Info-ParaNet Newsletters Volume I Number 401 Monday, May 13th 1991 Today's Topics: Miscellaneous Re: Alien Alloys Print your answers! Phoenix Journals Mundrabilla Incident Mundrabilla Incident (2) Mundrabilla Incident (3) Mundrabilla Incident (4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ncar!apple.com!well!ddrasin Subject: Miscellaneous Date: 11 May 91 00:34:07 GMT From: well!ddrasin@apple.com (Dan Drasin) A few responses to tidbits from recent InfoParanet newsletters: --------------------------------------------------------------------- + From: Steve Warren + It would be difficult to find a sweeter scam than the one that the + owners of the Federal Reserve are benefiting from today. They are + putting the wealth of America in their back pockets, and they come + out looking like our great benefactors, because they are + 'regulating' our money supply for us and keeping our economy nice + and stable. Gee, thanks, guys. + You are right, though, this doesn't have anything to do with aliens. ;^) Steve, apparently you have not read William Bramley's THE GODS OF EDEN. Highly rcommended. --------------------------------------------------------------------- + From: Scott Littleton + Even though I'm not quite sure about your argument, I'm very glad + to hear that you find my ideas interesting. Yes, I have indeed + read Vallee's books (am in the middle of CONFRONTATIONS at the + moment) and have a great deal of respect for his ideas, although I + still find the ETH the most efficient explanation, at least from + the standpoint of Occam's Razor--that is, the Principle of + Parsimony. Scott, any *single* explanation of UFO phenomena (plural) is bound to be misleading. Beside the fact that nothing has only a single cause, or even a single *level* of cause, there is abundant evidence suggesting that what we call the 'UFO' is a broad range of phenomena that can't be contained within any simple, cut-and-dried category. --------------------------------------------------------------------- + From: Korac MacArthur + I think a great example of such proof would be an alloy of known + metals that has a density greater than the sum of its parts, ie + compressed on a molecular level until the electron clouds of the + atoms 'touch' tightly. While there is such a thing as material *evidence*, there is no such thing as material proof. Proof itself is a consensus among people, not objects or circumstances that might be considered a *basis* for 'proof.' Skeptics are technically correct when they say that such-and- such a metal sample, while perhaps impossible to produce by means of publically-known methods, cannot be a basis for proof that the source is necessarily Extraterrestrial, Intraterrestrial, Extradimensional, etc., etc. + Other possible proof objects: Very high temperature superconductors. Making 'shopping lists' of "proof" objects or circumstances (a 'landing on the White House lawn' is an old favorite) is more of a map of our own thinking processes than of the actual territory under survey. When a mystery presents itself we must get to know it on its own terms rather than imposing our own preconceptions on it. Otherwise we'll go round and round forever in a hall of mirrors infintely reflecting fixed or conventional views, and impose 'criteria of proof' that simply don't apply in the given context. This is one reason some people have made almost no progress in understanding the UFO phenomenon in over forty years. --------------------------------------------------------------------- +From: Pete Porro + Specifically in the case of Serios, I have my doubts. Nice parlor + trick is as far as I'll go on that one right now. If there is + evidence contary, I will be happy to change my mind and adjust + current wisdom... Is there a book titled 'The World of Serios' or + was that for explination? Any source you can recommend for reading + further about his polaroid mysterys. Pete, the book is the *SECOND* edition of THE WORLD OF TED SERIOS, by Jule Eisenbud, MD. It's published by McFarland & Company, Inc., Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina, 28640. You may have to special-order it. Well-worth the effort to obtain if you're really interested in the evidence and the circumstances in which the evidence was produced. It's a guaranteed 'good read.' --------------------------------------------------------------------- By the way, I just returned from the First World UFO Congress in Tucson. 40 international speakers, dozens of new photos, videos, etc. A rather exhaustive (and exhausting) update on what's happening worldwide. The Soviet contingent included Dr. Marina Popovich, a cosmonaut and one of the most highly-decorated test pilots in the Soviet Union. She is a member of the Sov. Academy of Sciences. Her husband, general Pavel Popovich, is an officer in the Anomalous Phenomena Division of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. (That's right, their Academy of Sciences inquires into anomalous phenomena without prejudice). Her presentation went far beyond the Voronezh landings, which evidently were only the beginning of a remarkble series of contacts that are still going on today. Valery Uvarov, of Leningrad, presented an extensive account of the ongoing exeriences in the region of Tbilisi, capital of Soviet Georgia, that include quite a number of benevolent surgical operations performed on contactees, including himself. These have evidently been confirmed by the state health ministry. Uvarov also brought a three- hour documentary composed entirely of relatively unedited (i.e., interminable) amateur video that incuded some actual sightings and lots of interviews with local people (particualrly children) who have appear to be having quite remarkable experiences including on-board contacts, paraphysical phenomena, etc. Some local (Tucson) benefactors contributed three 8mm camcorders to the Soviet ufological contingent which wants to be able to respond more quickly to landing reports. --- Jorge Martin, of Puerto Rico, presented some *outstandingly* clear photographs of military pursuit arcraft (swing-wing jets; F-16's??) circling a vary large metallic disk hovering over a forested area. According to one congress participant, the disk is a *dead ringer* for the infamous Roswell craft. UFO activity, including abductions, is evidently quite common in southwest Puerto Rico, and its main source seems to be a subterranean base with an underwater entrance south of the island of Vieques in an area where such activity has been reported for many years. Martin gave a number of accounts of mysterious, illegal and exceedingly well-documented miltary operations in the vicinity of downed craft in that region. Excellent presentation. Well, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Videotapes of the congress will be available for $150 (that's 45 hours of tape, not a bad deal) after about a month. Dan Drasin ddrasin@well.sf.ca.us -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Clark.Matthews@f816.n107.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Clark Matthews) Subject: Re: Alien Alloys Date: 5 May 91 16:07:00 GMT > In regard to Meiers Metal that was supposedly examained by > an IBM engineer - as I recall the "engineer" was a lower > level technician with a penchant for overstatment. I believe he was a metallurgist named Marcel Vogel at IBM in California. > seem to recall that after the piece was analyzed it > conveniently was lost - the "engineer" was carrying it > around in his pocket and misplaced it, or some such > nonsense. I heard that too. Best, Clark -- Clark Matthews - via FidoNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Clark.Matthews@f816.n107.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Clark.Matthews@f816.n107.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Clark Matthews) Subject: Print your answers! Date: 5 May 91 16:17:00 GMT > ClarK, that is! > You should print your answers to the questions on > Points and Procedures! > Put in in The Continuum! Aside from being amusing, I'm > sure your answers were very close to what one SHOULD really > do. > Thanks for the enlightening info! > > :-) You're welcome, I'm sure! Actually, I believe that for the most part the answers may turn out to be good practice. Especially the standing rule not to use the telephone if you have important first-hand information or a primary source. Actually Otis writes that stuff. He's such a card... I'd love to print it, but Otis's agent keeps trying to get me to sign some sort of weird exclusivity agreement in blood. Something about 7 years free use and then automatic revocation of the Party of the First Part (that's me...) :-) We'll see about printing it. I've a little old fashioned about publishing my own stuff. People like Michael Korda have no such compunctions, but then again I'm not people like Michael Korda. I am contributing an article on alternate tech. developments, though. Best, Clark -- Clark Matthews - via FidoNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Clark.Matthews@f816.n107.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Bryce.Eckstein@f10.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Bryce Eckstein) Subject: Phoenix Journals Date: 2 May 91 16:15:00 GMT Hello Greg! > The Phoenix Journals are available from > > America West Publishers, Inc. > P.O. Box 986 > Tehachapi, CA 93581 > > Phone: 1-800-729-4131 Thanks for that information - much appreciated. Cheers Bryce -- Bryce Eckstein - via FidoNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Bryce.Eckstein@f10.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ParaNet.Information.Service@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (sm) Subject: Mundrabilla Incident Date: 7 May 91 20:51:00 GMT This file was provided by ParaNet(sm) Information Service and its network of international affiliates. You may freely distribute this file as long as this header remains intact. ============================================================ For further information on ParaNet(sm), contact: Michael Corbin ParaNet Information Service P.O. Box 172 Wheatridge, CO 80034-0928 or Netmail 1:104/422 Internet: mcorbin@alphacdc.com ============================================================ UFO RESEARCH AUSTRALIA THE MUNDRABILLA INCIDENT THE KNOWLES' ENCOUNTER In the early hours of Wednesday morning January 20, 1988, the occupants of a number of vehicles travelling along the main highway between Perth, Western Australia, and Adelaide, South Australia, were reportedly involved in an incident. This report has been compiled from a personal interview with the main percipients, the Knowles family; a statement given to police by the Knowles; an inspection of their vehicle; an interview with one of the truck drivers, and from the extensive media coverage given to the incident, especially from taped video interviews which appeared on television. Details of independent laboratory testing results have been made available to us. It will be some time, perhaps months before we are able to present an in-depth report for distribution. However, due to the constant demand from many quarters for a preliminary report on our inquiries, we make this material available with the following qualification. The report is a raw information, with no attempt at analysis or interpretation at this stage. lt will clearly be seen that there are discrepancies within the accounts given by the Knowles to De Jong and the story we obtained the following day e.g. which of Mrs. Knowles' hands was affected. As we have been denied access to the Knowles for clarification we can only present the details as we have been given them. Our investigations have been conducted amidst what can only be described as a 'media circus'. To indicate the intense media interest in the incident, the authors have now fielded well over one hundred individual inquiries from all over Australia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, and the U.S.A. In this report, compiled on March 17, 1988, we hope to cover as much detail as possible about what has become known as the Mundrabilla incident. Members of investigation team in this case have been Keith Basterfield, Ray Brooke, Steve Bolton, Vladimir and Pony Godic in Adelaide; Garry Little in Melbourne, and Joan Johnston in Perth. LOCATION The incident occurred on a stretch of the main bitumised highway between Perth and Adelaide. Between the localities of Madura and Eucla, Western Australia, the area is more locally known as The Basin and it is here that the episode reportedly occurred (see maps 1 and 2). It is an isolated stretch of road with the Great Australian Bight (Ocean) to the South and a range of hills to the North. Due to the distance of the site from Adelaide (1100 km by air) and the ephemeral nature of the physical evidence at the spot, we have not visited Mundrabilla ourselves. However, driver De Jong has provided us with an excellent description of the location, and showed us pictures of the general area. Together with TV shots of the area this has given us an understanding of the isolated nature of this stretch of road, the terrain, road surface and vegetation present. THE VEHICLES As pieced together to date the sequence of events was as follows. Four vehicles were involved. Three were travelling eastwards (see figure 1) towards Eucla, and the other is understood to have been on its way westwards in the direction of Perth. These vehicles were spread over at least a 10 - 15 kilometer distance and not travelling in a close convoy. On initial media advice it was thought that there was a fifth vehicle travelling westwards. This now appears spurious. Vehicle one was a car and caravan, which is reported by the Knowles to have almost collided with their car when driver, Sean Knowles, stated he took evasive action swerving to avoid a close encounter with the object. The identity of the occupant of this vehicle has not been discovered by anyone to date and, in fact, this person seem to have been entirely overlooked by the media. On Sean's testimony this driver should have seen the object at close range. We placed an article in a Perth Sunday paper in an attempt to locate this person, but there has been no response to date. Vehicle two was a truck being driven by a Mr. Graham Henley, 57, transport operator of Forest Hill, Victoria. Media reports place Mr. Henley driving his truck though The Basin some 10 - 15 kilometers ahead of the Knowles' car. We have contacted Henley's wife and asked him to talk to us. However, to date he has not responded, although most of the time he is apparently on the road. -- ParaNet(sm) Information Service - via FidoNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: ParaNet(sm).Information.Service@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ParaNet.Information.Service@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (sm) Subject: Mundrabilla Incident (2) Date: 7 May 91 20:52:00 GMT Vehicle three was a Ford Telstar sedan (car) containing the Knowles family from Perth, to whom we shall return later in this report. Vehicle four was a truck owned by a transport operator whom we now know to be named De Jong (nickname 'Porky'). This vehicle was at an unknown distance behind Knowles' car, and at the time was being driven by a woman friend of De Jong's, named Anne. As at March 17, we have now identified and spoken to the occupants of two of the four vehicles involved. It may be some time before we are able to personally interview the others, particularly the currently unknown driver. INVESTIGATION BY US The story broke to us about 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday January 20. The Ceduna police telephoned Ray Brooke whilst the Knowles were present at the station. Arrangements were made for the family to proceed to Adelaide where they would be interviewed and the vehicle inspected, documenting the physical evidence. Ceduna police advised us they had secured written statements and a sample of a deposit for analysis. Nothing else could be done by UFO Research (SA) until family and vehicle arrived in Adelaide. The story leaked to the media, however, and the family were intercepted enroute and concluded a deal with the Channel 7 television network. It appeared at this stage that 'cheque book' journalism has scored over scientific evaluation. On Thursday January 21, after negotiations with the 7 network, the authors were able to spend three hours at the Adelaide Channel 7 studios whilst the Knowles underwent extensive interviews. Between interviews we managed to talk informally to all members of the family. No formal in-depth interview was possible in the circumstances. We confirmed their basic story as related below. The family was distressed and tired at this stage and told us they wanted a finish to all television interviews. They appeared to us to be down to earth people trying to cope with some traumatic episode. Indications of a hoax were minimal. Following the end of the interviews at the station we sought our own formal in-depth interview. However, the family declined and then left for an undisclosed location. The next day they travelled on to Melbourne, Victoria, some 800 km from us, where we understand they still remain. However, the story as pieced together from our first hand interview, and from notes taken whilst watching several TV interviews being taped, is as follows. THE MAIN PERCIPIENTS Mrs. Faye Knowles, 43, and sons, Sean 21, Patrick 24, and Wayne 18, were travelling from Perth, Western Australia (WA) to Melbourne, Victoria, for a surprise visit to Mrs. Knowles' family in Melbourne. At a still undetermined point West of Mundrabilla WA, Sean, the driver, saw what he at first took to be a truck's light, apparently along the road, approaching them from the East. As it approached, it then disappeared after "jumping about a bit". It became visible again and continued to approach their vehicle. Sean commented that it looked like a "spaceship". It become brighter and bigger. They kept driving towards it. It then disappeared. The next thing they knew it was behind them. Sean accelerated the car in an attempt to get away from it. Suddenly it was in front again. At some stage Sean did a U-turn and travelled westwards for a while, then did another U-turn to resume the original eastwards travel. It is not clear whether this was an attempt to elude or follow the light. At another time Sean commented that the light was seen close to their vehicle and they swerved to miss it and nearly hit a car and caravan coming the other way. The exact sequence of events from here is very confused. It included: * The rear right tire blowing out while they were travelling at speed. Sean braked the car to a halt. * Mrs. Knowles placing her hand on the car's roof and feeling a "spongy substance". Mrs. Knowles told us she was sitting in the rear passenger seat, behind the driver, nearest the center of the road. (In Australia vehicles are driven on the left hand side of the road). She stated she wound down her window and placed her right hand on the roof. She had retracted it after feeling some material on the roof. Immediately the back of her hand felt warm for a few seconds, then the sensation of heat faded. * The family winding down the windows and a "greyish-black mist" coming into the car. * The sound of their voices changing in pitch and appearing to slow down. * Them believing that the object had landed on the roof. When questioned they said they did not see anything approach and land on the roof, nor did they see anything protruding front, rear or over the sides of the roof. -- ParaNet(sm) Information Service - via FidoNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: ParaNet(sm).Information.Service@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ParaNet.Information.Service@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (sm) Subject: Mundrabilla Incident (3) Date: 7 May 91 20:52:00 GMT <> *A humming sound was heard. * Sean blacking out over a period. * Them all becoming hysterical, shouting and crying. Mrs. Knowles said she believed they were going to die. *A black deposit being found inside and outside the car. * Indentations being found on the roof. * Them believing the car was lifted off the road. However, when asked if they looked out of the windows and saw the car off the ground, they had not done so. * Them saying that the vehicle was dropped to the ground and the tire burst. * Their two dogs going "crazy". * A smell like "dead bodies" in the air. * Them reporting that the car started shaking. It should be emphasized that the exact sequence of the above events has not been able to be obtained from the family as they have not been available to us since January 21. After a period of time Sean stopped the car and they all got out to adjacent scrub. They reported that the light/object remained in the vicinity of the car and then departed. Some fifteen minutes, after stopping, they returned to the car and rapidly changed the tire. From that point (believed to be some 40 kilometers West of Mundrabilla) they drove to Mundrabilla Motor Hotel (WA). POLICE STATEMENT On March 17 we received a copy of a statement of a Senior Constable First Grade of the Port Lincoln crime scene section, Port Lincoln. It records details, related a few hours after the incident and so is presented (unedited) in full. At about 1.00 p.m. (SA time) on Wednesday January 20, 1988, I was approached at the Ceduna Police Station by two male persons (Sean Knowles and his brother Patrick Knowles). They reported to me that while driving on the Eyre Highway, at a point between Madura and Mundrabilla in Western Australia, at about 5.30 a.m. (WA time) this date, they were confronted by an extremely white light about 15 - 18 meters in front of their vehicle. They described the light as being extremely bright white with a yellow core. They further stated that their vehicle, a Ford Telstar, had been damaged by the object when it landed on the roof of their vehicle while they were travelling at a speed of about 110 kilometers an hour. They further stated that the object, while on the roof of their car, had showered the vehicle with a black ash type dust. They displayed great anxiety and were visibly shaken by the ordeal. I asked why they had not reported the incident to the Police Station at Eucla in Western Australia prior to leaving that state, and they informed me that they had not sighted a Police Station at Eucla. Neither did I receive from them a completely satisfactory explanation as to why they had not reported the matter at Penong Police Station being the first Police Station in South Australia which they had passed. This may have been a double sided question therefore receiving one answer. The vehicle was parked in Poynton Street, Ceduna. I attended at the vehicle in company with two persons and made an inspection of the damage to the hood of the vehicle which they indicated to me as having been caused by the object when on their vehicle. I found that there were superficial dents to the four corners of the hood although the remainder of the hood appeared undamaged. The exterior of the vehicle was covered by a fine black/grey dust similar to a road film left on a vehicle in need of washing. That same dust was obvious on the upholstery within the vehicle. An inspection of the complete vehicle indicated that it appeared quite well looked after and did not display any noticeable damage consistent with having been involved in an accident or collision of any kind. All tires on the vehicle were in good condition and showed at least 3/4 tread. They told me that whilst attempting to escape from the object, the rear right hand tire had blown out. I asked to see the tire which was produced from the boot of the vehicle. The tire was of the same make as the other tires on the vehicle and had the same amount tread wear. It was in good condition. However, complete outer side of the tire was fractured at the base of the tread. I asked for the vehicle to be conveyed to the police station at Ceduna where I could speak further with the occupants of the vehicle and make further examination of it. -- ParaNet(sm) Information Service - via FidoNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: ParaNet(sm).Information.Service@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ParaNet.Information.Service@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (sm) Subject: Mundrabilla Incident (4) Date: 7 May 91 20:56:00 GMT <<>> On return to the station I spoke to Mrs. Knowles in a location where we were out of earshot of the other occupants. Mrs. Knowles was visibly shaken by the ordeal and insisted (upon) her honesty in the belief that the Police were skeptical at the report they were making. It was stated that they had been on the Eyre Highway, at about 5.30 a.m., when they were confronted by the brilliant white light in front of the vehicle. The light remained a short distance ahead of the vehicle and began to 'zig-zag' from side to side across the road. They stated that the object was about one meter in width but were unable to estimate the height except to say that it blocked their view of the road ahead of the vehicle. At this time, a second vehicle approached their position travelling in a westerly direction on the Eyre Highway. They stated that the object gave chase to this vehicle and, in fact, they lost sight of it to the rear of their vehicle as it circled around their right hand side in apparent pursuit of the other vehicle. At this point I asked Sean to draw a sketch of the object which he did. The sketch resembled an egg in an egg cup. The ground was indicated at the base of the egg cup. They stated that the object then came from behind their vehicle and their vehicle began to shake violently on the road from side to side. Both stated having been extremely scared at this time and Sean stated that he increased speed of the vehicle in an attempt to escape from the object. Mrs. Knowles then stated that she wound down the rear right side window and reached toward the hood of the vehicle. She stated that she felt something on the hood of the vehicle and made her distress known to the other persons in the vehicle. Both, Sean and Mrs. Knowles, could not recall any indication of light, at this time, from the object on the roof, but Mrs. Knowles stated that it felt soft, spongy and rubbery, and was hot although she did not burn her hand. On retrieving her hand, however, she found that it was covered in black/grey dust. Both stated that at this time they were aware of high pitched whirring or hissing noise but which was of normal intensity. Both stated they felt disorientated and that they noticed that their voices had become slow and deep when they spoke. They were unable to say how long the object was on the roof of the car but, during the time it was there, it appeared to lift the vehicle off the road and forced it back down heavily on the road. The rear right side tire on the vehicle then blew out. Sean considered that this occurred as a result of the weight of the object forcing down on the vehicle. They stated that the object then vanished and they were able to stop the vehicle. They both stated that the wheel was changed hurriedly and they were about to move off again when they noticed the object again, glowing bright white, ahead of the vehicle. The object appeared to be in the center of the road. They were extremely concerned and scared and, in fact, drove the vehicle behind roadside bushes, vacated the vehicle, and themselves hid separately from the vehicle. They remained hidden for a short period until they could no longer see the object and then drove from the location to the Mundrabilla Roadhouse where they spoke with persons at that establishment shortly prior to 6.00 a.m. (W.A. time). I then spoke to the passenger who had been indicated as sitting in the front left side of the vehicle, Patrick Knowles. I spoke with him separately from Sean and Mrs. Knowles and before he had an opportunity of conversing with them. His indication of the situation, which had occurred, was similar to that as told to me by the others, although his description of incidents differed. He stated that his impression of the object was about similar in size, to that indicated, but it appeared to him to have a brighter light at the top and at the bottom. He described it as being bigger than the car and that the light which it gave off was brilliant white. He also stated that, after the object was apparently on the hood of the vehicle, and his mother had felt it and remarked, he had opened his left side front window and had been showered with a black powdery dust. He was also aware of a foul smell. He stated that he began speaking with a deep voice which was obviously sluggish and he gained the impression that the object was 'taking over his body'. His impression of the object on the roof of the vehicle was that it was heavy, and was pushing down on the vehicle, and concurred that at that point, while driving faster to escape the object, the rear right tire blew out. His impression of the noise, which apparently emanated from the object, was that it was a deep whirring sound. He made no mention of any light being emitted from the object whilst on the vehicle. He stated that they had driven from the location to the Mundrabilla Roadhouse where they had spoken to persons including a semitrailer driver who, they believe, had made observations of the white light as it was travelling on the Eyre Highway in the same location and the time indicated. -- ParaNet(sm) Information Service - via FidoNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: ParaNet(sm).Information.Service@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG ********To have your comments in the next issue, send electronic mail to******** 'infopara' at the following address: UUCP {ncar,isis,boulder}!scicom!infopara DOMAIN infopara@scicom.alphacdc.com ADMIN Address infopara-request@scicom.alphacdc.com {ncar,isis,boulder}!scicom!infopara-request ******************The**End**of**Info-ParaNet**Newsletter************************