UFOIC Newsletter - No 49 Sept-Nov 1976

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O.I.C. Newsletter, No. 49, published by the Unidentified Flying Objects Investigation Centre in Australia, covers the period of September-October-November 1976. The cover prominently features the headline 'Jimmy Carter and UFOS', highlighting his public statements and personal experiences with unexplained aerial phenomena.

Editorial: Jimmy Carter and UFOS

The editorial focuses on the extraordinary comments made by Jimmy Carter, then United States President-Elect, in May 1976, regarding UFOs. Carter stated his belief in the existence of UFOs and his intention to make all related information public if elected. The article questions whether this was 'election rhetoric' or genuine conviction, referencing his 'Playboy' interview. It recalls Gerald Ford's earlier attempt to have Congress study UFO sightings during the 1967 'swamp gas' flap. The 'National Enquirer' and 'The Australian' newspapers are noted for reporting Carter's statement, with further details appearing in the 'Australian Post' and the 'British Flying Saucer Review'.

The editorial recounts Carter's personal sighting in 1973 in Thomaston, Georgia, where he and about twenty people witnessed a peculiar aerial display. Carter described it as 'very peculiar,' 'big,' 'very bright,' 'changed colours,' and 'about the size of the moon.' His 23-year-old son, Jeff, added that the object had three lights clustered together and was changing color from red to green, positioned off to one side of the moon. Another witness, Mrs. Stembridge, described a 'large reddish object' that looked similar to the moon, changing colors and pulsating. Carter's mother, Lillian, confirmed that the UFO made a 'huge impression' on him.

The article speculates on whether Carter would fulfill his 'election promise' and suggests that Dr. Hynek's Centre for UFO Studies would be well-positioned to benefit from any positive changes. It also notes the recent completion of the Columbia film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' directed by Steve Speilburg, suggesting it might herald a new era for the subject of UFOs, particularly concerning 'animate beings.' Bill Chalker is credited with this section.

General Announcements

Investigators: David Reneke and Cliff Shearer have joined the staff as investigators.

Next Meeting: The last meeting for 1976 was scheduled for Wednesday, December 8th, at McMahons Point Community Centre, North Sydney. Topics included a slide/lecture on Viking Mars probes, recent sightings, a short film on the Siding Springs telescope, and a discussion on time travel theory.

The UFO Observer: Publication of 'The UFO Observer' was delayed due to printing industry disputes but was expected in December. UFOIC would supply copies to members at a discount.

ACOS Bulletin: The 'ACOS Bulletin,' published quarterly by the Australian Co-ordination Section of the Centre for UFO Studies, was available by subscription for $3 annually. It contains research material and details of important Australian UFO cases.

Memberships: The newsletter announced that memberships had surpassed 200, contributing to the increased size of the current issue. The newsletter's growth was dependent on continued support through new and renewed memberships.

New Kempsey Area Activity

This section details UFO activity in the Kempsey area of N.S.W., noting a history of sightings since 1971, including close encounters and levitation incidents. In 1976, three interesting sightings were reported, with cooperation from 'The Macleay Argus' newspaper. Patricia Riggs and Natalie Fernley of the Argus staff are thanked for their assistance.

On January 2nd, 1976, a Kempsey man and his wife observed a yellowish light slowly spinning from SE to N for almost an hour. They described it as having 'rays' and later developing 'shoulder lights' forming a 'U-shape.'

On July 5th, 1976, at Aldaville, a woman awoke to see a bright yellow light in the NW sky, appearing roughly triangular and about half the size of a full moon. It hovered, dropped in elevation several times, and then disappeared suddenly.

On October 6th, 1976, Gordon Rossiter and others observed a bright red light moving erratically north of Bellbrook. The object shot upwards, leveled off, and disappeared behind mountains. The light was described as pulsating like a 'heart beat.' Locals in the Bellbrook area reportedly consider such sightings 'so common... as if they were everyday occurrences.' Bill Chalker is credited with this report.

UFOCON II REPORT

This section reports on the second conference of ACOS (Australian Co-Ordination Section) of the Centre for UFO Studies, held from October 24th-26th, 1976, at Mt. Gambier, South Australia. The conference aimed to be a 'Think Tank' for members to propose research and report on activities. UFOIC's co-ordinators, Bill Chalker and Michael Smyth, attended.

Papers presented included:

• Attitudes to UFOs by Lad Godic (UFOR Inc SA): Discussed public, military, and media attitudes towards UFOs from 1947, noting the public's selectivity and ability to distinguish serious researchers from 'Flying Saucer Cults.'
• Some Thoughts on Psychological Aspects of Australian Close Encounters with the UFO Phenomenon by Keith Basterfield and Ben West (UFOR Inc SA): Outlined psychological aspects of Close Encounters (CEs), including social, biological, environmental, and sociological factors, using Australian CE3s to illustrate observer-dependent data.
• The UFO Research of the late Dr. James McDonald by Colin Phillips (UFOR Qld): Presented Dr. McDonald's collected papers as essential reading for historical UFO research and the USAF's involvement.
• Instrumented UFO Research by Bill Chalker and Michael Smyth (UFOIC): A progress report on the 'state of the art' in UFO instrumentation and data measurement parameters, proposing a more objective examination of the phenomenon.
• The Neoteric Flying Saucer Cult Syndrome - A Danger to Serious Research by Neil Huth (UFOR Qld): Argued that man's need for meaning leads to religious and philosophical concepts, including flying saucer cults, which damage the credibility of genuine UFO research.
• UFOCAT - A Unique Tool for Research by Harry Griesberg (ACOS): Illustrated the advantages of using a computer for data storage and analysis, announcing UFOIC's development of a computer and storage format for Australian groups, effective January 1, 1977.
• Violations of the Speed of Light Limitation predicted by Frank Gillsepie (UFOR Inc SA and Consultant ACOS): Discussed how Relativity theories are incomplete and how pulsars and Black Holes might relate to time travel and faster-than-light travel.
• Definitions for an Indefinite Phenomenon by Paul Jackson (TUFOIC): Stressed the need for standard terminology to define UFO characteristics and build theoretical models.
• Investigation of Unusual Aerial Sightings in Australia by the RAAF by Harry Griesberg (ACOS): Summarized a Department of Defence document on RAAF UFO investigations, highlighting shortcomings in their methods. Bill Chalker responded, noting that most RAAF reports did not meet scientific investigation standards.
• How to Document a UFO Report by Bill Chalker (UFOIC): Provided guidelines for documenting UFO reports, emphasizing that a report is more than just a completed form.

The UFOCON II conference was rated a success, with plans to present talks based on these papers at future meetings.

A CLOSE ENCOUNTER AT PENRITH WITH POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED PHYSICAL TRACES

This report details an incident on April 12, 1976, involving a middle-aged woman in Penrith, N.S.W. She heard a whistling noise and thought a prowler was present. Looking out her window, she saw a large black sphere with a white light periphery, approximately 30-40 feet in diameter, stop and slide into a paddock. Her mother, awakened by a 'whoosing noise,' witnessed an 'orange cloudy effect like smoke' and later saw a bright orange sphere pulsating and moving erratically towards the north-east, leaving a 'soft white vapour trail.'

While only one witness saw the initial object, three others observed the later part of the sighting. At least six people heard the preceding noise. The next day, the main witness and a neighbor discovered an area of long grass (100' by 45') swept outwards, and four 'pod marks' aligned in the direction of the sighting. Black and white photos were taken, but the trace evidence had deteriorated by the time UFOIC investigators arrived. Investigators were B. Chalker and B. Carter.

THE MIN MIN LIGHTS

This section discusses 'strange lights' that exist worldwide and are known by various names, distinct from 'flying saucer' reports. They are typically small, appear close to the ground, and are localized.

In Australia, the Min Min Light is the most famous, named after the old Min Min Pub in Western Queensland. The article recounts an incident from 1912 involving Henry Lamond, who saw a single, bulbous ball of light floating at about 5-10 feet from the ground, moving at approximately 10 mph, and fading away gradually.

Quinns Light in the Daudaman Valley, N.S.W., is also mentioned, described as resembling a large, crested bird, glowing orange, and following a regular course. Many have attested to seeing it, but attempts to follow it have been unsuccessful.

Other Australian lights include the Blairmore Light, Yatton Light, Green Mountain Light, and the Mystery Light of One Tree Plain. The phenomenon is global, with examples like 'La Luz del Dinero' (money lights) in Peru, the Iliamna lights in Alaska, and the Ozark Spook Light (Hornet Light) in the U.S.A.

Several theories for the Min Min light phenomenon exist, including fireballs, unknown electrical discharges, or swamp gas. A recent explanation near Deniliquin, N.S.W., involved a farmer who rammed a small, low ball of light that disintegrated, revealing it was composed of luminous glowworm-like insects. The newsletter solicits further information on this mystery.

References are provided for 'Australian Ghost Stories,' 'Mysterious Lights and Fires,' and 'Walkabout.' Michael Guider is credited with this section.

UFO AND CREATURE REPORTS FROM THE CENTRAL COAST

This section details a flap of UFO activity in the Central Coast area of N.S.W. during September 1976, with reports from Gosford, Tuggerah Lakes, Davestown, and Holgate. Two significant events on October 10th, 1976, were investigated by researchers from Central Coast UFO Research, ACOS, and UFOIC.

At 6:50 p.m., a woman driving noticed cars accelerating away from her and then saw a saucer-shaped object with a dome and four lights (one green, three red) hovering at about 45 degrees over the Tuggerah Lakes area. The object was observed for about 5 minutes.

Just over two hours later, near Bateau Bay, two young couples in a parked car at Crackneck Lookout witnessed a creature and a strange light. The creature was described as 8-9 feet tall, with no hair, bulbous, faceted eyes ('like fly's eyes'), huge legs, and large shoulders. The men were frightened, and the creature appeared to approach their car. Simultaneously, a rectangular 'burnt orange' light, slightly larger than the full moon, was observed out at sea, pulsating and appearing for short intervals over two hours.

About a week later, cement picnic chairs and tables at the lookout were found wrecked, attributed to vandals. The report notes other claimed sightings of similar creatures in the area. Dr. Ralph Molnar, a consultant, indicated that while the creature description had no 'internal contradictions,' the eye features and segmented arms were unusual. The possibility of a hoax was not entirely ruled out, but the encounter, coupled with the sea light and the Entrance UFO sighting, represented 'bizarre activity.' Further investigations were planned. Sources include B. Chalker & M. Smyth (UFOIC) and H. Griesberg & D. Seargent (ACOS).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the increasing public awareness and discussion of UFOs, exemplified by Jimmy Carter's statements, and the detailed reporting of specific UFO sightings and potential creature encounters within Australia. The newsletter emphasizes the importance of scientific investigation, proper documentation of reports, and the development of a standardized terminology for UFO phenomena. There is a clear stance in favor of serious research, distinguishing it from sensationalism or 'cults.' The publication also highlights the collaborative efforts of various Australian UFO research organizations, such as UFOIC and ACOS, in gathering and analyzing data. The issue underscores the ongoing nature of UFO research and the continuous effort to understand these unexplained phenomena.