Australian UFO Bulletin - 1983 12 - December

Magazine Overview

Title: The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue Date: December, 1983
Publisher: The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of "The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin" is primarily dedicated to detailing the Melton Police Encounter, a significant UFO sighting that occurred on July 21, 1983. The publication also provides a historical overview of UFO research societies in Australia and discusses other related incidents.

The Melton Police Encounter

The lead article, "The Melton Police Encounter" by John Auchettl, meticulously documents the events of July 21, 1983. The incident began around 1:00 am when Sergeant Barry Harman of the Melton Police contacted Tullamarine Air Traffic Control (ATC) regarding an observed object. ATC confirmed observing a momentary radar signal in the Melton vicinity. The Police Air Wing was unable to assist in a search. An investigation by the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (DOT) followed, with Inspector K. Doyle meeting with police officers. The DOT inspector confirmed that tower staff had viewed the object and that radar had initially picked it up.

Subsequent visits to the Tullamarine ATC facilities revealed that the radar units were outdated, built in 1967 and 1973, with limited range and lacking modern features. The "Moving Target Indicator" was designed to filter out slower-moving objects, making it difficult to track stationary or hovering UFOs. The radar's ground location and angle of elevation meant an object would need to be at approximately 850 ft to be detected in the main lobe, though side/minor lobing was also a factor. While officially only one radar contact was reported, the author suggests more may have occurred.

The descriptions of the objects varied. At approximately 12:40 am, two constables (Ferguson and Ellens) observed an object described as a "tail section construction very similar to tubular steel, with a tail fin with a red stripe," having two bright white lights at the front and a flashing red light at the rear. It was approximately 20 ft long and made a low-pitched humming sound, hovering over the shopping centre before moving off.

Later, at 5:45 am, a different object was observed by multiple witnesses, including Constable Ferguson, Constable Ellens, Sergeant Barry Harman, and Chief Inspector Ray Hickman. This object was described as triangular, grey metallic, approximately 30 ft long and 20 ft wide, with a flashing red light and white lights. It moved quietly at speeds estimated between 130-145 km/h (80-90 mph). Some witnesses noted it reappeared after disappearing, suggesting it might have landed and taken off again, or that two distinct objects were present.

The R.A.A.F. stated there was no doubt the police saw something, but could not identify it, noting the unusual number of reliable observers who saw it. They suggested it could be a hoax or night flying activity, but confirmed no military air activity was present in the area.

Bacchus Marsh "Big Bang"

Separately, the issue reports a mysterious explosion in Bacchus Marsh at 11:40 pm on June 14, 1983. Residents described it as a "sharp, quick bang" that shook the town and was deafening. Police and the Bureau of Meteorology could not explain the event, and Tullamarine ATC ruled out a sonic boom. Investigations by police were called off, leaving the VUFORS study as the primary ongoing effort.

Society History

A section titled "Society History" provides a brief chronicle of UFO research organizations in Australia. It traces the origins back to the "Australian Flying Saucer Bureau" in the early 1950s, led by Edgar Jarrold and Andrew Tomas, and Fred Stone's "Australian Flying Saucer Research Society" in Adelaide. The Victorian branch was formed on February 17, 1957, evolving through several name changes to become the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society" in 1968. The Society has published "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and "Australian U.F.O. Bulletin," and previously sponsored a radio program. It maintains the largest UFO library in the Southern Hemisphere and emphasizes a scientific approach to UFO phenomena.

The UFO Trail: UK Encounter

Another article, "On The UFO Trail" by Paul Norman, discusses VUFORS's involvement in investigating an encounter that occurred on December 27, 1980, in the UK. The investigation, involving Tony Fawcett (a leading Ufologist in Connecticut) and the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA), faced initial secrecy and denials. The case reportedly involved documents confirmed by RAF personnel and US Air Force witnesses. The article criticizes the dismissive reactions from officials and academics, comparing them to similar patterns seen in Australia and New Zealand regarding UFO cases.

Other Content

The issue includes subscription rates for VUFORS membership, listing full membership at $5.00 per annum (including the magazine) and overseas membership at $7.00 U.S.A. It also lists the office bearers of the VUFORS, including President Judith M. Magee, Vice-President Paul Norman, and Secretary Mark Sawyers. A copyright notice states that no material may be reproduced without prior written consent. The publication also includes a festive greeting from the VUFORS Committee for the upcoming holiday season.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed investigation of UFO sightings, particularly the Melton Police Encounter, and the challenges faced in such investigations due to outdated equipment and potential official obfuscation. The editorial stance, evident in the "Society History" and "The UFO Trail" articles, is one of persistent, scientific inquiry into UFO phenomena, advocating for a dispassionate and open-minded approach. There is a clear critique of "pseudo-academics" and governmental secrecy surrounding UFOs, with an emphasis on the importance of UFO research and the need for greater transparency. The society positions itself as a key organization in Australia for UFO research, maintaining a significant library and actively investigating cases.

This issue of 'News of the World' from October 2nd, 1983, focuses on the alleged landing of a UFO in Suffolk, England, presenting it as an officially confirmed event despite a supposed cover-up. The main headline proclaims 'U.F.O. LANDS IN SUFFOLK and that's OFFICIAL'.

The Tangham Wood Incident

The article details an event that occurred in a pine forest called Tangham Wood, near the U.S. Air Force Base at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, on December 27th, 1980, at 3 am. It claims that a mysterious craft, described as a red ball of light, landed in the forest. The report states that an American airman witnessed three beings in space suits within the craft.

Farm cattle and forest animals reportedly ran berserk as the craft, described as a sloping silver object about 20 ft across, glided silently to earth in a blinding explosion of lights. Approximately 200 military and other personnel, British and American, are said to have witnessed the event, with the airman suggesting the visitors seemed to be expected.

Lt.Colonel Charles I. Halt's Report

The key witness identified is Lt.Colonel Charles I. Halt, Deputy Commander of the U.S.A.F. 81st Tactical Fighter Wing stationed at RAF Woodbridge. The article includes excerpts from his official U.S.A.F. report, headed 'Unexplained Lights'.

Colonel Halt's report details how two U.S.A.F. security police patrolmen initially saw unusual lights and, thinking an aircraft might have crashed, were given permission to investigate on foot. They reported seeing a strange glowing object in the forest, described as metallic and triangular, approximately 2 to 3 metres across and 2 metres high, illuminating the entire forest with a white light. The object had a pulsing red light on top and a bank of blue lights underneath, and was seen hovering or on legs.

As the patrolmen approached, the object manoeuvred through the trees and disappeared. Later that night, a red sun-like light was seen through the trees, which moved, pulsed, and appeared to throw off glowing particles before breaking into five separate white objects and disappearing. Subsequently, three star-like objects were noted in the sky, two in the north and one in the south, displaying sharp angular movements and green and blue lights. The object to the south was visible for 2-3 hours and beamed down a stream of lights.

Colonel Halt concluded that numerous people witnessed these events but declined to comment further when approached, stating it was a 'very delicate situation' and that he could 'jeopardise my career' if he spoke about it.

Eyewitness Account: Art Wallace

The article also features the detailed account of Art Wallace, a U.S.A.F. security policeman (whose name was changed for security reasons), who was sent to the site. He described seeing a red ball of light coming towards them, which then exploded with colours, momentarily blinding everyone. When their vision cleared, a machine was present.

Wallace stated there were beings in the craft, though he couldn't see them. He described the object as giving off a metallic blueish light and noted that its shadows moved independently. He also mentioned a green light moving down the sides of the craft. He had a strange feeling and seemed to black out, waking up later in his bunk covered in mud, with no memory of how he returned.

He recalls being shown films of American astronauts on the moon in an underground cavern, with strange spacecraft in the background, which he believes was part of a brainwashing effort by U.S. Intelligence agents.

Other Witnesses and Theories

Roger Boast, a gamekeeper, reported that cattle, deer, and rabbits ran from the woods that night, indicating something strange had occurred.

Engineer Leslie Frost claimed to have seen monster space ships in 1980, describing a vast structure weighing 35,000 tons. C.B. enthusiast Graham Herring had his radio log seized by government men after sketching a UFO, and two men from the ministry later borrowed his sketches without returning them.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Webb and their daughter Hayley reported seeing a bright white light following their car at 2:30 am, which stopped and hovered when they did, then shot away rapidly. Robert Newstead also reported a white light hovering near his cottage.

Official Silence and Cover-Up Allegations

The article highlights the lack of official comment from the Ministry of Defence, with a spokesman stating it was a matter for the USAF. A USAF spokesman confirmed that reports were with the Defence Ministry.

However, a former Ministry of Defence official, who remained anonymous due to the Official Secrets Act, backed the 'News of the World's' demand for an end to the cover-up. He suggested that the Ministry knew far more than they were prepared to say and that the incident was 'stupendous' and had baffled them.

More astonishing revelations included claims that Secret Service agents 'invented' a plane crash as part of an elaborate plot to hush up the UFO incident. Another claim was that an American airman was convinced he was brainwashed by interrogators to forget the alien craft.

No Hoax, Says Air Chief

Brigadier-General Gordon Williams, who was in charge of the USAF base at Woodbridge when the UFO came down, stated that there had been no hoax. He recalled Lt.Colonel Halt's report and affirmed that Halt was not a man who would hoax the British Ministry of Defence or the American Air Force Department.

'News of the World' reporters also discovered that the UFO had been tracked on radar by the RAF 50 miles away from where it landed, with radar technicians reporting 'Tracing unidentified object'. U.S.A.F. Intelligence officers later checked the radar tapes.

Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Hill-Norton, former Chief of Defence Staff, stated that there IS an official cover-up policy on UFO sightings, with 10 to 15 visual or radar sightings over Britain each year, all reported to the Ministry of Defence's special UFO unit, but with no follow-up on what happened.

Book Review: 'Anatomy of a Phenomenon'

The issue includes a book review of Jacques Vallee's 'Anatomy of a Phenomenon'. The review describes the book as a detailed and unbiased scientific study of UFO reports, examining unsolved cases from 1947-1964 and presenting analysis of sightings by reliable witnesses. It also discusses methods for examining the phenomenon and proposes a scientific classification system. Vallee, born in France, holds degrees in Mathematics and Astronomy and has researched fields like Artificial Satellites and Radar Technology.

Letter to the Bulletin

A letter from T.G. of Bentleigh asks about the duration of chemical traces left by a UFO landing. The response explains that trace duration varies greatly depending on factors like the nature of the UFO, weather, and terrain, and that while some traces vanish quickly, others can persist for years.

Membership and Subscription Fees

The final section details membership and subscription fees for V.U.F.O.R.S. (Victorian UFO Research Society), noting price increases for the Australian Bulletin and listing fees for T-shirts and windcheaters, with a discount for bulk orders.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine strongly advocates for the reality of the UFO landing in Suffolk, presenting it as an officially confirmed event. The editorial stance is one of exposing a significant government cover-up, urging vigorous questioning in the House of Commons. The publication emphasizes the reliability of its witnesses, including military personnel and officials, and criticizes the secrecy surrounding UFO phenomena. The inclusion of a book review on UFO research and a letter about potential landing sites further reinforces the magazine's focus on the UFO topic.