ACOS Bulletin - Number 2

Magazine Overview

This document is Bulletin Number Two from the Centre for UFO Studies, Australian Co-Ordination Section, dated June 1975. It serves as a newsletter providing updates on UFO research activities in Australia and internationally.

UFOCON ONE Conference

The bulletin announces arrangements for Australia's first ever conference on UFOs, titled "UFOCON ONE." The event is scheduled for October 4, 5, and 6 of the current year and will be held at the COBB & CO. MOTOR INN in Terrigal, NSW. The conference is jointly organized by UFO Research of South Australia and A.C.O.S. It is expected to have approximately 25 attendees, including representatives from major organizations and independent investigators across Australia. Comments received from organizations have been very favorable, with many considering such a conference long overdue. Despite two organizations being unable to attend, plans are in place to record the conference, with the hope of releasing a transcript or report later.

A.C.O.S. Membership and Collaborations

The bulletin lists new members of A.C.O.S. In NSW, the UFO Research Network has joined. In Western Australia, Mr. S. Briggs and Mr. A. Fiannaca, formerly of the Perth UFO Research Group, have decided to form their own entity. Notably, the Perth UFO Research Group has stated it will not cooperate with A.C.O.S. or its member organizations. A significant development is the receipt of a letter from Dr. R. E. Molnar at the University of NSW. Dr. Molnar, a biologist and former investigator for the Center for UFO Studies in the United States, has offered his services to A.C.O.S., which is welcomed.

UFO Report Breakdown and Investigation Challenges

The bulletin provides a breakdown of UFO reports received by A.C.O.S. since March of that year, totaling seven reports from various organizations across Australia (UFO Research S.A., TUFOIC Tas., VUFORS Vic., and S. Briggs & A. Fiannaca Ind.W.A.). It notes that the number of reports seems unusually quiet and encourages forwarding reports to A.C.O.S. for Professor Hynek's studies. A section titled "Explaining and Explaining Away" by David Seargent discusses the challenges of objective scientific investigation. It highlights two opposing tendencies: investigators who are too eager to believe a case is a genuine unknown, and those who are too quick to find an explanation. Seargent argues that a proper investigation requires examining the "constellation of factors" surrounding a sighting and comparing it with other cases, rather than settling for a glib explanation. He also critiques explanations based on "temperature inversion," citing a case where mathematical calculations indicated impossibly large temperature differences were needed for a mirage effect.

Cover Sheet for UFO Reports

At Professor Hynek's request, A.C.O.S. has designed a cover sheet for UFO reports. This sheet will be attached to the front of reports to aid in sorting when they reach Professor Hynek. It will include information such as A.C.O.S. reference number, date and time of sighting, number of witnesses, type of report, physical effects, date report was received by ACOS, and who sent the report. A copy of this cover sheet is promised for the next bulletin.

Close Encounter of the Second Kind (CEII) Cases

Professor Hynek has requested assistance from Australian UFO people in supplying information on Close Encounter of the Second Kind (CEII) cases, specifically those involving physical trace evidence. A Technical Report on physical traces associated with UFO sightings is being prepared, building on the research of Mr. Ted Phillips. This report will be both a catalog of cases and a statistical study. Individuals and organizations with knowledge of such reports are urged to contribute, including date, time, place, and source. Acknowledgement will be given in the final report. A cooperative venture has been established with APRO for this study, as physical trace cases offer the greatest opportunity for scientific study, particularly in determining the mass of an object. The penetrometer, an instrument that measures soil compaction, is mentioned as a facility APRO has for such work. Reports do not need to be current, as long as they haven't appeared in overseas publications. These are to be sent to ACOS, marked "CEII."

Letter from Professor J. Allon Hynek

A letter from Professor J. Allon Hynek, dated April 1st, 1975, expresses gratitude for the support of the Centre for UFO Studies, Australian Co-Ordination Section. He notes the rapid development of the Center and his increased personal involvement. To accommodate this, he has been released from his duties as Chairman of the Department of Astronomy at Northwestern University, allowing him to devote more time to the Center. He remains a Professor of Astronomy and will continue his research and teaching. Dr. John Bahng has been recommended as his successor. Hynek thanks everyone for their continued support.

FBI Co-Operation

The bulletin highlights the February 1975 issue of the FBI LAW ENFORCEMENT BULLETIN, which featured an article about the Center for UFO Studies. The article discussed how law enforcement personnel can assist in UFO investigations, detailing several cases witnessed by police. It described the origin of "UFO CENTRAL," a toll-free hot-line established by the Center for law enforcement agencies to relay UFO reports. The article stressed the official use of this number and provided questions officers should ask witnesses. The FBI's interest in UFO investigations is emphasized, with the article bringing over one hundred inquiries from various government departments and law enforcement agencies. Clarence Kelley, Director of the FBI, expressed appreciation for the article's value. Richard Held, Special Agent in Charge (Chicago), also noted the widespread coverage and hoped it would assist in mutual problems. Many law enforcement officers have expressed interest in becoming involved in field investigations, recognizing the value of their expertise. The bulletin notes that while cooperation between official agencies and serious scientific UFO research organizations is improving in Australia, it is through such mutual cooperation that progress can be made in understanding unexplained phenomena.

Australian Sightings

Two specific sightings are detailed:

1. VUFORS (Victoria): On February 28th, between 8:30 and 9 p.m., Mr. R. H. and his wife J. of Clayton North, Victoria, heard a strange humming sound. Mr. H. then observed an object hovering at about 30 degrees elevation in a NE direction. The object was described as an elongated trapezium with flashing lights emanating from its entire length. Mr. H. estimated its size to be comparable to a cigarette packet at arm's length. His wife also heard the sound. The object was no longer visible later that evening. The VUFORS Investigator attempted to find other witnesses but was unsuccessful.
2. S. Briggs and A. Fiannaca (West Aust.): On June 4th, at 2:55 a.m., Mr. M., a plant operator in Como, Perth, Western Australia, observed a bright light, 25 degrees from the horizon in the SW. The object was saucer-shaped, large, white, and yellow, with its appearance blurred due to rotation. It moved slowly on a straight course, rotating fairly rapidly. Investigations by Messrs. Bell and Fiannaca revealed no balloons released by the Hot Bureau. A Jumbo jet landed at Perth Airport around the same time, and no planes were active at Jandakot airport. Several other people reported the object to radio stations, but these were unable to trace it.

Important Notice

An earlier request for copies of all organization's Report Forms and investigations forms has only yielded two responses. The bulletin reiterates the request for these forms.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this bulletin include the organization and promotion of UFO conferences, the systematic collection and analysis of UFO reports, and the importance of rigorous scientific investigation. The editorial stance emphasizes a commitment to objective inquiry, distinguishing between evidence-based analysis and speculative belief. There is a clear effort to foster cooperation among various UFO research groups and to engage with official agencies, such as law enforcement, to advance the study of unexplained phenomena. The bulletin also highlights the international nature of UFO research, with collaborations and information sharing occurring between Australia and the United States.