PROJECT 1947
A CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN UFO
VEHICLE
INTERFERENCE CASES
Compiled and copyright © 2005 by Keith
Basterfield
PO Box 786, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006
Updated 15 May 2005
A particularly perplexing aspect of the UFO phenomenon is the
sub-group of reports concerning effects on motor vehicles.
Previous works aimed at this sub-group of "vehicle interference cases" have
included the 1979 "Vehicle Interference Project" report by the British UFO
Research Association, and the 1981 "UFO Reports Involving Vehicle Interference:
A Catalogue and Data Analysis" by Mark Rodeghier, of the J. Allen Hynek Center
for UFO Studies.
This catalogue is intended to gather together, in summary form, those
Australian cases which appear to fall in to the sub-group of interest. The
search for cases involved the files of most Australian UFO research groups,
books, Journals and magazine articles. However, wherever possible,
original investigation notes have been located and used.
The format for each entry is: Catalogue number, date, location, time of
event, text, source.
Acknowledgement
I would like to acknowledge the work of the large number of
Australian UFO researchers, who over the years, have investigated and published
details on the reports which are summarised in this catalogue. One or more
sources are cited for each report.
THE CATALOGUE
Undated Stuart Highway NT
Three women spotted a bright light chasing their car. It was
first seen just above trees beside the road behind and to one side of them. They
were travelling at ninety five km/h but the object overtook them. The motor of
the car cut out. The object continued on its way following the roadway, and
eventually the ladies were able to restart the car. However, by this time the
object had moved away to an estimated three kilometres. As they approached it
they saw it beam a shaft of light onto the road, making a pool of light. This
pool was then slowly withdrawn from the road and ascended into the larger light
above.
(Tambling, R. (1967). Flying Saucers Where Do They Come
From? (FSWDTCF). Sydney. Horwitz.)
13 Jan 1958 Casino NSW
A car's radio suffered interference as an object followed the
vehicle.
(National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena. (NICAP).
1964. The UFO Evidence. Washington. p75.)
18 May 1963 Beachport SA 0700hrs
A man, a carrier by occupation, was driving along a road when a
soundless, red and blue, round to oval shape was seen directly above the
vehicle. He watched it for about two minutes as it travelled from east to
west. He noted that the sound from his radio cut out.
(UFORSA)
23 May 1965 Morawa WA 0130hrs
A Mr and Mrs French stopped their car after a loud noise suddenly
interrupted their car radio. Nothing seemed wrong with the car so they
resumed their drive. About two kilometres further down the road they
encountered six or more glowing white lights which were shining upon a paddock
from an estimated height of three metres. This sight was accompanied by a
piercing shrill sound. The couple did not stop to investigate.
Further down the road the car radio was affected again, while the lights could
be seen in the paddock behind them.
(FSWDTCF. p52.)
19 Jan 1966 Tully Qld 0900hrs
The driver of a tractor noted the misfire of the engine. A sharp
hissing sound was heard and a saucer shaped object was seen rising slowly, some
twenty five metres away. The object, silver grey in colour and sharp in
outline, and estimated to be eight metres in diameter and three metres thick,
ascended to a height of some twenty metres, tilted a little to one side and left
in a south-westerly direction. A circular area of reeds ten metres across
was found flattened in a clockwise direction on a lagoon directly under the
object.
(1. UFO Research Qld. (UFORQLD)
2.
Australian Flying Saucer Review. (AFSR). No 9.
3.
Australian Flying Saucer Review. (VUFORS). No 5.)
4 Apr 1966 Bourke's Flat Vic Evening
Mr Ron Sullivan, 38, a steel construction businessman from
Maryborough was travelling in his car towards St Arnaud. While approaching
the town at ninety five km/h he noticed in the distance a light which he thought
was a tractor in the paddock. As he came close, to his amazement the beams
of his headlights were bent to the right, off the road and onto the
paddock. Visible in the paddock was a brilliant white disc, a metre or so
across. It was just above the ground. From its upper surface
projected a conical array of shimmering rainbow coloured lights extending to a
height of five metres. Suddenly, the coloured cone rose to a height of six
metres and the disc below climbed above it. The next moment the entire
light complex vanished.
He stopped to check his headlights but found
nothing wrong. Three days later a nineteen-year-old youth driving a car,
was killed at the same spot in mysterious circumstances.
(1. Victorian UFO Research Society.
(VUFORS).
2. Australian UFO Review UFOIC. (AUFOR). No
10. Dec 1969. pp28-29.
3. AFSR (V). No 5. Jul
1966. p12.)
30 Mar 1967 Peterborough SA 2030hrs
Two men were out in a vehicle when the engine stopped and the
lights went out. Getting out to look for the problem they then noticed a
disc ascending rapidly to the sky at thirty-degrees south-west, emitting blue to
purple glows and flashes from underneath it. It was lost in the sky.
Upon trying the engine it started all right.
An hour later a stationary
purple glow was observed in a creek bed, followed another hour later by a five
to six metre disc which shone blue/purple/green/orange/yellow as it took off
from the ground, also to be lost to sight in the sky.
(Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (AFSRS).)
5 July 1967 Murray Bridge SA 1M Langsford CE2
Five miles NNE of Murray Bridge on the Murray bridge to Karoonda
Road. It was a clear night with thick ground fog. Witness was
driving a motor vehicle when he experienced interference on the car radio, which
became a high-pitched whine. He turned the radio off. Within 100-150
yards the motor of the vehicle stopped by itself. The ignition was on but
the warning lights on the dash came on. The ignition key was still in the
"on" position. Looking up he saw a distinct break in the fog with stars
visible. A "large dark shadow" was seen at a height of 20 feet. The
shadow seemed 120 feet thick. Above this shadow was a greyish-blue
glow. The top of the shadow appeared convex. He stopped the vehicle
and got out to look but the shadow and light had gone. There was no
sound. The object had vanished. The two banks of fog came
together. The witness returned to the vehicle and tried the ignition and
the motor worked. He switched on the radio and there was no interference.
(pp178-184 of digital copy of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 8.
Reported through DCA.)
30 Oct 1967 Boyup Brook WA 2130hrs
A man travelling at ninety five to one hundred km/h along a quiet
stretch of road became aware of a lighted object approaching him from the
air. Almost immediately the car stopped dead and all the electrical
system, lights, motor and radio went dead. There was no feeling of
deceleration at all, but the car came to an instant stop. When the car
stopped he noticed that he was immersed in a beam of light which seemed to come
from a tube, which in turn issued from the object.
After about five
minutes the tube of light closed off, just like a torch being switched
off. The object itself was some ten metres in diameter and about thirty
metres up in the air. The tube came out of it at a forty-five degree angle
and focussed right on the driver. The colour was reported as iridescent
blue. After the tube of light went out the object left at high speed in a
westerly direction. It vanished from view in seconds.
The reporter
then stated that the vehicle was then doing the same speed as before it all
began, i.e. ninety five to one hundred km/h. However, there had been no
feeling of acceleration from stop to that speed. There was no noise from
the object at any stage.
(1. Retrospective investigation by Keith
Basterfield.
2. AFSR(V). No 8. p18.)
Jan 1968 Orford Tas Ca. 2100hrs
A family were taking a weekend trip around Tas travelling on the
east coast. The husband was driving the vehicle at fifty five to sixty
five km/h when upon rounding a curve a bright light came over the driver's
side. It was a yellowish light but the actual source was not
visible. Seconds later the vehicle's lights dimmed for 100-200m. The
bright light went out and the vehicle's lights returned to normal. Further
on round a sweeping bend, the same thing happened. However, when he came
out of the bend and onto the straight, the lights had failed altogether.
This took place over fifteen to twenty seconds. The driver stopped the car
to investigate. However, the yellow light had gone by this time and the
headlights came back on by themselves.
(Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC).)
29 Apr 1968 Heyfield Vic 0440hrs
The truck in which two sanitary collectors were travelling in
broke down, some two kilometres from Heyfield. They were thinking about getting
a tow when they saw a string of red lights approaching. They stood on the bonnet
of the truck to get a view when the lights didn't get any closer. It had a row
of red lights and a dome with a light on the top. Next day they found an area of
wilted grass.
(Hervey, M. (1969). UFOs Over the Southern
Hemisphere (UFOSH). Sydney. Horwitz. p86.)
1968/69 Tennant Creek NT Night
A group of 10 or so people in a 1952 vehicle were travelling
along when the vehicle's motor just died. They then smelt a "hot metal" odour,
and a large, dark disc shape rose from nearby and rose into the sky with no
sound audible. Their motor vehicle's engine could then be successfully started.
(Keith Basterfield 1997.)
20 Feb 1969 Norseman WA 1500hrs
A fully fuelled car began "to gasp" as if running out of petrol.
A cigar shape was then noticed twenty five metres away near the road. It was ten
metres long and moved away above trees, kicking up dust and leaves as it did so.
The car then sped ahead. The object vanished very quickly taking ten seconds to
rise and disappear from view.
(AUFOR. No 10. p27.)
4 Jun 1969 Eden Valley SA 1835hrs
Mr G. Koch, 16, was driving along the Angaston road when about
two kilometres north-west of Eden Valley an object passed soundlessly over the
top of his car. It was described as a series of red lights in two parallel lines
connected by pure white horizontal rays. The following day he reported finding
three circular scorch marks on the bonnet of his car which had not been there
before.
(AFSRS)
Mar 1970 Scottsdale Tas
A forestry worker was driving along when he saw a flash in the
sky. His car radio was overcome with static. A soundless, green object, three
times the angular size of the full Moon was seen to the rear of the vehicle, at
an estimated 200 metres distance.
(TUFOIC)
May 1971 Strahan Tas 2200hrs
Travelling home, a family were startled by the appearance of a
bright light above the road. The vehicle's lights failed and the driver stopped
the engine. They got out to have a look, then got back in, and the car's lights
came back on by themselves. As they drove on, the light kept its speed to
theirs. It disappeared when they were almost in Queenstown.
(TUFOIC)
27 May 1971 Lynchford Tas
A car is reported to have stopped dead some fifty metres from the
site of an apparent landing.
(TUFOIC)
8 Aug 1971 Kadina SA 1835hrs
A Mr Boyce, fifty-one, left Wallaroo and was driving back to
Kadina, alone in his car. About five kilometres out of town his
surroundings were illuminated by an orange hue. Suddenly the engine
stopped and the lights went out. The ignition light on the dashboard
failed to come on, and despite efforts the engine could not be restarted.
He steered the car to the side of the road and braked to a halt. Getting
out he saw, at fifty metres altitude, an oval shape with three to four
"windows". It was stationary, almost directly above the car. It remained
motionless for two to three minutes with a continuous buzzing sound being
audible. It then left to the south-east. Before it was completely out of
sight, he got in the car and started the engine, with the lights then coming on.
(Keith Basterfield.)
4 Jun 1972 Bent's Basin NSW 1800hrs
Six young people encountered an object on a hill near their
vehicle. After driving along they heard thumping noises on the car roof
following which the car's engine caught fire. Later a huge "shadow" of a
human-like creature approached. It appeared two-and-a-half to three metres
tall, and vanished like a curtain being rolled up.
(Bill Chalker.)
Ca Jul 1972 Melton Mowbray Tas Ca. 2000hrs
A twenty five year old housewife was driving at sixty five km/h
from Kempton to a cabaret, when looking out her rear vision mirror she saw a
light. At first she thought it was a car with one headlight, but it was
soundless and no car was to be seen. The light came up behind her and
seemed to swoop over the car. The incident lasted some thirty
seconds. The engine started to splutter and jerk as if stopping. The
car slowed down but was all right when the light had gone.
(TUFOIC)
25 Jul 1972 Frankston Vic 2115hrs
Mrs M. Puddy, a thirty seven year old housewife, had experienced
a close encounter with a large iridescent blue object at 2115hrs on Jul 3 1972
between Frankston and Dromana. It was estimated to be five to six metres
high and thirty metres across. There were no seams, windows, aerials or
protuberances of any kind.
On the latter date she was travelling home
when at the same time and about the same location another incident
occurred. The road was lit up by a blue light, and she accelerated the
car. Suddenly the engine cut out as if turned off with the key.
Thinking it had stalled, she turned the ignition key but this had no
affect. The car slowed to a halt at the side of the road and stopped all
by itself. During this period turning the steering wheel did not alter the
direction of travel, pumping the brake was to no avail and putting the gears
through all their positions did nothing. However, the lights remained on
at all times.
She maintained there were no unusual road bumps as the car
came to a halt. There was no feeling of the road being under the
wheels. All sounds "drained" out of the air and there was an eerie
silence. Then she felt she was receiving a message and a voice appeared to
be inside her head. As the impressions ceased the engine started itself,
the outside blue light went out and the object was gone. This coincided
with the approach of another vehicle. All systems were then back under her
control.
(Garry Little and Bill Stapleton.)
30 Nov 1972 Murray Bridge SA 2315hrs
Motor mechanic Mr Maxwell was out testing his vehicle when upon
coming over a rise in the road, the motor and lights of his car cut out.
They came back on but rose and fell in intensity several times. He decided
to stop the engine and the car came to a halt.
To his left he saw a
"diamond shape with the top cut off" noiselessly sitting on the ground
forty-five metres away in a paddock. His car radio went "funny", making a
noise like a "computer on TV", a constant rhythm.
As soon as he stopped
the car he had tried the ignition key but when he turned it nothing happened,
not even the oil light came on. He then tried the wipers and the electric
air horn but they didn't work either. He locked all the doors and wound up
the windows and just sat there for the next forty five minutes.
After
this time, the object left and he found he could restart the car quite all
right. An inspection of the vehicle next day revealed no cause for the
electrical problems.
(Keith Basterfield.)
Feb 1973 Norah Head NSW 0045hrs
A man and a woman were in a vehicle near a kiosk, in light rain,
when they noticed a street light dimming on and off before fading out to a faint
glow. They then saw a bright golden coloured ball rise up behind trees and
hover in the air. After a few minutes it went from gold to orange to deep
red. The couple decided to get closer but found their car engine wouldn't
start. The only response was the headlights which came on very
dimly. The object eventually left to the south-west after which the street
light came to normal brilliance, and the car engine started first time.
(UFOIC Newsletter. 1976. No 48.)
30 Apr 1973 Kempsey NSW
Four people were out driving when one said she saw an egg shaped
object drop out of the sky in the south-east and disappear behind trees, in a
fraction of a second. 200 metres later they noted a distant glow in a
paddock. They returned to the spot where the girl had seen the light, and
as they arrived there it seemed that the car's headlights blacked out
momentarily. All then saw the object apparently landed on open
ground. It seemed domed shaped and reddish-orange in colour. After
watching for five minutes they left the area.
(Flying Saucer Review (FSR). 21/6/4.)
2 May 1973 Kalyan SA 1930hrs
Noting a bright light at an estimated five to ten degrees above
the north-north-east horizon, through his left-hand side windscreen, Mr Zadow
was puzzled. Its angular size was about the size of the full Moon, and it
was reddish/white in colour. No illumination of the surroundings was noted
although the light was dazzling to look at. Driving at fifty-five km/h
along a straight dirt road he watched the light. There was no change in
size or brightness yet he had the feeling the object flew over the truck, as it
rose in elevation as viewed against the windscreen. The truck's engine
stopped and the lights went out leaving him rolling in darkness. Neither
the red ignition light nor the green oil light came on. He instinctively
braked slowly and after four to five seconds whilst the truck was still rolling,
the lights and engine came back on by themselves. The outside light was
not visible by this time. Investigation revealed that the light probably
did not go over his truck but was at least 300 metres away, parallel to the
road.
(UFORSA)
18 May 1973 Sherlock SA 2130hrs
Three young people travelling back to Vic recounted that a light
had been following their car. They stopped the car to watch it. It
hovered over trees, pulsating. The driver turned the ignition key but no
lights showed and the engine wouldn't start until after a few attempts.
Investigations reveal a likely cause was a combination of
headlights/stars/imagination and a temporary electrical fault.
(UFORSA)
17 Mar 1974 Burra SA 0030hrs
While travelling in a Ford Falcon sedan two young men observed a
big round, yellow/green light stationary near the top of a hill. They
stopped the car to watch. After a minute or so it seemed to come towards
them so they tried to start the car, but it would not respond. Again they
tried the ignition system. The ignition light came on but the engine still
wouldn't start. Finally after holding the key on for thirty seconds the
engine started. They left the area but stated that the light seemed to
follow them all the way into Burra. They woke a policeman who looked at
the object and declared it was just a star. Investigation suggests the
object was an astronomical source.
(UFORSA)
15 Apr 1974 Woodside SA 1730hrs
Six people in two cars were travelling back to Adelaide.
Someone in the second vehicle said they saw an object so both cars pulled
up. One of the others said the vehicle suffered a temporary power loss as
the object went over the car. Investigations revealed the entire episode
was overplayed by the media.
(UFORSA)
May or Jun 1974 Port Latta Tas 0545hrs
A man doing a newspaper run at ninety five km/h saw a very bright
light coming from the south. It was travelling north at high speed.
It went over his vehicle in ten seconds, being lost to view behind tall
trees. After it passed by he realised his vehicle was slowing down, the
engine had stalled. He had to stop and restart it. The headlights
also went off for a few seconds.
(TUFOIC)
Winter 1974 The Gardens Tas
Unusual "interference" type noise was heard on a car radio as a
large, round, white object came up over hills and approached a car. It
left over the sea. The sky was very clear and the object had emitted no
noise.
(TUFOIC)
26 Jul 1974 Bridgewater Tas (1900-1945) hrs
Travelling by car towards Launceston, a woman and her daughter
observed a light following their car. It seemed oval in shape with a red
front top light and a larger bottom light. They stopped to have a look,
then upon starting off again, felt it was pacing their vehicle. The object
was noiseless and although they stopped two or three times they couldn't figure
out what it was. While driving, the woman, "...felt as if I was in its
power, as if it was definitely going to take over the control of the car, it was
hard to steer."
(TUFOIC)
Sep 1974 Renmark SA 2215hrs
Returning home in a Hillman Hunter sedan, by herself, a lady
became aware of an illumination behind the car. It was a white light which
approached at great speed, and as it seemed to be wanting to overtake her she
moved over to the left. She saw the light to her right, then the car vibrated as
if being pushed up and down. She just held on tightly to the steering wheel, and
recalls the engine must have stopped at this point for although she pressed the
accelerator no power was forthcoming. The light simply vanished. She was by this
time, terrified, and cannot recall any other part of her trip home.
(Keith Basterfield.)
16 Sep 1974 St Helens Tas 2115hrs
This very unusual event occurred to Mrs Andrea Richards,
housewife, thirty four, and her daughters Janine (eight) and Kathleen (five)
when they were travelling home to The Marches near St Helens. Weatherwise it was
a light drizzling rain, on a dark night. They were all very tired when suddenly
static was heard on the radio. As soon as the static began the sky directly
ahead became brightly lit up. The car lost power on a gentle incline, then
stopped dead. The headlights, radio, heater, and dashboard lights all went out,
and it was dark apart form the light in the sky.
Mrs Richards tried to
start the car but after ten seconds a deafening, vibrating noise enveloped the
car. This lasted about a minute. Almost simultaneously, quite painful, electric
shocks began penetrating their bodies.
The car was then filled with an
invisible choking smell. Both Mrs Richards and Janine jumped out of the car
taking Kathleen with them. They fled down the road leaving the car. The light in
the sky was still visible. They went to a house. Upon returning to the car the
car started all right. The next day it was checked at a garage but no faults
were found. Mrs Richards suffered a numb right side to the face and a two cent
sized red mark above her right eyebrow. The day after, her arms and fingers were
badly swollen and she had difficulty walking.
(TUFOIC)
22 Sep 1974 Tayene Tas 1720hrs
Sitting in her car waiting for someone, a woman noticed the
surrounding rain, mist and wind in the isolated spot she found herself in. She
heard the radio announcer give the time then all of a sudden the surroundings
were just lit up. The radio developed a high pitched whistling noise. An object
approached from the top of a nearby hill. As it came towards her she started the
car and backed up the road until the car stuck in mud.
The object
meanwhile continued to approach and hovered for a short while before sweeping
around the road junction and then back to the position it was first seen in. The
speed up until then had been fairly slow, but when it swept around the hill a
tubular-shaped thing on the bottom of it opened into sections and the object
speed upwards fairly rapidly.
The lady then left the car and ran to her
house. Her husband and son returned to the car but could find nothing wrong. The
next day a tow truck collected the vehicle. The front of it was exceptionally
clean although the rest of the body was dirty. There had previously been cat's
prints all over the bonnet but the bonnet was clean when the car was brought
back.
(TUFOIC)
Nov 1974 The Sideling Tas Ca. 2300hrs
On his way home to Scottsdale a man saw a soundless object about
the size of an enormous building about half a kilometre away to his left, in the
north. His car engine and radio cut out and the figures on his watch lit up
really brightly. The object travelled along and was last seen going straight
upwards. Duration three to four minutes. The watch broke down shortly after the
event. The left hand mudguard of the car changed colour from red to orange and
stayed that colour.
(TUFOIC)
26 Feb 1975 Lake Sorrell Tas 2045hrs
Three objects were seen around a lake. One turned on an intense
light directed downwards. The beam moved back and forth over the lake. A car
radio in use at the time emitted a loud static noise when the object flew close
to the camp.
(1. TUFOIC.
2. FSR
22/6/30.
3. Saturday Evening Mercury Mar 29 1975.)
Winter 1975 Poatina Highway Tas 0320hrs
Fifty one year old K. Gottschalk had left work and was driving
home when he experienced a strange sensation (a chilly feeling). Just then
something happened to the steering of the car. It went sharply to the right hand
side of the road, barely missing two poles. Whilst slowing down the car, and
getting back to normal, he noticed a bright, orange light on his right hand
side, following the car. Again he experienced trouble with the steering. The
light then left him, and the vehicle returned to normal.
(TUFOIC)
Jul 1975 Buckland Tas 0645hrs
An object followed a car driven by a twenty year old man, at a
steady eighty km/h. It was described as a round, brilliant glow, of orange and
yellow colour, which lit up the surrounding countryside. His car radio appeared
to go down in volume for a while.
(TUFOIC)
Jul 1975 Hobart airport Tas 2130hrs
A family were travelling at 100 km/h near the airport, on a cold
clear night, when the interior of the car became hot within the course of a few
seconds. The car then stalled and rolled to a halt just beyond a couple of
houses on the south side of the road. The family could taste an odd gas-like
substance but could not smell anything.
It was at this point that an
object was noticed over the middle of the road ahead. It was twenty metres off
the ground and some 200-300 metres away, stationary. It was silent, round, and
looked like a white/grey metallic colour in appearance. Its size was estimated
as five metres.
The car remained stalled for two minutes, while they
just stared at the object, which then took off extremely fast. As it rose it
spiralled up and away to the south or south-west. The driver, a mechanic by
trade, lifted the car bonnet and carried out an inspection. Nothing was wrong.
The car started all right and they left the area.
(TUFOIC)
5 Aug 1975 Levendale Tas 0600hrs
Shortly after leaving for work, the lights of the car he was
driving went dim, and the male driver decided to return home. On the way back he
saw, at thirty to forty five degrees, a brilliant, white, round light coming
down in slow motion. It was in view for ten seconds then disappeared behind
hills. On reaching home he found the car's battery flat. Fifteen minutes later
it was normal.
(TUFOIC)
17 Feb 1976 Lyell Highway Tas 0030hrs
Two truck drivers travelling in the same truck were paced for
three hours by a sixteen metre yellow/white light in the shape of a dome. It
kept an estimated 600 metres away, shifting position if the men stopped the
truck. They tried to use the radio but got a lot of static. Finally the object
climbed and disappeared.
(TUFOIC)
Mid Mar 1976 Tea Tree Road Tas (2200-2300)hrs
What they originally thought were aircraft lights, were observed
by a man and his wife on their way home. The object appeared to pace their car
on the left hand side, all the time. The lights were five in number and orange
in colour. A car passed them going in the other direction, and the husband
dipped the vehicle's headlights. Both headlights went off, although the parking
lights remained on. They then drove along the road stopping for all oncoming
traffic. The orange lights were visible all this time and seemed to stop when
they stopped. Finally the lights veered to the north-east and were lost to view.
Total duration was thirty minutes.
(TUFOIC)
22 Mar 1976 Nemingha NSW 0545hrs
A couple stopped their car after noting a bright greenish-yellow
light descend from the sky and envelope a car approaching from the opposite
direction. The light then disappeared. The other car moved to the wrong side of
the car, became enveloped in a thick ball of white haze and stopped. After about
two minutes the white haze disappeared. A woman got out of the car and used a
cloth to wipe the windscreen. The car lights were assumed to be out at this
stage. After a few minutes she was about to get back in the car when the lights
came back on. The cloth which had been used burst into flames.
(Bill Chalker. APRO Bulletin 25/1/6 &
25/2/1&3.)
13 Jul 1976 Rochester Vic 1930hrs
Two nursing sisters were driving in a Kombi van following a
girlfriend who was travelling in front of them on a motorbike. The driver of the
van suddenly saw the girl on the bike start to run off the road, then for a few
seconds noted a single light coming towards them. The next thing they knew the
girl on the bike was in a ditch and the bright light had followed her across to
the other side of the road as far as the gravel. The van was stopped, the light
swung around in front of the Kombi and was soundlessly lost to view. The light
had been white in colour and about a metre in diameter. There had been a radio
on in the Kombi but the driver had turned it off due to static. The next day the
van was difficult to start, and minor ignition and electrical problems plagued
it for a while afterwards.
(VUFORS)
15 Jul 1976 Walker's Flat SA 2115hrs
A red object, the size of the Sun, was seen and the lights of the
car were affected for about a minute. The object then accelerated rapidly away.
(UFORSA)
17 Sep 1976 Wingen NSW 0330hrs
A thirty two year old motor mechanic was directed to repair a
vehicle which had broken down and was on the way to the scene in his own
vehicle. Suddenly his car started to slow down and the lights went out. He
pulled the car up and tried to restart the engine. No ignition, dash or
headlights were operating. He noted the speedometer varying from zero to forty
km/h even though the vehicle was stationary. He checked under the bonnet but
found nothing amiss. He grabbed his torch, but it wouldn't work. It also
wouldn't stick to the car even though it was magnetic. He fitted new batteries
but it still didn't work.
He then noticed a bright light on his left
heading his way. It became brighter and after two minutes it was seen clearly as
a roundish object only some four metres off the ground. It passed directly over
his car and gave out a slight amount of heat. No sound or any distinguishing
features were noted. Its speed was forty km/h and it passed off into the
distance. As he touched the fan belt the engine started itself. It just as
quickly stopped. Then the headlights and radio came on by themselves. Finally he
drove off with all systems operating.
(UFO Research NSW (UFORNSW). )
15 Aug 1976 Boyer Tas 0145hrs
Two people in a utility noted an approaching light which then
drew back. "Something" shone a light in the vehicle's back window. It seemed 125
meters back and 250 metres up in the air, looking like a jelly bean with a dome
on top. The vehicle's radio's volume faded and the inside of the ute lit up. The
road swung under a cliff and the light wasn't seen again.
(TUFOIC)
5 Oct 1976 Rankins Springs NSW 1840hrs
A credit manager, aged twenty six, was returning home from a trip
with a friend and his younger daughter. Approaching a rise in the road he saw an
object in the sky low down and stationary. It then travelled in a south-east to
north-west direction at about forty five degrees to the horizon. It had the
appearance of a flattened disc, swollen at the front with "portholes." The car
radio had been on all the time but upon the object's appearance it had ceased to
operate.
(UFORNSW)
22 Apr 1977 Adelaide SA 2345hrs
A woman was returning home when suddenly she saw a bright light
ahead of the car. It became bigger and brighter as if approaching. The
headlights of the car and the radio went off, then the two red ignition and oil
lights came on indicating the motor had stalled. After a few seconds all systems
came back on. A magnetic signature check revealed nothing of significance.
(UFORSA)
2 Jul 1977 Sandfly Tas Ca. 2300hrs
An eighteen year old man and his sister were driving at fifty
km/h when the man noticed a reflection in the middle of his outside rear vision
mirror, of a very bright red light. It seemed near the ground 250 metres away.
The light may have followed the car.
Soon after the light was seen the
car's engine seemed to loose power for fifteen to twenty seconds as if the
ignition had been turned off. The driver let the clutch out, selected first gear
and coasted down a slight decline and clutch started the engine. The light had
by now gone. Later on going up an incline the same thing happened again.
However, it did not quite stop and he used the ignition to restart it.
(TUFOIC)
30 Dec 1977 Keith SA 0130hrs
The driver of a car saw a "shooting star" to the east, then a
white circular light pacing the vehicle at 100 km/h. He decided to stop for a
look so put the car out of gear and slowly applied the brake. When the car
reached a speed of eight to fifteen km/h the driver experienced difficulty which
he described as mistiming, choke out, spark plug misfiring, although the
ignition and oil lights did not come on. There was no effect on the radio. The
light disappeared behind trees and there was no more trouble with the car.
(UFORSA)
9 Aug 1978 Wandearah West SA 2235hrs
Returning home, a mother and daughter, watched as a very bright
light came towards them. Bright red, it had three black spots along the bottom
of it. The car lost power to near stopping point, twice, even though the woman
flattened the accelerator to the floor. She turned onto another road and the car
gathered speed, while the light left to the north-west.
(UFORSA)
9 Nov 1978 Risdon Vale Tas 0315hrs
A twenty four year old man was driving a taxi when he saw a
luminous, light green "triangle" move out from scrub at the side of the road.
The shape was one and a half metres tall, appeared solid and was floating some
point three metres off the ground. He braked the car violently, and heard a high
pitched squeal and the "figure" vanished. The noise was so loud it made his ears
ring. At the same time there came a considerable amount of static on his car
radio.
(TUFOIC)
16 Jan 1979 Bramston Beach Qld 2215hrs
A Ms Martin, aged twenty-six, was driving home from work when she
saw what she thought was the Moon behind trees, but quickly realised the Moon
was to her right. The object seen was Moon sized, round and a golden
colour. It was stationary. The car headlights began blinking on and
off, then went off completely. There were no effects to the engine,
dashlights etc. After she was some distance past the object the lights
came back on. An electrician checked the car but could find nothing
wrong. The headlights became dimmer over the next two weeks. A loose
earth wire was found and repaired, and the lights functioned perfectly.
(UFO Research Far North Qld (UFORFNQ).)
5 Feb 1979 Lawitta Tas 2150hrs
While driving alone a man noted his car radio died.
Pressing the station button had no effect and the radio remained dead.
Seconds later an intense white light enveloped the car and he could not see
beyond the bonnet. The car's lights and motor failed in the same
instant. Beyond this events are vague and the next thing he knew he was
being stopped by police for driving his car without lights.
He was taken
to hospital and examined where he was found to be in a state of shock. His
vehicle, a Ford Cortina 71TC, was inspected and found to have a flat battery and
the oil level was low. The cut-off switch on the alternator needed
replacing, as did wiring, especially the headlights. Radiator water was
also low. The reporter did not want further investigations conducted.
(TUFOIC)
9 Feb 1979 Liverpool Creek Qld 2100hrs
A banana farmer was returning home when he became aware of a dull
white light sitting on the bitumen on the left hand side of the road.
Nearing the light he saw what looked like a dark beehive shape behind it.
The light then rose vertically and when it was an estimated ten metres away and
one metre off the ground, there was a blinding flash. Upon regaining his
sight he realized that the car's headlights, dashlights and engine had all
ceased to function. The reporter put the car into neutral (it was an
automatic) and coasted to a stop.
He was just lighting a cigarette when
the headlights and dashlights came back on by themselves. He tried the
engine which started the first time and he drove home. Once home he
inspected the vehicle. Battery leads were on tight, terminals were free of
corrosion. No lasting side effects were noticed. A magnetic
signature check revealed nothing abnormal.
(UFORFNQ)
Apr 1979 Gormanston Saddle Tas 0020hrs
A green light with a purple edge came straight at a taxi driven
by a fifty one year old man, seemingly going straight over the vehicle, and
lighting up the interior as if it was daytime. The taxi lost power and
would not accelerate, the motor just shook. The driver tried to radio for
help but it was dead. After the light passed everything returned to
normal.
(TUFOIC)
6 May 1979 Bribie Island Qld 0030hrs
Two men and their wives were in a car with the women asleep in
the back seat. Bright orange lights were sighted to their front.
Coming over a rise in the road, the inside of the vehicle lit up and the hood of
the car appeared a different colour. At the same time the alternator light
came on, the instrument panel lights dimmed and the motor began chugging as if
firing on only two pistons. Almost immediately, the group of lights left
the ground in an upward direction at great velocity. The car then
recovered.
(UFORQLD)
Aug 1979 Mt Tibrogargan Qld 2100hrs
Mr and Mrs H. were travelling back to Brisbane from a day trip to
Caloundra in their 1977 Suzuki LJ50 4 WD soft top motor vehicle. There
were no other vehicles on the road, front or rear. The car was suddenly
engulfed in a most tremendous noise, like a giant humming top. The car
lights faded out, and the motor cut out. Mr H managed to steer the vehicle
onto a grassy verge.
The noise lasted about 10 seconds and then
diminished, after which Mr H restarted the car, and proceeded onto the
highway. The noise came again and seemed to be on top of the vehicle,
although the lights and engine did not cut out this time. The noise
suddenly departed and faded to the East. No lights were observed as in aircraft
or helicopters. Mrs H says the car's interior was lit up with an orange
glow, but Mr H was not aware of this. The rest of the trip home was
uneventful.
(Helen Chapman/UFOIN. UFORA93040.)
20 Aug 1979 Hatfield Tas 2128hrs
A thirty one year old ex-policewoman was driving towards
Devonport in a 1971 VW station wagon when a green light appeared behind the
vehicle, lighting the interior and casting a green glow through the car.
However, the surrounding countryside did not seem to be lit up. Although
she pressed down on the accelerator the car did not respond by speeding
up. It actually decreased speed to forty eight km/h. She changed
from fourth to third gear, then to second but to no avail. The light
remained the same height and distance from the car, keeping up with the vehicle
for some eight kilometres. Without warning, the light switched off and the
vehicle returned to normal. Later she found there had been an abnormally
high useage of petrol for the trip. Other effects were a loss of fuel,
apparent loss of brakes, loss of power and a clock stopped.
(TUFOIC)
13 Apr 1980 South Kilkerran SA 2350hrs
Out of the corner of his eye a man sighted a row of flashing
lights, yellow in colour, and apparently pacing his car. He attempted to
accelerate but the engine "cut out" for a second. This occurred three to
four times in fifteen to twenty seconds. Then all of a sudden the car
acted normally and he was able to drive on. The lights seemed to move off
very quickly from his right to behind him.
(UFORSA)
3 Dec 1980 Murray Upper Qld
Mr G. Peel was travelling with another person in his car when he
saw a light in the sky to their left rear. Suddenly the car engine and
radio ceased to function, and the lights flickered. An unusual beeping
sound came from his radio whilst the object was present. Finally the
object left the area.
(UFORFNQ)
Sep/Oct 1980/81? Currency Creek SA 0600hrs
A man and a woman were travelling by car when an object passed
over the vehicle. All the car's dashboard gauges dropped to zero, and
headlights and dashboard lights flickered, and went off for one second, then
came back on again. The driver feels the engine may have stalled
momentarily. He also felt a twinge like an electric shock. Scared,
they accelerated away with the car now behaving normally.
(UFORSA)
28 Mar 1982 Esperance WA 0300hrs
Mrs F. Collins and Mrs M. Yeed reported the engine of their van
was affected by the close approach of a brilliant object. They stated it
came within 300 metres, and was soundless. Investigations by this author
suggest the object was in fact the planet Venus.
(UFO Research Australia Newsletter (UFORAN.)
3/3/4.)
6 Jul 1982 Hampshire Tas
Hovering over a nearby paddock, a dark helicopter shape with a
blue outline, was observed by a passing motorist. The vehicle he was
driving rolled to a halt after loosing power. The adjacent roadside fence
seemed to be giving off an electrical charge. Seemingly only some five
metres off the road, the object was only some twenty to thirty metres away from
him. After a short period of time the object turned, showed an orange
glow, then simply faded away. The man started his car and left the scene.
(TUFOIC TA82034.)
17 Jun 1983 Thornlie WA WA 0645hrs
Mr Pragnell, was enroute to work on his motor bike when he saw
what he at first took to be an aircraft. It was delta shaped, soundless,
with two very bright white lights on each wing. Suddenly his motor bike
engine stopped and he rolled to a halt still watching the mysterious
object. It disappeared at a speed faster than a plane.
(Perth UFO Research Group (PUFORG).)
Jul 1983 Charlton Vic
An orange-red hat shaped object approached a car and lit up the
ground. The vehicle's engine faltered but did not fail. Some ten
minutes later the object went behind a hill and was lost to view.
(TUFOIC TA86003.)
Ca. 1984 Harvey Creek Qld 2030hrs
A huge light confronted two women travelling by car. The
engine and lights of the car went out for no apparent reason. The light
passed over the car, temporarily blinding the women. After a few seconds
the vehicle's lights came back on by themselves. The engine of the car
started the first time the ignition key was turned.
(UFORFNQ)
13 Jun 1985 Lake Clifton WA 0515hrs
Travelling by car a Manjimup farmer was followed by a bright
orange light. He saw it on three separate occasions. The third time
he stated that the inside of the car became hot. Police were notified.
(WAn UFO Investigation Centre (WAUFOIC).)
20 Oct 1986 Edmonton Qld 2130hrs
Steering on a vehicle became a problem for a woman driving alone
through cane fields. 400 metres later the dash and headlights faded to
almost nothing. There was a buzzing sound and the engine lost power.
A bright oval, blue-green, light became visible ahead to the right, apparently
staying on a parallel course to her vehicle. Four kilometres further on
full power and lights were restored and the buzzing sound stopped.
(UFORFNQ QB86002.)
1987 Between Lancefield & Romsey Vic
Brenda and daughter were driving when they saw a large boomerang
shape. The car's engine stopped as the object hovered above them.
The daughter saw humanoids inside the object. The object then shot off at
speed.
(Australasian UFOlogist Vol 7 No 1 p6.)
16 Jun 1987 Lawrenny Tas 2215hrs
An ambulance driver found that his vehicle's lights went out and
the vehicle lost power while he was travelling alone. He stopped at his
destination and checked but could find nothing wrong. On the return trip
at the same place the same thing happened again. This time he saw a
semi-circle shape, yellow in colour, with an adjacent glow, stationary on a
nearby hillside. After a couple of seconds the motor picked up again and
the lights came back on.
(TUFOIC)
14 Dec 1987 Launceston Tas
A man noticed lights behind his car, then later they passed over
his car and landed on the road ahead. His car lights and engine
failed. He stopped some fifteen meters from the object which he said
looked like an egg, five to six metres wide and two meters high. He left
the car and hid. The man said the car was then pulled some ten metres down
the road towards the object. Another vehicle came the other way and its
lights failed although the engine kept running. The object then rose and
left.
(TUFOIC)
20 Jan 1988 Mundrabilla WA 0410hrs
The Knowles family reported that a bright light picked up their
car and dropped it, causing it to blow a tyre. A black dust was reportedly
found on the vehicle after the event. Tests for radioactivity were
negative. Regression hypnosis revealed no abduction scenario.
Analysis of dust from inside the car revealed only known elements. Dust
from the top of the car taken by the police within hours of the event showed
nothing abnormal.
(UFORSA & UFO Research Australia (UFORA).)
23 Mar 1988 East Tamar Highway Tas
Two people were travelling home when they saw a bright light
ahead. The car lost power and the radio just went dead. The driver
pressed the accelerator to the floor but the car would not go above thirty
km/h. Four square yellow lights were visible with a beam of light shining
down from just below them. They seemed fifty metres away and thirty metres
up. These lights eventually went off, and the car returned to normal.
(TUFOIC Newsletter. No 55. Jun 1988.)
22 Sep 1988 Walcha NSW 1930hrs
Loss of power occurred to a car being driven by a man. This
loss persisted for ten minutes then full power returned. Moments before
the loss he had sighted a bright red/orange light directly ahead of the
vehicle. On the return journey at the same spot the same thing
occurred. During this second time though, the air temperature inside the
car dropped from normal to chilly.
(Bryan Dickeson & Moira McGhee.)
19 Mar 1991 Lefroy Tas 2200hrs
Two witnesses, travelling home and some 16Km out of Lefroy, saw a
bright, stationary light. This light was orange in colour and was seen at
a low elevation. It just "switched off." However, a little further
on, the same or a similar light became visible. The car seemed to splutter
at this point as the light moved away behind a hill. For some 30 seconds a
bright orange glow was visible over the hill.
(TUFOIC TA91009.)
Jul/Aug 1991 Halls Creek WA 2000hrs
Dean was travelling on his motor bike when he saw an unusual
object, as did the occupants of 2 cars who had stopped to watch it. At
this point the engine of his bike cut out. He dismounted to look for a
fault. He then remembers kick starting the bike and continuing on his
way. However, when he arrived at his destination which had only been 10
minutes travel from his starting point, he was amazed to find that it was 2
hours later. Later that night he found a fresh scar on the back of his
left ankle.
(Brian Richards/UFORUM. UFORA93056.)
12 Dec 1991 Werris Creek NSW 0100hrs
During intermittent sleeting rain a woman observed a strange
light near Duri. After passing through Currabubula, she reports that the
lights apparently passed over the car, a strange sound was heard and there were
two brief episodes of loss of power and lights with the car.
(Bill Chalker/UFOIC.)
Feb 1992 Near Devils Marbles, near Tennant Creek NT 0400hrs
Margaret H and four others were travelling by car on a dark
night. Upon coming around a bend they encountered a huge area lit up with
the light coming from above. At that moment all electrics in the car
stopped. Lights, dash lights, engine etc., all cut out. They stopped
the vehicle and re-started it and carried on. Two minutes later the same
thing happened, and after about a further two minutes it did the same again.
22 Mar 1993 Armadale WA 2315hrs
Jenny was driving along when she noticed a very bright light,
like a white flare, ahead of her. It was falling towards the ground. As she got
closer to it she saw it was spherical, with a smaller sphere on either side. As
Jenny drew still closer, the lights moved to the right over waste ground. The
car radio started to crackle and went dead, and the car's lights dimmed. She
pulled the car over to the side of the road for a better look. As she drove off
the car radio returned to normal. The object simply disappeared. Duration, 3
minutes.
(Brian Richards/UFORUM. UFORA93056.)
1 Jun 1993 Myaree WA 0010hrs
A computer technician was driving when he suddenly noticed moving
green, red and blue lights shaped like an inverted bunsen burner. After dropping
behind some trees, the object rose and headed towards him. At this point the
car's engine died. The man got out of his car and telephoned friends to tell
them what happened. He said a plane was following the object. After some 12
minutes the object left to the south-east and the plane also departed.
(Brian Richards/UFORUM. UFORA 93073.)
29 Aug 1996 Port Arthur TAS 2000hrs
Mr D, a mechanic, was travelling by car and was 8km east of Port
Arthur when a bright, white mass of light was noted to the south at an estimated
distance of 1km. His car "played up" a bit. The light vanished and the car
resumed normal running. At 9.30pm on the return run the cigar-shaped, white
coloured mass returned to the south. It paced the car for several kilometres.
The motor started to miss, then all the lights went out and the power failed in
the car. He estimated the cigar was 200m away at this time. The man got out of
the car and checked the battery, starter motor and wiring but found nothing
amiss. The cigar moved off to the west and he found he could start the car first
time he tried. He closed the bonnet, saw the cigar was looking smaller in size
in the west and then he drove off.
7 Mar 2004 Melbourne Vic 2145hrs
Jacqui was driving when and saw an unusual object with lights all
around it and one light in the middle. It rose from a paddock and followed the
car. Five bright flashes in series lit up the area like daylight and the car
engine cut out as the object passed overhead. Upon reaching home she noticed the
trip had taken an extra 30-35 minutes.
(AUFORN Compiled Sighting Reports issue 41 May 2004.)
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