The British UFO research Association (BUFORA) was never a scientific research group. Franklyn A. Davin-Wilson devised a couple of early computer programs that BUFORA could utilise to make research easier and look for correlations. Every single time he presented the papers he was told "Maybe in the future as our funds are not sufficient" -I have the correspondence on file in the Davin-Wilson Archive. What was suggested was the simplest punch card method which BUFORA could begin with and build up its data base so that when it could get access to a computer (Davin-Wilson sorted that out but FBUFORA took a year to respond by which time it was too late) t5hey were set up.
From 1974 on I had been gathering and studying reports of contactees and others allegedly confronted by what were then termed "Humanoids", "UFONauts" and "Operators" or "occupants". I pointed out to BUFORA that in some reports there appeared to be "time lapses" or "missing time" and suggested that these needed further investigation. The usual "well the investigators are all volunteers and they can only do so much" or even "Shock of the situation may have made witnesses misjudge time" and Norman Oliver who had an interest in the matter told me that I could expect no less from BUFORA. Norman also thought that the term "Alien entity" was a good idea since it just meant a foreign (unknown origin) type being and did not declare ETH or any other theory. BUFORA could not be any less interested in this since "it's a fringe aspect of UFOs and you are the only one looking into this" (yes, they actually totally ignored Norman's ground-breaking work!).
By 1975 I had given talks and written on these cases and by 1975 I had a fairly large data base of reports which BUFORA, again, were not that interested in. Even Graham Knewstub, President of BUFORA tried to suggest more cooperation but BUFORA kept on stating that "landing and occupant cases were far too rare to dedicate research time to".
When Ted Bloecher was updating his HumCat (Humanoid Catalogue) he asked BUFORA if they could provide UK cases. BUFORA then got into a panic. They had no data base other than the odd report cited by Norman Oliver. Oh. They knew someone who had a data base of these reports! Me. I was asked whether I could update the UK HumCat side of things and that I would get full credit plus a copy of thye updated HumCat when they received it.
Like a complete and utter moron I spent two weeks, between my daytime job, updating the UK section and presented the results to BUFORA three weeks before they actually said they needed it. I was told that I had done a "wonderful job and it would be noted".
Nothing. Well, I say nothing but the talk I was told I could present to BUFORA on the subject matter was cancelled two days before it was due to be given. Norman Oliver checked for me as he had not even heard of the scheduled talk...apparently the ones in charge had simply done nothing then realised the talk was a week off but then waited until just prior to let me know it was off. But had never officially been on.
My invitation to the 1976 BUFORA Conference to meet and chat with Ted Bloecher was promised but...never turned up. Then came what can only be described as a "slap in the face" from BUFORA. After asking about the updated HumCat copy I got a copy of Bloecher's talk and when I looked at the intro and the thank you to all that had "helped compile the data" (me) guess who was not even referred to?
Me.
BUFORA did try to persuade me to forward my report files and I am guessing that was because they had taken all the credit but had none of the reports cited. BUFORA would not contribute to the cost of the couple of hundred pages that needed copying (not cheap back then) and were unwilling to pay back postage charges (they even wanted Registered Mail!). I declined. And BUFORA then forgot the "silly" fringe reports. Years later, more than 100 UFO reports sent to BUFORA from a local flap arrived at 'research HQ'...and were lost.
Time and time again, almost like a "groundhog day", BUFORA failed to get a grip on research and investigation which was eventually proven to be non-existent. The then president of BUFORA sent a letter to all Regional Investigation Coordinators that copies of new reports -all UFO sightings had to be followed up immediately- had to be rushed through and I thought "At last!" BUFORA were moving up more than a few gears but then I read on. A new commercial magazine "available at newsagents" titled The Unexplained was going to appear and BUFORA had "made arrangements" (payments for info?) and this was a great opportunity to publicise the Association and draw in new members. I had concerns: what information from reports was the publication going to get? Apparently a copy of the report forms with all the information on it. That would mean that witnesses who ticked for anonymity would have their data in the hands of a third party. I refused to take part even after being told that my position as "RIC" would be reconsidered and I told BUFORA to reconsider it then -I covered Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Bristol (Avon) and parts of South Wales as not only were there no RICs in those areas but not a single investigator!
I quit. I put it all in writing and then carried on with my work. Six months later I received a letter from BUFORA asking if I might reconsider joining BUFORA as they had a high number of reports that could not be investigated. I impolitely told them were they could put the reports. From the early 1980s on BUFORA declined even more and reports were only of interest to fill books published by its "higher ups".
Not looked back since. I have asked three times now how many investigators BUFORA has and what itrs update procedures are. Fudgy responses is all I got the first time and after that -nothing.
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