1998 - BUFORA Summer News

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA SUMMER NEWSLETTER
Issue: August 1998 (referred to as the ninth communication from BUFORA)
Publisher: The British UFO Research Association (BUFORA Ltd)
Country: United Kingdom

Editorial

The editorial discusses the typical "silly season" for newspapers and media, where UFOlogists often become targets of fun. However, it notes that the current summer is quieter than usual, despite the release of "The X-Files" film. The editor expresses hope that the film's popularity might wane, allowing a return to serious UFO research and investigation, moving away from what is termed "silly nonsense."

The editorial also touches upon the publication schedule, mentioning that BUFORA Bulletin aims for eight issues per year, with this newsletter being a ninth communication to cover the extra weeks.

Contents

The table of contents lists several sections:

• EDITORIAL
• TRUST NOBODY!
• INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT NOTES
• SHORT ITEMS
• BOB'S NEW JOB
• MOD FIGURES
• BARLEY BELIIEVABLE!
• WHATS ON
• EARLY UFO REPORTS
• BUFORA LECTURES

Trust Nobody!

This article, by Jim Smith, draws a parallel between the fictional advice "Trust Nobody" from "The X Files" and the general skepticism surrounding UFO reports and historical events. It questions the reliability of information provided by authorities, citing the controversy around the Apollo Moon landings and David Percy's claims about photographic inconsistencies. The author suggests that if governments have covered up UFO incidents for decades, their current explanations might also be untrustworthy. The article points to the US Air Force's dubious explanations for UFO sightings in the 1950s and 1960s, and the CIA's later admission that these were often test flights of spy planes. It also highlights the Rendlesham Forest incident and the MOD's denial of knowledge, questioning their motives. A specific case from October 1996 involving strange lights over East Anglia is presented, where the MOD's explanation of meteors and a church tower is deemed improbable due to the objects' described behavior.

The author concludes that if one begins to disbelieve government accounts of UFOs, it leads to questioning all government information, including explanations for road closures or aircraft crashes, and even NASA's photos of the "Face on Mars."

Investigations Department Notes

This section announces a National Investigations Committee Meeting to be held on Saturday, October 10th, 1998, at the University of Westminster in London. Investigators are encouraged to attend and suggest agenda items. It also mentions that the Postal Training Course (PTC) is compulsory for those wishing to become BUFORA investigators, with contact details provided for inquiries.

Short Items

Watch This Space: Reports of spectacular Bolides seen in the UK before recent BUFORA Council meetings are mentioned, raising anticipation for the September meeting.

Hovering Objects: A sighting on July 12, 1998, near Royston, Hertfordshire, described eight to ten UFOs hovering over a field for about two minutes. This is noted as part of an ongoing study by the Cambridge UFO Group.

Well Wishes: Former Council member Sue Mantle is mentioned as suffering from poor health, with well wishes extended.

Bob's New Job

BUFORA Treasurer Bob Digby has been appointed editor of Quest Magazine, a publication covering UFOs, ancient civilizations, lost knowledge, and other subjects. The article notes that Quest was originally known as Amateur Astronomy and Earth Sciences and previously featured a UFO page. Digby's new editorial office is in Beaconsfield. The article also mentions Lionel Beer as the new deputy editor and highlights that the current issue of Quest includes material from Richard Conway and Steve Gamble. The current edition (Number 11) of Quest is available for £3.

Mod Figures

This section presents figures on UFO reports received by the MOD. In 1996, they received 609 reports, which decreased to 425 in 1997. Indications are that the number is further down for the current year. However, these figures are still higher than the 250-300 reports received annually in the 1980s and early 1990s. The downward trend is attributed to a general fall in interest in the paranormal and the MOD's standard response that they only investigate for defence implications, thus not sharing outcomes.

Barley Believable!

This article by Robert Bull examines two UFO incidents in the Barley area of Cambridgeshire. The first incident occurred on October 1, 1979, when Michael and Gwen Bradford reported seeing a "two-coach train"-like object with large windows moving slowly without sound down a road where no railway exists. The object was estimated to be about 100 feet long. The second incident, on October 9, 1997, involved Mrs D observing three rows of bright white lights, later incorporating red ones, hovering over a field before moving away silently. The lights moved towards RAF Barkway. The article notes that the investigator's report placed the first sighting near the Icknield Way historic road, adding a layer of intrigue. It also mentions that Michael Bradford died before the study began and that John Ryder of CUFOG is researching a mirage theory for some incidents in the area.

Whats On

This section lists upcoming events, including:

• BUFORA meetings on September 5th and October 3rd in London.
• Cambridge UFO Group meetings on September 11th and October 9th, and a Research Evening on November 13th.
• Northampton UFO Research Centre events on September 19th, October 17th, and November 21st.
• A Skywatch event on September 19th/20th.
• Merseyside UFO and Paranormal Conference on October 31st.
• A "Saucers, Secrets & Superpowers" conference on November 14th/15th in Blackpool.

Early UFO Reports

This article by Steve Gamble details BUFORA's project to collect UFO reports from before 1895. The author argues that by examining older reports, man-made sources like aircraft, satellites, and balloons can be eliminated, providing a purer sample of phenomena. However, older reports often contain less information. The article mentions David Langford's book "An Account of a Meeting With Denizens of Another World," which was revealed to be fiction. The cut-off point for the project is set at 1895, the beginning of the airship era, avoiding religious texts that have been reinterpreted as UFO incidents.

Several historical cases are presented:

• 1207, Tilbury: Gervase of Tilbury described an aerial ship with an occupant who was asphyxiated after freeing its anchor from stones.
• 1211, Cloera, Ireland: A strange object dropped an anchor on a church roof, and a man descended a rope to cut it free.
• 1254 January 1, St Albans: Monks saw a large, elegantly shaped ship.
• 1290, Byland Abbey, Yorkshire: Monks recorded a large silver disk flying slowly.
• 1320, Durham: A strange light descended over the grave of the abbot.
• 1520, Erfurt, Prussia: Two burning suns and a burning beam were observed.
• 1561 April 14, Nuremberg, Germany: Cylindrical objects emerged spheres and disks.
• 1566 August 7, Basel, Switzerland: Black spheres were seen moving rapidly through the sky.
• 1619, Fluelan, Switzerland: A witness saw a long bright object flying along a lake.

BUFORA Lectures

This section provides details on upcoming BUFORA lectures at the University of Westminster, London. Lectures include:

• September 5th, 1998: Philip Walton on "Is Seeing Believing?"
• October 3rd, 1998: Tony Eccles on "Merseyside UFOs"
• November 7th, 1998: Bob Digby on a topic to be advised.

Admission is £1-50 for BUFORA members and £3-50 for non-members. The section also notes that BUFORA reserves the right to change or cancel meetings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the critical examination of official explanations for UFO phenomena, the importance of serious research over sensationalism, and the historical context of UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards government narratives and a desire to move beyond the "silly season" of UFO reporting towards more rigorous investigation. There is also an emphasis on BUFORA's activities, including its publications, meetings, and research projects.