THE BUFOR AND ICUR MEETINGS AT HIGH WYCOMBE / NEWLY DISCOVERED "AIRSHIP" WAVES OVER POLAND

This document provides a detailed overview of the Third International UFO Congress held in High Wycombe in August 1983, as reported by Dr. J. Allen Hynek. The congress served as a platform for diverse theories regarding the UFO phenomenon, ranging from conventional radar and field research to more speculative concepts involving the Sun and geological stress patterns. Notable presentations included discussions on the 'Oz Factor' or altered states of consciousness, the 'Hessdalen Lights' in Norway, and the 'Project Identification' field work led by Dr. Harley Rutledge. The congress also addressed the social and scientific challenges of Ufology, with speakers like Hilary Evans and Bertil Kuhlemann discussing the need for rigorous standards and the difficulty of quantifying UFO data. A significant organizational development occurred during the congress, as the Provisional Committee for UFO Research (PICUR) formally transitioned into ICUR, an international association aimed at fostering cooperation and standardizing research across different countries. The document also features a historical analysis by Thomas E. Bullard regarding 'phantom airship' waves over Poland in 1892. Bullard argues that these sightings, characterized by cigar-shaped objects with searchlights, represent a significant precursor to later UFO phenomena, noting that contemporary reports from 1892 described these objects traversing the border between Germany and Russia, causing military concern and triggering defensive maneuvers.