Australian UFO Bulletin - 1979 08 - August

Magazine Overview

Title: AUSTRALIAN UFO BULLETIN
Issue: AUGUST 1979
Publisher: THE VICTORIAN UFO RESEARCH SOCIETY
Country: AUSTRALIA

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin focuses on UFO sightings, analysis, and related topics, including space exploration.

Editorial: Roy Manifold Photos and Frederick Valentich Disappearance

The editorial discusses the Roy Manifold photographs taken near Cape Otway lighthouse on October 21st, 1978, shortly before pilot Frederick Valentich disappeared over Bass Strait. These photos were sent to Ground Saucer Watch (GSW) in California for analysis. Dr. Charles Flemming, an optical physicist for GSW, reported that analysis of six color negatives revealed an anomalous image in frame five, appearing to surface from the water. In frame six, taken about 20 seconds later, a large cloud-like image with a disc structure was visible. Computer analysis indicated it was not a known cloud or weather phenomenon, and digital densitometry revealed a highly reflective, metallic structure. The size of the UFO was estimated to be approximately 25 feet in breadth. The editorial also references a similar sighting by Mrs. R. Keily of Mt. Gambier on May 6th, 1979, who described an object that changed shape and color, resembling an oval, light pink cloud. The camera used by Mr. Manifold was an Olympus ZWKO Auto-S 1:1:4 f=50mm with 400 ASA Kodak colour film.

Ufonaut Abductors

This section explores the possibility of 'Ufonaut abductors' and links it to unexplained disappearances, referencing the Bermuda Triangle. It highlights the case of Mr. Guido Vaientich, who believes a metal disc rising from the sea, near where Frederick Valentich disappeared, could be the 'kidnap UFO'. The conclusion from GSW technicians is that the images represent a bona fide unidentified flying object of moderate dimensions, surrounded by a cloud-like vapor/exhaust residue. The article suggests this case, like others, may be filed away by officialdom.

UFO Film Genuine: T.V. Man on Cloud Nine

This article, reprinted from the 'Sunday Telegraph' (April 8th, 1979), features television newsman Quentin Fogarty, who shot the first scientifically authenticated UFO film. Fogarty recounts a sighting in New Zealand in December 1978, where he and his cameraman filmed a UFO shadowing their freight aircraft. The film was sent to the US for testing by scientists, and the independent National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena studied it for two months, endorsing it as a genuine UFO sighting. Fogarty stated that the object was not claimed to be extraterrestrial but an unidentified flying object.

An Eyewitness Account of a UFO Over Sunbury, Victoria

This eyewitness account by Miss Suzanne Mills describes a sighting on June 7th, 1979, near Sunbury, Victoria. While driving, she and two companions observed a huge orange/red glow that shifted position. They investigated and found a large ball of the same hue, approximately overhead of the Bacchus Marsh-Melton area. The object decreased in size to a 'pin prick' of white light, then reappeared, changing shape from oval to semi-circular before fading over the horizon. The object made no sound.

Sydney Riddle - UFO 'Bang'

This news report from the 'Melbourne Herald' (April 26th, 1969) details an unidentified flying object that exploded over Church Point, Sydney, causing shattered windows and shaking houses. Witnesses described an 'orange object' exploding. Police were mystified as no planes were missing, and investigations into distress flares off the coast yielded no connection.

Coincidence or Fact?

Another report from the 'Melbourne Herald' (July 3rd, 1979) discusses a 'mysterious display of aerial fireworks' over Sydney, which many people believed was the final plunge of the Skylab space station. Air Traffic controllers and meteorologists received numerous calls reporting a bright yellow-orange explosion. Some described it as a firework, while others thought it was a jumbo jet. One witness saw a fiery tail before the object blew up into pieces. The article suggests this could explain the trail and reports of the object being visible after the 'explosion'.

Farmer Spots UFO?

From the 'Warrnambool Standard', this report describes a dairy farmer, Mr. Alan Chadwick, spotting a fast-moving UFO near Wangoom. He first saw the object as a bright light over trees, which then remained motionless before moving rapidly towards Wangoom. Chadwick described the object as about half the size of the moon and noted its constant bright light, unlike conventional aircraft.

UFO's Sighted

This section contains two reports:

• Colac 'Herald' (June 6th, 1979): Mr. G.W. Kraft reported seeing unidentified lights moving swiftly in a tight 'V' formation in the Colac sky on a Sunday evening. The lights moved at high speed and were faint orange. They later reappeared in the south, travelling north in an oval formation.
• Warrnambool Sighting: Mary and Robert Archer reported a sighting on May 18th, 1979, of a bullet-shaped object with a dull grey color, estimated to be 25' in diameter. The object moved erratically, at times falling in a spiralling motion. No physical, animal, or EMF effects were reported.

Ground Saucer Watch: Analysis of Roy Manifold's Negatives

This article, exclusive to GSW and published with permission from VUFORS, details the computer photographic analysis of the Roy Manifold negatives. The interpretation revealed the image was not an emulsion defect or a known cloud/weather phenomenon. Digital densitometry indicated a metallic structure, and filtering revealed a definite disc structure. The object's motion was slightly blurred, moving right and up. The size was estimated at twenty feet with an aspect ratio of 6 to 1. The conclusion is that the images represent a bona fide unknown object of moderate dimensions, surrounded by a cloud-like vapor/exhaust residue.

Item of Interest: Aliens Sent Message by Virus

This piece, from 'The Star' (May 29th, 1979), discusses a theory by two Tokyo scientists that millions of people might be carrying a message sent by space aliens in the form of a common virus. They believe this virus may have seeded Earth from a spacecraft of a super-intelligent civilization. The message is thought to be in the form of a picture rather than words, and scientists are working to decode the symbols. The article notes that viruses are a drawback as intergalactic messengers due to atmospheric requirements but suggests that planetary systems similar to our sun are abundant.

'Skylab'

This article, dedicated to Mr. Kevin Arnett, discusses the Skylab space station. It laments that media attention focused on its potential disaster rather than its operational phase. The article highlights Skylab's contributions to gathering information on Earth's resources, pollution detection, and improving food crops and pest control. It also mentions the eight solar telescopes used to study the Sun, aiding in understanding controlled atomic fusion and clean energy. Skylab, launched in 1973, operated at an altitude of 375 km, was the largest spacecraft launched at the time, weighing nearly 100 tonnes. It facilitated nine space-walks for maintenance and repairs, and astronauts retrieved incredible film footage of Earth. The article notes that Skylab was a forerunner of future space factories and projects like Spacelab and the Space Shuttle, with a significant budget allocated for them.

Skylab's Challenges and Experiments

This section details some of Skylab's challenges, including a torn meteoroid shield and a failed solar panel. NASA technicians developed an 'umbrella' as a substitute heat shield and special tools for repairs, with many experiments conducted underwater to simulate space conditions. The article also mentions that Skylab contained experiments designed by students, with twenty-five chosen by NASA from 87,500 submissions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the analysis of photographic and film evidence, and the potential implications of these phenomena. There is a clear stance in favor of investigating and publicizing UFO reports, often criticizing officialdom for dismissing or filing away such cases. The publication also shows interest in broader space exploration and scientific advancements, as evidenced by the article on Skylab. The editorial tone is one of open-minded inquiry, presenting evidence and eyewitness accounts while encouraging further investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena.

This issue of UFO Magazine, dated April 10th, 1979, with issue number 12 and volume 4, focuses on recurring themes in UFO research, including alien abductions, the possibility of alien craft, and numerous sighting reports.

Article: "THE SAME PEOPLE ARE ABDUCTED MANY TIMES BY UFO's"

This article, credited to the "National Enquirer" and featuring Dr. James Harder, director of research for the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), presents the theory that aliens repeatedly abduct individuals for ongoing study. Dr. Harder's research involved regressing 104 people who reported UFO encounters. He found that 30 showed strong evidence of multiple experiences, 40 "probably" had multiple experiences, and 34 showed no evidence of multiple experiences. Dr. Harder posits that a method is employed to find and re-examine abductees at various intervals throughout their lives, likening it to an "extra-terrestrial group of psychologists making a study of humans." He notes that individuals often recall childhood encounters, typically between ages 5 and 9, where they met a seemingly friendly, human-like being who asked them not to tell their parents. The memory of these encounters is often blocked from the child's mind. During adult experiences, abductees may have vague memories of their abductors, recalling "I feel I've seen this being before." Dr. Harder emphasizes that none of the 104 people studied suffered from mental disorders, describing them as "normal individuals." The article includes specific cases, such as a machinist who recalled being taken aboard UFOs twice as an adult and once as a child, and a woman abducted with her children who remembered a similar encounter from age 4. Dr. Harder stresses that multiple UFO abductions are not random occurrences due to the extreme unlikelihood of such repetition.

Article: "SCIENTISTS DISCOVER. DAMAGED ALIEN SPACECRAFT IS IN ORBIT AROUND EARTH"

This report, from "The National Enquirer" dated July 17th, 1979, details the claim by top Russian space scientists that a damaged alien spacecraft is orbiting Earth. Professor Sergei Petrovich Bozhich, a Soviet astrophysicist, states their conviction that a "crippled spacecraft from another planet is circling earth" and that aliens might still be inside. American experts are reportedly fascinated by the possibility of recovering such a find. Dr. Henry Monteith, a US physicist involved in classified nuclear research, calls the claim "very exciting." The Soviets reportedly first spotted the object in the early 1960s, but only now, after years of study, are they announcing their findings. Leading Moscow physicist Dr. Vladimir Georgeyevich Azhazha believes it is the "remains of a large alien craft" holding unimaginable secrets. Russian scientists theorize the craft broke into 10 pieces due to an internal explosion. They estimate the largest sections are about 100 feet in diameter and used sophisticated computers to track the fragments back in time to a single origin point on December 18, 1955, concluding it was the result of a "powerful explosion." They are convinced the objects are not from Earth, as Sputnik 1 was launched later in October 1957. Professor Aleksandr Kazantsev estimates the original craft was 200 feet long and up to 100 feet wide, with domes for telescopes and saucer antennas, suggesting it had several floors. Russian experts have ruled out meteors, as they do not have orbits and cannot spontaneously explode. The article also references a 1969 article in "Icarus" by astronomer John P. Bagby, who discussed evidence of "10 close natural moonlets" that formed on December 18, 1955, a date that remarkably aligns with the Russian findings. Physicist William Corliss notes that Bagby's findings "corroborate" the existence of a shattered object, though Bagby dismissed the explosion as a natural phenomenon. Both American and Russian researchers are eager to retrieve the fragments, with NASA considering a joint U.S.-Soviet salvage mission. Stanton Friedman expresses that retrieving the fragments could lead to reassembling the craft. Dr. Henry Monteith suggests that such a discovery would be "the find of the century" and "a blockbuster," conclusively proving the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. Professor Kazantsev estimates the aliens were between three and nine feet tall. Professor Alesei Zolotov emphasizes the potential benefits for mankind if the vessel could be re-assembled on Earth.

Article: "SPACE FOR PLENTY..."

This brief item from the "Herald" Melbourne (July 30th, 1979) announces that top UFO researchers from 12 countries will meet in London the following month to discuss ways to improve the worldwide study of sightings.

Call for Assistance: "CAN YOU HELP? ... TRANSLATORS WANTED."

The magazine appeals for help in deciphering letters and articles received from overseas, particularly in German, Spanish, and Portuguese, thanking existing translators for their assistance.

Article: "COMPARISONS OF STUDIES IN THE USE OF HYPNOSIS IN UFO ENCOUNTER CLAIMS."

Authored by Dr. Charles Osborne, this article discusses the common technique of using hypnotic regression to investigate UFO encounters and the challenges in verifying the genuineness of these experiences and any paranormal aspects. A table from Lawson shows the classification of CE-111 UFO cases after regression since October 1975, with most cases ending up as "Ambiguous" or "Amb./Cont." (Ambiguous/Contested). Dr. Osborne highlights several points from Lawson regarding hypnotic regression: data is anecdotal, witness reliability is uncertain (lying under hypnosis is possible), hypnotist capabilities vary, the questioning process may not allow paranormal information, and the truth given under hypnosis is often what the individual believes to be true. The article elaborates on potential sources of error from both unreliable and reliable witnesses, including hoaxing, self-deception, desire to please the questioner, pathological lying, or even not being under hypnosis. It also notes that even reliable witnesses can misinterpret details or experience sensory blocks. A specific case from Lawson involving the "Garden Grove Case" is detailed, where an individual claimed multiple UFO encounters. The subject described encounters with 7-foot tall beings, an examination apparatus, and a telepathic message from a 9-foot being. The message spoke of aliens being clones of a central host intelligence and their ship "checking the original biological plantation" on Earth. The subject also experienced an out-of-body trip and saw visions of Earth during a future war, with a predicted atomic destruction date of June 7, 1985.

Article: "INCREASING STRANGENESS OF UFO EXPERIENCE."

This section presents a table categorizing UFO experience data into "Reasonable" (logical objects, events), "Exotic" (odd objects, events), and "Paranormal" (incomprehensible data). It details the 9-footer's telepathy and the physical examination, noting increasing strangeness. The "Reasonable" data includes descriptions of examination apparatus and attendants. "Exotic" data includes effects of probes, apparent high technology, blinking lights, and temporary paralysis. "Paranormal" data includes dissection (heart leaving body), seeing the body in a "beam of light," restoration of the heart, and being tranquilized by the 9-footer. The telepathy section notes the chief alien being the biggest, only speaking English, and the subject's physical contact with the alien, describing the alien as "ugly" and emitting "vapor." The telepathic communication is described as rambling, involving an out-of-body trip, and traveling "forward in time."

Article: "The Stella Lansing encounters..."

This section discusses the Stella Lansing encounters, described as psychic in nature. It questions whether regression information can provide meaning given the range of possible conclusions about a hypnotic regression story, from "all lies" to "story all true." Recent experiments in Montreal and Melbourne are described, where hypnotizable and skeptical subjects were given hypnotic inductions to imagine seeing a UFO and being lifted into a spaceship. The descriptions from these experiments reportedly resemble classic abductions like the Hills, Schirmer, and Travis Walton cases. The article suggests a possible correlation between psychic experience and UFO sightings, noting that individuals whose descriptions were similar to UFO encounters scored moderately well on psychic tests. The author believes that UFOs on film or mass sightings do not prove the phenomenon's reality and that experiments will continue.

Article: "UFO IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA"

This article, from "NOTIZIARIO UFO" (February 1979), reports on UFO sightings in Sicily, Italy, where even the "Carabinieri" (Italian police) have taken pictures. On the night of December 5th-6th, a circle of intense light was sighted near Addaura-Mondello, with a beam of blue light emanating from a high luminous point. Witnesses included Salvatore Guadagna and Peter Troia. On the same day, a witness named Miss S.G. in Monreale reported a strange phenomenon where her window was illuminated by an intense light that colored everything yellow ochre. She saw a luminous band in the sky changing colors. On the morning of December 11th, Carabinieri in Palermo, while crossing S. Erasmo, observed a "globe of fire" that inundated them with a reddish-reflex beam of light. The object was motionless at a height of 100 meters. Similar sightings were reported from Bagheria and Termini Imenese. A patrolling Carabinieri group saw the object stop over the town center and then rise slowly. The object disappeared at 7:40 am. On December 12th, another UFO was seen in Termini Imenese, with similar reports from Bagheria and Palermo. Sergeant Marco Bonfiglio of the Palermo Carabinieri took two instantaneous pictures of the luminous object. The article notes that when military men tried to contact their central office via radio, it was not working, but began operating again ten minutes later, after the UFO had disappeared. The answer to their query about an airplane in transit was negative. On December 13th, the phenomenon repeated, with photos taken by the Palermo scientific police. Anomalous phenomena included police radios stopping working, car motors halting, and lights switching off. The sighting was seen by thousands in Palermo. Earlier that day, a luminous disc was stationary above the central post office in Palermo before suddenly disappearing at noon.

Article: "A CLOSE APPROACH OF THE THIRD KIND... ON ETNA, ITALY."

This report, from "UFO INFORMATIONS" (4th Quarter 1978), details an encounter on the slopes of Mount Etna, Italy, on July 4th, 1978. Three soldiers (Sergeants Franco Fadellero and Attilio di Salvatore, and Marine Sergeant Maurizio Di Pietro) and a woman (Mrs. Antonina Esposito) reported seeing a formation of three luminous objects. They stopped their car to observe. One object, described as red and pulsating, moved away and descended towards them. It was approximately 300 meters away when it disappeared behind Mount Sona. The objects were arranged like a triangle in the sky.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the multifaceted nature of UFO phenomena, from the psychological aspects of abduction experiences and the reliability of witness testimony under hypnosis, to the physical evidence of alleged alien craft and numerous visual sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting findings from researchers, scientists, and eyewitness accounts, while also acknowledging the complexities and potential for misinterpretation inherent in such investigations. There is a clear interest in international reports, as evidenced by the mention of upcoming conferences and the call for translators. The Skylab incident serves as a point of departure, linking astronomical events with the broader UFO discourse. The recurring theme is the persistent mystery and the ongoing efforts to understand unexplained aerial phenomena and encounters.

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, published by the Victorian UFO Research Society, details a significant UFO sighting and encounter near Catania. It also includes a financial note from the Treasurer regarding membership and subscription fees.

UFO Sighting and Encounter Near Catania

The main article recounts an experience of four individuals who drove towards an object they had seen disappear. Upon reaching the location, they observed a classical flying saucer with an illuminated cupola emitting a bright yellow light. Around the object, they saw five or six beings, which appeared very large from their vantage point about 100 meters away.

Two of these beings approached the witnesses, stopping about 5 meters away. The witnesses described being petrified with fear, feeling paralyzed by a strange force and unable to move. The beings were described as tall, wearing very close-fitting white overalls, with blond hair reaching their shoulders, and having human-like, handsome features. The beings smiled and, with a nod, one pointed to the landed saucer.

The witnesses then looked back at the object, which began to emit a diverse array of colored lights, predominantly yellows, pinks, and blues. The sound of a car engine climbing the road was heard, and the object's lights suddenly went out. As soon as the car passed, the lights illuminated again. The witnesses felt the beings intended to show them the size of the object, which they estimated to have a diameter of about 12 meters. Suddenly, the witnesses felt released from their paralysis and returned to their car, driving back to Catania.

Subsequent to this event, the military authorities reportedly refrained from answering any questions.

Mrs. Esposita, one of the witnesses, provided a statement to a local paper. She reported that approximately 36 hours after the encounter, all four of them felt very relaxed and filled with a sense of euphoria and well-being, an experience she described as strange.

Membership & Subscription Fees

A note from the Treasurer, Clive Yates, addresses the substantial increases in postage and printing costs over the past ten years. Despite these increases, the Society's membership/subscription fee had only risen by eighty cents. The Committee had to decide between reducing the Bulletin's size and content or reviewing the fees. Reluctant to alter the Bulletin, especially as VUFORS had suspended its publication, The Australian Flying Saucer Review, due to prohibitive printing costs, the Society opted for a fee structure change.

The concessional fee was cancelled, and the overseas subscription was increased to U.S.$7.00. The Australian membership fee was to remain at $5.00 for the time being. The Treasurer stated that these fees compare favorably with those of other leading UFO research groups globally and that the Society endeavors to hold them at this level. He also emphasized that VUFORS does not employ personnel, and all work is undertaken by the Society's Committee and friends in their free time. The Society is financed solely by membership/subscription fees and receives no subsidies from personal, corporate, or government grants.

Publisher Information

The Australian UFO Bulletin is produced quarterly by the Victorian UFO Research Society, located at P.O. Box 43, Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia, 3189. It is described as a non-profit organization dedicated to the objective investigation of the UFO phenomenon, welcoming eye-witness accounts and any information concerning the observation of unidentified flying objects and unusual aerial phenomena.

Annual Subscription Fees are listed as $5.00 within the Commonwealth and U.S.$7.00 for overseas membership.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue highlights the Society's commitment to investigating UFO phenomena through detailed witness accounts, such as the Catania sighting. The editorial stance, as conveyed through the Treasurer's note, is one of fiscal responsibility and a dedication to continuing the publication despite rising costs, relying on member support rather than external funding. The Society positions itself as a serious research organization welcoming all information on UFOs.