Australian UFO Bulletin - 1985 06 - June

Magazine Overview

Title: The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue: June 1985
Publisher: The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Country: Australia
Language: English
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Main Articles and Content

Ike and Aliens: A Persistent Rumor This article investigates the persistent rumor surrounding President Eisenhower's alleged encounter with aliens in early 1954. It highlights how such stories often circulate without rigorous examination, drawing parallels to religious belief rather than scientific inquiry. The author notes that the rumor claims Eisenhower mysteriously disappeared from Palm Springs, California, and was taken to Edwards Air Force Base (then Muroc) to view dead aliens and wreckage, or to meet live aliens, after which he ordered absolute secrecy. The article details research conducted at Palm Springs and the Eisenhower Memorial Library. It confirms Eisenhower's trip to Palm Springs between February 17th and 24th, 1954, and his disappearance on the evening of February 20th. White House Press Secretary James Haggerty explained this as a dental visit due to a chipped tooth, a story supported by Haggerty's diary. However, the article points out inconsistencies: the dentist's widow could not recall specifics, and the Eisenhower Library contains no record of dental work performed in February 1954. Furthermore, no thank-you note was sent to the dentist, unlike acknowledgments sent to others involved in the trip. The rumor's origins are traced to UFO contactee literature from less than two months after the event, with mentions of figures like Mead Layne, Desmond Leslie, George Hunt Williamson, and Gerald Light. The article concludes that while something significant occurred involving President Eisenhower on February 20, 1954, its exact nature remains a matter of conjecture.

On the UFO Trail Written by Paul Norman, this piece reflects on interactions at a CUFOS/MUFON booth in San Francisco, where Norman encountered skepticism and common questions about UFOs. He expresses a preference for talking with witnesses rather than convincing skeptics. Norman recounts an incident from June 1954 where three airplane loads of personnel, including astronomers, witnessed two flying discs near Oslo, Norway, during a solar eclipse. These discs were filmed and shown on American television before the film allegedly disappeared due to censorship. He also describes his experience in Orlando, Florida, in June 1985, where he went to Cape Canaveral to witness a space shuttle launch, hoping for a UFO appearance, which did not occur. Norman mentions a 1961 missile base incident where a UFO caused radar to lock onto it instead of the missile, a case that remains classified. The article also touches upon discussions with US ufologists regarding implant cases from abductees, highlighting one case where a 32-year-old woman reports hearing a low hum from her ear since a childhood abduction at age 16, with a scientist analyzing the data.

Book Review: Sky Crash: A Cosmic Conspiracy This section reviews the book 'Sky Crash: A Cosmic Conspiracy' by Brenda Butler, Jenny Randles, and Dot Street. The review highlights that the book details the Rendlesham Forest incident of late 1980, an event that was not widely reported due to government secrecy. The authors, including Brenda Butler who lived near the forest, gathered information from various sources, including military personnel and locals. The book posits that Rendlesham Forest was the site of a significant event involving contact between human authorities and alien explorers. The review notes the difficulty in investigating the case due to secrecy and initial disbelief from other UFO investigators. It mentions that the book details how military personnel, villagers, and authorities played roles, and that assistance from other UFO societies in Britain and the USA led to official acceptance of certain aspects of the truth. The review quotes a witness describing the event as 'like something out of Star Wars,' and emphasizes the conspiracy aspect of protecting this information. It also mentions the involvement of Jenny Randles, a professional writer specializing in UFO themes, who received similar whispers about the incident. The book explores the idea that conspiracies can be found in unexpected places and details the authors' determination to uncover the truth despite obstacles.

Document Analysis: Rendlesham Forest Incident This section presents and analyzes key documents related to the Rendlesham Forest incident. It includes a US Government Office Memorandum dated March 22, 1950, reporting a UFO crash in New Mexico with dead alien occupants, noting similarities to the 1980 Rendlesham Forest incident. It also features a document from the Ministry of Defence (UK) concerning a report on the landing of a craft of unknown origin near RAF Bentwaters on December 29/30, 1980. This report, purportedly from OSI, describes entities approximately 10 meters tall in pressure suits, speaking in synthesized English, and states the craft was not damaged but landed deliberately. It suggests precautionary plans for counter-information are strongly recommended. The article also discusses an anonymous memo sent to the research team, which is concluded to be a deliberate fake intended to test or impugn credibility, noting the MOD letterhead was from a later period than the alleged memo date.

The Rendlesham Forest Incident - Detailed Account This part of the magazine provides a detailed narrative of the Rendlesham Forest incident based on witness accounts. It describes how early on December 27, 1980, a farmer reported a bright light descending into the woods, prompting security police patrols to investigate. Officers observed a structured object on the ground. A large group, including the Base Commander and high-ranking officers, went to the site. The object appeared to be in trouble, with three entities seen hovering nearby. The Base Commander reportedly communicated with the entities using sign language and telepathy. The craft was repaired and departed at high speed. Photographs were taken, but the Base Commander confiscated cameras and ordered silence. Subsequent investigations included an A-10 aircraft overflight to check for radiation, with traces reportedly found. The article notes that information about the incident spread through the base and to local villagers, with some being told it was an aircrash. It also mentions disciplinary actions taken against some personnel and the rapid reassignment of key witnesses, including Wing Commander Gordon Williams. The investigation faced challenges with conflicting dates (December 27th or 30th) and the identity of the communicating officer. The article also mentions a mysterious crater found in a forest clearing in January, possibly related to something falling from the sky.

Society Information and Subscriptions

The magazine includes details about the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (V.U.F.O.R.S.), its office bearers, and subscription rates. Full membership is $6.00 per annum, including magazine issues, while overseas membership is $U.S. 8.00. Single copies are $0.50 Aust. plus postage. The society welcomes reports of unusual aerial phenomena and exchanges information with similar organizations and scientists worldwide. Contributions published do not necessarily reflect the policy of V.U.F.O.R.S., and no part of the publication may be reproduced without prior written consent.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy surrounding UFO events, the investigation of significant historical cases like the Rendlesham Forest incident and the Eisenhower encounter, and the challenges faced by researchers in obtaining credible information. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking to uncover the truth behind UFO phenomena despite official obfuscation and public skepticism. The society positions itself as a disseminator of information and a repository of knowledge, maintaining a large library and encouraging membership from those genuinely interested in the subject. There is a clear emphasis on presenting evidence, analyzing documents, and pursuing leads, even when faced with misinformation or deliberate attempts to discredit the field.

This issue of SCUFORI, identified as issue number 14 and volume 12, dated July 21, 1984, focuses on UFO phenomena and related scientific topics. The cover headline, "UFO's active - busy year ahead," suggests a focus on recent and ongoing sightings. The magazine includes articles on the Rendlesham Forest incident, ball lightning, and the potential reversal of Earth's magnetic field, alongside reports of recent UFO sightings from various countries.

The Rendlesham Forest Incident and FOIA Requests

The issue details the experiences of airman Art Wallace, who reported seeing a hovering, pulsating, domed disc-shaped object on December 30, 1980, near RAF Bentwaters. Wallace's account, initially suppressed due to security concerns, involved being interrogated by plain-clothes men and shown a film about military UFO encounters. He was made to sign a secrecy agreement.

Larry Fawcett and Barry Greenwood, investigators from CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy), pursued information through the Freedom of Information Act. A request to the Department of the Air Force in New York in April 1983 yielded a response from Colonel Henry J. Cochran, then Base Commander at Bentwaters. Cochran stated that records of unknown aircraft activity near RAF Bentwaters did not exist, as the alleged activity was not on US Air Force jurisdiction, and therefore no official investigation was conducted by the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. He also noted that no photos were taken by the Air Force and that the Act does not require the creation of records to fulfill a request.

Despite this, Fawcett received a breakthrough when the 513th Combat Support Group, through Colonel Peter W. Bent, provided a document detailing unexplained lights on December 27, 1980. This document, a letter from Lt Col Charles Halt, described two USAF security patrolmen seeing unusual lights, leading to the investigation of a metallic, triangular object. The object was described as hovering, illuminating the forest with a white light, and having a pulsing red light on top and blue lights underneath. It maneuvered through trees and disappeared. The incident was followed by the discovery of three depressions on the ground, with recorded radiation readings. A second encounter was witnessed by many, including Lt Col Halt, who claimed to have seen traces and radiation left by the first events and was a direct witness to the second sighting on December 30.

The article questions why the USAF version of Halt's report was destroyed and why no official investigation was conducted, despite the airmen being Americans on duty.

Ball Lightning and Meteorological Flying Objects (MFOs)

Eric W. Crew, F.UER., FRAS, contributes an article exploring natural phenomena that might be reported as UFOs, with a focus on ball lightning and 'meteorological flying objects' (MFOs). Crew references the work of ufologist Joseph A. Blake, who listed 'stars, birds, swamp gas, hoaxes, or mass hysteria' as debunked explanations for UFOs. Crew argues that meteorological items, including ball lightning and high-altitude balloons, also produce phenomena described as strange flying objects.

He discusses the scientific understanding of lightning, initiated by Benjamin Franklin, and notes that thunderstorms remain a major meteorological mystery. Crew proposes that lightning creates a filamentary flow of current, and that jets of charged particles can be projected from the lightning channel. If this jet freezes in the upper atmosphere, it can form a compact lump of ice. He cites a remarkable incident where a large lump of ice fell after a violent lightning strike. Crew suggests that ball lightning can be caused by a sheath of charge around a lightning channel or by induced charges in an enclosure, such as an aircraft flying through a thunderstorm. He asserts that his theory for MFOs is part of a broader theory covering many aspects of astrophysics and is supported by reliable observations.

Earth's Magnetic Field Flip

An article by John Brandt discusses the possibility of Earth's magnetic field flipping direction, based on evidence from a geologist at the University of Minnesota. Scientists have known that the magnetic field flips occasionally, with evidence found in geological sediments. New evidence from Minnesota lake sediments suggests the field has not changed for 700,000 years, but its strength has halved over the past 4000 years, which may be a prelude to reversal.

If a flip occurs, magnetic compasses would be useless for navigation, and the field's protection from solar radiation could be altered, potentially causing climate changes. Animals that use magnetism for navigation, such as birds, fish, and bees, could become utterly confused.

Recent UFO Sightings

The issue also reports on recent UFO sightings:

• Tasmania, Australia: Two cases are highlighted. One involved a sighting in the Fingal area on a Friday, where Mr. Don Ives saw a UFO the size of a small plane landing in a gully with port holes and colored lights. The other report came from a Brighton woman who saw three lights moving in the night sky for about 3 hours. Both incidents were under investigation by the Tasmanian Unidentified Flying Objects Centre (TUFOIC).
• China: The crew of a Chinese airliner flying over north-west China spotted a huge, unidentified flying object traveling at high speed. The object was described as having three levels and a bright spot in its center.
• Argentina: Passengers and crew on a commercial airliner saw two darting, pulsating unidentified flying objects over the interior province of Santiago Del Estero.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of unexplained aerial phenomena with scientific inquiry and government transparency. The editorial stance appears to favor investigating potential natural explanations for UFO sightings while also advocating for greater openness from authorities, as evidenced by the focus on Freedom of Information Act requests and the critique of official dismissals of incidents. The inclusion of scientific articles on ball lightning and magnetic field reversals suggests a broad approach to understanding anomalous phenomena, linking them to established scientific principles where possible, but also acknowledging the limits of current knowledge and the possibility of unknown origins for some phenomena.