UFOIC Newsletter - No 41

Magazine Overview

Title: U.F.O.I.C. newsletter.
Issue: No. 41
Date: 1974
Publisher: U.F.O.I.C.
Country: Australia
Language: English

This issue of the U.F.O.I.C. newsletter focuses on Australia's integration into the international UFO research community, specifically its participation in the Centre for UFO Studies (C.U.F.O.S.) founded by Dr. J. Allen Hynek. The newsletter details the establishment of the "THE CENTRE FOR UFO STUDIES - AUSTRALIAN CO-ORDINATION SECTION" and clarifies its independent status from other Australian organizations, emphasizing its direct association with the main Centre in the United States.

Editorial: A Significant New Step in UFO Research

The editorial announces that Australia has joined C.U.F.O.S., a substantial organization in the U.S. with hundreds of investigators, a 24-hour private WATS telephone line, and a reach extending across the United States. C.U.F.O.S. is recognized by the Library of Congress and has been invited to have its name listed in the National Referral Centre. The organization is building a central data bank of UFO information using modern computers and retrieval methods to analyze patterns and correlations in sightings, considering factors like time, place, witness reliability, and types of sightings.

C.U.F.O.S. also possesses laboratories for analyzing physical evidence such as plants, trees, and soil affected by UFO presence. They investigate effects on cars, radios, televisions, and electrical systems, as well as medical studies of witnesses reporting temporary blindness, paralysis, and nausea. The membership comprises professional scientists, engineers, and university faculty members, and the Centre is entirely supported by private funds. The Smithsonian Institute cooperates by transmitting UFO sighting reports it receives, and C.U.F.O.S. contacts them regarding reports of bright meteors and other phenomena.

Australian Co-ordination Section and Global Collaboration

Professor Hynek expresses his hope that all Australian UFO organizations will join the Co-ordination Section. The newsletter quotes Dr. Hynek emphasizing the global nature of the UFO phenomenon and the necessity of studying it on a worldwide basis. He welcomes assistance from all parts of the world and highlights the importance of intercomparing UFO occurrences globally. The Centre for UFO Studies in the U.S. operates a toll-free telephone line for official agencies to transmit sighting reports and has secured the cooperation of law enforcement agencies, with hopes for similar success in Australia.

The Centre defines a UFO as "the reported perception on an object or light seen in the sky or on land, the appearance, trajectory and general dynamic and luminescent behaviour of which do not suggest a logical conventional explanation, and which is not only mystifying to the original percipient but remains unidentified after close scrutiny of all available evidence by persons who are technically capable of making a common sense identification, if one is possible."

The Australian co-ordinators for C.U.F.O.S. are Mr. Harry Griesburg and Mr. David Seargent, with the address for the Centre for UFO Studies Australian Co-ordination Section being P.O. Box 546, GOSFORD. N.S.W. 2250, AUSTRALIA.

Sightings Reports

The newsletter details several recent sightings from across the state, with main areas of activity including Sydney Metropolitan, Blue Mountains, and North Coast. A large number of reports are still under investigation and will be detailed in subsequent issues.

Bondi, N.S.W. (March 5, 1974): Two witnesses observed an unusual orange light for 1-2 minutes, traveling from E to SW. The object suddenly turned on its axis, revealing rotating top and bottom sections. It changed altitude and sped off south at high speed, appearing larger than a star and changing to a deep orange color. Visibility was excellent, with no clouds or moon, and no sound was heard.

West Ryde, N.S.W. (May 13, 1974): Four witnesses observed two oval-shaped objects for approximately 7 minutes. The objects had red lights on the sides and a flashing white light in the center. They appeared larger than an aeroplane and traveled faster than a helicopter, silently. One object stopped, hovered, and was joined by a second object before both disappeared instantly. The weather was clear.

Narrabri, N.S.W. (May 27, 1974): A single witness observed two green objects for 2-3 seconds at 45° elevation in the NE, heading towards the ground at 450. The objects were bright emerald green and suddenly appeared, traveling rapidly until lost behind trees. This sighting is characterized as a classic "green fireball" type.

Brighton-le-Sands, N.S.W. (July 10, 1974): A single witness saw three lights merge into a triangle. The lights were white, with the right-hand light exhibiting a tendency to change to red-orange-green hues. The lights were approximately the size of Venus and appeared directly over Royal National Park. Given the proximity to Sydney Airport, it is suggested this might be an unusual formation of aircraft lights, but insufficient information prevents a firm evaluation.

Parkes, N.S.W. (April 15, 1974): Three witnesses, including two police constables, sighted two objects: a small circular object and a larger diamond-shaped object, traveling in formation approximately 10° above the horizon. The direction of travel varied from E to NE. The objects were silent. The larger object was about 4 times the size of a helicopter, appeared to have portholes, and a well-lit interior, suggesting intelligent control. A RAAF report suggested the witnesses might have been observing Venus and Jupiter, as their position coincided with these planets. However, the detailed description of the objects, particularly the portholes and interior lights, tends to discount the planetary explanation, especially as two witnesses are trained observers.

Wentworth Falls, N.S.W. (December 25, 1974): A resident heard a loud, high-pitched revving noise for about half an hour. The next day, a strange mark was found on the ground, appearing as a large round oil slick. Closer inspection revealed the grass was covered with spherical grey charcoal-like particles. The particles were heavy, and a clothes line support had been knocked over. No unusual odor was detected. The UFOIC investigation section was notified in June 1974, and although an investigation was instigated, the delay meant little could be done beyond documenting the incident, as the charcoal-like substance had disappeared.

Wentworth Falls, near Katoomba (June 4, 1974): A witness observed a dark grey circular object with a clear plastic dome covering its upper area, moving slowly and silently toward the W. The object was visible for 8 minutes, and approximately 6 lights were seen at the front, with 5 lights shining through tubes at the rear. No interior detail was visible due to the sighting angle.

Blue Mountains Research Program

The area around Wentworth Falls continues to be a center of high UFO activity, prompting the need for an extensive research program. Notices have been placed in local papers to solicit information, and four useful replies were received from the Blue Mountains Advertiser in August. Detailed maps of sightings and UFO direction of travel will be plotted, and results will be published in the newsletter.

Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, December 13th, 1974, at the Railway Institute, adjoining Central Railway Station in Devonshire Street, Sydney. The meeting will commence at 8:00 p.m. All members are cordially invited.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the internationalization of UFO research, the importance of data collection and analysis, and the reporting of specific UFO sightings. The editorial stance is one of serious investigation and scientific inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, advocating for global cooperation and the use of scientific methods and resources. There is a clear emphasis on the credibility of the Centre for UFO Studies and its professional approach to the subject.