1974 - June - Research Bulletin Vol.5 No.1

Magazine Overview

This issue of the RESEARCH BULLETIN, Volume 5, Number 1, dated June 1974, is published by BUFORA and focuses on UFO-related research and reports. It includes reprints of articles from 'The REGISTER' and 'Shropshire Star', as well as original content from BUFORA.

NEWS FROM U.S.A.

The bulletin begins by referencing a previous reproduction of an article from 'The REGISTER' (December 7, 1972) titled "Physicist cites startling UFO reports buried in Maxwell AFB files." This article, by Robert B. Klinn and David Branch, was taken from 'UFO Potpourri', a magazine issued by John F. Schuessler of Mutual UFO Network, Inc. (MUFON). Schuessler provided a Special Report containing 32 pages of press cuttings from 'The REGISTER' and 'Anaheim Bulletin' written by Klinn and Branch between September 1972 and February 1974.

Two articles from this Special Report are reprinted:

"RENOWNED PHYSICIST UNCOVERS CASE" (The REGISTER, December 13, 1972)

By Robert B. Klinn and David Branch:

This article details the findings of renowned physicist Dr. James E. McDonald, who concluded that UFOs are technological, structured devices originating from an extraterrestrial source. McDonald studied 499 cases from the Maxwell Air Force Base files and interviewed approximately 600 witnesses worldwide. One interviewed witness was Colonel Wright.

Colonel Wright reported an incident on January 16, 1957, while piloting a B25 from Birmingham, Alabama, to Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock. At about 8,000 feet near Fort Worth, he and his copilot observed a light to their right, which initially seemed like a jet afterburner but then moved erratically. The object, described as slightly smaller than the Moon, stayed with them for about an hour, maneuvering off their starboard wing. It would accelerate forward, hold position, move back rapidly, ascend, and blink in an erratic pattern. They attempted to record the blinking pattern as a Morse sequence, obtaining four or five pages of dash-dot-dash code, which made no sense to the Air Force personnel who later examined it.

The report notes that the standard Air Force Regulation 200-2 questions lacked the flexibility to capture the full details of such sightings. Colonel Wright also stated that their radio compass, instead of pointing to Lubbock, followed the UFO, suggesting the object emitted a tuned or broad band RF signal that overwhelmed the Reese beacon.

After landing, the OSI (Air Force Intelligence) Base officer was involved. A second B25 with its crew reported a similar experience in the same area. The two B25s, separated by half an hour, both reported an unconventional luminous object with significant RF output.

The article suggests that this case, and many others, represent a category of hidden UFO reports. It contrasts the difficulty of obtaining UFO reports from the Vietnam period with the Korean period, where longer time elapsed might allow for more objective analysis, revealing numerous radar sightings that were not widely publicized.

"EVIDENCE OF UFOS CITED IN STUDY OF 546 CASES" (The REGISTER, June 20, 1973)

By David Branch and Robert B. Klinn:

This article summarizes a 42-month study by Ted Phillips Jr., an inspector for the Missouri State Highway Department, on physical traces left by unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The study identified physical evidence from UFO touchdowns or landings in 546 cases across 34 countries. Phillips presented his findings at the fourth annual national UFO symposium sponsored by MUFON.

• Key findings from Phillips' physical trace catalog include:
• A marked increase in physical trace reports beginning in 1965, averaging 42.5 cases per year since then.
• A dramatic increase in reports during the past three years: 1950-1960 averaged 8 cases/year, 1960-1970 averaged 23 cases/year, and 1970-1972 averaged 35 cases/year.
• Most physical-trace events occur in September, followed by August and May.
• UFOs were most often observed around 9 p.m., with 39% of incidents occurring between 8 p.m. and midnight, suggesting planned appearances.

Phillips' summary indicates that 69% of reported UFOs are disc-shaped, with two main types: 8-12 feet in diameter and 18-24 feet in diameter. They are generally described as having metallic surfaces, slightly domed tops, and flattened bases. Lights, openings, or vents are often seen, and many reports include three or four-legged landing gear, confirmed by imprints found at landing sites.

UFOs emitted sound in 20% of reports, often described as a whistling sound. Light beams projecting from the object to the ground were also observed. Occupants were reported in 22% of cases, typically described as less than 4 feet tall, with one to three occupants observed per sighting.

Witnesses ranged from two to eight or more, with 29% of witnesses being within 50 feet of the UFO. Observations often lasted several minutes, with 11% lasting over an hour. The witness demographics were 70% male and 30% female, with occupations including farmers, military officers, police officers, priests, physicists, engineers, and airline pilots.

Landing sites often featured circular rings (7-53 feet in diameter, 18 inches to 2 feet wide) described as burnt, depressed, or dehydrated. Some sites showed no soil damage, and in dehydrated sites, moisture was removed from the soil or vegetation, with some areas failing to produce plant growth for up to ten years. Imprints in a triangle or rectangle pattern were found near ring centers. Trees were sometimes pushed over or limbs broken, and evergreen trees near rings were found yellowed. Animals often avoided these sites for days or weeks.

Another type of site is the "saucer nest," an oval area with depressed, swirling plant life, generally 30 feet in diameter.

The midwestern U.S. has been active, with Iowa having the largest number of trace reports (10%), followed by Missouri. Combined, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri account for 25% of all UFO landings. Alleged landing sites have been reported in 40 states.

Interestingly, the study found that estimated UFO diameters and measured site diameters were nearly the same.

RESEARCH PROJECTS PROGRAMME

Vehicle Interference Project

Progress on the Vehicle Interference Project is slow due to difficulties in circulating data among dispersed team members and members facing job-related issues. The project aims to study inexplicable effects on motor vehicles, building on an initial list of nearly 100 cases compiled by G.A. Falla in Autumn 1973. The list has grown to over 160 reports. The project is seeking members with relevant experience for Phase 2, which will focus on UFO detection devices, psychological/physiological studies of witnesses, environmental effects testing, and photographic procedures.

UFO Spectra

The Research Department is studying methods for using diffraction gratings to record UFO spectra and seeks members with experience in spectroscopic techniques.

Field Investigator's Handbook

BUFORA is compiling a Field Investigator's Handbook, with proposed chapters covering public relations, investigation procedures (sources, interview preparation, techniques, handling different sighting types), and identifiable phenomena (natural and man-made).

Some thoughts on being too near

By Charles Lockwood, Projects Officer:

Lockwood discusses the implications of UFOs being natural phenomena versus advanced alien technology. If natural, closer observation is better. If technological, distance is important for the observer's safety and to prevent the UFO occupant from detecting sophisticated measuring equipment. At close distances (less than 4 miles), the UFO might automatically modify its behavior to account for the observer. Therefore, close contact reports require careful analysis, considering potential distortions in the witness's perception.

He notes that medium-range photographs and observations can be fruitful sources of data and encourages BUFORA members to establish a pattern for UFO observation, emphasizing the value of using a camera.

BUFORA RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATIONS CONFERENCE SPRING 1975

This is a preliminary announcement for a conference to be held in Spring 1975, organized by the North Staffordshire Branch of BUFORA. Proposed topics include Investigation Procedures, Evaluating Reports, and Research Methods, with practical demonstrations. Leading UFO researchers are expected to participate.

"EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL MESSAGE"

This section reproduces a letter from "Spaceflight" (Vol. 16, No. 2) published by The British Interplanetary Society. The letter, translated from a report picked up by researchers for extra-terrestrial intelligencies, describes humans as potentially dangerous due to their imperfect understanding and control of emotions, their quarrelsome and stupid nature, and their self-destructive tendencies (e.g., through wars and environmental exploitation). The message states that efforts are being made to instill cosmic responsibility, but success has been limited due to human stupidity, ignorance, and complacency. The species is seen as a "less successful experiment" of Nature, and while efforts to prepare humanity for cosmic cooperation will continue, tangible results are expected to take considerable time.

THE DEFINITION OF THE UFO

This section defines a UFO as "almost anything which the witness does not readily identify," possibly due to lack of experience or unusual circumstances.

"Skywatch waiters spot a 'ball of fire'" (Shropshire Star, Saturday 22nd June, 1974)

Two waiters from the Park House Hotel in Shifnal, England, reported seeing a bright "ball of fire" object flying towards Wolverhampton. Head waiter Mr. Bill Harper saw it just after 11 p.m., and another waiter, Ian Causer, saw a similar object about an hour later. A spokesman for RAF Shawbury stated no planes were in the area. The article references 'Weatherwise' and suggests the sightings could be explained by satellites or rocket stages, specifically Skylab (visible 11:06-11:12 p.m.) and Intercos II rocket (visible 12:28-12:35 a.m.), which had elevations consistent with the reported observations.

UFOs buzzed falling nose cone

This article, from the Express and Star, Wolverhampton (June 27, 1974), reports on strange "ghost ships" detected by powerful radar scanners in the Pacific during a tracking exercise near the Kwajalein Atoll. Experts at the Army's ballistic missile defense systems command in Huntsville, Alabama, detected an unidentified flying object alongside a Minuteman missile nose cone. The object was described as ten feet high and 40 feet long, an inverted saucer-shaped object, and was tracked by two separate radar systems simultaneously. Three other identical objects were also observed, similar in size and shape, apparently flying under their own power. Defense experts took these findings to the Army Missile Intelligence Agency. The article speculates that anomalous propagation effects are unlikely given the dual radar detection and questions if the object was the third stage of the rocket, arguing against this. It concludes that if these UFOs were flying under their own power at 400,000 feet, known man-made aerial vehicles could not explain the sighting.

OCCUPANT ENCOUNTER IN SPAIN (with motor vehicle interference effects)

This case, originally from the Peruvian publication "El Comercio" and reprinted from A.P.R.O. Bulletin (March-April 1974), details an encounter by Maximiliano Iglesias near Valdehijaderos. Iglesias reported a powerful light illuminating his vehicle and a glowing plate-shaped object hovering over the highway, with another similar object above it. Two human-appearing beings emerged from the hovering object, re-entered it, and the ship ascended. Iglesias was temporarily unable to move. Later that night, Iglesias again saw three strange objects parked on the highway, emitting diffused light, which caused his engine to stop. He encountered four figures outside his car, whom he described as tall (about 2 meters) with arms and legs, but without visible faces or voices. He hid, and the figures passed close by. Upon returning to his truck, he found the door closed and no one inside. The ships ascended, and he was then able to restart his journey.

UFO INSTRUMENTATION DEVELOPED

A group of 35 scientists and engineers in the San Diego, California area have organized to develop and deploy instrumentation for UFO detection. The group, including Dr. Gerhard Wolter and Mr. Jan Herr, has created a highly sensitive device now located in 15 sites in Southern California, capable of sensing UFOs up to 15 miles away. Mr. Herr explained that some UFOs emit extremely powerful magnetic fields, estimated between 1 to 2 million gauss (compared to less than 100 gammas for an airplane). The magnetometers are sensitive enough to detect 0.05 gamma and can provide a "magnetic signature." The device can detect an automobile up to a mile away by its disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field. An instrument was sent to France for use by Dr. Claud Poher at the National Center of Space Studies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, emphasizing the collection of physical evidence, witness testimony, and technological detection methods. There is a clear stance favoring rigorous research and analysis, as evidenced by the detailed reports on physical traces, radar sightings, and the development of new instrumentation. The publication also includes speculative and philosophical pieces, such as the "Extra-terrestrial Message," which offers a critical perspective on humanity from an external viewpoint, and Charles Lockwood's thoughts on the implications of close encounters. The overall tone suggests a serious, albeit sometimes speculative, approach to understanding UFOs, moving beyond mere anecdotal accounts to seek empirical data and scientific explanations.