Australian UFO Bulletin - 2003 09 - September

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, dated September 2003, presents a comprehensive look at UFO phenomena, featuring a mix of contemporary reports, historical cases, and investigative articles. The publication, produced by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (V.U.F.O.R.S.), aims to inform its members and the public about developments in the field.

Editorial and Society Information

The editorial, penned by Judith Magee, reflects on the publication's new format, noting its convenience and improved visual presentation. She also mentions the recent visibility of the planet Mars. The editorial apologizes for the edition's lateness due to unexpected medical issues among the editorial team. An election notice for the V.U.F.O.R.S. committee is included, with nominations due by October 15, 2003. The society welcomes reports of unusual phenomena and assures confidentiality. It also reminds readers of copyright restrictions on published material.

Investigations and Articles

On The UFO Trail by Paul Norman delves into an incident in the Grampians, Australia, where two jet aircraft broke the sound barrier near Halls Gap. This event coincided with a cessation of previously consistent UFO activity in the area, leading Norman to speculate about intelligent awareness and responses to perceived threats. He contrasts this with the 'earthlight' hypothesis and notes similar phenomena in Hessdalen Valley, Norway. The article also discusses the nature of intelligence and how it can be inferred from behavior, referencing Richard Hall's "The UFO Evidence."

Air Force Officers Oppose UFO Secrecy reports on a growing number of active, reserve, and retired Air Force members who have joined NICAP to advocate for reduced secrecy surrounding UFOs. Many believe UFOs are interplanetary and that Air Force secrecy is detrimental. The article lists several officers, including Col. J. Bryan III, Lt. Col. Jim McAshan, Lt. Col. Seth Heywood, Maj. John F. McLeod, and former CIA head Vice Admiral R. H. Hillenkoetter, who have publicly supported the disclosure of UFO information.

Big Brother Watching Scots Drama Group details how a Scottish amateur theatre group, 'No Mean Company,' experienced unusual scrutiny from the US government and military after their website, which promoted a spoof play about an alien invasion, received over 500 hits from American intelligence. The article speculates that UFOs might be used as a cover for concealing top-secret operations like rocket tests.

The Early Years compiles selected UFO reports from magazines published in the 1950s and 1960s. Cases include a 1957 sighting by an Air Force Major near Fort Worth, Texas, involving a radar-tracked UFO; a 1963 sighting near Moe, Victoria, Australia, of a disc-shaped object; and a 1967 sighting in Shelley, Idaho, USA, of a large, pale orange UFO.

International Sighting Reports

This section features numerous contemporary UFO sightings from around the globe:

• New York, Lights In Formation (Manhattan): A witness reported seeing a black object like a string of illuminated pearls. Another witness in Queens saw a fast-moving light that faded in and out.
• New Jersey, Strange Cylinder (Jersey City): Two witnesses observed an upright cylindrical object ascend from Manhattan, change shape and color, and emit a reddish hue.
• Pennsylvania, Tube Into Saucer (Leola): Boys playing lacrosse saw an object that initially appeared as a flying tube, then transformed into a silver disk.
• Washington, Chevron Shaped Craft (Restricted Airspace): A witness saw a giant boomerang-shaped object with flashing lights fly low and slow over restricted airspace in Washington, D.C.
• Northern Carolina, Reddish Light (Outer Banks): A family observed a bright reddish object moving at various speeds and angles above the Atlantic Ocean.
• Ohio, Daylight Disc Photographed (Fostoria): George Ritter photographed a dark disc moving at high speed above trees.
• Michigan, Crop Circles (Howell): Two crop circles were discovered in a wheat field, noted for their precise patterns and counter-clockwise layout.
• Illinois, Small Hovering Object (Batavia): A witness saw a small silver object hovering in place for at least 15 minutes.
• Louisiana, Large Flying Triangle (Shreveport): A witness reported seeing a large flying triangle with dim, steady lights.
• Kansas, Brilliant Daylight Saucer (Elsmore): An object shaped like a flying saucer lifted off from a rural farm and moved across a field.
• Idaho, Low Flying Green Orbs (Twin Falls): A witness saw two or three green flashing orbs moving at high speed.
• California, Moving Amber Light (San Diego): Jan Kregers observed an amber-colored dot making sudden, jerky turns at high altitude.
• Oregon, Daylight Sphere Take Off (Portland): Engineers golfing saw a stationary, silvery object with undulating light emissions.
• Washington, Sphere Hits Plane (Dupont): A witness saw three hanging orange lights form a saucer-shaped halo and then appeared to hit a jet plane.
• Canada, UFO's Help Tourism (Terrace): Reports indicate that Terrace, British Columbia, is becoming a UFO tourism hub, with numerous inquiries about the area.
• Argentina, Cattle Mutilations (Rio Negro): A cow was found with clear signs of mutilation, including the removal of udders and reproductive organs, with no tracks nearby.
• UK/England, RAF Chases UFO (RAF Bawdsey): A 1954 incident where RAF interceptors were scrambled to investigate an unidentified object that exhibited high-speed maneuvers and then disappeared.
• Newcastle Upon Tyne: Witnesses reported seeing a bright white light moving at extremely high altitude, described as unsteady and wobbly.
• Netherlands, Six Unusual Lights (Roosendaal): Six faint lights were observed in formation, moving faster than satellites.
• Haelen: Four lights were seen flying at high speed, with one craft making sudden movements.
• Croatia, Light Hovers And Charges (Mljet, Soline): A bright, solid light was observed hovering, then charging towards witnesses at high speed before vanishing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistent reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena across diverse geographical locations, the ongoing debate surrounding government secrecy and UFOs, and the scientific community's increasing, albeit sometimes contentious, engagement with the subject. The V.U.F.O.R.S. maintains a stance of open inquiry, encouraging the reporting of sightings and investigating them with a focus on evidence and logical analysis. The publication also emphasizes the importance of historical context by including older cases, suggesting that patterns and characteristics of UFO phenomena may have remained consistent over time. The editorial team's commitment to producing the bulletin despite personal challenges underscores their dedication to disseminating information within the UFO research community.

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, dated July 2003, focuses on two main areas: astronomical discoveries and a collection of UFO sightings. The cover story highlights the discovery of 'Ultra-Compact Galaxies,' while other articles delve into UFO reports from various locations in Australia and England, as well as updates on space exploration and the SETI project.

'Stars' Turn Out To Be Ultra-Compact Galaxies

This article by Chris Lackner, published in the National Post on June 9, 2003, reports on the discovery of a new class of galaxy, the ultra-compact dwarf (UCD) galaxies. These are described as smaller siblings of large galaxies, visible for years but mistaken for stars. Dr. Michael Drinkwater from the University of Queensland explains that these UCD galaxies are about 100 light years across, significantly smaller than the Milky Way's 60,000 light years. The discovery was made while observing the Fornax Cluster, a grouping of 300 galaxies 60 million light years away. The research team initially identified seven objects that were not nearby stars but were 60 million light years away. Using the Hubble Space Telescope and the Very Large Telescope (VLT), they confirmed the size and internal speeds of these objects, establishing them as galaxies. Drinkwater suggests these galaxies may eventually dissipate due to the gravitational pull of larger neighbors. The research team, composed of international scientists, received $180,000 from the Australian Research Council for further study.

Cat Hit Live Wire, Looked Like UFO

This short report from Metro on March 26, 2003, suggests that a reported UFO sighting in Norway was likely an electrocuted cat. Residents of Lardal reported seeing a fireball explode in the night sky, which investigators believe was a cat that climbed an electrical mast, touched a live wire, and fell. The charred body of the cat was found at the foot of the mast.

Search Narrows For Life In Outer Space

By Michael Higgins in the National Post on March 12, 2003, this article discusses the SETI@home project. The project has analyzed five billion signals using four million computers, narrowing down the search to 150 signals that are potential transmissions from intelligent civilizations. Three members of the SETI team from UC Berkeley are traveling to Puerto Rico to use a giant radiotelescope to pinpoint these signals. David Anderson, a UC Berkeley computer scientist, calls this a milestone for the SETI@home project, though he cautions that the probability of finding an extraterrestrial signal is less than 1%. The SETI@home project, started in 1999, utilizes the processing power of idle home computers. Information was gathered by attaching an antenna to the 300-meter Arecibo radiotelescope in Puerto Rico, with data sent to participants worldwide for analysis.

I Too Saw A UFO

This personal account from Cannock Chase Post, Wolverhampton, England, dated March 13, 2003, describes a sighting from late May 2001. The observer saw a large, dull metallic brown object, shaped like a 50 pence piece with flashing colored lights, move slowly overhead. The object filled the space above the observer, who was stunned. The following evening, a local newspaper reported a similar sighting by a mother and daughter. The observer remains amazed by the experience.

Victorian Sighting Reports

This section compiles several UFO sighting reports from Victoria, Australia, occurring between July 2003 and April 2003.

• Norlane, Vic. (July 31, 2003): A mother and son observed a small, white, star-like object blinking on and off as it moved in a circular motion for about five minutes.
• Norlane, Vic. (June 30, 2003): The same mother reported seeing a bright orange light, about half the size of the moon, at an elevation of about 45 degrees. The light appeared on a cold, windy, cloudy Monday night, while the following day was mild and sunny.
• Kingston, Tas. (June 24, 2003): An observer and another person saw a circular disc object that changed color and intensity, and appeared to rotate, resembling a spinning top.
• North Geelong, Vic. (June 23, 2003): A mother reported an object with bright red and blue lights that changed color and apparent size, moving across the bay.
• Kilsyth, Vic. (June 8, 2003): An observer and another person saw a bright, scintillating, orange light moving in a straight line southeast.
• Mt Wallington, Vic. (May 10, 2003): Eight adults and two children witnessed four red glowing lights travelling rapidly from east to west, with one light breaking formation.
• North Croydon, Vic. (April 10, 2003): A disc-shaped object with an orange body and silver trailing edge appeared, shot straight upward, and disappeared.
• Reids Lookout, The Grampians, Vic. (January 2002): An observer saw five lights, four red and one intense white shaft, in the northwest. The red lights were described as coin-sized, and the white light was a beam pointing straight up.

Higher Logic Likely Behind Actions By Visiting Aliens

By Jim Deardorff, published in the Gazette-Times, Corvallis, OR, on December 16, 2002. This article posits that UFOs do not defy the laws of physics but rather demonstrate a more advanced understanding of them by beings thousands or millions of years ahead of humanity. It suggests that aliens might be treating Earth delicately, as a young, adolescent society, and present themselves covertly to avoid prematurely unraveling a UFO cover-up.

Queensland Sighting Reports

This section details UFO sightings reported in Queensland, Australia, between April and July 2003.

• Loganholme, South of Brisbane (March 8, 2003): A pilot witnessed a white, long, narrow object resembling a 767 aircraft fuselage without wings, estimated at 20,000 ft high.
• Moorooka (April 8, 2003): A witness observed a series of lights flying in a 'T' formation, which changed to an anchor shape, then moved towards Ipswich.
• Sunnybank (April 7, 2003): A man observed three red lights descending diagonally and horizontally, with one fading away. An F-111 aircraft later arrived in the area.
• Mt Gravatt (April 8, 2003): A witness saw a silver-colored ball shape descending slowly near Brisbane Airport.
• Mt Coolum (August 2002): A man observed an incredibly black cloud with blue sky on one side, which then appeared to 'blow up' like a small moon.
• Oxenford, Queensland (July 7, 2003): A witness observed a bluish-white light that appeared, disappeared, and reappeared, making a sharp turn in the sky.
• Annerley (April 19, 2003): A man heard a hiss and a bang and saw a green ball, twice the size of the full moon, rise from the ground and fade out.
• Yeerongpilly (April 22, 2003): A man observed an orange-white light with a tail, moving slowly and appearing to come down over the ocean.
• Churchill, Ipswich (April 23, 2003): A couple observed a slow-moving object with a head and tail, moving away and fading.
• Moorooka, Brisbane (May 3, 2003): A stationary red and white flashing light was observed in the western sky with no associated sound.
• Balmoral, Brisbane (May 11, 2003): A woman observed a bright orange light moving from east to west, described as oblong and about 1/10th the size of the full moon.
• Petrie (May 16, 2003): A woman saw five blue-white objects travelling slowly in the sky, constantly brightening and fading.
• Bethania (May 26, 2003): Three big bright orange lights were observed moving together, with one flashing red and then glowing orange.
• Mt Morgan (June 6, 2003): A man saw a bright light flash across his view, moving south to north, with no tail and making no sound.
• Bracken Ridge (June 14, 2003): A woman reported an orange fireball like a ball of flame in a teardrop shape.
• Cambooya (June 21, 2003): A white object, about one inch long at arm's length, was seen travelling NNW to NW, then disappeared.

Mission To Mars Unveiled

This Metro article from May 26, 2003, announces the unveiling of the latest mission to Mars at the National Space Centre in Leicester. The mission, the first to be controlled by scientists and engineers in full view of the public, involves the British-led Beagle 2 Space Robot, scheduled to launch from Kazakhstan in June and take seven months to reach Mars. The primary goal is to search for evidence of past or present life on or below the Martian surface.

Asteroid Neighbouring Mars Is Named For Mister Rogers

This Toronto Star article from May 4, 2003, reports that an asteroid, formerly known as No. 26858, has been named 'Misterogers' in honor of Fred Rogers, the creator and host of PBS's 'Mister Rogers' Neighbourhood.' The asteroid was discovered in 1993 by the Palomar Observatory in California and is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, 350 million kilometers from the sun.

Society History 1957

This section provides a brief history of the 'Victorian U.F.O. Research Society' (V.U.F.O.R.S.). It traces the origins of UFO groups in Australia from the early 1950s, including 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 society published the 'Australian Flying Saucer Review' and later 'The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin.' It also sponsored a radio program and maintained a large UFO library. The society holds regular meetings and is open to those interested in the UFO subject.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing scientific investigation into astronomical phenomena, such as the discovery of new galaxy types, and the persistent reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs) from various locations. The editorial stance, as suggested by the historical section on V.U.F.O.R.S., appears to be one of dispassionate, scientific inquiry into UFOs, treating them as a problem deserving closer attention. The inclusion of both scientific discoveries and anecdotal sighting reports reflects a broad interest in the mysteries of space and the unknown.