Australian UFO Bulletin - 2001 03 - March

Magazine Overview

This issue of THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN, dated March 2001, is published by V.U.F.O.R.S. (Victorian U.F.O. Research Society) and features a cover illustration of flying saucers and a space shuttle. The magazine focuses on UFO reports, investigations, and related aviation safety concerns.

Editorial

The editorial, written by an unnamed member of the V.U.F.O.R.S. Committee, reflects on the author's early involvement in UFO research in 1959 and the evolution of the subject. It mentions George Adamski and the early interest in 'contactees.' The editorial notes the historical milestones of space exploration, such as the Russian and American moon landings, and how these have fueled public imagination, often depicted in films with alien entities. It introduces the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena (NARCAP) as a scientific-based organization that will hopefully treat the subject seriously and share findings with reputable UFO organizations. The author expresses a wish for thorough examination of findings by long-term researchers in the field.

HOVERING UFO CLOSES AIRPORT IN SOUTHERN SIBERIA

This section reports on an incident on January 26, 2001, where an airport in southern Siberia was shut down for 90 minutes due to an unidentified flying object (UFO) hovering above the runway. The Russian Interfax news agency reported that the crew of an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane refused to take off, claiming they saw a luminescent object. Another cargo plane also diverted. The UFO eventually took off and vanished. Barnaul, the location of the incident, is described as a mid-sized city in southern Siberia.

On the UFO Trail

Written by Paul Norman in 2001, this article discusses the author's experiences listening to UFO reports on Radio Station WOR in New York City during the 1950s and 1960s. Norman expresses skepticism towards 'contactee' stories, particularly those involving abduction, and suggests that some accounts may be fabricated or misinterpreted. He contrasts these with the scientific evidence from space probes, which he argues does not substantiate such claims. Norman recounts an incident where an experiencer described an entity, but he believes the experiencer never left her car, suggesting deception. He also mentions a widely circulated but false report about Gordon Cooper encountering a UFO in orbit, which he learned was incorrect after reading Cooper's book 'Leap of Faith.' Norman calls for caution in believing all UFO accounts and invites members or organizations to share similar incidents involving strange feelings or static electricity.

National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena (NARCAP)

This section details the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena (NARCAP), an organization established in late 2000. Dr. Richard F. Haines, a retired NASA scientist, initiated NARCAP after reviewing fifty years of pilot and air traffic controller reports, finding a significant number of incidents where UAP impacted flight safety. NARCAP aims to provide a confidential reporting system for aviation professionals to collect scientific data on UAP, without taking an official stance on what these phenomena represent. The article outlines NARCAP's mission, its organizational structure (Executive and Research Divisions), and contact information, including website, phone numbers, and mailing address. It also lists technical advisors and international advisors.

MUFON 2001 UFO Symposium

This brief announcement details the MUFON 2001 Annual UFO Symposium, themed '2001-Joining the Cosmic Neighborhood,' to be held in Orange County, California, from July 20-22. It lists several confirmed speakers, including Dr. John Mack and Stanton T. Friedman, and provides information on admission rates and registration details.

The Early Years

This section presents a selection of UFO reports from the 1950s and 1960s, compiled from various publications:

• Leicester, England - November 3, 1962: Eric Adkins reported observing a blinding yellow light with an orange centre, described as an elliptical form, flying overhead at high speed, which stopped and hovered before disappearing.
• Washington, D.C. - June 6, 1964: Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Radeffer reported a 'very brilliant star with reddish overtones' that performed sharp turns, zig-zagged, and shot straight up, with the Goddard Space Centre confirming it was not a satellite or weather balloon.
• Bismarck, North Dakota - November 26, 1968: Three air traffic control employees spotted two bright lighted objects in the northeast sky that executed unusual maneuvers, including a sudden 180-degree turn, and were tracked by radar as an 'erratic target.'

Rense.com - Two Dramatic Mid-Air UFO Near Misses In 1967

This article excerpts two dramatic mid-air UFO encounters from 1967, based on reports from the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena (NARCAP):

• January, 1967 - Night UP SW New Mexico: Jimmie Moran, a passenger on a Lear Jet, reported a bright red light that evolved into multiple lights, pacing the jet for 29 minutes. The object exhibited unusual maneuvers and speed, and the pilot described it as filling a significant portion of his cockpit window.
• October 27, 1967 - 0300L UP NE Jacksonville (Atlantic Ocean): Charlie Little, pilot of a Piper-Twin Commanche, encountered six huge, round, bright white lights in a horizontal row that appeared to be a triangular craft. The object executed an unbanked 180-degree turn and disappeared. The witnesses described the object as a gray equilateral triangle with no visible external features, except for a central triangular opening.

The article also discusses the difficulty pilots face in reporting such sightings due to fear of ridicule and potential career repercussions. It touches upon the limitations of radar in detecting non-transponder-equipped aircraft and suggests that radar might have tracked the larger UFO instead of the aircraft in one instance.

UFO Potpourri

This section presents a collection of shorter UFO reports:

• Pilots See Formation Over Australia (December 2000 report from January-February 1969 APRO Bulletin): Two Australian pilots flying a Piper Navajo observed a formation of one large 'aircraft' in the middle with 4-5 smaller 'aircraft' around it. The formation maintained station with their aircraft before departing at tremendous speed. Radio communication was lost during the observation and restored afterward.
• Planes Paced by UFOs Over Florida (November-December 1968 APRO Bulletin): Two pilots reported being followed by football-shaped objects for about 30 miles. One pilot described them as bright moving lights, while the other provided more detail, noting one object descended to land near a restricted U.S. Air Force bombing range.
• Airport Tower Personnel Observe UFO (November-December 1968 APRO Bulletin): Three air traffic control employees at Bismarck, North Dakota, spotted two bright lighted objects that performed unusual maneuvers and were tracked by radar as an 'erratic target.'
• Pilots Sight UFO Over Pyrenees (September-October 1967 APRO Bulletin): The crew of a Douglas DC-6 aircraft sighted a high-speed, cone-shaped UFO estimated to be 100 feet in height, traveling at approximately 3,500 miles per hour, which came within 5 miles of the plane before disappearing.

Press Cuttings of Interest

This section includes a news clipping about an "Unexplained 'fireball' streaks across Maritime sky" reported on October 28, 1999. Police and emergency lines were flooded with calls about a large fireball seen across the night sky, with reports of possible impacts in northern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The Halifax search-and-rescue centre initially suggested it was a celestial occurrence, but there were reports of an impact in Oyster Pond, N.S., and something hitting the water off a coastal community.

Another item features a painting by an aboriginal lady depicting a UFO seen near Alice Springs, Australia, in 1997. The craft was described as having a blue dome with a flat bottom and lights on the edge, and it was also seen 14 years earlier.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include pilot sightings, radar confirmations of aerial anomalies, and close encounters between aircraft and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). There is a strong emphasis on aviation safety and the importance of credible reporting, as highlighted by the detailed coverage of NARCAP. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious investigation, acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena while urging critical evaluation of reports and skepticism towards sensationalized accounts, particularly those involving 'contactees' and 'abductions.' The publication aims to disseminate information on local, interstate, and overseas developments in the UFO field to its members and the public.

Title: AUSTRALIAN UFO BULLETIN
Issue: February 2001
Volume: Issue 89
Publisher: Australian International UFO Flying Saucer Research Inc.
Date: February 2001

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin presents a diverse collection of UFO-related content, including eyewitness accounts, historical perspectives, and organizational updates.

Key Articles and Reports

Statement by Professor James E. McDonald

Professor James E. McDonald of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, University of Arizona, issued a press statement on December 10, 1967, endorsing a Soviet scientist Zigel's plea for international scientific study of UFOs. McDonald expressed his strong belief that similar unexplainable objects are being seen globally and that a global investigation is urgently needed. He noted the establishment of a Soviet scientific commission to study UFO sightings in the USSR and humorously suggested that Russian scientists might be the ones to convince the world of the USAF's previous lack of competence in Project Bluebook. McDonald shared his personal findings after investigating UFO reports, stating that Bluebook had dismissed thousands of sightings from credible witnesses, categorizing them as swamp gas, secret test devices, fireballs, or ball lightning. He recounted interviewing witnesses in Australia and New Zealand, noting the consistent patterns and behaviors of UFOs reported there and in the United States. He also mentioned receiving similar reports from UFO investigators in England, France, Canada, Scandinavia, Japan, Australia, and elsewhere, all indicating an urgent need for scientific study. McDonald expressed disappointment with Dr. Condon's investigations, feeling they focused more on 'kooks and crackpots' than on reliable reporters, and hoped a Russian panel might shift attitudes.

UFO Potpourri: APRO Bulletins

John Schuessler, writing for UFO Potpourri, revisits his time as a member and consultant for the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO). He highlights APRO's extensive database of UFO reports from around the world, which demonstrated the breadth and seriousness of the UFO problem. Schuessler plans to feature examples from APRO's work in future issues.

UFOs "Escort" Mexican Aircraft (August 1975):
This report details an incident on May 3, 1974, where pilot Carlos Antonio de Santo Montiel flying over Lake Tequesquitengo, Mexico, encountered three UFOs. The objects, described as two joined plates with a cupola and an antenna, appeared above and below his Piper Aztec. Montiel reported his airspeed decreased, his controls froze, and his landing gear became locked. A communication log between Montiel and the Mexico City Control Tower is included, where Montiel declared 'Mayday!' and reported being out of control with three unidentified objects flying around him.

Sighting Reports

Kansas City, Missouri (May 4, 2000):
John Colaw, Kansas Director of Skywatch International, reported a sighting involving seven witnesses. The object, observed at about 40 degrees above the horizon, appeared as a pulsating star changing brilliant colors (red, blue, white, yellow). It was described as 'fat for a star' and not appearing to be in space. Using a SONY Handycam with Night Shot infrared, they captured footage of the object's infrared signature, described as a 'pulsing fog with a bright triangular nucleus that is spinning rapidly.'

Celebrity UFO Encounters: Walter Cronkite (1950s):
Jim Hickman recounts a story involving Walter Cronkite, then a CBS Evening News anchor. During a test of a new Air Force missile on a South Pacific island, Cronkite witnessed a large, dull grey disc-type UFO, estimated at 50-60 feet in diameter. The object hovered about 30 feet off the ground and emitted a blue beam of light that struck the missile, a guard, and a dog, freezing them in mid-air. The missile then exploded, and the disc vanished. Cronkite believed it was a 'new technology' but not an earthly one.

UFOs on the Internet (Tony Cook - VUFORS):
This section briefly mentions the NEAR spacecraft's successful landing on the asteroid Eros. It also notes a US company claiming ownership of Eros and provides a mission site URL.

Watch the fireworks of Mir:
A small group of space enthusiasts planned to charter an aircraft to witness the fiery death of the Mir space station from 30,000 feet above the ocean.

Sighting from South Gippsland (1971):
Ernie Gow reported seeing a small, dark grey or black cloud that twisted and tilted, forming the shape of a UFO. A second, identical object appeared beside it, and both hovered above a farm dam. They then moved off in a north-westerly direction, leaving a trail of disconnected half circles.

Australian Sighting Reports (Various Dates and Locations):

• Geelong, Victoria (March 12, 2000): An oval, red and white object filmed flying North West at light aircraft speed.
• Port Fairy, Victoria (March 12, 2000): A round, yellow to orange object flying Westward, estimated at 7,600 Kmph, resembling an F-111 'dump and burn' display.
• Leongatha, Victoria (July 17, 2000): A round light changing color from white to blue to yellow, making sharp turns and sometimes stationary.
• Moe, Victoria (September 22, 2000): An orange colored orb flying in an arc SW-SE, observed near a helicopter.
• Maryborough, Victoria (September 22, 2000): Four bright orange/yellow lights flying West to East in formation, observed with a helicopter nearby.
• Moe, Victoria (October 4, 2000): Four orange/pink objects flying SW to NE, with one object separate from the others, observed with a small aeroplane flying underneath.
• Moe, Victoria (October 4, 2000): Five observers reported seeing four orbs, apparent size of Venus, which remained stationary before dimming and moving upward.
• Eltham, Victoria (October 1, 2000): A witness was awakened by a high-pitched noise and saw a long-oval, black object with orange, red, yellow, and green around the center, moving NE.
• Melbourne VIC (January 26, 2001): Reports of a fireball over the Melbourne CBD determined to be an RAAF F-111 jet fighter performing a 'dump and burn' maneuver.

Tasmanian Unidentified Reports 2000:

• Nierinna (January 13, 2000): Witness saw two grey-white elliptic shapes moving horizontally, connected by a thin black line.
• West Kentish (January 15, 2000): A line of five green light panels high on Mt. Roland, later joined by a smaller set of lights.
• Park Beach (February 18, 2000): A large, orange light reversed direction twice in the sky.
• Forth (May 15, 2000): A motorist observed a light that appeared to be a falling star, then a glow, repeating a pattern of moving south and north.
• Lutana (May 25, 2000): Two bright white lights, one higher than the other, zig-zagged and moved together SE, increasing speed and elevation.
• Granton (June 24, 2000): Two bright white lights were seen, which lowered and revealed a rectangular shape with square windows or panels, before ascending into the clouds.

Society History and Updates

Society 1957 History

The article details the history of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (V.U.F.O.R.S.). It traces its origins back to the early 1950s with groups like the "Australian Flying Saucer Bureau" and the "Australian Flying Saucer Research Society." The Victorian branch was formed in 1957, undergoing name changes over the years to become the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society." The society has published papers, including the "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and the "Australian U.F.O. Bulletin," and sponsored a radio program. Since 1978, under the current executive, the society has maintained a dispassionate attitude towards UFOs, focusing on scientific investigation and holding the largest UFO library in the southern hemisphere. Membership is open to all genuinely interested individuals.

Discussion Night

Upcoming discussion nights for V.U.F.O.R.S. are listed for March 5, 2001 (Discussion), June 4, 2001 (A.G.M.), September 3, 2001 (Discussion), and December 3, 2001 (Discussion). Meetings are held at The Royal Society of Victoria, Melbourne, at 8:00 p.m. Entry fees are $5.00 for non-members, $2.00 for associate members, and free for full members.

Subscription Rates

Subscription rates for V.U.F.O.R.S. are provided: Full Membership ($20) includes the magazine and free meeting entry, Associate Membership ($15) includes the magazine only, Overseas ($US20) includes the magazine only, and Non-Member ($5) includes meeting entry only.

Society News: Items for Sale

Several items are available for purchase: Stanton Friedman's CD-ROM "UFOs...THE REAL STORY" (reduced to $20.00), videos "UFOs ARE REAL" Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 ($15.00 each), "UFOs ARE REAL" CAPS ($8.00), "UFOs ARE REAL" T-SHIRTS ($13.00), VUFORS LAPEL BADGES ($5.00 each), and VUFORS PENS ($1.00 each). Back issues of The Australian UFO Bulletin are also on sale for $4.00 per copy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting of UFO sightings from various locations, the importance of scientific investigation into the phenomenon, and the historical development of UFO research organizations in Australia. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry and a commitment to documenting and analyzing UFO reports, as evidenced by the detailed sighting reports and the historical overview of V.U.F.O.R.S., which emphasizes a dispassionate, scientific approach.