ACOS Bulletin - Number 1

Magazine Overview

This document is the first bulletin from the "CENTRE FOR UFO STUDIES" - Australian Co-Ordination Section, dated March 1975. It serves as an introductory publication detailing the establishment and aims of the organization, its growing network of affiliated groups and individuals across Australia, and its interactions with official bodies and prominent researchers.

Launch and Objectives

The Centre for U.F.O. Studies - Australian Co-Ordination Section was officially launched in November 1974. Introductory bulletins were distributed to major U.F.O. organisations, independent investigators, and researchers throughout Australia with the aim of fostering cooperation. The bulletin proudly announces that this cooperation has been achieved, listing the following as new members of A.C.O.S. (Australian Co-Ordination Section):

• New South Wales (N.S.W.):
• U.F.O. Investigation Centre (P.O. Box 6 Lane Cove N.S.W. 2066)
• Central Coast U.F.O. Research Bureau (P.O. Box 86 Terrigal 2260 - new address)
• Mr. W. Chalker (Earle Page College, University of New England Armidale 2351)
• Mr. Terry Bishop (P.O. Box 332 Orange 2800)
• Mr. Bill Tarplee + Mr. D. Owen (20 Kingstome Street Evatt A.C.T. 2617)

• South Australia:
• U.F.O. Research (2A Castle Avenue Prospect 5082)

• Victoria:
• U.F.O. Research (Vic.) (32 Tobruk Crescent Williamstown 3016)
• Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (P.O. Box 43 Moorabbin 3189)

• Queensland:
• Queensland U.F.O. Research Bureau (P.O. Box 111 North Quay 4001)

• Tasmania:
• Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre (G.P.O. Box 1310N Hobart 7001)

• Western Australia:
• Mr. J.A. Bell (84 Acton Avenue Rivervale 6103)
• Perth U.F.O. Research Group (28 Davis Road Attadale 6156)
• Unidentified Phenomena. Investigation Bureau (U.F.O. Branch) (c/o 35 Minninup Road Bunbury 6230)
• U.F.O. Investigators Organisation (3 Sutton Road Highwycombe 6057)

The bulletin notes that word is still awaited from an organisation in the Northern Territory. It urges anyone aware of other organisations or individuals involved in UFO research to inform them to facilitate a unified national effort.

Professor Hynek's Involvement

Professor Hynek has been informed of A.C.O.S.'s success, and two dispatches have been sent to him. He expressed pleasure with the progress and cooperation, and conveyed a message: "I have finally found a student assistant to begin going through the great amount of material I accumulated on my trip to Australia. I realize that much of that correspondence has gone unanswered, and I ask you to give my apologies to the area people." Professor Hynek also stated that a group like A.C.O.S. would be of great assistance in gathering reports and that they are working with Dr. Saunders to develop a universal form for entering cases into his computer catalog.

Interaction with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

A copy of the introductory bulletin was sent to the Department of Defence (Air Office) to inform them of A.C.O.S.'s existence and purpose. An extract from a letter received from the Department states that the Director of Air Force Intelligence and Professor Hynek agreed that the RAAF would make available selected, more interesting cases to Professor Hynek. The RAAF is identified as the official investigatory body for UFO reports in Australia, responsible for thorough investigations. They hope their investigations will allay fears that experiences may be extra-terrestrial. The RAAF acknowledges that some reports remain unresolved due to insufficient information or current scientific limitations. A.C.O.S. is pleased with this cooperation and suggests that other groups liaise with the Intelligence Officer at their nearest Air Force base. For those unaware of their nearest RAAF base, Mr. G. J. Odgers, Director of Public Relations, Department of Defence (Air Office) in Canberra, is provided as a contact.

Analyses Reports

The bulletin presents two analysis reports for 1974, one from Tasmania (TUFOIC) and one from South Australia (UFO Research). These reports detail the number of cases received and categorized:

• Tasmania:
• Unidentified: 37
• Insufficient Information: 13
• Satellites: 24
• Astronomical: 25
• Aircraft: 18
• Flares: 6
• Possible Hoax: 2
• Meteorological: 0
• Noise only: 6
• Higher Balloon: 1
• Total: 133

• South Australia:
• Considered unknown: 11
• Insufficient information: 19
• Possibly conventional: 13
• Probably: 77
• Definitely identified: 22
• Total: 119

It is hoped that future bulletins will feature more detailed reports from Australia.

Centre Operations and Contact Information

Any member of A.C.O.S. visiting Gosford is welcome to visit the Centre to examine reports. The Centre is in the process of setting up a Central Library. Contact phone numbers for H. Griesberg (24 2594) and D. Seargent (32 2153), both area code 043, are provided for after 6 p.m. and weekends.

Signal and Noise

A section titled "Signal and Noise" discusses the long-standing debate surrounding UFOs. It describes two extreme viewpoints: one attributing UFOs to hallucinations or misinterpretations, and the other to extraterrestrial craft. The Centre for UFO Studies positions itself as a third group, holding no preconceived notions and aiming to analyze UFO reports globally to identify genuine patterns ('signal') from non-essential details ('noise'). The importance of comprehensive, unprejudiced reports is emphasized, urging witnesses to avoid pruning or embellishing their accounts.

Reports Sent to Professor Hynek

• A list details the individuals and organisations who have sent reports to A.C.O.S., with the number of reports submitted:
• W. Chalker: 2
• Bill Tarplee: 1
• CCUFORB: 2
• UFOIC: 2
• UFO Research (S.A.): 2
• TUFOIC (including last year): 26
• VUFORS: 2
• PUFORG: 2

A total of 39 detailed reports have been sent to Professor Hynek.

News from the Center for UFO Studies U.S.A.

This section corrects an error from the Introductory Bulletin regarding a nationwide WATS telephone line. It clarifies that the WATS line has been given to over 5,000 police chiefs and sheriffs. The telephone number has also been provided to the FBI, the Pilots organisation, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The private WATS line stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast.

In January, members of the Scientific Board of the US Centre met to discuss research goals. This meeting coincided with a meeting of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (ALAA), where several Centre members were invited to present papers.

Center for UFO Studies and Airlines

The bulletin lists numerous countries whose airlines have been apprised of the Centre's existence and operations. These include Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Ghana, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles (WI), New Guinea, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of China, Rhodesia, South Africa, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad, Tunisia, Uruguay, Vietnam.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The FAA is updating its Facility Management Handbook to indicate the Centre's existence and to institute workload-based cooperation. This change, effective April 1st, 1975, will involve the FAA responding to calls from the Centre regarding UFO reported sightings. A note provides the address of the Centre.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the bulletin is the establishment and expansion of a cooperative, national network for UFO research in Australia. The Centre positions itself as an objective analytical body, distinct from those who immediately dismiss UFOs or those who exclusively attribute them to extraterrestrial craft. The editorial stance emphasizes the importance of data collection, analysis, and collaboration with both civilian and governmental entities to understand the UFO phenomenon. There is a clear effort to legitimize UFO research by engaging with official bodies like the RAAF and international figures like Professor Hynek, while also encouraging broader participation from the public and other research groups.