Australian U.F.O. Bulletin

Magazine Overview

Title: Australian U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue Date: September 1971
Publisher: Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Country of Publication: Australia
Price: 20 cents

This issue of the Australian U.F.O. Bulletin is primarily dedicated to a paper presented by the late Professor James E. McDonald, a leading atmospheric scientist from the United States, at the 134th Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on December 27, 1969. The bulletin also includes a reprinted account of a UFO sighting and notices to members.

SCIENCE IN DEFAULT: 22 Years of Inadequate UFO Investigations

This section comprises the main content of the bulletin, featuring Professor James E. McDonald's critical analysis of UFO investigations conducted over the preceding 22 years, particularly by the U.S. Air Force. McDonald argues that despite continued public interest and concern, investigations have been "quite superficial" and scientifically inadequate. He contends that the problem has been mislabeled as "nonsense" by many scientists, obscuring the "real signal" within the numerous UFO reports.

McDonald identifies several key issues:

• Misidentification: While acknowledging that many reports involve misidentified natural or technological phenomena (planets, meteors, aircraft), he asserts that these easily explained cases have been disproportionately used to dismiss the residue of more significant reports.
• Scientific Default: He believes "Science is in default" for failing to conduct truly adequate studies of the UFO problem, which has aroused significant public concern.
• Reluctance to Report and Investigate: McDonald notes a widespread reluctance among the public to report unusual events and a similar reluctance among scientists to show serious interest, leading to credible witnesses being hesitant to come forward.
• Air Force Investigations: Official responsibility for UFO investigations rested with the Air Force since 1948. However, McDonald states that their interest waned after it became clear UFOs did not involve advanced foreign aircraft. He criticizes the Air Force's pattern of press reporting, which asserted that "the best scientific facilities" were used, while their investigations were, in his view, "almost meaningless" from a scientific standpoint.
• The Condon Report: Released in January 1968, the Condon Report is deemed "quite inadequate" by McDonald. He argues that it examined only a "tiny fraction" of puzzling UFO reports and its scientific argumentation was "wholly unsatisfactory." Despite conceding that over 30 of its 90 cases were unexplained, Dr. Condon's conclusion that further study was not justified is strongly contested.
• Examples of Inadequate Investigation: McDonald cites specific cases from the Condon Report that he believes were inadequately investigated, such as the Kirtland AFB incident (November 4, 1957), involving a wingless egg-shaped object observed hovering and departing at high speed. He notes that the primary witnesses, CAA tower observers, were not even contacted by the University of Colorado project team.
• Critique of the National Academy of Sciences: McDonald expresses concern that a panel of the National Academy of Sciences endorsed the Condon study without independent checking and with panel members lacking significant prior investigative experience in the area. He fears this endorsement will ultimately prove an embarrassment to the Academy.
• Call for New Studies: Despite the negative influence of the Condon Report, McDonald insists that new and more extensive UFO investigations are needed to bring the phenomenon to light.

McDonald also mentions that the society has been in contact with professional scientists who have shown keen interest, and plans to publish excerpts from their papers, including those of Professor Hermann Oberth, a co-designer of the V2 rocket and an early proponent of UFO research.

UFO OCCUPANTS SEEN NEAR HOSPITAL

This section reprints an account from the Canadian UFO Report detailing an encounter experienced by a Miss Kendall and Mrs. Wilson. Miss Kendall describes seeing two figures, described as "fine, tall, well-built men" dressed in tight-fitting suits, inside a craft that appeared to be tilting. She observed an instrument panel and noted the craft began to circle slowly anticlockwise after one of the figures manipulated a lever. The figures' faces were obscured by dark material, but their flesh appeared human-like. The account emphasizes Miss Kendall's intense curiosity and lack of fear during the encounter.

Notices to Members

This section provides information on upcoming events and resources:

• October General Meeting: Scheduled for Friday evening, October 8th, at 8:00 p.m. in Melbourne. The feature will be the screening of the films "Apollo 9" and "Apollo 12."
• Annual General Meeting: Scheduled for Friday evening, November 12th, at 8:00 p.m. in Melbourne. Elections for committee positions will be held.
• UFO Symposium Booklet Available: The Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation (APRO) in Tucson, Arizona, is offering printed transcripts of the Eastern and Western UFO Symposiums for sale at a "minimal" price.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the perceived scientific inadequacy and neglect of the UFO problem. The editorial stance, as represented by Professor McDonald's paper and the publication itself, is one of strong advocacy for rigorous, scientific investigation into UFO phenomena. There is a clear critique of official reports and scientific bodies that have downplayed or dismissed the issue. The publication aims to bring attention to significant cases and the need for serious scientific inquiry, positioning itself as a platform for such discussions and a conduit for information from interested scientists.