Australian UFO Bulletin - 1977 05 - May

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, dated May 1977, is produced by The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society and focuses on UFO reports and related phenomena from Australia. The cover features the magazine title and a logo for the society.

Summary of 1976 Reports

The bulletin begins by summarizing the 1976 report from the Victorian UFO Investigation Centre (VUFORS), which received 175 reports, with 29 classified as unidentified. Of these, only four were deemed to be of sufficient merit to be classified as UFOs:

• January 28, Dargo: Two farmers reported a glowing yellow-white circular object with horizontal projections that lit up the surroundings.
• June 19, Glenluce: A woman farmer observed a silent, luminous, football-shaped object that hovered briefly before moving away on a steady trajectory.
• July 13, 10 miles north of Rochester: A low-flying 'headlight-like' object approached witnesses, swerved violently towards a motorcyclist forcing him off the road, then vanished.
• September 25, Karaviana: Four witnesses watched red flashing lights rise from a paddock, hover, move away, and then vanish, leaving a 71-foot diameter circle of discolored grass. One witness later developed severe neck and ear pains.

Nine further cases were classified as 'possible UFOs,' exhibiting strangeness but with potential for natural explanations or insufficient detail. The remaining cases were identified or reasonably explained by natural causes.

Possible UFOs:

• January 4, Balaclava: A red object appeared stationary and then moved horizontally to disappear.
• March 5, Dargo: A round golden object split into two parts which flew in different directions.
• March 15, East Burwood: A white luminous sphere with a blue glow emerged from and re-entered a cloud.
• May 1, Nicholson: A swirling mass resembling fireflies hovered above a tree, vanished when a torch was directed at it, and reappeared.
• September 12, Dargo: An orange object lit up a mountain and manoeuvred for 20 minutes.
• September 18, Caulfield: A fixed pattern of four lights (two red, one white, one green) manoeuvred in an impossible way for a plane.
• September 24, Carnegie: An object circled above a plane.
• September 28 or 29, Edithvale: The same object as the Caulfield sighting passed over a car.
• October 6, East Bentleigh: The same object again, with a 'mass' vaguely seen underneath the lights.

Important: Annual General Meeting May 27

The society announced its annual general meeting on May 27, featuring an illustrated lecture by Miss Lorraine White. Miss White discussed her travels in South America, her meetings with Juan Moricz regarding tunnel complexes described by Erich von Daniken, and her flight over the Nazca Plains. The lecture also touched upon the similarities between Mayan and Mediterranean myths and legends.

Tasmanian Reports

The issue includes details from the 1977 Report of the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre, which investigated 175 reports in 1976, with 29 classified as unidentified. Several cases are reprinted:

• May 18, Bothwell: Two youths reported two dim lights that followed them, growing larger and then exploding colorfully. The car's clock and speedometer also stopped.
• Midland Car Pacing: Mr. C. Lockett reported a puzzling experience on November 11 where a light paced his car. The object was elongated, maintained its position, did not reflect light, and seemed contained. It later reappeared and moved off at right angles. Lockett experienced a pins and needles effect.
• South Arm Sighting: Mr. B. Barwick observed a flattened football-shaped object with ridges and various colors (white, red, green, orange) hovering above trees for 20 minutes before disappearing.
• February 19, 1977, Brighton: Miss M. (16) reported a circular arrangement of orange lights that moved erratically and disappeared behind hills, with a beam of light observed.
• March 22, Broadmarsh: A family reported a second sighting of a strange orange light in the sky, described as oval-shaped and moving up and down.

Press Reports

Several press reports on UFO sightings and related phenomena are included:

• February 8, 1977, Mt. Gambier: Two UFOs reportedly followed a couple, growing larger and exploding colorfully. The car's clock and speedometer also failed.
• March 3, Port Lincoln Times: A 'flying saucer nest' was discovered on Mr. Brian Bray's property near Tumby Bay. This was the fifth such find in the area, described as a circular scoop with a compacted hard center.
• March 17, Eyre Peninsula Tribune: Further details on the 'flying saucer nests,' noting their consistent spacing and shape, and the difficulty in explaining their formation.
• March 16, Streaky Bay Sentinel: Mr. Ken Little reported seeing a bright, fast-moving object. His cousin, Mr. Edgar Little, later found a 'flying saucer nest' on his property. Ken Little described the object as a bright white light that rose at a 45-degree angle, leaving a trail of bright light.
• March 31, Port Lincoln Times: Two 'flying saucer nests' were found 100 meters apart near Poonindie. Farmer Don Laube described them as identical in size to the Bray 'nest.'
• Editorial from Eyre Peninsula Tribune: The editorial highlights the growing number of 'nesting' activities and UFO sightings, suggesting a need for public curiosity.

Further Sightings and Discoveries:

• Eyre Peninsula: The finding of 'flying saucer nests' and strange bright objects is making more people believe in extraterrestrial life. The article notes the consistency of the marks and the difficulty in explaining them by human means.
• Melbourne Sunday Observer (February 20, 1977): American scientists suggest aliens are at work on the moon, possibly using it as a UFO base, and that the US suspended its moon exploration program to avoid confrontation.
• Melbourne Age (April 7, 1977): Author Charles Berlitz claims to have discovered a pyramid on the bottom of the sea in the Bermuda Triangle, larger than the Cheops Pyramid, suggesting a highly developed ancient civilization.

International UFO Congress

An international congress on UFOs was held in Acapulco, Mexico, from April 17-24. Speakers included J. Hynek, Kenneth Arnold, John Keel, Donald Keyhoe, and others. The conference called for a major United Nations investigation into UFOs.

• Sydney Daily Telegraph (April 21, 1977): Erich von Daniken presented slides of stones found on the bed of the Oca River in Peru, engraved with likenesses of spaceships and modern equipment, estimated to be 8,000 years old.
• The Australian (April 26, 1977): The Acapulco conference highlighted a split between scientists, believers, and parapsychologists. John Keel suggested that sightings are linked to a magnetic force that manifests in various unexplained phenomena. Dr. Alan Hynek urged a level-headed approach, noting that ridicule prevents reporting and causes distress to witnesses.

Angel Hair

This section explores the phenomenon of 'angel hair,' a substance often associated with UFOs. Ufologists like Aime Michel suggested it's formed by rotating, electrically charged UFOs. The article notes similar phenomena in nature, such as spider webs. It discusses the difficulty in analyzing the substance and the rarity of its occurrence. The author suggests that angel hair might be related to the 'solid substance' of UFOs and could explain electrical effects.

• References: J. Vallee's 'Anatomy of a Phenomenon' and T.R. Blann's article on UFOs.
• Auckland 'Angel Hair' Fall: A report from Auckland describes a fall of fibrous white material, analyzed as 'spider's web,' which sparked controversy among ufologists and analysts.

Animal Reactions and the UFO

This section discusses the disturbing effect of UFOs on animals, a phenomenon recorded for many years. J. M. McCampbell's book 'Ufology' is cited, suggesting that microwave radiation might be the cause. The article calls for readers to contribute observations on typical and unusual animal behavior that might indicate UFO presence.

Book Review: "Earth Science at Crisis" by Harvey Cardwell

Reviewed by Nada Richards, this book by a non-scientist claims a scientific cover-up regarding the nature of light. Cardwell argues that light is corpuscular and travels at inconsistent speeds, and that UFOs are a warning about the destruction of civilization unless this 'commonsense' view is adopted. The reviewer notes that Cardwell disregards facts and overlooks experimental evidence, comparing him to Bruce Cathie.

Some Old Cases

This section presents historical UFO cases, likely from newspaper archives and VUFORS records:

• Mr. Fred Bepps (Geelong): A pilot with extensive experience saw an 'extraordinary flying object' at high altitude, described as a 'spinning top' with a mirror-like side and a blue-black smoke trail.
• Alex H. Holland (Avoca): A young farmer reported seeing seven 'flying saucers' flash across the sky, described as shining discs that rose from the horizon and moved at high speed.
• Dr. V. Hajek (Torquay/Anglesea): Dr. Hajek, a Czech engineer, described seeing an object like a large metal propeller rotating at high speed, making a loud sizzling noise. He estimated its speed at 700-800 mph and its size at 40 feet in diameter.
• Melbourne Sighting (late night): Hundreds of people saw a 'huge black saucer' drift across Collins Street. A motorist described it as a 'huge black saucer, 30 feet across, with lights from underneath,' rising from a paddock.
• Sydney Woman's Letter (1962): A woman described sensing something strange and seeing a large object moving slowly over buildings before shooting back into space with fantastic speed. She described it as silver with grey shadow and three vaporous tails.
• Donald Farmer (Sunday, October 24): A farmer reported a strange occurrence of an object moving above ground, described as a 20-foot diameter object with red and green lights. The object rose above a fence and moved towards Cope Cope.

Back Issues and Society Information

The bulletin includes a 'FOR SALE' section for back issues of 'Australian Flying Saucer Review' and the 'Australian UFO Bulletin,' as well as society badges and car stickers. It also provides contact information for the Victorian UFO Research Society and details annual subscription fees for Australia and overseas.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, the analysis of physical evidence like 'flying saucer nests,' the exploration of unusual phenomena such as 'angel hair,' and the potential impact of UFOs on animals. The society's stance is one of objective investigation, welcoming eye-witness accounts and information on unidentified flying objects and unusual aerial phenomena. The publication also touches upon broader themes of scientific cover-ups, ancient civilizations, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.