MUFORG Bulletin - 1967 02

Magazine Overview

This is the February 1967 issue of the MUFORG BULLETIN, published by the Merseyside Unidentified Flying Object Research Group. The bulletin serves as a platform for members and contributors to express their views on UFO phenomena and the organizations involved in its study. The issue is edited by John Harney.

Comment and Editorial Stance

The "COMMENT" section addresses the reception of reviews concerning the BUFORA Annual General Meeting (AGM), written by R.D. Hughes and Paul Hopkins. The editor clarifies that these were personal impressions, not an attack on BUFORA, and that the Bulletin generally allows uncensored opinions. The editor agrees with the general criticisms of the audience at the AGM, noting their uncritical belief in flying saucers, but disagrees with some specific criticisms made by contributors. The editor praises Nigel Stephenson's talk as the most positive and objective, emphasizing the need for cold, objective appraisal of sightings. The editor expresses concern that BUFORA, despite being dedicated to the scientific study of UFOs, seems to consist of talented individuals pandering to armchair ufologists and cranks due to its open membership policy.

The debate centers on the direction of UFO organizations. Two main arguments for maintaining the status quo are presented: the need for a large membership to finance research and provide national coverage, and the idea that ufology is a strange subject where all opinions should be tolerated. Conversely, more scientific individuals demand a rigorously objective approach, excluding those unwilling to adhere to this ideal.

Letters to the Editor

Dr J.Cleary-Baker argues that the BUFORA JOURNAL should be a forum for ideas rather than a repository for every UFO report, finding bulk sighting reports boring. He defends the "temporary membership" as a legal gimmick forced by circumstances and suggests the AGM should be funded by BUFORA. He also notes the importance of Dr. Hynek's observations on "temporal provincialism" and praises Mr. L. Cramp's book, "Piece for a Jig-Saw," as evidence of his suitability as Vice-President. Dr. Cleary-Baker cautions against scientific dogma and encourages young researchers to remember that even leading scientists do not know everything.

Mr Andy Mayers writes to protest about articles and suggests printing letters is a way to fill the bulletin's pages. He agrees with the criticisms of the BUFORA AGM speakers, stating they overdid their presentations. He explains the temporary membership and visitor book requirement at Kensington Library is due to tightened rules, not BUFORA's policy, and that London meetings need financing. He also clarifies that the Journal's publication frequency will remain quarterly and encourages constructive ideas for its improvement. He addresses the issue of the Vice-Presidency, stating his main objection to Mr. Cramp's re-election is not his absence from meetings but his published work, "Space, Gravity and the Flying Saucer," which he deems a "tottering tower of hypotheses."

Mr. J.Harnwell, Chairman of MUFORG, expresses his feelings about the mode of expression in recent articles, noting that other members share his concerns. He acknowledges the keenness of contributors D. Hughes and P. Hopkins but feels their criticism, if facetious and unconstructive, can be damaging. He hopes the emotional heat will dissipate so the organization can focus on its real work.

Paul Hopkins defends his "facetious style" as a weapon to stir where needed and ridicule the ridiculous, stating that no group or ideal is beyond criticism. He asserts he will not change his style and that censorship would speak for itself. The editor notes that opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect MUFORG's views.

Book Reviews

"The TW3 of UFology" by Jimmy Goddard reviews the MUFORG Bulletin itself, praising its literary quality and satire, comparing it to BBC TV's "That Was The Week That Was." Goddard critiques the magazine's underlying "strange religion" that posits humanity as both inferior and superior, and criticizes the idea that current beliefs are absolute standards. He questions how running down BUFORA's efforts will help the study of UFOs, emphasizing that BUFORA was the first British organization to seriously tackle the UFO problem and should be supported, not hindered, especially given the potential impact of the subject on our lives.

"Piece for a Jig-Saw" by Leonard G. Cramp, reviewed by Alan W. Sharp, is described as a book that reconsiders the "G field theory" and offers mechanical evidence for extraterrestrial spaceships. However, the reviewer finds that the book does not provide convincing evidence for gravity manipulation for flight purposes, calling it a "pious hope." The review notes the book's extensive content, including drawings and plates, but criticizes the lack of a bibliography and a comprehensive index. Despite finding the thesis unconvincing, the reviewer congratulates Cramp for provoking a re-assessment of physics.

Alan W. Sharp further analyzes Mr. Cramp's book, dividing it into sections on physical considerations and corroborative evidence. He finds the "Bi-field Theory" and "Vindication of a Scout Ship" chapters add little weight. Sharp acknowledges that some past preposterous ideas have become accepted science but warns against uncritical acceptance of novel theories. He objects to the postulate of variable G in Cramp's theory, stating it lacks rigorous mathematical support and contradicts known physics. He dismisses Cramp's verbal devices about generating a field as science fiction. Sharp notes that no unified field theory exists for magnetism and gravitation, and that Cramp's ideas about gravity propulsion are not supported by relativistic cosmologies or Mach's principle. He concludes that while cosmology is uncertain, Cramp's hypotheses should be viewed with caution. Regarding surface phenomena, Sharp dismisses "craters" as being caused by mundane events like lightning, subsidence, or water table disturbances, not extraterrestrial activity. He specifically addresses the Charlton occurrence as a classic lightning strike example. He also suggests Captain Mantell's death was likely due to attempting to climb above his aircraft's ceiling, and the Whidby Island "contact" case involved a helicopter.

Mystery Men Threaten UFO Witnesses

This section reports on claims that sinister characters, posing as Air Force personnel or government agents, are threatening UFO witnesses. The U.S. Air Force has publicly disowned these individuals, leading to speculation about their identity and motives. Col. George Freeman, Pentagon spokesman for Project Bluebook, confirmed that these men are not connected with the Air Force. Examples cited include a man telling witnesses in New Jersey they "hadn't seen anything," defense bodies denying involvement with individuals demanding photographs, and a man questioning boys about a disc-shaped object.

Recent Landing Reports

Oklahoma, U.S. (near Moore, October 1966): UAPRO investigated a site with flattened vegetation, possibly from a landing. Witnesses reported mysterious lights and a triangular UFO.

Colorado, U.S. (Daniels Park, Denver, April 7th, 1966): This incident, previously misdated, involved witnesses hearing sounds and seeing a "man" or "shape of a man" outside a shelter, and later a UFO following their car. The report notes the driver could not see the object in his rearview mirror.

Other News and Reports

Moseley and NICAP: James Moseley, editor of "Saucer News," has been expelled from NICAP for publishing criticisms. A committee has formed to seek his reinstatement and an apology.

New UFO Magazine: "Journal of UFO Worldwide" has been launched, edited by Michael Montgomery, offering subscriptions and newsletters.

U.S. Fireball: A flaming object was observed for 45 minutes off the coast of Los Angeles, described as brightly colored and possibly a Russian booster rocket re-entering the atmosphere.

MUFORG NEWS: Financial regulations were tightened at the February meeting, requiring written expenditure proposals to be voted on and signed by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman. An Assistant Secretary, Mr Stephen Davies, was appointed. The Chairman, Mr. Harnwell, initiated a discussion on comments about the BUFORA AGM, with views ranging from condemnation to approval. MUFORG has new headquarters at 2, Alfred Place, Dingle, Liverpool, 8.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the internal debates and criticisms within the ufology community, particularly concerning the organization and scientific rigor of BUFORA. There is a clear tension between those advocating for a broad, inclusive approach and those demanding a more scientific, objective methodology. The bulletin itself positions itself as a platform for these diverse opinions, with the editor emphasizing that published views are the responsibility of the authors. The issue also highlights the challenges of investigating UFO phenomena, the potential for misinterpretation, and the need for critical evaluation of evidence and theories, as seen in the book reviews and discussions on gravity and extraterrestrial hypotheses.