UFOIC Newsletter - No 50 Jan-Feb 1977

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O.I.C. Newsletter, No. 50, dated January-February 1977, is published by the Unidentified Flying Objects Investigation Centre in Australia. It is a member group of ACOS, The Australian Co-Ordination Section of the Centre for UFO Studies. The price is 50¢ and copyright is held by UFOIC for 1977.

Editorial: "BRING ON THE EMPTY HORSES" - IF YOU MUST "UFOS THE AMERICAN SCENE" by MICHAEL HERVEY

The editorial, written by the editors, uses a book review as a platform to address the rise of self-styled 'experts' in the UFO field. It criticizes Michael Hervey's books, "UFOs over the Southern Hemisphere" and "UFOs, the American Scene," for being shallow literary efforts that have led to his publicity as a "world's leading authority." The editorial argues that this proliferation of "pulp" literature threatens the credibility of original research by generating myths and pseudo-scientific folklore, similar to phenomena seen with the Bermuda Triangle and Ancient Astronauts.

Michael Hervey is cited as an example of this trend. Despite his books being described as shallow, he is presented as an 'expert' by the media. The editorial notes that Hervey, in a radio interview, claimed UFO sightings at Taree in 1972 were unexplained and implied a RAAF cover-up, which the author suggests were actually observations of Venus. Hervey is also planning four more books.

The editorial compares Hervey's books to David Niven's "Bring on the Empty Horses," suggesting Hervey's work has the pretense of authority but fails to meet even the shallowest expectations.

Book Review: "UFOS THE AMERICAN SCENE" by MICHAEL HERVEY

Bill Chalker reviews Michael Hervey's "UFOS The American Scene," finding it shares the same flaws as his previous book, "UFOs Over the Southern Hemisphere." Chalker notes the book contains errors and mundane sightings, and its claim to feature "authentic and startling UFO reports" is questionable. A photo purported to show "UFOs over the Capital, Washington D.C." is identified as lens-flare from the Capitol building's lighting, a point previously raised by others regarding Von Keviczky's analysis.

Chalker criticizes Hervey for not critically evaluating sightings, instead relying on source evaluations. The book chronologically lists sightings up to 1972 with little attempt to distinguish real UFO events. The Socorro "occupant" sighting is given minimal attention, while the Michigan "swamp gas" sightings are erroneously listed as occurring in consecutive years (1965 and 1966).

The chapter "The Most Fantastic Sighting on Record" is described as anticlimactic, detailing the observation of two aerial "haystacks." The review points out that the book abruptly ends in 1972, failing to cover the significant 1973 UFO flap in the United States, despite being published in 1976.

A more interesting section, "The Lights That Crawled," describes events involving the Reeve family in Oregon in 1969, featuring craft-like objects and pulsating lights. However, Chalker notes that Hervey tends to give equal weight to mundane events and genuine UFO events. The Delphos landing case is given significant coverage (8 pages), disproportionate to other sightings.

Chalker concludes that "UFOS The American Scene" might be interesting for a reader new to the UFO phenomenon but recommends other books, such as Dr. Jacob's "UFOS The American Controversy" and Lorezen's books, for better value.

GENERAL

Meeting Dates for 1977

Four meetings are planned for 1977 at the McMahons Point Community Centre, Blues Point Road, North Sydney, on March 9th, May 11th, August 31st, and November 30th, commencing at 7:30 p.m. Coffee and tea will be available. Future topics include Uri Geller, The Sirius Mystery, and The Socorro Case.

Magazines Available

The ACOS Bulletin is available via subscription for $3.00 p.a. Enquiries should be sent to P.O. Box 546, Gosford, 2250.

New Investigators

UFOIC welcomes three new investigators: Mr. Mathew Dick (BSc. Hons), Ms Anne Brown (B.A.), and Ms Moira McGhee.

THE FIRST 25 YEARS

This section marks the end of the first 25 years of UFO research in Australia, with the Australian Flying Saucer Bureau formed in 1951. UFOIC originated from the demise of this group around 1955 and has persevered through lean periods thanks to dedicated individuals. The author reflects that despite a quarter-century of research, the UFO question remains unsolved, and the field may even know "less" than in the fifties.

The publication of the Condon Report is seen as a turning point, having an effect opposite to its intention by sparking interest among scientists. The subject has historically suffered from a lack of funds, but UFO groups have demonstrated resourcefulness. The article suggests that UFO clubs are evolving into more professional scientific investigations, with improved equipment and expertise.

STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT

This section details other UFO entity reports from 1976, supplementing a previous report on the Crackneck creature. The Crackneck encounter involved four percipients whose stories were consistent. Investigators from UFOIC and ACOS examined the area but found little tangible evidence.

Two other entity cases are presented: one from South Australia and one from Tasmania, both described as having high strangeness ratings.

Daw Park, South Australia (May 30th, 1976)

A young man reported his radio experiencing static and his dog barking. He saw a humanoid figure, approximately 165-175 cm tall, wearing a silver suit with a box-like object attached, bearing a symbol resembling a geometric eight at a 45° angle. The figure's face was obscured by a black visor. The report notes this case is detailed further in the Newsletter of UFO Research Inc.

Ten Mile Hill, Tasmania (August 1976)

A lone man driving on a wet night encountered a large yellow "screen"-like area in front of his car. A figure, described as standing side-on and wearing tight clothing (black jacket, off-yellow trousers) with close-cut curly blonde hair, was visible. A dull yellow light was also present. The experience lasted about 4 seconds, accompanied by loud music, and the "screen" vanished after the witness passed through it. This is described as one of the most unusual "occupant" reports on file.

Crackneck, N.S.W. (October 1976)

This refers back to a previous report on a Bateau Bay area encounter, with a sketch of the Crackneck creature provided in this issue. The encounter involved four percipients.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical evaluation of UFO literature and authors, particularly those presenting themselves as experts, and the reporting of specific UFO and entity encounter cases within Australia. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards sensationalism and "pulp" literature, advocating for rigorous research and critical analysis. The newsletter also highlights the history and ongoing efforts of Australian UFO research organizations like UFOIC.