Australian UFO Bulletin - 2005 12 - December

Magazine Overview

Title: THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN
Issue Date: December 2005
Publisher: VUFORS (Victorian U.F.O. Research Society)
Country of Publication: Australia

This issue of The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin provides a comprehensive look at UFO and UAP phenomena, blending personal accounts, investigative reports, and technological discussions. It features a strong emphasis on aviation safety concerns related to UAP and includes a wide array of international sighting reports.

Editorial

The editorial, dated December 2005, begins with holiday greetings and an apology for the issue's lateness due to production difficulties. The editor reflects on a personal experience from the early years after World War II, where a sparkling ball of white light, about 13 cm in diameter, floated through the galley of a DC-3 aircraft. This event, which occurred at below arm-rest height, raised questions about how such an object could penetrate the aircraft's Faraday cage. The editorial also touches upon the ongoing discussion about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), referencing Paul Norman's paper "Countdown to Reality."

On The UFO Trail

Written by Paul Norman, this section delves into the critical intersection of UAP and aviation safety. It highlights the importance of pilots in observing and reporting UAP due to their constant presence in the airspace. The article introduces Richard F. Haines, Ph.D., Science Director of NARCAP (National Aviation Reporting Centre on Anomalous Phenomena), who has investigated over 3,400 UAP-related reports, some involving fatalities. Haines's report, "Aviation Safety in America - A Previously Neglected Factor," aims to draw attention to the relationship between UAP incidents and aviation safety concerns. The author also recounts a personal experience on November 14th in The Grampians, Australia, where a detector registered microwave energy, though no visual object was observed. Subsequent nights involved monitoring for anomalous lights, with a notable period of activity on November 21st, where UFOs glowed and flashed, accompanied by detector signals.

The Evolution Continues

This multi-part article by Jacqui Purtell details her ongoing investigations and technological experiments related to UFO phenomena. She expresses a strong conviction that "we are not alone in our Universe" and encourages readers to seek their own proof. Purtell describes her recent trip to The Grampians, meeting with Paul Norman, and discusses her efforts to improve RF detectors by making them more directional. She details the construction of a crude directional antenna using a stainless steel mixing bowl and an RF detector, which she tested successfully. The article also touches upon the work of Thomas Townsend Brown and the concept of electrogravitics, speculating whether UAP propulsion systems might utilize high voltage electrostatics and pulse width modulated microwaves. Purtell also describes building and testing rudimentary electrostatic detection circuits.

Building A Better Rocket Engine

This section, sourced from Science@NASA, reports on research by the Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technologies group, involving USAF, NASA, and DOD partners. The focus is on developing liquid-fuelled rocket designs that promise doubled performance and improved reliability. The article explains the current shuttle engine's use of liquid hydrogen and oxygen and introduces a new design that involves a turbopump preburning fuel and oxidizer together before sending them to the main combustion chamber. Gary Genge, Deputy Project Manager for the Integrated Powerhead Demonstrator (IPD) at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre, notes that this design has not been used in a liquid-fuelled rocket in the U.S. before.

International Sighting Reports

This extensive section compiles numerous UFO sighting reports from around the world, including:

• California: A silver spherical object observed in Chatsworth, travelling southwest with a streamer-like object hanging underneath.
• Colorado: Reports of strange huge orbs, with one object rising from trees to the level of the Moon.
• Florida: Moving coloured lights observed in Navarre, with residents reporting slow-moving lights of varying colours.
• Illinois: A triangular-shaped craft seen over Murphysboro Lake, described as a large pyramidal black ship and a pulsating spherical object.
• Nevada: Reports of objects resembling cones or spinning tops, sometimes appearing as diamonds, most active at night.
• New Mexico: Multiple shapes seen in South Espanola, including a bright light that blinked back when signaled.
• North Carolina: A report from Burlington of an object moving across the sky at incredible speed.
• New York State: Unusual craft, lights, and circles reported in the Finger Lakes Region, including a multi-coloured flashing craft and a large, cigar-shaped object.
• Wisconsin: An object dropping a light observed in Frederic.
• Argentina: A large, multicoloured circular object seen over the sea near Necochea, emitting various coloured lights without noise.
• Canada: A whitish object flying below a plane observed in Scarsbough, and another object sighted above Lake Ontario.
• Falkland, British Columbia: A spotlight-like beam observed moving in intervals.
• Mexico: An intense flashing object observed spinning and emitting multicoloured flashes, with smaller red spheres emitted from it.
• U.K.: A large, round object covered in lights seen near Leicester, making no noise. Also, two orbs moving across the screen of a CCTV camera near Peterborough.
• Tennessee: Reports of areas in the sky devoid of stars, with triangular objects moving slowly.
• Ohio: Various UFO sightings reported, including triangles escorted by DC-10s and jets with red, white, and blue strobes.
• Virginia: A glowing golden round object seen pacing a car on I-81.
• Washington: Flashing red, white, and blue lights observed in Seattle.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent presence of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP/UFOs) globally, their potential impact on aviation safety, and the ongoing efforts by researchers and enthusiasts to document and understand these events. There is a clear stance that UAP are real phenomena worthy of serious study, moving beyond mere speculation to empirical investigation and technological development. The publication emphasizes the importance of eyewitness accounts, particularly from credible sources like pilots, and highlights the role of specialized detection equipment. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging the sharing of information and personal experiences while maintaining a critical and analytical approach to the subject matter.

This issue of The Australian UFO Bulletin, dated June-July 2005, Volume 224, focuses on "The Early Years," presenting selected UFO reports from magazines published in the 1950s and 1960s, compiled by Clive Yates. It also includes contemporary sightings from 2005. The cover headline asks, "Is Circle Of Light In Night Sky A UFO?" and features a report from the Herald Express, Torquay, England, dated July 5, 2005.

Historical Reports (1950s-1960s)

Near Utica, New York - June 23, 1955 A pilot and co-pilot of a Mohawk Airlines DC-3 reported a grey, round UFO with portholes emitting a blue-green light that travelled at "great speed." Two other planes also reported seeing the object, and radar tracked it flying east over Boston. The Mohawk pilot computed the UFO's speed between 4,500 and 4,800 m.p.h. The Colorado Project concluded it was "a most intriguing report that must certainly be classed as an unknown pending further study."

Bebington, England - May 22, 1963 Nine members of the Bebington 1123 Air Training Corps Squadron observed an unidentified flying object from their headquarters for about five minutes. Cadet Warrant Officer Jeffrey Green described the object as being in the shape of a sphere, sliced in two, and brilliant gold in colour. He estimated its altitude at about 50,000 feet, noting it hovered and then disappeared very quickly, climbing in a westerly direction. Green, employed at the Nuclear Physics Research Laboratory at Liverpool University, stated it was unlike anything seen in aircraft recognition classes.

Mar del Plata, Argentina - June 28, 1968 An eminent lawyer, Dr Marcelo Anibal Betnaza, his wife (a professor), their daughter, and others witnessed a UFO stationary over terrain near their home. Dr. Betnaza observed it through binoculars, describing it as shaped like a mushroom or a spinning-top. It emitted flashes of light that changed colour constantly, with a steady vivid green light from the cupola and red and yellow flashes from below. The object climbed at an angle of approximately 25 degrees, then dropped abruptly, performing wobbling movements that the lawyer considered "signs of intelligent control."

Contemporary Reports (2005)

Torquay, England - July 5, 2005 Electrician Neil Krohn, initially skeptical of UFOs, reported seeing a spectacular apparition from his bathroom window. He and his wife Jeannette observed a baffling circle of lights dancing across the night sky with a curious humming noise. The display lasted nearly an hour before fading at dawn. Krohn described the object as moving above a low cloud, then moving from the Livermead area across to Berry Head and back. He regretted not recording it due to a flat camcorder battery.

Cheltenham, England - August 25, 2005 "Dozens Report Seeing Spooky Orange Lights" by Ryan Kisiel in the Echo newspaper. Numerous people reported seeing mysterious orange lights above Cheltenham on a Saturday night. Witnesses described them as strange and unlike conventional aircraft. John Day took pictures, and coach driver Pamela Bailey noted passengers were amazed. John Creed observed the lights forming a pattern similar to "The Plough" or "Big Dipper." Retired police officer John Creed stated the objects were remarkable and unlike anything he had ever seen. Gloucestershire Airport confirmed aircraft lights are red, white, or green, not orange. Rod Salisbury of the Cotswold Astronomical Society ruled out meteors.

Birdie Beach, Central Coast, NSW, Australia - 1999 A witness reported seeing a triangle object out at sea well above the horizon during a beach BBQ. The object moved up and down the ocean, then towards them with no noise. The couple became scared and fled to their car. The object was later seen again, moving in the same pattern. The witness sketched the object, noting red lights at the corners and in the middle.

Richmond, Victoria, Australia - November 30, 2005 A witness and his girlfriend saw an almond/disk shaped object of greyish-white colour overhead. It appeared large and circular, moving swiftly, then reduced in size as it travelled northeast. It performed a sharp left and right drift, then vanished. The witness's girlfriend confirmed seeing the object, which behaved in an intriguing way.

Inverloch, Victoria, Australia - 1998 Reported years later, two individuals saw a slow pulsing glow among hills, followed by a circular light approaching from the sea and crossing the sky towards the glow. The light and glow disappeared simultaneously without noise. One witness, a retired police officer and pilot, stated the objects were remarkable and unlike conventional aircraft.

North Altona, Victoria, Australia - October 15, 2005 A medical professional and a second witness reported a strange cigar-cylinder shaped object with a metallic shine, appearing motionless. It was observed with binoculars and described as a wedge-shaped cylinder, smaller at one end and flatter at the other. It faded out like turning off a TV.

Tawonga South, Victoria, Australia - October 30, 2005 A black object, described as almost round and squat, was seen hovering above a ridge. A long item, clearly on fire, fell from beneath it, and then the object dropped rapidly behind the ridge. Authorities conducted a search for a crashed aircraft but found nothing. Two farmers reported hearing a loud crash. CASA staff treated the report with ridicule.

Belmont, Victoria, Australia - August 24, 2005 A qualified engineer and his companion saw a bright orange star grow in size over 10 seconds to resemble a brilliant rocket flame. It remained at the same elevation for 10 seconds before moving off and disappearing over a 5-second period. It appeared to be travelling across the sky but then moved off.

Hume Highway (North of Melbourne), Victoria, Australia - September 13, 2005 A witness driving north noticed a strange, disk-like object with a metallic shine, appearing motionless. It was described as small, like a match head. The object disappeared when the witness looked away briefly.

Near Ballarat, Victoria, Australia - December 9, 2005 A white light hovered over a neighbour's house, changing colours (white, blue, red/orange). It moved towards the witness's house, making a strange humming/vibrating noise, then circled the house before shooting off towards town. The witness's husband also reported seeing a strange white light that nearly caused him to run off the road.

Queensland Sighting Reports

#### Ingham, Queensland - August 06, 2005
My friend reported seeing four UFOs, and later, one UFO appeared again at 08:30 p.m. The object looked like a star but flickered with light rays and was yellow/goldish. It was moving slowly towards 260 degrees Azimuth, 85 degrees Altitude, fading away after 15 minutes.

#### Mount Fox, Queensland - August 07, 2005
Observed a bright yellow object travelling low to the horizon for about five seconds, running parallel to the horizon until it went behind a ridge. It was faster than a jet aircraft at that distance, estimated 50 kilometres away.

#### Traralgon, Victoria - August 07, 2005
A large white cloud-like mass was observed hovering, continually forming a figure-8 pattern with many perfectly formed circles within. It moved forward and ahead of the observer, hovering over their house before moving off into the distance.

#### Gympie, Queensland - August 04, 2005
A bright orange light was seen hovering, heading south erratically. It emitted three bursts of orange light that fell away like flaming debris. There was heavy cloud cover.

#### Redland Bay, Queensland - August 04, 2005
An orange sphere was seen coming from Stradbroke Island. It moved with great speed in short distances with a zigzag motion. This was observed over three consecutive nights.

#### Conondale, Queensland - June 26, 2005
A red light was seen flashing and following the witness's car. It sped up and moved level with the car, about 100-200 metres away and two to three metres off the ground. The witness stopped the car, and the light stopped too. It then followed again after the witness hung a u-turn.

#### Sunshine Coast, Queensland - June 26, 2005
A metallic object was seen moving twice as fast as a stealth bomber, heading northeasterly. It was observed for two minutes before vanishing.

#### Delaney's Creek, Queensland - June 25, 2005
A huge yellow light was seen over the range, which subtly changed its glow to orange-yellow, then turned green and disappeared.

#### Brisbane, Queensland - June 13, 2005
A bright orange light travelled slowly towards the observer, not flashing and with no other lights, suggesting it was not a plane. It grew in size, travelled over the house, and then appeared to be climbing before disappearing. A bright flash was seen in the vicinity of its disappearance two minutes later.

#### Stanthorpe, Queensland - March 27, 2005
A light was seen directly above the observer. It was an almost circle of brilliant glowing white light, with a bright white wiggly line to the left and a long orange shape to the right. It was visible for about five seconds.

#### Delaney's Creek, Queensland - December 16, 2004
A huge green meteorite-like object with a green flare/haze appeared to hit a hill, followed by a huge green explosion. There was no noise, and it was over in seconds. The witness later learned others had seen it too.

#### Noosaville, Queensland - November 21, 2002
A glowing orange ball, about the size of a five-cent piece at an estimated altitude of 10 kilometres, was observed. After two minutes, it picked up speed and headed north, vanishing after about one minute.

Other Features

"Did You Know?" This section provides the VUFORS Sightings Hotline phone number (03) 9506 7080, email address ([email protected]), and website (http://www.ozemail.com.au/~vufors) for reporting sightings. It also mentions that calls are charged at standard rates and that the service is not a premium rate number.

"GOOD NEWS!" This section announces that Stanton Friedman's Excellent UFO Videos have returned and are available at the next discussion evening.

"Giant Explosion At Edge Of Universe" A brief report from Metro (September 13, 2005) about astronomers detecting a cosmic explosion at the edge of the visible universe, a 13 billion-year-old blast possibly caused by the death of a massive star soon after the Big Bang. The event was glimpsed by NASA's Swift satellite and ground-based telescopes.

Society History The "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society" (V.U.F.O.R.S.) history is detailed, tracing its origins from early Australian UFO groups in the 1950s. It was formed on February 17, 1957, as a branch of the "Australian Flying Saucer Research Society" and later became the "Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society" and eventually the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society." The society published "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and "The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin." It sponsored a radio program and has maintained a large UFO library. Membership is open to all interested in the UFO subject.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, encompassing historical accounts and contemporary observations from various locations. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent documentation and open inquiry into UFO phenomena, as evidenced by the detailed reports and the history of the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society, which claims a "dispassionate attitude on U.F.O.s, claiming it is a scientific problem deserving closer attention."