In 1982, a young UFO researcher, Bill Chalker, found himself at the Department of Defence headquarters in Canberra, eager to access the Australian government’s UFO files. Dressed formally, he was met with two postal sacks filled with classified information. However, a hiccup arose as the files had not been declassified yet, requiring a hurried stamping process to grant Bill access.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was tasked with investigating UFO reports in Australia until the 1990s. Amid the space race and the Cold War, the RAAF collected thousands of reports from various sources, aiming to understand space-related activities. Former RAAF intelligence officer Brett Biddington highlighted the strategic importance of such investigations during that era.
Despite most UFO sightings being explained by mundane causes, a small percentage remained unexplained, piquing the interest of researchers like Bill Chalker. Accessing detailed information from the RAAF was challenging for civilians, with limited and redacted files provided. Bill’s persistence eventually paid off, leading to his access to the UFO files in the early 1980s.
During his week-long exploration of the files, Bill uncovered intriguing details, including a 1954 report by nuclear physicist Harry Turner suggesting evidence of extraterrestrial craft. He also delved into cases like a 1973 UFO sighting at the North West Cape US communications base, which was mysteriously missing from the files he reviewed.
The RAAF closed its UFO files in the 1990s, citing a shift in priorities away from investigating unusual aerial sightings. This decision sparked controversy among civilian groups interested in UFO phenomena. The files were eventually transferred to the National Archives of Australia for public access, with some documents digitized and available online.
While UFO investigations waned in Australia, the topic gained renewed attention in the United States, where Congress held hearings on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs). The closure of Australia’s official UFO investigations marked the end of an era, prompting a shift in focus within the intelligence function of the RAAF.
Bill Chalker’s experience as one of the first civilians to access the RAAF’s UFO files sheds light on a fascinating chapter in Australia’s history of UFO investigations. Despite the closure of official investigations, the intrigue surrounding UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena continues to captivate the public and researchers alike.
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