BUFORA Journal - Volume 06 No 04 - NovDec1977

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA JOURNAL
Issue: Vol 6 No 4
Date: November/December 1977

This issue of the BUFORA JOURNAL, published by the British UFO Research Association, presents a collection of articles, reports, and news items related to UFO phenomena. The cover features an illustration of a UFO with the headline "CRICKETING ENCOUNTER-SEE REPORT EXTRA!", indicating a prominent feature within.

Editorial

The editorial, penned by Norman Oliver, discusses the nature of UFOs and the extra-terrestrial hypothesis (ETH). Oliver invokes Occam's Razor, a principle suggesting that simpler explanations are preferable, to argue that UFOs might have an earthly origin. He challenges the numerous assumptions required by the ETH, such as faster-than-light travel and the existence of numerous interested extra-terrestrial civilizations. Oliver posits that investigating earthly origins, including possibilities like parallel universes or 'Ultra-terrestrials' as described by Keel, should not be neglected. He suggests that the possibility of advanced civilizations on Earth, rather than solely focusing on space-based origins, might be a more fruitful avenue for investigation.

Book Review

Dr G G Doel reviews "Apparitions" by Celia Breen and Charles McCreery. The book is a result of extensive research into 'paranormal' visual and auditory manifestations. Doel notes that the material is derived from various sources and the Institute of Psychophysical Research. He finds the book to be a serious attempt to bring order to a complex subject that resists conventional scientific methods. While acknowledging its thoroughness, Doel points out that the authors do not appear to have updated their evidence significantly beyond the early 20th century, before the 'UFO era.' He suggests the book is more valuable for researchers of human perception and dreams than for casual readers, and that the cover image might be misleading.

UFO Reports and Scientific Investigation of Rare Phenomena-1

Philip Taylor begins a multi-part article exploring the scientific investigation of UFOs. He highlights that UFO phenomena are difficult to study scientifically due to their lack of repeatability, a common issue with paranormal phenomena. Taylor proposes comparing UFO reports with two rare physical phenomena: fireballs and ball lightning. These share unpredictability and infrequency, meaning they are often studied via second-hand reports, similar to UFOs. Taylor notes that while fireballs can be studied with scientific instruments like radar and photography, UFOs typically lack physical traces. He discusses the reporting of fireballs, citing an example of a bright fireball on December 27, 1973, which generated numerous reports. Taylor contrasts this with typical UFO reports, which are often from one or two people at a single location and of lower quality. He questions if UFO reports resemble those of fireballs, concluding they do not. Taylor also touches upon the Condon Report's comparison of fireball and UFO reports, finding the number of UFO reports too high to have eluded conventional detection. He argues against the extra-terrestrial craft hypothesis, suggesting that if craft are visible only below a certain altitude, it could explain the lack of evidence. The article concludes by stating that the reporting pattern of fireballs might offer insights into the relationship between UFO 'close encounters' and population density, and that the phenomenon of ball lightning will be discussed in Part 2.

Points from the Press

This section compiles various UFO-related news items from different newspapers:

• The Daily Mail (July 15): Reported on the mysterious deaths of 15 Dartmoor ponies, with the Devon UFO Centre investigating similarities to US animal mutilations linked to UFO activity, but finding no evidence. Various causes were suggested, including poisoning and predation.
• The West Briton (May 5): Featured an account of a brilliant white star seen moving near Truro, pulsating and changing to flame red.
• The Cornish Times (March 18): Reported a Polperro restauranteur's sighting of a round yellow moving star.
• The West Briton and Royal Cornwall Gazette (May 26): A former Naval flier offered a possible explanation for pulsating orange lights in West Cornwall, suggesting they could be beams used by meteorologists to calculate cloud base heights.
• The Romford Reporter (June 24): Mentioned Norman Oliver as a guest speaker at an Essex UFO Study Group meeting commemorating the 30th anniversary of the term 'flying saucer'.
• The Lancashire Evening Telegraph (July 2): Reported on the first international UFO congress in Chicago, with speakers including Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Ken Arnold, and discussed President Carter's 1973 sighting in Thomastown, Georgia.
• The Daily Telegraph (August 12): Stated that President Carter's 1969 sighting in Leary, Georgia, was identified as the planet Venus by Dr. Robert Sheaffer.
• The Evening Gazette (July 6): Reported two police officers seeing an unidentified object near Skipton, Yorkshire.
• The Daily Mail (July 18): Reported a police dog-handler's sighting of a white cigar-shaped object over Arkesden, with Essex police notifying the MoD and UFO experts.
• The Grimsby Evening Telegraph (July 8): Quoted the Under Secretary of State for Defence stating the MoD had no explanation for triangular, oval, and cigar-shaped objects reported to RAF Binbrook.
• The Bromley Times (June 16): Featured Timothy Good investigating a large round light that divided into four more lights, flashing on and off.
• The Yorkshire Evening Press (July 8): Reported two teenage boys watching a boomerang-shaped object with four coloured lights hovering for three hours.
• The Evening Standard (July 8): Showed drawings by three girls of a silver-grey object shaped like the letter 'A' with six propellers and red writing.
• The Stroud News and Journal (July 14): Featured Graham Knewstub discussing UFO cases on the 'Sunday Omnibus' programme.
• The Journal (July 13): Reported on a 'Flying Saucers have landed' exhibition in Newcastle, where sighting forms were provided but remained empty.
• The Surrey Herald (June 23): Mentioned Bufora investigating a pulsating oval light hovering above trees, accompanied by a helicopter-like noise.
• The Telegraph & Argus (June 30): Reported two ambulance men seeing a silver disc-shaped object hovering over Bradford.
• The Daily Telegraph (August 2): Reported on a UFO airport opened at Varese, Italy, where beings from outer space were said to have decided to land.

Report-Extra!

This section provides detailed accounts of specific UFO sightings:

• Cricketing Encounter: On May 11, 1977, Mr. Stephen Searle of Thurmaston, Leics, reported seeing a bright, round white light moving in the eastern sky. It shot upwards and disappeared. Simultaneously, Mr. G F Draycott, half a mile away, saw a similar bright light that hovered above fields where children were playing cricket. The object circled a light aircraft, then disappeared. The children reported hearing a humming noise, and two boys (Adrian Draycott and Lance Crouch, both aged 10) made drawings of the object, described as silver with red lights on the underside.
• Constable sees 'Cigar': On July 17, 1977, PC Frost observed a cigar-shaped object in north-western Essex. The object, approximately 3 to 1 in length to width ratio, was orangey-red, sharp, and bright with slightly convexed sides. It remained stationary for about fifteen minutes, then shot to the right and stopped again, turning on its vertical axis to show its circular cross-section. It then changed to a deep red colour and shot off eastwards as a white glow.
• 'Legs and Wings' over Great Yeldham: A witness reported waking up at 4 am to see a bright object head-on with a circular cross-section. It had thin wings and two 'legs' angled outwards. The object was silvery, shiny, and self-luminous. It remained stationary for about eight minutes before disappearing behind clouds and reappearing several times. There was no sound.
• Sussex Downs cylinder: On a Saturday in October, Mrs. Causton of East Dean, Eastbourne, noticed an object stationary in the sky between two pink fleecy clouds.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, the comparison of UFO phenomena with known natural occurrences like fireballs, and the ongoing debate about the origin of UFOs. The editorial strongly advocates for considering terrestrial explanations for UFOs, aligning with Occam's Razor, and expresses skepticism towards the extra-terrestrial hypothesis due to its reliance on numerous unproven assumptions. The "Points from the Press" section highlights the widespread media coverage of UFO sightings, indicating public and journalistic interest. The "Report-Extra!" section provides detailed eyewitness accounts, emphasizing the visual and sometimes auditory aspects of these encounters. The journal's stance, as articulated in the editorial and the disclaimer, is to present information and encourage investigation without endorsing any specific theory, leaving the interpretation to the reader and the contributing authors.

This issue of the BUFORA Journal, dated October 1977, is a publication by BUFORA Ltd, an organization dedicated to the scientific research of Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) phenomena. The journal details various UFO sightings and investigations, alongside organizational reports and meeting minutes.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The journal presents several detailed reports of UFO sightings, often with multiple witnesses. These include:

• Friston Sighting: A cylindrical object, appearing to glow from the inside, was observed hovering and then moving south and disappearing.
• Huthwaite Sighting (June 30, 1977): Two cigar-shaped flying objects, white or silver, without wings, were seen progressing from NE to SW, flying in tandem, one above the other, estimated to be traveling at 500-1000 mph.
• Medway Multiple Sightings (May 21, 1977): A series of reports from the Kent area describe various aerial phenomena. One witness in Rochester saw a single white light moving slowly, which then disappeared. Another report from Sittingbourne described a white light with smaller lights that pulsed and faded. A witness in Bexley saw three bright lights merge into one and disappear. Reports from Aylesford and Chatham also detail lights or objects with unusual movement and appearance.
• Leigh Sighting (February 28, 1977): A large, bright, rotating object shaped like a child's top with a halo was observed moving in various directions.
• Object over pylons (July 11, 1977): An oval-shaped, metallic object was seen hovering over electricity pylons in W Farleigh, Kent, before spinning, gaining height, and vanishing.
• Westcliff Sighting (July 5, 1977): Nine witnesses, including a pilot, observed a circular, sharply-defined, silver object hovering above Westcliff, Essex. The object emitted flames and later climbed away from an approaching passenger jet.
• 'Cigars' near Dulverton (May 20, 1977): Three cigar-shaped objects, described as 'congealed snowflakes' in color, were seen. One suddenly turned and emitted a flare-like blast, while the others disappeared like flickering lights.
• Mexican Hat Sequel (May 19, 1977): Three boys reported seeing a yellow light that grew larger, then a metallic structure with a red light. It eventually disappeared but was seen again as a yellow light.
• UFO formation at Cookley (November 27, 1976): A 13-year-old boy reported a continuous humming sound, followed by seeing a black, flattened disc-shaped object with a dome. Later, six smaller objects of identical size and shape appeared and moved off individually.

Several reports mention the lack of sound associated with the objects and their unusual speed or maneuverability. Some sightings involved photographic attempts, though results were often inconclusive or suggested tampering.

BUFORA Ltd Organizational Reports

The journal also contains official reports from BUFORA Ltd:

• Second Annual General Meeting Agenda (December 3, 1977): The agenda includes receiving President's Address, Chairman's Statement, Council and Auditor's Reports, and electing Council members.
• Report of the Auditor (October 1, 1977): The auditor, J C Foxon, confirms that the accounts provide a true and fair view of the company's affairs.
• Report of the Council of Management (for the year ended August 31, 1977): This report details BUFORA's activities, including encouraging research, collecting evidence, and coordinating UFO research. It notes that the company's principal activities are unbiased scientific research of UFO phenomena. Membership stood at 577 at the end of August 1977, down from 605 the previous year. The organization held a National Conference in Birmingham and several lecture meetings in London and Manchester.
• BUFORA Journal Distribution: Six editions of the journal were distributed to members and exchanged with other organizations. The BUFORA Investigators Handbook was published and sold out, along with several science papers.
• Research Activities: Research continued into Vehicle Interference Cases, with 410 reports catalogued. A grant was made for electromagnetic noise monitoring stations in Kent, and research began into a comparative study of Radar Cases. Approximately 400 UFO reports were initiated during the year.
• Council of Management (as at August 31, 1977): A list of members serving on the Council is provided, along with those retiring by rotation.
• Message from the Chairman (Lionel Beer, October 1977): The Chairman expresses gratitude for the loyalty and hard work of colleagues and members, highlighting the efforts of various individuals in administrative and research roles. He also thanks members for their financial donations and welcomes constructive suggestions.
• Income & Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet: Financial statements for the 12 months ending August 31, 1977, show income from subscriptions, donations, and interest, with expenditures on journal printing, research, administration, and conference expenses. The company had a surplus of income over expenditure for the period.
• Funds: The Research Fund and General Fund balances are detailed.
• Donations: A list of members who made generous donations to BUFORA Ltd funds during the year is included.
• Minutes of the First Annual General Meeting (December 4, 1976): These minutes record the proceedings of the previous AGM, including the election of the Council of Management and the adoption of reports and accounts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed documentation of UFO sightings, the investigative efforts of BUFORA, and the organization's financial and administrative operations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious, unbiased scientific inquiry into UFO phenomena, encouraging member participation and the collection of evidence. The journal aims to inform its members about ongoing research, significant sightings, and the operational status of BUFORA Ltd.

This issue of the BUFORA Journal, identified as Volume 6, Number 3, with a raw publication date of 'Autumn 1977', focuses on UFO sightings and related investigations. The journal is published by The British UFO Research Association and covers a range of topics including witness reports, physical traces, theoretical explanations, and upcoming events.

Key Articles and Reports

Sighting Three: Wooburn Green Incident

On Monday, 30 May 1977, at approximately 10:05 pm, two boys and their grandmother at Black's Meadow reported a bright glow in the east. Binocular observation revealed a 'mushroom shape with short rays of light emitted from its underside.' The object remained stationary for about thirty seconds before disappearing.

Possible Traces

Following the sighting, the NIC (National Investigations Committee?) investigated the area and found two circular depressions in a barley field. The barley in these areas was more flattened than the rest. One depression measured 16 metres in diameter, the other 9 metres, with the smaller one to the south-west. Checks with a geiger counter and magnetic field tests yielded negative results. Samples were taken for analysis, but the depressions were believed to be natural, with the circular shape being the only oddity.

Other Sightings in the Area

The journal details several other sightings from 1977:

• 19 May 1977: A commercial traveller on the M4 near Windsor & Eton saw an elongated silver object stationary to the north-west, which accelerated away at high speed after 20 seconds.
• 23 May 1977: Two journalists near Wooburn Green observed a triangular-shaped object glowing white, from which two red 'dots' detached and drifted laterally before disappearing.
• 1 June 1977: Two witnesses driving through Rothersfield reported a pale stationary orange light that moved, stopped, and then took the shape of a ring before diminishing and disappearing.

Investigators suggested that the first two sightings might be landing lights or aircraft, but offered no immediate explanation for the other reports from the Wooburn Green area.

Points from the Press

Reports from other publications are included:

• The Daily Telegraph (1 August) mentioned Portuguese motorists seeing UFOs near Estoril that caused their car engines to cut out. An exhibition of UFO photos was held in Lisbon.
• The Daily Telegraph (5 September) reported an hotel near Milford Haven offering UFO spotting weekends.

London Lectures

Announcements for upcoming lectures were provided:

• 3 December 1977: Annual General Meeting and 'The Welsh UFO Wave' lecture by Randall Jones Pugh.
• 7 January 1978: 'Aspects of Scientific UFO Studies' and 'Current UFO Studies in North America' by Martin J Heath and Alan Fossey.
• 4 February 1978: 'Ley Lines in relation to UFOs' by Paul Devereux.

Bufora Conference '78

Details were provided for the Bufora Conference in Nottingham on 15-16 April 1978. The programme included a distinguished guest speaker, a survey of the 1977 Dyfed humanoid cases, research projects, and a talk on radar aspects. Special features included a long lunch hour for sightseeing, adequate breaks, and the cost of coffee and tea included in session fees. The venue was the George Hotel, Nottingham. Travel information for rail, road, and air was included, along with fees for single sessions or the whole conference.

Sighting Summaries

A comprehensive table lists numerous UFO sightings with Code No., Date, Time, Place, Report, Class, and Investigator/Credit. Notable entries include:

• 77-084 (27.1.77): Haddington, E Lothian - White, red light balls.
• 77-086 (April): Bridlington, E Yorks - Silver object.
• 77-088 (13.4.77): Bromley, Kent - Elongated triangular light.
• 77-089 (16.4.77): Bromley, Kent - Gold-white 'shrinking' light.
• 77-090 (3.4.77): Bexley, Kent - Yellow-orange lights.
• 77-091 (1.4.77): Tenterden, Kent - White lights.
• 77-092 (17.3.77): Birchington, Kent - 'Kidney shape' flashing.
• 77-093 (Feb '77): Wilmington, Kent - Two white-yellow star-shapes.
• 77-094 (31.1.77): Tunbridge Wells, Kent - Slow moving 'white cloud'.
• 77-095 (a & b) (15.4.77): St Pauls Cray, Kent - Orange-red triangle.
• 77-096 (14.5.77): Findsbury, Kent - Circular light.
• 77-097 (16.4.77): Biggin Hill, Kent - Saucer or bowl-shaped object.
• 77-098 (17.5.77): Livingstone, Scotland - Orange-red oval disc.
• 77-099 (17.5.77): Dirleton, Scotland - Pink cigar.
• 77-101 (28.2.77): W Newton, Norfolk - Series of spherical objects.
• 77-102 (a & b) (19.5.77 & 27.5.77): Wooburn Green, Bucks - 'Mexican hat' flashing lights.
• 77-103 (19.4.77): Forest Gate, E7 - White oval object.
• 77-115 (19.5.77): Barking, Essex - Yellow sphere.
• 77- (8.6.77): Englefield Green, Surrey - Round 'noisy' object.

Two specific incidents are detailed further:

• 76-382 (October 1976): Talgarreg, Dyfed - A 'moving star' appeared, disappeared, and reappeared, turning at 45 degrees multiple times.
• 77-058 (11 March 1977): Llansteffan, Dyfed - A horizontal strip of luminous pale gold light, described as a weaver's shuttle shape, appeared and then 'switched off like a light'.

Uforum - Letters to the Editor

• Brian James (Blewbury, Nr Didcot): Reports a 'single boom' and a 'strange incandescent blue cloud' in the sky over Weymouth on 1 June 1977. A silent object moved very fast, leaving a vapour trail, at an estimated height of 15,000 to 20,000 feet.
• M J H Ellis (Bristol): Proposes a theory that UFOs are not extraterrestrial but are machines constructed on Earth in the future, capable of time travel. This theory, he argues, explains the humanoid crews and the high accelerations observed. The editor notes this theory has been advanced before.

"Weekends in Wales"

This section clarifies that 'UFO-spotting weekends' in Dyfed are personal ventures by Mr Randall Jones Pugh and not organised by Bufora.

Science Supplement to Bufora Journal

A new science supplement to the Journal is planned for early 1978, to be provided free to members and available for purchase by others. Topics may include in-depth investigations of UFO sightings, analysis techniques, natural phenomena, hypotheses for UFO phenomena, and psychological aspects of UFO reports. Authors are invited to submit papers, and honorary referees are also required.

Ball Lightning Project

Bufora has launched a project to collect and evaluate reports of ball lightning, a rare phenomenon that can sometimes be mistaken for UFOs. Reports should be sent to Mark Stenhoff.

Personal Column

Advertisements are included for:

• Skywatch UFO Detector.
• Adamski - Venusian Scout UFO pictures.
• Cassette tapes on UFOs and space exploration by Norman Oliver.
• 'Scientific Study of UFOs' (The Condon Report).

Books and Leaflets

A list of publications available from Bufora Publications, including guides to UFO phenomena, investigation procedures, and analysis of UFOs, along with Bufora Journals (back numbers).

The British UFO Research Association

Information about Bufora, including its founding in 1964, aims (to encourage unbiased scientific investigation, collect and disseminate evidence, co-ordinate research), and membership details (£5-00 annual subscription).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal consistently promotes the investigation of UFO phenomena with a scientific approach. It features a wide array of witness reports, often categorized by the class of sighting, and includes details of investigators. The editorial stance appears open to various theories, including the speculative time-travel hypothesis presented by M.J.H. Ellis, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous scientific analysis and data collection, as evidenced by the planned science supplement and the Ball Lightning Project. The emphasis is on gathering and evaluating evidence, encouraging contributions from the public and specialists alike, and fostering a community of researchers.