Thank you to all those individuals who have telephoned or e-mailed their support for the Disclosure Australia Project. It is nice to see that this Project is generating so much interest and discussion, both within Australian and overseas. As you will see below, the Project Secretariat has been very busy during the last month.

Government document search update:

As advised in Newsletter Two, the first action of the document search has commenced, with records held by the National Archives of Australia (NAA):

• The initial list of thirty relevant files located, has now increased to forty nine following further key word searches of the Archives
• Digital copies of a number of files have been located in the Archives. For your information a list of these files is shown below. You can access these digital files and read them for yourself by going to http://www.naa.gov.au, clicking on “Record Search”; typing in the relevant series number or control symbol shown below, and then following the on-screen prompts. Happy reading.

Title	Series number	Control symbol
Reports on Flying Saucers and other Aerial Objects	A703	580/1/1 part 3
Reports on Flying Saucers and other Aerial Objects	A703	580/1/1 part 4
Reports on Flying Saucers and other Aerial Objects	A703	580/1/1 part 7
Intelligence general	A705	114/1/197
The Australian Flying Saucer Research Society	A1533	1956/2773
Miscellaneous enquiries-General-Unidentified Flying Objects	A8520	HM1/30
RAAF Headquarters Support Command, Victoria Barracks Victoria UFOs	A9755	2
Flying Saucers-Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research	A9778	M1/F/31
Eastern Area Headquarters Intelligence-Report on unusual sighting 3rd May 1952	A11066	5/1/27PART B

 

·        The Secretariat is now in the process of ordering copies of most of the remaining files from the Archives, preferably in digital format. The NAA advise that they are currently about two months behind in their processing of requests for digital copies of files. The files relating to “Operation ‘Flying Saucer’’” (see below) are not being pursued. A number of files are held in various NAA state offices, therefore the assistance of a number of individual UFO researchers in these states is being sought in order to access copies of these files

 

·        A number of files each containing the words: “Operation ‘Flying Saucer’” seemed relevant to our search. What was Operation “Flying Saucer”- a ready reaction force to potential invasion from outer space? No, unfortunately for us, the file we did look at deals solely with a RAAF defence readiness exercise where aircraft “attacked” and “defended” the City of Sydney. Why the name “Flying Saucer” was chosen for the operation is not revealed in the papers we have examined

 

·        The Secretariat wishes to reiterate, that this search of Government Archives is but the first step in a lengthy process. We intend to be thorough in our examination of documents, even if to some researchers it seems like going over old ground. To these individuals, we remind them that there is an entire new generation of UFO researchers who know little or nothing about previous Archive searches

 

·        Finally, members of the Secretariat visited the NAA Adelaide office in order to clarify a few access issues and to take a look at what appears to be a previously unseen file, titled “Unusual Occurrences Flying Saucer at Woomera.” See the next item.

 

Woomera, South Australia:

File number D174, control symbol SA 5281 covers the period 1952-1955 and related a number of observations of UFOs made at Woomera, South Australia during those years indicated. Papers on this file have been examined and are reported upon below.

Summary of file number D174 located at the Adelaide Office of the National Archives of Australia. The file consists of 25 pages, which have been photocopied and numbered by us for reference purposes, and comment in the right hand column.
Pages 1-4	Details of observations of an object on 28 April 1952	Previously known from AFSRS Magazine Aug 1985
5-11	Details on a sighting 27 September 1952	Brief details previously known from 1954 Turner report
12-16	Invisible target tracked on radar 8 October 1952. Includes map of radar plot. Classified ‘Secret’	Brief details previously known from 1954 Turner report
17	Sighting of “glare” 14 November 1953	Not previously known
18-20	Radar/visual observation of 5 May 1954	Brief details previously known from Turner report and Bill Chalker’s Turner interview
Summary of file number D174 continued.
21-23	Report of a ‘dancing light’ 21 October 1954	Not previously known
24	Covering letter and UFO report from a/g Chief Superintendent to a professor at Adelaide University	Why was a UFO report being forwarded to Adelaide University Physics School?
25	Letter-Air to WRE re Fred Stone	-

The most interesting papers on the file relate to a radar/visual observation dated 5 May 1954, which had previously been known from two sources. Firstly, in the 1954 report written by Harry Turner at the request of the RAAF:

Radar echo of misty grey disc. Bearing 355 degrees 35 mls greater than 60,000 feet. Travelled S then E. Visual observation aided by binoculars. Dimensions estd 10 feet. Speed 3600 mph to E (measured on trace.)

Harry Turner told me of a radar case that impressed him most in his study of the DAFI UFO files that lead to his classified 1954 report. The case, originally classified ‘secret’ describes a UFO event over Woomera that was witnessed by an English Electric scientist and a radar operator. The English Electric scientist was outside talking to the radar operator when the radar confirmed the presence of a UFO. The scientist watched the object with binoculars. One of his functions at Woomera was to monitor rocket tests, he was experienced in observing movements in the sky. The radar tracked the UFO until it went out of range. However, they were unable to confirm distance and size. Some tests were being undertaken with a Canberra bomber in flight. The UFO was moving in formation with the Canberra. The Canberracrew could not see the UFO, but both the plane and UFO were confirmed on radar.”

Three relevant documents were located on file D174. These were statements by the two men involved, and a covering letter, dated 20 May 1954, forwarding these statements, from the Superintendent Long Range Weapons Establishment Range, Woomera, to the “Chief Superintendent.” This letter included the statement:

The persons reporting were separated by a distance of approximately three hundred yards and give corroborative accounts of what each observed.

One statement, dated 6 May 1954, reads:

            RE: UNIDENTIFIED TARGET OBSERVED ON RADAR 5^TH MAY, 1954

            Sir

At about 1600 on 5^th May, an unidentified Target was observed on radar AA Number 4 Mk. 6.

The target appeared on High Beam at a range of about 60,000 yards Brg 355 degrees approaching ‘R’, described a Hyperbols (sic) over ‘R’ and went out at a bearing of approx. 90 degrees. On its way out it passed behind Spotting Tower, ‘S2.’ I timed it over 15,000 yards 10 seconds which would make its speed approximately 3600 M.P.H. Cfn KEANE observed this occurrence with me. Since the target was followed on High Beam the height would be greater than 60,000 feet. See Diagram on next page.

 The diagram referred to was not located on the file we examined.

The other statement, dated 7 May 1954, which under the man’s name had an entry “Vickers-Armstrong,” read:

            REPORT ON A FLYING OBJECT SIGHTED ON 5^TH MAY 1954

I was at Range R1 (Post R1), the Radar Post, standing by the Security Officer’s Hut, and looking towards the radar post at approximately 1645hrs, observing one of our trials through binoculars.

This object appeared to be travelling towards me or directly across a path of the approaching Canberra. When it got to the path of the Canberra it turned to my right and was going in the  direction from which the Canberra had just come.

When it got directly over the Canberra it slowed down. During this time I found it very hard to believe what I was seeing, so I shut my eyes and then looked again through the binoculars and the object was still stationary over the flight path of the Canberra.

Since it appeared to be the same relative size as the Canberra through the binoculars, I thought it would be possible to see it with the naked eye. However, when I looked over the top of the binoculars the object had either gone or I could not see it with the naked eye, and when I looked  again through the binoculars I could not pick it up.

The object appeared to be travelling about three times as fast as the Canberra, but of course it is impossible to estimate, since I did not know what height it was at. It was perfectly circular all the time and a dark grey colour, and gave the appearance of being translucent. It did not glisten at all when it turned or was it shiny.

Due to the nature of activities at Woomera, e.g. missile testing, satellite launch etc., it is useful to bring together a collection of UFO reports from this location. See attachment one to this Newsletter.

Project Lost Ball:

Over the years there have been a number of articles in UFO magazines about the finding of “mystery spherical objects” in Australia. One of the earliest references appeared in the English magazine “Flying Saucer Review”, volume 10 number 1 of Jan/Feb 1964. This article related the finding of such objects in New South Wales and South Australia between April and July 1963.

Mr Allen Fairhall, then Federal minister of Supply, stated that inquiries to the relevant American and Russian space agencies had failed to determine the origins of these ‘spheres.’

 

The first sphere, found on 8 April 1963, weighing in at 5.5kg, was hollow and 35.5cm in diameter, being found near Bouilla Station NSW. The second one turned up on 28 June 1963, weighing in at 8kg and 41cm across. The third one was found near Muloorina SA on 12 July and was 15cm across.

A member of the Project Secretariat recalls seeing and handling one of these spheres in the early 1970’s while it was in Adelaide for Government examination. Despite Minister Fairhall’s statement above, it is generally believed that these objects were parts of man-made satellites which had survived atmospheric re-entry.

In his 1996 document: “UFOs Sub Rosa Down Under-The Australian Military & Government Role in the UFO controversy” Bill Chalker wrote: 

The Joint Intelligence Organisation (the reorganised JIB) maintains a secret BOLIDE file. It still seems to be anchored to the premise that “UFOs” could involve the chance of retrieval of Soviet hardware and therefore contribute some useful intelligence. It appears JIO have a “rapid intervention” capability as they have been able to institute prompt widespread ground searches in suspected “hardware” crashes. They do this through “special access” channels. This operation may be similar to US activity operating under the code name Project Moondust.

While browsing one of the digitally available Archive files, the Secretariat came across a mention in a West Australian UFO report which appears to refer to something along the same lines. Reference was made in the UFO report to a “Project Lost Ball” and to the Federal Government Department of Supply, in relation to a satellite re-entry.

Have any readers come across “Project Lost Ball?” If so, we’d like to hear from you.

South Australian reports listing 1932-2003:

The Secretariat has recently finished the compilation of a listing (in MS Word format) of South Australian UFO reports for the time period 1932-2003. The listing, if printed would occupy over 60 A4 sized pages and has been placed on the Disclosure Australia web site for your information and use. This listing collects a reasonable percentage of known South Australian UFO reports in one place for the first time, to allow analysis of data.

Interstate groups are urged to consider dedicating resources to the compilation and publication of similar lists.

Ideas rolling action list:

In order not to loose any of the ideas which you submit, an “Ideas rolling action list” is in use. This ongoing list will be included in each Newsletter. So far it reads:

Idea	From	Follow up action	Status
1. Access to any state level Police UFO records	Sheryl G.	Research availability of such state level records	1. A number of people in Queensland have commenced following up their state’s Police records. 2. In South Australia, patrol logs are kept for a maximum of two years. Advice from SAPOL is that the best method would be via a form PD360 requesting a records search and providing the name of the reporting individual and a date. Associated cost is $22.30 plus an additional fee per quarter hour of labour incurred.

If you see any items in this list to which you can contribute, then please get in touch with us.

Thank you:

A special thank you to:

• Mark Moravec for submitting a copy of his 1993 results of a survey of all Australian UFO groups and investigators, which included nominations of the ‘best’ Australian UFO cases
• Bill Chalker, for his enlightening comments, on the AUFORN e-mail discussion list, about the initial Government files search described in Newsletters 1 & 2
• Others on the AUFORN e-mail discussion list who asked questions of clarification about the Project. Responses have been posted. 

Contacting the Secretariat:

We welcome information which would assist the Project. Our contact details are:

Snailmail: PO Box 786, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006
e-mail: disclosureaustralia@yahoo.com.au
Telephone: 041 141 75 94
Web sites: http://disclosure.freewebpage.org
http://aura.freewebpage.org

LISTING  OF KNOWN UFO REPORTS FROM WOOMERA SA

28 April 1952 Woomera West SA 0345hrs 15secs 3wits NL
Three men waiting for a bus, noticed at 45 degrees SE, a light in the sky. This light was moving WNW parallel to the ground, lighting up clouds and the surrounding terrain. It was visible through breaks in the clouds. The bus driver remarked, “They are firing rockets early today.” One witness replied: “It was not a rocket.” The light had an estimated size of one third that of the full Moon. (1. National Archives of Australia. File D174, control symbol SA 5281. Adelaide Office. Statements of observers.  2. Australian International UFO Flying Saucer Research Society magazine August 1985. Citing G. M. Newall, guard, at Woomera as the source.)

27 September 1952 Woomera SA ca2050hrs 5 secs 5 wits NO
Five witnesses were at the Woomera West Open Air Theatre.  They sighted an object, variously described as a “cigar,” an “airship,” and “cylindrical” with an “exhaust” at the rear. It travelled horizontally from west to east, possibly NW to SE. One witness reported “…two portholes with internal lighting.” It was moving quickly, with no noise noted. (1. National Archives of Australia. File D174, control symbol SA 5281. AdelaideOffice. Statements of observers.  2. 1954 Turner report.)

8 October 1952 Woomera SA 1345hrs 44 minutes 1wit 3 Radar
While tracking an aircraft, a target was acquired by radar. However, no visual object could be seen by the radar operator. “The signal to noise ratio was at least 5 to 1 which is similar to that obtained  from a large aircraft.” At one stage between 1345 and 1400hrs the target approached to within one mile. Between 1405 and 1429hrs the operator tracked the invisible target at heights between 1500 and 5600 feet. “At times during the movement of the target smaller targets seemed to detach themselves from the main target and drift away.” Weather was fine, 5/8 high cloud at 25000 feet-84 degrees F, north wind at 25-30 mph.

Comments by the Security Officer included (note it snowed briefly at 0900hrs the next day): “…it was most probably that the snow cloud had some connection. However, the possibility of a neutron cloud is not ruled out…” A ground plot of the radar target was located on the file. (1. National Archives of Australia. File D174, control symbol SA 5281. Adelaide Office. Statements of radar operator.  2. 1954 Turner report.)

28 October 1952 Woomera SA 1400hrs 45 minutes 1 wit Radar
Moving to 120 degrees. Speed 27 mph. Height fluctuated between 1500 and 5600 feet. (1954 Turner report-this appears to be an incorrect date and refers to the 8 October event above.)

24 July 1953 Woomera SA 0145hrs 1 wit NL
White oval light (detected by doppler) Overhead, moving NW then SE. Speed greater than 80 degrees/minute. Dimensions 10-12 feet. (1954 Turner report)

29 July 1953Woomera SA(1030-1530hrs) Brief intervals Many wits IFO
White round objects at high elevation. X10 binoculars used. (Thistles) (1954 Turner report)

14 November 1953Woomera SA 0145hrs 1wit NL
Sighting of a “glare” believed to be an aircraft. (National Archives of Australia. File D174, control symbol SA 5281. Adelaide Office. Statements of observer.)

22/23 November 1953 Woomera SA NL
Three groups of residents reported objects:

a. 22 Nov Moocalla to Birthday Siding 2200hrs 2wits
Shaped like an inverted saucer, green/teal in colour, travelling in a northerly direction at speed, emitting bluish coloured exhausts from rear and sides

b. 23 Nov 90km out of Woomera 0200hrs 1M
Saw a bluish green circular object in the sky travelling northwards at high speed.

c. 23 Nov 0230hrs 1M
Bright object proceeding north at high speed.

d.23 Nov 0315hrs 1M
What appeared to be two flares dropped vertically to a position NW of the lake 15miles from Pimba on Port Augusta road. Colour was orange turning to pale blue.

(RAAF papers located in U.S. Project Blue Book files. Ref: 8/110/2/WRA)

5 May 1954 Woomera SA (1600-1645hrs) 5 mins 3 wits Radar/visual
Three relevant documents were found on file D174, being statements by the two men involved and a covering letter, dated 20 May 1954, forwarding the statements, from the Superintendent Long Range Weapons Establishment Range, Woomera, to the “Chief Superintendent”. This letter included the statement:

“The persons reporting were separated by a distance of approximately three hundred yards and give corroborative accounts of what each observed.”

One statement, dated 6 May 1954, read:

Sir,

At about 1600 on 5^th May, an unidentified Target was observed on radar AA Number 4 Mk. 6.

The target appeared on High Beam at a range of about 60,000 yards Brg 355degrees approaching ‘R’, described a Hyperbols (sic) over ‘R’ and went out at a bearing of approx. 90 degrees. On its way out it passed behind Spotting Tower, “S2”. I timed it over 15,000 yards 10 seconds which would make its speed approximately 3600 M.P.H. Cfn. KEANE observed this occurrence with me. Since the target was followed to 70,000 yards on High Beam the height would be greater than 60,000 feet. See Diagram on next page.

The diagram referred to was not located in the file examined

The other statement, dated 7 May 1954, which under the man’s name had an entry: “Vickers-Armstrong,” read:

REPORT ON A FLYING OBJECT SIGHTED ON 5^TH MAY, 1954

I was at Range R1 (Post R1), the Radar Post, standing by the Security Officer’s Hut, and looking towards the radar Post at approximately 1645 hours, observing one of our trials through binoculars.

This object appeared to be travelling towards me or directly across a path of the approaching Canberra. When it got to the path of the Canberrait turned to my right and was going in the direction from which the Canberra had just come.

When it got directly over the Canberra it slowed down. During this time I found it very hard to believe what I was seeing, so I shut my eyes and then looked again through the binoculars and the object was still stationary over the flight path of the Canberra.

Since it appeared to be the same relative size as the Canberra through the binoculars, I thought it would be possible to see it with the naked eye. However, when I looked over the top of the binoculars the object had either gone or I could not see it with the naked eye, and when I looked again through the binoculars I could not pick it up.

The object appeared to be travelling about three times as fast as the Canberra, but of course it is impossible to estimate, since I did not know what height it was. It was perfectly circular all the time and a dark grey colour, and gave the appearance of being translucent. It did not glisten at all when it turned or was it shiny.

(National Archives of Australia file D174, control symbol SA 5281 covering the period 1952-1955. Located in Adelaide Archives.)