Australian UFO Bulletin - 1995 12 - December

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, dated December 1995, is published by V.U.F.O.R.S. (Victorian U.F.O. Research Society) and covers a range of topics related to UFOlogy and unexplained phenomena. The cover features a dramatic illustration of UFOs in space alongside a space shuttle, with the prominent title.

Editorial: Deception and the 'ET Law'

The editorial section, penned by Richard J. Boylan, addresses concerns about media deception and the potential for a "great deception" to control the public. It highlights the "ET Law" adopted in the USA, which makes contact with extraterrestrials illegal, punishable by jail time and fines. Dr. Boylan criticizes this law, noting that it was announced during the peak popularity of the film "E.T.", suggesting it was intended to discourage communication with UFO occupants. He also touches upon the Roswell incident and the controversy surrounding alleged autopsy films, questioning the official narrative. The editorial emphasizes the need to challenge the validity of such laws and to use reason to avoid fear, advocating for peace and harmony. It also mentions the TV series "V" as an example of propaganda designed to instill fear of aliens.

On the UFO Trail

This section, by Paul Norman, delves into two prominent aspects of UFOlogy: abduction phenomena and UFO retrieval reports. It mentions an ongoing abduction case involving a researcher in Zimbabwe and discusses theories about indigenous people referring to UFOs as "spirit lights." The controversy surrounding the Roswell Autopsy is revisited, with most UFO researchers rejecting the explanation. The passing of Leonard Stringfield, a notable crash retrieval researcher, is noted. The article also addresses common misidentifications of UFOs, such as atmospheric balloons and improvised hot air balloons, which have led to false reports and even incidents like house fires. Several specific sightings are detailed:

• September 29: John Smyth observed strange lights for 10 minutes in a northern suburb of Melbourne.
• August 13: Mark Hillard encountered a bright light near Laverton that hovered close to his car, emitting a humming sound.
• July 15, 1994: A witness in Wodonga reported a similar-shaped object to a CE3 case, which ejected a smaller light and was followed by a power blackout.
• August 24, 1967: Mr. Hydes reported a disc-shaped object hovering near the ground, with two figures emerging, near Wodonga.

How Far Is... Far Out?

Ted Skewes' column explores the nature of scientific knowledge and the limitations of current scientific understanding, particularly in relation to UFO phenomena. He argues that science is based on theories and models, which are constantly evolving. Skewes highlights the unresolved issues in quantum physics, such as non-locality, and suggests that future science will reveal wonders beyond current comprehension. He advocates for humility in scientific inquiry, acknowledging that "we don't know" is a valid scientific stance.

Case Briefs: Explorations & Review

This section, edited by Virgil Staff, presents a collection of UFO-related news and reports. It includes a letter from Richard J. Boylan detailing his experience of having his psychology license revoked, which he attributes to a campaign against his high-profile work on UFO encounters and public statements. He believes this action is part of a cover-up. The section also reports on Harvard University's decision not to censure Dr. John Mack for his abduction research, reaffirming his academic freedom.

News from Africa: Ariel School Report

This detailed report focuses on the Ariel School case in Zimbabwe, where numerous children reported sightings of UFOs and "little men." Dr. John Mack conducted interviews with the children, eliciting more information about the events. The report notes that some children saw a 'cigar-like' object the day before the main sighting. The witnesses were diverse, including black African, coloured, Asian, and white children. Drawings and descriptions of the objects and entities are included, with some children describing figures in shiny black suits and large eyes. Soil samples were collected from the landing sites for analysis.

Press Cuttings Of Interest

This section compiles newspaper articles related to UFO sightings:

• Werribee Banner (August 23, 1995): "Mystery object buzzes the skies of Wyndham Vale" reports on sightings by Mark Hillard, who described a sedan-sized object with flashing lights. The Melbourne Planetarium suggested it might be a meteor shower, while the Bureau of Meteorology and the RAAF ruled out weather balloons and aircraft.
• The Age (June 15, 1995): "Balloon causes blackout" reports a metallic "balloon-like" object hitting powerlines near St Albans, causing a blackout in western Melbourne.
• Werribee Banner (August 24, 1995): "Aliens eye Wyndham" features Tania Smith, a member of the Victorian UFO Research Society, who investigated sightings in Wyndham Vale and ruled out conventional explanations. She noted the significance of these sightings and the society's involvement in a campaign urging the US government to release information about the Roswell incident.

Science News: High-Flying Sprites

This article discusses recent scientific discoveries and theories regarding "red sprites" and "blue jets," unusual atmospheric electrical phenomena observed above thunderstorms. Physicists are working to explain these colorful bursts, which occur at high altitudes in the mesosphere and stratosphere, far above where ordinary lightning is restricted.

World: EU Committee's Proposal is Out of This World

This report details the European Parliament's investigation into a UFO sighting over the English Channel, endorsed by British Admiral Lord Hill-Norton. The proposal recommends funding for a permanent UFO-tracking centre. The article also includes commentary from Sir Teddy Taylor, who expressed skepticism about the EU's involvement.

UFO Newsclipping Service

This is an advertisement for a service that provides information on UFO reports from the United States and worldwide.

Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the investigation of UFO sightings, the potential for government deception and cover-ups, the scientific study of unexplained phenomena, and the growing public interest in UFOs and aliens, particularly as reflected in media and online discussions. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, advocating for open investigation while being wary of disinformation and government control. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of research and the sharing of information within the UFO community.

This issue of THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN, dated September 1995, is published by The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society and focuses on a variety of UFO-related topics, including sightings, technological speculation, and analysis of controversial cases.

Articles and Features

Orange Lights Over Brisbane

This feature by Chris Holloway explores numerous sightings of strange orange lights over Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, particularly on July 15, 1995, and August 2, 1995. The July 15th sightings involved three orange objects seen by local residents and photographed, and later, a film crew captured footage of three similar objects moving in a different direction. The August 2nd sightings in Woodridge involved multiple witnesses from different locations, with video footage also taken. The article notes that the organization has received up to 100 accounts of orange objects, describing them as large orange/red objects, pulsating orange balls, and orange oval-shaped objects.

UFOs On The Internet

This column by Tony Cook introduces a new regular feature dedicated to informing members about UFO-related information available on the Internet. It highlights the importance of the World Wide Web and Usenet newsgroups as sources of information. The column also provides updates on organizations like VUFORS (Victorian UFO Research Society) and BUFORA (British UFO Research Association), mentioning their upcoming websites and the availability of case files.

VUFORS On The 'Net

This section reminds readers that VUFORS has an Internet connection and can be contacted via email at [email protected]. It states that the connection will be used to communicate with members, researchers, and other UFO organizations globally. A VUFORS web page is also in the pipeline.

New Web Sites

This section reviews several UFO-related websites. The British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) is launching 'BUFORA On-Line,' which will feature details of the latest cases and eventually house all 6000 BUFORA case files. The address provided is http://www.citadel.co.uk/citadel/eclipse/futura/bufora/bufora.htm. 'UFO Times' will present articles from BUFORA's magazine, along with news and research investigations. The 'Research-Investigation' section will contain current work and archives of previous cases, while 'Members Only' will offer detailed case histories. The Flying Saucer Review (FSR) home page is also mentioned, providing details about the team, issue contents, and an order form. Gordon Creighton, the editor, highlights 'The Official Cover Up.' The FSR home page address is http://www.cee.hw.ac.uk/~ceewb/fsr/fsrhome.html. Basic information on MUFON is available at 'The Unofficial Mutual UFO Network Information Page' at http://www.win.net/~pwrstation/mufon.html.

Letter to the Editors: Re: Santilli autopsy film

This letter, dated September 2, 1995, by Joan Price, expresses skepticism about the authenticity of the Santilli autopsy film, which purports to show an autopsy of an alien found in a crashed spacecraft at Roswell in 1947. The author questions the film's origins and suggests it might have been staged by medical students as a prank or in-house entertainment, citing the theatrical attitude of surgeons and the limited setting as evidence. The author believes Mr. Santilli has been fooled by an 'opportunist medico.'

BUFO POTPOURRI (Page 3)

Beam Rider: This section describes Professor Leik N. Myrabo's work on a disc-shaped craft encased in a plasma sheath, capable of flying at high speeds without a sonic boom. The concept involves using microwaves generated from sunlight by a satellite to power the craft's engines, which include magnetic nozzles and an air spike for aerodynamic drag reduction. The vehicle is designed to use an air-breathing magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) engine to achieve speeds from Mach 1 to Mach 25.

UFO Videotaped: Christopher O'Brien reports on a potentially valuable videotape of a UFO over Salida, Colorado, filmed on August 27, 1995. The six-year-old daughter of Tim Edwards spotted the silent object, and Edwards shot four to six minutes of footage showing red and green lights sequencing around its underside. He also claimed to see individual light panels with binoculars.

Miniature Materials for Future Implants?: This piece discusses abductees' claims of implanted devices and explores the potential of nanotechnology to create such artifacts. It references a Science News article about new technology that shrinks carbide whiskers to nanometer size, which could be used to create strong, thin materials and miniature implants.

Friedman Lecture Disowned by London's Royal Geographical Society: This report details how the Royal Geographical Society publicly disclaimed responsibility for a lecture by physicist Stanton Friedman titled 'Flying Saucers are Real,' labeling his claims as 'non-scientific rubbish' that could damage the society's reputation.

BUFO POTPOURRI (Page 4)

Your Conversation is Not Private!: This article, from The Vancouver Sun, discusses concerns about government agencies using advanced technology to monitor phone and radio signals. It mentions the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) of Canada developing devices to identify voices and phrases from millions of signals, raising privacy concerns.

They Didn't Believe the Indians Either: This anecdote recounts how some western Indians were ridiculed by their tribes for reporting sightings of white people, tall buildings, and big ships, drawing a parallel to how UFO witnesses often face ridicule.

AFU Newsletter (Issue 39 - September 1995)

Small triangular object with a jet-like sound: Steve Sandström reports on a sighting by Martell Åström in Sweden in June 1994. Åström observed a black, arrow-head shaped object with a jet-like sound at low altitude, estimated to be about two meters long. While initially thought to be a jet, its distinct appearance and silent operation led to it being considered unidentified.

The light that stopped a car: Clas Svahn and Jörgen Granlie report on an incident on February 15, 1994, where Kerstin Hellman's car stopped functioning shortly after she observed a bright yellow oblong light with 'spikes.' The car restarted normally after her husband intervened, and subsequent checks found no fault with the vehicle's electrical system. The authors suggest a possible connection between the light and the car failure, dismissing a conventional explanation involving a loose generator contact.

Sighting Reports (Page 6)

Orange Lights Over Brisbane: This section continues the theme from the cover, detailing more sightings of orange lights, including those on July 15 and August 2, 1995. It mentions photographic and video evidence and describes various shapes and behaviors of the objects.

Victorian Sighting Reports: This section lists several sightings from Victoria, Australia, including bright red round objects in Highett, four orange colored lights moving north to south west in Beaumaris, four orange lights in line that changed formation in Mordialloc, dark orange colored lights in Ivanhoe that took off rapidly, and three yellow balls of light in a triangle formation in Bulleen.

REPORT (Werribee and Wyndhamvale): This report details investigations into multiple sightings of yellow or golden colored lights in the sky over the Werribee and Wyndhamvale areas in August and September 1995. The lights were described as small, intensifying in size, and traveling from west to east or east to west.

Sighting Reports (Page 7)

This section continues the discussion on the Werribee and Wyndhamvale sightings, with the author, Mark Hillard, opining that recent sightings are likely conventional aircraft due to landing lights and the need for aircraft to circle landing strips. However, the author contrasts this with Mark Hillard's photographs, which depict lights that are much larger and brighter than expected from conventional aircraft, suggesting those photographs still represent UFOs.

SOCIETY NEWS

Badges: The article describes the design of the UFO society's badge, explaining that the circular shape represents the UFO, gold loops depict erratic flight, the arrow shape represents speed, and the white and blue colors symbolize purity of intention and the sky, respectively.

Roswell Declaration: Members are reminded to submit completed forms for the Roswell Declaration by January 31, 1996.

Meeting Dates: Meeting dates for 1996 are announced, with the first quarterly meeting scheduled in Melbourne in March.

UFO POTPOURRI (Page 5)

UFO-Sweden's 25 year anniversary: This section commemorates the 25th anniversary of UFO-Sweden, highlighting its evolution from early ET belief to a more scientific approach to UFO investigation. The Roswell autopsy film, aired on Swedish TV4, was discussed with skepticism at the anniversary event.

Wingless object near Norwegian airplane: On July 11, 1995, a Dash-8 passenger plane crew observed a strange, wingless object near Steinkjer, Norway. The object moved to the right of the plane and disappeared. Military radar did not detect it, and it was considered unidentified. A local boy, Roy Arne Hallem, also witnessed a similar object, as did Bjarne Lein.

More Scandinavian cases...: This brief note directs readers interested in Scandinavian UFO cases to subscribe to 'Trans-UFO,' a newsletter published by Eileen Fletcher.

SOCIETY NEWS (Page 7)

Badges: This section reiterates the description of the society's badge, emphasizing its symbolism.

Roswell Declaration: A reminder for members to submit their forms for the Roswell Declaration by January 31, 1996.

Meeting Dates: The article announces that meeting dates for 1996 have been set and will be published in the March '96 Bulletin.

DISCUSSION NIGHT (Page 8)

This section provides a schedule of discussion nights for the International Committee for U.F.O. Research for March, June, September, and December 1995, including the venue (The Royal Society of Victoria) and entry fees for non-members, associate members, and full members.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES (Page 8)

This section details the subscription rates for V.U.F.O.R.S. (Victorian U.F.O. Research Society), including full membership, associate membership, and overseas rates, specifying what each subscription includes (magazine, meeting entry, supper).

SOCIETY HISTORY (Page 8)

This article provides a brief history 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.' It details the society's name changes and its publications, including the 'Australian Flying Saucer Review' and the 'Australian U.F.O. Bulletin.' The article highlights the society's dispassionate, scientific approach to UFOs and its role in maintaining the largest UFO organization in the Southern Hemisphere.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, particularly those involving unusual lights and objects. There is a strong emphasis on the scientific approach to UFO research, with skepticism expressed towards sensational claims like the Santilli autopsy film. The magazine also highlights the importance of information dissemination through various channels, including the Internet and newsletters. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, encouraging critical thinking and a dispassionate attitude towards the subject matter, while also acknowledging the challenges of ridicule faced by witnesses and researchers.