Australian UFO Bulletin - 1987 12 - December

Magazine Overview

Title: The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue Date: December 1987
Publisher: The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS)
Country of Publication: Australia

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, the official publication of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, provides a comprehensive look at UFO phenomena, research, and history from late 1987. It includes updates on recent sightings, historical context of UFO groups in Australia, and discussions on the scientific and societal implications of UFO investigations.

Editorial

The editorial highlights a visit from Mrs. Cynthia Hind, a researcher from Zimbabwe and the African representative for MUFON. Mrs. Hind's visit to Melbourne included appearances on television and private meetings with the VUFORS committee. The editorial notes the value of her visit in establishing a liaison with contacts in Africa and thanks her for her contribution.

The editorial also extends Happy Christmas greetings to members and thanks them for their continued support, expressing hope for its continuation. It also promotes the sale of T-shirts and windcheaters as potential Christmas gifts.

Society History

This section provides a brief history of UFO research groups in Australia. It traces the origins back to the early 1950s with the 'Australian Flying Saucer Bureau' and the 'Australian Flying Saucer Research Society'. The formation of the Victorian branch in 1957 is detailed, leading to the establishment of the 'Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society' and eventually the 'Victorian U.F.O. Research Society' in 1968. The society's past publications, including the 'Australian Flying Saucer Review', and its sponsorship of a radio program are mentioned. The society is noted for its dispassionate attitude towards UFOs, viewing them as a scientific problem, and for maintaining the largest UFO library in the Southern Hemisphere.

Key Articles and Reports

On the UFO Trail by Paul B. Norman

Paul Norman recounts his experiences in June and July 1987, attending the MUFON Symposium in Washington D.C., where he noted the increased public discussion of UFOs. He describes a press conference held by United Press International (UPI) and his interaction with a skeptical journalist. Norman also details his return to Melbourne and the visit of Cynthia Hind. He mentions a planned trip to Queensland being interrupted by UFO activity around Seymour, Kilmore, and Broadford, leading to his return to Victoria.

Reedy Creek Encounter

This section details two reported sightings near Broadford. On August 23rd, two motorists reported a huge flying object with many lights. The following day, a family reported their horses and cattle were in a panic, with horses screaming. On August 25th, another family saw a large object hovering low over a paddock, described as a multi-story house with many lights. A police investigation found no trace of the object. Dr. Robin Hirst of the HV McKay Planetarium attributed the sightings to an exploding meteor or the Aurora Australis, an explanation that was rejected by witnesses and researchers.

Flying in the face of fiction (Newspaper Clipping)

This newspaper article from the SUN (August 27, 1987) reports on the Reedy Creek sighting. Cheryl Kerslake described the object as being in three layers, like a wedding cake, hovering just above the ground. The Army denied any connection to a defense operation. A Seymour policeman treated the sightings as genuine. Dr. Robin Hirst suggested it might be a bolide or exploding meteor, but the article notes that witnesses' accounts were consistent and they were genuinely distressed.

Bit of a buzz over UFO 'sightings' (Newspaper Clipping)

This article from Strath Creek reports on excitement following reported sightings of alien spacecraft. Up to six witnesses described a UFO similar to traditional flying saucers with three tiers and gold flashing lights. The Strath Creek postmaster provided a clear and frightening description. Police found no trace of the UFO and treated it as a non-event. An Army spokesman mentioned searchlights from tanks 20 km away, and the Department of Communications and Transport stated no aircraft were operating and nothing was recorded on radar at the time. The article concludes by mentioning an upcoming Army firepower display rehearsal.

UFO society's probe (Newspaper Clipping)

This article from the Kilmore Free Press (September 23, 1987) details the Victorian UFO Research Society's investigation into a sighting near Broadford. Trevor and Cheryl Kerslake reported seeing a large object with lights. The police investigated but found no trace. The article notes potential army activity in the area. Paul Norman, a senior UFO Society member, stated that while many UFO reports have logical explanations, the August 25th case remains inexplicable. The society welcomes further information from the public.

Southern lights 'were the UFO' (Newspaper Clipping)

This article from the HER (September 1, 1987) presents Dr. Robin Hirst's verdict that sightings in northern Victoria were likely Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) combined with exploding meteors. He explained that auroras are high in the sky and can be mistaken for other phenomena by untrained observers.

UFO SIGHTING IS WORTH A PROBE (Newspaper Clipping)

This article from the Kilmore Free Press (September 23, 1987) reiterates that the Victorian UFO Research Society considers the Reedy Creek sighting report to be significant. Paul Norman stated that while his group usually finds logical explanations, this case remains unexplained. The society is seeking information and is in contact with scientists working on the UFO phenomenon.

Unidentified flying objects: Kirkland researcher tracks elusive evidence for national network

This article profiles Donald Johnson, the Washington State Director of MUFON. Johnson, a psychologist and statistical analyst, aims to dispel the misconception that UFO researchers are superstitious. He notes that younger, higher-income, and more educated individuals are more likely to believe in UFOs. Johnson became interested in UFOs in 1966 and worked with Dr. David Saunders at the University of Colorado. He emphasizes that most people who report sightings are reluctant due to potential ridicule. Johnson's priority is to convince the scientific establishment that UFOs warrant attention, exploring the social science aspects and the possibility of physical phenomena. He believes that UFOs sometimes leave physical evidence, such as causing automobile stalls due to electromagnetic interference.

AFU SWEDEN

This brief section mentions that the AFU Sweden (Archives for UFO Research) is located in Norrkoping, Sweden, and provides their address. It also notes that the publication is registered by Australia Post with publication number VBH0122.

MYSTERY LIGHTS ON THE INCREASE

This article reports an increase in UFO sightings in Australia since January 1987. It details a sighting on January 15th where a commercial pilot flying from Canberra to Moorabbin encountered a 'Mystery Light' near Corryong that paced his aircraft until Eildon before accelerating away at high speed. Another report from Western Australia describes a light approaching the Learmonth Airstrip, moving erratically, hovering, changing color, and then disappearing. Communication attempts with a C130 aircraft were unsuccessful during this event, which is noted as the first time such communication failures occurred from ground to air.

Cosmic Watergate uncovered in documents, 'UFOlogist' says

This article from the Free Press, Winnipeg, Canada, discusses Stanton Friedman's belief that intelligently controlled, extra-terrestrial spacecraft exist, supported by radar data from pilot Rick Olsen and new documents that allegedly uncover a "cosmic Watergate." Friedman, a nuclear physicist, claims these documents prove a high-level cover-up since 1947, involving a crashed saucer and alien bodies recovered near Roswell, N.M. The documents purportedly mention a committee called Majestic 12, tasked with investigating the crash. Friedman and researcher William Moore believe the Roswell incident was covered up due to its profound societal implications.

Discussion Night

This section provides details for upcoming VUFORS meetings: March 7th, June 6th, September 5th (Meeting), and December 5th (Annual General Meeting), all at 8:00 PM at The Royal Society of Victoria in Melbourne, with a $1.00 donation for supper.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings across Australia, the historical development of UFO research organizations, and the ongoing debate between scientific explanations and the possibility of extraterrestrial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the reporting of sightings while maintaining a scientific approach to investigation. There is also an underlying theme of potential government secrecy and cover-ups regarding UFO information, particularly highlighted by the discussion of the Roswell incident and Majestic 12 documents.

This issue of the Examiner, dated May 28, 1987, focuses on the 40th anniversary of the first modern UFO sighting and the subsequent resurgence of UFOlogy. The cover headline, 'Happy 40th birthday, UFOs!', along with a sketch of a UFO, sets the tone for an exploration of the renewed interest in unidentified flying objects.

UFOlogy's Comeback Trail

The article, written by Keay Davidson, notes that UFO sightings had declined significantly from their peaks in the 1960s and 1970s, with most having mundane explanations. However, a new wave of interest is attributed to the publication of books detailing alleged alien 'kidnappings,' such as Whitley Strieber's 'Communion' and Budd Hopkins' 'Intruders: The Incredible Visitations at Copley Woods.' These books present a version of the UFO legend where aliens abduct humans for medical examinations, with memories often recovered under hypnosis.

Conferences are being scheduled in major cities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's sighting on June 24, 1947, near Mount Rainier, which is considered the birth of the UFO fad. Larry Bryant of Citizens Against UFO Secrecy believes the U.S. government possesses crashed UFOs and is using the Freedom of Information Act to obtain related documents. He is also suing the military for permission to run ads seeking information from personnel who have encountered UFOs or been abducted.

Skeptical Counterarguments

Prominent skeptics, including aerospace writer Philip J. Klass and Paul Kurtz, head of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), challenge the validity of these claims. Klass has offered $10,000 to anyone whose UFO 'abduction' is confirmed by the FBI, asserting his confidence that extraterrestrials are not invading homes. He argues that hypnosis is an unreliable tool for recalling events, citing experiments by Alvin Lawson that suggest people can weave elaborate tales under suggestion.

Kurtz expresses concern that the public's embrace of UFO phenomena could lead to a broader abandonment of rationality, hindering the ability to solve complex societal problems. He labels the current UFO interest a 'media event.' Data from the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) supports this, indicating that while media interest is up, the number of actual sightings has decreased significantly, with no clear explanation.

Media Influence and Psychological Aspects

CSICOP's magazine, 'Skeptical Inquirer,' publishes articles that shed light on the psychological aspects of UFO sightings. Experiments involving deliberately created fake UFOs have shown how one sighting can lead to a cascade of increasingly elaborate reports from subsequent witnesses, suggesting a 'can you top this?' dynamic. This has angered UFO enthusiasts, who accuse skeptics like Klass of being patronizing and twisting facts.

Philip J. Klass, however, maintains that while belief in the supernatural is fine in a free country, he seeks the opportunity to rebut claims. The death of J. Allen Hynek, a respected scientific ally of UFO fans, has led them to seek other credible supporters, including astrophysicist Richard C. Henry, psychologist Richard Haines, and zoologist Eugene Clark. Clark finds it hard to believe UFOs are spaceships and suggests they might be secret projects, while psychologist Leo Sprinkle studies 'abductions' and also researches reincarnation.

Psychologist Barry Singer suggests that in a secular age, UFOs serve as a 'deity substitute,' offering hope for rescue from personal and global troubles, akin to a modern-day 'god.'

Notable UFO Incidents and Research

The issue highlights several specific cases:

• Kenneth Arnold Sighting (1947): The event that launched the modern UFO era.
• Project Hessdalen: A research project in Norway that faced postponements and funding challenges. A workshop was planned, and a fund-raising effort was initiated, involving special stickers and pens.
• Paul Norman's Visit to Norway (1986): Australian ufologist Paul Norman visited Norway, meeting with UFO-Norge and Project Hessdalen representatives.
• Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 (1986): A Boeing 747 pilot reported being followed by an unidentified object over Alaska for nearly an hour, with radar tracking confirming the encounter. This incident is described as a major UFO controversy.
• Australian Sightings (1987): Reports include a UFO seen over Sydney, described as sting-ray shaped, and an incident in Adelaide where a UFO allegedly drained a doctor's video camera.
• Israeli Sighting (1987): UFOs were reportedly seen near Haifa, Israel, with traces of carbonized sand and vegetation found on a beach.
• Missing Meteor (1987): Astronomers noted the disappearance of a meteor over northern NSW, Australia, which should have been visible and produced a sonic boom, yet no reports were received.

Nordic UFO Newsletter

The issue also includes information about the 'Nordic UFO Newsletter,' published by Nordic UFO Groups in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It details subscription rates and lists the addresses for various UFO research organizations in these countries, along with their respective publications.

Membership News (VUFORS)

An article from Steve Partridge, Membership Secretary for VUFORS (Victorian UFO Research Society), announces changes to membership procedures, including the discontinuation of membership cards and receipts. They are introducing a computerized addressing method for 'The Bulletin' to indicate membership status. The article also promotes VUFORS merchandise, such as windcheaters, T-shirts, cloth badges, stickers, and the '1986 Review' publication, encouraging members to support the society through purchases.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing debate between UFO believers and skeptics, the role of the media in shaping public perception of UFO phenomena, and the psychological factors influencing belief. The editorial stance appears balanced, presenting both the enthusiastic claims of UFOlogists and the critical analyses of skeptics, while also highlighting specific, intriguing cases that challenge easy explanation. There's a clear acknowledgment of the 40th anniversary as a focal point for renewed discussion and investigation into UFOs.