Australian ufology

Template:Totally-disputed Australian ufology refers to a historical series of Australian events and or activities pertaining to government departments, civilian groups or individual Australians, which centre on or around the study of Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) reports, sightings, encounters and other related phenomena, known as ufology within the Australian context before 1982.

History

Early reports about strange things seen in the sky around Australia date back prior to 1947. However, Kenneth Arnold case (June 1947) and the infamous Roswell UFO Incident (July 1947) became international press items and appear in Australian broadsheet newspapers.

File:Argus - 1947July7.jpg

The front page headline of Melbourne "The Argus (Australia)" for 7th 1947 - FLYING SAUCERS' To Be Hunted Down - Mystery has U.S.baffled. New York (AAP) -

1940s

The first gathering of UFO enthusiasts occurred in Melbourne Victoria (Australia) in March 1949 at the Aeronautical Research Laboratory – Melbourne, Victoria (ARL). The non-government meeting minutes show an attendance of 23 enthusiasts from various state and local groups such as the British Interplanetary Society, Royal Aeronautical Society (RAS - Melb), Commonwealth Aircraft Corp - Melbourne (CAC) , RAAF and the Army Research Establishment. By May 1949 this early gathering became known as the Aeronautical & Meteorological Phenomena Research (AMPR) under Mr. Brian Boyle and Jack Seers. AMPR started to list and research “Flying Saucer” stories and produced a small limited quarterly publication called “Interplanetary Saucer”.

1950s

AMPR work load increased as the world ran into its next major sightings flap. In 1951 AMPR changed their structure and name to the Aeronautics & Phenomena Research Victoria (APRV). In May, 1952 Mr. R. M. Seymour, Superintendent of the Federal Civil Aviation Department, Air Traffic Control Branch Melbourne, reported that Australian Intelligence officers had refused his Department permission to investigate flying saucer reports on the grounds that UFO's were "security matters"..

In July 1952 a Edger. R. Jarrold from Queensland, starts a private one man group in Sydney, New South Wales. Jarrold named his group the Australian Flying Saucer Bureau (AFSB). (See Doc). Jarrold group starts to get a state membership base, by May 1953, AFSB; published their first magazine called the Australian Flying Saucer Magazine.

This cover comes from the 6th edition of Australian Flying Saucer Bureau (AFSB) publication called the "Australian Flying Saucer Magazine". Six were produced from May 1953 to Feb 1955. - No 6, February 1955, 8 pages, 21cm x 28cm - Image Source PRA Melbourne.

Jarrold’s activities in NSW were noted by APRV, who made contact. An agreement was made that the two groups would assist each other when possible. APRV nominated John. M. Anderson (See Doc) as their AFSB representative on the condition that his appointment is seen only as being neutral, there will be no branch affiliation with AFSB. Jarrold was seen by APRV as an independent secretive “loose gun”, however, both groups maintained an average working relationship.

AMPR decided on 6 February 1953, to form an auxiliary group called the Australian Flying Saucer Investigating Committee (AFSIC)[4][5], in partnership with the Astronomical Society of Victoria.

Such was the interest, on the 20 November 1953, a question was asked in the House of Representatives 'Question time' by Mr Downer (MP), about numerous sighting of UFO's over Australia. The then Minister for Air, Hon. William McMahon (MP) (later Prime Minister) replied that the "saucers" were a problem more for the psychologist than the defense authorities. (See Doc).

In July 1954, AFSIC released a study of 55 sightings. This 1954 event is well documented in a 1987 publication called “The Victorian UFO report, 1954: a compilation of reports from the Victorian press”.

The flying saucer topic came under intense criticism. Out of the broad sheet press coverage, came surprise supporters for continued investigation of UFOs, due to all the 1954 local sightings.

File:Ac.casey.jpg

Baron Casey.

Government Minister Richard Gardiner Casey (later Baron Casey and Governor-General of Australia - 1965 to 1969) wrote a ‘Letter to the Editor’ in an Australian newspaper dated 5 February 1954. The clipping included this:

“I have lists of the dates over the last several years on which people have reported having seen ‘flying saucers’ in Australia and have compared them with the dates on which the earth passes through the principal (sic) meteoric showers. There appears to be a noticeable relationship between these two sets of dates.” (See Doc).

Baron Casey was a member of the Victorian research group APRV. His time as Minister in charge of the CSIRO and as Minister for External Affairs enabled him to act as a conduit between governmental research, the public, and public enthusiast clubs. Casey’s curiosity on the subject related to UFO remained with him until his death in June 1976.

Then on March 1954 Jarrold was contacted by a South Australian called Fred Stone. Stone agreed to form a branch of Jarrold’s group and so the AFSB(SA) was formed. But this relationship was fragile and as Jarrold’s behavior changed due to stress the relationship deteriorated. The RAAF also noted problems with Jarrold, Sq Leader A.H. Birch, AFC, Air Force Head-Quarters, Victoria Barracks, Victoria, made note of this in a letter dated the 5 April 1955 "... the discussion during the brief interview I had with Mr. Jarrold mainly concerned the possibility of his Society causing embarrassment to the Royal Australian Air Force.." (See Doc). The RAAF then changed their policy and shifted their help to other organisations within Australia. "The Director would be happy to extend this service to your Society also." (See Doc). After Sq/Ld Birch meeting with Edger Jarrold's UFO group AFSB collapsed (Feb 1955), in just under 4 years, Mr Jarrold departed the active UFO scene for good, only to appear on rare occasions.

After this, a new state group emerged. The most prominent and first to re-build was under the Directorship of Fred Stone. Stone forms the Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (AFSRS) based in Adelaide, South Australia on Feb 1955. (See Doc). Stone also sees a chance to become the governing body of all Australian Ufology. He asks APRV to come under his plan and they reject the concept. However, APRV agree to extend the same relationship they extended to Jarrold’s group with John. M. Anderson as their contact. This arrangement was agreed to and APRV supplied a list of contacts for Stone on possible branch organisers. Fred Stone's plan, was to form three new state groups (Victoria, NSW, Queensland) under his control. With a new members list, Stone set his plan into motion. Although each new group developed due to individuals within these groups, in the end Fred Stone had little input into the other two state groups structure. His concept worked at first but soon ran into administration problems due to distance between states and distant lines of communication.

In April 1956 to deal with an increase in reports the Aeronautics & Phenomena Research Victoria (APRV) changed their structure and name to Phenomena Research Victoria (PRV).

Then in November 1957 an upswelling of public interest produced the formation of new groups around Australia. The majority of these new state groups did not accept Fred Stone’s 1955 plan, those who accepted it only lasted one year before they decided to operate under their own administration. In late 1957 a new group starts in Sydney called the "Northern Suburbs Flying Saucer Research Association" (NSFSRA) is established under Mr & Mrs D. Moore.

Queensland members call for an independent structure and went their own way. They formed the Queensland Flying Saucer Research Bureau (QFSRB) - now known as UFO Research Queensland (UFORQld), formed under Charles Middleborough in 1956 and with Stan Seers from 1957. These new groups are infiltrated and members come under the watchful eye of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), as seen in this report dated 4 August 1959. Dossiers and comments on Stan Seers and QFSRB members are produced for the ASIO Regional Director. (See Doc).

However, in Victoria the Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (Victorian Branch) (AFSRS Vic) - now known as the Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS), under Peter E. Norris LL.B and John Pinkney is formed on 17 February 1957 at Melbourne University. The first few months of 1957 it was a branch of the Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (AFSRS) but later that year it also became independent and was re-organised as the "Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society" (VFSRS). (See Doc).

At this time the Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (NSW Branch) (AFSRS NSW) was formed. This branch followed Victoria's lead and decided to become independent from Fred Stone South Australia group AFSRS. The NSW membership decided to again change their structure and name and thus became the UFO Investigation Centre (UFOIC) under Dr. W.P. Clifford 1957.

UFOIC start, was over shadowed by a large, more active Sydney group the "Northern Suburbs Flying Saucer Research Association". The two Sydney groups competed for members and soon relationships between the two broke down in competition. However, NSFSRA became the central NSW group, primarily due to their public support and "hosting" of "George Adamski" on his 1959 Australian visit, organised by Victorian and Queensland Groups. Adamski held his Sydney lecture at Adyar Hall Sydney on Friday 27 February 1959. The Adamski visit resulted in UFOIC membership falling away dramatically until it was basically a small, close-knit group of enthusiasts. So bitter was the dispute, UFOIC President Dr. Greenwell resigned in disgust, this opened the position to Dr Miran Lindtner who became president in March 1959. But the damage had been done and the Sydney experience scares the NSW UFO community.

1960s

The Australian space industry was in full swing and slowly research facilities that were based in Victoria move to South Australia and the Woomera Rocket Range. These departments changes start to effect administration and membership at PRV, so to keep up with the changing world, in 1961 the old AMPR again changed their structure and name from Phenomena Research Victoria (PRV) to today's Phenomena Research Australia (PRA).

On 27 February 1965, in the country town of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia held its first UFO group congregation. The conference had been arranged by W. Howard Sloane, of the Ballarat Astronomical Society. The RAAF was represented by Mr B.G. Roberts, a senior research scientist with the Operational Research Office (ORO), Department of Air, Canberra and two RAAF officers to look after a display. Air Marshal Sir George Jones (who had an interest in UFOs) also attended. Keynote speakers, including the Rev. William Gill and Charles Brew, gave accounts on their very public UFO experience. At the conference, a new public group structure named Commonwealth Aerial Phenomena Investigation Organisation (CAPIO). The assembly voted it into existence, out of proceedings lawyer Peter E. Norris LL.B(Melb) became CAPIO's first President, under the patronage of Air Marshal Sir George Jones (See Doc).

October 1965, after some delays, the Tasmania UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC) was founded under Keith Roberts and Paul Jackson.

In 1966 a new group based at Woomera was set up called the 'Scientific Technical and Astronomical Research Society". This group scientific and technical personnel collected UFO reports from the Woomera rocket range and local area. With the demise of the British and Australian rocket program, the group was disbanded in 1968.

On the 12 October 1966, the Department of Air wrote to the CSIRO advising that “…Sighting of Unidentified Flying Objects have during recent months been receiving considerable publicity... it is important that the system of investigation should make the best use of resources available in Australia.”. The DOA invited the CSIRO to comment on specific UFO cases to be sent to them by the RAAF. The minutes of the 92nd meeting of the CSIRO executive committee on 25 October 1966 (See para 10) revealed that the CSIRO agreed to the DOA’s request. They responded on 7 November, 1966 “The organisation is quite happy to assist in this way...and too provide you with comments...”.

State collaboration fractures

For years there was a general underground friction or competitiveness between groups, focused primary on Victorian groups. Norris and his group VFSRS pressed the need for Government research and created many of the opportunities with various Government bodies. A document to ASIO quotes AFSRS President Fred Stone as lacking trust in the Victorian group and claiming that they were associated with a Sydney UFO Group that was controlled by people with “Pink” tendencies.(See Doc).

By 1963 the South Australian group was finished, this led to a push from Sydney to take control of the state groups magazine. On the 23 February 1967, UFOIC V/Pres Mr. Harry O’Brian (See Letterhead) made an application for copyright on the states groups magazine “Australian Flying Saucer Review”. Victoria and Queensland protested, the application failed, and VFSRS closed the door on Sydney. UFOIC continued publishing a newsletter from 1964 until late 1979. In 1968 the Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society (VFSRS) was re-organised and its name was again altered - this time to the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society (VUFORS).

On the 26 June, 1968, in a letter from the Australian Governments Department of External Affairs to the Secretary Prime Minister’s Department, the following policy observations are recorded; “…the history of this subject reveals that the more time and effort that is spent by experienced scientists in investigating the smaller becomes the residue of unexplained phenomena…in spite of these difficulties the Australian Government continue to keep records of all “sighting” and associated phenomena reported within Australian and associated territories.” (See Doc ).

By 1969 Phenomena Research Australia (PRA) change their policy and open limited membership to the general public with a new newsletter called UFO And Phenomena.

1970s

In late 1970, Tasmania UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC), produced the "Tasmanian UFO Report" later "TUFOIC Newsletter", a magazines that covered 86 issues (1970 to 1999).

On 30 October 1971, a symposium was held in Adelaide. The symposium, on UFOs, was organised by the SA Division of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science.

Victorian groups VUFORS and PRA invite Dr. J. Allen Hynek to visit Australia. Hynek accepts the invitation and in 1973 Hynek arrives in Australia, spending 4 days in Melbourne, followed by short stops Sydney, ACT, Brisbane and then finally Papua New Guinea. While in Victoria, Dr. Hynek was also able to meet with Rev. William Gill who was involved in the famous "close encounters of the third kind" case that occurred in the Anglican mission village at Boianai, Papua, New Guinea, he also journeyed to Papua, this enabled him to undertake a detailed on site investigation into this famous case. Victorian members of VUFORS and PRA arranged that, during his stay in the ACT, he was able to talk with Shamus O'Farrell, discussing O'Farrell’s famous 1954 Sea Fury incident.

In 1974, Harry Griesberg and David Seargent established the Australian Co-ordination Section (ACOS) of the US based Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). This followed the 1973 visit to Australia of Dr J. Allen Hynek, who requested that Australian ufologists forward copies of interesting Australian sighting reports to CUFOS in the USA. Then in 1978, VUFORS changes direction following the resignation of Mr. Peter Norris, the current executive, Mrs. Judith Magee, Messrs. Paul Norman and Clive Yates, are placed in control, ensuring that continuing prosperity of VUFORS. At that time VUFORS has the largest membership of any U.F.O. organisation in the Southern Hemisphere.[6][7]

Defence UFO files open

Although the UFO files had been available to Defence personnel and Civilians Defence personnel for years, these files remained closed to outside researchers. Then in Oct 1979, extensively through the efforts of VUFORS researchers and Fl/Lt Brett Biddington, (Later Group Captain - RAAF) , the RAAF invited Victorian researchers to visit the Intelligence Cell at RAAF Headquarters Support Command, Victoria Barracks, Victoria, to view all the files, and copy what they wished. This was a significant ‘turn around’ by the Defence Force, but it was the start of a period of remarkable co-operation between Government Departments and Civilian groups. It was not until 1981 that another change in policy was instigated. Some general UFO files could be sent to Defence HQ, Russell Office, Canberra, when requested. The limited selection became open to other civilians for research after being vetted by a second controlling officer, but after their inspection they were returned to the Victorian collection.

CASE 4

1978 21 October

Pilot Frederick Valentich Disappearance, Victoria

1980s

By 1980 ACOS became the Australian Centre for UFO Studies (ACUFOS) by 1985 (to this day) under the control of Dr Martin Gottschall. UFO Research Australia (UFORA) is formed by Vladimir and Pony Godic. Their first newsletter is published in Jan 1980 in South Australia.

Government

The structure of Australian Government is in three tiers. The lowest level is Local Council, above that is the State Government and over these two levels sits the Federal Government. Throughout the modern era of Australian Ufology, departments of the Federal government have played the major role of official inquisitor. The State Government does play a minor role, however, evidence shows us that when a State body gets involved their primary object is to pass the case up to the Federal sphere.

Reports

• RAAF dealt with more than 400 between 1950<->1959 and over 1,300 reports between 1960<->1980. The Department of Air produced Unusual Aerial Sightings (UAS) lists for the public. Three such examples are:

• Summary No1 January 60 - Dec 68, National Archives of Australia:PP959/1/0, 5/3/AIR, digital image p5.

• Summary No2 January 69 - Dec 69, National Archives of Australia:PP959/1/0, 5/3/AIR, digital image p31.

• Summary No3 January 71 - Dec 71. National Archives of Australia:PP959/1/0, 5/3/AIR, digital image p39.

These above samples lists are from the West Australian, National Archives of Australia (NAA) files. However, it is known that there are over 10,000 files in over 130 folders on the topic of UFO or Flying Saucers located within the NAA 60 million file collection. For some reason after 1980, Government UFO reports that were in external departments, were culled and then scattered through out Australia to NAA storage areas, away from their original central point in Victoria.

Looking at archival documents we see the following main player in UFO case research or information collection. Please note the list may not show all the upper administration levels of the departments just the units that have been involved with UFO case studies.

State

• Melbourne University

National Archives of Australia: A705/1, 114/1/197, digital image p67

• Local Police Stations
• Local Police CIB Special Branch

Department Of Air UFO Folder Cover 114/1/997 - 1953 to 1955 - NAA 01948052 - [http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=1948052&S=1&T=P

Federal

• Air Board

National Archives of Australia: B5758, 5/6/AIR Part1, digital image p160.

• Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)

National Archives of Australia: A6122, 2004/00053526, digital image p16.

• Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
• Australian Joint Service Staff (Intelligence)
• Bureau of Air Safety (BAS)
• Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI)
• Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)

National Archives of Australia: A703/115, 580/1/1 Part 2, digital image p198.

• Commonwealth Investigation Section (CIS)
• Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

National Archives of Australia: A9778/4, M1/F/31, digital image p6. National Archives of Australia: A8520/1, HM1/30, digital image p27.

• Defence Scientific and Technical Intelligence (DSTI)
• Director of Scientific Intelligence (DSI)
• Directorate of Air Force Intelligence (DAFI)

National Archives of Australia: B5758, 5/6/AIR Part1, digital image p169.

• Division of Meteorological Physics (CSIRO)
• Division of Radiophysics (CSIRO)

National Archives of Australia: A8520/1, HM1/30, digital image p6.

• Department of Defence (DoD)

National Archives of Australia: A703/115, 580/1/1 Part 2, digital image p187.

• Department of Air (DOA) (1939-1973)

National Archives of Australia: A703/115, 580/1/1, Part 2 digital image p1.

• Department of Aviation (DOA)
• Department of Civil Aviation (DCA)

National Archives of Australia: A705/1, 114/1/197, digital image p69.

• Department of External Affairs

National Archives of Australia: A8520/1, HM1/30, digital image p7.

• Department of Meteorology (DOM)

National Archives of Australia: A703/115, 580/1/1 Part 2, digital image p198.

• Department of the Navy

National Archives of Australia: A705/1, 114/1/197, digital image p120.

• Department of Supply (1950-1974)

National Archives of Australia: A8520/1, HM1/30, digital image p17.

• Department of Transport (DOT)
• Joint Intelligence Bureau (JIB)
• Meteorological Branch

National Archives of Australia: A705/1, 114/1/197, digital image p44.

• National Standards Laboratory (CSIRO)

National Archives of Australia: A8520/1, HM1/30, digital image p38.

• Upper Atmosphere Section (CSIRO)

National Archives of Australia: A8520/1, HM1/30, digital image p9.

Note: This above list is far from complete; however, it does lists some of the main Government sections that held or handled UFO reports.

From 1930 to 1959 all Defence UFO files were held at HQ Southern Air, G Block, Albert Part Barracks, Melbourne. (See Doc) with Army Intelligence. After 1959 the files were moved to RAAF Headquarters, Support Command, Victoria Barracks, Victoria Intelligence Cell, within the main building. These case files were controlled by the Australian Army through the Australian Army Intelligence Corps staff within the Australian Intelligence system, and they played a principle roll in the field investigation of any UFO phenomenon in Australia. However, the Army kept a low public profile but filtered reports for action. All Departments’ Central Offices were located in Melbourne, Victoria, between 1930 and 1969, then due to Government restructure, a majority of departments moved to Canberra. The main collection of UFO files stayed in Victoria until 1989 later going to Canberra or the National Archives of Australia.

The Air Force depart Australian ufology

January 4 1994, RAAF Wing Commander Brett Biddington, on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, informed all civilian UFO groups around Australia that "The number of reports made to the RAAF in the past decade had declined significantly, which may indicate that organisations such as yours are better known and are meeting the community's requirements." Therefore, the RAAF was not going to investigate or collect any more public reports from that date on. Although the RAAF have officially removed themselves from the public report collection phase, there is evidence that internal investigations, by other Government departments, still continue under the new title of Unusual Aerial Phenomena (UAP) or Unusual Aerial Sightings (UAS). Called the “1996 - Defence Instructions (General) ADMIN 55-1”, this 1996 Department of Defence (DOD) policy document better known as 'ADMIN 55-1' concerns UAS Policy is still currently used.

For further information on UFO and the Australian Government, files and case reports from 1950 to 1980 search the National Archives of Australia

UFO investigation groups

• Australian Centre for UFO Studies (ACUFOS)
• Australian International UFO Flying Saucer Research (AIUFOFSR)
• Phenomena Research Australia (PRA)
• Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC)
• Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS)
• UFO Research NSW (UFORNSW)
• UFO Research Queensland (UFORQld)

Sources

• Auchettl, John, Peter Norris:14 years after, 1992, in PRA Journal, No.7 September 1992, ISSN 1320-0763 [8]
• Auchettl, John, The Roots of Australian Ufology, Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS), 1985, pp34
• Auchettl, John, An Old Australian Phenomenon, The Australian Annual Flying Saucer Review, Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS), 1983, pp18-22
• Boyle, Brian, The Early Years: From Saucers to UFOs, Phenomena Research Victoria, 1961
• Bristol, Les, The Victorian UFO report, 1954 : a compilation of reports from the Victorian press, Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS), 1978, pp22, State Library of Victoria Call Number: 001.94 F 52 V
• Druffel, Ann, Firestorm: Dr James E. McDonald's fight for UFO Science, Wild Flower Press, 2003, pp609, ISBN 0-926524-58-5, pp170-171
• Fischer, Ray, The Victorian UFO report, 1954 : a compilation of reports from the Victorian press, Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS), 1978, pp22, State Library of Victoria Call Number: 001.94 F 52 V
• Holledge, James, Flying Saucers Over Australia, Horwitz Publications Inc, Melbourne, 1965, NL 629.1334 HOL, Bib ID 2071722 [9]
• Norman, Paul, Some Highlights in Australian Ufology, The Australian Annual Flying Saucer Review, Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS), 1983, pp10-24
• Seers, Stan, UFOs: The Case for Scientific Myopia, Vantage Press, 1983, pp224, ISBN 0-533-05271-8

See also

• J. Allen Hynek
• James E. McDonald
• UFO sightings in Australia
• Unidentified Flying Object
• Valentich Disappearance
• Westall High School UFO

External links

• Australia's 1868 UFO Buzz