BUFORA Journal and Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 12, Spring 1967

This document is the Spring 1967 issue (Vol. 1, No. 12) of the BUFORA Journal and Bulletin, published by the British U.F.O. Research Association. The journal serves as a central repository for the association's administrative updates, research articles, and international sighting reports. The editorial, written by J. Cleary-Baker, Ph.D., critiques the state of amateur UFO research, arguing that many enthusiasts lack a scientific methodology and rely too heavily on credulity rather than rigorous investigation. He advocates for a more structured approach to data collection and analysis, including the potential use of electronic data processing. The issue includes a detailed report on UFO activity in Brazil during 1965, extracted from the 'Bulletin UFO Amateurs' (S.B.E.S.D.V.), which lists numerous sightings of luminous objects, discs, and metallic balls across various Brazilian states. Another significant article, translated from the Brazilian review 'Sabedoria', discusses the Soviet Union's official stance on UFOs, noting that while the USSR publicly denies the existence of flying discs, there is evidence of internal military concern and investigation, including radar tracking and the scrambling of jet interceptors. The journal also features a debate on the relevance of Einstein's Unified Field Theory to UFO research, with John Crabtree arguing that the theory is an anachronism, while the editor provides a counter-commentary. Administrative sections provide details on the upcoming Annual General Meeting, a list of member societies, and contact information for regional information officers across the UK. The journal also includes book reviews, such as Coral Lorenzen's 'The Great Flying Saucer Hoax' and Leonard G. Cramp's 'Piece for a Jigsaw', and a 'Personal Column' requesting radio equipment for a mobile research headquarters. The document reflects the association's efforts to professionalize the study of UAP in the mid-1960s, emphasizing the need for scientific rigor and the coordination of research efforts across the UK and internationally.