Australian UFO Bulletin - 1971 08 - August

Magazine Overview

Title: U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue: August 1971
Publisher: VICTORIAN U.F.O. RESEARCH SOCIETY
Country: Australia
Price: 20 cents

This issue of the U.F.O. Bulletin, published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, reports a resurgence in UFO sightings across Australia. It highlights official investigations, explores scientific theories about atmospheric phenomena, and shares witness accounts.

Return of the UFOs

The lead article, "RETURN OF THE UFOS," states that UFO traffic has increased significantly after a period of fewer sightings. The article criticizes "officialdom" for attempting to dismiss sightings with inadequate explanations, such as a "natural gas burn-off" for an airline captain's sighting.

RAAF Report on UFOs

A report from Canberra details the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) investigations into UFO sightings. The RAAF has investigated approximately 70 UFO sightings in Australia over the past two years. A special report identified "possible causes" for most of these sightings. However, two specific sightings – one in Richmond, N.S.W., on May 14th, and another in Mildura, Victoria, on June 3rd – remain unexplained. The Richmond sighting involved a bright white-green-red object observed for 34 minutes, while the Mildura incident featured two small red lights followed by an object the size of a semi-trailer that rose vertically with a loud whistling noise.

The RAAF has also begun investigations into a recent spate of UFO sightings in the Australian Capital Territory (A.C.T.). An incident in Queensland on May 23rd involved an aircraft captain reporting a searchlight beam of great intensity 200 miles south of Townsville, which the RAAF could not explain but suggested might be a natural gas burn-off. Unusual sightings were also reported at Condobolin, N.S.W., on April 2nd, 9th, and 12th.

Kempsey Sightings and International Interest

The article "Haulage Contractors Sight Another UFO" from "The Macleay Argus" (June 1st, 1971) describes an incident at Willi Willi, west of Kempsey, N.S.W. Two haulage operators, Mr. John Clarke and Mr. John Arnold, reported seeing an unidentified white light within a larger light at 5:15 a.m. They described it as a small white light, similar to a car headlight, with a great red flash behind it, moving in a jerking manner without noise. The sightings in the Kempsey area have attracted international attention, with "Flying Saucer Review" requesting details. Miss Eileen Buckle, assistant editor of the magazine, suggested Kempsey has become an "ufocal" due to the frequency of sightings. The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society stated these sightings were "expected," following a report of a large cigar-shaped object over West Australia. The society also noted reports of large objects launching smaller ones, akin to an aircraft carrier launching planes.

"REPORTS MOUNT" section indicates that since April, over 20 reports of unidentified objects have been sighted over Kempsey and the Macleay valley, including locations like Greenhill, Collombatti, Willi Willi, Crescent Head, Temagog, South West Rocks, and Kempsey itself.

Dr. James E. McDonald Dies

The bulletin reports the sudden death of Dr. James E. McDonald, Professor of Meteorology at the University of Arizona, on June 13th, 1971. Dr. McDonald was a prominent opponent of official policies on UFOs and had visited Australia in 1967. The society expressed its loss of a friend and researcher.

Ball Lightning May Be Nuclear Reactor

An article adapted from January 1971 'SKYLOOK' discusses the phenomenon of ball lightning. Three Colorado scientists suggest in "Nature" magazine that ball lightning might be a natural nuclear reactor. They propose that intense thunderstorms could create a high concentration of isotopes of oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine, along with hydrogen protons, which could interact in a nuclear fashion to produce beta rays and positrons, causing the sustained glow and energy release observed.

Allen Hynek Attends UFO Convention

Professor Allen Hynek is quoted from a Midwest UFO Convention in June 1970, stating that UFOs are either "completely trivial" or "extremely important." He urged a focus on "greater specialization in obtaining hard core data" on the phenomenon. Hynek also noted that a growing number of serious scientific people are concerned about UFOs and maintained that 20% of reported sightings remain unexplained since 1948.

Reader's Letter: A Word About the Weather

A letter from Mrs. F.C. of Windsor expresses frustration with changing weather patterns, attributing them to scientists interfering with nature, possibly through "gas pipes" being put underground. She pleads for the world to be left as it was made.

"Keep an Open Mind" on UFOs: Restricted Textbook Section Advises Cadets at A.F. Academy

Cadets at the Air Force Academy are being advised to maintain an open mind about UFOs, according to a restricted 500-page notebook. A 14-page chapter written by Major Donald G. Carpenter notes that UFOs have been reported for nearly 50,000 years. While acknowledging a psychological explanation is possible, the book deems it "quite doubtful" due to reliable witnesses. It also considers "known and unknown phenomena" but suggests the "unpleasant possibility of alien visitors or at least alien-controlled UFOs." The chapter posits the existence of possibly three or four groups of aliens at different developmental stages, or intelligent life in other solar systems showing strong interest in Earth. The advice given is to "keep an open and skeptical mind."

UFO Occupants Seen Near Hospital

This section reprints an account from Canadian UFO Report about an incident on January 1st, 1970, near the Cowichan District Hospital on Vancouver Island. Nurses Doreen Kendall and Frieda Wilson reported observing a circular object hovering above the hospital. The object had a silvery, bowl-shaped bottom and a glass-like dome top, with a string of bright lights around its base. Inside, they saw two male-like figures. The account details the nurses' observations and their professional credibility.

Australian U.F.O. Symposium

An announcement details an upcoming symposium on UFOs organized by the South Australian Division of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science Inc. (ANZAAS) at the University of Adelaide on October 30th, 1971. The symposium aims to better inform scientists and laymen about the UFO subject, with topics including reported sightings, physical phenomena, and a scientist's perspective on the reality of the problem.

General Meetings and Tapes

Information is provided about the General Meetings of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, held on the second Friday of each month. The August 13th meeting will feature space and science films. The bulletin also lists available audio tapes of past General Meetings, available for borrowing for 25 cents per tape.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the increasing number of UFO sightings in Australia, the RAAF's official investigations and explanations (or lack thereof), and the scientific community's engagement with the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears critical of official dismissals and supportive of open-minded investigation, as evidenced by the coverage of Dr. McDonald's work and the Air Force Academy's advice to cadets. The publication also highlights international interest and the efforts of UFO research societies.