Disclosure Australia (AURA) - No 21 - Mar 2005

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Disclosure Australia Newsletter, titled "Newsletter Twenty-One," dated March 2005, focuses on the historical involvement of the former Department of Supply with the Australian UFO phenomenon between 1952 and 1972. The newsletter is published by Disclosure Australia and was updated in May 2011.

Department of Supply and UFOs 1952-1972

The article details the Department of Supply's functions, which included control of atomic energy materials, shipbuilding, promotion of liquid fuels, manufacture of war materials, operation of space tracking stations, participation in ELDO rocket firings at Woomera, operation of the Joint United Kingdom-Australia Weapons Research project, and management of US facilities. The Department's Central Office was in Melbourne (1950-1969) and later Canberra, and it was abolished on June 12, 1974.

File Search and Early Reports

The newsletter reports on three Department of Supply files concerning UFOs. Two files from 1952 are highlighted, including a "Secret" file SA5281 titled "Unusual Occurrences Flying Saucer at Woomera" (1952-1955), located at the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Adelaide Office. This file, belonging to the Long Range Weapons Establishment (LRWE) in Salisbury, South Australia, details several early observations:

• April 28, 1952, Woomera West SA: Three men witnessed a light moving WNW, described as not a rocket, and estimated to be one-third the size of the full Moon.
• September 27, 1952, Woomera SA: Five witnesses at an open-air theatre sighted an object described as "cigar," "airship," or "cylindrical" with an exhaust, travelling horizontally.
• October 8, 1952, Woomera SA: A radar operator tracked an invisible target between 1500 and 5600 feet, with smaller targets appearing to detach.
• November 14, 1953, Woomera SA: A "glare" believed to be an aircraft was sighted.
• May 5, 1954, Woomera SA: Three relevant documents detail an unidentified target observed on radar at approximately 60,000 yards, moving at an estimated speed of 3600 M.P.H. and a height greater than 60,000 feet. A witness also observed an object that appeared stationary over a Canberra aircraft's flight path.

Further Woomera Sightings and Investigations

Additional reports from Woomera include:

• October 21, 1954, Woomera SA: A "dancing light" with varying colors, described as three times the size of Venus, was observed.
• July 24, 1953, Woomera: A white oval light was detected by Doppler, moving rapidly.
• July 29, 1953, Woomera: White round objects were seen, and an explanation of "thistle seeds and vegetation" was given for some sightings.
• November 22, 1953, SE of Woomera: Green and red lights were reported.
• October 6, 1954, Woomera: A Wing Commander reported an object photographed with a kinetheodolite, described as silver-white and half-moon shaped, travelling SW to NW without sound or vapour trail.

Second File (1952-1968)

A second file (D250) from the Weapons Research Establishment (WRE) covers 1952-1968 and includes reports from April 28, 1952, to May 5, 1954, some of which overlap with the first file. It also contains a memo from the Superintendent LRWE Range to the Chief Superintendent regarding "strange occurrences." A July 29, 1953, report details spherical objects seen by the Range Operations Security Officer, with an official explanation suggesting "balls of thistle seeds and vegetation."

Third File (1966-1974)

The third file (SA5644/2/1) covers 1966-1974 and includes inquiries from the public and RAAF. Examples include a July 1966 inquiry from Victor Harbor, an October 1966 RAAF request regarding an object seen at Kurrajong NSW, and a memo from Director WRE M W Woods concerning alleged UFO sightings during a Skylark firing on April 27, 1967.

#### April 27, 1967 Sightings

Multiple observations on April 27, 1967, at Woomera described objects as round, white, saucer-shaped, moving fast, and some with flashing lights. One report noted a "bright object fell away from dull white object."

#### June 30, 1967 Sightings

On June 30, 1967, multiple observers reported white, spherical or cigar-shaped objects moving at high speed, some in formation, during a Jindivik trial. Descriptions included "silver white like aircraft without wings."

More Department of Supply UFO Papers on Other Government Files

An examination of RAAF files revealed additional reports not on the primary Department of Supply files:

• July 30, 1965, 70mls W of Cook SA: Railway workers reported a hovering silver-colored object that disappeared with a flash.
• July 20, 1967, Karoonda SA: An object was reported falling to earth, seen travelling E to S.
• October 28, 1971, Woomera SA: An object described as a cross shape, light bluish grey, was tracked for 15 seconds, moving with a constant speed in a shallow upward curve. It was concluded to be an aircraft, though its size was comparable to a balloon.
• November 8, 1971: A report from ESO Woomera described an alleged sighting of an unidentified aircraft over the Woomera Prohibited Area prior to a missile launch. No confirmation was obtained.
• December 20, 1971, Woomera: A meteorological observer reported seeing a tiny silver dot aircraft with a vapour trail, heading NE. Investigations found no known aircraft in the area, and explanations ranged from foreign aircraft to re-entry of space debris.
• September 6, 1972: A memo from Defence Standards Laboratories suggested a submitted object was likely satellite debris.

Project Moon Dust and Other Inquiries

The newsletter mentions the USAF's "Project Moon Dust" (1961) aimed at locating and recovering foreign space vehicles. It also details memos concerning the identification of space vehicle fragments and reporting procedures for UFO sightings. The Scientific, Technical & Astronomical Research Society (STARS), a Woomera UFO group, is mentioned, with their unofficial report forms being discontinued due to security concerns.

CSIRO FOI Request

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to CSIRO for papers between 1972 and 1989 revealed that CSIRO does not conduct UFO research, with requests often being referred to the Department of Air. One undated clipping mentions a Mr Norman Benstead who claimed CSIRO investigators told him to destroy a UFO photograph, which CSIRO stated was a double exposure.

Search Through 1952 and 1953 Newspapers

The project is undertaking a search of Melbourne newspapers from 1952 and 1953 for "flying saucer" references, following a survey of 1954 articles.

More Files Emerge from NAA RecordSearch

Two previously unknown files and two known but previously unexamined files related to flying objects have been identified.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently highlights the extensive documentation of UFO sightings in Australia, particularly around the Woomera Prohibited Area, by government agencies like the Department of Supply, WRE, and RAAF. It presents detailed accounts from official files, often including witness descriptions, radar data, and official responses. A recurring theme is the difficulty in obtaining definitive explanations for many sightings, with official explanations often involving misidentification, natural phenomena, or simply a lack of conclusive evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent archival research, presenting raw data and official records to the public, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions about the nature of these phenomena. The focus on declassified government files underscores a commitment to transparency and historical investigation.

Title: Disclosure Australia
Issue: 21
Date: March 2005
Publisher: Disclosure Australia
Country: Australia
Language: English

This issue of Disclosure Australia focuses on the ongoing efforts to access and document Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) files pertaining to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs).

RAAF File Discoveries and Status

The article details the progress in obtaining and reviewing RAAF documentation. The project has a hard copy of 'part 3' of a particular file, but 'part 2' was only sighted during a visit to RAAF Base Edinburgh in 2004. A copy of 'part 2' has been requested.

Another file, identified as RAAF sightings file 580/1/1 part 35, has recently appeared on RecordSearch, and a copy has been ordered.

A significant file series, A9755, has emerged from RAAF Headquarters No 82 Bomber Wing, located in Amberley, Queensland. This series is titled '[RAAF Headquarters No 82 Bomber Wing Amberley Queensland] Unusual Aerial Sightings [UFO-Unidentified Flying Objects]'. The National Archives of Australia (NAA) indicates a date range for this file series from 31 May 1974 to 23 December 1992. This file was originally numbered 5/113/Air Part 10 and is described as containing folios dated 28 August 1991 to 23 December 1992. This file was also observed at RAAF Edinburgh. The project is actively working to resolve apparent contradictions in the date ranges associated with these files.

Contacting the Secretariat

Information is provided regarding how to contact the Disclosure Australia Project. Keith Basterfield, a key figure, has retired. Inquiries should now be directed to Diane Frola. The project expresses gratitude to individuals who continue to submit details of their cases for consideration and welcomes any further information that could assist their work.

Contact Details

The contact information for Disclosure Australia is provided:

Contacting the Project
DISCLOSURE AUSTRALIA
PO Box 783
Jimboomba 4280
e-mail: [email protected]

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the pursuit of official documentation related to UFO phenomena in Australia, specifically through RAAF archives. The editorial stance is one of active investigation, data collection, and a commitment to resolving discrepancies in historical records. The publication encourages public participation by submitting relevant case details.