1989 - BUFORA General Leaflet

Magazine Overview

This issue of BUFORA (The British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association) magazine, dated September 1989, focuses on the organization's structure, activities, and the broader context of UFO research. The cover headline encourages readers to join BUFORA to help solve the UFO enigma.

BUFORA's Structure and Aims

BUFORA is presented as a scientific organization dedicated to the investigation of UFO phenomena. It is run by a Council of 12 members who are Directors of BUFORA Ltd, a non-profit company limited by guarantee. Membership is open to anyone with a genuine interest in UFOs. The organization has a national investigation network of experienced investigators, supported by an Investigation Manual and a press cutting service that averages about one report per day. BUFORA does not hold a specific view on the nature or origin of UFOs but recognizes multiple hypotheses.

Membership Benefits

Members receive the Association's journal, a membership card, supplementary notices, and annual reports. They are also eligible for reduced fees at meetings and conferences and can utilize the library, which holds books, magazines, cuttings, and lecture tapes. Members can contribute by submitting articles or letters, assisting with administration, or participating in research projects and investigations.

BUFORA Activities

BUFORA organizes conferences and meetings, including highly successful national conferences and international UFO congresses. Monthly lecture meetings have been held since 1962, with current meetings in London. The organization also co-hosts meetings with local groups and provides speakers.

Publications

In 1989, BUFORA launched a new A4-size magazine, UFO TIMES, intended for a wider audience. Several books are also promoted: 'UFOS 1947/1987' edited by Hilary Evans and John Spencer, 'PHENOMENON - From Flying Saucers to UFOs' by John Spencer and Hilary Evans, 'CONTROVERSY OF THE CIRCLES' by Paul Fuller and Jenny Randles, 'FIRE IN THE SKY' by Jenny Randles, and 'UFO WORLD '89' by Jenny Randles.

Historical Notes

The magazine delves into the history of UFO sightings, suggesting that phenomena akin to UFOs have been reported for thousands of years. Ancient texts like the Mahabarata mention flying chariots (vimanas). Historical accounts include shining shields in Italy (BC.216), a bow-shaped object over Rome (BC.173), and coloured globes over Nuremberg (AD.1561). The 1920s saw Charles Fort cataloguing strange aerial events, and during World War II, pilots reported 'foo-fighters'. In 1946, 'ghost rockets' caused alarm in Scandinavia.

Modern Times

The term 'flying saucer' gained widespread use after Kenneth Arnold's sighting of nine discs over Mount Rainer, USA, on June 24, 1947. The US Air Force established projects like Sign, Grudge, and Blue Book to investigate and explain away sightings. Project Blue Book was terminated on December 17, 1969, following a report funded by the Air Force and prepared by the University of Colorado, which concluded that the evidence could be explained. A dissenting report, 'UFOs? Yes!', was later published by Dr. David Saunders. Freedom of Information Act requests revealed documents showing FBI and CIA involvement and possible disinformation attempts between 1947 and 1964.

The 1950s saw an increase in 'entity reports' and 'contactee' accounts. The magazine notes that UFO sightings have occurred on every continent. Governments, including the USSR, have struggled to address these reports. In the late 1970s, 'Sir' Eric Gairy brought the subject to the United Nations. In the UK, the Air Ministry and Ministry of Defence have been involved, with debates held in Parliament and the House of Lords, notably initiated by The Earl of Clancarty on January 18, 1979.

Other Phenomena

The issue also touches upon recent phenomena such as UFO abductees reporting alarming medical examinations under hypnotic regression, and crop circles appearing in cereal crops, which cost farmers thousands of pounds annually. BUFORA co-funded a survey to gather more data on crop circles, with one theory suggesting they are caused by an unknown natural phenomenon.

BUFORA's Beginnings

BUFORA was founded on September 22, 1962, when LUFORO (London UFO Research Organisation, founded 1959) merged with seven other UK groups to form the British UFO Association. Its oldest member-society, the British Flying Saucer Bureau of Bristol, was founded in 1953. The Association was consolidated as BUFORA when it merged with LUFORO on January 25, 1964. By the early 1970s, it had 18 member-societies and nearly a thousand individual members. In 1975, BUFORA became legally constituted as a non-profit company limited by guarantee to gain charitable status.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, the historical context of sightings, the organizational aspects of UFO research groups like BUFORA, and the dissemination of information through publications and meetings. The editorial stance emphasizes an objective approach to research, acknowledging various theories without endorsing any single one, and promoting the collection and analysis of evidence. There is a clear call to action for individuals to join BUFORA to contribute to solving the UFO enigma.