1970 - Aug - Research Bulletin Vol.3 No.2

Magazine Overview

This issue of the British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association (BUFORA) Research Bulletin, dated August 22, 1970, provides updates on ongoing research projects, reports from investigations, and summaries of relevant events and scientific discussions within the ufology community.

From the Director

Stephen Smith, Director of Research, notes that his quarterly notes will be brief due to space constraints for contributors. He reports slow progress on the sighting analysis project due to the detailed design of analysis cards, with several active members engaged in this work. An appeal is made for sightings from 1909 and 1913 for Don Mills' research. Reports for investigation or central records should be sent to Omar Fowler, Investigations Coordinator, and material for the Bulletin to Smith himself. This issue includes a summary of interesting cases investigated by BUFORA, an analysis of the Tilley case, a review of the Spacelink Symposium, and reports from affiliated societies in Cambridge and Norway. A report from the Marine Observer on unusual natural phenomena is also featured.

The Spacelink Symposium

The Spacelink Symposium, held on July 18, 1970, at Kensington Central Library, focused on practical UFO research, aiming to assess its current state, define objectives, and guide its future. Visitors could view electronic detection equipment from the Bedford UFO Society, a Peter Johnson detector from BUFORA, a GEOS detector, and magnetic UFO detectors from Spacelink's USA correspondent. A display of foreign UFO magazines and BUFORA's research procedures was also present. Anthony Pace exhibited meteorites.

Lionel Beer, Spacelink's Managing Editor, opened the symposium, welcoming attendees and explaining its purpose. He introduced the first session's chairman, Roger Stanway, who introduced Graham Knewstub. Knewstub, a founder of the British Flying Saucer Bureau and first President of BUFORA, discussed the definition of ufology and UFOs. He proposed a rigorous definition of UFO as "unidentified flying objects whose observed characteristics contain at least one feature which is incompatible with any known conventional object or natural phenomenon," excluding objects with insufficient data and focusing on those with unexplained features.

Geoffrey Doel, BUFORA Vice-President, warned against UFO cults feeding on ignorance and superstition, emphasizing the need for scientific investigation methods and recruiting experienced personnel. Gerry Brown presented "Reflecting on Definitions," exploring different types of ufologists and demonstrating an electric machine capable of learning.

David Viewing of the Bedfordshire UFO Society highlighted the limitations of human skywatching and the potential of mechanical and electronic aids for 24-hour monitoring and data recording, suggesting a computer for data evaluation as a promising research line.

Anthony Pace discussed sky-scan cameras and the USA Prairie Network, noting its limitations for UFO recording. The assembly took a break for tea, served by BUFORA's Hon. Secs. Betty Wood and Pam Kennedy, and Charles Elrick.

The resumed session included slides illustrating press cartoonists' reactions to UFOs and examples from the Smithsonian Institution's Centre for Short Lived Phenomena. Capt. Ivar Mackay, Chairman of BUFORA, discussed similarities between UFO and paranormal phenomena and warned novices about dabbling in paranormal fields without knowledge.

Arnold West, Hon. Treasurer of BUFORA, proposed a scheme for a UFO laboratory to serve as a central clearing house for information and scientific data. Stephen Smith's paper, read by Roger Stanway, detailed BUFORA's investigation network and research program, assuring that UFO research involves practical work.

Graham Knewstub spoke about liaison with scientific establishments, noting the difficulty due to UFO research's unflattering image. He suggested that while opportunities for cooperation are rare, academically qualified researchers willing to discuss their work could gain access to valuable data and potentially devise dual-purpose experiments.

Discussion then turned to obtaining funds for UFO projects, with the consensus that preliminary work and pilot projects are necessary before approaching foundations.

Two papers were not presented: Graham Knewstub's on the value of historical research and Janet Gregory's on the value of investigating contact claims.

Lionel Beer closed the proceedings, thanking speakers and the audience. Revd. Norman Cockburn offered a vote of thanks. A private dinner followed for staff, consultants, and speakers, fostering friendships and informal discussions.

Martian Satellites not Artificial

This section addresses the debate about whether Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, are artificial. Previous suggestions arose from supposed anomalies in Phobos' orbit, indicating decay. However, G.A. Wilkins of the Royal Greenwich Observatory reports that prolonged study has produced no evidence of orbital decay. Observations between 1877 and 1929 show a reasonable fit without secular acceleration. This conclusion is supported by later observations. Furthermore, analysis of Mariner 7 photographs by B.A. Smith determined that Phobos is not polished metal but has the lowest known albedo in the solar system. Its diameter is estimated to be greater than 10 miles, with a minimum of 11 miles and a maximum of 14 miles, and it has an irregular "potato" shape. These findings suggest that the idea of artificial satellites native to Mars should be reconsidered. References are provided for the scientific papers discussed.

BUFORA Investigations

A catalogue of recent reports investigated by BUFORA is presented, with brief explanations or identifications where available:

• March 3, 1970: P.C. Tilley & P.C. Cargill saw a cigar-shaped object with portholes over Alexandria Palace, London. Identified as a temperature inversion.
• March 2, 1970: Mrs. J. Hayward saw a 'mirror ball UFO' at Stirchley, Birmingham.
• February 1970: Mr. Thurston saw an elliptical object near Warminster, identified as lights reflected on low cloud.
• July 6, 1968: Mr. Langley and wife watched a globe-like object over farm buildings at Wanborough.
• November 4, 1969: Mr. K. Hughes saw a saucer-shaped object hover over a stack of wood in a yard at Stourbridge.
• October 21, 1969: Mr. Mackenzie and family saw a strange "jelly-fish" object at Bournemouth.
• November 4, 1969: Mr. A. Dalby saw a bright light, star-like object flying in the clouds at Bradford. Identified as possible aircraft.
• November 4, 1969: Mr. S. Bentley saw a bright red star-like object fly across the sky.
• January 8, 1970: Mr. J. Booth saw a bright orange ball-shaped object flying across the sky and breaking up at Halifax, Yorkshire. Identified as possible meteor.
• March 2, 1970: Miss V. Porritt saw a bright object in the sky at New Crofton, Yorkshire.
• February 16-17, 1970: Mr. Yurse saw a cigar-shaped object with what appeared to be a headlight over London, E.15.
• March 2, 1970: Mr. J. Harris saw a dark object with a bright light fly over quickly from London, N.9. Identified as aircraft landing light.
• February 4, 1970: Miss C. Francis & Miss G. Turpin saw a silver grey saucer-shaped object at London, E.16.
• March 2, 1970: Mr. J. Mahoney saw a black object with red lights briefly over London, N.18. Identified as aircraft landing light.
• February 10, 1970: Mr. D. Simkins saw a white double-star-like object from his car at aircraft landing light.
• February 4, 1970: Mrs. J. Simkins saw a bright star-like object moving eastwards from Dartford, Kent. Identified as probable satellite.
• January 14, 1970: A cone-shaped object was seen by people at Stratford-on-Avon, glowing yellow and trailing red and yellow sparks.
• February 5, 1970: A report from Northampton of a star-like object moving westwards.
• March 13, 1970: Mr. Hughes and girlfriend saw two lights appear to land in the country near Horsell, Woking.
• April 13, 1970: Mr. E. Conway saw a bright red oval shape hover and land in a field near Little Hulton, Lancs.
• January 1, 1970: Mrs. Meggs and Mrs. Bird saw a bright red disc of light with a white vapour around the edges at Walthamstow.
• February 20, 1970: Mrs. C. Powell saw a white glowing ball divide into two at Birmingham.
• February 20, 1970: Mrs. V. Giles saw a ball of white light in the sky at Billericay.
• April 11, 1970: Mrs. E.G. Treays saw a large yellow object flying across the sky, star-like at Thornton Heath.
• March 29, 1970: Mr. & Mrs. T. Austin and friends saw a star-like object descend vertically and hover in the Everton area.
• March 9, 1970: Mr. D.G. Baudet described a yellow/orange ball of fire with a tail of flames moving east to west over Exmouth. Identified as meteor.
• March 9, 1970: Mr. J. Bodien saw a bright object with a long fiery tail travelling east to west over Leicester. Identified as meteor.
• March 12, 1970: Miss A. MacDonald saw a white object in the sky, making a noise like a factory siren for about 5 mins. near Leicester.
• February 11, 1970: Mr. D.C. Saiter reported seeing 3 white balls of light with a blue haze flying over Plymouth.

The Tilley and Cargill Case

This case, reported on March 3, 1970, over Alexandra Palace, proved difficult for BUFORA's evaluator, Norman Hardy, who recommended a second opinion from an atmospheric physicist. J.M. Adams, B.Sc., F.R.Met.S., provided an opinion, stating he was fairly confident in his explanation but could not account for the portholes or the cigar's tilted appearance. Adams' report suggests the phenomenon was a patch of smoke trapped beneath an inversion. Normally, hot air rises and expands, but in conditions of inversion (where temperature increases with height), it spreads out at the inversion level. The observers likely saw two patches of smoke, one forming alongside a larger existing patch, appearing cigar-shaped when viewed from the side and potentially colored by the rising sun. This phenomenon is common over towns but less distinguishable due to haze, and is best seen at sea where smoke from a single ship can form a well-defined patch.

UFO - INFORMASJON

UFO-INFORMASJON, founded in Oslo in October 1966 by twelve students, aims to collect and redistribute information on UFOs. The organization is neutral on the subject and investigates reports within its time and funding limits. It exchanges information with other UFO groups, particularly in Scandinavia, though translation into Norwegian is a time-consuming task. UFO-INFORMASJON distributes news bulletins and organizes public lectures. They hope for intensified studies and global cooperation to solve the "greatest scientific problem of our time."

Scintillation

A report from the Marine Observer (April 1970) describes a brilliant display of scintillation observed from the m.v. Chengtu in the Western Pacific Ocean on April 9, 1969. The star Arcturus was seen flashing red, green, yellow, and normally. At higher altitudes, colors of the spectrum were visible, including violet and blue. This effect continued for some time. The Marine Observer's Handbook explains scintillation as a phenomenon due to light refraction through shallow atmospheric layers. The observation of blue/violet light being less visible at lower elevations is attributed to light scattering. While scintillation displays are often associated with temperate regions, this event occurred in the equatorial Pacific.

Some reports from the files of the Cambridge Unidentified Flying Object Study Society

• June 12, 1968: A blood red disc was seen passing over Cambridge, leaving a greyish-blue vapor or smoke.
• November 4, 1968: Francis Pullen, John Clark, and Colin Agger observed a saucer-shaped object with portholes and a green light, moving slowly over North Cambridge.
• May 26, 1969: John Clark and Colin Agger reported several orange objects. One was roundish with fuzzy edges, another appeared as an orange disc with three lights (one white, two red) when viewed through a telescope.
• Post-observation: An object seen landing on waste land near the Arbury Estate, Cambridge, led to a search where circular areas of flattened grass were discovered, though possibly made by children. Geiger counter readings for gamma radiation were normal.

Research Section - Special Meeting

A special meeting of the Research Section is scheduled for December 5, 1970, at the Kensington Library, London. Attendees are invited to assist in a scientific test program, particularly if they have observed and reported a UFO. Anthony Durham will give a talk on "Alien Beings."

Subscriptions for the Session 1970-71

Mrs. Anne Harcourt, Hon. Membership Secretary, reminds members that subscriptions are due on September 1st. The annual subscription is 30/- (£1.50) for those in Great Britain.

Contact Information

Important addresses for the Research Section are provided: Director of Research (Nottingham) for sighting reports, press cuttings, wider investigations, articles, and work for communication with other ufologists; and Omar Fowler, Investigations Coordinator (Camberley) for sighting reports and press cuttings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin consistently emphasizes the importance of rigorous, scientific investigation into UFO phenomena, as seen in the discussions on defining ufology, the need for data analysis, and the proposal for a UFO laboratory. There's a clear effort to distinguish ufology from cults and superstition, promoting a more academic and evidence-based approach. The publication also highlights the collaborative nature of UFO research, featuring reports from various affiliated groups and international organizations like UFO-INFORMASJON. The debate on Martian satellites reflects a critical engagement with scientific findings, seeking to debunk sensational claims with empirical data. The inclusion of numerous sighting reports, while sometimes offering tentative explanations, underscores BUFORA's role in documenting and analyzing these events. The overall stance is one of serious inquiry, aiming to advance the understanding of UFOs through systematic research and information sharing.