Short mentions in several ufological catalogues indicate that on January 10, 1978, in Bakers Creek Falls, News-South-Wales, "Garry P." was driving alone in the early hours of the morning when he found himself stationary at the edge of the road, at 5 a.m., unable to remember the last 160 kilometers he just drove. Parked there, he saw a "really bright" light hovering at "some distance" away, and tried to get closer but was unable to.
Some versions specify that he tried to grab photographs but his camea settings were inappropriate and the lightings condition bad, so that the photographs were thus without value.
Two more complete versions seem to suggest much more complex events:
The man's name was Gary Price and he was 25. Whereas he drove near to Grafton, or between Grafton and Armidale, News-South-Wales, Australia, at approximately 4 a.m., he reportdely saw two objects or yellow lights of irregular shapes, at short distance, 10 or 12 meters high in the air. One of those approached, appearing to slowly descend a mountain, by stopstart fashion, periodically emitting a "shower of sparks".
A version specifies that Price had directed his car's headlights and a flashlight at the object, without apparent reaction.
This initial sighting lasted approximately 20 minutes, then Gary Price drove again, and it was this part of the trip he did not remember, or had trouble remembering. One version specifies that the road there was winding, so that he thus could not have driven asleep.
Half an hour later, around 5 a.m., close to Bakers Creek Falls, he observed a stationary and very luminous object which is described as resembling a chicken coop. The object was stationary on the ground during 10 minutes, then moved, showing an enormous oval shape with port-holes, hovering above the ground. It was this object he then tried to photograph, obtaining only a blurred yellow form.
He got out of that and walked into the meadow to try to get closer to the object, but the object seemed to retreat in a large mist. Continuing to advance, he saw the mist retire out of the ravine, then the wird fog stopped suddenly and returned towards him by the same way. Price was quickly surrounded in this mist, unable to see at more than 10 feet. The mist was accompanied by a noise resembling that of a vacuum cleaner. Then, the mist and the noise dissipated.
One of the versions indicates that when he ran in the meadow where the object hovered, he heard a car approach amd thus returned to the road. But the driver of that car, after having slowed down, set out again, perhaps not very eager to meet someone giving looking possibly quite agtitated. This version indicates that he then entered the meadow again and that at this point the craft with the portholes retreated and the mist was at the place the craft had been and then surrounded him.
He returned to his car, and felt two "shock waves" separated by one minute, as if there had been a tremor in all the region. It then drove on, and he reporteldy placed an add in a local newspaper the next day to ask whether someone else saw something, and indeed people contacted him to report similar incidents in the area. It is said that Price suffered much discomfort after the event and he could not sleep for five days and nights after the sighting.
No version mentions any UFO occpuants, but as the case is called a "possible abduction" in a catalogue, because of reported "missing time", the case eventually appeared in a "humanoid encounters" catalogue with a remark about hypnosis that did not take place but could have revealed more.
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[Ref. bc1:] BILL CHALKER:
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Bakers Creek Falls, NSW, 1978. I described the strange experience of Gary P.* on the Old Grafton Armidale road, during January 1978, in detail in UFO Research (NSW)'s publication, "Australian UFO Newsletter" (14), thus only a summary will suffice here. During the early hours of January 10, 1978, Gary P. observed two UFOs about 10 miles out of Grafton, along the Old Armidale Road. One of the objects approached and seemed to be slowly moving down the side of a mountain side. It seemed to periodically issue a "shower of sparks." This sighting apparently lasted for about 20 minutes. It is the interim journey, that follows, that is of interest here. Gary found himself in his Kombi stopped on the road, at about 5 a.m. To his left was an incredibly bright object, hovering some distance away in the direction of Bakers Creek Falls. How is it, that he found himself in this position. I quote from my report: "Mr. P.'s perception of time from leaving Grafton, up until he finds himself at Bakers Creek Falls — a distance of about a hundred miles — is certainly not clear. He thought the first sighting out of Grafton occurred a long time out of Grafton, but apparently after retracing his route he is certain that it occurred only about 10 minutes out of the town. He thought it was only a few minutes after leaving the first UFO sighting behind that he saw "a group of hunters" gathered around a fire beside the road, but his reconstruction upon returning along that road, places these "hunters" a good 3/4 hour in time after this. Then he felt it was 10 or 15 minutes before he finds himself at Bakers Creek Falls. His second trip along that road put it at about an hour and a half. In fact he cannot even recollect driving the distance between seeing the "hunters" and turning up at Bakers Creek Falls. Although it is common for people to drive long distances without recollection of the trip, this particular road would seemingly preclude it. For much of its distance it is dirt gravel surface, which winds its way up into plateau country. The road twists and turns and even when it finally gives way to a bitumen surface, it still requires complete attention to travel it safely. Having driven up and down this road many times myself, I find it astonishing that someone, not having travelled it before, would not have a vivid memory of a fairly bad road. In fact without recall to total faculties, I would expect that a weary traveller would instead find himself parting company with the road in many places...." Mr. P's recollection of the hunters and the surrounding locality may place it at Tyringham — a small community about halfway between Grafton and Armidale. Here in 1973, I investigated what appears to have been one of the most intensive UFO flaps ever experienced in Australia15. Mr. P. did not stop and share his adventure with the "hunters" as he felt he may have been ridiculed and the hour may not have been amenable to safe roadside meetings with strangers. Shortly after this he recollects seeing "the same thing again — these yellow objects out in a paddock," but he was not certain. He continued on without any recall of what happened until just outside Armidale, at Bakers Creek Falls. My interview with Mr. P. tells what happened: "What happens was, next recollection was that I'm stopped on the side of the road, and I'm looking out to the left this time, and what I'm looking at is an incredibly bright...what I thought was a chicken farm... And I'm looking at this thing and I was watching it for a good 10 minutes and there was nothing happening....! just couldn't believe it, just how bright this thing was... and I was about to take off....I actually lined this — the chicken coop — (this thing) what I actually saw, was that the chicken coop moved!" After a lengthy diversion with an uncooperative "witness," Gary P. set off into the paddock to get closer to the extraordinary object he was seeing. However as he got nearer, the object seemed to retreat into the extensive fog that surrounded it. Gary P. eventually found his way to the Falls area and saw the fog retreating out of the ravine. Suddenly the fog stopped and P. was shocked to then see that the fog was now returning along its original path towards him. It quickly enveloped him reducing visibility to less than 10 feet. The return of the fog was accompanied by a sound similar to that of a vacuum cleaner. A column through the mist could be made out above him where he could see the sky. The fog then quickly dissipated along with the sound, leaving P. alone at the falls. He waited until morning then returned to the car. Standing at the car P. noticed what he described as 2 "shockwaves" one minute apart, which was like the whole area was suddenly shaken. Then normality; 7:05 a.m. and morning. For further details on Gary P.'s experience I direct you to my report (16). |
The reference (14) to the report is: "Personal investigation (Bill Chalker with David Reneke, UFOR (NSW), see "A strange Encounter at Bakers Creek Falls" by B. Chalker, p. 6-12, "Australian UFO Newsletter", No. 54 & 55, July-August, 1979."
The reference (16) to the report is: "'The Tyringham Dundurrabin UFO Flap'" by Bill Chalker (personal investigation)."
[Ref. jr1:] JOE RIT:
The webmaster indicates that on January 10, 1978, in Bakers Creek Falls, New South Wales, Australia, Gary P. had been driving alone in the early hours of the morning when he found himself unaccountably stationary on the side of the road at 5 a.m. He was unable to clearly remember the previous 160 km. While stationary he noted a really bright light hovering some distance away. Although he tried to get close to it he could not.
The source is indicated as Chalker, W. (1984). "Australian Interrupted Journeys". UFO Research Australia Newsletter. 5(2):14-23.
[Ref. js1:] JOHN SCHUESSLER:
John Schuessler indicates that on January 10, 1978, in Australia, at Bakers Creek Falls, New Youth Wales, at 05:00, a man had been driving alone in the early hours of the morning when he found himself stopped on the side of the road. A white light was hovering some distance away. He had no memory of driving the last 160 km.
John Schuessler indicates that the source is "UFO Research Australia, April 1991."
[Ref. kb1:] KEITH BASTERFIELD:
Keith Basterfield indicates that on January 10, 1978, in Bakers Creek Falls, New South Wales, Garry P. had been driving along alone in the early hours of the morning when he found himself unaccountably stationary on the side of the road at 5 am. He was unable to clearly remember the previous 160km. Whilst stationary he noted a really bright light hovering some distance away. Although he tried to get close to it he could not.
The source is indicated to be Bill Chalker.
[Ref. go1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
The Belgian ufologist indicates that on January 12, [sic, 10] 1978, in Australia in with Bakers Creek Falls, New South Wales, Gary P. had driven during all the hours of the early morning, when he came back to his sense, around 5 a.m., astonished to be parked on the roadside. He was unable to remember the last 160 km. When he came back to his senses he saw a motionless bright light at some distance. He tried to get closer, but it was in vain.
The ufologist comments on that this is what she calls taking a nap, and that the source is Keith Baskerfield [Basterfield] in "Australian Abduction Cases - 1989."
[Ref. kb2:] KEITH BASTERFIELD:
Keith Basterfield indicates that on January 10, 1978, in Bakers Creek Falls, New South Wales, Garry P. had been driving along alone in the early hours of the morning when he found himself unaccountably stationary on the side of the road at 5 am. He was unable to clearly remember the previous 160km. Whilst stationary he noted a really bright light hovering some distance away. Although he tried to get close to it he could not. Photographs were taken but incorrect settings and lighting problems meant they were of little value.
The source is indicated as "UFOIC."
[Ref. kb3:] KEITH BASTERFIELD:
Keith Basterfield indicates that on January 10, 1978, in Bakers Creek Falls, New South Wales, Garry P. had been driving along alone in the early hours of the morning when he found himself unaccountably stationary on the side of the road at 5 am. He was unable to clearly remember the previous 160km. Whilst stationary he noted a really bright light hovering some distance away. Although he tried to get close to it he could not.
The source is indicated to be Bill Chalker.
[Ref. au1:] AUTRALIAN UFO RESEARCH NETWORK:
The website indicates that on January 10, 1978, in Bakers Creek Falls, New South Wales, at 04:00, a twenty-five year old man encountered two aerial lights ten to twelve metres up, a short distance away followed by an elongated object with portholes as he was driving between Grafton and Armidale. One moved over the mountains and the other hovered above the ground a short distance from the witness. It began falling in a stopstart fashion, finally maintaining a level elevation thirty to forty feet above the ground. It emitted "sparks" as it hovered and he shone his car headlights and a pocket torch on the object with no reaction noted. He drove on down the road and alighted to see a huge elongated object with "portholes" along it's side hovering above the ground. Photos were taken but they only show a blurred yellow shape due to incorrect settings and lighting problems experienced at the time.
The witness ran into the paddock where the object was hovering but returned to the roadway when he heard a car approaching. The driver slowed down and passed the witness who, by being in an agitated state, must have appeared to be mentally affected and gave the wrong impression to the driver of this vehicle.. The witness again ran into the field and saw the same vehicle tearing back the way he came at high speed. When he again looked for the object the witness noted that in its place was a strange ‘mist' that retracted up the creek and then returned to encircled him. He heard a distinct humming sound directly above the mist. The mist and object then disappeared, leaving him alone and he then continued on his journey. He placed an advertisement in the local paper the next day and other witnesses contacted him to relate similar incidents in the area. The witness suffered much discomfort after the event and he could not sleep for five days and nights after it.
[Ref. dj1:] DONALD JOHNSON:
Donald Johnson indicates that on January 10, 1978, a 25-year-old man name Price observed two irregularly shaped bright yellow objects in the night sky while driving near Grafton, New South Wales, Australia at around 4:00 a.m. One of the objects approached and appeared to slowly move down a mountainside. It seemed to periodically issue a "shower of sparks". This initial sighting lasted for about 20 minutes. The man then drove on but had difficulty recollecting the next part of his journey. Some 30 minutes later he observed a very bright object that looked like a "chicken coop" at a place called Bakers Creek Falls, near Armidale, New South Wales. The object was on the ground, stationary for 10 minutes, and then it moved. It was a very large elongated object with "portholes", hovering over the ground. He took photographs but they only show a blurred yellow shape. Mr. Price next got out of his car and set off walking into the paddock to try to get closer to the object. However, as he got nearer the object appeared to retreat into an extensive fog. The witness advanced and saw the fog retreating out of the ravine. Suddenly the movement of the fog stopped and returned along its original path towards him. It quickly enveloped him, reducing visibility to less than 10 feet. The fog was accompanied by a sound similar to a vacuum cleaner. Then the fog quickly dissipated along with the sound, leaving the witness alone. He returned to his car in the morning and noticed two "shockwaves" one minute apart, as if the whole area was suddenly shaken, and then normality. The witness could not recollect up to an hour of the journey despite traveling on a twisting and turning road, which presumably required the driver's constant attention.
The sources are indicated as ACOS Bulletin, September 1978, p. 27; Thomas E. Bullard, UFO Abductions: The Measure of a Mystery, case 248; Mark Moravec, PSIUFO Phenomena.
[Ref. bo1:] VICENTE-JUAN BALLESTER-OLMOS:
The Spanish skeptical ufologist notes in an Excel table of australian photographic UFO cases that on January 10, 1978, at 04:00, in Bakers Creek Falls, New South Wales, Australia, Gary Price took a UFO picture.
The sources are indicated as Mark Moravec, The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies, Vol 6, No 3, May-June 1985, pp 2 and 6; and Keith Basterfield´s catalogue, http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbphoto0405.htm quoting UFOIC.
[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:
Albert Rosales indicates in his catalogue that in Bakers Creek Falls, near Armidale, NSW, Australia, on January 10, 1978, at 0400 am, a 25-year man encountered two, irregular shaped, bright yellow objects in the night sky near Grafton. One of the objects approached and appeared to slowly move down a mountainside. It seemed to periodically issue a "shower of sparks". This initial sighting lasted for about 20 minutes. The percipient drove on but had difficulty recollecting the next part of the journey. Some 1/2 hour later, he observed a very bright object, which appeared to be a "chicken coop". The object was stationary on the ground for 10 minutes, and then it moved. It was a huge elongated object with "portholes", hovering over the ground. Photographs were taken but only show a blurred yellow shape. The percipient got out of his car and set off into the paddock to try to get closer to the object. However, as he got nearer, the object appeared to retreat into an extensive fog. The percipient advanced and saw the fog retreating out of the ravine. Suddenly the stopped and returned along its original path towards him. It quickly enveloped him reducing visibility to less than 10 ft. The fog was accompanied by a sound similar to a vacuum cleaner. Then the fog quickly dissipated along with the sound, leaving the witness alone. He returned to his car in the morning and noticed two "shockwaves" one minute apart, as if the whole area was suddenly shaken, and then normality. The witness could not recollect up to an hour of the journey despite traveling on a twisting and turning road, which presumably required the driver's constant attention.
Albert Rosales indicates that the source is "Mark Moravec, PSIUFO Phenomena."
Albert Rosales comments that regressive hypnosis in this case could have revealed what really happened during that missing hour. He believe this was not attempted but that still remains a high strangeness encounter.
[Ref. ni1:] THE NICAP WEBSITE:
The website lists that on January 10, 1978, near Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, a 25-year-old man observed two irregularly shaped bright yellow objects in the night sky while driving. One of the objects approached and appeared to slowly move down a mountainside. It seemed to periodically issue a "shower of sparks". This initial sighting lasted for about 20 minutes. The man then drove on but had difficulty recollecting the next part of his journey. Some 30 minutes later he observed a very bright object that looked like a "chicken coop" at a place called Bakers Creek Falls, near Armidale, New South Wales. The object was on the ground, stationary for 10 minutes, and then it moved.
[Ref. ud1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website indicates that on January 10, 1978 at 04:00, in Armidale, Bakers Creek, New South Wales, Australia, a lapse of time experienced by witness who reported a period of time that could not be accounted for. Telepathic phenomena were said to have occurred. Two elongated objects were observed by one male 25-year-old witness named Price on a river for 20 minutes. A noise was heard.
The website categorizes the occurrence as a close encounter of the fourth kind.
The sources are indicated as ACUFOS, Australian CUFOS Bulletin; Bullard, Thomas E., UFO Abductions: The Measure of a Mystery. Volume 1: Comparative Study of Abduction Reports, FUFOR, Bloomington, 1987; Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002.
However strange and interesting the occurence seems to be, it does not involve any sighting of occupants.
| Id: | Topic: | Severity: | Date noted: | Raised by: | Noted by: | Description: | Proposal: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ufology | Severe | September 20, 2008 | Patrick Gross | Patrick Gross | No UFO occupants. | - | - |
Not a CE3.
* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.
| Main Author: | Patrick Gross |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Created/Changed By: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | September 20, 2008 | Creation, [js1], [kb1], [go1], [kb2], [kb3], [au1], [dj1], [bo1], [ar1], [ni1], [ud1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | September 20, 2008 | First published. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | December 15, 2009 | Addition [bc1]. |
