1975 & 2003 - History of BUFORA Lionel Beer

Magazine Overview

This document is an article titled "An Anecdotal History of BUFORA," prepared in support of BUFORA's 21st Anniversary Year, and published in September 1983. It details the early history of ufology and the development of UFO research organizations, primarily focusing on the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) and its predecessors.

Early History of UFOLOGY and Organizations (Up to 1975)

The article begins by referencing Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting of nine objects over the Cascade Mountains, which brought widespread public attention to the phenomenon, leading to the coining of the term "flying saucers." Researchers soon discovered historical precedents for such sightings. The US Air Force became involved with investigations like Project Saucer, and the Roswell incident in July 1947, involving a rumored crashed saucer, gained significant attention and was subject to high military security.

Several key books are mentioned as foundational to ufology, including Major Donald Keyhoe's "Flying Saucers Are Real" (1950), Frank Scully's "Behind the Flying Saucers," and Captain Edward Ruppelt's "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects" (1956). Lynn Catoe's "UFOs: An Annotated Bibliography" (1969) is noted as a useful research source.

In the early 1950s, UFO research organizations began to emerge. In the USA, the Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation (APRO) was founded by Coral and Jim Lorenzen. In the UK, Albert K. Bender started the International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB) in 1952, with a UK branch formed in Bristol by Denis Plunkett. When the IFSB disbanded, the UK branch reformed as the British Flying Saucer Bureau in October 1953. The Flying Saucer Club of Hove was founded by Richard Hughes in 1952. These two clubs later merged their magazine, "Flying Saucer News," which was eventually superseded by "Flying Saucer Review" (FSR), founded in London in 1955, with Derek Dempster as the first editor, followed by Brinsley Le Poer Trench.

BUFORA traces its origins to the London UFO Research Organisation (LUFORO), founded on 11 July 1959 by Roy Stemman, Nigel Stephenson, Susanne Stebbing, and Paul Teugels. LUFORO published a monthly bulletin and used sighting report forms based on USAF questionnaires. Monthly meetings were often held at Caxton Hall. Lawrence Moore took over the LUFORO Bulletin editorship in 1961.

Lionel Beer joined LUFORO in January 1961 and became Publicity Officer. In 1962, LUFORO's aim to form a national federation of UFO societies led to the organization of the British UFO Association (BUFOA) Convention at Kensington Central Library on 22 September 1962. This convention successfully launched BUFOA, with eight societies becoming corporate founders: British Flying Saucer Bureau, Anglo-Polish UFO Research Club, Tyneside UFO Society, Scottish UFO Society, London UFO Research Organisation, Stratford-on-Avon UFO Group, Direct Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomenon, and Cheltenham Flying Saucer Group.

BUFOA was initially coordinated by Nigel Stephenson and LUFORO. The first BUFOA JOURNAL appeared in Summer 1963. BUFORA's first president was Graham Knewstub, who had also been President of LUFORO. The article notes the passing of Waveney Girvan, a UFO book publisher and editor of FSR, in Winter 1964.

BUFORA's Development and Activities

BUFORA was formed through the merger of LUFORO and BUFOA on 25 January 1964, under a constitution drafted by John Cleary-Baker. The first BUFORA JOURNAL AND BULLETIN (BJ&B) in Summer 1964 reported on cases like the Ivy Chimneys landing and the Socorro, New Mexico case. Subsequent issues covered meetings and growing individual membership. The BJ&B noted the death of George Adamski in Spring 1965.

In May 1965, the Oxford University UFO Group hosted a conference where Antoni Szachnowski proposed a global UFO research federation. The Warminster area reported strange sights and sounds, leading to a public meeting in August 1965 attended by Dr. Doel and Dr. John Cleary-Baker representing BUFORA.

Key personnel changes occurred, with Mike Holt becoming Hon. Secretary in November 1965, and Gordon Creighton becoming President. The BJ&B featured an article by Alan Sharp on puzzling craters, attributing them to natural causes.

A convention hosted by the Halifax Branch in Bradford on 10 September 1966 featured Arthur Shuttlewood. The Cambridge University UFO Group hosted the Annual Congress on 22 October. The BJ&B was renamed BUFORA JOURNAL (BJ) and included a letter from Dr. Geoffrey Doel to Dr. Edward Condon of the University of Colorado UFO Investigation Panel.

The national sky-watch day on 24 June 1967 was a significant event, with media coverage and the appearance of the BUFORA Mobile Unit on TV. The article notes the deaths of Frank Edwards and Ernest Bryant on 24 June 1967, the 20th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's sighting.

In October 1967, Captain Ivar Mackay took the Chair, with membership rising to 600 and then 715. The Merseyside UFO Research Group hosted a conference in Liverpool on 4 November 1967.

In June 1968, the Mobile Unit toured northern counties and Scotland. Conferences were held by the British Flying Saucer Bureau in Bristol and DIGAP in Manchester. Nigel Stephenson was asked to resign from the Committee, and Stephen Smith became Director of Research. An article by Dr. Doel in the Autumn 1968 BJ discussed the 1897 airship, with Charles Gibbs-Smith of the Victoria and Albert Museum expressing skepticism.

BUFORA participated in the "New Year Show" at Olympia from 28 December 1968 to 11 January 1969, attracting about 120 new members. The Contact Section was passed to COS-MOS. Research seminars and conferences were held in Cambridge, Bristol, and Wakefield in 1969. By 1970, member-societies had decreased to twelve.

At the AGM on 3 October 1970, a motion passed to widen BUFORA's scope to include Fortean and para-physical phenomena. Mrs. Aletheia Lloyd died of cancer on 21 January 1971. In mid-1971, Captain Ivar Mackay resigned as chair.

Lionel Beer's Chairman's Report appeared in Spring 1972. Roger Stanway took the chair at the 1971 AGM, with Anthony Pace assisting. They published "UFOs Unidentified Undeniable" and focused on taking BUFORA "up-market." Significant time was spent on an ATV film of a UFO event near Banbury in October 1971, which was later published as a booklet. Roger Stanway's initiatives also led to a booklet titled "A Guide to the UFO Phenomenon."

Membership fell to 400, and funds were depleted, leading to a subscription increase to £2.40. A permanent research HQ was proposed at Newchapel Observatory. "UFO Investigation," BUFORA's manual for investigators, was published. Roger Stanway's most significant act was establishing BUFORA as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1975, as a step towards charitable status, though the application was unsuccessful.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article emphasizes the historical development of ufology and the organizational efforts to research and document UFO phenomena. It highlights the collaborative nature of early UFO groups, the challenges of coordination, and the evolution of research methodologies and publications. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting the history of these efforts, acknowledging both successes and challenges, and recognizing the contributions of key individuals and organizations in the field. The article implicitly supports the legitimacy of UFO research by detailing the serious efforts undertaken by various groups and individuals over several decades.