TUFOIC Newsletter - No 103 - January 2010

Magazine Overview

Title: TUFOIC REPORT 2009
Issue: 103
Date: January 2010
Publisher: TUFOIC (Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre)
Country: Australia

This issue of the TUFOIC Report provides a review of UFO activity and investigations in Tasmania, Australia, during 2009, alongside a report on a confirmed UFO sighting in France. The magazine details specific sightings, statistics, and the organization's objectives.

Year in Review 2009

The Tasmanian UFO scene in 2009 was characterized by contrasts, with initial encouraging reports and media coverage giving way to a period of drought. A notable surge of events occurred during one week in August around the Batman Bridge area, which brought the Centre back to action before the 'big dry' returned. Investigations have been on a decline since 2005, with the 2009 figure of 45 being the lowest since 1968 (36 investigations). A peculiar observation is that only one unexplained case occurred in the south of the state in the past four years, while approximately 20 UFO cases were reported north of St Peters Pass during the same period.

A significant change noted is the increase in orange/red light reports, primarily from suburban areas, accounting for about 25% of investigations. The report suggests that many of these are likely hoax balloons or Chinese lanterns. The advent of digital photography has also led to an increase in pictures capturing 'blobs' or 'dark shapes' that were not seen at the time of the photograph, often explained as birds caught in the frame. TUFOIC's New Year wish is for a return of UFO activity.

TUFOIC Statistics 2009

• The statistics for 2009 categorize 45 total cases as follows:
• Unidentified: 8
• Astronomical: 14
• Aircraft: 1
• Satellites: 6
• Balloon/Fireworks: 12
• Others: 4

TUFOIC Publications

• The report lists several publications available from TUFOIC:
• TASMANIAN U.F.O. SIGHTINGS CATALOGUE TASCAT 2008: A register of over 500 Tasmanian UFO cases ($3.00).
• TASMANIAN and THE UFO UFOs of HIGH MERIT: Tasmania's Top Sightings ($3.00).
• CRESSY DOCUMENT: Details of a significant UFO sighting in Cressy ($3.00).
• MAATSUYKER ISLAND DOCUMENT: Information on UFO reports from this lighthouse island ($3.00).
• NORTH-EAST TASMANIA - 1974 DOCUMENT: Covers the largest Tasmanian UFO flap in 1974 ($3.00).
• UFO TASMANIA: The TUFOIC Annual Report.
• MYSTERIOUS MELODALE: Details strange paranormal events and a baffling series of events ($3.00).

Various single editions are available at $1.00. All prices include return postage (surface mail only), with overseas air mail rates available on request.

Sightings

The issue details several specific sightings from 2009:

• France Continued... (Date unspecified): A witness described an egg-shaped object that appeared silently, hovered, and then sped off westerly. The witness, Jean Louis Fesseau, a fisherman, stated the craft was lit up in red and yellow, stayed fixed for about 12 seconds, and then disappeared at tremendous speed. He estimated the UFO was about 600 metres from the coast and at a height of about 300 metres. The police are handing the file over to GEIPAN, France's official UFO investigative body.

• Hadspen. 2009. Feb 5th. 11.30pm: Two witnesses saw a pair of lights in the south-west sky, followed by a third light. The front lights switched positions, appearing to leap-frog each other, while the third light remained below. All three disappeared into the north-east after about five minutes.

• St Peters Pass. 2009. Feb 21st. 9.30pm: A motorist and two passengers noticed several star-like lights in the east, moving erratically, blinking, and reappearing. A patch of cloud obscured the lights after about 5-10 minutes, but similar lights were briefly noticed in the south near Jericho.

• March 1st. 2009. 10pm South Riana: A witness saw a blue ball of light at fence-top height over a neighbor's laneway. The light moved back and forth before moving off at low level towards the north-west with a swishing/jet noise, disappearing in 30 seconds.

• Saturday Aug 8th. 1.30 Am. Bell Bay: A shift worker reported seeing four orange lights in formation moving overhead to the SW, with the side lights moving erratically.

• Thursday Aug 13th. 5.30Am. Batman Bridge: A witness saw two large bright white lights surrounded by six smaller lights on the eastern approach to the bridge. The lights shot straight up into the sky, and the witness heard a humming noise from inside his vehicle. Phil Polden investigated the site and spoke to a camper who reported an unusual experience of sleeping in late and waking feeling sweaty, with his van feeling charged with static electricity.

• Thursday Aug 13th. 7Am. Batman Bridge: A motorist saw an elongated pulsing light, about the size of a bus, over a paddock. The object dropped a smaller light to the ground before shooting straight up into the sky and disappearing. The property owners also reported seeing lights.

• Thursday Aug 13th. 4.30Pm. Batman Bridge: A resident reported observing mystery lights. Four lights appeared, followed by another four, and then a third row. The lower lights were stationary, but the top set moved and danced around before fading out after three minutes.

• Thursday Aug 13th. 10.30Pm. Launceston City: Three witnesses saw two lights moving overhead. One witness described the lights separating, with the second light moving in a zigzag before catching up with the leading light, and then receding to the south. The sighting lasted about 30 seconds.

UFO Sighting in France Confirmed by Police

Michael Cohen reports that police on the Isle of Oleron, off the coast of France, have confirmed they are investigating a mass UFO sighting that occurred on New Year's Eve. At least three independent witnesses have been interviewed, and their testimonies are considered reliable. Lieutenant Bourdajeau noted that the witness testimonies seem to verify that the event was not a hoax.

Objectives of TUFOIC

• The objectives of TUFOIC are:
• To investigate Tasmanian UFO reports.
• To publish details of UFO reports and maintain a UFO database.
• To distribute authentic information to members and fellow UFO organizations.
• Membership is open to all who support the aims of the Centre.

Contact Information

TUFOIC's contact details are provided: P.O. Box 174, South Hobart, Tasmania, 7004. Email: [email protected]. Web site: http://www.tufoic.nel.net. Telephone: 03 62236009. The President is Janis Burns, Secretary is Keith Roberts, and Librarian is Ray Thomas.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting of specific UFO sightings, the statistical analysis of reported cases, and the organization's efforts to investigate and disseminate information. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena, while also acknowledging and attempting to explain common misidentifications such as balloons and photographic artifacts. The publication aims to document UFO activity and encourage further investigation, as evidenced by their New Year's wish for a return of UFO activity to keep them engaged.