The Journal of Transient Aerial Phenomena, Volume 5, No. 4

This document is the March 1989 issue (Volume 5, No. 4) of 'The Journal of Transient Aerial Phenomena,' published by the British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association (BUFORA). This issue marks the final edition of the journal under the editorship of Steve Gamble, who announces the transition to a new publication titled 'UFO Times.' The journal contains several key articles. The first is an analysis of UFO reports in Northamptonshire from 1950 to 1988 by Ernest Still, which identifies patterns in sighting locations, times, and witness demographics. A significant portion of the journal is dedicated to the 'Mystery Circles' (crop circles), with Paul Fuller providing a status report on a survey conducted by BUFORA and TORRO. Fuller concludes that there is no evidence linking UFOs to the creation of these circles, suggesting instead that they are likely the result of hoaxing or rare meteorological vortices. The journal also includes a report on the First European Congress on Anomalous Aerial Phenomena held in Brussels in November 1988, detailing various presentations on UFO research, computer databases, and abduction studies. Additionally, the issue features an assessment of witness data by S.J. Gamble, R.S. Digby, and K. Phillips, which examines the reliability of witness testimony and the variability of reports generated from a single event. The journal concludes with a 'Dates for Your Diary' section, listing upcoming lectures and events for BUFORA and the Independent UFO Network (IUN).