Australian UFO Bulletin - 1989 06 - June

Magazine Overview

Title: The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue Date: June 1989
Publisher: Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS)
Country: Australia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, Volume 33, No. 2, dated June 1989, is published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society. The cover features a striking image of an alien head superimposed on a planetary background, with the headline "Unexplained Visitors from Where?". The bulletin includes a welcome message from the society, outlining its purpose and procedures for handling reports of unusual phenomena, emphasizing confidentiality and exchange of information with other organizations and scientists.

Contents and Key Articles

The issue's table of contents reveals a diverse range of articles, including an editorial, a report on UFOs on the Nullarbor Plain, a case involving a lost Harrier jet and cornfield rings, a US police encounter, and discussions on scientific confirmations of parallel universes and the role of computers in ufology.

Editorial: The Keys to Our Dilemma

The editorial, likely written by the editor, reflects on the persistent failure of researchers to unlock the secret of UFOs. It posits that the solution is likely simple and obvious, but our limited capacity and conventional scientific approaches have blinded us. The editorial suggests that governments and scientists often dismiss phenomena that don't fit established scientific paradigms. It proposes that new ideas and major discoveries stem from new tools and insights, not just data collection. The author speculates that the computer might be the key to solving the UFO mystery, representing a new tool for understanding.

On the UFO Trail, By Paul Norman

This article details Paul Norman's investigation into a UFO case involving the Knowles family in Ceduna, South Australia, which occurred on January 20, 1988. Norman visited the family and the local police station to compile a report. The family claimed to have been lifted into the air by a UFO. The article highlights the police officer's interest in the Philips Laboratory analysis of dust samples from the family's vehicle and tests showing the car's wheels could spin at 200 KMH when jacked off the ground, a speed unattainable on the road. The family reported experiencing shock and difficulties in coming to terms with the event, which was later explored through hypnotic sessions. The article also mentions that the family felt mistreated by the media and individuals seeking to profit from their experience. The car was repossessed and sold, and the family faced financial losses and extended time away from home.

Norman also recounts other incidents along the Nullarbor Plain, including a driver who experienced interference with his vehicle's lights and radio when a bright light approached. Another witness, a bus driver, described an oblong silver object. A car accident was attributed to a driver trying to dodge a UFO. Additionally, a tuna fishing boat named Monika reported being buzzed by a strange light, a report confirmed by police.

During a subsequent visit to Perth, Norman learned more details about the family's dealings with an agent who promised to market their story, but which resulted in significant financial loss for the family. The article concludes by noting that research on this important case continues.

Are UFOs Patrolling the Nullarbor Plain?

This article focuses on the sightings and encounters reported in the Mundrabilla area of the Nullarbor Plain. It describes how the incidents brought international attention, with UFO watchers calling the local motel and roadhouse. Owners of the motel began selling UFO-themed merchandise. The article includes testimony from Allan Stewart, a WA Main Road Department foreman, who claims to have had four close encounters with alien craft, twice ending up in hospital after being "zapped" as a warning. He describes small dark marks appearing on his body and mentions that doctors could not explain the pain or marks. Stewart believes aliens are "probing people" and "definitely watching us." He has witnessed various UFO shapes and sizes, including one as large as a football field. He spends nights watching the skies and believes these beings are concerned about humanity's impact on the planet. The article also notes that people are becoming less reluctant to discuss their encounters, and that Aboriginals in the outback have strong beliefs about these phenomena.

Lost Harrier and the Cornfield Rings, By Colin Andrews, M.A.S.E.E., A.I.L.E., FSR Consultant

This exclusive report details the mysterious disappearance and crash of a top-secret British Harrier GRS jump-jet aircraft on October 22, 1987. The pilot, Humphrey Taylor Scott, lost radio contact over Wiltshire, and the aircraft eventually crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. An American military transporter filmed the pilotless jet. The pilot's body was later found in a field near Winterbourne Stoke, Wiltshire, close to where mysterious "swirled" circles had been found in a cornfield on August 22, 1987. The article suggests a possible connection between these two events, noting that the Harrier changed course over the field with the circles, and the pilot inexplicably left the aircraft. The Ministry of Defence expressed interest in the information provided by the author regarding the cornfield circles. The article also mentions other aircraft crashes in fields where circles have been found, including incidents in Pepperbox Hill and Stockbridge Downs.

USA Police Encounter, with another Finding of Potassium Chloride

This article reports on a UFO encounter experienced by a law enforcement officer in Dauphin County, USA, on December 4, 1988. The officer observed a bright, flattened oval object hovering over power lines. The object emitted a humming sound, and the officer felt a burning sensation in his face, neck aches, and headache. His eyes were affected, and his hearing seemed deafened. He felt weak and disoriented. Another officer reported hearing a similar humming sound at the same time. The officer's car paint appeared duller, and an unusual powder-like dust was found on its surface. This dust was later determined to be Potassium Chloride. The article notes that this finding is significant because a similar dust was identified in the Knowles family UFO case in Australia, suggesting a potential link between two well-documented cases separated by time and distance.

Potent Quotes

This section likely presents a collection of impactful quotes from various sources, though specific quotes are not detailed in the provided text beyond the notable quote attributed to Allan Stewart.

Scientists Confirm There May Be A Parallel Universe, By Paul Whitehead FSR

This article, authored by Paul Whitehead, discusses scientific confirmations or theories regarding the existence of parallel universes. While the specific details are not elaborated in the provided text, it indicates a scientific exploration into concepts beyond our current understanding.

UFOS And The Digital Computer P1

This article, the first part of a series by John W. Auchettl, explores the potential role of computers in UFO research. It aligns with the editorial's sentiment that computers may be a crucial tool for understanding the UFO phenomenon, suggesting that advancements in computing power and analysis could lead to breakthroughs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistent mystery of UFOs, the challenges faced by researchers in understanding the phenomenon, the potential for scientific breakthroughs through new tools like computers, and the documented evidence of physical traces such as unusual dust. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the exploration of unconventional ideas and the integration of new technologies in the study of UFOs, while also highlighting the societal and governmental reluctance to fully engage with the subject. There is a clear emphasis on reporting firsthand accounts and investigative findings, particularly those from Australia.

Key Persons and Organizations

Key individuals mentioned include Judith M. Magee (President), Paul Norman (Vice-President and author), Mark Sawyers (Secretary), Clive Yates (Treasurer), Steve Partridge (Membership Secretary), John W. Auchettl (Librarian and author), Manuel Fernandez (Publications Officer), Alfred Lendvai (Officer), Russell Briers (Sub-Editor and Producer), Colin Andrews (FSR Consultant), and pilot Humphrey Taylor Scott. Organizations include the Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS), MUFON, and Flying Saucer Review.

Locations

Significant locations mentioned are Australia (Ceduna, Nullarbor Plain, Mundrabilla, Port Lincoln, Melbourne, Perth), the United Kingdom (Wiltshire, Dunsfold, Salisbury, Andover, Winterbourne Stoke, Stonehenge, Whiteparish, Stockbridge Downs), Ireland, and Dauphin County, USA.

Object Characteristics

Descriptions of UFOs include shapes like "flattened oval" and "disc-shaped," "cigar-shaped." Colors mentioned are "silver," "blue," and "pale green." One object was estimated to be "75 feet in diameter." Behaviors noted include "hovering," "ascending," and "moving from left to right." Speeds are described as "high rate of speed." Electromagnetic effects include interference with electronics, dimmed lights, and a blue illumination inside a car. Physical trace evidence includes "dust identified as Potassium Chloride" and "dull paint on car."

Themes and Tags

Themes: UFO Sightings, Close Encounters, Physical Traces, Government Interest, Scientific Analysis.

Tags: UFO, Australia, Nullarbor Plain, Mundrabilla, Knowles Family, Harrier Jet, Cornfield Rings, Potassium Chloride, Police Encounter, Close Encounter, Witness Testimony, Research, Ufology, Victorian UFO Research Society, Flying Saucer Review.

Key Incidents

• January 20, 1988: Knowles family encounter in Ceduna, South Australia, involving a UFO and Potassium Chloride dust.
• October 22, 1987: Lost Harrier jet incident over the UK, crashing into the Atlantic.
• August 22, 1987: Discovery of cornfield circles near Winterbourne Stoke, UK.
• October 22, 1987: Discovery of the Harrier pilot's body near Winterbourne Stoke, UK.
• December 4, 1988: US Police officer's UFO encounter in Dauphin County, USA, with Potassium Chloride residue.
• June 1987: Circle and ring found near Pepperbox Hill, UK.
• October 1978: Army helicopter crash at Stockbridge Downs, UK, coinciding with a UFO sighting and crop circles.

Notable Quote

"I believe these beings are concerned about what we are doing to our planet." - Allan Stewart.

FAQ

• What is the Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS)? VUFORS is an organization that welcomes reports of unusual phenomena, evaluates them, and exchanges information with similar organizations and scientists, disseminating findings to the public through its quarterly publication, 'The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin'.
• What was the significance of the dust found in the Knowles family UFO case? The dust found inside and outside the Knowles family's vehicle after their UFO encounter was identified as Potassium Chloride, a finding that was also noted in a separate US police officer's UFO encounter.
• What is the connection between the lost Harrier jet and cornfield rings? The article suggests a possible connection between the crash of a Harrier jet and the discovery of mysterious cornfield circles in the same vicinity in Wiltshire, UK, noting that both occurrences happened in the same field within a short period.
• What is the editorial stance on the role of computers in UFO research? The editorial suggests that computers may be the 'key' or a group of tools that will enable humanity to unlock the mystery of the UFO phenomenon, implying that new ideas and discoveries are driven by such tools rather than just data collection.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistent mystery of UFOs, the challenges faced by researchers in understanding the phenomenon, the potential for scientific breakthroughs through new tools like computers, and the documented evidence of physical traces such as unusual dust. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the exploration of unconventional ideas and the integration of new technologies in the study of UFOs, while also highlighting the societal and governmental reluctance to fully engage with the subject. There is a clear emphasis on reporting firsthand accounts and investigative findings, particularly those from Australia.

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, Volume 32, No. 3, published in April 1987, is titled 'Mysterious Lights' and delves into various unexplained aerial phenomena.

Mysterious Lights: A Multifaceted Phenomenon

The lead article, 'Mysterious Lights,' explores the diverse nature of unexplained lights observed in the sky, under the sea, and in caverns. These phenomena are given various names, including UFOs, fireballs, spirits of the dead, fairies, wills-o'-the-wisp, and corpse candles. The article discusses the challenges in explaining 'ball lightning,' citing differing opinions from authorities like Professor B. L. Goodlet and Frank Lane regarding its nature and potential danger. An incident is recounted where a young girl witnessed a ball of fire moving across her room, spiraling around her, and then exiting through the chimney.

Tradition often associates floating lights with death. The article mentions 'corpse candles,' pale lights seen by passengers on a coach in Wales, which were followed by a drowning incident. John Aubrey's 'Miscellanies' is cited for a story of a woman who saw five lights in a room, linked to the deaths of five maids. Baron von Reichenbach's investigations into 'magnetic' light and his theory involving 'carbonate of ammonium, phosphuretted hydrogen and other products of putrefaction' are presented as an explanation for graveyard luminescence. Baring-Gould also invoked 'phosphuretted hydrogen' and recounted an incident where his brother's overcoat became impregnated with the substance.

The article distinguishes between 'wildfire' or 'wills-o'-the-wisp' and other forms of moving lights. It notes that as fairies faded from folklore, so did the will-o'-the-wisp. Personal accounts of 'fairy lights,' described as bright and stable, are contrasted with the will-o'-the-wisp. An incident involving a young girl who was followed by a moving light, which she believed possessed 'real intelligence,' is shared. A terrifying encounter is described where Mr. Terry Pell of Spalding, Lincolnshire, was chased by a moving light while driving his vegetable lorry. Mrs. Rachel Atwill, a few miles away, also reported seeing a bright, dome-shaped light hovering over hills. The light later appeared on Mr. Pell's lorry windscreen, causing it to vibrate and stop.

UFO Photography Analysis with Computers

Another significant section focuses on the analysis of UFO photographs using computer technology. William H. Spaulding, director of Ground Saucer Watch, explains how computer processing can reveal subtleties in blurred or uninformative images that are difficult to discern otherwise. Traditionally, UFO photo analysts relied on techniques like measuring shadows or studying focus. However, computers offer a more powerful approach.

Ground Saucer Watch, founded in 1957 to bring technical expertise to UFO research, uses a network of 500 scientific and engineering consultants. Their computer analysis of 1000 photographs led to the rejection of all but 45 as misidentifications or hoaxes. The article details techniques such as color-coding, where pixels are assigned colors based on brightness to enhance details. This method is compared to how radiographers use color coding on X-ray pictures. Astronomers and space engineers also apply similar techniques to images from telescopes and satellites.

The computer can enhance edges of features in photos, making details like the structure of a flower more apparent. While edge enhancement may be less relevant for indistinct UFO forms, it is useful for images showing faint detail. The article discusses the 'Colorado pictures' taken by Mr. Norman Vedaa in 1969, which showed a brilliant, oval, yellow-gold object. Computer analysis of these photos helped rule out explanations like lens flares or weather balloons, suggesting the object was three-dimensional and distant.

The article also touches upon the controversial photographs taken by Billy Meier of Pleiadian spacecraft. While some investigators claim computer analysis validates their authenticity, the article notes that the computer enhancements are used to study edges, shock waves, and contrast to determine an object's distance and composition. The authors express skepticism about some of the claims made regarding these enhancements, particularly concerning the analysis of the Meier pictures by Ground Saucer Watch, which concluded they were 'total hoaxes'.

Potent Quotes

The issue features a collection of 'Potent Quotes' from various individuals regarding UFOs:

• Dr. J. Allen Hynek notes that the Condon Report, despite newspaper accounts, contained cases of unidentified objects seen by astronauts and admitted by the committee.
• Robert Emenegger states that the evidence for the unexplainable phenomenon of UFOs is overwhelming.
• Dr. Carl G. Jung suggests that if UFOs are real, the hypotheses are either weightlessness or their psychic nature, emphasizing the latter.
• Major Donald Keyho anticipates government revelations about UFOs, suggesting a gradual release of information starting with less disturbing cases.
• Martin M. Singer believes the U.S. Government is preparing the public for significant UFO news.
• Robert Galley, French Minister of Defense, describes a vast number of disturbing reports from French gendarmerie regarding landed UFOs with occupants.
• Gordon Creighton suggests that reconsidering UFO landings and contacts is necessary when respected scientists report them.
• Honorable John McCormack feels the Air Force has not been forthcoming with information on UFOs.
• Rear Admiral Delmar Fahrney urges that the riddle of unidentified flying objects be solved without delay.
• Dr. Mitrovan Zverev states that something unknown is visiting Earth.
• Prof. Gabriel Alvial points to scientific evidence of strange objects circling the planet.
• Albert M. Chop believes flying saucers are interplanetary and that beings are watching Earth.
• Former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford recommends a committee investigation into UFO phenomena.

Society History and Membership

The 'Society History' section details the formation and evolution of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, tracing its origins back to the early 1950s with groups like the 'Australian Flying Saucer Bureau' and the 'Australian Flying Saucer Research Society.' The Victorian branch was established in 1957 and has since published various papers and the 'Australian Flying Saucer Review,' later superseded by the 'Australian UFO Bulletin.' The society is described as having a dispassionate, scientific approach to UFOs and maintains the largest UFO library in the Southern Hemisphere.

A 'Discussion Night' is announced for June, September, and December 1989, to be held at 'The Royal Society of Victoria' in Melbourne. Subscription rates for V.U.F.O.R.S. are provided, including options for Full Membership, Associate Membership, and Overseas subscriptions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent mystery of unexplained aerial phenomena, ranging from folklore-based 'lights' to modern UFO sightings. There's a strong emphasis on the scientific investigation of these phenomena, particularly through the analysis of photographic evidence using advanced technology like computers. The publication also highlights the efforts of UFO research organizations and the importance of disseminating information, even when it challenges conventional understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the examination of evidence and the pursuit of explanations for these enduring mysteries, while also acknowledging the skepticism and potential for hoaxes.