ACUFOS Journal vol 1 no 5

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies" (ACUFOS), Volume 1, Number 5, is dated October 1980. It is published by The Australian Centre for UFO Studies, P.O. Box 546 Gosford, NSW 2250 Australia. The publication is registered for posting as a Publication - Category B. The cover features the journal's title and a geometric, perspectival drawing.

Contents and Articles

The issue includes an index of its contents, listing articles, authors, and page numbers. Key items include:

• Editorial by H. Griesberg & K. Basterfield (Pages 1-2)
• Information Needs of Ufologists by John Prytz (Pages 2-9)
• A Short Review Of Australasian Radar Cases 1954-1969 by Keith Basterfield (Pages 9-10)
• UFOCON 5 - Australia's 5th annual UFO conference (Page 10)
• The Fly In The C.E.T.I. Soup by John Prytz (Pages 11-15)
• Other Suns, Other Earths? by David Seargent (Page 15)
• Message from the American Centre for UFO Studies to the US Government (Page 15)
• ACUFOS Bibliography Service by John Prytz (Pages 15-18)
• UFO Reports From Australia (Page 18)
• Editorial by H. Griesberg & K. Basterfield (Pages 18)

ACUFOS Services and Operations

The editorial section highlights the services provided by ACUFOS. The Centre is managed by two Co-Ordinators, Harry Griesberg (Gosford, NSW) and Keith Basterfield (Adelaide, SA), both active in the field since approximately 1967. Keith Basterfield also serves as the Liaison Officer for UFO Research (SA) Inc. and Continental Co-Ordinator for Australia and New Zealand for MUFON (USA).

ACUFOS maintains a centralized library of interesting UFO reports investigated by member organizations in Australia. Access is available to ACUFOS researchers, with copies of reports provided at a nominal fee for photocopying and postage. Details of reports, including "unknown" and "identifier" classifications (e.g., aircraft, balloons, satellites), are stored on a computer file managed by Mr. Andy Cole of Sydney. Printouts of this file are available upon request for a service fee.

Specialist study groups associated with ACUFOS have been established over the past three years:

• The Australian Entity Study Group (AESG), headed by Keith Basterfield.
• The Australian Photographic Study Group (APSG), headed by David Reneke.
• The Australian Physical Evidence Study Group (APESG), headed by Bill Chalker.

These groups focus on specific aspects of the UFO phenomena. AESG has published Case Documents and reports, while APESG and APSG aim to contribute similarly. Consultants with specialist knowledge in various fields (physics, photography, artifacts analysis, hypnotherapy, chemistry) are available for advice.

ACUFOS has also produced research documents, including summaries of cases reported in 1978 and 1979, reports from aircraft crews, and an in-depth review of entity cases in Australia and New Zealand. Since January 1, 1980, ACUFOS has initiated a publications service for Australian authors.

Information on how to contact ACUFOS is provided: within Australia, send a S.A.E. with 22 cents stamp; overseas, send an addressed envelope with international reply coupons equivalent to 45 Australian cents.

Information Needs of Ufologists

John Prytz's article emphasizes that information is a basic resource, increasing exponentially. Ufologists face the challenge of not only keeping up-to-date (input) but also organizing data for rapid retrieval (output). The author notes that his personal UFO data base for 1975-1979 is triple the size of his 1965-1969 data, and expects it to triple again by 1985-1989.

A well-organized personal UFO library is presented as a valuable investment. Unlike public libraries, a ufologist's library is highly specific but must be interdisciplinary, reflecting the subject's nature. Ufologists often need to collect material related to psychic phenomena, the paranormal, psychology, sociology, religion, astronomy, SETI, exobiology, astronautics, atmospheric physics, and anthropology/archaeology.

The article details various forms of information:

1. Monographs (books): General or special interest, published by general or specialty firms.
2. Serials: Newspapers (hard copy, microfilm) and Journals/Magazines (general or special).
3. Irregular Information Sources: Radio & television (tapes, transcripts), conferences (tapes, proceedings), official sources (government statements, testimony), private individuals (letters, unpublished papers), and non-government agencies (letters, re-prints, press statements, lectures).

Input strategies include using public libraries, subscribing to journals and clipping services, scanning newspapers and book reviews, and investigating new technology. Output strategies involve establishing personal cataloguing and filing systems, making them specific and flexible, and using multi-access to the data base.

Technology and the Information Needs of Ufologists

This section discusses the role of computers in ufology. While computers are used for compiling UFO data (e.g., UFOCATs), their potential for managing information *about* UFOs is highlighted. Libraries are increasingly linked to computer networks, providing access to vast data bases. The author suggests that personal computers can store and retrieve extensive amounts of information, potentially allowing access to data bases of ufologists worldwide within a decade. The article advocates for establishing a routine for information handling, covering both input and output.

A Short Review of Australasian Radar Cases 1954-1969

Keith Basterfield reviews four earlier Australian and New Zealand radar/visual UFO events. Two specific cases are detailed:

1. December 15, 1954: Naval pilot Lieutenant O'Farrell, flying near Goulburn, NSW, observed two lights with vague shapes spinning at fantastic speed. The Nowra Naval air station radar registered two strange targets besides his plane.
2. June 10, 1960: Edward Tindale, a radar observer at the Mackay, Queensland meteorological office, reported observing an unidentified stationary target on radar on two separate occasions.

Basterfield requests further information on these and other radar events.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the practical and organizational aspects of ufological research. There is a strong emphasis on the need for systematic information management, the utilization of available resources (libraries, personal collections, technology), and the collaborative efforts among ufologists. The ACUFOS organization is presented as a central hub for collecting, organizing, and disseminating UFO-related information within Australia. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting rigorous research, encouraging data sharing, and leveraging modern tools to advance the study of UFO phenomena. The journal aims to serve the needs of ufologists by providing access to information, facilitating research, and reviewing significant cases.

This issue of ACUFOS Journal, identified as issue number 10 and part of volume 1, is dated November 20 & 30 and December 1, 1980. The cover headline announces 'UFOCON 5 Australia's 5th annual UFO conference'. The magazine is published in Australia and is in English.

UFO Sightings and Cases

The issue details several UFO incidents. On January 13, 1965, seven unidentified flying objects were detected by radar over the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, flying at 45,000 feet in a V formation. This sighting was confirmed by the Civil Aviation Department. Another significant event occurred on September 4, 1969, when a Bristol Freighter aircraft flying from Wellington to Blenheim in New Zealand encountered an unknown target. The pilots observed a bright, blue, pulsating light, which was also tracked by Wellington radar. Approximately 90 minutes later, a cluster of lights was observed over Cape Campbell, identified as the same object. A report from Australia details a sighting on April 26, 1945, in Babinda, where an oval object with 'curved' wings was observed hovering, dimming, and brightening, emitting a humming sound before disappearing.

Scientific Inquiry and Exobiology

John Prytz contributes an article titled 'The Fly in the C.E.T.I. Soup: The "L" Factor.' This piece explores the philosophical question of humanity's place in the universe and the scientific pursuit of exobiology, the study of life beyond Earth. Prytz discusses the challenges and methodologies of SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) and CETI (Communication with Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). He introduces the Drake equation, breaking down the factors involved in estimating the number of communicating civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy, with a particular focus on the 'L' factor, representing the lifespan of such civilizations. The article emphasizes that achieving a lengthy 'L' is crucial for abundant communicating civilizations and suggests space colonization as a strategy to ensure a long lifespan for humanity.

David Seargent's article, 'Other Suns, Other Earths?', examines the possibility of life on planets orbiting other stars. He discusses the current limitations in detecting exoplanets and the potential for future space telescopes to provide answers. Seargent highlights that if earth-like planets are common, life may be widespread, but if not, Earth might be a cosmic anomaly. The article touches upon the possibility of alien probes already being in our solar system.

UFOCON 5 Conference

The magazine announces the UFOCON 5 conference, scheduled for November 20 & 30 and December 1, 1980, at the Belconnen Way Hotel in ACT, Australia. Sponsored by the Australian Centre for UFO Studies, the conference aims to foster the scientific study of UFO phenomena, investigation techniques, and future directions for UFO research in Australia. Papers were to cover topics such as 'Geological causes for UFO landing traces,' 'Psychological reactions to UFO events,' and 'UFO photographers.' The public was invited to attend as silent observers.

Message to the U.S. Government

A message from the AMERICAN Centre for UFO Studies to the U.S. Government is included, calling for cooperation with civilian UFO researchers. It urges the government to release military reports on UFOs and allow former employees to share their experiences without fear of prosecution.

Bibliographies

The issue features extensive bibliographies. John Prytz provides a two-part bibliography on 'Life in the Solar System - Mars (part 1 pre-viking)', listing numerous journal articles and books from the pre-Viking era concerning the possibility of life on Mars. Subsequent sections include 'Bibliography Updates' on Exobiology, Unidentified Flying Objects, Monsters, Life In The Solar System: The Jovian Planets/Satellites, Astro-Archaeology, Artificial Intelligence, and Dolphin Communication.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, the search for extraterrestrial life (exobiology and SETI/CETI), and the potential for space exploration and colonization. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, advocating for a scientific approach and encouraging the sharing of information. The emphasis on UFOCON 5 and the detailed bibliographies suggest a commitment to advancing the understanding of UFOs and related scientific fields.