Bufora Journal Vol. 5 No. 1 May/June 1976

This document is the May/June 1976 issue (Volume 5, Number 1) of the Bufora Journal, the official publication of the British UFO Research Association. The journal serves as a central repository for organizational news, research methodologies, and sighting reports. The editorial by Norman Oliver highlights the association's current focus on launching an 'Investigators Handbook' and managing financial constraints, which necessitated a reduction in journal content. A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to the 'Systems of Classifying UFO Reports,' authored by Charles F. Lockwood, which outlines a new weighting system for prioritizing investigations based on witness credibility and observation quality. The journal also includes a 'Synopsis of the State of Investigations' by Ken Phillips, detailing the association's efforts to coordinate with other groups like Contact UK, Nufon, and BFSB to improve coverage across the UK. Historical context is provided by Lionel Beer in 'History of Bufora: Part Two,' which chronicles the association's origins from the 1960s, including the 1962 British UFO Association Convention. The issue features a 'Sighting Summaries' section, documenting various reports from 1968 to 1976, including the 'ATV Film Case' from 1971. Additionally, the journal addresses internal controversies, such as the role of disabled researchers within the association and a debate regarding the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) versus the Plasma Hypothesis as an explanation for UFO phenomena. The document concludes with advertisements for publications and membership information, reinforcing the association's commitment to scientific investigation and data dissemination.