Australian UFO Bulletin - 2004 03 - March

Magazine Overview

Title: THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN
Issue: MAR - 2004
Publisher: Victorian U.F.O. Research Society
Country: Australia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, dated March 2004, is the first publication of the year and extends New Year wishes to its members. The editorial highlights the society's reliance on member donations for financial support, as it receives no government or corporate funding. It also pays tribute to the late Mr. Alan Wilson, a Sunraysia Representative, who passed away on January 18, 2004, and whose report is reprinted in this issue.

The society's committee remains unchanged due to a lack of nominations at the Annual General Meeting. The publication acknowledges Bernard Wilson for his work in improving the bulletin's presentation and apologizes for the late arrival due to unforeseen circumstances.

Articles and Features

Editorial - President Judith Magee

President Judith Magee extends New Year wishes and thanks member Russell for a significant donation. She emphasizes the society's self-reliance and voluntary efforts. The editorial announces the passing of Alan Wilson, a long-time member and investigator, and includes a reprinted report of his. It also thanks Bernard for his contributions to the bulletin's design and apologizes for the delay in publication.

On The UFO Trail - Paul Norman

Paul Norman recounts his experiences in the Grampians, Australia, observing UFO activity. He describes seeing small lights and a large glowing object that repeatedly ceased glowing when illuminated by his spotlight. He also notes the geological features of the area and draws parallels to similar activity observed over the Leitchville irrigation system in 1977. The article touches upon the potential interest of UFOs in water systems, possibly for hydrogen extraction.

The Lietchville Incident

This section details a significant UFO event on December 13, 1977, near Leitchville, Australia. Farmers reported mysterious lights and a large cigar-shaped object hovering over the area. Two smaller objects detached from the main craft and displayed synchronized blinking lights. The article speculates whether the activity is related to the irrigation system or the presence of water, and questions if UFOs might be servicing a population or extracting resources.

Black Hole Mayhem

This is a brief science news item, unrelated to UFOs, reporting on X-ray telescopes capturing a black hole ripping apart a star. It is sourced from Science@NASA and dated February 18, 2004.

Report On Police Sighting of UFO - Allan Wilson

Allan Wilson reports on a UFO sighting by two police officers in Mildura, Australia, on May 17, 2002. The officers observed a silver, triangular-shaped object hovering over the Murray River. The object disappeared quickly when they attempted to pursue it. The report notes that sightings around bodies of water are frequent, referencing a case where a water tank was mysteriously emptied.

NARCAP

This section serves as a reminder about the National Aviation Reporting Centre on Anomalous Phenomena (NARCAP) and its Australian representative, Paul Norman. It encourages those who have encountered Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) to make confidential reports via the NARCAP website.

Police Sighting of UFO - Sunraysia Daily, May 18, 2002

This is a newspaper article detailing the police sighting in Mildura, where officers observed a bright, silver, UFO hovering over the river. The spokesperson confirmed the sighting and mentioned a similar event by one of the officers several months prior. Allan Wilson of VUFORS's Mildura branch confirms that UFO sightings around water are common.

The Early Years - Compiled by Clive Yates

• This section presents selected UFO reports from magazines published in the 1950s and 1960s:
• Opa Locka, Florida - April 6, 1960: Norris Cook and children witnessed a bright disc-shaped UFO maneuvering around a B-52 bomber.
• New Zealand - March 26, 1963: Flying Officer Hosie observed a rapidly flashing white light near his Canberra bomber.
• Catamarca, Argentina - June 18, 1968: Pilot Jorge Scassa saw a grey disc-shaped object in rapid flight.

International Sighting Reports

• This section compiles various UFO sightings from around the world:
• New York - Bright Globe Observed: A witness in Deer Park saw a reddish globe glowing and streaking across the sky.
• Pennsylvania - Coloured Lights: In Reamstown, a witness saw strange lights in a row that moved like a plane.
• North Carolina - Bright Disc Object: In Greensboro, a bright disc-shaped object was observed at high altitude.
• Georgia - It Rattled Our Windows: In Norcross, a bright star-like object with mechanical motion was seen.
• Illinois - Hovered Chicago Airport: Three witnesses in Chicago observed a large, strange craft hovering near Midway Airport.
• Downers Grove: A glowing white light was observed moving at high speed near Chicago airports.
• Louisiana - Flying Triangle: In Deridder, witnesses spotted a flying triangle with red and white lights.
• Texas - Aurora: In San Antonio, a witness reported seeing an aircraft with unusual lights and contrails, possibly an Aurora aircraft.
• Nevada - Disc Photographed: A disc-shaped object appeared in a photograph taken in Las Vegas.
• Arizona - Refractive Sphere Seen: In Saint Johns, a witness observed a perfect sphere that appeared almost cloaked.
• Desert Hot Springs: A witness reported a low humming noise and a solid red light moving rapidly across the sky.
• California - Bright Green Light: In San Diego, a green cigar-shaped light was observed.
• San Francisco: A small, unidentifiable aircraft with colored lights was observed flying at low speed.
• Chili - 40% Of Locals Seen UFOs: Reports from Cajón del Maipo indicate frequent sightings of strange lights and craft, with residents considering it normal.
• UK/England - Flying Triangle: In London, a couple saw three red lights in a triangle shape.
• Germany - Flash Lit The Entire Sky: In Babenhausen, 84 soldiers witnessed a bright flash in the sky.
• India - A UFO With Bright Light: In Bilaspur, a triangular-shaped ship with a bright brown light was observed.
• Australia - Spheres Change Colour: In Carnarvon Gorge, spheres were observed flying low and changing color.

Group Shines A Light On UFO Sightings - Dennis Bertoldo

This article features Paul Norman, publicity officer for the Victorian UFO Research Society, who states that UFO sightings are treated with seriousness. Norman, who has been involved in UFO research since the 1950s, discusses the mystery of pilot Frederick Valentich's disappearance in 1978, which involved reports of bright lights and instrument interference. He notes that the Valentich case sparked significant interest in UFOs in Australia.

Town Is UFO Hotspot - Jon Austin

This article highlights Basildon, Essex, as a hotspot for UFO sightings in the UK. Mark Doulton of the Southend UFO group reports numerous incidents, including sightings of black triangles, glowing white orbs, and a black drum-shaped object. The article also mentions a mystery light seen at Pitsea and a strange light that traveled eastwards before exploding.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, both recent and historical. There is a focus on the scientific and observational aspects of these phenomena, with contributions from various researchers and witnesses. The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS) appears to maintain a serious and non-sceptical approach to UFO reports, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation. The connection between UFOs and water is a notable sub-theme, explored in several articles. The society's commitment to copyright and its reliance on member support are also highlighted.

This issue of THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN, dated October 2003 - January 2004, features a cover story titled "What Happened To That Hour?" by James Owen, VUFORS Regional Representative for North Eastern Victoria. This article is a continuation of an investigation into a 'Missing Time' incident involving Mrs J and her niece, exploring the 'Time-Slip' hypothesis and retracing the witnesses' route.

Article: What Happened To That Hour? (Pages 18-19)

This section details an investigation into a 'Missing Time' event. James Owen and his wife, Mary-Lou, traveled the route taken by witnesses Mrs J and her niece to gather more information. They found that both witnesses were having difficulty accepting the experience. A suggestion from a new member proposed the 'Time-Slip' hypothesis, which involves people transporting into time, indicated by prickling skin or a sense of oppression. The investigators retraced the witnesses' journey from Bendigo to Murchison, noting that their trip was conducted during daylight hours, unlike the witnesses' original early morning trip. The timings for the journey to Murchison and the stop at the amenities block corresponded with Mrs J's account. However, a bridge described by Mrs J as being constructed of small old-style bricks was found to be an overpass bridge of rock, not matching the description. The investigators believe that passing through Violet Town, a well-lit township, would be difficult to do without recalling it. The trip aimed to enhance knowledge of the route and discover what happened.

Article: Whittlesea/Beveridge UFO Photograph (Pages 20-23)

This multi-part article, primarily authored by Tony Cook with analysis from Dan Bright, Martin Shough, and Amy Herbert, examines a photograph taken by Roland Rozario, a Whittlesea council traffic engineer, on January 15, 2004. The photograph, taken during a routine audit of a rail crossing, revealed a blurred object in the sky. The City representatives were keen to refer the photo to the DSTO, Civil Aviation Authority, and NASA. The EXIF data from the Kodak DC240 Zoom Digital Camera provided details such as exposure time (1/250 seconds), F-stop (9.5), and the date and time (January 15, 2004, 14:52:46). The analysis involved international UFO investigators.

'Domed Disk' Hypothesis by Dan Bright

Dan Bright analyzed the sun's position at the time the photo was taken, considering potential variations in clock time. He used renders to compare expected reflection and shadow patterns for a 'domed disk' with the object in the photograph. His demonstration suggested that the patterns were not consistent with a 'domed disk' under the specified conditions, though a match was closer for a different date and time (June 15th, 2004 at 12:52). The shadows on the ground and sign-pole in the original image appeared consistent with demonstration "B", which represented a sun position as shown in "B".

The Bird Hypotheses by Martin Shough

Martin Shough considered a bird hypothesis, analyzing wing beat periods. He concluded that a 1/250 second exposure would not 'stop' a wing beat that was at least twice as slow as the mean insect rate. This measure, he argued, was inconsistent with an insect but consistent with a bird.

The Bug Hypotheses by Amy Herbert

Amy Herbert, while studying the image in Paint Shop Pro, discovered what appeared to be a flying insect. She created a generic 3D flying insect model in Bryce 5 and adjusted it to resemble the object in the photograph. The similarities between the Whittlesea UFO and the Bryce flying insect model became visible.

Conclusion

The article concludes that there is insufficient information to definitively determine the origin of the flying object in the Whittlesea/Beveridge photograph. It notes the differing opinions on whether the object was more likely a bird or an insect, based on wing beat analysis and visual comparison with a 3D insect model. The authors emphasize that images of this nature should be considered 'unidentified' until conclusive evidence emerges.

Victorian Sighting Reports (Pages 24-29)

This section compiles numerous UFO sighting reports from various locations in Victoria and Queensland during late 2003 and early 2004.

• Between St Leonards - Drysdale, Vic. (January 26, 2004, 10:10 p.m.): A witness reported seeing an array of four rows of ten big red circular lights hovering silently, followed by an intense flash of white light.
• St Kilda East, Vic. (January 20, 2004, Evening): A witness observed a brilliant white object in the western sky that increased and decreased in brightness, appearing stationary with a minute tail.
• Currajong, Vic. (January 14, 2004, 09:17 p.m.): A witness reported a grey metallic ball with glowing lights in a pine plantation that shot straight up into the air and disappeared in about three seconds.
• Surfers Paradise, Qld. (December 19-20, 2003, Midnight): Six or seven star-like lights were observed moving in the sky, with two touching and moving apart before disappearing one by one. The witness captured some of the event on a Sony DV camera.
• The Basin, Vic. (December 10, 2003, 11:10 p.m. - 08:10 p.m.): A witness reported seeing three lights travelling together, one brighter than the other two, at a high altitude.
• Balaclava, Vic. (December 04, 2003, 09:25 p.m.): A pulsating star-like object changed color from red to blue, then green and yellow, at an elevation of about 45 degrees.
• Glen Iris, Vic. (November 29, 2003, 10:40 p.m.): A witness reported a solid, very bright orange teardrop with a slight white halo ascending silently into the sky.
• The Basin, Vic. (August 27, 2003, 08:00 p.m. - 08:10 p.m.): Eleven orange/red glowing lights appeared in the northwestern sky, moving southeast, followed by two more lights moving faster.
• Montrose, Vic. (May 22, 2003, 11:25 p.m. - 11:40 p.m.): A witness reported an amber light, described as an oval shape with a sharp outline, that changed course by 90 degrees, slowed down, and became dimmer until it disappeared.
• Moonee Ponds, Vic. (December 06, 2003, 10:15 p.m.): A witness reported an emerald green ovoid object with a yellow rear part, moving silently and rapidly, disappearing over the Tullamarine freeway.

Queensland Sighting Reports (Pages 28-31)

This section includes sightings from Queensland and Western Australia.

• Toowoomba (September 13, 2003, 07:25 p.m.): A witness observed a star-like object moving south with great speed, disappearing quickly without changing color or leaving a trail.
• Wivenhoe (September 30, 2003, 08:15 p.m.): Two brilliant yellowish/amber lights appeared, moving at great speed, disappearing and reappearing. Later, sheet lighting was observed, followed by a single light and then a white light with a tail of small white lights that disappeared at high speed.
• Chapel Hill (October 16, 2003): A couple saw three red lights that sat stationary for two seconds before shooting off to the west.
• Mt Gravatt, Brisbane (October 30, 2003, 10:30 p.m.): A woman described an oval-shaped object on its side, flattened at the ends, with dimly illuminated windows, moving horizontally and smoothly.
• Jimboomba (November 2003): A witness reported seeing a bright white object, smaller than a plane and the size of a satellite, flying at a rapid rate of knots.
• Armadale, Perth (November 2003): A large body of water-like object was seen rising into the sky, followed by another massive object moving southerly. A large ball-shaped object re-entered the atmosphere from the south, causing a fiery flash, and then moved east silently.

Did You Know? (Page 31)

This section provides contact information for reporting UFO sightings to VUFORS, including a hotline number ((03) 9506 7080), an email address ([email protected]), and a website (http://www.ozemail.com.au/~vufors).

Good News! (Page 31)

Announces that Stanton Friedman's UFO videos have returned and are available at the next Discussion Evening.

Meridiani Planum: "Drenched" (Page 31)

This short science news item, sourced from Science@NASA, discusses evidence suggesting that parts of Mars were once soaked in liquid water. Rocks at Opportunity's landing site show signs of changes in texture and chemistry due to water. Scientists are investigating when the area was wet, how the water was collected, and its depth.

Discussion Evening (Page 32)

Provides a diary of upcoming VUFORS discussion evenings for March, June, September (AGM), and December 2004, all held at The Royal Society of Victoria in Melbourne at 8:00 p.m. Entry fees are listed for non-members, associate members, and full members.

Subscription Rates (Page 32)

Details the subscription rates for VUFORS membership: Full Membership ($25 for Magazine, Meeting Entry, Supper), Associate Member ($20 for Magazine Only), Overseas Member ($US25 for Magazine Only), and Non-Member ($7 for One Meeting Entry, One Supper).

Society History 1957 (Page 32)

This section provides a brief history of the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society" (VUFORS). 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, evolving through several name changes to become the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society". The article mentions the society's publications, including "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and "The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin", and its past sponsorship of a radio program. It notes the society's dispassionate, scientific approach to UFOs, its regular meetings, and its past maintenance of a large UFO library. The loss of books due to postage costs led to the discontinuation of the library service. VUFORS continues to hold quarterly meetings and welcomes new members.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, photographic analysis of potential UFOs, and the historical development of UFO research organizations in Australia. The editorial stance of VUFORS, as stated in the 'Society History' section, is to approach UFOs with a dispassionate attitude, viewing them as a scientific problem deserving closer attention. The publication emphasizes the importance of member contributions for reporting sightings and the rigorous analysis of photographic evidence. The magazine also highlights scientific findings related to space exploration, such as the evidence of water on Mars.