Australian Flying Saucer Review - 1960 01 - vol 1 no 1

Magazine Overview

Title: Australian Flying Saucer Review
Issue: Vol 1, No 1
Date: January 1960
Publisher: Amalgamates "UFORUM" (Victoria) & "UFO Bulletin" (N.S.W.)
Country: Australia
Language: English

This inaugural issue of the Australian Flying Saucer Review positions itself as a serious journal dedicated to the study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The editorial emphasizes that while many sightings can be explained by conventional phenomena, a small percentage remains inexplicable. It advocates for an open-minded examination of reports from reliable observers and suggests that, for lack of other explanations, some UFOs may originate from other worlds. The issue highlights progressive astronomical thought, including quotes from astronomer Frank Halstead and Soviet astronomer Dr. Felix Segal, who entertain the possibility of extraterrestrial visitors and space travel.

Key Articles and Features

Father William Booth Gill's New Guinea Sighting

The centerpiece of this issue is an extensive interview with Reverend Father William Booth Gill, an ordained priest in Papua, New Guinea. Father Gill, whose ecclesiastical and academic background lends credibility, recounts a series of extraordinary experiences with UFOs. He describes a sighting on June 21st, 1959, and subsequent observations from June 26th onwards. The object was described as solid, metallic, and brilliant white, changing to dull yellow or pale orange as it approached. It hovered, moved at speeds far exceeding conventional aircraft, and appeared to have four human-like figures on a deck. A shaft of blue light emanated from the object. Thirty-eight witnesses, including natives, observed the event. Father Gill also details attempts to signal the craft with a torchlight, which elicited a pendulum-like swing from the object.

The Port Moresby Film

This section discusses a strip of motion picture film containing ninety-four frames, taken by T.C. Drury, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Department in New Guinea, on August 23rd, 1953. The film allegedly corroborates Father Gill's sighting, showing a disk-shaped object emerging from a cloud, making abrupt right-angled turns, and ascending rapidly without speed reduction. Experts from the R.A.A.F. examined the film, noting its maneuverability. The film was reportedly in the possession of R.A.A.F. Intelligence and was considered unexplained.

R.A.A.F. Intelligence Investigating New Guinea Sightings

Correspondence between Peter E. Norris, President of the Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society (VFSRS), and the Directorate of Air Force Intelligence is presented. Norris formally inquired about any departmental investigations into Father Gill's claims and the nature of the objects. The R.A.A.F.'s response, dated October 15th, 1959, stated that while they had no official information, they were making enquiries.

The Lunar Probe and Life on Other Planets

This section explores recent developments in space exploration, particularly the Soviet Luna probes. It raises questions about whether the Moon is a dead planet and if cosmic visitors might use it as a base. Professor Walter Riedel and Dr. John Russell are quoted suggesting that Mars could be a source of UFOs, using the far side of the Moon as a staging platform. The article also touches upon the conditions necessary for life: suitable temperature, water, and atmosphere, noting Mars's similarities to Earth.

Space Invasion on the Agenda of United Nations

Portugal's delegate, Dr. Vasco Garin, addressed the United Nations, warning of the possibility of invasion by "aggressive warriors" from other celestial bodies, suggesting Earth's defenses would be inadequate. This is contrasted with the Soviet Union's apparent lack of concern about space threats, as exemplified by Frol Kozlov's comments on the 1908 Siberian meteor.

M.P.s Discuss Interplanetary Diplomacy

This segment covers discussions in the British House of Lords and the Australian Parliament regarding potential extraterrestrial contact and the risks associated with firing interspace rockets. Lord Fraser of Lonsdale inquired about government advice on sentient creatures in other worlds, with Lord Hailsham stating such communications were not part of the UK's space program. In Australia, Mr. W.F. Crabtree expressed concern about retaliatory attacks from superior beings if Earth continues indiscriminate rocket firings, linking UFO reports to the possibility of inhabited outer space.

Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society News

Updates from the VFSRS include the establishment of a statewide Victorian UFO Observer Corps to report sightings and disseminate information. It also announces a public meeting where Father Gill addressed approximately 230 attendees about his New Guinea experiences. Membership details and office bearers for the VFSRS are provided.

Russian Scientists Believe There Is Plant, Animal and Human Life on Mars

This article summarizes findings from L. Golosnitsky's book "Life on Other Worlds," highlighting the work of Soviet scientist Gabriel Adrian Tikhof. It explains the concept of astrobiology and the essential conditions for life: temperature, water, and atmosphere. The article concludes that Mars, in many respects, meets these criteria, suggesting the possibility of life there.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of UFO sightings, the possibility of extraterrestrial life and intelligence, and the implications of space exploration and potential contact. The editorial stance is one of open-minded inquiry into UFO phenomena, acknowledging the inexplicable nature of some reports while also considering scientific and astronomical perspectives on life beyond Earth. There is a clear emphasis on credible witness testimony and the need for official investigation into significant sightings, as exemplified by the focus on Father Gill's case and the correspondence with the R.A.A.F.

This issue of 'Worldgram', dated August 1959, delves into the scientific and speculative aspects of Mars and extraterrestrial phenomena. It explores the planet Mars, its climate, potential for life, and the intriguing 'canals', alongside reporting on numerous unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings from around the globe. The publication also touches upon the evolving role of the U.S. Air Force in space and introduces the nascent fields of astrobotany and astrobiology.

Mars: A Habitable World?

The magazine begins by comparing Mars to Earth, noting similarities in its day length and seasonal changes, but highlighting differences in temperature and atmospheric density due to Mars receiving less sunlight. It posits that Mars likely had a humid, hot climate in its past, conducive to the development of life, and that its surface may have once been volcanically active. The text discusses the challenges of observing Mars due to its distance and the Earth's atmosphere, introducing the use of light filters, pioneered by G.A. Tikhof, to enhance visibility and analyze surface details. These filters help distinguish between different colored formations, aiding in the identification of features like the polar caps (composed of ice and snow) and the orange 'continents' (sandy-clay plains).

The article addresses the presence of carbon dioxide in Mars' atmosphere, which is double that of Earth's and essential for plant life. It explores the possibility of vegetation on Mars, citing observations of 'seas' and 'canals' that exhibit seasonal color changes, often appearing greenish and bluish. Academician N. P. Barabashev is quoted, suggesting that these spots become green in spring, yellow in summer, and eventually turn greyish, with some remaining evergreen. This seasonal variation is likened to terrestrial vegetation.

A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the work of G.A. Tikhof, who theoretically removed objections to Martian vegetation. He proposed that Martian plants, adapted to Mars' severe climate and lower sunlight, must absorb a wider spectrum of solar energy, including infra-red rays. This would cause the 'seas' to appear dark on infra-red plates and their chlorophyll absorption lines to extend into the orange and yellow spectrum, making them invisible in the red. Consequently, Martian vegetation would reflect more of the cold rays, giving it a greenish-blue or bluish color. Tikhof's hypothesis was supported by expeditions studying plants in harsh terrestrial environments like the tundra and high mountains, which exhibited similar optical properties.

The concept of 'canals' on Mars is extensively discussed. While some scientists attribute them to natural faults or troughs, the article presents arguments against this, noting their regular arrangement, seasonal greening, and emergence with the thawing of polar ice. The hypothesis of artificial origin is favored, suggesting that intelligent inhabitants of Mars might have constructed a colossal system of 'canals' to collect and direct water from melting ice to arid regions, creating irrigated fields.

UFO Sightings and Astrobiology

• The 'Worldgram' section reports on several UFO sightings:
• A bright orange object seen at Woomera rocket range on July 20th, described as travelling horizontally and breaking into three parts.
• Four glowing objects over Broken Hill on July 21st, with a main object shedding smaller ones.
• A disk-shaped object sighted near Karumba, Northern Queensland, on July 8th by two doctors and two directors, exhibiting iridescent light and flying silently.
• A huge, glowing red object observed over Prince of Wales Island on the same night.
• Three 'disk-shaped flying objects' reported by radar at Moscow Airport on August 1959, flying at a high altitude.
• A cigar-shaped object seen over Melbourne on October 17th, described as large, glowing, and vanishing vertically.
• Thousands witnessing a bright light with a tail over Sydney, described as a disk with multiple jet exhausts.

The issue also notes that the U.S. Defense Department has named the Air Force as the official Space Force, responsible for all space transport and rocket development. The birth of astrobotany and its evolution into astrobiology is highlighted, emphasizing the scientific pursuit of life beyond Earth.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the possibility of life on other planets, particularly Mars, through scientific observation and theoretical reasoning. There's a strong emphasis on the work of scientists like G.A. Tikhof in challenging conventional views and proposing new hypotheses based on detailed analysis. The reporting of UFO sightings suggests an open-mindedness towards unexplained aerial phenomena, treating them as credible events worthy of investigation. The editorial stance appears to be one of scientific curiosity and a willingness to consider extraordinary possibilities, grounded in the idea that the universe is vast and life may exist in forms and places not yet fully understood. The underlying theme is the exploration of the unknown, both within our solar system and in the broader cosmos, and the potential for life to evolve under diverse conditions.