ACUFOS Journal vol 2 no 2

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies, Volume 2, Number 2, published in March/April 1981, is dedicated to advancing the study and understanding of UFO phenomena within Australia. The cover features a striking geometric optical illusion, and the journal is published by The Australian Centre for UFO Studies, based in Gosford, NSW, Australia.

Editorial

The editorial, by H. Griesberg & K. Basterfield, reflects on the importance of documenting significant UFO close encounters in Australia. It highlights several historical cases from the 1950s and 1960s, including a cylindrical object in Dandenong (1954), a metallic sphere pacing a car in Tintinara (1955), an illuminated dome in Purnong (1959), a grey disc in Moe (1963), a luminous machine in Eton Ridge (1965), and a blue-grey object in Tully (1966) which left a circle of dead reeds. The editors lament the difficulty in accessing details of older cases, which are often scattered and poorly documented compared to contemporary cases available through the ACUFOS Central Library. They announce a project arising from UFOCON 5 to collect and publish documentation on Australia's ten best UFO events, appealing to researchers and groups to share their files.

Lobbying: Some Personal Thoughts

John Prytz's article discusses the concept of lobbying for a cause, drawing parallels between his own experiences and the potential application to UFO research. He emphasizes the need to clearly define goals, resources, and potential benefits. Prytz outlines key questions for any lobbying effort: 'what' are you lobbying for, 'who' will you lobby (political figures, organizations, media), 'where' is the goal directed (local, national, international), and 'when' is the timeframe. He stresses the importance of personal credibility, enthusiasm, and preparation for potential failure, disappointment, and extensive work. The article suggests that effective lobbying requires a strategic approach, playing politics, and understanding that the effort is only necessary if the status quo is not acceptable.

Ten Reasons For Studying UFOs

Mark Moravec provides ten compelling reasons for the scientific study of UFOs. These include searching for extraterrestrial intelligence, advancing technological and scientific achievements through studying UFO propulsion and effects, understanding the human mind and group behavior related to UFOs, determining if UFOs are influencing human history, studying the physiological and psychological effects on humans, exploring extrasensory perception, easing witness anxieties, advancing our understanding of the universe, and developing new methodologies for studying elusive phenomena.

An Extraordinary Incident – Or an Extraordinarily Poorly Investigated Event?

Keith Basterfield critically re-examines the 1965 Canberra Airport UFO sighting, initially described by Coral Lorenzen as a classic incident. Basterfield's research, based on contemporary Australian newspaper reports, presents a different picture from the wire service accounts. The object was seen during daylight (10:55 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.) by civil aviation officials and others, described as a metallic silvery object hovering at an elevation of 20-30 degrees. While official explanations were lacking, Basterfield suggests that the planet Venus, visible during the day, is the most likely explanation. He notes that the object was stationary and not visible to hundreds, unlike a typical aircraft. Basterfield concludes that the event was poorly investigated and could well have been Venus, though absolute certainty is impossible.

The 1965 Canberra Airport "UFO"/Mariner IV Myth

Bill Chalker further debunks the sensationalized story surrounding the 1965 Canberra Airport sighting, which was linked to difficulties experienced by the Tidbinbilla tracking station in locking onto the US Mariner IV probe. Chalker points out that the media, particularly American writers and magazines like 'saga', created a myth suggesting the UFO was jamming the Mariner signals. He argues that the UFO was likely Venus, and the alleged 'delay' in Mariner's signal acquisition occurred after the sighting period and was due to technical issues and orbital mechanics, not a UFO. Chalker cautions against media distortion and highlights the importance of careful investigation, referencing Allan Hendry's 'The UFO Handbook'.

Selecting the Best Australian UFO Cases

Michael Hough, PhD, outlines a project initiated at UFOCON 5 to gather and document the best Australian UFO cases. The goal is to create a resource for researchers and to support grant proposals. The selection criteria include events occurring in Australia or nearby waters, covering a broad spectrum of UFO phenomena (CE1-CE3, DD, NL) with emphasis on instrumented sightings and physical traces. Cases should be well-documented, have reliable witnesses, be of long duration, and investigated promptly. Hough then presents a list of 14 cases that best fit these criteria, including:

• Port Moresby (1953): A filmed disk rising from a cloud and zooming off.
• Goulburn (1954): Radar-visual sighting of bright spinning lights.
• Boianai Mission (1959): A bright light approached and hovered, with figures seen on deck.
• Cressy (1960): A cigar-shaped object with smaller discs.
• Willow Grove (1963): A spinning disc hovering over a tree, causing animal agitation and a magnetic anomaly.
• Eton Ridge (1965): A disc hovering over trees, lighting up the ground, leaving a flattened area.
• Bougainville Reef (1965): A round ball with a vapour trail pacing a plane, with photos taken.
• Eurama (1966): A spinning object rising from a lagoon, leaving a flattened area of reeds.
• Burkes Flat (1966): A conical light in a field, with a car crash occurring at the same site later.
• Clayton (1966): A silver object moving and playing tag with light aircraft, leaving a flattened area of grass.
• Wodonga (1967): A motorcyclist engulfed by a white flash, seeing a disc with silver-suited figures.
• Karawinna (1976): A flashing red object that took off, hovered, and flew away, leaving a brown area.
• Ben Boyd National Park (1976): Filmed discs hovering out to sea.
• Orange (1977): An oblong orange glow with windows, leaving trapezoidal indentations.

Hough also lists an additional 7 notable UFO events. He provides comments on the strength of the evidence for each case, noting that none are considered 'water-tight' and that six have only a single witness. He highlights the Wodonga and Moe cases as representative of entity and physiological effect cases, respectively. The list notably excludes Western Australian and South Australian cases and those between 1968 and 1975. He invites comments and offers to help compile the document.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the systematic study, documentation, and investigation of UFO phenomena, particularly within Australia. There is a strong emphasis on critical analysis of historical cases, debunking sensationalized accounts, and establishing rigorous criteria for case selection. The editorial stance promotes a scientific and evidence-based approach to UFO research, acknowledging the challenges posed by scattered documentation and the need for collaborative efforts. The journal advocates for a more serious consideration of the UFO problem by undefined 'powers-that-be' through effective lobbying and the presentation of well-documented evidence.

This document, titled "Historical Reports in Australia - Part 2" by Bill Chalker, presents a collection of historical accounts of anomalous aerial phenomena and potential UFO sightings from Australia and New Zealand, spanning from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The content is primarily narrative, detailing specific incidents with dates, locations, and witness descriptions.

Historical Accounts

The Parramatta 'Ark' (1868)

The issue begins with an account from the "Memorandum Book" of Fred W. Birmingham, a local surveyor in Parramatta, Australia. On the night of July 25th, 1868, Birmingham reported observing an "ark"-like object moving horizontally before descending rapidly and curving east. He described a "spirit" that appeared like a neutral tint shade of a man, who asked if Birmingham desired to enter the "ark". Birmingham agreed, and both were carried to where the object had landed in Parramatta Park. He described the "ark's" "peculiar shapings" and its colour blending with "faint, flitting shades of steel blue". Inside, he found a "pilot house" with a table and was given papers containing the equation V=550 + (500√A). He later found this equation in a book, suggesting a connection to his "contact" experience.

The Freemantle Meteor (1879)

In 1879, Mr. S. Worsley Clifton, Collector of Customs at Freemantle, Western Australia, reported a "remarkable meteor" to R.J. Elleig, which was subsequently published in "Nature". The event occurred on February 1st of that year. It was described as a small black cloud appearing in the east, which transformed into a blood-red disc. It left a train of black or dark-coloured vapour across the heavens for about half an hour, with no sound heard. The thermometer registered 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The HMS Bacchante Sighting (1881)

This account, though noted as potentially not directly related to the UFO subject, is included due to its frequent appearance in UFO books. On June 11th, 1881, at 4 o'clock in the morning, thirteen members of the crew of the "H.M.S. Bacchante", including the Duke of York (later King George V), witnessed a "strange light, as if of a phantom vessel all aglow". The light appeared as a "phantom ship" or "Celestial object". The account describes seeing the masts, spars, and sails of a brig two hundred yards distant, which came up on the port bow. Despite clear visibility and calm seas, no material ship was found upon investigation. Other ships in the squadron, the Tourmaline and the Cleopatra, also inquired if they had seen the "strange red light".

South Australian 'Ghost Lights' (1890s)

During the 1890s, "ghost lights" were frequently observed moving along roads and the countryside in South Australia, particularly by farmers at Orroroo and Cornish copper miners at Moonta. Initially mistaken for bicycle lamps, these lights were observed at closer range as a single white light source, or sometimes two lights. Attempts to capture these elusive lights proved unsuccessful, and reports of them eventually ceased.

Central NSW 'Saucer' Landing (1893)

An anecdote from a farming family in central New South Wales describes an extraordinary UFO story from 1893. A farmer claimed a saucer-shaped aerial object landed on his property. As he approached, a man in strange clothing emerged and shone a torch-like device at him, causing the farmer to be thrown to the ground and stunned. When he recovered, the man and the object were gone, and his hand was allegedly paralysed for life. The details of this story were passed to Dr. Mirian Lindtner of the UFO Investigation Centre.

Eastern Australian 'Fireball' Reports (1902)

November 1902 saw an "incredible array of 'fireball' reports" across eastern Australia. One "electrical fireball" started a fire near a mine shaft, and a man in Harris Park, Sydney, was knocked unconscious and left partially paralysed by a fireball that exploded above him. Fireballs the size of houses were reported from various locations.

#### Adelaide Observatory Sighting (November 20th, 1902)

On November 20th, 1902, at 9:27 am, Mr. Griffiths, the assistant astronomer at the Adelaide Observatory, and two other officers observed a "brilliant globular light" with a planetary disc. It appeared in the SSE at an altitude of about 45 degrees and moved slowly northwards. It was visible for approximately 4 minutes, covering about 20 degrees of arc. Mr. Griffiths described it as appearing like Venus at its greatest brilliancy soon after sunset. Other observers noted it travelled at least 90 degrees and became elongated, taking an elliptical form.

New Zealand and Australian 'Aerialitis' (1909)

During July and August 1909, a wave of "aerialitis" sightings of unusual nocturnal lights and "airships" occurred in New Zealand and Australia. Observations were particularly intense in New Zealand, with "airship operators" reported in various locations. In the Waikaka Valley, near Gore, two men observed a narrow boat-shaped aerial craft with two figures, which circled their dredge several times, performing "curious and seemingly impossible manoeuvres" before disappearing into the mist, leaving a yellow glare.

Publications and Resources

The latter part of the document details various publications and resources related to UFO research, including:

• Australian Entity Study Group (AESG): Mentioned as having little activity due to a lack of reports, they encourage members to share any known reports.
• "Case Documents": A series of nine documents detailing old and current cases, available as photocopies.
• "An indepth review of Australasian UFO related entity reports" by Keith Basterfield (1980), available from ACUFOS.
• UFO Research Australia Newsletter (UFORAN): A magazine presenting researched articles on UFOs, intended for a serious-minded audience, originating in Australia but covering global events.
• ACUFOS Journal: Mentioned as a perfect match with UFORAN for the Australian UFO scene.
• New Publications from ACUFOS: Lists "IN SEARCH OF A SUBJECT: AN AUSTRALIAN SEARCH FOR EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE" and "INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL FOR UFOLOGISTS".
• ACUFOS BIBLIOGRAPHY SERVICE - Messages From Earth, by John Prytz: This bibliography covers communication between man and "others", including dolphins, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrials, documenting attempts by mankind to advertise its presence, such as the Pioneer plaques, Voyager recordings, and the Arecibo message.

The document also includes extensive bibliographical updates on various UFO-related topics, including Exobiology, Life In The Solar System (Mars), Carl Sagan, Space Colonies, Unidentified Flying Objects, Tunguska, Astro-Archaeology, Monsters, Human/Dolphin Communication, Artificial Intelligence, and Life In The Solar System (Mars - Post Viking).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the presentation of historical accounts of anomalous phenomena, suggesting a long-standing interest in UFOs and related subjects in Australia and New Zealand. The editorial stance appears to be one of archival and investigative reporting, presenting these accounts for the reader's consideration. The inclusion of detailed bibliographies and information on research organizations indicates a commitment to providing resources for those interested in the UFO field. The article concludes with a note that it is "To be continued in next issue".