Australian UFO Bulletin - 1978 02 - February

Magazine Overview

This issue of the AUSTRALIAN UFO BULLETIN, dated February 1978, is published by THE VICTORIAN U.F.O. RESEARCH SOCIETY and covers a range of UFO sightings and related incidents primarily from Australia, with some international reports. The cover features the society's logo and the main title.

Leitchville Area Flap

The issue details a series of incidents in the Leitchville-Cohuna area, referred to as the 'Leitchville Area Flap'.

• September 30: Mr. and Mrs. D. Fehring of Leitchville reported an explosion and a brief bluish light. Later, a circular mark was discovered in a nearby paddock.
• November 18: Mrs. Vivien Mather and her husband of Fernihurst observed a stationary, pulsating orange-yellowish light in the sky near Marong-Bridgewater.
• November 30: Mr. Ian Bartels of Pyramid Hill experienced CB radio interference, coinciding with two friends observing a circular pulsating white light over Pyramid Hill for approximately three hours.
• December 4: Mr. Tom Church discovered a burnt circular patch in a paddock near Leitchville, measuring 8 meters in diameter. Analysis suggested it was caused by an electrical burn. Similar circular marks had been found on nearby properties.
• December 4 (Night): Mr. Bartels again experienced CB radio interference while driving towards Pyramid Hill, noting a hissing noise that reached maximum strength.
• December 8: Mrs. A. Brewer of Cohuna reported seeing a bright red and vivid silver-white flashing light that moved, stopped, and then disappeared.
• December 13: Tom Church and his wife reported seeing an orange-red object descend, which then split into three smaller objects. These objects changed color rapidly, appearing to signal each other.

Other Victorian Press Reports

• Latrobe Valley Express (October 28, 1977): Three youths in Moe reported seeing a bright white light descend and stop, with landing gear appearing before it shot into the sky.
• Knox & Mountain District Free Press (November 1, 1977): Mrs. June Whittacker and her children in Emerald observed a brilliant white disc moving across the sky, brighter than the moon.
• Ballarat Courier (December 29, 1977): Mrs. Mick Porter of Creswick found a ring of dead grass in a paddock after her grandsons reported seeing a light in the sky.

Interstate Reports (New South Wales)

• Bendigo Advertiser (February 20, 1978): Don Pickens of Lockington reported seeing a 'pillar of glowing light' on the road, which moved away as he approached and illuminated the area brightly.
• Bendigo Advertiser (February 21, 1978): UFO researcher Paul Norman investigated the Lockington sighting. He also interviewed farmer Noel Peace of Leitchville, who reported seeing about 50 lights forming a horseshoe pattern.
• Castlemaine Mail (February 22, 1978): Mr. Les Leathbridge reported sightings of flying objects over Newstead, with four circular marks found on a property. He also described seeing three flashing lights travelling together at night.
• Echuca Herald (February 24, 1978): Mr. Ray White of Echuca reported a 'scary' experience involving a brilliant flash and a limited fuselage object.
• Australian UFO Bulletin (February, 1978) - Interstate Reports:
• Laurieton, NSW (April 18, 1977): A witness reported a white light ascending over a sand dune, which moved towards the beach and then out to sea, climbing rapidly.
• Orange, NSW (May 26, 1977): Mrs. H. reported a bright light complex on the ground, followed by a bright elongated rectangular object with 'square windows' moving over the hill. Her son also saw the light.
• Parkes, NSW (October 12, 1977): Two train workers observed an unidentified flying object with a silver-orange appearance and square windows descending near Molong.
• Cessnock, NSW (Mid-October, 1977): Mrs. Rachel Hendry noticed a mysterious object hovering with two fluorescent lights, described as a bright red and gold.
• Armidale, NSW (January 10, 1978): Gary Price reported seeing bright lights in a paddock, which he described as hovering in mist, as big as a house, and having square windows.

Overseas News

• Uruguayan Close Encounters (Montevideo, UP, June 26, 1977): A 13-year-old youth reported a UFO attempting to abduct him.
• Uruguayan Close Encounters (Montevideo, UPI, August 8, 1977): A farm worker reported being struck by a low-flying UFO, knocked unconscious, and singed.
• Local Man Eyes Space Ship, Sees Aliens (Pelham, Georgia, USA, August 11, 1977): Tom Dawson reported an encounter with a space ship and alien crew, describing them as having white skin and sharp noses, and one claiming to be 'Jimmy Hoffa'.

Other Reports and Editorials

• Australian UFO Bulletin (February, 1978) - Page 5: Continues the Tom Dawson story, detailing his experience and his neighbour Mrs. Jimmy Kolbie's account.
• Hobart Mercury (November 24, 1977): A Portuguese fishing vessel reported a UFO flying over it for several minutes, causing ship alarms to activate.
• Brisbane Courier-Mail (November 30, 1977): The United Nations formally discussed UFO phenomena, with Grenada's Prime Minister Sir Eric Gairy advocating for a UN study.
• Adelaide News (December 1, 1977): UN diplomats debated UFOs, with Grenada proposing 1978 as the 'International Year of Unidentified Flying Objects'.
• Melbourne Herald (December 28, 1977): America's space agency (NASA) rejected a White House request to investigate flying saucers but agreed to analyze 'bona fide physical evidence'.
• Cairns Post (December 8, 1977): Dr. Harley D. Rutledge, a physicist, admitted he could not debunk UFO sightings after extensive research, including over 700 photographs.
• Melbourne Herald (February 14, 1978): Reports of 'cigar' UFOs in the 'Welsh Triangle' have excited investigators.

Editorial Stance

The editorial from the Melbourne Sunday Observer (February 19, 1978) strongly urges the Australian State and Federal Governments to take UFO sightings seriously and to utilize the available technical experts for analysis. It criticizes the continued dismissal of such reports and calls for the RAAF to investigate and publicly statement on sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Recurring themes in this issue include detailed witness accounts of visual UFO sightings, the reporting of physical traces like burnt rings and indentations, and the investigation of these phenomena by private researchers and, to a lesser extent, official bodies. The editorial stance is one of advocacy for serious governmental investigation and public disclosure of UFO-related information, reflecting a growing concern and a desire for official acknowledgment and research into the subject.

Title: AUSTRALIAN UFO BULLETIN
Issue: FEBRUARY, 1978
Publisher: Victorian UFO Research Society
Country: Australia
Language: English

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, featuring reports on sightings, research efforts, conference summaries, and book reviews. The publication aims to provide objective investigation into the UFO phenomenon.

Key Articles and Reports

"A huge cigar shaped machine..."

The issue opens with a firsthand account from Mr. Dyer, who, along with another man, witnessed a large, cigar-shaped machine flying low and silently. The experience was unnerving, especially as they were non-believers. Regional investigator Mr. Randall Pugh noted that reports from intelligent, educated people in the area suggest something unusual is occurring.

Cash Crisis May Block UFOs Probe

This section reports on US private UFO investigators seeking federal funds to continue their work, warning that without it, progress toward solving the UFO mystery could stall until the year 2000. A NASA spokesman confirmed that the Federal Government would not undertake UFO research and that no government agency is currently studying UFOs. However, NASA stated it would analyze credible physical evidence if presented. John Acuff of NICAP emphasized the need for both government research and financial assistance to private researchers, stating, "We need both because we are dealing with phenomena we know exist, but which we can't explain."

REPORT ON UFOCON 3 by Les Bristol

This report details the third annual conference organized by the Australian Co-ordination Section (ACOS) for the Centre for UFO Studies (CUFOS) in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, from November 12-14, 1977. The conference was well-attended by delegates from Australian UFO groups and individuals. Key presentations included:

• A paper by Fred Merritt (American Centre) showing a correlation between triangular landing imprints and craft characteristics.
• A submission by Dr. G. T. Stevens (ACOS scientific consultant) indicating that hard radiation is not a regular feature of UFO landing sites, but electromagnetic radiation causing heating effects might be.
• A talk by Neil Huth on the "hollow earth" theory, noting its use by the German Nazi Party and its continued presence in UFO literature.
• A review of the 1954 Victorian UFO situation by VUFORS secretary Ray Fischer, highlighting it as a very active period.

The conference was deemed a success, with plans for a fourth conference in Melbourne.

"Our UFO Visitors" by John Magor (Book Review)

This review discusses John Magor's book, which presents a "travelogue" of his UFO investigations across Canada. The reviewer finds the style jumps between case studies, making it potentially confusing for the uninitiated. While the book contains interesting conjecture, it is noted that these theories have been expounded elsewhere and add little to the study.

"The Vortex Message" edited by Robert Kingsley Morison (Book Review)

This review is highly critical of the book, citing poor production, bad format, and layout, and significant proofreading errors. The reviewer points out logical flaws in the arguments, particularly regarding the assumption that defying gravity implies extraterrestrial origin. The book's substance is described as almost impossible to find amidst its defects.

LATE ITEMS

• "Close Encounter Fever" (The Australian, 6/3/1978): Reports on the surge of interest in UFOs in Britain, coinciding with the release of Steven Spielberg's film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The Voice of Britain newspaper established a UFO bureau, receiving thousands of letters. The item mentions a British Caledonian Airways pilot's sighting of a UFO over the Pyrenees and an RAF man's claim of an attempted alien abduction.
• UFO Case in Court (Sydney Mirror, 8/3/1978): Ground Saucer Watch, Inc., a research organization with 40 scientist members, has sued the CIA, alleging it is withholding proof of UFO existence. The Government is seeking dismissal, citing lack of jurisdiction.

Back Issues and Subscriptions

Information is provided for purchasing back issues of "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and the "Bulletin." Details for annual subscriptions to the "Australian UFO Bulletin" are also included, with fees for adults, pensioners, juniors, and overseas subscribers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include firsthand UFO sightings, the challenges and funding needs of UFO research, the role of media in UFO interest, and critical reviews of UFO-related literature. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective investigation, encouraging eye-witness accounts and information concerning unidentified flying objects and unusual aerial phenomena, while also providing critical analysis of research and publications.