Pre-1947 UFO Bulletin - 1981 No 4

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Bulletin, dated May 1981 and identified as No. 4, delves into the pre-1947 UFO phenomena, exploring the psychological and sociological underpinnings of UFO waves and public panics. The bulletin references an article by Peter Rogerson titled 'Interpretation of UFO Type Data in Terms of Contemporary Panics' from MUFOB Vol 6 No 2, which posits that humans tend to impose patterns on random, disturbing events, even if irrational, to make sense of them.

Psychological Tensions and UFO Waves

The bulletin discusses how psychological tensions, present in any society, can manifest in various ways and reasons, potentially creating UFO waves or different kinds of panic. Rogerson's hypothesis suggests that people seek patterns in events, leading to interpretations of social change as malevolent conspiracies or seeing portents in random lights.

Invariant Factors in UFO Sightings

A key point raised is the existence of invariant factors across different UFO waves and panics, which Rogerson's hypothesis does not fully explain. Carl Grove is cited for pointing out that while social stimuli might differ (e.g., U.S. in 1897 vs. U.K. in 1909 and 1913), the phenomena observed were similar, with fewer Type I events in Great Britain. The bulletin suggests that the underlying social stimuli might not have been radically different, or that similar worries and fears existed in technologically advanced countries concerned about war, such as the British Empire. The efficiency of written communication might also play a role in the recording of past events.

Even when accounting for potential biases in available material, the bulletin emphasizes the need to explain invariant factors like 'rapid acceleration, right-angle turns, zig-zag descents, extremely bright lights, etc.' It also notes the recurring appearance of 'Men In Black' during UFO waves, vehicle stoppage incidents, and other phenomena that seem to appear consistently in sighting reports before and after 1947.

The bulletin warns that a focus solely on the social panic hypothesis can obscure the actual constituents and significance of reported happenings. Historical research is presented as a method to substantiate these 'invariant factors' and explore hypothetical stimuli for the observations, which could significantly impact our understanding of contemporary incidents.

Literary Interlude: 'The Variable Man'

Shifting to a less intricate topic, the bulletin discusses the short novel 'The Variable Man' by Philip K. Dick (published by Sphere, 1969, originally 1953). The story's hero, Thomas Cole, a repairman, is suddenly caught in a tornado in Nebraska in the spring of 1913. This tornado is revealed to be a time bubble device that transports him to October 6, 2128. In the future, Cole aids in developing a faster-than-light space propulsion system, opening the universe and ending the conflict with the Proxima Centauran Empire, which had hindered Terran expansion.

The bulletin finds the choice of Spring 1913 as the date for Cole's disappearance relatively interesting and wonders if the author had a specific reason for selecting that season, year, or location. It notes that the use of a tornado-type device as a time-travel mechanism has antecedents in other science fiction stories and suggests looking into them in a future bulletin.

Contact Information

Communications for the bulletin should be sent to Nigel Watson at Westfield Cottage, Crowle Bank Road, Althorpe, South Humberside, DN17 3HZ.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the analysis of UFO phenomena through psychological, sociological, and historical lenses. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking to substantiate reported phenomena with evidence and explore underlying causes beyond simple mass hysteria. There is an interest in identifying consistent patterns in UFO sightings and a recognition of the role of science fiction in shaping perceptions of the unknown.