Australian Aerial Phenomena Investigator, Minto’s Eugene Herrera, scans the skies for UFOs

HE’S an Aerial Phenomena Investigator who has filmed some strange things. Eugene Herrera is convinced something bizarre is out there and a US doco team is coming to film him.

MINTO resident Eugene Herrera has been peering out into the sky regularly over the past three years and the strange phenomena he’s witnessed has him convinced something bizarre is out there.

Many nights you’ll find the 48-year-old set up at his spot in Eagleview Rd, Minto where he has captured dozens of strange images later uploaded to his YouTube channel “j sparrow”.

“I saw my first UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) in 1986 in Campbelltown when I was 19. It was flying and then suddenly changed direction,” he said.

“I left it alone until I saw something similar three years ago and ever since then I’ve been spotting them all the time.”

Eugene Herrera sets up his camera, hoping to capture something interesting. Picture: Robert Pozo

Mr Herrera gave a talk at the Campbelltown Arts Centre this month, showing footage of what he has captured at an event by the Campbelltown-based UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia.

Noticed for his work, he was recently appointed an investigator with Australian Aerial Phenomena Investigations (AAPI).

He also set up the Sydney UFO Hunters Facebook group where almost 500 members share the strange images they have captured.

Picture: Eugene Herrera

Mr Herrera said he was always a logical thinker and still remains one. He said he felt many people had preconceptions about those with an interest in UFOs and that they couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I try to bring some science to it all the time. I’m not saying it’s necessarily extraterrestrial life. We don’t know. It could be military aircraft that we haven’t been told about,” he said.

“The one thing I do know, and what my videos show, is there is something we don’t know about going on.”

Picture: Eugene Herrera

A documentary team from the United States is flying over in late August to meet Mr Herrera at his spot.

He describes some of the things he has witnessed as “orbs” and “aircraft with unconventional behaviour”.

“Unfortunately, the videos don’t seem to offer answers. The more evidence we collect, the more questions it raises,” he said.

“But I think bringing forward these questions and having a discussion is important.”

Picture: Eugene Herrera

In the past, residents have reported UFO sightings in the skies over several Macarthur region suburbs including Mt Annan, Minto and Elderslie.

In 2009, UFO and Paranormal Research Society of Australia member Larraine Cilia told the Macarthur Chronicle The Oaks, Cawdor and Razorback were the Macarthur region’s “hotbed” of unexplained sightings.

Picture: Eugene Herrera

The society shot a six-part series entirely in the Macarthur region called Eerie Encounters which aired on TVS in 2012.

In 2006, Campbelltown Catholic Club hosted the National UFO Conference where Australian and international experts exchanged ideas and presented evidence on the extraterrestrial.