RESEARCH DIGEST

Magazine Overview

Title: RESEARCH DIGEST
Issue: 24
Date: September 1991
Publisher: UFO RESEARCH AUSTRALIA
Country: Australia

This issue of RESEARCH DIGEST, compiled by Keith Basterfield, focuses on UFO sightings and related research. It presents a collection of cases from the network, discusses abduction research, and provides updates on crop circle investigations.

Cases from the Network

The "CASES FROM THE NETWORK" section details numerous UFO sightings reported across Australia. These include:

• UFORA91079 (July 1977, Snug Tiers, TAS): A witness and a friend observed a bright light to the west that grew in size and came closer over an hour, prompting them to flee in their car.
• UFORA91080 (March 1991, Lefroy, TAS): Two witnesses saw a bright, stationary orange light at low elevation that switched off and then reappeared, causing their car to splutter.
• UFORA91081 (May 1991, Adventure Bay, TAS): Several bright orange lights were seen moving at low elevations, sometimes in pairs, with a triangle of lights appearing and fading out.
• UFORA91066 (Mid-1969, Cairns, QLD): An 8-year-old boy and others witnessed a silver, moon-sized object rise from behind a mountain and hover.
• UFORA91056 (Circa 1986, Ravenshoe, QLD): A luminescent ball of light was seen floating above a rectangular-shaped object.
• UFORA91067 (March 1991, Deeral, QLD): A cluster of yellow/white lights hovering overhead was observed, described as the underside of an object.
• UFORA91082 (January 1991, Butchers Creek, QLD): Three bright red lights were seen over hills within an orange haze, moving at speed and disappearing.
• UFORA91083 (1954-1966, Melbourne, VIC): A dark gray, domed shape was observed in the sky, flying north at a fast speed.
• UFORA91084 (March 1991, Babinda, QLD): A light in the sky was observed, initially thought to be a plane, which then faded without audible noise.
• UFORA91086 (March 1991, Julatten, QLD): A large, circular object hovered and moved north-east, emitting a loud humming noise, with bright, multicoloured lights around its side.
• UFORA91086 (March 1991, Bellenden Ker, QLD): A bright light was seen over a mountain, which split into three lights forming a triangle before vanishing.
• UFORA91087 (March 1991, Bellenden Ker, QLD): A bright point of light became a straight line of three lights, with one then disappearing behind a mount.
• UFORA91088 (September/October 1980/81, Currenqy Creek, SA): A car experienced electrical disturbances and a feeling of lost time after an object passed overhead.
• UFORA91089 (19B9, Tully Falls, QLD): A 9-year-old girl saw a round, yellow object with a fire-like appearance, sized between a star and the Moon, travel westwards.

From the Literature

This section reviews recent publications and articles of interest to ufologists:

• MUFON Journal (May 1991): Contains articles on 1970s abduction cases in the US and the role of hoaxes in crop circles.
• MUFON Journal (June 1991): Features articles on crop circles and their mystical viewpoint, hypothetical alien evolution, Belgian UFO sightings, and an analysis of the MJ-12 documents.
• International UFO Reporter (May/June 1991): Includes a review of Belgian flap sightings, an analysis of the MJ-12 letter, a critical analysis of UK crop circles, and statistical analysis of Canadian UFO reports.

Research Notes

Abduction Research

• An article in "Professional Psychology: Research and Practice" examines the fantasy-prone personality hypothesis for UFO abductees and contactees, co-authored by Robert E. Bartholomew, George Howard, and Keith Basterfield.
• Media interest in abduction has increased following an international UFO seminar.
• UFORA is working on a more detailed catalogue of Australian missing time and abduction cases, soliciting new cases from members.

Crop Circle Research

• Extensive media coverage was given to two English artists, Doug Bower and David Chorley, who claimed to have created most of the UK crop circles.
• The number of crop circles in the UK for the current year is lower than the previous record year.
• Several publications are recommended for those interested in crop circles: The Cerealogist, The Journal of Meteorology, The Circular, and The Crop Watcher.
• An article in "New Scientist" discussed an unusual circle resembling a Mandelbrot set.
• Keith Basterfield has a large collection of articles and books on crop circles.

The American Cover-up

• US magazines like "Aviation Week and Space Technology" have published articles about advanced secret USAF aircraft, leading to speculation that they utilize technology from crashed saucers.
• An industry has emerged in the US focused on these questions, with lecturers and tour operators promoting the idea of recovered alien technology.

New Book

• "Alien Liaison" by Timothy Good (1991): This book covers recent UFO sightings, government activity in the UK and USA, animal mutilations, and alleged alien encounters. It discusses figures like Bob Lazar and Bob Oechsler. The review notes that while the book contains much material, it lacks critical analysis, with Good being described as a reporter rather than a researcher.
• A local point of interest being checked is the anonymous testimony of a man who reported seeing a mystery sphere allegedly found on the Woomera rocket range in 1958/59.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, abduction phenomena, and crop circles, reflecting the ongoing interest and investigation within the ufology community. The publication appears to present information from various sources, including case reports, literature reviews, and research notes, with a focus on documenting and analyzing these phenomena. The editorial stance seems to be one of reporting and encouraging further investigation, as evidenced by the call for new abduction cases and the review of books and articles that offer different perspectives on UFOs and related topics.