TUFOIC Newsletter - No 074 - 1995

Magazine Overview

Title: TASMANIAN UFO Report
Issue: 74
Volume: 1995
Publisher: The Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre
Country: Australia
Date: 1995

This issue of the TASMANIAN UFO Report, published by The Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre, provides a comprehensive overview of UFO activity and research in Australia during 1995, with a focus on data from previous years. The magazine details the organization's structure, including its executive committee, area representatives, and meeting schedules. It also presents extensive statistical data on UFO reports, a detailed review of cases from 1994, and discussions on the definition of UFOs and the field of ufology. The issue includes a tribute to the late Vladimir Godic, a significant figure in Australian UFO research.

TUFOIC Executive and Operations

The publication lists the TUFOIC Executive for 1995, comprising President Ron Jolly, Secretary/Liaison Christopher Gralak, Investigation & Files head Keith Roberts, Publications manager Brian Webberley, Library head Douglas Lockhart, and Treasurer, Membership & Computer manager Paul Jackson. The committee also includes Janine Hunt and Anne Fellows. Area representatives are Terry Gibbons for Launceston and Jenny Lyne for the East Coast. The organization maintains a sightings telephone number and holds quarterly meetings in Hobart, with specific dates provided for 1995. The report is published and printed by The Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre, which was founded in 1965. Postal and computer network addresses are provided.

Tasmanian and Australian UFO Statistics

A significant portion of the report is dedicated to statistical data on UFO sightings. The "TASMANIAN STATISTICS" section provides a year-by-year breakdown from "Pre 1965" up to 1993, detailing the number of "REPORTS," "UNIDENTIFIED," and "IDENTIFIED" cases. For instance, in 1974, there were 161 reports, with 57 unidentified and 104 identified. The "1994 Statistics" section categorizes 91 reports into "Unidentified" (9), "Aircraft" (11), "Astronomical" (29), "Balloons Etc." (11), "Ground Lights" (4), "Hoax / Noise" (4), "Insufficient Info./Under Investigation" (9), "Meteorological" (5), and "Satellites" (9).

1994 In Review

The "1994 IN REVIEW" section summarizes the year's UFO activity. The first half of the year was quiet, with an unexplained case in February and another in the North East. However, activity increased after June, particularly due to publicity surrounding "red lights" over Hobart in July-August. These lights were eventually attributed to a garbage bag with fire lighters. The report notes a general decrease in UFO sightings across Australia compared to a surge in 1993, with some reports possibly explained by meteor or space-debris re-entries. The Centre received interesting cases from Moira McGhee of INUFOR. Wycliffe Well in the Northern Territory was a notable location for sightings in September-October, with Paul Jackson making contact with the road-house owner. The issue of abductions also gained attention, with Keith Basterfield forming his own Abduction Group. Phenomena Research Australia investigated a significant abduction case. Media coverage for the Centre was favorable, particularly regarding the mid-year red lights incident. Membership remained stable, and the Centre gained access to the Paranet and Mufonet computer networks for data downloads.

Tasmanian Sightings 1994

This section details specific sightings from 1994. A notable report from Mrs S in North East Tasmania described a circular to oval object with twinkling lights moving slowly, which then shone a light beam downwards. This occurred in February. Another report from a motorist in the same district mentioned a light. A "Nocturnal Light" was reported from the Midlands area in February, described as a large luminous light moving erratically. Ms T reported a large bright yellow to orange light near Bicheno in July. Mr L reported a round orange to reddish light at Elephant Pass in late July or early August. On August 9th, three light cases occurred: an orange light seen in Launceston, a brilliant white light reported by two Kingston witnesses, and a white starlike light seen near Cairns Bay. The latter seemed to have a jagged flight path. A final report from Grove on December 10th described two starlike lights followed by a third that reversed direction.

UFOs In Focus: The Birchwood Mall Case

Authored by Jenny Randles, this article delves into the Birchwood Mall case from February 1991 in Warrington, Cheshire. Security cameras captured a white, tennis-ball-sized object with a doughnut shape that appeared to inspect a garbage bin and climb a wall. The object was filmed for about eight minutes and then vanished. The case was investigated with the aim of building bridges with skeptics. Analysis of the video footage suggested the object might have been a luminous insect or an optical effect. A second camera recorded the object for nearly 20 minutes on April 26, 1991, showing it moving across the ground and onto the mall roof. The object's glow was demonstrated to be a result of interaction with the infrared beam of the security camera. Despite efforts, the case remained unexplained, and the article criticizes the skepticism of organizations like the British and Irish Skeptics for not pursuing the case further.

Close Encounters with Unknown Missiles

This section presents several cases of unidentified objects encountered by aircraft:

• Britannia Airways Encounter (June 1, 1991): Two pilots saw a yellow-orange cylindrical object, estimated at 10 feet, briefly through the windscreen. It was theorized to be a meteorological balloon or an advertising balloon.
• The Dan Air Case (June 17, 1991): Four passengers on a flight to Hamburg saw a slender, grey, cigar-shaped object flying parallel to their aircraft at an altitude of 4-5000 feet. It appeared to oscillate in altitude.
• The Britannia Encounter (July 15, 1991): A co-pilot on a Britannia Airways flight saw a small black, lozenge-shaped object on a collision course, passing within 100 meters of the aircraft's wing at high speed.
• The United Airlines Case (August 5, 1992): Pilots of a United Airlines flight 747 reported an unusual aircraft with a "lifting body configuration," estimated to be similar in size to an F-16, passing them at supersonic speed. The Defence Department and Air Force denied knowledge of any such projects.

What is a UFO?

Authored by Mark Moravec, this article explores the definition of a UFO. It discusses the Condon definition, which defines a UFO as a stimulus for a report of something seen in the sky that the observer could not identify as having an ordinary natural origin. It also presents J. Allen Hynek's definition, differentiating between "UFO reports" and unexplained "UFO" residue, defining a UFO as a reported perception whose behavior does not suggest a logical explanation and remains unidentified after scrutiny. The article also references the British-based Working Party on Standards in UFO Research's definition. Moravec proposes a refined definition for "UFO" as the stimulus behind a reported perception of an object, light source, or presence whose qualities do not suggest a conventional explanation and remain unidentified. He also defines "ufology" as the scientific study of UFOs and related phenomena, emphasizing the need for flexibility in research approaches.

Vladimir Godic Tribute

This section is a tribute to Vladimir Godic, a prominent UFO researcher in Australia who passed away on January 29th. Godic was born in Yugoslavia and emigrated to Australia in 1949. He was actively involved in UFO research from the late 1940s, holding senior positions in UFOPIA and founding UFO Research (SA) Inc. in 1968 to promote a scientific approach. He later launched the "UFO Research Australia Newsletter" (UFORAN) in 1980 to provide a national platform for research. Godic also served as administrator for the Australian Centre for UFO Studies (ACUFOS) around 1982 and was instrumental in establishing UFO Research Australia (UFORA) in 1984. He embraced electronic communication for researchers and, with his wife Pony, developed a digital book on UFO research in Australia and New Zealand. The tribute highlights his significant contributions and passionate dedication to UFO research.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the meticulous collection and statistical analysis of UFO sightings, the detailed investigation of specific cases (both historical and recent), and the ongoing effort to define and understand the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance, as represented by TUFOIC and its contributors, is one of serious, scientific investigation, aiming to move beyond sensationalism and towards a rational understanding of reported aerial anomalies. There is a clear emphasis on evidence-based research, critical analysis, and collaboration within the UFO community, while also acknowledging the unexplained nature of many sightings. The publication also demonstrates a commitment to educating the public and engaging with other researchers, including skeptics, to advance the field of ufology.

This document, titled 'TUFOIC SIGHTINGS STATISTICS' with a subtitle '5 YEAR BREAKDOWN BY TYPE', presents statistical data on UFO sightings. It appears to be an issue from TUFOIC, an organization based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, dedicated to the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena. The primary content consists of statistical tables and graphical representations of UFO sighting data.

Statistical Analysis of UFO Sightings

The core of the document is a table and accompanying bar charts detailing UFO sightings broken down by year into 5-year intervals from 1948-54 to 1990-94. The sightings are categorized into five types: NL (Nocturnal Lights), DD (Drones/Discs), CE1 (Close Encounter 1), CE2 (Close Encounter 2), and CE3 (Close Encounter 3). A 'Total' column aggregates the counts for each period.

Key observations from the data include:

• 1948-54: A total of 9 sightings, with DD being the most frequent category (5).
• 1955-59: A total of 8 sightings.
• 1960-64: A total of 12 sightings.
• 1965-69: A significant increase to 54 sightings, with NL (34) being the dominant category.
• 1970-74: A further increase to 129 sightings, with NL (75) and CE2 (21) being prominent.
• 1975-79: The peak period with 183 sightings, showing high numbers in NL (106), CE1 (32), and CE2 (28).
• 1980-84: A decrease to 56 sightings.
• 1985-89: A slight increase to 60 sightings.
• 1990-94: A decrease to 36 sightings.

A second bar chart specifically illustrates the 'Nocturnal Lights' (NL) category across the same 5-year periods, highlighting its prevalence, particularly in the 1965-69 and 1970-74 intervals.

TUFOIC Membership and Publications

The second page details TUFOIC's membership structure and subscription rates. It outlines 'Full membership' and 'Publications only' options for both Australian and international subscribers, with different rates for airmail and surface mail for overseas members. Payment methods include money orders or bank cheques within Australia, and Australian currency or international money orders for overseas.

The organization also promotes its publications, which focus heavily on UFO cases within Tasmania. These include:

• TASMANIAN UFO SIGHTINGS CATALOGUE - TASCAT 1991: A register of over 500 Tasmanian Unidentified Cases.
• TASMANIAN UFO LANDINGS CATALOGUE - Second Edition: A compilation of UFOs seen on or near ground level in Tasmania.
• CRESSY DOCUMENT: Details a significant UFO sighting in Cressy, Tasmania.
• MAATSUYKER ISLAND DOCUMENT: Covers intriguing UFO reports from Maatsuyker Island.
• NORTH-EAST TASMANIA 1974 DOCUMENT: Documents a major UFO flap in North-East Tasmania in 1974.
• TUFOIC Annual - Tasmanian UFO Report: A collection of issues from 1978 to 1994, available as a full set or single editions.

Prices are listed for these publications, with return postage included for surface mail within Australia. Overseas airmail rates are available upon request.

Editorial Stance and Mission

TUFOIC describes itself as a serious-minded civilian organization that attempts to investigate UFO reports in a scientific, objective, and unbiased manner. It emphasizes that the group draws no conclusions other than the existence of a phenomenon that requires extensive research and rigorous investigation. Authentic reports are forwarded to UFO RESEARCH AUSTRALIA for inclusion in a database. The organization maintains contact with other groups in Australia and overseas to gain a worldwide perspective on UFO phenomena. Membership is open to anyone seriously interested in the subject.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this document are the statistical analysis of UFO sightings and the promotion of TUFOIC's activities and publications. The editorial stance is one of scientific inquiry, objectivity, and a commitment to rigorous investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, with a particular focus on cases within Tasmania. The organization aims to be a reliable source of information and encourages serious interest in the UFO subject.