FILE No Part No ENT OF DEFENCE rbi~ cot,-. is to bt used only for official file ~eries recorded w1th Australian Ardnve.\ . \umbtT A R 111 IS to be used for working papeTs REPORTS ON FLYING SAUCERS AND Ol'HER AERIAL OBJECTS. Referred 10 ARCHIVAL ACTION Referred to (AIR FORCE OFFICE) MINUTE PAPER F..:ECLAlJSI'FI~ATIO~J OF FILES DEFAIR 580/1/1 RelercncJ..F'554/ In accorcience i-Tith Rei:erc!lce A, all folio:;, l.n ::111 pnrts of Department of Air File series 580/1/1 are recla:::::::ified I u::cL.\ siFl:E:J I i>i tll effect 7 f.!ay 82. !lO I.D!'.B PA-J:.RS .iJU. ''-'1.. .liB .L ;.t.CHJJ!' TO T'dE Jo'll.E F'OR I.A'.!'E:l l'APERS SEE O!l. l\Eii"l:-:it 'N SUBJECT INDEX Jl-:JitrJ B .ll /?"6' ~JL-6$ Oa ,.JJ/f\loi 1.:l R.,.feJ & Cwr..,.f:S o>!lt>1U (JA Y ArJJ?tl(-<,l L/rJ LA S.u~tL-/fe.{:h-S,c;.H..-,.-Jc.. ~ p~CLvL<.... MEMORANDUM AAJ FORM A273 MAR 63 PRINTED NAME OUII. FILE For ""' within t.h< AAN Or>ly Wrtte or prmc d~ortr ATTI:NTION REFERENCES RANK AND APPOINTMENT PHONE E/XTI'! RI'I'U 6W.i (I,M,OOO) . c;:bf,~( .-dtjiVt .. .ff rz P<.cdvl<.. . Mrs J .X.M. Foote, 8 Barr Street, DIANELLA WA 6062 Dear Mrs Foote, With reference to the report of an unusual aerial sighting on 25th November 1972, submitted by yourself and Miss Tinton, the investigating team has determined that the most probable cause of the sighting was a phenomenon known as 'Ball Lightning', or ' Xugelblitz'. To explain the phenomenon, the following detail has been extracted from the Report on the Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects, carried out in the U.S. A. Dr Edward Condon, for the U. S. Air Force: 'Among the most mysterious manifestations of atmospheric electricity is the phenomenon of ball lightning, or ~ugelblitz. A glowing ball either ( 1) appears after a cloud to ground lightlling flash and remains near the ground, or (2) is first seen in midair, descending rom a cloud, or arising from no obvious cause, there- after remaining aloft until it vanishes. Some S~ of observers agree that the size and brightness of the ball remains roughly constant throiJ8hout the period of sighting and that no changes occur, ev.::.. immediately prior to its disappearance. A minority report brigbtelling and colour changes. The colours red, orange and yellow are most common, but most other colours are seen occasionally. About }~ 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. 1\}.\t "-The descriptions given by yourself and f'J.ss Tinton are ~ ~? closely identiiable to the American observers' descriptions, and ~ no other ' normal' theory investigated by the team was feasible. We trust t hat this explanation is satisfactory, and thank you for your interest. (C.J . ODGERS) Director of Public Relations ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE Bullsbrook Eaot 711200 !l~t of Air "" For Information Hea.dquartero Supl'ort Command IIITELLlGEUCE REPORT AERIAL OBJ]]CT OBSI!RVED 6th February 1973 Rerev~th are reports of unusual aerial sighti by Jri:s J . K. ? Foote, ~.!rs C.J . Tinton and lJr Robert Jebb. :'lyir.g o .... icer for Office= Co~anding Enclosure: l. Unusual Aerial Report Sightings ( 3) REPORT Oil u!;uslJAL .8RiitL S IGHTTIIG Part 1 -R0 ~J Ooserver (As a preli.;llna...-ry t o co':l_l~till8 t h"s form, the observer is invited to describe th<t sigJ..;ing in his or her own manner, using eiti>c r sep&.t'ate 5heets or the back of this form) Observer' s location at~ e of sighting .. cY.rv. .. ~t,.':l qj .L~ How fa!niliar is observer with t).1is locality? . J.fi.1J.f -~.~ Weather condition at tine c.f observation ft.#.'1P.. .. ?.--... ~.~ Describe any aids/equipment us~d in .he observation Where was object first obse1~ed?: a . Relative "':o your surroun~ ... aZ .. ~ .. ~ct(-_.1?-1+" d . HO~I accurate are these estimates?., .'1.0. , , ~ .. ~ .~ --:?~ r What f~s~ attrt:/~d observer's attenti~n? . ., !1" there was more than one ligh"':/object: ~ What w:~.s the br~htnes3? ( oon;pare ,_.i th full moc:1 or cm.>.Lton light source ~t t~ted'dis~pe, eg ordinarY str~et ~ht a+ 100 yarer) What wa.:. t.1e apparent size at nearest approach? : b . relative dimensions in inc~s ~t arm s length (Abcut 20 inches \>/hat were the bearing and elevation arglea at nearest approach ru1d how were these values asses~d? Wns a:rry method of prop1.4lsiotl ob;J.ous? ~ , 17. Describe any sound heard, inc'..J.<Hng changes in pit' and intensity 18, \o/hat was the maximum and mini.m>un a.>:fil~ of ele(.~hon (or he~ht, i? aq esti.cate can be justj..fied)? lA-I What WI\S the m..~.:&imu::l ...nd J!linillr, ~ a.ngalar velocity ( O'}: speed, if an estic.,.~e. cen b: justified)? I-:' necessary I.=S compar~ with fhe _poverar;nt/ of far.uhar ...,\.Jects a1; ;otated a_ stances ~t"":'n~ .~*~ <l'iTM ....-r:-/)-\'1 Describe any deviatior.s or nanoeu.v::es ~p.':-: ... i P. c; -v Where was object last observed? : _ j) .j / .J ~ a . relative to your surroundipgs ti<t-tl. 'frfflY..-;. r. . _._.C ~ What was the lll.;'U'U'ler of its disan-oear?3;.1{,{'-; J'/.. ~# ~;r~l Do you kn.0\-1 of any associ:'tted phydica.l evidence (such ns fragmcnta, photographs, scorching, grounr indentations, residual magnetis~ or r&diot~.cti vity, otc) 2~. Stntc any tr~ining w!1ich enables observer to be reason!lbly certain of hin/her Ability to ustimato angles and angular velocity. Do you Know of witnesses to si~ar sightings in the area? \.fhat natural phenomenon (or ph_nc::~cnn) vould be nearest t.:> oxplain_rt your observation? _ ( ~ .J~ What are your main rc~ons for excluding this explanation? Please sketch the light/object with ell details. If appropriate, sketch posi d<..n a:nd/or r Gv.;;D'.~:l _,_r .)bject in l.'elation to your surroundings. Use back oi' for:n if needed. / MINUTE PAPER t.. ( Wnte on 1h1s side only) R.:PORT 0 I UNUSUAL :.ERIAL SIGHTING Part 1 -Report by Observer (As a preliminary to co~leting this fo~, the observer is invited to describe the sighting in hie or her o~ manner, using either separate sheets or the back of this form) Occupation of How fa:llilillr is observer with th5.s locality? / .Z. .!.{ k A . Weath~conditions at time cf observation, . . . Describe :my aids/equip:t.._nt used in ti:.e observation Where was ob.)uct first observed':: a. Row accurate are these estimates? "@. .. 2r-r: . .,d.t:Sr.s-~F. .. ~f.J.~ What first attracted, observert s attention?. hiJ:., ,BR !.:.1 Ji /.,f'(~-;~.11. "~ J' J.l~ there w~s moro than one light/object: What was the brightnees? ( compa: ~ with f'ull moon or CO!Illllon light source at~ s ~ted dis+ ca, ,~ ordL str~Pt light at 100 yare~) What w"s t!le apparent size at n<:: .rost approach? : b . relative dirn sions in inc s at axm s length (About 20 inches \1hat were the be3ring and elevatio~ angles at nearest approach and how were these vel~s assessed? Wns any me _ o propu s~on o v~ous .. 't"J Describe any s ound h.aard, including changes in pitch and intensity 18 . What was t.'l1e maximum and miniu.t'U.J angle of elevation (o:: height, if an esti.mo.te can b;; justified)? 19. What WRS the ma:ldmu.m and minimu.:n angular velocity (or speed, if an estin'\te ce.n be .;l.<Stified)? I." necessary, compare with the movet!len~ of familiar objects at stated d ~tances.~' Describe ar~ trail of exhaust, vnpour or light seen Where was object las~ observed? relative to your su=oundir.gs /IP.ftiv.": ... ~. r.u.. :3 ./1~.'-1 A~. llo0;y, What was the manner of its disappearance? . !z../.t<X~ .. A/:f. . /;{;_r .. ~ Do you kne<1 of a.ny associa~ed photogr:,.phs, scorchi!lg, ~urd or radioactivity, etc) physical evidence (such RS fragments, ~ndentations, residual rnagnetis~ State any tr~ining ~hich enables observer to bo reasonably certain of his/her ~tbility to cstimzne ruaglos and ar.P.ular vcloci ty 27. How IDB.Ily witnesses to the sighting? .l't'l.~ ... /!:~:.{-If: .,i'../.'l!J .. - ~/=. 28. Do you know of witno~scs to similar sightings in tho area? 29. What natural phcnor:~cnon (or phcncr:ena) would be nearest to ex:plainin; your observ~tion?