ARCHIVAL ACTION REFERRED TO FOLIO I DATE ACTIONED ATTENTION REFERRED INITIALS REFERRED TO I FOLIO DATE ATTENTION j REFERRED OTHER FILES BEARING ON THIS SUBJECT r ~Telephone 690550 Headquarters Support Coomand Royal Australian Air Force Victoria Barracks ::,t I~ilda Road EF.LBOURN:C, 3004 f I 4Uc;August 19 7 2 Headquarters RAAF Base AIJ3I'RLBY ( 2) :LAST SALE ( 6) " It II LDINJ3URGH ( 2 ) II II It FAIRBAIRN ( 2) II II II LA VIR TON ( 9) T'EARCI (4) 11 II II iJJ.GGA ( 3) Heac1quartcrs llAAF :)rovost Unit .. elbourne Telccofll:.li..ll1ications Unit Diploma Cadet Squ~dron ~lo 1 C:Pntr<>l L.unu:1i tion De:;_1ot No 1 Stores Depot Ho 2 ~Lores De'Jot Ho 2 Stores De~ot Detachment D No 7 Stores Depot North Queensland Squcdron Air Training Corps Queensland Squadron Air Training Corps Queensland University Squadron fie~ South ~ales S~uadron Air Training Corps New South ~ales University Squadron Victorian SquRdron Air Training Corps Victorian University Squadron Tasmanian Squadron Air Training Corps Tasmanian University Squadron South Australian Squadron Air Training Corps South Australian University Squ2dron \7est Australian Squadron Air Training Corps ..-:est Australian University Squadron CHANG:CS TO INVLSTIGATION OF UFO ::OLICY 1 . Enclosed herev:i th is the policy for investigation of reports of unidentified flying objects. 2 . The nain pur1~ose of the changes is to eliminate unnecessary duplication ol effort and to streamline the process of investigation. Under the new conditions, Dc~artment of Air will deal directly with bases/units and thus eliminate unnecessary wo:rk by officers of both Commands. 3 . The RAAF is res~onsible for the investig3tion of reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in Australia and the Trust Territories. The main purposes of the invest- i gation of any UFO is to establish whether or not the subject of the report poses a threat to the security of Australia. The identification of the cause of the UFO report and its classification is mainly for the benefit of members of the public whose interest may have been aroused by the report. ' I !:. CtlATLFE c./neon tKO I 4. It is considered that the authority best suited t o the investigatio:-1 of a UFO report is the nearest RAAF base or unit, where local weather conditions, natural phenomena and aircraft movements are well known. Therefore, anyone who sees, or thinks he sees an aerial object which he cannot identify, should contact the nearest RAAF base and if this is impractical his nearest civil airport or yolice station. 5. The investiBation of a report of a UFO is to be basec1 on a questionnc:ire which is shown at Annex E and is designed to record all necessary details of the observation and provide the information on which an investigation can be 6 . On receipt of a r eport of a UFO sighting, Officers Commanding are to appoint a responsible officer to initiate inquiries. Normally this officer should interview the observer and complete the pro-forma. In cases where the remoteness of the area of observation would make the procedure im~ractical or the Officer Conmanding is satisfied from the initial inquiry that nothing would be gained by such a rocedure, he should arrange for the pro-forma to be sent to the person reporting the sighting,for completion. 7 . \7hen the completed pro-forma is received at a RAAF base, Officers Connanding arc to ensure that an adequate examination of the report is carried out and Part 2 of the UFO pro-for::aa is coo.plctcd with as much detail as possible. UFO pro-forma and investigation findings, if any, arc to be dispatc~ed without delay direct to Department of Air, with an information copy distributed to the appropriate command. 8. Requests from members of the public for info~ntion on UFOs received by commands or bases may be answered directly. Requests of this nature are to be dealt with by distributing the pro-forma (Annex E) and the summary of UFO sightings (at Annexes B , C and D), to the enquirer. The superscript and subscript of the pro-forma (Annex A), with an introductory paragraph, is to be completed by the base or unit. 9 . Only that information contained in Annexes A,B,C,D (or E) may be released to the public. Enquirers who are not satisfied with the information received are to be instructed to direct further enquiries to the Secretary Department of Air. equests for speakers at symposiums, conferences etc on UFOs are to be refused and the person or organization wanting a speaker to be given copies of Annexes A,B,C and D. \ling Commander For Air Officer Commanding A}rnE : A. Standard letter to observer/enquirer TI,C,D.SummQry of sightings B. Questionnaire pro-forma The investigat i on of reports of U.F~O.s in Australia is carried out by the Royal Australian Air Force, Directorate of Air Force Intelligence, at the Department of Air in Canberra. A iderable amount of effort is spent in investigating each report and the majority of observers are interviewed by selected RAAF . . personnel. Between 23rd January 1960 and 30th December 1971 , the RAAF received 595 U. F. O. r eports. Department of Air has assessed that 93 percent v1ere explainabl e by present scientific lmovrl edge. Six percent of the reports did not provide sufficient informati on to permit proper analysis and evaluation . One percent of the r eports were attributed to unknovm causes. United Kingdom Air Ministry has stated that on an average, 90 percent of the sightings it investigates are explainabl e causes ranging from meteorological ballbons and meteors to aircraft lights~ The other 10 percent probably remain unexplained because of lack of reliabl e information. the University of Colorado, under contract to the U.S. A. F . , spent tTio years processing and investigating all American reports. Its findings have been published by Bantam Books as the ' Condon Report' . Its general conclusion is that ' nothing has come from the study of U. F . O. s in the past 21 years that has added to scientific knowledge' nnd that 'further extensive study of U. F. O. s probably cannot be justified in the expectati on that science will be advanced ther eby' . A panel of eminent scientists , chosen by the U. S. onal Academy of Sciences, has examined and endorsed the Condon U.S.A. F. 'Project Blue Book' investigation of unidentified aerial objectivs betvreen 1953 and 1965 analysed 7,641 U. F. O. reports. It concluded that : 80 percent of sightings vmre natural phenomena, hoaxes, birds or man-made object s ; cent of s i ghtings provided insufficient data to permit thorough analysis and evaluation; and three percent vmre unidentified. /U. S . and U.S. and Soviet space exploration has found no evidence to supfort the theory of life on planets in our solar system. It seems that the 1furiner series of space exploration to Mars has proved i t ~ 'dead' planet. The only other source of extra-terrestrial life , then, ~auld have to be in another 'solar system'. It would seem, therefore, that r:hilst it may be possible for extra-terrestrial life forms to visit Earth, it i s improbabl e . Enclosed are three summaries of U.F. O. sightings occurring in Australia between January 1960 and Decembe r 1971. DEPA.Imi1ENT OF AIR UNUSUAL AERIAL SIGRTmGS SUMMARY no 1 JANU.~Y 1960 -DECEMBER 1968 SUMMARY OF UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL SIGHTINGS REPORTED TO DEP100MENT OF AIR, CANBERRA, ACT, FROM 1960 Brief Description of Aerial Sightings Trrin Yellow Lights over Launceston, Tasmania. Elevation 20 -30. Bright object emitting flashes, moving W to E over Melbourne, Spherical, silvery object, elevation 80 - 65, over Canberra, ACT. Flashing red light and fixed vrhi te light over Mangalore, VictoTia. 26 Jun 60 Exglosion of light with spark showers, elevation 40 en route Melbourne, Victoria, to Launceston, Refraction of Astronomical Astronomical Tasmania. Astronomical 18 Aug 60 Bright flashing object travelling E to W, 160 miles N of }Jbllevra, WA 2 Oct 60 Crescent ~haped object, horns lighted, 5 above southern horizon, Launceston, Tasmania. 4 Oct 60 "5 flying saucers and a mother ship" cigar shaped, 4 vertical bands, over Cressey, 13 Oct 60 Whit e light, angle of elevation 45, Mackunda Do\'7lls, Queensland. 25 Oct 60 Do;ms, QQeensland. 15 Oct 60 Ul traversing sky, W to E over Launceston, 18 Oct 60 Slow moving cigar-shaped object similar to aircraft -bright orange rear portion, rest dull grey. 27 Oct 60 MYsterious explosions, Cressy Area, Longford, Tasmania -orange coloured ball hovering in sky, also described as cigar-shaped. Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical 1\.s tronomical Met ball"on with light Probably TAA AstronomicaJ. The foregoing summary of information prepared in the public interest, includes the final assessment of each sighting reached by Department of Air, Canberra, and it is regretted th~t no further correspondence can be undertaken on this subject. Brief Description of Aerial Sighting Orange/blue/red round object, trailing cloud of sparks, exploded at Poatina, Tasmania. Astronomical 15 Nov 60 Orange transluscent ball, approx 60 ft i n diama.ter at altitude 35,000 ft heading 140 at high speed. Astronomical 25 IVTay 61 Light in sky over Poatina/Cressy, Tasmania Point of blue/green/red light, just abbve horizon, rising slowly over Treveallyn, Tasmania. Silvery, disc-shaped formation of 30/40 objects over Launceston, Tasmania, flying southwards. 24 grey/blue objects, moving south~ards over G:reat Lakes, rasmania. Star like object, 20 minut~s to pass over i sky over Campbell Tovm, Tasmani, V/est to east. Bright light in sky, Oat lands, Tasmania. Bright, ~hite sphere, 45 from vertical, over Campbell Torm, Tasmania Apparently controlled light, no sound, several sightings around Kerang, Victoria. Bright lights, with tail of orange sparks over Indooroopilly ~eensland, from N t o S Flashes of light west of Beaconsfield, Victori a , similar to lightnincs. obj ect like a meteor -position 32305 15240E object broken up Dull silvery thermometer-shaped object - Devenport, Tasma~ia -seen through binoculars Astronomical .Astronomical Refraction of Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical Conical shaped object falling to earth -Da.niin Nl'. Astronomical 1 Jun 71 Oval shaped, red- gl owing object, Cairns, ~eensland, photographed through 4 in telescope 31 Jul 61 Long white gloTiing object, flaming tail buzzed train on railway, 285 miles south of Darwin, NT. Temperature inversion, sighting of" an aircraft. Astronomical The f oregoing summary of information prepared in the public interest, includes the final assessment of each sighting reached by Department of Ai~, Canberra, and it is regretted that no further correspondence can be undertaken on this subject. Nov/Dec 61 ~ricf Descri;tion of :~rial SiQhting 12 objects flying high, in pairs, dropping white substance -Meekatharra, VTA. light, elevation 3.5 at Hobart airport. sphere with silver protuberances on either side -like motor armature, moving and rising in vresterly direction, ICoorda, i7A. Spherical object. emitting flashes ofgreen and or ange light -slm7 moving -Collarcy, NSW. Fiery, rocket-like object across Caulfield, Vic. Green fading to yello~ object over East Sale, Vic spherical objoct, Manly, NSW. Bri@1t white, planet-like object, sometimes orange and occasionally zig-zagging or changing direction, F.rementa.l, spider s " Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical .Astronomical Astronomical. 3 Mar 62 White spherical object ,.,i th metal lustre, Manly, NSW Astronomical 11 r~ 62 Star-lilce object, 73% elevation to SSIT of Flinders Island, Tasmania. Astronomical. 13 Apr 62 3 objects, 2 with firey trails, moving from NW direction over Tennant Creek, NT. Astronomical 5 MaiY 62 White object, zig-zagging, Redcliffe, WA Astronomical 5 ~ 62 Contrail and metallic proceeding contrail, over Richmond, N~l Aircraft 1 May 62 Dark glinting object leaving 4 condensation trails -climbing vertically over Holbrook, Victoria. Aircraft 25 May 62 Light, travelling across sky, stops, changes course and gradually disappears, Lucinda Point, ~eensland. Astronomical 25 Jun 62 Glo~ing red object, great size and speed at Kurraj ong, Nffi"l. Astronomical 22/23 Silver-coloured object over Yass, Nm7. Astronomical The foregoing summary of information prepared in the public interests, includes the final assessment of~ch sighting reached by Department of Air Canberra, and it is regretted that no further correspondence can be undcrtrucen on this Bri~f Description of Aerial Sighting Sto.r-like object, red/green/blue - slo'l7ly moving up/down/right/left over ICimbcrley, Tasmania. ght star-like object moving across sky over DeilillEl.rk, WA. Starlike object, stationary in sky over Cressy, star-like object Launceston, Tasmania. Bright cluster of lights moving from S t o N - aircraft en route Christchurch, NZ, to Sydney, NSVT Aircraf t like object h.igh over sky, leaving yellowish trail -Canberra ACT. Large object with red front emitting thick orange coloured exhaust -over Goulburn, NSIT. Bright metallic glinting needle shaped object flying in straight-vertical path over Cressy, Tas Yellou, star-likeobject from S toN in straight path, over Cressy, Tasmania. lindrical object, uith 2 vertical projecti ons travelling NNE/SSI7 over norfolk Island. Apparently s pherical object, uhite vapour emitted. Moved dovmwards in sky over Penna, Tasmania. rotating object descending and then moving over to ~est -gave off swishing sound, Moe, Vic White, spherical object, illuminated, in level flight over Ma.i tla.nd, NS\7. Two bluish/ green lights, oval in shape, oscillating in sky in tandem, Braybrook, Victoria. Two bright objects, star-like, side by side, stationary, Tasmania. slender, silvery-white pencil-like object - undless, Forster, NSVT Dright red/white object, rising v ertically, looked like bulldozer, Mt Gambier, SA. Astr onomical Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical .Astronomical meteorological manifestation Refracti on of Refraction of Astronomical The foregoing summary of information in the public interest, includes tho final assessment of each sighting reached by Department of Air, Canberra, and it is regretted that no further corres~ondence can be undertaken on this Brief Description of Aerial Sighting Explosi on of light in sky over Melbourne, Vic Bright greenish/blue light over Iron Range, Qld Bright star-like object, red, stationary over Deloraine, Tasmania. Light grey, circular object, noise like jet engine heard, hovering above Warragul, Victoria. of lights over Darwin area, NT making suishing noise;.. Explosi on in sky Turner Stati on/Ord River Station, SA. Silver spot or streak sighted before explosion. Vfuite starlike object, bulbous front and elongated tail -Mt Dandenong area, Victoria. Bright orange li5ht, j et engine noise -from W to U\'l, Moorabbill, Victoria. Pinki sh/brown starlike object oscillating over Beaumaris, Victoria. Rotating in circular manner Marks on negative of photo taken at &tAF, Darwi n . Seen at seaby crew of a vessel NE Point of Groote Eylandt, WA. Large lights in \7ater, made compass go ' Haywire'. Shadow in centre of lights rotated Astr onomical Astronomical Astr onomical Astronomical Re-entry of .Astronomical Astronomical Astronomical Static charge loadjng of clockv7ise, causing lights to pulsate. Unknown. Bright light like bushfire ~ Balladonia, 'VIA, Eyre Highway ( 178 mile peg). .ti.stronomical. t~te, planet like object, bright light, Bridport, Tasmania. Astronomical Cigar shaped, travelling sidew~a,brown colour, Astronomical at Armidale, NSVT. Two moving lights, yellowish, Pascoe Vale, Refraction of foregoing s~y of information prepared in the public interest, includes the final assessment of each sightinG r e ached by Department of Air, Canberra, it is regretted that no further cor~ospondence can be undertaken on this Brief Description of Aerial Sighting Formation of whitish objectivs over Longreach, Qld. Bright headed object, glowing tail over Onslow, WA. Rocket like object, with windows in side, yellow/ orange, above Wittenoom Gorge,/Hammersley Ranges, \Jhi. te light moving across sky over Kavieng, Papua and New Guinea -like bright star. Bluish star like object, moving in circles over Launceston, Tasmania. Two silvery solid oval objects seen on flight lfulbourne/Canberra. like exploding meteorite -lit up surface of sea, Cambridge Gulf, ITA. Light at horizon, Lowhead Lighthou