Disclosure Australia (AURA) - No 10 - Feb 2004

Magazine Overview

Title: DISCLOSURE AUSTRALIA
Issue: NEWSLETTER TEN
Date: February 2004
Publisher: Australian UFO Research Network / Australian UFO Research Association
Country: Australia

This issue of Disclosure Australia Newsletter Ten delves into historical Australian UFO reports, drawing heavily on records from the Australian War Memorial and other government archives. The publication aims to combine resources and promote transparency in UFO research.

Australian War Memorial Files

The newsletter highlights that pre-1947 Australian UFO reports are scarce. It lists a few examples from Australian War Memorial files: a CE4 in Parramatta, NSW (25 Jul 1868); a CE2 in Moora, WA (1925); a CE3 in Mandurah, WA (1930); a photographic report from Newcastle, NSW (10 Oct 1935); and a CE1 in Bass Strait (1944).

The 1944 Bass Strait incident is described in detail, originating from a 1957 report. A Beaufort bomber pilot, T R H Royal, reported a dark 'shadow' object that kept pace with his aircraft for 18-20 minutes. The object displayed a flickering light and emitted flames from its rear, maintaining a distance of 30-50 metres before accelerating away. Significantly, all radio and direction-finding equipment reportedly malfunctioned during the encounter.

Further investigation into NAA electronic records revealed ten files held by the Australian War Memorial covering the period 1942-1944. Two example titles mentioned are 'Unidentified plots East of Kembla' and 'Sightings unidentified-miscellaneous sighting-seaward 1943'.

A Canberra-based researcher visited the Australian War Memorial and reviewed numerous 'Incident Reports'. While many incidents were attributed to conventional sources like flare pistol lights, signal rockets, weather balloons, and meteors, one file (AWM 54 810/8/1) contained a large array of spurious radar plots. These plots, mostly off-shore water level returns, were identified as actual aircraft but their type was indeterminate due to weather or darkness. The unidentified aircraft were slow-moving (20-130 mph) or stationary. Reports of unidentified explosions or loud noises were often linked to off-shore gunnery practice, drifting sea mines, quarry blasting, or illegal fishing explosives.

'Ghost Planes' Over Darwin and Other Historical Sightings

The newsletter references historical 'ghost plane' or 'strange plane' flaps documented in UFO literature from various countries, including Denmark (1908), the UK (1909), South Africa (1914), and Scandinavia (early 1930s).

A Department of Defence Air Board file (A705, 56/3/2) uncovered details about 'ghost planes' and 'unidentified aircraft' over the Northern Territory in 1938, with at least seven instances recorded between 3 Feb and 25 Mar. One sighting on 8 Feb 1938 involved hearing an aircraft engine and seeing an orange light for two minutes. The official reaction was that no aircraft had refuelling arrangements in the Territory, making the presence of strange aircraft 'very improbable'.

RAAF FOI Request and Further File Uncoveries

The RAAF has responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for UFO-related files. They estimate providing around 3700 pages at a cost of $980. A financial deposit has been made, and the organization awaits the documents.

In addition to previously identified sixty files from the National Australia Archives (NAA) using keywords like 'Flying Saucer' and 'UFO', a more comprehensive search using a wider range of keywords has uncovered more relevant entries. These include reports on:

• Air Defence-Visual reporting by a/c captains-intelligence sightings
• Movements of unusual cargoes by air transport
• Exchange of intelligence, secret information between USA & Australia
• Reported sightings-unidentified aircraft over Indonesian territory
• No. 1 Control & Reporting Unit –Air Defence-Unusual Occurrences
• Reports on unidentified aircraft, strange occurrences
• Movement of unidentified aircraft
• Anomalous propagation-reports
• Operation of foreign and/or unidentified aircraft over or in the vicinity of Australia and Territories
• Unidentified aircraft Papua and New Guinea.

The organization intends to inspect these files to search for illegal or foreign country aircraft, and has now located 109 files for examination.

Perth NAA Office Files

Assistance from a member of UFORUM in Perth has led to the inspection of several files at the Perth NAA office. These include:

• Fire services-general UFO [WRAAC-14th Women's Royal Australian Army Corps] (PP580/1 372/1/2)
• Observations-general by outside authorities including UFOs (Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology) (PP956/1 45/38)
• [Western Australian Squadron Air Training Corps] Investigation of unidentified flying objects (PP959/1 5/3/AIR)

More RAAF Files Released

Parts 1-10 of Series A703 control symbol 580/1/1 have been available on RecordSearch. Parts 11-20 were requested previously, and now parts 21-34 have surfaced in the archives and are being requested for examination and release.

UFO Case Archive

Disclosure Australia aims to document significant Australian UFO cases on its website. For this newsletter, the focus is on gathering data for the 19 January 1966 Euramo/Tully case. They are soliciting copies of documents, photographs, or any related material, noting that AUFORN has also recently requested film/video footage on this case.

Web Site and Information Distribution

The Disclosure Australia website has been updated with summaries of RAAF file 580/1/1 parts 5, 6, and 8. Page-by-page summaries of examined files and catalogues of UFO cases are also available online to ensure research transparency. Hard copies are provided to researchers without web access.

Future Plans

As a next step, the organization plans to distribute a two CD-ROM set to Project Liaison Officers. This set will contain a full compilation of file summaries and catalogues, with copyright belonging to AURA as the creator. National Australia Archive images, on which the summaries are based, will also be included for research use only. Legal advice indicates these unpublished NAA files are protected under copyright. However, for the sake of knowledge dissemination, works can be shared for minority research interest, provided a signed statement of intent is obtained to protect AURA from misuse.

Contacting the Secretariat

Information that would assist the Project is welcomed. Contact details for DISCLOSURE AUSTRALIA are provided: PO Box 783, Jimboomba 4280, and email: [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this newsletter are the systematic investigation of historical UFO phenomena in Australia, the importance of government records (especially military and aviation archives), and the commitment to transparency in research dissemination. The editorial stance is one of diligent archival research, a desire to uncover and document significant cases, and a proactive approach to obtaining and sharing information, while respecting copyright and research integrity. The organization actively seeks public input and collaboration to build a comprehensive understanding of Australian UFO history.