BUFORA Bulletin2 - No.15 - Dec 1999 Jan 2000

Magazine Overview

This issue of the BUFORA BULLETIN, number 15, dated December 1999/January 2000, is published by BUFORA Ltd, the British UFO Research Association. The cover features a prominent illustration of the Earth with a UFO, and highlights key articles: 'Close Encounter in Oxfordshire?', 'A Case for Ball Lightning', and 'Hypnotic Recall'.

Editorial: Scientific Vandalism

The editorial, titled 'Scientific Vandalism', draws a parallel between the study of crop circles and UFOs. The author laments how the phenomenon of crop circles has been swamped by fakes and vandalism, hindering scientific study. A major worry is that new technologies like advanced video, digital photography, and computers could enable similar vandalism in the UFO field, potentially fooling even 'experts'. The editorial questions whether UFO experts will be able to distinguish genuine phenomena from hoaxes.

From Here and There

This section announces that Philip and Sue Mantle have accepted joint honorary life membership of BUFORA in recognition of their significant contributions, including council membership, directorship of investigations, publicity officer roles, and running the central office. Philip Mantle has recently recovered from a period of ill health. It is also noted that Kate Taylor has decided not to continue her membership of the Council to avoid spreading her time too thinly, though she remains involved in Research & Investigation (R&I).

Cover Design

Older members will recognize the cover design as one previously used on the BUFORA Journal in the mid-1970s. This design is planned to be the default front cover image for the Bulletin, though particularly relevant illustrations for specific issues may be used instead.

Readers Letters

There has been a healthy flow of letters, with enough material to fill a complete issue. Regrettably, some letters have been held over for subsequent issues.

Christmas and New Year Greetings

The Council and Officers of BUFORA extend seasonal greetings to all members.

Strange Experience from Oxfordshire

This article, authored by Brian James, details the experiences of a 50-year-old engineer referred to as CK. CK has reported increasing experiences in astral realms, including encounters with ET visitors. He emphasizes that his accounts are not those of publicised 'abductees' or 'contactees'. The article explores the distinction between true contactees and abductees, suggesting that 'alien abductions' may not always be physical and could involve the 'monitoring' of the spirit with consent, even if the conscious mind has forgotten its purpose. The author proposes the term 'monitoree' but finds it awkward.

CK was raised with conventional religious teachings but was agnostic. His awareness of astral encounters led him to explore his past and future incarnations, understanding that a being's spirit is universal and can have incarnations across time and space. The article discusses different forms of astral beings, ranging from light and ethereal to dense and solid.

CK's childhood experiences included 'dreams' of alien beings, predating modern sci-fi. A recurring 'dream' from childhood to his mid-twenties involved being in a bright room, unable to move, with a pulsing noise and difficulty breathing, often with grey beings with enlarged heads present. This eventually evolved into encounters where CK had free will.

Since 1992, CK has had more conscious recollection of 'dreams' and astral travels, with an acceleration of these memories being held in conscious memory. One peculiar 'dream' involved a shining metallic domed disc in the sky, emitting a blue-white beam of light that hit CK's 'Third Eye', causing intense pain and a severe headache. CK does not know the cause of this event.

During a visit to Avebury in December 1997, CK and a friend experienced strange lights and sounds. Later that night, CK astrally travelled back to Avebury and witnessed a bright red ball of light above the Avenue, which pulsed and flashed before vanishing. The article questions whether such an event in the astral realm can be classified as a UFO sighting.

CK has regularly seen 'balls of energy' (BOLs) in Oxfordshire, including four seen at iron-age hillforts, which appeared to be darting, dancing, and hovering. He believes these entities were inviting him to join them. He has also witnessed these pulsating balls of energy creating crop circles, including one near Silbury Hill. He recalls seeing the apparent creation of a crop circle while at Avebury, raising questions about time shifts or pre-priming of the formation.

In 1995, CK had a vivid recollection of a 'flight' over Wiltshire and Salisbury Plain, experiencing it as if in a small aircraft but without a physical body. He observed tourists at Stonehenge and two Lynx AH-7 helicopters from the Army Air Corps. He noted that the helicopters did not deviate, and he flew over them, feeling no turbulence. He wondered if the pilot of the nearest Lynx saw him. During this 'flight', CK visited five crop formations, though they are not recognized in the current 'reality continuum'. He also experienced 'jumping' across the countryside, suggesting a similarity to erratic UFO flight patterns.

CK has been aware of being on spaceships with various beings, including humanoids, reptilians, and 'greys'. He believes the 'greys' with smaller heads and large heads are genetically cloned drones used as workers by other species. He likens the inter-species cooperation and ship environments to science fiction shows like Babylon 5 or Star Trek, cautioning against trivializing the subject. CK stresses he is not an 'old-style contactee' delivering warnings; instead, he participates in telepathic briefings where visual images are 'beamed' at him, akin to a flash download of computer information. This information seems to be about 'remembering' other worlds and lives, best described as 'enlightenment'. These memories are triggered when CK is with like-minded people or through channeling.

Astronomical Misidentifications

This section, by Brian James, discusses the potential for astronomical phenomena to be misidentified as UFOs. It notes that while CK's experiences are unusual, especially given the lack of sci-fi influence in his childhood, the article does not speculate on the nature of the 'Third Eye' beam incident.

Lectures

This section contains a reader's request from Mike Hudson, interested in purchasing old UFO books and magazines.

AGM Notice

A notice for the TWENTY-FIFTH Annual General Meeting of BUFORA Ltd is included, to be held at the UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER on Saturday, 1st April 2000, at 1.00 pm. The meeting will cover the Chairman's Report, Council of Management Report, Treasurer's Accounts, and the appointment of an Auditor.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around personal UFO experiences, astral travel, and the nature of consciousness, particularly as presented through the detailed case study of 'CK'. The editorial stance highlights a concern for the scientific integrity of UFO research, emphasizing the threat posed by hoaxes and the need for rigorous investigation. There is an underlying exploration of spiritual and non-physical aspects of encounters, questioning conventional definitions of reality and experience.

This issue of the BUFORA Bulletin, dated October/November 1999, number 14, focuses on the phenomenon of ball lightning and broader themes of UFO investigation, perception, and memory recall. The magazine includes a dedicated bookshop section, reader letters, and several articles exploring these topics.

BUFORA BOOKSHOP

The BUFORA Bookshop offers a range of publications for sale, including research reports such as 'Men-In-Black (1997)' and 'BOLIDE Report (1997)', both priced at £4-50, and 'Vehicle Interference (1978)' for £7-00. Conference proceedings are also available, including 'UFOs - Examining The Evidence (1995)' for £3-00 and 'UFOs - A Global View (1991)' for £5-00. Back issues of magazines are sold at £2-50 for 'UFO Times', £2-00 for 'Journal of Transient Aerial Phenomena', £1-50 for 'BUFORA Bulletin' (first and second series), and £1-00 for 'BUFORA Journal'. All prices include post and packing, with orders to be sent to BUFORA (pub), 16 Southway, Burgess Hill, Sussex, RH15 9ST.

TEMS - The Travel and Earth Mysteries Society

A notice promotes TEMS, which meets monthly for talks on earth mysteries and unexplained phenomena near Hampton Court. It also organizes field trips and publishes TEMS NEWS. Membership is £7-50 per annum, with free details available by calling 0181 979 3148 or 0181 542 3110.

Readers Letters

Letter from H. Reynolds, Cardiff:
H. Reynolds responds to a request for viewpoints on the Research and Investigation Review. He agrees with BUFORA's moratorium on Hypnotic Regression, citing its unreliability and potential to distort memory recall with popular culture images. He also supports the idea of presenting data to new investigators to support the moratorium. Regarding an 'Alternative to ETH project', he believes it's good to present various viewpoints, allowing readers to decide for themselves. However, he opposes a 'Censorship' project, arguing that BUFORA should not provide a forum for irrational UFOlogy based on speculation, as it reinforces the image of UFOlogists as conspiracy theorists rather than scientists. He clarifies this is not censorship, as individuals are free to present their views elsewhere.

In a postscript, H. Reynolds mentions an 'Equinox' documentary on space junk that suggested explanations for sightings, such as 'angels' seen by astronauts. He questions the extent to which this phenomenon can explain sightings and if it deserves more focus in the postal training course.

Letter from Keith Cowan, Edinburgh:
Keith Cowan writes in response to the October/November 1999 issue, noting articles and quotations that reflect a serious approach to UFO research, distinct from commercial 'hype'. He appreciates that these views may not represent BUFORA's official stance but finds them worthy of consideration. He acknowledges Kate Taylor's observation of a 'downturn of public interest' despite increased belief in extraterrestrial life and the success of SETI@HOME. Taylor suggests hypnagogia and sleep states explain 'bed based abductions' rather than ETs, despite being a Council member. Cowan also quotes a senior BUFORA member, the Chair, stating there is 'no hard evidence of Ets visiting our planet'.

Cowan suggests it is time for a serious, open debate about BUFORA's future focus and methods, especially at the end of the millennium, advocating for accessibility to all members as the 'British' UFO Research Association.

Editor's Response to Keith Cowan:
The editor thanks Keith Cowan for his contribution. Regarding the use of contributors' own work, the editor notes that in the cases quoted, the authors used their own resources, and a disclaimer appears twice in each Bulletin stating that contributions do not represent BUFORA's views. The editor points out that his SETI article began with 'In my opinion' and that BUFORA supports no particular theory over any other, with the ETH being one of about forty theories.

The editor agrees that discussing BUFORA's future direction is important. While some discussion can occur in the Bulletin, the Council is considering a planning meeting at a central location to discuss this further.

A CASE FOR BALL LIGHTNING?

By Gloria Dixon

This article explores the controversial phenomenon of ball lightning and its potential connection to UFO reports. The author reports on a case from the winter of 1952 in Leigh, Lancashire, where Peter, aged twelve, and his younger brother were home alone. Peter sensed a 'presence' and then observed two spherical, bright orange objects, about 250mm in diameter, moving up the stairs at about one foot per second. The objects were approximately one meter above the stairs, spaced about 400mm apart, and exploded simultaneously with a sound like a toy balloon popping. No debris or residual smell was found. Their father, an electrical engineer, found no faults with the house's electrical installations.

Jenny Randles, in the BUFORA postal training course, describes ball lightning as usually ball-shaped but sometimes oval, rarely larger than a tennis ball, though rare bigger forms might be unrecognised by science and dismissed as UFOs. It can float freely and often follows power lines, affecting electrical equipment and causing tingling symptoms. Theories include nuclear reactions generating localized radiation fields. Despite its name, it doesn't require a thunderstorm and can appear in various weather conditions, indoors or outdoors.

The article notes that as recently as the 1960s, ball lightning was rejected alongside UFOs, but it has since been well-described by physicists and is now largely accepted. However, many cases reported as UFOs are never investigated scientifically.

A Channel 4 'Equinox' program in November 1994 featured a segment on ball lightning, including firsthand reports. An article from a September 1998 issue of 'New Scientist' discusses ball lightning after an Air UK jet crew reported 'fireballs in the cabin'. Spanish physicist Antonio Ranada theorizes that linked magnetic loops might explain the phenomenon, trapping glowing plasma within magnetic field lines until the plasma cools. This theory explains why the fireball radiates little heat but its touch can burn.

Ranada's theory suggests that lightning strikes create horizontal magnetic fields, but sometimes vertical fields form. These can link together to form a ball, with glowing plasma trapped inside. The link between the fields prevents expansion, and the effect lasts until the plasma cools. In cooling plasma, electrons bind to atoms, increasing electrical resistance and weakening magnetic fields.

Streamers from the fireball can reach temperatures of 16,000 Centigrade or more. A 1996 Telegraph press cutting describes a similar phenomenon at a print works in Tewksbury, Glos, where a sphere the size of a tennis ball caused electric shocks and was described as like 'something out of Star Wars'. Scientists have been skeptical, but consistent reporting has convinced many that ball lightning is real, often sighted during thundery and humid weather, appearing as a free-floating globe of gas.

Peter contacted Dr. John Hardwick at the Lightning Test Technology Group. Dr. Hardwick stated that while ball lightning is controversial and such phenomena occur, there may be different types, some with conventional explanations like molten metal balls. He noted that photographic and visual records lack quantitative information. He suggests reading Singer's work on ball lightning.

To further illustrate the phenomenon, the article recounts a phone call from a lady who, in July 1995, saw a blue/green spinning ball of light, the size of a football, outside her window. It moved in a downward trajectory and shot out through the patio window pane. The author suggested it might have been ball lightning.

The article concludes that ball lightning and similar reports of close-range light balls are more frequent than realized and worthy of continued investigation in the field of UFO study.

How Perception Works; How Recall Works

By John Spencer

This article, a contribution to the BUFORA R+I Hypnosis Project, argues that a UFO report is not a factual documentation but a witness's attempt to understand an unknown experience. The author explores the factors influencing a witness's understanding, starting from childhood beliefs, attitudes, and values shaped by various influences like family, society, media, and subliminal messages.

Phase One: People tend to personify or attribute intelligent direction to unknown events as a basic survival response. Luminosity or visibility can lead to perceptions of ghosts or aliens, depending on the witness's mood or beliefs.

Phase Two: Witnesses seek clues to confirm their initial impressions, employing a 'ratchet effect' where evidence supporting their view is retained, and contradictory evidence is ignored. This strengthens initial impressions, leading to phenomena like UFO ground traces being found 'after the event'.

Phase Three: The event is checked against expectations, potentially creating false memories that align with those expectations. This is a normal cognitive process, but in multiple-sighting reports, differences in descriptions can depend on what individuals expected to see.

Phase Four: When close encounters involve memory loss, attempts are made to recover information, often through hypnosis. However, the author warns that hypnosis can place the detail of the experience more in the control of the researcher than the witness, potentially leading to the witness believing something that did not happen. Prejudicial beliefs about aliens and UFOs, reinforced by science fiction and media, can make the encounter seem like a bad thing.

The author argues that a witness's belief (whether the experience was good or bad) significantly influences how they relate it. They select facts that confirm their belief, downplaying or ignoring contradictory information. This filtering process is normal and applies to everyday decisions.

Standard UFO investigation often assumes witness accounts are objective 'photographs' of events. However, the author contends that the mind and memory work differently. Witnesses struggle to understand events for which they have no prior framework. Their opinions and prejudices shape their interpretation. The investigator's questions, even if intended to be neutral, can be leading, especially when using hypnotic regression. The author cites an example where a researcher's question about 'people about three or four feet tall' led the witness to confirm seeing such beings.

The article emphasizes the lack of a worldwide consensus on what a UFO experience or abduction is. Numerous filters and barriers exist between the initial sighting and the final explanation, making comprehension fatally flawed.

While acknowledging that traumatized witnesses need help, the author questions the quality and type of help offered. He recounts experiments conducted by ASSAP, involving researchers testing the reliability of hypnosis. In one experiment, a subject in a light trance, asked to be creative, was led by a researcher's implied command to see 'small people' after the researcher suggested 'people about three or four feet tall'.

Postal Training Course

Information is provided for the BUFORA Postal Training Course (PTC), which is compulsory for members wishing to become BUFORA investigators. Enquiries should be addressed to David Pointon, 5, Chapel Street, Mount Pleasant, Mow Cop, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., ST7 4NP. Contact numbers are (01782)-522620 and email is [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes a critical and scientific approach to UFO research, urging members to move beyond 'hype' and speculation. The debate on BUFORA's future direction highlights a tension between open-mindedness and rigorous investigation, with a call for a more focused and evidence-based approach. The articles on perception and memory recall underscore the subjective nature of witness testimony and the potential pitfalls of techniques like hypnotic regression, advocating for a deeper understanding of the psychological factors involved in interpreting unexplained phenomena. The editor's response to reader letters reinforces BUFORA's stance of not endorsing any single theory and encouraging open discussion within the organization.

This issue of the BUFORA Bulletin, spanning pages 21-27 and dated 1999, focuses on the misidentification of astronomical objects as UFOs, the fallibility of human memory, and personal accounts related to UFO phenomena and accidents.

Astronomical Misidentifications

Brian P. James contributes an article titled "ASTRONOMICAL MISIDENTIFICATIONS*" which aims to clarify how various celestial bodies can lead to spurious UFO reports. He notes that planets like Jupiter and Venus have recently caused excited claims, particularly on early morning television. James explains that planets, reflecting sunlight, provide a steady light source and do not 'twinkle' like stars. He identifies four planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – as the most likely culprits for misidentification, with Mercury being too elusive for most observers in the UK. The article details the positions of these planets in the sky during the winter months of 1999, noting that Venus would become increasingly difficult to observe by mid-January. Jupiter and Saturn would be prominent in the southeast, with Jupiter being particularly bright. Mars, though less bright, has a red coloration that could cause confusion. The star Sirius is also highlighted as a potential source of false reports due to its brightness, causing it to appear to 'pulsate' or 'oscillate' with apparent colour changes.

Meteor showers, specifically the remnants and after-effects of them, are also discussed as a cause for UFO reports. The author recalls the summer of 1998 and the anticipated Leonid shower in November. He recounts his experience as an observer during the 1998 storm, noting that while the main storm hit twelve hours earlier on the other side of the planet, local observers saw fireballs. Two of these were curiously described as "two luminous seagulls trundling across the sky." The article also mentions that other observers recorded lingering ion trails, which were seen to be swept around the sky by high-altitude winds, resembling aircraft vapour trails. The author posits that meteors can leave trails that last for hours and can be swept into shapes that might be interpreted as letters or numbers. He also notes an increase in 'sporadic' meteors, which may be interstellar in origin and hit the Earth's atmosphere with higher velocity, resulting in brighter fireballs.

Witness Testimony and Memory Experiments

Two articles explore the nature of witness testimony and the malleability of memory. The first details experiments designed to test how easily a witness's recall can be influenced. In one experiment, a subject was hypnotized and initially recalled an alien abduction with fabricated details, including the aliens wearing cowboy boots, which were linked to the researcher's own footwear. A second experiment tested how a witness could be 'turned around' in their recall. The subject, initially learning details of a race of 'evil' aliens, was then guided by the hypnotist, using subtle prompts and suggestions, to recall the aliens as friendly and the experience as having a benign, spiritual reason, using terms like 'cathedral-like'. The experiment indicated that the researchers' attitudes and beliefs could significantly affect the witness's understanding of the experience, even influencing recall through body language and gestures.

The second personal account, titled "Case Study: My own 'suppressed memory'," is written by the editor, Jenny Randles. She recounts a serious cycling accident in Kingsbury, London, at the age of sixteen, where she hit a parked car at speed and landed unconscious. She suffered physical injuries and a concussion, with initial memory loss, including not recognizing her parents. Over the years, details of the journey leading up to the accident returned in stages, but the moments immediately before the crash remain inaccessible. Randles reflects on the difficulty of distinguishing between actual memory, descriptions given by others, and personal imaginings, posing the question of how close encounter witnesses can verify their own memories.

BUFORA Information and Book Bargains

Towards the end of the issue, there is information regarding BUFORA's submissions policy, welcoming new material for publication and providing contact details for electronic and postal submissions. The publication is copyrighted to BUFORA 1999. A section titled "SPECIAL BOOK BARGAINS 1999" offers several books at reduced prices, including "Saucer Attack" by Eric & Leif Nesheim, "Witnessed" by Budd Hopkins (detailing the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction), "Perspectives" by John Spencer (on abduction cases and hypnosis), and "Piece for a Jig-Saw" by Leonard Cramp (on saucer propulsion and suppressed technology).

Finally, the "BUFORA LECTURES" section announces upcoming talks at the University of Westminster. Arthur Tomlinson was scheduled to speak on UFO sightings in the UK, including the 'Ilkely Moor Entity case', on December 4th, 1999. Professor Arthur J. Ellison was to lecture on "Altered States of Consciousness," discussing his own experiences with out-of-body experiences, lucid dreams, and remote viewing on February 5th, 2000. The section also notes that the views expressed by lecturers are their own and do not necessarily reflect BUFORA's policies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of UFO reports through scientific and astronomical explanations, the unreliability and suggestibility of human memory, and the importance of rigorous investigation in the field of ufology. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, encouraging the public to consider mundane explanations for sightings while also acknowledging the ongoing interest and research into unexplained phenomena. The publication emphasizes the role of BUFORA as a platform for sharing research, personal accounts, and information within the UFO community.