TUFOIC Newsletter - No 084 - July-Oct 1998

Magazine Overview

This issue of the TUFOIC NEWSLETTER, Edition 84, covers the period from July to October 1998. The publication is from the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre and focuses on UFO reports and related discussions within Tasmania and Australia.

Double Newsletter

The editorial notes that the Centre, operated by a small core of volunteers, has experienced a busy period. Delays in printing the Annual Report coincided with a surge in incoming calls, with 78 calls logged between May and August, in addition to general queries and correspondence. The Centre also experienced the loss of its Northern representative, Jacob Willard, who found steady employment elsewhere. TUFOIC had to decline an invitation to present at a UFO Conference in Sydney due to Paul Jackson's inability to attend, with Matt Whayman stepping in at short notice to represent the organization.

The visit of UFO lecturer Stanton Freidman was of interest, though it was noted that those regularly exposed to UFO news might not have heard anything new. His lecture prompted letters to the Editor of the Hobart Mercury, which focused more on Freidman's qualifications than his UFO data. A conservative response from the Centre was published but was reportedly trivialized with a cartoon.

Tasmanian Scene

The Centre has been extremely busy during the mid-year, with a daily flow of reports. As of September, over 110 reports had been received for 1998, plus some from earlier years. The increase in cases did not translate to a significant percentage increase in UFO sightings, with a larger proportion attributed to astronomical causes, possibly due to fine winter weather and clear skies. Other phenomena reported included an Aurora and reflections of the setting sun on fog clouds. Hot air balloons were also reported in Launceston and South Hobart. A concentration of cases came from the New Norfolk to Granton area of the Derwent Valley, with isolated cases elsewhere. The efforts of a local representative, Bill Kelly, in the Derwent Valley helped uncover additional sightings that might otherwise have gone unreported, highlighting that many cases remain hidden from the Centre.

The newsletter provides contact information for the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre: Sightings Phone Number 6223 6009, Postal Address P.O. Box 174, South Hobart, Tasmania, 7004, AUSTRALIA, Email [email protected], and Internet http://www.netspace.net.au/~tufoic.

New Sightings From Other Years

This section details older cases that are still considered worthy of inclusion.

One case from 1980 involved two women travelling near Elizabeth Town. One was dropped off near Wegeana, where a set of lights appeared near her car. The bright object was estimated to be 200m away. The woman's husband saw a large white light in the sky behind his wife's car, which moved slowly for about 30 minutes before increasing speed and disappearing.

Another case from June 11th, 1984, may involve missing time. Two witnesses, Miss L and her fiancé A, were returning from an event in Devonport to Hobart. While driving, Miss L noticed a white light darting in various directions. As they entered St Peter's Pass, Miss L was confronted by a 10-20m circular object hovering 10m above roadside trees. The object had red, white, and blue lights spinning anti-clockwise and a metallic surface. It made a supersonic whistling noise, rose up, tilted, and rapidly dwindled to a white dot. Upon arriving home, they found Miss L's parents had already arrived, and Miss L discovered a puzzling 1cm vertical cut on her stomach.

A sighting near Cygnet on July 23rd, 1992, involved Mr D and his wife. Their dog began to howl, and they observed an intense white moon-sized ball moving quickly up a slope, with six smaller lights ahead of it. The ball moved parallel to them, then picked up speed and headed east out of sight. Both witnesses experienced a sensation up the back of their necks, and other dogs were heard howling.

Another report from February 1994 involved three witnesses at Aberdeen who saw a silver-grey object, described as a cigar, moving erratically before disappearing into thin air. Similar reports occurred in 1996, early 1997, and near Launceston in June 1998.

A case from October 1996 near St Marys involved a young girl reporting an oval object with red and green lights. Later that evening, nine witnesses saw a bright white misty oval of light moving silently across the northern sky. The adult in the household had a dream of a tall figure and a laser beam, resulting in two brown marks on their temple and a burn mark on their arm.

A possible missing time case from mid-1997 involved two witnesses travelling between Longford and Hagley. They noticed an oval mass of bright white light, and their car radio became crackly. The light enveloped the car, and neither witness could recall what happened next, only that they were further along the road with the light passing over them. They arrived home 30 minutes later than expected.

In the News

A new UFO documentary, 'THE SECRET KGB UFO FILES', broadcast in the USA in mid-September, is discussed. Hosted by Roger Moore, it features footage of alleged crash sites, alien autopsies, and accounts from former KGB agents. The documentary claims to reveal startling revelations about the KGB's hidden campaign regarding UFO incidents. The newsletter notes the controversy surrounding the authenticity of the claims and expresses skepticism, stating, "On past experience, If something sounds too good to be true - It usually is."

Tasmanian UFO Reports 1998

This section provides a chronological list of UFO reports from Tasmania in 1998:

• Jan 8th, 04:40, Burnie: Elongated shape, red on top, green below, visible in NE sky.
• Jan 18th, 03:30, Tunnnack: Two white lights moving south, one flashing red.
• Jan 25th, 01:30, Tunnnack: Two white lights travelling south, one flashing red.
• Feb 8th, 09:45, Bell Bay: Five witnesses reported a white cigar object with smaller objects moving around it.
• May 10th, 02:00, Bellerivè: Stationary bright white light moving west.
• May 16th, 19:15, New Norfolk: Flash of light from red light surrounded by blue lights, and a red light in the garden.
• May 17th, 20:30, Lauderdale: Bright light with red/white/blue colours, rising and blinking off.
• May 18th, 20:30, Black Hills: Oval light with a beam pointing towards the ground.
• May 21st, 17:45, Kingston: Large pink/white light moving north-west.
• May 28th, 20:07, Mt Lloyd: Bright light low to the south-west, with small lights darting around it.
• May 31st, 01:10, Collinsvale: Flashes of light, huge square and triangular areas of light.
• June 5th, 02:30, Tunbridge: Rotating beam of light in the clouds.
• June 8th, 22:05, Devonport: White light moving NW, with video showing two lights, one pulsing.
• June 19th, 19:20, Granton: Bright white light hovering, round with red portholes and flashing lights.
• June 20th, 19:30, Granton: Row of 4 big red lights with 3 smaller lights appeared behind a vehicle.
• June 29th, 14:20, Launceston: Shiny silver cigar disappearing in a second.
• July 23rd, 20:30, Granton: Ill-defined dome-shape with flickering blue/red/white lights, stationary over the Derwent River.
• July 24th, 22:30, Granton: Red/yellow lights moving up and down on a hill.
• Aug 8th, 17:15, Bell Bay: Silver shape with irregular flashing light, darting about.

King Island Sightings

This section details sightings from King Island, noted for media coverage. Explanations have ranged from hoax balloons to unexplained phenomena, with some linking it to the 20th anniversary of the Valentich disappearance. The reports consistently describe lights moving over the town from the north, with some mentioning resolved shapes, flames, flecks of light, and shafts of light. Some reports mention 'something' falling from the light at higher elevations.

• Thursday 24/9/98: A bright red light was seen gaining elevation, described as a flattish oval shape, silent and moving slowly. Later, a red ball was seen coming from the SE, appearing to have flames. Police confirmed a call but suggested a Hoax Balloon.
• Friday 25/9/98: An orange/pink light was seen stationary then moving SW. Later, a bright red light was seen over the sea moving south. A bright, large, orange light was seen moving along the coast, with a whitish object dropping from it.
• Saturday 26/9/98: Witnesses saw a bright orange/red round light with a glow, stationary then moving NNE. Another witness saw a bright red ball of light below the clouds, moving east. A third witness reported an orange/pink light gaining elevation and disappearing.
• Sunday 27/9/98: A pink/orange light appeared high in the east and moved fast. A yellow light with a red rim was seen moving from NW to SE, increasing speed. A very bright red/orange light was seen in the northern sky, moving from NW to SE, with a red flame at the rear.

The newsletter also notes that Tullamarine Control advised there were no aircraft in the area during some sightings. A witness at the Airport saw an orange light moving fast north to south.

King Island Sightings - Footnote

This section addresses suggested explanations for the King Island sightings, including hoax balloons, remote models, and unexplained phenomena. It notes that the sightings occurred during a period of strong winds, making manned flight unlikely. The sightings were concentrated in a specific area and occurred during school holidays, leading to speculation about a prankster. Explanations like satellites, flares, and aurora have been ruled out. The author criticizes those who propose explanations without proper research or interviewing witnesses.

Skywatch

This section provides astronomical information:

• Mercury: Visible low in the western sky after dusk, reaching greatest eastern elongation on November 11.
• Venus: Too close to the Sun for observation, will reappear by year's end.
• Mars: Visible in the NE morning sky, easily identifiable by its moderate brightness and reddish color.
• Jupiter: Currently at its best for observation, a prominent object visible for most of the night, with its four brightest satellites.
• Saturn: Reaches opposition on October 23, appearing due north at midnight. It is a moderately bright whitish object.

Meteor Shower

The Leonids Meteor shower is predicted to be a major storm, with thousands of meteors per hour from November 14-21, peaking on the 18th. The shower is due to Earth passing through debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle.

Planetary Information was adapted from the Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of Tasmania.

Letters to the Editor

Keep eye on the sky (September 5/98):

This letter discusses the visit of UFO lecturer Stanton Freidman. It notes that the response seemed more interested in his qualifications as a physicist than his UFO data. The writer mentions a panel of scientists convened by the Society of Scientific Exploration, where Peter Sturrock suggested evaluating UFO reports for unusual phenomena. The Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre conducts investigations and draws no conclusion other than that an unexplained phenomenon exists, welcoming genuine reports.

UFO visits (August 28):

This letter, from S. Dean of Bellerive, expresses skepticism about UFO visits, questioning why they don't land in public venues. The writer states they will treat Freidman and his ilk as "pitiable fanatics until such time, I have solid proof."

Michael Sumner of South Hobart, identifying as a "nuclear physicist," also comments on Freidman's claims. He argues that being a physicist does not grant special authority on assessing eyewitness testimony. He suggests that the media's use of the term "physicist" lends undue respectability to controversial claims.

Prof. R. Delbourgo, Professor of physics at the University of Tasmania, criticizes sensational news items attributed to physicists. He distinguishes between physicists working in traditional science areas who make significant advances and those who push their own agendas. He urges science reporters to check qualifications before publishing articles that could damage the reputation of physics.

Canadian and Tasmanian UFO Data

A table compares Canadian and Tasmanian UFO data from 1989 to 1997, showing percentages for each year and a total. The figures show some interesting comparisons, with the total UFO percentage being 13.8% for Canada and 13.7% for Tasmania.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting of UFO sightings across Tasmania and King Island, the challenges faced by UFO investigation groups, and the critical examination of UFO claims and the media's portrayal of them. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent investigation of reported phenomena, while maintaining a healthy skepticism towards sensational claims and unsubstantiated explanations. The newsletter emphasizes the importance of eyewitness testimony and the need for rigorous scientific inquiry, even while acknowledging the existence of unexplained events.