Australian UFO Bulletin - 1991 09 - September

Magazine Overview

Title: THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN
Issue Date: September 1991
Publisher: V.U.F.O.R.S. (Victorian U.F.O. Research Society)
Country: Australia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, dated September 1991, features a vibrant cover with the magazine's title, a depiction of the Space Shuttle Discovery, and two unidentified flying objects against a starry backdrop. The publication is a bi-monthly bulletin from the V.U.F.O.R.S., dedicated to the study of the UFO phenomenon.

Editorial

The editorial, penned by Paul Norman, reflects on the state of society and the importance of heeding past warnings, drawing parallels to the editorial of the Flying Saucer Review. Norman expresses concern over societal flaws, declining education standards, and a lack of respect for authority. He laments that warnings from 'contactees' about issues like overpopulation and resource scarcity were ignored, potentially leading to a dire future. He concludes with a hopeful, albeit passive, sentiment about divine intervention.

On The UFO Trail

Paul Norman recounts his overseas trip in April 1991, which included attending a MUFON meeting in California and visiting with researchers. He highlights a talk by Dr. Richard F. Haines about his trip to Russia and another by Lucius Farish, who publishes news on UFOs. Norman also visited Dr. Willy Smith in Florida, who is working on the UNICAT project. He attended the MUFON Symposium in Chicago, which featured numerous speakers on various UFO-related topics, including crop circles, abductions, and the Roswell incident. He also visited the Michigan Branch of MUFON.

Lecture Notes About Flying Saucers 1954 by Herman Oberth

This section presents lecture notes from Professor Herman Oberth, a co-designer of the V-2 rocket and a pioneer in recognizing UFOs as real. Oberth's notes, translated and edited by Drs. Blumrich and Ferdie, discuss historical sightings dating back centuries, with reports increasing significantly after World War II. He mentions Lord Dowding's estimate of 10,000 reports by 1953. Oberth describes UFOs as typically disk or ball-shaped, sometimes forming cigar shapes, and notes their ability to fly at high speeds and with extreme accuracy, as measured by radar. He debunks a report of a downed UFO over Helgoland, attributing it to a balloon tied to an airplane. Oberth also discusses potential explanations for UFO sightings, including mistaken objects like weather balloons and aircraft, and electric discharge phenomena.

The Real UFOs

This section delves into potential explanations for UFO phenomena. It first addresses the theory of ball lightning, as proposed by Prof. Benedicks, suggesting that large, non-exploding balls of lightning could account for some sightings, especially if they occur in clear skies. However, the author finds this theory improbable due to the lack of radar evidence and the sudden increase in UFO reports. A more plausible theory, according to the author, is based on Dr. Ing Walter Lewetzow's gravitational theory, which suggests that UFOs might be related to electromagnetic waves behaving as quanta. Horst Pinkell further developed this theory, proposing that these quanta have particle and wave states and can be influenced by gravity. The author expresses skepticism about the Lewetzow-Pinkell theory, particularly regarding the smallness of the particles and the inability to influence gravity. Despite these reservations, the author acknowledges that the concept of artificial gravity fields could explain the high accelerations reported in UFO encounters.

International UFO News Bulletin

This section, an extract from Bulletin No. 8/1989, features several international reports:

• Soviet Union: The Voronezh Joint Anomalous Phenomena Research Committee (VJAPRC) has published a book on UFOs in Voronezh, marking a significant step for Soviet ufologists, as public discussion of UFOs was previously suppressed. The VJAPRC has been researching UFOs for years and has established communication with various state institutions. They are receiving a regular stream of new reports and call for worldwide cooperation in UFO research.
• Italy: Sociologist and journalist Dr. Roberto Pinotti has released three new books on the UFO phenomenon.
• USSR (Yaroslavl' UFO Study Group): Reports from Kharovsk detail landings of shining globes, emergence of 'robot-like beings,' sightings of mushroom-shaped objects, and elongated objects with human-like figures. Similar phenomena were reported in Vologda Province, with eyewitnesses describing shining globes, rocket-shaped objects, and oval-shaped 'noses.' The possibility of a single object being observed in multiple sightings is raised.
• Perm' Province, Russia: A report from July 16, 1989, describes two shining, egg-shaped objects observed hanging in the sky, reminiscent of the Kharovsk case.

United States

• Researcher Seeks 'Ball of Light' Data: American researcher Greg Long is collecting data on 'ball of light' phenomena, analyzing factors such as space, time, weather, and motion. He is the author of 'Examining the Earth Light Theory,' which explores UFO activity in the Yakima Indian Reservation and examines the Tectonic Strain Theory as a possible explanation. Long categorizes orange balls of light by size and is seeking contact with investigators worldwide.
• International Conference Celebrates Fourth Year in Connecticut: The Omega Communications' fourth annual 'The UFO Experience' conference in October 1990 featured numerous UFO researchers, abductees, and scientists discussing UFOs, government cover-ups, and abduction phenomena. Speakers included Jacques Vallee, Brian O'Leary, Stanton Friedman, Linda Moulton Howe, David Jacobs, and Fred Max.

Local Sighting

A sighting in West Newport involved two men observing a 'big, red glass ball' gliding silently about 50 feet above the houses. The object emitted 'sparks' and left the area at high speed.

International U.F.O. News Bulletin

• Space Junk Threatens Heaven's Highways: A report from the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (COTA) warns of the dangers of orbital debris for satellites and manned spacecraft, urging nations to reduce space junk. The report highlights the need for an international treaty to address this issue.

Letters To The Editor

Mr. R.J. Snow from Leicester, England, submits diagrams and notes concerning corn field crop formations that appeared on Fawley Downs, Winchester, UK. He compares a symbol found in a physics booklet to a symbol observed in the crop circle, suggesting a connection to TV technology.

Notes on Crop Circles

The notes accompanying the crop circle diagrams explain that the symbols are likely related to TV picture tubes, with the coil and deflector plates representing components. The author posits that corn circles are either created by a beamed electromagnetic source or manually, with radiation found in some circle areas supporting the former theory.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, international UFO reports (particularly from Russia), the exploration of various theories to explain sightings, and the growing concern over government secrecy and cover-ups. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, encouraging open discussion and research while maintaining a healthy skepticism towards unverified claims. There is a clear emphasis on scientific methodology and the need for rigorous analysis of evidence. The publication also highlights the importance of international cooperation in the field of UFO research.

This issue of THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN, dated November 11, 1990, is published by the Victorian UFO Research Society and covers a diverse range of UFO phenomena and related topics. The cover story, "UFO BELIEVERS SWAP TALES FROM BEYOND," features an interview with Betty Luca, who recounts her alleged alien abductions. The issue also delves into significant UFO cases from Russia, including the "headless black creatures" reported in Yaroslavl and the detailed account of the Kharovsk (Konantsevo) incident. Additionally, it reports on crop circle appearances in Japan and discusses investigative techniques such as hypnosis.

Russian 'Headless Creatures' and Kharovsk Case

The issue dedicates significant space to reports of "headless black creatures" in Russia. An article by V.D. Muinskiy, Editor of the Yaroslavl UFO Investigation Group's Bulletin, details the Kharovsk (Konantsevo) case from June 6, 1989. Children reported seeing a shining ball that landed, from which emerged a headless being with long arms and a short torso, described as robot-like. The report notes that similar sightings of these beings occurred in other Russian locations, including Yaroslavl, Perm' Province, and Voronezh, with some witnesses describing them as appearing in a black one-piece suit and having a shining ball or oval on their chest.

Further Russian cases include the account of T.V. Golovatskaya, who witnessed a quadrangular flying object with a greenish beam of light, and V. Prudnikov's experience of a stalled car followed by the appearance of a mushroom-shaped object. V.R. Mironov and other eyewitnesses reported seeing a shining ball that displayed images resembling a human face, an aircraft, and a tank. The investigation of these cases often involved hypnosis, with detailed testimonies provided by individuals like Sergei Belyanevskiy, Marina Shiryaeva, Lyuda Rybakova, and Olya Krylova, whose sketches and accounts showed remarkable consistency.

Alien Abductions and Betty Luca

Betty Luca shares her experiences of alleged alien abductions from her home in Massachusetts, beginning in 1950. She describes being taken aboard spaceships and guided by aliens, including a leader named "Quazgaa." Luca recounts being transported through dimensions and having a transmitter placed in her head. Her story is detailed in her book, "The Watchers," which posits that these "Watchers" are guardians of Earth intervening due to mankind's self-destructive tendencies.

Crop Circles in Japan

The issue reports on the appearance of crop circles in Japanese paddy fields in 1990. Yusuke J. Matsumura, FSR Consultant, details cases in Shinoguri, Fukuoka Prefecture, and near the Yoshinogari Archaeological Site in Saga Prefecture. These reports, corroborated by Japanese newspapers, describe geometric circles and a larger double-circle, with the rice felled and swirled in a counter-clockwise fashion. The article also briefly mentions reports of cattle mutilation in Japan.

UFO Investigations and Society News

Several articles touch upon UFO investigation methods and the broader UFO community. The use of hypnosis as a tool to uncover witness memories is a recurring theme, with discussions on its reliability and potential for subconscious suggestion. The "UFO Newsclipping Service" is promoted as a way to stay informed about global UFO reports. The "Victorian UFO Research Society" (VUFORS) provides updates on its activities, including upcoming discussion nights and a call for a new cover design for their publication. Membership details and subscription rates for the "Australian UFO Bulletin" are also provided. The history of the Victorian UFO Research Society is traced back to the early 1950s, highlighting its role in Australian UFO research.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistent reports of unusual humanoid entities (particularly headless beings), alien abductions, and the physical evidence of UFO activity such as crop circles and landings. The editorial stance, as indicated by the publication of these diverse reports and the inclusion of investigative techniques like hypnosis, appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting witness accounts and research findings without immediate dismissal. The inclusion of notes from the editor (G.C.) suggests a critical yet engaged approach to the information presented, often cross-referencing different reports and historical data.