Australian UFO Bulletin - 1975 11 - November

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, dated November 1975, is a publication of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society. It details a significant conference of Australian UFO researchers and presents a collection of recent UFO sightings and related investigations from Australia and internationally.

Australian Researchers Meet at Terrigal

The main feature of this issue is a report on the "UFO CONFERENCE ONE" held in Terrigal, N.S.W., from October 4-6, 1975. Twenty-two researchers from five states attended this three-day conference, arranged jointly by UFO Research (SA) and the Centre for UFO Studies - Australian Co-ordination Section. The conference was not open to the public and was designed as a meeting for delegates to plan ways of achieving co-ordination and co-operation among Australian investigators. Representatives from VUFORS included secretary Ray Fischer, assistant librarian Les Bristol, and research assistant Michael McNamara.

Conference chairman Keith Basterfield of UFORSA, in his opening address, conveyed best wishes from Dr. J. A. Hynek, director of CUFOS. Mr. Basterfield noted that the RAAF had declined an invitation to have a representative attend. He expressed hope that the conference would usher in a new era of co-operation, addressing past internal problems within UFO groups attributed to personality clashes and distance.

Following initial talks summarizing the history and activities of major organizations, several papers were presented. Dr. Don Herbison-Evans, a physicist, discussed the use of diffraction gratings in UFO photography and the gathering of spectral data. Paul Jackson of the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre presented "TUFOIC 10 Years of Investigation," detailing TUFOIC's inception in 1965 and its active early history, stimulated by visits from Dr. James McDonald in 1967 and Dr. Hynek in 1973.

Important: Increased Subscription Rates

The Committee announced increased subscription rates due to rising general costs, particularly the substantial increase in postage, which would almost double the Society's mailing expenses. The new annual fees, effective immediately, are $5.00 for Australian adult members and $3.00 for pensioners and juniors. Overseas members will pay US$5.00.

UFO Conference Discussions and Recommendations

Page 2 details further discussions and recommendations from the conference. Dr. Geoff Stevens presented on the analysis of physical trace case histories, including investigations of a metallic fragment, a ground deposit, and ground "rings," noting that fungus activity was the cause of the latter. Michael Smyth and David Buching of Sydney UFOIC discussed "UFO Investigation Procedure," highlighting sources of error in witness perception and investigation systems, and emphasizing the need for standardized collection processes and investigator training. They also suggested pursuing second-hand reports to increase the number of incoming reports.

Ray Fischer of VUFORS outlined five areas for future research: physical traces, photographic and radar evidence, witness interviews, anthropological/archaeological studies, and statistical research. It was suggested that Centre methods could aid in compiling an Australian catalogue of cases for statistical studies. Publicity involving qualified scientists was seen as a way to overcome skepticism. A national journal was proposed for keeping organizations updated and for a continuous catalogue.

Noel Barron of Qld. UFO Research Bureau spoke on "UFO Detectors," discussing magnetic field changes and a detector linked to a movie camera that was triggered by such changes.

Bill Chalker discussed "UFO Flaps - A Context For Scientific Study," noting science's historical neglect of UFO phenomena due to a lack of repeatable observations and inflexibility. He suggested documenting "flap" areas and encouraging scientific engagement. He cited Tully (1966), mid-north SA (1960s), and the New England area of NSW (1972-73) as examples of areas with repeated cases.

David Seargent of ACOS presented "Smoke or Fire," outlining three approaches to studying UFO events: physical traces, witness examination, and the event area. He noted that unusually large numbers of UFO reporters in one study were deep trance hypnotic subjects, suggesting a line of research into the correlation between UFO experiences and psychic experiences.

Dr. Ralph Molnar discussed "UFOs and the Philosophy of Science," likening UFOs to anomalies that challenge established scientific views and may require a reconstruction of old views. He suggested that a mechanism for UFO phenomena might encourage scientific investigation.

Colin Phillips of QUFORB provided guidelines for "Public Liaison and UFOs," emphasizing a businesslike approach, newsletters, and public lectures to promote the subject.

Informal discussion sessions covered:
1. Resources for physical trace analysis: ACOS would investigate computer programs used in the USA and update the investigation guide. Dr. Stevens offered assistance in metallurgy, and Frank Gillespie offered to look at photographic material.
2. Information sharing: Groups should maintain newsletters, exchange copies of slides, pictures, movies, and reports, and consider expanding the ACOS Bulletin.
3. Improving status with science: Presenting the subject as needing scientific examination, encouraging constructive publicity, and attacking negative elements were key points. Recognition is expected with the passage of time.
4. Active data collection: Proposing teams to investigate "flap" areas for protracted stays and predicting areas likely to produce cases.
5. Appointment of individuals for specific UFO encounters.
6. Participation in close encounter catalogue updating: Bill Chalker and Keith Basterfield are working on an Australian catalogue and welcome contributions.
7. Establishing a quality magazine for Australia: Discussion favored a magazine for general circulation.
8. Publishing known cases: Catalogues of various types should be used, and a journal could update them.
9. Standardized report form: A single report form for all Australian groups was well received, and an individual was appointed to design one.
10. UFOCON 2: Unanimously decided to be held in Mt. Gambier, SA, in October 1976.

The chairman concluded that the conference had been successful in gathering information and ideas, despite some minor organizational issues.

UFO Observation with Movie Film Confirmation

This section details a sighting on Sunday, June 15, 1975, by three witnesses travelling north on the Hume Highway. They observed a spindle-shaped object, described as a distinct fluorescent light tube, glowing dull orange or yellow, hovering at about 30 degrees elevation. The object rotated its long axis from vertical to horizontal over a couple of minutes. A second, larger object appeared, and both moved across the road, maintaining a distance apart. One witness filmed one of the objects for 20-30 seconds. The objects then moved further away and disappeared. The film, shot with a Super Alstar 8 mm movie camera, clearly shows a luminous spindle-shaped object. Technical consultants are examining the film, and initial impressions suggest it is not a vapour trail. The witnesses reported no physiological reactions or effects on the car's functioning.

East Burwood Phenomenon

A Melbourne man reported multiple UFO observations in the East Burwood area. The witness, described as academically qualified and rational, reported seeing "lights in the sky variety" that he dismissed as aircraft. The most striking observation occurred on May 31, at about 6 p.m., where a huge, fully lit phenomenon descended below cloud level over the Channel '0' TV Station. It performed two extraordinary manoeuvres of sharp angle turns without arc, then suddenly disappeared. The phenomenon had masses of brilliantly lit, porthole-like windows. The witness was convinced it was a UFO due to the sharp angle manoeuvres, including a 120-degree turn and a rapid ascent. A sketch of the object's movement is included.

July Lights in the Sky

This section reports on several sightings from July 1975. Many reports from the Shepparton-Kyabram area were attributed to the planet Venus. An incident at Maldon on July 21 was also likely Venus. However, other cases are described:

• July 19, 6:30 p.m.: A witness driving along Melcombe Road, Ivanhoe, saw two lights rotating around a common centre and travelling west. The object appeared below the clouds, and the witness described a vague saucer outline with white lights rotating around the rim and a red dome-type top light. The lights rotated around each other, and the experience lasted about two minutes. The witness contacted Tullamarine Airport and found no aircraft had landed recently.
• July 21, Kyabram: Mrs. H. Tinkler reported a "red blurry thing" moving from the west towards the north east, described as reddish with a red flame coming off its side.
• July 21, Maldon: A similar sighting to Mrs. Tinkler's was made by another witness.
• Night after Mrs. Tinkler's sighting: Three members of John Brown Industries Kyabram claimed they were followed by a UFO.
• July 21 or 22, Clunes: A witness reported a pulsating, soundless, oval object hovering in the north east, described as yellow at the base, pale green, and white at the top. It was stationary for five minutes, then took off level with the horizon too fast to estimate. The witness felt afraid, believing they were being observed.
• July 25, early morning, Melbourne: Two witnesses reported a "twin light" phenomenon passing overhead, described as two bright white lights maintaining a constant distance apart. One light had a slight intermittent pulsation. They were sure it was not related to the Apollo flyover.

UFO Sightings are Continuing

• Reports from Maryborough (Qld.) Chronicle (27/6/75) include:
• Gunada Range: David Schafferius reported a UFO sighted between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m., moving up and down within 1000 feet, and lost sight of it after about 10 minutes.
• Childers: A resident reported an object making a noise resembling a plane, hovering and moving erratically. Dogs barked, and the object disappeared northward, emitting an amber and red glow. The witness believes these are warning signs.

Milk Tanker "Paced" by UFO

Saturday Evening Mercury, Hobart, 26/7/1975: A milk tanker driver reported a UFO pacing his vehicle south of Campbell Town. The object was described as "about the size of my milk tanker," flying below the hills at an estimated 1000 feet and about 200 yards from the road. It reappeared near Tunbridge and appeared to have door hatches and windows. The sighting was logged as a UFO, with other possibilities ruled out. A confirmatory report was made by another person. Mr. K. Bennetto of the UFO Investigation Centre noted that reluctant witnesses are coming forward, including George McHugh who reported a sighting in 1972.

The Snowman Says...

Cooma-Monaro Express, NSW, 29/7/75: Reports of strange lights seen over the district the weekend before last. Some sightings were near the Murrumbidgee River, Cooma, and near Bombala. A UFO was also tracked on radar near Canberra.

Farmer Recalls UFO Sighting

Buntry Times (WA), 14/8/75: A Dardanup farmer recalled an early-morning sighting on April 25 of an unexplained object on his property. He described a glow and the faint outline of a superstructure against the sky, with two beams of light shining from each side. The base was engulfed in flame, and the glow lit up the paddock. The farmer investigated but found no trace of anything. The paddock had been burnt weeks before.

UFO Sighting by Nullarbor Gang

PERTH Daily News, 15/8/75: Railway workers near Zanthus, WA, claimed to have seen an unidentified flying object three times in the past fortnight. The latest sighting involved a huge saucer-shaped object with flashing lights, appearing at about 6:30 p.m., lit up trees, and appeared to land before reappearing and taking off westward. It had fire and smoke trailing behind. The object was described as bigger than a jumbo jet and always travelled in the same direction. The sighting reportedly interrupted a Test cricket broadcast and caused dogs to bark.

Light in the Sky Sets a Poser

West Australian, 2/10/1975: Several Narrogin, WA, residents reported a mysterious light over the district. One farmer reported seeing the light on a hill on his property at least 15 times since last Christmas. Speculation grew following the discovery of a flattened area of wheat crop (18m by 12m) on Mr. F. Chadwick's property, which people linked to the light. Mr. Peter Trefort described the light as bright, like aircraft landing lights, and admitted it had scared him at one stage. He ruled out spotlights and noted that the road was one-way. Mr. Ron Edwards stated that seven responsible local residents had seen the light, which changes color, appears to revolve, and travels slowly but takes off fast, leaving a white streak.

Mr. Jeff Bell and colleagues formed UFO Research, W.A. (UFORWA), which sent a message of support to the Terrigal conference. ACOS bulletin reported preliminary investigations by UFORWA members in the Narrogin area.

• Narrogin Area Investigation: Reports included a bright yellow light with smaller, duller lights, seen for about 8 minutes. Another report described a bright yellowish-orange object that travelled E to W, stopped, moved up and down, left to right, appeared cigar-shaped while moving, and dome-shaped and blue while stationary, spinning clockwise before streaking off at high speed.
• Narrogin Area Investigation (continued): Mrs. E. observed a bright blinking light, yellow with smaller red lights, moving up and down and left to right. The sky was clear, slight wind. Duration was approximately 10 minutes.

Investigations are continuing, and samples from the depression area are being analysed.

Landing at Aische-en-Refail

This Belgian case, investigated by SOBEPS and reported in "Inforespace," occurred just after 4 p.m. on January 24, 1974, near Namur. Mrs. N.D. was driving when she noticed a red form. Her car's motor began to slow down, the radio lost power, and the vehicle stopped. She then saw an object on the left side of the road, about 10 meters away. It was circular, about a meter in diameter and half a meter high, with three distinct parts: a white dome section with round spots, a yellow convexed median part, and a red flattened dome top. The object rose slowly, descended quickly, repeated this twice, then rose again and executed a horizontal movement towards the car. It then reappeared to the left and moved rapidly towards a range of poplars, touching their tops. As it departed, the car's motor restarted, and the vehicle moved forward. The witness was not able to find physical evidence, and tests for radioactivity and ionisation yielded no results. The witness does not believe in UFOs but described the event as "very beautiful." She expressed curiosity about whether 'someone' could have been inside such a small object.

Landing in Italy

This case, reported in "Notiziario UFO," occurred on July 10, 1974, on the outskirts of Pavia, Italy. Three young girls saw a luminous object, 1½ times the size of the moon, of an orangey-reddish colour, with intermittent white lights. It passed over them and disappeared. Later, Giovanna Ragni's father saw a round reddish, stationary object hovering above the ground, pulsating with a brilliant red-orange light. The family drove to investigate and found a small lane. The next February, Sister Marjorie at Copachica, Lake Titicaca, saw similar lights. On August 5, 1974, at Copachica, Sister Marjorie and a Peruvian schoolteacher saw two very bright yellow lights in formation moving towards them. Later that February, Sister Marjorie saw a similar sight, and two priests admitted seeing a "large grey cylinder shaped object" take off from a hill.

Continued on page 10: The report continues with a sighting near Pavia where a round object emitted bundles of white light, estimated at 8-10 meters in diameter. The object hovered, then moved rapidly. Searchlights revealed two rectangular impressions superficially covered with ashes.

UFO Sighted on Three Occasions in Tumba District

Tumbarumba Times, NSW, 1/10/1975: Three sightings of a mysterious red object in the sky were reported near Tumbarumba. Senior Constable Martin verified a report of a red to purple light moving slowly over two miles, accompanied by a noise like a large jet engine. The RAAF base at Forest Hill was contacted, and they informed Tumbarumba police that a similar sighting had occurred at Adelong. Mr. George Sharman reported seeing the object at Maragle, described as travelling slowly from east to west, 300-400 feet above the roadway, about 12 inches high, with a similar motion to a helicopter. He was frightened and stopped his vehicle. Landholders Gordon Bell and Max Williams heard a jet plane fly low overhead. Sophisticated electronic sensing and radio navigation devices are located in the vicinity, and a party of international experts in electronics, physics, and power transmission were visiting the area. RAAF personnel were also seen in the area.

Informal Members Evening

An informal meeting for members was scheduled for Friday, December 12, at 8 p.m. at Mrs. Briggs' home in Brighton. The library service would be available. Members were asked to bring food contributions.

Back Issues of "Flying Saucer Review"

Seven different issues of "Australian Flying Saucer Review" were available for purchase, with prices listed for Australian and overseas members.

New Library List

A new list of books available for borrowing from the VUFORS Library was prepared. Due to increased postage rates, the borrowing fee per book was increased to 35 cents. Members wanting the list were asked to apply by mail with a 10-cent stamp.

Expert Opinion for the Sceptic

• Professor Donald H. Menzel (Harvard College Observatory): Stated that arguments for the interplanetary nature of UFOs are fallacious, with alleged high speeds and manoeuvres having natural explanations.
• Dr. George R. Wait (Carnegie Institute of Technology): Stated that if reports of reversals, sharp turns, and descents are fully confirmed, then no natural phenomena would explain such sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing efforts to professionalize UFO research through conferences and standardized procedures, the reporting of numerous diverse UFO sightings across different regions, and the persistent challenge of gaining scientific acceptance. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging rigorous investigation, data collection, and a scientific approach to the phenomenon, while also acknowledging the public's interest and the need for effective media liaison. The society actively seeks reports and encourages members to contribute to its research efforts.