Australian UFO Bulletin - 2007 09 - September

Magazine Overview

Title: THE AUSTRALIAN U.F.O. BULLETIN
Issue Date: September 2007
Publisher: V.U.F.O.R.S. (Victorian U.F.O. Research Society)
Country: Australia

This issue marks the return of The Australian UFO Bulletin after an extended break since December 2005. The editorial team apologizes for the delay, citing difficulties in production exacerbated by the retirement of long-serving President Judith Magee and Bernard Wilson. The society, VUFORS, continues to operate and is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2007. The bulletin aims to provide members with high-quality content, prioritizing direct communication over the website.

Editorial

The editorial addresses the hiatus in publication and thanks Judith Magee and Bernard Wilson for their extensive contributions over many years. It confirms that VUFORS is still operational and in its 50th year, with ongoing Discussion Nights. The missing bulletins will not be produced, but the focus is on resuming regular publication. Membership has been extended to compensate for the missed issues, and membership reminders will resume. The website is acknowledged as outdated but serves as a public advertisement for the society, with members receiving information first through the bulletin and discussion evenings.

On The UFO Trail

By Paul Norman, this article investigates the impact of the 2005 bushfires in The Grampians National Park, Victoria, on UFO activity. Norman recounts his attempts to reach Reids Lookout, finding roads closed due to fire damage. He interviewed residents who reported seeing unusual lights, often dismissed as aircraft or stars. Despite initial setbacks, Norman eventually reached the lookout and observed a brilliant white light that triggered his bug detector. He notes the absence of wildlife during his visits and plans to return to observe the landscape's recovery, speculating that UAPs might be scanning the area.

Farewell to Judith Magee

This article celebrates the retirement of Judith Magee, President of VUFORS since 1978. Magee's fascination with UFOs began in the 1950s, leading her to join the Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society. She served as Secretary and Vice-President before taking over the presidency. Under her leadership, the society grew significantly, reaching nearly 500 members. The article highlights her rational, scientific approach and her extensive travels to meet leading UFO researchers. Her tenure also included overseeing the investigation into the disappearance of pilot Frederick Valentich. Dr. J. Allen Hynek once described her as "Australia's Coral Lorenzen."

The UFO "Why?" Questions

By Stanton T. Friedman, this article, reprinted from the 4th Annual UFO Crash Retrieval Conference, delves into common questions surrounding UFOs and potential extraterrestrial visitation. Friedman asserts that the evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that Earth is visited by intelligently controlled extraterrestrial spacecraft, citing physical trace cases, abduction reports, and analysis of Betty Hill's star map. He addresses why aliens might not land on the White House lawn (forbidden airspace, lack of global representation), why they visit a "primitive society" (potential resources, observation, quarantine), and why governments might keep secrets (technology duplication, national security). Friedman also discusses why UFOs might crash (excursion modules, mechanical failures, environmental factors) and why individuals may not have seen a flying saucer (location, reporting rates, comparison to other unobserved phenomena like Tokyo or polio).

Friedman critiques the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) effort, calling it a "Silly Effort to Investigate" due to its assumptions about communication methods and lack of consideration for colonization or migration. He argues that governments are likely withholding information due to the desire to duplicate advanced saucer technology and the potential for economic disruption if new energy sources were revealed. He also suggests that military pilots may have been "disintegrated or 'disappeared'" by UFOs in response to perceived threats. Regarding why saucers crash, he posits that they might be smaller "excursion modules" rather than interstellar craft, and susceptible to mechanical failures or environmental factors like atmospheric electricity or hail. He likens the lack of personal sightings to not having seen Tokyo, polio, or HIV, emphasizing that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

The Early Years

This section appears to be a placeholder or a brief mention, with no detailed content provided in the scanned pages.

Sighting Reports

The issue includes several sighting reports:

• Narre Warren South: (Page 20)
• Meteor Victoria & South Australia: (Page 21) - This likely discusses sightings of unusual aerial objects identified as meteors or similar phenomena.
• Victorian Sighting Reports: (Page 22) - A collection of reports from various locations in Victoria.
• Sighting Report-Carnegie/Murrumbeena: (Page 29)
• Geelong Newsclippings: (Page 30) - Reports or mentions of UFO phenomena from Geelong.

Did You Know?

(Page 31) - This section likely contains interesting facts or trivia related to UFOs or related topics.

Discussion Evening – Dates – Directions

(Page 32) - Information regarding upcoming discussion evenings hosted by VUFORS, including dates and directions.

VUFORS 50th Anniversary 1957-2007

This section commemorates VUFORS's 50th anniversary, acknowledging the contributions of committee members, investigators, and loyal members. It highlights the organization's role in investigating reports, producing the bulletin, running discussion evenings, and maintaining its database. Membership fees are noted as supporting these activities. The anniversary is presented as an opportunity to thank those who have made VUFORS a respected organization globally.

The Roswell Incident

This brief article recounts the 1947 Roswell incident, where a mysterious object crashed near Roswell, New Mexico. The initial report of a "flying disk" was later retracted by the Roswell Army Air Field, which stated it was a weather balloon. This revised statement sparked controversy, and the event remains a topic of debate 60 years later. The article mentions that the city of Roswell expected 50,000 visitors for a 4-day celebration.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the ongoing investigation of UFO sightings in Australia, the challenges and history of UFO research organizations like VUFORS, and the persistent questions surrounding the nature and purpose of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as reflected in the content, is one of serious inquiry into UFOs, acknowledging the evidence for extraterrestrial visitation while also addressing skepticism and government secrecy. There is a strong emphasis on member engagement and the dissemination of information through the bulletin. The society appears committed to a rational, evidence-based approach to ufology, as exemplified by the tribute to Judith Magee and the detailed analysis by Stanton Friedman.

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, dated March 2007, is published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS). It features a mix of contemporary sighting reports, historical cases, and articles discussing the nature of UFO phenomena and research.

Discussion Evening and Subscription Information

The front page details upcoming discussion evenings for VUFORS, scheduled for March 5th, June 4th, September 3rd (AGM), and December 3rd, 2007, all at 8:00 p.m. at The Royal Society of Victoria in Melbourne. Entry fees are listed as $7.00 for non-members, $2.00 for associate members, and prepaid for full members. Subscription rates for the magazine are also provided: Full Membership ($25) includes the magazine, meeting entry, and supper; Associate Member ($20) receives the magazine only; Overseas Member ($US25) also receives the magazine only; and Non-Member ($7) receives one meeting entry and one supper.

The UFO "WHY?" Questions

Stanton T. Friedman addresses common skeptical arguments and the "why?" questions surrounding UFOs. He defends the authenticity of documents like the Eisenhower Briefing Document and the Cutler-Twining Memo, refuting claims that they are frauds or disinformation. Friedman specifically targets the Majestic 12 (MJ-12) article on Wikipedia, calling it "loaded with false and misleading claims." He references his own website and publications where he claims to have "demolish[ed] the antis and show[n] that other MJ-12 documents are fraudulent." He points out factual errors in the MJ-12 context, such as misstatements about deuterium and General Spaatz's location. Friedman also touches upon the concept of "disinformation" being used to confuse the public, noting that Colonel Richard Weaver, author of "The Roswell Report: Truth vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert," had "Disinformation" as his military specialty.

Friedman explains his continued dedication to UFO research since 1958 and his first lecture in 1967. He cites several reasons: the enthusiastic response from audiences, the importance of an "earthling orientation" to help stop nuclear proliferation, his unique background in classified high-technology programs (allowing him to address "laws of Physics" arguments), and his extensive experience answering questions which has honed his ability to address "why?" questions. He also credits his good memory and high school debate experience.

References

A list of references is provided, including works by Stanton T. Friedman, William E. Burrows, Don Berliner, and Colonel Richard L. Weaver.

The Early Years

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

• Whyalla, South Australia - February 7, 1958: Three witnesses reported a glowing unidentified object that travelled from northeast to southwest and disappeared. It changed appearance from an aeroplane-like object with a green light to a football shape of bright luminous green, moving very quickly.
• Anderson, Indiana - September 30, 1966: Two police officers sighted a highly maneuverable UFO shortly after 02:00 a.m. The object, initially white, turned red and descended towards trees. It hovered for about five minutes before disappearing.
• Da Nang, South Vietnam - June 10, 1967: The U.S. Air Force was investigating numerous reports of a cylindrical, silver-colored object. Two F102 jets were deployed, but no contact was made.

Victorian Sighting Reports

This section features several recent sighting reports from Victoria, Australia:

• Narre Warren South, Victoria - November 30, 2006: A family on an evening walk photographed an object with a visible trail. The witness only noticed the unusual image after downloading it onto the computer.
• Meteor in the sky above Victoria & South Australia - November 27, 2006: Police received calls about a fireball-like object. Witnesses described a bright green object shooting westward, some thinking it was a comet or shooting star. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed it was a meteor.
• Airport West, Victoria - April 29, 1995: A witness, her sister, and mother observed a yellow light that appeared stationary, then approached. A second red light appeared, followed by a third yellow light forming a triangle. A humming noise was heard, and the object exhibited unusual maneuverability.
• Melbourne Suburbs, Victoria - March 19 & 23, 2006: A doctor and witness reported two sightings. The first involved a grey metallic sphere with a glowing mist ring, which moved slowly then accelerated incredibly fast. The second sighting, a few days later, involved a yellowish-white oval object that appeared suddenly and moved at extreme speed.
• Portarlington, Victoria - April 9, 2006: Parents walking on the beach saw a beam of light shoot up from the water towards the sky. Investigation notes suggest this may have been related to an airshow featuring an F-111 aircraft performing a "Dump and Burn" maneuver.
• Carnegie/Murrumbeena, Victoria - May 14, 2006: Two unrelated witnesses reported seeing an orange, pulsating light. The Carnegie witness saw it move south, while the Murrumbeena witness saw it move north-northwest. Despite directional differences, they likely observed the same object.

Investigation Notes

Several reports include "Investigation Notes" from VUFORS. For the Portarlington sighting, it's suggested the phenomenon was likely an F-111 aircraft from an airshow. For the Paradise Beach sighting, VUFORS explains it as a classic case of "lens flare," caused by internal reflections within the camera lens, particularly when a bright light source like the setting sun is present.

Communion—20 Years On

This section briefly commemorates the 20th anniversary of Whitley Strieber's first encounter, referencing his books "Communion" and "Transformation," and the subsequent movie.

Did You Know?

This section provides VUFORS contact information, including a hotline phone number ((03) 9506 7080), email address ([email protected]), and website (http://www.ozemail.com.au/~vufors). It also includes two articles from the Geelong Advertiser:

• "Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, I think it's a UFO" (August 9, 2007): Reports on Daimin Mole's sighting of a low-flying, unidentified object near Safeway in Highton, described as having bright lights and hovering stationary. The article quotes the Astronomical Society of Geelong president Frank Baker, who stated that while unexplainable incidents are rare, Venus is often mistaken for UFOs.
• "Jet stars in flights of fancy about UFO visit" (August 10, 2007): Discusses reader suggestions that a sighted object might have been a Jetstar plane. Air Services Australia could not confirm any flights explaining the sighting, but noted Geelong is on the outskirts of flight path systems. Highton resident Lester Deans reported seeing a similar object multiple times, and Newcomb resident James Primmer described lights "like high beams" that appeared to spin.

Society History 1957

This article provides a historical overview of UFO research organizations in Australia. It details the formation of the "Australian Flying Saucer Bureau" in the early 1950s, led by Edgar Jarrold and Andrew Tomas. It then traces the evolution into the "Australian Flying Saucer Research Society" (Adelaide branch), followed by the "Australian U.F.O. Investigation Centre" (Victorian branch). The "Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (Victorian Branch)" was formed on February 17, 1957, later becoming the "Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society" and eventually the "Victorian U.F.O. Research Society" in 1968. The society published the "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and later "The Australian U.F.O. Bulletin." It also sponsored a radio program. In 1978, a new executive committee took control, maintaining a dispassionate stance and managing the largest UFO library in the southern hemisphere. The society continues to hold meetings and is open to new members.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin consistently promotes the serious investigation of UFO phenomena, encouraging the reporting of sightings and providing a platform for detailed accounts. There is a clear stance against simplistic debunking, particularly concerning the MJ-12 documents, and an emphasis on the need for open-minded inquiry. The editorial notes highlight the bravery required for individuals to report sightings for fear of professional repercussions, advocating for confidential reporting and encouraging others to come forward. The historical section underscores the long-standing interest and organized efforts in UFO research within Australia. The overall tone is one of serious, albeit open-minded, investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena.