Australian UFO Bulletin - 1976 11 - November

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, dated November 1976, is published by The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society and focuses on reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. The cover features the magazine title and the society's logo, with contact details at the bottom.

Key Articles and Reports

Flashing Lights, Ground Traces in the North West (Page 1-3)

This detailed report describes a sighting on September 25, 1976, near Karawinna South, Victoria. Witnesses A. and V. White, along with teenagers Joe Schirripa and Kim Williamson, observed a group of bright red lights lift off the ground, hover, and then drift east. The phenomenon was silent until after it disappeared, when a distant transport-like noise was heard. The lights were described as flashing like a car's brake lights, spanning about 10-12 feet, and possibly being 6 or 8 in number, with a squarish shape. After the lights disappeared, the witnesses returned to the site in daylight and discovered a discoloured circle, 71 feet in diameter, where the straw had been removed. The hop bush on the side of a nearby hill was also browned off on the side facing the circle. Mrs. White reported experiencing a severe wry neck and ear pain for about 12 days following the sighting, which doctors attributed to a wry neck, though she suspected a connection to the event.

An interesting detail mentioned is that on the two successive Saturday nights following the sighting, a cow disappeared from the property of Mrs. White's cousin, located about 3.5 miles away.

Other Reports from the North West (Page 4)

• Mildura, 3/8/1976: Steve Papp reported seeing a black, mushroom-shaped UFO near his fowl house. He described it as oval with a dome, hovering about four or five feet above power lines, about 120 yards away. It made a noise like a jet plane, stopped when the lights turned orange, and then flew away, stopping again for ten minutes before heading towards Trentham Cliffs. He estimated its size to be about as big as his house.
• Manangatang, 7/9/1976: Mrs. P. Higgins reported a brilliant red light, about the size of a dinner plate, appearing above the treetops during misty rain. The light was fascinating and frightening, leaving a vivid glow. No sound or object was seen.
• Torrita, 5/10/1976: A farmer discovered two ground circles, each 18 feet in diameter, with 24 feet between their edges, in a paddock. The central area was brownish-grey, surrounded by a lighter border. The material appeared to have been swirled into the center, and the grass was burnt but growing again. Samples were sent to ACOS.
• Mildura, 7/10/1976: A resident observed a plate-shaped object with coloured flashing lights hovering at low altitude, about 300-400 feet above the ground. It seemed to shrink as it moved towards the South Australian border. The object was described as having splashes of light from top to bottom, changing colour from red to yellow to white.
• Mildura, 8/10/1976: C. W. Taylor reported seeing strange lights in the sky for two consecutive nights. The object was described as blue and yellow with a brilliant red light at the top and a smaller one at the bottom, alternating on and off. It eventually descended, possibly settling on the ground.
• Irymple, 1/10/76: Horticulturist David Jones recalled finding a section of his dried fruit property burned in a circle about 30 feet in diameter several years ago. The vines in the circle were singed and burned, and did not bear fruit that season. Experts inspected the vines but found no solutions.

Melbourne Lights (Page 5)

This section details five separate sightings involving two young women, E.G. (20, nurse) and W.M. (19, secretary).

• Sep. 17: Two star-like objects were seen moving towards each other, stopping, and then rapidly moving off in different directions. One moved south at a speed faster than a plane.
• Sep. 18: Five witnesses observed a configuration of four lights (two red, one white, one green) in the sky, exhibiting unusual maneuvers, including right-angle turns and periods of stillness. They were certain it was not a plane.
• Sep. 24: W.M. and E.G. saw an object that appeared to be a plane, but it descended, circled, and exhibited maneuvers similar to the previous night, with no sound heard.
• Sep. 28 or 29: E.G. and M.E. saw the same object at Edithvale, described as brighter and closer, passing almost over the car. No sound was heard.
• Oct. 6: W.M. and K.L. saw the object again, described as "doing its normal tricks", with a possible "mass" underneath the lights.

All six witnesses were convinced the objects were not planes, noting their speed, maneuverability, and lack of sound. They described the objects as smaller than the moon.

An additional nocturnal light was reported for Sep. 25 in Scoresby, described as a brilliantly luminous reddish-orange object "like three balls joined together".

From the Victorian Press (Page 6-7)

• Geelong, 3/9/76: Grant White reported seeing two black, mushroom-shaped UFOs that went straight up and headed south, disappearing in seconds.
• Wonthaggi, Oct. 10: A woman observed a large, deep red object, "just like a Chinese lantern", hovering briefly before moving horizontally east and then disappearing behind houses. She estimated it was under controlled flight.
• Castlemaine, Oct. 22: A resident reported a flying saucer object, described as two separate parts (saucer-shaped like two wings), one above the other, with a greyish appearance and no lights. It flew from north-east to south before sunrise.
• Paynesville: Investigator Dan Haylock reports a sighting by a witness involved in a previous car pacing incident. Two bright orange spheres fused into a single oval object, which then moved south-west and disappeared, leaving a whitish mist. This resembles a Paynesville sighting from many years prior.

Unreported Sightings (Page 6)

This section encourages readers to submit details of interesting UFO observations that may otherwise go unreported, assuring confidentiality.

Tasmania (Page 7)

• Springfield, July 29, 8.40 p.m.: Witness saw a row of yellowish lights in the direction of Mt. Wellington, moving slowly west, resembling a line of 6 or more lights with a square light at the front.
• Mangalore, July 29, 2.16 a.m.: A lone motorist saw two stationary yellow lights from a hillside, which turned red and then disappeared.
• Bagdad, July 29, 9.30 p.m.: A business woman reported a UFO, as big as a container-carrying semi-trailer, flying low above roadside paddocks. It had yellowish-white lights blinking on and off and was almost stationary before moving north and disappearing over hills. The DCA reported no aircraft in the area.
• Bagdad, July 31, 7.10 p.m.: Two women reported being "buzzed by a UFO" that appeared as a bright shiny silver round thing, diving at their car and disappearing at high speed. They described it as "as big as our car".
• Ten Mile Hill, Aug. 2, 4.00 a.m.: M. Wood encountered a screen-like projection with a loud, distorted electrical music sound. He saw a yellow light source and a figure in profile before driving through the screen.
• Boyer, Aug. 2, 4.45 p.m.: Witnesses observed a strange black object moving in and out of clouds, changing shape from balloon-like to football-shaped, with a vapour trail. It was more than moon-sized.
• Boyer, Aug. 15, 2.15 a.m.: Two witnesses were paced by an object with a bright light that shone into their vehicle and caused the car radio to fade out. It was described as hat-shaped with a red strip in the centre.

South Australia (Page 7)

• Nangula (Millicent Times, 30/9/1976): Ross McCallum and his son Ian reported seeing an unidentified flying object at about 2,000 feet, which then moved like a rocket to 3-4,000 feet over Lake Bonney. It had a red light on top, blue below, and white in the centre. It disappeared south-westerly. Ian stated it travelled too quickly to be a helicopter.

A "REPEATER" FROM THE CAMPBELLTOWN AREA (Page 8)

• April 30, 1976: A triangular-shaped object hovered over a motorist for about 20 seconds before moving off slowly, skimming over trees and disappearing.
• July 12, 1976: A very bright white light was seen in a paddock, appearing to move across the paddock towards the motorist. The light vanished and reappeared, continuing to move closer. It banked left, then right, crossing the road at an apparent altitude of 200 feet.

UFO Sightings Investigated in Glen Innes (Page 8)

John McQuee of the ABC investigated reports of unexplained lights and shapes in Glen Innes, NSW. He noted that many people refuse to report sightings for fear of ridicule, but that corresponding details were often found in different accounts. He interviewed several people about cigar-shaped objects, flying saucers, and unexplained lights. A theory suggested cigar-shaped objects were mother ships, while flying saucers were exploratory vehicles. McQuee found the stories valid but insufficient for a television program, planning to interview "experts" and check with the Air Force.

Laughing Peter Changes His Mind (Page 8-9)

Peter Halse, 19, of Red Cliffs, became a believer after seeing a strange light on November 1, 1976. He and a friend, Joanne Lambert, saw a light about three-quarters of a mile away, which then moved behind their car. The yellow light was diamond-shaped with a bright halo. It stayed with the car for about two miles before disappearing when Peter turned off the road. Both were frightened by the experience.

UFOs Chase Superjet, Crewmen Claim (Page 9)

Air Force men who flew an Apollo Range Instrumentation Aircraft reported being chased and harassed by hostile UFOs. Sgt. Duane B. Piciani described dodging flying saucers that "popped up suddenly on our tail and stalked us," performing maneuvers "unmistakably hostile." Capt. James B. Phillips confirmed "unknown aerial phenomena" on several flights. Piciani described one UFO as round and flat, about 40 feet in diameter. He also reported three UFOs hanging around their wingtips and tail, and another paralleling their flight path for almost an hour.

Some Rumanian Cases (Page 9-10)

• Valea Teleajenului, Feb. 2, 1974: A glowing orange-red "cigar-shaped" object was observed coming from the south-west at tremendous speed. It traveled horizontally for 6-7 seconds before disappearing. It was surrounded by a greenish halo and emitted sparks.
• UFO Excavations, Feb. 8, 1974: Ten girls saw two bright orange spheres side by side, which fused into a single oval object. This object moved south-west and disappeared, leaving a whitish mist. Examination of the area revealed two concave ditches similar to those made by a skidding tyre.
• Ogretin Case, July 31, 1974: Mr. Stefan Constantin reported seeing a large bright yellow light in the sky, described as "barrel" shaped, deeper in the center, with blurred edges. It moved at an approximate speed of 50 mph and illuminated treetops before disappearing.

Landing With Traces (Page 10)

• Scaieni, March 29, 1976: Ten children followed an aerial phenomenon for about an hour. They observed strange lights on a hill, initially thought to be truck headlights, but much larger. The lights were orange, appeared simultaneously, disappeared, and reappeared at a distance. They changed colour and moved very fast. Witnesses estimated the UFO's size as a pea held at arm's length, and later as a 1.5 cm disc at arm's length, at an elevation of 300 meters. Rodica Corjos described movements including revolving over the hill. Constanta Moraru noted small orange-red lights that appeared, disappeared, and reappeared. Sanda Dordea observed a light that changed position, descended near a river, leaving a smoke trail, and changed colour between red and yellow.

An investigation of the area found a round track of burnt grass about 150 cm wide. The burning was superficial, revealing green grass with withered tops. Mr. Balan Cristian, who investigated, experienced reddened and swollen hands and headaches after handling samples from the site.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across Australia, the variety of reported object shapes and behaviors, and the physical traces left behind. There is a clear emphasis on witness testimony and the investigation of these phenomena by various individuals and organizations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO reports, encouraging the reporting of sightings and presenting detailed accounts without overt skepticism, while also acknowledging the fear of ridicule that prevents some from coming forward. The inclusion of international reports suggests a broader interest in the global UFO phenomenon.

Title: AUSTRALIAN UFO BULLETIN
Issue Date: November 1976
Publisher: Victorian UFO Research Society
Country: Australia

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin provides a detailed account of a UFO sighting, reports on a national UFO conference, and announces upcoming society events.

UFO Sighting Report

The issue begins with a detailed description of a UFO sighting, noting that the ground was sloping and the event occurred near a high tension line. The observer believes the mark left was the result of a 'hot jet' emitted at take-off by a UFO, which also left a smoke trail. Experiments conducted on the ground indicated the mark was radioactive, and the burnt grass had a repulsive and stunning odour. The weather conditions during the sighting were clear, with no precipitation, twilight, and no wind, at an approximate temperature of 10°C. No sound was heard, nor was any visible means of propulsion observed.

UFO Conference Two

Michael McNamara reports on the second national conference organized by the Australian Co-ordination Section (ACOS) of the Centre For UFO Studies, held in Mt. Gambier on Sunday, October 24th. The conference date and location were set a year in advance, with initial hopes that Dr. J. A. Hynek, director of the Centre For UFO Studies in America, might be present. Contrary to some media reports, participants were not expecting to witness UFOs during the solar eclipse that occurred the previous day. The conference spanned Sunday and Monday, concluding with a debate on Tuesday afternoon. Two significant developments were highlighted: ACOS has secured exclusive use of a computer for research projects for its members, and a major report from the American Centre is anticipated in Australia soon. A more comprehensive report on UFOCON TWO is promised for a later Bulletin.

Society Meeting Announcement

A general meeting of the Society is scheduled for Friday, December 10th, at 8:00 p.m. at the National Mutual Centre Theatrette, 447 Collins St. The guest speaker will be Dr. Clifford Wilson, a Bible scholar and former Director of the Australian Institute of Archaeology. Dr. Wilson is known for his critical stance on the theories presented by Erich von Daniken in his books, such as "Crash Go The Chariots" and "UFOs And Their Mission Impossible".

For Sale Items

The bulletin lists back issues of "Australian Flying Saucer Review" (VUFORS magazine) for sale, with prices ranging from 25¢ to 40¢ per issue, plus extra postage. It also offers back issues of the Bulletin itself for members only, priced at 20¢ or 40¢ each, with additional postage costs. Society badges are available for $1.25, and car stickers (blue or bi-coloured) are priced at 10¢ and 20¢ respectively, with postage for up to a dozen stickers costing 20¢.

Society Information and Membership

The Australian UFO Bulletin is published by the Victorian UFO Research Society, located at P.O. Box 43, Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia, 3189. This non-profit organization is dedicated to the objective investigation of the UFO phenomenon and encourages the submission of eye-witness accounts and information regarding unidentified flying objects and unusual aerial phenomena. Annual membership fees are listed as $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for pensioners and juniors in Australia, and US$5.00 for overseas members. A note indicates that membership expires with the current issue if an 'X' appears in a designated box.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, and the activities of UFO research organizations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry and information dissemination, encouraging public participation through the submission of accounts and membership in the society. The inclusion of a critical perspective on pseudoscientific theories (Erich von Daniken) suggests a commitment to evidence-based analysis within the field of ufology.