ACUFOS Journal vol 1 no 2

Magazine Overview

Title: THE JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR UFO STUDIES
Issue: Volume 1, Number 2
Date: April 1980
Publisher: The Australian Centre for UFO Studies
Country: Australia

This issue of the journal focuses on the challenges of UFO detection, the historical engagement of the Australian Parliament with the topic, and analysis of UFO sighting data.

Editorial

The editorial, by H. Griesberg & K. Basterfield, highlights two significant events from the past 12 months: the October 1978 aircraft disappearance over Bass Strait and the December 1978 New Zealand radar/visual/film cases. The New Zealand incidents are discussed in relation to a paper by W. Ireland of the DSIR, which examined readily available data, radar echoes, and trans-Tasman radio communications. The paper suggested that the lights were likely terrestrial sources (lighthouses, beacons, city lights, planets Venus and Jupiter) seen through a clear atmosphere, with the most publicized case attributed to a squid boat. The editorial notes that a discussion on the squid boat explanation appeared in the December 1979 issue. It also mentions preliminary computer enhancements of frames from the New Zealand movie being available for discussion. The October 1978 aircraft case is noted as being largely forgotten, possibly due to a lack of physical evidence or government involvement (Department of Transport). ACUFOS has initiated an in-depth investigation into this incident.

Radar Influences UFOs

By Lindy Whitehurst (Dallas-Texas), this article explores how UFOs might materialize suddenly and undetected. It discusses the historical reputation of New Mexico and the southwestern U.S. for UFO activity, particularly around military installations and power plants. The author questions why UFOs frequently chose the southwest and suggests that the answer emerged later, referencing a 1969 incident where a Russian-built MIG fighter sought asylum in Florida, highlighting how military aircraft could approach undetected.

The article delves into the findings of a 1971 U.S. House of Representatives Armed Forces Subcommittee report, which concluded that the U.S. air defense system was virtually useless and had deteriorated significantly since 1963 due to cost-cutting measures. This created a 1500-mile opening on the southern perimeter, making U.S. airspace vulnerable to foreign aircraft. The author posits that radar, or rather the lack of it, might be the missing link that has allowed UFOs free access to the U.S. The article cites an FAA official who stated that an aircraft must want to be controlled for radar to be effective. It also mentions a contradiction between an Air Force captain's claim of NORAD overseeing all North American air traffic and newspaper reports and UFO encounters suggesting otherwise. The article suggests that interstellar intelligence could easily discern radar coverage levels and navigate under them at night.

Advanced technology, such as that used in the Vietnam War to detect SAM missile sites, could be employed to map radar installations. NORAD, tasked with preserving air defense surveillance, initially denied finding any UFOs on their radar displays. However, uncovering radar sightings of UFOs is difficult due to government supervision, security, and fear of job loss among operators. Regulation AFR 200-2 imposed penalties for divulging UFO reports. The article notes that while radar sets nationwide pick up UFOs, information from military reservations or FAA locales may not reach the public. Universities often lack UFO programs, hindering research coordination. Despite this, high-echelon military personnel have verified unusual radar returns. The article questions how UFOs enter and leave U.S. airspace and suggests that scarce radar coverage in the south and southwest might be logical starting points for UFO ingress. It proposes plotting radar-free corridors through mountain ranges to predict UFO activity and stationing instruments along these transitways.

A notable UFO incident from April 1964 near Socorro, New Mexico, is recounted, where a policeman encountered an egg-shaped object and two humanoids. The craft reportedly flew at minimal altitude towards the mountains, hugging the terrain southward.

Radar Trends and Vulnerabilities

This section discusses how UFOs might use mountain ranges as cover and possibly electronic jamming equipment to avoid detection. It highlights the vulnerability of radar to low-flying objects, citing the 1977 incident of a Russian YU95 Bear bomber that was lost by radar off the U.S. coast. The article notes that the newly operational AWACS system for detecting low-flying aircraft was not yet fully patrolling the area. The FAA's long-range enroute radar system is also discussed, explaining that distant, low-altitude objects are difficult to spot because radar impulses travel in straight lines. Aircraft below 2000 feet are detected only within 20-25 miles of a non-elevated radar antenna, and those below 14,000-16,000 feet are detected within 160-200 miles. Raising radar transceivers to mountain tops can increase range, but sectional aeronautical charts reveal minimum coverage in vast western areas.

Some radars miss UFOs due to selectivity, being geared to display objects with specific angular characteristics. Objects moving too slowly, too fast, or at the wrong altitude may be overlooked. Military radarmen claiming they don't see UFOs may mean their equipment or superiors refuse to recognize them, or that 'uncorrelated targets' are rejected if they don't match hostile missile trajectories. The article mentions that U.S. military aircraft are equipped with 'Electronic Counter Measures' (ECM) to baffle or jam civil and military radars, making it difficult for basic civil radars to detect such aircraft. A 1979 incident near the Mediterranean coast of Spain involved a charter airliner being 'buzzed' by UFOs, which were not picked up by local radar but were recorded by a more sophisticated military radar.

Many accounts exist of UFOs not being picked up by local civil radars, yet being witnessed visually. The article questions the radar-consciousness of UFOs and their use of electronic jamming. It also includes an afternote regarding Australian RAAF bases apparently closing down radar operations at 1700 hours unless military aircraft are airborne.

UFOs and the Australian Parliament

By John Bryt, this article investigates the consideration given to UFOs in the Federal Australian Parliament. It notes that while private research groups, government agencies, and scientists are involved with UFOs, governments and politicians also engage with the phenomena. Examples include debates in the British House of Lords and testimony in the U.S. Congress.

An examination of the Australian Parliament's Hansard reveals no Commonwealth Parliamentary debates on UFOs since June 1947, nor any committee hearings involving non-politicians. However, references to UFOs were found in questions asked by politicians to government ministers.

• Key parliamentary interactions include:
• August 13, 1952: Mr. Downer asked the Minister for Air, Mr. McMahon, about RAAF investigations and conclusions on 'Flying Saucers' and contact with American authorities. Mr. McMahon stated he had received no reports from the RAAF, didn't believe in contact with Americans, and viewed the subject as psychological rather than a defence concern.
• November 20, 1953: Mr. Downer again asked Mr. McMahon if the RAAF was investigating UFOs like Canada and England, and if the Minister still considered it a psychological issue. Mr. McMahon acknowledged 'many' RAAF reports of UFO sightings but stated that 'aerodynamic problems relating to the production of flying saucers have not been solved'.
• November 24, 1959: Mr. Cash asked the Minister for Air, Mr. Osborne, about RAAF and overseas air forces exchanging UFO information and if the RAAF was investigating a flap over Papua and New Guinea. The answer was affirmative, with the RAAF investigating 'well-reported sightings' but finding only about 3% unidentified.
• October 13, 1960: Mr. Haylen questioned the Minister for Defence, Mr. Townley, about a specific UFO sighting in Tasmania, implying potential 'unfriendly nations'. The Minister acknowledged the sighting but avoided a committee reference.
• October 20, 1960: Mr. Duthie asked the Minister for Air, Mr. Osborne, about UFO reports, the Tasmanian sighting, and record-keeping. Mr. Osborne reiterated that only 3-4 percent of reports were unexplained and offered no firm support for the belief in visiting interlopers.
• April 30, 1963: Mr. Cockle asked the Minister for Supply, Mr. Fairhall, about the investigation of a strange metal object found north of Broken Hill. Mr. Fairhall stated it was likely 'remains of a piece of orbiting hardware' that survived re-entry.
• May 23-24, 1963: Senator Cavanagh asked the Minister for Air if the Department maintained a dossier of UFO investigations. Senator Wade replied affirmatively but neglected to mention the RAAF's role, quoting the standard '3 or 4 percent unexplained' reply.
• June 4, 1968: Mr. Stokes asked the Minister for Air, Mr. Freeth, if government grants would be made to the Commonwealth Aerial Phenomena Investigation Organisation for UFO research.
• October 26, 1979: Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Transport, Mr. Nixon, about the reported UFO that buzzed the 'missing aircraft' piloted by Frederick Valentich over Bass Strait. Mr. Nixon famously replied, "This is one of the few times in the Parliament that I am caught short for words. All I can say is that it is a mystery and looks like remaining a mystery."

The article concludes that the analysis of UFOs in the Federal Parliament is difficult due to ignored questions, unfulfilled updates, and the infrequency of the topic. It notes an evolution from 'psychological' implications to 'unidentifyable residues' and 'total puzzlement'. The author welcomes any further references to UFOs in the Australian Parliament.

Statistical Notes from UFOCAT: Sighting Duration by Report Type (Part 2)

By Fred Merritt (U.S.A.), this section draws four general conclusions from data previously published:

1. Reports with the lowest strangeness levels (stationary object or uniform motion) tend to have durations suggesting commonplace, non-UFO explanations.
2. UFOCAT Type 3 (single discontinuity of motion) serves as a useful minimum strangeness level for screening reports.
3. Medium strangeness reports (multiple discontinuity of motion, close encounters, and landings) show similar report durations.
4. High strangeness reports (occupants, interference, and contact) differ in duration from other report types and from each other.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the technological challenges of detecting UFOs, particularly with radar, and the implications of these detection gaps for national security and the potential for undetected aerial incursions. There is a strong emphasis on government involvement, or lack thereof, in UFO investigation, as evidenced by the parliamentary review and the discussion of military and civilian radar capabilities. The journal also highlights the importance of rigorous investigation and data analysis, as seen in the UFOCAT statistics and ACUFOS's own investigation into the 1978 aircraft case. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, acknowledging the complexities and mysteries surrounding UFO phenomena while advocating for thorough research and a critical examination of evidence and official statements.

This issue of the 'UFO Research Australia - Newsletter', Volume 1 Number 1, focuses on the analysis of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) report durations and classification systems. It also includes articles on human-dolphin communication, exobiology, space colonies, and a collection of recent UAP sighting reports from Australia.

UAP Duration Analysis

The core of the issue delves into the duration distributions of UAP reports, utilizing data from UFOCAT tallies. The analysis distinguishes between 'medium strangeness' and 'high strangeness' reports. For medium strangeness reports, a 'composite standard' duration distribution is established (Table 1, Figure 4), showing peaks in the 5-14 minute and 1-4 minute duration ranges, with a significant portion also in the 15-29 and 60+ minute categories. This standard distribution is contrasted with other report types.

High strangeness reports (Figure 5) exhibit two distinct peaks, suggesting the possibility of sub-groups within these categories. The analysis categorizes occupant reports into three types: occupant seen only inside the UFO, occupants seen outside a UFO, and entity reports where no object is seen (Figure 6). Reports of occupants seen inside a UFO show a distribution similar to the 'standard' for medium strangeness reports.

Interference reports (UFOCAT type 9) are divided into abductions/time lapses and functional effects on the witness (e.g., burns, headaches) (Figure 7). Abductions and time lapses are noted for their long durations, with nearly half of cases lasting an hour or more. Other functional effects cases have duration distributions similar to the 'standard' for medium strangeness reports.

Contact reports (UFOCAT type 8), involving two-way intelligent communication, also show roughly equal peaks at 5-14 minutes and at an hour or more (Figure 8). Efforts to divide these into meaningful sub-groups were unsuccessful.

The analysis concludes by dividing medium and high strangeness reports into two groups: 'regular' reports whose duration distributions conform to the 'standard', and 'irregular' reports which do not (Tables 2 & 3). This distinction is proposed as potentially useful for an overall classification system.

Table 1 presents the 'Standard' Duration percentages for report types like Multiple Discontinuity of Motion, Close Encounters, Landing, and the Composite 'Standard'. Table 2 details the duration of 'Regular' Reports, including Multiple Discontinuity of Motion, Close Encounter, Inside Occupant, Landing, and Functional Effects on Witnesses. Table 3 outlines the duration of 'Irregular' Reports, such as Entity, No UFO; Outside Occupant; Abduction, Time Lapse; and Contact.

Human/Dolphin Communication and Exobiology

A significant section is dedicated to 'ACUFOS BIBLIOGRAPHY SERVICE - HUMAN/DOLPHIN COMMUNICATION' by John Prytz. The compiler notes the relevance of human-dolphin communication research to Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (CETI) and UFO CE3 cases. Methodologies developed in this field are seen as applicable to potential human-alien communications, and NASA has reportedly funded such research with these considerations in mind. A list of 7 publications on dolphins and communication is provided.

Another section, 'Bibliography Update: Exobiology', lists 8 publications related to life in the universe, including 'Life in Darwin's Universe', 'Earth's Temperature: Life in a Greenhouse', and discussions on exobiological techniques. This is followed by a list of books edited or authored by Carl Sagan, focusing on topics like 'Broca's Brain', 'The Cosmic Connection', and 'Intelligent Life in the Universe'.

Further updates cover 'Life In the Solar System', with references to Jupiter, its moons, and Titan, and a section on 'Monsters', listing reports on creatures like 'Yowie', 'Bigfoot', and 'Yeti'.

UFOs and Space Colonies

The 'UFOs' section lists 14 references from various publications and parliamentary records concerning UFOs, flying saucers, and unidentified flying objects, primarily from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The 'Space Colonies' section provides 10 references to articles discussing the concept of space colonization, including topics like 'The Next Frontier?', 'Colonization at Lagrangia', and 'Space Colonies: Environmental Boon or Bane?'.

Reports From Around Australia

This section details several recent UAP sighting reports from various locations in Australia:

• QB80006 (Caravonica, 23 February 1980): Four people witnessed a bright orange pulsing glow that illuminated the area and then disappeared and reappeared.
• N380002 (Gosford, 23 February 1980): Five witnesses observed a large, round, fire-colored object with four appendages moving slowly over an estuary.
• TA79140 (Sandy Bay, September 1979): A witness saw a black, conical object with spiked lights rolling over at tree-top level.
• TA79133 (Dilston, 7 October 1979): A family reported a red mist or glow that paced their vehicle.
• TA79129 (Mount Cameron, 29 August 1980): A woman reported a light that moved vertically down a mountain and then towards her, stopping and dimming before retreating.
• TA79112 (Hatfield, 20 August 1979): A woman driving experienced her car's interior illuminated by a green light that reduced the vehicle's speed, and her fuel tank was found empty afterward.

Notices and Fund Information

The newsletter also includes 'Notices' regarding a new Australian UFO Publication, the new address for the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre, and the availability of a 'Directory of UFO Groups and publications Worldwide'. An 'Australian UFO Research Fund' update acknowledges a donation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the systematic analysis of UAP phenomena through statistical methods (duration, strangeness levels), the exploration of related scientific fields like exobiology and communication (both terrestrial and potentially extraterrestrial), and the documentation of contemporary UAP sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and data-driven analysis, encouraging the sharing of information and research within the UFO community.