TUFOIC Newsletter - No 048 - June 1986

Magazine Overview

Title: T.U.F.O.I.C. NEWSLETTER
Issue: Edition 48
Date: June 1986

This issue of the T.U.F.O.I.C. Newsletter provides an overview of UFO activity in Australia during the preceding months, discusses the implications of Halley's Comet sightings, presents UFO investigation statistics, and includes reports on specific sightings and expert opinions on extraterrestrial life.

Halleys and Other Things.

The editorial notes that the UFO scene continues with its usual status quo. After a brief increase in reports around October/November of the previous year, a wet December/January led to a quiet period until April. A rumour of a spate of sightings in West Australia in early March yielded no details. No UFO reports from the rest of Australia were received in the opening months of 1986. A New South Wales UFO report, featured in the 'People' magazine, was later given a more mundane explanation.

The passage of Halley's Comet brought many people to view the night skies. While the Centre received numerous calls, most sightings were explained, with only a couple, including two red lights with a beam at Westerway and an erratic light from Lauderdale, remaining unexplained. The editor finds it interesting that the increased public attention on the sky did not result in a higher number of investigations or unexplained cases, suggesting that UFO flaps are not always media-inspired, contrary to some sceptics' claims.

Statistics for 1980–86 (Jan-May)

The newsletter presents a table of UFO investigations and unidentified cases from 1980 to May 1986. The number of investigations varied annually, from a low of 13 in 1984 to a high of 43 in 1985. The number of unidentified cases ranged from 1 to 11, with 1982 showing the highest number of unidentified reports, including the 'Georgetown Flap'.

• 1980: 27 Investigations, 3 Unidentified
• 1981: 33 Investigations, 6 Unidentified
• 1982: 27 Investigations, 11 Unidentified (Georgetown Flap)
• 1983: 28 Investigations, 1 Unidentified
• 1984: 13 Investigations, 2 Unidentified
• 1985: 43 Investigations, 3 Unidentified
• 1986: 34 Investigations, 3 Unidentified

Tasmanian Reports

Several reports from Tasmania are detailed:

• Fingal Area (August previous year): A caller reported a round red object with a beam above the road to Tower Hill. No follow-up was possible due to lack of details.
• Fingal (May 1985): A music teacher reported an object with bright lights at low level.
• Tower Hill near Mangana (April 14th, 2.30 am): Witnesses reported oscillating red, green, and white lights moving rapidly from ground level, disappearing in about 30 seconds. The object was estimated to be car-sized and 12 km distant.
• Binalong Bay (April 13th, 6.25 pm): A white light was seen moving east, descending to a 30-degree elevation, then moving north-east and fading out of sight in 10 seconds. The sighting lasted about a minute.
• Lenah Valley (Hobart) (February 3rd): Two white elliptical shapes with smaller pulsing white lights were observed in the north-eastern sky. The shapes were joined by strut-like shapes and did not appear to move for half an hour.
• Lauderdale (April 4th): An erratic moving light was seen in the north east, performing zig-zags, rolling, and moving up and down before disappearing towards Mt Wellington. The movement was compared to a balloon losing air.

Older reports from November of the previous year are also mentioned:

• Risdon Vale (November 9th): A green triangle shape appeared in front of a taxi, during which the taxi's radio malfunctioned.
• Sandford (November): A resident was woken by the family dog and saw a light in the driveway, described as a green outline of a doorway, about 3m tall and 2m wide, stationary at ground level, which then vanished without sound.
• South Arm (November): A motorist saw lights at low level.

Reports Digest

This section summarizes UFO reports received by ACUFOS and other groups in 1985:

• NA86-001 (Orange, NSW, Jan 29, 1986): Four witnesses observed an oval-shaped object with a flat bottom and domed top for 15 minutes. It hovered, had a bright red flashing light, and made a noise like an 'old grader'. It moved towards a local TV tower and appeared to land. Ground trace evidence (flattened grass) was found. The investigator estimated a 70% probability of it being an air ambulance aircraft, with the pilot confirming a landing at a nearby airport.
• NA85-002 (Cherrybrook, NSW, Mar 15, 1985): Two teenagers allegedly saw a UFO rise above trees, then settle. Torch-like beams shone on their car, and beings with long arms approached. They fled. This is described as a third-hand, unconfirmed anecdote, with possibilities of a hoax or misidentification of police activity.
• TB86-002 (Rosebery, TAS, Early Oct 1985): Two witnesses saw a circular arrangement of about six orange and white lights. The lights appeared to revolve as a group.
• TB86-003 (Rosebery, TAS, Dec 15, 1985): Two boys saw a cluster of lights move erratically. A large light dimmed and brightened, and banging noises were heard on the roof. The older boy experienced sore eyes, felt ill, and had nightmares.

Electrical Storm Resets Clock

A report from the Sydney Morning Herald (5/2/86) is mentioned, describing how an electrical store caused electronic clocks at Parliament House, Sydney, to jump forward 20 minutes. The newsletter suggests such effects should be considered when investigating UFO reports with electromagnetic phenomena.

Plane allegedly buzzed by missile

This article from Stars and Stripes (Aug 19, 1985) reports on an Italian Air Safety Board investigation into claims that a Greek Boeing 707 was skimmed by a military missile over the Swiss-Italian border. The pilot reported the object looked like a guided missile and came within 300 feet. The Italian Defense Ministry stated it could not have been a guided missile, as there were no military exercises or unusual radar signals. A Greek Civil Aviation spokesman suggested it could have been a 'remote control rocket'.

Life in space, but they won't visit us

This article from The Examiner (April 30, 1986) features Dr. Michael Klein, a NASA radio astronomer. Dr. Klein believes that intelligent extraterrestrial life exists but that physical contact with Earth is impossible, ruling out popular theories of alien spaceships landing or humans travelling to meet them. He advocates for using radio telescopes and computers to contact potential extraterrestrial intelligence through 'intentional' radio signals from space, focusing on solar-type stars within 100 light years. He stated, "The answer is yes, extra-terrestrial life-form does exist."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO sightings and investigations within Australia, particularly Tasmania. It maintains a tone of reporting factual accounts while also acknowledging the need for skeptical analysis and considering mundane explanations. The publication appears to be a record-keeping and information-sharing platform for UFO enthusiasts, aiming to document reports and provide context through statistics and expert commentary. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry, presenting various cases and perspectives, including scientific viewpoints on the existence and potential contact with extraterrestrial life.