Australian UFO Bulletin - 1981 12 - December

Magazine Overview

Title: The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue Date: December 1981 Edition
Publisher: The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Country: Australia

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin marks a significant shift in the discourse surrounding UFOs, moving from decades of ridicule to a more open and accepting public and official stance. The editorial highlights how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has been crucial in dismantling the 'barriers of the hierarchy' and proving that official explanations have often been misleading. The publication also features a detailed critique of a UFO movie clip filmed in Dandenong, Australia, and reports on a major UFO conference held in Cleveland, Ohio.

Editorial: The Shifting Tide

The editorial, titled 'EDITORIAL', notes that for three decades, UFOlogists and witnesses have faced ridicule, with officials attributing sightings to mistaken identities, natural phenomena, or psychological issues. However, this has changed in recent years, with sceptics becoming the minority. The FOIA is credited as a major factor in this shift, thanks to efforts by organizations like GSW and Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS). The editorial asserts that official debunkers' claims of having explained all UFO phenomena are now proven false, with hundreds of pages secured through FOIA demonstrating a 'documented habit of mistaring the facts.' For the first time, the security of the country has been invoked to withhold UFO information, indicating a significant admission by officialdom that UFOs do exist.

The editorial references the October 1981 Associates Newsletter of the Centre for UFO Studies in Evanston, Illinois, which published details on a court case. This case involved a judge ruling in favor of the NSA, citing a top-secret memo justifying the non-release of documents sought by CAUS. The judge stated that the public's 'right to know' was overshadowed by potential danger to national security if the information were made public. The editorial emphasizes that this is the first instance where national security has been used to withhold UFO information.

It distinguishes between 'Not Identified flying objects' (secret experimental craft) and UFOs. The editorial salutes ufologists who have faced threats, risked their jobs, and endured personal sacrifices, recognizing their experience and observation of the 'Conspiracy of Silence.' It also calls for donations to the FUND FOR UFO RESEARCH, INC. to support this important court case.

Dandenong Movie Footage Critique

The issue includes a detailed critique of a color super 8mm movie clip of an unidentified object (UO) filmed in Dandenong, Australia, on December 3, 1978. The footage was submitted to GSW.INC. for computer enhancement by VUFORS. The 19-second clip, taken in daylight, shows a brilliant UO but lacks ground references or cloud data for precise distance measurements. The witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, is described as having a professional background.

Special high magnification studies were conducted on selected frames to reveal the brightest density and minimize artifacts. The analysis revealed discrepancies between the witness' visual report and the film data. Key findings include:

• The film did not afford the same data as the witness' visual report.
• The lens size was not supplied, but typical telephoto-zoom lenses range from 135mm to 200mm, affecting the picture angle.
• There was no evidence of a hoax or photographic artifact.
• The UO image measured 1.5 milliradians or 5.5 minutes of arc from the film.
• Calculations indicated the object was high in the sky, with the resolving power of the witness' telephoto lens being greater than 6.5 miles for structured images.
• The human eye's resolving power is 1.0 to 3.0 minutes of arc, while the moon is about 30 minutes of arc.
• The camera's resolving power was estimated at about 1 minute of arc.
• Six frames were enhanced, but angular motion data was not supplied due to high costs.
• Frames B & C appeared slightly elongated, possibly due to tumbling motion or sunlight reflection.
• The image appeared structured, with a three-dimensional appearance, and was not tenuous.
• The UO was brighter in the center than at the edges.
• At a hypothetical height of 6.5 miles, the object was moving slowly, less than 200-400 mph, based on angular motion and witness data.

Conclusions from the film data:

1. The tumbling motion was not substantiated in the supplied frames.
2. The UO was high in the sky with an approximate physical size of 20 to 30 feet in diameter.
3. The possibility of a drone used for military experimentation was considered better than average.
4. The possibility of it being a high-altitude weather device or balloon was ruled out due to its flight path bisecting the jet stream in the opposite direction of the U.S.A.

GSW concluded that the image was structured and not a conventional aircraft, but better media imagery was needed for further definition. A follow-up letter from Fred Adrian of CS Photographic Consultant to Mr. Auchettl, dated June 29th, 1981, revised the distance figures to less than 5 miles, with a physical size of less than 20 feet, based on new lens data (7.5mm to 60mm range, giving a wide field of view). The appendage was identified as a sunlight reflection. GSW stated they could not process the image further without a more powerful lens.

John William Auchettl, the witness, reflects on the 3-year research process, asserting his sanity and accuracy in reporting. He notes that while a drone (like the Australian-made JINDIVICK) is a possibility, its characteristics don't fully align. He links this sighting to the Valentich UFO and the Manifold photographs, occurring within 43 days, suggesting a pattern.

APRO UFO Conference in Cleveland

The article 'ON THE UFO TRAIL' by Paul Norman details the APRO UFO Conference held in Cleveland, Ohio, from June 5th to 7th, 1981. The conference theme was 'The Case for Aliens.'

Key speakers and presentations included:

• Professor Robert Creegan (University of New York): Keynote address.
• William Moore (co-author of 'The Philadelphia Experiment' and 'The Roswell Incident'): Update on crashed UFO retrievals.
• Betty Hill: Addressed attempts by Carl Sagan to discredit her, humorously labeling them 'SAGANISM.'
• Dr. Leo Sprinkle: Presented on 'UFO Activity and Human Consciousness.'
• Stan Friedman: Spoke on officialdom's policy of secrecy and cover-up.
• Larry Coyne (helicopter pilot): Shared his experience of a UFO encounter over Ohio in October 1973.

Lt. Colonel Coyne also phoned in to compare notes with the Frederick Valentich case. The conference noted similarities between the Coyne encounter and the Valentich case, both involving a green light.

An incident from July 1961 was recounted, where a B. 29 bomber pilot and two crew members encountered a UFO with a brilliant green light near Cleveland. The object hovered, dived towards them, stopped, and then rapidly ascended. This sighting was also detected by radar and seen from Cleveland Hopkins Airport. An Air Force spokesman attempted to dismiss the sighting as being fooled by the star Capella.

Notes provided ordering information for papers presented at the APRO Symposium, including works by Robert F. Creegan, William L. Moore, Betty Hill, Leo Sprinkle, Peter A. Jordan, L. J. Lorenzen, and Stanton T. Friedman.

G.S.W. News Bulletin

The 'G.S.W. NEWS BULLETIN' is published three times annually (April, August, December) and features an editorial, 'Directly Speaking' by William H. Spaulding, organizational news, event calendars, sighting maps, and articles on UFOlogy. Subscription rates are provided for both GSW members and non-members.

UFORUM

In response to a member's query, the 'UFORUM' section states that there have been no reported cases of animal mutilation in Australia. Members are asked to share any information they have on this topic.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the increasing acceptance of UFO phenomena, the role of government secrecy and cover-ups, and the importance of witness testimony and scientific investigation. The editorial stance is strongly in favor of ufology, critical of official obfuscation, and supportive of researchers who have faced adversity. There is a clear emphasis on the impact of FOIA in uncovering hidden information and a belief that UFOs are a genuine phenomenon that warrants serious study, moving beyond simple explanations of misidentification or hoaxes. The publication also highlights the international nature of UFO research and reporting, with connections to Sweden and the USA.

This document is page 10 of the U.F.O. Bulletin, issue number 10. It contains a letter to the editor from Mrs. E.S. Nixon, a member from Victoria, who shares her contribution with the readers.

Article: Theories on UFO Visits and Alien Life Mrs. E.S. Nixon begins by addressing a suggestion in a previous U.F.O. Bulletin editorial that UFO aliens visit Earth for water, and that they might be composed of carbon water, needing it for survival or to cool atomic reactors in their craft.

Nixon expresses disagreement with these theories, finding it unlikely that any advanced intellect would rely on resources from a chance planet for interstellar travel. Her primary contention is that when alien beings enter Earth's atmosphere, the "solidifying influences of chemical content" affect their own alien planetary formula. To counteract this, she believes they would need to find a way to "block against these conditions." Immersion in water, she suggests, could have the required effect, potentially breaking down atmospheric conditions or allowing the altered atmosphere to preserve their presence longer, thus avoiding immediate return to outer space.

She questions the practicality of depending on water, even for beings capable of cosmic travel. Nixon argues that to depend on water in all its forms would require a "very remarkable arrangement" to convert cosmic moisture into a universally consistent substance suitable for an atomic reactor. She points out that planetary atmospheres vary greatly due to chance chemical mixtures and ignitions, making the quality of moisture in alien environments unknown and potentially incompatible with Earth-based water.

Nixon's broader philosophical view is that all elements in the cosmos arise by "mere chance," without fixed formulas. Elements are subject to creation and controlled by basic conditions that lead to awareness and functional animation. She states that elements are "servants of function," and that one set of evolution belongs to one set of circumstances, making it unlikely that two planetary products would be the same unless by chance.

Despite her views, she maintains an open mind regarding planetary effects on alien life formulas and metals.

The Question of UFO Experience Nixon then addresses the question of why some people experience UFO phenomena while others do not. She believes the answer lies in looking back into our "conception" and understanding that "all matter has a tie."

Before our conception into the flesh, she posits, we are matter mingling freely with other matter, thus knowing a "plane of communication and sameness." She relates this to genetics, suggesting that while genes are not uniform, some individuals develop more in certain cell groups. This leads to "gifted people" such as artists, musicians, and poets, whose self-expression is "out of alignment with the average balance."

She extends this idea to explain heightened perception in some individuals, suggesting that if our cells can cause us to be more pronounced in one component, the same can apply to our make-up. This leads to people with keener perception being more in contact with the universe, leading to different terms of comprehension and understanding. She also suggests the possibility of "stronger contact with the basic matter from which all animation comes to be and can commune," which she believes also applies to telepathy with the infinite.

Personal Experience and Conclusions Nixon shares that she has been analyzing life in outer space for a long time, starting with her first sighting at age twelve. Her initial attempts to seek information were unsuccessful, as they always came from the perspective of this planet's functions. She became convinced that alien beings were "something utterly different" and formed in circumstances completely distinct from Earth's energy field developments.

After studying reports from others, she has formed conclusions: she does not believe visitors from space come to harm, pillage, or conquer Earth. Any harm resulting from foolishness by humans approaching their craft is not intended. She advocates for trying to find a way to make contact, considering two alien lifestyles for intelligent analysis, focusing on commonalities.

She foresees difficulty because UFOs and their craft may not remain in Earth's atmosphere for long, explaining their sudden appearances and disappearances. She offers another theory: alien awareness or life-form could be bred in planetary conditions with chaotic electrical disturbance and turbulent mingling elements. Their "energy awareness" might be a concentration of light, retained in their own sphere, and only temporarily solidified on Earth. This solidification might be for a measured degree, after which they return to space where planetary influences do not affect their craft.

Nixon concludes that unless a compatible element is found in our system for them to adhere to permanently, we may never get to know our neighbors. She emphasizes that intellect is part of any alien life form. To contact this intellect, it is essential to study life formations, which could open a new field of exploration on planets with different chemical involvements, going back to the basic building blocks of life but on a different chemical basis.

She wonders if, one day, life will be able to break down barriers and reach other planets through manufactured forms of gene engineering. She ends with a thought-provoking statement: "It's not just a matter of shaking hands and saying hello" – implying a need to entirely rethink our views and preconceptions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this article include speculation about the nature and motives of alien visitors, the challenges of interstellar contact, and the philosophical implications of consciousness and matter. The author, Mrs. E.S. Nixon, presents a thoughtful, albeit speculative, perspective that diverges from common theories, emphasizing adaptation and fundamental differences in alien life forms. The editorial stance, by publishing this contribution, suggests an openness to diverse theories and a willingness to engage readers in complex discussions about UFO phenomena and extraterrestrial life.