BUFORA BULLETIN No. 005

This document is the September 1982 issue (No. 005) of the BUFORA Bulletin, published by the British UFO Research Association. The bulletin serves as a central communication hub for the association, providing administrative updates, research guidelines, and reports on UFO sightings. The issue includes a 'Comment' section by editor John Barrett, which outlines editorial guidelines for contributors and announces the upcoming third National Conference in 1983. A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to case summaries and investigations. Jenny Randles, the Director of Investigations, discusses the transformation of the BUFORA investigation system, emphasizing the importance of identifying IFOs (Identified Flying Objects) to improve the quality of research. Several specific cases are detailed, including sightings in Arklow (1973), Edinburgh (1979), Hornchurch (1981), Hastings (1981), and Milton Keynes (1982). These reports often include investigator notes, such as those by Philip Taylor and Ken Phillips, who analyze the sightings and sometimes conclude they were misidentified natural phenomena, such as the moon or birds. The bulletin also features articles on broader ufological topics. Quentin Fogarty provides a detailed account of the December 1978 New Zealand sighting, describing the experiences of a television crew and the subsequent skepticism and debunking efforts by various scientists and critics. Nigel Watson contributes a piece on the historical context of UFO waves, discussing the 'social panic' hypothesis and the invariant factors in sighting reports. John Paynter offers a more speculative article on racial origins, suggesting that different human species may have originated from different planets. Additionally, the bulletin includes a 'Letters to the Editor' section where members discuss previous articles, such as Romeo Ferraro's paper on 'Force Field Craft,' and share their own sighting experiences, including a report from Heidelberg, Germany. The issue concludes with book reviews of 'The UFO Verdict' by Robert Sheaffer and 'Are We Being Watched?' by Janet and Colin Bord, along with advertisements for BUFORA publications and a 'wanted' section for researchers.