Australian UFO Bulletin - 2004 12 - December

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, dated December 2004, is published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS). The society welcomes and evaluates reports of unusual phenomena, exchanging information with similar organizations and scientists, and disseminating findings through its quarterly publication.

Editorial

The editorial, written by President Judith Magee, highlights ongoing interest in UFOs in the Grampians region and mentions the efforts of UFO 'chasers' Paul Norman, Jacqui Purtell, and Jacqui's mother. It commends Jacqui's article "The Evolution Of A Camera" for its humor and detail. The editorial also points readers to articles on the lives of Betty Hill, Dr. John Mack, and Gordon Cooper, noting how their lives were tangibly affected by UFOs. A letter from Dr. Richard Haines is quoted, praising the society's dedication despite mounting expenses and ridicule. The editorial also reports on a sighting of orange lights in triangular formations on August 23rd, which caused concern about potential air accidents but was resolved by assuring callers that airport personnel were aware. Finally, it announces that the VUFORS Committee will remain the same due to a lack of nominations and extends festive season wishes to members.

On The UFO Trail

Written by Paul Norman, this section begins by mourning the passing of Betty Hill, a pioneer of ufology, and recounting her famous 1961 abduction experience with her husband Barney. Norman considers the case reliable due to radar detection by Peace Air Force Base and the subsequent hypnosis sessions with Dr. Benjamin Simon. He shares his personal experiences of staying with Betty Hill in 1986 and 1987. The article touches on the distress experienced by abductees and mentions a case from July 1972 where an experiencer saw a UFO's 'control room'. Norman also notes that statements made by the late Dr. Karla Turner, who worked with over 400 abduction cases, have been confirmed by his experiences.

The article also discusses the possibility of aliens altering perception, controlling thoughts, and appearing in various forms or invisible states, raising the question of whether they are friend or foe. Norman expresses concern over fatal encounters and safety violations within the aviation industry attributed to UFOs. He recounts an incident on October 6th where he and Jacqueline Purtell observed unidentified lights in the Grampians, including three bright white lights in a triangular formation. He also mentions Steven Swanwick's observations, noting a shift from daytime sightings of flying disks to nighttime light phenomena once a video camera was used. Norman reflects on early radio programs where contactees spoke of alien encounters and contrasts this with the lack of substantiation from space probes, questioning the source of misinformation.

A report from August 23rd describes a 'minor flap' near Tullamarine and Essendon Airports involving six orange lights in triangular formations. The article notes the difficulty in obtaining sighting report forms from the public.

Plasma Sheath Around Objects

This section, attributed to John F. Schuessler, discusses the concept of a 'plasma sheath' surrounding Unconventional Flying Objects (UFOs). Researchers suggest this sheath protects the craft, allows for unusual maneuvers, and provides invisibility from radar. The article connects this to recent developments in active stealth technology by the French Defence Ministry and interest from the U.S. and Russia in plasma technology for high-speed flight. The French are reportedly working on generating plasma to mask radio frequency energy, having already built a plasma antenna.

The Evolution Of A Camera

By Jacqui Purtell, this article continues from the September 2004 bulletin and details her efforts to improve her UFO photography and videography setup. She discusses the challenges of dealing with electrical equipment in damp conditions and the need for a more practical system. Purtell describes acquiring a 12-volt car battery to power her equipment and moving her setup to a more remote location. She explores options for a compact video camera, finding that even lower-priced items were expensive but offered integrated features. She notes that none of the cameras she considered matched the performance of her existing telescope and security camera setup. Purtell details the technical specifications of Sony digital cameras (DCR-TRV22E and DCR-TRV80E) and the importance of low lux sensitivity and lens diameter. She mentions her mother's assistance in purchasing a video camera and her use of a security camera powered by dolphin lantern batteries. Purtell expresses her ongoing efforts to capture a 'smoking gun' UFO shot, describing experiences of intense blue light beams and balls of light that left her awe-struck.

More Sightings Of 'Fireball'

This brief report from Newbury, England, dated July 29, 2004, mentions speculation about strange night-time sights over Hungerford, initially thought to be a burning aircraft. Despite a comprehensive search, nothing was found. The article notes that many residents claim to have seen similar phenomena weeks prior, with possibilities ranging from aircraft to UFOs.

Snapshots From Betty Hill's Life

This article reports on the passing of Betty Hill on October 17, 2004, from lung cancer. It details her birth in 1919 and her famous 1961 abduction experience with her husband Barney. Paul Norman of VUFORS is mentioned as having visited Betty in 1981 and 1982, confirming information in her book "A Commonsense Approach To UFOs." The article notes that the radar at Peace Air Force Base detected an unknown object on the night of the Hills' experience, and that Dr. Benjamin Simon conducted sessions with them. It recounts an incident where Betty and a Sheriff witnessed an eighteen-wheeler truck appearing to go over an overpass, only to realize it was airborne. Another anecdote describes Betty duplicating a UFO's blinking lights with her car lights, an experience she called "blinking sessions."

International Sighting Reports

This section compiles various UFO sighting reports from around the world:

• California: An airline transport pilot reported seeing an orange dot that glowed, changed color, and moved erratically for two minutes on November 3, 2004.
• New York: A witness in Syracuse reported a third light source moving erratically in various angles on November 3, 2004.
• Maryland: A witness saw a white/silver sphere following two high-flying jets on November 8, 2004, followed by a green helicopter.
• Virginia: An observer in Charlottesville reported a large, silent, flying triangle-shaped craft with lights on November 8, 2004.
• Wisconsin: Brian Vike reports on a sighting involving a red ball of light at the top and bottom of an object, and a red pyramid-shaped object being towed.
• Minnesota: An observer in St. Peter saw three bright lights, one above the other, on November 8, 2004, which later twinkled out.
• Missouri: A witness in Kansas City described a craft that 'uncloaked' and became visible, appearing as a dark triangle with a faint luminous perimeter and a non-random pattern.
• Texas: An observer in College Station reported seeing a blinking light near a yellowish-orange ball, followed by a large craft with two lights in the back.
• Montana: A witness in Lavina reported a disk-shaped object with red, yellow, and green lights on November 7, 2004.
• Arizona: A photographer in Tempe captured three evenly spaced white/light circular objects with a dark triangular object beneath them in a photograph taken on November 3, 2004.
• Canada (Quebec): A family witnessed a spectacular aurora-like phenomenon with a central swirling light source and six or seven central lights, possibly a mother ship with scout craft, on November 7, 2004.
• Pakistan: A witness in Islamabad reported seeing three moving objects gliding towards the east on November 8, 2004, with one photo showing two perfect flying triangles and one egg-shaped object.
• Philippines: A husband in Mandaluyong saw a light like a car headlight, followed by three red lights and a blinking green light, which then flew up like a saucer on November 2, 2004.

The Passing Of Dr John Mack

This article details the life and death of Dr. John E. Mack, a Harvard Medical School professor of psychiatry and Pulitzer Prize winner. Mack conducted extensive research on individuals who claimed alien abductions, finding they often possessed a heightened sense of spirituality and environmentalism. His work, documented in books like "Abduction" and "Passport to the Cosmos," faced skepticism from the academic community. Despite a review by a Harvard committee, his academic freedom was reaffirmed. The article includes tributes from his attorney, Roderick MacLeish, and notes Mack's early work on dreams, nightmares, and teen suicide, as well as his advocacy for moving away from materialism. Mack was born in 1929, earned degrees from Oberlin College and Harvard Medical School, and served in the U.S. Air Force.

The Early Years

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

• Cordoba, Argentina (July 30, 1960): Captain Hugo Francisco Luis Niotti photographed a rotating object that moved slowly south, then shot straight up and vanished. The photo was analyzed and found to be free of trickery.
• Norwich, England (December 27, 1962): Mr and Mrs M. A. Mann sighted two flying saucers, described as saucer-shaped with diffused white light, moving silently from west to east.
• Summerside, Canada (September 21, 1966): Eight RCAF members observed a round, shiny UFO hover close to the ground, then shoot straight up at tremendous speed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, the analysis of abduction experiences, and the exploration of the potential technological aspects of UFOs, such as plasma sheaths. The VUFORS society maintains an open but critical stance, encouraging reports while also acknowledging the challenges of verification and the skepticism encountered. The publication appears to be dedicated to documenting UFO phenomena from various sources, including personal accounts, historical cases, and international reports, aiming to keep the subject alive despite difficulties.

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, dated November 2004 (Issue 424), features a prominent article on the passing of pioneering NASA astronaut Gordon Cooper, alongside numerous UFO sighting reports from the UK and Australia. The publication is from the UFO Newsclipping Service, edited and published by Lucius Farish.

Gordon Cooper Soared In Space

The lead article pays tribute to Gordon Cooper, who died at the age of 77 in October 2004. It details his birth in Oklahoma in 1927 and his retirement from the Air Force and NASA in 1970. Cooper was part of the inaugural class of Mercury astronauts in 1959 and achieved several spaceflight milestones. His "Faith 7" mission in May 1963 saw him become the first astronaut to sleep in space during a 22-orbit mission. He later served as command pilot on the Gemini 5 mission in August 1965, setting records for space endurance and becoming the first man on a second orbital mission. Cooper earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Oklahoma City University. He also held an Army commission and served in the Air Force, flying F-84s and F-86s with the 86th Fighter Bomber Group in Munich, Germany.

Crucially for the publication's focus, the article highlights Cooper's personal experiences and beliefs regarding UFOs. He recounted seeing his first UFO over Europe in 1951, describing metallic silver saucer-shaped craft that his squadron attempted to intercept. At the time, he considered them a potential new Soviet design, but later suspected they were "some kind of extraterrestrial vehicle." Cooper's conviction about the importance of UFO study led him to testify before the United Nations in 1978, advocating for it to become a central repository for UFO sighting accounts.

Women Spooked By UFOs

This article, by Geraint Thomas, reports on a sighting in Gower, Wales, by Christine Harvey (56) and Charlotte Williams (32). The two women observed two triangular shapes with six white lights each in the night sky. They described the objects as silent, not emitting light downwards, and appearing at the height of a telegraph pole. The objects moved slowly to the right, merged, and then disappeared. Both women expressed bewilderment and stated they had never been interested in UFOs before this experience. A police spokesman confirmed no reports of UFOs had been received in the Gower area.

Victorian Sighting Reports

This section compiles several UFO sighting reports from Victoria, Australia, received by VUFORS (Victorian Unidentified Flying Object Investigation Centre).

• Toowoomba, Qld. (November 31, 2004, 09:00 p.m.): An observer saw two small white lights flying in circles around each other, initially thought to be aircraft or satellites, but their erratic movement was unusual.
• Morwell, Vic. (September 27, 2004, 10:15 p.m.): An observer, a former air force engineer, and his wife reported a misty or steam-enclosed object moving in a 60 cm diameter clockwise circular movement. The object appeared elliptical before disappearing.
• Norlane, Vic. (September 27, 2004, 09:00 p.m.): An observer saw a faint, star-like object zigzagging, followed by a larger white star-like object. The smaller object hovered and blinked, while the larger one flew eastward. The event lasted about 15 minutes at an estimated altitude of 500 feet.
• Northern Suburbs Of Melbourne, Vic. (September 26, 2004, Evening): An observer, who is an aircraft pilot, reported an unusual orange light moving southerly, similar to six lights seen previously. He noted the light was below the clouds and could not be explained by known aircraft phenomena.
• Norlane, Vic. (September 24, 2004, 09:00 p.m.): An observer mowing her lawn saw what her son described as UFOs – two bright white circular lights dancing around each other.
• Clyde, Vic. (September 24, 2004, 09:40 p.m.): An observer saw a silent bright flashing light, which changed colour from red to blue and white, and appeared to be moving toward Bass Straight.
• Yarraville, Vic. (September 3, 2004, 06:30 p.m.): An observer saw two bright white circular lights dancing silently about each other in the northern sky.
• Pascoe Vale, Vic. (July 31, 2004, 11:40 p.m. - 11:50 p.m.): A passenger in a car saw two dull orange circular lights, smaller than the full moon, moving rapidly westward. The objects appeared to be in danger of colliding before vanishing.
• Waverley, Vic. (November 28, 2003, 10:30 a.m.): Three huge, saucer-shaped objects, similar in colour to the daylight moon, were seen gliding silently in an upward stepping pattern, followed by a small black object. They disappeared behind a flagpole.

Tasmanian Sighting Reports

• 2004. January 23. 02.30 a.m. Near Forth: A witness saw a large, bright, eye-shaped object moving slowly westwards at a crawling speed, estimated to be 100 metres off the ground and 300 metres distant. It had a shimmering white outline and moved silently.
• 1990. About 05:00 p.m. Black Hills: Two witnesses saw two circles of blue to white light with tubes of light spread out. A light beam suddenly appeared from the centre and spread towards the ground. The object was stationary and silent.

Queensland Sighting Reports

This section details numerous sightings from Queensland, Australia.

• 18/09/04 Gold Coast: A couple observed two rectangular objects moving in the southern sky, described as flying crosses with coloured lights. They moved quickly, stopped, circled, and then took off. Dogs on the property were spooked.
• 26/08/04 Stretton: A woman reported seeing three triangular formations and three bright stars moving in proximity. Her father also saw seven lights moving randomly.
• 22/08/04, Peregian Beach: A very bright, quick-moving light appeared in the northeast, moved east, disappeared, and reappeared in a new position.
• 19/08/04 33 km from Kempsey, NSW: A man reported seeing a red football-shaped object above trees, claiming to see UFOs six nights out of seven.
• 13/08/04 East Maitland, Lower Hunter Valley, NSW: A driver saw an extremely large bright orange object in the sky at an estimated 500 metres altitude.
• 10/08/04 Canberra, ACT: Two people witnessed a fast-moving orange light travelling SW to NE, with no strobe lights. An aircraft appeared to bank towards Canberra Airport near the light.
• 07/08/04 Wattle Grove, NSW: A person saw three orange/red lights hovering, which later returned and moved slowly. The object was described as a blunt delta shape and made no noise.
• 06/08/04 Archerfield Airfield, Brisbane: A man observed a big intensely blue disc flying east to west, making no noise. He had a similar sighting while in the army.
• 05/08/04 Gold Coast Highway (near Dreamworld): A man observed two bright orange objects moving slowly towards the east, one lower than the other. They were the size of a five cent piece at arm's length.
• 04/08/04, Armadale, WA: Two bright yellow-orange objects were seen following each other, moving from north to west, making no sound.
• 31/07/04 Norman Park: A man observed 10 objects in the southern sky, changing colours to red, blue, and silver. They formed a semi-circle.
• 26/07/04 Tweed Heads, NSW: A family travelling south saw a "thing" with two very bright white lights on the front, travelling alongside their car. It then rose up and appeared higher in the sky. The object was silent.
• 03/07/04 Buranda, Brisbane: An observer trained in aircraft recognition saw three red lights on a black object making a tight circuit. The object was described as a blunt delta shape and made no noise, despite its estimated speed of 3600 km/h.
• 14/06/04 Inala: A woman observed very bright yellow lights "gliding easily in the sky," similar to aircraft but without strobe lights. They appeared from nowhere and disappeared suddenly.
• 13/06/04 Crestmead: A large orange ball of fire was seen rising in the sky, disappearing without a trace and making no sound. The witness's wife also saw it.
• 13/06/04 Kalbar: Two nurses saw a "massive" bright orange ball, approximately four to five times bigger than Venus, coming towards them at high speed. Its light faded, but its silhouette was visible. No sound was heard, and the witnesses felt scared.
• 31/05/04 Victoria Point: Three witnesses observed an object with two tails, yellow-orange in colour, moving very fast and crossing the sky in 5 seconds.
• 21/05/04 Wamuran: A couple noticed a bank of three horizontal lights that seemed stationary. They then saw a bright red light that moved smoothly across the sky. Loud noises, like small explosions and screaming children, were heard, and dogs began to bark.
• 16/05/04 Forest Lake: A woman observed a ball of fire travelling from Brisbane, about the size of a streetlight, making no noise and appearing to have something burning fall from it.

Society History

The "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society" (V.U.F.O.R.S.) has a long history, 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 February 1957 and has undergone several name changes, eventually becoming the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society." The society published papers and the "Australian Flying Saucer Review," later superseded by "The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin." They sponsored radio programs and maintained a large UFO library. Despite facing challenges, including the loss of books due to postage costs, V.U.F.O.R.S. continues to hold quarterly meetings in Melbourne and welcomes new members interested in the UFO subject.

Other Items

The issue also includes contact information for reporting sightings to VUFORS via phone, email, and web, as well as subscription rates for the bulletin. A brief article notes China's progress in developing unmanned lunar exploration craft.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are astronautics (specifically Gordon Cooper's legacy and space achievements) and UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of UFO phenomena, as evidenced by the detailed reports and the historical overview of UFO research organizations. The publication aims to provide a platform for witnesses to share their experiences and for researchers to analyze the data. There is a clear emphasis on factual reporting of sightings and historical accounts, with a neutral tone regarding the nature of the phenomena.