyn and standard magnetic compasses spinning erratically as the UFOs, described as grey, oval-shaped devices about eight feet in diameter, circled his aircraft at nearly 250 mph. The UFOs left a short, wispy tail. The pilot was instructed to seek immediate government medical attention if any unusual illness occurred within six months, implying a cover-up of potential radiation effects from UFOs. The report notes that former Project Blue Book chief Capt. E. J. Ruppelt had confirmed AF instrumentation recording high radioactivity during UFO encounters.

Letters to the Editor: A letter from Clare College, Cambridge, suggests the formation of a technical information service by the Cambridge University Group (CUGIUFO) to assist UFO researchers who may lack specific technical knowledge.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, the nature and origin of UFOs (with a leaning towards the extraterrestrial hypothesis), the importance of data collection and evaluation in reporting sightings, and the potential connection between UFO activity and global events like World War II and technological advancements. The editorial stance, as expressed by J. Cleary-Baker, is one of open-minded scientific inquiry, while personally favoring the extraterrestrial hypothesis, and advocating for rigorous investigation and reporting standards. There is also an underlying concern about potential government secrecy and the implications of advanced technology, both human and potentially alien.

This issue of the BUFORA Journal, dated April-May-June 1965, is Volume 1, Number 3. It is published by BUFORA in the United Kingdom and focuses on UFO phenomena, scientific inquiry, and related topics.

Book Review: "When Prophecy Fails"

The journal features a review of "When Prophecy Fails" by Leon Festinger, Henry W. Riecken, and Stanley Schachter. Published by Harper Torchbooks, the book chronicles a group of Flying Saucer Cultists who believed the world would end on December 21st, 1954, with a universal flood, and that they would be saved by saucers. The authors infiltrated the group to study the psychological reactions of the believers. The review describes the book as a "pitiful tale, of credulity, blind faith and muddled thinking," suggesting it could cure a cultist of their ailment. It highlights how frustration, personal inadequacy, and neurotic inability to cope with modern life predispose individuals to fall victim to cults. The review quotes the authors stating, "A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point." The reviewer expresses pity for the believers and anger towards those who exploit UFO phenomena for financial gain and cultism. The reviewer notes that the failure of the prediction did not shake the faith of most believers, who found excuses for the fiasco.

Strange Signals

This section, contributed by T. T., addresses pertinent inquiries about radio transmissions, jamming, and interference. It acknowledges the complexity of explaining all phenomena and proposes to treat specific points as they arise. The article discusses:

• Fading and Jamming: Explains that radio waves travel through the ionosphere, which has five ionized layers. Nightfall causes lower layers to disappear, increasing ranges. Various forms of fading, such as "Selective" and "Polarization," are attributed to the ionosphere's action. "Storms" in this region, caused by solar activity, can produce periodic "Flutter" fading, with adverse atmospheric and meteorological conditions also contributing.
• Interference: Describes crackles as common interference from industrial and domestic appliances, and re-radiation by mains wiring. Man-made static includes random clicks and bangs, while natural static is characterized by a hiss followed by a sharp crack.
• Unidentified Morse: Discusses the possibility of unidentified Morse transmissions, noting the presence of numerous stations using CW for marine and aviation navigation. It describes a typical mode of operation and mentions Non-directional Beacons (NDBS) used for civil aircraft checking points, though their frequencies do not align with certain figures. The author suggests these transmissions might be from unfamiliar government facilities, off-shore navigation aids, or European stations.
• Other Effects: Covers the reception of carrier transmissions without modulation, often for test purposes. It notes that domestic receivers might pick up various "baffling" noises, including whistles or "birdies" produced by frequency beating, especially in cheaper sets.

The author concludes that while the range of effects is complex, a mundane source is likely for the phenomena, which may disappoint some ufologists. The article questions the consistency of crediting extraterrestrials with using antiquated C.W. and Morse for communication in an era of space travel and lasers.

UFO Sightings in South America

This section, by J. C-B., reports on a flurry of UFO sightings in South America during July 1965:

• July 4th, Bahia Blanca, Argentina: A businessman and friend photographed a lenticular UFO emitting sparks.
• July 5th, Sarandi, Rio do Sul, Brazil: A discoid UFO was observed rotating and changing course.
• July 8th, Valparaiso, Chile: Warship crews observed circular objects emitting sparks.
• July 8th, Colonia, Uruguay: Six journalists and 150 others saw a luminous, ovoid UFO that changed color.
• July 17th, Honda Beach, River Plate, Uruguay: A disc-like object with four projections landed on the beach and then shot skyward.

The author evaluates these reports, stating that the objects cannot be regarded as conventional aircraft and exhibit a "strong family likeness" to UFOs. He speculates that UFO-denizens might have bases in remote, unexplored regions of South America.

Radioactivity and the UFO

This article by P. K. Haythornthwaite discusses the physical effects of UFOs, focusing on radioactivity. While electromagnetic effects have been studied, radiation effects have been neglected, partly because significant increases in radioactivity are only detectable with specialized instruments. The article mentions E. J. Ruppelt's findings of abnormal background radioactivity correlated with UFOs between 1949 and 1951, and the 'Olden Moore' Case. It notes that some landing cases, like the Poncey hole and Soccorro Case, did not measure subsequent excess radioactivity. The author suggests that Geiger Counters, available for under £10, can monitor background radiation and offer advantages over electromagnetic detectors, such as fewer stray readings and mechanical robustness. He advocates for continuous recording instruments and suggests that 'BAVIC' might be a promising area for systematic observation, with Aimé Michel attempting to arrange a watch.

The author expresses a belief that simple instrumentation could lead to useful advances in ufology and asks readers for information on incidents where UFO detection equipment has been used.

UFOs & The Antarctic Icecap

This section explores the idea that a global flood might occur due to the tilting of the Earth caused by the growth of the Antarctic icecap, with spacemen supposedly rescuing cultists. The article attributes this notion to Hugh Auchincloss Brown, who based it on scientific grounds. It also discusses the hypothesis of Charles H. Hapgood and James H. Campbell, supported by Albert Einstein, which posits that the Earth's outer crust might slip. The author expresses doubt about these theories, questioning the feasibility of a global flood every 5,000-7,000 years and suggesting that evidence like tropical vegetation in polar regions can be explained by periods of intense seismic and volcanic activity releasing internal heat. The article mentions the 'Bunger Oasis' in Antarctica as an example of an area kept unfrozen by internal heat. It humorously notes that the idea of mammoths being preserved in ice to support catastrophist theories has led to them being "killed" by various theories, including Noah's Flood, cosmic ice, and comets, before being eaten by Soviet scientists. The author also references folk tales and President Jefferson's belief that mammoths survived into recent times in North America.

The article concludes that the Brown-Hapgood-Campbell ideas, while advanced in good faith, have been misused by untrained individuals to support unfounded predictions of catastrophe. It dismisses the idea of a worldwide flood, thus questioning the premise of UFO-denizens rescuing people from it.

Publications Received

The journal reviews several publications:

• "The Saucerian" (April-May-June 1965): Described as a poorly-produced, "cultist" journal with "clotted bosh." It notes an article by Rev. Guy J. Cyr about a forest on the Moon inhabited by superhuman beings and a paper by Pippa Braybrook linking "Bender and the Serpents" to the "Silence Group."
• Newsletter No. 2 (June, 1965) by the Merseyside UFO Research Group: Praised for its serious attempt to present UFO aspects. It contains an article on craters by Alan W. Sharp, B.Sc., though the reviewer disagrees with Sharp's conclusion that UFOs don't exist, citing the Charlton crater of 1963 as evidence of an unidentified flying object landing.
• "Phenomenes Spatiaux" (May, 1965): Recommended for French speakers, this is the organ of the leading French UFO-research organization and is considered worth its price. The editorial is by General Chassin, who warned against mistaking UFOs for guided missiles. The issue includes articles by M. Rene Fouere, including one on "Soucoupes volantes et voyages interstellaires" discussing interstellar travel in light of Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
• "UFO-nachrichten" (June, 1965): A well-produced German publication with some excellent content, including an account of a UFO sighting by Police-Chief Richard Crawford. However, the reviewer expresses reservations due to the inclusion of "cultist" material.
• "Handbook of Occult & Religious Magazine Reviews" (Jan. 1965): Considered a useful addition to "New Age" literature, but criticized for attempting to revive discredited pseudo-occult doctrines with modern terminology. It notes that BUFOA and LUFORO are no longer active.
• "Saucer Forum" (April-May-June 1965): A new format for an old publication, with low-quality duplication but enlightening reports of BUFORA lectures. The reviewer dislikes the cover design.
• "Phenomenes Spatiaux" (May, 1965): Recommended for French speakers, this is the organ of the leading French UFO-research organization and is considered worth its price. The editorial is by General Chassin, who warned against mistaking UFOs for guided missiles. The issue includes articles by M. Rene Fouere, including one on "Soucoupes volantes et voyages interstellaires" discussing interstellar travel in light of Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

UFO Sighting in the Antarctic

On July 3rd, 1965, personnel at Argentinian, Chilean, and British bases in the Antarctic observed a bright, zig-zagging UFO that changed color from yellow to blue-green. After hovering for 30 minutes, during which electromagnetic equipment at the Argentinian and Chilean bases was affected, the UFO sped away northwards at high velocity. A similar object was observed from the Chilean Base on June 13th, 1965. The author dismisses explanations like hoaxes or mass hallucinations, suggesting the object was an authentic UFO. He questions if this sighting and the one over the Azores six days later could be related, noting the electromagnetic interference in both incidents.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal consistently adopts a critical stance towards "cultist" interpretations of UFO phenomena, emphasizing the need for scientific investigation and mundane explanations where possible. It promotes the idea of systematic research using instrumentation and data collection. The editorial stance appears to favor rational analysis over unsubstantiated beliefs, while still acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena and the importance of UFO research. There is a clear distinction made between serious researchers and those who promote sensational or pseudoscientific claims. The journal also engages with broader scientific and historical theories, such as crustal displacement, evaluating them critically.

This document, issue number 19 of 'UFO SIGHTING REPORTS,' details a significant UFO incident that occurred in the Azores and Portugal, and also references a similar event in Texas. The primary focus is on a sighting that caused widespread electromagnetic interference, leading to the classification of the object and its characteristics.

A UFO Stops the Clocks

The main article, 'A UFO STOPS THE CLOCKS,' reports on an incident on July 9th where a white cylindrical UFO was observed over Santa Maria in the Azores at an altitude of about 33,000 ft. This sighting resulted in electro-magnetic watches at the airport and electro-magnetic clocks at the Vila do Porto weather bureau ceasing to function for 45 minutes. The UFO was later seen near Oporto, Portugal, where witnesses described it as a luminous and flattened balloon, glowing red and orange, and occasionally emitting green rays. During its 3-minute hover in the vicinity of Motosinhos, radio reception was badly affected. The UFO then sped away northward at high velocity. The Vila do Porto weather bureau reported observing the object between 3 to 3.45 p.m. at an altitude of 24,000 to 30,000 ft., and it was also seen by crews of British, French, and Portuguese vessels.

Evaluation of the UFO

American investigators classify this type of UFO as Type 2 (B), code-named 'The Egg.' It is described as an ovoid UFO with a diameter of 160 to 200 ft., surrounded by a powerful magnetic field. The article notes that such UFOs have been known to cause cars to stall, citing an incident in the Levelland area of Texas during the November 1957 'flap' where cars and grain elevators were affected. The author humorously suggests that while it might be possible to 'go to work on' or 'IN' 'The Egg,' attempting to drive to the office in its vicinity would be less propitious.

UFO Sighting Reports - Call for Information

The second page is dedicated to a call for members and non-members to submit details of recent UFO reports. The information is requested to be sent immediately to the Information Officer for the area concerned to enable local investigations to commence while the sighting is fresh in the minds of witnesses. The importance of reaching a UFO landing spot before it becomes too disturbed is emphasized.

The page then lists various regional UFO societies and their respective Information Officers across the United Kingdom and Eire, including:

• Cumberland, Durham, Northumberland, Westmorland, North Riding of Yorkshire: Tyneside UFO Society, contact William D. Muir.
• Wirral Peninsula (Cheshire), Anglesey, Isle of Man, Lancashire, North Wales: Merseyside UFO Research Society, contact Alan Rawlinson.
• Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire: Direct Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena, contact P. Harrison.
• Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, East and West Ridings of Yorkshire: Halifax Branch, contact John M. Stear.
• North-east Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Wales south of and including Cardiganshire and Montgomeryshire: Cheltenham Flying Saucer Group, contact A. R. Cole.
• Warwickshire: Stratford-on-Avon Branch, contact J. D. Llewellyn.
• Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Rutland, Suffolk: Cambridge University Group for the Investigation of UFOs, contact A. C. H. Durham.
• Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire: Oxford University UFOs Study Group, contact T. A. Williamson.
• Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, South-western Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire: British Flying Saucer Bureau, contact G. F. N. Knewstub.
• Hampshire, Isle of Wight: Isle of Wight UFO Investigation Society, contact F. W. Smith.
• Surrey: Croydon UFO Research and Investigation Society, contact H. Roberts.
• Scotland: Scottish UFO Research Society, contact Glen Chandler.
• London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Sussex, Eire and Northern Ireland: BUFORA Central Information Officer, contact Dr. G. G. Doel.

The page concludes with the printer's information: Bobbies (Printers), 47, Chase Side, Enfield.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, with a particular emphasis on the physical and electromagnetic effects these phenomena can have. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, encouraging the collection of detailed reports and the establishment of organized investigation groups across different regions. The classification of UFOs (e.g., Type 2 (B)) and the description of their characteristics suggest a framework for understanding and categorizing sightings. The publication aims to document and analyze UFO events, providing a platform for public reporting and scientific curiosity.