TUFOIC Newsletter - No 038 - 1983

Magazine Overview

This document is the 41st edition of the publication from the TASMANIAN U.F.O. INVESTIGATION CENTRE, dated 1983. It covers UFO sightings and investigations, with a focus on events in Tasmania. The publication includes statistical data, detailed case reports, and a discussion on the SETI project.

TUFOIC Contact Information and Structure

The Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre (TUFOIC) lists its key personnel, including President Ron Jolly, Sec/Treasurer Keith Roberts, Liason Officer Paul Jackson, and members of the library and executive. Correspondence should be directed to PO Box 99, North Hobart, Tasmania, 7002. Contact telephone numbers for general inquiries and a Northern Contact, Don Macsween, are also provided. TUFOIC's report is published annually and is available to the public and for exchange. They also issue two newsletters per year to keep members informed. Executive meetings are held periodically, and members are notified of their dates.

Years's Sighting Statistics

The publication notes a lull in UFO sightings in 1982, with reports being well below the levels of the past decade. A total of 12 UFO cases were reported in 1982, a slight increase from 1981, with 6 unidentified cases. Notably, 10 of these sightings occurred between May and July. The report also includes comparative figures for investigations from 1965 to 1982, showing a peak in reports in the mid-1970s. In 1982, there were 12 unidentified investigations, 20 astronomical, 10 aircraft, 4 meteorological, 2 balloons, and 3 other explanations, totaling 56 investigations.

Case Reports from 1982

Nocturnal Lights in '82

Several nocturnal light sightings are detailed:

• March 8th, near Glendevie: A motorist reported a huge, golden-yellow light, larger than the moon, on a hilltop, which seemed to have landed but did not move.
• May 5th, Rokeby: A witness saw what appeared to be a falling star with a tail, which then became a white light, moved horizontally, and angled around Venus before disappearing.
• June 24th, Verona Sands: Multiple witnesses observed a large white light gain elevation, move erratically, descend to water level, and then ascend again before disappearing.

Tasman Highway Sighting

On July 10th, 1982, two witnesses traveling on the Tasman Highway near Sorell reported a bright white light that stayed ahead of their car, maintaining a consistent position relative to them. The object appeared to grow larger as they approached. It accompanied the car for about 20 minutes, then suddenly shot across the road and disappeared, appearing to be half-moon sized when it banked, revealing red lights beneath a dome-like shape.

Auto Stop at Hampshire

On July 6th, a motorist in Hampshire reported his car stopping inexplicably. While investigating, he noticed sparks and a fizzing sound from a barbed wire fence. He then observed an object in a paddock, described as cigar-like with a tapered tail, about 7-10m long, with a blue haze. The object appeared to turn, showing a circular shape with an orange glow at the back, and then diminished in size as it moved west. The fence stopped sparking as the object vanished. The car then restarted normally. A second witness reported a bright white light in the same direction around the same time.

Noise Recorded at Georgetown

Reports from Georgetown describe a strange, pulsating, high-speed whishing noise accompanied by a large bright red light in the sky. This occurred on May 8th, around midnight, and again on other nights in May and June. The noise seemed to emanate from the light. Mrs R, a witness, recorded the sound. Investigations by TUFOIC members in July found no evidence of hoaxes or connections to military activity. A separate report mentions a possible connection to a Soviet newspaper article urging a UFO watch.

Landings of 1969

This section revisits several UFO landing cases from 1969, which were significant as they were reported relatively soon after the events:

• March 1969, Southport Lagoon: A round, silver, aluminum-type object was observed on the beach. It later glowed orange-red and took off at high speed.
• May 7th, Kelvedon: Two boys reported an oval, orange-glowing object with red and white lights, which later turned green and moved rapidly away.
• May 22nd, Glenorchy: Mr G.Longey reported an elliptical shaped object taking off from his lawn, leaving a scorched ring and broken branches. TUFOIC and the Tas Flying Saucer Observers Association investigated, finding no radioactivity.
• May 23rd, Mt Lloyd: A family observed a round red light that drifted away and gained elevation, later reappearing and remaining stationary.
• Winter time, Central Plateau: A motorist saw a large dome-shaped object on the ground emitting an orange glow. The object then rose slowly and receded into the distance.

Senator Proxmire Versus NASA's SETI Project

This article by Jane Brooks discusses Senator William Proxmire's opposition to NASA's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project. The project aimed to use a multichannel spectrum analyzer to search for radio signals from other civilizations. Proxmire argued that the project was a waste of money, citing the vast distances and time delays involved in potential communication. The article contrasts this with subsidies given to dairy farmers and notes that private donations are still funding efforts to listen for signals from nearby stars.

'Saucer' Victim Fails

A brief report from Christchurch, New Zealand, details a man, Michael Smith, who claimed compensation for injuries allegedly caused by a flying saucer, including losing sight in one eye. He was unsuccessful in his claim.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings and investigations, aiming to document and analyze these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting detailed accounts of sightings and the results of investigations, while also acknowledging the challenges in verifying such events. The inclusion of historical cases and statistical data suggests a commitment to building a comprehensive record of UFO activity. The article on SETI indicates an interest in the broader implications of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the scientific and political debates surrounding it.

This issue of UFO magazine, dated 1983 and identified as issue number 10, focuses on various UFO sightings and related phenomena reported primarily in Australia and Argentina. The publication is from TUFOIC (Tas. UFO Investigation Centre) and printed in Tasmania.

Sightings at Ross and Dover (Australia)

The issue begins with a report on two sightings from 1981 that were not included in the 1982 Annual Report. The first, near Ross on February 20th, involved two witnesses who observed a bright white light to the west. The object descended in front of low hills, then changed direction and slowly approached a local hotel, growing in size. The witnesses stopped their car about 300-400m short of the hotel. The object was estimated to be moving at a 30m height, elliptical in shape, with a greenish metallic color and gold light beams. It then suddenly shot up and away to the south, dwindling in size. There was no noise, other traffic, or discernible effects on the witnesses.

The second sighting occurred near Dover on November 17th. A lone motorist reported seeing a green light as he drove from Dover to Southport. Initially, he paid little attention, attributing it to Venus. However, as the light appeared lower to the ground and closer to the road, he stopped to observe it. The half-moon-sized circular light moved about in a confined area, changing direction and elevation. It eventually moved west and was lost behind a rise, leaving a glow on the trees. Later that evening, the witness and his wife observed a white light to the west, which moved northwards for 30 minutes before disappearing behind high cloud. A report of a red nocturnal light on April 11th in the area south of Dover is also mentioned.

Hampshire UFO (Australia)

A report from July 10th, 1982, details a sighting near Rockbank, Australia. While travelling on the Ballarat Road, a woman, her son, and her mother observed a bright white light to the right of the highway. The object, described as cigar-shaped and the size of a semi-trailer, hovered about 200ft off the ground and 100ft back from the highway. It featured green pulsating portholes and emitted green flashes of light. The observation lasted only one minute. The witnesses reported feeling unusually tired and suffering from headaches in the following days. No electrical faults were detected in the car.

Valentich - The Official Verdict

This section discusses the disappearance of pilot Frederick Valentich and his aircraft on October 21st, 1978. It references a summary report from the Department of Aviation, highlighting that the report does not mention the location or time of the occurrence, nor does it determine the cause of the disappearance. The report states, "The reason for disappearance of the aircraft has not been determined." The article notes that numerous suggestions have been put forward by various individuals, but the Department is not aware of any other official body investigating the incident.

Teleportation Case in Argentina

On December 15th, 1981, near San Luis del Palmar, Argentina, Sr. Ruben Meneses, a Provincial Highways Department mechanic, reported an extraordinary experience. While driving his dump truck, he was blinded by a brilliant light that flooded his cab. He then entered a semi-conscious state and found himself suspended face down in a mirrored, luminous cabin. He perceived a short, thin man with long arms and wrinkled forehead in an adjacent passage. Meneses felt he communicated with the entity without speaking. Upon regaining awareness, he found himself 110km further along the road, with the encounter having seemingly occurred instantaneously. He experienced a nervous breakdown and conjunctivitis. The report from "Clarin" (Buenos Aires) notes confusion over the duration of abduction but confirms he was hospitalized.

Another UFO in Argentina

An unidentified flying object reportedly landed in the Argentine province of San Luis on a Friday evening. Eyewitnesses, some of whom took photographs, described the UFO as approximately 8 meters in diameter and resting on 3 feet. It landed at an agricultural experimental station. Journalists photographed imprints left by the object. The article also mentions a blinding blue light that caused a road accident near San Luis and a sighting of 50 UFOs above Villa Mercedes on May 4th, 1978. Shortly after, a flying saucer reportedly landed near San Luis, and a being dressed in a green suit emerged.

Australia's First Abduction Event?

Investigations are underway into a case near Port Lincoln, South Australia, from October 1981. Two young men, J and P, were travelling from Broken Hill to Port Lincoln. While driving near Whyalla, Mr. P saw a blue 'flare' light, followed by a second light that shot out from beneath it. This second light moved erratically before stopping in a gully. Shortly after, Mr. J experienced what he described as "drifting off" into a white endless space, unable to move. He encountered a 'thing' dressed in a suit, which stood before him and then vanished. Mr. J woke up feeling as if he hadn't slept for a week. Mr. P recalls walking into a big white room and an entity standing about 15m away from the car.

Publications and TUFOIC Information

The magazine also includes information on available publications from TUFOIC, such as Annual Reports (1978-1982), the Tasmanian Landing Catalogue, and the Maatsuyker Report. A new publication, a computer listing of all unidentified cases, is also advertised. The issue concludes with an application form to join TUFOIC, detailing membership fees and benefits, including newsletters and the Annual Report.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, witness testimonies, object descriptions, and investigations into unexplained aerial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and reporting these events, encouraging further investigation, and providing a platform for UFO enthusiasts through publications and membership in TUFOIC. The inclusion of detailed witness accounts, sketches, and references to official reports suggests a commitment to presenting factual information as reported by credible sources.