Australian UFO Bulletin - 1980 03 - March

Magazine Overview

This issue of the AUSTRALIAN UFO BULLETIN, dated March 1980, is published by THE VICTORIAN U.F.O. RESEARCH SOCIETY. The cover features a prominent title and the society's logo, with the issue date clearly marked. The price is listed as $5.00 within Australia and $7.00 (U.S.) outside Australia.

Editorial

The editorial section, titled 'EDITORIAL', reflects on the past eighteen months in ufology, noting significant milestones such as the release of previously denied documents through Freedom of Information legislation. It highlights the Bass Strait Flap, involving the disappearance of Frederick Valentich, and the Cook Strait Flap, associated with an outstanding film. The editorial also mentions the Roy Manifold photos and UFO activity in Europe. It observes a pattern where newcomers to ufology view these events as turning points, while more orthodox academics offer contradicting explanations. The editorial suggests that more people are turning to ufology for information and are less swayed by official debunking. It criticizes officialdom and its scientific advisors for mishandling the UFO problem, noting that many investigators and researchers, including ex-military personnel, disagree with the official cover-up. The editorial draws a parallel to historical scientific skepticism, such as the Astronomer Royal's dismissal of space travel prior to Sputnik, to question the credibility of 'learned' gentlemen who are ignorant of current developments.

Directly Speaking

This section features a report by William H. Spaulding, Director of GSW/WDO, on the ongoing lawsuit against the CIA. The lawsuit, now in its second year, has reached a legal impasse as the CIA and other intelligence agencies are withholding further information, as detailed in an affidavit. However, the case is not closed. A press release from Peter Gersten, a lawyer, dated October 25, 1979, indicates that Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) is filing two new lawsuits: one against the National Security Agency to release its UFO files and another against the Air Force for reports on 'unknown tracks'. Additionally, a request will be made to enjoin the CIA from withholding 57 documents. The author urges UFO researchers and concerned citizens to support these efforts with contributions to offset legal costs.

The section concludes by including information on the Cuban incident, suggesting it be read with interest and concern. In March 1967, the 6947th Security Squadron monitored Cuban military communications. Cuban radar reported a bogey approaching from the north-east, prompting the scramble of two MIG-21 interceptors. The interceptors were guided to within 5 kilometers of the object, which was described by the wing leader as a bright metallic sphere with no visible markings or appendages.

Cuban Incident Details

After a futile attempt to contact the object, Cuban Air Defense headquarters ordered the wing leader to destroy it. The wing leader reported his missiles armed and radar locked-on, but seconds later, his aircraft exploded. The wing leader reported that the aircraft disintegrated without smoke or flame. Cuban radar tracked the object accelerating and climbing beyond 30,000 meters, heading south-southeast towards South America. A spot report was sent to the National Security Agency, as is standard procedure for aircraft loss by an enemy country. However, the NSA did not acknowledge receipt, and a follow-up report was sent. Within hours, orders were received to ship all tapes and intelligence to the agency, and the incident was to be listed as aircraft loss due to equipment malfunction.

On the UFO Trail

This article by Paul Norman recounts his investigation into a crashed UFO report. While traveling in the South-western United States, he learned of an incident from the late 1940s where a UFO crashed on a ranch managed by his brother-in-law. Official investigators interviewed three witnesses. The object maneuvered unusually before crashing. The area was cordoned off by police, but witnesses at a nearby ranch observed military personnel loading fragments into a truck. Norman's 1979 trip overseas led him to researchers interested in the Bass Strait Flap and the disappearance of pilot Frederick Valentich. This led to a priority visit with Leonard Stringfield, a veteran UFO researcher and author of 'Situation Red, The UFO Siege'. Stringfield had previously sent an invitation to visit him in Ohio. The article references Frank Scully's 1950 book, 'Behind the Flying Saucers', which described an alleged 'saucer crash' in New Mexico in the late 1940s, where a 'saucer' was taken into military custody.

Stringfield shared that several years later, a retired U.S. Air Force Officer told a senior VUFORS member about observing a damaged 'craft' and deceased occupants in a government building near Washington, D.C., but warned that he would deny the statement if it were told. Confronted with the reality of 'crashed somethings' in military custody, Norman's mood became receptive. He traveled to Cincinnati to meet Stringfield, who specializes in 'crashed saucer' reports and 'alien bodies'. Stringfield had an abundant number of similar reports, including one about a provost marshal at an Air Force Base near Ft. Worth, Texas, who assisted in the recovery of a metallic disc, 90 feet in diameter, with dead humanoid occupants. The craft and bodies were held at Edwards Air Force Base before being moved to Wright-Patterson Air-Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio. Senator Barry Goldwater was refused admission when he attempted to enter the building. Descriptions of the 'bodies' were consistent: preserved under cold storage, small 'humanoids' with large heads, out of proportion to their brown bodies, and small mouths. Clues to these incidents have come from various sources, including military guards and intelligence officers.

A Glowing Object Chased Plane

This section details a terrifying encounter experienced by Captain Javier Lerdo-Tejeda, a Spanish pilot, who described two mysterious glowing objects chasing his jet airliner over the Mediterranean. The incident, which occurred after taking off from Majorca with 109 German and Austrian tourists, involved the objects moving abreast and closing in on the airliner. At 23,000ft, the objects appeared 15 miles away and rose with the plane to 28,000ft, coming within half a mile. Captain Lerdo-Tejeda realized the danger and initiated emergency procedures. Air traffic control in Barcelona saw no other aircraft, but a sophisticated radar system in Madrid picked up the two objects close to the plane. Lerdo-Tejeda maneuvered sharply and began a steep descent. Madrid radar operators reported the objects suddenly dropped 12,000 ft. in 30 seconds, a feat beyond known aircraft capabilities. A Mirage jet fighter was dispatched and confirmed seeing the two glowing red objects. The objects followed Lerdo-Tejeda's aircraft until the Mirage fighter joined them about 30 miles out of Valencia, at which point the lights suddenly disappeared. Captain Lerdo-Tejeda filed a complete report, fully backed by his crew. A spokesman at Air Force headquarters in Madrid stated the incident was under official investigation. The Minister of Transport and Communications, Sanchez Teran, personally spoke to Captain Lerdo-Tejeda and stated he was prepared to believe that unidentified flying objects do exist.

The N.Z. U.F.O. FILM

This section continues a report, with permission from Dr. Bruce Maccabee, on his investigations into a significant UFO event that made international headlines. The report details event descriptions and a map legend related to a flight in New Zealand. Times are in local Daylight Savings Time, accurate to within one minute, and distances are in nautical miles. The plane traveled at an air speed of about 3.6 miles per minute. The people aboard the plane included Captain William Startup, First Officer Robert Guard, cameraman David Crockett, sound recordist Ngaire Crockett, and reporter Quentin Fogarty. The Wellington Air Traffic Controller was Geoffrey Causer, and radar technician Bryan Chalmers was also present. The radar scope presented an MTI (Moving target indicator) processed picture. Christchurch is noted as CH. During the trip north, Ngaire Crockett was replaced by reporter Dennis Grant.

The report details the trip south:

• Event 1 (Dec. 30th, 1978, ~2354): The plane took off and circled to head south, passing over Wellington.
• Event 2 (Dec. 31st, 1978, ~0010): The plane passed Cape Campbell. Captain Startup and First Officer Guard spotted lights in the direction of Kaikoura. The plane was at 10,000 feet, traveling at about 170 knots air speed.
• Event 3 (~0012): The plane contacted Wellington radar, asking about targets in the direction of the Kaikoura peninsula. Wellington radar confirmed targets appearing and disappearing at about 13 miles, which had been noticed by the controller for about half an hour. The plane was at 14,000 ft, traveling at 215 knots air speed. The lights appeared and disappeared in a random manner, consistent with radar targets.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, investigations, and the perceived cover-up by officialdom and scientific communities. The bulletin strongly advocates for transparency and the release of information through legal means, such as the Freedom of Information Act. There is a clear stance against the dismissal of UFO phenomena by mainstream science and government agencies, highlighting the value of independent researchers and their findings. The publication aims to inform its readers about significant UFO events, ongoing research, and the challenges faced in uncovering the truth. The editorial stance is critical of official skepticism and supportive of ufologists who are actively pursuing evidence and information.

This issue of the "U.F.O. Bulletin" (Volume 1980, Issue 15, dated July 3, 1980) is the official publication of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, published by The Australian U.F.C. Bulletin. It features a prominent cover story titled "BRIGHT GREEN LIGHT MYSTIFIES WOMAN" by Paul Jackson of T.U.F.O.I.C.

Detailed Content

Bright Green Light Mystifies Woman

The lead article details an incident involving a former policewoman of eight years who was driving on the Murchison Highway in New Zealand. At approximately 9:28 pm, she noticed a bright green light in the distance. Simultaneously, her wrist watch and the car's clock stopped working. The light, described as a sort of green colour and very bright, lit up the car's interior. The woman's car suddenly lost all power, and she could not accelerate beyond 50 kph. The light followed her car for two to three minutes, maintaining its position even as she navigated bends. After the light disappeared, the car immediately regained speed. The trip took an extra 15 minutes, and the car's fuel tank, which should have had a third of a tank left, was empty. The car clock and her wrist watch started working again after the incident.

Aircraft Encounter Over Kaikoura, New Zealand

Several entries detail radar and visual observations made from an aircraft near Kaikoura, New Zealand, between approximately 0015 and 0101 hours. Radar operator 'W.' reported multiple targets. At 0015, a target was reported in the 3.00 position on the coastline. By 0016, strong targets were reported at 10 and 3 miles. Passengers reported seeing lights that occasionally appeared ahead of the plane. At 0017:30, a target was reported at 9.00 at 2 miles, with no visual confirmation. At 0019, another strong target was noted at 10.00 at 12 miles. Around 0022, a stationary target was observed to the left of the plane. Commentator 'F.' noted seeing "probably 6 or 7 or even more bright lights over Kaikoura," some of which were picked up by Wellington radar. The plane performed a two-minute orbit. Upon exiting the orbit, 'F.' described the lights as "Very, very bright" and flashing on and off, with "a couple right in front of us." He declared, "We have a firm convert here at this moment." Filmmaker 'DC.' obtained footage of oval, blue-white images and several lights in a horizontal row. At 0028, the plane passed a turning point, with 'W.' reporting targets 12-15 miles behind. At 0029, 'W.' reported a target about 1 mile behind the plane. By 0029:30, this target was at 6.00 at 4 miles and had remained stationary for several sweeps. At 0030, a "further" target was reported at 3.00 at 4 miles, with 'F.' noting "a whole formation of unidentified flying objects behind us." By 0030:45, 'W.' reported a target had "doubled in size." At 0031:30, 'W.' stated the target had "reduced to normal size," and the plane's radar blip had been unusually large for several sweeps, described as "like two aircraft flying side-by-side." 'BC.' in the control room witnessed this large blip. Later, the co-pilot spotted a flashing light travelling alongside the aircraft. At 0032:30, a target was reported at 3.00 just behind the plane, moving at 4.00 at 4 miles. 'F.' described an object confirmed by Wellington radar, "It's been following us for quite a while. It's about 4 miles away and it looks like a very faint star but then it emits a very bright white and green light." At 0035, 'W.' contacted 'P.' about a target at 4.00 at 4 miles, which was now at 6.00 at 15 miles and joined by two other targets, described as "three unidentified flying objects just off our right wing." Around 0036:30, the three targets were replaced by a single one producing a blip larger than the aircraft's. The plane performed another orbit but saw nothing. Upon landing at Christchurch (CH) at 0101, 'F.' reported CH radar had indicated six UFOs headed for the aircraft, though no one else recalled this statement.

More Photographed Extraterrestrials?

This section, translated by A. Nasi from an Italian source (La Spezia, Sept 6, 1976), discusses the G.O.R.U. (observation, group and Ufological research) society. Stelio Asso, head of G.O.R.U., describes an experience on Mount Verrugoli where members photographed a human figure and saw four such beings. The figure was about three to four metres away, described as about one metre seventy cm tall, wearing a tight-fitting dark overall and a helmet with a black visor. The figure appeared to glide and disappeared instantly. The group uses instruments like Geiger Counters and magnetic detectors. The photograph was taken on January 13, 1976, at 20:22. The group also found a vehicle in a clearing on a subsequent visit. They report that animals on Mount Verrugoli often show signs of restlessness and terror. Similar sightings have been reported in Italy, the United States, and Brazil.

U.F.O. 'Abducted Man'

This report from Paris, credited to "Border Morning Mail" (Dec 5, 1979), concerns Frank Fontaine, a 19-year-old who reappeared after a week-long disappearance. He and two friends reported seeing a brilliant light, about the size of a tennis ball, which caused their eyes to burn. Fontaine remembers nothing from that moment until his reappearance. He was wearing the same clothes and had the same amount of money as when he disappeared. Police in Cergy-Pontoise are sceptical and have called in experts.

General Meeting Announcement

An announcement for a general meeting on March 27th at the Royal Society's Hall in Victoria Street, featuring a lecture by Quentin Fogarty and a New Zealand UFO film. The New Zealand encounter is described as one of the best radar-visual-film cases outside of military custody.

Publications

The issue also lists "THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.C. BULLETIN" as the official publication of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, with a P.O. Box in Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia. It also mentions "ARKIVET" from Södertälje, Sweden.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP), radar detection of UAP, witness testimonies, photographic evidence, and alleged abductions. The publication appears to present these reports factually, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also noting official skepticism in some cases (e.g., the French abduction claim).