Westall UFO 1966

On 6 April 1966 there was a mass sighting of more than 200 students and 1 teacher who witnessed a unidentified flying object above a state primary school located in Melbourne, Victoria. This was the largest mass UFO sighting in the history of Australia and has been clouded by mysterious interventions of army, police and government authorities.

Source: UFO Animated

At approximately 11:00am on Wednesday, 6 April 1966, a class of students and a teacher from Westall High School were completing a sport activity on the main oval when on an object appeared in the sky. Andrew Greenwood, a science teacher, told the Dandenong Journal he saw a grey saucer-shaped craft with a slight purple hue that was about twice the size of a family car. According to the reports the object was descending and crossed behind s stand of trees and descended into a paddock at The Grange in front of the Westall state school. After approximately 20 minutes the object was witnessed by over 200 people, then climbed at speed and departed towards the north-west being pursued from the scene by five unidentified aircraft which circled the object. The UFO sighting was massive news in Melbourne with the Dandenon Journal covering the encounter in detail, running two front page stories on the 14th and 21st of April.

Source: Dandenong Journal

The phenomena has been attempted at an explanation by the Australian Sceptics who predicted the object may potentially have been an experimental military aircraft. They also suggested the object may have been a nylon target drogue, similar to a wind sock, towed by one plane for the others to chase and known to be in use by the local air force. Interestingly Moorabbin airport is 4.76km south-west from the UFO sighting and reported that no airport had entered the space and there was also reports that no military activity was conducted in the area. The fact that there was no reported air force in the area is incredibly mysterious and places significant holes in the Australian Sceptics theory.

Source: Moorabbin Airport

Another attempted explanation was made by a cognitive psychologist, Dr Susan Clancy who claims the 'Bandwagon Effect' or group panic is responsible for the mass sighting. The bandwagon effect is based upon the psychological principle of social proof, were people base their behaviour upon the observed social norm. This effect would have been particular viral and efficient amongst the public of primary aged children. Dr Susan Clancy explains a similar situation which evoked supposed UFO sightings. In 1938 a NYC radio station aired a fictional radio about a UFO and an invasion of reptilian monsters, which prompted a flood of calls to the local police department of people claiming to have seen the fictional characters. Clancy believes a similar situation exists with the mass UFO sighting in Westall. 

Source: NYC Panic

Despite the array of explanations for the event there are troubling details which remain completely unexplained. Several different people in the area corroborated to verify the sighting, with multiple reports of army presence with Paul Smith reporting camouflaged army trucks, multiple jeeps and over 20 men in uniform watching the area after only 20 minutes of the UFO appearance. Reportedly two officers came to Andrew Greenwood's home and threatened him under the hidden secrets act of jail time and reportedly blackmailed him by spreading a rumour he was an alcoholic and unfit to teach. The channel 9 tape concerning the mass UFO sighting has gone completely missing since the event.

Source: Australian Army

The unidentified flying object will likely continue to remain a mystery without government insights into the event. The blackmailing, missing footage and military presence all point to an event requiring total secrecy. Whatever happened, whoever was responsible, they do not want the public to know about it...

Source: UFO Cartoon

UFO Westall 66' Film

Tim Kelly 44585551

Reference List

Westall UFO Sighting. (2013). [video] Directed by J. Mcdonald. Melbourne: National Geographic.

Westall '66: A Suburban UFO Mystery. (2011). [film] Directed by R. Jones. Melbourne: Screen Australia.