ACUFOS Journal vol 2 no 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies" (Volume 2, Number 3, May/June 1981) is dedicated to exploring various facets of UFO research and phenomena. The cover features a geometric design and the journal's title, with publication details indicating it is published by The Australian Centre for UFO Studies, P.O. Box 546 Gosford, NSW 2250 Australia, and registered as a Publication - Category B.

Editorial

The editorial, by H. Griesberg & K. Basterfield, expresses pleasure at the re-emergence of the "UFO Research-Australia-Newsletter" after a period of inactivity. They extend best wishes to the editor, Mr. Vladimir Godic, and associate editors Holly I Goriss and Pony M Barenson. The editorial highlights that the Journal and the Newsletter are designed to complement each other, with the Journal focusing on research articles and news, while the Newsletter caters to a more popular audience. Both aim to bring respectability to UFO study, acknowledging that a mystery persists. The editors emphasize that the mystery will be solved not by armchair theorists or professional scientists, but through active field work, patient research, and discussion. They note that many researchers have been involved for years but a commonly accepted answer remains elusive. The editorial also serves as a reminder to member organizations to submit incoming reports, as the Centre has received few this year.

Index

The index lists the following articles:

• Editorial by H. Griesberg & K. Basterfield (Pages 1-2)
• Survey of UFO Researchers by Mark Moravec (Pages 2-5)
• The Significance of CE 3. by John Prytz (Pages 6-11)
• Historical Reports in Australia (Part 3.) by Bill Chalker (Pages 11-13)
• PSIUFO PHENOMENA: A listing of Australian Cases by Mark Moravec (Pages 13-15)
• ACUFOS SPECIAL PUBLICATION-ACOS BULLETIN INDEX. (Page 15)
• "Astronomical" and/or Ufological??? (Page 15)
• ACUFOS Bibliography Service: UFO & ETI by John Prytz (Pages 16-18)

Survey of UFO Researchers

Mark Moravec conducted a survey in November 1980 among UFO researchers attending UFOCON 5 in Canberra, aiming to understand their attitudes towards UFOs and UFO research. The survey, distributed to ACUFOS-affiliated groups as well, received 20 responses. The primary interests in UFOs stemmed from reading UFO literature or personal sightings. The average time devoted to UFO activities was 5-9 hours per week, with scientific consultants spending less time unless actively involved in a UFO group. Exactly half of the respondents had personally experienced a UFO sighting, mostly of the nocturnal light variety. The most nominated UFO books were "The UFO Experience" by J. Allen Hynek, "The UFO Handbook" by Allan Hendry, and "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects" by E.U. Condon.

Regarding when the UFO mystery might be solved, most estimates ranged from 10-20 years, with 40% declining to provide an estimate. The mass media were perceived to do more harm than good to ufology, often misreporting or taking a sensational angle. The most likely explanations for UFOs included extraterrestrial and inter-dimensional hypotheses. The survey also found that Australian researchers were evenly divided on whether UFO study had influenced their philosophy of life, with themes of recognizing human perception limits and increased awareness of the universe emerging.

Reasons for studying UFOs were diverse, with curiosity about the phenomena's nature being paramount. Most researchers believed Australians had made important contributions to UFO research, though room for progress was acknowledged. The most important tasks for ufologists were identified as educating the public, documenting and researching sightings, and investigating to the best of one's ability. Personal background findings indicated a 9:1 male to female researcher ratio, an average age of 31.7, and that at least 40% had tertiary educational qualifications.

Comparisons with overseas surveys showed that UFO researchers were more likely to have had a UFO experience than the general public, and similar reasons for initial interest were cited. The extraterrestrial hypothesis was favored by both Australian and American researchers. The rate of female participation in UFO research remained consistently low across surveys. Australian researchers were, on average, younger than their American counterparts.

The Significance of CE 3.

John Prytz's article delves into the significance of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (CE3). He begins by referencing Charles Fort's prediction that if alien vessels visited Earth, their lights would be seen by millions and the data would become conventionalized. Prytz notes that despite decades of study, the UFO phenomenon remains mysterious. He discusses the impact of Steven Spielberg's film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," highlighting that Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a technical consultant for the film, coined the term "close encounters of the third kind" (CE3). Hynek categorized close encounters into three types: CE 1 (visual sightings), CE 2 (visual plus physical evidence), and CE 3 (sightings involving associated occupants, implying extraterrestrial existence or first contact).

Prytz argues that CE3 cases are significant because they minimize misidentifications, leaving a residue of scientific mystery. He asserts that CE3s are not a new phenomenon, citing a 1909 report from Wales about a tube-shaped construction with two occupants. He suggests that while many UFO sightings might be explainable by conventional phenomena, CE3s point towards a more profound reality. Prytz addresses the skepticism surrounding CE3s, particularly the variety of reported alien descriptions, suggesting that this variety is superficial and consistent with an extraterrestrial explanation rather than a non-physical process. He also touches upon the controversial aspect of sexual CE3s, differentiating them from the mystical claims of 'contactees' and suggesting that such encounters, if physical, might imply a shared ancestry or a colony relationship between humans and aliens.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the systematic study of UFO phenomena, the characteristics and motivations of UFO researchers, and the analysis of specific types of UFO encounters, particularly CE3. The editorial stance, as expressed by Griesberg and Basterfield, is one of advocating for rigorous, evidence-based research, emphasizing field work and patient investigation to unravel the UFO mystery. There is a clear distinction made between the more sensational claims of 'contactees' and the serious investigation of UFO reports. The journal aims to legitimize the study of UFOs by presenting research and analysis grounded in scientific inquiry, while acknowledging the profound implications of the phenomena.

Title: PSIUFO Phenomena
Issue: 10
Volume: 1
Date: 1981
Publisher: ACUFOS
Country: Australia
Language: English

This issue of PSIUFO Phenomena focuses on UFO and paranormal phenomena, particularly in Australia, and includes extensive bibliographical resources.

Unknown Aerial Phenomena

The issue opens with a discussion on the potential significance of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (CE3) and how it might aid the serious, scientific investigation of such phenomena. The author speculates that CE3s could reveal truths about human gullibility, psychology, mythology, evolution, parapsychology, or extraterrestrial life forms, suggesting a possible 'cosmic connection'. A diagram illustrates various categories of UFO phenomena, including 'Nebulous Lights In The Sky' (categorized as CE-1, CE-2, CE-3), 'Natural Phenomena', 'Psychological/Parapsychological/Social Phenomena', 'Artifacts', 'Nonsense/Hoaxes', and distinctions between 'Human' and 'Alien' encounters across 'Past', 'Current', and 'Future' timeframes.

Historical Reports in Australia - Part 3

Authored by Bill Chalker, this section details several historical aerial phenomena reports from Australia and New Zealand. It mentions an alleged landing at Port Molyneux, New Zealand, where occupants of 'Japanese' appearance emerged. Another report from the Marlborough Sounds describes an 'airship' swooping over a launch and occupants throwing missiles that made a 'fizzing' sound in the water. The text notes a parallel to the 1896-97 'airship' wave in the United States. The article then shifts to Australia, detailing a 'nocturnal mystery of the air' in 1909, with reports of 'mysterious lights'. The conjunction of Jupiter and Venus is mentioned as a possible explanation for some sightings, but not all. Early probative Australian reports emanated from Goulburn, NSW, where residents reported seeing a bright blue light. Further accounts from Glen Innes, NSW, describe an object like a balloon moving northerly, shaped like an inverted top. The prominent 'Min-Min Light' of Western Queensland is discussed, a luminous oval legend dating back to at least 1912, with a bushman's legend attributing its origin to a 'roaring shanty' that was burnt down. The section also includes an account from 1925 in Moora, Western Australia, where Thomas Green and the farmer's son encountered an object resembling two saucers placed edge-on-edge, with oval windows and shimmering, desert-like appearance. Finally, Sir Francis Chichester's encounter with an inexplicable aerial phenomena during his solo flight across the Tasman Sea in 1931 is recounted, describing bright flashes and a 'dull grey-white airship' that appeared and disappeared.

PSIUFO Phenomena: A Listing of Australian Cases

Compiled by Mark Moravec, this is a preliminary listing of Australian cases where UFO and paranormal events appear to overlap. It is intended as a precursor to a more comprehensive catalogue and analysis planned for later in 1981. Moravec requests further information on cases marked with an asterisk and those not included in the listing.

ACUFOS SPECIAL PUBLICATION-ACOS BULLETIN INDEX

John Prytz has compiled a title and author index for the 'A.C.O.S. BULLETIN', covering issues from March 1975 to December 1979. This index is available from ACUFOS for $3 (Australia).

"Astronomical" and/or Ufological???

This section references an article from the 4 December 1980 issue of NEW SCIENTIST about the US Air Force building a world-wide network of space observatories. These observatories, equipped with telescopes, are designed to watch for unusual events in the skies and could have significant astronomical importance. They aim to identify objects orbiting Earth above 5,000 kilometers, including satellites as small as 30 centimeters, and to detect sudden astronomical events like novas and quasars.

ACUFOS Bibliography Service: UFO & ETI

Compiled by John Prytz, this service presents a 'bibliography of bibliographies' on two subjects: unidentified flying objects and extraterrestrial life. The compiler notes that other bibliographies complement this service, expanding the range of available printed material. The section is divided into:

Exobiology/Extraterrestrial Life - Bibliographies

This lists numerous books and articles on exobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life, including works by Tom Allen, C. Maxwell Cade, R.L. Forward, Duncan Lunan, Roger A. MacGowan, Eugene F. Mallove, Cyril Ponnamperuma, I.S. Shklovskii, Carl Sagan, E.A. Shneour, Walter Sullivan, Martha W. Jest, and Rowena A. Koch.

Unidentified Flying Objects - Bibliographies

This section provides a comprehensive list of bibliographies on UFOs and related subjects, featuring works by Lynn E. Catoe, Paris Flammonde, Hans Holzer, J. Allen Hynek, David M. Jacobs, John A. Keel, Martin H. Sable, Frank B. Salisbury, Ronald D. Story, A. Tasker, and Jacques Vallee.

Bibliography Updates

This subsection provides updates on bibliographical entries related to Exobiology, Life in the Solar System, Sagan - About, Sagan - Books By, Space Colonies, and Artificial Intelligence.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of UFO phenomena, the historical documentation of sightings, and the compilation of extensive bibliographical resources for researchers. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging serious, scientific inquiry into these subjects, acknowledging the potential significance of UFO phenomena and extraterrestrial life while also providing a critical and organized approach through bibliographies and case listings. The publication aims to serve the ufological community by providing valuable reference material and documenting cases.