TUFOIC Newsletter - No 040 - October 1983

Magazine Overview

Title: TUFOIC
Issue: 40
Date: October 1983
Publisher: TASMANIAN U.F.O. INVESTIGATION CENTRE
Country: Australia
Document Type: Newsletter

Editorial and Centre Update

The newsletter begins with an apology for its lateness, attributing it to a number of reasons and the workload carried by Paul Jackson. Keith Roberts has stepped down as Secretary/Investigations but continues to assist in the area. The Centre is seeking assistance for its day-to-day operations. Contact details for Keith Roberts (home: 236009, work: 346722) and the PO Box 99 address in North Hobart are provided. Despite recent heavy rains in Tasmania, UFO reports have been low, with only a few calls in August producing cases detailed in the newsletter. The Centre notes that the availability of their telephone number in the directory between September 1982 and September 1983 made little difference to incoming calls until August, after which calls dropped again. The impact of the latest directory issue has again reduced calls to near zero.

TUFOIC Publications

• A list of available publications is provided:
• TASMANIAN UFO CATALOGUE-COMPUTER FILE ($3.00, 1983 edition)
• TASMANIAN LANDINGS CATALOGUE ($2.00)
• MAATSUYKER ISLAND DOCUMENT ($2.00)
• UFO TASMANIA MAGAZINES, 5 Issues for Single issues (State which Year required) ($4.00, 1978 - 1982)
• 1983 Magazine still available ($1.00)
• All prices include postage.

Sightings 1983

The newsletter details several sightings from 1983. A general observation notes a dry period for unexplained reports until August, which saw a spate of calls. Explanations for cases from July 1982 to August 1983 seemed forthcoming, often relating to paranormal events or astronomical phenomena.

TA 83040. Broadmarsh Road.

On August 6th, a witness and his son travelling north on Broadmarsh Road near Hobart observed a bright yellow pulsating oval object, about half moon sized, at tree top level above a hill. The object had partitioning lines in the centre and appeared to travel slowly south before arcing back north. It was visible for about 10 minutes and was estimated to be some 15k away. The moon and Venus were also visible.

TA 83044. Howrah.

On August 18th, a witness in Howrah saw a bright white flashing star-like light south of Mt Wellington. The light moved erratically southwards, then up and down, and back north before resuming its southern movement. It stopped for several minutes, then moved out over the south end of the mountain, halted again, and then descended behind the mountainside. The light flashed about once every 2 seconds and was estimated to be Venus-sized.

TA 83043. Jericho.

Reported via the Examiner newspaper in Launceston, this sighting occurred on August 9th. Passengers in a vehicle travelling south on the Midland Highway near Jericho spotted a bright light. An object, described as a bright silver circle with a blue area and triangular white lights, appeared alongside the road, about 3m above the ground and 10m from the car. It was so bright it lit up the surroundings. The object stayed for 3-4 minutes before shooting into the sky at a 15-degree angle with a rushing air noise.

Copping Sighting.

This report, from the first half of August, involved a flashing light seen on a hill 500m to the south-east. The light was described as flashing in different directions on the lower part of a paler yellow mass of light. The light mass then moved across the sky as an oval/round shape, estimated at 5-6m long, moving at about 20kph before being obscured by trees. A subsequent investigation of the area where the light disappeared revealed a clear ring in a paddock, with dry earth and a white substance. Samples suggested Fairy Fungus was responsible for the 8.75m diameter circle, though the light itself remained inexplicable.

ENCOUNTER OF THE CLOSED KIND (Tangham Wood Incident)

This section details an incident that occurred in the early hours of December 27, 1980, in a small pine wood near Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK. The event is described as significant enough to warrant attention from both U.S. and Royal Air Forces.

Official and Witness Accounts

The primary evidence cited is a report by Lt. Col. Charles Halt, deputy commander of the USAF 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. His report, on official USAF notepaper and headed "Unidentified Lights," describes an object "metallic in appearance and triangular in shape, approximately two to three metres across the base and approximately two metres high." The object illuminated the forest with white light and had pulsing red lights on top and blue lights underneath. It was seen hovering or on legs. When approached by two USAF security guards, the object manoeuvred through the trees and disappeared. Animals nearby became agitated. The light reappeared near the RAF Woodbridge back gate about an hour later. The following night, a "red sun-like light" was seen moving through the wood, and bright lights were observed in the sky, with one beaming down a stream of light. Lt. Col. Halt claimed to have personally witnessed the lights on the second night.

RAF Woodbridge Head's Testimony

Squadron Leader Donald Morland, head of RAF Woodbridge, confirmed the report and recalled the events. He stated that Lt. Col. Halt was very worried and that he fully believed the Colonel's account, describing the object's aerial capabilities as beyond known aircraft and attributing the events to "inexplicable phenomena."

USAF Patrolman's Account

A USAF patrolman, who requested anonymity, provided a second account. He described entering the woods carrying a light, with animals running in panic. He found approximately 200 USAF and RAF officers and security men with movie cameras and helicopters present. A red light descended into the clearing, "exploded" into a shower of lights, blinding everyone. They then saw a "machine" giving off a metallic bluish light, described as triangular, about 20 feet across the bottom, with sloping sides. The patrolman believed the spaceship was inhabited, with three beings aboard wearing silver suits, though he did not see them directly. He reported feeling a strange sensation and blacking out, waking up two hours later in his bunk covered in mud.

Cover-up Allegations

UFO investigators Brenda Cutler and Dorothy Street, along with U.S. UFO buff Larry Fawcett, compiled the evidence. They claim that within days of the incident, a rumour of a plane crash was circulated. They also allege that local civilian radar stations recorded UFO sightings, but these tapes were confiscated by U.S. military officials. The News Of The World newspaper reported a tape from RAF Watten showing a UFO tracked crossing the east coast. A retired defence department assistant under-secretary suggested that authorities might be trying to "brush under the carpet something stupendous."

Alternative Theories and Official Dismissal

Lord Clancarty proposed that the UFO was a man-made experimental flying saucer developed secretly by the U.S. using "electro-magnetic energy." However, the U.S. Air Force dismissed the investigators' claims, stating that Lt. Col. Halt's report was not official and no investigation was carried out. A spokesman stated that an off-duty airman reported seeing a light, and this observation was recorded, attributing it to coloured lights seen across the country during the Christmas period.

Computer Update

The Commodore Vic-20 computer used by TUFOIC has been replaced by a Commodore 64, offering a larger memory store (38K) and increased screen size (40 characters). The Centre hopes to add a disc drive in the new year to speed up filing and retrieval.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter reflects a commitment to investigating and reporting UFO phenomena, even when faced with delays and low report volumes. It presents witness accounts, official reports, and investigative findings, while also acknowledging official dismissals and alternative theories. The Tangham Wood incident is presented as a significant case, with a strong emphasis on alleged cover-ups and the inexplicable nature of the observed phenomena. The Centre appears to maintain an open, though critical, stance towards UFO reports, seeking to document and analyze them. The editorial tone is informative and aims to keep members updated on both sightings and the Centre's operational status.