Australian UFO Bulletin - 2005 06 - June

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, dated June 2005, is published by V.U.F.O.R.S. (Victorian U.F.O. Research Society). The cover features illustrations of a space shuttle and flying saucers against a starry background. The bulletin aims to welcome and evaluate reports of unusual phenomena, exchange information with similar organizations, and disseminate findings to the public.

Editorial

The editorial apologizes for the late arrival of the bulletin due to a computer disk crash. It highlights particularly interesting material that arrived late. Paul Norman has recovered from a medical issue and is preparing for another trip to The Grampians. The editorial mentions Jacqui Purtell's new gadget for detecting UFO activity, which Paul Norman has also purchased. It introduces an article by Jacqui Purtell about her Grampians trip and a report by John Thompson on 'Orange Lights Over Wonthaggi'. Readers are also directed to articles on a newly discovered phenomenon ('Lights Off But Something's Home') and space travel ('A New Kind Of Solar Storm'). An election notice for 2005 is also mentioned.

On The UFO Trail by Paul Norman

Paul Norman expresses gratitude for get-well wishes and announces his return to investigating UFOs. He recounts his May 7th trip to The Grampians, where he observed pale yellow-lighted objects and small red lights. He notes the use of a 'bug' detector by Jacqui Purtell and his subsequent purchase of one. Norman reflects on his past association with NICAP in the 1950s and a television program involving Major Donald Keyhoe, where he felt public deception was being practiced.

• He details several historical UFO incidents, including:
• A December 06th, 1952 incident where an Air Force B-29 bomber crew tracked up to 20 unidentified objects flying at high speed above the Gulf of Mexico, which merged into a larger object.
• A September 17th, 1966 sighting at Crans Beach Bay, Maine, of a hovering luminous yellow cigar-shaped object emitting smaller objects.
• A December 12th, 1978 sighting in Messina, Italy, of a luminous yellow circular object from which small spherical objects emerged and returned.
• A June 08th, 1954 incident near Labrador, Canada, where a BOAC airliner observed a convoy of a large cigar-shaped object with smaller objects.
• An encounter over Kentucky on January 07th, 1948, where Captain Mantell pursued a disc-shaped object, leading to his fatal crash.
• A November 23rd, 1953 incident at Kenross Air Force Base, Michigan, where an F89c jet intercepted a radar-detected UFO, resulting in communication failure and the object merging with the aircraft.

Norman also discusses the potential for UFOs to be involved in Australian UFO history, referencing the VUFORS website.

A New Kind Of Solar Storm

This section, sourced from Science@NASA, discusses a powerful solar storm in January 2005. Giant sunspot 720 produced four solar flares, with a fifth on January 20th being particularly intense. This event unleashed a new kind of solar storm, with a swarm of high-speed protons surrounding Earth and the Moon within minutes. Solar physicist Robert Lin of UC Berkeley notes the unprecedented speed of this proton storm, which could pose significant risks to astronauts on the Moon due to the high-energy particles.

May 7th - 8th Grampians Trip by Jacqui Purtell

Jacqui Purtell recounts her trip to The Grampians with her mother. Upon arrival, they encountered Paul Norman, whose car battery had died. After assisting him, they proceeded to Reids Lookout. Purtell describes a significant UFO sighting involving numerous lights of various colors and intensities, some winking and flashing. She also mentions a bright golden/yellow object that flew past the fire tower and winked out. Purtell details the use of a video camera with super night shot capabilities and a radio frequency ('bug') detector, which registered significant RF emissions from the objects. She speculates on the source of these emissions, referencing a historical US Air Force incident involving an RB-47 aircraft.

International Sighting Reports

This section compiles various UFO sightings from around the world:

• Moon - UFO On Apollo 14 Photo: A photo from the Apollo 14 mission shows an object that resembles a flying saucer. The report questions why NASA would release such images if they were part of a cover-up.
• Moon - UFO On Apollo 15 Photo: A UFO is visible in a photo taken on the Moon during the Apollo 15 mission, near the Hadley Delta. The astronauts also reported finding what appeared to be constructions on the Moon.
• Arkansas - Filmed In Severe Storm: A witness in Timbo captured images of unusual circular lights and a more solid-looking object during a severe storm.
• Arizona - Strange Moving Lights: A witness in Phoenix reported seeing a fast-flying 'light/ball' and later a dimly lit light that moved unusually and disappeared without burning out.
• California - Flying Triangle: In Hayward, a triangular-shaped object with five glowing circles underneath was observed flying silently and rapidly.
• Colorado - Photo Long Thin UFO: A photograph taken in Colorado shows a long and thin shaped flying object, possibly elongated due to its high speed.
• Florida - Pulsing Red Lights: A witness in Lehigh Acres saw a dark orange, pulsing set of lights moving north, which appeared and disappeared.
• Louisiana - Flying Triangle Photo: An analysis of a photo taken by a 13-year-old boy in Westwego revealed a triangular object with three lights.
• Maine - Dark Bird Like UFO: In Brunswick, a silent, dark-grey, non-reflective oval-shaped vehicle was observed moving quickly.
• New Jersey - Couple Spot UFO: In West Milford, a pulsating star with changing colors was observed through a skylight and later through a telescope, appearing as two tethered squares with lights.
• North Dakota - UFO Footage Clips: Excellent footage from Dickinson shows triangular-shaped lights that morph and move rapidly, described as resembling something out of a Star Wars movie.
• Ohio - Wobbling Disc Filmed: George Ritter videotaped a large, wobbling disc-shaped object, estimated to be fifty feet in diameter, in Fostoria.
• Virginia - Luminous Sphere: In Clifton, a large object was seen hovering over a house during a storm, described as possibly multiple ball lightning or mobile luminous spheres.
• Virginia - Crosses Airport Traffic: At Dulles Airport, a strange object with lights underneath, unlike a typical airplane, was observed gliding and then remaining stationary.
• Washington – Giant Mother Ship: A picture shows what appears to be a giant aircraft carrier hovering in the sky, videotaped over the Gilliland Ranch.
• Argentina - Animal Mutilations: Reports from La Pampa Province mention cattle mutilations, with thousands reported in recent years.
• Mexico - UFO Fleet Video Released: New footage from Mexico City shows a fleet of 54 UFOs, presented on national television as distinct from conventional phenomena like balloons.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, anomalous aerial phenomena, and the investigation of such events. The publication appears to maintain an open stance towards UFO reports, encouraging members to submit their observations. There is an underlying theme of questioning official explanations and a suspicion of government deception, particularly highlighted in Paul Norman's editorial and his recollection of the Major Keyhoe incident. The society emphasizes the evaluation of reports on their own merits and the dissemination of information through their bulletin. The inclusion of historical cases alongside recent sightings suggests an interest in both contemporary and past UFO phenomena.

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, dated February-March 2005, is themed "The Early Years" and "Lights, Cameras, Alien Action." It compiles selected reports from magazines published in the 1950s and 1960s, alongside more recent sightings from 2005, particularly from Australia and the USA.

Historical Reports (1950s-1960s)

The "Early Years" section presents several historical UFO encounters:

• September 8, 1958, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, USA: Major Paul A. Duich and other Strategic Air Command personnel witnessed a large rocket or cigar-shaped object hovering, with smaller objects moving around it. After the smaller objects disappeared, the main object tilted and moved out of sight. The case involved over twenty Air Force officers and was left unsolved.
• June 6, 1961, Tegucigalpa, Honduras: Commercial pilot Mr. Lee Jones, owner of Orah Sawmill, observed a strange dark red swirling sphere that changed to bright red and then dull yellow to bright yellow. It moved rapidly, assumed a swaying motion, and then made an abrupt 90-degree turn, appearing as an "odd star." Jones estimated its speed at 2,000 m.p.h. at an altitude of 5,000 feet.
• October 3, 1961, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: U.S. Air Force officials investigated a report of an unidentified object resembling a "flying saucer." Pilot Waldo J. Harris sighted a large disc hovering at an altitude of 6,500 to 7,000 feet, estimated to be 50 feet across and four feet thick. The object moved west at an extremely accelerated rate and disappeared.

Modern Sightings (2005)

The "Lights, Cameras, Alien Action" section focuses on more recent events:

• May 15, 2005, Ferntree Gully, Australia: Witnesses observed about a dozen orange lights hovering in strange, intricate patterns. Tim Webster photographed the lights, expressing a desire for alien contact. Aaron Singe and Stuart Wilson also witnessed and documented the phenomenon. The lights formed shapes like diamonds and lines, visible for 10 minutes before vanishing.
• May 27, 2005, Union County, USA: A report of an unidentified flying object over Union County led to the arrest of two men on drug charges. Deputy Dale Dishmond, responding to the UFO report, encountered a suspicious car and subsequently found drugs and paraphernalia.
• June 19, 2005, Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia: VUFORS Regional Representative John Thompson reported three intensely bright orange lights moving in a straight-line formation over the sea, later joined by a fourth. Described as similar to car headlights on high beam, they moved at approximately 200 km/h. The lights were witnessed by emergency service workers and members of the public.

Victorian Sighting Reports

This section details numerous sightings from Victoria, Australia:

• May 23, 2005, Prospect, Tasmania: A very bright orange light, larger than stars, moved rapidly from the northeast to the southwest at high speed, below cloud level.
• May 19, 2005, Mulgrave, Victoria: An observer saw a cigar-shaped object in the northern sky, which appeared stationary but possibly revolving, and then moved slowly.
• May 14, 2005, Sale, Victoria: An orangey yellow light, unusual in color and size, was observed moving rapidly, slowing to a stop, and then rising slowly.
• May 13, 2005, Ferntree Gully, Victoria: Eleven bright orange-yellow lights were observed moving in a weaving pattern, splitting into groups and forming a rectangular or diamond shape.
• April 23, 2005, Ingle Farm, South Australia: Four pairs of bright orange objects, described as car-sized and eye-shaped, flew silently from north to south, dimming out over ten minutes.
• April 10, 2005, Dunkeld, Victoria: A small, almost stationary, multicoloured flashing beacon was observed, possibly revolving, at an elevation of 45 degrees.
• March 19, 2005, Avalon, Victoria: Frames from a videotape taken at the Avalon Airshow appeared to show objects buzzing an F16 Falcon and an FA18 Hornet.
• March 12, 2005, Wyangala, New South Wales: An unusual formation of bright white lights was observed travelling vertically past a stationary star.
• Circa 1974, Heidelberg West - Preston, Victoria: A large, star-sized light, initially yellowish and then brighter, was observed moving horizontally and then rising vertically.
• February 2005, Brisbane, Queensland: Six bright star-sized objects travelled across the sky from north to south, gradually fading.
• January 13, 2005, Greenbank, Queensland: A bright object, reflecting the sun, was observed travelling east at a constant speed, appearing circular and metallic.
• March 2005, Burrum Heads, Queensland: An eleven-year-old reported seeing an extremely tall, glowing red being with long legs and pitch-black hooves on the beach.
• February 2005, Langwarrin, Victoria: Two bright orange lights were observed, one stationary and the other moving towards it at high speed.
• February 2005, Tingalpa, Queensland: Two peculiar objects, a long thin streak with a shiny dot, entered the atmosphere and changed course.
• March 2005, Wakerley, Queensland: Two objects with long bright tails, resembling comets, were observed travelling from north to south, disappearing momentarily.
• March 25, 2005, Point Glorious, Queensland: An object with two main lights (red and white) and smaller flashing lights was observed, possibly revolving.
• March 2, 2005, Warner, Queensland: A UFO, described as the size of a normal house, was seen with white and pink lights, making a humming sound.
• February 2005, Toowoomba, Queensland: An object, appearing as lights from a plane but moving too slowly, was observed for about half an hour.
• March 2005, Kenilworth, Queensland: A bright, fluorescent green ring of light was observed hitting a hill, causing a massive green glow.

Society History and Information

The issue also includes historical information about the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society" (V.U.F.O.R.S.), detailing its formation in 1957 and its evolution through various names. It mentions its publications, "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and "The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin," and its role in sponsoring radio programs. The society maintains a dispassionate attitude towards UFOs, holds regular meetings, and offers membership subscriptions.

Other Features

• Did You Know? Provides the VUFORS Sightings Hotline number and contact details.
• Good News! Announces the return of Stanton Friedman's UFO videos.
• Lights Off But Something's Home: A brief article about the discovery of an invisible galaxy made of dark matter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the compilation of historical UFO reports from the mid-20th century and a comprehensive collection of contemporary sightings, primarily from Australia. The publication demonstrates a commitment to documenting witness testimonies and investigative efforts related to UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as reflected by V.U.F.O.R.S., is one of scientific inquiry, treating UFOs as a problem deserving closer attention rather than dismissing them outright. The inclusion of historical context and modern accounts suggests an effort to bridge the past and present of UFO research.