Disclosure Australia (AURA) - No 11 - March 2004

Magazine Overview

Title: DISCLOSURE AUSTRALIA
Issue: NEWSLETTER ELEVEN
Date: MARCH 2004
Publisher: Australian UFO Research Network
Country: Australia

This issue of Disclosure Australia Newsletter, dated March 2004, details the ongoing efforts to access Australian government files pertaining to UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena. It highlights the complexities of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, archival research, and the historical documentation of sightings.

RAAF FOI Request

The primary focus of this newsletter is a detailed account of a FOI request submitted to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 15 December 2003. The request sought access to specific files listed in 'Table one', which included various RAAF file series numbers. The RAAF responded on 6 January 2004, indicating that approximately 3,700 pages fell within the scope of the request. After a financial deposit was made, the RAAF acknowledged holding the files in a letter dated 20 February 2004, as detailed in 'Table two'.

However, the process of obtaining these files proved challenging. An inspection of certain files (AF580/1/1 Parts 21-35, AF554/1/30 Part 2, and 574/3/884) revealed their contents were over thirty years old, preventing determination under the FOI Act. Furthermore, several files were reported as destroyed (AF529/1/3 Parts 1, 4-14; AF84/3265 Part 1), and others could not be located despite a search (AF529/1/3 Parts 2-3; AF84/3744 Part 1; AF84/3508; 659/5/461; 2/25/1).

• Ultimately, a subset of files were to be made available with deletions for personal information. These included:
• AF 84/3265 Part 2 – Unidentified Flying Objects: Reports of sightings 1983
• AF 84/3265 Part 3 – Unidentified Flying Objects: Reports of sightings
• Air 554/1/30 Part 3 – Investigation of Flying Saucers Policy

These files collectively totaled 599 pages.

File Access Challenges and Next Steps

The newsletter outlines further difficulties in accessing specific files:

• File AF580/1/1 Parts 21-35: These files are listed as deposited with and available through the National Archives of Australia (NAA) under the Archives Act. A request has been submitted to the NAA for copies.
• Files AF554/1/30 Part 2 and 574/3/884: These files are held by the RAAF but are inaccessible under FOI due to their age (over 30 years). They are also not in the National Archives, preventing access under the Archives Act. Correspondence has been sent to the RAAF requesting assistance.
• Series A9755: This series comprises 23 files from the RAAF's main UFO period (1984-1994). While reference notes in the NAA indicated their collection in 1994, only one file (A9755 control symbol 2, 'UFOs: Prediction Agencies') is digitally available in Record Search. The RAAF stated they do not hold these files, directing the request back to the NAA. However, the NAA advised the RAAF holds them but they are outside the Archives Act date range. To resolve this circular issue, a second FOI request was submitted to the RAAF, emphasizing their responsibility for these files even if physically located at the NAA.

Deep Search: Archival Discoveries

This section details findings from deeper research in the National Archives' electronic database, Record Search, with summaries of newly released files.

"Ghost planes” over Darwin in 1938

A summary of Department of Defence Air Board file series A 705, control symbol 56/3/2, titled “Department of defence-Air Board-Unidentified aircraft at Darwin,” located at the NAA Canberra office, is presented. This 19-page file documents a series of 'ghost plane,' 'strange plane,' 'unidentified aircraft,' or 'dirigible' flaps that occurred in various locations globally in the early 20th century.

The specific Darwin incidents detailed include:

• April 1938: A DOD minute from the Dept of Navy Intelligence to the Air Board notes reports of a heavy noise like an aircraft going NW towards Burketown on 12 March 1938 at 1600hrs, and another aircraft sighting on 19 March 1938. A further aircraft was seen on 25 March 1938 at 1400hrs near Groote Island.
• March 1938: A RAAF minute from 9 April 1938 addresses unidentified aircraft at Darwin. A memo from the Dept of Interior to DOD includes an interview with the NT Administrator regarding an aircraft heard on 3 March 1938 at 0530hrs passing over Darwin, and two men at Darwin claiming to have seen an aircraft with wheels, not floats, at 6pm on the same day.
• February 1938: Witness statements describe hearing an aircraft engine and seeing an orange light in the SW on 8 February 1938 at 0430hrs. On 3 February 1938, a grey coloured biplane was seen going E or SE, and a grey aircraft was observed in a southerly direction.
• February 1938: A DOD Minute from 16 February 1938 notes that the exhaust of Japanese seaplanes at night gives off an orange flame. Telegrams and minutes from early February 1938 indicate that investigations into aircraft sightings were underway, but close investigation was discounted by 11 February, with reports suggesting all aircraft in the NT had been accounted for and that the absence of fuelling arrangements made strange aircraft 'very improbable'. Reports from Powell's Creek mentioned two aircraft flying south on 9 February 1939.
• Press reports: Melbourne Argus & Age (11 Feb 1938), Herald (10 Feb 1938), and Argus & Herald (9 Feb 1938) covered aircraft sightings over Darwin, using terms like 'aircraft over Darwin,' 'Ghost planes,' and 'Strange planes.'

Movements of unusual cargoes by air transport

This section examines file series A705 213/1/133 Part 1, titled “Movements of unusual cargoes by air transport,” from the NAA Canberra Office. This 133-page file contains documents and photographs related to the transport of large, mundane items such as parts of a Canberra bomber and a fire tender. Notably, there is no reference to UFOs on this file.

Unidentified aircraft

This part of the newsletter reviews several files containing the term "unidentified aircraft" in their titles, exploring whether these might equate to UFOs.

• File A1209 (Prime Minister's Department): Titled “Reported sightings-unidentified aircraft over Indonesian Territory,” this 11-page file from the NAA Canberra office discusses unidentified aircraft seen over Indonesian Territory in 1960, originating from Netherlands' New Guinea. The Dutch government denied ownership. On 16 May 1960, Brigadier Brown observed new vapour trails and heard unidentified jet aircraft at an estimated 40-45,000 feet travelling East to West. A memo on 1 June 1960 provided firm evidence of Indonesian jets flying over East Indonesia. This file also contains no mention of "UFOs" or "Flying saucers."

• File A9875 (No 1 Control and Reporting Unit Air Defence-Unusual Occurrences): This 3-page file from the NAA Canberra office, marked "Secret" and opened 12 October 1961, details telex messages from October 1961 concerning IFF mode 4 emergencies plotted at 1CARU Brookdale on two occasions. Emergency actions were taken but cancelled when it was found that a DCA advised a Nowra aircraft was testing IFF. A message form from 1 CARU to HQ Op Com on 6 October 1961 also reported an IFF emergency (mayday) plotted from CARU, later found to be a Venom aircraft from Nowra testing IFF.

• File A11250 (No 23 Fighter Squadron-Intelligence-Unusual sightings): This 6-page file from the NAA Canberra office contains a report form describing an "aerial object observed." A memo from HQ Home Command Penrith to Australian RAAF bases dated 21 November 1953, superseded a January 1952 sighting pro forma. A telex from Dept Air Canberra to Comlist Alpha on 6 April 1960 mentioned the re-entry of Sputnik 3 and requested reports of any sightings. A message form on 7 April 1960 reported a sighting of an object seen between 060958Z and 061005Z NE, with an elevation of 10 degrees, moving to the NW, described as bright red and flashing 10 times in 8 seconds. Another telex on 21 September 1960 from Dep Air to Comlist Alpha mentioned the expected re-entry of Sputnik 5. A message form on 4 October 1960 reported a sighting on 29 September 1960 at 1925hrs, moving NW to NE, seen approximately 100 miles from the Victorian border for 15 minutes. A minute sheet from 22 September 1960 referenced folio 4 and stated, "We should bring this to notice of all ranks and request sighting reports." This file is treated as confidential.

• File A12639 (Intelligence-reports of unusual sightings): This 6-page file from the RAAF Radio School Ballarat, located at the NAA Canberra office, also contains reports of unusual sightings. A telex on 6 April 1960 from Dep Air Canberra to Comlist Alpha noted the expected re-entry of Sputnik 3 and requested units to report any sightings. A message form on 7 April 1960 detailed a sighting (object seen 060958Z to 061005Z NE, elevation 10 degrees, moving NW, bright red and flashing 10 flashes in 8 seconds). A memo on 7 April 1960 from the School of Radio to the Dept of Air provided details of the Sputnik 3 re-entry sighting. A telex on 21 September 1960 from Dep Air to Comlist Alpha mentioned the expected re-entry of Sputnik 5. A message form on 4 October 1960 reported a sighting on 29 September 1960 at 1925hrs, moving NW to NE, seen approximately 100 miles from the Victorian border for 15 minutes. A minute sheet from 22 September 1960 referenced folio 4 and stated, "We should bring this to notice of all ranks and request sighting reports."

Anomalous propagation

Summary of file series MP1049/5, control symbol 2037/7/1370, titled “Anomalous propagation reports,” located at the Melbourne Office of the NAA. This file consists of 27 pages, with documents dating from 5 February 1946 to 31 March 1947. The subject matter includes correspondence from the Australian Naval Liaison Officer in Australia House London to the Naval Board Melbourne regarding radar operating ranges on ships and standards of reference. It also covers internal RAN discussions on ship-borne radar sets and anomalous propagation affecting radar range. This file contains no reference to "Flying Saucers" or "UFOs."

South Australian reports listing 1932-2003

This listing has been expanded to over 70 A4 pages and is described as the most comprehensive collection of abstracts of UFO reports from South Australia ever compiled. It is available at http://disclosure.freewebpage.org.

Web site

The newsletter announces that file summaries and catalogues have been withdrawn from the web site and transferred to two CD-ROMs. The intention is to provide free copies of these to Australian UFO groups via liaison officers, likely at the June 2004 National UFO Conference.

Contacting the Project

Disclosure Australia provides contact information: PO Box 783, Jimboomba 4280, and e-mail: [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent challenges in accessing government documentation related to UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena, the meticulous nature of archival research, and the historical documentation of sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of determined pursuit of information, highlighting bureaucratic obstacles and the need for continued effort to uncover and disseminate relevant data. The newsletter advocates for transparency and public access to information concerning unexplained aerial events.