08,;rec.rs u t-:tT 1i~DQUAl'J8'S TOWNSVIUE OLD 4810 ""R s POR r.1 ARCtarlAL ACTION FOLIO ACTIONED FOLIO ACTIONED REFERRED TO FOR DATE BY REFERRED TO FOR DATE BY ATTENTION REFERRED INITIALS ATTENTION REFERRED INITIALS ationalfS\rchives of Australia NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 OTHER FILES BEARING ON THIS SUBJECT FILE No TITLE National Archives of Australia NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 Tiee.C1.qt1ai-ters Operational Uori1n1and PlillffiITII Heo.dquarters PJi..i\.F Base "'IJlBERLEY Headquarters PJJi.F Base D.AR1filf Headquarters RlJ\.F Bnse EDINBURGH Headquarters RJ~.li.F Base F!).IRBJ.IRI'1" Headquo.r t ers R.1~ Base R.ICfiliOND Headqua:eters fu"~lF Base ~ 0\IJlJSVILLE Headquarters RJJ.1 Base \f.ILLilt!vIT0\ Sllwll'V~RY OF UNUSUAL llERLUJ SIGHTINGS Enclosed is a copy of the 1973 summary of aerial sightings. Enclosure : (C.Re HICKEY) -~v~ Squadron Leader for 1'~r 1)fficer Comn~anding Summary of Unusunl L.B">"ial Sightings National Archives of Australia NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 DEPART!'lE:'!Tf OF DEI!':E~ CE (li.IR OFFICE) 1Th1JSU!J.i AEP.IhL SIGHTINGS J f.}JUARY 1 973 -DEX; EMBER 1 973 National Archives of Australia NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 Chadstone, Vic Turner, ACT Shoal Bay, NfJ\'/ Coolangatta, CJ.J) Surfers Paradise Q,LD 1 OOO Queanbeyan, ?lffi.l 0940-1200 Dingadee, NS\/ Kimba , SA Fast Kew, Vic National Archives of Australia DESCRIPTIOK Small star like object travelling approx SS\1 \fuite flashing object, high and travelling fast to the east Intense blue light travelling at high speed from north east to the south east Red and white lights to the west in the vicinity of Coolangatta Airport and pool s of light on the ground on the side of t he high\1ay north of Balina Light and noise like beat of helicopter travelling north Saucer shaped object with revolving red, orange , yello"'' g:reen and violet l i gl1ts Larg e , br i ght nn:tl ti-coloured lights in sky Orange shaft of light adjacent to Eyre Highv1ay near Kimba Round object with reddish light in centre and anber coloured lights around circ11mference travelled NE to S\/ POSSIBLE C!1USE Cosmos satellite 44 and rocket AOA3 1-1eteori te Re- entry of A private helicopter and pool s of water r eflecting moonlight Helicopter Suspected hoax Planet Saturn sighted through temperature inver sion Possibl y burning metl1ane gas NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 Leongatha, Vio Belmont, NS\/ Cha.rles toi.m, Nfil/ Tea Gardens, NSW :Balcomb e , Vic lJe\11castle, NSV/ National Archives of Australia DESCRIPTION Light i n sky on bearing 345 a t an elevation Purple glow over l ounge room and content s . One of t he occupant s went outside and irmnedi ately s i ghted two globular lights moving acros s the sky a t high speed Shiny metallic silver object with associated 'cloud of vapour' moving south Greenish blue light of grea t intensity travelling at hi gh speed from the SSE t o Two flashi!'..g red light s crossing Nepean Hi ghway at low altitude from North to the Bri gl1t flashing white light and basic red glow i n sky travelling at high speed from SSE t o t he West POSSIBLE CAUSE Star Capella or planet Saturn Methane eas blown int o house from adj acent mine shaft. Globular lights caused b ;}r optical illusions due to image ret ention by O,,Al~TAS flight QF151 from Tahiti en route OAO-.li2 Rocket Light aircraft carrying out flying training from Moor abi n under night visua l meteorological conditions 1lirage ai rcraft operating at high altitude i n the Sydney- Richmond area NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 LOCil.TION 1300 Subiaco, \'/A Mereweather, NS1:l 16 Mar 73 1615 Amberley, Q,ld 0630 Ilia.scot, NSV/ 0010-0020 Antill Ponds, Tas 0105-0110 Perth Tas vicinity 0900 Boolaroo, NS\-1 1100 Charlestown, !~S'W National Archives of Australia DESCilIPrION Red and white lights in sky at low altitude travelling in an arc from East, through 1Iorth to the South \/est Red light in S\l travell ing from a zimuth of approx 14 to horizon Bright green light in sky travel lincr at hi gh speed frgm N\l to South at elevat i on of Silvery grey object in sky travelling from El''JJ to N\/ at high speed Bright white light to NNIJ later turned green and t hen pink diminishiflb i n size as elevation decreased Bright \>Thi te light in sky to the S\v Object f alling from sky, plus red licnt blinking on and off Sparkling silver object travelling throU&h the sky at an elevation of 30 from SS\'/ to Bright object moving througl1 sky in a southerly direction POSSIBLE CAUSE Aircraft entering final approach for Perth airport Meteor oi:-space debris re-entry 1'1eteor or space debris re-entry Lic;ht aircraft enrout e Hobart to Launceston Star Siriu.s f1eteor and the planet Saturn distorted by atmospheric conditions US satellite No Aircraft en route Launceston NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 Manly, Nffi! Ravenswood, Tas Holbrook, NS\T DESCRIPTIOI'J" vJJ:1i te flashihg light travelling along coast from south to north Two flashing light s heading ENE pa s sing Bright white light (later turned or~o-e) travelling acros s nortl1ern sky towards NNE POSSIBLE CAUSE Commuter service craft en route re-entry of space Light aircraft operating tlllder night visual meteorol ogical conditions Blinking light of s everal colours s i ghted t o the ffi/ a t an e1 eva tion of about 30. Disappeared overhead. Lights of car flicker ed on and of f vli t h a fliclcing sound. Reflection f rom tel epl1one/power line insulators. Circuit breaker i n car operati ng due to f ault i n headlight wiring Claredale, via Ayr, OJ.d Shining silver object with a line of lights or reflections of stutl.ight in a gold, blue and red colouring Rochedale, Qld Brilliant blue light accompanied by a clicking s ound moving a t a s peed of approx 5-10 mph a t an elevation of 15 Nunawadjng , Vic Bright orang~ crescent shaped object disappeared over horizon to north east Springbrook, Qld Br~lliant orange/white ball elevation 10 -20 travelling at 5-10 mph to the south west High flying research Ball lightning or 'Kugel.blitz' Setting crescent moon viewed through Ball liahtning or t 1{ugel blitz' :National Archives of Australia NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 Ifyneton, Vic ~ Bendigo, Vic , Dingley, Vic , Clayton, Vic Frankford, Tas Lake Bolac, Vic) C:roydon, Vic Lockleys, SA \>lynnum Nth, Qld \vest Dubbo, NSW Targa, Tas Canberra, ACT National Archives of Australia DESCRIPTION Group of white lights travelling in a straight line from west to south, elevation \fnite light travelling in a north westerly direction, elevation 60 Two yellow lights in sky, elevation 10-15 sighted due north, travelling west to east' ~1ulti-coloured lights near Brisbane airport Flashing blue, red, \-Thi te, green light in western sky, finally merging to constant Flashing red and white light moving from \lSVl to N\v Steady electric blue light in vicinity of Canberra airport descended below visual POSSIBLE CAUS'E Re-entry of space Re-entr y of space Re-entry of space Fokker Friendship departing Brisbane Star .Jirius Electra aircraft on 7 Apr. Second si ghtincr undetermined throucn lack of information Cessna aircraft on final circuit on run\iray 12 NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 LOC T.LON Korong Vale, Vic Amberley, 0,,1.d National Archives of Australia Four spir~l indentations on side of road Two fast moving bright lights in sky moving from east to south POSSI BLE CAUSE ~eport received late and on investiga tion i dentations had been erased. Cause undetermined Army helicopter NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 LOCft_TION Umina, liS\/ Bowen, Qld Nth Carlton, Vic Croydon, Vic Noble Park, Vic I1ascot, :tTS\/ A.mberley, Qld Gosfor d area, NS\'/ vTynyard, Tas and Riverside, Tas National Archives of Australia DESCRIi1ION Group of red and white lights in S\l sky, elevation 45 moved at speed to the SS\! Brilliant light in sky in the west, elevation 45 Yellow to orange obJect with white tail, elevation 45 to 5o to the N\l moved at speed to south east Ululatins sound moving from E to \v Bright white light travelling low in sky from east to north Bright suffused light with occasional red, blug and green flashes moving slowly from 02g to N and climbing from horizon to about POSSIBLE CAUSE T\iro IL.AF ~lirages on training flight from \/illiamtown Space vehicle desig Ambulance siren Space vehicle desi g 45 elevation I Space debris and Three moving star-like objects in sky, two moving N to S and the other from E to 'VT Bright white light in sky travelling southerly direction 6 lights in sky moving from 81/ to NE tl1e satellite PAGEOS I . Cessna flying from Kempsey to Sydney Debris from Salyu.t 6 on re-entry NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 DESCRIPTIOli POSSIBLE CAUSE 23 l'fiay 73 Hobart, Tas Newnham, Tas ICillarny Vale , lfS\l 1'1ontrose, Vic Sassafras, Vic Minto, ?rS\/ Doncaster, Vic The Entrance, l'1Sll Forest Hill, Vic Balga, \vA National Archives of Australia Bright white light heading east Unusual \.lhite light in SE sky Gold light whi ch later turned red approx size of bread and butter plate moving N to Dull light a ccompanied by ululating sound, actual objec t not sig..~ted Siren like noise above house a ccompanied by bluish white light Litlht in sout h \restem sky, elevation approx 30 , colour alternating white/red/purple Ululating s ound heard from r ear of house travelling east to west Two s ets of bright orange eastern sky, elevation 30 - 45 Yellowy-orange light moving from overhead to t he South at a steady speed Dull white object with pulsating red glow performing aerial manoeuvres QANTAS aircraft Q,,F 764 en route Ba..'l'lgkok to Sydney Passing police car Passing police car Star Canopu s viewed throurrh a .5 i nversion Passing police car Image of the rising moon through a severe ( s temper ature i nversion Space debris on Macchi from RAAF NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 1215 Chadstone, Vic Lynwood , \IA 0810 Ringwood , Vic Amberley , Qld Springbrook, Qld East Doncaster, Vic Teranti, Vic Robbs Jetty, WA National Archives of Australia DESCRIPTIOI~ ~Jall bright light 15 elevation i n easte:r:n Large, bri ght green object in northern sky de sce11ding rapidly Crance &~d red l i ghts a t approx 80 elevation 1noving towards !i'VJ Bri ght white light trailing smol~e nll.1mmeted into ground !'1oving f lashing l igl1t s in sky, mainly white but flashi ng green or red on occasions Large bricht lic~;ht, flaslung red light and bl uish light i n s ky heading towards west Three closely grouped white lights in the south, possi bly one object, flashing red Amber yellow light crossed in front of car in a nort h v1esterly direction. The light then changed direction to the south west and finally disappeared i n a north easterly Bright yellow star-like object with five or six smaller objects trailing moving in a wes terl y direction, elevation 40 POSSIBLE C USE Planet Jupiter Space debris Boein~ 727 en route Tull amari ne Space c1e bris on Stars seen throu~n Boeinb 727 e n route Tullamarine Rigel Kentaurus Ball lightning Space debris NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PART 2 LOCP .. TION Avondale Heicrhts, Vic Toowoomba, Ql d !1ornington Peninsula , Morang, Vic Blackwall, Tas f.'Iareeba, Qld Perth, Tas Brisbane area, G).d National Archives of Australia DESCRIPTION 1/hi te ligl1t source 011 photogTaph neca ti ve Drig..ht vrl1i te flashing light moving in a. southerly direction Oren ge l i ght sighted from. aircraft, ~loved parallel to but at a lower altitude to t he aircraft for about 10 miles then moved off at r i ght angles Brirrht light in tl1e \'Test in the vicinit y of Tullama.rine airport Bright white/or ange light moving slowly south-ID/ Greenish colour light, slightl y larger than Venus, elevation approx 15 , moving slowly to the east One bright licht initially , then four, moving north-south fading rapidly Brilliant white light elevation a pprox 70~ bearing 30E POBSIDLE C.AUSE Camera fatu t or unobserved l i t;ht St a.r Canopus through 3.5c inversion Reflection of the rising stU1 from a light aircraft Ansctt Boeing 727 with landir1g lights on, on Tullamarine Light aircraft Planet Jupiter S:pace debris Planet Jupiter NAA: J63, 5/40/Ajj( PART 2 Mullewa, \-IA Wembley, \'JA ?-io on, Vic Terang, Vic Rokewood, Vic Canherwell, Vic Lancefield, Vic Roke\rood, Vic Ablingi Island New Bri ta~n, PHG National Archives .of Australia .:JESCRIPTICJN Large red/white round object emttjng noise like e0o"i.ne Two white objects at hish altitude noving to the nortl1 we~t Bright white lib)lt rising in sky with lonc, high-pitched quivering sound Several local people eno--aged in skywatching activities s~ted a variety of lights Big light in western sky chan~ing colour orange, red, blue-green moving away Bricbt white libht noving I:l'!E-NN:r!: 1-Ti thout Long De I 1iJW \ihi te cloud w:i th pink reflection underneath Bri~t orange light stationary in western sk~r, fic:.ttened out c:nd d.isap::;>eared Brilliant Orant;e -Red li{;ht low on western P053IBLE CAUSE lieteorological balloon. Other noise, possibly train or truck, associated with s i i5hting A. l1acc!U fonoation froo ?.A.AF Pearce Satellites, Undetermined licht aircraft in uncontrolled I.ar1djng lights of DC-9 VH-TJD Stratus patch Reflection of sun on ice crystal layer NAA: J63, 5/40/AIR PAR 2 LOC.t1TIOl'i Ablingi I sl and New Britain, Pl~G Launceston , Tas Launceston, Tas West Launceston, Tas Box Hill, Vic Boroko, P~TG Boroko, PNG Kimbe, PNG v/illiamtown, lTSW Pearce, WA National Archives of Australia DESCRIPTI 01'T Bri ght white object i n NE sky Intense orange light, viewed from above f og bank, di sappea,red into tl1e fog Bright silver object flashed past window Bright silver object f lashed past \'ri ndow Bright s parlcling star Brigl1t \'1l1 i te ligl1t ascending to the NE Three bright lights i n triangular Conical glowing object with red light on top hovering 5 above horizon Cream, Yellow, orange light moving rapidly north-south, south-north Flashing red lights which followed air- strip and r ose r apidly POSSIBLE CAUSE City lights obscured by moving fog bar1.k DC- 9 Iiaunceston- r1el bourne DC- 9 Launceston- 11Iel boume Initial report only. Pro f orma not completed. Invest igation closed. Initial report only. Pro f orma not completed. Investigation closed. Ant ares, S11aula, Kaus Australia Initial report only. Pro f orma not completed. Investigation closed. Ball lightning or r I{ugel blitz 1 Spuri ous report New Lrunbton, NSV/ \t/allsend, N5'\v l~orth Entrance, ~TSVT Kavieng , PNG Frankston- Kyneton, Vic Saidor, PNG Balla.rat, Vic Watsonia, Vic . Bea11ma.ris, Vic DESCRIPTION POSSIBLE C~USE Two \trhi te lib'hts moving slowly al/1ay from Aircraft lights observer chanL1ng to red before fading from Singl e white light moving straight a