UFO Research Australia newsletter vol 5 no 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Research Australia newsletter, Volume 5, Number 1, dated January-February 1984, is published bi-monthly and presents the work of UFO researchers independently of any specific organization. The cover features a stylized atomic symbol with a silhouette of Australia and a UFO, under the main title "UFO Research Australia newsletter". The ISSN is 0726-1764, and the price for a single copy is $3.00 Aust. The newsletter is registered by Australia Post with publication number SBQ1224.

Editorial: Communication & Cooperation

The editorial discusses the importance of communication and cooperation within the UFO research community, noting a global trend towards information exchange but also highlighting room for improvement. It expresses frustration with those who preach these ideals but practice them sporadically. The editorial references a previous article in UFORAN Vol.2 No.4 about "Project U.R.D.", a Swedish system for UFO data computerization, which aimed to unite global research efforts through standardized methods. Despite publishing this article to promote the project, the editors were surprised by the lack of acknowledgment from Project U.R.D. Nevertheless, the newsletter emphasizes its fortunate position of having consistent support from contributors both nationally and internationally, appreciating those who actively practice communication and cooperation.

Articles and Features

Perth "Light" Puzzle

A preliminary report by PUFORG Special Investigator Adrian De Jong details an incident on January 20, 1984, near Midland, Western Australia. Police constables Tim Moffitt and Mark Fleskens witnessed a bright white flash of light, followed by another. Constable Fleskens observed a large green and white light hovering above Midland for two seconds. During this time, the police radio in the van reportedly failed. The phenomenon was also witnessed by Mr. Sidney Bell, who described a huge green, white, and blue light, about 30 meters high with a 6-meter base, appearing conical. The surrounding trees were affected by gale-force winds confined to that area. Bright "zig-zag" vertical lines and three "star"-like lights were also observed. The phenomenon disappeared with a "thump" noise, and the wind stopped. Tenants of a nearby house noticed the bright light and the gale-force wind, which vanished with a "bang". Their electrical clock blinked, and other residents reported similar electrical disturbances and mild electric shocks. The Weather Bureau confirmed no gale-force winds were present. Investigations by the Perth UFO Research Group are ongoing.

Oblong UFO Lands on Water

By John F. Schuessler, this article reports on a sighting by 14-year-old Carl E. Moore and his friends near Newberry, South Carolina, on July 15, 1981. Moore observed a large, 30-foot long, glowing silver/white cigar-shaped UFO flying slowly over the water at about 20-25 miles per hour. The object settled on the water's surface, causing steam to rise, and hovered about a foot above it for three minutes. It then ascended vertically at high speed, described as "faaast", reaching over 250 miles per hour. The UFO was larger than a standard automobile, covered in small, flickering whitish-blue lights. Moore described his experience as "quite disturbed" but felt compelled to report it after learning about Project VISIT. The article includes a diagram illustrating the UFO's flight path and landing.

Texas UFO Crash in 1897?

Another article by John F. Schuessler investigates the alleged UFO crash near Aurora, Texas, on April 19, 1897. While some believe the story was a fabrication, others are sure it occurred. The report notes that sightings of strange airships were common in newspapers across the US that spring. The Aurora case involved an object crashing and leaving debris. Farmer Jim Stephens reported the object's nose hitting a windlass, causing an explosion. Mary Evans, then 15, stated the airship exploded, and the pilot, a small man, was killed and buried locally. Investigators from the Mutual UFO Network traced witnesses and found pieces of metal at the crash site, which laboratory analysis revealed to be ultra-pure aluminum with large grains, consistent with a heating and cooling cycle. A crude marker in the local cemetery, resembling a cigar-shaped object, was found but later removed, leaving the grave's location a mystery. The article concludes that the investigators' files hold sufficient evidence to cast reasonable doubt on the hoax theory.

What Is a UFO?

By Mark Moravec, this article explores the challenge of defining "UFO" (Unidentified Flying Object). It highlights that a clear definition is crucial for focusing research and ensuring communication among researchers. The article presents definitions from J. Allen Hynek and the Condon Report. The Condon definition is criticized as too general, while Hynek's definition differentiates between potentially explicable "UFO reports" and unexplained "UFO" residue. A British-based Working Party on Standards in UFO Research proposed a definition for a "UFO Report" and a "UFO" itself, which is also critiqued for being overly general. Moravec suggests a two-part definition: one for the "UFO" itself (the stimulus behind the perception) and one for "ufology" (the scientific study of UFOs and related phenomena). His proposed definition for a UFO emphasizes its unidentified nature and the inability to conform to conventional explanations even after thorough investigation.

An Investigator's Guide to Some Natural Ground Markings

By Keith Basterfield, this article aims to help investigators distinguish between genuine unknown phenomena and natural occurrences that can mimic them. It focuses on ground markings, particularly those caused by fungi, leaf smut, and slime mould. Fungi are described as non-green plants with thread-like hyphae forming a mycelium below the soil surface. The outward growth of mycelium creates circular patterns, often resulting in rings of grass growth. These "fairy rings" can vary in size and grow outwards over time. Mushrooms and toadstools may appear at the edge of these rings. The article lists characteristics of fungus rings, including bare or stunted ground, size variation, and outward growth. It notes that these rings can grow around obstacles like rocks or anthills.

New UFORAN Foreign Correspondent

Professor A.J. Gevaerd from Brazil is welcomed as a new foreign correspondent. He is the Coordinator of the Center for Flying Saucer Research (CPDV) in Brazil and holds several other significant positions within ufology organizations in Brazil and internationally. In exchange, Vladimir Godic will represent CPDV in Australia. CPDV is described as a scientific, non-profit organization investigating all aspects of ufology, with a substantial membership.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the idea of rigorous investigation, distinguishing between natural explanations and genuine unknowns. There is a strong emphasis on communication and cooperation within the UFO research community, as highlighted in the editorial. The publication appears to be a platform for detailed case reports, scientific analysis (as seen in the Texas crash article), and educational pieces aimed at improving investigative methodology and understanding. The stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging detailed reporting and analysis while maintaining a critical eye towards potential misidentifications of natural phenomena.

This issue of UFORAN, dated August 1972, focuses on the "Australian Desert Encounter," a detailed account of a UFO sighting by witness Helen Benger. The magazine also explores Australia's contributions to space medical research and discusses natural ground markings.

Australian Desert Encounter

The central article is an interview with Helen Benger, who, along with her cousin Crystal Walsh, experienced a remarkable UFO encounter in the Australian desert on August 27, 1972. Benger describes stopping her car in the desert to rest when she noticed a strange, bright light in the sky. Initially, she thought it might be a satellite or an experimental craft, but its irregular movements, hovering, and circling behavior suggested otherwise. The object displayed a dull yellow light and at one point showed a flashing green light on its side. Benger attempted to signal the object by flashing her car's lights, which seemed to prompt the object to move closer.

Her cousin was woken, and together they observed the object for about an hour. It descended and hovered over a ridge of hills. The following day, two days after the initial sighting, Benger's cousin Dorothy Simpson corroborated the events. The object was later described as cone-shaped, with a thick body and a cylinder base, resembling an arrow when moving. It was observed in both night and day conditions, appearing as a greyish, aluminium-like substance in daylight. The object accompanied them for a significant portion of their journey towards Kulgera, sometimes moving ahead and then returning.

During the interview, Benger also discusses the phenomenon of 'min-min lights,' which are unexplained desert lights often associated with folklore. She contrasts the UFO's high altitude with the lower hovering of min-min lights. Benger also touches upon the possibility of telepathy, recounting an instance where she felt she had influenced the UFO to return after it had initially disappeared.

Australia's Role in Space Medical Research

Another significant section highlights Australia's involvement in space medical research. It details experiments selected for flight on the Space Shuttle, including those by Dr. Leopold Dintenfass, a blood specialist studying the effects of weightlessness on blood, and Dr. Joseph Hoh, a physiologist researching the impact of weightlessness on rat muscles. The article notes the potential implications of these experiments for prolonged manned spaceflight and disease diagnosis. However, it also points out the potential abandonment of these projects due to a lack of funding from the Australian Federal Government, despite NASA's support.

Guide to Some Natural Ground Markings

The magazine also provides a guide to identifying natural ground markings that might be mistaken for UFO traces. It describes:

• Fairy Rings: Characterized by white mycelium in the soil, higher ammonia and nitrate content in the bare ring, and potential mushrooms at the edge.
• Slime Mould: Described as mysterious circles or arcs of black, "greasy" specks on lawns, often appearing after rain. These particles cover grass blades but cause no indentation and decay within days.
• Leaf Smuts: Black, dusty masses of spores found on lawns, identified as a class of fungi.

The section advises that if identification is in doubt, one should take photographs and soil samples to local agricultural or botanical departments for assistance. It also includes a call for more researchers to eliminate mundane explanations before jumping to UFO conclusions.

An A to Z of UFO Explanations

This section, continued from a previous issue, lists and briefly explains various proposed UFO explanations. These include:

• Misraki's Ancient Visitors: The theory that humanity was created by aliens.
• Moon Relay: The concept of UFOs originating from a base on the hidden side of the moon.
• Modern Myth (Carl Jung): UFOs arising from objective events forming myths, influenced by archetypes and synchronicity.
• Natural Phenomena (U.S. Air Force): Explanations involving natural events like swamp gas or ball lightning, or known physical events such as weather balloons.
• Oberth's Interstellar Theory: The idea of UFOs being manned spacecraft from other star systems using interdimensional shortcuts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the investigation of UFO phenomena, the scientific exploration of space, and the importance of distinguishing between natural and potentially anomalous events. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, encouraging rigorous investigation and the elimination of mundane explanations before concluding a UFO sighting. There is also an emphasis on the potential of Australian scientific contributions, alongside a critique of government funding for such research. The magazine promotes a rational yet open-minded approach to UFO studies, as evidenced by the detailed reporting of the desert encounter and the inclusion of various explanatory theories.

This document, titled "AUSTRALIAN DESERT ENCOUNTER", details a series of UFO sightings and encounters experienced by a witness named Helen and her cousin Dot in the Australian desert. The primary encounter discussed occurred on the night of August 27/28, 1972. The magazine issue number is 19.

The Encounter

The witness, Helen, recounts her experiences over two nights. The first night, the object was described as a "straight cylinder" with a "dome, cone-shape, at the end". It was initially stationary and then moved. The size was estimated to be comparable to a helicopter or a large car. Helen found it difficult to describe and suggested a drawing would be best.

During the first encounter, while changing a tyre, the object was stationary. Helen noted that the object's shape was not a sharp cone but a blunt one. She couldn't see anything underneath, only the outline. The object was described as being "up high, well not far, I'd say half a mile".

Object Characteristics and Behavior

The object exhibited various behaviors, including hovering, moving away cautiously, and coming right over them. It was described as having "terrific speeds" and could move from stationary to rapid movement. The object was seen to move in "all sorts of directions".

On the second night, the object was seen again. It was described as a "dark and silver" metallic object, similar in shape to the previous night's sighting. It was observed to be on the ground, parked, and then it "lifted up a little way" and "skimmed across the ground". The witness described it as being "on the ground, the light, all the time, jumping from space to space". It was also described as being "about the height of a house" and wide enough to take up the full space of the road with some feet on either side.

Sensory and Electrical Effects

A notable aspect of the encounter was a "steady drone" sound, which Helen initially thought might be a car but later attributed to the UFO. She also noted that the car's lights went "dull" when the object was close, suggesting an electromagnetic effect. This occurred on the rough road near Alice Springs.

Witness's Emotional Response and Fear

Helen expressed being "frightened" multiple times. Initially, the fear was a general sense of unease. However, on the second night, when the object appeared to land, her fear intensified. She stated, "I was frightened because I felt that there was something in me that I did have this power. I was frightened of myself." She felt she had "the power to make this craft do anything I wanted it to do." This realization, coupled with the object being so close and potentially landing, caused her significant fear.

Mental Telepathy and Contact

Helen and her cousin discussed using "mental telepathy" to try and make contact with the object. Helen actively tried to signal it with a torch, and she felt the object responded, signalling back. This led her to believe she had established contact and that the object was following them. She felt she had "deliberately trying to lead this thing to" them.

The Second Night's Experience

The second night's experience was described as "contrary" to the first. While the first night was perceived as "beautiful" and "terrific", the second night was marked by fear. Helen felt the object was "landing" and was "so close." She also expressed a feeling that the object was "interested in us." She questioned if it was the same craft, but felt it was. The fear stemmed from the object's proximity, its landing behavior, and her perceived ability to influence it.

Location and Travel

The encounters took place in the Australian desert, with mentions of Woomera, Pimba, and the road towards Adelaide. Helen and Dot were travelling continuously, not stopping at hotels, and took breaks only for short periods, such as at Coober Pedy.

Description of the Road and Object

The road where the object was seen on the ground was described as a "bitumen road", "fairly big", but not a "real wide road". It was a "moonlight night, very clear". The object was seen on the right side of the road, about a hundred yards away, and was the "height of a house".

The UFO's Response and Helen's Fear

When Helen signalled the object with her torch, it responded by blinking its lights on and off. This confirmed to her that it was not just someone in the scrub. She felt it was a UFO that had landed or was watching them. Her fear was amplified by the thought that if they had turned the car around, the object might have been there, and that she might "really finish up on another planet before the night is through."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this account are UFO sightings, witness testimony, the physical characteristics and behavior of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), potential electromagnetic effects, and the psychological impact of such encounters on witnesses. The narrative focuses on a detailed, first-hand account of a specific event, aiming to present the witness's experience as credible and significant. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena, providing a platform for detailed witness reports.

This issue of 'AUSTRALIAN DESERT ENCOUNTER' details a significant UFO sighting experienced by Helen Benger and her cousin Dot in the Australian desert on the night of August 15, 1972. The magazine includes a transcript of an interview with Helen Benger, an investigation report, and a reference library section.

The Encounter

The primary narrative revolves around Helen Benger's account of seeing a UFO while driving through the desert. She describes a round, flat, light-colored object, which she initially perceived as an orange light or something similar. The object exhibited unusual behavior, appearing and disappearing, and at one point, seemed to be following their vehicle. Benger recounts being frightened by the experience, questioning whether she had 'meddled' and brought the object back by thinking about it.

Witness Testimony

Helen Benger recounts the sighting in detail, describing the object's movements as 'hopping from left to right, to the side of us, or to the back of us.' She notes that it would disappear and then reappear further away. At one point, she saw it hovering. She emphasizes that the object had no lights on it, even though it was a moonlit night. She also mentions seeing it stationary in the middle of the road, which caused her significant fear. She distinguishes the object from natural phenomena like trees, especially when tired in the desert, stating, 'I saw it. It wasn't a truck, it wasn't a tree.'

Her cousin, Dot, was also present but initially less engaged, suggesting Helen put her head down and tried to sleep. However, Dot also confirmed seeing the object as 'little dots of light' later on.

Benger also reflects on her own thoughts and desires, admitting that a part of her might have wanted the object to land and make itself known, but she was also scared due to the presence of her children and concerns for her family.

Related Experiences and Reading

Benger mentions reading about UFOs in publications like Pix and Reader's Digest, including accounts of people being taken away on UFOs, such as the case of Barney and Betty Hill. She also recalls an article about a ship at sea with a missing crew and a rendezvous in the American desert. She expresses a desire to be questioned thoroughly to ensure she is not imagining things.

The Second Sighting

Benger describes seeing the object again on the road, and later as 'little lights.' She estimates seeing it about four times after the initial encounter. She decided to stop further investigation, wanting to report the sighting to the UFO society upon reaching Pt Augusta and Adelaide. She also mentions that the object was seen from about 11 PM to 2:30 AM on the second night.

Driving and Location Details

The encounter occurred while driving through the desert. Helen Benger and Dot took turns driving. Benger prefers driving during the day due to her eyes playing up at night. The specific locations mentioned in relation to the sighting include Kulgera and the general desert area between Adelaide and Darwin.

Investigation

The magazine includes a section detailing the investigation into Helen Benger's case. Investigators Crystal Walsh, Keith Basterfield, and Frank Gillespie of UFOR(SA) interviewed both Helen and Dot independently. They found both witnesses to be rational observers and their stories corroborated each other's statements.

Findings

The investigation ruled out Venus and Jupiter as explanations for the main light seen, though secondary lights might have been atmospheric effects on stars. The report notes that the stimulus for the sightings could not have been natural in every instance. The fact that the object was consistently the same shape, yet seen in different locations and on the ground, suggested that a single object was involved.

Physical Traces

Benger recalls finding something on the ground, possibly ashes, described as 'burning marks as if something had landed and burnt the ground when it took of.' This suggests a potential physical trace evidence from the object's presence.

Reference Library

This section provides information about 'Enigma Books,' a mail-order service specializing in second-hand books on 'fringe of science' topics, including UFO phenomena. It lists several books currently in stock, such as "The Humanoids," "UFO Flying Saucers Over Britain," and "The Unidentified," along with their publishers, publication years, page counts, and prices in Australian dollars. It also details packaging and postage costs for both domestic and overseas orders.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, witness testimony, and the investigation of unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO reports, presenting detailed accounts and investigative findings. The inclusion of the reference library suggests an aim to inform readers and provide resources for further exploration of the subject. The overall tone is factual and investigative, seeking to establish the credibility of the witness accounts.