Australian Flying Saucer Review - 1965 05 - no 3 VFSRS

Magazine Overview

Title: AUSTRALIAN flying saucer REVIEW
Issue: No. 3
Volume: VICTORIAN EDITION
Date: May, 1965
Publisher: Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society
Country: Australia
Price: 3/6

This issue of the Australian Flying Saucer Review, the Victorian Edition, is a non-profit, educational publication produced by the Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society. Its function is to collate and disseminate information about the subject of Flying Saucers or Unidentified Flying Objects (U.F.O.'s).

Office Bearers and Society Information

The issue lists the office bearers of the Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society (V.F.S.R.S.), including President Peter E. Norris LL.B., Vice-President & Program Officer Judith M. Magee, Secretary Sylvia Sutton, Treasurer Dorothy Farmer, Librarian Wendy Sutton B.A., Sighting Investigations Officer Geoff. Rumpf, Public Relations Officer Paul Norman, and Technical Advisor Harry Aitchison. Subscription rates are provided for full membership and for pensioners & juniors, with a separate price for a single copy of the magazine.

The society welcomes articles, letters, and news clippings, and requests all communications be addressed to V.F.S.R.S., P.O. Box 43, Moorabbin, Victoria. Material may be reproduced with appropriate credits, but contributions do not necessarily reflect the policy of the V.F.S.R.S.

Guest Editorial: E. N. Hall

E. N. Hall's guest editorial reflects on the advancements in human endeavor and the potential for future journeys into unknown dimensions. He expresses a passionate belief that humanity will emulate the flights of others in space, emulating the wonder inspired by Kenneth Arnold's first reported sighting. Hall posits that the splitting of the uranium nucleus 25 years prior opened up possibilities, and that today's scientists are sweeping the skies with instruments capable of detecting broadcasts from distant stars. He frames the magazine's message as a call to welcome 1965 with hope for mankind, believing humanity's destiny lies among the stars rather than in war. He urges readers to contribute to peace, seeing it as a path to incalculable rewards.

Australian U.F.O. Conference

The first Convention of Australian UFO groups was held in Ballarat, Victoria, from February 26th to 28th, 1965. Major Australian Societies were represented, and delegates presented papers on UFO research. A notable attendee was Mr. B. G. Roberts, the R. A. A. F. Senior Research Scientist, who stated that the R. A. A. F. possessed no positive evidence of UFO existence, claiming one photograph presented was a hoax. Roberts offered no enlightenment when questioned about the famous Drury 16mm film. Highlights included an eyewitness account of UFO activity in Gippsland by Mr. Charles Brew and a presentation of Reverend Gill's sighting by Reverend Canon Cruttwell. Air Marshal Sir George Jones, who had personally sighted a UFO in 1957, expressed skepticism at the R. A. A. F.'s claims to explain UFOs as misidentified phenomena. The convention concluded with discussions leading to the formation of the Commonwealth Aerial Phenomena Investigation Organisation (C.A.P.I.O.), which will correlate UFO group work and handle public relations, aiming to speak with a unified voice and plan future annual conventions.

C.A.P.I.O. Office Bearers

The office bearers of C.A.P.I.O. elected at the convention are listed: President Mr. Peter E. Norris (Victoria), Secretary Mrs. Sylvia Sutton, Ass't. Secretary Mrs. Judith M. Magee, Vice Presidents Mr. Leslie Locke (West Australia) and Mr. Andy Tomas (N.S.W.), with a Treasurer to be selected by the Ballarat Astronomical Society. The convention organizers were the Ballarat Astronomical Society, with credit given to Mr. Howard Sloane and Mr. S. J. Cynzski.

Preparing for Contact with Space Travellers

A paper compiled by members of the Perth U.F.O. Society addresses the vital question: "HOW ARE WE, THE INHABITANTS OF EARTH, TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR CONTACT WITH SPACE TRAVELLERS?" The paper outlines eight points:

1. Assertion of Space Friends: Asserts that space visitors are appearing and are immeasurably superior to Earthlings.
2. Individual and Universal Consciousness: Emphasizes that individuals are part of a "Universal Consciousness" and should prepare to be welcomed into the "Galaxy of United Worlds" by practicing goodwill, adhering to the "Law of Right Human Relationship."
3. Personal Investigation: Calls for an investigation of a personal nature, addressing fear and the tendency to be ridiculed for accepting space people.
4. Eliminating Fear: Identifies fear as a barrier, often caused by a lack of knowledge of the unknown, and stresses that eliminating fear is the first step in preparation.
5. Broadening Minds: Challenges the past conception of Earth as the only place with life, urging a broadening of minds to the possibilities of life beyond our globe.
6. Integration and Wholeness: Describes a process of expanding from a single unit to become united with the universe, leading to freedom, peace, and love, and readiness to extend friendship.
7. Psychological Attitude: Highlights the need for a psychological attitude that accepts the abolition of doubts about self, space, and other hindrances to progress.
8. Understanding and Trust: Points out the lack of understanding and trust among humans, evidenced by numerous organizations that still foster antagonism, particularly regarding racial issues.

Further points (9-18) delve into the barriers of personalities and behavior, the difficulty of bridging gaps between different cultures (using examples like White Australians and Aboriginals, or comparing modern technology with past civilizations), the clash of values, the need for a gradual introduction of the UFO subject to the masses, and the importance of verifiable evidence. The paper questions the effect of a mass visitation and discusses telepathic and radio communications with space people, while also considering how educational programmes can be used effectively.

Quotes from Aircraft Manufacturers and Air Pilots

Several quotations are presented to support the idea of advanced craft from elsewhere:

• Louis Brequet (French Aircraft Manufacturer): "The discs use a means of propulsion different from ours. There is no other possible explanation flying saucers come from another world."
• William Lear (President, Lear Inc.): "I believe the flying saucers come from outer space, piloted by beings of superior intelligence."
• Pierre Clostermann (French Air Ace): "Flying saucers have an extra-terrestial origin. Neither Americans nor Russians are capable of constructing machines of this sort. The characteristics of the discs are clearly superior to present possibilities of science."

These quotes are used to argue that these craft must be made elsewhere, requiring a civilization of superior intelligence from other planets.

Potential Gains from Visitors

The article speculates on what the world might gain from these visitors, including advice on social problems and knowledge in mechanics, physics, science, and energy sources. It emphasizes that this knowledge can only be received by opening minds. The authors suggest that substantial evidence has been obscured and that governments should announce the reality of UFOs, treating the subject with respect and informing the public that UFOs are genuine and their controllers are friendly.

Government Secrecy and Public Reaction

The issue questions the government's policy of hedging or denying UFO information, posing hypothetical questions about the public's reaction to an announcement and the potential panic. It suggests that accurate newspaper reporting could help counteract secrecy. The effect of a mass visitation is considered, with evidence from Fatima and Washington cited, but the authors doubt a repeat without obvious behavioral change from humanity. They note that truthful statements about UFOs are often denied, hindering public preparation.

Educational Programmes and Book Review

Educational programmes using films, radio, and television are deemed effective if presented attractively with documented evidence, focusing on friendship and goodwill. The issue includes a book review of "He Walked the Americas" by L. Taylor Hansen, critiquing Ray Palmer's publication practices and suggesting the book is not about flying saucers but American Indian legends. The review also touches upon the mystery of L. Taylor Hansen's authorship, suggesting her brother may have written the stories.

Acknowledgments and Overseas Tapes

The society thanks the Australasian Post for favorable publicity following the Ballarat UFO Convention. They also acknowledge Mr. Joseph A. Myers for donating tape recordings to the society.

Obituaries and Letters

The issue notes the deaths of Mr. Waveney Girvan, a researcher and editor of the English Flying Saucer Review, and Mr. George Adamski, a controversial figure in the UFO world. The magazine welcomes letters and articles from readers, requesting they be typed, double-spaced, and on one side of the paper, with full name and address required for publication.

Sighting Reports

Australia:

• Victoria: A sighting on March 20, 1965, involved an object moving in an arc, pausing, and then disappearing, appearing as a yellow star. Another report from Mr. Langford of Ryde, N.S.W., describes eight "rockets" that stopped dead, hovered, and then flew off in perfect formation at incredible speed. This event was witnessed by about 30 people but not reported in the press.
• New South Wales: A report of a "Supersonic Pelican" photographed near Lake George.
• Moon Activity: Reports of a bright spot near the Moon observed by the public in Britain, and an object photographed from Melbourne making a semicircle around the Moon in seven minutes. Mr. Walter Jacobs photographed a glowing object near the Moon.

New Zealand:

• General: A flight of seven UFOs was tracked by a Quantas Electra aircraft and confirmed by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Administration, flying at an estimated 45,000 feet. Other sightings included lighted objects and a circular object with a blue centre and gold ring.
• Tauranga: Three UFOs appeared, described as circular, yellow, with a blue-green aura, and caused the local radio to go dead.
• Other Sightings: Reports from Mt. Eden (disc-shaped object with white light), Epsom (five bright yellowish-white lights rotating), Dunedin (twelve orange-colored objects in a vee formation), Bay of Islands (round object almost half the size of the moon), and Gisborne (object travelling at rapid speed).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the increasing evidence and public awareness of UFOs, the need for organized research and dissemination of information, and the crucial importance of preparing humanity for potential contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, advocating for the acceptance of UFOs as genuine phenomena and encouraging a shift away from fear and ridicule towards understanding and cooperation. The magazine champions the idea that humanity's future lies in space exploration and peaceful coexistence with other civilizations, urging a proactive approach to understanding and engaging with these visitors. There is a clear critique of government secrecy and a call for transparency and public education on the subject.

This document is a 'Stop Press' section from a publication, focusing on 'Most Recent Sightings' of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) in Australia. It presents two distinct reports, one from Victoria and one from Queensland, detailing specific encounters.

Victoria Sighting

The report from Victoria, dated April 25th, describes an event in Gruyere, located two miles north of Seville. Two men were pruning fruit trees when they observed what they described as a circular metallic object flashing in the sunlight. The sighting occurred approximately two miles east, over the Yarra Valley. The object was visible for several seconds against a backdrop of mountains. Before disappearing behind a hill, the object reportedly changed its shape to hemispherical and its color to a dull grey.

Queensland Sighting

The second report comes from Queensland and features Mr. Jim Tilse, identified as a commercial pilot and the licensee of the Retreat Hotel near Mackay. Mr. Tilse recounted an incident where a 'flying saucer' type machine 'buzzed' his hotel and remained in the vicinity for 40 minutes. He estimated the object to be about 30 feet across and noted it had a bank of floodlights in front, a large black disc on top, and three legs extending from its base. The following day, physical evidence was discovered in the form of scorch marks, and some trees appeared to have been scorched. Further investigation into this incident is ongoing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The 'Stop Press' format suggests a focus on timely and significant events within the UAP/UFO community. The inclusion of two distinct sightings from different Australian states indicates an effort to cover a broad geographical area. The reports emphasize observational details, witness testimony (including that of a pilot), and physical trace evidence, aligning with common themes in UFOlogy. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these events as credible accounts requiring further investigation, as indicated by the concluding sentence of the Queensland report.