BUFORA Bulletin2 - No.09 - Mar 1999

Magazine Overview

Title: BUFORA BULLETIN
Issue: No. 9
Date: March 1999
Publisher: British UFO Research Association (BUFORA Ltd)
Country: United Kingdom

This issue of the BUFORA Bulletin delves into various aspects of UFO research, featuring a personal account of a close encounter, an ongoing investigation, statistical analysis, and news from the UFO community.

Articles and Features

The Daventry Event: A Personal Perspective

This article presents the first-hand account of Elsie Oakensen regarding her UFO encounter on November 22, 1978, near Daventry, United Kingdom. Oakensen, who was a full-time teacher and wife of a Police Inspector, describes the event in detail. The prelude to the encounter involved a pleasant lunch celebrating a young man's new job, during which she experienced a peculiar headache. Later that day, while driving home on the A45, she observed two bright lights, one red and one green, immediately above the road. Initially mistaking it for a low-flying aircraft, she became concerned about a potential crash. However, she soon realized the object was stationary. She describes the object as a grey, dumb-bell shaped aerial object with brilliant red and green lights underneath, made of a smooth plastic-type material. It was estimated to be about fifty feet in length and 100-150 feet above the road. The object appeared to be wider than the road. She drove underneath it, noting the lack of sound and the unusual slowing of her car. After stopping and observing the object from a lay-by, she noted the green light flashing. The object's lights then repeated a sequence of brilliant white circles on the road. The encounter concluded with her car behaving unusually, slowing down despite being in gear and her foot on the accelerator, before resuming normal function.

1996 BUFORA UFO Statistics

This section provides a statistical breakdown of UFO reports collated by BUFORA for 1996. It highlights the rarity of such statistics being issued by contemporary UFO societies, as official agencies like the USAF and MoD have ceased releasing detailed figures. The article emphasizes the importance of civilian researchers collating this data to understand the number of sightings, their causes, and the proportion of unexplained events. For 1996, 95 sightings were registered. The breakdown shows 70% (66) were IFOs (Identified Flying Objects), 20% (19) were insufficient for analysis ('Insuff'), and 10% (10) were deemed 'Interesting'. When 'Insuff' reports are excluded, the 'explicable' figure rises to 87%. The majority of sightings were attributed to natural phenomena. Main activity occurred between September and December, with an earlier peak in March. Most events occurred around 19:00 and 20:00 hrs. Aircraft were the most common cause of IFO events, followed by Laser Light displays, astronomical bodies (stars, planets, meteors). A notable number of 'interesting' reports (5) involved 'bedroom visitor' experiences, likely explicable as hypnagogic/hypnapompic hallucinations. Of the 10 'interesting' reports, 50% were 'flying triangles', with discs being the most common 'non-triangle' shape. The article notes that 'flying triangles' are increasingly reported and it is difficult to determine if they have displaced other UFO shapes or are seen in conjunction with them. The statistics also detail sightings by month and time of day, and list the probability and percentage of various causes for IFOs, including aircraft, laser lights, stars/planets, meteors, balloons, and hallucinations.

The Leeds Incident (Part 2)

This is the second part of an investigation into the Leeds Incident, though specific details of the incident itself are not provided in the scanned pages available for this summary.

A Guide to IFOs

This section offers a guide to Identified Flying Objects (IFOs), providing explanations for common sightings that are not necessarily extraterrestrial in origin. The statistics section lists various causes for IFOs, such as aircraft, laser lights, and astronomical bodies.

UFO News

This section contains several news items:

• Betty Cash Dies: Betty Cash, one of three individuals injured in a UFO close encounter near Huffman, Texas, on December 29, 1980, passed away on December 29, 1998, in Birmingham, Alabama. She had suffered poor health since the encounter, which involved exposure to radiation from a diamond-shaped UFO and military helicopters. The U.S. Government reportedly refused to acknowledge the event or provide assistance. Cash's life was marked by extensive medical treatment and business closures due to her injuries. She is remembered as a hero in the fight against government UFO cover-ups.
• APRO Microfilm Located: The recovery of a significant portion of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation (APRO) microfilm files is announced. APRO, the world's first civilian UFO group founded in 1952, had its files inaccessible for over a decade. The microfilm, recovered through the efforts of Brad Sparks, contains over 1,000 pages of reports from ordinary citizens, pilots, and military personnel, many not previously published. Project 1947 is continuing to zero in on APRO files from 1957-1962. The APRO material has minimal overlap with files from NICAP and CSI-New York.
• Spanish Anomaly Foundation Awards: The Spanish Anomaly Foundation has granted awards, including the 1998 International Zurich Prize to Erling Strand for his work on the Hessdalen Project. The "Ricardo Caruncho" Prize was awarded to Juan A. Fernández Peris for solving the mystery of a 1979 UFO encounter over the Mediterranean Sea. The "Universitas" Fellowship was given to J.M. González to catalogue the correspondence of pioneer ufologist Manuel Osuna. The "Cuadernos de Ufología" Award recognized Pedro Redón for his decades of UFO study. The Foundation, established to promote scientific investigation of anomalous aerial phenomena, also created a 1999 Research Fund.

Other Items

• Events & 1999 A.G.M Notice: This indicates announcements regarding upcoming events and the Annual General Meeting for 1999.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The BUFORA Bulletin consistently promotes rigorous UFO research, emphasizing the importance of statistical analysis and the investigation of both unexplained phenomena and identified flying objects (IFOs). The magazine provides a platform for personal accounts of encounters while also seeking to explain sightings through conventional means. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging submissions and aiming to document the UFO phenomenon from a scientific perspective. There is a clear emphasis on the historical aspects of UFO research, as evidenced by the APRO microfilm recovery and the mention of pioneer ufologists. The magazine also touches upon the issue of government secrecy and cover-ups, particularly in the context of the Betty Cash case.

This issue of "Ufology" focuses on two main areas: Elsie Oakensen's personal account of a UFO encounter and the extensive "Leeds Incident" of February 2nd, 1998. The magazine presents detailed witness testimonies, investigative findings, and various potential explanations for these phenomena.

Elsie Oakensen's Experience

Elsie Oakensen recounts an experience where she observed circular lights on the road and in a garden, followed by a sudden return to natural daylight. She describes the area becoming completely dark and then illuminated as if by daylight. She also experienced two tightening sensations around her head during the day, which she questioned might be related to her experiences. Oakensen compiled a list of questions to understand the events, including the nature of the 'thing' she saw, how it was suspended, and what happened during a period of missing time.

Following her experience, Oakensen reported her sighting to BUFORA, who conducted an investigation. In 1979, she underwent hypnotic regression, recounting an encounter with "greyish-silver 'ghost-like shapes'". She later developed an interest in Spiritual Healing and Writing. The text is an excerpt from her book, "One Step Beyond.... A Personal UFO Abduction Experience."

Letters Page

The "Letters Page" features replies to Elsie Oakensen's article "A Letter to Ufology".

Steuart Campbell suggests that the unusual headaches Oakensen experienced might be due to brain dysfunction and offers mirages as a potential explanation for some UFO reports, referencing his own book. He notes that the investigation has not focused on medical hypotheses and criticizes the lack of illustrations in Oakensen's book.

John Heptonstall, with a scientific and medical background, proposes that the "tight bands" around Oakensen's head are a classic sign of adrenaline surge, possibly linked to an anxiety state or "Chinese restaurant syndrome" effects from a meal, which can take 24-48 hours to subside. He suggests this is a more obvious explanation than a UFO, though he accepts she may have seen a strange object.

Anthony North discusses the media's tendency to stereotype ufologists and argues that Ufology should be studied as a phenomenon merging psychology and sociology, not just as aerial phenomena. He advocates for understanding cults and spiritual impulses rather than ignoring them, citing examples like Jonestown and Waco to illustrate the importance of understanding such movements to prevent tragedy.

The Leeds Incident - Part 2

This section details John P. Heptonstall's investigation into a major sighting event on Monday, February 2nd, 1998, in West Yorkshire. Over 30 independent observers reported seeing "two very bright soundless white lights moving very slowly West to East in close formation."

Summary of Known Facts:

Witnesses described bright, white lights moving in formation, often with one light higher and behind the other. Speeds were estimated between 30 and 60 knots, with reports of hovering and slow turning. The lights were described as "twinned" from the side or below. A quiet "engine" sound was heard by some. The dark sky made it difficult to determine altitude or speed. Several witnesses associated a helicopter with the lights, particularly to the west of Leeds. One witness saw unusual lights later that evening in Middleton, described as strobing and flashing.

Detailed Accounts:

Several accounts are presented: a witness saw lights hovering over a school playing field in Middleton; another saw them hover in Leeds, moving off asynchronously; an observer in Headingley saw them approach from the south. A lady in Baildon saw a single coloured object, but its description did not closely match the main reports. A couple driving over the Pennines saw a similar pair of lights that appeared to follow them, with a helicopter seen later.

Summary of LITS (Lights In The Sky):

At least two, possibly three, pairs of very bright LITS were seen in the West Yorkshire area. They appeared to have small engine facilities but no solid body. One pair was videoed and associated with a helicopter. Another pair may have moved northwards from the southwest of Leeds. A third pair moved east to west over the Pennines.

Analysis of Sightings:

The lights moving West to East over Leeds were estimated at high altitude (5,000-8,000 feet), crossing Leeds between 17:30 and 17:50 hrs, and associated with a helicopter. Lights moving from the Southwest hovered, moved at high speed, and could have been at lower altitudes (200-600 feet), crossing Leeds between 17:50 and 18:15 hrs. Lights moving Westwards over the Pennines were seen around 18:00 hrs and also associated with a helicopter.

The summary acknowledges that the Baildon sighting is not directly comparable. It suggests that the West to East lights might have turned more northwards over Leeds and then towards York. The possibility of a single pair of lights being responsible for multiple sightings is considered, especially when compared with similar events in Bloomington, Indiana, USA, and a pilot's sighting over Dallas, USA.

Potential Explanations:

Several explanations for the Leeds LITS are explored:

1. Light Aircraft: Unlikely due to hovering, slow speed, lack of standard navigation lights, and extreme brightness that would impair night vision, unless it was a military aircraft with anti-radar capabilities.
2. Helicopters: Possible due to hovering and low noise capability, but the configuration and brightness were not typical. A helicopter was seen near the lights in some instances.
3. Airships: Unlikely due to hovering, close formation, and tight turns exhibited by the lights.
4. Microlights: Unlikely due to illegal flight paths, high altitude, and extreme brightness that would jeopardize pilot night vision and attract attention from aviation authorities.
5. Celestial Objects: Highly unlikely, as no visible celestial objects at the time could account for the observed movements. Saturn was mentioned as a possible candidate for one description.
6. Satellite/Space Station: Not possible, as the MIR satellite was not in a position to be viewed at the times in question, and its brightness and movement did not match witness descriptions.
7. RPV/UAV (Remotely Piloted Aerial Craft): Considered a strong possibility. These craft can hover, have unconventional light configurations, are under military control, and do not compromise operator night vision. Their bright lights could serve a test/follow/tracking function. They can move slowly, perform tight turns, and are often small, making them difficult to resolve on video.

Official Comments:

• RAF Fylingdales: Suggested the sightings likely described an aircraft under visual flight rules, not under ATC control. Satellites were ruled out, and radar ignores slow-moving ground objects.
• RAF Linton-on-Ouse: Offered no explanation from radar coverage or military flight schedules, speculating it was a civilian aircraft. They confirmed Provosts and Tucanos were operational but unlikely to enter LBA airspace without warning.
• Andy Rackham (LBA Airport Services Manager): Stated no official report was received, and radar indicated no concerns.
• Manchester Airport: Had no radar returns but had received public reports passed to RAF Uxbridge.
• Air Support Unit, West Yorkshire Police: Confirmed their helicopters were not flying during the relevant period. They were aware of military overflights for North Sea decompression chambers.
• Private Pilot Friend: Viewed K.M.'s film and could not explain the light configuration as aircraft, citing the lack of navigation lights and the extreme brightness.

The author notes that contacting the MOD and West Drayton ATC was not expected to yield a worthwhile response.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue grapples with the nature of unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) and the challenges of investigating them. It highlights the tension between witness testimony, potential scientific and medical explanations, and official silence or dismissiveness. The editorial stance appears to favor a thorough, open-minded investigation of UAP, while also acknowledging the possibility of misidentification or psychological factors. The letters section, in particular, showcases differing approaches to understanding these events, from scientific and medical analysis to broader sociological and psychological perspectives. There is a clear emphasis on the need for more information and a mature, responsible response from authorities when such events occur, to allay public concern and foster trust. The recurring theme is the persistent mystery of UAP and the ongoing quest for understanding.

Title: UFO TIMES
Issue: 10
Date: February 1999
Publisher: BUFORA
Country: United Kingdom
Cover Headline: THE LEEDS LIGHTS - WHAT WERE THEY?

This issue of UFO TIMES delves into the mysterious lights observed over Leeds in February 1998, exploring potential explanations ranging from military hardware to misperceptions of natural phenomena.

The Leeds Lights: A Military Explanation?

The lead article, "The Leeds Lights - What Were They?", by Robert Moore, investigates the sightings of bright white lights over Leeds on February 2nd, 1998. The author considers various possibilities, including extra-terrestrial objects, but quickly dismisses them in favor of more terrestrial explanations. The article highlights the capabilities of modern Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), suggesting that these could be responsible. Several types of RPVs/UAVs are mentioned as being in use or under development, including the "Phoenix" (made by GEC-Marconi), "Sarab", "Raven", "Eagle Eye", "Spectre", "Cypher", and the "Freewing Scorpion".

Approximately 70 such systems are in use or under development throughout Europe. The "Phoenix" is described as an all-weather, day or night surveillance and target acquisition system, datalinked to a ground station. It is made from kevlar, glass fibre, carbon reinforced plastic, and Nomex honeycomb, powered by a two-stroke engine, and can operate within a 50 km radius, reaching altitudes of up to 9,000 feet. Despite its cost, it is considered virtually obsolete due to a long development time, but might have been deployed for 'Gulf use' testing in an urban setting.

The "Freewing Scorpion" is currently undergoing flight tests in the USA, with promising results from smaller-scale versions. The "Eagle-Eye" is also presented as a possible candidate, with videos suggesting a tilt on its lights that altered between recordings.

Newer generations of UAVs are being developed by DERA and AVPRO, designed to be operational in the next decade and supersede older models like the Phoenix. The article posits that the Leeds sightings might have involved a pair of these RPVs/UAVs, potentially caught on camera by witnesses "K.M" and "L.N". It is noted that the RAF had an ongoing exercise, "Tactical Leadership Training 1/98", organized by the Air Warfare Centre, which involved around 40 aircraft operating from RAF Leuchars in Scotland. This exercise used helicopters to simulate the modern battlefield, providing a realistic environment for observing 'slow-movers'.

Similar sightings were reported by two witnesses in Bloomington, USA, on the evening of February 2nd, 1998, observing bright white lights that closely matched the descriptions from Yorkshire. The USA witnesses were aware of military jets present.

Conclusion on the Leeds Lights

The most obvious conclusion drawn is that the February 2nd, 1998 lights seen over Leeds were some form of military hardware, possibly requiring jets or helicopters for tracking or maneuvering. It is also suggested that similar military exercises might have been taking place simultaneously in the UK and North America. An alternative, more 'exotic' conclusion is that both countries experienced encounters with LITS (Lights in the Sky) of an unidentifiable nature under close scrutiny from military establishments.

However, the author leans towards the belief that the lights were at least one pair of well-lit RPV/UAV craft, with tracking provided by unidentified helicopters or, in the USA, military jets. The possibility of LBA Air Services Management being aware of and facilitating the movement of these objects is also raised, suggesting potential covert operations.

The article speculates that the objects might have returned across the Pennines, switching lights on over the Pennines for helicopter tracking, or that Church Fenton airfield may have provided a convenient collection point. The author criticizes the media's speculation of extraterrestrial involvement at an early stage, deeming it unwise and potentially causing unwarranted anxiety.

Reactions from contacted Government and Service centers regarding illegal entries into British airspace were described as disappointing, leading to a lack of confidence in National Defence Institutions.

A Guide to IFOs (Identified Flying Objects)

Robert Moore also contributes a section titled "A Guide To IFOs", which addresses the common misconception that most UFO reports are genuinely unexplained. The article argues that the vast majority of UFO reports are, in actuality, misperceptions of natural stimuli. It challenges the idea that only the less intelligent report UFOs, noting that many reports come from individuals with average or above-average intelligence and education.

Moore states that approximately 85-95% of reported UFO sightings have down-to-earth explanations, a ratio consistent with both official statistics and those compiled by UFO researchers. He explains that confusing perceptual information, unfamiliar angles, or unusual environmental conditions can lead to mundane objects being endowed with strange, false attributes.

Explainable "UFO" sightings are termed IFOs. It is estimated that around 150 natural and man-made objects can generate spurious UFO reports. Of these, about 65% are instigated by six different kinds of natural stimuli, with the remaining 35% from other prosaic phenomena. Many IFO events relate to phenomena seen or visible only at night.

Common IFO Causes:

• Aircraft and Helicopters: Nocturnal sightings of aircraft running lights are a frequent cause of IFOs. Depending on the angle, one to four or more lights may be observed. Aircraft lighting follows strict Civil Aviation Authority (C.A.A.) regulations, but bright white strobe lights or landing lights can create illusions. The "dot-to-dot" effect of these lights can lead to the perception of weird and wonderful forms.
• Advertising Airships: These can carry computer-controlled lights that display repeating sequences, which, when viewed from unusual angles or suddenly turned off, can create illusions of UFOs vanishing.
• Military In-flight Refuelling Tankers: These can have a variety of body illumination, including arrays of white lights on wings and fuselage, and extra lights around the refuelling probe. Lights from aircraft trailing behind can also appear mysterious.
• Daylight Aircraft: Approaching aircraft can appear as a "humped" disc or a shiny disc/cigar if viewed sideways-on during a sunny day, with wings obscured by distance and angle.
• Stars & Planets: Very bright stars or planets are a common cause of IFOs. Planets are often mistaken for UFOs due to their greater brilliance. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are frequently misidentified. In the UK, Sirius is a common source of misidentification, along with Arcturus, Vega, and Capella. Atmospheric turbulence can cause these celestial bodies to "flash" different spectral colours.
• Autokenesis Effect: This is an illusory effect where involuntary eyeball movements cause a bright stellar body viewed against a dark sky to appear to exhibit erratic darting motions.
• Lateral Motion: An illusion where an observer in a moving vehicle sees a star or planet appear to travel in the same direction as the vehicle.
• Bolides & Satellite Re-Entries: Exceptionally bright meteors (bolides) are often perceived as spherical or cigar-shaped with "window lights". They leave incandescent trails and can change colour. Man-made space debris, such as expended rocket-booster tanks or old satellites, can also be mistaken for bolides, moving slower and visible for longer.
• Laser Light Displays: Since the early 1980s, laser light displays have become a major source of false UFO reports, described as smoky white lights performing swift, repeating rhythmic motions.
• Weather Balloons: Large research balloons, launched for upper atmospheric data, are often misperceived, especially during the day. They can appear as small, distant, slow-moving objects of various shapes and colors depending on lighting conditions.
• Satellites: Orbiting satellites are visible due to reflected sunlight. They appear as distant, whitish pin-points of light traversing swift, continuous arch-like paths. The "belt" of Iridium satellites may increase satellite sightings due to their bright flashes.

Other Sections

• UFOCALL: A service providing the latest UFO headlines, reports, and event news, available via a premium rate phone line.
• Postal Training Course (PTC): Offered by BUFORA for members wishing to become investigators.
• Primebase Project: An ongoing project by Robert Moore to catalogue inexplicable 'true UFO' reports from the United Kingdom.
• BUFORA Website: Accessible at www.bufora.org.uk.
• BUFORA Events Calendar: Lists upcoming lectures and events held at the University of Westminster, including topics like Video Afternoon, "The Motifs of Abduction", Investigating UFOs, and Crop Circles.
• AGM Notice: Announcement for the Annual General Meeting of BUFORA Ltd. on April 10th, 1999, detailing procedures for nominations and voting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, with a strong emphasis on identifying mundane explanations (IFOs) for sightings. The editorial stance, particularly in Robert Moore's articles, is skeptical of extraterrestrial explanations and favors logical, evidence-based reasoning, often pointing towards military activities or misperceptions as the primary causes of UFO reports. There is a clear effort to educate the public about the nature of IFOs and to debunk sensationalist claims. The magazine also serves as a platform for BUFORA's activities, promoting its training courses, events, and research projects.