Australian UFO Bulletin - 2001 12 - December

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, dated December 2001, is the third volume and presents a collection of UFO sighting reports and related articles. The publication is from the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS), an organization dedicated to investigating and disseminating information about unexplained aerial phenomena.

Editorial

The editorial, written by President Judith Magee, reflects on a year of global turbulence and expresses hope that members have not suffered. She thanks the committee for their work and welcomes two new members: Jim Owen as North East Investigations Officer and Bernard Wilson as Scientific Advisor. The editorial wishes members a safe, happy, and healthy festive season and a prosperous new year.

Contents

The table of contents lists several articles and reports:

• Editorial - President Judith Magee
• On The UFO Trail - Paul Norman
• The Early Years
• Selected Ohio UFO Notebook Reports
• International Sighting Reports
• Significant Triangle Report
• Ohio UFO Spotted from Continental Flight #1298
• Cairns Sighting Report
• Western Australian Sighting Reports
• Queensland Sighting Reports
• South Australian Sighting Reports
• Dandenong UFO Sighting Report
• Dr Greer's Disclosure Project
• Society News
• Discussion Night – Dates – Directions

On The UFO Trail

This section, authored by Paul Norman, details several UFO sighting reports. In July and August, VUFORS received reports of mystery lights in eastern Victoria. Norman looks for large objects operating with smaller ones, indicating intelligent control. He describes a sighting on July 28th where two witnesses saw a large circular object, orange-yellow changing to bright white, launch two smaller objects that sped away. The incident occurred over Pakenham, Victoria, and the large object had a dome on the bottom. The total sighting duration was 2.5 minutes.

Another report details an incident on May 3, 1961, near Young, New South Wales, where five farmers witnessed a large round object from which four V-shaped objects flew out in opposite directions. The large object remained stationary for two hours before the V-shaped objects returned and it sped away. This incident was confirmed by NICAP.

A third report from December 13, 1977, describes Tom Church and family observing a long cigar-shaped object descending, which then launched three smaller objects. The first small object traveled twenty-five miles in two minutes. Within five minutes, two other small objects launched, blinking in sequence. This event led to a well-attended lecture in Leitchville.

Further reports include:

• August 22, 1968: Captains Walter Gardin and Gordon Smith flying from Adelaide to Perth observed a large object with five smaller objects that joined together and sped away, causing a communication interruption.
• June 30, 1954: A BOAC airliner crew and 61 passengers witnessed a large cigar-shaped object with six small objects flying in formation, which returned to the large object before it sped away.
• December 6, 1952: A B29 crew tracked UFOs flying at high speed, merging with a large one and flying away.
• October 23, 1978: Two families near Frankston, Victoria, saw a large cigar-shaped object launch a smaller red glowing object that hovered before speeding away.

Norman notes that due to ridicule, few witnesses report sightings, and a list of 26 similar cases from 1944 to 1961, compiled by Richard Hall, is mentioned. Hall's book, 'The UFO Evidence Volume 2', is also referenced.

The Early Years

Compiled by Clive Yates, this section presents a selection of UFO reports from various magazines published in the 1950s and 1960s.

• October 24, 1964, Salt Lake City, Utah: Witnesses reported white, disc-shaped objects flying out of sight. A 14-year-old described two saucer-like objects with rounded bottoms.
• July 1965, Santiago, Chile: The Commander of a Chilean Antarctic base photographed an object moving at frightening speed, zig-zagging, and emitting a blue-green light, which caused electromagnetic interference. It was confirmed by British and Argentine bases.
• January 1967, Batchelor, Louisiana: Three photographs of a UFO were declared authentic. The object was described as a "configuration of shallow disc with domes on each side," which turned, rose straight up, and disappeared.

Mystery Space Blast 'Solved'

Astronomers may have solved the mystery of the Tunguska region devastation from 1908. Italian researchers suggest a low-density asteroid caused the explosion and blinding flash, which flattened thousands of square kilometers of trees. No impact crater was found, and no large fragments were discovered.

Selected Ohio UFO Notebook Reports

This section, edited from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) of Ohio, presents several reports:

• July 22, 2000, State Route 11, Ohio: Motorists reported multiple red blinking lights and a large light that illuminated the sky, followed by a brief blackout and the vehicle continuing at speed. The witnesses experienced agitation and a radio malfunction. An examination of their Cadillac revealed the clock was 13 minutes fast, and the alarm sounded as it had during the incident.
• August 14, 2000, Aberdeen, Ohio: MUFON member Victor Hamm observed three objects moving in angular, cross-angular movements, followed by two more, darting back and forth. The objects were described as "star like" and "green yellow amber."
• May 15, 2000, Cleveland, Ohio: A TWA MD-80 flight crew and passengers witnessed an object with three lights moving north across the freeway, giving off sparks. The object was described as "rounded across the front," "flat," and "oblong," emitting a brilliant white light without noise or visible engines.
• February 19, 2000, Wilmington, Ohio: A witness saw two black triangle-shaped objects moving slowly, one of which disappeared and the other sped up rapidly.

Queensland Abduction Claim

Police are investigating claims of a woman abducted from a caravan and transported 600 kilometers to Mackay, Queensland. She was found dazed and muddy. UFO investigator Martin Gottschall is not surprised, stating such events seem to be happening globally.

International Sighting Reports

This section compiles various reports from around the world:

• Leonid Meteor Storm: Expected to be unusually bright and violent, impacting satellite communications.
• New Jersey Lights (October 30, 2001): Four lights moved in oval orbits, appearing to be a group never changing their movements.
• Florida Disk (October 12, 2001): A witness saw a craft hovering high above Miami, changing colors (white, red, green) with blue flashes. It was described as a "disk shape" and not a star or aircraft.
• Wisconsin UFO Sighting (October 31, 2001): A "flying dark triangular shape with a giant white light in the middle" was observed, with two smaller lights on the bottom.
• Arkansas Cylinder (October 28, 2001): A cylindrical metal craft, made of shiny metal and making no noise, flew from south to north at a low altitude.
• Arizona Flying Triangle (October 19, 2001): Three reddish-orange, bright lights were seen flying fast and silently, followed by a boomerang-shaped cloud.
• Washington Flying Triangular Objects (October 24, 2001): Two slow-moving flying triangle-shaped objects with bright strobes and lights were spotted.
• Wyoming Dramatic Sighting (October 24, 2001): A trucker reported an "oblong green glassy object" hovering near his vehicle for several hours.
• California Bolide (October 26, 2001): An object with three lights gave off sparks while moving north across the freeway.
• Burbank (October 26, 2001): A fireball or bolide was seen coming from the ocean, shooting sparks.
• Sksebastopol (October 27, 2001): A UFO suddenly appeared above a car, causing it to stall, and hovered over the car for some time.
• United Kingdom UFO Halloween Night and Flying Triangles (October 31, 2001): A "very big, bright, white object" was seen, which later turned yellow and disappeared. Another report describes a fighter aircraft escorting a triangular craft.

Significant Triangle Report

This report details a sighting on September 27, 2000, in Central Idaho, by four out-of-state hunters. They observed a large, silent, unlighted triangular object directly overhead, estimated to be the size of a football field. Lights appeared on the ventral surface, including a subdued white light in each corner and a red strobing light in the middle. The object moved smoothly and silently toward a nearby mountain. Two of the witnesses decided to leave the area due to feeling threatened.

Ohio UFO Spotted from Continental Flight #1298

On January 27, 2001, a retired firefighter on a Continental flight observed a very large, bright light with rays, which turned sharply upward and disappeared. Another witness described a "sudden horseshoe turn upward" followed by a sharp right turn. The witnesses were baffled, not seeing a shape but a bright light.

Editor's Note

The editor notes the dramatic nature of the Idaho triangle sighting and its potential value in determining the source of enigmatic objects.

Turkey UFO Photographed

A UFO was reportedly photographed recently in Denizli, Sogut Mountain, Turkey, by Okan Ilhan while he was taking pictures of village people.

New Membership Fees

Commencing January 1, 2002, VUFORS membership fees will increase. Full Membership will be $25.00, Associate Membership $20.00, and Overseas $US25.00. This is the first increase since 1992 and is necessary to offset rising costs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, emphasizing the need for detailed accounts and the challenges faced by witnesses. There is a consistent effort to document both historical and contemporary cases, drawing from various sources and organizations like MUFON and NICAP. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the reporting of phenomena while acknowledging the skepticism and potential ridicule witnesses may encounter. The society aims to provide a platform for sharing information and fostering a deeper understanding of UFO occurrences.

Title: THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN
Issue: June-July 2001
Volume: 6
Publisher: Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Country: Australia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin presents a diverse collection of UFO sighting reports and related information, highlighting investigations and witness accounts from Australia and the United States. The cover prominently features a report on "Three UFOs Sighted In Connecticut" alongside a "Cairns Sighting Report" from Australia.

Cairns Sighting Report

Jim Owen, North East Regional Representative for VUFORS, details a sighting in Cairns, Australia, where a witness named Wayne captured 43 minutes of video footage of numerous objects. The objects appeared metallic, varied in shape, and exhibited unusual movements like zigzagging and shooting away. Owen expresses confidence in the witness's reliability, stating the observed object was extraordinary and unexplainable, though he is awaiting information from authorities to confirm or disprove the sighting. He notes that the witness's dog exhibited signs of alarm, which could indicate an unusual presence. While Owen remains somewhat undecided, acknowledging the possibility of celestial objects, the witness is adamant that the objects were not stars or planets.

Three UFOs Sighted In Connecticut

This section, part of UFO ROUNDUP Volume 6, details three distinct sightings in Connecticut, USA, during March 2001.

On March 21, 2001, at 4 pm, a woman and her son in Hamden observed a large, bullet-shaped, shiny silver object with a ring move vertically and then horizontally, leaving a stream of pinkish smoke. They followed it briefly before losing sight.

Later that evening, at 6 pm, another Hamden resident reported hearing a loud propeller sound and seeing a large, missile-shaped object hovering above treelines. Described as oblong with alternating blue and red lights, it was also noted as being green and black.

On March 22, 2001, at 4:30 am, a couple in Hartford were awakened by a bright light that illuminated their house, followed by a whooshing sound.

Western Australian Sighting Reports

Compiled by Brian Richards for the Australasian Society for Psychical Research Inc. (ASPR/UFORUM), this section details numerous sightings across Western Australia from February 2001 to December 2000.

• February 24, 2001: Stuart, WA - A red glow observed over several days, moving and changing brightness.
• February 4, 2001: Doubleview, WA - Six bright, starlike objects moving in formation, changing speed and pattern. RAAF Pearce reported no planes in the area.
• January 31, 2001: Kelmscott, WA - Four bright green flashes observed over two minutes.
• January 15, 2001: Scarborough, WA - A star-like object traveling south, joined by two others forming a triangle, then a fourth light appeared.
• December 24, 2000: Midland, WA - A star-like object observed to the east, dropping in stages, flashing various colors, and moving erratically.
• November 25, 2000: South Lakes, WA - An orange light traveling south, deviating horizontally and becoming stationary.
• October 23, 2000: Pemberton, WA - A bright orange/red fireball with a tail moved quickly, accompanied by a whooshing sound.
• October 3, 2000: Spearwood, WA - Small streaks of light observed, followed by an oval object with bright lights at each end, flying off at great speed.
• October 3, 2000: Bateman, WA - Five very bright red spheres in a V-formation, which then dropped and disappeared.

Queensland Sighting Reports

Compiled by Martin Gottschall, this section covers sightings in Queensland from May to June 2001.

• May 19, 2001: Marsden - Five evenly spaced orange lights observed in the Southern sky.
• May 29, 2001: Sunshine Coast - A woman driving saw lights that appeared to be from a vehicle behind her, which then moved in an arc shape and disappeared.
• May 27, 2001: Mansfield - A red light observed moving faster than a plane, dropping two red lights that dissipated.
• May 31, 2001: Wynnum - A dull white, oval object observed moving north, looking like a plane with no wings.
• June 14, 2001: Newmarket - A man observed a bright U-shaped light, described as a golden crescent shape, moving slowly.
• June 15, 2001: Tweed City - An orange light observed getting bigger, then stopping and moving slowly across the windscreen.

New York Flying Triangle With Flat Edges

This report details a sighting in New York City on October 15, 2001. The object was chrome-like, large, and glowed reddish-black, leaving a whitish trail. It changed colors multiple times, emitted a whistle-like sound that became silent, and then left. The witness's cell phone call became fuzzy and then died during the event. The object was described as similar to Morse code, with numerous lights.

Dandenong UFO Sighting Report

An amateur astronomer in Victoria reports observing a starlike object on November 3, 2001. The object was extremely bright, moved steadily north, then turned west, and eventually moved north again. It appeared to have a solid shape and was slowly tumbling or wobbling. The witness noted it was easily visible in daylight and unlike any known aircraft or birds. Binoculars were not available at the time.

San Antonio Sighting

On October 18, 2001, a couple in San Antonio, Texas, witnessed a turquoise luminous cigar-shaped object streak across the sky. The object was described as cloud high and confounding.

Dr. Greer's Disclosure Project: Witness Testimony, Part II

This section, transcribed and edited from an oral presentation by Dr. Greer, focuses on pilot and radar cases. It highlights testimony from individuals who have witnessed and tracked UFOs on radar, asserting that these are structured craft, not weather balloons or swamp gas.

• Dr. Richard Haines: A NASA scientist with over 30 years of experience compiling UFO cases, notes similarities between American and foreign reports.
• Sr. Enrique Kolbeck: A senior Air Traffic Controller at Mexico City International Airport, speaks about frequent UFO sightings observed visually and on radar, with high speeds and instantaneous turns.
• Sgt. Chuck Sorrells: A former Air Force military man, recounts witnessing at least seven UFOs over Edwards Air Force Base in 1965, which appeared on multiple radars and were seen visually.
• Mr. Michael W. Smith: An Air Force Air Traffic Controller, confirms UFOs tracked on radar and moving at extraordinary speeds, noting the expectation of secrecy.
• Commander Graham Bethune: A retired Navy commander pilot, describes witnessing a 300-foot UFO ascend 10,000 feet vertically in a fraction of a second towards his plane.

The section also mentions that over 50 of the 140 air traffic controllers at Mexico City airport have seen UFO phenomena, including simultaneous sightings of red and white lights around a landing aircraft.

Society News

• VUFORS Sightings Hotline: The hotline number (03) 9506 7080 is provided for reporting sightings.
• Items for Sale: The VUFORS is selling various items, including Stanton Friedman's CD-ROM "UFOs... THE REAL STORY" (reduced to $20.00), "UFOs ARE REAL" videos (Vol. 1 & 2 for $15.00 each), caps ($8.00), T-shirts ($13.00), lapel badges ($5.00), and pens (50c each). They also offer second-hand books and magazines, and back issues of The Australian UFO Bulletin ($4.00 per copy).

Society History

This section 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." The Victorian branch was formed in 1957 and has undergone name changes, eventually becoming the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society." The society has published various papers, including the "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and the "Australian U.F.O. Bulletin," and sponsored a radio program. The current executive has maintained a dispassionate attitude towards UFOs, viewing them as a scientific problem. The society boasts the largest UFO library in the Southern Hemisphere, though a book loss due to postage costs has forced them to discontinue this service.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, witness testimony, and the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena. The editorial stance, as indicated by the VUFORS's history, is one of scientific inquiry and a dispassionate approach to UFOs, treating them as a subject deserving of closer attention. The publication actively encourages the reporting of sightings through its hotline and provides a platform for sharing detailed accounts, including those supported by video and radar evidence. The inclusion of Dr. Greer's testimony suggests an interest in government and military perspectives on UFOs, particularly concerning radar tracking and pilot encounters. The society also promotes UFO-related literature and merchandise, fostering a community of interest in the subject.