U.F.O.I.C. Newsletter

Magazine Overview

Title: U.F.O.I.C. Newsletter
Issue: No. 44
Date: July-August 1975
Publisher: Unidentified Flying Objects Investigation Centre (UFOIC)
Country: Australia
Language: English

This issue of the UFOIC Newsletter focuses on recent UFO activity and investigations within Australia. The Centre reports a gain of over 25 new members and numerous enquiries, but urges existing members to encourage further interest and publicity to maintain financial stability and increase coverage of UFO events.

General

The Centre hosted a talk on 'The Humanoids' which attracted a large number of non-members. The committee also delivered a successful lecture to the MENSA group. Mr. Smyth and Mr. Chalker have joined an overseas research group, the Association for the Understanding of Man (A.U.M.), for theoretical and instrumented UFO research, with members to be notified of any significant developments.

Probative UFO activity was noted in South Australia during April and May 1975, with activity concentrating in Queensland and N.S.W. from late May onwards. Dr. J. Stevens' spectroscopic analyses of the Forbes circle indicated identical soil inside and outside, suggesting a physical explanation, though not ruling out unusual factors. A 'nest' discovery near Grafton, N.S.W., with an 11' diameter and a perfect circle of dead grass, deteriorated after discovery. While natural causes are not entirely ruled out, suggestions of fungal attack are deemed unlikely. However, these finds are not considered probative due to the lack of direct UFO connection.

Investigations

The past two months have seen a significant number of UFO sightings, with the Centre investigating particularly extraordinary accounts. Brief listings of new and old cases include:

• Late 1972, Wallacia, N.S.W.: Six young people observed a UFO on the ground and encountered an 8-10' being. Their car reportedly caught fire.
• February 1973, Grafton, N.S.W.: Two men saw a strange being on the roadside.
• About 1973, South coast, N.S.W.: A farmer observed a huge aerial object land on his property, leaving a trace mark approximately ½ mile long.
• April 1, 1975, Molonglo, near Canberra, A.C.T.: Three construction workers observed a large bullet-shaped object moving vertically from the ground, which disappeared upon the alleged arrival of 3 F-111s.
• May 12, 1975, Hobart, Tasmania: A Sydney couple and a Howrah resident observed a coloured aerial object manoeuvring near Tranmere Point in daylight, confirmed by movie film.
• June 5, 1975, South Grafton, N.S.W.: A mother and daughter, and later family, observed a ball of orange light flying parallel to power lines, causing T.V. interference.
• July 7, 1975, Maroubra Beach, Sydney: A young couple observed unusual manoeuvring lights and an aerial object with large windows hovering about 50' above the ground.

Detailed Investigations

Yamba Road, N.S.W. (June 3, 1975): Two young men and three others observed a bright red and green object approaching from the west. The object hovered, and they followed it by car. It hovered again within 200 yards, then zig-zagged across the road and moved over Harwood Island, dimming and revealing a disc shape before 'landing' behind sugar cane sheds. Farmers reported disturbances among dogs and animals. Fishermen saw a fast-moving light from the ocean horizon to Yamba.

Norah Head, Gosford (June 8, 1975): David Buching and a team investigated a bizarre encounter where three boys and a girl heard 'jet noises'. A small luminous object emerged from bushes, followed by two smaller oval objects. A large number of these smaller objects then 'attacked' the group, avoiding attempts to deflect them. The boys fled, and one later contacted UFOIC expressing fear. The fear associated with the area was still noticeable during the investigation.

Australian Close Encounter Catalogue

A preliminary breakdown of characteristic types of close encounters, compiled by Bill Chalker and Keith Basterfield from over 300 cases, is presented. Categories include:

• Landing with traces: 22 cases (e.g., Woolgoolga, June 1970)
• Landing without traces: 53 cases (e.g., Vaucluse, circa 1965)
• 'Nest' with associated UFO observation: 20 cases (e.g., Tully, January 1966)
• Occupant/Landing: 16 cases (e.g., Kimba Road, April 1973)
• Occupant/Aerial object: 14 cases (e.g., Boiani Mission, June 1959)
• Occupant with no associated UFO observation: (e.g., Mount Butler, September 1972)

Other outstanding cases include aerial object observations like Collombatti Rail (April 1971) and Mooraduc Rd. (July 1972). Cases involving physiological effects, such as Harwood Island (April 1969) and Nambour (circa 1932), are also mentioned.

Statistical Analysis

Investigations Director Michael Smyth completed a preliminary statistical breakdown of UFOIC investigations from January 1, 1974, to July 31, 1975. Out of 50 total cases, 14 were identified, 7 possible identified, 3 probable identified, 3 with insufficient information, and 23 unknown. This analysis suggests that approximately 58% of the studied cases remain unknown. The report notes that these figures are based on a small number of reports and do not account for unreported sightings or cases identified only by telephone. It is estimated that between 5% and 30% of UFO sightings are unknown.

Field Investigations

The Centre is planning extensive field investigations in the Blue Mountains area and is seeking members with bushwalking experience. Assistance is also needed for transcribing investigation tapes.

General

UFOIC has established an equipment fund for investigation apparatus and welcomes donations. Help is also required for transcribing tapes from investigations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently highlights the importance of rigorous investigation and data collection in the field of UFO research. It emphasizes the need for public interest and member participation to support the Centre's activities. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, acknowledging unusual phenomena while maintaining a scientific approach to analysis, as seen in the discussion of the Forbes circle and the Grafton 'nest'. The Centre aims to compile a comprehensive catalogue of Australian UFO cases and conduct detailed statistical analyses to better understand the phenomenon.