Australian UFO Bulletin - 1976 05 - May

Magazine Overview

U.F.O. Bulletin - May 1976

This issue of the U.F.O. Bulletin, published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, covers a range of UFO sightings and related topics from Australia and New Zealand. The cover story, "CAR PACING AT DARGO," details an encounter investigated by Dan Haylock.

Car Pacing at Dargo

An incident occurred on January 28, 1976, around 11 p.m., approximately three miles from Dargo, Victoria. Two witnesses, a young man and his middle-aged cousin, both farmers, reported observing a bright light floating in mid-air alongside the road. The light began to pace their car at about 45 m.p.h. for a mile until their car entered a deep cutting. It reappeared after a mile and waited above a gateway on a steep hill. As the car drew alongside, the light, described as the color of a full moon and about two feet in diameter, displayed two horizontal projections and two more projecting from beneath at a 45-degree angle. It emitted a glare that lit up the surroundings. The object maintained pace with the car as it moved downhill, staying above trees. The witnesses noted the object maintained its altitude while the car dropped significantly. The light then appeared high up, resembling a full moon. The incident caused the witnesses considerable fright.

Flying Saucers? (Robinvale Sentinel, 26/2/76)

Reports from Chinkapook, Victoria, indicate a farmer sighted a brilliantly lit object that appeared to land in a field. When the farmer attempted to approach it, his car's ignition failed, but resumed normal function when the object's lights went out. A neighbor also witnessed the object, and an examination of the area revealed a flattened patch of crop.

UFO Sighted: Unnerving Experience for Duck Shooter (King Island News, 14/4/76)

A King Island duck shooter reported an unnerving experience on a Saturday morning. He observed a beam of light moving across a hill, which turned out to be a cross-like object, about the size of a small plane, moving nose-down. The object emitted an inverted cone of bright orange light. It approached the shooter, then reversed direction and disappeared. The shooter was not able to hear any noise associated with the object.

Photographs at Eltham

The Society examined two color prints of an object photographed at Eltham, Victoria, by two young boys. The object was described as "classic" in shape, a disc with an upper central dome. The photos show a black silhouette with no other details visible. The camera used was a Hanimex "Loadmatic 1101," and tampering with the negatives is deemed impossible.

Movie Film Could Be Jet Trails

A movie film taken on June 15, 1975, near Benalla, Victoria, was examined. The consultant concluded that the objects were not camera-caused and not lens flares. They resembled short-lived condensation trails from a jet exhaust, with no defined shape visible. The tentative comment is that there is no evidence against the objects being condensation trails.

East Burwood Again...and Surrey Hills

An observer in East Burwood, Victoria, reported seeing moving lights again. On a hot Monday evening, a UFO appeared from behind a cloud bank, travelled slowly, stopped momentarily, reversed direction, and disappeared back into the cloud. The object, seen through 10x50 binoculars, appeared as an intensely white sphere with a broad dark band and a blue glow. The witness estimated its apparent size to be many times greater than a planet under magnification. The following evening, a colleague reported seeing a white object flashing a bright blue light over Surrey Hills, travelling at a height of 500-1000 feet at high speed. On Wednesday evening, a yellow UFO was seen moving slowly for about four minutes, changing direction and disappearing into mist. Another sighting involved a bright light in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, travelling easterly and disappearing.

Australian Statistics for 1975

The Centre for UFO Studies compiled statistics for 1975, covering Australia except the Northern Territory. The reports show a high percentage (24.2%) of unidentified sightings. The majority of reports involved nocturnal lights, came from males aged 16-20, and occurred between 6 p.m. and midnight, with Friday being the most active day. March, May, and August showed the highest activity.

Investigating the UFO ABC Special

A report by Harry Griesberg discusses a two-hour ABC radio program on UFOs. The program featured interviews with Phillip Klass, Professor Carl Sagan, and Professor Hynek. It aimed to raise awareness of UFO organizations in Australia and discuss investigation procedures. The report notes discussions with scientists interested in becoming advisors to ACOS organizations.

Close Encounter in Western Australia July 1965

This sighting, reported by Mrs. Glenys Keevins, occurred on July 25/26, 1965, near Donnybrook, W.A. A disc-shaped object with a bright white light and portholes was seen hovering above treetops. The object had a beam of light that changed color to bright blue. It shot straight up and disappeared in seconds. The witness's car experienced no difficulties.

VUFORS Member Visits TUFOIC

Ray Fischer and Michael McNamara visited the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC) in Hobart. They were impressed by TUFOIC's hospitality and efficiency. The report notes that TUFOIC has no public phone number, with contact made through personal numbers.

Woman "Buzzed" by Shaft of Light (South Western Times, Bunbury, WA, 24/2/1976)

An Eaton housewife reported being "buzzed" by a strange shaft of very bright light. The light hovered above her for about a minute, having a distracting effect. She did not see any object related to the light. This was the first such report to the UPIB in Bunbury in almost a year.

Tasmania Again

Tasmania continued to have strong UFO activity in 1975, with the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre recording 32 unexplained cases. The latest press items indicate continued sightings in 1976.

UFO Escorts Truck on Trip Through Valley (Derwent Valley Gazette, 26/2/1976)

Two truck drivers reported a UFO escorting their truck from Wayatinah to Berriedale, Tasmania. The object, described as a brilliant yellow-white dome with a sausage-like body, buzzed the truck for three hours. It kept pace with the truck and followed it. Attempts to use the wireless resulted in static. A second light appeared later. The UFO was about 600 yards from the truck for most of the time. Mr. Wilson, one of the drivers, expressed disbelief that people would believe him.

UFOs Over Maydena For Second Time in a Week (Derwent Valley Gazette, 26/2/1976)

UFOs were sighted over Maydena, Tasmania, for the second time in a week. Two strange orange-red lights were seen floating towards the west. A woman reported seeing the lights below the line of hills. The objects made no noise and moved slowly. Investigators ruled out balloons and natural explanations.

Maydena UFOs Baffle Experts (Derwent Valley Gazette, 4/3/1976)

UFOs continued to appear over Maydena. On one occasion, two orange-yellow lights were seen for about 12 minutes. One UFO dropped towards the ground, while the other flew straight up. TUFOIC stated there was no natural explanation. One witness described a light taking on the appearance of two lights at each end of a "cage like structure".

Girl Sees Light in the Sky (Lithgow Mercury, 11/3/1976)

A young woman from Windsor, NSW, reported an unidentified flying object following her car for about 30 miles. The object was described as a reddish color with a golden glow, flashing on and off. It moved to the left of her car and disappeared before she reached Oberon.

Unusual Sounds

1. A woman in Paradise, SA, heard a "winding up," "whirling," or "generator" type of sound. She saw a flashing red light and a solid, silver-colored mass underneath it. The sound and light appeared to be coming from the object.
2. At Everton Park, Brisbane, Mr. and Mrs. Coman reported a noise and a bright red light. Their house shook, and they experienced intense dry heat. The noise was described as a powerful engine noise coming from a northerly direction.

Adams Town "Landing" a Hoax

An investigation into an alleged UFO landing at Adamstown, NSW, revealed that the white material found was flour, and the acids used were common household chemicals. The landing site was fabricated with easily available materials.

Privately Published American Book

An advertisement for the book "QUARTER CENTURY STUDIES OF UFOS IN FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE" by George D. Fawcett is included.

"Shadowy Figures in Plexiglass Dome" (NZ Spaceview)

Mr. Dale Norton and Miss Sheryl Ricard reported a sighting near Brookby, Auckland, NZ, on January 8, 1975. They saw a circular object with a bright white dome, four lights around its rim, and four legs protruding from underneath. Inside the craft, they saw three shadowy figures. The object paced their car and was about 24 feet away. Dale Norton's drawing differed slightly from Sheryl Ricard's, with Dale focusing on the dome section.

Brownstown Youth Sees, Photographs Flying Object

David Mahon, a 14-year-old from Brownstown, Illinois, reported seeing a black, saucer-shaped object with a glowing haze and a dome. He took photographs of the object, which he claims hovered about 1500 feet away. He also described an experience of levitation, feeling drawn into the object and into a room with walls like brushed aluminum. He contacted the FAA and Scott Air Force Base with no interest, but was referred to Dr. Allen Hynek at Northwestern University.

Back Copies of Bulletin

A notice lists available back issues of the Bulletin for purchase.

He Saw UFO 100 Yards Away

Mike Sauers of Akron reported seeing a delta-shaped object with three orange lights moving fast. He and a coworker also saw two other objects, described as the size of small airplanes, making a buzzing sound. Sauers' account was among 50 collected by an Akron UFO club.

Ptl. Zachary Space's Report

Ptl. Zachary Space and sheriff's deputies in Madison, Ohio, watched two objects darting through the sky for about 20 minutes. The objects glowed white, reddish, and green, and appeared triangular through binoculars. One object hovered over power lines before shooting upward rapidly. Space described the objects' movements as unlike anything he had seen before.

Astronauts Spotted UFOs

Gen. James McDivitt and Col. Gordon Cooper describe seeing UFOs on a new long-playing record. McDivitt recounts photographing a UFO alongside his Gemini IV spacecraft in 1965, but the published photos did not show the object. Cooper describes sighting strange objects in Germany before joining NASA, which flew in strange patterns and appeared metallic.

UFO "Think Tank"

A scientific conference on UFO research was held by the Centre for UFO Studies in the US. The conference was described as a "think tank" and was not advertised in advance. ACOS was invited but unable to attend. A letter from Dr. Hynek praised the consensus that such meetings are overdue and should focus on research rather than sensationalism.

Moscow Radio, Dec. 29, 1953

A Moscow Radio report claims that "flying saucers" are inventions used by "aggressive forces" to distract from military expenditure.

Professor F. Zigel, 1967

Professor Zigel stated that UFOs have been observed over the USSR and fit the classification of Western UFOs. He asserted that the UFO problem is global and requires international scientific cooperation, hindered by sensationalism.

Alert in the Black Country (Continued)

This section details several sightings in Jumet and Marcinelle, Belgium. Reports include a humming noise compared to "a hundred bees altogether," a "hoot" sound, and a modulated noise invading a radio. One witness described a rose/green colored light moving with the noise. At Marcinelle, a student observed a dark mass with a slight whistle, described as a convexed, elongated object with a protuberance. Another report from Marcinelle describes a whistling noise and a grey-white glimmer, with a witness seeing an object that moved towards Gilly.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting of numerous UFO sightings across various locations, the investigation of these sightings by UFO research organizations, and the statistical analysis of UFO reports. There is a clear effort to present witness accounts objectively, while also acknowledging the challenges of verification and the skepticism often faced by witnesses. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, encouraging reporting and investigation, and distinguishing between credible accounts and sensationalism.

This document is a continuation of a report titled "ALERT IN THE BLACK COUNTRY" from the May 1976 issue, page 11 and 12. It details a series of UFO sightings and associated phenomena that occurred around Charleroi, Belgium, during the night of April 20th to 21st, 1974. The report is based on witness testimonies, including those of Eric Meni, Mrs. Meni, Mrs. Marchand, Mrs. Le Roux, Miss Janine Lamy, Mr. and Mrs. Dussart, and others. It also includes information from an investigator, Mr. Yves Toussaint, and mentions reports from Loverval and Couillet.

Witness Accounts and Object Descriptions

The report begins with the account of Eric Meni, a young boy who witnessed a stationary, elliptical object with a dome hovering near his home. He described the object's size, color, and the presence of yellow-green and red lights. The object then ascended rapidly. His mother also heard a whistling noise and later observed a pulsating white light in Eric's room.

Mrs. Marchand, a hairdresser, was awakened by a strange sound and experienced a headache and a strong impression of heat, feeling as if a stranger was in her room. She heard a noise similar to an American police car's siren and saw a pale light through her window.

Mrs. Le Roux, a pensioner, also heard the sound and felt an 'electric current' causing pins and needles. She described the noise as different from an American police car's siren, being stronger, more harmonious, and with a more rapid modulation.

Vilette Buildings and Loverval Sightings

The report notes that the Vilette Buildings area, with over 900 inhabitants, experienced numerous observations. Mr. and Mrs. Boucnez confirmed these reports. Investigator Mr. Yves Toussaint, living in Mercinelle, was awakened by a characteristic clamor for about 12 seconds at 00:28 hrs. The phenomenon then reportedly moved towards Loverval in the Couillet territory.

In Loverval, Miss Janine Lamy, a teacher, heard a din resembling an American police car's siren, accompanied by whistling. The sound caused distinct reverberations. After a brief silence, the din restarted. Miss Lamy observed an apparently solid-looking object, elliptical in form and flatter than it was wide, with a dome. It had red and green lights and appeared to turn anticlockwise. She estimated its dimensions and duration of observation. Her mother and brother also heard the sound.

Couillet Confirmation and Photographic Evidence

Mr. and Mrs. Dussart, living in Couillet, confirmed the sighting and heard a noise described as a "grass-hopper's screech." They stated that a photograph was apparently taken at Loverval on the night of the events, showing one half of the luminous object as observed by Eric Meni. However, the photographer could not be identified.

Further observations from Loverval by Messrs. F. Pierard, Flament, and Liesinski also reported the same kind of noise. Mr. Pierard saw a white glimmer zig-zagging across the night sky.

Complementary Details and Analysis

The investigation noted that witnesses complained of strange effects, including undue fright, paralysis, and electric shocks. Some reports indicated a strong localization of the manifestation, with sounds heard outside but not inside certain buildings. Animals, paradoxically, did not react, except for one cocker spaniel that howled.

No real after-effects were reported, apart from a feeling of being slightly feverish the next day. The report emphasizes that all questioned individuals appeared sincere and honest, and despite not being acquaintances, their observations showed strong coherence.

The authors conclude that real UFO sightings were made around Charleroi in April 1974, citing the number of witnesses, their dispersion, and the coherence of their accounts as proof. Precise characteristics emerged on the night of April 20th-21st, 1974, during a weekend with good weather. Most people were still up or returning home. While only one witness was explicitly woken by the UFO, many heard the noise.

The report suggests that earth's technology, such as sonar-localized wave-radio systems (ASDIC) and RADAR/RADAR-DOPPLER, might be comparable to the principles behind the observed noises and UFO movements. The quiet reaction of animals is noted as particularly unbelievable, contrasting with the fear experienced by humans.

Editor's Note and Context

An editor's note highlights the special interest of this report due to the unusual sounds accompanying visual observations, as most UFO sightings are reported as noiseless. The siren-like noise is noted as rare. The report is linked to the April 1975 issue of "Inforespace," which contained a report on 67 Belgian sightings in April 1974, including a concentration of 25 cases on the 21st and another significant night on the 14th. These events coincided with a UFO "flap" in Australia.

VUFORS Committee and Sales

The issue also includes the results of the election for VUFORS office-bearers held on May 14, 1976, listing the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Committee members. Additionally, it advertises UFO prints for sale, including the Balwyn photograph of April 1966 and the Hallam object of March 1967, as well as back copies of the "Australian Flying Saucer Review" magazine and society badges and car stickers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this report are UFO sightings, unusual auditory phenomena (whistling, siren-like noises), electromagnetic effects on witnesses, and the detailed testimony of multiple individuals. The editorial stance, as indicated by the detailed investigation and analysis, is to present credible UFO reports and explore potential explanations, while acknowledging the unusual nature of the reported sounds and effects. The publication appears to be a proponent of serious UFO research, as evidenced by the VUFORS committee information and sales of related materials.