Australian Flying Saucer Review - 1972 12 - vol 3 no 5 VUFORS

Magazine Overview

Title: Australian Flying Saucer Review
Volume: 3
Issue: Number 5
Date: December 1972
Publisher: Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Country: Australia

This issue of the Australian Flying Saucer Review, published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, serves as a non-profit educational publication dedicated to collecting and sharing information on UFOs and Unidentified Flying Objects. The editorial highlights the 25th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's seminal 1947 sighting, acknowledging that UFO phenomena have been reported throughout history across various cultures. It expresses disappointment at the folding of many UFO organizations but emphasizes the society's commitment to disseminating knowledge and keeping the public informed, hoping that their published information might eventually lead to solving the great enigma.

Office Bearers

The publication lists the office bearers of the V.U.F.O.R.S., including Peter E. Norris (President), Judith M. Magee (Vice President), William Tarplee (Secretary), Clive Yates (Treasurer), and others responsible for investigations, public relations, and library services.

Subscription Rates and Contributions

Subscription rates for Full Membership and Pensioners/Juniors are provided, along with overseas membership details. The Review welcomes articles, letters, and news clippings, with all communications to be addressed to the V.U.F.O.R.S. P.O. Box 43, Moorabbin, Victoria 3189. Contributions published do not necessarily reflect the policy of the V.U.F.O.R.S.

Contents

The issue features a diverse range of articles:

• UFOS OVER AND UNDER THE SEA UP NORTH with one caught in the security net! (A Queensland Bureau report)
• ARE UFOS BEHIND THE GAS EXPLOSION SYNDROME? by F.W.H. Wilks
• ACTIVITY OVER TASMANIA 1971. compiled by the Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre
• PRESS CLIPPINGS.
• MOUNT AIRY'S OWN UFO ENIGMA PUZZLES MANY (1947-1972). by G.D. Fawcett
• THE MERRICKS INCIDENT. as reported to the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
• REVIEWING... (book reviews by Michael McNamara).

UFOS OVER AND UNDER THE SEA UP NORTH WITH ONE CAUGHT IN THE SECURITY NET!

This section details a Unidentified Submarine Object (USO) sighting in Goodenough Bay in April 1970, reported by Mr. Albert Robins. A brilliant, self-luminous, cigar-shaped object, estimated at 80 feet long, emerged from the water and paced a coastal boat for four minutes before descending. The report also touches upon the 1959 sightings by Father Gill near Goodenough Bay and mentions the 1965 Bougainville Reef incident involving an unidentified craft that buzzed an ANSETT-ANA airliner. This incident was reportedly met with a security net, with official denials and a lack of acknowledgment from the airline.

ARE UFOS BEHIND THE GAS EXPLOSION SYNDROME?

Written by F.W.H. Wilks, this article investigates a potential link between UFOs and a series of unusual gas explosions. Mr. Barry Taylor's research plotted a pattern of explosions, leading to enquiries with the New South Wales Fire Department and the Commonwealth Industrial Gases Limited (C.I.G.). The article notes that while C.I.G. had no prior knowledge of UFO sightings coinciding with gas explosions, they did mention that gases like ammonia, town gas, and propane are flammable and require an ignition source, with electromagnetic energy being a potential catalyst. The author also references incidents like the Apollo 13 gas explosion and the Apollo 16 spaceship explosion, suggesting a possible connection to unexplained phenomena.

ACTIVITY OVER TASMANIA - 1971

This section, compiled by the Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre, presents several sightings from Tasmania in 1971. These include:

• CAR PACED AT CETHANA: On May 23, 1971, Mr. L.J. Riley reported a round, coal-red object pacing his vehicle for about 15 minutes.
• BELL-SHAPED UFO SEEN AT BRIGHTON: On June 19, 1971, Mr. G. Purcell witnessed a stationary, bell-shaped object, approximately 15 feet high and 20 feet across, hovering over a paddock before ascending rapidly.
• THE DECEMBER FLAP: Starting on December 3, 1971, a series of sightings occurred, including saucer-shaped objects, yellow-orange objects, rocket-like UFOs, and elongated white objects. One notable case, the 'Lachlan Case', involved a long sighting of a disc-like object.

MISSILES FIRE ON HANOI UFO

This report from Hanoi describes a mysterious spherical, luminous orange object appearing in the sky, which attracted missile fire from the ground but remained motionless. The missiles were unable to reach the object, suggesting it was at a very high altitude. One theory proposed was that it was a new type of observation balloon.

Mystery flying object lights sky over Gippsland

This article details sightings of a strange, brilliantly colored object over South Gippsland, described as blue and silver red-rimmed, and later as a silver circular shape. The object was classified as 'inexplicable' by the RAAF and was observed to hover and then shoot away with frightening speed. Witnesses included police officers and residents, with one report mentioning a 'dazzling blue cloud of light with a cone-shaped object in the middle'.

UFO PROBE ON T'GON "LIGHT"

This brief report mentions John Dixon of Whittakers Rd, Traralgon, witnessing a bright light near the Maffra railway overpass. The object was described as having red lights and a blue spear-shaped light on top, and it moved slowly across the sky before hovering and then ascending rapidly.

Sale woman sees a UFO

Mrs. Val Bland of Sale reported seeing an illuminated object described as a 'dome of lights' moving at high speed. This sighting followed others by local policemen and RAAF members in the Sale and Traralgon areas.

MOUNT AIRY'S OWN UFO ENIGMA PUZZLES MANY (1947-1972)

Authored by G.D. Fawcett, this extensive report details UFO sightings in Mount Airy, North Carolina, over a 25-year period. It highlights the similarity of these encounters to those reported globally, with witnesses from diverse professions. The article notes that while many sightings have logical explanations, a significant portion remains unexplained. It also points out that only about 10% of people who see UFOs report them due to fear of ridicule or censorship. The report includes numerous specific cases, such as a bluish-green blunted cigar-shaped UFO, a large white UFO descending from great height, and a cigar-shaped object with a revolving yellow light that left a physical trace.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Recurring themes in this issue include the persistence of the UFO enigma, the challenges of official recognition and potential cover-ups, the variety of object shapes and behaviors reported, and the importance of witness testimony. The editorial stance of the Australian Flying Saucer Review and the V.U.F.O.R.S. is one of diligent research, information dissemination, and a commitment to understanding the phenomenon, even if a definitive solution remains elusive. The publication encourages public reporting and aims to contribute to the global effort to unravel the mystery of UFOs.

This issue of the Australian Flying Saucer Review, published by the Victorian UFO Research Society, focuses on a specific sighting in Australia and includes reviews of significant books in the UFO and related fields. The magazine's character is that of a dedicated research publication, aiming to document and analyze UFO phenomena.

The Merricks Incident

The primary article details the "MERRICKS INCIDENT," which occurred in Merricks, Victoria, on Friday, June 16, 1972, between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m. The witness, Bill Meerton, observed a dull metallic object, approximately 30 feet long and 15 feet high, hovering about 200 yards from his house. The object emitted thirty orange lights that illuminated the surroundings. Meerton reported a strong wind that blew his door open and bent pine trees. The object's noise was described as sounding like a "Mix-master," causing his cows to become berserk. The sighting lasted about a minute and a half, during which three blue lights were seen either above or below the object as it rose and disappeared at high speed in a westerly direction. The night was described as still, fine, and starry, with no clouds or moon. The terrain was flat pastureland with bordering hills, situated a few miles from the Flinders Naval Depot and the training academy at Crib Point. No physical evidence, such as burn marks or disturbed ground, was left behind. An unusual effect noted was that the witness's TV and radio reception became non-existent during the sighting, and he felt calm while the object was present but scared afterward. Meerton believes the object was occupied.

Review: Passport to Magonia by Jacques Vallee

This section reviews Jacques Vallee's book, "Passport to Magonia," with the subtitle "From Folklore To Flying Saucers." The reviewer, Michael McNamara, notes that the book draws a direct connection between folklore and flying saucers, similar to John Michell's "The Flying Saucer Vision," but focuses heavily on fairy lore and humanoid material. McNamara highlights that the book lends new credibility to the Rogle River Pancake incident and the Betty and Barney Hill abduction case. A particularly enlightening section is Chapter 9, "Daemonialitas," which McNamara believes will convince readers that the Church possesses more knowledge than it reveals. A significant criticism is leveled at the English edition published by Neville Spearman Ltd. for omitting the appendix that contains reference notes for the last chapter, thus losing the impact of two-thirds of the chapter. The reviewer contrasts this with the American edition, which includes photographs, an index, and the appendix, though it is more expensive. McNamara commends Thomas C. Lothian Pty. Ltd. for their efforts in promoting the book and donating a copy.

Review: A Dweller on Two Planets by Phylos

Another review by Michael McNamara discusses "A Dweller on Two Planets" by Phylos, published by Neville Spearman Ltd. McNamara describes the book as spiritually uplifting, whether read as fact or fiction. The book is divided into three parts, each telling a complete story. The first book follows a man named Zailym, a citizen of Atlantis. The second concerns Walter Pearson and the history of Mt. Shastra. The third book revisits Atlantis. The reviewer notes that the book deals with reincarnation and describes it as far from a typical book on the subject, especially considering it was copyrighted in 1894 and published in 1899, predating many of the inventions mentioned. These inventions include the electric cable car, changing matter by altering atomic structure, nuclear power, anti-gravity propulsion (likened to cigar-shaped UFOs), X-rays, television, and lasers. The constellation of the Pleiades is mentioned as being inhabited. McNamara recommends the book to scientists and engineers for its illuminating insights that could lead to new inventions and concepts of existence. He also suggests that others in the Society should read it for mental and spiritual growth, especially during stressful times.

Activity Over Tasmania 1971

This brief report mentions a sighting from December 26, 1971, of a low-flying object moving across the sky near Margate, Tasmania. The publication, TUFOIC, states it will print further details in a future news-sheet.

Letters to The Editor

This section indicates that letters should be sent to the Australian Flying Saucer Review at P.O. Box 43, Moorabbin, Victoria, 3189, Australia, and that unless specified, all comments will be considered for publication.

Recommended References

The magazine lists several recommended references for UFO research, including publications from NICAP, the U.S. Congressional Hearings, Air Force Projects Grudge and Blue Book Reports, Captain Edward J. Ruppelt's "Report on UFOs," Dr. Edward U. Condon's "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects," and Dr. J. Allen Hynek's "The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting of specific UFO sightings (The Merricks Incident, Activity Over Tasmania) and the critical review of literature that explores UFO phenomena, mythology, and spiritual concepts (Passport to Magonia, A Dweller on Two Planets). The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of UFO reports, coupled with an open-minded approach to exploring related historical, mythological, and spiritual connections. The publication also serves as a platform for reader contributions and provides resources for further research.