Australian UFO Bulletin - 1957 12 - December - vol 1 no 3

Magazine Overview

Title: U.F.O. BULLETIN
Issue: Vol 1, No 3
Date: December 1957
Publisher: U.F.O. Investigation Centre, Sydney, Australia

This issue of the U.F.O. Bulletin, dated December 1957, marks the arrival of the "Space Age" with the race to the moon between Russia and America. The editorial suggests that increased interplanetary activity might lead to more UFO visitations to Earth, possibly due to superior alien technology or concern over humanity's "conquest of space." The bulletin highlights the growing importance of UFO investigation groups worldwide and features several key articles.

Editorial Stance

The editorial emphasizes the significance of the current "Space Age" and the potential for increased UFO activity. It stresses the importance of UFO investigation groups in uncovering the truth amidst governmental and public opposition. The editorial also introduces the issue's featured content, including an interview with Professor Hermann Oberth, an article on "Life in the Universe," and a report on Soviet reactions to UFOs.

Featured Articles and Content

Editorial

The editorial, dated December 1957, declares the "Space Age is HERE," noting the race to the moon and the potential for increased UFO activity. It posits that superior alien technology might be observing Earth, possibly due to concerns about humanity's "conquest of space." Recent reports of landings and mysterious radio transmissions are cited as supporting evidence. The editorial underscores the crucial role of UFO investigation groups and mentions the sighting by four astronomers at Mount Stromlo as an example of public interest in the phenomenon.

Professor Hermann Oberth Writes To Australia

This section features a "correspondence interview" with Professor Hermann Oberth, a renowned scientist and designer of the space rocket. Oberth, who advised the West German government on UFO investigations and is now involved in a U.S. Guided Missile project, believes UFOs are real and of "outer space origin." He is known as the "grand old man of space travel" and was instrumental in the development of the V2 rocket. Oberth was a founding member of the "Verein für Raumschiffahrt" (Society for Space Travel). His theories on escaping Earth's gravity have been recently supported by the Sputnik launches. He speculates that UFOs have been examining Earth for centuries and likely come from other solar systems. Oberth is also working on a research project utilizing light as a reactor power for propulsion, potentially enabling trips to Mars in a few hours. He expresses a belief in the reality of "flying saucers" and their cosmic origin.

In the interview, Oberth discusses the timeline for interplanetary travel, estimating manned satellites within 5-10 years and a trip to Mars in 15-25 years (around 1975). He finds it unlikely that the moon hosted prehistoric life. Regarding UFOs using the moon as a base, he believes they do not. He advocates for establishing a global High Court of Justice. Oberth considers some contactee reports valuable, particularly those of a lady with remarkable telepathic communications, whose insights he plans to publish upon retirement. He suggests these transmissions may come from beings intellectually and culturally far advanced. He also acknowledges the existence of unknown contactees who remain silent to avoid ridicule.

A Theologian and the Martians

This segment discusses a TV program, "The Burning Question," which debated "CAN MARTIANS BE CHRISTIANS?" Rev. Dr. Malcolm Mackay suggested that extraterrestrial life might not be morally or spiritually susceptible and may lack the capacity for intelligent life. The theologian stated that discovering extraterrestrial life would not be more disturbing to Christianity than finding an unknown tribe in New Guinea. The program raised questions about how "planetary tribes" with low brain capacity could build spaceships and whether humans are susceptible to morality and spirituality.

Two Observatories Watch UFOs

Four astronomers at the Commonwealth Observatory, Mount Stromlo (Canberra), observed a bright, pink object for eight minutes on November 8th, after tracking Sputniks. Dr. A. Przybylski noted its brightness, and Assistant Director Dr. A. R. Hogg stated it was the first time the observatory sighted what could be called an "unidentified flying object." On the same night, a young astronomer at the National Observatory at Toulouse sighted a mysterious, elliptical, canary-yellow object that sped, made turns, descended vertically, and vanished. Rough computations placed the Mount Stromlo object at not more than 1,600 miles above Earth.

A Word to the Sceptics

This section contrasts the observatory sightings with the views of Professor Richard Woolley, a convinced UFO sceptic and former Astronomer Royal, who dismissed space travel as "utter bilge." His views align with his predecessor, Sir Spencer Jones, who argued that the solar system lacks planets with intelligent life and that planets are too far away. The bulletin dismisses these astronomical views as potentially erroneous, comparing them to outdated theories about the Earth's shape.

Rays from a UFO?

On September 16th, Les McDonald (17) and Gladys Smith (14) reported seeing a red light in trees in Smithfield, which spread into a green mist, paralyzing them and giving them a warm glow. An investigation by the UFOIC suggested the observers were "frozen with fear" rather than experiencing suspended animation. Mrs. Camileri corroborated seeing a "coloured shower" at the same time. A recent story from Nebraska describes R.O. Schmidt encountering a spaceship on the ground, whose radiation stalled his car and a beam of light froze him. James Stokes, an Air Force engineer, reported a UFO affecting his car radio and stopping his car with heat wave-like radiation. Professor Oberth suggests these phenomena might be caused by unknown rays and paranormal powers used by UFO occupants.

New UFO Landings

Canada: Jack Stephens (15) observed a round, dome-topped object on July 30th that hovered near the ground. Its lower part was aluminium-coloured, the upper chromium. It made a throbbing sound, ascended vertically, and disappeared at high speed.

Brazil: Time magazine reported on a contact story involving Professor Guimaraes of Santos' Catholic University, who claims to have met "spacemen" and ridden in a flying saucer. The Dean of his Faculty vouches for his credibility.

Fiji: Two couples saw a round white object descend vertically, with a figure shining a bright light that dazzled them. The natives had not heard of "flying saucers."

America: Everett Clark (12) reported a long, round spaceship landing, from which two men and two women emerged speaking like "German soldiers." The ship took off silently. Imprints were found on the ground. R.O. Schmidt encountered a 100-foot long object on a river bank; its radiation stalled his car, and two men emerged, searched him, and invited him inside. They spoke English and German and mentioned a potential "ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE." Greenish oil was found at the site.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes the dawning "Space Age" and its potential connection to increased UFO activity. The editorial stance is pro-investigation, advocating for an open and unprejudiced analysis of the UFO problem, asserting that UFOs are "REAL and they are undoubtedly of OUTER SPACE origin." There is a clear respect for scientific opinion, particularly highlighting Professor Hermann Oberth's views, while also critiquing established astronomical skepticism. The bulletin actively collects and reports on various UFO sightings, landings, and alleged encounters from around the globe, presenting them as evidence that warrants serious consideration. The underlying theme is that humanity is on the cusp of significant discoveries, both in space exploration and in understanding phenomena beyond conventional explanation.

This issue of the Bulletin, published by the UFOIC, features a cover headline focused on 'LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE' with an accompanying article by Dr. M. Lindtner. The publication covers a range of topics related to UFO phenomena, scientific inquiry into the origin of life, and international reactions to UFO reports.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

Australian Sightings

The issue details several UFO sightings. In Yorkey's Knob, near Cairns, Queensland, cane farmers observed a brilliant silver object at night that descended onto a cane field, illuminating the surroundings before moving towards a farmhouse. One farmer, L.C. Robinson, believed the object was intelligently guided. The article notes that this sighting, along with American landings and a Fiji saucer sighting, occurred in the first week of November. Another report from Bathurst, N.S.W., describes numerous 'flying saucer' sightings on November 7th. In response, a Quantas Super Constellation aircraft was dispatched to search the skies. The object was later identified as the planet Venus by Ken Hatton of the UFO Investigation Centre Committee.

Soviet Reaction to UFOs

The article explores the Soviet Union's perspective on UFOs. It mentions Professor Kukarkin, a Russian astronomer, reportedly dismissing 'flying saucers' as 'war-mongering psychosis.' Radio Moscow announced that UFOs had never been sighted over Russian territory, with Victor Tomarev of the Moscow Planetarium claiming UFO stories were fabricated by the American press. David Zaslavsky of 'Pravda' suggested 'flying saucers' were American pirate planes. However, the article also presents a contrasting view, citing a favorable review of Donald Cram's book in a Soviet-Polish publication and two articles about Soviet reactions to UFOs released in Germany. An article in 'Neues Europa' (February 15th, 1955) allegedly sourced from the Academy of Space Research in Moscow, stated that UFOs are solid objects made of unknown material. These scientists reportedly believe 90% of 'flying saucers' come from Venus and predict landings on Earth in approximately thirty years, with UFOs using unknown energy forms and remotely controlled space stations. Professor Vladorov of Moscow, however, suggests an 'invasion' is unlikely before 1985. Another German publication, 'Neues Zeitalter' (April, 1955), reported an 'astrogram' message allegedly received from a UFO at Irkutsk, Siberia, which spoke of a landing in 15 terrestrial years for peaceful colonization. Soviet scientists, including Professor Sabayev and Doctors Vladiansky, Bornovkin, and Grabuyenkov, reportedly confirmed this as the 'first authentic message from a U.F.O.'

Life in the Universe and Scientific Outlook

The Origin of Life

Dr. M. Lindtner's article, 'LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE,' discusses the scientific attitude towards UFOs. He argues that science, by denying recognition of the UFO phenomenon, contradicts its own principle of requiring material evidence. The article traces the scientific understanding of life's origins, starting with the collapse of the spontaneous generation theory by Spallanzani and Pasteur. It explains how chemical analysis revealed organic compounds like hydrocarbons, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids as basic constituents that could not be produced in a laboratory, initially suggesting they must originate from living matter. The discovery of hydrocarbons in meteorites was initially interpreted as evidence of extraterrestrial life, but later research showed these could be produced under high temperature and pressure, decoupling them from living organisms. The article highlights how astronomy revealed hydrogen as the basic element in the universe, with other elements forming through internal atomic processes. It describes the condensation of primordial planetary matter, internal chemical reactions forming new compounds, and the early presence of simple organic compounds on Earth. Geological events and volcanic eruptions facilitated reactions between carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the primitive atmosphere, forming hydrocarbon molecules and primitive proteinic chains. These molecules in turbulent seas, interacting with dissolved minerals, led to innumerable combinations. The mathematics of probability suggests that with sufficient time and interaction, any possible combination could result. The article explains how molecular aggregates increased in size and complexity, leading to the first type of reproduction, similar to crystal formation. The Urey and Miller experiment in 1952 demonstrated the spontaneous generation of complex organic structures from simple elements using electric sparks, re-enacting early Earth conditions.

Scientific Hierarchy and UFOs

Dr. Lindtner criticizes the scientific hierarchy's attitude towards UFOs, suggesting it stems from either subjective conspiracy or philosophical immaturity. He argues that phenomena are only considered significant if related to the known environment, and UFOs will only be accepted as originating from extraterrestrial intelligence if intelligent life is demonstrated elsewhere. The article posits that science denies the possibility of planets in our solar system supporting intelligent beings and dismisses the possibility of physical communication with distant speculative planetary systems. Because UFOs exhibit characteristics of superior technological knowledge, science, by negating intelligent life nearby, lacks a framework to place them, leading to their dismissal or interpretation as ordinary phenomena. The author believes this attitude must change, as scientific reasoning parallels technological advancement.

The Nature of Life and the Universe

The article further explores the transition from inanimate to animate matter, referencing Professor Stanley's work suggesting that life itself can originate spontaneously under the right conditions. Experiments mixing amino acids and nucleic acid produced living, rod-like organisms. The author suggests that spontaneous generation applies to simple living matter, while advanced organisms are explained by evolutionary theory. He concludes that if matter is universal and life is its inherent quality, then similar life patterns must logically exist elsewhere in the cosmos under similar conditions. However, he acknowledges that current knowledge is limited to determine if Earth's life formation is unique or if other lines of life-building processes exist in the universe.

UFOIC Notes and Activities

UFOIC Annual Meeting

The UFOIC held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, November 6th, to elect 12 committee members. Miss J. Croser resigned as Secretary to continue her education. Mr. Mel Woods was nominated as Secretary for 1958. Dr. J. Greenwell (amateur astronomer) and Mr. T.W.S. Dutton (Chief Engineer and ufologist) were added to the committee. Dr. W.P. Clifford was re-elected President, Mr. A.P. Tomas was re-elected Vice-President, and Mr. Fred Phillips was nominated Vice-President and Public Relations Officer.

Lectures and Film Nights

UFOIC lectures are advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald and are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Esperanto Hall, Milson's Point. Dates for the first half of 1958 are listed: January 1st, February 5th, March 5th, April 2nd, May 7th, and June 4th.

NICAP

Major Donald Keyhoe is mentioned as the Director of the National Investigation Committee of Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) in Washington, D.C. Membership costs $7.50 per year, and an associated magazine is published.

Film Night

Another film night was held on Wednesday, December 4th, featuring two Soviet films, 'A Flight To The Moon' and 'The Universe.' An American 16 mm film on a similar subject is scheduled for future screening.

Compliments of the Season

The issue concludes with a seasonal greeting from the Editor, wishing readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, noting that Christmas is approaching.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and investigations, the scientific exploration of life's origins, and the potential for extraterrestrial life. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, critically examining scientific perspectives and presenting diverse international viewpoints, particularly from the Soviet Union. There is a clear interest in bridging the gap between scientific understanding and unexplained phenomena, encouraging a more receptive scientific outlook towards UFOs. The publication also actively promotes its activities, such as lectures and film nights, and encourages membership in related organizations like NICAP.