BUFORA Bulletin No. 78

This document is the BUFORA Bulletin No. 78, published by the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) in early 1983. The bulletin serves as an official update for the association's membership, detailing administrative changes, upcoming events, and various UFO investigation reports. A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to the transition of leadership, with Robert S. Digby succeeding Leslie Bayer as Chairman. The document outlines the association's ongoing efforts to achieve scientific respectability, including the revival of the J-TAP (Journal of Transient Aerial Phenomena) and the establishment of a new system for accessing BUFORA's extensive report files. The bulletin also highlights the 1983 Third International UFO Congress, scheduled for August at the Lorch Foundation Conference Centre.

Investigation reports provided by Jenny Randles and other investigators cover several specific cases, including sightings in Norfolk, Fort William, Doncaster, and Kingsthorpe. These reports often discuss the 'piezo-electric effect' and the 'Oz Factor' as potential explanations for UFO phenomena. A notable section is dedicated to the study of UFO encounters involving children, with Nigel Watson arguing that such reports are often unfairly dismissed by investigators due to prejudice. The bulletin also features a personal account by John Rimmer regarding a sighting he experienced in 1981, which he later concluded was an aircraft. The document concludes with book reviews, including a critique of Paul Devereux's 'Earthlights,' and a letters section where members debate topics such as racial stereotyping in UFO literature and the validity of 'Force Field Craft' reports. The bulletin emphasizes the association's commitment to unbiased scientific research and the importance of rigorous investigation procedures.