I disagree, Langy, I could exit with 1.44 - please, read my results.
My BF tries =>
Saved my 1.42 into 1.44 before entering the BF => I can enter and exit
Took my 1.42 without saving and entered BF in 1.44 => I can enter and exit
Saving in the BF at 1.42 and copying it into 1.44 without saving into 1.44 then => I get the error message my savegame may be corrupt, but I could exit and am ingame now.
Being in the BF at 1.42 and saving it into 1.44 before I exit => same result with error message. I could exit though.
Do you have no save BEFORE entering the BF? If you have, then update your game 1.44 and retry.
End of field research.