TUFOIC Newsletter - No 062 - 1991

Magazine Overview

Title: TASMANIAN UFO REPORT
Issue: 62
Volume: 1991
Publisher: TUFOIC (Tasmanian Unidentified Flying Objects Investigation Centre)
Country: Australia
Date: 1991

1990 in Review

The year 1990 saw a significant decline in UFO reports in Tasmania, with only four sightings recorded, the lowest number since 1967. This trend is reflected in a 50% drop in calls to the centre compared to 1989. Despite the decrease in reported incidents, TUFOIC maintained a steady membership with good attendance at quarterly meetings.

The report highlights that only one sighting was mentioned in the local media during 1990, an East Coast sighting near Bicheno. Overseas cases, particularly English cornfield circles, received more media attention. While no major Australian sightings were noted, Queensland had the highest number of cases. TUFOIC collaborates with other UFO groups in Australia, including ACUFOS, UFO Research Australia, UFOR Queensland, and the Victorian UFORS, as well as international contacts.

UFO Research Australia has been actively investigating abduction reports and crop circle traces, leading to the surfacing of several CE4 cases. ACUFOS organized UFOCON 10 in Sydney, encouraging public involvement in UFO research and the formation of new groups.

The most notable event of 1990 was the Belgian radar visual report of March 30th. This incident involved the Belgian Air Force cooperating with local UFO investigators. Radar contacts were made, and fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the unidentified object. The UFO engaged in a 'cat and mouse game' with the jets for approximately 70 minutes, exhibiting speeds from 40 kph to 1.5 Mach and altitudes between 200 and 2500 meters, reportedly breaking the sound barrier without a sonic boom.

Other international reports include ongoing sightings in Russia since October 1989 and airial encounters involving the Hungarian Air Force.

Key Incidents and Sightings

Daylight Object Seen at Magra: On Wednesday, February 14th, a witness in Magra, Tasmania, described a white object moving erratically in the sky. Initially appearing round and stationary, it later changed shape to a disc and moved with a zig-zag motion before stopping instantly and then accelerating away.

UFO Mystery near Black Hills: An object seen flying a zig-zag course above Black Hills was reported as a mystery. It was described as a white thing, possibly a balloon, but its movement against the prevailing wind made this doubtful. The object stopped dead and then flew off very fast.

Early Morning Sighting at Midway Point: In mid-June, a motorist travelling south of Hobart reported seeing a bright green light, described as moon-sized, moving erratically. Later, a bright mass of green light appeared, shaped like a Mini-Minor, and seemed to come up over a service station.

East Coast Sighting: On a Monday late in June, a witness near Bicheno reported lights hovering near his house, described as saucer-like with a rectangular shape above. The object later appeared with a red/orange flame from below and remained stationary before vanishing.

Another June Sighting: A lone motorist travelling south of Hobart in mid-June observed a bright white oval light in a paddock, estimated to be larger than the moon. The object moved rapidly into the south-west sky and disappeared.

Hungarian UFO Data Centre: Hungary established a UFO Data Collection Centre in Eger due to a surge in sightings since January. The centre, headed by Judit Vas, aims to collect and study reports of unidentified flying objects. Notable Hungarian incidents include reports from air force pilots followed by an orange sphere, a fluorescent green figure beaming into space, and a farmer's encounter with 'little green men'. A bus-driver reported a close encounter with red lights and a strange figure.

Gulf Breeze UFOs Probe Reopened: MUFON announced it would reopen its investigation into claims by Ed Walters of Gulf Breeze, Florida, who alleged he photographed UFOs. This decision came after evidence emerged suggesting Walters' photos might be fakes, with accusations of trick photography involving double exposure.

Delta UFO Sightings: Reports from the Delta region of the US described a large orange spherical ball hovering, similar to a craft reportedly landed in Voronezh, Russia. Witnesses described it as metallic, changing colors, and moving at high speeds, ruling out a weather balloon.

TUFOIC Statistics and Aims

The magazine includes a table of Tasmanian UFO statistics from pre-1965 to 1990, detailing the number of reports, UFOs, and identified cases each year. For 1990, there were 43 total investigations, with 5 unidentified, 21 with insufficient information, and 3 identified.

TUFOIC was founded in 1965 with the principal aims of investigating UFO phenomena in Tasmania, collecting and examining information, and distributing authentic findings. Membership is open to all interested individuals.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue emphasizes the ongoing nature of UFO investigation, both locally in Tasmania and internationally. It highlights the challenges in verifying sightings, the importance of collaboration between UFO organizations, and the need for critical analysis of evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded skepticism, seeking factual evidence while acknowledging the possibility of genuine unexplained phenomena. The inclusion of international reports suggests a broader perspective on the UFO topic beyond Tasmania.

This issue of the Docklands Recorder, dated March 15, 1990, focuses on UFO sightings and related research. The cover story, "SPACESHIP SURPRISE!", highlights an increase in unidentified flying objects invading East London's airspace, with a watchdog group warning of potential future increases due to pollution. The issue also features a report on a housewife in Australia who, after initially being a skeptic, now keeps an open mind after witnessing a strange phenomenon.

East London Sightings

May Flitton, a 68-year-old retired bank typist from East Ham, reported seeing a "blueish white light" above the rooftops of her home around 12:30 am on a Thursday. She described the object as having a triangular shape with rounded angles and lights all around its sides, moving slowly from east to west. The incident lasted about two minutes before the object dropped out of sight. Mrs. Flitton contacted the East Anglian UFO Society, and researcher Roy Lake stated that he had a dozen similar cases to investigate in the East Ham area. Lake claims that over 80 percent of the cases he has worked on in 30 years remain unexplained, and he suggests that beings from other planets might be concerned about Earth's pollution.

Australian Witness Account

Wendy Dawes, a 30-year-old housewife from Dungay, near Murwillumbah, Australia, recounted an experience on a Sunday night when she was awoken by a bright light outside her window. She described the object as "blood-red and orange colour," growing and shrinking between the size of a tennis ball and a basketball. It was suspended in the clear sky between hills and low cloud. Dawes stated that the object was about half a kilometre away. She initially panicked and ran to get her husband. She and her husband watched as the object slowly rose in the sky and then flew off at speed. The experience lasted about three minutes. Dawes, who was previously a skeptic, is now ready to keep an open mind. Murwillumbah police confirmed receiving reports of a strange light and agreed with a weather bureau spokesman that it might be a phenomenon associated with thunderstorm activity, but offered no definitive explanation.

New Zealand Aircraft Sighting

An unidentified flying object (UFO) was spotted by the crews of two aircraft over New Zealand's lower North Island and top half of the South Island on a Thursday morning. Safe Air pilot Grant Jolley reported that while flying an Argosy aircraft, his crew was contacted by a light aircraft crew who had seen a strange light. Wellington radar initially had nothing on screen. Shortly after, the Argosy crew also saw the light to the east, describing it as six to ten times brighter than stars and changing color from white to red to green. The object was located between the two aircraft, about 60 miles apart, and appeared to be below the level of the Rimutaka Ranges. The Argosy crew attempted to get a radar reading by turning towards the object, but none was obtained. The object moved on a parallel course to the aircraft. Safe Air pilots were involved in a series of UFO sightings over Kaikoura in 1978.

Case of Alien 'Eye-Spy' for Frightened Youth

This article, published in TRUTH on February 3, 1990, details the experience of 20-year-old Paul Horton from Howrah, Tasmania. At the age of 12, while living in Rosebery, he claims to have seen an "immense human eye" floating in his bedroom doorway. He described the eye as being about the dimensions of a small dog, floating several feet above the floor. He was so scared that he hid under the blankets. He remembers the "sweltering heat" of the blankets and the feeling that the eye might harm him. He believes it was not a dream because he remembers the physical sensations. His parents dismissed his account. Horton states that this incident was the beginning of three years of nightmares involving "unfriendly entities" that would enter his room, pin him down, and pinch and prod his skin. He suspected the intruders were human because he sometimes heard them talking swiftly in an unknown language. The visits stopped shortly after he turned 16. He still wonders about the floating eye.

TASCAT Database Project

The TASCAT (Tasmanian UFO Computer Catalogue) project began in 1982, initiated by Paul Jackson, the TUFOIC Liaison Officer. The initial program was written in BASIC for a Commodore VIC-20, using a cassette drive for data storage. By the end of 1982, the first edition of the computerised UFO sightings catalogue was completed and printed. In 1984, the program was rewritten for a Commodore 64, with improvements made over the next three years. A major upgrade involved transferring the data to a disk drive, significantly speeding up storage and retrieval. In 1987, the data was transferred to an IBM compatible XT computer, initially using DBASE 3 PLUS, and then Q & A in 1988. The 1988 edition of TASCAT was the last printed edition and is now out of date. No editions were printed in 1989 due to a small number of unidentifieds received, and in 1990, work commitments and ill health delayed its printing. In 1990, TASCAT found its current home in version 3, a database that can run on most IBM compatible computers and can be expanded to accept new types of data.

TASCAT Update

Early in 1991, TASCAT will be printed and made available to TUFOIC members and UFO researchers worldwide. The 1991 edition will cover all Tasmanian sightings from 1945 up to the end of 1990, containing nearly 500 cases. During 1991, the catalogue will be expanded to include full written descriptions of each sighting, with around 500 cases on file. The project also intends to add computer file data sheets forwarded to "UFOCOMFIL". Later in the year, a statistical analysis of Tasmanian UFO sightings based on TASCAT data will be performed, with results made available to members.

Interrogation of TASCAT

TASCAT can be interrogated and data retrieved in various formats beyond the standard full catalogue printout. Researchers can request printouts based on specific parameters such as area, color, type of encounter (CE-2), time of day, and specific events like car paces, car stops, sounds heard, flashing lights, landings, electromagnetic effects, or traces found. Users can request printouts for sightings that meet all specified parameters or any of the parameters. Queries, comments, or suggestions regarding the TASCAT computer project can be sent to TUFOIC via postal mail.

TUFOIC Membership and Publications

TUFOIC (Tasmanian UFO Centre) is described as a serious-minded civilian organization that attempts to investigate all UFO reports in a scientific, objective, and unbiased manner. They forward authentic reports to the Australian Centre for UFO Studies (ACUFOS) and UFO RESEARCH AUSTRALIA. Membership is open to all persons seriously interested in the UFO subject. A publications-only subscription is available for those who wish to stay informed without full membership. Subscription rates are provided for within Australia and other countries, with options for full membership, publications only, and student/pensioner rates. Payment can be made via money order, bank cheque, Australian currency, or international money order. A list of TUFOIC publications is also provided, including the "TASMANIAN U.F.O. COMPUTER CATALOGUE TASCAT 1990" for $2.50, "TASMANIAN LANDINGS CATALOGUE" for $2.50, "MAATSUYKER ISLAND DOCUMENT" for $1.50, "UFO TASMANIA Magazines" (1978-1991) for $10.00, and TASCAT Computer Printouts for $1.00. The "NORTH-EAST 1974 Document" is available for $2.50. All prices include return postage via surface mail, with overseas air mail rates available upon request.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, witness testimonies, and the scientific investigation of these phenomena. TUFOIC's editorial stance is clearly one of objective, unbiased investigation, aiming to collect and disseminate reliable information without drawing premature conclusions. They emphasize the need for rigorous investigation and acknowledge the existence of unexplained phenomena. The TASCAT project exemplifies this stance by creating a comprehensive, retrievable database for researchers.