BUFORA Journal, Volume 3, No. 5, Winter 1971/2

This document is the Winter 1971/2 issue of the BUFORA Journal, published by the British U.F.O. Research Association. The journal serves as a platform for the association's members to discuss UFO sightings, research methodologies, and organizational updates. The editorial by Dr. J. Cleary-Baker addresses criticisms regarding the journal's shift toward psychical research, defending the inclusion of such topics as a necessary response to trends in the field. The issue includes a section on 'Skywatch Organisation,' providing practical advice for conducting organized UFO observations, including the use of tape recorders, cameras, and magnetic field detectors. A significant portion of the journal is dedicated to the 'UFOLOG' sightings supplement, which catalogs various reports from across the United Kingdom, including sightings in Dorking, Totternhoe, Hull, and Birmingham. These reports detail diverse phenomena, ranging from glowing objects and cigar-shaped craft to lights in formation. The journal also covers the 'Barium Thermite Cloud' incident of September 7, 1971, which was initially reported as a UFO but later identified as a high-altitude experiment involving a rocket launched from South Uist. Additionally, the issue features a report on the 'Wantage Monster,' a creature reported by several witnesses in the Wantage area, and a debunking of a sensationalist hoax attributed to astrophysicist Fred Hoyle, in which he was falsely quoted as claiming that alien minds control human evolution. The journal concludes with organizational news, including the election of R. Stanway as Chairman, the granting of Honorary Life-Membership to Dr. Cleary-Baker and G. N. P. Stephenson, and a list of member societies. The publication emphasizes the association's commitment to unbiased scientific investigation while acknowledging the financial constraints of operating on a limited budget.