BUFORA BULLETIN No. 9, March 1999

This document is the March 1999 issue (No. 9) of the BUFORA Bulletin, the journal of the British UFO Research Association. The issue contains a variety of articles, reports, and administrative notices related to UFO research in the United Kingdom and internationally. A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to the 'Leeds Incident' of February 2, 1998, investigated by John P. Heptonstall. This incident involved numerous witnesses observing bright, white, twinned lights moving slowly over West Yorkshire. Heptonstall concludes that these lights were likely RPV (Remotely Piloted Vehicle) or UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) craft used in military exercises, noting that the military and government remained silent or provided bland responses to inquiries. The bulletin also features a personal account by Elsie Oakensen regarding her 1978 'close encounter' in Church Stowe, Northamptonshire, where she experienced a tightening sensation around her head and a period of missing time while driving. This account sparked a debate in the 'Letters Page' section, with contributors offering medical and psychological explanations, such as 'Chinese restaurant syndrome' or adrenaline surges. Additionally, the bulletin reports on the death of Betty Cash, a well-known UFO witness injured in a 1980 encounter in Texas, and the recovery of APRO (Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation) microfilm by Jan Aldrich. Other sections include a guide to identifying IFOs (Identified Flying Objects), an introduction to the 'Primebase Project' by Robert Moore, and an events calendar for BUFORA. The bulletin emphasizes the importance of civilian research in the absence of detailed official government statistics on UFO sightings.