BUFORA Journal - Volume 02 No 07 - Winter 1968(9)

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA JOURNAL
Issue: Volume 2, Number 7
Date: Winter 1968/69
Publisher: BRITISH U.F.O. RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

This issue of the BUFORA JOURNAL, published by the British U.F.O. Research Association, covers the period of Winter 1968/69. It features a prominent report on a significant UFO sighting, alongside various organizational updates and editorial content.

Editorial

The editorial, penned by Dr. J. Cleary-Baker, addresses the nature of UFO research and the skepticism often encountered. He dismisses the idea of collecting reports solely to prove the Earth's rotundity, comparing it to the Flat Earth Society. He also questions the value of amassing 'lights in the sky' reports, suggesting that while they may be useful for statistics, detailed investigation can be time-wasting, especially with the proliferation of space debris. Dr. Cleary-Baker categorizes scientists who deny UFOs into three groups: those aware but pressured, those speaking without investigation, and those prejudiced. He laments the decline of the 'gifted scientific amateur' and highlights the specialization of modern scientists, whose opinions outside their fields are often unreliable. He notes the difficulty in distinguishing genuine UFOs from artificial satellites and space junk, especially when reports come from untrained observers.

Report of the Encounter Between the Milakovic Family and a Flying Saucer in the Hanbury Area of Staffordshire

This article details a UFO sighting by the Milakovic family on November 20, 1968, near Hanbury, Staffordshire. The family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Milakovic and their children, including 11-year-old Slavic, were on a house-hunting trip when they observed a brilliantly-lit object. The object rose from a field and hovered over a solitary house. The witnesses described figures on the upper portion of the object, which they perceived as human-like silhouettes. The object moved away in a pulsating, jerky manner, with its lights intensifying to a degree that felt like burning eyes.

Mrs. Milakovic noted that the sky was overcast and it was raining. She also mentioned that the family felt warm when they first exited the car, but the temperature seemed to drop as the object moved away. They did not hear any noise or observe rotation, describing the hovering object as "quivering like a jelly." Mrs. Milakovic estimated the object's width to be as wide as the house it hovered over.

Following the sighting, the Milakovics received several phone calls, including one from students interested in the case. The students proposed a photographic expedition to the suspected sighting location. However, during an attempt to revisit the site with the family, the investigators encountered confusion regarding the exact location and a reported threatening phone call. The Milakovics' watches were noted to be running slow since the sighting, leading to speculation about possible magnetisation.

Further inquiries in the Hanbury area yielded no corroborating sightings, and police and press in surrounding towns could offer no additional information. The investigation was suspended due to a domestic crisis within the Milakovic family.

Association Jottings

This section provides news and updates from BUFORA and its affiliated groups. It mentions the Nottingham UFO Investigation Society's extensive skywatching hours without UFO sightings. It also announces the publication of the first edition of the F.S.A.F. magazine by Chris Rose's Flying Saucer Fact Investigation Society. The co-ordination of UFO investigations in Scotland under Duncan Hogg is highlighted, with the welcome of this move by BUFORA's Director of Research, Stephen Smith. A humorous anecdote about a "male Martian" in Camden Town is shared. The section also notes plans for a UFO photograph display in Nottingham and congratulates Tony Oswin for his initiative. It mentions ongoing correspondence with Derek Cadel of the Bedford UFO Society regarding their technical program and appeals for financial assistance and manpower. The issue concludes with an update on membership prospects following a BUFORA exhibition and a call for volunteer typists.

Personal Column

This section includes advertisements and notices. It offers BUFORA badges for younger members and lists books and magazines for sale, including the "CONDON REPORT."

Other Content

The issue also includes a list of officers (honorary and executive) of BUFORA, detailing their roles and contact information. The association's aims and membership details are also provided, along with information on how to subscribe to the journal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal's stance, as reflected in the editorial, is one of cautious, scientific investigation, acknowledging the difficulties and potential pitfalls of UFO research. There is an emphasis on evidence collection and analysis, while also being critical of unsubstantiated claims and the limitations of conventional scientific perspectives on the phenomenon. The association actively promotes research, membership, and the dissemination of information within the UFO community.

This issue, dated 16th November, 1968, features a book review, letters to the editor, and several articles on UFO phenomena, ancient mysteries, and esoteric energies.

Book Review: "Sequel to Scoriton"

The primary article is a review of Norman Oliver's booklet "Sequel to Scoriton," which presents Oliver's verdict on the Arthur Bryant contact case from Scoriton, Devon. Oliver concludes that the claim was a hoax, fabricated by Bryant himself with supporting artifacts. The reviewer, while agreeing with the hoax conclusion, suggests that Bryant might have been influenced by powerful post-hypnotic suggestion rather than deliberate fraud. The reviewer also contemplates the possibility of an alien contribution to the initial impulsion for the tale, rather than a direct extraterrestrial landing. The review notes that Arthur Bryant's memory is cleared of deliberate fraud in this interpretation, and that Bryant himself seemed a frightened man, possibly experiencing precognition. The timing of the Scoriton affair is noted as coinciding with the Warminster phenomena, suggesting a potential for it to have been a complementary sensation.

Letters to the Editor

Letter from Norman E. Hardy: Hardy expresses dismay at the announcement of a new organization called COS-MOS, viewing it as further fragmentation of UFO research efforts in the UK. He argues that the work could be more efficiently handled by a group within BUFORA, simplifying administration and improving coordination. He questions whether subscribers to a new organization would not also subscribe to a BUFORA group. Hardy believes that too many small organizations already exist, and the formation of another will weaken BUFORA's position.

Norman Oliver's Comments on COS-MOS: Oliver clarifies that COS-MOS is not intended to compete with BUFORA but to supplement its work by focusing exclusively on the controversial aspect of UFO contacts and near-contacts. COS-MOS aims to actively search for contact and landing reports, including those of an occult or psychic nature, which BUFORA might find difficult to approach scientifically. The organization plans to form study groups to collate ideas and work forward from them, as well as research from uncovered cases. Oliver states there will be close liaison with BUFORA's Contact Section to avoid duplication and that meetings for members of both organizations are being investigated. He asserts that no one has resigned from BUFORA to join COS-MOS.

Letter from Kathleen Smith (Editor, Ufolog) to Dr. Cleary-Baker: Smith inquires about Dr. Cleary-Baker's views on Arthur Shuttlewood's book "Warnings from Flying Friends," noting that Cleary-Baker was mentioned and quoted. She recalls Cleary-Baker's past distaste for contactees and asks how far he aligns with Shuttlewood's theories. Smith also asks if UFOs have been reported from the Warminster area from observers other than Shuttlewood and his associates.

Editor's Response (presumably from Dr. Cleary-Baker): The editor states that Arthur Shuttlewood and his colleague are persons of integrity, unlike "shifty specimens of the genus 'contactee'." Reports of UFO phenomena in the Warminster area continue to reach BUFORA from unconnected observers. The editor views the 'phone messages recorded by Shuttlewood in his earlier book as a fair assessment of the situation in Warminster during 1965-1966, suggesting a near-breakthrough by "positive UFO-denizens." However, since 1967, the situation has changed, with Shuttlewood himself expressing fear that his informants might be deceiving him. The editor suggests that "negative" UFO visitants may have taken over at Warminster. The editor, like most serious UFO students, is unable to summon enthusiasm for the evangelistic communications from Shuttlewood's contacts, but believes Arthur is reporting what he is told accurately.

Vibrations, Power Sites and Quartz Crystal

This article explores the concept of vibrational energy and its connection to physical forms and transformations. It posits that external forces can transmute matter and that energy cannot be destroyed, only altered. The author links these ideas to the UFO mystery, suggesting a theory that Stone Age monuments might be related to spacecraft propulsion. Experiences at Cradle Hill, Warminster, are cited, where hovering spacecraft were observed to avoid touching the ground. A specific incident at Stonehenge in autumn 1968, where a craft landed, blacked out, and then fled, is described. The article proposes that these craft operate on a system comparable to a planet's, generating their own electromagnetic-gravitational fields. It suggests that evidence collected over eighteen years might alter thinking about stone circles and mounds.

Standing Stones and Power Networks

John Williams, a solicitor, has studied over 3,000 prehistoric stone circles and standing stones in Britain, believing they are aligned in a geometrical pattern, with neighbours up to twenty miles apart at a twenty-three-and-a-half-degree angle. Since 1951, he has taken thousands of photographs and discovered a clue to their use. He experienced a peculiar dark blue fogging on negatives and prints, which he later identified as a form of ultra-violet light emanating from the stones themselves, particularly those containing dark quartz. Williams deduced that these stones form a giant power network, though he is not a Ufologist. His research offers clues for UFO students, suggesting these sites might have been used by knowledgeable crews for recharging spacecraft. The article notes that over two hundred stones are aligned on a North-South axis and named after Arthur, which Williams believes relates to the Great Bear constellation and polar magnetism. He suggests that cap stones were placed as rocking stones to operate the power system. This knowledge could be relevant to alien spacecraft activity around Stonehenge, Avebury Ring, and the Warminster area. The possibility is raised that King Arthur might be linked to these phenomena, with the Great Bear constellation aligned to him and his father.

Are the UFOs Biding Their Time?

This article speculates on the motivations of UFO occupants and their presence on Earth. It suggests that mankind was possibly planted on Earth as an experiment by extraterrestrials millions of years ago, and that UFOs are now observing humanity's development. The author argues that despite technological advancements, humans have not fundamentally changed, still engaging in conflict and lacking true progress. The article posits that humanity may have regressed in certain physical abilities, such as telepathy and levitation, which might have been common in the past and could be re-achieved through communication with UFO occupants. The author questions whether UFO occupants intend to help humanity avoid disaster or will allow civilization to break down, potentially leading to annihilation.

Orgone Energy and Space Ships

This section, reprinted from "Saucer Scoop," reviews the findings of Dr. Wilhelm Reich regarding Orgone Energy (OR) and its connection to UFOs. OR is described as the mass-free, primordial energy of the cosmos, the Life Energy, appearing as blue or blue-grey flickering light. Secondary energies like electricity and nuclear energy are considered antithetical to OR and can nullify each other. Space ships are believed to utilize OR energy, explaining their silent operation. The article discusses ORANUR, a state of excitation of OR energy caused by secondary energy sources, which can be dangerous. It introduces "MELANOR," a substance described as the "exhaust" from space craft, which is associated with typically brownish-black "DOR" clouds (Deadly ORgone energy). DOR is OR that lacks water and oxygen and is causing widespread planetary drought and desert development. DOR clouds are described as dirty, lacking cohesiveness, and inducing feelings of revulsion and nausea. Prolonged exposure to DOR leads to "DOR sickness," with symptoms including fatigue, emotional distress, harassment, nausea, vomiting, pressure in the head and chest, difficulty breathing, thirst, and hunger. Diarrhea, black stools, tachycardia, heart failure, and shivering fibrillations are also mentioned. Emotional dullness, stupor, and amnesia can occur. DOR attacks individuals at their weakest points, potentially exacerbating pre-existing conditions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the intersection of UFO phenomena with esoteric theories, including psychic influence, ancient energies, and extraterrestrial intelligence. There's a critical examination of UFO contactee claims, with a preference for more scientific or investigative approaches, as seen in the discussion of BUFORA and COS-MOS. The articles suggest a hidden layer of reality influencing human affairs, from ancient civilizations to potential alien interventions. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these complex and often controversial topics, while maintaining a degree of skepticism towards sensational claims.

This issue of the "JOURNAL OF ORGONOMY" is Volume 1, Numbers 1 and 2, published in 1967. It is a semi-annual publication edited by Ellsworth F. Baker, M.D., with a subscription price of $6.00 per year. The magazine focuses on the work of Wilhelm Reich and related topics, including UFO phenomena.

Content Summary

Reich's Procedures for Alleviating Distress

The issue begins by detailing Wilhelm Reich's findings on procedures that can alleviate distress. These include frequent warm baths to cleanse the skin, continuous ventilation of living and sleeping quarters, drinking large amounts of water and warm tea, and orgastic discharge of bio-energy.

Journal of Orgonomy Subscription Information

Readers interested in studying Reich's work are encouraged to subscribe to the "JOURNAL OF ORGONOMY," located at Box 476, Ansonia Station, New York, N.Y. 10023. The subscription rate is $6.00 per year, starting with Volume 1 (Nos. 1 and 2), published in 1967.

Contactee Messages

Under the heading "NOTES & QUOTES," a message attributed to Jerome Eden presents a quote from Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, R.A.F., dated February 29, 1964. The quote discusses the nature of contactee experiences, suggesting that UFO entities may be reluctant to share technical secrets until humanity's morality and ethics improve. Dowding notes that these contacts often devolve into "dreary sermons" about human failings, with little evidence of their efforts having a significant effect.

That Cornfield Vigil

John Gale, who interviewed the author during "Warminster Week" in July 1966, has incorporated material from the interview into his novel, "The Family Man." The author expresses mild amusement at being given the sobriquet "Dr. Mountain Lawless" in the novel.

What Brings Those Men-in-Black?

U.S. researcher John A. Keel suggests three reasons for the appearance of Men in Black (MIB): (1) when a UFO sighting under investigation involves children or teenagers, (2) when a very low-level approach or landing of a UFO is being reviewed, or (3) when an investigator has obtained a piece of UFO "hardware." The author wonders if any of these conditions were met in the case of Mr. Leathley-Andrew of Coventry, who was allegedly silenced by MIB agents.

The Condon Fizzle

The author expresses skepticism about the forthcoming Report of the Condon Committee on UFOs, anticipating it to be a conventional U.S.A.F.-type document designed to debunk the subject. He states that he has consistently held this view and will not dedicate future issue space to refuting the committee's findings, preferring to let "Authority, in association with Science" pursue their own path while independent investigators pursue theirs, believing they may arrive at the facts first.

Leys & The Like

This section, authored by J. C.-B., critiques the tendency of some researchers to seek elaborate patterns in prehistoric sites, suggesting that similar "significant" patterns could be found by substituting public houses, telephone kiosks, or electric pylons. The author argues that prehistoric sites are numerous in Britain, making such pattern-finding exercises potentially misleading.

A New Sort of Skywatch

J. C.-B. proposes a new approach to skywatching for the current year, moving away from the idea of large groups on hilltops. Instead, he advocates for sustained, month-long efforts in sensitive "Ufocal" areas by small, well-equipped, and trained bands of experienced UFO-researchers. A useful skywatch, he emphasizes, is not a social event.

Is UFO-Research Progressing?

J. C.-B. believes that UFO research is progressing, albeit slowly. He observes a decrease in cultism and ballyhoo compared to ten years prior, and a growing unity in basic outlook among experienced researchers. Differences are now seen more as matters of terminology than fundamental opinion. He notes that fewer researchers view UFO research as a "Movement" or feel obligated to crusade for mass recognition. He anticipates this progress will continue as long as researchers avoid both narrow, pseudo-scientific approaches and overly wild, theological, or occult beliefs.

Publications and Organizations

The issue includes listings for various UFO-related activities and organizations:

• FOR ESSEX UFO ACTIVITIES!: The DAPRO JOURNAL (Quarterly), available for 2/0d each or 7/6d yearly subscription. DAPRO is located at 11a Hamden Crescent, Dagenham, Essex RM1 07HP.
• PUBLICISE BUFORA: BUFORA envelope stickers are available in various quantities (250 for 7/6, 100 for 3/6, 50 for 2/6), post-free. Contact Lionel Beer, 15, Freshwater Court, Crawford Street, London W.1.H 1HS.
• UFOLOG: A monthly bulletin of recent sightings published by the Isle of Wight UFO Investigation Society, costing 10/6 for 12 issues. Contact Mrs. K. Smith, Ringlemere, Colwell Road, Colwell Bay, Isle of Wight.

Member Societies

A comprehensive list of "MEMBER SOCIETIES" is provided, detailing various UFO research groups across the UK, including:

• Birmingham University UFO Research Group
• British Flying Saucer Bureau
• Cambridge University Group for Investigation of UFOs
• Direct Investigation Group for Aerial Phenomena
• D.M. College UFO Research Club
• Fleet Street UFO Study Group
• Gloucester UFO Investigation Society
• Imperial College UFO Research Group
• Isle of Wight UFO Investigation Society
• Merseyside UFO Research Group
• Nottingham UFO Detection Society
• Scottish UFO Research Society
• Slough Aerial Phenomena Research Association
• South Herts UFO Investigation Group
• South Lincs. UFO Study Group
• Southampton University UFO Group
• Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena
• Tyneside UFO Society
• Halifax Branch of BUFORA
• Northern Ireland Branch of BUFORA

Each listing includes the contact person and address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of UFO research, the credibility of contactee reports, and skepticism towards official investigations like the Condon Committee. The editorial stance, particularly from J. C.-B., advocates for a more rigorous, sustained, and less cult-like approach to UFO investigation, emphasizing critical thinking and avoiding both pseudo-scientific extremes and occult beliefs. There is a clear distinction made between independent investigators and official scientific bodies, with a belief that independent researchers may uncover the truth more effectively.