The MUFON Journal - 1970 to 2008 - Australian material

Hi all,

Continuing my series of posts about references to Australian material in overseas periodicals, I bring you items from thirty eight year's worth of the US 'The MUFON Journal.'

Many well known researchers contributed to the MUFON Journal during this time. For example, just in the period 1979 to 1983 we find the following (all references are to digital page numbers.)

* Paul Norman - 'Mystery deepens in pilot disappearance case.' (November 1979 p.6)

* Bill Chalker - 'Light bending case.' (March 1980 p.18)

* Peter Delin - 'Psychological aspects of belief and disbelief.' (May 1981 p.4)

* Mark Moravec - 'Psiufological phenomenon.' (August 1980 p.14)

* Keith Basterfield - 'Imagery and close encounters.' (August 1981 p.4)

* American John F Schuessler writing about US researcher Stan Deyo, then living in Perth, Western Australia (October 1983 p.18.)

Many of the classic Australian sightings feature in issues of the Journal, including:

* Birdwood, South Australia - 30 July 1977. (November 1977 p.5)

* The Jindabyne 'abduction' - 27 September 1974. (February 1988 p.14)

* Mundrabilla, Western Australia - 20 January 1988 (March 1988 p.17.)

As with my three previous posts, about Australian material in overseas periodicals, I have prepared an Excel spreadsheet listing the material I found. To receive a copy of this spreadsheet simply drop me an email request to keithbasterfield@yahoo.com.au

'Nuts and bolts' versus 'new age' thinking

Hi all,

The other day I was communicating with a colleague, about the current state of Australian UAP research. My colleague remarked that their approach could best be described as 'nuts and bolts.' By this, they meant a reference to the idea that UAP are physically real, and should be studied using the scientific approach.

While I was digesting this thought, I received an email advising details of the January 2017 close encounter conference to be held in Byron Bay, New South Wales. Part of the conference email posed a series of questions, which included:

* What is the truth about UFO reality?

* Who is visiting us and why?

* What do these intelligences really want with us?

* What happens during encounters on space craft?

All very valid questions, and still along the 'nuts and bolts' line of thinking.

Wilder speculations

However, the questions posed, then went on to wilder and wilder scenarios:

* What involvement does the military have with reverse engineered craft and abductions?

* What do the star children say about their experiences and why do they say they are here to help humanity?

* Along with sightings, there is a vast agenda of contact by various ET species...other species interbreed with us and are producing a hybrid race which they keep on their craft.

The individuals involved with these wilder speculations, often make claims which go against common sense; and are based on little or no scientific evidence, e.g. claims by 'star children' and claims that one's child is a 'human/alien hybrid.'

These 'new age' thinkers have skipped the need to produce scientific evidence for their claims, and moved directly to the adoption of their own personal, belief systems; often aided by similar communities of belief, to be found on Internet websites, often based in the USA.

Where are

* The DNA analyses of 'human/alien hybrids' which demonstrate their differences from mere humans?

* The public demonstration by 'star children' of their super human abilities, of which they boast?

* The alien artifacts,' which are clearly not human, arising from the numerous interactions with ET species?

* The medical documentation to demonstrate that even one case exists of 'missing fetus syndrome'?

Lest I be accused of not studying abduction accounts, 'star children' and such things, I spent three years doing just this. During that time, I communicated with dozens of Australians making such claims. I sat in on regression hypnosis sessions with qualified health professionals, and looked for physical evidence in terms of implants and medical documentation.

What I learnt from this study, was that the average 'new age thinker' knew nothing of sleep paralysis; hypnagogic and hypnopompic imagery; the fantasy-prone personality; hallucinations; migraine auras; or fugue states, and numerous other such psychological, neurological and psychiatric conditions which can give rise to abduction style accounts.

From the perspective of the 'new age thinker,' the 'nuts and bolts' view has had its day, failed to produce any definitive, universally accepted, UFO 'crashed saucer,' which everyone agrees has absolutely no other explanation than an extra-terrestrial or interdimensional space ship. Some holders of the 'nuts and bolts' view would argue that the 1947 Roswell crash fits these criteria; I do not.

From the perspective of the 'nuts and bolts' view, the wilder side stories of 'star children;' 'alien/human hybrids' and the 'missing fetus syndrome' tell us more about the human condition, then they ever tell us about the UAP phenomenon.

Which view; if either; or perhaps some other; ultimately succeeds in being accepted by the majority of those interested in such things; only time will tell.

A comment from Sheryl Gottschall:

"Keith you make very valid points. Personally I think the requirements for evidence in various areas of UFO research seems to have disappeared right out the window. I too have posed the question - where is the evidence for aliens manipulating our DNA? Why hasn't there been human DNA testing done to seek such evidence? Isn't that the logical next step? That evidence is needed if those claims are going to prove true, otherwise it's just words that wash over the public mind rather than have the potential to catch their attention.

While the questions about interdimensional beings and alien manipulation of human DNA invite us to think more widely about the UFO phenomenon, it concerns me that once those questions are asked, the natural next step to provide evidence for those possibilities is not sought. To me that's fuzzy research."

Dr Michael J Duggin passes

Hi all,

Dr. Michael J. Duggin, had a deep interest in the subject of UFOs, between at least 1966 and 1973, while he was in Australia.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/abqjournal/obituary.aspx?pid=183181307

1966:

In November 1966, Duggin visited Jacques Vallee and J Allen Hynek, in Chicago, in the US to discuss their topic of mutual interest [Vallee, J. Forbidden Science, Volume 1, North Atlantic Books 2nd ed. Nov. 1992. page 226.]

In December 1966, Dr Duggin wrote to the Australian Department of Air, which was the official Australian government Department charged with looking into UFOs. Duggin referred to an earlier telephone call, and supplied a letter of introduction from Allen Hynek, to the Department. Part of this letter read "I would like to investigate cases myself where possible and would be very willing to be of any help which I can." [NAA file series A8520 HM1/30 digital pp 78-81]

An internal Department of Air memo [NAA file series A8520 HM1/30 digital page 77] re Duggin's letter, read, in part, "It is understood that this scientific investigation is quite unofficial...This Department had no objection additionally to passing reports of all UFO sightings to Dr Duggin provided that this would not cause you any embarrassment."

A hand written note on the CSIRO file, reads "Discussions with Colin Harper (at Chippendale) - has no objections to Duggin's extra-curricular activity."

1967-1969:

Dr Duggin conducted an investigation of a report from Sydney on 8 March 1967, where a dull grey-black object, emitting a low humming sound was observed. Duggin forwarded the details of the case to Hynek in the USA and a copy of this report may be found on a RAAF file. [ NAA file series A703 580/1/1 part 7 digital pages 173-191]

Image from NAA file A703 580/1/1 part 7 p 173

When the Disclosure Australia Project (2003-2008) interviewed former Joint Intelligence Bureau employee O Harry Turner, Turner was asked about a proposal for an official Australian government rapid investigation team for UFOs. Turner told us that he was the instigator of the team concept, and that Duggin was the other main player.

Together, Turner and Duggin investigated a reported UFO landing on a Sydney gold course in 1969. They took samples and looked at what temperature would have been needed to make the marks.

1970-1971

In 1970, Duggin investigated a trace case at Boggabri, NSW. A year later, he presented a talk titled "The Analysis of UFO reports" at a Symposium in Adelaide, South Australia on 30 October 1971. This symposium was organised by the SA Division of the Australian and New Zealand Society for the Advancement of Science.

1973:

In August 1973, Hynek was in Australia and together with Harry Turner and Duggin, Hynek attended a meeting on the 24th, with the Department of Defence's Directorate of Air Force Intelligence (DAFI). A DAFI file note [ NAA file series A703 554/1/30 part 3 folio 16] called it "An unofficial meeting...in an endeavour to expand the scientific relationship to the problem." DAFI suggested that perhaps they could refer selected cases to the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), where Duggin worked.

At this meeting, Duggin was described as a member of the CSIRO, based in North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, and heading the Australian aspect of ERSAT.

Almost nothing is known regarding Duggin's UFO interests between 1973 and 1979. One thing which is know, however, courtesy of an article about the work of the late James E McDonald, in the August 2006 issue of the MUFON Journal, by Ann Druffel, Vincent Uhlenkott and Ralph McCarron, is that an "...Australian scientist inquired about the Blue Book R-V files ..She [Betsy McDonald] allowed him to copy the R-V files..." The article states that before agreeing to this, that Betsy had been satisfied that the scientist had the required knowledge about atmospheric physics, astronomy and radar systems to be able to conduct scientific work on her former husband's radar visual UFO cases which James McDonald had located in the Project Blue Book files. This was in the early 1970's. It is highly probable, that this unnamed 'Australian scientist,' was in fact Duggin, who had expertise in these areas.

1979:

A biography located on a USAF website, indicates that Duggin left Australia in 1979 and became an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, USA.

2002:

The biography goes on to say that in 2002, Duggin left that position and became Senior Scientist, Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, USA.

http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/107194/dr-michael-j-duggin.aspx

2016:

Dr Duggin, aged 79, passed away on 20 December 2016, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. An obituary notice advised that his personal interests, ranged from scenic drives to fine wines. He was a talented photographer and a collector of cameras, fine writing instruments, knives and recorded classical music. There was no mention of UFOs at all. However, as anyone knows who has ever been bitten by the UFO bug; once interested you generally carry this interest with you, in one form or another, for the rest of your life. In the military world in which Duggin found himself in the latter part of his life, it wouldn't surprise me if his interest in UFOs continued 'under the radar.'

NICAP - UFO Investigator - Australian material - 1957 to 1971

Hi all,

Following my recent posts about references to Australian material in both the English Flying Saucer Review, and the APRO Bulletin, I checked out all the digitised  issues of NICAP's 'UFO Investigator.' which I had access to.

Here, we find references to various Australian sightings, including:

* Meekatharra, Western Australia - 'Angel hair fall.' (January 1962 p.6)

* Eton Ridge, Queensland - 'Close encounter.' (June 1965 p.1)

* Boyup Brook, Western Australia - 'Car stop.' (July 1968 p.6.)

The September 1971 issue, highlights a one day symposium on UAP, which was held in my home town of Adelaide, South Australia, on 30 October 1971. The aim of this symposium was to encourage scientists to take a look at the UAP issue, and was organised by the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science. To read more about this Symposium, click here.

As with my previous two postings, if you'd like a copy of an Excel spreadsheet listing these references, simply drop me an email to keithbasterfield@yahoo.com.au

The APRO Bulletin - references to Australian material

Hi all,

My previous post, spoke of a recent little project of mine,to document references to Australian material, in the English Flying Saucer Review, between 1955 and 2004. Following this, I decided to do the same for all the issues of the APRO Bulletin. I found several dozen such references.

Some well-known Australian sightings were promptly reported to the Bulletin by such individuals as Peter E Norris, Bill Chalker, and myself. Among them were:

* Moe, Victoria, 'Saucer panics cattle.' (July 1963 p.1)

* Balwyn, Victoria, 'The Balwyn photo.' (September 1966 p.1)

* The Valentich disappearance, 'Australian pilot missing.' (October 1978 p.1)

* Tully, Queensland, 'Those "saucer nests."' (March 1966 p.4)

Other interesting items, were articles, including:

* 'ANZAAS UFO Symposium' (November 1971 p.1)

* 'Australian scientist on extraterrestrial life.' (May 1973 p.2)

* 'RAAF statement on Gill sighting.' (March 1960 p.2)

* 'What did Cooper see?' (November 1963 p.1)

* 'Australian mystery rings.' (May 1973 p.5)

I am happy to provide readers with an Excel spreadsheet of my findings, upon receipt of an email request to keithbasterfield@yahoo.com.au

Australian references in the Flying Saucer Review - 1955 to 2004

Hi all,

Given the paucity of interesting, current UAP sightings in Australia, I have been spending some time buried in the past. Specifically, I have been going through several hundred digitised issues of the English Flying Saucer Review, published between 1955 and 2004. Almost fifty years worth of articles, sightings, book reviews, readers' letters, and speculation, are available for anyone to read.

Naturally, as I reside in Australia, I was keen to view sightings, investigations, and articles,written from this part of the globe. All in all, I came across over 100 such references.

On the sightings side,the FSR contained material on such classic Australian incidents, such as:

* The 1965 QANTAS aircraft sighting between New Zealand and Australia (Vol. 11 No. 2 p. 29.)

* The 1963 Salisbury, South Australia CE3 (Vol. 9 No. 4 p. 25.)

* The 1960 Cressy, Tasmania 'mothership and discs' event (Vol. 7 No. 4 p.32.)

* The 1978 Valentich disappearance (Vol. 24 No. 5 p.6.)

* The 1988 Mundrabilla 'UAP lifts car off road' (Vol. 33 No. 2 p 4.)

On the articles side, you find find interesting reading about:

* Submarine craft in Australasian waters (Vol. 12 No. 4 p.31.)

* Unidentified submarine object off Papua (Vol. 18 No. 3 p. 20.)

* UFO reports from Lake Eyre (Vol. 35 No. 2 p. 24.)

* Australia's Aborigines have long known about UFOs (Vol. 39 No. 3 p.25.)

*Animal mutilations in Australia in 1987 (Vol. 44 No.2 p.27.)

* Missing time in Australia (Vol. 49 No.1 p.6.)

I have compiled an Excel spreadsheet of these references, a copy of which, readers may receive; simply drop me an email request to keithbasterfield @yahoo.com.au

Felix sit annus novus

Hi all,

A New Year's tradition for me, has been to go to the website of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) just after midnight on 1 January each year, and look for any newly available UAP files.

The tradition continued this year, and I was rewarded by locating two new files in the A9755 NAA file series. This series number, was given to a group of about two dozen files, passed to the NAA by the RAAF, when it closed its UAP program in 1994. This year, two newly available A9755 series files surfaced. They are:

1. A9755 control symbol 23, titled 'RAAF Headquarters No 82 Bomber Wing Amberley Queensland [Unusual Aerial Sightings] [UAS]  [UFO-Unidentified Flying Object].' The barcode is 3533584, with a date range of 1992-1994. The file's status is currently 'Not Yet Examined.'

2. A9755 control symbol 9, titled 'RAAF No 92 Wing Headquarters, Edinburgh, South Australia [Unusual Aerial Sightings] [UAS] Administration [UFO-Unidentified Flying Object].' The barcode is 3533451, with a date range of 1992-1994. The file's status is 'Not Yet Examined.'

I have submitted a request to have the two files examined, and when their status is changed to 'Open,' I will pay for a digitised copy to be placed on the NAA website for anyone to read.

Unfortunately, from October last year, until 1 July 2017, the NAA are moving some 15 million files from multiple repositories, to the newly established National Archives Preservation Facility, thus causing delays to the access process. It will therefore be some months before the digital copies will be available.

I am also currently waiting on the NAA to digitise another file, found last year. This is NAA file series J229, control symbol 5/13/Air, titled 'Sighting of Unidentified Objects.' This file is barcode 21290309, date range 1956-1996. This file originated with RAAF No 10 Squadron, Edinburgh, South Australia.

Update as at 18 April 2017

The National Archives of Australia is still in the process of moving millions of files to a new repository building, and advises this will not be complete until 1 July 2017. I have still not received access to files A9755 23, or A9755 9.