ACUFOS Journal vol 6 no 4

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies" (ACUFOS) is Volume 6, Number 4, dated July/August 1985. It is published by the Australian Centre for UFO Studies and has an ISSN of 0729-2295. The journal's address is listed as 6 Reginald Avenue, FINDON, S.A. 5023, Australia, with a separate ACUFOS address at P.O. Box 546, GOSFORD, N.S.W. 2250, Australia. Subscription rates are $10 annually for Australian currency and $14 overseas airmail. The copyright is held by ACUFOS 1985.

Table of Contents and Key Articles

The issue features an "Editorial" by Frank Gillespie, followed by an "INDEX" of articles and their authors.

UFOs: The School Excursion Hypothesis by John Prytz

This article proposes a novel theory for UFO behavior, drawing a parallel between students on a school excursion and UFOs. Prytz suggests that extraterrestrials might be scientists studying Earth in a detached manner, akin to students on a field trip. He likens the repetitive nature of UFO sightings and alleged abductions to a student's assignment checklist, where the 'tourists' (aliens) are performing tests and collecting samples (e.g., water, soil, grass, animal parts) and conducting physiological studies on humans. The hypothesis extends to the idea of extraterrestrials inhabiting artificial 'worldships' within the solar system, possibly disguised as minor celestial objects or orbiting the Earth, to facilitate resource gathering and study.

Sky Crash - Reviewed by Mark Moravec

This is a review of the book "Sky Crash" by Brenda Butler, Jenny Randles, and Dot Street, which details the controversial Rendlesham Forest UFO incident of December 1980. The incident involved a security officer witnessing a UFO crash and a meeting between the Base Commander and alien creatures. The review highlights the release of a memo by acting Base Commander Lt. Col. Charles Halt, describing a brightly illuminated triangular object, ground depressions, and radiation readings. The book's investigation involved numerous interviews. Moravec notes the book's sensational claims, such as a 'cosmic conspiracy,' and criticizes lapses in ethical behavior by the investigators, specifically Dot Street's tape recording of Col. Halt without permission. Despite these criticisms, the review acknowledges the book's detailed investigation and the ongoing nature of the case, suggesting it exemplifies official incompetence in handling UFO incidents.

"UFO Crash/Retrievals: Amassing the Evidence: Status Report III" - Review and Comments by John Prytz

This review by John Prytz examines Leonard H. Stringfield's third report on UFO crash/retrieval (CR) cases. Prytz acknowledges Stringfield's reputation for serious research but points out the challenges in the CR field, including the anonymity of witnesses and the difficulty in verifying claims. He notes that Stringfield's work, while presenting numerous case reports, often lacks definitive conclusions and relies on informants' trust. Prytz suggests that the CR phenomenon might be better explained by terrestrial, experimental military vehicles rather than extraterrestrial craft, citing the consistent involvement of military personnel, remote testing locations, and the need for secrecy as supporting evidence for this alternative theory. He concludes that while CR is a fascinating sub-field, it remains unproven and may be a deliberate misdirection to protect secret military projects.

When You Have Eliminated the Impossible - A Review by R. E. Molnar

This review by R. E. Molnar critically examines L. H. Stringfield's "UFO Crash/Retrievals: Amassing the Evidence: Status Report III." Molnar expresses skepticism towards the reports, noting potential inaccuracies in geological details (e.g., sand burning into powder) and zoological descriptions (e.g., aliens crawling on hands and knees while lacking knee joints). He questions the plausibility of certain cases, such as a swamp landing in Michigan requiring bulldozing, and points out geographical inaccuracies like "Mt. Francisco in Arizona." Molnar also highlights contradictions regarding alien physiology and behavior. He suggests that many CR cases might be misinterpretations of terrestrial experimental vehicles or hoaxes, and that the secrecy surrounding such events could be military-driven.

Cloud of Mystery

This appears to be a brief item, likely a short report or note, with no further details provided in the index.

Letter to the Editor by Hilary Evans

This section contains a letter from Hilary Evans, likely commenting on previous articles or issues.

ACUFOS Bibliography Service by John Prytz

This section lists items available through the ACUFOS Bibliography Service, compiled by John Prytz.

STOP PRESS "Exactly at 4.10" by V. Vostrukhin

This is a short, time-sensitive report or update, possibly detailing a specific sighting or event that occurred at a precise time.

EDITORIAL: MURPHY'S LAW IN ACTION by Frank Gillespie

In his editorial, Frank Gillespie reflects on the unexpected twists and turns in producing the current issue, attributing them to "Murphy's Law." He notes that the issue contains an extraordinary amount of book review material, exceeding the planned length and postal weight limit, which he frames as an "embarrassment" but also a "riches" due to the quality of the content.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the investigation of UFO crash/retrieval (CR) cases, with a critical examination of the evidence and alternative explanations. The journal appears to lean towards a skeptical but open-minded approach, questioning sensational claims while acknowledging the need for rigorous investigation. There's a notable exploration of the possibility that some reported UFO phenomena might be misidentified terrestrial technology or deliberate misinformation campaigns. The editorial stance, as reflected in the reviews and the editorial itself, values thorough research but is not afraid to point out flaws in methodology or evidence, suggesting that the CR field, while intriguing, requires careful scrutiny and may not always point to extraterrestrial origins.

This issue, identified as number 12, focuses on unexplained phenomena, with a prominent cover headline "CLOUD OF MYSTERY." The content appears to be from the mid-1980s, given the references to publications and events.

Analysis of 'The Alien Hand' and Fossil Evidence

The article critically examines evidence presented for an "alien hand," specifically a sketch and prints from an unknown source. The author notes that the hand has four fingers, each with three phalanges, which deviates from typical reptilian (and specifically theropod dinosaur) hand structures. The phalangeal formula is described as 2:3:3:3:3, contrasting with the usual reptilian 2:3:4:5:4. The author finds this hand structure unconvincing and not reptilian in form, suggesting it's human bones modified to fit.

Further scrutiny is given to a photograph (p. 47) showing what is described as a right forelimb, rib cage, and another arm. Dr. A. J. Perzigian of the University of Cincinnati is quoted, but the author adds his own observations. The forelimb lacks visible joints, suggesting skin or flesh covering. It has three well-clawed digits, and the forearm is short relative to the upper arm. The rib cage is described as ape-like or anthropoid, indicating a narrow and deep thorax. The author suggests the specimen resembles the forefoot of a pangolin (Manis) attached to an ape-like rib cage, proposing it's a fabrication where a pangolin forelimb was prepared to look like an alien artifact.

The author expresses skepticism about the authenticity of this evidence, particularly the absence of limb girdle bones, which are essential for limb attachment and muscle function, despite the caption suggesting otherwise. The author concludes that while alien anatomy might differ, it's unlikely to violate fundamental laws of mechanics.

UFO Reports and Skepticism

The issue discusses UFO reports, including one from Big Springs, Texas, in 1968. The author expresses doubt about the veracity of many such stories, suggesting that some might be misidentifications of conventional aircraft, such as drones or advanced spy planes like the Blackbird or SR-71. The author references articles on aircraft performance and electronic warfare to support this view. Crashes of such advanced craft could potentially explain some UFO reports.

The author shares personal anecdotes illustrating how easily people can misperceive and misdescribe objects, even common ones, drawing parallels to museum curators dealing with inaccurate public descriptions of animals. This leads to a general skepticism about the reliability of many UFO reports, particularly those presented in the volume being reviewed.

The 'Cloud of Mystery' Incident

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a mysterious atmospheric event on April 9, 1984. A gigantic mushroom-like cloud was observed by the crews of three commercial airliners off the coast of Japan. The cloud rapidly rose from stratiform clouds at about 4 km to an altitude of about 18 km within approximately two minutes, expanding to a diameter of about 300 km.

Initial suspicions of an explosion, possibly a nuclear submarine, were dismissed as no fireball or flash was observed, and aircraft instruments did not behave abnormally. Hydrophone detectors at Wake Island recorded no explosion-like phenomenon, although seismic shocks were detected near Iwo Jima. Wind condition studies ruled out natural explanations for the cloud's position. Investigators concluded the source was either an unknown natural phenomenon or a man-made atmospheric explosion. The energy required for such a rapid and contained expansion was considered beyond current terrestrial technology.

The event is compared to the Tunguska incident in terms of energy magnitude and is suggested to be incorporated into ufology for investigation.

Aboard a Flight Near Minsk

Another account describes an event on a Tu-134 flight near Minsk. At 4:10 a.m., about 120 km from Minsk, the crew observed a yellow speck that emitted a ray of light, which then transformed into bright cones of light. The object was estimated to be 40-50 km above the ground. The phenomenon evolved, with multiple cones appearing, and the object was described as approaching the plane with enormous speed before stopping. It then moved erratically, eventually settling opposite the plane, appearing like a 'cloud-plane' with yellow and green lights.

The air traffic controller in Minsk could not detect anything on radar but later reported seeing flashes of light on the horizon. The object was described as having a 'tail' resembling a water-spout, transforming into a comma shape, then an elliptical and later a four-corner-shaped cloud. It was observed to mimic the plane's movements and was described as flying at 800 km per hour, ten thousand meters above the ground. Small lights sparkled inside the cloud, and fiery zigzags were seen. The navigator continuously reported the events.

Letter to the Editor

A letter from Hilary Evans critiques a reviewer's negativity towards Cynthia Hind's book "UFOs - African Encounters." Evans defends Hind's work, highlighting the difficulties of investigation in Africa due to vast distances and scattered populations, and the cultural differences in communication. Evans acknowledges potential shortcomings but credits Hind for providing a first-hand report from Africa, suggesting that a more effective investigative network would lead to better-documented findings.

Bibliographies and Recurring Themes

The issue includes extensive bibliographies on various topics, including Ball Lightning (Part 4), UFOs (Book Extracts and Journal Articles), Cryptozoology (American Bigfoot, Lake & Coastal Serpents, Yeti), Artificial Intelligence, Cosmic Chemistry, Extra-Solar Planetary Systems, SETI/CETI, Archaeological Mysteries, and Terraforming. These bibliographies suggest a broad interest in scientific and pseudoscientific topics related to unexplained phenomena, space exploration, and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs, mystery clouds), the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, and the intersection of science with speculative topics like cryptozoology and advanced technology. There is a clear editorial stance of critical examination, particularly regarding physical evidence presented for extraordinary claims, as seen in the analysis of the 'alien hand' and fossil specimens. While acknowledging the possibility of genuine unexplained events, the authors often lean towards skepticism, suggesting misidentification, fabrication, or the need for more rigorous scientific investigation. The extensive bibliographies indicate a commitment to providing readers with resources for further research across a wide spectrum of related subjects.

This document is a page from the magazine 'Trud', issue number 20, focusing on a detailed account of a UFO sighting. The primary narrative describes an encounter involving a TU-134 aircraft and air traffic controllers in the Soviet Union.

The Tallin UFO Sighting

The article begins with the observation of an 'enormous cloud-plane' by a TU-134 crew, initially unnoticed by Minsk controllers. The Leningrad crew, alerted to the phenomenon, eventually saw it. The TU-134 crew, including a pilot named Cherkashin, speculated that the object's light might have been polarized. The object was observed passing over Riga and Vilnius, with air traffic controllers in those cities also sighting the 'strange tandem.'

Further details emerge from the observation near Pskovskoe and Chudskee lakes. The TU-134A aircraft was flying to the left of the cloud-plane, which was nearer to Tartu. The object's length was estimated to be equal to that of Pskovskoe lake. The flight continued jointly up to Tallin.

A Tallin flight controller reported that the airport's radar tracking station showed two additional, constant images on the monitor, moving slowly, while the Tu-134A's image appeared and disappeared repeatedly. The controller expressed disbelief, stating that such behavior was impossible on a scanning locator.

Expert Commentary by N. A. Zheltukhin

N. A. Zheltukhin, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences and v-chairman of the All-Soyuz Scientific-Technical Organisation's Commission for Anomalous Phenomena, provides commentary. He notes that while the commission regularly researches UFO cases, many reports suffer from vagueness. However, the Tallin crew's observations, investigated by the Estonian section of the commission (including I. Volke and E. Parvo), are considered particularly interesting.

Zheltukhin highlights the object's anomalous characteristics: its instant reversal of direction and its descent from an enormous height with a 'light beam of unusual power.' He explains that the commission initially considered global atmospheric or geophysical processes but found this explanation untenable because the pilots could determine the object's distance. Therefore, the conclusion is that the Tallin crew encountered a UFO.

He emphasizes the value of this case due to the 'consecutive and detailed picture of the transformations of the unidentified flying object.' The information was gathered from oral descriptions and sketches made by G. Lazurin.

Call for Reader Submissions

The article concludes with a request for readers of 'Trud' newspaper to report any similar observations to the Commission for Anomalous Phenomena at the provided Moscow address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine 'Trud,' through this article, presents a serious and investigative approach to UFO phenomena. It highlights a specific, well-documented sighting and provides expert analysis from a scientific commission. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into anomalous phenomena, encouraging public participation and scientific investigation, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous analysis to distinguish genuine anomalies from misinterpretations or known phenomena.