Australian UFO Bulletin - 1991 06 - June

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, dated June 1991, is published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society. It features a cover illustration of a space scene with a NASA space shuttle and flying saucers, and the main headline "THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN". The publication aims to bring members and subscribers highlights on UFO activity and opinions from around the world, welcoming reports of unusual phenomena for evaluation.

Editorial

Judith Magee, President of V.U.F.O.R.S., states the society's policy of presenting UFO activity and opinions globally. She notes that while readers hold diverse viewpoints, the society is fortunate to have contact with scientists and researchers worldwide. The editorial highlights the controversial subject of transplants, suggesting it requires critical examination and expressing hope for irrefutable evidence. It emphasizes the multidisciplinary nature of UFO research and quotes physicist Otto Binder on the pervasive influence of UFOs. Readers are encouraged to submit their opinions and experiences for publication.

Guest Article: Grave Days

This article, referencing Flying Saucer Review (Vol. 35, No. 3, September 1990), discusses the approaching significant and fateful times for mankind, citing multiple fields of study. It quotes Dr. George Wald on the unprecedented threat to human life and references a biblical prophecy about signs in the heavens and distress on earth. The article suggests that alien intelligences pose a significant threat and that President Reagan was aware of this possibility. It speculates that nefarious non-human agencies might engineer human wars for their own purposes. The author posits that a vast cosmic struggle is underway, with two Great Powers or Forces involved, and that UFOs have overflown American missile sites, rendering warheads inoperable, suggesting an external power prevents nuclear war. The article concludes with a sense of an ultimate power watching over world events.

UFO Potpourri: The Implant Enigma (Part I & II)

This section, comprising articles by Dr. Willy Smith and John F. Schuessler, delves into the controversial topic of alleged alien implants. Several abduction victims report feeling or experiencing implants, often in the nose, head, or other body parts, with some believing they are for monitoring or communication. The articles discuss the challenges in researching implants, the lack of medical willingness to address the issue, and the need for a structured approach to collect data. A laboratory analysis of a suspected implant is mentioned as a positive step. The articles also touch upon legitimate medical implants and a scientific report from NATURE detailing a tiny, unidentified object found amidst chromosomes, which was later identified as a diatom fragment. The authors stress the importance of taking the implant issue seriously and moving beyond belief to find factual answers.

Overview of the UFO Phenomenon

Dr. Willy Smith continues an article from a previous edition, discussing different approaches to understanding the UFO phenomenon. He critiques Jerome K. Clark's categorization of ufology into three schools (extraterrestrial, psychosocial/neoskeptical, geophysical) as oversimplified. Smith outlines three other approaches: the scientific approach (exemplified by researchers like J.K. Clark, V.J. Ballester Olmos, and Richard Haines), political ufology (individuals who use UFOs for personal gain without believing in their objective reality), and the total skeptic approach (represented by organizations like CSICOP, which dismiss all cases as misinterpretations or hoaxes). Smith argues that the skeptic approach is flawed as it cannot account for all cases. He classifies psychology, sociology, and political science as 'soft sciences' and medicine and astrology as 'false sciences'. Mathematics is identified as an 'exact science'. Smith concludes that ufology itself is a 'proto-science' that could evolve into a true science if data is systematically collected and studied, referencing the UNICAT Project's efforts to create a database of UFO cases.

Time

An article by Peter Close reflects on the abstract nature of time. It questions our understanding of time's origin and duration, relating it to the scientific principle that matter and energy are neither created nor destroyed, suggesting that even a new car is technically second-hand and that the matter composing our bodies was created at the beginning of time.

U.F.O. Sightings

This section reports on several UFO sightings in Australia. Three unidentified flying objects, described as bright orange and larger than stars, were seen over Metung. Another report details a sighting of a large, yellow object that flew in a circle before speeding away. Four motorists near Kerang observed lights performing erratic movements, with one diamond-shaped object approaching their car. A previous sighting of a red round object near Paynesville is also mentioned. The section notes that many sightings are not reported due to fear of ridicule and that there is an increasing number of yellow lights being reported.

UFO Newsclipping Service

This is an advertisement for a service that provides monthly reports on UFO and Fortean news from around the world, including photographic cases, close encounters, and landing reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the investigation of alleged alien implants, the scientific and skeptical approaches to ufology, and the reporting of UFO sightings. The editorial stance of V.U.F.O.R.S. is to present a wide range of opinions and information, encouraging open debate and research, while maintaining a critical perspective on the evidence presented. There is a clear emphasis on the need for rigorous scientific methodology in UFO research and a skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, particularly those associated with 'political ufology'. The publication also touches upon broader concerns about humanity's future and potential external influences.

This issue of the AUSTRALIAN UFO BULLETIN, dated Jan-Feb 1991 (Vol. 2, No. 1), focuses on a variety of UFO-related topics, including space probe findings, international sightings, and the growing phenomenon of crop circles. The cover story, "Galileo finds no life on planet of iron," details the Jupiter-bound spacecraft's encounter with Earth and its scientific observations.

Galileo's Earth Encounter

The lead article by Michelangelo Rucci reports on NASA's Galileo spacecraft's flyby of Earth. While Galileo detected Earth's strong gravitational pull, indicating a composition of rock and iron, and noted an atmosphere with oxygen, nitrous oxide, and methane, NASA's chief scientist for the project, Dr. Torrence Johnson, stated that "We don't see anything in the pictures that would indicate intelligent life." The exercise was intended to demonstrate NASA's reconnaissance capabilities, highlighting why multiple visits to celestial bodies are necessary for a full understanding. The article contrasts Galileo's findings with earlier Mars missions, which initially suggested a cratered landscape but later revealed volcanic peaks and canyons. The Galileo mission is noted to have used infrared mapping instruments that provided evidence of life on Earth. The spacecraft's trajectory includes another pass by Earth in December 1992 before heading towards Jupiter.

Voronezh Incident and Soviet UFO Research

An extensive report by Gordon Creighton, "MORE REPORTS FROM RUSSIA - SOME FURTHER THOUGHTS ON VORONEZH," delves into the aftermath of the widely reported Voronezh UFO sightings of September 27, 1989. The article questions why a Soviet scientific commission's conclusion of no verifiable proof of alien landings, reported by the Tokyo Mainichi Daily News, was not widely published elsewhere. It highlights the establishment of the Voronezh Joint Anomalous Phenomena Research Committee (VJAPRC) and the publication of a 175-page book in Russian titled "UFOS IN VORONEZH." The report notes the historical difficulty of discussing UFOs openly in the Soviet Union, with a previous committee disbanded in 1967. It mentions the emergence of an "invisible college" of researchers and the official acknowledgment of UFO study in November 1989. VJAPRC has interviewed nearly 500 witnesses and acknowledges being backlogged with reports. The article concludes by calling for worldwide cooperation in UFO research.

International UFO Sightings

Hungary

The "INTERNATIONAL UFO NEWS" section features a report on local sightings in Hencida, Hungary, from late 1989. A farmer, Sandor Gyorke, observed a 'half-cone pyramid' shaped object hovering over his tractor, which was followed by the tractor and its radio functioning normally, but the vehicle overheating and losing 30 liters of water. The object was later seen hovering or landing near a riverbank, described as two cylinders. An 'oily smut' residue was found on the tractor the next day. Other witnesses reported a 'Christmas tree-shaped object' and a family reported being followed by a blue-green light. The sightings received significant local press coverage, with some attempts at debunking.

Argentina

A report from El Carmen, Argentina, details a UFO leaving a circular mark 4 meters wide on a football pitch on May 4, 1990. Residents testified to seeing a powerful light that blinded them, and the grass beneath the object reportedly changed color to an intense green-bluish, described as an "accelerated process of photosynthesis." The object was observed hovering for over an hour at a height of 20 meters. A similar mark was reported in General San Martín Park, La Plata.

United Kingdom

Under the "LETTER TO THE EDITORS" section, Pat Delgado reports on the continued momentum of crop pictograms, noting their association with UFO activity and their global interest. He mentions receiving photos of large circles located near busy motorways and main roads.

Italy

An "Airline pilot spots UFO" report from Glasgow, Scotland, details a sighting by British Airways Captain Mike D'Alton over Genoa. He described a large silver disc with lights in formation, traveling at phenomenal speed, which was visible for about two minutes and could not be picked up by ground radar.

The "Pictograms"

This section discusses crop circles, presenting a selection of images and recommending specialized books for further study, including "Circular Evidence" and "The Crop Circle Enigma." The editor notes the association between UFOs and crop pictograms.

Society News and Membership

The bulletin includes sections on "SOCIETY NEWS," detailing VUFORS MARKETING of T-shirts and windcheaters, and "MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS," explaining the non-profit nature of the organization and its reliance on voluntary work. It also lists recent expenses, including the publication of the bulletin and the Knowles Report. An "ARE YOU ABOUT TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS?" notice is included for members.

Society History

A section on "SOCIETY HISTORY" provides a brief history of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS), tracing its origins back to the early 1950s in Australia. It details the society's name changes and its publications, including the "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and the "Australian U.F.O. Bulletin." The current executive is noted, and the society's dispassionate, scientific approach to UFOs is emphasized. Membership is open to those genuinely interested in the subject.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the ongoing investigation of UFO phenomena, the challenges of scientific inquiry into the unknown, and the global spread of sightings and related events like crop circles. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent reporting and open discussion, encouraging the recording of incidents while cautioning against excessive speculation. There is a clear emphasis on the need for continued research and international cooperation.