Australian UFO Bulletin - 2003 06 - June

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, dated June 2003, marks its reincarnation with a special white cover edition and a shift to a slightly smaller, more manageable page size, achieved through a new electronic printing process. The editorial expresses satisfaction with the improved print quality and precision alignment, contrasting it with previous manual methods. The publication aims to provide members with information on local, interstate, and overseas UFO developments.

Editorial

The editorial, penned by President Judith Magee, announces the 'reincarnation' of the Bulletin with a new format. It highlights the move to a smaller page size for better control over covers and a more convenient pocket size. The previous production process, involving manual cutting and gluing, is described as a 'nightmare,' whereas the new electronic process is presented as a 'lovely feeling of freedom.' The editorial also mentions the acquisition of Mrs. Judith McGinnes to the investigation unit and an upcoming 'Discussion Evening' meeting. A light-hearted report from Canada about Canadian dollars rising due to 'ET spending' is noted, along with an intriguing science mystery titled 'A Star With Two North Poles.'

On The UFO Trail

Paul Norman's column, 'On The UFO Trail,' discusses UFO activity observed in the Grampians, Australia. Norman addresses skeptics' explanations, suggesting that many who debunk UFOs have not witnessed the events themselves. He details observations by Steven Swanwick, a long-time resident who has identified and named various UFOs. Norman contrasts on-site views with limited video camera perspectives, noting that glowing objects are seen flying over mountain tops and sometimes straight upward. He also discusses the possibility of 'Earth-lights' as an explanation but argues that the observed objects exhibit intelligent responses. The column mentions that solid structures can be seen when objects are not glowing, and describes a spectacular sighting of a large yellow light near Wartook lake.

Norman also recounts a trip to China, where he was invited by a Chinese contact. Due to his association with a UFO group, he was required to stay in a hotel rather than a private home. He learned that UFO researchers in China were once 'roughed up' by officials who suspected UFOs were weapons, but later, after an incident where a UFO was fired upon and remained undamaged, UFO groups were encouraged and even funded by the government, though forbidden to discuss the subject with foreigners. During his visit, he encountered a group interested in the Frederick Valentich encounter and noted similarities in their reported encounters, including electromagnetic effects and animal reactions. He also describes a suspicious routine of his hotel room clothes being rearranged and being escorted to a taxi upon checkout. Sightseeing included the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Tomb of the first Qin dynasty Emperor.

Co-operation In The 1960s

This section details two historical accounts of UFO-related cooperation. 'The Airlines' describes the EURONET arrangement, where an impressive network of English and European airlines agreed to report UFO sightings to the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP). Julian Hennessey, director of NICAP's European Subcommittee, spearheaded this initiative, with over twenty airlines participating, including major carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa. Over 700 aircraft crews were involved, covering a vast air route area.

'The Military' reports on a semi-confidential Brazilian Colloquium attended by official military and intelligence personnel. This colloquium promulgated a resolution declaring UFOs to be of extraterrestrial origin, based on a critical, scientific study spanning nearly twenty years. The group recommended increased attention from the scientific community and the public, and government representatives indicated an ongoing exchange of information between private researchers and official agencies.

Mission: Identify Those Flying Objects

Written by Will Evans, this article focuses on Jeff Challender, a 49-year-old resident of Sacramento, California, who monitors NASA shuttle footage for UFOs. Challender, who is disabled by a spinal injury, uses extensive recording equipment to capture and analyze footage, believing that NASA cameras are capturing unexplained phenomena. He has identified numerous 'anomalies,' described as illuminated dots or white spots moving across the screen, which he believes are not ice particles or space junk. Challender is seeking answers and suspects a cover-up, pointing to instances where the camera zooms in on a dot and then cuts off the footage. Fred Brown, executive producer of NASA Television, dismisses this, stating that if they were hiding something, it wouldn't be shown on NASA Television. Seth Shostak, an astronomer at the SETI Institute, suggests the anomalies could be liquid or ice particles. However, Jack Kasher, a retired physicist, has viewed Challender's findings and supports his conclusions. The article notes that while Shostak believes in alien life, he questions why SETI would spend millions searching for radio signals if UFOs were common. Bernard Haisch, while not believing NASA is involved in a cover-up, thinks one might exist, citing government officials and astronauts who believe the government knows more than it reveals.

Challender's project, PROVE ('People Recording Orbiting Vehicles'), aims to document sightings. The article also mentions that the government no longer investigates UFO reports, leaving the task to private organizations like MUFON, which trains 'field investigators.' Linda Willitts of Folsom works on Project Disclosure to gather testimony from government and military figures. The article contrasts Challender's scientific approach with others who engage in activities like summoning ETs through meditation. Challender himself states that full government disclosure or a landing in his yard would be necessary for him to find out the truth.

The Early Years

Compiled by Clive Yates, this section presents selected UFO reports from magazines published in the 1950s and 1960s. It includes:

• Austin, Texas - May 12, 1959: Eight UFOs were reported by Mr. T. H. Phillips, appearing as bright as Venus and alternately bright and dim.
• Palma, Majorca - May 24, 1960: Astronomers sighted a mysterious triangular object, described as the size of a quarter moon, moving east-southeast to west-northwest.
• Peruvian Coast - December 30, 1966: The captain and crew of a Canadian-Pacific Airlines DC-8 sighted an airborne object with a pair of high-luminosity lights that pulsed and paced the aircraft before accelerating rapidly.

International Sighting Reports

This extensive section details numerous UFO sightings from around the world:

• Connecticut, Small Metallic Saucer: A small, fast-moving disc-like saucer was spotted on I-84, appearing to be made of a metallic substance.
• New York, Orb Over Secure Site: A whitish shape hovered above the Suffolk County Minimum Security facility, observed by a witness who is a member of law enforcement.
• Plattsburgh: A high-altitude object moved at extreme speed, leading a pilot witness to conclude it was not man-made, followed by two fighter jets.
• Florida, Elongated Orange Cigar: A witness in Gainesville described an orange, glowing, elongated object that appeared to burn up but then slowed down and moved in a zigzag pattern.
• Illinois, Gold Illuminated Object: A large gold/orange illuminating object with other lights was sighted in Orland Park, noted for its sophisticated propulsion unit and light show.
• Wisconsin, Four Lights “Leapfrog”: Four bright orange lights were observed in a horizontal line, appearing to 'leapfrog' each other.
• Arkansas, Disk: Observers in Royal reported seeing objects on a lake after downloading pictures from their computer.
• Anchorage: A group of friends saw two 'stars' moving together and then a single 'star' moving straight down the sky.
• Iowa, Five Shiny Metallic Ovals: Five shiny metallic ovals in tight formation were seen over Cedar Rapids, switching positions while maintaining formation.
• South Dakota, Five Erratic Lights: Five points of light were seen moving jerkily and quickly, appearing as a bright light that increased in intensity then faded, with subsequent objects appearing and fading.
• New Mexico, Flashing Red Light: A sharp, fast flashing red light was spotted in Gallup, moving southwest, then stopping, zigzagging, and finally shooting out at extreme speed.
• Arizona, Bright Diamond Object: Roommates in South Phoenix observed a diamond-shaped light, extremely bright, moving at great speed west to east.
• California, Easter Flying Triangle: A large flying triangle craft with rounded corners and three large white lights on the bottom was seen over Cardiff-By-The-Sea, moving faster than a commercial jet.
• San Francisco: A disk-shaped object with pulsating lights, white and slate blue, emerged from clouds and acted like a plane.
• Canada, Sightings Continue: Reports from Guelph, Ontario, describe dim lights in a V-shaped formation, possibly a triangle, with seven lights. In Houston, a small glowing sphere was seen.
• Ukraine, UFO Wave Over Crimea: A bright pulsating multicolour 'star' was seen by a witness in Simferopol, described as electric lamp-like, moving in a zigzag trajectory. Another report from Simferopol describes a large, multi-cornered object with a central dome and trident-like sign. A white object hovered, then sharply faded. An 'alien abduction' scenario is also reported in Simferopol, involving a ray of light descending from a hovering UFO. A disk-shaped UFO was seen hovering over a highway near Simferopol, and an anomaly from it may have caused an auto accident.
• Senegal, Amazing Sound And Light: In Dakar, an object produced incredible sound and light, described as powerful as sunlight.
• Mystery Object Seen In Geelong's Night Sky: A bright orange ball was sighted in Geelong, Australia, captured on film by a family. The object appeared to rush towards them, grow larger, hover, turn white, and then disappear.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the documentation and investigation of UFO sightings, with a strong emphasis on international reports and historical accounts. The publication appears to maintain a stance of open inquiry, presenting various sightings and expert opinions, including those of skeptics and believers. The editorial's focus on improved production quality and the inclusion of diverse reports suggest a commitment to providing a comprehensive and accessible resource for UFO enthusiasts. The inclusion of historical reports and international sightings broadens the scope beyond local phenomena, aiming to present a global perspective on the UFO topic. The society's welcoming approach to reports and its exchange of information with other organizations highlight a collaborative effort in understanding these phenomena.

Title: Australian UFO Bulletin
Issue: February 2003, Number 403
Publisher: UFO Newsclipping Service
Editor and Publisher: Lucius Farish
Date: July 17, 2002 (Cover Date of Associated Article), February 2003 (Issue Date)

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, under the banner "We're UFO Central," extensively covers recent UFO sightings, primarily focusing on reports from Canada and Australia. The content is divided into several sections, detailing numerous individual sightings, investigations, and historical context related to UFO research.

We're UFO Central: Canadian Sightings

The main article, "We're UFO Central" by Jennifer Lang, details the work of Brian Yike, an independent field researcher in Northern British Columbia, Canada. Yike has been investigating strange occurrences for four years and has documented a significant number of UFO sightings. The article begins with a report from three women in Houston, B.C., who witnessed a large, boomerang-shaped object with seven rectangular lights move erratically in the sky on a winter's eve in February. Yike emphasizes the credibility of these witnesses, describing them as church-goers who are married with children.

Following this initial report, Yike's call for information along Highway 16 resulted in a massive response, yielding 66 unexplained sightings, which is described as "making UFO history." Terrace, B.C., is highlighted as the region's "undisputed hot spot" with 17 sightings. Other locations in B.C. with reported sightings include Kitimat (3), Cranberry Junction (2), Kitwanga (8), Old Hazelton (4), and New Hazelton (1). A separate report mentions a group observing a cube-shaped cloud hovering above a mountain near Usk before vanishing.

Yike, a former forest industry worker, is presented as a meticulous investigator. He previously volunteered at the H.R. MacMillan Planetarium and was a member of the Royal Astronomical Society. He aims to find logical explanations for the sightings, noting that common misidentifications include Venus, aircraft, meteors, satellites, stars, and blimps. However, many of the northwest sightings remain unexplained. Yike is also investigating potential connections to Alcan's power sources and ruling out secret military exercises.

The article also mentions that the Telkwa Sighting and Terrace reports are slated to be featured in an upcoming Discovery Channel show.

Canadian Tourism Promotion

A satirical piece titled "Hey Aliens! Come to Canada!" promotes Canada as a tourist destination for extraterrestrials, humorously listing its attractions as "Friendly people!", "Favourable exchange rate!", and "Airlines slowly going out of business so there is less air traffic to interfere with your flying saucer joyriding pleasure!" It playfully suggests aliens might want to stay and pose as humans, referencing the Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, with an alien-sounding name, "Xgjkk'nm Kerg of planet Yaertz."

Victorian Sighting Reports

This section compiles numerous UFO sighting reports from Victoria, Australia, received by VUFORS (Victorian UFO Research Society).

• Organ Pipes National Park, Vic. (April 5, 2003): A couple observed a round white flying object that was initially stationary before rapidly moving away.
• Lavington, NSW (April 1, 2003): A silent, round, "Fire Red" object, about the size of a 2 cent coin, was tracked for two minutes, exhibiting erratic speed and height.
• Lindenow, Vic. (March 30, 2003): Two white star-like lights, larger than the brightest stars, were observed at a high elevation. One light shot out into space, followed by the second.
• South Grafton, NSW (March 20, 2003): A silent V-formation of white lights was seen moving fast in a westerly direction, appearing to be lower than a high-altitude aeroplane.
• Kealba, Vic. (March 13, 2003): A bright white light was seen hovering, which then moved, turned red and smaller, and later reappeared in the east, moving south and flashing white and red.
• Irrewillipe, Vic. (February 14, 2003): A fast-moving bright white light, descending almost vertically, was observed to be about 2-3 times the size of the brightest star.
• Mildura, Vic. (December 24, 2002): A white light appeared behind a car, then reappeared above it, described as a football field sized round flying object with a slight dome, emitting a bright white light and a humming sound.
• Mitchelton, Brisbane, Qld. (July 30, 2001): An object described as "whitish," similar in size to a single-engine aircraft, with a stabilizer and two round portholes, was observed to move erratically before activating "afterburners" and disappearing.
• Knowsley, Vic. (April-May 2000): A formation of 7 bright, white, ball-shaped lights was observed. One light dropped to the ground and disappeared, while the others moved south.

Queensland Sighting Reports

This section details sightings from Queensland, Australia.

• Brisbane City (October 25, 2002): A bright white round ball or disc was observed moving from SE to NW at an estimated altitude of 20,000-30,000 feet.
• Cambooya (October 31, 2002): Lights, similar to car headlights, were observed travelling northeast, low and level.
• Bellbowrie (October 31, 2002): A bright white light with a tail broke into 4 or 5 pieces before disappearing.
• Lowood (October 31, 2002): A bright white and blue object was observed travelling west to east, going down slowly with a trail.
• Mt Ommaney, Brisbane (December 16, 2002): A shooting star-like object moved upwards at a 45-degree angle before accelerating into outer space.
• Ipswich (December 19, 2002): Two dark orange objects joined by a stick, forming a dumb-bell shape, were observed moving from east to west.
• Labrador (January 6, 2003): A bright row of four to five lights was observed, described as too large to be a plane. Later, a large shooting star appeared, followed by another strange object.
• Pt O'Halloran, Victoria Point (January 16, 2003): A bright orange round object was seen travelling from SE towards Mt Coot-tha, silently and at a constant altitude.
• Mt Gravatt, Brisbane (February 25, 2003): Two luminous electric blue lights raced past at high speed, accompanied by a tremendous roar and wind.

South Australian Sighting Reports

This section covers sightings from South Australia.

• Elizabeth South SA (January 15, 2003): Two circular orange lights were spotted in the eastern sky, one at 40 degrees elevation and the second at 70 degrees, moving westward.
• Rosewater SA (April 11, 2003): Four round red-orange lights were observed for five minutes. Three disappeared sequentially, and the fourth faded away.
• Talbot Vic (April 19, 2003): An orange four-pointed star object was observed flying east to west at an estimated speed of 150-200 mph.

Other Reports and Features

• A Star With Two North Poles (Science@NASA): An article from April 22, 2003, discusses how the Sun's magnetic poles reversed for nearly a month in March 2000, resulting in two north poles.
• Did You Know? VUFORS Sightings Hotline: Provides the phone number (03) 9506 7080 for reporting sightings to VUFORS.
• Stalin Was A UFO Obsessive (Guardian, London): A report from November 23, 2002, suggests that Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin ordered investigations into UFO phenomena, believing the US was covering up the Roswell incident. It claims the USSR launched programs to study UFOs and even discovered remains of an ancient alien rocket.

Society History: Victorian U.F.O. Research Society

This section details the history of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (V.U.F.O.R.S.), 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 underwent several name changes, eventually becoming the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society." The article mentions its publications, including the "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and "The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin," and its past radio program "The Truth Behind Flying Saucers." The society is described as having a dispassionate attitude towards UFOs, viewing them as a scientific problem, and maintaining a large UFO library. It continues to hold quarterly meetings and welcomes new members.

Subscription Rates

Information is provided for V.U.F.O.R.S. subscription rates, including Full Membership, Associate Member, Overseas Member, and Non-Member options, detailing what each subscription includes (e.g., magazine, meeting entry, supper).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings across different geographical regions (Canada and Australia) and the efforts of individuals and organizations to investigate and document these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting numerous witness accounts and investigative efforts without definitively concluding on the nature of the objects. There's a blend of serious reporting on sightings and investigations with a touch of satire regarding alien tourism and historical anecdotes about prominent figures' interest in UFOs. The emphasis is on collecting and disseminating information about unexplained aerial phenomena.