ACUFOS Journal vol 1 no 4

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies, Volume 1, Number 4, dated August 1980, presents a collection of articles exploring various facets of UFO research, with a significant emphasis on the psychological aspects of witness testimony and the statistical analysis of phenomena. The cover features a striking geometric design and the journal's title, along with publication details.

Editorial

The editorial, authored by H. Griesberg & K. Basterfield, reflects on the evolution of Australian UFO research groups over the past decade. It notes a shift from large, static societies to more streamlined, part-time, volunteer organizations, with UFO Research (SA) being a pioneer in this approach since 1974. The editorial addresses recent discussions about the effectiveness of the "investigation team" approach, concluding that it is well-suited for the current organizational structure. It also touches upon varying opinions regarding the cause of UFO phenomena and the direction of collective research. A key point emphasized is the importance of maintaining an open mind, avoiding definitive stances on hypotheses like the "extraterrestrial hypothesis" or "inter-dimensional" theories, and refraining from making public statements that suggest closed-mindedness based on insufficient evidence. The editorial also calls for greater cooperation among different UFO organizations, urging those with unilateral approaches to reconsider and engage in a more collaborative spirit.

Articles

Why are most humanoids small?

By D. A. J. Seargent, this article explores potential explanations for the common depiction of small humanoid figures in UFO reports. Two primary hypotheses are discussed: the Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ETI) hypothesis, suggesting that beings from a planet with higher gravity would find Earth's gravity easy to navigate, and the paraphysical projection hypothesis (PP), which posits that visions are perceived as diminutive "pictures." The article also speculates that the perceived pugnaciousness of small UFO beings might be analogous to the behavior of small animals.

Mental Communications and Psychological Disturbances Pt.2

Authored by Mark Moravec, this is the continuation of a study examining the psychological state of UFO witnesses. Case 4 details the experiences of Mrs. D., who reported multiple UFO sightings, including cigar-shaped objects and a "flying saucer," as well as hallucinations of letters in the sky and visions of Christ. The article suggests that these experiences might be linked to psychological disturbances, possibly influenced by her age, isolation, personal history (divorce, amnesia), and a mystical background. The author analyzes common "warning signs" for psychological disturbance in both experiences and witness background factors, differentiating between neuroses and psychoses. The article also examines Case 5, Mr. E., whose sighting of a bright, silver-white object was interpreted through a strong religious conviction, suggesting that personal beliefs can influence the interpretation of experiences. The author raises the question of whether psychosis precedes the UFO experience or vice versa, and proposes a "mixture hypothesis" where genuine UFO/paranormal events might trigger subjective psychological delusions. The article concludes that none of the examined cases definitively satisfy the criteria for a traumatic UFO experience triggering a psychotic reaction, but acknowledges the existence of more complex cases requiring further research.

The Bermuda Triangle: A Statistical Analysis with reference to possible UFO correlations

John Prytz presents a statistical analysis attempting to correlate Bermuda Triangle incidents with UFO phenomena. The author notes that previous attempts to link the two have lacked hard evidence. By examining statistical patterns of disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle from 1800 to 1976, using data from Allan Hendry's "The UFO Handbook" and Alan Landsburg's "Secrets of the Bermuda Triangle," Prytz compares yearly and monthly random averages with actual case data. The study found that random averages did not differ significantly across different periods (pre-UFO, post-UFO), suggesting that the introduction of UFOs as a factor made little difference. While some "flap" years were identified for various categories of craft, the correlation with UFO flaps was minimal, with only two years showing a slight overlap. The article concludes that there is no statistical reason to suspect a link between Bermuda Triangle phenomena and UFOs, emphasizing the need for hard data to support such a connection.

ACUFOS Bibliography Service

This section, by John Prytz, provides a bibliography service, likely listing relevant publications or resources for UFO researchers.

AUSTRALIAN UFO REPORTS

This section is a brief mention of reports from Australia, with the page number indicating it is on page 17.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently emphasizes the importance of a rational, evidence-based approach to UFO research, advocating for open-mindedness rather than premature conclusions. The editorial stance is one of encouraging collaboration and critical thinking within the UFO community. There's a clear effort to distinguish between genuine phenomena and psychological interpretations, particularly in witness testimony. The statistical analysis of the Bermuda Triangle highlights a skepticism towards unsubstantiated correlations, reinforcing the need for empirical data. The recurring theme is the complex interplay between objective observation, subjective experience, and psychological factors in understanding UFO reports.

This issue of "UFO Research" (Volume 17, Issue 17, dated 1980) is a compilation of statistical data, analytical articles, and bibliographical resources related to UFO phenomena and related subjects. The publication appears to be from Australia, given the "AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. REPORTS" headline and the specific locations mentioned.

Statistical Data on UFOs and Bermuda Triangle

Table 1: UFO Cases by Year and Category (1962-1976)

This table, a continuation from a previous page, provides a year-by-year breakdown of UFO cases across various categories: Sailing Ships, Motorized Vessels, Military Planes, Light Planes, Commercial Planes, and Miscellaneous Craft. Totals are provided for each year and for the entire period. Sub-totals are given for 'Pre-UFO Era 35' and 'Post-UFO Era 18', along with random averages for each category. The note indicates that a raw numerical figure five times the expected average could be considered significant.

Table 2: Bermuda Triangle Statistics by Month

This table presents monthly statistics for the Bermuda Triangle, detailing the number of cases for each object category (Sailing Ships, Motorized Vessels, Military Planes, Light Planes, Commercial Planes, Miscellan. Craft) per month. Totals for each month and the overall total of 134 cases are provided. A 'Random' average per month is calculated, suggesting that actual numbers greater than 50% of the expected average could be significant.

Table 3: Overall Bermuda Triangle and UFO Flaps-Yearly

This table tracks yearly data for the Bermuda Triangle and UFO flaps from 1909 to 1973. It uses notations: 'xxx' for a 'flap year', 'n/a' for 'not applicable', and 'none' for 'no flap'. This provides a historical overview of periods of increased UFO activity or significant events in the Bermuda Triangle region.

Table 4: Overall Bermuda Triangle and UFO Flaps Monthly

Complementing the yearly data, this table provides a monthly breakdown of Bermuda Triangle and UFO flaps. It uses the same 'xxx' and 'none' notation to indicate 'flap' and 'non-flap' months across various categories and UFOs.

Analytical Articles

Deficiencies in the Hypnopompic-Hypnagogic Model to Explain UFO Experiences at Close Range

Authored by V. J. Ballester Olmos of Valencia, Spain, this article critically examines the hypnopompic-hypnagogic hypothesis as an explanation for UFO phenomena. The author lists several deficiencies, including:

1. The model only explains a part of UFO experiences, failing to cover the whole range of phenomenology.
2. It does not adequately address shared experiences involving multiple corroborating witnesses.
3. It overlooks reports of electromagnetic effects and animal reactions.
4. The selection of cases shows a high percentage of feminine witnesses, which may be biased compared to catalogues showing male superiority.
5. The reliability of the sources used for the sample cases is questioned.
6. Hypnopompic and hypnagogic visions typically occur with closed eyes or in dark environments, which does not align with many daylight events.
7. There is no precise correlation established between typical UFO observation images and those produced in the mind during trances; resemblances are higher with hallucinations.
8. The claim that witnesses feel tired during pseudosighting is not proven and may not be evident in UFO records.

The author suggests that UFO data banks should be analyzed to investigate what UFO witnesses were doing at the time of their experiences.

Megaliths & Marvels

Written by David A. J. Seargent, this article explores the mysterious standing stones and circles found in the English landscape. It discusses the romantic notions associated with these sites, such as healing and refreshment, and the claims of dowsers who find them marking underground springs and amplifying electromagnetic fields. The author suggests that the ability of dowsers might rely on small electromagnetic anomalies caused by percolating water, which are magnified by megalithic stones. Sensitive magnetometers have reportedly detected such anomalies. The article posits that these formations might act as telepathy intensifiers by enhancing the biological magnetic field and creating "harmony" with local magnetic anomalies. It also speculates on the alleged healing properties, suggesting that during full moon, biological electric fields might attract negative ions, which are claimed to be vitalizing. The author concludes by questioning whether UFO sightings around megalithic sites are attracted to these anomalies or if there is a genuine increase in sightings in these areas.

Bibliographies

Bermuda Triangle - Bibliography

This section lists 15 books and articles related to the Bermuda Triangle, including works by Charles Berlitz, Martin Ebon, Vincent Gaddis, and Lawrence David Kusche. The entries provide author, title, publisher, and publication year.

Bermuda Triangle - References

This shorter list provides 3 references, including works by Allan Hendry, Alan Landsburg, and John Prytz.

CUFOS Bibliography Service: Astro-Archaeology

Compiled by John Prytz, this bibliography focuses on the degree of astronomical knowledge possessed by ancient societies. It aims to strengthen the argument for "ancient astronauts" and UFOs by reviewing literature that discusses ancient astronomical knowledge potentially beyond the capabilities of those societies. It emphasizes the need for scientifically solid discussions over uncritical popular authors.

Bibliography Updates

This extensive section provides updated bibliographies across several categories:

• Exobiology: Includes articles on extraterrestrial life, space plants, and the uniqueness of biological materials.
• UFOs: Features recent articles on UFO updates, close encounters, and flying saucers.
• Monsters: Lists articles on the Loch Ness Monster.
• Space Colonies: Includes a book on spaceships of the mind.
• Artificial Intelligence: Covers topics such as the creation of the chip, the mind of the machine, computers as rivals, and artificial intelligence.

Australian U.F.O. Reports

This section details three specific UFO reports from Australia:

• SA80007 (Blanchetown, 12-2-80): A report of a vehicle being followed by unusual lights, both while in motion and stationary. Investigation suggested alternate conventional explanations.
• QB80012 (Babinda, 26-4-80): A witness and his brothers observed an oval object with curved wings hovering about half a mile away. The object's color dimmed and brightened, and it emitted red and yellow lights. It was also reported to have a humming noise. Over an hour, the object moved from a stationary position, played a yellowish-white beam over the ground, and seemed to spin before retreating.
• TA80045 (Mountain Creek, 6-7-80): Two witnesses in a Landcruiser observed lights at ground level, identified as white lights on the sides and a flickering red light in the middle. A green-yellowish glow illuminated a long body, estimated at 8 meters long and 2 meters high. After shots were fired, the object moved away, glided over ridges, and then shot vertically into the sky at great speed. A dog was observed to be distressed afterward.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the statistical analysis of UFO sightings, the investigation of specific phenomena like the Bermuda Triangle, and the critical evaluation of theories attempting to explain UFO experiences. There is a strong emphasis on data presentation, with multiple tables detailing sightings by category and time. The articles also delve into fringe science topics such as astro-archaeology and the potential connection between ancient megalithic sites and unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, presenting data and critical analysis, while also providing extensive bibliographical resources for further research. The inclusion of specific Australian UFO reports suggests a focus on regional sightings within a broader international context of UFO research.