CUFOS and the Australian connection

Celebrating their 50th anniversary of outstanding UFO research, investigation and commentary on the UFO controversy, the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) have updated the CUFOS website 

I recommend the CUFOS site to new players trying to get a focus on the UFO subject while tackling its current iteration of UAP (with its militarised and scientifically "safe" subsets) - unidentified aerial phenomena, but also to jaded long time players, as it provides some striking data, reference material and commentary on UFOs/UAP worthy of your attention.  In the interests of transparency I am listed as a friend of CUFOS and was a contributing editor of its publication IUR - the International UFO Reporter - from 1984 to 2012. Being able to access all the IUR issues and other CUFOS publications offers a great resource.

Here are some of my IUR contributions (each hyperlink takes you to the relevant issue):

“An Extraordinary UFO incident off Chile”

(A letter critical of my Chile article, pgs. 17-18)

(my follow-up letter re the Chilean case critique, pg. 20)

Further details on this particular case are included in Timothy Good's 2006 book "Need to Know - UFOs, the military and intelligence", pgs. 282-284.

“Northwest Cape Incident”

“The Australian connection” (my tribute to Allen Hynek, pg. 17)

“An Extraordinary Encounter in the Dandenong Foothills” (The Kelly Cahill case)

This should be followed up with my OZ Files "revisited" article

“Vladimir Godic (1926-1995): A tribute”

“The Australian Government and UFOs”

Also read my chapter in the book "UFOs and Government" (2012) available via Amazon.

“Tully Saucer Nests of 1966 – Part One”

“Tully Saucer Nests of 1966 – Part Two”

See my 2017 article "The 1966 TullyFlying Saucer Nest Revisted"

“Strange Evidence” (The Peter Khoury “alien hair” case)

My "alien DNA paradigm" site includes numerous updates and other material relevant to the case.  My 2005 book on the case "Hair of the Alien" is available via Amazon.

“Taken Down Under: The Australian Abduction Experience”

“Taken Down Under (Part 2): The Australian Abduction Experience”

“Aliens, Hair, and DNA” See also my article "Peter Khoury and "Hair of the Alien" 25th anniversary"

Allen Hynek, who had acted as astronomy consultant to the United States Air Force UFO study since 1948, came to Australia during 1973, to lecture on astronomy and UFOs and to promote his ground breaking book, "The UFO Experience - A Scientific Inquiry", published in the US in 1972. His visit was a watershed for both Australia and himself.  Dr. Hynek was in the best position to determine the scientific merits of the UFO phenomenon.  He had consulted for more than 20 years with the US Air Force and had moved from a sceptic to a scientist who was willing to actively promote the validity of the phenomenon.  He championed the need for serious research.  His 1972 book was his case for the scientific merit of the UFO phenomenon. It caused a lot of scientists to rethink their position on the subject.  By 1973, Dr. Hynek lacked an appropriate vehicle for his ongoing research. For years he had quietly encouraged and actively participated in his UFO "invisible college". 

(DAFI file record of discussion August 1973)

Via my good friend David Buching I had Allen Hynek on the phone to me about what had been playing out around Tryingham.  He had wanted to come to witness what was happening. As much as would have liked him to come I had to tell him that by then (August) the flap had largely died down and I reluctantly told him it probably wasn’t worth coming up to remote Tyringham. He returned to the US and was soon enveloped in the massive 1973 US UFO wave. Hynek would bring his UFO "invisible college" into the open and formed the Centre for UFO Studies (CUFOS) later in 1973.  

When I came to live in Sydney in 1975 I was asked to join the committee of the UFO Investigation Centre by its co-ordinator David Buching. Given my experience in “physical trace cases” and my university background in chemistry David passed onto me a publication that had recently come into their hands. It was the 1975 Center for UFO Studies publication compiled by Ted Phillips – “Physical Traces associated with UFO Sightings.”  It listed 561 cases.  Its Australian listings were limited and I set about focusing on cases of this type in Australia.  In 1979 I presented a study of 237 accounts of Australian “physical traces.”  I included that study and expanded on it for a world wide review of such data, which was published in a 15 paged chapter – “Physical Traces” – in the 1987 book “UFOs 1947 – 1987 The 40-year search for an explanation” compiled and edited by Hilary Evidence with John Spencer. 

With the publication of Mark O'Connell's 2017 biography "The Close Encounters Man" my review of it allowed me to expand my 1986 tribute to Allen Hynek.

Dr. Mark Rodeghier carried on Allen Hynek's CUFOS vision. His recent lecture at the Chicago Public Library provides an excellent overview of Allen Hynek and CUFOS. It was great to see him mention the Australian car interference case which was investigated through the UFOIC group via my friend David Reneke, who at the time was a car service manager. He found it a puzzling case that resisted easy explanation. From Mark's 1981 CUFOS publication "UFO Reports involving vehicle interference - a catalogue and data analysis" (which can be accessed in full on the CUFOS site): 17 September 1976 at 0330: "AUSTRALIA, Wingen, New South Wales: While enroute to a broken-down truck, a mechanic noticed his engine begin to lose power and the headlights go out. After he stopped by the side of the road (by which time the engine had stopped completely), he got out to see what was wrong. First he noticed that the speedometer was jumping from 0-40 kph even though the car was turned off. His flashlight wouldn't work either, and the magnet on its side wouldn't hold the flashlight to the metal. 

He then saw a light approaching from his left. After two minutes, it appeared as a very bright object moving in a straight line. It passed only 12 feet over the car and moved into the distance, giving off an intense blue glow. The engine then ''turned over" a few times, but didn't completely start, even though the ignition keys were not in. The headlights and radio came back on and he restarted the car. He had trouble with the car later and finally sold it. His watch had also stopped during the sighting."

I have personally enjoyed revisiting the legacy of Allen Hynek and CUFOS.