Stories of Ufo crashes form a persistent  part of  the Ufo controversy. Whether they contribute ultimately to Ufo folklore or fact will be a matter for history. With the prominence given to the Roswell  saga  I  have put this report  together  to encourage feedback on this colourful area. Such stories deserve careful attention, if only to put them to rest. If only one turns out to be substantial then we have a very extraordinary situation. However I should caution none of them constitute proof of anything. 

Listing of Australian Crash/Retrieval Stories

• 1. 1955 Eucla, SA (dubious alien photo and alleged crash debri).
  
• 2. 1955 near Nowra, NSW  (Noel Martin's 1982 "UFO Recovery" saga).
  
• 3. 1959 Butterworth RAAF Malaysia  (letter writer to RAAF refers to plane destruction and debri from destroyed UFO).
  
• 4. 1966 Balwyn/Westall, Victoria (classic CE2 incident with possible UFO "in difficulty" rumours).
  
• 5. 1966-80 - Greenbank, Queensland ("Alien Honeycomb" saga).
  
• 6. 1972 Croydon, NW Qld, "crash" (meteorite? plus odd newspaper classified ad: "Magnificent obsession fruition. Tiger special duties all under objects. Will report as arranged.  Loyal and true.  Sky Blue World President. UFO. Immediate.)" 
  
• 7. 1972-73 - Edmonton area, North Qld ("catwoman" affair - "girlie's home").
  
• 8. 1976 - Nowra/Robertson ", NSW, crash" (spurious).
  
• 9. 1979 - Banka Banka, Northern Territory, ex RAAF files re "crash", burnt area & ash only found.
  
• 10. 1980 - Lismore, NSW  "UFO crash" (dubious, possible newspaper fabrication).
  
• 11. 1983 - Coen,  Qld  - probable. meteorite (letter to editor alleging retrieval operation involved)
• 12. 1970s - Mt. Isa artifact found by farmer - usual alloy mixture, studied by Qld metallurgist, Paul Brixius.
  
• 13. before 1985 - story re 12 to 14 "craft" held at a secure hangar style facility. Most usual in appearance ("Star Wars" like appearance).  Only some had been open.  Various personnel seconded to work on these craft.  They were reportedly very frightened about working on the objects.  Occupants recovered, apparently numerous types, but source best familiar with 2 human looking males (internal organs allegedly different).
  
• 14. Source allegedly saw cover page and introductory page to document describing Australian operation called either operation or project A - which referred to "modules" and "aliens" being ready for transfer to an Australian facility, allegedly the same as in item.
  
• 15. TV media group allegedly at same site as per item 13 allegedly "wandered" into hangar area and saw "saucer" object.  They were caught and allegedly sworn to secrecy.
  
• 16. 1972/73, near  Nowra, alleged "retrieval" attempt just out to sea during same night as extraordinary CE event.
  
• 17. Alleged accounts of possibly 3 UFO crashes in Australia including one in which one alien was still alive.
  
• 18. Information about an operation devoted to retrievals and an alleged "inner cell" intent on "contact" using individuals with history of UFO encounters. Note Deyo's antecdote re "some decoded US Defence Department traffic...from nuclear test monitoring network headquartered in Washington and code named the "Shake Lady" ... In the middle of this traffic was a response to a UFO enquiry  made by a mobile unit in Western Australia.  The response was a reprimand for making such  requests without the required "Level 7" security clearance over such a relatively open communications link..."
  
• 19. Abductee "recollects" onboard episode which allegedly involved craft crashing  in Tolga swamp in Qld.
  
• 20. 1979, Esperance, WA "crash" event (with DSTI/JIO SECRET "BOLIDE FILE" reference to "special access" channels undertaking a prompt and wide search.
  
• 21. Several Pine Gap antecdotes of  UFOs such as hunting party observing a craft flying out of a concealed door,  an abductee who alleges he went inside an underground site there witnessing craft, examinations and "alien liaison" activity, and a UFO researcher who claims he "astral travelled" to Pine Gap secret facility!

By  way  of  an example case number  17  will  now  be described  in some detail.  It  is an  excellent example  of  the  frustrations such case studies often present. 

A Crash Retrieval in the Desert?

A source told me he knew of at least 3 separate UFO crashes in Australia.  They were allegedly the focus of an operation devoted to retrievals of the objects and any beings present.  Australian and US military teams intent on "contact" apparently used individuals with histories of UFO encounters to help identify possible event locations.  My source claims these individuals apparently come from military ranks.   One alleged incident was described in great detail. 

My source describes the following extraordinary incident, in which he claims to have been a direct participant.  I have not been able to verify this story due to concerns that any attempt to check his bonafides may draw unwanted attention to him - a frustrating or convenient Catch 22 depending on your point of view.  While the details seem unbelievable, I have heard various elements of the story as features in other unrelated episodes.   This does not validate the story but it makes it at least a fascinating yarn that may yet yield confirmatory details. 

In about 1977 a UFO, first seen as a purple green "fireball", was observed to "crash" near the South Australia - Western Australia border, some distance north of the Eyre Highway.   A retrieval team was on location within hours and confirmed the presence of a large damaged object, completely unlike any conventional aircraft.  Smaller than a Boeing, it had something of a triangular appearance.  There was charcoal coloured debri present. 

The team quickly verified that two men had already entered the crashed UFO.  One of them, indicating he was with the transport division of the Australian army, had emerged from the craft in a somewhat dazed condition.  He stated that one of the UFO occupants was still alive.   He was subjected to immediate decontamination procedures.  The man's companion was apparently determined to be a US citizen. 

He was separated from the Australian and taken into custody.  Allegedly he was determined to be AWOL and was taken back to the US.   The Australian army transport driver was subjected to standard interrogation procedures.  He was returned to his vehicle and escorted to his destination and then relocated to Exmouth for two weeks of intensive interrogation and debriefing designed to ensure he was not a security threat to the operation. 

The retrieval group verified the presence of two beings inside the craft.  One was deceased.  The other indicated signs of life uttering a slight squealing noise possibly indicative of being in pain.  Both appeared to be pot bellied, with arms that seemed thinner and longer than normal.  They were both about 4'6" to 5' in height.  Their eyes appeared to be wider than normal and looked black.  No ears or hair was noticed. My informant did not participate in the actual removal of the beings and craft but verified that the site was totally cleaned up leaving no evidence of any crash incident. 

The retrieval operation was allegedly part of a joint US Australian operation to recover alien technology and lifeforms.  Military personnel who had been assessed and determined to have a history of verified UFO sightings, were used in an "outer cell" operation to locate apparent sighting "hot spots".  Once the site was verified as active the retrieval/contact team was sent in.  Operations of this nature were alleged to have occurred in the Nullarbor area and near Marble Bar.  My source claimed he was aware of 4 apparent UFO crash events. 

My source insists that what he told me and an associate is true.  A certain bitterness enters he recollections given what he claims to have gone through.  There is much that I cannot describe because of concerns about his well being if the stories are true.  He said to me, "You might think this shit, but it is true... All my stories would be verified."  When I indicated that I would like to air these stories for the purpose of possible verification, and I indicated concern about possible repercussions for him, he had some misgivings. 

He was concerned that there were things he had said that perhaps he should not have said, particularly to my associate who first heard his story in a non investigative setting.  But then finally he concluded, "If they get wind of me, stiff shit!"   This might be mere bravado or a nice flourish for a yarn spinner.  Which is appropriate I cannot yet be certain.  There was much in this story that troubles me. 

Intriguing as this account is, it has not been confirmed.   Some possible tantalising links have surfaced that may be connected.  For example I have seen a JIO document originally classified secret that confirmed  the Joint Intelligence Organisation maintained a secret document resource called the BOLIDE file.  It seemed to be anchored to the premise that "UFOs" could involve the chance of retrieval of Soviet hardware and therefore contribute some useful intelligence. 

  It appeared that  JIO had a "rapid intervention" capability as they had been able to institute prompt widespread ground searches in suspected "hardware" crashes.  They did this through "special access" channels.  This operation may be similar to US activity operating under the code name Project Moondust.   Could this have been involved in the operation described by my source?  Clearly further confirmatory information is required before any definite conclusions can be drawn.

"Alien Liaison" Down Under? A case study

by Bill Chalker.

Here are details of a controversial affair briefly referred to in my book

"The OZ Files - the Australian UFO Story".

Best selling author, Timothy Good, argues for a cosmic "cover-up" in his books, "Above Top Secret: The Worldwide UFO cover-up", "Beyond Top Secret - The Worldwide UFO Security Threat",  and "Alien Liaison - The Ultimate Secret".  The antecdotes I have described so  far  hint  at  such a scenario down under.  Other stories go further, much further. 

One of the most bizarre and unbelievable stories I have come across involves a man who claims not only alien contact and abduction, but to have been taken aboard a UFO and flown into a base beneath Pine Gap, where evidence of "alien liaison" between aliens and the military and government was occurring on a cosmic scale!

Pine Gap Paranoia

Pine Gap (code named 'Merino') located near Alice Springs and described as a "Joint Defence Space Research Facility", has long been a subject of concern and attracted some mystique,  principally because of its clandestine role in intelligence gathering.  Much is known about its sensitive role as a ground station for the US defence satellite programme and its part in the NSA and CIA presence in Australia.  With this sort of shadowy activity, it should not be surprising that Pine Gap has become a focus of a number of apocryphal UFO related stories. 

The now defunct "Nation Review" reported on Pine Gap's role in "sci-fi research" in its "Spying Around" column, in 1974.  William H. Martin stated:  "The Pine Gap research facility near Alice Springs has managed to keep secret, until now, one of the most unbelievable research projects in the world. The United States has been carrying out continuous research into electromagnetic propulsion (EMP for short) at Pine Gap since it was established in 1966 ...

I understand that last minute flaws in the design and operation of the EMP vehicles have probably put the completion date back by four years (to 1979). Research into electromagnetic propulsion began in the United States soon after world war two.  After some successful results it became necessary to move the experimentation from populated areas to more remote spots....Security aspects of the EMP project have included hypnotic and post hypnotic keys implanted in personnel prior to their acceptance into the project ...."

William H. Martin was apparently a pseudonym for a writer on intelligence matters and the name of a major NSA defector - perhaps the pseudonym was an inside joke. Nothing further appeared on that curious story, except for Stan Deyo's  airing of the same story in his book "The Cosmic Conspiracy" in 1978.  He was a proponent of top secret "flying saucer" research - or what he referred to as "electro-gravity propulsion systems". 

Retired NASA scientist and UFO researcher Dr. Richard Haines alludes to an undated newspaper story, describing how a Perth newspaper received two visitors claiming to be Pine Gap employees.  They allegedly spoke of "electromagnetic devices which manifested themselves as UFOs and even alien beings at Pine Gap."

Professor John Frodsham of Western Australia was told of the experience of 3 roo shooters.  They alleged that at about 4.30 am, one morning, from a ridge overlooking Pine Gap, they witnessed a camouflaged door open up within the facility.  A circular metallic looking craft rose vertically and silently and then took off at high speed.

A Strange Story

Greg, as I will call him, had a very strange story to tell me.  The circumstances of its telling, were almost as strange as the details it contained.  It is a story of alienation in the sense that we were dealing with an individual caught up in a complex milieu of his own making, with its basis either in fact or fiction.   If true, albeit unlikely, we are dealing with an alien nation and alien liaison.   This situation may have been more about the inner self of Greg than any alien reality, but I'll let you be the judge. 

On December 22nd, 1992, I received a call from a woman.  She indicated her 22 year-old husband - Greg - had a big interest in UFOs, but that an event that had occurred the previous night had alarmed Greg.  He reluctantly came to the phone and confirmed the story his wife had related, namely that he had seen 2 strange looking men standing in the front yard of their country NSW home at  about 8.45 pm.  The weather was clear but the men seemed to be wearing long dark coats like rain coats.  He turned to come inside, then found they had suddenly disappeared. 

A strange story?  The "real" reason for Greg's concern emerged slowly in the conversation that followed.  He had not shared this with anyone, even his wife.   These were not just "men" - they were "men in black" (MIBs) - a bizarre aspect of the fringe world of UFO paranoia - the sinister UFO "silencers".  They were watching him, it seems, because he was trying to break away from a near life long "alien liaison". 

They came into his life at a troubling time.  At five, Greg's father had died.  Some children have "imaginary friends",  Greg had his "men in black". They were friendly, normal looking human beings.  They appeared in numerous settings - in his room at night, in the park to play, or at a pool.  It was all innocuous stuff.  Then later as the "relationship" developed, the "men" gave Greg a device - like a hand held computer device, that showed moving colour scenes, like a miniature TV.  This was allegedly in about the late seventies. 

When he was about 12 he started having the experience of finding himself in a strange room.  He found he was onboard a craft.  He had no idea how he got there or how he got back.  This happened a number of times, where he wasn't aware of going and returning, only the being there onboard a UFO.  He was escorted by a group of normal looking human beings.  Then the experiences started to change.  The "men in black" would approach him like before and ask him to meet at certain rendezvous points.  There he would be driven to a bush setting, where a craft would be on the ground. 

He would go onboard and be taken on rides and shown things. At about 14 he had the first sense of "them" - other life forms on the UFOs other than the human beings - little aliens.  It seemed he was being "groomed" for some form of "service".   Everything started to change, he claimed.  The craft would then be actually going to secret bases. 

Greg told me, "I had their trust.  But when I started realising what sort of mistake I had made ... when I had seen things being done, I wanted to get out. I didn't know how to handle it."   He found he was not alone in this sort of cultivated relationship.  He became aware of a number of people like himself who seemed to participating as well in these "alien adventures". 

Greg claimed that what alarmed him about his "alien liaison" relationship was what he saw going on at the secret bases he claims he went to.   He claims "abductions" were occurring.  He described seeing people being subjected to cruel abduction procedures in the bases.  He saw the beings involved as ultimately cruel and ruthless and began to fear for his own safety.  His perception was that he was being evolved into a "men in black" type role.  His descriptions of activities and places  vary from the elaborate to the vague. 

Greg described his first trip to the Pine Gap under ground facility.  It is both simple and exotic - perhaps the stuff of fantasy or alienation. 

"(It was) viewed on an image screen, not through windows.  The screens would automatically switch off.  The thing took over and guide you through the actual opening.  Its a big opening... It would split.  Two pieces would slide open... Its like your travelling through a tube .... (for about) 15 to 30 seconds before you actually come to the base itself.  The actual complex had ships there the height almost of telegraph poles.  The roofing system was much higher...." 

In the base there were men working on "repairs", laboratories, glass houses, food storage areas, and other facilities. 

Greg claimed that it was his intention not to continue with this "alien liaison" relationship.  He feared for his safety.  That was the story that I unravelled from him. 

The alleged "men in black" presence stepped up.  On Christmas Day, 1992, both Greg and his wife saw 3 men in the adjacent paddock, at 8.45 pm.  They disappeared suddenly with no trace of their presence. Greg's wife called again on December 28th in a state of panic.  Greg had gone out into the backyard.  As he returned his wife saw what seemed to be a flash and "explosion" that seemingly knocked Greg off his feet and left behind a burning hole, which lasted 10 to 15 minutes. Photos were taken of the burning hole, which I have copies of. 

To Greg the significance of this event was that "they" were intimidating him into compliance and submission. When Greg and his wife holidayed at a location near Sydney, I took the opportunity, in company with friend and psychologist, Dick Warburton, to met with the couple.  We wanted to see if this was the stuff of fantasy or delusion.  Greg's wife had not been made privy to the "alien liaison" material but was clearly supportive of him. 

Dick and I were in a quandary.  Greg did not seem to have had exposure to the kind of UFO literature and material which could have inspired this type of story.   However,  we were uncomfortable with the dynamics of the situation and the bizarre and elaborate tale described.  As we stopped at a service station on the outskirts of the town on our late return to Sydney, I wryly said to Dick, "If there is any truth to this story, we might not make it back to Sydney."  We did make it back to  Sydney without incident.

Perhaps that mirrors the perspective we should hold on this affair.  I tried to keep in contact.  I received a Christmas card from them for 1993.  After that there has been no further contact and I have lost track of them.   It would be easy for us to rationalise all of this as the product of story telling on the part of Greg.  We were never absolutely certain of the ultimate status of the affair, except for the reality that there was not a shred of compelling evidence to back up the whole bizarre milieu.
 
Bill Chalker can be contacted via e-mail. His address is as follows: Bill Chalker or  you  can  write to him via slow mail. His address is: UFOIC (UFO INVESTIGATION CENTRE) PO Box W42, West Pennant Hills, NSW, 2125, AUSTRALIA. Telephone  number  is  (Sydney)  02-9484-4680. Bill appreciates any  feedback on this article.