Australian UFO Bulletin - 1999 09 - September

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, dated September 1999, is a combined edition (Issues #19 & 20, Summer 1999) published by the Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS). The cover features a striking green and black design with illustrations of flying saucers and a space shuttle, alongside the prominent title.

Editorial

The editorial section, dated September 1999, notes a significant increase in UFO reports from various sources in Victoria, particularly around June 8th. The chief investigator, Paul Norman, undertook numerous interviews, described as 'trips' resembling octopus tentacles. Initially, the cause was speculated to be Earthly manufactures like satellites, but the east-to-west travel direction and witnesses looking north suggested otherwise. The object's flight path was not a straight line, with reports indicating it veered off at points. The editorial highlights that country and suburban papers published brief articles on their inquiries, and surprisingly, most received reports described the same or similar objects within the same timeframe. After eliminating other possibilities, the conclusion is that the object was either Earth-made or from elsewhere, remaining an Unidentified Flying Object. The editorial also announces the Annual General Meeting at the Royal Society Hall on September 6th and thanks members and country representatives for their support, expressing hope to continue publishing the bulletin, which has not had a break for at least 20 years.

On The UFO Trail

This section, written by Paul Norman, details extensive investigations following a surge of UFO reports starting June 9th, involving over 3,000 km of travel across Victoria. An unexpected call from East Sale reported an object flying at fantastic speed the previous evening, estimated by an ex-Air Force observer to be over twice the speed of a jet. The sighting lasted only six seconds, with the object estimated to be 20-30 km away at a 35-40 degree angle. The investigation involved representatives across Victoria. The closest approach by witnesses was near Benalla. The object's flight path was determined to be between Warrnambool (looking north) and Horsham (looking south). A sketch of the object at its closest approach is provided, describing it as having a bright light at the front, a yellow to orange section, and an indescribable third section with sparks, possibly static electricity. The tail was not a vapor or smoke trail but suggested a possible electromagnetic effect, similar to other reported incidents involving power failures or engine stoppages. The object's shape was compared to those reported by Frederich Valentich and pilot Felix Montcla. The section also references a major power blackout in the North East United States in the early sixties, involving twenty-seven UFOs along the power grid, as reported by Professor James McDonald. The author mentions a personal acquaintance with two colleagues of Professor Herman Oberth, a pioneer of modern space travel and co-designer of the V-2 rocket, who recognized UFOs as real.

Further accounts detail sightings: P.M. at Geelong railway station observed an object flying east to west, estimated to be four times larger than the brightest star. J.A. in Alfredton, Ballarat, saw a bright white light that caused a headache and sore eyes, moving horizontally east to west. J.G. in Glengarry heard a crackling noise and saw an oval-shaped object with a long, sparkling white tail heading northwest. Another witness at Grovedale saw a bright white sparkling tail, with the object appearing round then rolling over to look oval. The section concludes by mentioning a radio discussion with an astronomer and archaeologist on July 31st, where the astronomer offered no explanation. The case is considered extremely interesting due to multiple independent witnesses across Victoria describing the same event, with investigations ongoing.

Sighting Report: Benalla, VIC

This report details an interview conducted by James Owen, North East Representative of VUFORS, with a witness (I.B.) on Tuesday, June 8th, 1999, at approximately 5:37-5:38 PM. The witness was at his front gate when his friend alerted him to a large flying object. The object was described as flying horizontally, very quickly from east to west, observed for about 4 seconds. It was a long cylindrical object, estimated to be about 18 inches in diameter and 8-10 feet long, with a conical tail resembling a rocket tail, possibly 20 feet long. The front part was incandescent white (up to 2 feet), followed by a section fading from yellow to orange (about 2 feet), with sparks emanating from the back end. An indeterminable piece was followed by the rocket tail. The witness's friend (V) witnessed the same event. The object's shape was described as extremely regular, flying on a level plane with consistent speed. The front section was iridescent white, like a burning white or magnesium white, not quite as bright but like a fluoro light. It then turned yellow, described as pale yellow like tempering steel, and then a mottled orange with pieces of burning metal or stars coming away. The tail was described as a pointed end, up to 20 feet long. The witness noted shimmering, indicating propulsion, and a lack of smoke or trails. The object appeared solid and very real. The weather was fine and clear, with no cloud cover in the immediate vicinity. The witness estimated the distance to be between 1 and 2 miles, and the speed to be faster than a jet, possibly a kilometer per second or more. The estimated height was between 1500 and 2500 feet. The witness and his friend were startled but had intense discussions over two days. They later learned of a similar sighting by a workman on the Hume Highway. The object was described as generating observable heat and appeared controlled due to its constant speed and horizontal flight. The tail was doubted to be a light beam due to its shimmering quality.

Sighting Report: Port Fairy Area

This report, from a letter to Mr. Paul Norman dated June 8th, 1999, describes a sighting near Yambuk, west of Port Fairy. The witness, traveling south then west, noticed a strange formation that appeared to be a vapor trail, unlike any seen before. Following it, the witness saw the source in the distance and later encountered a police car traveling east. The witness considered stopping to show the trail, thinking it might be shuttle re-entry, but continued to their parents' place. The entity was observed at about ten o'clock in peripheral vision, with a flash like a mirror reflecting light. The witness kept a closer eye on it for two to three minutes before it flashed again, attributing it to sunlight reflecting off the object. The sighting continued to Tyrendana, then Mount Clay to Heywood. The witness also mentions reports from James Kennedy concerning sightings near Beach Forest, Gellibrand, and Clifton Springs, and from Dan Haylock regarding sightings at Bairnsdale and Paynesville, and from Wendy Wolfe of an object at South Druin with static sparks.

Ohio UFO Notebook

This section presents reports from Ohio, including a black triangle sighting over Alum Creek Lake in Delaware County, Ohio, in October 1998. The witness observed a sharp, black triangle silhouetted against the sky, moving northwest to southeast. It had two strobe lights (red and blue/green) in the center, which pulsed. The object was described as tangible, with a uniform color and hard outline. The lights were bright and pointed downward. The object moved across a 30° arc of sky in about a minute or less, moving slowly. The witness concluded it was not a known aircraft. Another report details a black triangle sighting in West Virginia in August 1997, where witnesses observed a large, non-reflective black triangle with four dim lights (red/orange and beige) floating slowly. A third report summarizes a case near Toledo, Ohio, from February 1998, involving a large charcoal gray to black UFO traveling northeast to southwest at high altitude, with a low rumbling sound. It was estimated to be 100-150 feet long and 100 feet wide, with three strobe lights. Three Ohio National Guard F-16s were observed attempting to intercept it. A Dayton, Ohio, triangle report from May 1999 describes a witness accidentally seeing a genuine UFO from their yard.

Apollo 14 Astronaut Edgar Mitchell Speaks Out

This article features excerpts from an interview with Dr. Edgar Mitchell, an Apollo 14 astronaut and scientist. Mitchell states unequivocally that aliens have visited Earth and that governments worldwide possess thousands of unexplained UFO sighting files. He claims that military personnel confide in him more readily than in others, and he has heard convincing stories about governments knowing of alien visits. He asserts that the Roswell incident in 1947, involving a crashed craft and alien corpses, did happen and that the government knew but decided not to inform the public due to security reasons and potential panic. Mitchell believes that secret technology might be mistaken for alien craft, but acknowledges that alien spaceships are also possible. He refutes rumors of alien buildings on the Moon. He expresses hope that documentation of alien visits will be made public within the next three to four years, stating that he would be happier than anyone if proof of ETs were revealed. He also mentions that while he would like to see an extraterrestrial, it's not his biggest priority.

Book Review

Two book reviews are presented. The first reviews "The Communion Letters" by Whitley Streiber, edited by Anne Streiber. The book compiles letters from thousands of people responding to Streiber's previous work, "Communion," and offers insights into UFOs and alien abduction. The reviewer notes that Streiber's critics claim he combines details into his own narrative, while others find it hard to believe such attention would be given to one human. The book is described as interesting reading, potentially affording insight into the intelligence behind UFOs. The reviewer highlights a story about a policeman with a pathological fear of green traffic signals as an example of the book's content, suggesting that many events may go unrevealed due to victims' fear of ridicule.

The second review is of "Beyond Roswell & The Communion Letters" co-authored by Philip Mantle and Michael Hesemann. This book details events and circumstances surrounding the Roswell incident and lists military personnel involved. An anecdote from Robert Morning-sky recounts a story about a surviving occupant of the Roswell crash who escaped and was discovered by Native Americans. A bond developed, and the Indians helped the occupant survive despite military attempts to recover it. This being taught them about stars and the universe, and was surprised by humanity's self-determination, as they were supposedly created as slaves for another extraterrestrial race. The creature was eventually returned home. The reviewer notes this story is unprovable but offers a nice narrative.

Australian Sighting Reports

This section compiles several sighting reports from Australia:

• January 1974, 23:00hrs, Near Ballarat, VIC: Witnesses at a barbeque observed a large, silent, hovering triangle-shaped object estimated to be about 200 yards away, with pale yellow lights along each side. It banked, turned west, and sped away after about two minutes.
• February 1997, dusk, South of Elliminyt, VIC: A mother and her 12-year-old son observed a meteor-like object leaving a long white tail, later realizing it was similar to other reported UFO sightings. The mother recalled a news report about Adelaide airport tracking a UFO faster than any aircraft.
• November 26, 1998, 8:12, Near Ballarat: A saucer-shaped object with a dome on top, shining like metal, was observed. It was about the size of a large car, hovered, and then sped away. The object was shining brightly in the clear morning sun.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, particularly triangular craft and bright lights, across Australia and internationally. There is a strong emphasis on witness testimony and the efforts of organizations like VUFORS to collect and analyze this data. The inclusion of astronaut Edgar Mitchell's statements lends significant weight to the possibility of alien visitation and government secrecy surrounding the topic. The book reviews further explore the nature of UFO phenomena, alien encounters, and historical incidents like Roswell. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a commitment to documenting and understanding these unexplained events, while acknowledging the challenges of verification and the potential for misidentification. The publication aims to keep its members informed about the latest developments and reports in the field of ufology.

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, dated July 1999, delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, featuring a prominent article on the Roswell incident, pilot testimonies, and discussions on the broader implications of potential extraterrestrial life.

Roswell Incident: A First-Hand Account

The lead story, "Shirkey writes book on Roswell incident," details Robert J. Shirkey's firsthand account of the 1947 event. Shirkey, who was an assistant group operations officer for the 509th Bomb Group at Walker Air Force Base, claims to have been involved four or five days after the incident. He recounts setting up a flight plan for a B-29 that transported materials found by a rancher. Shirkey states that secrecy was broken when the rancher brought the items to the sheriff, making civilians aware. He asserts that for the first four days, only the military knew what was happening and that he saw pieces of metal from the craft, including an I-beam with strange markings. Shirkey was motivated to write his book, "Roswell 1947: I was there," after watching a television program where a colonel dismissed those involved in 1947 as too old. Shirkey refutes the government's explanation of a weather balloon, stating that those involved immediately knew it was not a UFO and were told to "keep our mouths shut." He notes that much information has come out since 1980, but he considers most explanations released by the Air Force since 1990 to be untrue. Shirkey aims to reveal that there is "more behind the scenes" and that "we'll get the true story out."

Protection Against Online Critics and Pilot Testimonies

An article from the Wall Street Journal discusses how anonymous online critics posting defamatory information can be prosecuted, citing the case of Richard Scrushy, CEO of HealthSouth Corp. The piece warns that online stalkers and harassers can be caught.

"TEN PERCENT OF ALL PILOTS HAVE SEEN UFOs. FEW DARE TO SPEAK OUT" highlights testimonies from pilots. Captain Graham Sheppard recounts a near-miss with a 30-foot wide disc-shaped craft in 1967 and a similar sighting of two unidentified objects in 1967. Despite radar confirmation, his crew chose not to report the incident. After going public in 1993, Sheppard was told by British Airways Public Relations that talk of UFOs would not be tolerated. He estimates that about 10 percent of pilots have had experiences but fear ridicule. He has spoken to about 20 pilots who have had sightings but are reluctant to go public.

UFO Case Briefs from Australia and Beyond

The "SIGHTINGS" section presents several reports:

• Adelaide, Australia (April 22, 1999): Three men reported a 20-minute sighting of a silvery/white object, square in shape with a black line, estimated at 80-100,000 feet altitude, heading east.
• Woodcroft, Australia (April 23, 1999): Randall Shipway and his wife witnessed a strange light approaching from the north, which slowed down, danced in a zig-zag motion, and then zoomed off west at high speed. The object was red and pulsating.
• Cumberland Park, Australia (Date Unknown): A 71-year-old retiree reported a 10-minute sighting of several white hexagonal objects that gained altitude and became less bright.
• Edinburgh, Scotland (February 27, 1999): Police Officer Norm Elliott sighted three silver orb-shaped objects moving parallel to each other, which he could not explain.
• South Africa (August 1998): A pilot reported a blip on radar travelling at Mach 12, which then disappeared into cloud at Mach 14, after seeing a streak of light.
• Lake Laberge, Yukon, Canada (June 18, 1997): Dennis Stitt saw a V-shaped black object with a loud fluttering noise, similar to the Kentron 'Stealth Target Drone'.

UFO FLAP OVER TOOWOOMBA

This section details reports from Toowoomba, Australia, concerning unusual orange lights seen on June 12th, which witnesses described as forming a diamond shape or diagonal line, with molten lava-like material dropping from them. The objects split into groups and made no noise. A similar sighting from 24 years prior in Inglewood was also mentioned.

The Early Years: Historical Reports

This section revisits older reports from the 1950s and 1960s:

• Walkerton, Ontario, Canada (November 1, 1958): Four policemen observed a bright, white pulsating UFO that changed color and appeared to pulsate, with what looked like four lights.
• Taunton, England (May 21, 1962): Captain Gordon Pendleton of Aer Lingus spotted a brown, round object with projections, estimated to be closing at 1,000 knots.
• Devonport, Tasmania, Australia (July 21, 1965): Mrs. Ray Devlin and her mother watched two mysterious silver objects, described as silver balls, one smaller than the other, darting about with big red lights.

New Solar System, New Notions of God

An article from the Star Tribune discusses the discovery of a new solar system and its potential impact on theological debates. Astronomers and theologians met to consider how the existence of extraterrestrial life might alter concepts of God, particularly within the Abrahamic religions. The article quotes David Latham, who expects dozens more planets to be discovered, and John F. Haught, who suggests that encounters could broaden understanding of the divine.

UFO Case Briefs: Explorations & Review

This section includes a case brief from the International Society for UFO Research (ISUR) regarding a near-collision between an F/A-18C and a "cigar-shaped" UFO near Miramar Air Station in November 1995. The incident was captured on the pilot's Heads Up Display video.

Riddle of a Silver UFO 'the size of a battleship'

This report from the Daily Mail (April 27, 1999) mentions a pilot reporting a UFO "the size of a battleship" spotted 28,000ft above the North Sea. The Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Defence confirmed awareness but denied investigation.

UFO Encounter Reports

Several brief sighting reports are included:

• St Lucia, Queensland, Australia (January 9, 1999): Two witnesses observed a spherical ball of fire rising at a sharp angle and becoming stationary.
• Murwillumbah, Australia (January 11, 1999): A man saw a bright light on a stormy night, appearing half the size of the full moon.
• Bundaberg, Australia (January 12, 1999): Two witnesses observed a "really bright star" that moved, flashed colors, and disappeared.
• Woodridge, Australia (January 18, 1999): Two witnesses observed an octagonal object low in the Northern sky that flashed colors and moved away rapidly.
• Bankstown, Sydney, Australia (1974): A Ham Radio operator witnessed a bright light doing a U-turn and shooting straight up, and later observed a dark brown bullet-shaped object.

Society News and History

The "Society News" section includes information on the VUFORS Sightings Report Line and items for sale, including Stanton Friedman's CD-ROM. It also lists back issues of The Australian UFO Bulletin available for purchase.

The "Society History" section provides a history of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, tracing its origins from the Australian Flying Saucer Bureau in the early 1950s to its current form. It highlights the society's dispassionate attitude towards UFOs, its extensive library, and its ongoing activities.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include firsthand accounts of significant UFO events like Roswell, pilot testimonies emphasizing the reality of sightings and the fear of ridicule, and the exploration of UFO technology. There's also a notable engagement with the theological implications of potential extraterrestrial life. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena, presenting evidence and witness accounts without overt sensationalism, while also acknowledging the scientific and societal impact of such events. The inclusion of historical reports and case briefs from various locations underscores a commitment to documenting the global scope of UFO activity.