Australian UFO Bulletin - 1985 12 - December

Magazine Overview

Title: Australia U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue: Vol. 31, No. 1
Date: December 1985
Publisher: The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Country: Australia

This issue of the Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, delves into significant developments in UFOlogy, featuring a prominent U.S. scientist's admission regarding crashed UFOs and detailing a whistleblower's struggle against alleged government reprisal.

Society History

The issue provides a brief history of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, tracing its origins back to the "Australian Flying Saucer Bureau" and "Australian Flying Saucer Research Society" in the early 1950s. It highlights the formation of the "Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (Victorian Branch)" on February 17, 1957, which later became the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society." The society is noted for publishing various papers, including the "Australian Flying Saucer Review," and for maintaining the largest UFO library in the Southern Hemisphere. It advocates for a scientific approach to UFO phenomena and has engaged in public outreach, including a radio program.

Top U.S. Scientist Admits Crashed UFOs

A significant article reports on Dr. Robert Sarbacher, a prominent U.S. scientist and Head of the Washington Institute of Technology. In an interview with OMNI Magazine, Sarbacher admitted knowledge of crashed UFO craft held by the U.S. Government. He confirmed that in September 1950, he was informed by Canadian electrical engineer Wilbert B. Smith about these crashed vehicles, which were allegedly composed of extremely light and tough material capable of withstanding tremendous acceleration and deceleration. Sarbacher also mentioned a meeting at Wright Patterson Air Force Base where officials discussed findings about these vehicles, which were described as "spaceships from another solar system." The article cites writer William Moore, who considers Sarbacher's testimony significant as the first public statement from a reputable source confirming the Pentagon's possession of a recovered UFO.

The article references historical accounts and publications related to UFO crash retrievals, including Frank Scully's "Behind the Flying Saucers" and "The Roswell Incident." It also touches upon Captain Edward Ruppelt's admission that Scully's book was the closest to the truth among UFO literature.

Pentagon Retaliates Against Army Employee's Pursuit of Crashed-Saucer Records

This section details the case of Larry W. Bryant, an Army employee who is allegedly facing retaliation for his pursuit of UFO-related information. Bryant, working for the Office of the Army Chief of Public Affairs, attempted to place advertisements in military newspapers seeking testimony from whistleblowers regarding UFO incidents, particularly the "Dix-McGuire UFO Connection" and government cover-ups of crashed saucer records.

Bryant's employer, through Col. Douglas H. Rogers, allegedly employed the "Fitzgerald treatment" – a systematic process of undermining an employee's performance record to justify disciplinary action. Bryant's attempts to publish ads were met with rejection and pressure to cease his activities. He filed a petition with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, asserting that the reprisals were an infringement of his First Amendment rights.

The article outlines Bryant's efforts to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain documentation related to the censorship of his ads, which were denied on grounds of "predecisional deliberative process" and privacy concerns. Bryant intends to file suit to overturn these denials.

UFO Sightings Spark Seminar in China

Another report highlights a UFO seminar held in Beijing, China, where over 600 unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have been sighted in the past five years. Approximately 40 scientists attended, presenting papers on UFO research methods and hypotheses. China established a UFO research society in 1981, which now boasts 20,000 members, including many professors and scientists.

One Out of Eight Has Seen a UFO

This brief segment references a Gallup poll suggesting that one out of eight Canadians has witnessed an unusual object in the night sky. It discusses the tendency to associate UFO phenomena with extraterrestrials, which has led to the scientific community largely ignoring the subject. The article encourages readers to share their own UFO experiences.

UFO Sightings (News)

This section includes a brief report of a UFO sighting by Sue Walsh in Belgrave, Victoria, Australia. She described a low-lying, silent object with red lights that hovered near her house before ascending rapidly. The report also mentions her brother Steven's sighting of a similar object during a helicopter event.

UFO lands in Tasmania

A short news item reports a UFO sighting in Tasmania, Australia, where a pilot observed a multicolored, luminous object hovering at high speed. The object was described as having a "domed top" and emitting a "pulsating light." The pilot's account is presented as credible, with the object disappearing rapidly.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes the importance of rigorous investigation into UFO phenomena, advocating for a scientific approach while acknowledging the challenges posed by government secrecy and official negativism. The editorial section critiques the lack of a definitive UFO record and the prevalence of unsubstantiated theories, urging for a focus on empirical facts and commonsense. The publication actively encourages reader participation, seeking testimony and reports to build a more comprehensive understanding of UFO cases. There is a clear stance against the suppression of information and a commitment to exposing alleged cover-ups, particularly concerning crash retrievals and military involvement.

This issue of the Northern Territory News, dated August 16, 1985, features a prominent cover story titled "In search of UFOs - any clues?" by Rick Fenely, focusing on American UFO investigator Paul Norman. The magazine also includes articles on the enduring mystery of Flight 19, a report on radiation sickness caused by UFOs, and a brief mention of a missile incident over the Swiss-Italian border. A meeting calendar for the Royal Society in Melbourne is also present.

In search of UFOs - any clues?

Paul Norman, a 69-year-old American UFO investigator, is in Darwin seeking helpers for his lifelong search for UFOs. He recounts his first sighting in 1953 of a massive, silver, cigar-shaped flying object in Tennesee, which stopped for 30 seconds before disappearing. He also mentions that in the same month and location, two airforce pilots and their plane vanished without a trace after pursuing a UFO. Norman has since seen two other similar 'cigars' in Victoria, Australia.

He recounts the disappearance of pilot Frederick Valentich in 1978, who vanished over Bass Strait after reporting a 'flying cigar' object. Norman possesses photographs taken shortly before Valentich's disappearance, showing a large dark object flying from the water into the air at high speed.

Norman states that "It was one of 20 such cases of planes being taken in the past 20 years." He is recruiting researchers for the UFO Research Society, which has 400 members in Victoria.

The article also includes an anecdote from 1980 about a farmer in Gippsland, Victoria, who witnessed a bell-shaped UFO hovering over his water tank, leaving a 10-meter ring on the ground. The farmer's water tank was left almost empty, and Norman notes that "UFO's often go to water."

Norman has spoken to people who have seen humanoids, described as midget-sized with slanted eyes and no nose. However, he expresses no desire to make contact with aliens, citing that people who have done so have "blacked out and become nervous wrecks."

Flight 19: 40 years on the mystery remains

This article by Dan Christensen reports on the disappearance of five United States Navy planes, known as Flight 19, over the Bermuda Triangle on December 5, 1945. The mission was a routine navigational hop over the northern Bahamas, and the planes vanished without a trace. The article highlights that a massive search-and-rescue operation involving a Navy seaplane bomber with a crew of 13 also disappeared.

Former Navy Lt. Willard L. Stoll, who heard one of Taylor's last radio transmissions, emphasizes that the incident was not just entertainment, as "too many people got killed for it to be a fun thing." He remembers the event vividly.

Georgia Taylor Lowe, sister of Flight 19 leader Lt. Charles C. Taylor, expresses dismay at the persistent wild theories surrounding the disappearance, calling the "spook business is for the birds."

The TBM Avengers used in Flight 19 were reliable planes. Taylor's plane was FT-28. The mission was a triangular journey requiring dead reckoning. Stoll, who was leading Flight 18, a squadron flying the same route 30 minutes ahead, reported the weather was acceptable, though windy.

Taylor's last known transmission indicated his compasses were out and he was trying to find Fort Lauderdale, Florida, believing he was over land in the Keys. However, Stoll stated Taylor could not have been in the Keys if he heard him. The response led the flight further out to sea.

A radio station at Port Everglades Air Sea Rescue attempted to guide Taylor, but he again headed northeast. By 8 p.m., when the planes would have run out of fuel, it was clear the mission had failed. A search plane was not sent from Fort Lauderdale while the planes were still known to be in the air.

Two Martin Mariner seaplanes were dispatched for a search, and shortly after, one of them also disappeared. A ship in the area reported seeing a mid-air explosion and found an oil slick but no wreckage or bodies.

Retired Capt. Richard Roberts, the only surviving member of the Navy Board of Inquiry, concluded that the lead plane had equipment failure, got lost, and "went around in circles. It was a real tragedy."

UFOs are they of this world?

This article by Scott McKeen recounts a sighting by James Johnston of Morinville, Alberta, in 1954. Johnston and a friend observed two brilliant orange globes darting across the sky. The objects appeared to be spinning at tremendous speeds and wobbled, making no sound. After about 35-40 seconds, they accelerated away. Johnston later reported three more objects in the distance.

John Brent Musgrave, an Edmonton ufologist, has investigated Johnston's story and is researching a PhD thesis comparing present-day UFO cases to witchcraft in Medieval and Renaissance times. Musgrave believes people are seeing something, even if he doesn't necessarily believe in extraterrestrials.

Plane allegedly buzzed by missile

This brief report from ROME (AP) states that the Italian Air Safety Board opened an investigation into claims that a Greek Boeing 707 was skimmed by a military missile while flying over the Swiss-Italian border. The captain reported coming within 300 feet of colliding with an object resembling a guided missile. The Italian Defense Ministry stated it could not have been a guided missile and that no military exercises were taking place. The Greek Civil Aviation Authority will also investigate.

Radiation Sickness Caused By UFOs

This article by John F. Schuessler, M.S., discusses the phenomenon of injuries and illnesses attributed to UFO encounters. Schuessler notes that many cases are inadequately investigated due to pre-determined opinions. He highlights the Cash-Landrum case as a well-documented example of injuries potentially caused by radiation exposure.

The article lists several historical incidents: a Venezuelan family in 1887 suffering burns and swelling, a Canadian prospector in 1967 experiencing burns and nausea after encountering a landed UFO, and a Missouri truck driver in 1973 who was blinded and had vision impairment after exposure to a bright UFO.

Schuessler introduces Project VISIT (Vehicle Internal Systems Investigative Team), a group of specialists collecting and analyzing data on UFO incidents involving medical injury to discover probable mechanisms.

The latest incident detailed is the Cash-Landrum case from December 29, 1980, involving Betty Cash (51), Vickie Landrum (57), and her grandson Colby (7). While driving near Lake Houston, Texas, they encountered an enormous diamond-shaped object emitting intense light and periodic flames. The object caused them to stop the car. Colby was terrified and hid in the car.

Betty was directly exposed for 5-10 minutes, Vickie for 3-5 minutes, and Colby for about a minute. They heard an irregular beeping sound. The object rose southwest and disappeared. The witnesses also observed numerous helicopters in the vicinity.

Following the encounter, Betty, Vickie, and Colby experienced severe medical effects. Betty developed a terrible headache, nausea, swelling, red blotches, and blisters. Her health degraded, leading to loss of skin and hair. Vickie also suffered from headaches and nausea. Colby experienced stomach pains and diarrhea, and had nightmares.

Summary of the Medical Effects

This section provides a detailed summary of the medical effects experienced by Colby, Vickie, and Betty:

• Colby: Erythema (reddening of the skin), swollen and watery eyes, stomach pains, diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss, and increased tooth cavities.
• Vickie: Erythema, photophthalmia (swollen, watery, painful eyes), and greatly diminished vision.
• Betty: Erythema, acute photophthalmia, vision impairment, stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, loss of energy, lethargy, scarring and loss of skin pigmentation, excessive hair loss, and hair regrowth of a different texture.

Known Radiation Effects

The article explains that the electromagnetic spectrum includes various types of radiation, such as X-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause photophobia, photophthalmia, edema, and erythema. Exposure to gamma and X-radiation can lead to weakness, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, apathy, severe headache, sleeplessness, and dizziness. The symptoms observed in the Cash-Landrum incident are consistent with potential radiation exposure.

The Helicopters

Witnesses of the Cash-Landrum incident reported seeing at least 20 helicopters, with at least two different models present, including a Boeing CH-47 Chinook. Contact with the Houston Intercontinental Airport FAA revealed that while 350-400 helicopters operate commercially in Houston, none are Chinooks, and they typically fly below 1800 feet beyond 15 miles from the airport. The Houston radar is limited to 2000-2200 feet altitude.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to have a strong interest in UFO phenomena, dedicating significant space to witness accounts, investigations, and the potential physical and psychological effects of such encounters. The articles present a serious approach to the subject, citing investigations, scientific teams like Project VISIT, and historical cases. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, acknowledging the impact on individuals and the need for further study, while also presenting factual accounts and expert opinions. The inclusion of the Flight 19 mystery and the Cash-Landrum radiation case suggests a focus on unexplained disappearances and potential dangers associated with UFO encounters.