Australian UFO Researcher
Keith Basterfield

A CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN UFO VEHICLE INTERFERENCE CASES

Compiled by Keith Basterfield


P.O. Box 786
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006

Updated 27 July 2005



A particularly perplexing aspect of the UFO phenomenon is the sub-group of reports concerning effects on motor vehicles.

Previous works aimed at this sub-group of "vehicle interference cases" have included the 1979 "Vehicle Interference Project" report by the British UFO Research Association, and the 1981 "UFO Reports Involving Vehicle Interference: A Catalogue and Data Analysis" by Mark Rodeghier, of the J Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies.

This catalogue is intended to gather together, in summary form, those Australian cases which appear to fall in to the sub-group of interest. The search for cases involved the files of most Australian UFO research groups, books, Journals and magazine articles. However, where ever possible original investigation notes have been located and used.

The format for each entry is: Catalogue number, date, location, time of event, text, source.

Acknowledgement
I would like to acknowledge the work of the large number of Australian UFO researchers, who over the years, have investigated and published details on the reports which are summarised in this catalogue. One or more sources are cited for each report.
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Undated Stuart Highway NT
Three women spotted a bright light chasing their car. It was first seen just above trees beside the road behind and to one side of them. They were travelling at ninety five km/h but the object overtook them. The motor of the car cut out. The object continued on its way following the roadway, and eventually the ladies were able to restart the car. However, by this time the object had moved away to an estimated three kilometres. As they approached it they saw it beam a shaft of light onto the road, making a pool of light. This pool was then slowly withdrawn from the road and ascended into the larger light above. (Tambling, R. (1967). "Flying Saucers Where Do They Come From?" (FSWDTCF). Sydney. Horwitz.)

Undated Nullarbor SA/WA 0430hrs
Two men were travelling by utility when the engine suddenly died. They got out to check under the bonnet but found their torch wouldn’t work. Looking up they saw a large object hovering soundlessly some 30-60m above them. It had a set of lights rotating around the bottom, green, red and yellow, and the object seemed flat. After a while the object began to move slowly, then accelerate away at speed. The headlights of the ute then came back on. Duration 10 minutes. (UFOR Qld web site July 2005.)

13 Jan 1958 Casino NSW
A car's radio suffered interference as an object followed the vehicle.(National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena. (NICAP). (1964). "The UFO Evidence." Washington. p75.)

18 May 1963 Beachport SA 0700hrs
A man, a carrier by occupation, was driving along a road when a soundless, red and blue, round to oval shape was seen directly above the vehicle. He watched it for about two minutes as it travelled from east to west. He noted that the sound from his radio cut out. (UFORSA.)

23 May 1965 Morawa WA 0130hrs
A Mr and Mrs French stopped their car after a loud noise suddenly interrupted their car radio. Nothing seemed wrong with the car so they resumed their drive. About two kilometres further down the road they encountered six or more glowing white lights which were shining upon a paddock from an estimated height of three metres. This sight was accompanied by a piercing shrill sound. The couple did not stop to investigate. Further down the road the car radio was affected again, while the lights could be seen in the paddock behind them. (FSWDTCF. p52.)

19 Jan 1966 Tully Qld 0900hrs
The driver of a tractor noted the misfire of the engine. A sharp hissing sound was heard and a saucer shaped object was seen rising slowly, some twenty five metres away. The object, silver grey in colour and sharp in outline, and estimated to be eight metres in diameter and three metres thick, ascended to a height of some twenty metres, tilted a little to one side and left in a south-westerly direction. A circular area of reeds ten metres across was found flattened in a clockwise direction on a lagoon directly under the object
(1977. “The Tully Report” UFORQLD. RAAF file 5/40/Air part 1. "Sun Herald" 23/1/66. Australian Flying Saucer Review (UFOIC) No 9. AFSR(VUFORS) No 5.. UFOSH p110-11&115.)

4 Apr 1966 Bourke's Flat Vic Evening
Mr Ron Sullivan, 38, a steel construction businessman from Maryborough was travelling in his car towards St Arnaud. While approaching the town at ninety five km/h he noticed in the distance a light which he thought was a tractor in the paddock. As he came close, to his amazement the beams of his headlights were bent to the right, off the road and onto the paddock. Visible in the paddock was a brilliant white disc, a metre or so across. It was just above the ground. From its upper surface projected a conical array of shimmering rainbow coloured lights extending to a height of five metres. Suddenly, the coloured cone rose to a height of six metres and the disc below climbed above it. The next moment the entire light complex vanished.

He stopped to check his headlights but found nothing wrong. Three days later a nineteen year old youth, driving a car, was killed at the same spot in mysterious circumstances.(Victorian UFO Research Society. (VUFORS). "Australian UFO Review UFOIC." (AUFOR). No 10. Dec 1969. pp28-29. AFSR(V). No 5. Jul 1966. p12.)

30 Mar 1967 Peterborough SA 2030hrs
Two men were out in a vehicle when the engine stopped and the lights went out. Getting out to look for the problem they then noticed a disc ascending rapidly to the sky at thirty degrees south-west, emitting blue to purple glows and flashes from underneath it. It was lost in the sky. Upon trying the engine it started alright. An hour later a stationary purple glow was observed in a creek bed, followed another hour later by a five to six metre disc which shone blue/purple/green/orange/yellow as it took off from the ground, also to be lost to sight in the sky. (Australian Flying Saucer Research Society. (AFSRS).)

5 July 1967 Murray Bridge SA 1M Langsford CE2
Five miles NNE of Murray Bridge on the Murray bridge to Karoonda Road. It was a clear night with thick ground fog. Witness was driving a motor vehicle when he experienced interference on the car radio, which became a high pitched whine. He turned the radio off. Within 100-150 yards the motor of the vehicle stopped by itself. The ignition was on but the warning lights on the dash came on. The ignition key was still in the on position. Looking up he saw a distinct break in the fog with stars visible. A “large dark shadow” was seen at a height of 20 feet. The shadow seemed 120 feet thick., Above this shadow was a greyish-blue glow. The top of the shadow appeared convex. He stoped the vehicle and got out to look but the shadow and light had gone. There was no sound. The object had vanished. The two banks of fog came together. The witness returned to the vehicle and tried the ignition and the motor worked. He switched on the radio and there was no interference. (pp178-184 of digital copy of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 8. Reported through DCA.)

30 Oct 1967 Boyup Brook WA 2130hrs
A man travelling at ninety five to one hundred km/h along a quiet stretch of road became aware of a lighted object approaching him from the air. Almost immediately the car stopped dead and all the electrical system, lights, motor and radio went dead. There was no feeling of deceleration at all, but the car came to an instant stop. When the car stopped he noticed that he was immersed in a beam of light which seemed to come from a tube, which in turn issued from the object. After about five minutes the tube of light closed off, just like a torch being switched off. The object itself was some ten metres in diameter and about thirty metres up in the air. The tube came out of it at a forty five degree angle and focussed right on the driver. The colour was reported as iridescent blue. After the tube of light went out the object left at high speed in a westerly direction. It vanished from view in seconds. The reporter then stated that the vehicle was then doing the same speed as before it all began, i.e. ninety five to one hundred km/h. However, there had been no feeling of acceleration from stop to that speed. There was no noise from the object at any stage. (1. Retrospective investigation by Keith Basterfield. 2. AFSR(V). No 8. p18.)

Jan 1968 Orford Tas Ca. 2100hrs
A family were taking a weekend trip around Tas travelling on the east coast. The husband was driving the vehicle at fifty five to sixty five km/h when upon rounding a curve a bright light came over the driver's side. It was a yellowish light but the actual source was not visible. Seconds later the vehicle's lights dimmed for 100-200m. The bright light went out and the vehicle's lights returned to normal. Further on, round a sweeping bend the same thing happened. However, when he came out of the bend and onto the straight, the lights had failed altogether. This took place over fifteen to twenty seconds. The driver stopped the car to investigate. However, the yellow light had gone by this time and the headlights came back on by themselves.(Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre. (TUFOIC).)

29 Apr 1968 Heyfield Vic 0440hrs
The truck in which two sanitary collectors were travelling in, broke down, some two kilometres from Heyfield. They were thinking about getting a tow when they saw a string of red lights approaching. They stood on the bonnet of the truck to get a view when the lights didn't get any closer. It had a row of red lights and a dome with a light on the top. Next day they found an area of wilted grass. (Hervey, M. (1969). "UFOs Over the Southern Hemisphere." (UFOSH). Sydney. Horwitz. p86.)

1968/69 Tennant Creek NT Night
A group of 10 or so people in a 1952 vehicle were travelling along when the vehicle’s motor just died. They then smelt a “hot metal” odour, and a large, dark disc shape rose from nearby and rose into the sky with no sound audible. Their motor vehicle’s engine could then be successfully started. (Keith Basterfield 1997.)

20 Feb 1969 Norseman WA 1500hrs
A fully fuelled car began "to gasp" as if running out of petrol. A cigar shape was then noticed twenty five metres away near the road. It was ten metres long and moved away above trees, kicking up dust and leaves as it did so. The car then sped ahead. The object disappeared very quickly taking ten seconds to rise and disappear from view. (AUFOR. No 10. p27.)

4 Jun 1969 Eden Valley SA 1835hrs
Mr G. Koch, 16, was driving along the Angaston road when about two kilometres north-west of Eden Valley an object passed soundlessly over the top of his car. It was described as a series of red lights in two parallel lines connected by pure white horizontal rays. The following day he reported finding three circular scorch marks on the bonnet of his car which had not been there before. (AFSRS.)

Mar 1970 Scottsdale Tas
A forestry worker was driving along when he saw a flash in the sky. His car radio was overcome with static. A soundless, green object, three times the angular size of the full Moon was seen to the rear of the vehicle, at an estimated 200 metres distance. (TUFOIC.)

May 1971 Strahan Tas 2200hrs
Travelling home, a family were startled by the appearance of a bright light above the road. The vehicle's lights failed and the driver stopped the engine. They got out to have a look, then got back in, and the car's lights came back on by themselves. As they drove on, the light kept it's speed to theirs. It disappeared when they were almost in Queenstown. (TUFOIC.)

27 May 1971 Lynchford Tas
A car is reported to have stopped dead some fifty metres from the site of an apparent landing. (TUFOIC.)

8 Aug 1971 Kadina SA 1835hrs
A Mr Boyce, fifty one, left Wallaroo and was driving back to Kadina, alone in his car. About five kilometres out of town his surroundings were illuminated by an orange hue. Suddenly the engine stopped and the lights went out. The ignition light on the dashboard failed to come on, and despite efforts the engine could not be restarted. He steered the car to the side of the road and braked to a halt. Getting out he saw, at fifty metres altitude, an oval shape with three to four "windows". It was stationary, almost directly above the car. It remained motionless for two to three minutes with a continuous buzzing sound being audible. It then left to the south-east. Before it was completely out of sight, he got in the car and started the engine, with the lights then coming on. (Keith Basterfield.)

4 Jun 1972 Bent's Basin NSW 1800hrs
Six young people encountered an object on a hill near their vehicle. After driving along they heard thumping noises on the car roof following which the car's engine caught fire. Later a huge "shadow" of a human- like creature approached. It appeared two and a half to three metres tall, and vanished like a curtain being rolled up. (Bill Chalker.)

Ca Jul 1972 Melton Mowbray Tas Ca. 2000hrs
A twenty five year old housewife was driving at sixty five km/h from Kempton to a cabaret, when looking out her rear vision mirror she saw a light. At first she thought it was a car with one headlight, but it was soundless and no car was to be seen. The light came up behind her and seemed to swoop over the car. The incident lasted some thirty seconds. The engine started to splutter and jerk as if stopping. The car slowed down but was alright when the light had gone. (TUFOIC.)

25 Jul 1972 Frankston Vic 2115hrs
(1) Mrs M. Puddy, a thirty seven year old housewife, had experienced a close encounter with a large iridescent blue object at 2115hrs on Jul 3 1972 between Frankston and Dromana. It was estimated to be five to six metres high and thirty metres across. There were no seams, windows, aerials or protuberances of any kind. On the latter date she was travelling home when at the same time and about the same location another incident occurred. The road was lit up by a blue light, and she accelerated the car. Suddenly the engine cut out as it turned off with the key. Thinking it had stalled she turned the ignition key but this had no affect. The car slowed to a halt at the side of the road and stopped all by itself. During this period turning the steering wheel did not alter the direction of travel, pumping the brake was to no avail and putting the gears through all their positions did nothing. However, the lights remained on at all times. She maintained there were no unusual road bumps as the car came to a halt. There was no feeling of the road being under the wheels. All sounds "drained" out of the air and there was an eerie silence. Then she felt she was receiving a message and a voice appeared to be inside her head. As the impressions ceased the engine started itself, the outside blue light went out and the object was gone. This coincided with the approach of another vehicle. All systems were then back under her control. (Garry Little and Bill Stapleton.)

(2) Weather clear. Object above car. 20 foot forward. 45 deg angle. Iridescent blue light. Bright. At nearest 100 feet up. Wider than the road. Sound similar to elevator. Hovering. Followed car. Last seen Junction of Mooraduc and Nepean Highways. Object 20 foot high. Notes on p 31. “No military helicopters operating. Checked with DCA and local helicopter operators. Only traceable IFR helicopter based at Sale. When Mrs Puddy made initial sighting report by phone she expressed a wish not to be interviewed.” (pp26-31 of RAAF file 580/1/1 Part 17)

30 Nov 1972 Murray Bridge SA 2315hrs
Motor mechanic Mr Maxwell was out testing his vehicle when upon coming over a rise in the road, the motor and lights of his car cut out. They came back on but rose and fell in intensity several times. He decided to stop the engine and the car came to a halt.

To his left he saw a "diamond shape with the top cut off" noiselessly sitting on the ground forty five metres away in a paddock. His car radio went "funny", making a noise like a "computer on TV", a constant rhythm.

As soon as he stopped the car he had tried the ignition key but when he turned it nothing happened, not even the oil light came on. He then tried the wipers and the electric air horn but they didn't work either. He locked all the doors and wound up the windows and just sat there for the next forty five minutes.

After this time, the object left and he found he could restart the car quite alright. An inspection of the vehicle next day revealed no cause for the electrical problems. (Keith Basterfield.)

Feb 1973 Norah Head NSW 0045hrs
A man and a woman were in a vehicle near a kiosk, in light rain, when they noticed a street light dimming on and off before fading out to a faint glow. They then saw a bright golden coloured ball rise up behind trees and hover in the air. After a few minutes it went from gold to orange to deep red. The couple decided to get closer but found their car engine wouldn't start. The only response was the headlights which came on very dimly. The object eventually left to the south-west after which the street light came to normal brilliance, and the car engine started first time. (UFOIC Newsletter. 1976. No 48.)

30 Apr 1973 Kempsey NSW
Four people were out driving when one said she saw an egg shaped object drop out of the sky in the south-east and disappear behind trees, in a fraction of a second. 200 metres later they noted a distant glow in a paddock. They returned to the spot where the girl had seen the light, and as they arrived there it seemed that the car's headlights blacked out momentarily. All then saw the object apparently landed on open ground. It seemed domed shaped and reddish-orange in colour. After watching for five minutes they left the area. (Flying Saucer Review. (FSR). 21/6/4.)

2 May 1973 Kalyan SA 1930hrs
Noting a bright light at an estimated five to ten degrees above the north-north-east horizon, through his left hand side windscreen, Mr Zadow was puzzled. Its angular size was about the size of the full Moon, and it was reddish/white in colour. No illumination of the surroundings was noted although the light was dazzling to look at. Driving at fifty five km/h along a straight dirt road he watched the light. There was no change in size or brightness yet he had the feeling the object flew over the truck, as it rose in elevation as viewed against the windscreen. The truck's engine stopped and the lights went out leaving him rolling in darkness. Neither the red ignition light nor the green oil light came on. He instinctively braked slowly and after four to five seconds whilst the truck was still rolling, the lights and engine came back on by themselves. The outside light was not visible by this time. Investigation revealed that the light probably did not go over his truck but was at least 300 metres away, parallel to the road. (UFORSA.)

18 May 1973 Sherlock SA 2130hrs
Three young people travelling back to Vic recounted that a light had been following their car. They stopped the car to watch it. It hovered over trees, pulsating. The driver turned the ignition key but no lights showed and the engine wouldn't start until after a few attempts. Investigations reveal a likely cause was a combination of headlights/stars/imagination and a temporary electrical fault. (UFORSA.)

17 Mar 1974 Burra SA 0030hrs
While travelling in a Ford Falcon sedan two young men observed a big round, yellow/green light stationary near the top of a hill. They stopped the car to watch. After a minute or so it seemed to come towards them so they tried to start the car, but it would not respond. Again they tried the ignition system. The ignition light came on but the engine still wouldn't start. Finally after holding the key on for thirty seconds the engine started. They left the area but stated that the light seemed to follow them all the way into Burra. They woke a policeman who looked at the object and declared it was just a star. Investigation suggests the object was an astronomical source. (UFORSA.)

15 Apr 1974 Woodside SA 1730hrs
Six people in two cars were travelling back to Adelaide. Someone in the second vehicle said they saw an object so both cars pulled up. One of the others said the vehicle suffered a temporary power loss as the object went over the car. Investigations revealed the entire episode was overplayed by the media. (UFORSA.)

May or Jun 1974 Port Latta Tas 0545hrs
A man doing a newspaper run at ninety five km/h saw a very bright light coming from the south. It was travelling north at high speed. It went over his vehicle in ten seconds, being lost to view behind tall trees. After it passed by he realised his vehicle was slowing down, the engine had stalled. He had to stop and restart it. The headlights also went off for a few seconds. (TUFOIC.)

Winter 1974 The Gardens Tas
Unusual "interference" type noise was heard on a car radio as a large, round, white object came up over hills and approached a car. It left over the sea. The sky was very clear and the object had emitted no noise. (TUFOIC.)

26 Jul 1974 Bridgewater Tas (1900-1945)hrs
Travelling by car towards Launceston, a woman and her daughter observed a light following their car. It seemed oval in shape with a red front top light and a larger bottom light. They stopped to have a look, then upon starting off again, felt it was pacing their vehicle. The object was noiseless and although they stopped two or three times they couldn't figure out what it was. While driving, the woman, "...felt as if I was in its power, as if it was definitely going to take over the control of the car, it was hard to steer." (TUFOIC.)

Sep 1974 Renmark SA 2215hrs
Returning home in a Hillman Hunter sedan, by herself, a lady became aware of an illumination behind the car. It was a white light which approached at great speed, and as it seemed to be wanting to overtake her she moved over to the left. She saw the light to her right, then the car vibrated as if being pushed up and down. She just held on tightly to the steering wheel, and recalls the engine must have stopped at this point for although she pressed the accelerator no power was forthcoming. The light simply vanished. She was by this time, terrified, and cannot recall any other part of her trip home. (Keith Basterfield.)

16 Sep 1974 St Helens Tas 2115hrs
This very unusual event occurred to Mrs Andrea Richards, housewife, thirty four, and her daughters Janine (eight) and Kathleen (five) when they were travelling home to The Marches near St Helens. Weatherwise it was a light drizzling rain, on a dark night. They were all very tired when suddenly static was heard on the radio. As soon as the static began the sky directly ahead became brightly lit up. The car lost power on a gentle incline, then stopped dead. The headlights, radio, heater, and dashboard lights all went out, and it was dark apart form the light in the sky.

Mrs Richards tried to start the car but after ten seconds a deafening, vibrating noise enveloped the car. This lasted about a minute. Almost simultaneously, quite painful, electric shocks began penetrating their bodies.

The car was then filled with an invisible chocking smell. Both Mrs Richards and Janine jumped out of the car taking Kathleen with them. They fled down the road leaving the car. The light in the sky was still visible. They went to a house. Upon returning to the car the car started alright. The next day it was checked at a garage but no faults were found. Mrs Richards suffered a numb right side to the face and a two cent sized red mark above her right eyebrow. The day after, her arms and fingers were badly swollen and she had difficulty walking. (TUFOIC.)

22 Sep 1974 Tayene Tas 1720hrs
Sitting in her car waiting for someone, a woman noticed the surrounding rain, mist and wind in the isolated spot she found herself in. She heard the radio announcer give the time then all of a sudden the surroundings were just lit up. The radio developed a high pitched whistling noise. An object approached from the top of a nearby hill. As it came towards her she started the car and backed up the road until the car stuck in mud.

The object meanwhile continued to approach and hovered for a short while before sweeping around the road junction and then back to the position it was first seen in. The speed up till then had been fairly slow, but when it swept around the hill a tubular shaped thing on the bottom of it opened into sections and the object speed upwards fairly rapidly.

The lady then left the car and ran to her house. Her husband and son returned to the car but could find nothing wrong. The next day a tow truck collected the vehicle. The front of it was exceptionally clean although the rest of the body was dirty. There had previously been cat's prints all over the bonnet but the bonnet was clean when the car was brought back. (TUFOIC.)

Nov 1974 The Sideling Tas Ca. 2300hrs
On his way home to Scottsdale a man saw a soundless object about the size of an enormous building about half a kilometre away to his left, in the north. His car engine and radio cut out and the figures on his watch lit up really brightly. The object travelled along and was last seen going straight upwards. Duration three to four minutes. The watch broke down shortly after the event. The left hand mudguard of the car changed colour from red to orange and stayed that colour. (TUFOIC.)

1974/75 Adelaide SA 2310hrs
While driving to the night shift as an aircraft maintenance worker, all the electrical circuits in a man’s car failed for several moments then came back on by themselves. He heard a humming sound at the time. Later, he heard that there had been reports of strange things in houses and back lawns. (Dominic McNamara AURA July 2005.)

26 Feb 1975 Lake Sorrell Tas 2045hrs
Three objects were seen around a lake. One turned on an intense light directed downwards. The beam moved back and forth over the lake. A car radio in use at the time emitted a loud static noise when the object flew close to the camp. (TUFOIC. FSR 22/6/30. "Saturday Evening Mercury" Mar 29 1975.)

Winter 1975 Poatina Highway Tas 0320hrs
Fifty one year old K. Gottschalk had left work and was driving home when he experienced a strange sensation (a chilly feeling). Just then something happened to the steering of the car. It went sharply to the right hand side of the road, barely missing two poles. Whilst slowing down the car, and getting back to normal, he noticed a bright, orange light on his right hand side, following the car. Again he experienced trouble with the steering. The light then left him, and the vehicle returned to normal. (TUFOIC.)

Jul 1975 Buckland Tas 0645hrs
An object followed a car driven by a twenty year old man, at a steady eighty km/h. It was described as a round, brilliant glow, of orange and yellow colour, which lit up the surrounding countryside. His car radio appeared to go down in volume for a while. (TUFOIC.)

Jul 1975 Hobart airport Tas 2130hrs
A family were travelling at 100 km/h near the airport, on a cold clear night, when the interior of the car became hot within the course of a few seconds. The car then stalled and rolled to a halt just beyond a couple of houses on the south side of the road. The family could taste an odd gas-like substance but could not smell anything.

It was at this point that an object was noticed over the middle of the road ahead. It was twenty metres off the ground and some 200-300 metres away, stationary. It was silent, round, and looked like a white/grey metallic colour in appearance. Its size was estimated as five metres.

The car remained stalled for two minutes, while they just stared at the object, which then took off extremely fast. As it rose it spiralled up and away to the south or south-west. The driver, a mechanic by trade, lifted the car bonnet and carried out an inspection. Nothing was wrong. The car started alright and they left the area. (TUFOIC.)

5 Aug 1975 Levendale Tas 0600hrs
Shortly after leaving for work, the lights of the car he was driving went dim, and the male driver decided to return home. On the way back he saw, at thirty to forty five degrees, a brilliant, white, round light coming down in slow motion. It was in view for ten seconds then disappeared behind hills. On reaching home he found the car's battery flat. Fifteen minutes later it was normal.
(TUFOIC.)

17 Feb 1976 Lyell Highway Tas 0030hrs
Two truck drivers travelling in the same truck were paced for three hours by a sixteen metre yellow/white light in the shape of a dome. It kept an estimated 600 metres away, shifting position if the men stopped the truck. They tried to use the radio but got a lot of static. Finally the object climbed and disappeared. (TUFOIC.)

Mid Mar 1976 Tea Tree Road Tas (2200-2300)hrs
What they originally thought were aircraft lights, were observed by a man and his wife on their way home. The object appeared to pace their car on the left hand side, all the time. The lights were five in number and orange in colour. A car passed them going in the other direction, and the husband dipped the vehicle's headlights. Both headlights went off, although the parking lights remained on. They then drove along the road stopping for all oncoming traffic. The orange lights were visible all this time and seemed to stop when they stopped. Finally the lights veered to the north-east and were lost to view. Total duration was thirty minutes. (TUFOIC.)

22 Mar 1976 Nemingha NSW 0545hrs
A couple stopped their car after noting a bright greenish-yellow light descend from the sky and envelope a car approaching from the opposite direction. The light then disappeared. The other car moved to the wrong side of the car, became enveloped in a thick ball of white haze and stopped. After about two minutes the white haze disappeared. A woman got out of the car and used a cloth to wipe the windscreen. The car lights were assumed to be out at this stage. After a few minutes she was about to get back in the car when the lights came back on. The cloth which had been used burst into flames. (Bill Chalker. APRO Bulletin 25/1/6 & 25/2/1&3.)

13 Jul 1976 Rochester Vic 1930hrs
Two nursing sisters were driving in a Kombi van following a girlfriend who was travelling in front of them on a motorbike. The driver of the van suddenly saw the girl on the bike start to run off the road, then for a few seconds noted a single light coming towards them. The next thing they knew the girl on the bike was in a ditch and the bright light had followed her across to the other side of the road as far as the gravel. The van was stopped, the light swung around in front of the Kombi and was soundlessly lost to view. The light had been white in colour and about a metre in diameter. There had been a radio on in the Kombi but the driver had turned it off due to static. The next day the van was difficult to start, and minor ignition and electrical problems plagued it for a while afterwards. (VUFORS.)

15 Jul 1976 Walker's Flat SA 2115hrs
A red object, the size of the Sun was seen and the lights of a car were affected for about a minute. The object then accelerated rapidly away. (UFORSA.)

17 Sep 1976 Wingen NSW 0330hrs
A thirty two year old motor mechanic was directed to repair a vehicle which had broken down and was on the way to the scene in his own vehicle. Suddenly his car started to slow down and the lights went out. He pulled the car up and tried to restart the engine. No ignition, dash or headlights were operating. He noted the speedometer varying from zero to forty km/h even though the vehicle was stationary. He checked under the bonnet but found nothing amiss. He grabbed his torch, but it wouldn't work. It also wouldn't stick to the car even though it was magnetic. He fitted new batteries but it still didn't work.

He then noticed a bright light on his left heading his way. It became brighter and after two minutes it was seen clearly as a roundish object only some four metres off the ground. It passed directly over his car and gave out a slight amount of heat. No sound or any distinguishing features were noted. Its speed was forty km/h and it passed off into the distance. As he touched the fan belt the engine started itself. It just as quickly stopped. Then the headlights and radio came on by themselves. Finally he drove off with all systems operating. (UFO Research NSW. (UFORNSW). )

15 Aug 1976 Boyer Tas 0145hrs
Two people in a utility noted an approaching light which then drew back. "Something" shone a light in the vehicle's back window. It seemed 125 meters back and 250 metres up in the air, looking like a jelly bean with a dome on top. The vehicle's radio's volume faded and the inside of the ute lit up. The road swung under a cliff and the light wasn't seen again. (TUFOIC.)

5 Oct 1976 Rankins Springs NSW 1840hrs
A credit manager, aged twenty six, was returning home from a trip with a friend and his younger daughter. Approaching a rise in the road he saw an object in the sky low down and stationary. It then travelled in a south-east to north-west direction at about forty five degrees to the horizon. It had the appearance of a flattened disc, swollen at the front with "portholes." The car radio had been on all the time but upon the object's appearance it had ceased to operate. (UFORNSW.)

22 Apr 1977 Adelaide SA 2345hrs
A woman was returning home when suddenly she saw a bright light ahead of the car. It became bigger and brighter as if approaching. The headlights of the car and the radio went off, then the two red ignition and oil lights came on indicating the motor had stalled. After a few seconds all systems came back on. A magnetic signature check revealed nothing of significance. (UFORSA.)

2 Jul 1977 Sandfly Tas Ca. 2300hrs
An eighteen year old man and his sister were driving at fifty km/h when the man noticed a reflection in the middle of his outside rear vision mirror, of a very bright red light. It seemed near the ground 250 metres away. The light may have followed the car.

Soon after the light was seen the car's engine seemed to loose power for fifteen to twenty seconds as if the ignition had been turned off. The driver let the clutch out, selected first gear and coasted down a slight decline and clutch started the engine. The light had by now gone. Later on going up an incline the same thing happened again. However, it did not quite stop and he used the ignition to restart it. (TUFOIC.)

30 Dec 1977 Keith SA 0130hrs
The driver of a car saw a "shooting star" to the east, then a white circular light pacing the vehicle at 100 km/h. He decided to stop for a look so put the car out of gear and slowly applied the brake. When the car reached a speed of eight to fifteen km/h the driver experienced difficulty which he described as mistiming, choke out, spark plug misfiring, although the ignition and oil lights did not come on. There was no effect on the radio. The light disappeared behind trees and there was no more trouble with the car. (UFORSA.)

9 Aug 1978 Wandearah West SA 2235hrs
Returning home, a mother and daughter, watched as a very bright light came towards them. Bright red, it had three black spots along the bottom of it. The car lost power to near stopping point, twice, even though the woman flattened the accelerator to the floor. She turned onto another road and the car gathered speed, while the light left to the north-west. (UFORSA.)

9 Nov 1978 Risdon Vale Tas 0315hrs
A twenty four year old man was driving a taxi when he saw a luminous, light green "triangle" move out from scrub at the side of the road. The shape was one and a half metres tall, appeared solid and was floating some point three metres off the ground. He braked the car violently, and heard a high pitched squeal and the "figure" vanished. The noise was so loud it made his ears ring. At the same time there came a considerable amount of static on his car radio. (TUFOIC.)

16 Jan 1979 Bramston Beach Qld 2215hrs
A Ms Martin, aged twenty six, was driving home from work when she saw what she thought was the Moon behind trees, but quickly realised the Moon was to her right. The object seen was Moon sized, round and a golden colour. It was stationary. The car headlights began blinking on and off, then went off completely. There were no effects to the engine, dashlights etc. After she was some distance past the object the lights came back on. An electrician checked the car but could find nothing wrong. The headlights became dimmer over the next two weeks. A loose earth wire was found and repaired, and the lights functioned perfectly. (UFO Research Far North Qld. (UFORFNQ.))

5 Feb 1979 Lawitta Tas 2150hrs
While driving alone a man noted his car radio died. Pressing the station button had no effect and the radio remained dead. Seconds later an intense white light enveloped the car and he could not see beyond the bonnet. The car's lights and motor failed in the same instant. Beyond this events are vague and the next thing he knew he was being stopped by police for driving his car without lights.

He was taken to hospital and examined where he was found to be in a state of shock. His vehicle, a Ford Cortina 71TC, was inspected and found to have a flat battery and the oil level was low. The cut-off switch on the alternator needed replacing, as did wiring, especially the headlights. Radiator water was also low. The reporter did not want further investigations conducted. (TUFOIC.)

9 Feb 1979 Liverpool Creek Qld 2100hrs
A banana farmer was returning home when he became aware of a dull white light sitting on the bitumen on the left hand side of the road. Nearing the light he saw what looked like a dark beehive shape behind it. The light then rose vertically and when it was an estimated ten metres away and one metre off the ground, there was a blinding flash. Upon regaining his sight he realized that the car's headlights, dashlights and engine had all ceased to function. The reporter put the car into neutral (it was an automatic) and coasted to a stop.

He was just lighting a cigarette when the headlights and dashlights came back on by themselves. He tried the engine which started the first time and he drove home. Once home he inspected the vehicle. Battery leads were on tight, terminals were free of corrosion. No lasting side effects were noticed. A magnetic signature check revealed nothing abnormal. (UFORFNQ.)

Apr 1979 Gormanston Saddle Tas 0020hrs
A green light with a purple edge came straight at a taxi driven by a fifty one year old man, seemingly going straight over the vehicle, and lighting up the interior as if it was daytime. The taxi lost power and would not accelerate, the motor just shook. The driver tried to radio for help but it was dead. After the light passed everything returned to normal. (TUFOIC.)

6 May 1979 Bribie Island Qld 0030hrs
Two men and their wives were in a car with the women asleep in the back seat. Bright orange lights were sighted to their front. Coming over a rise in the road, the inside of the vehicle lit up and the hood of the car appeared a different colour. At the same time the alternator light came on, the instrument panel lights dimmed and the motor began chugging as if firing on only two pistons. Almost immediately, the group of lights left the ground in an upward direction at great velocity. The car then recovered. (UFORQLD.)

Aug 1979 Mt Tibrogargan Qld 2100hrs
Mr and Mrs H. were travelling back to Brisbane from a day trip to Caloundra in their 1977 Suzuki LJ50 4 WD soft top motor vehicle. There were no other vehicles on the road, front or rear. The car was suddenly engulfed in a most tremendous noise, like a giant humming top. The car lights faded out, and the motor cut out. Mr H managed to steer the vehicle onto a grassy verge.

The noise lasted about 10 seconds and then diminished, after which Mr H restarted the car, and proceeded onto the highway. The noise came again and seemed to be on top of the vehicle, although the lights and engine did not cut out this time. The noise suddenly departed and faded to the East. No lights were observed as in aircraft or helicopters. Mrs H says the car's interior was lit up with an orange glow, but Mr H was not aware of this. The rest of the trip home was uneventful. (Helen Chapman/UFOIN. UFORA93040.)

20 Aug 1979 Hatfield Tas 2128hrs
A thirty one year old ex-police woman was driving towards Devonport in a 1971 VW station wagon when a green light appeared behind the vehicle, lighting the interior and casting a green glow through the car. However, the surrounding countryside did not seem to be lit up. Although she pressed down on the accelerator the car did not respond by speeding up. It actually decreased speed to forty eight km/h. She changed from fourth to third gear, then to second but to no avail. The light remained the same height and distance from the car, keeping up with the vehicle for some eight kilometres. Without warning, the light switched off and the vehicle returned to normal. Later she found there had been an abnormally high useage of petrol for the trip. Other effects were a loss of fuel, apparent loss of brakes, loss of power and a clock stopped. (TUFOIC.)

13 Apr 1980 South Kilkerran SA 2350hrs
Out of the corner of his eye a man sighted a row of flashing lights, yellow in colour, and apparently pacing his car. He attempted to accelerate but the engine "cut out" for a second. This occurred three to four times in fifteen to twenty seconds. Then all of a sudden the car acted normally and he was able to drive on. The lights seemed to move off very quickly from his right to behind him. (UFORSA.)

3 Dec 1980 Murray Upper Qld
Mr G. Peel was travelling with another person in his car when he saw a light in the sky to their left rear. Suddenly the car engine and radio ceased to function, and the lights flickered. An unusual beeping sound came from his radio whilst the object was present. Finally the object left the area. (UFORFNQ.)

Sep/Oct 1980/81? Currency Creek SA 0600hrs
A man and a woman were travelling by car when an object passed over the vehicle. All the car's dashboard gauges dropped to zero, and headlights and dashboard lights flickered, and went off for one second, then came back on again. The driver feels the engine may have stalled momentarily. He also felt a twinge like an electric shock. Scared, they accelerated away with the car now behaving normally. (UFORSA.)

28 Mar 1982 Esperance WA 0300hrs
Mrs F. Collins and Mrs M. Yeed reported the engine of their van was affected by the close approach of a brilliant object. They stated it came within 300 metres, and was soundless. Investigations by Keith Basterfield suggest the object was in fact the planet Venus. (UFO Research Australia Newsletter. (UFORAN.) 3/3/4.)

6 Jul 1982 Hampshire Tas
Hovering over a nearby paddock, a dark helicopter shape with a blue outline, was observed by a passing motorist. The vehicle he was driving rolled to a halt after loosing power. The adjacent roadside fence seemed to be giving off an electrical charge. Seemingly only some five metres off the road, the object was only some twenty to thirty metres away from him. After a short period of time the object turned, showed an orange glow, then simply faded away. The man started his car and left the scene. (TUFOIC TA82034.)

Feb 1983 Walcha NSW 2230hrs (10-20 secs)
Travelling to Armidale the engine of the VW Transporter gradually lost power and the lights dimmed as an object passed the vehicle. It was the size of two large shipping containers and was by power lines to the driver’s right side. The vehicle slowed from 100 to 80 km/hr. The object was described as two square pyramids joined at the base with a pale neon red and blue glow. (UFOR NSW web site sightings area July 2005.)

17 Jun 1983 Thornlie WA WA 0645hrs
Mr Pragnell, was enroute to work on his motor bike when he saw what he at first took to be an aircraft. It was delta shaped, soundless, with two very bright white lights on each wing. Suddenly his motor bike engine stopped and he rolled to a halt still watching the mysterious object. It disappeared at a speed faster than a plane. (Perth UFO Research Group.(PUFORG.))

Jul 1983 Charlton Vic
An orange-red hat shaped object approached a car and lit up the ground. The vehicle's engine faltered but did not fail. Some ten minutes later the object went behind a hill and was lost to view. (TUFOIC TA 86003.)

Ca. 1984 Harvey Creek Qld 2030hrs
A huge light confronted two women travelling by car. The engine and lights of the car went out for no apparent reason. The light passed over the car, temporarily blinding the women. After a few seconds the vehicle's lights came back on by themselves. The engine of the car started the first time the ignition key was turned. (UFORFNQ.)

13 Jun 1985 Lake Clifton WA 0515hrs
(1) Travelling by car a Manjimup farmer was followed by a bright orange light. He saw it on three separate occasions. The third time he stated that the inside of the car became hot. Police were notified.(WA UFO Investigation Centre. (WAUFOIC)

(2) Report from 43 year old self employed farmer with property at Manjimup WA. Started off driving at 0430hrs 13 Jun 85. Driving in car. Between 0500 and 0515hrs near Lake Clifton saw a bright orange light in the middle of the road travelling south like the witness. It appeared 300-400 yards away. Speed same as him 100-110km/hr. He travelled around a bend and the light disappeared. 6-7kms later it reappeared. “My back became extremely hot and my stomach became chewed up.” Shadow came over the car-smell-smouldering. Shadow accompanied by light like Moon-light. He continued on at the same speed. Light stayed behind him. It faded every now and then. The light above his head was gone by then. Other traffic was passing in the opposite direction. No traffic behind him travelling his way. He came to another bend and the light disappeared. 6-7kms later it re-appeared behind him and above him. Back became hot and stomach upset again. Smouldering smell. Light then disappeared at a bend. Re-appeared without warning near Binninup on a straight part of the road. This time there were two lights. Then for a few minutes he slowed down expecting two lights to pass him but they disappeared. He then travelled on to Bunbury. “My car was not affected in any way.”
Note on file that there was a note in the Police log Bunbury that a person called at 0550hrs 13 Jun 85 to report being followed by a UFO. (RAAF file 5/3/1/Air part 11 )

20 Oct 1986 Edmonton Qld 2130hrs
Steering on a vehicle became a problem for a woman driving alone through cane fields. 400 metres later the dash and head lights faded to almost nothing. There was a buzzing sound and the engine lost power. A bright oval, blue-green, light became visible ahead to the right, apparently staying on a parallel course to her vehicle. Four kilometres further on full power and lights were restored and the buzzing sound stopped. (UFORFNQ QB86002.)

1987 Between Lancefield & Romsey Vic
Brenda and daughter were driving when they saw a large boomerang shape. The car’s engine stopped as the object hovered above them. The daughter saw humanoids inside the object. The object then shot off at speed. (Australasian UFOlogist Vol 7 No 1 p6.)

16 Jun 1987 Lawrenny Tas 2215hrs
An ambulance driver found that his vehicle's lights went out and the vehicle lost power while he was travelling alone. He stopped at his destination and checked but could find nothing wrong. On the return trip at the same place the same thing happened again. This time he saw a semi-circle shape, yellow in colour, with an adjacent glow, stationary on a nearby hillside. After a couple of seconds the motor picked up again and the lights came back on. (TUFOIC.)

14 Dec 1987 Launceston Tas
A man noticed lights behind his car, then later they passed over his car and landed on the road ahead. His car lights and engine failed. He stopped some fifteen meters from the object which he said looked like an egg, five to six metres wide and two meters high. He left the car and hid. The man said the car was then pulled some ten metres down the road towards the object. Another vehicle came the other way and its lights failed although the engine kept running. The object then rose and left. (TUFOIC.)

20 Jan 1988 Mundrabilla WA 0410hrs
The Knowles family reported that a bright light picked up their car and dropped it, causing it to blow a tyre. A black dust was reportedly found on the vehicle after the event. Tests for radioactivity were negative. Regression hypnosis revealed no abduction scenario. Analysis of dust from inside the car revealed only know elements. Dust from the top of the car taken by the police within hours of the event showed nothing abnormal. (UFORSA & UFO Research Australia. (UFORA.))

23 Mar 1988 East Tamar Highway Tas
Two people were travelling home when they saw a bright light ahead. The car lost power and the radio just went dead. The driver pressed the accelerator to the floor but the car would not go above thirty km/h. Four square yellow lights were visible with a beam of light shining down from just below them. They seemed fifty metres away and thirty metres up. These lights eventually went off, and the car returned to normal. (TUFOIC Newletter. No 55. Jun 1988.)

22 Sep 1988 Walcha NSW 1930hrs
Loss of power occurred to a car being driven by a man. This loss persisted for ten minutes then full power returned. Moments before the loss he had sighted a bright red/orange light directly ahead of the vehicle. On the return journey at the same spot the same thing occurred. During this second time though, the air temperature inside the car dropped from normal to chilly. (Bryan Dickeson & Moira McGhee.)

19 Mar 1991 Lefroy Tas 2200hrs
Two witnesses, travelling home and some 16Km out of Lefroy, saw a bright, stationary light. This light was orange in colour and was seen at a low elevation. It just "switched off." However, a little further on, the same or a similar light became visible. The car seemed to splutter at this point as the light moved away behind a hill. For some 30 seconds a bright orange glow was visible over the hill. (TUFOIC TA91009.)

Jul/Aug 1991 Halls Creek WA 2000hrs
Dean was travelling on his motor bike when he saw an unusual object, as did the occupants of 2 cars who had stopped to watch it. At this point the engine of his bike cut out. He dismounted to look for a fault. He then remembers kick starting the bike and continuing on his way. How ever, when he arrived at his destination which had only been 10 minutes travel from his starting point, he was amazed to find that it was 2 hours later. Later that night he found a fresh scar on the back of his left ankle. (Brian Richards/UFORUM. UFORA93056.)

12 Dec 1991 Werris Creek NSW 0100hrs
During intermittent sleeting rain a woman observed a strange light near Duri. After passing through Currabubula, she reports that the lights apparently passed over the car, a strange sound was heard and there were two brief episodes of loss of power and lights with the car. (Bill Chalker/UFOIC.)

Feb 1992 Near Devils Marbles, near Tennant Creek NT 0400hrs
Margaret H and four others were travelling by car on a dark night. Upon coming around a bend they encountered a huge area lit up with the light coming from above. At that moment all electrics in the car stopped. Lights, dash lights, engine etc all cut out. They stopped the vehicle and re-started it and carried on. Two minutes later the same thing happened, and about a further two minutes it did the same. (http://www.mysticaluniverse.com/ufos_aliens/ufosightings/australia/austalia.html 29 Dec 2003.)

22 Mar 1993 Armadale WA 2315hrs
Jenny was driving along when she noticed a very bright light, like a white flare, ahead of her. It was falling towards the ground. As she got closer to it she saw it was spherical, with a smaller sphere on either side. As Jenny drew still closer, the lights moved to the right over waste ground. The car radio started to crackle and went dead, and the car's lights dimmed. She pulled the car over to the side of the road for a better look. As she drove off the car's radio returned to normal. The object simply disappeared. Duration, 3 minutes. (Brian Richards/UFORUM. UFORA93056.)

1 Jun 1993 Myaree WA 0010hrs
A computer technician was driving when he suddenly noticed moving green, red and blue lights shaped like an inverted bunsen burner. After dropping behind some trees, the object rose and headed towards him. At this point the car's engine died. The man got out of his car and telephoned friends to tell them what happened. He said a plane was following the object. After some 12 minutes the object left to the south-east and the plane also departed. (Brian Richards/UFORUM. UFORA 93073.)

29 Aug 1996 Port Arthur TAS 2000hrs
Mr D, a mechanic, was travelling by car and was 8km east of Prot Arthur when a bright, white mass of light was noted to the south at an estimated distance of 1km. His car “played up” a bit. The light vanished and the car resumed normal running. At 9.30pm on the return run the cigar shaped, white coloured mass returned to the south. It paced the car for several kilometres. The motor started to miss, then all the lights went out and the power failed in the car. He estimated the cigar was 200m away at this time. The man got out of the car and checked the battery, starter motor and wiring but found nothing amiss. The cigar moved off to the west and he found he could start the car first time he tried. He closed the bonnet, saw the cigar was looking smaller in size in the west and then he drove off. (TUFOIC website http://www,netspace.net.au/~tufoic/ar96.html)

7 Mar 2004 Melbourne Vic 2145hrs
Jacqui was driving when and saw an unusual object with lights all around it and one light in the middle. It rose from a paddock and followed the car. Five bright flashes in series lit up the area like daylight and the car engine cut out as the object passed overhead. Upon reaching home she noticed the trip had taken an extra 30-35 minutes. (AUFORN Compiled sighting reports issue 41 May 2004.)
____________________________________________________________________

SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR THE CATALOGUES

Books

Binder, O. (1968.) Unsolved Mysteries of the Past. New York. Tower.

Chalker, B. (1996.) The Oz Files. Potts Point. Duffy & Snellgrove.

Clark, J. (1992.) The UFO Encyclopedia. Volume 2. Detroit. Omnigraphics.

Delgado, P. & Andrews, C. (1989.) Circular Evidence. London. Bloomsbury.

Edwards, F. (1966.) Flying Saucers: Serious Business. London. Mayflower.

Edwards, F. (1967.) Flying Saucers Here and Now. New York. Sturt.

Hervey, M. (1969.) UFOs Over the Southern Hemisphere. Sydney. Horwitz.

Holledge, J. (1965.) Flying Saucers Over Australia. Sydney. Horowitz.

Stevens, W. & Roberts., A. (1986.) UFO Photographs: Volume 2. Tucson. UFO Photos Archives.

Tambling, R. (1978.) Flying Saucers Where Do They Come From? Sydney. Horwitz.

Magazines
Aerial Phenomenon Research Oragnisation Bulletin (US-ceased publication.)

APIC Bulletin (Ceased publication.)

Australian Flying Saucer Digest (ceased publication.)

Australian Flying Saucer Review (ceased publication.)

Australian Saucer Record (ceased publication.)

Australian UFO Report (ceased publication.)

Australian UFO Review (ceased publication.)

Bulletin of the Australian Co-Ordination Section of the Centre for UFO Studies (ceased publication.)

Flying Saucer Review (U.K.-still active)

International UFO Reporter (US-still active.)
QUFO-Queensland UFO (ceased publication.)

UFOIC Newsletter (ceased publication.)

UFO Research Australia Newsletter (ceased publication.)

UFO groups
ACUFOS-Australian Centre for UFO Studies.

APRO-Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation (USA-ceased.)

AUFORN – Australian UFO Research network (based in Brisbane)

AURA- Australian UFO Research Association (based in Adelaide)

CUFOS-Center for UFO Studies (now the J Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies-still active.)

NICAP-National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena (USA-ceased.)

PUFORG-Perth UFO Research Group (ceased.)

TUFOIC – Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre

UFOIC – UFO Investigation Centre (Sydney)

UFOR(FNQ) – UFO Research Far North Queensland

UFORNSW – UFO Research New South Wales

UFORQ –UFO Research Queensland

UFORSA – UFO Research SA (ceased)

UFORWA UFO Research WA (ceased.)

VUFORS –Victorian UFO Research Society

END. 

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