Revised Oct 80 FILE No Part No DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE This cover is to be used only for official file series recorded with Australian Archives. Form Number AR 111 is to be used for working papers. REPORTS ON FLYING SAUCERS AND OTHER AERIAL OBJECTS. Folio Referred to Folio Referred to ARCHIVAL ACTION INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE FILING OF CORRES- PONDENCE AND THE HANDLING OF FILES ARE CONTAINED IN DEPARTMENTAL AND SINGLE SERVICE MANUALS File Number CLOSELY RELATED FILES Department of Defence (AIR FORCE OFFICE) MINUTE PAPER DEFAIR 580/1/1 RECLASSIFICATION OF FILES Reference: A. DI(AF)AAP 810 para 326. In accordance wit h Reference A, all folios, in all parts of Department of Air File series 580/1/1 are reclassified 'UNCLASSIFIED' with effect 7 May 82. .A. PERSKE) ---~-'JAFIS FOR LATER PAPERS S:l:B ~J. '!i: ... O:t RSF~ TO S!,)BJECT Th'DEX'. FM MILCOMMAND PORT MORESBY TO DEFENCE CANBERRA ADM 7005 FROM TPNG ADMINISTRATION FOR CHAIRMAN JIC STOP REPEAT DAFI C5A NAVY MOMOTE ADVISE ON SUNDAY 24 TH OCTOBER SMALL AIRCRAFT BELIEVED TO BE JET HEADING ~EST/SOUTH OF MOMOTE AT 500 TO 600 FEET STOP ALSO AIRCRAFT OVER MOMOTE AT 1915 LOCAL TIME MONDAY 25 TH HEADING NORTH/SOUTH STOP THESE AIRCRAFT NOT CONSIDERED ON ROUTE TO OR FROM GUAM STOP DCA HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE THESE AIRCRAFT ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FOR TELEPHONE: 690550 TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: AIRCOMMAND, MELBOURNE" IN 1\EPL Y QUOTE Dep tment of Air R sell Offices ANBERRA ACT HEAD QUARTERS SUPPORT COMMAND VICTORIA BARRACKS SC1 V1C f-- REPORT OF UN-IDENTIFIED AERIAL OBJECT Attached for information is a report concerning an unusual aerial object sighted by Mr M. F. Bradly when travelling on the main highway between Bass (Victoria) and Anderson on the 15th October 1965. V.B. CANNON) Wing Commander For Air Officer Commanding On 15th October 1965, at 9.10 p . m., between the 68 and 69 mile posts on the main highway between Bass and Anderson, my wife and I saw an object which appeared on our left hand or east side, or more accurately, ci5 we were travelling due south the object appeared to the south east. We were travelling at approximately 50 m.p. h . when I first sighted the object and my wife at that time was asleep. At first I thought the object was a rocket but I soon realized that it left no trail, and was far too large as it appeared to be between one and two miles distant and had a length some- what greater than the apparent diameter of the moon, so that it must have been approximately 100ft. long. It was travelling almost horizontally but losing altitude slowly as it disappeared below some l ow hills about s~ven seconds after I first sighted it. These hills appear to be about 400ft. high and about two miles from the highway, as we checked the following afternoon. I have not yet checked a detailed map of the district. If the object was 100ft. long, then its diameter appeared to be about 15ft., that is, it was cigar shaped but seemed as if it may have had one or more dark bands around it. It was of a brilliant pale green or phosphorescent g reen colour and apparently self-luminous. When I realized I could not identify the object, I said, "I wonder what that is?" My wife awoke and immediately spotted the object and said, What is that, is it a helicopter?" She said she thought she saw some structural work on or around the object but as she was able to examine it for only about two seconds before it disappeared she can t be sure. Soon after that she saw the 69 mile post and at that time we realized there seemed to be no normal explanation for the F J!)c;urcor AI037 FOLLO I.,.. I" tpr.-t.T .aPEA <'i_f"' 2 50CT UOT 0 'F 0 VAPOUR T!"'AIL ~ ''EAT'! JG c-mr' T"('T OF TO:l s:TE AT 191~'~ LOCAL ''P TI 'E P.fiF p-CO''i I SIO"r:::-' cor TFn T ny T IE TI 'E HE C'''T'!IS rr~ "''llUOTE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR F TELEPHONE: 690550 TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: "AIRCOMMANO, MELBOURN ' UN-IDENTIFIED AERIAL OBJECT HEADQUARTERS SUPPORT COMMAND VICTORIA BARRACKS MELBOURNE SC1 VIC 1 . Attached is a report by Mr John Bentley of Tecoma Victoria giving his impressions of an object sighted at Gippsland on 15th October 1965. Fonvarded for information . Wing Commander For Air Officer Commanding REPORT ON AERIAL OBJECT OBSERVED Name of Observer .:lo h N B c._ n t l . Occupation of Observer Period of Observation(s) 1ianner of Observation: (Give details of own position by map reference if possible, or by known landmarks and dascribe any equipment used in the observation) H Ac\J ct. ~t ~ t T-o Cc:? ~ =t e ""Lt <!l& LAK~ Glenmac;c~e. x .. n1 Yl'hnb>,rv~t~d ue..uJ , ..... ,c;11r aCJ'?$'5 t h e LAKE.. VE-,r~ Clear to /\lAKED 'C.ye. Where was Object First Observed: (eg -Overhead, coming from Behind a Hill, over the Horizon, etc) 8 What First Attracted Observer' s Attention ( eg -Light or noise) Itttens L ,c-,HT Object Appear as a Light or as a Definite Object Objects If/ere . -\IJH.I-T'E _l.._.irl.l ~MAll CtRE What was the Colour of the Light or Ob.JeCt<iLow rDI (.e_:ntt-e_ 1\~R.GE N C.olouit "!>ill'!tt.li>;P.. -ro e r-wire u ..-n f. Was any Detail of Structur'c Ob~ervable '.'las any l:Iethod of Propulsion Obvious Was There an;y Sound Height, or Angle of ~levation ~ * 17 Speed, or Angular Velocity 1r~ tc'X /)Q * Since it is normally impossible to estimate the height and speed of a strange object, it will usually b~ better to endeavour to determine the angla of elevation of the objact, the angle through which it moved the time taken to do thi s . . . /Questionnaire State any Experience which Enables Observer to be Rcasonabl Sure about the Ar:_swcrs iven to 16 and 17 ~ ~ Direction of Flight with Rofor cnce to Landmarks or _ Points of a Compass Ft"orn n "i r,c.r. r~ ~t MOU(i..cl t=R.ot>'l 'K..c;w'T ltANJ:> ,4cro"~ lo L-<L t 1-t\AN"P, IH E '<:;low iN +.,e. '51<'1 T-f.tcM 'SALE towl\1 ~id the Object Remain on a Straight Path, Deviate or T ~ $ t" tfecl c\. e ~ cl . .!1 4 12.\\ o UJ ~ 1 C! It li(s<~ p tfst"'G''\) ;N Ce n f./;e of hhoh : Ro ltl z: 21 Was any TraJ.l of Exhaust, Vapour or Light Seen f)LU , '-'(;H r otJ/ Where did Objoct Disnpyear. (eg -in llid-Air, Behind a Hill, Ove r the Horizon Existe nce of an such as Fra ments, ?hotographs or 24 WJather Conditions Experie nce d at Timc(s) of Observation(s) even 1 oq> of any Air Traffic in the Vicinity at Time of 26 Location of any MetcoroloGic~l Stations in Ge ne r a l Ar 27 Any Additionnl Information ~S~i~g~n~e~t~u~r~c~o~f~O~b~s~c~r~v~e~r .~ Si gnature of Interrogatdr ..... ......... Questions 25, 2G and 27 to b e Answer e d by Interrogator Department of Territories, Derwent House, Canberra City, ACT The Chairman, Joint Int elligence Committee, Depart~ent of 8xternal Affairs, CANBERRA, A. C. T. IDHDE!\TIFI m AIRCRAFT SIGHTING The Administrator has asked me to advise you of the following signal received on 8th September, 1965 from the :::>i ..... trict Cornn:issioner, Wewak, based. on a report from a local New Guinean: "AIRCRAFT SIGHTED IN GENERAL AREA OF D:'ONDA OU 31ST AUGUST AT 1400 HOURS S'i'OP TRAVELLING 190 THROUGH 250 DEGRE!':S HEIGHT .APPROXTI1ATELY 5000 FEET STRAIGHT WING SI lGLE BOO!' FUSELAGE SUSPECTED PISTON ENGINE COUVEUTIO'iAL T.'7ri ENGI lE CIVIL 0 'l'lTERSHIP TO MARKING IDEi~TIFIED TYPE SlliiLAR TO D.C. 3" 2 . The Administrator advises th<t the Depa.rtroent of Civil Aviation has no record of any aircraft operatin in the stated area at the time indicated and that in vieVI of the delay in the receipt of the report it was considered unnecessary to forward the information by signal through the usual channels. (sgd) (.T. L . Legge) for Secretary Intelligence Committee FM MILCOMMAND PORT MORESBY TO DEFENCE CANBERRA CHAIRMAN JIC STOP REPEAT DAFI FROM TPNG ADMINISTRATION FOR C.SA FOLLOWING REPORTS RECEIVED LATE YESTERDAY QUOTE UFO BEARING 240 DEGREES TO 260 DEGREES ESTIMATED DISTANCE SIX TO EIGHT MILES OFF OTOMATA POINT VISIBLE 2050 UNTIL 2130 HOURS ON ELEVENTH OCTOBER UNQUOTE OTOMATA POINT IS LOCATED 148 DEGREES 23 MINUTES 36 SECONDS EAST BY 10 DEGREES 12 MINUTES 36 SECONDS SOUTH STOP SECOND REPORT QUOTE AIRCRAFT SIGHTED FROM SAIDOR AT 0400 HOURS 14TH OCTOBER 270 DEGREES THROUGH 90 DEGREES WING AND FUSELAGE TYPE UNKNOWN JET ENGINE SUSPECTED STOP FURTHER DETAILS HAVE BEEN :'REQUESTED FROM OBSERVER UNQUOTE DCA ADVISE NO KNOWN AIRCRAFT IN EITHER AREA AT TIMES SIGHTED ADMR ,... DEPARTMENT OF AIR MINUTE PAPER (This side only to be written o n ) tiu o-.l 9:-etfbo, Ar.Y.OJ/:r The Preai dent , CoiiiiDOn.wal th Aerial Phenomena Inv .. UgatiOD Organiaat1011 100 COllins Street KEL:BOORD VI 0 1. 'l'b.ar-.lt you tor ,.our letter of 17th September on the IR.l'bjeot ot aighting b7 a 1lr Roberta of an UJlidentitt.ed tlJing object at l'ebo North Qpeanalan4 on 24th Jane. 2. In r.pl7 to your queries I can onl7 aq that we oertainl7 cannot aonfim the sighting end at this etap we can otter no aplanation. In view of the late receipt ct Mr Roberta report it is vecy doubttul whether a aatiatactory evaluation will be achieved. .B. llaFARLRfE) uECRE'l'ARY The !Jecret ry, Department of .Air, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE CANBERRA, A.C.T. UlUDEUTIFIED FLYUTG OBJ~TS Attached for your information is a COrY of reports on the above subject received from Department of Territories. 2 . 1iould you please advise if there is any reason or simple explanation for these sightings. Con:fidential The Assistant District Commissioner, Patrol Post, MILNE BAY DISTRICT. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT SIGHTING I returned from patrol on the 14th of July, 1965. On the 29th of July, 1965 Bwaruada Mission reported to me that they had seen what appeared to be a flying object showing a bright light on the 12th of July and that one of their teachers had seen a similar object on the 13th following is a summary of particulars from these two sightings. 12TH OF JULY SIGHTING In:formant -Mr. T . Fisi 'ihei, Missionary in Charge, Bwaruada. Direction from Bwaruada -westerly -in vicinity of Keroregea Bay between Mwadega and Sewataitai villages. Appearance -An extremely bright light changing from red to blue and moving from side to side (a mile each way) at approx- imately 10 MPH Height -Approximately 5 , 000 ft. Duration of Sighting -Approximately 10 minutes Description of Disappearance -Appeared to grow dim and then disappeared in N. W. direction. Noise -Nil Other Information. First sighted by children who reported that it fell like a heavy weight for approximately 1,000ft before missionary informed. 13TH OF JULY SIGHTING Informant -Penedi/Sisina, a female teacher at Bwaruada Mission. Direction from Bwaruada -Easterly -over sea. Appearance -Very bright light "like a primus" spinning in a large circle at a fairly high and constant speed. Height -"Lower than nearby mountain". My estimation-1500ft. -"A lot faster than a bird". Duration of Sighting -Approximately 5 minutes. Description of Disappearance -Disappeared in easterly direction at considerable speed. Noise -Nil. Other Information. teacher watched object for 2- 3 minutes and then reported to tLe kissionary in charge. When he arrived the object had disappeared. The Mwadega people reportedly sighted a similar object at the same time and in the same direction. Bwaruada Mission informed me that recently they had been speaking to Mrs. D. Miller of Nivani Plantation and that she had said that she saw such an object at Nivani as described overleaf for the 12th of July sighting and that it made a definite noise. I have checked all possible sources and I have not located anybody who saw one of these objects on the 17th, 18th and 19th of this month. information overleaf was not transmitted by radio upon receipt of information due to the time lapse between sighting and receipt of information. Please ask the District Commissioner if he requires such information to be transmitted by radio even though considerable time may have passed between sighting and my receipt of information. 1\'Iinute to: District Commissioner, (E. BECKR) Assistant District Officer. 11th August, 1965. My coded Telegram 33 of 27th July 1965 refers. Sightings of these objects a r e now so common that most people no longer bother to report them immediately. I have instructed my officers to forward all f resh reports by telegram, but your advice is r equested please concerning the reporting of stale sightings. (M. L. Mackellar) a/Assistant District Commissioner. Text of coded radio received from O. I .C., GUASOPA on Saturday, the 7/8/65. UFO REPORTED BY G F WATKINS APPROX THREE WEEKS AGO MID EVENING HEAVY RAIN SHONE TORCH TO CHECK ANCHORED DINGHY BRIGHT LARGE LIGHT APPARENTLY IN OR ON SEA REPLIED SEEMED WEST OF AIUN ID SITED FROM CREEK WEST UNAMATANA VGE NO OTHER WITNESSES Map attached to show position of village and Aiun Island. (J. B. Quinn, ADC) THIS PAGE IS REPRODUCED FROM A BADLY FADED OR ILLEGIBLE SOURCE. Ol.l.tcr. ialo.ri:d not cccuratc. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS -AN EVALUATION BASED ON AUSTRALIAN, AMERICAN AND BRITISH AIR FORCE REPORTS A summary of an address given by ;,{r B. G. Roberts of the Operational Research Office, Department of Air, CANBERRA to the Ballarat Astronomical Society at BALIARAT, The Term UFO ~nd Some Objections to it L toz-.~ t-a-t...fAAlrJ ' 1. Unfortunately the tem "unidentified flying object", or UFO for short, because of its widespread rutd indiscriminate use i s generally regarded as just another word for "flying saucer" . This is a rather ironic s ituation since the term was originally introduced t o combat just such an eventuality, and so over- come the tendency automatically and haphazardly to relegate all unidentified sightings to the category of "flying saucers". 2. Even the terill "unidentified flying object" is somewhat of a misnomer, this probably is the underlying reason for its indiscriminate use~ We believe it to be a misnomer on a number of counts. Firstly many sightings are not of material objects but of what the observer, in all good faith , believes to be material objects. Freak weather conditions, electrical storms and unusual light conditions can give rise to misleading impressions, especially when the observer i s unused to them and the tirue of viewing is short. The eye is not alone in this respect. For instance Radar is far from infallible. Radar echoes from dense clouds and pockets of air are quite common and can give the erroneous impression that some materia l object has been detected. 3. Secondly it is our experience that, except in sightings of aircraft, the process of flying i s rarely involved. Many sightings are of the planets or of meteo=s entering the earth' s atmosphere, and, in one case, we received an excellent r eport from some 17 separate observers in the Central NORTHERN TERRITORY of the re-entry of the Russian Satellite Cosmos II into the earth s atmosphere. 4. One might even go a stage further and challenge the word "unidentified" the grounds that the classification is a purely tentative one, since inform- ation not available to the observer generally provides an adequate identification of the si&1ting subsequently . It is our experience that more than 9o% of all well reported sightings can be identified satisfactorily. The rest cannot be identified specifically, mainly because the observer ' s report of the sighting does not contain sufficient information to provide an identification, or in cases where it is considored that :fu:ther investigation is unwarranted. An example of the latter is illustrat e d by the case of a woman who wrote in 1964, after rea'ing a newspaper report of a UFO sighting, to tell us of sounds she had heard one night more than twelve months previously; she did not know what date it was she had heard the noises and, as she was too frightened to get out of bed, she