Australian UFO Bulletin - 1980 09 - September

Magazine Overview

Title: The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue: September 1980 Edition
Date: 1980-09
Publisher: The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Country: Australia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, published by The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, focuses on UFO phenomena in Australia and the evolving methods of investigation, particularly the use of hypnosis. The cover features the publication's title prominently, along with the society's emblem and a date stamp indicating its distribution.

Editorial

The editorial discusses the historical approaches to the UFO problem, ranging from extraterrestrial theories to inner earth and time travel. It highlights the recent trend of using hypnosis to solve crimes and suggests its potential application in ufology. The editorial cautions that hypnosis is a tool that aids research but is not always reliable, and that errors can arise from the method or the subject's innermost thoughts. It emphasizes the privilege of associating with experts in the field and keeping abreast of new research trends, noting that hypnosis is still in an experimental stage. The issue promises to delve deeper into the 'levels of reality' of UFO phenomena.

Contents

The table of contents lists several articles and features:

• "U.F.O. 1980 Tasmania"
• Levels of Reality and the U.F.O. Display
• "Kidnapped by a U.F.O."
• The Maureen Puddy Case: Her Third Encounter
• On the U.F.O. Trail
• "My Son Frederick"
• Press Clips
• Society News: dates of Meetings

Articles and Reports

"U.F.O. 1980 Tasmania"

This section announces the availability of a publication titled "U.F.O. 1980 Tasmania" by the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC), priced at 60c. It also presents two excerpts from TUFOIC's Annual Report.

BUSY NIGHT AT RISDON VALE

This report details two puzzling car pacing incidents that occurred on the same night in the Risdon Vale area of Tasmania. The first witness, Mr. B., driving home on November 8th, 1978, noticed a silver light in his mirror, which later became a yellow-white light shining on trees. He then observed a car ahead being illuminated by a silver light, and the driver of that car stopped to look upwards. Mr. B. also saw an oval-shaped silver object in his windscreen before accelerating away. The second incident involved a report of a strange droning noise heard for five minutes. Later that night, taxi driver Lloyd Wright encountered a puzzling green shape on Sugarloaf Road. The shape, estimated to be 12m tall and tapering, moved into the road, causing Wright's radio to emit a high-pitched squeal. The object vanished into thin air. Wright reported the event to the police, who found him credible. TUFOIC investigated the site but found no explanation. The report notes that these events occurred within a four-day period in the Risdon Vale area.

LEVELS OF REALITY AND THE UFO DISPLAY

This paper, authored by Dr. Leo Sprinkle of the University of Wyoming, was presented at the I Congresso International de Ufologia in Brasilia, Brazil, in October 1979. Dr. Sprinkle expresses gratitude for the opportunity to participate and for the courtesies extended. He acknowledges his translators and friends, including Robin, for their assistance. The paper explores the concept of the UFO experience as a 'display' of various levels of reality, challenging witnesses' notions of reality. Dr. Sprinkle suggests that UFO experiences can prompt observers to become witnesses and report their sightings. He also discusses the potential for researchers to gain first-hand information by working with contactees. He shares his own tentative viewpoints, developed over 17 years of studying UFO witnesses and conducting surveys of individuals who claim psychic impressions or UFO abductions. He presents his views as hypotheses, drawing on the work of James E. Frazier.

Frazier's speculations suggest that a certain type of person is being abducted and implanted with information to bridge understanding of an "extra-terrestrial" perspective. This knowledge is filtered and doled out in a step-by-step fashion, controlled by implanted "keys" and "cues." Long-term contact is maintained through telepathy, trances, repeated abductions, and face-to-face encounters. The motivation behind this method is to filter information to common people on a grass-roots level, controlling exploitation and sensationalism. Contactees are given pieces of knowledge to unite with others and with established scientific facts. The relationship dynamics are described as similar to counseling, involving psychological guidance, self-determinism, and spiritual-metaphysical experiences alongside scientific knowledge. The body of knowledge is classified into several areas: Archeological, Geological, Meteorological, Genetic, Biological, Scientific (space travel, electromagnetism), and Spiritual (consciousness, telepathy). The goal is for contactees to research past civilizations, discover indications of this knowledge, and present it to mankind beneficially. Dr. Sprinkle proposes an exercise for the audience to imagine their first UFO sighting.

"KIDNAPPED BY A U.F.O."

This article recounts the extraordinary story of Carl Higdon, a Wyoming oil-rigger who claimed to have been kidnapped by an alien being, flown to another planet in a spaceship, and returned unharmed. The account is supported by separate hypnotic sessions conducted by two top psychologists and a Psychological Stress Evaluation (PSE) analysis, which indicated Higdon was not lying and believed he had encountered space beings. A Wyoming game warden corroborated Higdon's claim that his pickup truck had vanished and reappeared in a location inaccessible to two-wheel-drive vehicles. Higdon's encounter occurred on October 25, 1974, in the Medicine Bow National Forest. He described an alien about six feet two inches tall, wearing a black scuba suit, with an Oriental-like face and slanted eyes. The alien, who identified himself as "Ausso 1," took Higdon aboard a rectangular, transparent spacecraft. Higdon reported seeing Earth recede and then observing a planet with colorful lights, which he was told burned Ausso. He was then returned to Earth, finding his truck stuck in the mud. Rescuers found him, and he was examined at a hospital. Dr. Russ Tongco noted no physical injuries but Higdon's vivid description of his experience, diagnosing amnesia. Dr. Leo Sprinkle hypnotized Higdon and concluded he was telling the truth, believing he was taken aboard a craft. Dr. Ira A. Greenberg, a clinical psychologist, also hypnotized Higdon, with Dr. Sidney Walter present, and concluded Higdon was an honest man who sincerely believed his experience. Charles R. McQuiston, a former U.S. intelligence officer, also examined Higdon using PSE and stated that Higdon fully believed something had happened to him.

Society News

MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS

General Meetings are held twice a year. The next election for positions such as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Committeemen will be held at the General Meeting on December 10th at the Royal Society, 9 Victoria Street, Melbourne, at 8 p.m. Nominations must be received by VUFORS no later than 14 days prior to the meeting.

DISCUSSION NIGHTS

A recent Discussion Night was well-attended despite poor weather. The next Discussion Night is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8th, at the same address as the General Meeting. A contribution of 50c is requested to cover hall and supper costs. Members without transport can contact Mrs. Magee or the Membership Secretary for assistance in finding a ride.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and encounters, particularly in Australia (Tasmania), and the exploration of new investigative techniques like hypnosis. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, acknowledging its complexity and the need for rigorous research. There is a clear interest in exploring different 'levels of reality' and the potential for contactees to provide unique insights. The society actively engages its members through meetings and discussion nights, fostering a community for those interested in ufology.

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, identified as issue number 10 and subtitled 'HER THIRD ENCOUNTER', focuses on the 'MAUREEN PUDDY INCIDENT'. The date is inferred to be around 1980, given the publication dates of associated articles.

The Maureen Puddy Incident: Her Third Encounter

This section, written by Judith Magee, details Maureen Puddy's third reported UFO experience. The narrative begins with a phone call from Maureen, agitated, describing a voice telling her to come to a 'meeting place'. Her husband, who is an invalid, heard nothing. Upon meeting Judith Magee and Paul Norman, Maureen reported nearly going off the road due to a sighting. While in her station wagon, Maureen experienced a tingling sensation, described as a mild electrical shock. She then reported seeing a small entity in a 'tin foil type suit' sitting in her car. The entity beckoned her to follow, but Maureen refused. Paul Norman was then invited to get out of the car to investigate. Maureen then described being inside a large, round room with white walls and a large 'mushroom' in the center, with the entity pointing to it. The 'mushroom' had perpendicular lines and lines going around it, and the room itself seemed to move like jelly. Maureen became distressed, crying that she couldn't get out. Judith Magee attempted to comfort her, noting that Maureen seemed to be 'there! inside that room and not with us'.

Later, Maureen described the entity wanting her to close her eyes. She then became quiet, and her shoulders relaxed. She eventually stated 'he's gone', and later, 'He's gone this time it feels different'. The experience was described as exhilarating for the interviewers, despite Maureen's distress.

On the U.F.O. Trail by Paul Norman

Paul Norman recounts his travels through the Northwestern United States in September 1979, which led him to visit Dr. Leo Sprinkle in Laramie, Wyoming. Dr. Sprinkle is described as an outstanding UFO researcher specializing in hypnosis.

Norman highlights a case of mutual interest: Frederick Valentich's encounter, which occurred seven years prior to this article (in 1972) on Mooraduc Road, near Frankston, Victoria. Dr. Sprinkle's interest in UFOs began in 1950 after witnessing a round, metallic object flying silently and faster than a jet. He later witnessed another unusual object. These experiences led him to abandon the 'psychosis hypothesis' and explore the subconscious for answers to the UFO problem.

Norman connects these investigations to Maureen Puddy's case, noting that two of her experiences were covered in publications, including a chapter by Judith Magee. He reflects on his own limited experience with hypnosis, primarily at an entertainment level. He questions whether Maureen Puddy might have been under hypnosis, or if she was reliving a past experience during a blackout. He also poses broader questions about entities, objects, and communications existing outside the normal spectrum of perception.

My Son Frederick by Guido Valentich

Guido Valentich writes about the disappearance of his son, Frederick, who vanished on October 21st, 1978, after reporting a 'strange aircraft' to Melbourne Flight Service. Radio contact was lost shortly after. The news of the disappearance was learned the following day. Valentich's father confirmed it was his son involved after contacting transport officials. He learned that the incident was surrounded by a UFO case.

News reporters contacted the family, and Guido Valentich learned about the UFO aspect of the incident. He saw subtitles on TV confirming Frederick's report of a UFO. Despite the shock, the family found some relief knowing Frederick was a believer in UFOs and might have welcomed a close contact. The family received numerous calls and letters, including from overseas, with many people sharing similar experiences of UFO sightings, particularly a large light illuminating football ovals.

The Department of Transport focused on a rescue operation, initially denying the existence of UFOs. However, they admitted it was a rare case and conducted a large-scale search involving four aircraft and sophisticated equipment.

Two weeks after the incident, the Search and Rescue Department presented their search plan. Guido Valentich was introduced to Mr. Eddie, Chief Co-ordinator Rescue, and Mr. Pat Maky, his assistant. Theories were discussed, and while they couldn't officially proclaim it an accident, Mr. Eddie unofficially suggested the Cessna ditched in the water and disappeared within a minute. Guido Valentich disputes this, citing the aircraft's construction (modular units) and the fact that VHF radio communication would be lost below 1000 ft, yet contact was maintained until the end. He estimates Frederick was at 4500 ft when contact was lost.

He expresses admiration for Paul Norman's persistence in researching this case, along with a group of scientists, hoping for more information about his son and other mysterious incidents.

U.F.O. SIGHTED

This section compiles several reported sightings:

• "Chronicle" Camperdown, 29/7/1980: Two Camperdown men, Peter Leishman and Graeme Brown, reported seeing a long, thin white cigar-shaped object on a Wednesday afternoon. They described it as not changing shape, too regular to be a cloud, with a thicker middle and a black nose end. It moved slowly in the opposite direction to the clouds, had no wings, flashing lights, or changing color.

• From "STANDARD", Warrnambool, Vic., 1st July, 1980: A Victorian UFO Research Society official, Paul Norman, spent six months investigating the mystery disappearance of Melbourne pilot Frederick Valentich in 1978. The investigation included studying reported sightings, strange noises, and a photograph of a mystery object. Norman believes Valentich's disappearance is linked to a UFO, citing the radio recording of his conversation with Melbourne Flight Service, which included evidence of the engine of the plane, four bright lights on the object, and a metallic sound. He also mentioned electromagnetic studies in areas where UFOs were sighted.

• The Standard, Wednesday, July 23, 1980: The Victorian UFO Research Society appealed to fishermen who reported seeing a strange object under the sea near Cape Otway in 1978. Paul Norman believes this sighting could be a lead in the Valentich disappearance. He also noted talk of fishermen photographing the object. The photographs, taken by amateur photographer Roy Manifold near Cape Otway 20 minutes before Valentich's disappearance, were analyzed by the Civilian Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation in Arizona. The analysis suggested a 'bona fide' unknown flying object, metallic, surrounded by a cloud-like vapor-exhaust residue, approximately six meters wide and 1.2 meters deep. The object appeared to be surfacing from the water.

Subscriptions and Junior UForum

This section provides information on subscriptions to the magazine, detailing that membership fees entitle members to four magazines sent quarterly. It also mentions a subscription reminder system and that membership will cease if payment is not received by the start of the new subscription period. A section for 'Junior UForum' is announced, marking the start of a forum for junior members, with contact information provided.

Application for Membership

This page is an application form for membership to the Victorian UFO Research Society (V.U.F.O.R.S.). It requests personal details such as name, address, occupation, and age. Membership fees are listed as $5 (Aust.) within Australia and $7 (U.S.) outside Australia. The society states it welcomes reports of unusual Aerial Phenomena, evaluates them, and exchanges information with similar organizations and scientists, publishing findings in the 'Australian UFO Bulletin'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO encounters, unexplained disappearances (particularly of pilots), and the investigation of these phenomena by dedicated researchers and societies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs, presenting witness testimonies and investigative findings without outright dismissal, while also acknowledging the challenges and skepticism from official bodies. There is a clear emphasis on collecting and analyzing evidence, including photographic and audio recordings, and utilizing expert analysis, such as that provided by Dr. Leo Sprinkle and the Civilian Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation.