Disclosure Australia (AURA) - No 25 - Oct 2005

Magazine Overview

This issue of the NEWSLETTER TWENTY-FIVE from DISCLOSURE AUSTRALIA, dated October 2005, focuses on the Frederick Valentich disappearance and the accessibility of government documents related to UFO phenomena in Australia. The newsletter details the organization's efforts to obtain information through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and archival research.

The Valentich Disappearance and Government Documents

The newsletter begins by detailing an unsolicited communication from the former girlfriend of Frederick Valentich, the pilot who disappeared in 1978 while flying over Bass Strait. She sought knowledge of any government documents concerning the event. The Project intends to interview her. Due to the 30-year rule for accessing files under the Archives Act, direct access to 1978 files is not yet possible, but FOI requests can be used.

The Project had submitted an FOI request to the Department of Defence (DOD) for UFO files from that era. Some files were transferred to the Edinburgh Air Force Base in Adelaide for inspection. Handwritten notes were taken, but papers could not be photocopied. One file contained relevant papers regarding Valentich. Typed versions of these notes are presented:

1. A memo dated November 27, 1978, from the Department of Transport, Melbourne, to the Command Intelligence Officer, HQ Support Command, regarding the missing aircraft Cessna 182 VH-DSJ on October 21, 1978. It mentions attachments including RAAF proforma and sightings around the time of Valentich's disappearance.
2. A file note from SOI HQSC instructing to file UAS reports on 5/6/1/Air Part 8 (closed), stating they were kept apart from the main file during the Valentich inquiry and never replaced.
3. A file note from February 10, 1989, indicating that in 1983, all paperwork on Valentich's disappearance was photocopied by the UFO Research Society in Victoria, and all inquiries should be directed to them.

The newsletter clarifies that the Department of Transport (DOT), specifically its Air Safety area, was responsible for the official investigation into Frederick's disappearance, not the RAAF. The DOT file number V116/783/1047 is mentioned.

An FOI request to the DOT for file V116/783/1047 in August 2004 resulted in a reply stating the file had been destroyed by the National Archives of Australia (NAA). An electronic search of NAA files found no record, though only 10% of NAA files are electronically available.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), part of the DOT, maintains an electronic database of aviation occurrences. The Project queried this database for UFO references and found one related to Valentich: Occurrence number 197802563, Occurrence ID 70857, dated October 21, 1978, near Cape Otway, Victoria. The pilot reported a UFO, experienced rough running engine, and the aircraft (Cessna 182 VH-DSJ) went missing.

Another pilot report from the ATSB's OASIS database, dated April 16, 1977, occurred near King Island, Tasmania. The report (Occurrence number 197703195, Occurrence ID 77512) stated a UFO report from a pilot, passed to the RAAF for study, with a CFT beacon abeam VH-KRY in a Cessna 401. The RAAF UFO files examined did not contain this report.

Report from Maralinga South Australia in 1960

The National Archives of Australia (NAA) highlighted a UFO report on its website from file A6456, concerning the Weapons Research Establishment (WRE) Salisbury-Department of Supply-Maralinga Project. Of its 45 pages, 7 relate to a sighting on July 15, 1960, near Maralinga, South Australia, a location known for atomic bomb tests.

Several observations of a similar object were documented for July 15, 1960:

• 7:15 PM: Constable H D Scarborough saw a bright light moving East to West, which grew larger and turned red. Duration: 30 seconds. Located 15 miles from Maralinga village.
• 7:00 PM: Constable R H Maxwell, 13 miles from the village, saw a light appearing to come from the direction of Wewak.
• 7:00 PM: Maralinga Village witnesses (Ross, Hoskins, Kingsley, Haskard) saw a light over the REME workshop building, coming from Wewak. Duration: 2-15 seconds.
• 7:10 PM: Mrs Fuller, at a homestead 500 miles NW of Woomera, reported a bright light and two loud 'bangs' from the light travelling SW to East. The light changed from white to red, with bangs occurring two minutes after the light was seen.
• Between 7:30 and 8:00 PM: Giles weather station observer saw a light bearing 100 degrees true at 15 degrees elevation, with a reddish glow that faded and reappeared.

Other sightings were reported from Ernabella, Kenmore Park, and Kulgera.

Explanations for the Maralinga sightings ranged from St Elmo's fire and meteors to reflections of vehicle lights. However, Harry Turner, an ex-Joint Intelligence Bureau officer, investigated and concluded the light was caused by an unidentified flying object, possibly a cone from a satellite or a 'flying saucer.'

What happens to UFO reports from Department of Defence (DOD) personnel?

The newsletter examines the DOD's website regarding Unidentified Aerial Sightings (UAS). The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) previously investigated UAS but ceased this function due to insufficient evidence warranting continued resource allocation. Current Defence policy directs the public to local police or civil UFO research organizations. The newsletter questions whether this policy also applies to DOD personnel, civilian aircrew, and air traffic controllers.

A letter has been dispatched to the Minister of Defence, inquiring about the handling of UAS reports from DOD personnel, civilian airline crew, and air traffic controllers since 1994, when the DOD ceased its public reporting function. The letter asks if any personnel have monitored, collected, or analyzed such reports since 1994, and if any scientific research was conducted between 1947 and 1994, or between 1994 and the present, including who conducted it and their findings.

The newsletter poses seven specific questions to the Department of Defence regarding the handling of UAS reports from internal personnel and any scientific research conducted.

Woomera on the web

A website about Woomera provided general information and email comments. An email campaign to 75 individuals who left contact details resulted in six responses, none of whom reported UFO sightings despite having lived in Woomera for many years.

Media exposure

The Disclosure Project has recently gained media exposure through press items in The Adelaide Advertiser, The NT News, The Sunday Mail (Brisbane), and The Sunday Sun-Herald (Melbourne). These articles generated numerous calls to a UFO hotline. Radio interviews were conducted in Adelaide, Canberra, Albany, and Perth, and a TV item appeared on Channel 7's "Today Tonight."

Questionnaire survey results

The Project, two years into its task, has completed stage one (uncovering and examining Australian Government files) using archival and FOI processes. Findings have been disseminated via a website and 24 newsletters. Stage two involves collating documentation on "good" Australian UFO cases, followed by stage three, which aims to lobby the Federal Government.

A survey was conducted among Australian UFO groups and researchers to assess the Project's performance. The 1-5 assessment scale ranged from 'Very poor' to 'Excellent.'

Q1: Overall success of the Project in uncovering and examining Australian Federal Government UFO related files.
Average result: 4.7 (between very good and excellent). Comments included: "Informative, precise, presented clearly with no speculation."

Q2: Project's performance in disseminating its findings.
Website: Average 4.3. Newsletters: Average 4.6. Revelations column in "Australasian UFOlogist": Average 4.6. Presentations at conferences: Average 4.0. Comments included: "The Project's image seemed a bit introverted and defensive; why not call it Disclosure! Australian Project."

Q3: Project's provision of new information.
Average: 4.1.

Q4: Surprise at the volume of information uncovered.
54% of respondents said yes, 46% said no. The question's wording is noted as potentially ambiguous.

Q5: Belief in Australian Government scientific research into UFOs.
70% thought yes, 30% thought no. Comments suggested research might be handled by Americans, involve CSIRO, or be done in secret.

Q6: Belief in Australian Government hidden knowledge concerning UFOs.
80% thought yes, 20% thought no. Comments cited secrecy, paranoia, conspiracy beliefs, and numerous anecdotal reports of advanced craft and retrievals.

Q7: Possession of original material, documents, or photographs on Australian cases.
No comments provided.

Q8: Possibility of lobbying the Australian Government to divulge UFO knowledge.
Yes and no were both 50%.

Q9: Methods for lobbying the Australian Government.
If 'yes' to Q8, 100% suggested instigating questions in Parliament and communicating with the Federal Government. 100% also agreed with 'another way,' elaborating on an "open and honest" approach seeking information for scientific research, and striking while the iron is hot now that public awareness of UFO files exists.

Q10: Financial contribution to hiring a professional lobbyist.
No one was prepared to contribute financially.

Q11: Alternative lobbying strategies if direct lobbying is unsuccessful.
(a) Raising signatures on a petition: 50% yes, 50% no.
(b) Ongoing quarterly requests to the Department of Defence: 86% yes, 14% no.
(c) Asking new MPs to raise the issue: 77% yes, 23% no.
(d) Periodically checking the NAA for newly released files: 88% yes, 12% no. Comments suggested a coordinated letter-writing campaign would be more effective than a petition.

Q12: Other comments about the Project.
Comments included congratulations on the Project's success, suggestions for a cooperative rather than demanding approach with MPs, the potential effectiveness of petitions in raising awareness, and that smaller parties and independents might be more open to discussing UFO issues.

Q13: Termination of the Disclosure Australia Project after stage 2 if lobbying is unsuccessful.
44% said no, 56% said yes. If no, suggestions included contacting ex-service people or serving personnel with UFO experiences, and emailing all MPs outlining the Project and requesting support for obtaining further government files.

Contacting the Project

Contact information for DISCLOSURE AUSTRALIA is provided: PO Box 783, Jimboomba 4280, e-mail: [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this newsletter is the pursuit of transparency regarding UFO phenomena in Australia, particularly concerning government involvement and historical cases. Disclosure Australia actively uses FOI and archival research to uncover information. The editorial stance appears to be one of persistent inquiry, aiming to engage government bodies and the public in understanding Australia's UFO history. The newsletter also highlights the importance of public perception and the effectiveness of various methods for influencing government disclosure, as evidenced by the survey results. There is a clear focus on documented cases and official records, with an emphasis on presenting findings clearly and without speculation, as noted in the survey comments.