August 1975
The August 1975 issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin. 8 pages. CUFOS-ACOS operational update with RAAF, FBI, FAA, and Smithsonian co-operation. UFOCON ONE (Australia's first UFO conference) announced for Gosford, October 1975. Fred Randel tape-recorded interview. Detailed Melbourne witness statement connecting May 1975 and April 1974 police sightings.
In This Issue
CUFOS-ACOS Successfully in Operation
Pages 1-2
Summary: An extensive update on the Centre for UFO Studies and its Australian Coordination Section.
Sightings Convert a UFO Sceptic
Pages 2
Summary: Michael J. Douglas, newsman and radio director, has compiled over 130 cases in the Minnesota area.
Canadian UFO Photos
Pages 2
Summary: Pat McCarthy (19) photographed a UFO on 18 March 1975 while hunting birds in southern Ontario. “About twice the size of a DC8 zigzagging through the sky.” Three shots with 135mm telephoto lens.
Police Chief Gets a Good Look at a UFO
Pages 2
Summary: White Lake (North Carolina) Police Chief Gary Moore, 3 April 1975, about 8.45 p.m. “The whole side of the road lit up like it was daylight.” Got binoculars; shined an airplane landing light at it.
The Horsham Sighting (Tape-Recorded Interview)
Pages 3
Summary: Follow-up to the May 1975 article. Fred Randel (city council foreman) was tape-recorded by VUFORS member Rodney Marrow while in Horsham.
Silent, Brilliant Flying Object Was Not an Aircraft (Papua New Guinea)
Pages 3
Summary: A. E.
Pilot Sighting Identified as Space Debris
Pages 3
Summary: The March 6 airline pilot sighting from the May Bulletin has been identified by the Department of Defence as falling satellite debris from a satellite launched in 1968. “The description ‘green meteor’ indicates a high copper content in the projectile.” CUFOS-ACOS investigators accepted the explanation.
Sighting Over Melbourne… and More About April 1974
Pages 4-5
Summary: An anonymous Melbourne man provides a detailed analytical statement. On 28 May 1975, driving east along Malvern Road at 5.45 p.m., he observed two exceptionally bright lights in the northern sky, about two inches apart at arm’s length, travelling east to west.
More Tasmanian Sightings
Pages 6
Opening: “More UFO sightings were made in Tasmania last year than for many years. 1974 was something of a ‘flap’ year, according to the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre, which investigated 133 reports and could not find any explanation for 37 of them.” TUFOIC’s 1975 annual report (25c) available.
“Saucer” Sighted? (Coonamble, NSW)
Pages 6
Summary: Four boys (John Baccon, Brent Foodey, Alan Baker, Barry Baker) saw a “big silver disc with a big light on top” making a buzzing sound, Saturday afternoon about 5.20 p.m. Travelled toward Walgett, then abruptly disappeared.
Unidentified Flying Object? (Bonshaw/Inglewood, QLD)
Pages 7
Summary: Ruth L. Henry reported “two tubes of light about two feet long suspended in the sky” with tails growing to 12-15 feet, “like two flumes of cascading spray of light.” A metal connection between lights had a long projection with a light at the top.
Noisy UFO (Molongle Creek, QLD)
Pages 7
Summary: Two young Home Hill men sitting on a bank of Molongle Creek saw an object about 500 yards away. "Round, about 12 feet across, hovered about 150 feet from the ground for a minute.
Mystery of “Big Disc” in the Sky (Perth)
Pages 7
Summary: Jim Moxon (40), of Leonora St., Como, watched “a big disc” for about 5 minutes along the Swan River from Bell Bros. yard, Great Eastern Highway, Guildford/Bassendean.
Five Men Get Close Look at “Flying Saucer” (Yamba)
Pages 7
Summary: Five Yamba men pursued a bright orange and green “flying saucer” along the Yamba Road until it apparently landed in a cane field on Harwood Island. One man first saw it about 7.30 p.m.
Sky Object “Not an Aeroplane” (Whyalla, SA)
Pages 7
Summary: Mr. D.
Maryborough (QLD) Sighting Wave (June 1975)
Pages 8
A UFO! Bright Lights and All (Coonabarabran, NSW)
Pages 8
Summary: Eric Falkenburger (Gold Coast, QLD), on the road between Narrabri and Coonabarabran, reported to Dubbo UFO watcher Maurie Morandini. Object passed within 500 metres, about 10 metres above tree tops.
Research Assistance Wanted
Pages 8
Summary: VUFORS seeks volunteers for sightings investigation. Requirements: own car and telephone, spare time to interview witnesses and write up investigation reports.
Notable Quotes
“The RAAF would make available selected, more interesting cases to Professor Hynek.” RAAF (to ACOS)
“A ‘Centre for UFO Studies’ has been established to conduct a continuing research effort to discover the nature and source of the phenomenon.” FAA Handbook
“It’s just like somebody put a hand of iron on your heart, something real cold, you know…” Fred Randel (tape recorded)
“It was about 2.5 miles away when we saw it move, and then it was right there only 1,000 yards away… I’ve never seen anything like it.” “Smith” (Lake Sorell)
“I would say it was similar to the light you get from a welding torch… I have no doubt that that beam of light was intelligently controlled.” “Smith” (on searchlight)
“It’s the same design, I’d swear to it.” Douglas Newell (shown Lake Sorell painting)
“We were afflicted with pains in the neck and tried wrapping hot towels around our necks, but this had no effect. We knew when the lights had gone because the pain left our necks suddenly.” Tony Wynne (Maryborough)
“I was always a sceptic where UFOs were concerned but will never be again after that experience.” Mrs. M. Walton (Maryborough)
“No one had been able to explain some of the sightings.” RAAF spokesman (Adelaide Advertiser, 17/4/1974)
“Mundane explanations can be ruled out.” Bill Chalker (Yamba investigation)
