BUFORA Journal - Volume 02 No 08 - Spring 1969

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA JOURNAL
Issue: Volume 2, Number 8
Date: Spring 1969
Publisher: BRITISH U.F.O. RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (BUFORA)
Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of the BUFORA Journal provides a comprehensive overview of UFO research activities and findings in early 1969. It features a range of articles, reports, and organizational updates from the British UFO Research Association.

Editorial

The editorial critically examines the Condon Committee's report, "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects." The editor expresses disagreement with the committee's conclusion that no evidence of alien vehicles was found, attributing the report's shortcomings to its "choice of data." The editorial argues that the "cream" of sighting reports, which suggest alien craft, were not adequately considered. It notes that approximately 15 percent of the reports studied by the committee could not be explained as man-made objects or natural phenomena. The editor suggests the report, while potentially valuable in some directions, will likely only convince those already skeptical of UFOs and that its main conclusion is ultimately wrong. The price of the Condon Report in the UK is noted as 12s. 6d.

Key Articles and Reports

Busy Easter UFO's Seen at Warminster

This article details a significant number of UFO sightings reported in the Warminster area during the Easter holiday period of 1969. Over 15 inexplicable flying objects or lights were observed, with more than 50 reports from independent witnesses. The absence of military exercises helped in avoiding confusion. Possible satellites and high-flying jet aircraft were ruled out. Specific accounts include:

• Seven UFOs observed by young watchers at Cley Hill, apart from scheduled satellites.
• A UFO witnessed by about 30 people at Cradle Hill, Warminster, which hovered brightly and silently at low altitude before vanishing. Mr. Christopher Trubridge photographed it.
• A sighting by retired Wing-Commander Andrew Deytrikh and his family on April 3rd, describing an object like a "meteorite" travelling from south-east to north-west, below 2,000 feet, silent, with a brilliant white light, shaped like a tadpole or peardrop, with an orange rim.
• A confirmation of an unusual sighting by Mr. Kenneth I. Francis and his wife, who saw a brightly glowing object pass overhead and burn out in the west, estimated at 1,000 feet.

Arthur Shuttlewood notes that nearly 4,000 visitors have come to hilltop sites around Warminster in the past three years, with an estimated 90 percent reporting unusual sky sightings.

The EOU Classification Scheme for UFO Phenomena

This section introduces a new method for classifying UFO phenomena, compiled at the Experimental and Observational Unit (EOU) located in Devon. The scheme aims to categorize explanations based on whether the phenomena are objective or subjective, and whether they are due to normal, abnormal, or paranormal causes.

• Normality: Includes natural phenomena (e.g., parhelia, fireballs, meteors, peculiar clouds) and man-made objects (e.g., conventional aircraft, missiles, balloons, or unconventional earth-based vehicles).
• Abnormality: Suggests the existence of ships capable of flying from other planets, possibly propelled by methods that do not use jet-reaction, potentially involving artificial gravitational fields. It speculates on occupants with knowledge of anti-gravity to overcome high acceleration effects.
• Paranormality: Explores possibilities such as UFOs being ships propelled by an advanced form of psychokinesis, or phenomena related to the materialization/dematerialization of space-time ships. It references psychical research into paranormal displacement of objects and the concept of 'apport' phenomena.

The EOU is situated in a small hamlet in Devon, and West Country members are invited to contact Peter Maddock for skywatch purposes.

Pennington and the 1897 U.S.A. Airship

This article, referenced in the BUFORA Headquarters section, highlights an important contribution by Dr. G. Doel concerning the 1897 U.S.A. Airship case. The journal notes that it has about 50 spare copies of the Autumn 1968 issue (Vol. 12, No. 6) containing this article.

My Point of View

Fred O. Gardner, F.R.G.S., presents his perspective on UFO research. He emphasizes the importance of sticking to facts and figures and rational theories, avoiding mysticism and psychical phenomena to prevent discrediting the subject. Gardner states his conviction in the existence of UFOs, citing overwhelming testimony over the past two decades. He notes the vast bibliography on the subject and the often facetious or dismissive treatment by the press and radio, contrasted with the silence of the Church and authorities. He encourages members to pursue study with care and perseverance.

Personal Column

This section advertises a 20-page glossy magazine titled "FLYING SAUCERS ARE FACT" for 2s. 6d., available from C. N. Rose, F.S.A.F., Sheffield.

BUFORA Headquarters and Activities

The "From BUFORA Headquarters" section details the association's activities throughout the year:

• Exhibiting at Olympia in January.
• Monthly lecture meetings organized by Dr. Cleary-Baker at Kensington Central Library.
• A Research Seminar in Cambridge on April 19th.
• BUFORA National Skywatch Day on June 28th, organized by Edgar Hatvany, with over 30 manned vantage points.
• A Northern Regional Conference in Wakefield on September 6th, with Maxwell Cade as guest speaker.
• BUFORA Annual General Meeting in London on October 4th.
• Popular Saturday entertainment from November to April.
• Publication of a quarterly Journal, four Research Bulletins, and a tape recording service.
• A well-stocked Library and "Bookshop."
• A well-organized and efficient Research Department.

It also mentions that Capt. I. Mackay and Dr. Cleary-Baker appeared on a Yorkshire Television program. Philip Fong has retired as Honorary Treasurer, succeeded by Mr. Arnold West. The formation of a new UFO Research Group in Surrey by Philip Parkinson is noted. BUFORA's acquisition of a Mobile Research Unit (MRU) is highlighted as a pioneering effort, with other regional groups following suit.

Membership and Publications

Membership subscriptions are 25/- (UK) or $4 (USA and Canada) annually. Applications are approved by the Executive Committee. Information forms are available from Miss C. Henning. The Journal is published quarterly and is available only to members or by exchange. Publications should be sent to the Editor.

Officers and Aims

The journal lists the honorary officers, including President G. W. Creighton, and the BUFORA Executive Committee, chaired by Capt. I. Mackay. The association's aims are:

1. To encourage and promote unbiased scientific investigation and research into Unidentified Flying Objects.
2. To collect and disseminate evidence and data relating to Unidentified Flying Objects.
3. To co-ordinate UFO research on a nation-wide scale and co-operate with similar organizations globally.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting of UFO sightings, particularly the Warminster events, the critical analysis of official UFO investigations like the Condon Report, and the development of systematic research methodologies through classification schemes like the EOU's. The editorial stance is one of advocating for rigorous, scientific investigation while acknowledging the complexity and potential unconventional nature of the UFO phenomenon. There is a clear emphasis on evidence-based research and a rejection of purely speculative or mystical interpretations, though the possibility of abnormal or paranormal explanations is explored within the classification scheme.

This issue of the BUFORA Journal, dated Autumn 1968, delves into complex theories surrounding UFO phenomena, including teleportation, non-material beings, and the historical mystery of the 1897 US airship sightings. It also addresses the influence of subjective factors on observer reports and discusses the organizational matters of BUFORA.

Teleportation and Non-Material Beings

The journal explores the concept of teleportation as a potential explanation for UFO events. It posits that the causal agent could be a complex psychophysical device or, more fantastically, a form of intelligence and being that transcends our own, existing in a non-material state and only becoming perceptible for the duration of a sighting. Dr. D. H. Wilkinson, an Oxford nuclear physicist, is quoted suggesting the existence of interpenetrating universes, which could offer a framework for such phenomena. The article further speculates on a geometrodynamical explanation, where material particles, described as minute knotted regions of intense curvature in space-time, could be 'ironed out' of one universe and transposed into another, explaining the materialization and dematerialization of UFOs.

Subjective Factors in UFO Observation

The issue examines how observer subjectivity can influence UFO reports. Explanations are categorized into two main areas: subjective factors influencing the observer and events that are totally subjective in character.

Under subjective factors, 'Normality' suggests that mistaken observation, confusion, or the transitory nature of an event might lead a witness to misinterpret what they saw. 'Abnormality' points to impaired sensory or cognitive faculties of the witness, possibly due to minor temporary issues or neurotic tendencies, leading to false conclusions.

When events are totally subjective, 'Abnormality' suggests serious malfunction of the observer's brain, leading to hallucinatory experiences, potentially in cases of paranoid psychosis or schizophrenia. 'Paranormality' distinguishes these from events that, while not normal, are valid psychological happenings like telepathic experiences. It is suggested that UFO observers might receive visual impressions via telepathic mechanisms from extraterrestrial intelligence, which are subjectively vivid and lead the observer to believe the phenomenon is objective.

These subjective experiences might be purposeful attempts at communication from distant entities or unwitting 'telepathic eavesdropping' by observers. The difficulties in translating alien concepts into human understanding are noted as a potential reason for the lack of more sophisticated data. The journal stresses that these paranormal explanations are speculative but represent logical extrapolations for the UFO enigma.

The 1897 US Airship Mystery

A significant portion of the journal is dedicated to the 1897 US airship sightings and Dr. Doel's theory, presented in a previous BUFORA Journal issue, that these were caused by an airship constructed by inventor Edward J. Pennington. While acknowledging the widespread reports of airship-like craft during 1896-1898, the author finds Dr. Doel's theory unproven and insufficient, as it only accounts for about a third of the sightings. The author questions whether the unexplained sightings were ordinary UFOs or dirigible-like craft resembling Pennington's hypothetical ship. The report of a mishap to a heifer at Yates Center, Kansas, involving 'hideous people' as the craft's crew, is also discussed, with the author questioning if Pennington's family members were described in such unearthly terms.

The author critiques the idea that Captain James Hooton's depiction of the Pennington airship was reliable, describing it as an 'aerodynamic outrage'. The lack of evidence regarding Pennington's involvement, despite the need for a considerable staff to build and operate such a craft, is highlighted as a significant gap. The author argues that a versatile airship like the one reported would have been a viable commercial proposition, making it incredible that Pennington would not have persevered to overcome its defects. The journal suggests that if the 1896-1898 'airships' were indeed UFOs, their seemingly pedestrian characteristics might reflect observers' limited technical imagination or a conscious effort by UFO occupants to present primitive devices. The author concludes that while Dr. Doel's theory may be true, it needs to encompass more sighting reports and that the exploration of new fields of thought is stimulated by such theories.

Other Articles and Notes

The Adamski Photographs: Photo analysts at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base determined that the Adamski prints were caused by a tobacco humidor and ping pong balls.

The Interrupted Journey: An unconfirmed report states that Barney Hill, who claimed to have been abducted by a flying saucer with his wife Betty, has died.

Nothing Like Precision!: A humorous note about a Venezuelan contactee being told by a spaceman that exactly 2,417,805 aliens live among us.

What Makes a UFO Tick?: The author suggests that UFO propulsion might operate on the principle of Teleportation, essentially meaning their workings are unknown.

The Mystery of Earth's Vanishing Moon: John Bagby of Hughes Aircraft Company announced the discovery of small moonlets orbiting Earth, believed to be fragments of a larger body that disintegrated on December 18th, 1955. The article questions if this was the moon observed by M. Petit in 1846 and speculates whether its destruction was accidental or deliberate alien action.

BUFORA Matters

Annual General Meeting 1969: Notification is given for the AGM to be held on October 4th, 1969, at Kensington Central Library. Nominations for committee positions and resolutions are due by August 23rd, 1969. Members in good standing are eligible to vote. Dr. Cleary-Baker is revising the constitution, and proposals for changes should be sent to him.

Contact Section Proposals: Several proposals are listed, including BUFORA discontinuing its Contact Section, COS-MOS providing investigation reports, and consultations between BUFORA and COS-MOS directors regarding investigation responsibilities. Membership subscription details for BUFORA are also provided, with Class A costing £1 1s. Od. yearly and Class B costing 12s. 6d. for six journals.

Advertisements and Correspondence: Details are provided for advertisements, correspondence, subscriptions, editorial contacts, librarian, UFO reports/press cuttings, and research contacts.

Member Societies: A list of affiliated UFO research groups across the UK is provided, including their contact details.

For Your Diary: The first lecture of the 1969/70 session is scheduled for September 13th at Kensington Central Library.

Many a Mickle Makes a Muckle: A letter to members urging donations to BUFORA due to rising costs, highlighting the need for funds for new projects and expansion of the Research Department. A target of £200 is mentioned if a portion of members contribute.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the speculative nature of UFO phenomena, the exploration of unconventional explanations such as teleportation and non-material beings, and the critical examination of historical UFO cases like the 1897 airship mystery. The journal adopts a stance of open inquiry, encouraging discussion and the development of new research techniques, particularly in the realm of paranormal explanations. There is a clear emphasis on the scientific investigation of UFOs, as evidenced by the involvement of physicists and the discussion of theoretical physics concepts. The organizational aspects of BUFORA, including its AGM, contact section proposals, and financial appeals, are also prominent, reflecting its role as a research organization seeking to unravel the UFO enigma.