Australian UFO Bulletin - 1996 06 - June

Magazine Overview

The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin - June 1996

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, dated June 1996, is published by V.U.F.O.R.S. (Victorian U.F.O. Research Society) and is distributed to its members. The cover features a dramatic illustration of flying saucers and a space shuttle against a starry backdrop, with the main headline "THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN".

Editorial

The editorial, penned by Paul Norman, reflects on the society's publication history and its aim to provide a diverse range of UFO-related information, especially for members who may not have access to foreign publications. It highlights the increasing number of UFO reports coming from regional Australia and mentions excellent reports from various investigators. The editorial encourages readers to keep abreast of global UFO activity and subscribe to the bulletin.

On The UFO Trail

This article by Paul Norman delves into the experiences of Betty Hill, author of "A Commonsense Approach to UFO's." It discusses her abduction experience with her husband Barney, which gained significant publicity through John Fuller's book and subsequent documentaries. Norman recounts his own visits to Betty Hill and confirms her close association with officers from Peace Air Force Base. The article details several instances of Betty Hill witnessing unexplainable lights and objects, including a peculiar sighting of a 'trailer truck' hovering above an overpass. It also touches upon her interactions with other abductees and the media coverage of cases like Travis Walton's.

The 1988 UFO Wave in Sweden

Authored by Anders Liljegren from Archives for UFO Research (AFU), this extensive article reviews the UFO sightings reported in Sweden during 1988, a year considered a 'wave' year. It notes that while national newspapers might suggest a decline in UFO phenomena, provincial papers and archives still hold many unsolved cases. The article categorizes sightings into several types:

• Hovering luminous ball: Cases where luminous balls were observed, some of which were identified as planets or the moon, but at least one remained unidentified.
• Moving luminous balls: Described as the most common type of UFO in Sweden, these balls appeared in various bright colors and moved quickly.
• Deltas: Reports of triangle or delta-winged objects, which are tricky to distinguish from Swedish air force fighters like the Draken and Viggen.
• Police sighting: A white light-ball observed over Bolange.
• Another triangle: A disc-shaped object with lights seen near Stode.
• Mini-discs: Two cases of small disc-shaped objects observed.
• Flying tubes: A report of a silvery, oblong body moving at high speed with a strange humming sound.
• The roaring 'platform': A description of a huge object, often triangular or square, with multi-colored lights, seen and heard in Kristinehamn.
• Humanoid: A sighting of a humanoid creature in a yard in Doviken.
• Disc or satellite launch?: A disc-shaped object seen over the woods near Aselet, with speculation that it might have been a Soviet satellite launch.
• Final cases of the year: Reports of a yellow-white light-ball over Hammerdalssjon and a baseball-shaped object with windows seen over Kristinehamn.
• Huge disc over airfield: A gigantic disc observed by a private pilot near Karlskoga airfield.

The article also discusses the challenges of UFO investigation in Sweden, including the role of the AFU in centralizing reports and the potential for military secrecy regarding certain cases.

E.M.U.F.O.R.A. - UFO Sightings

This section details recent UFO investigations by the East Midlands U.F.O. Research Association (EMUFORA) in the UK. It includes reports of:

• Strange lights over Loughborough: Multiple calls received regarding unusual lights in the sky.
• Two large strange balls of white lights: Observed by Colleen and David Harrison, one changing into a 'string of pearls' and rotating.
• Large bright white light hovering: Seen by employees leaving work near Chalfont Drive.
• Radcliffe-on-Trent sighting: A string of lights like a bracelet observed through trees, later identified as possibly a formation of lights, not aircraft.
• Chesterfield Daylight Disc: A stationary disc-shaped object with a bottom ring observed wobbling.

The section also mentions that EMUFORA checked with local airports and the Ministry of Defence, who reported no unusual activity or UFO reports for the dates in question.

Press Cuttings

This section features various news items related to UFOs:

• UFO museum to check out metal (The Associated Press): A mysterious piece of metal with intricate lines has been brought to the Roswell UFO Museum, potentially linked to the 1947 crash.
• Show sends Harvard's UFO prof into orbit: A report on a TV show that allegedly debunks the work of Harvard psychiatrist John Mack, who investigates alien abduction claims.
• The future in telecommunications has landed in Melbourne: An advertisement for Telstra featuring UFO imagery.
• Hopes rekindled of life on Mars: Australian professors will present theories about the possibility of life on Mars, including microbial life deep beneath the surface.
• Astronauts' sightings of UFOs: A compilation of purported UFO sightings by NASA astronauts, including reports from Gordon Cooper, Ed White, James McDivitt, Jim Lovell, Frank Borman, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Maurice Chatelain.

Key Incidents

The issue highlights several specific UFO incidents:

• Betty Hill's abduction experience: The foundational case that motivated her research.
• Roswell crash: The ongoing speculation and the recent discovery of a metal piece.
• 1988 Swedish UFO Wave: Numerous sightings across Sweden, including luminous balls, deltas, and discs.
• EMUFORA sightings: Recent reports from the UK, including strange lights and disc-shaped objects.
• Betty Hill's sighting of a hovering 'trailer truck'.
• The mutilated elk case in Sweden.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the documentation and investigation of UFO sightings, the exploration of alien abduction phenomena, and the potential for extraterrestrial life. The publication maintains a stance of open inquiry, presenting various reports and theories while also acknowledging the need for critical evaluation and scientific investigation. The editorial emphasizes the global nature of the UFO enigma and encourages active participation from members in reporting and discussing sightings. The society also highlights its commitment to exchanging information with other organizations and disseminating findings to the public.

Title: The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin
Issue: 1996 (Volume not explicitly stated, but implied by context)
Publisher: The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Date: 1996

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, with a strong focus on Australian sightings and theoretical possibilities. The cover story, "How far is.... Far Out?", by Marc Davenport, explores the intriguing theory that UFOs might manipulate time to achieve their observed behaviors, such as impossible speeds and altered radiation frequencies. The article discusses how time can be bent, affecting the perception of speed and the red-shifting of light, and posits that this could explain many observed UFO characteristics.

Australian Sighting Reports

The magazine features a significant section on "Australian Sighting Reports," detailing encounters by Australian Aborigines. It highlights how traditional stories of spirits and beings traveling to the heavens are now being contextualized within the modern understanding of abductions and alien contact. Dr. John Mack's research into abduction phenomena is mentioned, with a focus on his work with abductees from various cultures, including Australia. The article recounts how the author, at Dr. Mack's request, began documenting Aboriginal stories of encounters with "alternative realities." These stories often involve myths and legends of humans traveling to the heavens or above the ground, with some Aboriginal elders possessing expertise in hypnosis. Specific encounters are described, including a young man's account of his father witnessing a great light, and other instances of lights moving over plains and swampy areas. Strange glowing, box-like shapes seen in the bush have also led to certain areas being deemed off-limits. A West Australian man of Aboriginal descent shares his lifelong experiences of close-up encounters and abductions.

The "Local Sightings" section provides a collection of recent reports, often with insufficient detail for full publication. However, several specific incidents are detailed:

• Ardeer, March 2, 1996: A sighting of an object that stopped in the South East, with a smaller object circling it, followed by "ripply clouds."
• Coburg, July 1995: A rectangular-shaped object with white lights was observed moving low over houses, described as soundless.
• Paynesville, February 6, 1995: Two women experienced missing time after seeing a bright light, with their dog exhibiting distress. They arrived at their destination much faster than usual and used less petrol.

Myrrhee UFO Report

A detailed report from Myrrhee, Victoria, documents a series of five sightings between January 1st and January 6th, 1996. The sightings involved a family (G, R, and M) and later included other witnesses and researchers.

• Sighting 1 (Jan 1, 1996): An extremely bright object, described as the size of the moon or a 50-cent piece, was observed for 35-40 minutes. It moved along hills, then returned to its original position. The family's dogs became uncontrollable, and they reported suffering blood noses.
• Sighting 2 (Jan 2, 1996): A smaller object was observed, behaving differently from the previous night. The dogs again became agitated.
• Sighting 3 (Jan 3, 1996): Eight witnesses observed an object that grew brighter and set behind the hills. Photographs were taken.
• Sighting 4 (Jan 4, 1996): Lorraine Monshing filmed an object that appeared around 2100 hours and set at 2145 hours. The camera and dogs exhibited unusual behavior during the filming.
• Sighting 5 (Jan 6, 1996): Witnesses observed an object that was not Venus, exhibiting unusual speed and behavior. An independent observer on the other side of the ranges reported a red glow consistent with the object dropping over the hills.

The report concludes that Sighting 1 was likely a UFO. Sightings 2 and 3 were attributed to Venus, while Sighting 4 was also considered to be Venus, with the camera and dog behavior being anomalous. Sighting 5 was deemed unexplainable and classified as a UFO.

Other Sightings and Reports

The bulletin also includes several other sighting reports from various locations in Australia:

• Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre Update (December 1995): This section summarizes recent cases from Tasmania, including sightings of black shapes, bright white lights, dark shapes, white cigar shapes, flashing lights, orange ovals, bright white lights, and flickering orange lights.
• Glandore, South Australia (August 8, 1995): A pilot reported seeing four bright yellow lights, described as orbs, for about ten minutes, which he could not explain.
• Loxton, South Australia (July 1, 1995): Multiple witnesses observed a single "fire orange" light in the sky for 3-4 minutes, which they considered truly unidentified.
• Yorketown, South Australia (July 15, 1995): A UFO described as a small house, oval-shaped with blinding green lights, was observed making a squeaking noise and spinning.
• Newton, South Australia (September 12, 1995): All television transmissions were affected by a UFO, described as dark grey with red, white, and yellow lights spinning anti-clockwise.
• Western Australia (1950s): A detailed account from C.R. Griffin describes a UFO seen from his farm near Lake Grace, involving a light that changed color and moved at incredible speeds.
• Whyalla, South Australia (July 21, 1995): A "light show" of UFOs was witnessed by police and residents, described as very large red stars.

Events and Society News

The issue also contains information about upcoming UFO events and society activities:

• MUFON 1996 UFO Symposium: Details of a symposium held in Greensboro, NC, USA, featuring various researchers and topics related to UFOLOGY.
• Australian International UFO Symposium 1996: Information about a symposium in Brisbane, Australia, focusing on "A Scientific Paradigm."
• VUFORS Sightings Hotline: A hotline number is provided for reporting sightings.
• Society History: A historical overview of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, tracing its origins and evolution.
• Discussion Nights and Subscription Rates: Information on upcoming meetings and membership details for the International Committee for U.F.O. Research and V.U.F.O.R.S.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the theoretical possibilities of UFO technology, particularly concerning time manipulation, and the collection and dissemination of UFO sighting reports from Australia. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting witness accounts and scientific speculation without definitive conclusions, encouraging further investigation and discussion. The society emphasizes a dispassionate attitude, viewing UFOs as a scientific problem deserving closer attention.