Four more RAAF UAP files available from the National Archives of Australia

Hi all,

Invisible files:

In about 1994, the RAAF collected its remaining open UAP files, from various bases around Australia, and sent them off to the National Archives of Australia (NAA.) The RAAF did this because at that time, it had decided to get out of the UAP "business."

The NAA re-numbered all of these files as file series A9755, and as their date range fell outside of the Archive Act, no-one was allowed to see the files.


Enter the Disclosure Australia Project:

In  2004, Dominic McNamara and myself were able to convince the RAAF to transfer these files from where they were held in Canberra, to RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. Dom and I spent about 18 hours in total looking through the files under the watchful eyes of RAAF police. We reported on the contents of the files in Disclosure Australia Newsletter number 15 (click here.)

Now, ten years later, the date range of the Archives Act has caught up with these files and parts of eleven of the series have been already digitised on the NAA website, thanks to the efforts of myself and Melbourne based researcher Paul Dean. I have previously reported on these in various blog posts.

Now, thanks to Paul Dean, four more A9755 series files have been opened and digitised. I report on their contents below.


A9755 control symbol 5:

[RAAF Headquarters Support Command, Victoria Barracks, Victoria] UFOs [Unidentified Flying Objects] reports[UAS - Unusual Aerial Sightings]. Date range 1985-1987. Barcode 3533434. Status - open. Formerly file number 6/16/Air Part 1. 153 pages available.

This file consists mainly of large numbers of copies of documents which the Victorian UFO Research Society (VUFORS) sent in to the RAAF, e.g. copies of the VUFORS Newsletters for March, June and September 1987.

There are however, three sets of interesting papers relating to the 9 June 1987 Learmouth, West Australia, event involving SAS personnel (click here); a letter re a close encounter at Highton, Victoria (click here), and details of a 25 September 1985 unusual radar contact at RAAF Sale (click here).  It should be noted however, that copies of documents on all these three events have already been previously located on other RAAF files, and details given in this blog.

One other item of interest is that this file, unlike others, provides the names of the witnesses to the June 1987 Learmouth event. We had previously not known their names. Likewise, the witness to the Highton event is also named on the file.


A9755 control symbol 3:

[RAAF Headquarters Support Command, Victoria Barracks, Victoria] UAS [Unusual Aerial Sightings] Policy [UFO - Unidentified Flying Objects]. Date range 1983-1987. Status open. Barcode 3533406. 182 pages. Formerly 5/6/Air Part 3. Chief of Air Staff.

This is a policy file and contains a variety of documents including:

* Pages relating to photographic computer enhancement techniques

* Newspaper clippings

* A letter dated 25May 1983 from the Australian Skeptics to Flt. Lt. Biddington

* A copy of a report by researcher Bill Chalker, on what he found when he examined the RAAF files in the early 1980's

* A detailed article by VUFORS member John Auchettl, on the 21 July 1983 Melton, Victoria, sightings by police officers

* Multiple pages on various aspects of the 1983 Bendigo, Victoria, "flap"

* A list of RAAF UAP files.


A9755 control symbol 18:

[RAAF Headquarters No 82 Bomber Wing, Amberley, Queensland] Unusual Aerial Sightings [UAS] [UFO-Unidentified Flying Objects]. Date range 1987-1988. Barcode 3533543. 166 pages. Formerly file 5/113/Air part 7. Status open with exception.

This file contains a number of UAP proformas concerning low interest lights in the sky, from the general public in Queensland. Nothing of great interest here, simply adding more sightings to the existing record.


A9755 control symbol 12:

[RAAF No 92 Wing Headquarters, Edinburgh, South Australia] Unusual Aerial Sightings [UAS] [UFO - Unidentified Flying Objects]. Date range 1987-1992. Barcode 3533466. Status open with exception. 76 pages. Formerly file 5/6/1 Air Part 15.

This file contains a number of UAP proformas from various individuals in South Australia. There are 76 pages available to view through the NAA's website. However, when Dom and I examined the file in 2004, there were 183 pages on the file. At that time, I did take note of the contents of most of the file and I provide a copy of my notes below.

Page	Folio	Contents
17	11	Handwritten note. Report 1850hrs. Mypolonga SA. Large mass of bright white light. Round. 10000 feet high. Sighted above Murray bridge. Moved ESE. Disappeared behind cloud.
18	12	Letter. Jul 87. Ed to Mypolonga reporter. Please complete pro forma.
19-21	13	Pro forma Mypolonga. “Assessed as having no military significance.”
22	14	Letter. 31 Jul 87. Ed to OIC Police Jamestown. “Chief Inspector… advises that you have recently received a report on the occurrence of an unexplained phenomenon suggestive of a UFO sighting from a local farmer…” details please.
23-24		Pro forma Witness A. Aged 51. Farmer near Jamestown. 25 Jul 87. 1815hrs to 1945hrs. Clear weather at time.  First seen 6o feet from ground to the north. “Craft sighted whilst it parked on ground.” Craft approx 20 yards wide. Colour- light-iridescent bright red. Craft-bright aluminium appearance. Size-light-cone shape travelling to ground. Craft-12 feet wide 8-9 feet high. Portholes approximately 4 feet above ground. No sound from craft. “Sound of shuffling type of walk treading on plastic heard outside while I was inside house…” “Don’t know how craft left. The light just went off like they had been switched off. Light appeared to be sued for directional purposes only.” “Ground was marked by flattened grass and dried ground and slight indentation.” There was a witness to part of the event-son in law aged 28 was there ion the appearance of the first light only he then left to go home. Form signed by witness on 4 Aug 87.
25-30	15	Copy of Police report on Jamestown case. Police officer visited site and reported trace faintly visible.   Ref: SAPOL H2 88 U2. Letter from SAPOL to RAAD Ed dated 5 Aug 87.
31	16	Record of conversation. Broken Hill newspaper. Report UAS. Bus driver 2000hrs 11 Aug 87 near Peterborough SA. A bright green light travelled parallel to bus. Affected bus electrics. RAAF have not heard of this report.

Page	Folio	Contents
32	17	Record of conversation. ABC Broken Hill. Inquiry re sightings around BH. No specific reports received by RAAF.
33	18	Letter. 14 Aug 87. Ed to witness A at Jamestown. “Thank you for your well documented report of the inexplicable phenomenon which you recently witnessed. Reports of unusual aerial sightings (or UFOs) on the ground are infrequently received by thus office. Your report has seen investigated, but I cannot provide an explanation as to what you saw.   Notwithstanding, the sighting is assessed as having no defence or security implications, and in accordance with Departmental policy will not be investigated further.” However, I’d like your consent to pass your report on to Mr Brunt.
34-40	19	A T Brunt. Article titled “Understanding UFOs”
41-43		Pro forma. Copy. Jamestown.
44-50		Original of SAPOL report on Jamestown.
51	20	Letter. Aug 87. Squadron Leader at Ed to A Brunt. Herewith report from Jamestown.
52	21	Letter. 31 Aug 87. From A T Brunt to witness at Jamestown. Some suggestions as to possible cause of the light portion of the sighting.
53-54	22	Letter 17 Aug 87. Re civilian sighting at Broken Hill.
55	23	Minute. 3 Oct 87. Flt Lt O/O Big white blob over City
56	24	News paper clipping. “UFO buzzed me, farmer claims.” Jamestown case.
57	25	Letter. 6 Oct 87. Ed to witness to sighting at Wentworth.
58	26	Letter. 6 Oct 87. Pro forma please from witness in 3 Oct 87 case.
59		O/O log. 1945hrs. From witness at Virginia. Jet flying over house plus a white light.
60	27	Record of conversation. 8 Oct 87. Dakota and Mirage were in area of Virginia.
61	28	O/o log. 2030hrs. Civilian at Morphett Vale. Stationary blue/green light.
62	29	Letter. 13 Oct 87. To witness 61 pro forma please.
63		O/o log. 2200hrs UFO flew over Parafield. 2145hrs. Bright ball. No noise. 9 Oct 87.
64	30	Minute. Witness to 63 contacted.
65	31	News paper clipping. Advertiser 21 Jan 88. Mundrabilla.
66	32	Letter. 21 Jan 88. Ed to witness-pro  forma please.
67	33	Newspaper clipping. Advertiser. Mundrabilla }Probably a meteorite.”

Page	Folio	Contents
68	34	Letter. 9 Feb 88. Ed to Police station Port Augusta. Please fill in a pro forma re two Police Officers re sighting 8 Feb 88.
69-72	35	Pro forma. 8 Feb 88. 2340hrs. Police officer. 12.4km NNW from Highway 87 on Carieweerloo Homestead Road. Clear sky to N. Cloud to S. Fine/mild. Very bright white light seen. Police were responding to civilian report of UFO but saw nothing at first. Then 2 Police Officers saw very bright white light-increased in intensity and appeared to rise by 2-3 degrees then disappeared. 6 witnesses altogether.
73	36	o/o log. 0700hrs. Elizabeth North man saw green light going very fast E to N trailing orange.
74	37	Letter. Pro forma to witness 17 Mar 88.
75-78	38	Pro forma. Witness aged 61. 7 Mar 88. 0653HRS. 8SECS. 10 DEG EL. 045 DEG Mag az. Lost at 10 deg el 355deg Mag az. Bright green light.
79-81	39	Pro forma. Witness 67 yrs. Findon. 17 mar 88. 0050hrs. 7mins. Object near civilian aircraft.
82	40	Occurrence log. Barmera. Big bright blue/silver and gold light over Lake Bonney. 17 Aug 88. 2330hrs.
83	41	Letter. Ed 26 Aug 88 to witness 82.
84	42	Letter. 12 Sep 88. Ed to Strathalbyn witness. Pro forma please.
85-87	43	Pro forma. Strathalbyn SA 8 Sep 88. 1850hrrs to 2115hrs. 45 deg NE. Very fast light in sky.
88	44	Occurrence log. UFO report. 312250k. At 2000hrs Golden Grove. Falling large red and white light.
89	45	File note. 11 Nov 88. 2248hrs. W Hindmarsh. Long shape-oval. Pro forma mailed.
90	46	Occurrence report. 2205hrs. Hope Valley-light.
91	47	Letter. 7 Mar 88. Ed to Hope Valley reporter. Pro forma please.
92		Occurrence log. 1845hrs. Medindie. Bright light.
93	48	Letter. 22 May 89. Ed to witness 92.
94	49	Letter. 21 Jul 89. Ed to witness Aberfoyle Park 21 Jul 89. Complete pro forma.
95	50	Message form. Meadows via Stirling Police. 2300hrs. SW sky. Blue light. 4-5secs.
96	51	Message form. From 92QWG to HQAMB. Please interview Qld reporter re complex story.
97	52	News clipping. Advertiser 11 Sep 89. “’Space junk’ trail in sky.”
98	53	Hand written note. Names and phone numbers.
99	54	Hand written note. 9 Sep 89. 1045hrs. Whyalla. Witness at Williams Creek hotel. 20 aircraft travelling at 2500-3000 km/hr.
100	55	Record of conversation. Checked re-entry of USA-42 at 09115Z
101	56	Minute. 28 Sep 89. Paralowie. 2115 and 2145hrs. 27 Sep 89. Bright white/yellow/orange light in W.
102	57	Letter. Ed to witness 101.
103-146	58	Pages from Allen Hendry’s UFO guide book
147	59	Letter. 22 Nov 89. Ed to witness-complete pro forma.

Page	Folio	Contents
148	60	File note. Hand written. Report 2230hrs Smithfield. Very bright star.
149	61	Occurrence log. Group of lights 0940hrs in N sky. Moving around.
150	62	Letter. Ed to witness 22 Nov 89. pro forma please.
151	63	Hand written note. “thought associated with sky show.”
152	64	Letter. Ed 31 Jan 90. To witness re 30 Jan 89 report. Pro forma please.
153-155	65	Pro forma. Darlington. 25 Jan 90. 25mins 45 deg NNE.
156	66	Letter. Ed 20 Feb 90. to witness 20 Feb 90. Pro forma please.
157	67	Occurrence log. 012025 Report SW to NE. Very bright light.
158	68	Letter. Ed 4 Apr 90. To witness re 2 Apr 90. Pro forma please.
159	69	Letter. 21 Aug 90. To witness Paralowie sighting.
160	70	Letter. 15 Oct 90. To civilian witness Dulwich. Pro forma please.
161-163	71	Pro forma. Male 62 yrs. 9 Oct 90. Near Auburn SA. Driving south on highway 83. 2230hrs ¼ sec. Clear sky. First seen 20 deg W. Blue/orange ball with sparks.
164	72	Handwritten note. 30 Oct 80. Terowie SA. “A UFO may have landed in his wheat crop. 30 foot diameter circle. Wheat within circle flattened in anti-clockwise direction. Area at about 4 feet from circle where wheat upright and another circle at about ten feet where wheat flattened anticlockwise. Wheat greater than two feet high. Witness ex-army. Photos taken.
165	73	Occurrence log. 18 Jan 91. 2200hrs. UFO sighting. Francis SA. 30 deg NE. Bright yellow stationary light.
166	74	UFO sighting 6. Male. At Clare/Burra turn off. Travelling SW. Bright green light. 2030hrs. 20 may 91.
167	75	UFO sighting 5. Vale Park. Blue light surrounded by white. 2020hrs.
168	76	UFO sighting 4. 20 May 91. Blue light white tail. Glandore.
169	77	UFO sighting 3. 20 May 91. 2020hrs. Advertiser called re “giant meteorite.”
170	78	UFO sighting 2. 2020hrs. 20 May 91. Seacliff. NW sky. Green flash very fast. Smoke trail to W.
171	79	UFO sighting 1. 20 May 91. Paralowie. 1M. 2020hrs. Very bright. SE to NW. Left trail.
172	80	Letter. Ed to Lobethal witness.
173-175	81	Pro forma. Lobethal. 1F 3 Jul 91. 0525hrs. 45 deg NW Green glow. Downward. Rapid. Vanished.
176	82	Minute. 12 Jul 91. UFO report. One Tree Hill. 1M. Bright green light. White. SW. Travelling NE to SW. 80-10secs. 2155hrs.
177	83	Occurrence log. 12 Jul 91. 1530hrs. St Peters. 1M. Bright light in NW sky.
178	84	Letter. 27 Sep 91. Letter. 1M. Campbelltown. Pro forma please.
179-181	85	Pro forma. 1M 26 Sep 91. 15mins. 45 deg ENE. Two lights. Yellow. Campbelltown.
182		Letter 21 Jan 92. Port Pirie. Pro forma please.
183		“This file was checked and found to be complete 15 Jul 94.”

Any more files?

I compared a list of RAAF UAP files I found on A9755 control symbol 3, with file numbers already known to me. The following files remain un-located.

* 6/9/Air part 2

* 17/9/Air Part 7

* 5/6/Air Part 1.

In addition, file 5/1/11/Air Part 1, which was seen at RAAF Base Edinburgh in 2004, also remains un-located in the NAA to date.

These four files, may of course, be part of the A9755 file series, which are not yet visible on the NAA's RecordSearch. Only time will tell. The next NAA notification of so far unseen RAAF UAP files will be on 1 January 2015, when anything new will simply appear on RecordSearch on that day.


Thanks:

UAP researchers should note the generosity of Paul Dean of Melbourne who paid to have the above files digitised (at a cost of about Aus. $60 per file.)


PDF copies:

It is of interest to note that two of the above mentioned files are also available in PDF, and thus you can download the entire file for yourself, as opposed to reading the digitised version.

New book alert - Marden and Stoner

Hi all,

Kathleen Marden and Denise Stoner have written a new book titled "The Alien Abduction Files: The Most Startling Cases of Human-Alien Contact Ever Reported," published in 2013 by New Page Books, Pompton Plains, NJ. ISBN 978-1-60-271-5.

Marden, the niece of Betty Hill; and Stoner, an experiencer from Florida, have teamed up to present and discuss some first hand accounts of abduction.

The Stoners:

Denise and Ed Stoner, and daughter Dienna, experienced a period of "missing time" in 1982 while on a trip in Colorado, USA. Other family members confirmed the Stoner's late arrival to a campsite. Their only initial unusual observation, was the sighting of two yellow-white lights in the sky, prior to their period of "missing time."

When Marden moved to Florida in 2009 she met the Stoners, and an investigation began. It ensued that Denise had "...undergone regression hypnosis with a Dr Romack..." (p.48.) Marden then performed hypnotic regression sessions with Denise, in 2011.

Regression:

Marden states "I agreed to assist her, with the reservation that her pre-existing knowledge of alien abduction might color some of her memories." (p.49.)

Marden used forensic hypnosis techniques, well aware "...the hypnotist must safeguard against the possibility that the hypnotized person might construct false memories where no real memories exist." (p.49.)

Denise responded very easily to the hypnotic process, and recalled a craft, with Greys inside. When out of hypnosis Denise sketched the craft. Marden writes "It was unlike any that I had ever received...I had to consider the possibility that she might have been filling in information when a real memory couldn't be accessed. To this day it remains uncertain to me." (p.56.)

More sessions:

Further hypnotic sessions followed with Denise, and additional information unfolded, which included a description of "...a praying mantis or insectoidal being." (p.59.) In addition there was a medical examination.

Marden comments "I wondered if this was in fact an "artifactual" memory of information that had come her way as an abduction researcher." (p.68.)

Marden then conducted a regression hypnotic session with Ed Stoner. Ed recalled being in a strange environment.

Florida:

In 1991, after a day when both Stoners went cave diving, "...when in the middle of the night, Denise rose from her bed, feeling compelled to leave the motel and drive to a remote location." (p.73.) She had vague conscious recollections of the event, but Marden regressed her and  a story emerged of her encountering a craft and entities, and going on-board. Next day, another period of "missing time" occurred to both Ed and Denise. Regression of Ed provided additional information to the conscious memories.

Further chapters document Denise's growing interest in the topic of abductions following the 1982 event. In the 1980's she came across a Dr. Robert Romack who was also interested in the subject, and underwent hypnosis with him. Marden notes "During the next several weeks, they began to learn some of Denise's suppressed memories." (pp91-92.)

At this point "I asked her to search her memory for possibly youthful visitations with extra-terrestrials." (p.92.) One merged from age 2 1/2 years with further events following.

An evaluation of the evidence:

The authors argue that the Stoners "...are credible people of excellent character. Neither has a history of substance abuse or psychiatric illness...there is no reason to believe their lost time experiences were fabricated or has a valid psychological explanation..." (p.120.) However, this is followed by "Although often accurate, when a hypnotized individual is pushed for information that doesn't exist in one's biographical memory, there is a propensity to fill in missing details from one's imagination. For this reason, the information that Denise revealed in hypnosis comes with no guarantee that it is objectively real." (p.121.)

Jennie:

The authors then move on to the story of "Jennie", a woman who "...is a long-term, multigenerational experiencer, and her alien abduction events are currently ongoing." (p.137.) The authors note "It is undeniable that Jennie exhibits nearly all of the characteristics that are common among UFO abduction experiencers." (p.200.) They note that there is widespread reporting of "paranormal activity" by experiencers.

Final section and explanations:

Finally, the authors report briefly on the accounts of a number of other experiencers. They then go on to say that along the way, several hypotheses to explain these events were examined by them. "...it has been necessary for us to examine several alternative hypotheses, including psychological states (already discussed throughout this book), demonic possession, and astral entity attachment." (p.224.)

"As we move toward the end of the book, we consider it imperative to state that Denise and I have carefully weighed each of the above hypotheses and believe that each might pertain to a particular type of experience. However, one alone should not be considered an all encompassing explanation for alien abduction." (p.228.)

Their final words are "All of this supports the extra-terrestrial hypothesis of alien visitation and the abduction of humans." (p.229.)

PANDORA

Hi all,

The National Library of Australia (NLA) has a Web Archive, established in 1996, named "PANDORA." It archives, and allows access to, numerous Australian websites.

Recently, I was contacted by the NLA who sought my permission to include this blog, and also the blog "Anomalies-an Australian perspective" in the PANDORA Archive. I have agreed.

To take a look at what's available in PANDORA, go to http://pandora.nla.gov.au/index.html

North West Cape incident - some further research notes

Hi all,

Introduction:

In a recent post ( click here)  I brought readers up to date with the "cold case" research that Melbourne researcher Paul Dean, and I have been conducting into the important 25 October 1973 incident at the US Navy Base at North West Cape, Western Australia.

This post provides details of some further research that we have been undertaking on the case, in conjunction with a Sydney based research associate, who prefers to remain anonymous. We wish to thank them for their contribution to the research.


G J Odgers:

After hearing from New South Wales  researcher Moira McGhee, that she had received the North West Cape documents from Henry Ross Rayner, who was the Director of Public Relations for the Department of Defence, in 1973, the year of the North West Cape incident, it occurred to me to take a look at the Public Relations organisational structure at the Department of Defence (DOD) at that time.

As well as a Director of Public Relations, DOD, there was also a head of Public Relations for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1973. We know this for a fact, as RAAF letters to Western Australian witnesses to Unusual Aerial Sightings (UAS) in October 1973, were signed by a G J Odgers, Director of Public Relations. (Source: National Archives of Australia file series A 703, control symbol 580/1/1 Part 33.)

I located the following information about George James Odgers:

"In 1965 Odgers became the head of Public Relations for the Department of Air and subsequently the RAAF. He held the position until 1975 when he became Director of Historical Studies and Information in the Department of Defence." (Source: Dennis, Peter et al. 1995. "Odgers, George James." The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History. Melbourne. Oxford University Press. p.441.)

It seems reasonable to assume that Rayner and Odgers knew each other, at least professionally. After all, Odgers took over Rayner's old job when Rayner moved to the Director of Public Relations, DOD.

It would also appear reasonable to suggest that if Rayner, in the 1974/1975 time frame that McGhee stated she received the documents, was looking for some RAAF UAS cases to pass to McGhee, that he would have sought them through Odgers - public relations officer to public relations officer. It should be recalled that it was the RAAF which was the sole Australian government agency charged to process reports of UAS.

Given the above, I thought it worth while to check if G J Odgers were still alive, in order to ask him whether or not he had any personal knowledge of these North West Cape documents. Unfortunately, my research showed that Odgers had passed away in 2008.


Date of UFOIC receipt of the documents:

We know from Moira McGhee that she was a member of the Sydney based group, UFOIC, at the time she received the documents. Looking to independently confirm this, our Sydney based research associate examined copies of the UFOIC Newsletter. No mention was found of Moira McGhee and receipt of the North West Cape documents in the Newsletter .However, issue 50 dated January-February 1977 did include that "We are pleased to announce that three new investigators joined UFOIC...Ms Moira McGhee." Therefore all we have to go on is that Moira stated that receipt of the documents was in 1974/1975. (Source: Telephone conversation between Moira and Keith Basterfield, 18 January 2013.)

What is Bill Chalker's recollection of when he saw the documents? Bill's memory is that it was around 1975. Looking for independent confirmation, our Sydney research associate found the following in issue 43 of the UFOIC Newsletter, dated April-May 1975: "The President and Committee would like to welcome a new committee member, Mr W C Chalker, BSc (Hons). Mr Chalker is now resident in Sydney." Thus 1975 fits.

So, overall, it would appear that Moira received the documents in 1974/1975 and Bill saw them in 1975.


Timing of the Defcon three alert:

In his 1996 book, "The Oz Files," (Duffy & Snellgrove. Potts Point. ISBN 1-875989-04-8) researcher Bill Chalker provides a write up of the North West Cape incident, on pages 154-159. Part of the write up refers to:

"A full nuclear alert went out to all US Forces. North-West Cape was used to communicate the alert to both conventional and nuclear forces in the region. Local time at North-West Cape was around early evening. It was then that an intruder was spotted in the airspace over the base." (p.155.)

This suggests that the alert and the UAP sighting were fairly close in time.

However, since the publication of Bill's book, US Government documents relating to the Defcon 3 alert have become available on the Internet. (click here.) Here we find that the alert was given in Washington DC at 0430hrs z on 25 October 1973. The z indicates Zulu time, or Greenwich Mean Time, not 0430 hours local Washington time. It would have been 2330hrs local time on 24 October 1973 in Washington.

What local time was it at North West Cape? It was 1230hrs on 25 October 1973, and not "around early evening" as Bill's book suggests.

Thus, based on the evidence above, the alert was almost seven hours earlier than the UAP sighting, and not the almost simultaneous timing that Bill originally suggested. I raised this issue with Bill by email and he responded that the 2330hrs 24 October Washington timing contradicts an account he found in Alistair Homes book 2009 book titled  "Kissinger's Year 1973." page 300 which refers to the small hours of the morning on 25 October.

On the basis of original documentation which we all can read, I believe the 1230hrs local time at North West Cape is the most probable timing of the alert. Thus the UAP sighting was some seven hours after the alert was issued.


Further discussions with the Pearce RAAF Base UAS officer from 1973:

In an earlier post  I reported on discussions between Melbourne based researcher Paul Dean and the occupant of the position of UAS officer in 1973 at Pearce RAAF Base in Western Australia. In an initial discussion between the two, the UAS officer, Pyers, advised he had no knowledge of the North West Cape incident. Subsequent to that initial conversation, Paul Dean sent a copy of the North West Cape incident documents to Pyers for him to examine. Paul recently spoke again to Pyers. We have Pyers' permission to report on their conversation.

Pyers confirmed that he had received and examined the documents, and stated that he had been at Pearce from 1971-1976 as a search and rescue pilot. He was the UAS officer for about two years. He definitely had never seen the North West Cape incident documents, until Paul sent them to him. Reading the documents had him stumped for an explanation for the object reported. Paul asked him if he thought it could have been a flock of birds? Pyers didn't think so. Pyers stated that while the Pearce UAS officer he never saw a UAS case which stumped him, while on this duty or at any other time while in the RAAF.


How did the RAAF learn of the incident?

Given that the witnesses to this sighting were serving in the US Navy at a US Navy base on Australian soil, and that the most likely RAAF Officer to have processed the reports (Pyers at the Pearce RAAF base) says that he never saw anything about the incident, how did the RAAF learn about the incident?

Our Sydney research associate contacted me to let me know that in Desmond Ball's 1980 book titled "A Suitable Piece of Real Estate: American Installations in Australia" Ball mentions that Area B (where one of the witnesses was) of the North West Cape base had a direct link to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in Canberra. However, this was in 1980, not 1973. Was there a RAN officer at the North West Cape base in 1973? It seems there was.

In the 9 August 1973 issue of the Canberra Times newspaper (click here) there is mention of one Australian liaison officer at the base, and in the Canberra Times newspaper of the 10 March 1973, it specifically mentions a RAN Liaison Officer (click here.)

It would appear most likely, that the witnesses reported their sightings to US Naval authorities who advised the RAN liaison officer, who transmitted their details to RAN Canberra. As RAN Canberra would be aware that the reporting procedure for UAS was to forward them to the RAAF, this is how the RAAF became aware of the incident.


The Americans investigated:

In Bill's 1996 book, in the section on the North West Cape incident, on page 150 there is a sentence "The Americans investigated the two sightings.." As our Sydney research associate pointed out to us, there was no such mention in Bill's original 1985 article, about the incident, in Omega magazine. I therefore queried Bill about this statement about an American investigation. His response was that it appears to have been inserted by his book editor. Bill further advised that he had no evidence that the Americans had investigated the sightings.


In summary:

Our research now indicates that:

1. The object sighted at North-West Cape on the 25 October 1973 was most likely seen about seven hours after the US military Defcon3 alert, and not almost at the same time, as suggested in Bill Chalker's 1996 book.

2. There is no evidence that the Americans investigated the sightings. Though our Sydney research associate suggests it should have been reported through the US military system in accordance with JANAP 146.

3. There is a difficulty in reconciling the time of the event reported by both witnesses, and the sky conditions, given the time of  sunset that night. See earlier posts for details.

4. Unfortunately, we do not have access to the RAAF's "Unit Evaluation" portion of their proformas, to see what they concluded the object was. Neither the evaluation; the first three pages, or the witnesses' written statements are to be found on the A703 files series, control symbol 580/1/1 RAAF UAS files currently held by the National Archives of Australia.

All in all, a tantalising report by US Naval personnel at a US Naval base on Australian soil, which we are unlikely to be able to further analyse, unless we can either locate further original documentation; or living individuals with personal knowledge of the event.