APOTHEOSIS – fact or fiction?
An Australian businessman, who travels extensively overseas, told me that he had been shown the title page and introduction of a document purporting to describe an Australian operation called either Operation or Project APOTHEOSIS. Apotheosis means either exaltation to the rank of a god, the glorification of any person or a deified or glorified ideal — perhaps a fitting title? The document allegedly referred to “modules” and “aliens” being ready for transfer from an Australian facility. The business man indicated to me he believed the facility in question was Salisbury! He claims to have sighted the document in Britain, via a Ministry of Defense contact. The “briefing report” was allegedly dated around 1986 or 1987, and was from a Air Vice Marshall Mackay to a General Richards – at least that’s what he recollects.
I have discussed this material with a number of people who might be privy to this sort of information. No one was able to confirm these details to date. My source even suggested rather ominously that it might prove hazardous to pursue the APOTHEOSIS connection. Such concerns have not materialized.
The only connection to UFOs I have found to date with the word Apotheosis comes from a less than convincing source. The second volume of bizarre collections of wild UFO conspiracy fodder appearing under the title The Matrix II: The Abduction & Manipulation of Humans using advanced technology” thanks “Nexus Seven” for selections from his 1989 unpublished manuscript Top Secret/Apotheosis – A Multilateral Set of Hypotheses. This unlikely connection may be the inspiration of the Apotheosis story.
Such tales, while curious are proof of nothing. They however give substance, albeit of a dubious kind, to the widely held belief that secret UFO activity and research has been carried out for years at remote sites and restricted areas in various locations including South Australia (Salisbury, Woomera, and the Nullarbor), Northern Territory (Pine Gap), and New South Wales (near Nowra and the St. George Basin on the south coast).
PINE GAP PARANOIA
Pine Gap (code named ‘Merino’) located near Alice Springs and described as a “Joint Defense Space Research Facility”, has long been a subject of concern and attracted some mystique, principally because of its clandestine role in intelligence gathering. Much is known about its sensitive role as a ground station for the US defense satellite program and its part in the NSA and CIA presence in Australia. With this sort of shadowy activity, it should not be surprising that Pine Gap has become a focus of a number of apocryphal UFO related stories.
The now defunct Nation Review reported on Pine Gap’s role in “scifi research” in its “Spying Around” column, in 1974. William H. Martin stated:
The Pine Gap research facility near Alice Springs has managed to keep secret, until now, one of the most unbelievable research projects in the world.
The United States has been carrying out continuous research into electromagnetic propulsion (EMP for short) at Pine Gap since it was established in 1966 … I understand that last minute flaws in the design and operation of the EMP vehicles have probably put the completion date back by four years (to 1979).
Research into electromagnetic propulsion began in the United States soon after world war two. After some successful results it became necessary to move the experimentation from populated areas to more remote spots….
Security aspects of the EMP project have included hypnotic and post hypnotic keys implanted in personnel prior to their acceptance into the project ….
William H. Martin was apparently a pseudonym for a writer on intelligence matters and the name of a major NSA defector – perhaps the pseudonym was an inside joke. Nothing further appeared on that curious account, except for Stan Deyo’s airing of the same story in his book The Cosmic Conspiracy” in 1978. He was a proponent of top secret “flying saucer” research – or what he referred to as “electro-gravitic propulsion systems”.
Retired NASA scientist and UFO researcher Dr. Richard Haines alludes to an undated newspaper story, describing how a Perth newspaper received two visitors claiming to be Pine Gap employees. They allegedly spoke of “electromagnetic devices which manifested themselves as UFOs and even alien beings at Pine Gap.” Professor John Frodsham of Western Australia was told of the experience of 3 roo shooters. They alleged that at about 4.30 am, one morning, from a ridge overlooking Pine Gap, they witnessed a camouflaged door open up within the facility. A circular metallic looking craft rose vertically and silently and then took off at high speed.
A CRASH RETRIEVAL IN THE DESERT?
Another source told me he knew of at least 3 separate UFO crashes in Australia. They were allegedly the focus of an operation devoted to retrievals of the objects and any beings present. Australian and US military teams intent on “contact” apparently used individuals with histories of UFO encounters to help identify possible event locations. My source claims these individuals apparently come from military ranks. One alleged incident was described in great detail.
My source describes the following extraordinary incident, in which he claims to have been a direct participant. I have not been able to verify this story due to concerns that any attempt to check his bonafides may draw unwanted attention to him – a frustrating or convenient Catch-22, depending on your point of view. While the details seem unbelievable, I have heard various elements of the story as features in other unrelated episodes. This does not validate the story but it makes it at least a fascinating yarn that may yet yield confirmatory details.
In about 1977 a UFO, first seen as a purple green “fireball”, was observed to “crash” near the South Australia – Western Australia border, some distance north of the Eyre Highway. A retrieval team was on location within hours and confirmed the presence of a large damaged object, completely unlike any conventional aircraft. Smaller than a Boeing, it had something of a triangular appearance. There was charcoal colored debris present.
The team quickly verified that two men had already entered the crashed UFO. One of them, indicating he was with the transport division of the Australian army, had emerged from the craft in a somewhat dazed condition. He stated that one of the UFO occupants was still alive. He was subjected to immediate decontamination procedures. The man’s companion was apparently determined to be a US citizen. He was separated from the Australian and taken into custody. Allegedly he was determined to be AWOL and was taken back to the US. The Australian army transport driver was subjected to standard interrogation procedures. He was returned to his vehicle and escorted to his destination and then relocated to Exmouth for two weeks of intensive interrogation and debriefing designed to ensure he was not a security threat to the operation.
The retrieval group verified the presence of two beings inside the craft. One was deceased. The other indicated signs of life, uttering a slight squealing noise possibly indicative of being in pain. Both appeared to be pot bellied, with arms that seemed thinner and longer than normal. They were both about 4’6″ to 5′ in height. Their eyes appeared to be wider than normal and looked black. No ears or hair was noticed. My informant did not participate in the actual removal of the beings and craft but verified that the site was totally cleaned up leaving no evidence of any crash incident.