FILE No Part Ne; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE This cover is to be used only for official file series recorded wtth Australia~r~es. Form Number AR 111 is to be used for working papers . REPORTS ON FLYING SAUCERS AND OTB:E& ERIAL OBJECTS. Referred to Reterr<>d to s-, I c Jffi/?~..~(Jrl,J iJ.NlS l/c ttJ;;c 7,;) 'Sth? 1'..6c! II'E'Illll.!. ~1-b 14..;./ Ecl"CtKJoollfJ lt ff?o4.' (AIR FORCE OFFICE) MINUTE PAPER Subscct. P..ECL.'.SSIFI~"'ATIO OF FILES DEFAIR 580/1/1 RcfcrcncP554/1/30 (54) !n ncco:-da.nce :;i th Referer.ce A, ~11 folios, in all :p:nt:. of Departoe."lt of Air File ser~es 580/ iIi are reclas::;ified 'u.iCLA->SIFIED' :;..:.th effect 7 I>iay 82. TO "'i-.E PF.J: APPOINT1w4ENT Y.rs A, ilankinson, 363 Wynnuro North Road, '*'Yii!!UJoi 'fORTH, Q.LD 4178 Dear Nrs lla.nk:inson, 1/ith reference to your report of an unusual aerial sighting on 11th April 1973, it is regretted that the investigating team has been unable to conclusively determine the cause. UoX'l:lally, lo~ical explanations are available in answer to sighting re~orts, and theories investic&ted in r~lPtion to your report covered RAAF and Civil air tove eats, and movement of ~eteorological ~ea surement devices, -nfortunately, none of these theoriea corresponded to the time period aa stated in your report. A feasible explanatio~o, vhich would only be relevant if there vas an inaccuracy in the stated time of si.j:lting, is that the sighting vas of a ' Fokker Friendship' a ircraft which departed Eagle Farm airport in a north easterly direction at For your information, of the 653 sighting& reported to the llA.F to date, approximately 931 have been explained, 6,, have had insufficient detail provided for adequate investigation, and 1~ are unexplained. Unless a time discrepancy is possible, your report must be categorized as unexplainable. I! thank you for your inter.:sc. Yours faithfully, (G.J. ODCER5) Director of Public Relations ~'i"a" bForMEMO ftJt ... llltln 11\-fl RltAF Olt'f I ')I JR FILE' ~ I f/r/J.'tJ SIGNATIJRE APPOINTMENT 4t-Ll.~ iJON-~ Rh"'STRIC'l'ED UNUSUAL AERI AL SIGIITJ liG Par'; I -Report b ,>' Observer~ (As a preliminary t o completing thi~ form, the observer l s J.n,i tea to describe the sight ~n : 1.n his or her 0\1.0. m'l.nner, usir.g either separat~ sheets or the bac~ o! this for~.) Date ana time of start of observatiun.IJ.4 1~ ..... <?.'.~9 ..... Hov1 accurate i~ the time of start? ... t .. ?. ~- .s .. ..... f b t ~ tMr-s Observer' s location at time of sighting ............ Ho\1 familiar is observer with tH s localiT.y? .... 7 . \.featrer conditions at time o observatjon ....... ........ 8 . Describe any aids/equipm:mt used in the o'.iser\ratl.on ... \\!here was object first observed : 10. \-That .first attrac-r,ed observer's att~ntion'! ................. R5Tf<lC'FED RESTRICTED If there vras mol:'e than one light/object: 12. \-fnat NilS -che colour of the light or ob..,e: .... ? .~ -~ 13. \fl1at 11as the brightness? (compare \:ith full ..._.;o!l or common light source at a stated dis :rr , t.~. ordinary 14. What was the apparent size at neares ap: r L; (a) relative to ~or l'loon:f~.~- (b) relative dimensions in inches at arm' s length (about 20 inches from the eyes) ....... ........... What were the bearing and elevation angles at nearest approach and how were these values assessed'! ............ Has any method of propulsion obvious? ... . ~9 ............. . Describe any sound heard, including changes in pitch and What 1ras the maY..imum and minimum angle of elevation (o!:' he~ght, ~f an est~mate can be Jus .. ~f~ed ... C" \~hat was the maY.imu:n and minimum angular velocity (or speed, if estimate can be justifie1)? If necessa.ry, compare \lith the movemE>.nt o f familiar objects at stated Give duration o f any stationary phases. Descri'Le any deviations or manoeuvres Al {-'1 ... l i!\ ( ,.. Describe any trail of eY.haust, vapour or light seen . . . \fr.ere 11as object las-c observed: EEBTRICTEl> RESTRI CTED (a) l'elative to your s urroundings ... J-.H\J ....... .. (b) angle of elevation ...... ........ 24. Hhat \'la s the manner o f i-..s disappearance?. Y. .... . 25. Do you knm.,r of a n y associated physical evidence ( .... ch a s fragments, photograp h s , scorchl~, ground r t ations , residual magnetism or r adioactivity etc). -~0 .......... . . 26. State any training which enables observer to be reasonabl~ certain of his/her abilit y to e s timate angles 27. How many witness to the sighting? ... 1'\<? -.............. . 28 . Do you kno,l of '~itnesses to similar sightiiJ.gs in the 29 . tlhat natural phenomenon. (or phenomena) '~ould be nearest t o explaining your observation? ..... N. 30. \olbat ;:,.re your main reasons for excluding this explcwation':' Please sketch the light/object with all details. If appropriate, sketch position a nd/or movement of object in relation t o your surroundings. Use back of form, if HESTRIC'IED Part 2 -Unit Evaluation .follov:ing militar y aircraft vrere J.n the vicinit'J of ;:;. The .following c:i vil aircra.ft were in the vicim.ty of the reported UFO p0sition at the time: _ ,, ~ ~ Give location of nearest ATD or ATA. 34. Obsei7er' s Location: Latitude;2.7. ?.1.'.~. Longitude.l - 35. Give bearing and elevation of any planets and major stars that -v1ere in that portion of the sky at that time. By day, give location of Venus only.J.OJ>J:1. -..41)1~ . M -- 36 . A metecrological ball on was released from . JJ.~T . . ~I.: Radio-sonde*"' /radar: Candle"* /oattery* ( delete as RESTRICTED RESTRICTED The fJrst significant temr1erat Jre inve.t~:iou .- ja. An:r ren...,..tlc.., on satellites, rockets, research bnlloonr, collll:let~, meteori ~ es <>tc rele a-o the si~bting ...... . 39. vlhen an aircraf1; is a possible ide:r-tification, include radar trace if available, and ascertain 't.'hich of the aircraft lights v:e:ce operating.-~ .............. '+0. Tbe cause (or likely cause) of the Bightiue; /caunot" be determined. 41. The object reported pPel.la'Bly \la~*/may have been' (deletl" as required) O.Nhv i f>~OJ\J, A ~dw ~ ~ .w<~ J.Avt lJwv ~ ~0 .tM ~ ~ Irft ikJuf ~ RES"'RIC':.'ED QUEENSLAND P.ES'l'RICTED REPO:RT O!T UFO SIGRl'DlG AT \ffi"Nti.: .dOI',:l, il.LD OF 11TH APRIL 1173 An investigation into the reported sightin.s of lln unidentified fly. e.s conducted by Flyinc Officer P . T. Davison, PJ,.J,:F Base, Acberley, l.ll& Ur.:: HarJ:inson reported the si-;hting to 82 llir..c Intel Section at 1500 on 11th April 1973 An intervieu r.as ar:mn.sed for 1100 the follo:rinc; dcy. In the oui on o: the investi~ting officer the observer, epproxicate ago sLxty years, 3.ppeared to be a sound, r.:.tione.l person, not subject to 1?..'1 e;;ageratcd icugination. 3 . 'he um.4sual yelping of her dn aJa;::e-;.ed :l.~r:; F.a."l!..'irwon at approxim::ltely 0130 or.. 11th April 1973 As she co\-ed thrOllgh the houz~ she observed c briGht light shlnir..g throueh the SU.'U'OOCI windorr. The light appeared to be over the other oido of the :Brisbane River, bearinc; m:w approxi~tely three miles :;!r.cy. 4 l!rs :bnkinson described Trhat she saw a.s a blac1: and silver s..,innine top vtith red end ~en li(;hts ncar the to-p and a 'J:ire coloured' exha.uct. The object hovered nomentllril;r bc.:.'ore nyln(,; a;?a;y '.;o the north, climbiJl6 at an a.nsle of forl'J five deGrees. 5. Tho object reportedly left an exhaust tre.il similar to a ra i.nbow but ouch more intense. This exhaust 'trail took some minutes to dissipate. 6 . The path of the UFO 7tOuld be consister-t with tllat of an aircraft depr>.rl:in,s !:agle Fa:nn air;ort but DCA had no flights at this tirne. There .1a.s a depart=e at 0330 but Mrs Hankinson is sure that her :::ightine; wo.s around 0130. 7 During the interview Uxs HarY.inson stated that she had seen the obJect once before. One after::.oon, a:lpro::..-i.catel~ one month ago, she saw the UFO hovering in the scoe pos1.tion as the latest si&Qting. It then flew a~ay on a similar flieht path. On this occasion the ey..ha.ust t:ra.il as evident for some hours after the de,a=ture of the UFO. Mrs Bobbermien, 296 .ales Platting Foad, ROCHED&L QLD 412} Dear Mrs Bobbermien, with reference to your report of an unusual aerial sighting on 7th April 1973, the investigating team has determined that the most probable cause of the sighting was a phenomenon known as Ball Lightning', or 'Kugelblitz' . ro explain the pheno.enon, tl.e following detail has been extracted from the Raport oo t1P Scien fie utudy of Jnid~ntified Flying Objects, e&rried out in the U . S .. \ . by Dr Edward Condon, for t he U. S . . \ir Force: AmonJ the moat ~sterl man1fes!ations of atmospheric electricity is the pheoo~enon or ball lightning, or Kugelblitz. A glowing ball either ( 1) appears afte:r a cloud to ground lightning !'la8h and <:"e'!llli!lS near the ground, or (2) is first seen in midair, descending from a cloud, or arising from no obvious c~uso, tbere- af,ler remaining aloft unt.il it vanishes. Some 85"' of o~servers agree that the size and brightness of the ball remains roughly constant throughout the period of sighting and that no changes occur, even immediately prior to its dieappeararce. A minority report brightening and colour changes. The colours red, orange and yellov are most common, but most other colours are seen occasionally. bout }~J of observers detect internal motions or rotation of the ball itself, although this may depend the distance from the ball of the observer. Several reports do indicate some guidance from telephone or power lines and by grounded objects. The description given is closely identifiable to the American observers' descriptions, and no other 'normal' theory investigated by the team was feasible. 'w'e trust that this explanation is satisfactory, and thank you for your interest. Yours faithfUlly, (C. .T. ODGERS) Directo~ of Public Relatione RESTRJCTED RBPOR'l' OH LniUSUAL AERil<L SIGH'I'Jl'!G Part I -Reoo~ bv Observ~r (As a preliminary to completing this form, the obse1~er i s invited tc describe the sighting in his or her o,.;n manner, using either senaratc sheets or the back of tr.is 1'orm. ) "" At>vt..T r ~OIJ WtFC:: Date and time of start of observation.? -J~J.~ .. 9. 9. How accurate if the time of start? .. ,;-.. $.~ ."1;!'~ ...... .. How accurate is your esti.mate? .. . ;i: ... \. Jl'i..n ....... Observer's location at time of sighting.)r:-J ... .Af; .. Ho\1 familiar is observer with this locali y? ............ 7. Heather conditions at time of observation ... ~-f!l..\ .5 .'b l.f. .... 8 . Describe any aids/equipment used in the observation .... . 9 . \ofaerc "1as object first observed: RJ:STRICTED RES'l'RICTED If there was more than one light/object: in t,.:hat formati o n ;-;ere the:v? ... /. \/bat as the colour of the light or 1 ...... P8 " ~w ""' ~ Hhat was t h e br~ghtness? (compare \nth full moon o r on light source at a s .... a-eu. .... _s _ e , f .t;. o~r'i street lit;ht a t 100 yards).V~--~ .-. .Jn .. \.'he.t was t h e apparent size at neares. ap, oacr.: ~' (a) relative t o Venu s or MooD .. ~.~ (b) relative dimensions i n inches a t ar~'s l e ngth (about 20 inches from the eyes). . . . ~k . ..C:J~ .. \.Jhat v1ere the bearing and elevation angles at nearest approach and how were these values assessed? . 0.90: ...... . Was any method of propulsio n oovious? ... .......... Describe a~y sound heard, including changes in pitch and Hhat 11as the maximum and minimum angle of elevadon (o. height, if an estimate can be justified)? .. ~-~ Hb&.t was the maximum and minimum angular velocity (or speed, if an estimate can be justified)? If necessary, compare 1-:itb the movement of familiar objects at stated 20. Give duration of any stationary phases.~- 21. Describe any deviations or manoeuvres . -~.-~ 22. Describe any trail of exhaust, vapour or light seen . ... Where ,.,as c t j ect last obse r vcu.: RESTRICTEU RESTRICTED relative to your surrou.ndings.Q -