DISCLOSURE / FILE
Royal New Zealand Air Force file AIR 39/3/3 Volume 2, opened 1956 and closed 1979, compiles civilian and military UFO sighting reports plus the RNZAF Air Staff investigation into the December 1978 Kaikoura visual and radar sightings off the East Coast of the South Island.
Royal New Zealand Air Force file AIR 39/3/3 Volume 2, opened 1956 and closed 1979, compiles civilian and military UFO sighting reports plus the RNZAF Air Staff investigation into the December 1978 Kaikoura visual and radar sightings off the East Coast of the South Island.
Released by Archives New Zealand in December 2010 under the Official Information Act, the volume is anchored by Air Staff Minute 4/1979, signed 18 January 1979 by Air Vice-Marshal C.L. Siegert (CAS), reporting on UFO sightings on the nights of 21/22 December and 30/31 December 1978 that were observed by multiple SAFE Argosy crews visually and on aircraft radar, and by Wellington Radar. After negative press coverage, the RNZAF launched a P-3 Orion on 2/3 January 1979; the Orion captain concluded the Japanese squid fleet and the early-morning rise of Venus were leading clues. A cleared public-relations release dated 25 January 1979 attributes the sightings to natural but unusual atmospheric phenomena, spurious Wellington ATC radar returns off the east coast of the South Island, and the 200 kilowatts of light per boat generated by more than 50 Japanese squid boats fishing 120 miles off Banks Peninsula. The file also contains correspondence with overseas researchers, including a 2 January 1979 letter from Darren W. Mitchell of Croydon Park, South Australia.
the sightings were observed by more than one SAFE Argosy crew on several occasions, visually and on their aircraft radar, and by Wellington Radarp.8
The Orion captain reached the conclusion that the Japanese squid fleet, associated with the early morning rise of Venus were leading clues.p.8
Not surprisingly they are similar to those of an investigation into the first reported UFO sightings of a "chain of nine saucer-like objects" over Mt. Rainier, USA, in 1947 which proved to be mirages caused by a temperature inversion.p.9
Over the period more than 50 Japanese squid boats sailed from Wellington to a position 120 miles off Banks Peninsula.p.11
Each boat generates about 200 kilowatts of light to attract squid to its lures, and this light source cannot be discounted as a cause of some of the visual sightings.p.11
It was also revealed that for some time the Wellington Air Traffic Control radar has been giving spurious returns off the east coast of the South Island.p.11
HAVING CONDUCTED INQUIRY INTO RECENT QUOTE UNIDENTIFIED VISUAL AND RADAR SIGHTINGS UNQUOTE IN CLARENCE REGION THERE REMAINS SOME DOUBT ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THE LIGHTS THAT WERE OBSERVED BY THREE SAFE ARGOSY CREWSp.20
Extracted text · Page 1
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Part I Copy / 4 of 36 NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) FILES COPIES FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC File Number: AIR 39/3/3 Volume 2 – Parts 1 and 2 File Title: Reports of UFO's File Timespan: Opened: 1956 - Closed 1979 File Declassified: September 2010 Location of Original File: Held at Archives New Zealand Access to Original File: Restricted until 2049 File Contains: Reports of sightings from members of the public and military personnel. RNZAF investigation and report into the Kaikoura sightings of 1978/9. Summaries of Unusual Aerial Sightings from the Australian Department of Defence. Correspondence from / to UFO research groups in NZ and requests for UFO information from overseas researchers.
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NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE PUBLIC RELEASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) FILES These copied and redacted files of correspondence on Unidentified Flying Objects dating from 1952 to 2009 have been Declassified and released to the public by the New Zealand Defence Force under the Official Information Act. Access to the original files held by Archives New Zealand is restricted up until the year 2050 for Personal Privacy reasons. These copied files have had the personal details of members of the public making UFO reports removed to preserve their privacy. Personal details of service personnel and civilians employed by the New Zealand Defence Force and other Government Departments and Agencies have not been removed. No other information has been removed or omitted from these files. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FILES Correspondence on Flying Saucers began in New Zealand Defence Force files in 1952 and continued under different names, Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) and Unidentified Aerial Sightings (UAS) until the present. The files contain reports of sightings by private individuals and military personnel, investigations by Defence and other Government Departments and agencies into these reports, newspaper clippings on UFOs and letters from individuals who claim to be in touch with alien beings and craft. While the files are in general date order from 1952 until the present some file periods overlap with one another and the documents within each file are not necessarily in strict date order. There can be duplicate documents within each file and copies of the same documents (particularly media releases and reports) can appear in different files. ACCESS TO UFO FILES These redacted files are available in hard copy from the Defence Library c/o Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force Aitken St Wellington. They are not available in electronic format.
Page 387 · vision OCR
- Phone call received 26/7/56
Control Centre
11 o'clock this morning C.O. Woodbourne
reported a silver object travelling N to W
25,000 to 35,000 feet . Seen by a number of people
[STRIKETHROUGH: THANKXM]
No aircraft or balloons in the area.
If you require further information please ring
C.O. Woodbourne.
[handwritten:] No further action
[signature]
[FILE stamp]Concatenated page-by-page transcript. Born-digital pages came through pdf.js; scanned pages were transcribed by Claude vision OCR. Pages marked unreadable failed multiple OCR retries (heavy redaction, microfilm artifacts, or blank separators) and are kept in place for audit.
Part I Copy / 4 of 36 NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) FILES COPIES FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC File Number: AIR 39/3/3 Volume 2 – Parts 1 and 2 File Title: Reports of UFO's File Timespan: Opened: 1956 - Closed 1979 File Declassified: September 2010 Location of Original File: Held at Archives New Zealand Access to Original File: Restricted until 2049 File Contains: Reports of sightings from members of the public and military personnel. RNZAF investigation and report into the Kaikoura sightings of 1978/9. Summaries of Unusual Aerial Sightings from the Australian Department of Defence. Correspondence from / to UFO research groups in NZ and requests for UFO information from overseas researchers.
NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE PUBLIC RELEASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) FILES These copied and redacted files of correspondence on Unidentified Flying Objects dating from 1952 to 2009 have been Declassified and released to the public by the New Zealand Defence Force under the Official Information Act. Access to the original files held by Archives New Zealand is restricted up until the year 2050 for Personal Privacy reasons. These copied files have had the personal details of members of the public making UFO reports removed to preserve their privacy. Personal details of service personnel and civilians employed by the New Zealand Defence Force and other Government Departments and Agencies have not been removed. No other information has been removed or omitted from these files. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FILES Correspondence on Flying Saucers began in New Zealand Defence Force files in 1952 and continued under different names, Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) and Unidentified Aerial Sightings (UAS) until the present. The files contain reports of sightings by private individuals and military personnel, investigations by Defence and other Government Departments and agencies into these reports, newspaper clippings on UFOs and letters from individuals who claim to be in touch with alien beings and craft. While the files are in general date order from 1952 until the present some file periods overlap with one another and the documents within each file are not necessarily in strict date order. There can be duplicate documents within each file and copies of the same documents (particularly media releases and reports) can appear in different files. ACCESS TO UFO FILES These redacted files are available in hard copy from the Defence Library c/o Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force Aitken St Wellington. They are not available in electronic format.
VETTING RECORD SHEET
PLEASE COMPLETE ONLY ONE PAGE PER RECORD
NZDF STORAGE NO ___________
*HQ NZDF/ARMY/NAVY/AIR FORCE/JSO FILE *Delete as appropriate
FILE NO AIR 39/3/3 LOCATION FRB ARCHIVES NZ
PART NO 2 TYPE [ILLEGIBLE]
(File or Non File Material)
Series REPORTS
Sub-Series ___________________________________________
Subject REPORTS OF UFO's
Date of first document 9 / 1 / 1956 Date of last document 24 / 1 / 1979
Please Tick the Appropriate Boxes:
No NZ Documents on File No Foreign Source Documents on File
√ No Classified Documents on File Some Foreign or Special-Source Documents
placed on restricted Parallel File
√ NZ Documents Cleared for Access Some NZ (Non-NZDF) Documents placed on
Restricted Parallel File
No Classified NZ Documents on File Some All Foreign Source Documents
or Cleared for Access
OR
√ Release on 1 January in the Year 2049
√ Review again before the Year 2049
VETTING COMMENTS IF NECESSARY
File contains reports of sightings of UFO's other
miscellaneous correspondence and the investigation
report on unidentified visual and radar sightings
off the East Coast of the South Island in
December 1978.
Public access restricted until 2049 on privacy grounds
Vetting Commenced 31 / 8 / 10 Vetting Completed 2 / 9 / 10
STAMP (place relevant NZDF decision STAMP here, sign and date)
PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS FILE IS RESTRICTED UNTIL 2049 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRIVACY PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9 OF THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982.Te Rua Mahara o te Kawanatanga
aRCHIVeS
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This item is part of the holdings of Archives New Zealand, and
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Unless returned within 3 months, or extended, overdue charges will applyFile Number AIR 39 / 3 / 3. Vol No. 2.........
FILE RELEASE STATEMENT
VETTING COMPLETED AND:
√ No classified documents on file.
√ NZDF documents have been declassified
Other NZ Govt Dept classified documents have been cleared for access
Foreign Source classified documents have been cleared for access
Some foreign source documents have been placed on a restricted parallel
file (see separation sheets herewith recording transfer).
Other comments:
File contains reports of sightings of UFO's, other Miscellaneous
correspondence and the investigation report on unidentified visual
and radar sightings off the East Coast of the South Island in
December 1978
Public access restricted until 2049 on privacy grounds
Signed......... [ILLEGIBLE] ................... Date.... 2/9/10........
For Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force
NB: Classified documents of other New Zealand
Departments where there is some concern about
declassifying them should be referred to the
relevant department.MD 701 AIR STAFF,
DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS,
WELLINGTON.
Mem' 'um from
DEPUTY CHIEF OF AIR STAFF
47875B--50 pads/6/74 TC
For: AC/S [initialled] Noted
24/1
1. This is copy of PK release which
should appear in media reports
at midday and after on Thursday
25th Jan.
2. I have told PK staff that should
a newspaper feel the need to do an
unbiased report on UFO's you would
be available to give an Air Force/[ILLEGIBLE]
input. Best of luck.
[signature]
24/1/[19]79Az SEI / 3 / 3
3/36 Rickaby St.
Croydon Park,
5008 S.A.
Australia.
2/1/79
To whom it may concern,
I am researching the recent spate of
possible UFO sightings in the view of contributing several
articles to major international science journals and would
be most grateful if you could help me in my enquiries:
Do you know of any sightings directly or indirectly. If so,
could you either supply details of witnesses or actual details
of the sightings. Was there any radar confirmation of the
sightings.
I hope that I will hear from you shortly. Thanking you for you
assistance in my investigations.
Yours Sincerely,
Darren W. Mitchell 11/10/An[ILLEGIBLE]
D.W. Mitchell
PR ADJ / 25. [ILLEGIBLE]
[initialled]
[handwritten:]
Adj
e. I suggest this enquiry
be referred to PR(An)
FILE.
1 /19 31 JAN [ILLEGIBLE]RESTRICTED
Air 39/3/3
MINUTE NO 4/1979
Air Staff
CDS
REPORT ON UNIDENTIFIABLE VISUAL AND RADAR SIGHTINGS
EAST COAST SOUTH ISLAND : DECEMBER 1978
1. As a consequence of initial adverse media comment about
Defence's response to news of the alleged presence of UFO's off
the east coast of the South Island on two evenings in December,
my staff undertook a study of the reported events, and prepared
a report for me.
2. As you know we have traditionally adopted a 'low profile'
interest in reported UFO sightings, and until 22 December last had
no special arrangements for responding to them. Thus, my staff,
(and subsequently myself) were not informed of the reported
sightings on the night of 21/22 December, until 1030 hours on 22
December.
3. At that time, and only because the sightings were observed
by more than one SAFE Argosy crew on several occasions, visually and
on their aircraft radar, and by Wellington Radar, I agreed that
should similar circumstances be reported again, the RNZAF would
attempt to put an Orion into the area to accurately observe and
report on unusual visual, electronic or meteorological phenomena.
CADMOT were informed of the intent, and they arranged for the Air
Staff duty officer to be immediately advised of any future sightings.
4. In the event, the occurrences of 21/22 December were
similarly repeated on the night of 30/31 December, but because of
an administrative fault, the Wellington radar operators were not
aware of the Air Staff request to be informed. My staff first
became aware of the reported sightings of 30/31 December on the
radio news next day; an opportunity to observe the phenomena was
lost.
5. After the second sightings, and in response to an
increasingly negative news media coverage, my staff arranged to
launch an Orion aircraft on the night of 2/3 January; the purpose
of the flight was to allay media charges this Ministry was acting
irresponsibly, and to see whether any light could be thrown on the
reported sightings using the Orion's disciplined crew and electronic
equipments. The sortie accomplished the first objective and drew
favourable media comment, but added little to our knowledge of the
reasons for the purported UFO sightings. The Orion captain reached
the conclusion that the Japanese squid fleet, associated with the
early morning rise of Venus were leading clues.
/6. Because
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
-2-
6. Because the Prime Minister took a close personal
interest in what went on (he spoke with DCAS twice), and
specially asked he be informed of Defence's conclusions to
the study it was undertaking, I believe he would wish to see
a copy of the Air Staff report.
7. The Air Staff reporting officer has interviewed
the principal persons involved in the purported UFO sightings,
collaborated with CADMOT, the DSIR and the Meteorological
Service. I consider his conclusions are valid considering
the circumstances. Not surprisingly they are similar to
those of an investigation into the first reported UFO sightings
of a "chain of nine saucer-like objects" over Mt. Rainier, USA,
in 1947 which proved to be mirages caused by a temperature
inversion.
8. Mr M. Collins of the DSIR has prepared a Departmental
report on the findings of several scientific studies undertaken,
and which is to be submitted to the Minister of Science in the
near future. The attached report takes account of the findings
of the DSIR investigations, copies of which are held in Air
Staff.
9. For the reasons given at para 6 I attach copies of
the Air Staff report for onforwarding to the Minister of Defence
and the Prime Minister. DPR plans to issue a PR statement next
week.
[signature]
(C.L. SIEGERT)
AVM
18 Jan 79 CAS
Enclosure: Copies of Air Staff report.
RESTRICTEDAIR 39/3/3
31 January 1979
MR D.W. Mitchell
3/36 Rickaby Street
Croydon Park
5008 South Australia
AUSTRALIA
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter to the Commanding Officer
of RNZAF Base Woodbourne concerning information on the recent
UFO sightings.
The questions you ask in that letter are similar to
those asked in letters to the Civil Aviation Division of the
Ministry of Transport who will be replying to you in due course.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer
FILE. [initialled]
30th JAN 1979NEF, draft PR release cleared by CDS
for distribution Thursday 25th Jan 79.
RNZAF UFO SIGHTING REPORT
The unidentified radar and visual sightings reported by aircraft and
the Air Traffic Control radars off the north east coast of the South Island
recently, are the result of natural but unusual atmospheric phenomena. (a)
This is the conclusion arrived at in the Air Force's just completed
investigation into the sightings.
Before arriving at his conclusions, the investigating officer
interviewed all the principle witnesses involved in the sightings on the
nights of 20 and 30 December. He also worked closely with the Department
of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Civil Aviation Division of the
Ministry of Transport, and the Meteorological Service.
His report reveals that during the months of December and early (a)
January, atmospheric conditions over New Zealand were conducive to freak
effects on radar and light waves. Also, the planet Venus was rising in the
eastern sky early in the morning, and at this time of the year is unusually
bright in appearance. (b)
It was also revealed that for some time the Wellington Air Traffic
Control radar has been giving spurious returns off the east coast of the
South Island. (c)
Over the period more than 50 Japanese squid boats sailed from
Wellington to a position 120 miles off Banks Peninsula.
Not only would the squid boats give a good source of radar return
whilst in transit to the squid fishing grounds, but they generate a very
large amount of light when fishing at night. Each boat generates about
200 kilowatts of light to attract squid to its lures, and this light source
cannot be discounted as a cause of some of the visual sightings. (d)2.
The investigating officer also speculates that lights seen in the
Clarence River mouth could have come from trains or vehicles travelling
long the coast, and affected by unusual atmospheric reflections and
refractions. (e)
There is no evidence to connect the many radar and visual sightings
in the Clarence River and the larger lights seen to the east. (g)
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the Ministry was completely
satisfied there were no unexplained physical objects in the skies at the
time of the sightings.
The lights were almost certainly from surface or planetary sources
affected by atmospheric reflection, refraction and distortion.
Radar sets are known to be subject to spurious returns, and it was
significant that on the occasions the large light was being filmed by a
television team on board the Argosy freighter, neither Christchurch or
Wellington radars reported any related visual sightings on their screens.
The spokesman said that the Ministry of Defence was not specifically
charged with formal responsibility for investigating so-called unidentified
flying objects in peacetime. However, the Ministry does take an active
interest in all such reports and within the limitations of its resources,
conducts investigations as necessary.
Commenting on some media speculation that the country was defenceless
against air attack, the spokesman said that New Zealand did not have
complex air defence system, comprising sophisticated radar equipment
and a force of missiles and interceptor aircraft.3.
The recently announced Defence Review explains that over the next
decade at least, a physical threat to New Zealand's security, by sea
or from the air, is so remote that expenditure of funds on
sophisticated air defence equipments could not be justified.
No costing of a comprehensive air defence system for New Zealand
had been done, but the Defence spokesman said that the bill would be
enormous and well beyond current resource levels.
The Defence spokesman concluded by saying that the Ministry totally
discounts the possibility of visits to New Zealand, and particularly
to the areas of the country where the recent reports have suggested, of
alien aircraft or other flying machines. It also categorically discounts
any suggestion that air activity of any kind has taken place which poses
any threat to New Zealand's security. Defence does not share the view of
those who believe we are visited from outer space, or covertly by the air-
craft or machines of potentially unfriendly nations.AIR 39/3/3
24 January 1979
Regional Director
Regional Office
Ministry of Transport
PO Box 27144
Upper Willis Street
WELLINGTON
CORRESPONDENCE : AERIAL PHENOMENA
1. Please find enclosed a letter from Mr Darren W. Mitchell
containing questions relating to the anomalous aerial phenomena
sightings in the Kaikoura region and a covering note from your
office.
2. As the questions directly concern air traffic control, the
inquiry is returned for your action.
Yours faithfully,
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer
FILE. [initialled]
AIR 39/3/3
24 / 1 / 1979RESTRICTED
Air 39/3/3
MINUTE NO 4/1979
[handwritten:] CAS Noted + accepted. Thankyou.
a PR statement has been cleared
and 2 copies of your report
forwarded to the Ministers. [initialled] 23/
REPORT ON UNIDENTIFIABLE VISUAL AND RADAR SIGHTINGS
EAST COAST SOUTH ISLAND : DECEMBER 1978
1. As a consequence of initial adverse media comment about
Defence's response to news of the alleged presence of UFO's off
the east coast of the South Island on two evenings in December,
my staff undertook a study of the reported events, and prepared
a report for me.
2. As you know we have traditionally adopted a 'low profile'
interest in reported UFO sightings, and until 22 December last had
no special arrangements for responding to them. Thus, my staff,
(and subsequently myself) were not informed of the reported
sightings on the night of 21/22 December, until 1030 hours on 22
December.
3. At that time, and only because the sightings were observed
by more than one SAFE Argosy crew on several occasions, visually and
on their aircraft radar, and by Wellington Radar, I agreed that
should similar circumstances be reported again, the RNZAF would
attempt to put an Orion into the area to accurately observe and
report on unusual visual, electronic or meteorological phenomena.
CADMOT were informed of the intent, and they arranged for the Air
Staff duty officer to be immediately advised of any future sightings.
4. In the event, the occurrences of 21/22 December were
similarly repeated on the night of 30/31 December, but because of
an administrative fault, the Wellington radar operators were not
aware of the Air Staff request to be informed. My staff first
became aware of the reported sightings of 30/31 December on the
radio news next day; an opportunity to observe the phenomena was
lost.
CDS attention
5. After the second sightings, and in response to an
increasingly negative news media coverage, my staff arranged to
launch an Orion aircraft on the night of 2/3 January; the purpose
of the flight was to allay media charges this Ministry was acting
irresponsibly, and to see whether any light could be thrown on the
reported sightings using the Orion's disciplined crew and electronic
equipments. The sortie accomplished the first objective and drew
favourable media comment, but added little to our knowledge of the
reasons for the purported UFO sightings. The Orion captain reached
the conclusion that the Japanese squid fleet, associated with the
early morning rise of Venus were leading clues.
/6. Because
RESTRICTED.RESTRICTED
-2-
6. Because the Prime Minister took a close personal
interest in what went on (he spoke with DCAS twice), and
specially asked he be informed of Defence's conclusions to
the study it was undertaking, I believe he would wish to see
a copy of the Air Staff report.
7. The Air Staff reporting officer has interviewed
the principal persons involved in the purported UFO sightings,
collaborated with CADMOT, the DSIR and the Meteorological
Service. I consider his conclusions are valid considering
the circumstances. Not surprisingly they are similar to
those of an investigation into the first reported UFO sightings
of a "chain of nine saucer-like objects" over Mt. Rainier, USA,
in 1947 which proved to be mirages caused by a temperature
inversion.
8. Mr M. Collins of the DSIR has prepared a Departmental
report on the findings of several scientific studies undertaken,
and which is to be submitted to the Minister of Science in the
near future. The attached report takes account of the findings
of the DSIR investigations, copies of which are held in Air
Staff.
9. For the reasons given at para 6 I attach copies of
the Air Staff report for onforwarding to the Minister of Defence
and the Prime Minister. DPR plans to issue a PR statement next
week.
[signature]
(C.L. SIEGERT)
AVM
18 Jan 79 CAS
Enclosure: Copies of Air Staff report.
RESTRICTEDMINUTE SHEET
Subject: RADAR SIGHTINGS. Department: Air Staff
File No: Air 39/3/3
Date: 17 Nov [19]79
To [ILLEGIBLE]
PR [initialled]
1. I believe you have already
returned one of these to CADMOT. [initialled]
2. May I suggest that this one
is also returned with the comment
that since most of the answers are
directly related to CADMOT they
may care to reply.
3. In respect of unusual propagation
phenomena it is highly probable that
such existed. I have heard of this
case through the media! The Defence
informal inquiry is still underway -- no
definitive explanations yet but all
sightings very likely will be explained
by natural but unusual phenomena.
4. Thanks.
[initialled]
DCPS FILE. [initialled]
(3754.)1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to
3 FOR SIGNATURE by
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date Initials
6 AFTER DISPATCH to
7 BRING UP on to
FILE Date [initialled]
16/1
39/3/3
16 January 1979
[REDACTED]
WAITARA.
Dear Sir,
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letters of
December and 2 January in which you put forward theories on
UFO's. The contents of the letters have been noted.
Yours faithfully,
(G.T. Clarke)
Squadron Leader
for Director of Public Relations1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to
3 FOR SIGNATURE by
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date Initials
6 AFTER DISPATCH to
7 BRING UP on to
8 FILE Date [initialled]
16/1
39/3/3
16 January 1979
[REDACTED]
WELLINGTON 5.
Dear [REDACTED],
Thank you for your letter reporting your sighting of an
unusual object in the Marlborough Sounds last December. We
have received no other reports of any unusual activity in that
area and I am afraid are at a loss to give you an explanation
as to what it was that you saw.
Yours faithfully,
(G.T. Clarke)
Squadron Leader
for Director of Public Relations[ILLEGIBLE] 39/[ILLEGIBLE]/3[ILLEGIBLE]
RESTRICTED
VV LKL211KLB573 HH NO UNCLASSIFIED
RR RZYXSD REPLY OR REFERENCE
DE RZYXCD 2207 0160300
ZNY RRRRR
R 160240Z JAN 79
FM NZDEF AIR
TO RZYWTT/DPHQ RNZAF
RZYVUT/SGHQ RNZAF
BT
R E S T R I C T E D
DIG KSY/KSZ
849 AIR 36/3/3 SUBJECT UNIDENTIFIED SIGHTINGS CLARENCE RIVER
MOUTH AREA PD HAVING CONDUCTED INQUIRY INTO RECENT QUOTE UNIDENTIFIED
VISUAL AND RADAR SIGHTINGS UNQUOTE IN CLARENCE REGION THERE REMAINS
SOME DOUBT ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THE LIGHTS THAT WERE OBSERVED
BY THREE SAFE ARGOSY CREWS PD REQUEST ANY FEEDBACK FROM GROUPS
ESPECIALLY OBSERVATIONS FROM PEOPLE IN THE AREA AT NIGHT PD SPECULATIVELY CMN
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT LIGHTS ON COAST COULD BE FROM CARS AND TRAINS
SINCE ALL HAD BEAM APPEARANCE PD UNLIKELY THAT THEY WERE LIGHTS
FROM A SQUADRON OF HELICOPTERS AS NO REPORTS OF AERONAUTICAL
ACTIVITY RECEIVED FROM LOCAL INHABITANTS PD FOR YOUR REPEAT YOUR
INFO ONLY CMN MOST PROBABLE THAT RADAR RETURNS WERE SPURIOUS
BT
C WR THEY WERE
RESTRICTED
DISTRIBUTION
P[ILLEGIBLE] AIR 36/3/3
ACTION: D OPS [initialled]
........................
.................[initialled]
NNNN
KSY 0
ACTION OPS2 11
INFO
D4
KSZ 0
ACTION OPS3 11
INFORESTRICTED
Air 39/3/3 11th January 1979
REPORT ON UNIDENTIFIED VISUAL AND
RADAR SIGHTINGS EAST COAST SOUTH ISLAND
DECEMBER 1978
Introduction
1. On the nights of 20/21 December 78 and 30/31 December
78 Wellington ATC Radar, and the crews of SAFE Argosy aircraft
(both visually and on radar) made many unidentified sightings
off the east coast of the South Island. The first sightings
gave rise to much publicity by the media and eventual involvement
of the RNZAF when it was decided to conduct an Orion surveillance
of the area on the night of 2/3 January 79. At that time it was
decided to start a Defence investigation and this report is
submitted in accordance with DCAS instructions to provide a report
on the events surrounding the various sightings.
2. Air Staff was first advised by Civil Aviation Division
of Ministry of Transport (CADMOT) of these events mid-morning 21
December 78. Historically, Defence has adopted a 'low profile'
in connection with reports of unidentified sightings. Thus
CADMOT has not normally reported unusual sightings to Defence.
However, because of the number and nature of reports on the night
20/21 December 78 the Director of Civil Aviation specifically
instructed his staff to advise Defence. On the basis of the infor-
mation received Air Staff decided that should any further similar
instances occur we would, if possible, carry out an investigation
by the most appropriate aircraft available over the Christmas
period. CADMOT were advised to contact the Defence Duty Officer
in the event of any more sightings. As it transpired the memor-
andum from CADMOT Head Office to the ATC Centre was not delivered,
thus the events of 30/31 December 78 were not reported to Air
Staff until the next day.
3. Other Government agencies, notably DSIR and NZ Meteor-
ological Services, are conducting their own investigations and
have provided relevant input to this report. The report is
confined to the events of 21 and 31 December 78. It does not
take into account the film made by TV1 on 3 January 79 which is
now being examined by DSIR and will most probably prove to be a
film of Venus and Jupiter rising.
4. When interviewing witnesses it was pointed out to them
that this was not a judicial enquiry. The credibility of
witnesses' statements was taken at face value. However, witnesses
were not necessarily interviewed separately because it was con-
sidered that, with a fairly emotive issue such as 'UFOs', corrob-
oration was best achieved by interviewing observers of the same
events together.
/Events 20/21 ...
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
-2-
Events 20/21 December 78 (Refer Chart at Annex A)
5. On 20/21 December 78 there were two SAFE Argosy flights
from Woodbourne to Christchurch one of which proceeded to Dunedin
and terminated, and the other returned to Woodbourne. The first
aircraft departed Woodbourne 210110 NZDT. At 0159 when south-
bound to Christchurch the aircraft captain was asked by Wellington
Radar to check the Clarence River area because Wellington ATC
was receiving radar returns from there. The crew observed lights
at low level that could possibly have been off the Clarence River
mouth but when the aircraft was about 30 miles north the lights
appeared to go out or disappear. During this period Christchurch
was visible and the sky was clear. Later in the morning (0406)
when the aircraft was northbound the crew was again requested to
check the area because Wellington Radar was again picking up radar
returns in that vicinity. The aircraft crew confirmed that lights
were visible to seaward and the crew got the impression of the
lights making rectangular patterns at irregular frequency. The
lights had a beam appearance rather than a point source appearance
and seemed to turn away rather than turn off. One light appeared
to illuminate the surface of the water and the aircraft captain
assesses that the source of the light could have been at about
1,000 feet. However, it is the reporting officer's opinion that
from the aircraft's height (14,000 feet) it would not be possible
to judge accurately the height of lights below the aircraft.
One possibility is that the aircraft captain was observing lights
from cars or trains because the main road and railway run parallel
and very close to the coast for some miles in this area. However,
the aircraft captain considers that the sightings could have been
produced by four or five helicopters and the whole thing was 'quite
undramatic'! The likelihood of such extensive aeronautical
activity has not been confirmed by any reports received from the
Police or local inhabitants. In fact, no reports have been
received and the Police do not have any interest in the area.
6. The second aircraft, which departed Woodbourne at 0315,
was also asked by Wellington Radar to look at the Clarence River
mouth area because Wellington was picking up radar returns there.
That aircraft crew did not observe anything in the region either
visually or on radar.
7. Subsequent investigations and scientific observation
carried out by DSIR proves conclusively (in the reporting officer's
opinion) that Wellington SRE Radar does give anomalous radar
returns off the east coast off the South Island. This was proved
by DSIR observation of the Wellington radar 8/9 January 79 and
taking a series of photographs of the radar presentation throughout
the night. Concurrently three field parties were stationed at
vantage points along the east coast with radio communications to
the Radar Control Centre. On several occasions during the night
when many large returns were painting on Wellington Radar the
observers on the coast could see nothing either in the air or on
the sea in the positions passed to them by the Radar Controller.
/Furthermore
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
-3-
Furthermore, from discussions with two or three controllers it
is evident that the Wellington SRE has for several months been
giving anomalous radar returns in the Clarence area and south
of Wellington. It is possible that this could be caused by
a modification that was recently made to the radar head at
Wellington depressing it one degree. DSIR scientists are following
up this possibility and their findings should be available in due
course.
8. There is no evidence to suggest that there was any
clandestine activity in the vicinity of the Clarence River mouth.
It is possible however that surface vessels could have been in
the area with or without navigation lights but it is doubtful
that such vessels could have given rise to the visual observation
made by the aircraft crew. The fact that Wellington Radar 'keyed'
both aircraft captains to look for objects in the Clarence area
might well have induced observations from the air which might or
might not have been related to the Wellington Radar returns.
9. From information supplied by DSIR, the NZ Meteorological
Services, and astronomers, it is evident that during this period,
and indeed for the last month or so, atmospheric conditions have
been conducive to freak propogation of radio and light waves.
Thus it is possible that the lights observed by the aircraft captain
could have been produced by ships' lights reflected or refracted
from afar. Such anomalous propogation (ducting) could also give
rise to spurious radar returns. Note: The reporting officer has
just received (1155 NZDT) a report from Auckland that ATC has
issued a NOTAM that Auckland Radar is giving spurious returns caused
by atmospheric conditions.
10. During the period that the Wellington Radar Controller
was in dialogue with the aircraft captains about radar returns in
the Clarence area the radar was also tracking a steady return on
a track of 140° (M) which started at Wellington, proceeded to 30
miles and then, with less consistent radar returns, tracked out to
60 miles where it became stationary for 35 minutes. It then moved
west and appeared to 'track' the second southbound Argosy at about
0328. The Wellington Radar Controller alerted the captain that
there was a strong radar return about 25 miles to the port of the
aircraft. The aircraft crew observed on that bearing a very bright
light which they variously describe as a bright orb, pear shaped
with a reddish tinge that then turned white. From the aircraft
the object appeared to be stationary by visual observation but by
the aircraft radar appeared to track the aircraft. The light
appeared to be very close - less than ten miles. Although the
aircraft radar return and the visual observation of the light were
on more or less the same bearing the crew cannot confirm that the
range was coincident. It is significant that within a few minutes
of the crew's observation, Venus was rising on a bearing that
coincided with their visual observation. DSIR optics, physics,
and meteorological experts have confirmed that prevailing atmos-
pheric conditions might well have produced most unusual but not
unknown phenomena that could have made Venus appear large, bright
and orange. There is a plethora of astronomical information that
describes this phenomenon. Thus it is highly probable that the
aircrew's observation was an unusual view of Venus.
RESTRICTED /11. The radarRESTRICTED
-4-
11. The radar returns observed on the aircraft radar might
have been caused by a natural return by a ship or perhaps could
have been anomalous returns caused by the prevailing atmospheric
conditions. During the period 19 - 28 December 78 some 50
Japanese squid boats sailed from Wellington to the area of the
Mernoo Bank (120 miles east of Banks Peninsula). These vessels
departed Wellington in groups of about 10 and their track to
their fishing grounds is almost identical to the radar track
plotted by Wellington radar. While there is no conclusive proof
that these vessels could have caused the fairly steady trace
observed by Wellington it is a fact that during the period of all
these observations there was no shortage of shipping in the area.
Furthermore, once in position and fishing, the squid fleet would
have produced an intense light source which coupled with prevailing
meteorological conditions could have been responsible for many and
varied reflected or refracted light images. (Each boat puts out
about 200kw of light.)
12. A further observation (which has not been reported by
the media) was made by the crew of this the same Argosy when the
aircraft was some 50 miles north east of Christchurch. The
captain observed five consecutive blips on the aircraft radar which
over a period of five seconds traced a pattern towards the aircraft
and then veered off very sharply to its port. Simultaneously the
co-pilot observed a flashing white light (which looked like a
strobe light) describing the same sort of path. For the brief
period that the returns were received on radar the object must
have been travelling at about 10,800mph! This sighting, above
all others during the night, caused the crew considerable consterna-
tion! It is possible that such a phenomenon could be produced
by a meteor which are not unknown at this time of the year. A
further possible explanation could be that the effect was caused
by a 'double bounce' radar contact produced by ducting. It is
note-worthy that an RNZAF Orion crossing Cape Palliser on 9 January
78 at 1652 NZDT observed a radar contact at 15 miles moving fast
towards the aircraft. There was no cloud and no surface contacts
visible. The radar return crossed the aircraft's track one mile
ahead, but there was no visual sighting. The closing speed was
calculated at 1,000mph thus the object itself was travelling at
some 630 mph. OPHQ staffs have considered the possibilities and
assess that the radar return could have been of an object 200
miles north of NZ (perhaps cloud) with freak propogation giving
rise to the radar observation made in the aircraft. But for
knowing that a Defence enquiry was under way OPHQ would not normally
have considered it necessary to pass on this information.
13. A further sighting on the 20/21 December 78 was made by
the Orderly Officer and Duty Air Traffic Controller at RNZAF Base
Woodbourne. At 2350 the Orderly Officer saw what he considered
to be three lights of a Bristol Freighter three to four miles
from Woodbourne. However, as no aircraft could be heard and the
lights did not appear to get any closer he checked through binoc-
ulars and determined that the lights appeared to be going towards
Wellington. Of the three lights the middle one appeared as a
white beam pointing northward. The lights appeared to move upward
/and around
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
-5-
and around in a rectangular pattern but at random speed. He
observed the lights for about 50 minutes. The bearing from
Woodbourne was about 080° (M), i.e., towards Cape Campbell.
At one stage the lights appeared to 'rush forward' but generally
over the period seemed to move northward and eventually fade.
In comparative terms the observer considered that the lights'
pattern looked like somebody 'spotlighting'. The Duty Air
Traffic Controller observed the same lights from the control
tower balcony. His impression was that the lights comprised
one bright orange light and two less intense white lights. The
large light appeared to remain stationary while the other two
seemed to move north. A shaft of light periodically appeared
to 'beam down' from the white lights at about 40° in a northerly
direction. Using binoculars apparently had no enlarging effect
on the lights! This could indicate that the lights were at
a great distance from the observer and not in Cook Strait as he
imagined. This thesis is supported by the fact that on checking
with Wellington Radar the Woodbourne observer was advised that
the radar was painting five targets in the Clarence area but no
mention was made of any returns in Cook Strait. It is highly
improbable that the radar returns and the visual observations were
in any way connected.
14. The reporting officer awaits a copy of the taped conver-
sation between the Wellington Radar Controller, the aircraft and
the Woodbourne observer and in addition the Woodbourne observer
is preparing a sketch map showing bearings, etc, in more detail.
When these two pieces of evidence are available they may shed
more light on the occurrence!
Summary
15. It is the reporting officer's opinion that almost all
the sightings made 20/21 December 78 can be explained by natural
but unusual phenomena. There were atmospheric conditions that
could have produced unusual visual and radar returns. There
is no doubt that Wellington SRE was (and still is) giving spurious
radar returns in the area under surveillance. With some of the
visual sightings of 'beams' of light it is only possible to
speculate on possible causes. On-going investigation by DSIR
scientists and the reporting officer may help to clarify this
in due course. Perhaps the most difficult aspect to explain
away is the apparent concern - even apprehension - of the aircrews
involved in the sightings. At present they do not seem to be
prepared to accept the fact that they might have observed Venus.
Thankfully, however, neither do they believe that they saw a visitor
from outer space! Perhaps when more scientific evidence is
gathered their minds will be set at rest.
Events 30/31 December 78 (Refer Chart at Annex B)
16. On 30/31 December 78 an Argosy on a routine flight (but
carrying the TV crew that made the film shown on Australian TV)
departed Wellington at 2346 to proceed Christchurch and then
/return
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
-6-
return to Woodbourne.
17. At 0013 while climbing to 14,000 feet the aircraft
crew observed four to five lights close to the surface near the
coast of the Kaikoura Peninsula (possibly in the Clarence River
area but the crew were not sure and did not confirm with their
radar). On checking with Wellington ATC the crew were advised
that Wellington Radar had contacts 13 miles ahead of the aircraft
(these would have been off Clarence). The crew observed a
pulsing type of white light that looked like a helicopter search
light zooming on to the beach somewhere north of the Kaikoura
Peninsula. Again, it is difficult to explain the lights, short
of them being some anomalous type of reflection or refraction,
cars, or trains. However it is most probable that the Wellington
Radar returns were spurious.
18. At 0018 when the aircraft was about 10 miles north of
the Clarence River mouth, Wellington Radar advised the crew
that there was a strong radar return behind them. They orbited
and saw nothing. This was almost certainly a spurious radar
return.
19. At 0042 when the aircraft was about 10 miles northeast
of Motunau Island, Wellington Radar advised the crew that there
was a large radar target behind the aircraft that appeared on
the radar screen as a blip larger than the aircraft return and
appeared to be tracking the Argosy. The aircraft captain carried
out a left orbit but neither he nor the first officer saw anything.
The crew did not refer to the aircraft radar and Christchurch
radar was not operating for ATC purposes at the time.
20. Just before crossing the coast near Woodend the crew
observed a white light on the starboard side of the aircraft and
Christchurch Radar advised that there was a target at three-o'clock
to the aircraft that 'moved off' when the aircraft was about
1.5 miles from touch down. No reports have been received from
inhabitants of the area of any unusual lights or aeronautical
activity. Thus, again, the natural explanation is that the light
and radar return were spurious, possibly caused by some sort of
anomalous propogation.
21. It is interesting to note that while taxiing to dispersal
both the aircrew on the Argosy and the ATC officers in the control
tower observed lights to the right of Sugar Loaf Hill which seemed
to have the same pulsating characteristics as the lights observed
earlier during the flight. The bearing of these lights would
almost certainly coincide with the bearing of the squid fleet from
Christchurch and if the lights could be proved to be refracted
or reflected returns from the squid vessels much of the mystery
would be solved!
22. At 0216 the aircraft departed Christchurch on the 033
radial. When overhead Woodend both crew members observed a
large white light to the northeast. They also observed on the
aircraft radar a very large target at 18 miles from the aircraft.
The crew cannot be positive that the light and the radar return
were coincident but that was the appearance that they gave.
Slightly before these observations, the first officer had noticed
through thin cloud a light which he describes as having the
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
-7-
appearance of a squashed orange. Eventually this light became
fully visible and measured against the thumb at arms length
appeared to be about two inches long, that is, a very large
source of light. The crew observed this light for some minutes
while cruising at 13,000 feet. Between 35 and 40 miles from
Christchurch the aircraft captain, of his own volition, turned
towards the light. This necessitated a 90° turn onto a heading
of about 125° at about 25° bank. The aircraft speed was 215
knots. The image on the aircraft radar moved to 10 miles from
the aircraft but the crew cannot say whether this was due to
their velocity or the movement of the radar return. The radar
image then stayed in the same relative position to the aircraft
for a few minutes (as if it were 'backing up' at the aircraft's
speed). At this stage the large light appeared to go above,
behind, and below the aircraft as the captain turned left to
regain track and avoid further 'confrontation' with the object!
This series of events occurred over a time frame of about 20
minutes. Throughout, Christchurch radar was working but reported
nothing. Wellington Radar had been observing the aircraft during
the period but did not report any unidentified radar contact in
that area.
23. The visual observation made by the crew is consistent
with an unusual view of Venus. The bearing of the observation
coincides with the point at which Venus would have been visible.
However, this observation was made at about 0225 and Venus did
not rise until about 0328. Nevertheless, DSIR scientists have
advised that with super refraction it would be possible to see
the planet some time before it's actual rising and if it were
seen it would have the appearance that the crew described. The
last effect of the light passing above, below and behind the
aircraft could be explained by an astronomical phenomenon known
as the 'troublesome layer'. In the prevailing conditions with
a marked inversion above about 10,000 feet, and fairly strong
westerly winds with standing waves on the leeward side of the
Alps the inversion layer can take on a marked wave form. Thus
at the time that the light performed its convolutions around
the aircraft it is possible that the aircraft was passing from
one side of the inversion layer to the other. The fact that
the light was no longer visible tends to support this thesis and
it is most probable that the aircraft's radar return was spurious
or of a ship, in view of the lack of confirmation of any other
targets in the area by the Wellington Radar.
24. As the aircraft approached Kaikoura two or three radar
contacts were noted on the aircraft radar at about ten o'clock
position. These would be consistent with the radar returns
Wellington had noted in the Clarence area for most of the night -
and were almost certainly spurious.
25. Approaching Cape Campbell the aircraft captain observed
what he thought was a fishing fleet off Cape Palliser. These
might well have been part of the squid fleet enroute south.
26. As the aircraft turned towards Blenheim the first officer
observed what appeared to be orange lights in the Nelson Bay area
which appeared to move across the sounds towards Picton. No
explanation can be offered for this observation but it has not
RESTRICTED /been confirmedRESTRICTED
-8-
been confirmed by any sightings made from the ground. The
aircraft landed at Blenheim at 0315.
Conclusions
27. The foregoing report has been compiled after interviews
with most of the principle witnesses involved with the sightings
20/21 and 30/31 December 1978. The SAFE pilots were most help-
ful to the reporting officer in the very frank manner in which
they related their experiences and the time they spent in inter-
view. It is considered that the reporting officer should, as
soon as possible, informally debrief the SAFE aircrew involved
on the general tenor of the findings to date.
28. It is evident that because of the interest over these
sightings reports will continue to come in from various sources
and on-going investigations by DSIR and meteorological officers
will probably serve to correlate much of the information.
Nevertheless, it is considered that Defence should issue a PR
statement fairly soon in order to tone down much of the wild
speculation that has existed over recent weeks.
29. In summary the reporting officer has made the following
findings:
a. During the period of the observations, and indeed
now, atmospheric conditions over NZ are conducive
to freak propogation of radio and light waves.
b. Venus was rising in the eastern sky and at this
time of the year is unusually bright in appearance.
c. Wellington Radar has been giving spurious indica-
tions off the east coast of the South Island for
some time but over recent weeks anomalous returns
seem to have been more prevalent.
d. During the period an unusually large number of
vessels (the squid fleet) sailed from Wellington,
often at night, to position off Banks Peninsula.
Not only would these vessels provide a good source
for radar returns but the lights that they use
when fishing could explain some of the visual
sightings of unusual lights.
e. The reporting officer speculates that the observa-
tion of lights in the Clarence area might have
been caused by trains or cars.
f. The reporting officer is of the opinion that
the large number of unusual occurrences on
/the nights
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
-9-
the nights in question made some aircrew and
air traffic controllers particularly respon-
sive to the various sightings.
g. There is no connection between the many sightings
in the Clarence area and the larger lights seen
to the east (and which were the subject of the
much publicised TV films).
h. Almost all the sightings can be explained by
natural but unusual phenomena. The few for
which the evidence to date is inconclusive may
well be explained in due course when current
investigations are completed.
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(J.B. CLEMENTS)
Wing Commander
Director of Operations
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
ANNEX B TO
DOPS REPORT
DATED 11 JAN
N(T)
↑
[Hand-drawn map of New Zealand's South Island east coast with the following annotations:]
NELSON BAY
REGION
WOODBOURNE
0315
ARGOSY
LANDS.
23 46
ARGOSY LEAVES
WN.
ROAD/RAIL
0013-18
LIGHTS/RADAR
RETURNS.
A/C INVESTIGATES
CLARENCE
'LARGE' RADAR RETURN
BEHIND THE A/C - SEES
NOTHING
AGAIN, N/BOUND A/C INVESTIGATES
RADAR CONTACTS AT 10 O'CLOCK
(CLARENCE AREA)
0042
A/C ADVISED BY WN RADAR
LARGE TARGET BEHIND
A/C ORBITS - SEES NOTHING.
MOTUNAU
0035
A/C TURNS TOWARDS LIGHT AND
RADAR RETURN - LIGHT EVENTUALLY
GOES ABOVE, BELOW, BEHIND
AND DISAPPEARS.
SOUTH BOUND
A/C SEES LIGHT TO
RIGHT. CH RADAR ADVISE
A TARGET THAT POSITION
0225
WHEN N/BOUND
A/C SEES ORANGE
LIGHT AT 2-O-CLOCK
POSITION.
BEARING ON WHICH VENUS
WOULD RISE AT 0328
.2476
LIGHTS VISIBLE FROM CH AIRPORT
TO THE RIGHT OF SUGAR LOAF
(SQUID FLEET LIGHTS REFRACTED?)
SQUID
FLEET
OBSERVATIONS
30/31 DEC 78
RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED
ANNEX A TO
DOPS REPORT
DATED 11 JAN7
N(T)
↑
[Hand-drawn map of New Zealand's South Island east coast with the following annotations:]
WOODBOURNE
○
LIGHTS OBSERVED
FROM WOODBOURNE
APPARENTLY THIS
POSITION - MOVED
NORTH
0159
RADAR RETUR
'TRACKED' BY
TO 60 NMS
2350 & 0130
ROAD/RAIL
0159 (0406)
RADAR RETURNS
CLARENCE THROUGHOUT
THE NIGHT
CLARENCE
0328
ARGOSY SEES
LIGHT THAT
SEEMS VERY CLOSE
STATION
35 MI
THEN
RADAR RETU
MOVES WEST
0328
RADAR RETURN
APPARENTLY 'TRACKS'
S/BOUND ARGOSY
AND APPARENTLY
'WAITS' FOR N/BOUND
ARGOSY THEN BRIEFLY
TRACKS IT!
VENUS
RISING
0327
0400
ARGOSY SEES
VERY FAST
TARGET
ON A/C RADAR.
MOTUNAU
ARGOSY
TRACK
SQUID FLEET TRACK FROM
WELLINGTON
.3498
OBSERVATIONS
20/21 DEC 78
SQUID FLEET
RESTRICTEDMINUTE SHEET Department: DPR
Subject: UFO BRIEFING
File No.
Date: 9/1/79
To
DCAS [signature]
[signature] 11/1.
DOPS
1. SDPR has a [ILLEGIBLE] suggestion in [ILLEGIBLE] of all RNZAF flights!
1. For possible inclusion in Air Staff
Instructions covering crew briefings on UFO
missions!
[signature]
Wg Cdr
DDPR
- Mr [ILLEGIBLE] No?) Dates
best have could become a feature
2R.
DCAS
11/1
Item 504 58917D-55,000 pads,/·Auckland 6,
3 / 1 / 79.
Squadron Leader,
Geoff Clarke.
Dear Sir,
For your next UFO
briefing, the following is of vital
importance to yourself and your crew.
That - The UFO are
seen by the natural observer and
then depart in their own time,
do not refer to the clock for your
next briefing and searching.
That - Some of those who
have pursued the UFO in planes have
come out very badly.. Many pilots -
some reports says fifty or more -
have lost their lives in the way.
That - one observer
claimed he saw a bell-shaped UFO
descend over a jet plane and simply
take it up and haul it away. A jet
was reported missing in that area
that day, and it has not been found
yet.
That - mysterious disa-appearances of people and machines
(in August 76, a Cessna the Southland?
also an Otago Cherokee six aircraft in
Fiordland 29/12/78 ? coincidence or
otherwise) have also been reported
during UFO flaps (large numbers,
copy 5c, Auckland Star 2/1/79).
Now comes the part
you might not believe, That - the
UFOs are occupied by demons,
who are behind this startling phenomenon
and their activity is connected with
the upcoming Tribulation period -
UFOs - SOMETHING IS UP - AND
THE WORST IS YET TO COME -
Most of the information of this
concerned letter comes from the
Book, "ENCOUNTERS WITH UFOs"
by John Weldon + Zola Levitt
For your every UFO sighting
have your Padre present for a
prayer of blessing when facing the
unnatural, the spiritual realm, the
supernatural realm.JESUS IS ALIVE..
BUT FIRST -
Jesus said: "The Son of Man must suffer much
and be rejected by the people of this day. He will
be handed over to the Gentiles, who will make
fun of him, insult him, and spit on him. They
will whip him and kill him, but on the third day
he will rise to life." Luke 17:25; 18:32-33
UNDER ARREST
The High Priest questioned him, "Are you the
Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?" "I am,"
answered Jesus, "and you will all see the Son of
Man seated at the right side of the Almighty,
and coming with the clouds of heaven!" The
High Priest tore his robes and said, "We don't
need any more witnesses! You heard his wicked
words. What is your decision?" They all voted
against him: he was guilty and should be put to
death. Some of them began to spit on Jesus, and
they blindfolded him and hit him. "Guess who
hit you!" they said. And the guards took him
and slapped him. Mark 14:61-65
NOT GUILTY
Pilate called together the chief priests, the
leaders, and the people, and said to them, "You
brought this man to me and said that he was
misleading the people. Now, I have examined
him here in your presence and I have not found
him guilty of any of the crimes you accuse him
of."
But they shouted back, "To the cross with
him! To the cross!" Pilate said to them the third
time, "But what crime has he done to deserve
death?" But they kept on shouting at the top of
their voices that Jesus should be nailed to the
cross; and finally their shouting won. So Pilate
passed the sentence on Jesus that they were
asking for. Luke 23:13-14, 21-24
PUT TO DEATH
They took two others also, both of them
criminals, to be put to death with Jesus. When
they came to the place called "The Skull" they
nailed Jesus to the cross there, and the two
criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
Jesus said, "Forgive them, Father! They don't
know what they are doing."
They divided his clothes among themselves
by throwing dice. The people stood there watching. "He
saved others; let him save himself! He is the
Messiah whom God has chosen!" The soldiers
also made fun of him; they came up to him and
offered him cheap wine, and said, "Save
yourself, if you are the king of the Jews!" These
words were written above him: "This is the
King of the Jews."
One of the criminals hanging there hurled
insults at him, "Aren't you the Messiah? Save
yourself and us!" The other one, however,
rebuked him, saying, "Don't you fear God? We
are all under the same sentence. Ours, however,
is only right, because we are getting what we
deserve for what we did; but this man has done
no wrong." And he said to Jesus, "Remember me,
Jesus, when you come to your Kingdom!" Jesus said to
him, "I tell you this: today you will be in
Paradise with me." Luke 23:32-43
At noon the whole country was covered with
darkness, which lasted for three hours. The
temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The
loud cry Jesus died. Mark 15:33, 37-39
BURIED
Joseph went into the presence of Pilate and
asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took the
body down, wrapped it in a linen sheet, and
placed it in a grave which had been dug out of
the rock - a grave which had never been used.
Luke 23:32-55[Religious pamphlet - continuation]
Very early on Sunday morning the women went
to the grave carrying the spices they had
prepared. They found the stone rolled away
from the grave, so they went in;
but they did not find the body of the Lord
Jesus. They stood there puzzled about this,
when suddenly two men in bright shining
clothes stood by them. Full of fear, the women
bowed down to the ground, as the men said to
them, "Why are you looking among the dead
for one who is alive? He is not here; he has been
raised. Remember what he said to you while he
was in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be
handed over to sinful men, be nailed to the
cross, and rise to life on the third day.'" Luke 24:1-7
Then he opened their minds to understand the
Scriptures, and said to them, "This is what is
written: that the Messiah must suffer, and rise
from death on the third day, and that the
message about repentance and forgiveness of
sins must be preached to all
nations, beginning in Jerusalem." Luke 24:36-40, 45-47
Christ died for our sins . . . he was buried, and
was raised to life on the third day . . . he
appeared to Peter, and then to all twelve
apostles. Then he appeared to more than five
hundred of his followers at once. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
He was given over to die because of our sins, and
was raised to life to put us right with God.
Romans 4:25
Suddenly the Lord himself stood among his
disciples and said to them, "Peace be with you."
Full of fear and terror, they thought that they
were seeing a ghost. But he said to them, "Why
are you troubled? Why are these doubts coming
up in your minds? Look at my hands and my
feet and see that it is I, myself. Feel me, and you
will see, because a ghost doesn't have flesh and
bones, as you can see I have." He said this and
showed them his hands and his feet.
The risen Lord Jesus said: Don't be afraid. I am
the first and the last. I am the living one! I was
dead, but look, I am alive for ever and ever. I
have authority over death and the world of the
dead. Revelation 1:17-18
If you declare with your lips, "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9[ILLEGIBLE location], [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE date]
The Secretary of Defence,
Ministry of Defence,
Private Bag,
Wellington.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to report the sighting of an
unusual object flying in the Marlborough Sounds in
December 1978.
On December 9 1978, shortly after 8 p.m., I was
looking out of a window on the third level of the
Town House in Picton.
An object appeared suddenly low in the sky some
miles down the Queen Charlotte Sound. The closest
description I can give is that it was like a round
cloud in two shades of grey - light on top and dark-
er underneath. Comparing it with boats previously
seen in the area it would be no less than thirty
feet in diameter and about twelve feet deep. There
were no lights showing.
Referring to the Lands & Survey Department map
of Marlborough Sounds (NZMS 236, 2nd edition) I
would say that when I first saw it, it was just south
of Mt. McMahon. I watched it for 7 or 8 seconds as
it approached. It did not come straight but swooped
from side to side as it came low through the hills,
crossing Kenepuru Sound approximately above
Chauparuparu Bay, then over Black Rock, Kumutoto2.
Bay, and disappeared from my view between Allports
Island and Kaipapa Bay. It travelled maybe twelve miles
in those 8 seconds.
I was transfixed and frightened, and although I
did not take my eyes off the area, I did not see the
object again. As it disappeared it would be about
four miles away from Picton.
I thought I should report this in view of the
objects seen in the sky near Kaikoura.
Yours faithfully,ETHOLOGY OF LIGHT
& DENEBS
Christchurch
Jan 5th 1979.
Dear Sirs
As expected THE Space Craft arrived
20th Nov 98.
There are several in the Area, it is
Not likely one can see them as they
are mostly travelling in dimension.
Now the Latest UFO Sighting
as published in STAR, it Could
Be OF the B32 in action
It can appear in any shape as a
Ball with a tail in Fact it is the
type that leaves Rings on the Ground
From the TV photos I Have Seen
it does Not photo the Space Craft
so I could not tell you if it is the B32
The Space Boys Have done various
Sketches during my tuition and we
Have the a Sketch of the B32 in
action So Beth who does all the
Sketches now Has Done a Sketch
as Near as She Can to the one the
Space Boys did it is not all that
is in the Sketch the Boys did, as
Certain things are only for us
The Craft Has 2 operators and
are opposite each other and are
in a "Envelope" it is what we call
Grandad and Grandma style
[ILLEGIBLE drawing] it is one of the Favourite
Situations in the Universe For
Operating Space Craft, they Have
TO Be in an "O" or sorts Because
[Stamp: RECEIVED 8 JAN 1979 CENTRAL REGISTRY DEFENCE HDQTRS]
[REFERRED TO box with blank lines]-2 - the power of these Craft is Far Beyond that Of mans Neuchean energy. Its Not For me us, to tell you How the Space Craft work any Sketches Beth Does is From The Space Boys and Girls Drawings By the way the operators of the B2 are the Same sort Of Situation as "Rege" the Personality you Have Got Beth Sketched, we Have another Sketch For you of a Ethology from a Self Picture. it is an interesting one as it is close to the Primodial 2 Form(Man) it is Mr Sopers Bigear From the Sketch of the B2 you will Realize the it is possible to develop a Response pattern in Light a thousand Feet in diameter. as the place where I get my copies done it will Not be until after the 20th that you get your Sketches. At present the Boys do not want us taking Photos of the Space Craft But we will be taking Photos of the [ILLEGIBLE] palm Chart and the ARI Toward the end of this New Year or 1980 The Boys Prefer to Learn us By Sketches and Writings. We would Not Photograph unless a personality we call the "little Bloke" tells us we Can and He said He would Not Be Back For 5 years and not Due Back till the Early 1980 on Dec 12 1979. Well There are such Things as Angels Really Beautifull Things in their own Dimension They Can Create an Ethology To Be Fairly large But in there true state They are dear wee things they are Small like the fairies (Nymphs) mans Idea Of Angels is some what astray.
-3- Anyway For what its worth my opinion is if the pictures taken is celestial it is photos of the Response pattern as Done By a 132 in the Center of things Would Be the B2 its Self But it may Have Been in Dimension and THat you would not get a photograph of it itself. The Space Craft itself Would only Be about 50FT in diameter 25ft High. With the power plant that these things have they can do allsorts of THINGS man could only imagine any way From the Sketch you can draw your own Conclusions For this latest sighting and others that may Come along. My Next Big Date is with a Dimension in July there about© its on it way Here now. I Can tell you it is one Hell of a long way From Here. There is allways some EE popping in From time to time. What I want is for the Ethology of Light Himself to turn up again when He was Here in 73 I did Not Have the Knowledge to ask questions, Now I Can Hold a Conversation With Him The Space Boys Have seen to that, He said He would Be Back So that visit I am Looking Forward to. I Have not Given away the Secrets of the House So the Judgement will only Be a Short one to Find out what we Have Been doing Since the last one. Well that is it For Now, you will Have your Sketches after the 20th Jan.
MINUTE SHEET Department: Air Staff
Subject: UFO's Letter
from —
File No. [ILLEGIBLE]/3
Date: 9.1.79
To—
7. Ops.
1 Please see attached
letter.
2 At last a Solution to
the ufo mystery !!
[Signature]
S/o
Ffo (ai)
His previous letter (folio 19)
contains some useful info.
[Signature]
Item 504 90608B—140,000pads/2/77DDefence Department, [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] In view of the recent UFO report in the paper I would like to forward some of my experience as a response that there [ILLEGIBLE] which I am sure People do not know about yet 1 as UFOs arising appear in fine weather never in winter months because it is to cold and strong winds which do not allow this event to take place. UFOs Pollution Selection Distorted I have witness money bubbles of froth that is lifted by the updraught of wind [crossed out] off the sea This froth consists of money bubbles which gradually develop into one large round ball of Transparent matter which are moved over with a draught of light breeze. (Could this show up on Radar), (collections) salt, oil, Sprays, be quiet too, Sirens As a mixture in a ball such as this show up. Now these bubbles are all controlled by updraught down draughts crosswind and follow that pattern until they slowly work there way high enough up where there is [crossed out] a cross [crossed out] which starts to carry the bubble away at high speed. As the outer spin increases to well stand its strength Bursts. There for giving [crossed out] one the idea it was traveling at high speed and dissipated
[ILLEGIBLE top lines]
...we a cross airless nothing and are affected by it and
from the sea as these things are created behind
the Breaker Lines mostly in the evenings
when the winds have dropped. Night Depends
on the warm calm atmosphere depending of
how high up that should be. Reference a weather
balloon as it is light and cold where it bursts.
Lights Possible to see many colours when
standing at different Points (Red colours in soap
bubbles seen as big as a dinner plate but
look much larger because of the way the light
strikes it. Bombardment of light within the
bubble many times because of its transparent
skin and shape. (Light) taken from street lights
moon etc Illustrate how this first starts shape
1 Bubbles 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dish appears
Froth [drawn bubble shapes] because of ← [drawn symbols]
light from onto home
center quickly, as the main
sea chop ring of light.
I have seen many over the years and are
easily mistaken for UFOs.
[crossed out] How does one tell the difference between
one of these and space debris. Now this is
impossible unless one has studied it. Many UFOs
are space missiles or debris and must be kept
well clear of as [crossed out] aircraft lights [?] I have worked it
on the the [?] Boeing 182 [?] that even missions
F 111 [?] Air Force also struck with static electron over the[Circle diagram with handwritten labels:] NISSLE — FRICTION [wavy lines] → WIND 40000 TURBULANCE FEET STRIKE MAGNETICE FIELD MAGNITICE or STEEL
[ILLEGIBLE top lines] ...strong thought then there of never an end since light death of the U.S.A. missile. That the two Russians landed on there capsule in Asia and that the rest of that missile shaped orbiting the earth passing over NZ on its seem to last orbit crossing the coast just north of Christchurch near the HSP an around to King Island on to Los Angeles starting the fire there. Because of the terrible heat that plane would also melt (Warning) as Pilots still do not now these things I think that now is the time for them to keep well clear off and act when first seen as this does not give them much time as they do not realise the speed the the missile is travelling at. I would like you to check out the orbits from Asia to King Island for yourself. Now as it happened the Russian nuclear satellite that crashed in Canada pass- ed [crossed out] mountain Egmont at 10AM Tuesday taking 15 minutes from hear [crossed out] Stoke Taber. I heard and saw the sparkling smoke trail and took the course at that time and 9 finished in Queen Charlotte Island at 2PM that after noon. This has been verified by the Carter Observatory Wellington I also believe that the space delivery from that is responsible for all those accidents overseas because of speed in earth heavy atmosphere
[ILLEGIBLE top lines]
...causing Energy Friction Electron charges
come to earth with them a magnetic field
such as steel attaching any other electrical system
and burning it out [underlined] being the greatest power
I would like the answer to this question.
What is the speed of Friction
At what speed would a 50 meter dove to travel
to reach that speed.
2 What speed would it have to travel to reach
and equal the power output of the plains Electrical
output
Now if this power was doubled [crossed out] or trebled
would it not be greater and [crossed out] burn out the
weather [crossed out] system. Could you please supply me with
the answers. There is a lot I could still show
you but as I have limited knowledge and no one
else to help me on these matters, I would be will-
ing to discuss anything with you if you so wish.
Please excuse my writing as I had two bad
heart attack five years ago and have had to learn
all over again. I don't think it will improve now.
as I am a loner on these matters this will be
my last letter, as I have struck a deadend as it
appears that people don't ever what happens these
days as they cannot even write back.
Yours Sincerely[Circular stamp at top]
Waitura
3rd January 1979
Ministry of Defence
Dear Sirs,
Continuing from my first letter too you before
Christmas Day.
Of the U.F.O. Study, and what I told about
pollution, froth & Bubbles and lights in the sky
I am more convinced than ever now that I
am on the right track because of what I saw
many years ago, and have sinced followed
this up
The news about the U.F.O.s and the photos taken
helps too narrow down the field.
There have been many unexplained parts in
these stories, of which if bought too light and
with parts I feel I know would complete the
cycle.
As I stated before that (pollution-culprit-Wellington
Harbour)
Here the pollution drifts out too Cook Strait, where
the action of the sea breaks it up.
With the help of the North East winds, sends it
down the coast of the South Island, then too
be driven into shore.
Controlled by time and tide, this froth is2 blown into inlets, coves or back waters along the coast. The winds from the right quarters and the fine warm conditions. lifted by and updraft above the shore line in the form of froth and bubbles which develops is then at the mercy of breezes draughts of other directions which may be blowing. The winds are the only thing that controls its flight, whether up, down, or sideways. Only alters it after when an aeroplane comes into close range, and displaces the air - currents, or that it should get caught up in the back suction from the aircraft. Because of its chemical makeup, of many things, air especially oil giving the outer skin the extra strength too stay aloft; before strong winds will burst it. Wind speeds will give a person the idea that it is travelling very fast, because it disappears out of sight too quickly. As these bubbles came from the sea, it must be reasonable too think that there is a fair amount of salt build up, which gives trouble too Electrical and Radio Interference with this sticky substance if contact is made by a small plane, I this could slow
3 short circuit the electrical system & spark plugs, thereby causing loss of power to the motor. The two lights and others that were photographed As I explained the size of the lights in the sky, depending on the size of the object, that is there creating such. Illustrate! if we use the turn on the light at 12 AM in the daylight, all we or see is the light contained in the 2 40 watt bulbs; now if the light is turned on at 12 PM it shows a much larger area of light in the darkness If we had a light-bulb, such as the Japanese fishing trawlers have, it would show/cover a bigger area of light again. The extra per candle power that is increased by the bombardment of light from the moon from side too side many times within the concaved shape of the light shade or crystal ball. (Transparent) This is seen by people who mistakenly think they are port-holes in the UFO. The warm air, and excellent conditions reach too great heights in what we know as the dead of night. We also have a blow hole up this coast
4 which acts in the very same manner. Because of the contour of the country there is a force field of solid air a few hundred yards above and out from high cliffs which do not allow any cloud, too break within that area except in the case where there is a river inlet, there fore the bubble Travels up the centre as it is the weakest place between the two force fields. Now 7½ miles also too 12 miles is the most concentrated area of gasses, and colours. Each colour is independant of one another and on different wave lengths. Red being the most common, green is next and so forth. we are now in the field of Sir Isaac Newton - the field of Spectrum and Prisms and white light. Now the photos taken are subject too disappearance + reappearance, which is called Optical Windows. I endorse the pilots remarks as too what they saw and stated as being true. Seeing is believing, but there is times you cannot believe what you see, as speed and distances are very deceiving, and I have apprehension as too there accuracy, as in many cases these have been over stated [crossed out] the U.F.O. tracking them, was caught in
5 the back suction of the plane, or was not travelling at the same speed as the plane, because of a tail wind at the time. I would they would be of the opinion that the light they saw was the same colour as the moon? 2nd Sighting and photograph This Sighting is the same as above except for one point, that the substance it consisted of was very dirty consisting of a brown and pink [crossed out] volcanic colours, would they agree on the point of the colours? I believe that this ball of light, did a ½ turn anti clock-wise after it obtained its point of Balance Warning. It is not safe too chase U.F.O. in planes as many over-seas reports, there have been many close calls, where bright lights are seen travelling across the sky. It may appear as a large light, and could be 25ft from outside too centre there by blotting out a large space missile which is red hot and lighting up the sky. January 7th 1948 As this could have happened in the case
of Thomas Manthill U.States Airforce
to gave chase, and lost his life, his
plane was scattered many miles and in
thousand of fragments.
I believe he got close enough too it, too
be caught up in the 500ft air turbulence
from the spiralling missile, inside that
bright light
I believe this is the only explanation
there is [crossed out] these sightings.
Yours SincerelyRNZAF 194 Air Staff,
Defence Headquarters,
Wellington.
[Routing slip:]
1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS [signature]
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to
3 FOR SIGNATURE by
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date 28.7.79 Initials [ILLEGIBLE]
6 AFTER DISPATCH to
7 BRING UP on to
8 FILE Date [ILLEGIBLE] Initials [ILLEGIBLE]
39/3/3
DB
21
Air 39/3/3 PR
27 July 1978
WELLINGTON
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter concerning the RNZAF's policy
towards Unidentified Flying Objects and information on UFO
investigations for your Certificate in Commerce project.
There is no official RNZAF policy on Unidentified Flying
Objects and no general study of UFO sightings is made by the RNZAF
or a specific group within the RNZAF.
However, if a sighting is received by the RNZAF, we may
consult the Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport,
the New Zealand Meteorological Service, the Carter Observatory
and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to
eliminate obvious explanations.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer[Circular stamp] Air 39/3/3.
Koro Karo,
23/7/78
The Officer in Charge,
Ministry of Defence,
Private Bag,
Wellington,
Dear Sir,
I am at present completing a course in Effective
Communication which is part of the requirements for my
Certificate in Commerce.
As part of the course I am required to complete
a report on a subject of my choice.
My choice is "Unidentified Flying Objects" (UFOs).
I have received information from various societies
but in order to give my report a balanced view I
would appreciate: a) Any information regarding investigations
made by the Department.
b) The official position of the Department
on the question of "UFOs"
My report has to be completed by the 10th
of August. If the Department can be of assistance
could the information be posted to the above address.
Yours sincerely,[Handwritten notations at top including numbers and symbols]
u - 1 - 0
[symbols]
bo [symbols]
= TRANSMISSION TREE = [symbols] CHRISTCHURCH
Dec 2 1974
Dear Sir/s,
THE "O"s = I am PREPARING THE "TREE"
FROM MEMORY, But FIRST I MUST RELATE TO EE [symbol]
COMUNICATION IN CONTACT, so you will HAVE plenty OF
Time TO Select your [symbols] Film.
IN COMMUNICATION WITH ALL THE SPACE CRAFT FROM
THE NOME'S TO EE's, COMMUNICATION IS A ONE WAY
AFFAIR, ALL SIGNS WRITINGS REFER TO THE "TREES"
OUT IN SPACE, IN SHORT WE TALK ABOUT THEM.
NO TALK (IN SIGNS) OR THE FEW IN ENGLISH IS Repliable
AS IN A TWO MAN GENERAL CONVERSATION = LIKE A
QUESTIONAIRE, I HAVE HAD ONE QUESTIONAIRE, ONE WAY.
WORDS ARE BRIEF TO THE POINT, SUCH AS THE WORD
"LETTERS" = LETTERS OF SPACE not VU TT etc.
OR IN "Os" [symbols] = IN TIME.
[symbols]
SUCH SIGNS ARE EASY BY A SIMPLE TORCH LIGHT COM-
REFERRED TO WHEN YOU KNOW THEM, HOW EVER THE FORTH COMING
[stamp] CONCERNES A SINGLE "TREE" THE D" CLOCK WISE AND
ANTI CLOCK IT IS A FABULOUS PERSONALITY OUT IN
THE X E OF SPACE.= 2 =
"OME'S USUALLY USE THE "OS" EE'S USE LEAF WRITING
LEFT TO RIGHT.
[drawn symbols representing writing]
AN SO ON, IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 20 YEARS TO KNOW WHAT
IT IS ABOUT, BUT 16 STAR PERSONALITIES AND "TREES"
SO ANY COMMUNICATION IS TO TALK ABOUT SUCH SIGNS
WRITINGS [symbols] and soon.
NOMES USE [drawn symbols] WRITINGS.
NOMES' [symbols] EE'S [symbols] WM [symbols]
SOME IDENTIES [drawn symbols/characters]
= 33 ALL TOLD.
THE BIG SPACE CRAFT ARE OPERATED MAINLY BY NO 1, 2.
[symbol]
THESE SIGNS GIVE A VIEW WHAT ONE TALKS ARE
CONVEYS TO SPACE OPERATORS ITS ORIGIN.
SO THERE IS NO WONDER YOU CAN NO GET YOUR TEETH INTO
THE SUBJECT.
ANY WAY ILL WORK OUT THE "O" TREE AND YOU WILL HAVE
AN ANSWER TO SOME OF THE SIGNS.
Yours FaithFullyAIR MAIL PAR AVION Air Sect. Defence R N Z A F Headquarters Private Bag Wellington [Postal stamp: PAPANUI NORTH (PNH)]
RNZAF 194 Air Staff,
Defence Headquarters,
Wellington.
(M) [handwritten annotations - ILLEGIBLE]
Memorandum from
DEPUTY CHIEF OF AIR STAFF
20 Pads/12/72—19663—Y18
For: SA80 Mr. File 39/3/3 Air.
UFO SIGHTINGS ANALYSIS
1. DDI's loose minute and attached RAAF
annual summaries of "Unusual Aerial
Sightings" refer.
2. The UFO sighting analysis function in
N2 is like the proverbial "hot potato" and
each of the members of the UFO Investigating
Committee appears to be making sure that their
leg was not landed with the overall analysis
task. This [ILLEGIBLE] the [ILLEGIBLE] membership is [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] undertaking.
3. Pse have DRSPO study the current UFO
analysis situation, and come up with a
proposed RNZAF position. Conf. File
241/10/1 has the other [ILLEGIBLE] of the background.
4. I believe that we in Air Staff have
no need (or desire) to get into the nagging
task of UFO analysis. I feel that its more
appropriately handled by DDI
31/8/76 [Signature]DCAS
1. Pse see attached.
2. You will recall that we
have briefly discussed who
is now responsible for UFO
sighting analysis etc and I
have passed my file to
his Staff where it is still
held.
3. The attached is therefore
forwarded for his Staff
information/action as required
[Signature]
Gp Capt
DDI
19 Aug 76413/1/1
NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE LIAISON STAFF
NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSION
TELEGRAMS: KAURI, CANBERRA
TELEPHONE: 73-3611
[stamp: 18 AUG 1976 INTELLIGENCE REGISTRY]
COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
CANBERRA. A.C.T. 2600
AUSTRALIA
6 August 1976
Secretary of Defence
WELLINGTON
(Attention DDI)
INVESTIGATION OF REPORTS
OF UNUSUAL AERIAL SIGHTINGS
We have obtained some papers on unusual aerial sightings
in Australia and on the presumption that investigation of
such sightings in New Zealand is one of your responsibilities are
forwarding them to you.
2. As advised in the attached draft letter, the RAAF is
responsible for investigating sightings in Australia and although
this activity is very much a secondary responsibility it is
done in some detail (see report attached). In addition, the
RAAF prepares and distributes to interested organisations, an
annual summary of sightings (copies of the 1975 and 1974 summaries
are attached).
[signature]
(W.G. HUGHES)
Group Captain
Deputy Head
[stamp: ENCLOSURE RECEIVED]
Enclosures (4)
[REFERRED TO table]The investigation of reports of unusual aerial sightings in
Australia is carried out by the Royal Australian Air Force. Preliminary
investigation of the reports is conducted at the nearest Royal Australian
Air Force base. The reports are then forwarded to the Department of
Defence (Air Office) where an investigating team completes the investigation.
Between January 1960 and December 1973 815 sightings were reported
to the Royal Australian Air Force. 90 per cent of the sightings were
attributed to causes which included aircraft, satellites, meteors, space
debris re-entry, meteorological balloons, stars and planets. Seven per cent
of reports were either received too late or did not provide sufficient
information to permit proper analysis and evaluation. Three per cent of
reports were attributed to unknown causes.
The United Kingdom Air Ministry has stated that on an average,
90 per cent of the sightings it investigates are explainable by causes ranging
from meteorological balloons and meteors to aircraft lights. The other
10 per cent probably remain unexplained because of lack of reliable information.
The University of Colorado, under contract to the USAF, spent
two years processing and investigating all American reports. The findings
were published in 1968, by Bantam Books, as the 'Condon Report'. The general
conclusion was that 'nothing has come from the study of UFOs in the past
21 years that has added to scientific knowledge' and that 'further extensive
study of UFOs probably cannot be justified in the expectation that science
will be advanced thereby'. A panel of eminent scientists, chosen by the US
National Academy of Sciences, has examined and endorsed the Condon Report.
The USAF 'Project Blue Book' investigation of unidentified aerial
objects between 1953 and 1965 analysed 7,641 UFO reports. The conclusions
were:
/a. 80 per cent- 2 -
a. 80 per cent of sightings were natural phenomena,
hoaxes, birds or man-made objects;
b. 17 per cent of sightings provided insufficient data
to permit thorough analysis and evaluation; and
c. three per cent were unidentified.
.... United States and Soviet space exploration has found no evidence
to support the theory of life on planets in our solar system. The Mariner
series of space exploration to Mars appears to have proved it a 'dead' planet.
The only other source of extra-terrestrial life, therefore, would have to be
in another solar system. The nearest visible star to Earth is Alpha Centauri
which is about 25 million million miles away. Even if life forms existed
there and were capable of space travel at speeds currently known to man ie about
25,000 mph they would take about 115,000 years to reach Earth. Consequently,
the probability of extra-terrestrial life forms visiting Earth is extremely
remote.
Enclosed are five summaries of unusual aerial sightings for the
period January 1960 to December 1973.
Enclosure:REPORT OF UNUSUAL AERIAL SIGHTING
Part 1 - Report by Observer
1. Name of observer_________________________________Age_____
Address ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________State_____Post Code_____
Occupation ________________________________________________
Telephone No. (home) __________ (business) __________
2. a. Exact location of observer ___________________________
___________________________________________________________
b. Observer's familiarity with the location ________________
3. Start of observation: Date ________ Time ____________ am/pm
End of observation : Date _______ Time ____________ am/pm
4. Accuracy of date ___________________ Times _______________
5. General weather conditions of time of observation, referring to cloud,
wind, visibility etc. _______________________________
___________________________________________________________
6. a. In what direction was the sighting first observed? _______
b. At what angle to the horizon? 90°
/45°
You o←————————0°
horizon
7. a. In what direction was the sighting last observed?________
b. At what angle to the horizon? 90°
/45°
You o←————————0°
horizon
8. Estimate of distance and/or altitude from observer _________
___________________________________________________________
9. How were the answers to questions 6, 7 and 8 assessed, and were aids
or equipment used during the sighting? ___________________
___________________________________________________________
/10. Describe- 2 -
10. Describe the object(s)/light(s) as follows:
a. number _______________________________________________
b. colour _______________________________________________
c. size _________________________________________________
d. shape ________________________________________________
e. brightness (relative to full moon/star) ________________
f. movement/direction of travel __________________________
___________________________________________________________
g. sound ________________________________________________
h. speed ________________________________________________
i. method of propulsion __________________________________
j. manner of disappearance _______________________________
11. a. Narrative description of the sighting and any unusual
features or additional comments ________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
/b. Diagram or sketch- 3 -
b. Diagram or sketch of sighting (if possible)
12. Have you any photographs of the sighting, or is there any physical
evidence of fragments, scorching or ground indentations? ___________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13. How many other witnesses were there to the sighting?
(Please provide names and addresses if possible)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14. Have you previously made any reports to official authorities or UFO
organizations regarding unusual aerial sightings? If so, give
brief details of dates and circumstances. ___________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Date __________________ Signature __________________________DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE (AIR OFFICE) UNUSUAL AERIAL SIGHTINGS SUMMARY NO 7 JANUARY 1975 – DECEMBER 1975
- 1 - DATE | TIME (EST) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 02JAN75 | 1009 | Canberra, ACT | Bright light moving very fast in to [ILLEGIBLE] | Satellite, [ILLEGIBLE] 2 10JAN75 | 1115 | Narrogin, [ILLEGIBLE] | Slow moving white light | Satellite 10JAN75 | 0935 | Tea Beach, WA | Bright moving light, steady intensity | Satellite 15JAN75 | 1700 | Brisbane, QLD | Large ball of flame, leaving large mark on grass and gravel | Analysis of residue carried out by uni- versity of [ILLEGIBLE]. Cause not known 14JAN75 | 1000 | Merewether, NSW | Hovering star, disappeared very quickly | Space debris 20JAN75 | 1136 | Narrandera, VIC | Ten objects moving very rapidly across the sky | Space debris; probably parts of [ILLEGIBLE]-5 rocket casing 21JAN75 | 1050 | Werribee, VIC | Bright star moving in a straight line, with sudden divergence | Satellite distorted by temperature inversion 24JAN75 | 1100 | Willetton, WA | Bright yellow [ILLEGIBLE]ht following car | Not known 20JAN75 | 0935 | Clayton, VIC | Four bright objects in formation moving very rapidly | Meteorite disintegrating in Earth's atmosphere /JAN75
- 2 - DATE | TIME (EST) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 1FEB75 | 0930 | Kellyville, [ILLEGIBLE] | Slow moving blue/yellow light, changing to red and then white, marks found on ground in local area | Cause of aerial phenomena not known, possible aircraft. 3FEB75 | 1030 | Warmers Bay, NSW | Long flash of light in the sky | Space debris reflection off a balloon launched by CSIRO Physics Department of atmosphere[ILLEGIBLE] 15FEB75 | 1710 | Doveton, VIC | Fairly bright spherical light, appeared stationary | [ILLEGIBLE] 14FEB75 | 1530 | Mt Wellington, TAS | Brilliant flash of blue light from behind [Mt] Wellington moving in a 'swooping' motion | Aurora Australis 18FEB75 | 1020 | Maryville, NSW | Blue light, faded and then flared bright blue | Sirius distorted by severe temperature inversion 18FEB75 | 1200 | Mortlake, NSW | [ILLEGIBLE] | Star Aldebaran, with temperature inversion causing fading and flaring 5MAR75 | 1400 | Ingham, QLD | Very bright light in the sky, changing colour white to red | Saturn /6MAR75
- 3 - DATE | TIME (EST) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 6MAR75 | 1200 | Hackett, NSW | Rapidly moving red and white flashing light | Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond 6MAR75 | 1124 | 60KM East of Mt Gambier, | Green flare | Space debris. Re-entry of a satellite launched in 1958, containing a high copper content 21MAR75 | 1345 | Engadine, NSW | Large round shape, colour of setting sun, partially obscured by cloud | Moon 27MAR75 | 0840 | Wollstonecraft, NSW | Steadily moving white light | Aircraft departing Sydney airport 27MAR75 | 0925 | Jobartville, NSW | Cold/red light moving very quickly | DC9 aircraft departing Melbourne to Sydney airport 14MAR75 | 0945 | Bankian Hills, NSW | Very large bright star, red at the tail, cigar shaped, red at the tail, windows midway between top and bottom with a blue/white band of | Venus 4APR75 | 0930 | Donkeys Knob, QLD | Yellow object, one quarter size of full moon, moves from side to size of a cricket ball | Saturn 4APR75 | 2300 | Wickham, NSW | Silver object about the size of a cricket ball | Venus /4APR75
- 4 - DATE | TIME (EST) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 4APR75 | 0445 | Gosford, NSW | Brilliant flashing blue/green light similar to a flare | Insufficient information. Possibly connected with (amateur) rocketry meeting 5APR75 | 0646 | Wallsend, NSW | Small flashing light travelling south to north | Hoax 7APR75 | 2330 | Mosman, NSW | Silver shooting star with a bright silver fragmented trail | Space debris re-entering Earth's atmosphere 3MAY75 | 1530 | Ashton, SA | Blue/green shape with a white beam of light extending to the ground | Unknown, possible helicopter 12MAY75 | 0600 | Hounah, TAS | Grey/black parachute like object moving at the base of a rainbow red and white light moving at random | Meteorological phenomena 19JUN75 | 1300 | Lorna, QLD | Bright oval-shaped object moving very quickly | Report received too late for satisfactory in- vestigation 24JUN75 | 0105 | Ingham, QLD | Rectangular dark shape with flashing white light. Noise similar to a jet but softer | Light aircraft 6JUL75 | 1005 | Hillgrove, NSW | [ILLEGIBLE] | Light aircraft 10JUL75 | 1035 | Hardwood, NSW | Grey tube with silver cross in front | HA-MB 707 aircraft with vapour trail /12JUL75
- 5 - DATE | TIME (EST) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 12AUG75 | 1530 | Yallourn, VIC | Very bright star, changing colour from red and yellow to diamond blue then landing | Star affected by atmospheric scintillation 19AUG75 | 1010 | Broadmeadows, NSW | White object moving at great speed, then landing | Not known 30SEP75 | 1255 | 115km East of Mackay, NSW | Three white lights in formation | Hoax 30OCT75 | 1820 | Timtua, NSW | Yellow twinkling light moving faster than an aircraft, in view for 30 seconds | Satellite on launching; rocket tumbling; reflecting sunlight 12DEC75 | 1200 | Urunga, NSW | Two orange/gold lights appearing to merge and then move apart | Mars distorted by temp- erature inversion
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE (AIR OFFICE) UNUSUAL AERIAL SIGHTINGS SUMMARY NO 6 JANUARY 1974 – DECEMBER 1974
- 1 - DATE | TIME (EST) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 4 Jan 74 | 0850 | Brisbane, QLD | Bright light tracking across sky | Satellite designated CAO-2 Rocket 4 Jan 74 | 1050 | Townsville, QLD | Spurious signals on weather radar | Anomalous propagation due to Atmospheric conditions 5 Jan 74 | 0150 | Townsville, QLD | Two pulsating lights in line astern moving very fast in northerly direction | Decay of Satellite 1002E launched in 1971 8 Jan 74 | 1100 | Albert Park, VIC | Red light moving west to north, appeared every 6 minutes for 1 hour | QANTAS 707 aircraft carrying out circuits at Avalon 12 Jan 74 | 1100 | Kew, VIC | Slow moving shooting star | Space debris re-entry 13 Jan 74 | 1445 | Balga, WA | Brilliant round light in sky moving east to west | Space debris re-entry 13 Jan 74 | 1050 | Punchbowl, NSW | Yellow-orange light in sky | Canopus 14 Jan 74 | 1120 | Mt Gambier, SA | Light, bright orange changing to soft gold | No satisfactory answer Aircraft from Moorabbin Central Flying School 15 Jan 74 | 1210 | Ascot Vale, VIC | Bright flashing light | Aircraft from Moorabbin Central Flying School 16 Jan 74 | 1225 | Moorabbin, VIC | Bright flashing bluish light | A/C landing lights 17 Jan 74 | 1215 | Floreat Park, WA | Very bright moving light (6 objects) | Space debris 19 Jan 74 | 1200 | Clayton North, VIC | Bright flash | 707 Aircraft 25 Jan 75 | 1740 | Layswater, WA | Bright light tracking across sky | [ILLEGIBLE] /27 Jan 75
- 2 - DATE | TIME (ET) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 27 Jan 74 | 1210 | Essendon VIC | Oblong shape, no noise, blue-grey colour | Meteorites – Space Debris 28 Jan 74 | 1200 | Hobart TAS | White light moving across sky | Satellite 11 Feb 74 | 1845 | Warwick WA | Object similar to street light | Venus 16 Feb 74 | 1745 | Ormiston QLD | White to orange light | Venus 24 Feb 74 | 1140 | Glenhuntly VIC | Circular dome glowing red | Meteorite 23 Feb 74 | 0600 | Iffley Station QLD | Red lights | No satisfactory answer 25 Feb 75 | 1500 | Townsville QLD | White light, round in shape | Star Nigel Kentaurus 22 Feb 74 | 1815 | Cascaurina NT | Bright light | Jupiter 26/27 Feb 74 | 1815 | Darwin NT | Bright pulsating light green on top, red left and right | Venus 8 Mar 74 | 1730 | Echuca VIC | White bright glowing light | Venus 9 Mar 74 | 1700 | Albury NSW | Single white light, brighter than normal star | Venus 9 Mar 74 | 1715 | Dandenong VIC | White light | Satellite 16 Mar 74 | 2320 | Neekatharns WA | White light moving in straight line | Flare 21 Mar 74 | 2245 | Blacktown NSW | Large red oval glowing light | South African Airlines Boeing 707 approaching Perth [ILLEGIBLE] | 1500 | Bedford Park WA | Bright light larger than Venus | [ILLEGIBLE] /25 Mar 74
- 3 - DATE | TIME (GMT) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 25 Mar 74 | 0030 | Loramburra VIC | Stationary Silver ball | Venus 31 Mar 74 | 0850 | Chacks Creek QLD | Blue light | Aircraft Cessna 540 1 Apr 74 | 1045 | Erina NSW | Whitish blue light | Conflicting reports, no satisfactory answer 4 Apr 74 | 1930 | Geraldton WA | Star like object | Venus 14 Apr 74 | 1115 | Boyd River Crossing NSW | Red and green navigation lights each side with orange/yellow central light, red light flashing | Light aircraft 15 Apr 74 | 1700 | Pankos NSW | Two bright lights, seemed to accompany each other | Jupiter and Venus 17 Apr 74 | 1130 | Carman ACT | No shape, apparent light source only | JASA DO-6 25 Apr 74 | 1700 | Romote PNG | Brilliant white light | Venus 29 Apr 74 | 1105 | Langa PNG | Red/orange light | Mars 30 Apr 74 | 1700 | Kokoda Station PNG | Two lights one very bright, one dull | Jupiter/Venus 5 May 74 | 0950 | Kokoda PNG | Bright rainbow coloured light moving east to west | Jupiter 7 May 74 | 0635 | Pt Druitt NSW | Large red oval glowing light | Ball lightning 9 May 74 | 0930 | Pt Moresby PNG | Very bright white light | Space debris or meteor 15 May 74 | 1130 | Kokoda PNG | 1 Single red beam of light | Possible satellite /11 Jun 74
- 4 - DATE | TIME (GMT) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 11 Jun 74 | 1000 | Popondetta PNG | Red glow on horizon | Possible volcanic act- ivity. Further info required 15 Jun 74 | 1400 | Alice Springs NT | Two bright lights | Insufficient data 22 Jun 74 | 1020 | Bathurst NSW | Initially small white dot, changed to elliptical shape, about 60 ft in length, changing colours | Ball lightning 27 Jun 74 | 0045 | Mogriguy NSW | Small light | Star Fomalhaut 7 Jul 74 | 0830 | Bolkik Plantation | Shape not known glowing rod | Either satellite or Space Debris 3 Jul 74 | 0940 | Scottsdale TAS | Bright white light | DC9 aircraft 9 Jul 74 | 0720 | East Kurrajong NSW | Two white lights | Piper PA-54 aircraft departing Sydney airport 15 Jul 74 | 0020 | Exmouth WA | Bright light | Searchlight from prawn boat 22 Jul 74 | 0650 | Narrandera NSW | Flashing light | Light aircraft Navajo 13 Jul 74 | 0920 | Woodberry NSW | Bright light | Altair 29 Jul 74 | 0005 | Wellington NSW | Pulsating light | Jupiter 6 Aug 74 | 0806 | Charlestown NSW | Single light similar to bright car headlamps at 2 mile distance | Arcturus 8 Aug 74 | 2045 | Bungendore NSW | Bright pink light | Aircraft /18 Aug 74
- 5 - DATE | TIME (GMT) | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | POSSIBLE CAUSE 13 Aug 74 | 0015 | Woy Woy NSW | Bright Star | Voge 16 Sep 74 | 1100 | Sutton Forest NSW | Cigar shape dull amber in colour | Space debris or Meteor 22 Sep 74 | 1530 | Alice Springs NT | Fiery object trailing flames | Insufficient data 25 Sep 74 | 1100 | Milne Bay PNG | Brilliant light vague outline | Insufficient data 15 Oct 74 | 1014 | Katherine NT | 4 star-size reddish lights with tails | Satellite or space debris 25 Oct 74 | 1130 | Darwin NT | Bright blue-ish light | Aircraft lights 5 Nov 74 | 1415 | Gosford NSW | Silver grey light | Venus 5 Nov 74 | 1130 | Passipern NSW | Bright white light | Canopus 9 Nov 74 | 1930 | Brisbane QLD | Silvery white object | PMAR 747 Nandi-Sydney Falling star or space debris – Nov 74 | 0950 | Wentworthville NSW | Bright white object | Scheduled airline traffic 2 Dec 74 | 1125 | Mt Victoria NSW | Red-blue-white light flashing | [ILLEGIBLE] 19 Dec 74 | 2130 | Merewether NSW | Bright light – star-like | Venus
[routing slip]
1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS [ILLEGIBLE]
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to
3 FOR SIGNATURE by S/[ILLEGIBLE]
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date – 6 AUG 1976 [initials]
6 AFTER DISPATCH to [ILLEGIBLE] 6
7 BRING UP on to
8 FILE Date 9/5/76 [initials]
Def (Air) 39/3/3
9 August 1976
WELLINGTON.
Dear Madam,
Thank you for your letter of 27 July 1976, about the
possible sighting of a UFO by yourself and friends on
23 April last.
I confirm that your telephone call to this Ministry
is recorded in the duty officer's log for the day in question,
as is also his return call during which he asked you to inform
the Air Traffic Control Centre at Wellington Airport.
In response to your request for further information, my
enquiries show that the incident which you reported was not
subsequently confirmed by any further sightings either to the
Ministry of Defence or the Air Traffic Control Centre. It
was considered, therefore, that further investigation was not
warranted.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(R.J. Mulligan)
for Secretary of Defence[stamp: OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE 30 JUL 1976 RECEIVED]
[top right handwritten: [ILLEGIBLE]]
WELLINGTON
27. 7. 76.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE,
WELLINGTON
Dear Sir or Madam,
On April 23rd at
approximately 5pm I was visiting
a house of a friend in Bostly
[Brooklyn?], where there were 3 adults present
including myself, when we
saw a U.F.O. traversing
from Kau Kau, south. The
sky was clear to the north,
however it disappeared in to cloud
in the south. We had an extremely
good view of the object and could
possively identify that it was not
an aircraft seen about our skyWe rang the Met office to ask about weather balloons etc and they said that they hadn't sent any up at that time. (It was definitely not like a balloon.) We rang the Ministry of Defence and by request we gave them our names and phone numbers so they said they will contact us. One of your staff rang back (To . number ... the house from where we saw the object) and asked her to ring the duty officer at Air Traffic Control. They asked her when she phoned, to describe the object, asked her if she had been to the press which she replied no; thanked her and then ended the conversation. The reason why I am writing this account is that I
wish to know why we haven't heard any further developments on the subject from your department or whoever else is concerned. I feel it is a citizens right to receive some explanation as to your departments findings. A simple explanation of whether you are able to account for the sighting would be appreciated even if your findings were negative. Thanking you in anticipation. Yours faithfully, BRING UP ON TO INITIALS FILE DATE 9/18/76 INITIALS [signature]
Dy(Air) 34/3/3 Office of THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE Wellington, N.Z. SECRETARY OF DEFENCE FOR DIRECT REPLY PLEASE [signature] Private Secretary 30 7 /19 76 [signature]
MINUTE SHEET Department: DPR Subject: TVc Questions File No. 39/3/3 Date: 10 Nov 76 To— JSO 1. The Minister has decided to go ahead with his TVc interview. 2. Attached below is the brief, and suggested answers to the questions. [signature] Dy 24 DPR Item 504 58917D—65,000 pads/2/75D
TV2 DOCUMENTARY – UFO'S – MINISTERIAL QUESTIONS Background 1. TV2 are currently running a two part programme on Unidentified Flying Objects. The second part of this programme is to be screened this Sunday evening. As well as approaching the Minister of Defence for an interview on the Defence position regarding the handling of sighting reports, Louise Joyce sought a Defence spokes- man to be interviewed along very similar lines. It is not now intended that such a spokesman be made available. 2. It is appropriate to note that over the years all enquiries regarding the results of sighting reports have been answered with a stock reply - often a rather fatuous one such as "The New Zealand Government has never stated an official or unofficial policy regarding the appearances of UFO's. A policy on this subject has never been warranted". Although the stock answer has been modified over recent years a strong suspicion exists among those interested in the subject that Defence has investigated the phenomena and has found information which it insists on keeping from the public. Remarks from correspondents such as "it is becoming increasingly obvious of late that the truth surrounding the activity of these objects is being withheld; a policy which is lamentable and, I believe, inherently dangerous. The sub- versive tactics adopted by the authorities display blatant deceit and gross incompetence" or "I maintain that there is a file in Defence Headquarters with confidential information gleaned from certain sightings reported - I feel that the Government is keeping quiet on matters of vital concern to the public" and "Many people now are not satisfied with the very weak, often contradictory and
2. and obvious spur-of-the-moment explanations to sighting reports. We have been told you have no official policy on UFO's, this appears to be contradictory when it is known that there is a file in Wellington available to officers of senior rank, Squadron Leaders etc". 3. Although as pointed out in the answers to the questions below there is liaison between the various agencies who may receive reports or whom may be able to explain reasons for various sightings, there appears to have been only one rather vague report received by the Ministry of Defence in the past four years. Questions and Answers 4. The questions asked by Louise Joyce and suggested answers to them are: Question: Are reports of UFO's taken seriously? (Presumably she means by the Ministry of Defence?) Answer: Yes. Reports on UFO sightings are, from time to time received by a number of agencies such as the Ministry of Transport's Civil Aviation and Marine Divisions and Meteorological Service, the Police, various astronomical organisations and of course Defence. It is of interest to note that Defence has had only one such report, and that quite inconclusive, in the past four years. On receipt of any such reports in Defence every step is taken to eliminate obvious explanations.
3. Question: What happens to reports received? Answer: As stated in the previous answer, a report can be received by any one of a number of organisations. On receipt consultation is held between the various organisations whose activities may throw light on the subject to eliminate obvious explanations. For example, the Civil Aviation Division can give accurate information as to the likely presence of aircraft in the area; the Meteorological Service can advise on the possibility of the sighting being that of a natural weather phenomenon or of a weather balloon. Other than this there is no formal resources set up to enquire into the wider question of UFO's generally or indeed to exhaustively investigate reports to which no obvious explanation can be given. A great deal more effort would be required to initiate research into the general subject of UFO's. As far as the Ministry of Defence is concerned these sightings have at no time lead to either the suggestion or the conclusion that there is any threat to the nation's security. Accordingly there is no intention of diverting such resources as would be required to undertake this research in depth on the basis of the unsubstantial reports so far received. Question: USAF have extensive information about UFO's. Do we cooperate with them on the subject? Answer: I am aware that some years ago the United States Air Force carried out a most extensive study of UFO sightings. This study covered a ten year period and when it was over the USAF reported that it could find
4. no evidence to confirm the existence of so called flying saucers. All but a tiny percentage of the reports dealt with in the period were satisfactorily explained. The USAF concluded that there was no evidence to show that the unexplained sightings were inimical or hostile; were interplanetary space ships; represented technological developments or principles outside the range of the then scientific knowledge; were a threat to the security of the country; and noted that no physical or material evidence of a UFO was ever found.
8/7/1 (Copy for Air 39/3/3) 5 September 1973 Mr Harold H. Fulton, 81 Sutherland Crescent, PALMERSTON NORTH Dear Sir, Your letter dated 28 August addressed to the Officer Commanding, Intelligence Wing, RNZAF has been passed to me because, as Scientific Intelligence Officer, I would represent the Ministry of Defence in any inter-Departmental Investigation of UFO sightings that might be required. 2. Although we have had a small number of sightings, perhaps one or two a year, referred to us, they have not been regarded as militarily significant, and we have not had the resources to carry out detailed investigations. The only exception related to the Ashburton Balls of April 1972, which were satisfactorily explained as earth satellite debris. 3. If Professor Hynek intends to speak at a public meeting on his investigations I would be interested to attend, but I regret that the Ministry of Defence has no information that would justify a special meeting, and probably nothing that has not been fully reported in the Press. Yours faithfully, [signature] (G.M. Beere)
[ILLEGIBLE] 1130 AM MONDAY 13 NOV. 1972. NAENAE, telephoned to D.Ops to state that he thought he had seen a UFO. The sighting was made from his taxi driving on High Street, Lower Hutt and he observed the object over the houses Hutt Hospital at a height he estimated as about the height of the hills to the West of the Valley. It had the appearance of two full moons and appeared to have lights all round it. It appeared to be 3-4 feet across. It was stationary for about 20 seconds and then turned on its side, when it had the appearance of a hat. I told Mr [REDACTED], that I would forward his statement to the authorities concern. Sighting made: Sat. 11th Nov. 1972 2 p.m. [signature] Sgt. ASAC 2.
[RECEIVED stamp: 20 NOV 1972 DEFENCE OFFICE] 39 3 3 IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE L.H. 8267/72 NEW ZEALAND POLICE POLICE STATION P.O. BOX 30-697, Lower Hutt. D [ILLEGIBLE] Ndid. Attention: S/Ldr. ROBINSON. [signature] S/L. 27/11 ADN(F) 15 November 1972. The Chief of Air Staff, Defence Headquarters, Private Bag, Wellington. re Sighting of "unidentified flying object" over Lower Hutt at 11.02 p.m. on 8/11/72 by Mrs [REDACTED] Further to your conversation on date with Constable Stone regarding the above matter, attached is a copy of the statement taken from the informant for your information. [signature] (I.H. Dicker) Sergeant in Charge, Enquiry Office. Encl: REFERRED TO 08 1 7
Police 29 POLICE DEPARTMENT Due JOB SHEET Record No. P.N. S.P.N. S.L.P. OFFENCE: First plan your inquiry then set out the action taken, inquiries made, oral statements of persons seen and information gained, etc. DATE and TIME 8/11/72 Went Lower Hutt and there spoke to 1 pm Mrs [REDACTED] a Housewife. Phone Husband employed by Lower Hutt Fire Brigade as a fireman. She stated: That night I had been out at a basketball evening with friends. We arrived back at my place, talked for a while, had a cup of coffee and then at 11 p.m. it became time for my friends to leave. They were: Wainuiomata. [REDACTED] Road, Lower Hutt and a lingerie salesman whose name I do not know; but he is a good friend of [REDACTED]. We went out the back door and stood in the driveway, pointed towards the south above the garage into the sky. She drew our attention to an object which was glowing and appeared to be travelling towards us from the Maungaraki Hills. It was travelling very fast, much faster than an aeroplane does at that height. In fact I have never seen an aeroplane travelling so low. The object was looping and banking on its side and its manouvres were very smooth. It started to move towards the East and then moved over towards the hills of Naenae and Stokes Valley. It was in our view for at least 2 minutes. There was no sound, no particular colour, just a glowing light similar to a household electric light. The light did not cast a shadow or light up our garden. I will draw a picture of what I saw and explain it to you. In the centre where I have drawn 4 oval shapes in a row are these 4 oval lights. There was a glow underneath them and each light was revolving. There appeared to be shadowed parts on the bottom and on the edges. The bottom diagram is how the thing looked when it was looping and banking on its side. The lights seemed to go towards the edge. The four of us saw the thing and we were very surprised. After it disappeared we went back into the house and decided that we should tell someone. We rang the N.Z.B.C. who told us to ring the Police. [signature] (N.A.Stone) Checked by Const. Reg. No. 5536 Rank: Date: 10/11/72 Date: 500 000 9 70 84100 D
[Sketch: elongated oval shape with labels] Shades [ILLEGIBLE] glow Shadow lights Shadow pointing [Sketch: larger oval/disc shape with labels] glow Shadow Copy of sketch drawn by Mrs [REDACTED] [horizontal line]
Air39/3/3PR 29th September 1972. Mr T.E.Rosen, Contact (NZ) P.O.Box 10151, Balmoral, AUCKLAND. Dear Sir, I thank you for your letter concerning the conclusions from reports received on unidentified flying objects. There have been no conclusions drawn from reported sightings of UFO's. As was pointed out to Mr Austin of your organisation in a letter dated 13th May, 1971, the RNZAF does not have any formal resources for investigating UFO sightings or for carrying out research into the wider question of UFO's generally. If a sighting is referred to us we may consult other organisations such as Civil Aviation, the Meteorological Service, the Carter Observatory or the DSIR to eliminate obvious explanations. We do not have the resources to exhaustively investigate reports in respect of which an obvious explanation has not emerged. A record of sightings received is maintained. But it is just that, a record that draws no conclusions. A considerable amount of time and effort would be involved in following to a conclusion every sighting reported to the RNZAF and even more effort would be required to initiate research into the general subject of UFO's. Yours faithfully, [signature] (C.D.COLE) Flight Lieutenant RNZAF Public Relations Officer. FILE. / /19 [signature] Initials
MD 701 AIR STAFF, DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS, WELLINGTON, M[emorandum] from Air. 39/3/3. DEPUTY CHIEF OF AIR STAFF 20 pads/11/71—3684 TG For: D [ILLEGIBLE] P UFO Committee 1. Attached [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] 2. I do not consider that the RNZAF should get involved in this type of investigation. [ILLEGIBLE] FILE. D.Ops 26/6/72 [initials] 20 [wk] - file [ILLEGIBLE] 29.6.72. [signature] FILE [reversed]
Contact (NEW ZEALAND) P.O. Box 10[151] Balmoral Auckland Telephone 696-937 19/9/72 [RECEIVED stamp] Public Relations Officer Air Dept. Ministry of Defense UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS Dear Sir, It seems very self-evident now in the face of the growing number of reliable reports received that this world is being visited by craft from another world or dimension. For many years now Researchers of the U.F.O. Phenomenon have been given very weak, often contradictory and obvious spur-of-the-moment explanations to sighting reports. Many people now are not satisfied with this and are convinced that something is going on which they think should be made public. A great number of overseas government departments are vitally concerned with the UFO situation and treat it as SERIOUS BUSINESS. I and this organization can see why this is so, and I personally do not envy the 'Authorities' who have to deal with the problem (and inquisitive researchers like myself). We have been told you have no official policy on UFOs, this appears to be contradictory when it is known that there is a file in Wellington available to officers of senior rank, Squadron Leaders etc. Could you please inform us of the Ministries conclusions to date regarding the serious business of UFOs. Thank You. Yours faithfully, [signature] T.E. ROSEN Director of Research [REFERRED TO stamp] 1. [ILLEGIBLE] correspondence. FILE [stamp] [initials]
DCAS RESTRICTED Air 39/20/1/DSI MINUTE To: ACDS (Pol) UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE 1. I wonder if you are aware that I am closely involved in this committee which consists of: Chairman – DDSI Secretary – ADSI(F) Members – Director-General DSIR Director NZ Meteorological Service, Ministry of Transport Deputy Director of Operations, Air Traffic Control, Ministry of Transport Director, Carter Observatory. 2. Our involvement is by inheritance from the Directorate of Air Intelligence who presumably were given it primarily as a security chore in the days when the Air Department controlled Civil Aviation. 3. Whatever the original reasoning was, it seems to me to be increasingly inappropriate for my Directorate, and particularly the Intelligence Section of it, to be involved in this business. If it were to become generally known that we were, it would imply that the subject was being accorded a greater significance than I believe it deserves. Some might consider that the same argument could be applied to any involvement by even the RNZAF. 4. Any intelligence interest in UFOs is of a scientific and techni- rather than a Service nature. DJIB has a Scientific Intelligence Officer (SIO) and agrees that the SIO should be either a member of the UFO Investigating Committee or associated with it as an observer. This would be consistent with our view that the SIO should represent the Intelligence Community in the investigation of objects in or from space or which are of doubtful origin. 5. The broader question of Departmental responsibility is more in your field than mine. I note, however, that the Ministry of Transport has two members representing different aspects of their work. It could also be considered primarily a scientific problem to be co- ordinated by DSIR whose Director-General happens also to be the Defence Scientific Adviser. 6. The Committee is not an active one. It last met in Jan 70 when it was unable to agree on publicity policy, a matter which is inhibited by my Directorate's involvement. Since then we have con- tinued to receive, usually from the Police, and to circulate to Committee members seeking their opinions, reports on UFO sightings. The most recent one, on which I attach the correspondence, was dis- cussed on TV by Peter Read. RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED 2. 7. As I understand that you are to have discussions with the Ministry of Transport and other interested Departments on fishery surveillance, this may be an opportune time to raise the question of the future of the UFO Investigating Committee. [signature] (W.A. SIMPSON) Lt Col DSI 27 Jun 72 Copies to: Chairman JIC DJIB [stamp] DCAS DPR RESTRICTED
CIVIL AVIATION DIVISION 78/2/12 MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT ATS/01 PRIVATE BAG WELLINGTON 1 TELEPHONES: 49 060; [ILLEGIBLE] TELEGRAMS: CIVILAIR [RECEIVED stamp: 7 APR 1972 DEFENCE OFFICE] 24 April 1972 The Chief of Air Staff, Defence Headquarters, WELLINGTON UFO SIGHTING ... Enclosed are papers received from the Meteorological Office concerning a UFO sighting at Gisborne on 29 March 1972 at 2320 M. As far as ATC are aware there were no aircraft operating in the vicinity at this time. W.F.C. King (W.F.C. King) for Director, Civil Aviation Division Encl: Letter sent to Carter Observatory with copies of reports below for action bse. 27/4/72 [signature] C.p. S/L 26/5. ADSi(F) [REFERRED TO stamp] [routing marks]
MINUTE SHEET Department: MOT, Met O Subject: net UFO sighting File No. 47/6/23 Date: 10/4/72 To— /LL MILESTONE [RECEIVED stamp] Herewith copy of report of UFO sighting as discussed. This does not appear to be a meteorological phenomenon or (due to about a rate of move- [ment]) a meteor or satellite decay. Other possibilities are (a) aircraft (b) searchlight beam or do Weather was fine, vis 20 miles, wind NW 8 knots, cloud 7/8 total, 3/8 Sc base [ILLEGIBLE], 5/8 Ac Ac 18000ft. If you have no explanation please pass to RNZAF (Sqn Ldr [ILLEGIBLE]?) and ask them to let me know of any findings for possible forwarding to sighter. [signature] C.E. Thompson N.Z. Meteorological Service [ILLEGIBLE] [signature] Following
NEW ZEALAND METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
Meteorological Office,
The Director,
N.Z.Meteorological Service, Gisborne Airport.
P.O.Box 722. Gisborne.
Wellington. April 5th 1972.
U.F.O. Sighting.
Dear Sir,
Reference your signal re the above sighting I submit the
following report.
On Wednesday night March 29th 1972 I was the observer on
duty at Gisborne Airport and after sending the 2300M aero I
proceeded to carry out the balloon flight.
Cloud total was 7/8 with 8c Ac As and a small break to the
north. The wind was from NW and there were no stars visible.
Whilst observing the balloon lantern I noticed a large white
circular object appear in the sky near Kaiti Hill. The time was
2320M and the azimuth reading on the object was 115.0dg and elevati
6.5dg.
I observed the object for five minutes and was able to have
a good look at it through the theodolite. It was emitting a red
glow but no real significant features. At 2325M the azimuth was
119.5dg and elevation 5.4dg and the object moved out to sea and
appeared to vanish in to thin air. There was no noise.
I would add that I am an ex pilot with 10,000 hours experien
and have never observed anything of this nature in N.Z. before but
in England in 1954 whilst near the R.A.F. Station,Guston, North-
umberland in broad daylight I saw an unidentified object which was
subsequently tracked by many radar stations including London Radar.
The latter was never explained.
Kaiti Hill's elevation bears 1.2dg.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
B.K.Waugh
Met. Observer.AIR STAFF D.OPS/
FOR INFO. 39/3/1
[signature] file
[ILLEGIBLE heading]
In order to prevent [ILLEGIBLE] to be called [ILLEGIBLE] of
emergencies, all [ILLEGIBLE] at the Wellington [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
hoon, as [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] please be obliged [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] supply me
with the [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] private and business [ILLEGIBLE] and the private
and business [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] of the persons [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] who
hold the position [ILLEGIBLE] below.
Please address your reply to -
[ILLEGIBLE] Sergeant Roger [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
Central Police Station,
P.O. Box 693,
WELLINGTON.
[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
166/20/1 DSI
DIRECTORATE OF SERVICE INTELLIGENCE
10 March 1972
Senior Sergeant R.G.E. Winter
Central Police Station
PO Box 693
WELLINGTON
Dear Senior Sergeant,
REPORTING OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
Reference your letter dated 28 February 1972 requesting
details for contacting the Ministry of Defence representative
responsible for unidentified flying object reports.
During normal working hours, 0830-1700 Monday to Friday,
the contact person is Squadron Leader G.H. Barron, room 169,
Departmental Buildings, Stout Street, telephone Wellington
49-800 ext 725. Outside these hours the Duty Air Staff Officer
is responsible and his name and telephone number will be
available from the Defence telephone exchange, Wellington
49-800.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(G.H. BARRON)
Squadron Leader
for Director of Service Intelligence[stamp: CP-2]
[stamp: 8-4-71]
[circular stamp: 11619006]
175 Landscape Rd. 6
Mt. Eden.
AUCKLAND 4.
Dear Sir,
I have written to your office on two previous occasions raising the
question of RNZAF involvement in the UFO situation. I have been told that the
Air Force has no policy on UFO studies and on receipt of reports it collaborates
with other Government Departments to investigate the report.
That is the truth as far as it goes, but I maintain the Air Force but
more correctly the Ministry of Defense are vitally interested in the whole
UFO situation. I maintain that there is a file in Defense H.Q.'s with confidential
information gleaned from certain sightings reported to the RNZAF.
I have not been satisfied with previos answers to my enquiries, I feel
along with many others including members of the Air Force here in Auckland, that
the Government is keeping quiet on matters of vital concern to the public. Why
should for instance an Embassy official ( U.S.A.) tell us that we should be more
concerned with Project Longbank than we are with Omega and our involvment in
Vietnam.
I appreciate your taking time to reply to my queries and thank you
very much. Yours faithfully,
REFERRED TO P. R. AUSTIN. BRING UP
[ILLEGIBLE] [signature] ON ...................
TO ...................
INITIALS .............
FILE
DATE 10/5/7[?]
[signature]5D 1 Air (SI) 39/3/3
for same following
as an 1M. 39/71
[?]71 "Investigation of
1/5/71 Unidentified Flying
Objects"
1. Responsibility for the
investigation of sighting
reports of unidentified
flying objects (UFOs) rests with
the Directorate of
Service Intelligence (DSI)
which consults on the
matter with the Depart-
ment of Scientific and
Industrial Research, New
Zealand Meteorological
Service, Carter Observatory,
and Ministry of Transport
and Air Staff.
2. Any sightings of
UFOs reported to the
Air Staff are to be
referred to DSI. [the...].
19/12 [signature] DCAS[RNZAF crest] IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
Air 39/3/3 6
POLICE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
GENERAL BUILDINGS, WARING TAYLOR STREET,
WELLINGTON 1, NEW ZEALAND
TELEPHONE: 47 000 TELEX: POLICEHQ NZ3550
CABLES: MOMEN WELLINGTON P.O. BOX 694
[D...] [FILE]
12 July 1971
The Secretary for Defence, (Air)
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Attention: Sqn. Ldr. S. [ILLEGIBLE]
Unidentified Flying Object sighted on 4/6/1971
1. On 4 June 1971 Christchurch Police were informed by Lt. Comm. K. Knight,
R.N.Z. Navy, Christchurch that the fishing vessel "Chinook" reported sighting
a U.F.O. at an altitude of 200 to 300 feet, ten to twelve times brighter than
a star, changing colour between white/orange/red, stationary between Gulchers
Point and Coal Island, Preservation Inlet. The sighting was reported at
0710 hours that day.
2. The message was referred to Lt. Comm. Knight by Captain G. Hart, Marine
Department, Lyttelton, who had received it from Awarua Radio via S.A.R. channels.
Captain Hart had in turn referred the information to the Defence Department,
Christchurch.
3. The subject was referred to the Invercargill Police who interviewed the
skipper of the vessel "Chinook" [REDACTED] and the crewman
[REDACTED]. The results of these interviews were made known to Lt. Comm.
Knight and Captain Hart and the inquiry was unable to be taken further.
... 4. A copy of [REDACTED] statement is enclosed for your information - [REDACTED] was
not able to add to this.
FILE. [signature]
Encl. (D. R. Mowat)
[ILLEGIBLE] Initials Senior Sergeant for
Superintendent (S.A.R.)
OPS [?]: You may wish to pursue this matter. Have we
an official investigator or perhaps Mr. Bain[?]
could shed light for us.
[signature] Q.
S/A[?] 1971: to note. This does not communicate with position
of [ILLEGIBLE] at [ILLEGIBLE] time. [signature].2.50pm 7.6.71.
[REDACTED] states:-
My name is [REDACTED] I
live at [REDACTED] , BLUFF. Phone [REDACTED] I am the skipper
of the fishing boat 'CHINOOK' owned by [REDACTED] .o. I am
39 years of age.
I am making this statement to the Police regarding my
sighting of an object in the sky at approximately 6.45am on Friday
4 June 1971.
At this time we were steaming across the mouth of Preservation
Inlet. We had rounded Gulches Head approximately 10 minutes beforehand
and we were half way between Gulches Head and Coal Island. We had
come from Chalky Sound and we were heading South to Bluff.
The only other member of my crew was [REDACTED] who is at the
present time staying with [REDACTED] , Bluff.
This object came up reasonably quick to approximately 40 degree
angle to our position and it appeared to be about 4-5 miles up
Preservation Inlet. It stayed at this height for approximately
half an hour and then gradually gained more height. Between the two
of us we estimated the object to be at least ten times bigger than
the largest star in the sky.
On first sighting this object looked similar to a parachute
distress flare. It appeared to have a very prominent orange tail
but during the half hour that it was stationary at the 40 degree
angle, the orange changed to a red colour and vise versa for about
the first quarter of an hour. When the object had been in the sky
for some time,it became obvious to both of us that it wasn't a
distress flare. After this stationary period, the colours (orange
and red) no longer existed and the object remained as an extremely
bright white light.
Within a couple of minutes of first sighting this object I
called Awarua as I thought at first that it was a flare. I remained
in contact with Awarua Radio for about an hour giving them details
of the object and its movements. After, between ourselves and
Awarua, we had decided that it wasn't a distress flare, they contacted
Christchurch.
Continued.......Statement from [REDACTED] continued.
My last call to Awarua was after we had rounded Windsor Point at
approximately 10 to 8. At this time the object was North North East
of us because we had changed position slightly. Even after there
wasn't a star to be seen in the sky with the naked eye because of the
brightness, the object was still there. Our last sighting of it was
at about 9 Oclock. After that we didn't take much more notice of it.
We had another look about a couple of hours later but it had disappeared.
I have done quite a lot of night steaming for the past 8 years
but I have never seen anything like this before.
Signed.
Statement taken and witnessed by:-
A. M. O'Connell
Constable 6057
7/6/71Extract from " TRUTH " Newspaper
Pu[blished] at _____________________, on [date] 1 6. 71
SUBJECT: RNZAF UFO .
Ai 39/3/3
[Newspaper clipping]
Radar beaten by
mystery object
WHAT aircraft in New Zealand can climb 63,274 feet at the rate of
up to 7000 feet a minute? None, according to experts.
So what object was
tracked by Christchurch
meteorological radar at
that phenomenal height
last November?
It remains a mystery.
But the meteorological
radar officer who tracked
it on November 18 is
quite definite he had it
on his screen for several
minutes before it [dis]appeared.
In a report of the in-
cident obtained by Truth,
the officer says: "On
that date Christchurch
meteorological radar was
engaged in tracking a
constant level balloon
released from Hokitika.
"When it was at the
height of 30,137 feet and
about 70 miles from
Christchurch the radar
acquired a new and
stronger target.
"I picked up the slide
rule and saw we were
getting quite unusual
heights so we maintained
the tracking until the
target speed became so
great that the radar
would not hold in lock.
Tracking was then
abandoned.
"I later put the read-
ings through a desk
computer.
Capacity
"Briefly, what we had
on the radar was some-
thing with the capacity
to climb 63,874 feet with
a rate of climb of up to
7000 feet per minute, at
60,000 feet and maintain
an average ground speed
of 80 to 100 knots."
He was later assured
by experts that it could
not have been a Sky-
hawk or any other
RNZAF aircraft.
The officer said:
"There is absolutely no
possibility that the tar-
get echo was a radar
phenomenon. In any
case there was far too
much pattern in the
readings for it to be
anything like that.
"One interesting point
was that at the moment
of acquiring the target
it appeared as though
it had seen the constant
level balloon and had
turned off its pre-
dominantly north-west
heading to examine it."
What was that mystery
object tracked by radar
high above Canterbury?MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
MESSAGE FORM
Office Serial No. 723
Registry File No. 39/3/3
Line 1
Line 2
Line 3 DE
Line 4
FILE
[stamp: 8/6/71]
PRECEDENCE-ACTION: PRIORITY
PRECEDENCE-INFO: ROUTINE
DATE-TIME GROUP: 3123352
MONTH YEAR: JUN71
GR: P
DATE TIME SYSTEM OPERATOR: [blank]
COMMCEN USE ONLY
From NZDEF AIR
To CIVIL AVIATION W.N.
INFO:
MESSAGE INSTRUCTIONS:
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: RESTRICTED
ORIGINATOR'S No. OR DISTRIBUTION: KGF 622
UFO SIGHTING CMM ATTENTION DIRECTOR CIVIL AVIATION
[REDACTED] CONFIRMING TELECON SQN LDR IRVINE/SUP
ATS DEVELOPMENT CMM MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM S/SGT
MACMURRAY CENTRAL POLICE OPS WN 3105042 MAY
71 AS FOLLOWS CLN
[REDACTED] DURING MORNING 31 MAY 71 MATAWAI FARMER REPORTED
HEARING HISSING NOISE WHICH DISPERSED HIS FOUR DOGS AT
HIGH SPEED AND SIGHT[REDACTED] SAUCER SHAPED OBJECT 15 FOOT
DIAMETER PD FARMER THEN BLACKED OUT AND ON RECOVERY
FOUND DAMAGED FENCE POSTS AND WIRE IN FENCE LINE
PD DAMAGE CONFIRMED BY LOCAL POLICE AND ONE
OTHER CMM WITNESS CONSIDERED RELIABLE PD WEATHER FINE/
CLOUDY WITH NO SIGN OF ELECTRICAL STORM PD GISBORNE
AND MATAWAI POLICE HOLD DETAILS OF WITNESS PD
DRAFTER'S NAME: IRVINE
OFFICE: OPS 2
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 275-3
RELEASING OFFICER'S SIGNATURE AND RANK: [signature] Sqn LdrNA 39/3/3
13th May 1971
Mr P. Austin,
P. O. Box 10151,
Balmoral,
Auckland
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter dated 5 May 1971 on the subject of unidentified
flying objects.
The RNZAF does not have any formal resources for investigating
unidentified flying objects or for carrying out research into the wider question
of unidentified flying objects generally. If a sighting is referred to us, we
may consult with such bodies as the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of
Transport, the New Zealand Meteorological Service, the Carter Observatory
or the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research as appropriate to
elminiate obvious explanations. I must emphasise however that we do not
exhaustively investigate reports in respect of which an obvious explanation
has not emerged from these consultations. I regret therefore that we really
cannot provide you with any more information regarding these sightings than
that which is released to the press in each instance.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(H.J. COVENTRY)
Squadron Leader
for Chief of the Air Staff
No. 1
[date stamp illegible]
[signature][routing slip at top:
1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS
2 BEFORE SIGHTING to
3 FOR SIGHTING to [?]
4 AFTER DISPATCH Date [ILLEGIBLE]
5 DISPATCH 1/4-5-71 [?]
6 AFTER DISPATCH to [?]
7 BRING UP [ILLEGIBLE]]
NA 39/3/3
13th May 1971
Mr P. Austin,
P. O. Box 10151,
Balmoral,
Auckland
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter dated 5 May 1971 on the subject of unidentified
flying objects.
The RNZAF does not have any formal resources for investigating
unidentified flying objects or for carrying out research into the wider question
of unidentified flying objects generally. If a sighting is referred to us, we
may consult with such bodies as the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of
Transport, the New Zealand Meteorological Service, the Carter Observatory
or the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research as appropriate to
elminiate obvious explanations. I must emphasise however that we do not
exhaustively investigate reports in respect of which an obvious explanation
has not emerged from these consultations. I regret therefore that we really
cannot provide you with any more information regarding these sightings than
that which is released to the press in each instance.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(H.J. COVENTRY)
Squadron Leader
for Chief of the Air Staff
No. 1
[date stamp illegible]Contact
(NEW ZEALAND)
P.O. Box 10151 Telephone
Balmoral 696-937
Auckland 5/5/71
Dear Sir,
In a letter received from you dated 3 March 1970 (reference 39/3/3),
you state " However, the RNZAF along with other Government Departments does,
on receipt of a UFO sighting, attempt to check this report as far as possible."
Could you tell me who these other Government Departments have been, and
what is the conclusion to date.
In the case of the sighting made by 2 S.A.F.E. airways pilots, whilst
flying across the Cook straits. What was the conclusion reached by the RNZAF.
As there is no official policy on UFO's it would appear that any findings
you make could quite easily be released to the public, with no threat to the
national security. Would it be possible therefore to sight any reports and analysis
along with the conclusions of sightings reported to your office.
Thank you for your time.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
P. AUSTIN Director CNZ.
File No. 39/3/3 Flying Saucers. U.Fo.S.
Sqn Ldr Coventry,
Please, Forward this letter on to the
right person to deal with. Thank you.
Darius Austin.
PRO. Ai.A.—5
AIR DEPARTMENT / /
Correspondence ABOVE this sheet shows INCOMPLETE action
Correspondence BELOW this sheet shows COMPLETE action
NOTE—This sheet is NOT to be removed from its place except by an authorised officer.
28,000/4/51—77717 A39/3/3-PR
Air Staff
Defence Headquarters
31st July 1970
Christchurch 2
Dear Sir,
Receipt of your registered letter of 27th July 1970 is
acknowledged.
The sighting you write of concerned a blue light not a
blue flying object and an analysis of the pilot's and other
reports indicated that the source of the light was an aircraft.
There was no attempt to suppress information on this sighting,
in fact, the sighting was publicized widely.
There is no official RNZAF policy on Unidentified Flying
Objects and no general study of UFO sightings is made by the
RNZAF or a specific group within the RNZAF. However, the
RNZAF along with other Government Departments does, on receipt
of a UFO sighting, attempt to check the report as far as possible.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C. D. COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer
No. 1
3 - AUG 1970
DESPATCHED
[signature]MINUTE SHEET
Department: Defence 29/3/
Subject:
File No: [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] 47 76 Date: 28 7 7[0]
To— 1. Suggest you reply along these lines
PRO (Ink) Dear Sir
1. I acknowledge receipt etc
2. Your letter contains several errors of facties follow -
a. The [ILLEGIBLE] sighting concerned a blue light -
not a mysterious blue UFO.
b. Analysis of the pilots and other reports indicates
that the object was an aircraft
c. There was no attempt made to suppress this
information.
best check this 3. We have no record of any previous reports or requests
against file made by you concerning the four [ILLEGIBLE] UFOs you
mention.
4. Final para giving standard release and saying
we check all reports made to us to the best of
our ability.
[signature]
2 8.7.10[?]Christchurch 2,
27 July 1970. 39/3/3
The Public Relations Officer,
Royal New Zealand Air Force,
Department of Defence,
WELLINGTON.
Dear Sir,
Following the sighting, by two Straits Air Freights
pilots on September 4 1969, of a mysterious blue unidentified
flying object near Wellington, it was stated in a newspaper
report that R.N.Z.A.F. authorities were awaiting details
from both pilots concerned.
As far as I am able to ascertain, the findings of
the Air Force authorities regarding this incident were not
released for publication. I would be most grateful if you
would forward the results of the subsequent investigation.
In addition, it is becoming increasingly obvious of
late that the truth surrounding the activities of these objects
is being withheld; a policy which is lamentable and, I believe,
inherently dangerous.
Because of information compiled after having
witnessed the movements of 4 UFOs, I cannot accept the
incredible 'explanatory' offerings frequently presented in
return for honest reports. The subversive tactics adopted by
the authorities display blatant deceit and gross incompetence.
Therefore, I must respectfully ask what official
measures are being taken, in New Zealand, to determine the
origin and purpose of these craft which continue to trespass
our skies.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
639/3/3 PR
17 March 1970
Mr Herbert S.Taylor
371 West Windsor Parkway
Oceanside
New York 11572
U.S.A.
Dear Sir,
I refer to your letter of 6 March seeking the official
RNZAF evaluation of an unidentified flying object in the Wellington
area.
As the RNZAF did not investigate this sighting, there is
no evaluation available.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D.COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer
No. 1
17 March 1970
DESPATCHED
FILE.
17/13/[?]70 [signature][stamp: INK 1970]
Ministry Of [ILLEGIBLE] MEMORANDUM MD 37
To: PRO (air) From: PRO (air)
Ref: 39/2/3 Tel: 757
Date: 13 March 70
SUBJECT Information: UFO.
1. Do there any info on this
sighting I can give this writer.
[signature]
This character is a hardy annual and all his enquiries
appears to have the objective of getting the RNZAF to admit
that we run an "investigation of UFOs" service.
He has already had our official handout "We do not specifically
investigate etc" and I suggest that he be informed that the
RNZAF did not investigate this incident.
[signature]
IPO (Me) Ext 410
13.3.70
You could perhaps send him the press handouts or
reports of that time.
Q[?][circular stamp: DEFENCE 11 MAR 1970]
March 6, 1970
Office of Information
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Wellington, New Zealand
Gentlemen:
On September 4, 1969, the crew of a Bristol
Freighter of Straits Air Freight Express, and the air-
port terminal radar at Wellington, both confirmed the
presence of a slow-moving Unidentified Flying Object.
The crew of the air freighter were Captain A. Cullum
and First Officer Faircloth. The pilots first observed
the UFO at approximately 7:30 p.m., and a second obser-
vation at approximately 9:00 p.m. Wellington Radar
confirmed both sightings. Has the RNZAF identified
the object as a plane or balloon, or has the object
remained unidentified? Would you kindly inform me as to
the official RNZAF evaluation of this incident?
Yours very truly,
Herbert L. Taylor
Herbert S. Taylor
371 West Windsor Parkway
Oceanside, New York 11572
U.S.A.59/3/3
3 March 1970
Mr P.Austin
Flat 1
175 Landscape Road
Mt Eden
Auckland
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of February 22 regarding
the unidentified flying objects.
There is no official RNZAF policy on Unidentified
Flying Objects and no general study of UFO sightings is
made by the RNZAF or a specific group within the RNZAF.
However, the RNZAF along with other Government
Departments does, on receipt of a UFO sighting, attempt to
check this report as far as possible.
Yours faithfully,
[ILLEGIBLE]
(C.D.COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer.
No. 1
3 - MAR 1970
DESPATCHED
FILE.
3 13[ILLEGIBLE]70 C[ILLEGIBLE][ILLEGIBLE][ILLEGIBLE stamp at top]
39/3/3
66/13/17
Directorate of Service Intelligence
16 February 1970
Dr E.I. Robertson
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Dr D.C. Thompson
New Zealand Meteorological Service
Mr W.J.H. Fisher
Carter Observatory
Squadron Leader A.N. Milestone
D.DATC Ops
Squadron Leader B. Irvine
RNZAF HQ
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
... 1. Herewith a report on the meeting held in the Directorate
of Service Intelligence on 29 January 1970.
... 2. Attached also are copies of the standard reporting
form.
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(A. Dyer)
Squadron Leader
IPO(Air)
Encl: 1. Report on meeting
2. Report Forms
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
[ILLEGIBLE]23 70 [ILLEGIBLE]Annex to
66/30/17
dated 16 Feb 70
RECEIPT AND RECORDING OF U.F.O. SIGHTINGS
1. A meeting between representatives of interested organizations
was held on 29 January 1970 to discuss the action to be taken
upon receipt of U.F.O. sighting reports.
2. Those present were:-
Wg Cdr R.R. Black Directorate of Service Intelligence
Dr E.I. Robertson Dept of Scientific and Industrial
Research
Dr D.C. Thompson N.Z. Meteorological Service
Mr W.J.H. Fisher Carter Observatory
Sqn Ldr A.N.Milestone D.DATC Ops Ministry of Transport
Flt Lt B. Mitchell Directorate of Operations,
RNZAF Headquarters
Flt Lt C. Cole RNZAF Public Relations Officer
Sqn Ldr A. Dyer Directorate of Service Intelligence
3. The present report form was discussed at it was decided to
retain the present format with minor modification. Examples
of the form are attached.
4. Some representatives remarked that they received many
reports which were easily disposed of and did not see the point
of filling out forms for each of these. It was pointed out
that the number of "solvable" reports compared with those for
which further action was required and with those for which no
explanation could be found provided valuable statistical
information. It was finally decided that those reports requiring
further action should be passed to the DSI in the normal way
and that an annual estimate of those quickly dispensed with
be passed to the DSI for statistical purposes.
5. The next item discussed was the extent to which a depart-
ment or organization should investigate reports and the extent
to which the public should be informed that investigations do
take place. It emerged that the extent of the investigation
would depend on factors such as the nature of the report, the
reliability of the reporter and the resources available to the
investigating body. Much discussion failed to resolve this
point and finally it was agreed that a report worthy of investi-
gation should be checked to the extent deemed realistic by the
investigating body.
6. A wide range discussion on the publicity aspects of UFO
investigation again encountered the "stumbling block" of lack
of resources within the organizations concerned. The RNZAF
PRO tabled the standard RNZAF "handout" for questions regarding
UFO investigation. It reads:
" The RNZAF does not have any formal resources for
investigating UFO sightings or for carrying out research
into the wider question of UFOs generally. If a sighting
is referred to us we may consult such bodies as the
/Civil2.
Civil Aviation Division of the MOT, the NZ Meteorological
Service, the Carter Observatory, or the DSIR as appropri-
ate to eliminate obvious explanations. We do not have the
resources to exhaustively investigate reports in respect
of which an obvious explanation has not emerged from
these consultations but a record of sightings reported
to the RNZAF is maintained. A considerable amount of
time and effort would be involved in following to a
conclusion every sighting reported to the RNZAF or the
other bodies mentioned above. Even more effort would
be required to initiate research into the general subject
of UFOs, and with our other commitments we do not have
the resources necessary to apply to the task."
7. It was suggested and agreed that DSI should consult with
a N.Z. Police representative with a view to inviting them to
participate in the same way as the organizations mentioned
above. This would enable a more accurate statistical record
to be maintained.
8. The Civil Aviation and RNZAF representatives agreed to
consult on reports requiring investigative action because of
the close liaison existing between the two organizations and
to preclude the possibility of separate investigations into
the one report.
9. The meeting agreed that an estimate (para 4 refers) of
reports for the year 1969 be passed to DSI.
10. In brief then, the action to be taken on receipt of a
sighting report is as follows:-
a. The organization receiving the report carries out
the investigation.
b. If necessary, assistance is requested from other
organizations. (A contact list of personnel follows.)
c. Depending on the amount of investigation required
either a report form is completed and sent to DSI for
filing
or
the report is noted for the annunal estimates.
List of Contact Personnel
Dr E.I. Robertson D.S.I.R. Phone: 57958
Dr D.C. Thompson N.Z. Met Service 70699
Mr W.J.Fisher Carter Observatory 45273
Sqn Ldr A.N.Milestone CAD MOT 71349 585
Sqn Ldr B. Irvine RNZAF HQ 49800 909
Sqn Ldr A. Dyer Ministry of Defence 49800 41066/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.66/30/17 DSI
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
ORIGINATOR:
DETAILS OF SIGHTING
NAME AND ADDRESS OF SIGHTER:
TIME AND PLACE OF SIGHTING:
NATURE OF SIGHTING
COMMENTS ON SIGHTING BY INVESTIGATOR
FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDED
When action completed pass this form to I.P.O.(Air), Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, for recording
purposes.Sc Sn/(A) Defence Office (From 2 [ILLEGIBLE]) 1. We reference. 2. Could you assist with a reply [signature] Sqn [ILLEGIBLE] PSO/1A [ILLEGIBLE]
MINUTE SHEET
Subject: Department:
File No.
To—
4. It could well be that the letter
will be of some use in the Committee's
discussions.
5 I do not think he is awaiting a
reply urgently. It will therefore be
worthwhile holding any reply at least
until the Committee has had a chance
to discuss the subject.
6 I should be grateful if you would
let me know if you agree with this
approach or whether we should give
a non-committal or negative reply
now.
[signature] MCHllman 20/3/
/68
Item 504MINUTE SHEET
Subject: Unidentified Flying Department:
Objects.
File No. 55/1/1
To—
DSI
By ROP.
1. I have spoken to Fl. Lt. Clarke
(Air Force PRO) about the letter from
Mr. Mengel (see below)
2. Flt. Lt. Clarke told me that at
present Air Force has a stock reply
for such enquiries but that a Committee
under your aegis, has been set up to
study policy in respect of such
requests.
3. I feel that Mr. Mengel's request
is serious enough not to be "palmed off"
with a brief, negative reply - Fl. Lt. Clarke
agrees with this.
Item 50[ILLEGIBLE]MINUTE SHEET
Subject: UFOs Department:
File No.
To— [ILLEGIBLE]
I hope to have a gathering
in about 14 days time to which
I intend inviting F[ILLEGIBLE] the Member and
DPR if he would like to come. [ILLEGIBLE]
it? Could wait until after [ILLEGIBLE] goes
a reply to - [ILLEGIBLE] follow May
3 [ILLEGIBLE] has [ILLEGIBLE] job [ILLEGIBLE] please.
[signature]
DSI
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
Item 504 20,000 pds/7/66-22262D39/3/3
Mr C.L.Elmes,
6 Kennedy Rd
NAPIER
Dear Sir,
In answer to your letter of 13 January 1969 I must point
out that the views expressed in the "Dominion" of 21 December 1968
do not reflect the RNZAF attitude toward the subject of Unidentified
Flying Object sightings.
The RNZAF does indeed take seriously UFO sighting reports
wbich-are referred to it although no general study of the subject
is undertaken. From time to time sighting reports are received
by various Government Departments including the RNZAF. Departments
receiving such reports attempt to check them out as far as possible
and will seek advice from other departments on specific incidents
as necessary.
In the two particular instances mentioned in your letter,
no reports were received by the RNZAF and accordingly no investi-
gation has been undertaken by this Headquarters.
Yours faithfully,
S.O. Int (Air)
Herewith draft for your approval. Whose signature
does this go out over?
([ILLEGIBLE])
(Pol me)
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]39/3/3
19 February 1969
Mr C.L.Elmes
6 Kennedy Rd
Napier
Dear Sir,
In answer to your letter of 13 January 1969 I must
point out that the views expressed in the "Dominion" of 21
December 1968 do not reflect the RNZAF attitude toward the
subject of Unidentified Flying Object sightings.
The RNZAF does indeed take seriously UFO sightings
reports referred to it although no general study of the
subject is undertaken. From time to time sighting reports
are received by various Government Departments including
the RNZAF. Departments receiving such reports attempt to
check them out as far as possible and will seek advice from
other departments on specific incidents as necessary.
In the two particular instances mentioned in your
letter no reports were received by the RNZAF and accordingly
no investigation has been undertaken by this Headquarters.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D.COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer.
[Stamp: No. 1 / 1 - Feb [ILLEGIBLE] / DESPATCHED]
19.2.69 C[ILLEGIBLE]39/3/3
12th March 1969
Mr A.J. Brunt
President
Auckland University UFO Research Group
P.O. Box 5945
Auckland
Dear Mr Brunt,
On behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff I would like to thank
you for your letter advising us of the formation of your UFO
research group and apologise for the delay in replying.
I can assure you that any future requests seeking details of
organizations dealing with UFO sightings will be referred to you
not as you point out, to the organization now disbanded.
The RNZAF was in no way involved in the investigations into
the Dow - Franklin sighting of a UFO at Taradale and I have been
advised that any copies of statements made of sighting should be
obtained through the Napier Police who handled the case.
Yours faithfully,
[Stamp: No. 3]
[signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer
/2 3 6[ILLEGIBLE][signature]MINUTE SHEET
Subject: Department: D31
U.FOS : REPLY TO A.J. BRUNT
File No. 39/3/3
To—
SO Int(Air)
1. Suggest PRO draft a reply for CAS's signature
along following lines:
(a) Thanks for advice on formation of study group
(b) We will refer inquiries about such groups in NZ
to Mr Brunt
↑(d) Suggest that he obtain Dow's and Franklin's
statements either from them or apply to the
NZ Police for copies of them.
(d) Apologise for tardy reply
2. Brunt makes no request for other information or
for indications of the RNZAF attitude to UFO reports
and none should be offered him.
[signature] O[ILLEGIBLE] Sqn Ldr
IPO (Air)
(c) Point out that the RNZAF was not involved in
any investigation of this incident.
[ILLEGIBLE]
IPO(ain) [ILLEGIBLE] copy of the reply to A.J. Brunt
is herewith (below). The letter
was sent by me after discussion
with RSO/CAS.
[signature]
PRO 1[ILLEGIBLE]/69
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
Item 503[University crest]
AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY
U.F.O. RESEARCH GROUP
P.O. BOX 5945, AUCKLAND
April 15, 1969.
Flight Lt C.D.Cole,
Public Information Branch,
Royal New Zealand Air Force,
WELLINGTON.
Dear Flight Lt Cole,
Thank you for your letter of early March advising
that the RNZAF will pass on to the Group any queries from the
public regarding UFO groups. This is much appreciated.
The Group is eager to examine with someone from
the air force the possibility of establishing an informal
association between ourselves and the RNZAF. This would
involve, perhaps, the sharing of information or at least
the establishment of some working relationship between
the Group and the RNZAF.
We realise, of course, that RNZAF files are closed
to members of the public and that to ignore UFO reports and
pass them on to us would be an abdication of air force
responsibility--a policy in which, of course, you would not
be in agreement.
However we feel a talk with you or a suitable officer
at Whenuapai would be fruitful for both parties. Could you
advise us when next you will be in Auckland so that a meeting
could be arranged. If this is not suitable could you tell us
if there is anyone at Whenuapai with the authority to deal with
us on this topic. Hoping to hear from you soon,
Yours sincerely,
[signature] Tony Brunt
Tony Brunt
PRESIDENT.39/3/3 pb
5 June 1969
Mr Tony Brunt
Auckland University UFO Research Group
P.O.Box 5945
Auckland
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 15 April seeking the
establishment of an informal association between your group
and the RNZAF.
I delayed replying to your letter as I thought I
would have been in Auckland at the end of last month.
However, the visit has been postponed and I will advise you
when I will be there so a meeting could take place.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D.COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer.
[Stamp: No. 1 / 5 - JUN 1969 / DESPATCHED]
5'6'69 e[ILLEGIBLE][circular stamp: ILLEGIBLE] No. file 39/3/3
November 4, 1969
Office of Information
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Wellington, New Zealand
Gentlemen:
On July 13, 1959, at Blenheim, Mrs.
Frederick Moreland reported observing a saucer-
shaped object with a transparent dome. The object
was sharply outlined at a near 50 yards distance.
Inside the transparent dome, two human-like figures
were visible. The RNZAF is reported to have
investigated the incident, and therefore hopefully has
a dossier on the incident. If so, would you be
kind enough to inform me as to the official eval-
uation of this fascinating UFO occurrence.
Very truly yours,
[signature] Herbert S. Taylor
Herbert S. Taylor
371 West Windsor Parkway
Oceanside, New York 1157[2]
U.S.A.MINUTE SHEET FILE
Subject: UFO Report: Blenheim Department: RNZAF
area & 1959
File No. 39/3/3
To—
IPO(Air)(A)
Note on our file.
Try 244/10/1.
This character has
written before.
I would be
inclined to give
him the gentle
but firm brush.
By PRO (air)
1. Attached is a letter from Mr Herbert
S. Taylor, an American, requesting details
re/an investigation into a UFO sighting
near Blenheim on 13 July, 1959.
2. a search of the file has not located
the letter referred to although a UFO
sighting and in the vicinity was made
on [/] 31 July, 1959. (Flag 19")
3. Would your records provide the
information requested?
[signature] C[ILLEGIBLE]Cole
11/11/69 PROMINUTE SHEET FILE Department: DSI
Subject:
File No. 39/3/3
LETTER TO H.S. TAYLOR Date: 19/11/69
To—
[ILLEGIBLE]
1. Your para 2 - why admit there was an
investigation? I would be inclined to leave
it at:
"At the request of Mrs Moreland, information
given by her to the RNZAF was not to be
released to other parties. For this reason I regret
that etc. etc."
2. What do you think?
[signature] O[ILLEGIBLE] S[ILLEGIBLE]
IPO (Air) Ext 410
Item 504 56519-68 D39/3/3 PR
26 November 1969
Mr Herbert S.Taylor
371 West Windsor Parkway
Oceanside
New York 11572
United States of America
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 4 November requesting
details of the official evaluation of a UFO sighting at
Blenheim on 13 July 1959.
At the request of Mrs Moreland, information given by
her to the RNZAF was not to be released to other parties It is
for this reason that I regret that we must respect the wishes
of Mrs Moreland.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D.COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer
[Stamp: No. 1 / 6 nJV 196[9] / DESPATCHED]
26 11 69 C[ILLEGIBLE][ILLEGIBLE]
66/30/17 DSI
Dr E.I. Robertson
DSIR 5/A/ 70 [signature] [ILLEGIBLE]
Mr W.J.H. Fisher
Carter Observatory
Sqn Ldr A.N. Milestone
D.DATC Ops
Dr D.C. Thompson
NZ Met Service
D. [ILLEGIBLE]ps
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
1. On 10 April 1968 a meeting of representatives from interested
agencies (see address column) was held to discuss the action to
be taken on receipt of U.F.O. sighting reports.
2. One of the decisions made at this meeting was that progress
would be reviewed at a further meeting to be held in "about six
months time".
3. I feel (and I am aware that some other representatives do
also) that it is time we got together again to discuss progress
and review our present procedures.
4. To that end I would suggest that we meet after the holiday
period - say Thursday 29 Jan at about 3 pm. Could you notify
me if this date is acceptable or not with alternatives if
necessary and I will co-ordinate suggestions and arrange the
venue.
[signature]
15 Dec 69 (A. Dyer) S/L
IPO(Air)
Directorate of Service Intelligence
Tele: 49800 Ext 410
The Directorate of Operations representative was
Sl Colton. I understand he is no longer with us.
OB[ILLEGIBLE] Donne 17/12 [ILLEGIBLE]
Please accept this in stride
and reply to IPO Air re
dates etc.
[signature] for SO[ILLEGIBLE] 17.12.69[University crest]
AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY
U.F.O. RESEARCH GROUP
39/3/[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE strikeout text] Auckland University,
Private Bag,
Auckland.
11th February, 1970.
Flight Lieutenant C.D. Cole,
Public Relations Officer,
RNZAF. Headquarters,
Ministry of Defence,
Wellington.
Dear Mr. Cole,
I write to you in the hope that when next
you are in Auckland, you will be able to arrange to meet
some members of the Group.
We have now survived one year of operation, and during
this time we have had a very fruitful liason with the Police
They arranged with us to supply us with details of any UFO
reports that they received, and over the year they contacted
us a number of times.
Though the year was one characterised by wild publicity
given to some natural effects, we think that our Group has
filled an important position , namely that of being scien-
tifically founded.
If you are in Auckland, you may contact me at Varsity,
or by telephoning 75-699 and we may be able to arrange
a similar liason with you.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
Brian C. Musker,
Secretary, A.U.U.F.O.R.G.
[signature]CONTACT
(NEW ZEALAND)
FLAT NO 1 HEADQUARTERS TELEPHONE: 699-514
175 Landscape Rd,
Mt. Eden,
Auckland 4 22.2.70
Dear Sir,
I represent the above organization in New Zealand and
we are exclusively dedicated to U.F.O. research. We would be
grateful to learn of the official R.N.Z.A.F. policy on
Unidentified Flying Objects.
Could you also tell me if there is any body within
the R.N.Z.A.F. that would officially deal with any sightings
that the public would send to you. Thank you.
P. AUSTIN
N.Z. Representative.
[handwritten annotation]
Do you have a 'stock' answer
for this?
26/2/70 [signature] OPS 2
[Stamp: RECEIVED / 24 FEB 1970 / AF-HQ / [ILLEGIBLE] / [ILLEGIBLE]]
[signature]Auckland University UFO Research Group,
P.O.Box 5945,
Auckland.
23.12.68.
Chief of the Air Staff,
RNZAF,
Air Vice Marshal C.A.Turner,
WELLINGTON.
Dear Sir,
This is to advise that a group has been set up
at Auckland University to study on a strictly scientific
basis the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects. The
group consists mainly of science and engineering under-
graduates who have in common the belief that UFOs con-
stitute a genuine scientific problem and need urgent and
serious attention. We feel that the subject has not been
adequately and thoroughly investigated by any private
or Government agency in New Zealand.
The group plan , in addition to other activities,
to set up a wide reporting network throughout the Auckland
province, members of which will investigate and report
any sightings that occur in their area which do not appear
to fall into the category of misidentified natural phen-
omena.
All aeroclubs, gliding clubs and air charterers
will be advised of our existence.
We hope you will note our existence as about three
years ago I noticed you were slightly behind in your
record keeping. In reply to a letter of mine the public
relations division directed me to a civilian UFO research
Group, Civilian Saucer Investigation, of Nissan Place,
Onehunga, Auckland. This group disbanded in late 1959
so I would suggest that future inquiries you choose not
to deal with could be directed to our group.
At the same time could we make a rather demanding
request of the RNZAF about a September UFO sighting reported
in Taradale in the Hawkes Bay area. In this case two
youths, John Dow and Paul Franklin, reported that their
car was chased by a UFO and as a result the vehicle...2
smashed into a shop. Consequently Dow appeared in the
Napier Magistrate's Court on a charge of careless driving
and was discharged.
I am told that an RNZAF employee in Wellington,
a wing commander, was given the police file on the case.
We wonder if there is any chance of the group being given
a copy of Dow's and Franklin's statements to the police
on the incident. Similar RNZAF assistance was extended
CSI, of Onehunga, in 1959 when Mrs Eileen Moreland, of
Blenheim, reported a close-up sighting of a UFO. In that
case Group Captain A.P.Gainsford supplied CSI with the
police statements involving Mrs Moreland.
Hoping you can help,
Yours sincerely,
A.J.Brunt.
PRESIDENT
[ILLEGIBLE handwritten annotation][stamp - partially illegible]
6 Kennedy Road,
Napier.
13 January, 1969.
The Secretary,
Air Department,
Wellington.
Dear Sir, / /
The attached newspaper clipping taken from THE DOMINION, 21 December, 1968, contai[ns]
a remarkable statement in view of the fact the R.N.Z.A.F. shows little interest
publicly over reported U.F.O. sightings.
In view of this press statement, would your Department be prepared to answer the
following questions?
1. Does the R.N.Z.A.F. take a serious view of sighting reports concerning U.F.O's? [handwritten: N]
2. Is this press statement an acknowledgement by the R.N.Z.A.F. of the existence of U.F[Os]?
3. The statement mentions probable method of propulsion. Is this therefore an admission
by the R.N.Z.A.F. that U.F.O's are extraterrestrial?
4. Will the Air Force name these "certain specified areas"?
5. Will the Air Force be making public the results of investigations not only in this ar[ea]
but in other areas?
6. Did the R.N.Z.A.F. accept seriously (a) the Taradale car chase of 9 September,1968?
(b) the subsequent court findings?
(c) the Havelock North sighting by schoolchildren
of 20 December,1968?
7.Does the Air Force accept sighting reports emanating from reliable people, aircrew, citizen[s]
of impeccable character, or is the Air Force inclined to ridicule?
8.Does the R.N.Z.A.F. attempt to 'hush up' sighting reports? i.e. because of its inability to
provide counter measures to these craft?
My questionnaire is more than a layman's curiosity. I am a member of N.Z. Scientific
Space Research, also of National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena(Washingt[on]).
If you should see your way clear to have these questions answered, I would be gratefu[l]
for as you will be aware, 'something' is going on in this area. I cannot accept the
fact that all witnesses to date are suffering from hallucinations.
Enclosed, stamped and addressed envelope for your reply.
Yours faithfully,
C.L. Elmes.
C.L. Elmes.
[newspaper clipping:]
Late news
SAUCER REPORTED
An Air Force spokesman
said last night many of the
alleged sightings of flying
saucers seemed to centre
about the Hastings-Napier
[handwritten annotations:]
Go INT (MR)
Have been unable to find out who this was. [initials]Air Department,
Wellington.
Dear Sir, / /
The attached newspaper clipping taken from THE DOMINION, 21 December, 1968, contai[ns]
a remarkable statement in view of the fact the R.N.Z.A.F. shows little interest
publicly over reported U.F.O. sightings.
In view of this press statement, would your Department be prepared to answer the
following questions?
1. Does the R.N.Z.A.F. take a serious view of sighting reports concerning U.F.O's? [handwritten: N]
2. Is this press statement an acknowledgement by the R.N.Z.A.F. of the existence of U.F[Os]?
3. The statement mentions probable method of propulsion. Is this therefore an admission
by the R.N.Z.A.F. that U.F.O's are extraterrestrial?
4. Will the Air Force name these "certain specified areas"?
5. Will the Air Force be making public the results of investigations not only in this ar[ea]
but in other areas?
6. Did the R.N.Z.A.F. accept seriously (a) the Taradale car chase of 9 September,1968?
(b) the subsequent court findings?
(c) the Havelock North sighting by schoolchildren
of 20 December,1968?
7.Does the Air Force accept sighting reports emanating from reliable people, aircrew, citizen[s]
of impeccable character, or is the Air Force inclined to ridicule?
8.Does the R.N.Z.A.F. attempt to 'hush up' sighting reports? i.e. because of its inability to
provide counter measures to these craft?
My questionnaire is more than a layman's curiosity. I am a member of N.Z. Scientific
Space Research, also of National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena(Washingt[on]).
If you should see your way clear to have these questions answered, I would be gratefu[l]
for as you will be aware, 'something' is going on in this area. I cannot accept the
fact that all witnesses to date are suffering from hallucinations.
Enclosed, stamped and addressed envelope for your reply.
Yours faithfully,
C.L. Elmes.
C.L. Elmes.
[newspaper clipping:]
Late news
SAUCER REPORTED
An Air Force spokesman
said last night many of the
alleged sightings of flying
saucers seemed to centre
about the Hastings-Napier
area. He was referring to
the sighting of a saucer-like
object by Havelock North
school children yesterday.
He said saucer sightings ap-
peared to occur in certain
specified areas and this
could be because propulsion
was sensitive to magnetic
lines of force on the earth's
surface.
[handwritten annotations:]
Go INT (MR)
Have been unable to find out who this was. [initials]
PRO. Send a copy of this cutting with the date
to Sq Cummings at Ohakea pls.
[ILLEGIBLE]
S.C. [initials]39/3/3
24th June 1968
Mr Donald H.Menzel
Harvard College Observatory
60 Garden St
Cambridge
Massachusetts 02138
U.S.A.
Dear Sir,
In replying to your letter to the Department of Defence
which was referred to me in Royal New Zealand Air Force Headquarters
may I first apologise for the extremely long delay.
To answer the points raised by you, in New Zealand there
is no official studies of UFO reports undertaken. The appropriate
organisation receiving a report whether it be RNZAF, Department of
Civil Aviation or the Meteorology Service, attempts to check it as
far as possible. In doing this of course there is often an inter-
change of information between the various Government organisations
involved.
This being the case, I am unable to provide the type of
information you seek.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D.COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer.
[stamp:] No. 1
2 4 JUN 1968
DESPATCHED39/3/3
24th June 1968
Mr Herbert S.Taylor
2365 East 13th Street
Brooklyn
New York 11229
U.S.A.
Dear Sir,
In reply to your letter seeking information on UFO reports
I am afraid that I am not able to be very helpful. In New Zealand
there is no official studies of these reports undertaken. What reports
are received are checked as far as possible by the organisation
receiving the report. Naturally the original organisation will call on
other Government agencies which may be able to help.
Because of this system and the lack of official investigations
it is not possible to answer your questions.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D.COLE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer.
[stamp:] No. 1
2 4 JUN 1968
DESPATCHEDJune 4, 1968
Office of Public Information
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Wellington, New Zealand
Gentlemen:
I am deeply interested in obtaining information
concerning the official New Zealand attitude toward
the still open question of Unidentified Flying Objects
(UFOs). I would greatly appreciate if you would
inform me concerning the following;
a) Does the RNZAF conduct an official
or semi-official investigation of UFO reports?
b) Have any reports remained unexplained?
c) Have any patterns been found to the reports?
Sincerely,
Herbert S. Taylor
Herbert S. Taylor
2365 East 13th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11229
U.S.A. -->
[handwritten:] FILE 286/1968 [ILLEGIBLE initials]MINUTE SHEET
Subject: Department: D.S.I.
File No.
To: [handwritten] Fl.Lt.
S.[ILLEGIBLE]
RNZAF
Public
Relations
Officer
Attached is a brief record of the ground covered at our
discussion on UFO's on 10 April. Unless we hear to the
contrary by 30 April we will assume the arrangements proposed
in para. 4 of the attached note are in effect as from
1 May 1968.
R.m. Allan
(R.M. Allan)
17 April 1968 Wing Commander
Encl.
[handwritten note:]
[ILLEGIBLE]: Before filing this you should study —
para 7 in particular.
[signature]
FILE [date] [initials]Part 2 Copy 14 of 36
NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) FILES
COPIES FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC
File Number: AIR 39/3/3 Volume 2 – Parts 1 and 2
File Title: Reports of UFO's
File Timespan: Opened: 1956 - Closed 1979
File Declassified: September 2010
Location of Original File: Held at Archives New Zealand
Access to Original File: Restricted until 2049
File Contains: Reports of sightings from members of the public and
military personnel. RNZAF investigation and report into the Kaikoura
sightings of 1978/9. Summaries of Unusual Aerial Sightings from the
Australian Department of Defence. Correspondence from / to UFO
research groups in NZ and requests for UFO information from overseas
researchers.NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE PUBLIC RELEASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) FILES These copied and redacted files of correspondence on Unidentified Flying Objects dating from 1952 to 2009 have been Declassified and released to the public by the New Zealand Defence Force under the Official Information Act. Access to the original files held by Archives New Zealand is restricted up until the year 2050 for Personal Privacy reasons. These copied files have had the personal details of members of the public making UFO reports removed to preserve their privacy. Personal details of service personnel and civilians employed by the New Zealand Defence Force and other Government Departments and Agencies have not been removed. No other information has been removed or omitted from these files. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FILES Correspondence on Flying Saucers began in New Zealand Defence Force files in 1952 and continued under different names, Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) and Unidentified Aerial Sightings (UAS) until the present. The files contain reports of sightings by private individuals and military personnel, investigations by Defence and other Government Departments and agencies into these reports, newspaper clippings on UFOs and letters from individuals who claim to be in touch with alien beings and craft. While the files are in general date order from 1952 until the present some file periods overlap with one another and the documents within each file are not necessarily in strict date order. There can be duplicate documents within each file and copies of the same documents (particularly media releases and reports) can appear in different files. ACCESS TO UFO FILES These redacted files are available in hard copy from the Defence Library c/o Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force Aitken St Wellington. They are not available in electronic format.
66/30/17
dated 17 April 1968
RECEIPT AND RECORDING OF U.F.O. SIGHTINGS
1. A meeting was held on 10 April to discuss the subject of
action to be taken on the receipt of U.F.O. sightings. It was
decided that the agencies at present involved would continue to
operate on an individual basis as at present and that no central
organization was to be established. However, it was agreed
that co-operation between the interested agencies was desirable
and that a central recorder be established.
2. In this context it was envisaged that representatives from
DSIR, CAA, the Meteorological Service, the Carter Observatory
and the RNZAF would continue to act in the capacity of receivers
of information and consult with each other on reported sightings,
where necessary. If warranted, a report on the sighting would
be raised and in due course forwarded to the Intelligence Projects
Officer (Air), Directorate of Service Intelligence, Ministry of
Defence, who would act as the recorder. The file on this subject,
held by him, would be available at any time to the other co-
ordinating agencies.
3. It was thought that the responsibility for completing action
as far as possible on a report would lie with the organization
receiving such reports although the other agencies referred to
above could and should be consulted when necessary.
4. It was therefore decided to:
a. use a simple reporting form which would be filed
by Directorate of Service Intelligence – draft
attached at Appendix 1 for comment and/or agreement;
b. deal with the persons given in the list attached at
Appendix 2 as the recognised representatives of the
interested agencies;
c. meet in about 6 months' time to review progress.
5. All present agreed to the necessity to keep the matter at a
low key and out of the public arena. All attending plus CAA and
Directorate of Operations, RNZAF HQ should advise if draft
reporting form was satisfactory.
6. For the present it was agreed that agencies with outstations
outside Wellington would act with considerable discretion if it
was necessary to bring such outstations into the reporting chain.
7. From a PR point of view the intention to adopt a minimum
amount of co-ordination between interested agencies should not be
disclosed. The line to be taken should be that:
"The appropriate organization receiving the report
attempts to check it as far as possible and naturally
will call on any other government agency which may be able
to help."Annex to 66/30/17
dated 17 April 1968
REPORT ON U.F.O. SIGHTING
Details of sighting:
Name and address of sighter
Time and place of sighting
Nature of sighting
Comments on sighting by ...............................(Department)
Comment recorded by other agency:
Action relayed to sighter, if applicable:
When completed pass this form to . Directorate of Service Intelli[gence]
Ministry of Defence for recording purposes.Appendix 2 to
Annex to 66/30/17
dated
CONTACT PERSONNEL
DSIR Dr E.I. Robertson
Carter Observatory Mr I.L. Thompson
Civil Aviation Sqn Ldr A.N. Milestone
Met.Service Dr D.C. Thompson
RNZAF HQ Sqn Ldr D. Cotton
Ministry of Defence Sqn Ldr P.S. RuleMINUTE SHEET
Subject: Unidentified Flying Department:
Objects File No. 55/1/1
To: [handwritten]
DSIN [arrow]
OPR.
[e Ap/28]
[further illegible routing annotations]
[handwritten body:]
1. Thank you for your comments.
File returned as requested.
2. I have sent an interim reply to
Mr. Menzel however, saying that it
is unlikely that we will be able to
assist him with the type of information
he is seeking but that a formal reply
will be sent after the forthcoming review
of policy on such enquiries has been
made.
3. I would be grateful if you could
let me know what decisions are made
so that I may reply to Mr. Menzel
in due course.
[ILLEGIBLE signature] ROf
22/3/68MINUTE SHEET
Subject: V.F.O.'s. Department:
File No. 39/3/3.
To: [handwritten]
1. ORS
rough
OPS [initials]
[handwritten body:]
1. Telecon Sqn Ldr Cotton refers.
2. This is to confirm that a meeting
for informal discussion with
representatives from DSIR, Carter Observatory,
Met Service & D.C.A. will be held on
Wednesday, 10 April at 1400 hrs. in
Conference Room, Directorate of Service Intelligence,
Stout St.
[ILLEGIBLE] to FILE 68 [initials] P.S. Rule, Sqn Ldr
7/O (Air)
[ILLEGIBLE]
Footer 3/0
op52 15/4/68
Item 504 20,000 pds/7/66-22262D39/3/3
1 April 1968
Dr E.I. Robertson
Assistant Director General
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
111-131 Sydney Street West N.1.
WELLINGTON
Our recent telephone conversation on the subject of
Unidentified Flying Objects refers.
An informal discussion on this subject has been arranged
for Wednesday, 10 April at 2 p.m. and you are cordially
invited to attend.
The venue will be in the Conference Room, Directorate
of Service Intelligence, Ministry of Defence 1st Floor,
Departmental Building, Stout Street. (At the top of the
1st floor stairs turn left following the corridor till a
door marked 'Prohibited Place' is reached. Please ring the
bell marked 3.)
For your information representatives will attend from
the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the
Carter Observatory, N.Z. Meteorological Service, Department
of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Defence, and RNZAF Headquarters.
[signature]
P.S. Rule Sqn Ldr
Intelligence Projects Officer(Air)
Copies to: Dr M.C. Probine, Physics & Engineering Laboratory
Dept of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Mr I.L. Thompson, Director, Carter Observatory
Group Capt J.F. Gabites, Director of Met.Services
The Director, Air Traffic Control Services
Hand minute to J. Ops.
PRo(Air)Mr Donald H Menzel.
Harvard College Observatory
60 Garden Street
Cambridge
Massachusetts 02138.
United States.
In my [struck through] interim reply to your letter (Ref
55/1/1 dated [blank]) I indicated that a review of
policy on UFO's was [struck through] imminent.
This was not the case but an informal meeting of [those]
certain Government Departments and the Carter Observatory who in the
main receive enquiries or reports on UFOs [struck through]
was held with the [object] of establishing to see if some
co-ordination was required in handling such requests.
[ILLEGIBLE initials/signature]
[stamp: ILLEGIBLE date and initials][Harvard College Observatory letterhead]
HARVARD COLLEGE OBSERVATORY
60 GARDEN STREET
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02138
CABLE ADDRESS "OBSERVATORY" AREA CODE 617 868-7600
55/1/1
March 12, 1968
Minister of Defense
Department of Defense
Wellington, New Zealand
Dear Sir:
For more than twenty years I have been investigating the
phenomena commonly referred to as flying saucers or UFO's. I have
become convinced that a large number of natural phenomena are re-
sponsible for these sightings and their reputed behavior. The sight-
ings include, in part, reflections from material objects like planes,
balloons, birds, insects, spider webs, paper, any object light enough
to be wind-borne. There are many luminous objects in the sky, in-
cluding planes, lighted weather balloons, luminous insects, luminous
birds, stars and planets, meteors. There are reflections from ice
crystals, which produce luminous mock suns or mock moons. Peculiar
reflections from water droplets in fog lead to a family of phenomena
known as spectres of the Brocken. We have mirages of many types,
from "inferior" to the "looming" or "Fata Morgana." There have been
many experiments with daytime and nighttime rockets, from various
bases over the country. Finally, there have been hoaxes of many kinds.
Taken altogether, I have concluded that not a single convincing
case remains for flying saucers from outer space. I feel that they def-
initely do not exist, despite the fact that a number of individuals, mostly
emotionally-dedicated amateur groups, profess belief in the reality of
UFO's.
As self-appointed analyst and historian of the saucer era, I
am preparing what I hope will be my final book on the subject. I should
like, therefore, to include as much information as I possibly can concerning
both official and unofficial UFO studies in countries or areas other than
[handwritten annotations bottom left: 26/67 and further ILLEGIBLE]
[signature bottom right]- 2 -
the United States. From time to time, newspaper reports indicate
that such government interest is extensive, possibly even in the USSR.
But in most of the organizations reported to be responsible for the
investigations, I find for the most part only amateur groups.
Please understand that I am not uninterested in the work of
these dedicated amateurs. I should like to know as much as possible
about them. But I am also interested in having information about truly
official studies. And thus I am writing to you for help and advice. I
shall be grateful for any information that you can send me about UFO
investigations in your country or elsewhere.
Thanking you for your help, I am
Cordially yours,
Donald H. Menzel
Donald H. Menzel
DHM:pl
[signature][ILLEGIBLE header lines] [stamp: 22 FEB 1967 / 185] [stamp: CATEGORY A] [stamp: ACTION COPY] [stamp: RESTRICTED] SUBJECT: [ILLEGIBLE] LOCAL NEWSPAPER [ILLEGIBLE] CAMERA[?] [ILLEGIBLE] FOR DOUBLE PAGE FEATURE ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS [ILLEGIBLE] AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE AND[?] CLEAR PO[LICY] INFORMATION [ILLEGIBLE] TO (A) CONFIRMED SIGHTINGS (B) INVESTIGATIONS FOR[?] AND (C) POSSIBLE CONCLUSIONS OBTAINED BY AIRFORCE INVESTIGATIONS OF THIS TYPE OF PHENOMENA. ADVISE POLICY IN THIS MATTER. [handwritten:] PIO HQ [handwritten:] RESTRICTED
MD 37
[Replaces RNZAF 193]
MEMORANDUM
To: SO Int (Air) PRO (AIR) From: PRO (Air)
Ref: 39/3/3 Tel: 757
Date: 27 FEB 67
SUBJECT UFO SIGHTINGS: POLICY
1. In the attached signal OPHQ states that it has been approached
by one of the local papers which is preparing a double page spread
on UFOs and has askd the following questions
a. Confirmed sightings
b. Investigations
c. Possible conclusions reached by Air Force investigations.
2. At present the position is that we replay to all such enquiries
with the rather fatuous comment which goes something like this
"The Government has never stated an official policy on unofficial
policy regarding the sightings of unidentified flying objects and a
policy has not been warranted to date"
I have long felt that this statement rather begs the question and
would be fairly difficult for the RNZAF to substantiate if we were
pressed. In short I believe we should lay these questions at the door
of Government -- who or what department I do not know -- in an endeavour
to get off the hook. All of this of course pre-supposes that we have
never been charged with carrying out investigations.
3. Your comments as to a suitable reply to Ops Gps problem would
be appreciated.
[signature]
(G.T. CLARKE)
Flt Lt
Meeting held 10/1/68
2/0(Air)
Complete this form in manuscript.
[handwritten annotations, partially illegible]N.Z. ARMED SERVICES
COMBINED
MESSAGE FORM
f. Sigs. 52 Office Serial No. 35/2
Registry File No. 39/3/3
FOR COMM CEN/SIGNALS USE
[date stamp: 11? 67(?)]
PRECEDENCE—ACTION PRECEDENCE—INFO DATE—TIME GROUP MESSAGE INSTRUCTIONS
ROUTINE 110116
PREFIX GR
FROM RNZAEHQ WN
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
TO BW OHAK
UNCLASSIFIED
ORIGINATORS NUMBER
INFO
PR 756 JAN 1167
SUBJECT UFOS PD THIS HQ HAS
RECEIVED A REPORT OF A UFO SEEN
OVER MASTERTON AT 0030 HRS
DEC 1167 PD IT WAS FLYING WEST
TO EAST ON A STEADY WELL DEFINED
COURSE PD DID OHAKEA HAVE AN
AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA AT THE
TIME QUERY
FILE.
11/1/1968 [initials]
page..... 1 of ...... pages REFERS TO MESSAGE DRAFTER'S NAME OFFICE TEL. No.
CLASSIFIED ESHAW PRO 757
[ ] YES [ ] NO
FOR DATE TIME SYSTEM OPERATOR D DATE TIME SYSTEM OPERATOR RELEASING OFFICER SIGNATURE AND RANK
OPRS [R]
USE
[signature]
10 000 pads/4/66—18917 Y7039/3/3
Minute
To PRO (Air)
UFO Reports.
1. Enclosure below refers.
2 Despite the description of the Object (itself)
(para 1f), other factors (noise height, heading
suggest an aircraft.
3. I suggest you make quick checks with
Ohakea & CAA to see if they can
establish an aircraft in the area at the
time.
4. If these results are negative I further
suggest an acknowledgement of the
report along lines similar to the flagged
enclosure on this file. (final para)
R.R. Beach Sqy
1 PO (Air) 2as.
6 . . 68
[signature]
11 ( [initials])39/3/3
MINUTE NO:38/1967
To: IPO (Air)
REPORTS : UFO
1. Yesterday afternoon I had a telephone call
from a Masterton woman who reported seeing an
object in the sky over Masterton. Details are:
a. Date: 11 December 1967.
b. Time: 0030 hours.
c. Weather: Clear still night.
d. Direction of flight: West to east on
a steady well defined course.
e. Height: 1000 feet.
f. General description: The object looked
like an enclosed triangle which was
yellow-orange inside while on its
outside edge it had lines of oscillating
red flames. It made a noise like a
humming top. It appeared to be 1000ft
long and did not look like a meteor but
more like a missile.
2. The woman who phoned me was of
Masterton. Her telephone number
is . She was most insistent that she be told
what action is being taken and what we imagine the
object she saw might be.
3. The report is forwarded for your attention.
[signature]
(G.T. CLARKE)
Flt Lt
PRO (Air)
12 Dec 67
[handwritten] Jot's Received by IPO Air 9.1.68
[initials]
68 [initials]
17.New Zealand High Commission
New Zealand Defence Liaison Staff
New Zealand House
Haymarket
Reference London SW1
JS/10.04 Whitehall 8422 Telex 24368
12 July 1967
Deputy Secretary of Defence (Air),
RNZAF Headquarters,
WELLINGTON
Attn. Group Captain, Operations.
[stamp: RNZAF HQ 16/7 1967
25 7 67
agfor 24/4]
INVESTIGATION OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
Reference A: Letter S.2/71/JJAH from J.J.A.Hennessey
dated 16 April 1967.
B: Letter JS.10/04 dated 23 May 1967.
C: Letter from J.J.A.Hennessey dated 19 June 1967.
D: Reply to reference C dated 12 July 1967.
1. This Office has received requests from a Mr Julian J.A.
Hennessey of 43 Penywern Road, Earls Court, London, S.W.5. for
information on New Zealand Government policy with regard to
the investigation of unidentified flying objects (ref. A refers).
Mr Hennessey has now requested the address of a New Zealand
Headquarters to whom he can direct his enquiries, for the reason
stated in his letter at reference C.
2. This Office has answered the enquiries with the information
available here. To assist reply co-ordination in this matter
copies of the above referenced letters are attached.
[handwritten] File
[initials]
[handwritten] note: no reply sent as intention of Hennessey
was to approach this HG
[tick]
(J.D. Robins)
Group Captain
for Head, NZDLS, London
Encl.COPY
43 Penywern Road,
Earls Court,
London, S.W.5.
June 19, 1967
Ref. DL.10/04
Group Captain J.D. Robins,
NZDLS,
New Zealand House,
Haymarket,
London, S.W.1.
Dear Sir,
I refer you to your letter of May 23, 1967 and request
the address of your Headquarters in New Zealand with respect
to my April 16, 1967 letter.
My reason for asking this is that contrary to your
letter, I am aware that your Government has issued instructions
for the investigation of UFO's by the Department of Defence
under it's Defence Program.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) JULIAN J.A. HENNESSEY
[signature]COPY
JS.10/04
23 May 1967
J.J.A. Hennessey, Esq.,
Associate Member,
National Investigations Committee
on Aerial Phenomena,
36 Elvaston Place,
South Kensington,
London, S.W.7.
Dear Sir,
In reply to your letter S.2/71/JJAH of the 16th
April 1967, you are advised the New Zealand Government
does not conduct research into or investigate so-called
unidentified flying objects.
I regret that this Office cannot be of any assistance
to you in this matter.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) J.D. ROBINS
Group Captain
for Head, NZDLS, London[handwritten at top, partially illegible]
Reply to: 36, Elvaston Place, file is
South Kensington, (old number)
London, S.W.7. JS/10.04
London
Please Quote: S.2/ 71 /JJAH
Your Excellency,
As you may have been aware, the United States has recently
given the University of Colorado a grant of 313,000 dollars to
investigate unidentified flying objects. This investigation, under
the Chairmanship of Dr. Edward U. Condon of the University's Physics
and Astrophysics Department, is primarily to determine whether there
is any pattern, in the mass of reports on file, that would indicate
that interplanetary vehicles are reaching this planet from an
extraterrestrial source(*).
In view of the above study and its possible far reaching
implications, I should be pleased if you would arrange for this
letter and the accompanying questionnaire to be forwarded to the
appropriate Ministry in your country for completion.
An acknowledgement of this letter would be appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
J.J.A. Hennessey Esq.,
Associate Member,
National Investigations Committee
on Aerial Phenomena
(*) This conclusion had previously been reached in 1948 by the
Aerospace Technical Intelligence Centre (U.S.A.) in its
Top Secret "Estimate of the Situation", this was later
declassified and destroyed.
H.E. The Hon. Sir T. Macdonald, KCMG. [signature]
//Form S.2. No 71
UFO SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
a. When did your Government first charge
or authorise a Ministry to investigate 19.........
UFO reports?
b. Since the instigation of an official
investigation, how many UFO reports ...........
has the authorised Ministry received
to date?
c. Under which classification does UFO Confidential/Secret/
data in your country come under? Top Secret
d. Are there any special regulations
governing UFO investigations by the YES/NO
authorised Ministry
e. What % of reports received remain .......... %
totally unidentified
f. Would your Government be willing to
release its reports on UFOs after YES/NO
deleting classified date
g. Would your Government consider
exchanging UFO data with a scientific YES/NO
or responsible body
h. Has your Government ever instigated
a scientific investigation into the YES/NO
phenomena of UFOs
i. If your Government discovered that UFOs
were in fact interplanetary vehicles, YES/NO
would it make an immediate announcement
to that effect
j. Do you wish your replies to this
questionnaire be kept in confidence YES/NO
Date................................ Signed.................................
Rank ..................................
Official Stamp Department............................
[box] Address...............................
...............................
...............................
This form to be returned to: J.J.A. Hennessey, Esq.,
36, Elvaston Place,
South Kensington,
London, S.W.7.
England.
//39/3/3
Public Relations Office
Wellington 49-800 Ext 757
11th July 1967
Mr Sammy Paradice,
290 Washington,
Vidor, Texas 77662,
U.S.A.
Dear Mr Paradice,
Thank you for your recent letter regarding UFO's.
I regret the Chief of the Air Staff is unable to
give you his opinion on UFO sightings. The New Zealand
Government, and of course the Royal New Zealand Air
Force, have never expressed a policy on UFO's.
What may be of help to you however is the address
of a New Zealander who has maintained a record of
UFO's for quite some time. He is Mr H.H. Fulton of
81 Sutherland Crescent, Palmerston North.
Mr Fulton was head of the Civilian Saucer Invest-
igation (NZ) Society, from 1952 until it went into
recess in 1959.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(G.T. CLARKE) Flt Lt
Public Relations Officer
No. 2
11 JUL 1967
FILE.
11 /47/ 67 ES
[illegible]Dear Honorable Sir,
I am a great admirer of your
country and have done a great deal
of reading on it. I would would
like to have the head of the Royal
New Zealand Air Force to give
me his opinion on UFOs. I am a
member of APRO + NICAP- all prominent
UFO agencies in the U.S. Sir, I would
greatly appreciate it if the head of the
your country's air force would do so
and it would be one of my prize
possessions.
Because I am not a citizen of your
country, I am unaware of UFO
organizations in New Zealand that would
grant membership to foreigners. If there
are any agencies within your country that
would do so, would one of your associates
send me the addresses? Where is the Civilian
Saucer Investigation located at? I understand
it is wonder headed by a Mr. Harold
H. Fulton , a Sergeant in the
R N Z A F.) if it is possible that you
know his address will you forward it to me
I would sincerely thank you.
Many congratulations toward your
prosperous country and its ever increasing role
in world affairs.
see backSincerely yours and thank you ever
so much for taking the time to read
my letter.
Samuel Paradice
SAMMY PARADICE
290 WASHINGTON
VIDOR, TEXAS 77662
U. S. A.
P.S. When you send your response,
I would gladly pay for the postage
and for your services (that of which you
do not know how somuch I would
be grateful.39/3/3
Public Relations Office
Wellington 49800 Ext 757
13 October 1966
Mr A.J. Brunt,
24 Wembley Rd,
Mt Eden,
Auckland
Dear Sir,
Your recent letter to the Chief of the Air Staff
has been passed to me for reply.
The maintenance of files are governed by specific
regulations which precludes them being made available
to anyone outside the Armed Forces.
I would point out that the Government has never
stated an official or unofficial policy regarding the
sightings of unidentified flying objects and a policy
has not been warranted to date.
No Government agency has been set up to investigate
sightings but a civilian group — Civilian Saucer
Investigation (NZ) Society — publishes a quarterly
review of reports and investigations.
If you are not already aware of this group may I
suggest that you consider contacting it. The address
of the Society is:
CSI (NZ)
1 Nissan Place
Onehunga
Auckland SE5
[signature]
(G.T. CLARKE)
Flight Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer39/3/3
[handwritten: SBQ 4 PAI]
THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS—FEBRUARY 5, 1966
Was it an Irish flying saucer or
merely an airborne leprechaun?
Last December 26 was a cold but
beautifully clear and sunny day
in County Waterford, Ireland, as
it was over most of the British
Isles. At about 3 in the
afternoon, Jacqueline Wingfield, who
works at the Victoria and Albert
Museum, was driving along a road at
Cappoquin with a Danish friend, Lisbet
Mortensen. Suddenly they saw a bright
object passing steadily from right to left
across the sky in front of them. After-
wards they described it as a solid,
metallic-looking, rounded flying object
ing a big elliptical plume of brightness.
The plume behaved as if it were attached
to the smaller object and was being
dragged across the sky by it.
Miss Wingfield stopped the car and
the two girls got out with their cameras.
Jacqueline found to her annoyance that
hers had no film in it, but Lisbet, using
a cheap Agra snapshot camera with only
two range settings, was able to take a
picture before the object disappeared.
They estimate it was in sight for three
or four minutes altogether. When they
got back to London they gave the film
to Charles Gibbs-Smith, a colleague of
Miss Wingfield and an experienced and
enthusiastic investigator of reports
about Unidentified Flying Objects
(U.F.O.s), vulgarly known as flying
saucers. He had it developed by Percy
Hennell, a professional photographer,
who has certified that in his opinion the
negative is genuine.
This then is the story behind the
photograph reproduced on these pages,
and with Gibbs-Smith and Percy Hen-
nell prepared to stake their considerable
professional reputations on it there can
be no doubt that it is genuine. The
question is, what does it show? Gibbs-
Smith points out that most of the stock
explanations of supposed flying-saucer
sightings cannot be applied to this case.
The object's brightness, trailing plume,
[handwritten annotations on right side:]
Some of the
efflux is
ahead of the U.F.O.
U.F.O.
CAPPOQUIN
SIGHTING
1965
THE FLYING SAUCER REVIEW
[photograph caption:] This photograph of a flying saucer with its legs
down was taken by radio officer T. For-
dahl from the deck of the motor vessel
Ramsey off the west coast of Panama in 1957.FEBRUARY 5, 1966—THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS—25
make the sun dog theory seem plausible.
Even if a more detailed investigation
showed that the Cappoquin sighting
was no more than Gibbs-Smith can
still quote many examples of
U.F.O.s which have no alternate expla-
nation except as the "alternate visitors from
other worlds." The evidence for this is
mounting enormously." Evidence for this is
how do you account for these? And
the sightings are often very quickly hushed
up so you hear no more about them. And
once asked a man from the United States
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
what he knew about them and
he said, 'All I can tell you is that the top
people in N.A.S.A. take them very
seriously.' I don't think there is much
doubt that the authorities know more
about these things than they let out—
if you try and talk to Whitehall about
them they fob you off with a very
junior official. After all our civilisation
is a very new one, no more than 7000
years old, and we've only been able to
fly for 60 years yet already we can orbit
the earth at 18,000 miles an hour. Who
can say what a civilisation 70,000 years
old might not be able to do? They could
probably build a spaceship to travel
between the stars with no trouble at all.
And many astronomers now agree
there may be hundreds of thousands or
even millions of advanced civilisations
in space."
TIMOTHY JOHNSON
[handwritten annotations:]
DIRECTION OF U.F.O; but here seen going
away from the camera as well as to the left!
Efflux thinning
with end
"rounded"
No smoke
or vapour
[illegible]
Efflux clear but sparse
Efflux "bunching"
U.F.O.
[arrow pointing left][Newspaper clipping with photographs] Last week three flying-saucer "nests" were found near Tully in Australia's Northern Queensland. One farmer said he saw "a space- ship rise from a swamp with a hissing noise." An incredulous U.S. Coast Guard photographer watched this formation of "brilliant objects" in the sky over Salem, Massachusetts for some time before he photographed them in 1952. Both meteorologists and aeronautical experts were puzzled by what was either a cloud forma- tion or a large-model flying saucer sited over Prague in Czechoslovakia last year. [handwritten annotation:] Photograph taken near [illegible]
[Photograph page]
[handwritten top left:] [illegible]
[handwritten:] Notes
By
C#65
[caption along right side:] Cappoquin, Dec. 26, 1965, by Lisbet MortensenMEMORANDUM
[handwritten top:] [initials]
To: DUA1 From: PSO/CAS
Ref: 27/3/3 Tel: 700
Date: 26th September 1966
SUBJECT Unidentified Flying Objects
1. Reference is made A.J. Brunt's letter of 25th
September 1966.
2. Would you please advise what reply could be
made to this letter.
L.M. Hancock
Sqn Ldr PSO/CAS
[handwritten response:]
Re. 27/9
PSO/CAS 7 [initials]
Access to RNZAF files cannot be given.
PRO has replied to letters of this type in
the past. Suggest phone for this letter be
referred to him for a possible use!
27 Sep 66 [initials] 14/[initials] [illegible] Hancock
[initials]
SOAI
P[initials]
CAS wishes you to reply to the letter attached giving
an explanation of why files are not available for use by civilians
and not giving the inquirer a straight "brush off"
Complete this form in manuscript.
4 Oct 66 L.M. Hancock
Sqn Ldr PSO/CAS24 Wembley Rd,
Mt Eden,
Auckland.
September 25, 1966.
Air Vice-Marshal C.A.Turner,
Chief of Air Staff, RNZAF,
Dear Sir,
Could you please tell me if the Royal New Zeal-
and Air Force files on Unidentified Flying Objects are open in
whole or in part to civilian use. I am at present working on a
book dealing with the phenomena over New Zealand and feel that
official information on the subject would be invaluable and would
go part of the way to putting the puzzling phenomena on a concrete
down-to-earth basis which is so badly needed.
From 1952 to 1954 the United States Air Force
gave a civilian investigator, Maj. D.E.Keyhoe (retd), access to
sighting reports and other data. Many people would be deeply grate-
ful if the RNZAF took a similar stance. Please do not regard it
as impertinence but I could be visiting Wellington in the near
future and could conceivably call into the Air Ministry at that
time.
The maxim of Democracy, government by the people
and for the people, is as true today as it ever was. It is essential
that the taxpayer be kept informed of scientific developments that
may one day have a great bearing on his future. Hoping this letter
will receive thoughtful consideration, I am,
Yours very sincerely,
A.J.Brunt.
A.J.Brunt.
[signature]
16/ /39/3/3
Directorate of Public Relations
Wellington 49-800 Ext 757
Miss Janet Marlo
353 Trafalgar Square 13th July 1966
Nelson
Dear Miss Marlo,
Your letter of 30th June to the Minister of Civil Aviation
has been referred to me for action.
The New Zealand Government has never stated an official
or unofficial policy regarding the sightings of Unidentified
Flying Objects and a policy has not been warranted to date.
The public in New Zealand are provided with reports of
sightings by individuals through the press. In almost every
instance these reports appear in the newspapers before an
investigation, if one is warranted, is made.
No Government agency has been set up, but a civilian group -
Civilian Saucer Investigation (NZ) Society - publishes a quarterly
review of reports and investigations. The address of this
society is:
CSI (NZ),
1 Nissan Place
Onehunga
Auckland, SE5
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Flying Officer
for Director of Public Relations
[initials]CA 205 Please Quote
67/5/3
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION 49 060
Telegraph: Civilair. Private Bag, Wellington C. 1 Telephone: 49X30
New Zealand
11 July 1966
The Deputy Secretary of Defence (Air),
Ministry of Defence,
WELLINGTON.
... Attached is a copy of a letter received by the Minister
of Civil Aviation from Miss J. Marlo concerning Unidentified
Flying Objects.
The letter has been formally acknowledged by the Minister
and is referred to you for reply.
W. Lynd.
(W. Lynd)
for Secretary for Civil Aviation
Attach. ✓
[ILLEGIBLE]
14. 7. 66 [ILLEGIBLE][Stamp: RF...ED / -2 JUL 1966 / RN... / No. 3] 353 Trafalgar Sqe.,
Nelson.
30.6.66
The Minister for Aviation,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington.
Dear Sir,
I am very interested in Unidentified Flying
Objects, belonging to two organisations - one American
and one Australian.
As I believe U.F.Os to be extra-terrestrial I
would be very pleased if you would inform me on the
governmental attitude to this subject. Is official
investigation carried out by our Air Force (as in
America) and do we have official views on 'flying
saucers'
Thanking you in advance,
Janet Haro (Miss)
(Marlo?)
[ILLEGIBLE handwritten annotations]
Secretary for Civil Aviation
Referred for draft reply, please
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
MINISTER OF
CIVIL AVIATION
-4 JUL 1966
[ILLEGIBLE handwritten notes]
14 7 66 [ILLEGIBLE signature]39/2/3
17' .66 [ILLEGIBLE signature]
14 January 1966
Mr Jean-Pierre Lussier,
537 Decarie Street,
Montreal 9,
Quebec,
CANADA
Dear Mr Jean-Pierre Lussier,
Thank you for your letter of
December 1965.
No agency has been established within the RNZAF
to make studies of Unidentified Flying Object reports.
The RNZAF has never stated any policy regarding the
appearances of unidentified flying objects and has made no
conclusions on the subject.
For your information a civilian group - Civilian
Saucer Investigation (NZ) Society - publishes a quarterly
review of reports and investigations. The address of this
society is CSI (NZ), 1 Nissan Place, Onehunga, S.E.5,
Auckland, New Zealand.
Yours faithfully,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Flying Officer
for Squadron Leader
Director of Public Relations
[Stamp: No. 3]39/3/3
MINUTE NO:5/1966
To : D Ops
INFORMATION : UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
1. Please see the attached letter from
Mr Jean-Pierre Lussier.
2. Can you give an answer to his questions please.
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Fg Off
11 JAN 66 PR2
OPS (P)4 [ILLEGIBLE signature]
Draft a suitable reply to attached letter pse.
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
12/1/66 Wg Cdr
FILE. D.DOPS.
1 /19
[ILLEGIBLE]
PR2 Attached is reply for your dispatch
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
12/1/66- Wg CdrMontreal, December 13, 1965.
Public Information Office,
Royal New Zealand Air Force,
Wellington,
New Zealand.
Sir,
I am very interested in UFOs. Could you indicate me if
the RNZAF makes studies on UFO reports. Could you also send
me the conclusions of the RNZAF about UFOs.
Thanking you,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
Jean-Pierre Lussier
537 Decarie St.
Montreal 9
Que.
Canada
[ILLEGIBLE stamp/signature]DRAFT 39/3/3
Mr Jean-Pierre Lussier,
537 Decarie Street,
Montreal 9,
Quebec,
CANADA.
Dear Mr Jean-Pierre Lussier,
Thank you for your letter of December 1965.
No agency has been established within the RNZAF to make
studies of Unidentified Flying Object reports.
The RNZAF has never stated any policy regarding the
appearances of unidentified flying objects and has made no
conclusions on the subject.
For your information a civilian group - Civilian Saucer
Investigation (NZ) Society - publishes a quarterly review of
reports and investigations. The address of this society is
CSI (NZ), 1 Nissan Place, Onehunga, S.E.5, Auckland, NZ.
Yours faithfully,
(J.A. SCRIMSHAW)
Squadron Leader
for Deputy Secretary of Defence (Air)
[ILLEGIBLE signature]Ministry of Defence
39/3/3
[ILLEGIBLE handwritten: 59/3 / 207/6 / signature]
7th July, 1965.
Mr Francis S. Kendorski, 111,
5212 Marlowe Street,
Philadelphia, Penn. 19124,
USA
Dear Mr Kendorski,
Thank you for your letter of June 25, 1965.
The New Zealand Government has never stated an
official or unofficial policy regarding the sightings
of Unidentified Flying Objects and a policy has not
been warranted to date.
The public in New Zealand are provided with
reports of sightings by individuals through the press.
In almost every instance these reports appear in the
newspapers before an investigation, if one is
warranted, is made.
No Government agency has been set up, but a
civilian group — Civilian Saucer Investigation (NZ)
Society — publishes a quarterly review of reports
and investigations. The address of this society is
CSI (NZ), 1 Nissan Place, Onehunga, SE5, Auckland, New
Zealand.
Yours faithfully,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Flying Officer
for Squadron Leader
Director of Public Relations5212 Marlowe Street
Philadelphia, Penn. 19124
U. S. A.
June 25, 1965
Public Relations Office
RNZAF Headquarters FILE. 39/3/3
Wellington, New Zealand 20 17/1961 [ILLEGIBLE]
Dear Sirs:
I am writing to the Public Relations
office of the RNZAF in connection with my
studies of Unidentified Flying Objects.
Through my readings, I could not determine
if the Royal New Zealand Air Force actively
investigates and evaluates reports of UFO's
or the so-called "flying saucers." I would
greatly appreciate it if you could supply
me with the findings and evaluations in
general made by the RNZAF.
If you could supply me with the official
stand of the RNZAF or agency that investigates
or evaluates these reports in New Zealand and
its dependencies I would be most appreciative.
Any related information that you could
send me would be of the greatest interest.
Thank you very much,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
Francis S. Kendorski, III39/3/3
FILE
1 /19 [ILLEGIBLE signature]
Feb. 8-65 Victoria, B.C
Canada
Wing Commander A. F. Tucker,
R.N.Z.A.F., Wellington.
Dear Sir:
In the Napier DAILY TELEGRAPH of Jan. 15-65 I notice
that you consider the 'ice-crystal' explanation as 'the most
likely explanation' in connexion with the sighting of mystery
objects in the Tasman sky, 8.50 pm, Wednesday Jan. 13th, 1965,
by an Electra crew.
I am, of course, confident that your knowledge of air
matters is vastly superior to my own; but I am writing to
point out, nevertheless, that ice-crystals were never seen
flying in formation until about 1947; and that, on the other
hand (for anyone who cares to peruse the literature) there is
overwhelming evidence now available for the asking, that many
of the mysterious sights in the skies are most probably con-
traptions from some other planet, manned or remote-controlled.
And if this is the case, it seems hardly worth while
spending time and money 'investigating' this, since nothing
we have so far invented can equal the performance of these
objects, whatever they may be. Ever since the publication of
the N.I.C.A.P. report in Washington DC, called THE UFO EVIDENCE
(1536 Connecticut Ave.NW, Washington 36 DC, USA, 1964), the
public is beginning to realise that 'official' explanations
that simply do not fit the facts, are inadequate; and therefore
people are gradually asking for something more tangible. May
I respectfully suggest that you look over Mr. A. Michel's last
book (prefaced by Gen. Chassin of NATO), and this above-mentioned
report by NICAP? I am sure that you will be surprised at the
concrete evidence which they contain, and that you will be wil-
ling, like all educated and intellectually-curious people, to
modify your views in the light of that evidence.
Please forgive my troubling you with this letter: it
seemed desirable to voice my views because of what so many people
are saying about this question.
Yours sincerely,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(Dr) P. M. H. Edwards[CENTRAL R 4/5TRY] E
File Ref.: 39/3/3
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
File [ILLEGIBLE]
NAPIER.
Wing Commander A.F. Tucker, 8 February, 1965.
Air Department,
WELLINGTON.
Dear Sir,
I would like to make a report of an unusual
sighting I made with 4 members of my family on 3
January 1965, at approx. 10.35 p.m. It was unusual
because there really is no logical explanation for it.
I have had some flying experience (only approx. 25
hours, 16 solo) and have always followed with great
interest the advances in aircraft design and lately
the interplanetary probes by the United States and
Russia. I have observed the satellites that from
time to time travel over our particular area, and have
seen many falling stars (meteorites) but have not seen
before and cannot tie in with the aircraft in operation
today, or perhaps being experimented with, the explana-
tion of a light descending down from the vicinity of
the pointers of the Southern Cross straight towards us,
and then doing what appeared to be a controlled turn to
the northeast (all at quite a leisurely pace), leveling
out, and stopping for approx. 8 seconds. It moved and
stopped 3 times and then accelerated from the straight
and level position straight up at a fantastic rate of
climb, losing its intensity of light as it climbed. It
was visible in its trip across the sky for 6 or 8 min-
utes and had the light intensity (when in the straight
and level position) of a first magnitude star. The
sky was clear of cloud and visibility excellent. There
was no noise, and its height and distance from us I
could not calculate.
I do not belong to any of these "Flying Saucer"
organisations, nor do I intend to join one. But the
moment that light stopped and hovered for 8 seconds I
was bought and sold. If a logical scientific expla-
ation for this sighting (other than "ice crystals")
could be made to me, I could be "withdrawn from sale".
Hope this information will be of interest.
Yours faithfully.[Postmark: DUNEDIN / 9-PM / 17 JAN / 1965 / N.Z.] [ILLEGIBLE handwritten: wle 12/1/65] [Stamps: 3D NEW ZEALAND 1D NEW ZEALAND] [Slogan cancel: CA... / THE WATER / SAVES LIVES] Commander A.F. Tucker R.N.Z.A.F. Wellington New Zealand [ILLEGIBLE signature]
Jan. 15, 1965
Dear Sir:
I hope I have addressed
this letter to the correct
department. It is to substantiate
a report, and add to it about the
morning "star" the other evening.
I was much relieved and released
from the ragging of my family after
having no success at making
them believe what I know I saw
that night, to read in the paper that
I'm at least not the only goofy
one. What I saw was a star
to the left of the Southern
Cross move in a straight
line to the right - and stop.
from here - to there:
[diagram with arrows and dots indicating movement]
after it came to rest, clouds obscured it.
It was slightly lower than
the plane level of the 2 lower starsof that position of the Southern
Cross. The odd thing is
that I also saw some
activity in the very early
hours of Friday - Jan. 18th.
We were camping out and
although it was cloudy - the
sky would sometimes clear
and show the stars brilliantly.
I was in my sleeping bag &
watching the effect when I
saw a "star" moving. I
have seen many satellites
but realised it wasn't at the
hours when it would be possible
for one to pick up the suns
reflection. I decided it was
probably a globe girdling high
flying jet, and commented
to myself that "when I
see one stop - I'll begin to
wonder."39/3/3
[RNZAF crest]
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE, RNZAF
Circulation: [ILLEGIBLE stamp]
19.1.65 [ILLEGIBLE signature]
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
I won't sign my name -
as I am not trying to get
my name in the paper -
or do anything but give
further support to what
I read in the Press - in
the Christchurch paper, and
tell you I too saw - (from
the beach at Goose Bay)
what someone else saw
from Grey Lynn - at
10.30 on Wednesday.
Sincerely
yours -MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
39/3/3
1st September, 1964.
Lower Hutt
Dear
I refer to your letter on the unidentified flying
object that you and your sister saw over Nelson in June.
At present the matter is being investigated and an
answer should be forthcoming shortly.
Yours faithfully,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Flying Officer
for Squadron Leader
Director of Public Relations
[Stamp: 2 SEP 1964 / DESPATCHED]39/3/3
[ILLEGIBLE signature] MINUTE NO:169/1964
To : D Ops [ILLEGIBLE signature]
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
1. The letter below refers.
2. Could I please have your comments on this.
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Fg Off
1 SEP 64 PR2
OPS [ILLEGIBLE signature] Did we have any "jets"
in Nelson area on June 28th 1964,
+ if so what were they doing?
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
2/9. D.Ops [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE signature]MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
39/3/3
3rd September, 1964.
Lower Hutt
Dear .
I refer to your letter of 3 August.
We have found your report very interesting.
Investigations show that we did not have any Canberra
aircraft flying in the area on the day you and your
sister saw the object, 23 June. The only Canberra
airborne on the 28th was a training aircraft flying
between RNZAF Stations Ohakea, their base, and Whenuapai.
It is unfortunate no light can be shed on this
observed phenomenon and we can only remain as mystified
as you.
Yours faithfully,
[Stamp: No. 2 / 3 SEP 1964 / DESPATCHED]
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Flying Officer
for Squadron Leader
Director of Public Relations
p o .. ES5 1 4
NNNNVV YQA012VV QAB013 UU
RR RBYQAE
DE RBYQAB 007 02/0113Z
ZNR
R 020112Z
FM OH
TO RNZAFHQ WN
BT
UNCLAS AO246 SEP 0264 REF TELECON OPS 1 AND OCFW OHAKEA
ON REPORTED FLYING OBJECT NELSON AREA 28 JUN 64 PD ONLY
JET FLIGHT RECORDED THAT DAY (SUNDAY) WAS CANBERRA T13
ON DIRECT OH-WP RETURN TRANSIT
BT
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
1. this answers your query.
2. I suggest you reply on lines that:-
(a) We were very interested in report
(b) we had no jets airborne in the area & the
only [ILLEGIBLE] jet flight on that date was the above
(c) we are as mystified as she is.
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
2/9. Ops [ILLEGIBLE]MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
39/3/3
5th August, 1964.
Mr John Laval,
NICAP Member,
7 Idlewild Lane,
Matawan,
New Jersey,
U.S.A. Copy to : Air Commodore A.S. Agar
Dear Sir,
Your letter of March 12, 1964, to the Air Attache, has
been referred to me for action.
The New Zealand Government has never stated an official
or unofficial policy regarding the appearances of unidentified
flying objects. A policy on this subject has never been
warranted.
The public in this country are provided with reports of
sightings by individuals through the press. In almost every
instance these reports appear in the newspaper before an
investigation, if it is warranted, is made.
A Government agency to investigate reports of unidentified
flying objects has never been established. However, a group
of civilians have formed a Civilian Saucer Investigation (NZ)
Society and publish a quarterly review on reports.
Yours faithfully,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
(G. BENTLEY)
Squadron Leader
Director of Public Relations
[ILLEGIBLE handwritten]39/3/3
Wellington
3-8-64
Dear Sir,
I write to enquire about a plane I saw in the
late afternoon, in Nelson, on June 28 th 1964.
I have as yet found no one who can tell me what that plane
was . I hope that you will have some idea about it & that
you will give me your honest opinion about it & not just try
to put me off by some apparent explanation which is wholly
unconvincing!
Well, to get on with the story. June 28th had been a dull wet
day but late in the afternoon the rain stopped & the sun
began to break through. The clouds were still hanging low.
I'm not definite about the exact time but somewhere between
3.30 p.m. & 4.45 p.m. (may even have been a little later) I suggested
to my sister, a mature & sensible woman (like myself!) that we
go for a stroll on to Cathedral Hill to have a look at the
cathedral, to see how their new building project was going
along. I suggested that we take our camera - just in case
there was something interesting to snap. However we didn't
actually take any snaps as we thought that the light was
perhaps not good enough - when the sun did break through,
there was too much contrast between light & shade to take
a really satisfactory picture.
We walked round the cathedral & were standing on -
looking the township when we heard the noise -/2
an approaching jet plane. We looked up to see
something very different — the jet followed into.
the strange plane we now was long, cylindrical, & slim
the nose & tail were neither blunt nor pointed but gently tapered
though the tail end circumference seemed a little less than
the nose end.
This plane had no wings & no bits & pieces of any kind
on its tail end. It was absolutely smooth all over &
no projections [ILLEGIBLE] any kind.
It seemed to be [ILLEGIBLE] bluey grey in colour & shone all over
like a new & highly polished car — beautifully smooth
& glossy all over.
It seemed to have 5 or 6 port holes, oval in shape I think,
towards the front end only as far as I could see.
This plane was flying low under the clouds, sauntering
through the [ILLEGIBLE] in a very leisurely fashion. (We
must have been looking at it & describing it for at
least five minutes.
Whether it was noisy or silent we couldn't say because
of the noise of the jet which obviously came to [out?] check
on this possibly unannounced visitor for the jet
didn't actually catch up with this strange plane but
came so far & then turned back on its tracks.
My sister said she thought the jet was a Canberra
— it was much lighter in colour with a matt
finish
how tell me frankly was this strange plane something
belonging to this earth or was it a [ILLEGIBLE] ship from
another planet? It looked friendly enough!!3
We'd like to see it again! One only regret is that
we didn't attempt to take a photo but we were so
interested in it that we didn't even think of our cameras.
We thought it was a new plane being flown over for
our inspection & now fully expected to see a mention
up in the papers but not a word!
0 0 0 0 0
My sister did say to me though when the jet flew
off, [&] had a look & then turned back on its tracks
"It looks as if that [jet] Canberra has been sent to check
on that plane!"
All very mysterious but somebody in the air force
— the pilot in that jet at least, knows probably
even more than we do about that plane so don't try to
put us off. We'd like to know what we've seen. And don't
treat it as a joke as my brother-in-law did for we're both
mature women with our feet well planted on this earth &
we know what we've seen. It wasn't just a blank across
the sky as any new military planes normally are
when they fly across the sky to let us Wellingtonians
have a look-see. No, as I said before, it was flying
leisurely across the sky almost as if it wanted us
to have a good look at it.
Hope I haven't taken up too much of your time with my
rambling descriptions. It [springs?] for [the] honest answer hon.
Sincerely Yours
(Mrs.) [As the plane flew]
[away it looked on]
[right to me not on]
[at [ILLEGIBLE]]NEW ZEALAND JOINT SERVICES MISSION
2019 R ST. N.W.
WASHINGTON D. C. 20009 TELEPHONE
332-4041
ERENCE...JSM 1/10/4
17 July, 1964
Air Department,
Wellington, N.Z.
Forwarded herewith is a copy of a
letter received from Mr. J. Laval of the National
Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP)
which is self-explanatory. It would be appreciated
if a reply could be made, direct or via this
Mission, to Mr. Laval who has been advised that
his letter has been sent on to you.
A.S. Agar [signature]
A.S. AGAR ;
Air Commodore
Head, N.Z. Joint Services Mission.
enc. cy ltr dtd Mar 12, 1964
[handwritten:]
P.K. Would you please censure
this letter? I think [you?] can
refer to our [?] letter
to MR LAVAL — & [give] a cop[y]
the same censure [answer?]
[signature]
4/y. [signature]
A [?]
4-7/3 [initials]1/10/4
7 Idlewild Lane
Matawan, New Jersey
March 12, 1964
The Air Attaché
Embassy of New Zealand
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am a member of the National Investigations
Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), Headquarters,
Washington, D.C. and would greatly appreciate your
answering the following questions:
1. What is the present situation in New Zealand
regarding unidentified flying objects and also, the
New Zealand Government policy on same?
2. Does the New Zealand Government inform its
public of all the facts concerning UFO reports, in-
cluding those made by the military?
3. Which governmental agency in New Zealand
is responsible for the investigation and evaluation of
UFO reports, and what are the conclusions, if any, of
that agency as to the nature and origin of these objects?
4. What are the dates and results of any of-
ficial investigations made of any recent UFO sightings
in New Zealand?
Thank you.
Sincerely [signature]
John Laval
NICAP Member
[handwritten annotations at bottom, largely ILLEGIBLE]39/3/3
6 March 1963
Secretary for External Affairs
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
1. In reply to your P.M. 63/3/6 dated 13 February
1963 this correspondent should be advised that the
New Zealand Government has never stated an official
or unofficial policy regarding the appearances of
unidentified flying objects. A policy on this
subject has never been warranted.
2. The public in this country are provided with
reports of sightings by individuals through the press.
In almost every instance these reports appear in the
newspaper before an investigation, if it is warranted,
is made.
3. A Government agency to investigate reports of
unidentified flying objects has never been established.
However a group of civilians have formed a Civilian
Saucer Investigation (NZ) Society and publish a
quarterly review on reports.
[signature]
for Air Secretary [signature]
[stamp: No. 2 [date] 1963 DESPATCHED][rotated left margin: ATTENTION PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE]
[rotated left margin: We should be grateful for your assistance please.]
[rotated left margin: Air Department, WELLINGTON.]
[rotated left margin: P.M. 63/3/6. in this matter please.]
[stamp/signature rotated: Secretary of External Affairs 13.2.63]
JW 23/1/9
39/3/13
31 January 1963
The Secretary of External Affairs,
WELLINGTON.
POLICY CONCERNING UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
Enclosed is a copy of a letter from Mr John Laval of
Matawan, New Jersey who is interested in the policy of the
New Zealand Government concerning unidentified flying
objects (UFO). As we have no information on this subject,
it would be appreciated if this letter could be forwarded
to the appropriate authorities in order that we might
answer Mr Laval's request.
[signature]
[for] Ambassador
acas
To enable a reply to be
drafted in this Office may I
pls be given the answers
to the correspondents [points?]
[signature]
[signature]
S.O.R.
FILE
[stamp]
19-2-65The Embassy of New Zealand
Washington, D.C.
Dear [Sir]:
I would appreciate very much your [answering the]
following questions:
1. What is the official New Zealand
Policy concerning unidentified flying objects?
2. Does the New Zealand Government inform its
public of all the facts concerning [UFO]
military sightings?
3. Which government agency [investigates]
UFO reports, and what are the [conclusions] of [that]
agency as to the nature of these [objects?]
[Thank you.]
[signature and remainder ILLEGIBLE]39/3/3
24 August 1962
Mr. Michael Balter,
110 Yarmouth Road,
Chestnut Hill, 67,
Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 3 August, 1962, in which you
enquire concerning investigation of unidentified flying objects.
General investigations have been made regarding a number of
reports since 1956. There are no actual investigations being
made at the present moment but as reports are received, if the
report warrants investigation, such investigation is made.
To date, no official statement regarding UFO reports has
been considered, warranted and there is little if any reason for
keeping such information secret. In most cases in New Zealand,
UFO reports have first appeared in the pages of the Press and
have been fully aired in public.
There is an organisation in New Zealand which includes
among its members a member of the RNZAF acting in a private
capacity. He is Sergeant H.H. Fulton who may be reached
c/- RNZAF Station, Ohakea. The organisation is known as the
Civilian Flying Saucer Investigation Society.
[stamp: No. 2 24 AUG 1962 DESPATCHED]
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(F.[?].C. MORGAN W/O)
for Squadron Leader
Director of Public Relations
[illegible stamp notation][stamp: 5 AUG 1962]
August 3, 1962
Department of the Air Force
Wellington, New Zealand
p 39/CAS
DPR
How should we
handle this one?
[initials]
Dear sirs:
Recently I wrote to the
Embassy of New Zealand in the
United States and asked about
the investigation of unidenti-
fied flying objects there. Since
they could supply me with no
information, I am directing my
questions to you. Your answers
will be greatly appreciated.
1. Has the government ever in-
vestigated reports of UFO's?
2. If so, when did it start?
3. Is the investigation still in
operation?
4. If not, why was it disbanded?
5. What does the government con-
sider the UFO's to be?
6. Does the government release
information on UFO's to the pu-
blic?
7. If not, why?
8. Is there any way for me to
get ahold of military UFO reports?
9. If not, can you refer me to
private UFO [ILLEGIBLE] organizations
in New Zealand?
Thank you,
Michael Balter
110 Yarmouth Rd.
Chestnut Hill 67,
Massachusetts, U.S.
[handwritten annotations right margin:]
APR
Para 1. Yes general
investigations have been
made on some reports
Para 2. Our records
only since 1957
Para 3. Only if a report
warranted [?]. There [never?] was [?]
Para 4. [ILLEGIBLE] organisation [?]
[investigate?] [ILLEGIBLE]
Para 5. No official
[statement?] [ILLEGIBLE] usually
wasn't [ILLEGIBLE]
Para 6. [ILLEGIBLE] reports [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] all [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] anyone
Para 7. No secrecy at all
at secrecy if we
Para 8. No specific [?]
military [?] reports
Para 9. Can you [?]
them in [briefly?] [?]
at [Wellington?] [signature]
[?] 21/8/6[2]
0 [ILLEGIBLE]NEW ZEALAND METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM Met. 22
om: [The] Director
: The Director of Intelligence, RNZAF Headquarters, WELLINGTON
te: 11 October 1961 Our Ref. Met: 33/18/28 Your Ref.
bject: Unidentified Object, Funafuti
Further to our memorandum of 27 July, we enclose
a copy of a reply from our Officer in Charge to our query.
[signature]
Enc. for DIRECTOR
DDI[initials]
[stamp/file notation:]
Initials
FILE
16 10 61. [?]33/18/28
N.Z. Met. F[orm]
NEW ZEALAND METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM
From: OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE, FUNAFUTI.
To: THE DIRECTOR.
Date: 12 September, 1961 Our Ref. FU 19/2 Your Ref.MET 33/18/23 of
27.7.61.
Subject: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT.
In reply to your memo of above reference, I would
advise that the object was picked up on the Radar while the
aerials were being elevated prior to releasing the 1100 balloon.
Some 5 minutes elapsed before readings commenced on the object,
due mainly to a check being made to see that the balloon had
not been released ahead of time! Also to check that the signal
was not an echo from a shower or Cb Head.
Observations on the object ceased after 36 minutes
due to low elevations. By this time the object was down to
about 10° and the line of coconut trees on the coastal ridge
interfered with the signal to such an extent that it was impossible
to identify it amongst the "grass".
[handwritten: hets]
[signature]
(H.A.Rapson)
OFFICER-IN-CHARGE.39/3/3 Met. 222
NEW ZEALAND METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM
n: The Director
The Director of Intelligence, RNZAF Headquarters, WELLINGTON
e: 27 July 1961 Our Ref. Met: 33/18/28 Your Ref.
ject: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
... We enclose a copy of a report from our Officer-in-Charge
... at Funafuti, together with copies of the actual observations.
You will find these self-explanatory.
We have written to Funafuti asking how the echo was first
obtained and why observations were discontinued, but we feel
fairly confident that it was pure coincidence that it was
obtained when they were tuning the set for the balloon flight.
No doubt, the flight was discontinued after 36 minutes because
the routine sounding due at 1100 hours GMT was being unduly
delayed.
Encs. [signature]
DIRECTOR
DDI [initials] 28/[?]
To see[?]
FILE. [initials]
28/7/61. [?] [initials]33/18/28
N.Z. Met. Form 222
NEW ZEALAND METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM *
From: OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE, FUNAFUTI.
To: THE DIRECTOR.
Date: 24 May, 1961 Our Ref. FU 9/2 Your Ref.
[Subject]: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT.
I would be pleased to learn any theories you may have
on an unidentified object which past over Funafuti on the night
of 5 May, 1961. Attached please find the computation from the
readings obtained from the radar, together with the two balloon
flights which we[re] observed that night.
A visual search was made at the eighteenth minute
when the range was 2100 yards, but despite fairly bright moon-
light, nothing was seen.
Nadi have suggested a flock of migratory birds, though
this seems doubtful as the signal throughout was almost as steady
and stronger than that obtained from our Permanent Echo (range
1200 yards).
I would add that the two Ellice Island Observers on
duty that evening were not particularly keen on walking home in th[e]
dark by themselves!
[?] 5 [?] [?]
Copy to: Officer-in-Charge, [signature]
Meteorological Office, (H.A.Rapson) [?]
NADI. OFFICER-IN-CHARGE.RADAR WIND COMPUTATION FORM Met[?] STATION _______________ SOUNDING No. ________ STANDARD TIME OF OBSERVATION HEIGHT ABOVE M.S.L. _______ ft YEAR MONTH DATE TIME AZIMUTH CHECK: ACTUAL READING BEFORE ______ ° AFTER SOUNDING ______ ° ACTUAL TIME OF RELEASE ______ G. [Table columns: Time min. | Azimuth deg. | Elevation deg. | Elevation (Adj.) deg. | Range Slant 1,000 yd | Range (Horiz.) 1,000 ft | Height Above Sta. 1,000 ft | Mean Ht Layer A.M.S.L. 1,000 ft Sfc() | Wind Dir deg. | Speed 1,000 yd | Pres mb. | Ht 1,000 ft | Dir. deg. | Speed knots | VYF mps | VSN mps | PILOT] [Rows 1-50+ with partial/illegible entries] 1 [ILLEGIBLE] 2 [ILLEGIBLE] 3 [ILLEGIBLE] 4 [ILLEGIBLE] 5 [ILLEGIBLE] 6 [ILLEGIBLE] 7 [ILLEGIBLE] 8 [ILLEGIBLE] 9 [ILLEGIBLE] 10 [ILLEGIBLE] 11 [ILLEGIBLE] 12 [ILLEGIBLE] 14 [ILLEGIBLE] 15 [ILLEGIBLE] 16 [ILLEGIBLE] 17 [ILLEGIBLE] 18 [ILLEGIBLE] 19 [ILLEGIBLE] 20 [ILLEGIBLE] 22 [ILLEGIBLE] 24 [ILLEGIBLE] 26 [ILLEGIBLE] 28 [ILLEGIBLE] 30 [ILLEGIBLE] 32 [ILLEGIBLE] 34 [ILLEGIBLE] 36 [ILLEGIBLE] 38 [ILLEGIBLE] 40 [ILLEGIBLE] 42 [ILLEGIBLE] 44 [ILLEGIBLE] 46 [ILLEGIBLE] 48 [ILLEGIBLE] 50 [ILLEGIBLE] 52 [ILLEGIBLE] 54 [ILLEGIBLE] 56 [ILLEGIBLE] 58 [ILLEGIBLE] [continued rows ILLEGIBLE] [signature at bottom ILLEGIBLE]
RADAR WIND COMPUTATION FORM Met 903 STATION. FUNAFUTI SOUNDING No. [?] STANDARD TIME OF OBSERVATION HEIGHT ABOVE M.S.L. 16 ft YEAR MONTH DATE TIME AZIMUTH CHECK: ACTUAL 309.0 ° 1961 5/[?] 2 [time] G.M.T. READING BEFORE 309.0 ° AFTER SOUNDING 30.0 ° ACTUAL TIME OF RELEASE 0[?] 4[?] G.M.T. [Table columns: Azimuth deg. | Elevation deg. | Elevation (Adj.) deg. | Range Slant 1,000 yd | Range (Horiz.) 1,000 ft | Height Above Stn 1,000 ft | Mean Ht Layer A.M.S.L. 1,000 ft | Wind Dir deg. | Speed knots | Pres mb. | Ht 1,000 ft | Dir. deg. | Speed knots | VWE mps | VSN mps | PILOT] Sfc(0·0) 1.0 15 — 120 15 64.3 391.4 44.2 0.9 1.9 1.9 1.0 111 19 1 119 14 11.19 290.2 44.1 1.6 3.4 3.3 .6 109 15 900 3 104 13 51o3/5 287.1 45.2 2.155 4.[?] 4.6 4.0 099 16 51110 346.2 46.2 2.15 5.1 5.9 -5.2 119 10 750 5 169 10 190.2 47.6 3.3 6.7 7.2 6.6 015 10 71111 880.0 47.1 3.9 7.9 8.6 8.0 097 12 800 7 106 11 99991 287.4 46.2 4.7 9.1 10.2 9.4 106 16 01115 289.1 45.9 5.2 10.9 11.2 10.1 113 14 100 10 140 15 280.0 40.2 5.3 12.1 14.3 Balloon Burst [signature]
RADAR WIND COMPUTATION FORM [Met?] STATION _______________ SOUNDING No. ________ [STANDARD TIME OF OBSERVATION] HEIGHT ABOVE M.S.L. ________ [ft] [?] G.M. AZIMUTH CHECK: ACTUAL ____ READING BEFORE ______ AFTER SOUNDING ______ [ACTUAL TIME OF RELEASE] ____ G.M. [Table columns: Time min. | Azimuth deg. | Elevation deg. | Elevation (Adj.) | Range Slant 1,000 yd | Range (Horiz.) 1,000 ft | Height Above Sta. 1,000 ft | Mean Ht Layer A.M.S.L. 1,000 ft Sfc() | [Wind columns] | [Standard and Significant Level Data columns] | PILOT] [Rows 1-50+ all ILLEGIBLE]
33/18/28
N.Z. Met. Form 222
NEW ZEALAND METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM *
From: OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE, FUNAFUTI.
To: THE DIRECTOR.
Date: 24 May, 1961 Our Ref. FU 9/2 Your Ref.
[Subject]: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT.
I would be pleased to learn any theories you may have
on an unidentified object which past over Funafuti on the night
of 5 May, 1961. Attached please find the computation from the
readings obtained from the radar, together with the two balloon
flights which we[re] observed that night.
A visual search was made at the eighteenth minute
when the range was 2100 yards, but despite fairly bright moon-
light, nothing was seen.
Nadi have suggested a flock of migratory birds, though
this seems doubtful as the signal throughout was almost as steady
and stronger than that obtained from our Permanent Echo (range
1200 yards).
I would add that the two Ellice Island Observers on
duty that evening were not particularly keen on walking home in th[e]
dark by themselves!
[?] 5 [?] [?]
Copy to: Officer-in-Charge, [signature]
Meteorological Office, (H.A.Rapson) [?]
NADI. OFFICER-IN-CHARGE.[RADAR WIND COMPUTATION FORM] [Met?] [STATION] ____ [SOUNDING No.] [STANDARD TIME OF OBSERVATION] [HEIGHT ABOVE M.S.L.] ____ [ft] [?] G.M. [AZIMUTH CHECK: ACTUAL] ____ [READING BEFORE] ____ [AFTER SOUNDING] ____ [ACTUAL TIME] ____ G.M. [Table headers: Time | Azimuth | Elevation | Elevation (Adj.) | Range Slant | Range (Horiz.) | Height Above Sta. | Mean Ht Layer A.M.S.L. Sfc() | Wind Dir | Speed | Pres | Ht | Dir. | Speed | VWE | VSN | PILOT] [All data rows ILLEGIBLE] Balloon Burst [handwritten, ILLEGIBLE location in table]
RADAR WIND COMPUTATION FORM Met [?] STATION [?] SOUNDING No. [?] STANDARD TIME OF OBSERVATION HEIGHT ABOVE M.S.L. [?] ft YEAR MONTH DATE TIME AZIMUTH CHECK: ACTUAL [?] ° [?] [?] [?] [?] G.M. READING BEFORE [?] ° AFTER SOUNDING [?] ° ACTUAL TIME OF RELEASE [?] G.M. [Table columns: Time min. | Azimuth deg. | Elevation deg. | Elevation (Adj.) deg. | Range Slant 1,000 yd | Range (Horiz.) 1,000 ft | Height Above Stn 1,000 ft | Mean Ht Layer A.M.S.L. 1,000 ft | Wind Dir deg. | Speed knots | Pres mb. | Ht 1,000 ft | Dir. deg. | Speed knots | VWE mps | VSN mps | PILOT] Sfc(0·0) [ILLEGIBLE] 64[?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?]9[?] 1 [ILLEGIBLE] 11.19 2 [ILLEGIBLE] [?]1o[?] 3 [ILLEGIBLE] 4 [ILLEGIBLE] [?]/10 5 [ILLEGIBLE] 6 [ILLEGIBLE] 1/111 7 [ILLEGIBLE] 8 [ILLEGIBLE] 9661 9 [ILLEGIBLE] 6115 [remaining rows ILLEGIBLE] Balloon Burst [handwritten]
RADAR WIND COMPUTATION FORM Met [?] STATION [?] SOUNDING No. [?] STANDARD TIME OF OBSERVATION HEIGHT ABOVE M.S.L. [?] ft YEAR MONTH DATE TIME AZIMUTH CHECK: ACTUAL [?] ° [?] 4/[?] [?] 00 1100 G.M. READING BEFORE [?] ° AFTER SOUNDING [?] ° ACTUAL TIME OF RELEASE [?] [?] 10 G.M. [Table columns: Time min. | Azimuth deg. | Elevation deg. | Elevation (Adj.) deg. | Range Slant 1,000 yd | Range (Horiz.) 1,000 ft | Height Above Stn 1,000 ft | Mean Ht Layer A.M.S.L. 1,000 ft | Wind Dir deg. | Speed knots | Pres mb. | Ht 1,000 ft | Dir. deg. | Speed knots | VWE mps | VSN mps | PILOT] Sfc(0·0) [?] 0 [?] 00 16 — [?] [?] [?] 0. 0.5 64[?] [row] [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] 6 [?] CC 6 [?] [?] [?] 1o016 1 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] 46 [?] [?] [?] 400 3 [?] [?] [?] .6 2 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] 6 100 [?] [?] [?] [?] [?]1010 3 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 5.[?] 4 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 5 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 2[?]. 6 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 7 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 8 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 9991 9 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] 10.7 6.5 [?] [?] 600 26 [?] [?] 0. 0. 0 C [?]710 10 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] C 10 [?] 11 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 12 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 600 [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 6.6 40[?]2 13 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] 6 10.1 13.6 [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 14 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] 11 [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 15 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] 17.6 [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 16 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 17 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] 19 15 [?] [?] 500 [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 0.1 20.06 18 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] 9 [?] [?] 8.0 [?] [?] [?] [?] 19 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] 10.5 [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 20 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] C [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 19995 22 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] 0 3.6 [?] 6 18 [?] [?] [?] [?] 24 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] 12. [?] 400 3 [?] [?] [?] [?] 0.5 37[?].[?] 26 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?]5[?] 28 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 30 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] . . . 32 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 34 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 36 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?][?]0 38 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?][?].0 40 [?] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] 0.[?] [remaining rows ILLEGIBLE]
FILE. 39/3/3
-29/3/3
45/1/1961 · [Initials]
25 January 1961
DANNEVIRKE.
Dear Sir,
Your letters of the 9th and 14th November 1960 regarding
the sighting of a "vapour trail" over Hawke's Bay, were
referred by RNZAF Station Ohakea to this department and I wish
to advise you that the observations made by you have been
closely studied.
It had been expected that other similar reports of this
phenomena would be received, but unfortunately no other reports
have as yet come to hand and it is regretted that it is not
possible, at this stage, to offer an explanation as to the
nature of the phenomena sighted by you.
I understand that the Commanding Officer at Ohakea has
already confirmed with you that there were no RNZAF jet aircraft
operating in the area at the time and I would also like to point
out that the speeds quoted by you in your observations are well
in excess of the capabilities of any known aircraft. Ohakea
is the only RNZAF station in the lower half of the North Island,
and is also the only base in New Zealand from which we normally
operate our jet aircraft.
I regret that it is not possible to answer your other
questions at this stage, but should it prove possible at a later
date to offer you a satisfactory explanation, we shall certainly
do so.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(R.R. CARTER) Sqn Ldr
for AIR SECRETARY39/3/3
[Handwritten: c k]
20 January 1961
Minister of Defence
[Name redacted] previous letters, which were referred to this
department by Ohakea, had been studied and were being held
pending the receipt of any other supporting or confirmatory
reports of this phenomena from other sources, but so far no
other reports have been received.
In [Name redacted] first letter, dated 9 November 1960, he
asked of the CO Ohakea specifically "if a fast jet of your
command was travelling solo on a course roughly due west to
east - across Hawke's Bay" etc., and from his second letter,
which was somewhat difficult to follow, it was understood that
his question had in fact been answered by CO Ohakea.
Re-examination of [Name redacted] second letter shows that the
inferred reply from CO Ohakea was, in fact, gleaned from
newspaper comment, but his most recent letter confirms that
CO Ohakea did make a suitable reply.
The general tenor of [Name redacted] letters suggests that
he might well be a "U.F.O. - Flying Saucer enthusiast" and
the facts presented by him are not only hard to follow but
also show some inconsistencies and probable exaggeration in
his observations which in his letters, are heavily
interspersed with his own personal suppositions.
[Name redacted] reported sighting has not been supported or
confirmed by any other similar sighting report and from the
observations he offers, it is not possible to offer any
explanation as to what the particular phenomena may have been.
A reply [Name redacted] previous letters is now being
forwarded by this department.
B. R. [Illegible]
Air Secretary
[Handwritten: 26 1 .61. P. air Papers]A→1A
All Correspondence should be addressed to:
"THE AIR SECRETARY,
AIR DEPARTMENT,
"ELLINGTON C. I."
In reply refer to
REF. No. 39/3/3
AIR DEPARTMENT
WELLINGTON C. I.
20 January 1961
Minister of Defence
[Name redacted] previous letters, which were referred to this
department by Ohakea, had been studied and were being held
pending the receipt of any other supporting or confirmatory
reports of this phenomena from other sources, but so far no
other reports have been received.
In [Name redacted] first letter, dated 9 November 1960, he
asked of the CO Ohakea specifically "if a fast jet of your
command was travelling solo on a course roughly due west to
east - across Hawke's Bay" etc., and from his second letter,
which was somewhat difficult to follow, it was understood that
his question had in fact been answered by CO Ohakea.
Re-examination [Name redacted] second letter shows that the
inferred reply from CO Ohakea was, in fact, gleaned from
newspaper comment, but his most recent letter confirms that
CO Ohakea did make a suitable reply.
The general tenor of [Name redacted] letters suggests that
he might well be a "U.F.O. - Flying Saucer enthusiast" and
the facts presented by him are not only hard to follow but
also show some inconsistencies and probable exaggeration in
his observations which in his letters, are heavily
interspersed with his own personal suppositions.
[Name redacted] reported sighting has not been supported or
confirmed by any other similar sighting report and from the
observations he offers, it is not possible to offer any
explanation as to what the particular phenomena may have been.
A reply [Name redacted] previous letters is now being
forwarded by this department.
[Signature]
Air Secretary
[Handwritten: 36 1 61. P.]J:E
[Circular stamp: RECEIVED / 17 JAN1961 / AIR DEPT.]
9 January, 1961.
Dear [Name redacted],
Thank you for your letter of the 3 January.
The Hon. Mr Gerard is also Minister of Forests and
no doubt you will be hearing from him shortly regard-
ing your previous representations.
I have been very interested in what you say
about the object which was sighted over Dannevirke
recently and am having some enquiry made regarding it.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.) K. J. HOLYOAKE
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
REFERRED.
[Initials]
9/1/1961
AIR SECRETARY
Referred.
[Signature]
9.1.61
DANNEVIRKE.
[Signature][Marginal handwritten text along left edge, diagonal/sideways, partially ILLEGIBLE]
p.m. Jan 3rd, 1961.
Dear Mr Holyoake (Report Ain.) Dannevirke S413
Tks for your letter - & that you will consult with
your colleague, the Hon Mr Gerard, Minister of [Forests] (is
this gentleman Minister of [Forests] also - as [published] in [press]).
as I wrote to him then on Farm Forest [ILLEGIBLE] & [in?] Broker since
[ILLEGIBLE] matter, that I think you, as Premier, and you
[Govt.] should be in possession of all possible inform-
-ation on, is the sensational appearance of an the-
-[k]nown Space craft, or Rocket? - our Dannevirke
-at midday - 12-30, 10th N, in a clear sky - as I
have many Witnesses, One a JP, to prove!
The question is, was this a powerful rocket, and
so straddling our country in a test experiment, and
fired from a Soviet Submarine due west of [Tasman]?
-or was it some terrific Speed-ship from out[er]
Space, circling the planet in exploration thereof
at unbelievable m.p.m.? The Ohakea OC, who
received my 2 reports, one supplementing the other,
characterised it as "Amazing", with other comments
to the point, such as "We have nothing that fast",
"No jets of ours were over there at the time"; he also. He
informs me reports have been sent to Air Dept,
Wellington, since when I have heard nothing. Have
you, Sir? And is this now "Hush Hush"? (I may say
one or two ladies appeared alarmed a little; and no
wonder, as the thing was so fast over whole arc of
sky, with a 50 mile "atomic" trail of white exhaust behi-
-[nd] it (airforce says not vapour trail from jet at that [height][Header/top text partially ILLEGIBLE]
2) I am an ex NCO, AW O of [ILLEGIBLE]
W.H. Oliver, JP, a NCO 1914-18, of Air Force, 2nd Wld War, am agreed
this was the fastest ever seen, viz - 2 minutes from over
[Ruahines] to over East coast, on a straight course
& in absolute Silence, at after 12000 feet or more altitude,
and at (moderate) [estimate] 4000 to 4500 miles an hour; and
as you know this district well, you know what this
means! I do think this is something you should
know about, and also the Hon Minister for Air,
and for Defence, and that it should not be pigeon-
-holed in the Depts concerned, as may have happened;
and as we live in strange & dangerous times!
Any information on my sighting, shared by at
least a dozen others, & most alerted by me, will,
if desired, be held in strict confidence, too for
public Security. (I have worked for Army Intelligence
- on Active Service for a while.)
But I think I should receive some reply from
the Air Dept, other than the courteous one from the
Group-Captain f/c Ohakea! And I certainly think
the Govt should be made aware of the occurrence!
-as I am sure you'll agree.
So with Kind Regards
Yours Sincerely.
P.S. Mr Adamski's "fairy tales" cut no ice with me,
nor or others like them; but, as an Amateur Astronomer
& Space Observer, I have accumulated a lot of wisdom
on UFOs and "FSs" over some 30 years, which is
at the disposal of the Nat Govt, should it be needed
at any time; & some of it is already in the hands
of [NZ] air force officers & one at British Air Intelligence,
now resident in NZ & a Friend!FILE.
27/1/1s/6/ [ILLEGIBLE]...Initials
20 January 1961
Minister of Defence
[Name redacted] previous letters, which were referred to this
department by Ohakea, had been studied and were being held
pending the receipt of any other supporting or confirmatory
reports of this phenomena from other sources, but so far no
other reports have been received.
[Name redacted] first letter, dated 9 November 1960, he
asked of the CO Ohakea specifically "if a fast jet of your
command was travelling solo on a course roughly due west to
east - across Hawke's Bay" etc., and from his second letter,
which was somewhat difficult to follow, it was understood that
his question had in fact been answered by CO Ohakea.
Re-examination of [Name redacted] second letter shows that the
inferred reply from CO Ohakea was, in fact, gleaned from
newspaper comment, but his most recent letter confirms that
CO Ohakea did make a suitable reply.
The general tenor of [Name redacted] letters suggests that
he might well be a "U.F.O. - Flying Saucer enthusiast" and
the facts presented by him are not only hard to follow but
also show some inconsistencies and probable exaggeration in
his observations which in his letters, are heavily
interspersed with his own personal suppositions.
[Name redacted] reported sighting has not been supported or
confirmed by any other similar sighting report and from the
observations he offers, it is not possible to offer any
explanation as to what the particular phenomena may have been.
A reply [Name redacted] previous letters is now being
forwarded by this department.
B. R. Ret
Air Secretary39/3/3 RNZAF...36A
[Handwritten: Dc. I]
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE
FROM : RNZAF Station Ohakea
TO : Air Department Wellington [Circular stamp: ILLEGIBLE NOV]
DATE: : 21 November 1960
REF. : OH 3/1/1/AIR
PUBLIC RELATIONS -
1. Attached are two letters received by this Station
from [Name redacted] of Dannevirke.
2. As Ohakea had no aircraft flying over Hawkes Bay at
the time [Name redacted] states he saw the vapour trails, the
letters are forwarded for your consideration.
3. This station has advised [Name redacted] that his letters
have been forwarded to the Air Department.
[Signature]
(D.R.SMITH Fg.Off.)
for Group Captain, Commanding
RNZAF Station Ohakea.
ENCL: [Checkmark]
FILE.
24/11/1960 [Initials]: RNZAF Station Ohakea
: Air Department Wellington
: 21 November 1960
: OH 3/1/1/AIR
PUBLIC RELATIONS -
1. Attached are two letters received by this Station
from [Name redacted] of Dannevirke.
2. As Ohakea had no aircraft flying over Hawkes Bay at
the time [Name redacted] states he saw the vapour trails, the
letters are forwarded for your consideration.
3. This station has advised [Name redacted] that his letters
have been forwarded to the Air Department.
[Signature]
(D.R.SMITH Fg.Off.)
for Group Captain, Commanding
RNZAF Station Ohakea.
ENCL:[Top header text very faint, partially legible: ...Ohakea Air Base Nov 9th 1960]
Dear Sir, Dannevirke H13
Can you kindly inform me if a fast jet of your
command was travelling Solo on a course roughly due
west to east - across Hawke's Bay, possibly from west
a little South to east & a little North - over the Central
H13? I saw a vapour trail about 12-30, when at
lunch, over the Ruahines [from window] & vertical appearing &
-going "out" I noted the course had reached
nearly overhead - at a height where no plane
was visible, but only a needle point to vapour
trail - and going at a hell of a pace! I just
had time to run round next-door and show
it to neighbours (after pointing it out to my
wife), and it was then rapidly nearing the
eastern horizon, over Show grounds. My Neighbour,
a Sgt Oliver [?] 1914-18 of Air Force 1939-45, thought it might be
a jet but, if so, it was the fastest either of us
had ever seen, as it traversed the whole arc
of sky in about 2-3 minutes, coming from west,
-over the Ruahines, to over east coast, roughly
100 miles; on a slightly diagonal course - and dead
straight! This means something like 3000 miles
per hour! Most of your planes either go between South
& North, - or circle round a bit, but not this oneI am an ex WO of 1914-18, and [ILLEGIBLE] associated
with Several Space Research Bodies, [re?] UFO [study?],
and I would certainly be obliged Sir if you could
give us a clue, and especially as a brilliant
UFO was recently over the Manawatu from
here, by 5 people separately, including self!
Thanking you, & with my Regards.
Sincerely yours
[Signature]
3/[ILLEGIBLE]a
OC Flying.The Officer Commanding, Nov 14th 1960,
RNZAF Base, Ohakea.
Dear Sir Dannevirke
There was one circumstance about our recent
UFO Sighting here, that I think I did
not mention in my letter to you, and it
may be of importance, - as I have noted it in other
UFO sightings, even at a lower altitude; the
whole show was absolutely silent from start
to finish, in contrast to the roar & whistles
of jets, - as we have studied these; even
when pretty high! I was speaking to a friend
who did not see this one; but saw three UFOs
which passed Woodville on a North course, at
night, some time ago. And he said the speed
of these was equally amazing, though they only
appeared as rushing lights! Another thing about
this latest was, there were no colour flashes or
changes visible at point; - and not any Magnetic
feeling, nor mind flashes, noted before (I am a
water & metal Diviner for farmers, etc. and feel these
when UFOs are about). Discussing such al-
-ternative possibilities as an Intercontinental
rocket, - or very fast jets from Australia -
(I am told they have American "U2 Spy" plans,
& other than) - The rocket could only come from
Europe or North America, I take it; and so- would be on a more or less diagonal, South-North
course, and not west to east, as here. (We know North
[?] rocks have been fired into the Pacific lately!)
If a long range rocket were fired from Woomera,
Australia, it also could not cut straight across
Hawke's Bay, as Woomera is roughly level with
N.Z. North Cape, or even further North above N.Z.! Now
would you agree with me that rules out
a rocket, except from a Russian Super Submarine?
-or possibly a USA one? (I am very interested in
-all possibilities, having once worked with an
-Army Intelligence Officer of the Wellington Regt
in 1914-18!) You will know better than I if
an Intercontinental or other long range rocket,
follows such a flat, straight course, trailing
a 30-50 miles wake of white vapour, or smoke?
-And you will also know if a fast Australian
jet would do this, without a sound in
either case? If Your Answer, Sir, is No! Why,
then we cannot rule out in this case an
Interplanetary Space-ship of terrific speed & power,
such as I personally am satisfied do exist &
patrol this system's space, - and probably further
this from 50 years observation as an Astronomer
& Scientist, - and study often telescopic, of many
UFOs! In which airforce Officers of wide experienceBritish, Americans, and Australians agree and
confirm by their own sightings! The Evening News
cit "an Ohakea Officer", in its report as stating
that this "UFO" must have been very much above
[ft.] to be invisible to the eye - and at such ...
altitudes no vapour is trailed"! Does not this argue
for a strange and unusual type of propulsion, and Vapour
of an unknown type! - And/or, a very thin
and slender craft, or an invisible one at any height!
(See Air-Ace Chichester's experience over the Tasman &
that of Major Kehoe & other American Air Intelligence
Officers, who similarly saw UFOs "fade out", and
become invisible to eye & then reappear again.)
I myself have seen this take place, through a 5in [scope]
-and am convinced these chaps can Atomise or
-otherwise at will, probably by slowing or quickening
molecular vibration in their craft! I have always found
the Airforce most helpful & courteous, and I would
welcome your views on these "possibilities" or "probabilities"
"Amazing" as they are! And as applied by
the Ohakea Officer to this particular one.
The Evening News and I look forward to your
replies to me, in elucidating the present
Sighting, evidently not one of your Command!
Is there an RNZAF Base, with very fast jets,
in Taranaki, by the way? Thanking you,
Sincerely yours. [Signature]
P) [Written vertically along left margin:] you will know the theory that
such UFOs carry this non Magnetic
field surround - and hence no
atmospheric friction stories!
[Stamp (inverted): RNZAF OHAKEA / 15 NOV 1960 / CENTRAL REGISTRY]
[Routing stamp (inverted): FILE No. / ACTION: / INFO:]N.Z. ARMED SERVICES
COMBINED
MESSAGE FORM
F. Sigs. 52 (Large)
Office Serial No.
Registry File No. 39/3/3
FOR COMM CEN/SIGNALS USE
PRECEDENCE—ACTION PRECEDENCE—INFO DATE—TIME GROUP MESSAGE INSTRUCTIONS
ROUTINE DEFERRED 2204002 [ILLEGIBLE]
FROM RNZAF HQ WN
TO
LB
INFO
PREFIX GR
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
UNCLAS
ORIGINATORS NUMBER
AD. 124
YOUR AD 336. UFO REPORT. WX OFFICE
REGRETS REPORT OF NO USE AS IT LACKS
DATE AND TIME. THIS INFORMATION ESSENTIALLY
COMPLETE REPORTS WELCOMED BY WX OFFICE
ON BEHALF DOMINION PHYSICAL LABORATORY.
2. SIGHTING WAS PROBABLY US SATELLITE ECHO
NOW IN ORBIT OTHERWISE NO EXPLANATION CAN BE
OFFERED.
[Signature/Initials]
19 1
FILE.39/3/3
UNCLAS
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
RNZAF MESSAGE
YD
0920 [PRIORITY stamp] M OPS
Date Stamp
From: LB
To: RNZAF HQ WN DOFT
Info:
DTG: 190320Z 21/22 AU[G?]
Distribution: Action Information
ACTION COPY
A0336 VESSEL
BAIRIKI REPORTS THAT A COMPANY/SAW THE FOLLOWING ON AN
UNSPECIFIED DATE. A LIGHT RESEMBLING A PLANET OF
MAGNITUDE MINUS 1 POINT 5 POSITION 0340S 17647 EAST
BEARING 300 DEGREES ALTITUDE 030 DEGREES WHICH AFTER
TRAVELLING FOR 5 MINS IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT ENGINE
NOISE DISAPPEARED WHEN BEARING 920 DEGREES. A SECOND
COLONY VESSEL 130 MILES SOUTH EAST OF THE FORMER
REPORTED THE SAME PHENOMENON
[Handwritten:] Discussed with weather office.
No action other than recommend
DTG as essential. [Signature]39/3/3
24 August 1959
Takaka,
NELSON
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter dated 31 July 1959 regarding the
phenomenon which you and your family observed. The matter is
being investigated confidentially.
I wish to apologise for the delay in answering your letter,
but this was occasioned through my absence due to influenza.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(J.R. McCLYMONT, Sqn.Ldr.)
for Air Secretary
[Stamp box: No. 2 / 25 AUG 1959 / DESPATCHED E.]
24/8/1959 DDI InitialsTakaka, Nelson
31st July, 1959.
The Officer Commanding,
Royal New Zealand Air Force,
WELLINGTON.
Sir,
It is with some diffidence that I make the following
report to you. Before doing so I wish to state that I do not
want any publicity in any form.
Last night at 9.40pm my wife, two children and I
saw to the south a "Star" swinging in the air. We watched it
till 10.30pm when it sailed in a direct line out of sight.
Unfortunately the only trained observer I could
ring up, Squadron Leader Hayter was not at home. My report is
thus subject to error due to lack of special skill. I will
however say that I owned a boat for ten years on Waiheke Island,
and am accustomed to sailing at night by navigation lights.
The "Star" behaved in a very unstar like manner.
When the star was observed through field glasses
a clear oval form could be seen. The planes of the ellipse
changed often as did the strength of the light and its colour.
At no time did the "Star" come close. It might have been
anything from three miles distance to infinity.
Again I will say that I want the matter kept
confidential.
Yours faithfully,
[Handwritten bottom left:]
D. Dltt.
Pte. investigate.
[Signature] Do I
[Handwritten bottom right:] Not a planet, [ILLEGIBLE]
FILE.
21/8/1959 DDI Initials39/3/3
MINUTE NO.190
TO: Director of [Intelligence]
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
Attached for your retention is a signal NFAK 3 of 29 1600Z
received from Auckland, concerning an unidentified light sighted
by P.A.A. Clipper 012 on its flight from Auckland to Nandi on
28 September 1958.
[Signature]
(A.H. Milestone)
Squadron Leader
DDATC (Ops)
30/9/58 FILE.
31/10/1958 DDI Initials[Page not shown in scan / blank or verso]
ZKWN 76
D
ZKAK A293
ZKLF 17
NFAK 3 291600M
JJ SUPT COM DEV NFBQ
RCO NFAA
FOLLOWING MSGE WAS RECEIVED FROM PAA CO12 AT 281655Z NFFF/NSSS QSL.
QUOTE LARGE WHITE LIGHT ON HEADING SW/NE DESCENDING TO THE EARTHS
SURFACE AT AN ANGEL OF 60 DEGREES. HAD A LONG TAIL OF REDDISH ORANGE
FLAME . APPEARED TO BURN OUT AT APPROX 50000 FT. POSITION OF LIGHT
DIRECTLY AHEAD OF AIRCRAFT NOSE. OBSERVED AT 45 UNQUOTE.
CO12 ON FLT NFAE/NFFF DEP 281210Z APPROX 24S 177E FLT LEVEL 8500.
AT TIME OF OBSERVATION.
S C O
CFN CO12 ·CO12 24S QUUE39/3/3
1 [ILLEGIBLE]
NEW ZEALAND JOINT STAFF MISSION
3101 CLEVELAND AVENUE, N. W.
WASHINGTON 8, D. C.
TELEPHONE
OUR REFERENCE JSM 1/10/18 FEDERAL 7-3440
10 December 1957
MEMORANDUM for:
Air Department,
Wellington, New Zealand
Attention: C.A.S.
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
Forwarded herewith is Press release covering the
results of 10 years investigation and evaluation of unidentified
flying objects by the United States Air Force. In this report the
Air Force states that no evidence has been discovered to confirm
the existence of so-called Flying Saucers.
A further copy of this report is being sought and
will be sent to D.S.I.R. who have expressed interest in such findings.
[signature]
T.F. GILL, Air Commodore
Head, N.Z. Joint Staff Mission.
Encl. 1 [ILLEGIBLE]
@ [ILLEGIBLE]
@ [ILLEGIBLE]
@ FileNEWS RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
PLEASE NOTE DATE Washington 25, D. C.
FACT SHEET NOVEMBER 5, 1957 NO. 1083-57
LI 5-6700 Ext. 75131
AIR FORCE'S 10 YEAR
STUDY OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
In response to queries as to results of previous investiga-
tion of Unidentified Flying Object reports, the Air Force said to-
day that after 10 years of investigation and evaluation of UFO's,
no evidence has been discovered to confirm the existence of so-
called "Flying Saucers."
Reporting, investigation, analysis and evaluation procedures
have improved considerably since the first sighting of a "flying
saucer" was made on 27 June 1947. The study and analysis of re-
ported sightings of UFO's is conducted by a selected scientific
group under the supervision of the Air Force.
Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Professor of Astrophysics and Astronomy at
Ohio State University, is the Chief Scientific Consultant to the
Air Force on the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects.
The selected, qualified scientists, engineers, and other per-
sonnel involved in these analyses are completely objective and
open minded on the subject of "flying saucers." They apply
scientific methods of examination to all cases in reaching their
conclusions. The attempted identification of the phenomenon ob-
served is generally derived from human impressions and interpreta-
tions and not from scientific devices or measurements. The data in
the sightings reported are almost invariably subjective in nature. How-
ever, no report is considered unsuitable for study and categorization and
no lack of valid evidence of physical matter in the case studies is
assumed to be "prima facie" evidence that so-called "flying saucers"
or interplanetary vehicles do not exist.
General categories of identification are balloons, aircraft,
astronomical, other, insufficient data and unknowns.
Approximately 4,000 balloons are released in the U. S. every
day. There are two general types of balloons: weather balloons
and upper-air research balloons. Balloons will vary from small
types 4 feet in diameter to large types 200 feet in diameter. The
majority released at night carry running lights which often contri-
bute to weird or unusual appearances when observed at night. This
also holds true when observed near dawn or sunset because of the
effect of the slant rays of the sun upon the balloon surfaces. The
large balloons, if caught in jet streams, may assume a near hori-
zontal position when partially inflated, and move with speeds of
over 200 MPH. Large types may be observed flattened on top. The
effect of the latter two conditions can be startling even to ex-
perienced pilots. MOREMany modern aircraft, particularly swept and delta wing types,
under adverse weather and sighting conditions are reported as
unusual objects and "flying saucers." When observed at high alti-
tudes, reflecting sunlight off their surfaces, or when only th[e] r jet
exhausts are visible at night, aircraft can have appearances rang-
ing from disc to rocket in shape. Single jet bombers having multi-
jet pods under their swept-back wings have been reported as UFOs or
"saucers" in "V" formation. Vapor trails will often appear to glow
with fiery red or orange streaks when reflecting sunlight. After-
burners are frequently reported as UFOs.
The astronomical category includes bright stars, planets,
meteors, comets, and other celestial bodies. When observed through
haze, light fog, or moving clouds, the planets Venus, Mars, and
Jupiter have often been reported as unconventional, moving objects.
Attempts to observe astronomical bodies through hand-held binoculars
under adverse sky conditions has been a source of many UFO reports.
The "other" category includes reflections, searchlights, birds,
kites, blimps, clouds, sun-dogs, spurious radar indications, hoaxes,
firework displays, flares, fireballs, ice cyrstals, bolides, etc.,
as examples: Large Canadian geese flying low over a city at night,
with street lights reflecting off their bodies; searchlights playing
on scattered clouds, appearing as moving disc-like shapes.
The insufficient data category include all sightings where
essential or pertinent items of information are missing, making it
impossible to form a valid conclusion. These include description
of the size, shape or color of the object; direction and altitude;
exact time and location; wind weather conditions, etc. This cate-
gory is not used as a convenient way to get rid of what might be re-
ferred to as "unknowns". However, if the data received is insuf-
ficient or unrelated, the analysts must then place that particular
report in this category. The Air Force needs complete information
to reach a valid conclusion. Air Force officials stressed the fact
that an observer should send a complete report of a bona fide sight-
ing to the nearest Air Force activity. There the report will be
promptly forwarded to the proper office for analysis and evaluation.
A sighting is considered an "unknown" when a report contains
all pertinent data necessary to normally suggest at least one valid
hypothesis on the cause or explanation of the sighting but when the
description of the object and its maneuvers cannot be correlated
with any known object or phenomenon. In its Project Blue Book
Special Report $14, released in October, 1955, the Air Force showed
that evaluated sightings in the "unknown" category had been reduced
to 3% at that time.
Previously "unknown" sightings had been 9% in 1953 and 1954 and
in the previous years "flying saucer" sightings had run as high as
20% "unknowns." Project Blue Book Special Report #14, covered
"flying saucer" investigations from June 1947 to May 1955. Latest
Air Force statistics show the number of unknowns has since been re-
duced to less than 2%.
- 2 - MOREThe following table presents the results of the evaluation of
all reports received by the Air Force from the time that Project Blue
Book Special Report #14 was completed through June 1957. The table
gives the percentage of all the reports received by the Air Force
during each time period.
1955 1956 1957
June thru January thru
December June
Balloons 27.4% 26.0% 26.4%
Aircraft 29.3% 24.6% 28.8%
Astronomical 20.1% 26.3% 24.4%
Other (Hoax,searchlight,birds,etc) 12.3% 6.8% 6.4%
Insufficient Information 8.8% 14.1% 12.1%
Unknown 2.1% 2.2% (1.9%)
TOTAL NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS 273 778 250
Air Force conclusions for the ten years of UFO sightings in-
volving approximately 5,700 reports were: first, there is no evidence
that the "unknowns" were inimical or hostile; second, there is no
evidence that these "unknowns" were interplanetary space ships; third,
there is no evidence that these unknowns represented technological
developments or principles outside the range of our present day
scientific knowledge; fourth, there is no evidence that these
"unknowns" were a threat to the security of the country; and finally
there was no physical or material evidence, not even a minute frag-
ment, of a so-called "flying saucer" was ever found.
The Air Force emphasized the belief that if more immediate
detailed objective observational data could have been obtained on the
"unknowns" these too would have been satisfactorily explained.
A critical examination of the reports revealed that a high
percentage of them were submitted by serious people, mystified by
what they had seen and motivated by patriotic responsibility.
Reports of UFOs have aroused much interest on this subject
throughout the country and a number of civilian clubs, committees and
organizations have been formed to study or investigate air phenomena.
These private organizations are not governmental agencies and do not
reflect official opinion with respect to their theories or beliefs
based upon observed phenomena or illusions.
No books, motion pictures, pamphlets, or other informational
material on the subject of unidentified flying objects have been
cleared, sponsored, or otherwise coordinated by the U. S. Air Force,
with the exception of the official press releases issued by Head-
quarters, USAF, in Washington.
The Air Force, assigned the responsibility for the Air Defense
of the United States, will continue to investigate, through the Air
Defense Command, all reports of unusual aerial objects over the U.S.,
including objects that may become labeled Unidentified Flying Ob-
jects. The services of qualified scientists and technicians will
continue to be utilized to investigate and analyze these reports, and
periodic public statements will be made as warranted.
E N D
- 3 -39/3/3
Did You See
This?
Although he has many fly-
ing hours to his credit and is
one of the pioneers of private
flying in Canterbury, Mr F.
Sharman has never seen an
object in the air such as he
observed last night.
Mr Sharman's attention was
first drawn to a peculiar
shaped light in the sky. This
was like a horseshoe with the
ends pointing to the south,
and stationed over South
Brighton.
As he watched, he noticed
a doughnut-shaped object
with crinkly edges, passing
through the arms of the
horseshoe. He watched this
object come through a
number of times and it
seemed as though it was
flying round in circles.
From his experience, Mr
Sharman estimated that the
object was no higher than 300
to 500ft in the air, but during
his half hour's observation,
he could find no explanation
for it.
2 1/11/5[7]
FILE.
[ILLEGIBLE] /19[57] [ILLEGIBLE] Initials39/3/3
Another Account
Of Bright Object
In Southern Sky
ROTORUA POST
A flying object which changed col-
ours from pale lemon through a
range to blood red was seen by Jan-
et King, of Elizabeth Street and 11
other people in the street between
8.40 and 9.20 on Saturday night.
This apparently is the same object
that was reported from Lake Rotoiti
and Whitfield Road yesterday.
The object, Janet said, lay due
south from Rotorua and looked like
a very bright light. It was about 30
degrees up in the sky. 19 NOV 1957
It seemed to blink and it moved
with each blink. While it moved, it
did not go out of a certain field in
that quarter of the sky.
One of the strangest things about
the light was that it was strong
enough to shine through light cloud.
The object appeared to be about the
size of Venus.
After its display, the object faded
out.
FILE.
57/7/19[57] DD[ILLEGIBLE] Initials15 NOV 1957
SOUTHLAND NEWS
Strange, flying
light seen in
lonely valley
near Milford
Two men who saw a strange
flying light over a lonely stretch of
the Eglinton Valley late on Wed-
nesday night say that it was both
propelled and controlled.
Mr E. R. Robinson, a patrol officer
for the Automobile Association (South-
land) said today he was driving down
the valley in a van with Mr L. Israel-
son, a cook from the Milford hostel,
when the light first appeared.
"It came round the shoulder of a
hill and flew directly towards us. Then,
as though it saw the headlights of
the van, it stopped, hovered and then
made off over the hill towards the
coast."
"We climbed back into the van and
were about to drive off when we saw it
again. After we had watched it for
some time it moved off at terrific
speed, climbing at an angle of about
45 degrees over the hills. We watched
it altogether for between five and
eight minutes."
Mr Robinson is definite on two
particular points: The object was
no ordinary aircraft and it was no
star or trick of the weather.
"The experts won't talk me into
that," he said.
He described the object as being
like a big, flaming Tilley Lamp. He
and his companion estimated its height
at about 500 feet. They made this
estimate by judging the objects' height
in comparison with the height of the
nearby hills.
"It was definitely down in the valley
below the height of the hills. It did
not make a sound but there was a
haze on the top of the trees where its
light shone."
The two men were about 31 miles
on the Milford side of The Anau
when the object appeared. The time
was 11.20 p.m. and the night was dark
and cloudy.
"I don't mind admitting I wasn't
feeling too happy when I was heading
straight towards us," said Mr Robinson.
Asked why he considered it was
both propelled and controlled, he said
that it moved in two directions while
they were watching and climbed away
at quite a steep angle.
"Before Wednesday night Mr Israel-
son didn't believe in these spaceship
and flying saucer stories. But now ...
well he's not so sure," said Mr Robin-
son.
FILE.
22/11/[57] DD[ILLEGIBLE] InitialsFTY/HT Air: 39/3/3 S.E.O.(R)
Air Department,
Private Bag,
WELLINGTON.
17 September 1957
Mr. J.G. Sands,
Civil Aviation Administration,
Regional Office,
WELLINGTON.
Dear Mr. Sands,
Thank you for your letter of 17 September reporting
the unidentified flying object which you witnessed at
5 a.m. this morning.
Without any further detailed information it is a
little difficult to investigate this matter, but we will
certainly arrange to eliminate all the normal possibilities.
If anything of interest is discovered, I shall let you
know.
Yours sincerely,
(F.T. Young)
[handwritten annotations]
FEO
To think over. You might care
to discuss with [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] discuss anything further
on this matter
[ILLEGIBLE] FEOR.N.Z.A.F.—Form 683a AIR FORCE MESSAGE
SECURITY CATEGORY Registry File No.
TB [blank] / /
1035
FROM: Serial No. and Date:
OH 15 AUG 57 216/14
To: Time Received:
RNZAF HQ WN
REPEATED: Time Despatched:
[ILLEGIBLE] S O /[ILLEGIBLE]
UNCLAS AO 628
REF YOUR AO 199 NO A/C BASED THIS STATION WERE OPERATING NEAR
COROMANDEL PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 MAY 1957.
142030Z
FILE ACTION COPY
DISTRIBUTION:
Action copy DOFT
Info. copyR.N.Z.A.F.—Form 683B AIR FORCE MESSAGE
SECURITY CATEGORY Registry File No.
TB [blank] / /
1210
FROM: Serial No. and Date:
WHEN 15 AUG 57 238/15
To: Time Received:
RNZAF HQ WN
REPEATED: Time Despatched:
ROUTINE [ILLEGIBLE]
UNCLAS AO 246
YOUR AO 199 14 AUG.
OUR RECORDS SHOW NO STATION A/C FLYING 5 MAR 57
142140Z
FILE ACTION COPY
DISTRIBUTION:
Action copy DOFT
Info. copy39/3/3
Mr H.H. Fulton, 26 August, 1957
Dominion President,
Civilian Saucer Investigation (NZ),
P.O. Box 72,
Onehunga,
AUCKLAND S.E.5.
Dear Sir,
Your letter dated 3 August 1957, in which you request details of a reported
sighting of an "unidentified flying object" at Ohakea on 17 or 18 June last, is
acknowledged.
I have to advise that the only unusual radar indication on the dates you
mention was of an apparently almost stationary object. This was due to a radar
reflector descending from a burst meteorological balloon becoming temporarily
retarded in its descent upon reaching a temperature inversion layer.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
/ Air Secretary
FILE11th September, 1957
The Director,
Carter Observatory,
WELLINGTON.
1. Reference is made to your letter of 12th August and the
enclosed report concerning an unidentified object - sighted
off Cape Colville on 5th May, 1957, by a
2. The report would appear to be a faithful description of
what was seen, however, there are discrepancies. As to the
nature of the object sighted I can offer no explanation. It
is impossible to say from this one report which was submitted
some three months or more after the event. The lateness of
the report has prevented a one hundred per cent check of
aircraft movements on that date.
3. The covering letter of is herewith returned
to you as requested.
[signature]
(H.W. SHILTON Sqn. Ldr)
for Wing Commander
DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE
FILE. All [ILLEGIBLE]
30/10/57 DD[ILLEGIBLE] Initials
Encl: 1CIVIL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
AIR DEPARTMENT
PRIVATE BAG
WELLINGTON, C. 1.
Memo to Mr Fred Young,
Office of the DCA.
Report on unidentified flying object.
Dear Mr Young,
I have been advised by Central
Registry to send to you my report, as below, on a rather
strange sight I saw in the sky this morning, that you will
forward it to the correct person for inclusion in file 39/3/3.
My report is as follows.
I awoke just before 0500 hrs this morning, having
gone to bed early last night. I lit a cigarette & was lying in
bed on my back, my gaze being directed out of the window
opposite me.
Suddenly, from the left, appeared a red light, travelling
from left to right (see diagram at end of report). I at once thought
it was the navigation light of an aircraft, then realised that, if
it had been, the red light is on the port side & for an aircraft
&that if it were an aircraft I would have seen a green
light.
The light was red, not namely brilliant, tho' in some
range extent: it was somewhat the same colour as a
cigarette glowing as one took a deep [ILLEGIBLE]. It therefore did not
set in as the right of an aircraft, "winking".ADDRESS REPLIES TO:
"THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION"
TELEP[HONE] AND CABLES: "CIVILAIR"
NEW ZEALAND
HEAD OFFICE:
CIVIL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
AIR DEPARTMENT
PRIVATE BAG
WELLINGTON, C. 1. light
if it had been an aircraft, I would have judged the
aircraft to have been at about 2000 feet & travelling quite
slowly - about 110 knots or 120 mph - somewhat the speed
one would have expected a Dakota to be travelling.
The direction of travel was approximately from
North to South.
I listened for any noise. It was a still morning, I
was wide awake, &there was no noise whatever.
The light was not the reflection of my cigarette in
the window, as the light I saw was at the top of the
window, which was wide open; nor was I moving my
cigarette.
The light & the way it was travelling gave me the
impression that it was something "dawdling along" on a
definite course. It was certainly not a meteor whisking
across the sky in one swift streak.
The diagram of the house in which I have my
flat, its position & the position of my bed, the window,
etc. is attached on a separate sheet.
J.G. Sands.CIVIL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
AIR DEPARTMENT
PRIVATE BAG
WELLINGTON, C. 1.
Diagram 1: No 40, Grove Road
Kelburn, at the back of which
my Flat.
[diagram showing map of Kelburn Parade, Grove Road Kelburn, with arrow pointing to "My Flat" at No. 40, compass directions N/S/E/W, and arrow "TO UPLAND ROAD"]
Diagram 2. My bed-sitting-r[oom]
position of window & bed, & direc[tion]
light Travelled.
[diagram showing floor plan of bed-sitting-room with labels: "Rest of Flat - kitchen, bath, etc.", "Hall.", "Cupboard", "SELF, LYING IN BED.", "cigarette in left hand.", "WINDOW, OPEN AT TOP", "Bed-sitting-room.", "AREA IN WHICH I WATCHED LIGHT", "DIRECTION OF LIGHT" with arrow]
Notes: 1. I have put North as far as I know it appears right; I think it is wrong.
2. I did not see light pass 2nd window, owing, I think, to dark angle.N.Z. ARMED SERVICES Office Serial No.
F. Sig. 52 (large) COMBINED
MESSAGE FORM Registry File No.
FOR COMM CEN/SIGNALS USE
PRECEDENCE—ACTION PRECEDENCE—INFO DATE-TIME GROUP MESSAGE INSTRUCTIONS
ROUTINE DEFERRED 14[ILLEGIBLE]3132 BOOK
FROM RNZAF HQ WGTN PREFIX GR
TO WHENUAPAI SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
OHAKEA. UNCLAS
ORIGINATORS NUMBER
INFO
AO: 199
REQUEST INFORMATION WHETHER ANY
AIRCRAFT BASED YOUR STATION WERE
OPERATING NEAR CAPE COLVILLE
COROMANDEL PENINSULA P.N.
SUNDAY 5 MAY. 57 PARTICULARLY
BETWEEN 1600 - 1700 HRS MIKE.
[stamp: ILLEGIBLE]
Civil records of aircraft movement are not
kept for this length of time. Only 1 month[ILLEGIBLE]
FILECARTER OBSERVATORY
WELLINGTON, W.1.
NEW ZEALAND.
1957 August 12
MEMORANDUM:
Director of Intelligence,
(Attn: Sec.1),
Air Department,
WELLINGTON.
As promised by telephone conversation today
I enclose herewith report by of
Tauranga, of a flying object seen by him on
May 5 of this year.
I shall be grateful for any comments which
you may have which could explain the phenomenon.
[signature]
I.L. Thomsen
Director
Note -
A covering letter of a Mr [ILLEGIBLE] who sent
report to Carter Observatory
has been returned to C.O. as requested
D.D.I. [signature]
FILE
7/ll 30/16/5[7]From - A.T. Centre
To - D.D.I.
Report from a
Civil servant: Phone
States that at 1620 hrs on Fri. 25th July
1957, he sighted a bright light in direction
of Botanical Gardens & to over Tinakari
Hills. The light moved in a NW
direction, was the size of a house, diminishing
to window size & was in sight for 7 to 8
minutes. It was a brilliant light
& changed from to bluish green.
There were no met balloons released
at this time & no aircraft were
in the vicinity.
Note - A possible reflection of sun's
rays from ice crystals?
FILE
[signature]39/3/3
10.
Conference Do[ILLEGIBLE]
Policy Committ[ee] [ILLEGIBLE]
New Zealand
Mr E. L. Greensmith
Mr J. F. Northey
[ILLEGIBLE]
Light in H.B. Sky Prompts
Sub-
for Reports of Flying Saucers HERALD TRIBUNE
3.18
Reports of an unusual sight in the sky last night were
circulating in Hastings this morning. The "object" was
also reported to be visible for some time over Napier. One
Hastings young man took a photograph of it, and another
report attached a noise to it.
The sightings were made[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] 14 JAN 1957
round about 10 o'clock. is (Chairman)
Brooks
A resident of Frederick Street
said his attention was drawn to a
light flashing across the sky over
Napier. It was moving in a
westerly direction, but then sud-
denly reversed and moved back-
ward and forward in jerky move- )burn
ments. Finally it seemed to
disappear in the direction of Cape
Kidnappers.
He described it as being of an
oval shape when first seen, and Greensmith
moving very rapidly. When it
changed direction, however, he Packwood
said, it was "like a saucer." As it
moved across the sky it left behind
a long pencil-like stream of light
"just like silver."
He called the attention of his Nicoll
lady to the phenomenon and Nightingale
took a photograph. Later his
husband came home and
also reported seeing the object.
A Mahora observer described the
object as a "streak of light flash-
ing over the sky." When he saw
it the "object" was moving in an
easterly direction.
Another young man who had
been attending a football practice
at Havelock North said that the
attention of his companions and
himself had been drawn to the
"bright light flashing in the sky"
by a swishing sound.
From Havelock North, too, came
the report that a "bright streak
had disappeared in a fiery ball in
a cloud over Cape Kidnappers."
Mention of "flying saucers" by
a workmate prompted a Mayfair
resident to recall that about 10
o'clock last night he had noted a
"couple of flashes through the
window" but had presumed they
were searchlight or car headlight
beams.
FOOTNOTE: A searchlight
from a ship in port at Napier
was operating in the late 1. ASHA[ILLEGIBLE]
evening.
2 File[ILLEGIBLE] May 1957
Dear [ILLEGIBLE]
I acknowledge with thanks your letter of 9 May,
concerning a new type of aircraft propulsion motor,
which I have passed for record to the Air Department.
I will communicate with you further if there is any
additional information they may require.
Yours faithfully,
(T.L. MACDONALD)
LOWER HUTT.
13 5 57 [ILLEGIBLE]Lower Hutt.
9 th May, 1957.
Minister of Defence,
Wgton.
[STAMP: RECD MAY 10 1957 AIR DEPT]
Sir,
For some years past
a group of select Swedish,
German, Russian and
Mongolian Scientists have
been working on a new
type of Rocket-Jet
Aircraft Propulsion device.
Their Secret Base of
operation is somewhere
in Inner Mongolia.
This device is not an
engine in the ordinary
sense.
This device is fired
on an Explosive Powder,
which, like Carbide
13/5/57 [ILLEGIBLE][ILLEGIBLE header text]
diffusion of the Explosive
Powder coming into
contact with moisture
extracted from the
Atmosphere. Heavy
Water is used as a
Firing Starter.
The recent Atomic
Explosion in Russian
was not an Atomic
Explosion at all.
Actually, it was
an explosion of these
secret Fuels caused by
either negligence or
sabotage.
It was not an experi-
-mental Explosion.
I forget his name, but
the [fellow] who stepped
into Stalin's job before
Hruscher, is Minister
in Control of theseSecret aeronautical
Rocket-Jet devices.
Moscow University
is strictly devoted to
Studies in this type of
Aircraft at the present
time.
The next Atomic
Explosion of Soviet Origin
is scheduled to take
place in Tibet where
it will be used to
eliminate certain Rebel
forces there, at an early
date.
I am not a Communist
nor a Communist Sympath-
-iser, yet I do obtain
quite a lot of Confidential
information on these
subjects from time to time.
I have actually seen
a so-called Space Craft
of Soviet origin from[ILLEGIBLE] to yards away [ILLEGIBLE]
3 years ago, stationary on
the ground.
Except to my Wife,
I have never mentioned
this experience to anyone.
It landed on Stilts.
I am quite sane, not
mad.
What I know, I know,
and no one can ever
convince me otherwise,
but sooner than be
Publicly ridiculed, I
keep it to myself.
Radar observation of
the air over Southern
Ireland during the next
few months would detect
some unusual aircraft
movements of unknown
origin.
Yours sincerely,
[SIGNATURE REDACTED][ILLEGIBLE] has actually ridden in one of these Secret Soviet Space Ships.
REPORT OF AN OBJECT OBSERVED OFF CAPE COLVILLE, NEW
ZEALAND.
May 5th, I957.
[FILE stamp][ILLEGIBLE] May 5th, 1957, at approximately 4. 30 p.m. in the early evening, I was navigating the Rosa, a fishing boat, off Port Charles on the Coromandel coast. I hold a third engineer's ticket, and was taking the Rosa from the port of Tauranga to Auckland, where it was to be delivered to its owner. I was approaching Channel Island which is several miles offshore and off Cape Colville, when I noticed an irregular smoke trail which seemed to rise from behind the island. This smoke trail twisted in an erratic way across the sky in a westerly direction. As I came abreast of and cleared Channel Island I saw the smoke trails were not from a fire on the island as I had at first imagined, but were out over the Hauraki Gulf. Actually, I had thought the smoke patterns in the sky looked a bit unusual, but hadn't thought much about it. Watching this maze of smoke trails in the sky, I saw a new trail being formed, and my eye followed the movement until I came to the source of the smoke. I saw an oval, disc-shaped object from which the smoke or fumes were streaming. At first I could not believe what I was seeing, and felt that something might have gone wrong with my eyes. Feeling very disturbed I left the wheel and walked around the Rosa, looking at various items of gear on the deck. Everything was all right and I felt more sure of myself. I was alone on the boat, unfortunately. I went forward again, and watched the thing in the sky. The object was a fairly narrow oval seen travelling horizontally, and both upper and lower surfaces were similarly curved. Two shallow convex surfaces fitted together face to face would be roughly [FILE stamp]
2
simi[lar] to its appearance. Smoke streamed away from its sides as it moved
on an irregular, constantly changing course through the sky. The sun was
setting, half its disc being beneath the horizon. Looking across about
25 miles of water the horizon in this case was the sea.
As I watched, the object approached me at a slight angle, bearing
to the left. It then tilted at a steep angle and shooting upwards,
showed its circular shape clearly. The object was well above the
glare of the sun, and my view of it was not affected by dazzle. It
appeared as big as a florin held at arm's length. The rapid manoeuvres
it made covered an arc of about I5 degrees. The thing turned through
every possible angle during these manoeuvres, and for a period of at
least twenty minutes I watched these movements, while I steered
the Rosa out towards the Hauraki Gulf.
These peculiar and rapid gyrations were confined to an area
approximately equal to two feet in diameter at arm's length, and covered
as described above, an angle of about I5 degrees vertically. The
late afternoon was very calm, and there was no wind. The lower sky
was quite clear of cloud, but there were streaks of cirrus at a high
altitude, almost overhead. The object was moving in an area of sky
above the setting sun and its glare, but below these high clouds. I
was thus able to see it very clearly.
Not knowing the actual size of the object makes it hard for me to
say how far away it was. I believe though that the object was
some miles distant. The object was very clearly defined. Smoke poured
out from its curving sides, narrowed immediately behind, then broadened
out into a widening but thinning wake astern. The smoke was a
dark greyish colour and the trails remained in the sky for at
[FILE stamp]3 less than ten minutes before vanishing. The area of sky in which the object was moving was thus heavily patterned with these trails, some firm and clear, others fading. The calm air helped to keep the trails from blowing away. The object appeared greyish - a dark grey or neutral shade, and did not reflect. Had the object been made of polished aluminium, say, it would not have reflected light, the sun being beneath and to the left of it. The object was thus northwest of the setting sun. Had it been an aircraft it would not have reflected light from this position in the sky, and would possibly have been a similar dark colour. It gave me the unmistakable impression that it was some form of controlled flying machine, but its flight was so rapid that by comparison, a jet plane would appear ridiculously slow. I want to make that clear. The thing was being flown, or directed. Somebody was flying it. I must also stress that I saw this object in clear daylight, and as it made so many movements in the sky, plunging, heeling over, ascending swiftly and turning through every imaginable angle in its flight, I was able to get an unmistakable impression of its shape. It was a huge disc. Its rapid movements suggested tremendous power -- moving in horizontal flight it appeared to cover a distance of miles in as many seconds. I consider that it was a very large object, and may have been several hundred feet in diameter. It was as large, I thought, as a big Pan American airliner. I make this statement having seen Pan American airliners at what I believe to be approximately the same [ILLEGIBLE handwritten note at bottom] • NB. MK VIII Saucer!
4 dif[ference]. I must say again most decidedly that what I saw that afternoon was some form of flying machine. I do not know of any aircraft which can move with such amazing speed. All turns made by the object were curving, as illustrated in the rough sketch, which is of course merely a simplified picture of the complicated movements it made. Just before flying off it levelled out, and then moved away very rapidly in horizontal flight, passing over the mainland in the direction of Warkworth and Cape Rodney, in the upper Hauraki Gulf. The tangle of smoke trails remained for some time, and slowly faded out in the evening sky. During all these rapid manoeuvres I heard no sound. However, the noise my boat engine was making may have muffled out any other sound. While I was watching the object diving and wheeling in the sky the sun went down beneath the horizon. It was daylight though when the object suddenly flew off over the mainland. A navy patrol boat followed me up the Coromandel coast - I saw this boat tied up at the Whitianga wharf, in Mercury Bay. Leaving some time after I sailed from Whitianga, this boat overtook me just after dark, hailing me as it passed. I'd had engine trouble earlier in my trip, and they wanted to know if I was all right. I have wondered since if the crew also saw the object, or if they were too far astern during daylight to have noticed anything. The object was well out over the Hauraki Gulf when it performed its unusual manoeuvres. When I arrived in Auckland I mentioned what I had seen to the owner of the Rosa, who was sceptical. Apart
5
[from] telling my wife and members of my family what I saw, I have
not spoken about the episode until persuaded to make this report
by a friend, who heard of my experience from my brother. I watched
the newspapers for some days after delivering the Rosa, expecting
to hear reports of the object passing over the country districts
north of Auckland city, but nothing appeared.
I am a licensed skipper of the Tauranga Big Game Fishing Club, and
am also a builder. I have lived at Mount Maunganui for slightly over
twenty years, and have been out in coastal waters a lot during that
time, but have never before seen anything even remotely similar
to the object described in this account. The description given is as
accurate as I can make it. I feel that what I saw is important
enough to justify study, and hope that this report, fantastic as it
may appear, will be given serious consideration.
July 2Ist I957.6
I have known [REDACTED] since I946, and can testify that he
is a most reliable person. He has previously been very sceptical
about reports of unidentified flying objects. Now however he is
most assured about what he has seen and feels that it is not a
matter for argument.
[REDACTED] has been a very successful skipper in the Tauranga
Big Game Fishing Club fleet, and the boat piloted by him during the
1957 season caught the highest tally of striped marlin.
Knowing his practical attitude and steadiness, I am prepared to
accept the accuracy of his report, and with him, hope that this
description of a strange flying object will be given serious
consideration. I would like to add again that [REDACTED] is very
emphatic that it was a controlled object --- a flying machine with
remarkable capabilities.
Mount Maunganui.
July 2Ist I957.Simplified flight path of object as drawn by [REDACTED] Turns were curving, and the object appeared to cover distances of several miles in as many seconds. [DIAGRAM: hand-drawn simplified flight path sketches showing curving turns]
Appearance of smoke trail as it swirled away behind object, which is here roughly drawn by [REDACTED] from two angles. [DIAGRAM: hand-drawn sketches of object shape from two angles and smoke trail]
6 MAY 1957 TIMARU HERALD Letter to Editor GLITTERING OBJECT Sir,—The report of Mr J. Lane, Maude Street, Temuka, sighting a glittering object spinning over his garden, gives us great satisfaction, for, in the company of another adult, we watched a similar object for fully five or six minutes, over the northern end of our ground, the same day. It was May 1 at 12.20 p.m.; at the time we were engrossed watch- ing large quantities of Angel's Hair swirling down, from one par- ticular source, practically over us, when our attention was drawn to a glittering object, similar to an inverted dinner-plate, of say 18in diameter, revolving at a tre- mendous speed, in a clock-wise direction. The height when first spotted was no more than 20ft, at a distance of approximately 25ft from the northern end of our resi- dence. On approaching for a closer inspection, the object shot up ver- tically, disappearing completely and giving every indication of be- ing remotely controlled. We are fully convinced, through our knowledge gained from data collected from overseas and of our own country, that space ships send out identical discs, testing meteoro- logical conditions, mainly for atomic radiations, which they are greatly concerned about at the present time. May we add that we have seen flying saucers at close range, and the object sighted was similar to the larger types, but in miniature. In the event of these visitors from space being capable of providing incorrect reports, we would be loath to starting any false rumours appertaining to such matters. To those who have not had the experience of handling Angel's Hair, may we point out that it is simple to differentiate, between spider thread, which, at this time of the year is also making its ap- pearance in great lengths, for there is such an incomparable difference between colour and texture. It has been analysed in many coun- tries, and no decision has ever been arrived at to prove that it has not come from any other source than that we are about to describe. It originates from a liquid termed heavy water used in the batteries of carrier-space ships, jettisoned for some reason of their own, which solidifies when striking our atmosphere, disintegrating as it nears the earth, manifesting into longer and finer lengths of up to 40ft long. It is a bluish white colour, on handling proves to be of a stretchy fibrous texture, dissolving when handling, leaving no stain or odour, and apparently not in- jurious in any way. We have re- ceived numerous reports of Angel's Hair being sighted recently around the district from Clandeboys to [ILLEGIBLE] We are etc. [COLUMN 2] [ILLEGIBLE] MAY 1957 Investigator's "NORTHERN AD[VOCATE]" Views About Flying Saucers Ten years of investigation have failed to produce an earthly ex- planation of "flying saucers", the answer that fitted all the facts was that they came from other worlds. Reasons for this view were given by Mr Harold H. Fulton, president of Civilian Saucer In- vestigation (N.Z.), to an audience of 150 at Whangarei Town Hall last night. Of the 700 reported sightings of unidentified flying objects throughout New Zealand during the last five years, he said, 75 per cent could possibly be ex- plained as natural phenomena. NORTHLAND REPORTS The remainder he claimed, were actual observations of extra-ter- restrial vehicles. Mr Fulton illustrated his lect- ure with 63 lantern slides. Between September 1, 1952, and October 30, 1956, he said, the Northern Advocate had reported 22 observations of unidentified flying objects over Northland. Forty-six people had shared the observation. Unidentified flying objects were first reported in the United States in June, 1947, Mr Fulton said. Mr Fulton said that saucers were sighted mainly during per- iods when the earth was close to Mars, which occurred every 2 months. During the last such period the New Zealand organisation had re- ceived more than 100 saucer reports. OBJECTIVES EXPLAINED Mr Fulton said the CSI was non-profit, voluntary organisation with 350 financial members. Its purpose was to help people find the facts about unidentified flying objects. Mr Fulton is a member of the RNZAF engineering section at Whenuapai. [FILE stamp]
[Handwritten annotation: Three hours. 3 5-5-7]
Invasion Preparations Under Way
[Handwritten annotations: 11., Good stuff, [ILLEGIBLE]]
WELSH VILLAGERS WAIT
FLYING-SAUCER ARMAD[A]
For the "New Zealand Free Lance."
All the townsfolk of Stafford, a market town on the Welsh border, a[re]
to get their best bedrooms ready for visitors from outer space—due [on]
the outskirts of the town any time between now and the next [few] [years].
CAUSE of the bother is 34-year-old
Gavin Gibbons, a serious, stoop-
shoudered young man, who, having
spent two years looking into reports
of flying saucers seen in the vicinity
of Stafford, felt he must warn
Staffordians that their town has been
picked as a landing base.
The spot chosen for touch-down, he
believes, is a disused airfield in the
surrounding country-side. According
to Gibbons, the 30 or more flying
saucers sighted in that period, (since
when he has seen nine himself) were
obviously reconnaissance craft spy-
ing out the land.
"It is perfectly possible that land-
ings will be made simultaneously in
several countries," he said. "Perhaps
hundreds of sites have been the sub-
ject of the spacemen's investigations.
But in Britain they seem to have
chosen Stafford.
Why? It is a town large enough
to ensure a sufficient number of
people available to be won over
to the essentially peaceful pur-
pose of the invasion, yet small
enough to permit of military
handling in the event of any mis-
understanding . ."
He is convinced that though the
whole world will hear of the land-
ing within five minutes of its occur-
rence—the spacemen will paralyse
normal methods of communication
by means of secret rays, and work
telepathically on the minds of people
in Stafford. They hope in this way to
have established a bridgehead before
anyone from outside can interfere.
"Must Be Friendly"
Gibbons, a modern Shropshire lad,
urges everyone not to give the cold
shoulder to the sky-men, but to invite
them in for a glass of ale—or milk.
He, himself, as he takes pains to con-
firm, is a strict teetotaller.
"We must be friendly at all costs,"
he insists. "Their objects will un-
doubtedly be to make peace for us
on earth, and we shall have little
chance to stop them. If we fire on
them they will throw out a protective
screen, and our bullets will bounce
right back in our faces!"
This Welsh-born saucer expert
dared to give one vicar in the
district an amended text for his
Christmas sermon. It ran like this:
"And lo! They saw a flying saucer in
the east . ."
The vicar was not converted to this
modern approach.
"But you know," Gibbons insisted,
"The Star of Bethlehem could easily
have been a flying saucer, bringing
Wise Men from Space . ."
So firm is his faith in "soser wib"
(Welsh version of the flying saucer)
that he went on to write a book
called "The Coming of the Space
Ship," which set his amazing theories
out in detail.
In it he delivered a broadside to
an Australian, Professor van der Riet
Wooley, new British Astronomer
Royal, who dismissed saucer-sightings
as "utter bilge."
With typical Welsh fervour and
biblical conviction, he cited the say-
ing, "In My Father's House there are
many mansions . . ." "Who are we,"
he declaims, "to say that this could
not refer to other worlds and other
[COLUMN 2 - continues]
ago discarded the
of war and crim
civilisation, and w
benefit of their e[xperience]
Two local vicars
him up. Says Re[v]
rector of Aldridge,
Gibbons may well
has always spoke
and powers in t[he]
These strange [reports]
ported by so man[y]
may well be p[art]
tions to contact h[im]
A Fellow of [the] [Royal]
cal Society, he h[as]
lens telescope in [which]
he can investiga[te]
explosions on M[ars]
signals from the [Red Planet]
Rev. Cedric [W][ILLEGIBLE]
vicar of Seigh[ford]
have no doubt [ILLEGIBLE][Partial column - left side cut off]
OR[D]
currying
irrive on
[years].
[ILLEGIBLE] absurdities
mmon to our
to give us the
ence."
ready to back
nald Cartmel,
'ordshire: "Mr.
ght. The Bible
principalities
venly system.
festations re-
fferent people
their prepara-
[ILLEGIBLE] Astronomi-
It a nine-inch-
rectory so that
orts of atomic
d flashing-light
t, 67-year-old
taffs, said: "I
vasion is pos-
[PHOTO CAPTION: GEORGE J. STOCK took this picture of a vimana, "reconnaissance craft,"
over Passiac, United States of America, on July 29, 1952.]
to have seen
he claimed to
lden ball hang-
e my bedroom
d circular dome
a kind of halo
[ILLEGIBLE]ughlan, Mayor
re that people
e watching the
: to lay out the
they arrive.
[ILLEGIBLE]st be ready to
) them to settle
epared to put a
rouse. I am a
friendly man, and I could easily make
them understand that we have no
hostile feelings toward them . . "
A team of spare-time observers in
the town are ready to let Gavin Gib-
bons know the minute the saucers
touch down.
They are encouraged by his dictum
that "there can never be too many
of us on the look-out . . . don't take
it for granted that the vapour trail
winding across the heavens comes
from an airplane. Find the machine if
you can and make sure that it is
something familiar. Study cloud for-
mation and the stars. While you are
studying these natural phenomena,
something extra-terrestrial, some-
thing more startling, may sail into
your field of view."
Reports Flood In
Incidental reports come flooding in.
Three men in an R.A.F. lorry leaving
an airfield near Shre[w]sbury saw an
unidentifiable, huge egg-shaped craft
flying faster than any known make of
jet could travel, leaving a silvery
vapour trail. It glowed with a deep
golden brilliance.
A retired railwayman in the dis-
trict saw an object in the sky looking
like a fountain pen. He said it was
dull grey except for the front part,
which shone, and seemed to be made
up of several colours. Schoolgirls re-
ported a group of "stars" moving
[in] an odd circular move-
ment above their heads as they went
home from school. Window cleaners,
housewives, commercial travellers—
all have strange visions to relate, and
many of them were seen later by
others (who confirmed the details) as
they travelled on.
In Mr. Gibbons opinion small boys
make the best witnesses. "They notice
the so[me] significant details."
Flying saucers, he says, can be seen
at any time of the day or night, but
the best light conditions occur be-
tween five and six in the evening.
"One doesn't have to be in any
special frame of mind," he says.
"Some of my watchers spot them
when washing up or doing something
equally prosaic. One of the signs that
you are about to spot one is a tickling
sensation in the nose."
Mr. Gibbons sees no inconsistency
in the remarkable diversity of flying
saucer descriptions. He has classified
them and given them names—like a
space-ship fleet.
Type one are vulyas, vast
metallic discs; another kind are
vunus, cigar-shaped. Reconnaissance
craft he calls vimanas. The
unmanned "scanners" are named
vidya.
This public school and Oxford man
maintains that the British Govern-
ment—in league with most other gov-
ernments—"must have issued secret
orders to scientists and civil servants.
Obviously they have been urged
resolutely to deny the existence of
flying saucers." The reason, he pre-
sumes, is that they are afraid of a
widespread panic if his theory of an
imminent invasion from outer space
catches on with the public.
Apparent Sincerity
"But did the public flinch from
Dunkirk or Pearl Harbour?" he asks.
"They did not. If told the truth they
would face up to it bravely. They
must be told in order to prepare them
for the startling reorganisation that
will surely follow any mass flying-
saucer landings."
Mr. Gibbons presents his conclu-
sions about Saucers with apparent
sincerity.
He gives good reasons (particularly
in reports of incidents witnessed by
trained air crew) for accepting that
strange phenomena have been seen in
the sky for which at present no one
can account.
And whatever the world at large
may think about his belief that its
civilisation is about to be transformed
by spacemen—it has left the market
town of Stafford "saucer-eyed."[IMAGE: Illustration of flying saucer/UFO]
[Handwritten text at top: flying saucers]
[IMAGE: Illustration of landed flying saucer with dome on top, surrounded by trees]
OFFICIAL QUARTERLY JOURNAL
Civilian Saucer Investigation
(N.Z.)
VOL. 4—No. 2 SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER, 1956
14th Quarterly Issue 2/[d]
[FILE stamp]FLYING SAUCERS
Quarterly Magazine of Civilian Saucer Investigation (N.Z.)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ This issue is dedicated in honour and │
│ fond memory of MRS. ETHNE EARLE │
│ HAMBER, M.A., who passed away at │
│ her home in Christchurch on the 12th │
│ September. Mrs. Hamber, C.S.I. repre- │
│ sentative since our inauguration, was │
│ a very fine lady who had a brilliant │
│ career, and was founder and patron │
│ of the New Zealand Interplanetary │
│ Society, serving as president for a num-│
│ ber of years. Her loss is a sad one for │
│ N.Z.I.S. and C.S.I. │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Edited by
HAROLD H. FULTON
Contents
NEW ZEALAND SIGHTING REPORTS
BOOK REVIEWS
OVERSEAS SIGHTING REPORTS
TECHNICAL ARTICLES
C.S.I. BALANCE SHEET
TAPE RECORDINGS
C.S.I. NOTES
INVESTIGATORY ORGANISATIONS
Registered at the G.P.O. Wellington for trans-
mission through the post as a magazine.
Subscriptions: 10/- N.Z., 11/- Overseas.
Overseas First Class Mail 14/-, U.S.A. $2.00.
Published by the proprietors, Civilian Saucer
Investigation, New Zealand, 1 Nissan Place,
Onehunga, S.E.5, Auckland, and printed by
"The Business Printing Works Limited,"
55 Albert Street, Auckland, C.1, N.Z.
Editorial
PROJECT SKYWATCH SWINGS INTO
ACTION
"Project Skywatch," designed to enable a
most comprehensive survey of "Unidentified
Flying Objects," period August '56-February,
'57, has been successfully launched. Already
quite an appreciable number of arresting ob-
servations have been received at headquarters.
Because the Fijian, Tongan and Samoan
areas have been somewhat neglected in the past
and because, too, of the interesting reports re-
ceived from this theatre recently, we have de-
cided to include this area of the Pacific in our
Project Skywatch operation.
To enable news of our scheme to become
more widely known and because we have in-
vited the public's participation, copies of our
special bulletin detailing the operation were
forwarded to all newspapers. We have to thank
the press for its generous mention of our plans.
Copies were also sent to New Zealand broad-
casting stations.
To further broaden the news cast of our
project and perhaps bring in some good reports
from skilled observers, copies of "Skywatch"
bulletins were forwarded to all New Zealand
and Pacific Meteorological Stations, Airport
Control Towers and Aer-radio Stations.
To date we are happy to report that our
reps. and members are showing proof of their
genuine interest for the scheme and giving ex-
cellent co-operation. Many reports (sightings
and other references) which do not appear in
the Auckland papers are received, in most cases
the following day, even from the far south. This
is truly appreciated, for it permits of very quick
follow-up action and we have far better chance
of ascertaining important facts missing in the
first report.
Certainly, as our colleagues know, we
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of the smartest minds of the new French Air Force, in- dicated that a not-as-yet terrestrially-exploited space energy powered the flying saucers. He even attempted to explain "the silence, the thermal resistance, the changes of shape, and the manoeuvrability of the flying disks." "Flying Saucers and Theology" is the section of Michel's book which particularly caught my eye. On pages 240-243, he reproduces an article which was origin- ally written by Washington's Father F. J. Connell for the AMERICAN ECCLESIASTICAL REVIEW. In this liter- ary contribution, the Washington priest conceives of four spiritual states in which beings exist. While Scientist Michel makes no personal comments on these four order of beings, he neither attempts to evaluate the alleged flying-saucer landing reports and "little men" contact stories appearing in all French newspapers in 1954. Does Michel prefer to believe that flying-saucer pilots are created unlike us and, therefore, "breathe [ILLEGIBLE] hane as we breathe oxygen, and quench their thirst v[ILLEGIBLE] am- monia and hydrochloric acid?" THE TRUTH ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS, which contains an introduction, three parts, an index and 32 in- teresting illustrations, deserves the attention and respect accorded the disc works of Major Donald E. Keyhoe and Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt. The Michel volume, although a serious book composed of cold facts and involved theories, will be enjoyed not only by the technically- inclined reader but also by the science-fiction enthusiast who is accustomed to devouring exciting stories about things extra-terrestrial. THE UFO ANNUAL — 1956 Edited by M. K. Jessup The extraordinary success of Mr. Jessup's The Case for UFO—the Unidentified Flying Object— proves that the public is neither satisfied nor de- ceived by the generally negative statements of offi- cial bodies and governments on the numerous sight- ings of flying saucers and other unidentified flying objects. Moreover, the recent announcements by the British, American and Russian Governments on their respective proposals to launch Space Satel- lites have thrown a new light upon the possibilities of space travel, whether from the earth outwards or from other worlds earthwards. The UFO Annual contains up-to-date informa- tion on the most recent sightings of mysterious objects in the skies, and also contains the most recent knowledge on the Space Satellite schemes. It is an analysis and interpretation of all the most significant events concerning UFOs in this past year, made from the scientific point of view. It has been written in the same penetrating and searching manner that made The Case For the UFO "the most informative of the flying saucer books to date." Mr. Jessup makes no special plea. He is con- tent to record the evidence, and to weigh it in a detached and extremely critical manner. He makes no attempt to proceed from a few flimsy half-facts to sensational conclusions. Instead, he has gathered together a most astonishing body of reliable records, including many official statements, and subjected them to thoroughly scientific investigation. This book contains 320 pages, and has been very com- pletely and profusely illustrated. The reader will be in a position to draw his own conclusion from the astonishing body of information that Mr. Jessup has here recorded. June, 1956 - Demy 8vo - 320 pages Illustrated - 16s. net. Page Twenty-two FLYING SAUCERS
There seems to be an abundance of UFO books or books devoting at least some space to the UFO problem among the books currently selling well to technically in- cline[ILLEGIBLE] individuals. The response APRO has received as a re[ILLEGIBLE] of the mention in Donald Keyhoe's latest (and greatest) "THE FLYING SAUCER CONSPIRACY," has been nothing short of phenomenal and we'd like to take this opportunity to welcome them, scientist and layman, one and all. "FORGOTTEN MYSTERIES," by R. DeWitt Miller, is an absorbing book dealing with oddities (including saucers) which have been neglected by science and for- gotten by the masses. It's enchanting reading and no doubt would be of interest to anyone interested in the unorthodox and seemingly unsolvable mysteries. Another book by Miller, recently published and just recently reviewed by the Director is "YOU DO TAKE IT WITH YOU." Although not particularly interested in the paranormal, the Director enjoyed the book thoroughly and noted added oddities related to UFO. A good addition to any UFO researcher's collection. Received is a review copy of UFO ANNUAL by M. K. Jessup. The writer highly endorses this book which lists chronologically sightings and important events in ufology for 1955. Equally absorbing is the author's scholarly opinion, elastic theories and occasionally trenchant com- ments which garnish the quotative text. The UFO AN- NUAL is a well-timed sequel to Jessup's previous work, The Case for the UFO. 375 pages, price $4.95—Publisher, Citadel. Something new for the saucer fan. Offered for the first time is a Flying Saucer Chart loaded with encylopedic information. Excellent reference material for the busy saucer student, and recommended for beginners: 22 x 24 in black, white and red. A visual survey of the UFO picture. Shows 136 shapes, over 1400 items. Price: $1.00. Order: Keziah, 916 S. 21st St., Arlington, Virginia. INVESTIGATORY ORGANIZATIONS . . . ALL RECOMMENDED TO THE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED C.R.I.F.O. "ORBIT"—Monthly, printed quarto size, 4 reading pages. Leading US "UFO" Saucer Bulletin. Write Len Stringfield, 7017 Britton Ave., Cincinnati 27, Ohio. First class mail $3.60 per year. "FLYING SAUCER REVIEW"—Leading English publi- cation. Bi-monthly printed, 32 pages glossy paper. Largest circulation. Write "F.S.R.," 1 Doughy St., London, W.C.1, England. £1/6/- per six issues. "LE COURRIER INTERPLANETAIRE" — Monthly, printed in French, 1 sheet newspaper size, much European information. 17/6 yearly. Write Prof. Nahon, Director, World Interplanetary Association, 25 Avenue Debantou, Lausanne, Switzerland. "SAUCERS"—Quarterly, printed, octavo, 16 pages, 4 issues $1.00. Write Max Miller, Director, F.S.I., P.O. Box 35034, Los Angeles 35, California. "APRO BULLETIN"—Bi-monthly, cyclostyled, quarto, 22 pages, $3.00 yearly. Write Carol Lorenzen, Director, 1712 Van Court, Alamogordo, New Mexico, U.S.A. "SAUCERIAN BULLETIN"—Monthly, linotype, quarto size. Write Gray Barker, P.O. Box 2228, Clarks- burg, West Virginia, U.S.A. "FLYING SAUCER REVIEW"—(U.S.A.) monthly, cy- clostyled, $3.50 yearly. Write Civilian Saucer In- telligence, 5108 Findlay Street, Seattle 18, Wash- ington. FLYING SAUCERS Page Twenty-three
"FLYING SAUCER RECORD"—Quarterly, cyclostyled, 10/- yearly. Write Fred Stone, Director, Australia Flying Saucer Research Society, 22 Northeote Street, Kilburn, South Australia. There are many others, which we will mention in later issues. If particularly interested, write to CSI. FLYING SAUCER REVIEW May, 1956—Vol. 2, No. 5. "Flying Saucer Review" is the official publication of Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence, a non-profit publi- cation of a non-profit, non-sectarian organization. The Review is published monthly. Subscriptions: U.S., U.S. possessions and Canada—$3.00 a year. Foreign coun- tries: $3.50 a year. Send all subscriptions, correspondence, etc., to— C.F.S.I., 5108 FINDLAY STREET, SEATTLE 18, WASHINGTON. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT THE EXPLORATION OF MARS Text by Willy Ley, Paintings by Chesley Bonestell. * Price: 36/-. . . . and Tapes TAPE-RECORDED U.F.O INFORMATION SERVICE LISTING NUMBER ONE Mr. Henry M. Henriksen Dr. A. G. Dittmar Technical Director General Co-ordinator 1312 Grove Ave., Reoine 4 Au Sable Forke, New York Wisconsin. No. A-1—By George Adamski: An analysis of statements made by the Secretary of the Air Force, Donald Quarles, in his public statement on November 8 1955, and by General Douglas MacArthur on his views of war between the planets. Also comments on the spectrograph, and other issues relating to flying saucers and astronomy. (40 minutes.) No. A-2—By George Adamski: An analysis of structure of the other planets in the solar system, made on a basis of chemical analysis and compared with the chemical make-up of our own planet. (30 minutes.) No. A-3—By Desmond Leslie and George Adamski: Leslie tells of flying saucer sightings in England followed by both men answering questions put to them by the readers of their book, "Flying Saucers Have Landed." Content good, but the recorded quality is poor. (30 minutes.) No. A-4—By George Adamski: From a broadcast of the programme called the "Ed Bauman Show," over Station WEOK, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. References to Adamski's book, "Inside the Space Ships," and questions about it. (10 minutes.) Page Twenty-four FLYING SAUCERS
No. A-5—By Captain Edward Ruppelt and George Adam- ski: Ruppelt was the former head of the U.S.A.F. Project Bluebook and the interview was made while Ruppelt was gathering material for his book. Re- corded quality poor. (30 minutes.) No. K-1—By Major Donald Keyhoe and Jonathan Leonard (Science Editor of TIME Magazine): A debate on flying saucers, as broadcast over "Town Meeting of the Air" (CBS 11-16-53). Also contains a ques- tion and answer period at the conclusion of the debate. (40 minutes.) No. BR-1—By Truman Bethurum: An interview with Truman Bethurum and John Otto by Howard Miller on the "Howard Miller Show" (NBC 5-14-54). Mr. Bethurum calling eleven personal contacts with a saucer and people from another planet as outlined in his book, "Aboard a Flying Saucer." (20 minutes.) No. D-1—By Dr. A. G. Dittmar: "An Introduction to Flying Saucers" covering events from the first sight- ing up to the present day knowledge of UFOs; plus suggested reading. (30 minutes.) No. D-2—By Dr. A. G. Dittmar: Hemmingford, Quebec, Landing. A personal interview with a French- Canadian family who had a flying saucer land on their farm. Conducted by Dr. Dittmar, who went to Canada and made this recording "on location." Al- though not the best quality of recording, the re- cording as it was obtained on portable equipment with considerable background noises. (30 minutes.) No. BK-1—By Gray Barker: Author of "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers," and the editor of the "Saucerian Review" and the "Saucerian Bulletin." A thorough researcher and he speaks on timely flying saucer subjects. (30 minutes.) Please order by number and author. Comments are invited. Address all questions to the various authors in care of us at our addresses for for- warding. AND, as soon as you receive this listing be sure to send a 3 cent self-addressed return envelope for our files to insure your receiving Listing No. 2 as soon as it is issued. TAPE-RECORDED U.F.O. INFORMATION SERVICE This is a non-profit organization for the purpose of distributing information and views pertaining to the sub- ject of Unidentified Fying Objects and Flying Saucer Investigation by means of tape-recordings. The need for such a net work was recognized in view of the fact that at present so little reaches the public through the Press, radio, or TV. . . . U.F.O's. IN THE AMERICAS . . . LET'S HAVE "SAUCER" FACTS, WRITER URGES GOVERNMENT By DR. B. D. BENINCASA 'Tonawanda News,' July 21st, 1956. Major Donald E. Keyhoe (ret.) famed American saucerologist, has put Air Secretary Quarles on the spot. The retired Marine Corps major, who has chalked up another best-selling saucership book, "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy," has submitted 11 sharp-worded, hard-hitting questions to the Air Force to Sen. Harry F. Byrd, chairman of the Committee on Finance. According to Max E. Miller, head of California's Flying Saucers In- ternational, Keyhoe's 11 provocative questions remain un- answered. (Editor's Note: Dr. Benjamin D. Benincasa, 27 Mont- calm Ave., Buffalo, has reviewed a number of books and articles on flying saucers for The NEWS. Today's article is an exclusive story on one of today's most con- troversial subjects.) I quote below a portion of Keyhoe's memorable letter to Senator Byrd, which contains 11 disturbing questions and a direct request that Congress force the Air Force flying saucer records in an effort to determine why it has refused to reveal the full, unvarnished truth regard- ing the mysterious spaceships from neighbouring planets. Asks for Answers "Because of the inherent dangers in this (flying saucer) censorship," Major Keyhoe writes, "I urge that FLYING SAUCERS Page Twenty-five
you (Senator Byrd) forward the following questions and statements to Secretary of the Air Force, Donald A. Quarles, with a request for specific answers." [ILLEGIBLE] Keyhoe's list of questions follows: [ILLEGIBLE] Why has the Air Force concealed an official in- telligence report, dated Sept. 23, 1947, which stated the flying saucers were real? Report was Signed "For your information, this report was signed by the chief of the Air Technical Intelligence Centre, approved by all members of ATIC, and submitted via director of Air Force Intelligence to the commanding general Army Air Force." "2. Why has the Air Force kept from the press the official ATIC 'Estimate of the Situation,' drawn up in the summer of 1948, which stated the flying saucers were interplanetary spaceships? "3. With the two above-mentioned documents in its hands, why did the Air Force, in December, 1949, tell the press that the flying saucers were hoaxes, mirages, hallu- cinations and mistakes by pilots? Why did the Air Force deliberately omit the serious reports and opinions of hun- dreds of veteran service and airline pilots, airport con- trollers, radar experts and other trained observers who insisted the saucers were unknown machines under in- telligent control? Secrecy Questioned "4. Why has the Air Force hidden the 1952 Air Force Intelligence analysis of the flying saucers' 'con- trolled motion' and its specific conclusion that these UFO's were interplanetary spaceships? "5. Why has the Air Force kept secret the recom- mendations of a panel of top scientists and aviation leaders, agreed to in January, 1953, that the UFO in- vestigation be greatly enlarged and that the American people be given all information on 'saucers' in Air Force possession, including the official conclusions? Observers Muzzled? "6. Why has the Air Force hidden all UFO reports from the public since 1953—even those it had previously released? "7. If the flying saucers are non-existent, as Secre- tary Quarles has tried to convince the public, why are service pilots, radarmen and other trained observers offi- cially muzzled? "For your information, the official orders are JANAP 146, AFR 200-2, and official instructions to personnel of the Civil Aeronautics Administration based on JANAP 146. This latter order also applies to civilian airline pilots who report flying saucers officially, on a communication system known as CIRVIS—Communications Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings. "8. If the flying saucers are imaginary, why do armed Air Defense Command jets continue to chase these UFO's by standing ADC orders? Why does the Air Force continue to spend the taxpayers' money in a gobal investigation of flying saucers by hundreds of intelligence officers, the 4602d Air Intelligence Service Squadron, and top-ranking scientists and consultants under secret Air Force contract? Report is Cited "9. Why did Secretary Quarles and certain Air Force officers state in Special Report 14 that no pattern has been found, no indication of intelligent manoeuvres, and not enough data to build a working model—when in December, 1949, the ATIC Project 'Grudge' Report stated that the majority of reports described a disc-shaped object about 1-10th as thick as its diameter? "Why did this Special Report dated October 25, 1955, list several of its weakest sighting reports as the 'cream of the crop when actually the Intelligence files showed hundreds of baffling, unsolved reports by the most experienced pilots, guided missile trackers, and other trained observers? FLYING SAUCERS Page Twenty-five
"10. Does the Air Force agree with General Douglas MacArthur's statement, as published by the "New York Times," Oct. 8, 1955, that the world nations will have to unite against attack by people from other planets? Existence Confirmed "11. The existence of the official document men- tioned in paragraphs 1, 2, 4 and 5, has been confirmed by Edward J. Ruppelt, formerly head of the Air Force UFO Investigative Agency, Project Blue Book. Does Secretary Quarles claim that Mr. Ruppelt is lying to the pubic? "During the past seven years an Air Force 'silence group' has repeatedly 'explained away' the most important UFO sightings; it has led millions of citizens to ignore the 'saucer' reports as nonsense. To achieve this, it has ridiculed the best qualified witnesses here and abroad." Major Keyhoe winds up his letter to Senator Byrd in this manner: Investigation Urged "May I respectfully request, Senator Byrd, that you examine the evidence, or have it examined by competent analysts outside the Air Force? In the best interests of the American people, and of the world, I urge that you ask for a congressional investigation into the Air Force secrecy on this subject. Such an investigation should call for public testimony by men who have fought for the truth, namely: "General W. N. Garland, USAF; Col. Frank Dunn, USAF; Col. W. S. Smith, Intelligence, USAF; Major Dewey Fournet, USAF; Col. D. J. Blakeslee, USAF; Ed- ward J. Ruppelt, former head of Project Blue Book; William Lear, of Lear, Inc., electronics and aviation in- dustrial leader, who has declared the saucers to be inter- planetary; Prof. Hermann Oberth, space-travel expert and rocket designer, now on secret work at Redstone Arsenal, and all Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and airline pilots whose reports are on record." "FLYING CIGAR" PHOTOGRAPHED Singapore "Free Press" June 11th. Newspapers in Buenos Aires have published pictures purporting to show a giant "Flying Cigar" which a Gov- ernment employee and police are said to have seen in Argentina's Salta Province on April 18th. The object was estimated to be about 1,000 feet long, flying at tre- mendous speed giving off silver rays and leaving a silver streak in the sky. . . National police headquarters in Buenos Aires, Argen- tina, said an aluminium, cigar shaped craft was spotted flying at great speed over Northern Argentina. More than 50 persons in the province of Salta were said to have seen the craft, police said. The police statement said the craft was flying north to south, that it took less than three minutes to disappear from sight and that it left behind a miles-long trail of white vapor. CIGAR SHAPED CRAFT OVER ARGENTINA On May 8, 1956, telegrams from Salta City, Argen- tina, were published by Rio's newspapers reporting the following incident: In spite of the stubborn silence and secrecy of mili- tary and civilian authorities, it is known that National Intelligence officers have been investigating the incident since the date of the sighting. It happened on March 15, 1956, when the badly jolted population of the Liapuna region was awed as a number of cigar shaped craft flew overhead at daylight. The weird craft crossed the sky at great speed, doing amazing manoeuvres. At one time they stopped motionless in space and stood stationary for some time. At this moment some photos were taken by Page Twenty-five FLYING SAUCERS
people witnessing the craft. All the observers reported that the craft were cigar shaped, without wings or tail, and noiseless. This description dismissed the possibility that the craft might have been jet planes coming from Bolivia or Chile. THE A.P.R.O. BULLETIN July 15th, 1956. The APRO Bulletin is the official copyrighted publi- cation of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) 1712 Van Court, Alamogordo, New Mexico, and is issued every other month except when extenuating cir- cumstances prevent, to members only. The Aerial Phen- omena Research Organization is a non-profit group dedi- cated to the eventual solution of the mystery of the un- identified flying objects which have been present in the skies above the earth for hundreds of years. No member of the staff receives remuneration for services rendered. Inquiries regarding membership may be made to the above address. Caracas, Venezuela, 12th March, 1956. Alfredo Dalke, an amateur astronomer, reported seeing two discoid objects which crossed and recrossed the skies over his home in the Los Rosales section of Caracas. Mr. Dalke was observing the planet Jupiter with a 3-inch objective and a 40-power eyepiece and had lifted his head to scan the skies when he saw the object shooting out from the east in a horizontal trajectory. He immediately focused the telescope on the object and saw that it was a disc emitting a bluish-green light. It made a 90 degree turn and disappeared behind some clouds. He continued to search for the object when to his sur- prise another one appeared moving in the same direction; this one stopped suddenly, seemed to hover for a few moments, and shot upwards in almost the same way as the first. The conditions for observation were excellent. Los Angeles, 30th May and June 1st, 1956. More jet booms caused a stir in this huge metropolis, and led to much speculation privately and in the press. Frightened citizens, broken store windows and violent concussion earmarked the explosions and, as usual, the old jet plane explanation was dug out of the skeleton closet for duty as whipping boy. What is most astonishing is that despite repeated complaints and demands for -action, the Air Force will not admit that jet planes are causing the concussions, and don't seem to be able to do anything about stopping them. Near Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 1st, 1956. An anonymous couple (by request) report seeing an unusual object (also unusual in saucer annals). The couple had just gone to bed, and the husband was lying awake and gazing out the window when he saw the object coming across the open field. They said the thing was three times as large as an airplane and looked like a "lighted hotel at a distance." There were many lighted portholes (like windows on separate floors). The colour of all lights was definitely amber like traffic lights. The lights seemed to flash or revolve or turn. They watched it come rather slowly until it was within about 200ft. of their home—directly over a house across the intersection. Then suddenly the object changed course and headed toward what would be Atlantic City or the Atlantic Coast and at such a speed it was out of the sight in seconds. At no time was any sound heard. About two miles later a jet went over in the direction the UFO had just vanished. The whole episode took place within the space of between 30 seconds and one minute. Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 5th, 1956. National Police Headquarters announced that an aluminium, cigar-shaped object was spotted flying at great speed over North Argentina April 13th. More than 50 persons in the province of Salta were said to have Page Twenty-six FLYING SAUCERS
seen the object, leading to speculation it was an experi- mental intercontinental ballistics missile. (Cr. Frank Reid.) Cheboygan, Michigan, June 7th, 1956. State police were unable to account for a brilliant flash of light seen last night between the mainland and Bois Blanc Island in the Straits of Mackinac. Troopers said a search of the shore 20 miles on either side of Cheboygan failed to turn up a clue. There were no re- ports of ships in trouble and no reports of unaccounted-for planes. Reports of a fireball described as a block wide came about 9:30 in the evening. Cheboygan Police Sgt. George Faught said he saw it half a mile off shore. He said it was 150 feet high. R. E. Hunt, general manager of radio station WCBY, said a brilliant flash was visible for 20 seconds and then a dull glow continued for about five minutes. Reports of the flash also came from the Great Lakes freighters Mohawk and Samuel Mitchell. (P. Robert Frank of Detroit, who submitted this report, stated that later editions of the Detroit News carried no further information, and said he thought that looked a little "fishy". We agree.) Schenectady, New York, 25th June, 1956. Numerous reports of a mysterious explosion in the Carmen or Colonie area about 1 a.m. resulted in Rotter- dam police inspection of all highways and side roads with- out finding an explanation. Orchards, Oregon, July 12th, 1956. UFOs that looked somewhat similar to dirigibles, were observed and reported to police in three separate telephone calls. The first report was from a woman who said that in safe sight two objects came about 3:45 n.m. while out driving near Ontario. The object appeared to be a grey dirigible with a long neon light on the bottom. When first seen, she said, she and her husband thought it might be a cloud. It was hanging over the Ontario airport about 1000 feet in the air. They drove on five or six miles, then spotted two more of them. The object farthest from them suddenly disappeared straight up into the sky. The other disappeared about six minutes later. Shortly after this couple (anonymous at their request) reported to officers by telephone, two other women called in and reported seeing five or six "round, shiny objects with a shiny streak underneath." Officers said Air Force officials from Boise, Idaho, were expected in Ontario to get a first-hand report on the sighting. (Cr.: Member Ed Bruno Waetzig, Orchards.) Arkansas City, Texas, July 19th, 1956. City Editor Brian Coyne of the Arkansas City Daily Traveller, accompanied by Trooper (State) Dick Hadsall and Arkansas City policemen, observed a teardrop-shaped, bluish-green object with two shafts of light spraying earthward, from various locations near Arkansas City. The men moved about to get a good look at several of the objects which showed up about 1 a.m. The "prongs" or streams of light were first observed directed toward earth, and then extending from the sides of the objects. A McDonnel Air Force Base Officer, questioned by reporters about the object, "could offer no help." It was later learned that the State Highway Patrol, which had been alerted by observers, had been asked a lot of ques- tions about the objects including: (1) "What size is it in comparison to a key or dime?" (2) "Would it compare in size to a light bulb?" (3) "Is there any noise coming from the object?" These brightly illuminated objects were seen in the skies over Arkansas City, Wellington and El Dorado, Kansas. A ball of fire travelling at high rate of speed was picked up on radar at Hutchinson, Kansas, Naval Air Station. A B-29 bomber was sent by McCon- nell AFB at Wichita to investigate the objects over the Arkansas City area. Page Twenty-six FLYING SAUCERS
Coyne answered the AF questions about the objects he had observed thusly: "The objects appear to be about the size of a 200-watt light bulb. There is no noise that can be attributed to the objects and skies over Arkansas City [ILLEGIBLE] very clear except for a few light clouds. There are a lot of stars." He also added: "I have tended to discount stories about flying objects, but brother, I am now a believer." (Editor's note: The statement about being a believer now is typical of those who formerly scoffed at UFO and then were confronted with the evidence presented by their own eyes. Our files are full of just such statements following the first sighting of a UFO by a sceptic.) A radio report on 22nd July said that an Air Force plane had crash-landed due to being struck in the air by "another aircraft." Although the place and exact date were not noted at the time, a friend in Alamogordo informs us that he heard Paul Harvey discussing it on his news programme and that according to Harvey the plane was struck by an object which came from above and "sliced" through an elevator surface on one side. No evidence of burning or scorching, so we can assume that a meteor did not do the damage. We would like to ask members to accident for it has all the earmarks of the "Dum-Dum Airport" incident of a couple of years ago. IS NEW GOC DRIVE IN PREPARATION FOR COMING UFO SEASON?? As is the usual thing during UFO influxes, the Air Defense Ground Observer Corps. has put out another urgent plea for new members. This has happened for two seasons so far (1952 and 1954) and we're beginning to wonder if the renewed effort on their part is not just another phase of preparation for UFO reports and sight- ings. Letters from GOC supervisors and members in the past have indicated that the Air Force puts a good deal of stress on the reporting of UFOs by observers on duty. The "Strolling Astronomer," an amateur astrono- mer's magazine, carried notations by Brian Warner in its Nov.-Dec., 1955 issue concerning "flashing lunar mountains" which he observed in January, 1955. (Cr.: Josephine Myers.) Frank Edwards, all-time saucer enthusiast and now broadcasting from Indianapolis, Indiana, has reported several sightings in Indiana during the first part of July. Although we do not at this writing have the details, Mr. Edwards took his TV equipment to the scene of one sighting and conducted an on-the-spot broadcast. It's too bad Frank isn't carried nationwide for we are sure that he would be invaluable at this time, in getting cur- rent saucer information across to the general public. APRO member Bob Greenway, vacationing in the middle- west at the present, informs us that the sightings in that area appear to be taking place in the hours between mid- night and dawn. A quick look at the sightings listed under this column will bear this surmise out. SAUCER DESCENDS ON DARK STREET, SCARES GIRLS Case 162, Jacksonville, Florida, May 9th, 1956. This weird story first reached us by letter from Rich- ard Scocchera of Buffalo, N.Y. We believe the incident, being unusual, deserves full review and thus will quote from Scocchera's comments regarding the sighter; the sighter's letter to his father (quoted by Socchera) and FLYING SAUCERS Page Twenty-seven
finally a letter received by CRIFO from the sighter whose name is Joan Frost, then residing in Jacksonville. A co- sighter was Miss Gertie Wynn of Jacksonville. Following is Joan's letter to her father: "Something happened to my girl friend, Gertie, and me last night that scared me out of ten years growth. We went to dance on the outskirts of Jacksonville by bus. We didn't like it there so we left at 10:15. We were waiting for the bus to go home on this small side street. There was no one around and not too many houses and no cars. We waited until 11:00 or later, and this is what happened. We looked up and saw two stars moving very high. They were flashing on and off following each other. They were travelling across the sky at a terrific rate of speed. We thought at first they were falling stars except they didn't fall, but went out of sight. About 15 minutes later they came back and one went up into the other. It came over towards us and dropped lower and lower until it got just over us. It was round and red and had three lights on it. I started to run down the street and Gertie just stood there with her mouth wide open. The thing didn't make a sound, no engine or motor or anything. Just then the lights came on and the object rose again. The door (on the bottom) opened up and the other object came out. The two objects started moving slowly away. There were only a few people on the bus and they and the driver got out. We all watched the objects go for about ten minutes. The bus driver said they couldn't be jet planes because being so slow we surely would have heard the jet engines. We knew they weren't jets. Gertie and I shook all night long. We thought we were gonners for sure. Whatever they were, they saw us standing there. After our experience, we bought about two books on flying saucers and are going to study them." Joan's father is a personal friend and co-worker of Richard Scocchera. Comments Scocchera: "His daughter had never shown much interest in anything pertaining to UFOs. She was a four-year honour student in high school and always very serious minded. Mr. Frost has never known her to play pranks or perpetrate a hoax." Following is Joan's letter to CRIFO, dated June 10: "I received a letter from you on May 25 inquiring about my 'saucer' experience. I am sorry I did not reply promptly but I was in the process of preparing to come home here to Buffalo. My girl friend and I did not notify the police or anyone of this incident and as far as I know, I do not believe the newspapers recorded the sight- ing. I have no idea of what size the object was as it was very dark and there were no street lights in that area. It was approximately a distance of three telephone poles above us or maybe four. There was no sound and we did not smell anything. However, there was a breeze and if an odour was present it very likely could have been carried from us. The door on the bottom appeared to be like a bomb bay, shaped in a long square with only three cracks visible. As it came down toward us, and while in the sky, it appeared to have three white lights which were pulsating. However, as it lowered down and hovered above us it seemed to be surrounded by an eerie deep red mist of light. That is why at first we thought it was a red hot falling star, but then realized that even though it was descending at a terrific speed, a star or meteor would drop even faster. I do not know any way of contacting the passengers on the bus or their names. The only way you might be able to locate the bus driver is by writing to the Jacksonville Coach Co., and this driver was operating the Lake Shore or number '22' bus at 11:00 on May 9th. You also asked me what kind of object came out of the parent object. This I do not know because when it did drop out both were very high and looked identical. We didn't say anything to anyone because we are young and felt people would just say we were crazy or making a big story. I do want to tell my dad, though, because he knows that I am sensible and wouldn't relate anything that wasn't a reality. I didn't know there was such an organization as yours in exist- ence but I think it is a wonderful thing." FLYING SAUCERS Page Twenty-seven
McKINNEY, TEXAS Correspondent: Alan C. Arnold. Quite a few McKinneyites were interested in a round silvery object seen in the sky on the afternoon of April 4, 1956, from about 3:00 p.m. until sundown. The object, apparently stationary, was in the western sky. Capt. Roy Hall, local weather observer, gives this account of the sighting: I happen to be the U.S. Weather Observer here, and while downtown on the afternoon of the 4th of April some linemen working on telephone poles called my at- tention and interest to a silvery object in the north-west sky. The sky was then clear. I told them it was doubt- less a weather balloon, and almost forgot the matter. However, on arriving at home at 5:00 p.m. in the western city, I noted the object again and was astonished to see that it was above cirrus clouds that had drifted over within the last hour. Knowing the clouds were at around 11,000 feet up, I ran a triangulation on the object, taking one reading at home and another three miles north, and was amazed again to find that it worked out at around 100,000 feet. I took another triangulation at home again and found it at the same height. Some quick figuring, after ascertaining the diameter of the object in minutes, showed it to be 320 feet or thereabouts, in diameter. I called an amateur astronomer here, who has a 200- power scope, and called the weather bureau at Fort Worth, Texas. The weather bureau said they had no baloons up, and doubted that any balloon in the United States was so big. The young astronomer drew a sketch of it. He said that through his telescope it showed no appendages of any kind, and that it looked to be made of a rubbery substance and, the most remark- able part of all, the object was not revolving in the air, as it seemed to have a dark spot just below the ground it up and this and the object did not move or rotate, though the object was moving toward the south-west at around 100 m.p.h. The weather bureau advised me that the upper air current near or at the object was from west to east, so far as they knew, at about 150 m.p.h. I have answers here from the Air Force bases at Fort Worth and Perrin Field, in Grayson County, touch- ing on the object and in answer to my queries. Perrin Field says they have no information on the strange balloon, if it was a balloon, and Carswell AFB says they are evaluating my report. And there the matter stands. I have no idea what it was. Long after sunset it glowed in the sky, due to the sun's rays, I suppose. It was gone the next a.m. It stood in the north-west sky from 3:00 p.m. until dark, despite its westward course. Hundreds of people here saw it. AIR FORCE UNDER BOMBARDMENT A "letter barrage" is sweeping towards the Capital regarding the great Saucer Mystery. Many groups send- ing open letters to their congressmen demanding to know why the public is kept in ignorance concerning phenomena in our skies. Major Keyhoe demanding congressional in- vestigation. Has an "inner group" the right to prevent "THE HORIZONS OF HUMANITY BEING OPENED UP INTO HERE-TO-FORE UNKNOWN AND WONDER- FUL HEIGHTS. A.F. Chief of Staff Twining said at Amarillo, Texas, 15/5/54: "The best brains of the Air Force are working on this problem of Unidentified Flying Objects, trying to solve this riddle." Since phenomena is global, public now demands that the files be opened so they can take part in this unprecedented SEARCH. Unknown intelligences are in our atmosphere. Who is re- sponsible for the censorship and for deciding that the "World is not mature enough to be told?" Moods America-wide is not mature. The Air Force "cover- up" statement of last October is backfiring. "Statement represents secrecy and smear on its own pilots" charges one writer. A New Zealand editor describes it as a "shamefully misleading and deliberately untruthful" statement. A publisher calls it "one of the most out- rageous pieces of misinformation ever foisted on the American public." WHERE WILL THIS EN[ILLEGIBLE] Excerpt from the "LITTLE LISTENING POST," Vol. 3, No. 3, issued bi-monthly from 4811 Illinois Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. Six issues $2. A recommended bulletin that reports in capsule on all provocative subjects. C. R. I. F. O. ORBIT The title ORBIT, introduced with the July, 1955, issue, replaces the title NEWSLETTER. The purpose of CRIFO is not for monetary gain: officers do not receive salaries. Director and Publisher—Leonard H. Stringfield Official Address: 7017 Britton Ave., Cincinnati 27, Ohio Telephone: BRamble 1-4248 LULL IS BROKEN . . . SAUCERS ARE BACK "Orbit," August 3rd, 1956. Saucers, operating on a pushbutton, were released to an excited public in July. So it seemed to CRIFO whose mail and phone suddenly became alive with reports of strange glowing objects and grotesqueries in the sky. First break- ing the phone's quiet was news commentator Frank Ed- wards calling from Indianapolis, July 9th. He related a striking incident occurring near Bloomington, Indiana, which involved four boys on an early morning fishing venture. According to Edwards, the boys were startled by a "tremendously bright light" which hummed over head then stopped over a clump of trees near a railroad switch. The boys ran a mile and a half and also early in the morning, a Joe Morris of Terre Haute was fishing some miles west of Bloomington. He told Edwards that he saw a bright object which he judged to be about 500 ft. high flying from the east. He also heard the humming sound. Case 163, Bromley, Ky., July 1 or 2, 1956—The sighters, Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Grimes, are not sure of the date, but they are certain they saw a huge glowing object about a quarter the size of the moon shining through their bedroom window about 3 a.m. Both were awakened at the same instant by the intense yellow glow and Mr. Grimes estimated that it was about 30 degrees above the horizon. To him it appeared round and self-luminous. Reassuring himself that he was not being deceived by Mars or a bright star, Grimes watched again, same time, the following night, but saw nothing. Case 164, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, July 10, 1956—Two Cincinnatians witnessed a circular object "lit up like a lantern" pacing an air transport plane heading for Boone County Airport, Kentucky. They said the object was bigger and brighter than the landing lights shown by the aircraft, and when the plane landed the object continued its course, then swerved and blinked out. Both sighters had been skeptical of saucers, but were changing their minds. Case 165, Conway, Mass., July 2, 1956—Predating Fourth of July's fireworks, about the same time as the Bromley and Bloomington sightings, was an incident which involved a reversible UFO. The sighter, Jack Pease, thought at first the object was a shooting star or plane, but its behaviour proved differently. Said the Greenfield "Recorder-Gazette": "It appeared to be composed of one bright light and although travelling at what appeared to be a high rate of speed, was able to reverse its course completely. A low-pitched hum, rather than a whir was detected. The object crossed and recrossed the sky several times before speeding away." FLYING SAUCERS Page Twenty-eight
Case 166, Yonkers, N.Y., June 29, 30, July 3, 1956— The "Herald-Statesman" of Yonkers, July 5, said: "Sky- watchers report thrilling post-midnight sight . . . It is of oran[ILLEGIBLE]e colour, more nearly red. To one with a 30- powe[ILLEGIBLE] telescope, it appears round, then oval. It was movin[ILLEGIBLE] at what seemed to be considerable speed. One report is that the phenomenon was noted after 1 a.m. on Saturday. Another report tells of the orange-in-the-sky around the same hour or a little later just ahead of the rainstorm . . ." While the remainder of the newspaper's item gibbered in ridicule, a letter received from Leo Wiegers of Yonkers, describes his observations in more detail. Said Wiegers: ". . . I phoned the "Herald-Statesman" and spoke to Oxie Reichler, editor, regarding my sighting on June 29-30. He asked, 'Are you talking about the orange- coloured thing seen in the sky over Yonkers?' I told him that I didn't know if anyone else saw the object. Replied Reic[h]- ler, 'We got a report that a red ball was seen before 2 a.m. only this morning (July 3). There were others, too . . .' Wiegers then described his sighting of June 29-30: 'My 30x60 mm. Bausch & Lomb Balscope and turned Alice's UFO was at that peculiar light.' Quickly swinging the scope around, I first looked with naked eye and saw it standing still and silent. Then sighting it in the scope, it appeared orange, of a flashing brilliance. Suddenly it began to move north and I soon found it extremely hard to keep in vision due to its accelerating speed. I tracked it for about 13 seconds before it faded from view in the direction of West Point. "On June 30, I was alone on the back porch about 10:30 p.m. and saw another object coming from the south. It was going directly overhead. My scope was not properly focused for this object but I recall it was of a silvery-whitish colour and oval in shape. This, too, went by very rapidly and silently. I confess I was unprepared, and cannot say what it was—but I'm sure the previous night's UFO was the same type reported by Reichler." Case 167, Los Angeles, Cal., July 16, 1956—We quote from the Los Angeles "Examiner" as follows: A mysterious light that glowed brilliantly in the sky before it disappeared in a sudden blaze touched off hundreds of calls to police from residents in the south-western area. Workers at the control tower at the International Airport estimated the altitude of the strange object at about 2000 ft. They said it emitted a strong reddish glow similar to the red nose light on a Constellation. As seen from the tower, the light moved in a south-easterly direction, about seven or eight degrees above the horizon. It was definitely moving overhead, but said it moved at a blimp-like pace. A check, however, showed there was no blimp or plane in the area at the time. The light was visible for about four minutes from 11:02 p.m. on. Then it suddenly blazoned forth in an orange glow and vanished from sight.† *Rev. Albert Baller, Greenfield, Mass. †R. J. Tompkins, Los Angeles, Cal. Case 168, Kansas, July 19th, 1956—Said the Denver "Post" in part: ". . . the Kansas highway patrol reported radar at the Hutchinson, Kansas, naval air station had picked up 'a ball of fire travelling east at a high speed.' A B47 was sent into the air by Forbes AFB at Topeka to investigate the reports, centreing around Arkansas City, Wellington and El Dorado. The patrol pilot said he found only 'waste gas torches in an oil field.' Said the patrol, 'The object stayed in the sky long after daylight; one disappeared around 5:15 a.m. and the other a few minutes later.' Further east, near Emporia, a Santa Fe FLYING SAUCERS Page Twenty-nine
railroad tower operator reported seeing what appeared to be an artificial light in the sky around 3 a.m. An Emporia policeman said he observed the same light for about 20 minutes. It appeared to 'come and go' like it was turning off and on. Brian Coyne, city editor of the Arkansas City 'Daily Traveler,' said 'a brilliantly lighted tear-shaped object with prongs or streams of light spray- ing downward was sighted shortly after mid-night. A second 'flying object' was sighted around 1 a.m.,' said Coyne. Accompanied by trooper Dick Hadsall and police from Arkansas City, Coyne observed the 'flying objects' from various locations. He said they 'did not appear to move rapidly, but did move vertically and horizontally over a wide area of the sky. The prongs or streams of bright light,' Coyne said, 'also were observed first as directed towards earth and then extending from the sides of the object.' He described the head of the object as being green in colour or bluish green.'"* Case 169, Cincinnati, 1 a.m. June 17th, 1956—The sighters, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Kuwatch, are a respected member of the Cincinnati Astronomical Society, who vouches for the veracity of the sighters, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Tasset. According to Kuwatch, the Tassets awakened, watched the strange object through an open window. At first it was a stationary, silent brilliant spot in the north- west sky, about 15 degrees above the horizon. Then it seemed to move closer, and without declination or swerve, it grew in size. In fullest view, it appeared almost twice the size of the moon, was fiery red and shaped "like a bowl facing downward." Dangling from the bottom were bright red streamers. In view for about 20 minutes, the object disappeared. On request of Kuwatch, the Tassets watched the same area the next night, but saw nothing. Ed.: Noted is the dangling red streamers which bears similarity to "streams of light spraying downward" described by Brian Coyne in Case 167. Another point, no other person nearby was a witness to the sighting, the Tassets impressed by its tremendous size. Such would indicate that the object was nearby and not a test flare dropped over the Madison Proving Grounds (Indiana) which lies over 50 miles to the south-west. Distance also rules out Wright-Patterson Field. Surely if such a huge flare had been dropped at those distances, the proverbial switchboards would have been busy and CRIFO would have heard. *Robert Wick, Chicago, Ill.; George Wilson, Santa Barbara, Cal.; Ignace Olsen, Baltimore, Md.; C. H. Marck, Jr., Denver, Colo.; Richard Hall, N. O. La.; L. A. Parker, Topeka, Kan. Also see photo July 30th issue, Life. "AIR FORCE PLANE DOWNED BY UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT" Case 170, In air over Pixley, Cal., July 22nd, 1956— The above headline quoted from the "Rocky Mountain News," Denver, Colo., typifies others appearing in the nation's press. However, for the story, we quote from the San Francisco "Chronicle" as follows: "A Hamilton AFR transport plane survived a 9000 ft. vertical dive and landed safely with three-fourths of its tail elevator miss- ing. The pilot, co-pilot and crew of two all blacked out following a mysterious mid-air incident that no one was able to explain. Major Medwin Stenvers, the pilot, said the C-131D, was cruising at 16,000 ft. over Pixley. 'Sud- denly, there was a loud bang, a severe vibration and we went into a dive,' he said. Major Stenvers had the plane under manual control at the time. While he and his co- pilot battled to bring it out of the spin, the two crewmen were scrambling to regain their feet in the cabin. Finally, Stenvers saw the nose begin to come up, averting certain death. But then all four crew members blacked out. When he and his co-pilot, Capt. Robert Marble, came to, the plane was descending. He gained control. The pilot guessed the craft had dropped to 7000 ft. before recover- ing direction. Major Stenvers was unable to explain what happened. He said he saw no other planes about him. FLYING SAUCERS Page Twenty-nine
He thought a faulty port engine had caused trouble and feathered the propeller before landing at Kern County airport at 11:30 a.m. Only when he inspected the plane on the ground did he notice the badly damaged tail section. About 36 square feet of the left elevator was missing. The remaining portion was hanging shredded and torn. There also was a dent about ten inches in diameter under the left stabilizer. The two crewmen suffered minor cuts when they were thrown about the cabin. Major Stenvers and Capt. Marble were questioned by officials from Edwards AFB. All men were, or are part of the 27th Air Transport Squadron at Hamilton AFB. "According to one UP report: One official said it looked like 'something had struck it from above but we don't know.' Another UP report said: The Air Force ordered tight security measures into effect and stationed guards around the plane at the airport. An AP report said that the sheriff's office investigated a report that another plane had crashed nearby but found no evi- dence."† †John Blemer, Danville, Cal.; C. H. Marck, Jr., Denver, Colo.; Gene Cicharz, St. Louis Park, Minn.; N. Cuandra, Oakland, Cal.; Arthur Rounds, Brentwood, Mo.; James Geer, Tiburon, Cal.; Geo. Ormond, Phoenix, Ariz.; H. G. Rovner, Phila., Pa. ANTARCTIC PHENOMENON In 1954, whilst a member of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, writes Roger Bankes, I was sta- tioned at Base "F," at that time the most southerly base, situated in the Argentine Islands off the west coast of Graham Land, latitude 68. Soon after mid-winter we witnessed upon two mornings what we believed to be hitherto unrecorded optical phenomena. At about 08.30 hours (local time) low mist over the ice-field dispersed to reveal a slightly clouded sky with good visibility. In the clear air of the Antarctic it is often possible to identify mountains sufficiently high to rise above the curvature of the earth 100 [ILLEGIBLE]s dis- tant and, as at that time of the year it remains d[ILLEGIBLE]e dark until 10.00 hours, we were able to observe the sky clearly. There was a pearly iridescence suffused over the whole sky, much in the manner of oil spread upon the surface of a road. Against this, to the north-east, were ranged a series of pools of light, for the most part, except where they commingled, well-defined ovals of pink and green hue about a dozen in number. These extended over a 60° arc of the horizon and measured individually from 2° to 6°. They did not change their position appreciably and re- mained visible for about an hour until gradually obscured by dawning day. As we kept a 24-hour watch on the sky, recording all changes in the weather, we were almost daily familiar with the curious forms of Alto Cumulus type 7 and lenti- cular cloud peculiar to the Antarctic, and in the opinion of the more experienced meteorologists present the lumin- ous orbs could not have been the Mother of Pearl clouds that are rarely to be seen before dawn or after sunset. As they were witnessed by other bases 300 miles distant simultaneously they were thought to be beyond the tropo- pause and unconnected with water vapour; there was no disturbance recorded in the ionosphere, nor anything un- usual in the radio communications. At no time did these spheres appear other than clear coloured lights, but in some cases their saucer shape was so defined that, had they not been witnessed by trained observers under ideal conditions, the phenomena could have given rise to a variety of fanciful speculations. Comment To the Editor, C.R.I.F.O. "Orbit" Dear Mr. Stringfield, "In your letter of March 31st you ask 'Is it true that you have adamantly refused to accept the much- kicked-around interplanetary theory, that is, in relation to the flying saucer.' 'Adamantly' is not the proper word. I have always tried to approach the problem objectively, which is more than most writers do when they insist that saucers are interplanetary. Briefly, my position is this. I have studied the reported Air Force sightings. I have collected a num- ber of sightings myself. I have talked with people who have seen fly[ILLEGIBLE] saucers. I have seen many of them myself, including some that I was expecting to see and several outstanding ones that took me completely by surprise. Of the latter, I have at least four major sight- ings that would have been termed flying saucers by almost any one but an experimental scientist. In all of these cases I was able to get not merely a satisfactory answer but undoubtedly the correct answer. My answer to your first basic question, therefore, is that the objects do not remain unexplained in my own analysis. There are, of course, some alleged sightings that cannot be accounted for in detail. Within the evidence presented, I believe that I can find a reasonable explanation. Whether it is the correct one I have no way of knowing. Actually, there are often several acceptable ones and it is difficult to choose between them. "As for your question about which is more probable, an unknown meteorological phenomenon or an inter- planetary vehicle, I say that the first is decidedly the Page Thirty FLYING SAUCERS
more probable by a large factor. We know that there are unknown meteorological phenomena. We are coming across new ones from time to time whereas we have never seen an interplanetary vehicle. This statement does not mean, of course, that interplanetary vehicles could not exist. But such a vehicle must be subject to the same physical laws as any vehicle that we would put into space. In the reported behaviour of flying saucers, their elusiveness, their ability to dodge, their tremendous speeds and accelerations, are the characteristics of the optical phenomena that I have investigated. I fully agree that the postulate of super intelligent beings equipped with interplanetary vehicles that defy all of our natural laws would adequately explain the observed phenomena. So would the postulate of ghosts, except that ghosts are out of date and interplanetary travel is on everyone's mind. But merely because a postulate is adequate does not make it correct. The writers about flying saucers, especially those who try to make a villain out of the Air Force and see Martians behind every cloud, do not sub- ject the data to rigorous scientific reasoning. I could go into this point ad infinitum. The trouble with most of the people who have subscribed to the interplanetary explanation is that they know nothing about the multiple peculiarities of atmospheric optics, next to nothing about the peculiar behaviour of radar and call those wit- nesses 'expert' who make certain statements about the in- fallibility of radar. I have talked with Dr. Clyde Tom- baugh on his several sightings, any one of which—to my knowledge had any aspect of the spectacular. Here I have two or three possible explanations, any one of which is more reasonable than the spaceship. Some of my sightings were considerably more spectacular. I have dis- closed them to the Air Force and plan to publish them in det[ILLEGIBLE] whenever I get around to revising my book on flying [ILLEGIBLE]acers. I will state, however, that in March of 1955 a flying saucer flashing red and green lights twice buzzed an Air Force B29 in which I was flying between Point Barrow and Fairbanks, Alaska. Its estimated speed was something of the order of 100 miles per second— and yet it was not an interplanetary object. I also saw the green flying saucer from New Mexico, in early September, 1954. "One of the greatest difficulties in dealing with fly- ing saucers falls in what you call 'fringe' groups. Flying saucers have had their share of hoaxes. To these we must add the publicity seekers and those who are mere opportunists. Worst of all, perhaps, are those who write of invasion, saucer bases on the moon, and panic in the Pentagon." —DR. DONALD H. MENZEL, Director, Harvard College Observatory. DR. BENINCASA REPLIES TO DR. MENZEL Dear Mr. Stringfield, I have read Dr. Donald H. Menzel's U.F.O. letter, which appeared in the June 1st issue of ORBIT. I must say that I have found it a puzzling piece of defensive writing. In order for the saucercraft enthusiast to gain a reasonably good insight into the current variety of Men- zelianism, I must examine the Harvard astronomer's ORBIT communication both contextually and in-between- the-lines. Inferentially, the examiner may learn that Scientist Menzel has probed into the U.F.O. problem a good deal more deeply than he will presently concede. The letter examined is not merely a defensive piece of writing. The letter to Stringfield reveals that Dr. Menzel is neither telling all he knows about saucer-ships, nor stating his precise position on the question of U.F.O.s. As a one-third physical-sciences instructor and execu- tive-staff aircafter, I should like to venture the opinion that the famed Harvard telescopist is slowly but surely approaching the saucer problem from a more sensible and realistic angle. It is my guess that he refuses officially to commit himself on the true nature of saucers, for two understandable reasons: first, he has published a best- seller called FLYING SAUCERS, in which he debunks the idea of interorbic flying machines; therefore, cogniz- ant of the fact that he must be consistent, the Harvard scientist has had to think up and dig up every conceivable argument be it right or wrong—which would help bolster up his thesis of optical illusions and unexplainable natural occurrences. Secondly, Scientist Menzel, who is still formally wedded to the ultra-conservative school of life- less extra-terrestrialism, does not wish to run the risk of offending his associates by doing an about-face, saucerologically speaking. Yet, dare one assert that certain passages in the ORBIT communication point to a Menzelian subscription to the Doctrine of Janusianism (which is derived from the word "Janus"—a dual-visaged mythological divinity)? It appears that from one side of his mouth, Dr. Menzel sputters meteorological terms when referring to Ufological phenomena; and again, from the other side of his mouth, he conciliatively declares that "the postulate of super-intelligent beings equipped with interplanetary vehicles that defy all of our natural laws" would ade- quately explain the amazing flight behaviour of certain U.F.O.s. Have the saucer-vehicle works of Major Keyhoe and Capt. Ruppelt cast Astronomer Menzel atop the proverb- ial fence? Into whose camp will he eventually jump? Only time will tell whether he will have decided openly to confess that flying saucers are real, solid, visible, and humanity-controlled unconventional aircraft from one or more distant worlds. Sincerely yours, DR. BENJAMIN D. BENINCASA. What goes on in EUROPE ? KIDLINGTON AND STONESFIELD REPORT "FLYING OBJECTS" "Oxford Mail," 12th July, 1956. From two different sources this week have come re- ports of unidentified flying objects, the name by which "flying saucers" are now known to those who take a scientific interest in the things. In the Kidlington district yesterday a housewife noticed in a clear blue sky a silver object, spherical, with a flame round its middle. It was stationary, and was about the size of a football. She watched the object for more than a minute. In the Stonesfield area on Tuesday, a man who was gardening saw a large object about the size of an Ameri- can B.52, the large aircraft familiar in the Oxford area, but consisting of two spheres, "travelling very fast and very high." The spheres appeared to be joined by a bar- like structure. He had the object in sight for about three seconds before it vanished. It was a clear day. There were aircraft in the vicinity. FLYING SAUCERS AT REDHILL? "Surrey Mirror," Redhill, 13th July, 1956. Three local people claim to have seen an object re- sembling the popular conception of a flying saucer in the FLYING SAUCERS Page Thirty-one
sky over Redhill on Sunday afternoon. In an interview with our representative on Wednesday, Mr. Leonard Wornham, who lives at Janita, Woodhatch-road, Redhill, said that at about 3.30 p.m. he was in the garden of his home when his nephew, Mr. Eric Bennett, spotted an object in the sky approximately due east. After search- ing for about a minute he saw what appeared to be a large star in the direction of Nutfield. His nephew went indoors and fetched a pair of binoculars and when Mr. Wornham had them focussed he saw a pure white disc- shaped object with a smaller dome on top. At first it was stationary and then appeared to come nearer and then suddenly it became half white and half brilliant red and in a fish it went straight up and disappeared. Another witness was his sister, Mrs. D. Bennett, and altogether the unknown object was under observation for over ten minutes. "FLYING SAUCER" IN WHARFEDALE? "Yorkshire Evening News," Leeds, 25th July, 1956. A flying saucer is reported to have been seen in Wharfedale. It was seen by both Mr. John Kelley, of Fairview, Pool-in-Wharfedale, and his mother, Mrs. E. Kelley, while they were motoring in Upper Wharfedale. Mr. Kelley said today that he and his mother were on the road between Barden and Burnsall and stopped their car by the roadside. We were sitting looking towards Simon's Seat when an object appeared over the hill, he said. At first it looked rather like a kite or a big balloon. As we watched it, it came nearer. It was grey and round rather like looking at a grey moon. It was possibly about a couple of miles away and was about twice the size that an aeroplane would have been at the same distance and height. Then it turned on its side and it was just like two saucers, one on top of the other. It hovered about a further from my mind than flying saucers but I cannot think what else it could possibly be. The object, whatever it was, obviously under some sort of control. It came forward, stopped, dropped a bit and then went up again, before flying off. It was certainly not just floating about. FLYING SAUCER . . . "Birmingham Mail," Birmingham, 8th August, 1956. The flying saucer season has opened in Bari (Italy). A former Italian Air Force officer said he saw "a round object, glowing with a reddish light," cross the sky of Bari. Five relatives of the pilot also saw the object. WHAT DID MR. PORCHER SEE? "Evening Chronicle," Manchester, 14th August, 1956. FLYING UP? ● FLYING SAUCER? ● A REFLECTION? ● AN ILLUSION? Was the red, glowing object which Paul Porcher saw in the sky over Eccles last night a flying saucer—or an optical illusion? Mr. Porcher, of Franklyn Avenue, Flixton, Man- chester, is a photographer with Manchester-Oil Refinery Ltd., Old Trafford. He said: "It was 5 p.m. I came out of the darkroom at work and glanced up. I saw the object framed between the slope of two roofs at Barton Power Station. No Noise "It was about 50 yards across and 250 to 300 feet up. It seemed to have bevelled edges and was shaped like a cup upside down on a saucer. "It remained stationary for about 15 seconds and then moved very fast towards Eccles. There was no noise and it was red in colour. "I am not claiming to have seen a flying saucer. It may have been a reflection or an optical illusion." Winton meteorologist Mr. G. S. Wood commented: "The formation of the clouds at that time mean that what Mr. Porcher saw could NOT have been a reflection of the sun on the cloud. The fact that it remained stationary for some time rules out the possibility of it being a meteor. It could NOT have been a comet, either, since it appeared so near. "But this does not in itself mean that it was an optical illusion. I never rule out the possibility of flying saucers in these cases." WAS IT A FLYING SAUCER? "Leicester Evening Mail," Leicester, 16th August, 1956. It is, I believe, two years since there were reports of "strange objects" over Leicestershire. Now comes a report of unusual orange lights, far bigger than any aircraft lights, over Oadby on Tuesday night. Mr. David Hester, of 414 Gipsy-lane, Leicester, and Miss Brenda Wagstaff, of 3 Farley-road, Stoneygate, called to tell me of what they saw. Four Lights They were waiting at a bus stop in London-road near Miss Wagstaff's home when an orange glow in the clear night attracted their attention. They were amazed to see three other similar lights —one much bigger than the others—come from opposite Page Thirty-two FLYING SAUCERS
directions and meet over Oadby. As they came together, a green flare emerged and petered out. The four orange lights of circular shape th[ILLEGIBLE] moved off in the direction of London. Soundless "We had them under observation for about ten minutes," they said. "There was no sound." They insist that the strange lights were not from aircraft. They had seen an aeroplane pass over a few minutes before, "and these were entirely different— almost uncanny." And that is where we have to leave the incident— another inconclusive chapter in the great flying saucers mystery. GRAPPLED WITH FLYING SAUCER BUT IT GOT AWAY "The New Zealand Herald," Sept. 10th, 1956. Belfast.—A man reported to the police at The Loup, Londonberry, on Friday night that he had captured a flying saucer—but it escaped while he was taking it to the police station. The police are investigating the story, told by Mr. Thomas Hutchinson, who claimed that the saucer landed on a farm nearby. He said the object was egg-shaped, pointed at both ends—about three feet high and about 18 inches in diameter at the widest point. It was coloured bright red, with two dark red marks at the end and three dark red stripes. It had a saucer-shaped base. Mr. Hutchinson said he was with his wife, in their home, when the object dropped from the clouds on to the dry piece of ground in the middle of a swamp about 200 yards away. They investigated and found the object motionless. Mr. Hutchinson said he watched it for a few minutes and then kicked it over, but it returned to its original position. Then, when he was examining it closely, it started to spin. He had difficulty in holding it down. He started to carry it to the police station but, when he put it down to make a way through the hedge, it started to spin again. Before he could throw himself over it, it rose quickly and disappeared from sight in a few seconds. A spokesman for the Royal Air Force station at Aldergrove, Antrim, said the object did not belong to them and he could not even hazard a guess as to what it might have been. Mr. Hutchinson said there were no aircraft in the vicinity at the time. Whilst awaiting further confirmation of this recent experi- ence claimed by the Irishman, such small UFO's are nothing new to investigators. This device could possibly be (providing the story is true) a remotely controlled "Flying Eye," a form of telemetering photographic and sound-recording unit. Translations from Foreign Language 'U.F.O.' Magazines by Henk Hinfelaar, Committee Member, C.S.I. From "Vliegende Schotel Revue," April 1st, 1956. (Dutch Investigation Group.) NEUES EUROPA, 15/10/55. At the Seventh Labour Congress of European Cos- mobiologists, which recently took place in AALEN (Ger- many) interesting discussions on the subject of flying saucers occurred. Professor Alfred Nahon from Lausanne, who made a name for himself as the president of "LE COURRIER INTERPLANETAIRE," also stated: "I am fully convinced of the fact that the Governments of the important powers do know the truth about spaceships." FLYING SAUCERS Page Thirty-two
"I even allege that the assembly of 'The Big Four'
at Geneva took place under pressure of messages from
other planets. To give evidence that one is well aware
of th[ILLEGIBLE] extra-terrestrial origin of the saucers, I emphasize
the [ILLEGIBLE]tence of the numerous official investigation com-
mitte[ILLEGIBLE]s. I have also written to Pierre Mendes, France.
I base my facts on transmissions via Radio Moscow. No
reason for panic does exist, but it is right to prepare the
children. It is high time that we have acted like
children. Up till now we have acted like children."
At this congress lantern-slides were also shown, by
the investigator, W. König, from Mainz, who showed
that the extra-terrestrial origin of the flying saucer could
not be doubted any longer.
NEUES EUROPA 15/11/55 and 15/12/55.
Vice-consul Dr. Alberto Perego, in Rome, stated that
on November 6th, 1954, he observed a fleet of approxi-
mately 100 flying saucers over Rome. Time of observa-
tion was between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. According to his
estimation they moved at an altitude of 10-12 kilometres
(approx. 6-7 miles) at a speed of 1200-1400 kilometres
(700-800 miles per hour). Dr. Perego expects important
disclosures re flying saucers for the year 1956. Giving
further details to his sighting, he said:
"At first I noticed the objects as tiny white dots.
Suddenly they formed into the shape of an enormous
'V' and presently moved from the east towards Ostia, on
the Tyrrhenian Sea. Immediately following after I
noticed a second formation of flying saucers coming from
the opposite direction. The formations approached each
other at a terrific speed, combined both poin's of the
as the saucers were travelling over Trastevere Monte
Mario. The cross was clearly visible for about one
minute. Everyone watching it was deeply impressed."
By order of the authorities, this sensational incident
was not mentioned in the press. However, for the report
which Dr. Alberto Perego forwarded to the commander
of the NATO powers, a letter of thanks was received,
considered very interesting, but at the moment it is not
desirable to reveal more details about the matter to the
public."
According to Dr. Perego, mankind is pretty close to
the revelation of the secret of the flying saucers. He
emphasized the fact that these objects are of extra-
terrestrial origin. The world would be in a panic if this
secret is brought to the public's notice without warning.
CIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATION (N.Z.)
BALANCE SHEET as at 30th APRIL, 1956
Accumulated Funds (representing Members' Interest
in the Society)................................ £178 17 5
Cash at Bank and on Hand............ £36 19 4
Gestetner Duplicating Machine........ 35 0 0
Tape Recordings ..................... 9 9 6
Library ............................. 28 14 0
Press Cuttings ...................... 23 18 2
Slides and Photostats ............... 22 18 9
Slide Viewer ........................ 2 13 11
Suitcase for Posters ................ 3 7 6
Unexpired Subscription to "Scientific
American" ......................... 7 3 9
Badges on Hand (46)................. 8 12 6
——————
£178 17 5
————————
£178 17 5 £178 17 5
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT for the Year Ended 30th APRIL, 1956
Hall Hire and Meeting Expenses......... £20 0 6 Membership Fees .................... £300 16 8
Advertising .............................. 13 10 2 Donations ........................... 44 14 0
General Expenses ......................... 33 5 7 Takings at Meetings .................. 75 6 0
Magazine Covers .......................... 40 10 3
Stationery ............................... 133 18 11
Postages ................................. 38 17 9
Typewriter Repairs ....................... 4 12 4
Subscription to "Scientific American" (six months
only) .................................. 1 8 9
Surplus Income to Accumulated Funds......... 134 12 5
————————
£420 16 8 £420 16 8
BADGE ACCOUNT
Purchases ................................ £13 12 3 Sales .............................. £12 15 0
To Accumulated Funds..................... 7 15 3 Stock 30/4/56 (at Cost).............. 8 12 6
———————— ————————
£21 7 6 £21 7 6
ACCUMULATED FUNDS ACCOUNT
Balance 30/4/56.......................... £178 17 5 Balance 1/5/55 ...................... £36 9 9
Excess of Income over Expenditure... 134 12 5
Return on Sale of Badges............ 7 15 3
———————— ————————
£178 17 5 £178 17 5
NOTE: 1. All assets have been included at Cost Price and no depreciation charged to the Income and Expenditure Account.
2. The Badge Account includes the carry over of eight badges from the previous period.
J. K. HENLEY, A.P.A.N.Z.FOR YOUR PRIV[ILLEGIBLE] LIBR[ILLEGIBLE]RY Your thirst for a mo[ILLEGIBLE] complet[ILLEGIBLE] kno[ILLEGIBLE]ledge of the mysterious Fl[ILLEGIBLE]ng Sauc[ILLEGIBLE]r can only be satisfied by re[ILLEGIBLE]ding all th[ILLEGIBLE] bo[ILLEGIBLE]ks on the subject. Many different angles of this now famous top[ILLEGIBLE] are presented by the authors. Documentar . Scientific and personal experience are laid bare before you We are specialising in this literary field—take advantage [ILLEGIBLE]mmediately of our extensive listing. "FLYING SAUCER CONSPIRACY" (Donald Keyhoe) .......................................16/- "REPORT ON UNIDE[ILLEGIBLE]TIFIED FLYING OBJECTS" (Edward Ruppelt)....................20/- "INSIDE THE SPACESHIPS" (George Adamski).........................................16/- "FLYING SAUCERS UNCENSORED" (Harold Wilkins) ....................................20/- "THEY KNEW TOO MUCH ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS" (Gray Barker).... ...................30/- "FLYING SAUCERS COME FROM ANOTHER WORLD" (Jimmy Guieu)...... ....................12/6 "THE TRUTH ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS" (coming) (Aime Michel) .........................16/- "THE CASE FOR THE UF[ILLEGIBLE]" (M. K. Jessup) .............................................18/9 "THE SECRET OF THE SAUCERS" (Angelucci) ..... ....................................30/- "MY FIRST 10,000,000 SPONSORS" (Frank Edwards)...................................3/6 "THE WHITE SANDS INCIDENT" (Dan Fry)............................................13/6 "TO MEN OF EARTH" (Dan Fry).....................................................10/- "UFO AND THE BIBLE" (M. K. Jessup)...............................................20.- "UFO ANNUAL 1956" (M. K. Jessup)............................................... 16/- "FLYING SAUCERS ON THE MOON" (THE ATTACK) (Harold Wilkins)......................30/- "BEHIND THE FLYING SAUCERS" (Frank Scully) ......................................15/- "THE COMING OF THE SPACESHIPS" (coming) (Gavin Gibbons) "VENUSIANS" (Lee Cranwell) "SAUCERIAN REVIEW" (Gray Barker) ...............................................12/- "FLYING SAUCERS AND COMMONSENSE" (Waveney Girvan) ..............................10/6 "FLYING SAUCERS HAVE LANDED" (George Adamski) ..................................10/6 "FLYING SAUCER FROM MARS" (Cedric Allingham)....................................10/6 "THE RIDDLE OF THE FLYING SAUCERS" (Gerald Heard).............. .................12/6 "FLYING SAUCERS" (Donald Menzel)...............................................25/- "ABOARD A FLYING SAUCER" (Truman Bethurum) .....................................30/- "THE SAUCERS SPEAK" (Hunt Williamson) ..........................................15/- "THE MYSTERIES OF SPACE AND TIME" (Percy Wilkins)...............................12/6 "SPACE GRAVITY AND THE FLYING SAUCER" (Leonard Cramp)........... ................10/6 "I RODE A FLYING SAUCER" (Van Tassel)..........................................15/- We also accept subscriptions for the many overseas Flying Saucer magazines, periodicals and bulletins. Some of the above books are in stock, others will be arriving shortly. If there is any book not listed here and you wish to obtain, please contact us, giving all the particulars of the publication. The Murray Organisation Ltd. 71 City Chambers, 4th Floor, Cnr. QUEEN & VICTORIA STREETS, AUCKLA[ILLEGIBLE]D Phone 43-729 P.O. Box 2237
UFO* and YOU ". . . the most unusual and comprehensive volume on the fascinating subject of the flying saucers."—From the introduction by FRANK EDWARDS Flying saucers exist! They are in- telligently directed from outer space! They originate from a known point within the Earth-Moon-Binary planet system! These are statements of fact based on sound sober investigations by a distinguished American scientist. In his monumental new book, THE CASE FOR THE UFO, M. K. Jessup, one of the world's foremost astronomers demonstrates conclusive- ly that "Flying Saucers" exist and what they mean to your future. With devastating clarity, M. K. Jessup shows that all the UFO data com- piled over hundreds of centuries can be explained only on the basis of entities living in space close to our planet. Convincing evidence is presented to Dr. Jessup to show there was a world-wide civilization prior to the "great flood." He indicates that the tremendous stoneworks of the pre- historic world were raised with the aid of levitating space ships. Re- cently reported aircraft disappear- ances and the teleportations of ships and their crews are also shown to be the work of space ships. As Frank Edwards, noted radio commentator, points out in his intro- duction, M. K. Jessup has applied ". . . a scientifically trained mind plus imaginative, fetter-free thinking to the mysterious subject of possible intelligence from outer space. . ." THE CASE FOR THE UFO com- pletely demolishes the arguments of the skeptics. M. K. Jessup for the first time puts the glaring light of scientific observation and analysis on the appearance of flying saucers, fire balls, strange meteors, falling bodies and other Unidentified Flying Oh- jects. The result is a work that is sure to become the "bible" of those who have maintained for years that "flying saucers" are a terribly serious reality. Read about the one man in all the world best qualified to write this book. *Official U.S. Government designation for Unidentified Flying Objects
Extract from "__________________________________________" Newspaper. Published at________________________________, on [date]____________________________ SUBjcCT:____________________________________________________________________________ Woman Sees Objects Over Rissington "Unidentified flying objects" are again hovering above Hawke's Bay at night. On January 1, and last night, Mr and Mrs D. McEwen, of Rissington, have seen mysterious lights in the sky above Rissing- ton, but Mrs McEwen, who first saw the lights, does not believe in "flying saucers" from another world. She is sure that there is some reasonable explanation for the hovering light. However, Mrs McEwen admits she is "quite taken" with the lights. Although at present she has no theories to advance, she is intent on finding out what the unidentified flying objects are. As the first step in her investi- gations, she has begun to take notes of the visits they make to the Rissington area. ENORMOUS SIZE On January 1, early in the morning, Mrs McEwen was shut- ting a bedroom window when she saw the first flying object. It was a long, bright object with rays extending from it. It was of an enormous size, and shaped like a wrapped newspaper, Mrs McEwen says. Looking in a north-easterly direction, she watched it for about half an hour until her eyes began to smart. The object was low on the skyline and did not move. The next day Mrs McEwen was suffering with burning eyes, caused by looking at the "tremendously bright light." TWO MORE SIGHTED Last night Mrs McEwen saw two more objects. But they were different entirely from the one she saw early last week. Although they were in approxi- mately the same position, they were twinkling golden colour. They were surrounded by rays in all the colours of the spec- trum. What is more, they were mov- ing very slowly. Their colour ranged from a very bright to a dull golden yellow colour. When she read of earlier Hawke's Bay visits by these un- identified flying objects Mrs McEwen formed the opinion: "It's all bosh." And now she says: "I can't expect anyone to believe me." NAPIER D. TELEGRAPH. 8 JAN 1957
"Flying Newspaper" Seen Again The "flying newspaper" ap- peared over Hawke's Bay again last night. Mr and Mrs D. McEwen saw the mysterious light hovering above Rissington shortly before midnight. They first saw the glaringly bright sky visitor, with its dazzling rays, over Ris- sington in the early hours of New Year's Day, last Tuesday. It was then they realised it was similar in shape and size to a wrapped newspaper. For the second night in suc- cession, Mr McEwen, who is a shepherd at Rissington, and his wife last night saw a smaller round light. It was a bright gold colour with coloured rays extending from it. SEEN FOR 15 MINUTES When Mrs McEwen first saw the mysterious flying objects she was curious. After seeing them on Monday night, she became intent on finding out exactly what they were. She began her private investigations by making detailed notes of visits to the Rissington area of unidentified flying objects. At first she was sceptical. She still is to some extent. But Mrs McEwen is convinced that the objects are controlled. She and her husband saw the objects between 11.30 and mid- night last night. The brilliant "flying newspaper" moved away "at a very fast speed" into the distance in a north-easterly direction. It took about 15 minutes to go out of sight. MORE SLOWLY The smaller object was mov- ing very slowly. "It came from the north, then moved off in the same direction as the 'flying newspaper' a few moments after the other light had disap- peared," said Mrs McEwen. Mrs McEwen is anxious to identify the objects. She would like to get in touch with anyone else who has seen the mysteri- ous lights. "I feel there is something controlling them," she said to- day. "It makes you wonder what they are." NAPIER D. TELEGRAPH. 8L JAN 1957
FLYING SAUCERS Sir,—A short time ago you pub- lished a letter from a disciple of one George Adamski, and I have waited in vain for a more able pen than mine to take up the challenge. I would make it clear at the outset that I do not disbelieve in flying saucers. I am certain that they present a problem that requires investigation and explanation. I am also certain that, if they should turn out to be space-ships, they come from nowhere in this solar system. Adam- ski claims he has spoken with men from other planets, including Saturn. The suggestion that the high pressure, low temperature chemistry of Saturn could evolve a life-form similar to ours would be laughable if it were not so pathetic. A great deal of your correspondent's letter is contrary to fact, as follows:—(1) At least two photographs in Adamski's book have been proved fakes. I refer to plates 3 and 9. Plate 3 is obviously a fake to anyone acquainted with the use of a telescope, and possessing only a moderate knowledge of lunar geo- graphy. Plate 9 has been duplicated by many photographers; any amateur can do it quite easily by photograph- ing a street lamp (at night, of course), giving an exposure of about five seconds, with fast film. The "flare" produced by internal reflec- tions in the camera will give you a quite satisfactory "saucer" on the developed film. (2) With regard to the film "U.F.O.," the United States Government makes no claim that fly- ing saucers exist, and that they come from other planets. It is left over to the public to form their own opinions. (3) Of the 27,000 photos on file, only two are movies. Of the remaining 26,998, only about 5 per cent are unexplained. (4) Of the hundreds of sightings reported by sane New Zealanders not one tallies with the descriptions given by Adamski. (5) I have never heard of this wonderful piece of metal, and neither, I suspect, has the British Secretary for Air. If there are metals we have not yet discovered on earth, where, I pray, is Mr Adamski going to fit them in the atomic table? The table is complete. You can have new alloys but not new metals. In clos- ing, I would say that men like Adamski, in their money-grubbing deception of the gullible, do a real disservice by obscuring the truth and scaring serious researchers from a field which may be of great import- ance. Flying saucers may prove to be a, till now, unknown natural phe- nomenon, and they may turn out to be space-ships. If the latter, the Adamski brigade will have done quite a lot to prevent people of intellectual integrity from accepting the fact. A. J. Doig.
Lights in the Sky SOUTHLAND TIMES. NEW ZEALANDERS generally are not highly impressionable people, and Southlanders least of all. "Solid and sensible" is the Prime Minister's description of us. So the recent reports of mysterious lights over Invercargill cannot be written off as so much fantasy. Two such sober observers as a police constable and a fireman are not easily deceived into seeing lights where none exist. Some of these reports at least must be accepted. Many strange phenomena may account for these "flying saucers," but the question most people keep asking themselves is whether they may not be craft from another planet. It is an exciting and dis- turbing thought, and science fiction writers have had a field day with invaders from space. But in spite of the flying saucers, the possibility of life on other planets remains very remote. Temperature and atmosphere are the two factors that governed the possibility of life else- where. Most of the planets are either too hot or too cold to support the theory, and the only two possible exceptions are Venus and Mars. But the scientists believe that the atmosphere of Venus, in marked contrast to that of the Earth, con- tains neither water vapour nor oxygen, and that even plant life would be unable to exist. The atmosphere of Mars on the other hand, is thought to contain a small amount of oxygen, and the white polar caps that appear in winter provide evidence of some moisture. The telescope shows it to be an arid planet, much of it desert, though there are some areas which have a greenish tinge and which change colour in the seasons. Yet it is thought highly unlikely that even animal life exists on Mars. "The amount of oxygen in the Martian at- mosphere," writes a noted authority, Sir Harold Spencer Jones, "is certainly less than in our atmosphere at a height of 100,000 feet, while the almost complete lack of moisture and the rapid and extreme changes of temperature are not conducive to animal life. The greenish areas appear to be areas of vegetation. The nature of the light which they reflect is similar to that reflected by the lichens and dry mosses on the earth, showing no absorptions due to water or to chlorophyll." The fiction writers place no limit on life on the other planets. But the reality, so far as we can judge today, is far different. All that science will concede is the possibility of a primitive form of plant covering on Mars. Disappointing though it may be, we will have to look elsewhere for an explanation of flying saucers. — JAN 1957 1 5 JAN 195[7] Balfour Men's Claim About 'Flying Saucer' EVENING POST. INVERCARGILL, Today (PA).—The list of people who have seen a "flying saucer" is growing. Now comes the story of two men who almost caught one. They were Messrs. William West and Wallace Liddell, both of Balfour. In the early hours of Saturday morning they were standing in the doorway of a garage on Mr. West's property about two miles from Bal- four when they saw what they thought was a shooting star ap- proaching over a belt of trees and getting gradually nearer the ground. It continued falling and as it came closer the two men saw, more clearly. It was, they claim, roughly oblong in shape and about 12 inches to 18 inches long. At first they thought it was some typ of bird, like a pigeon, but it was glowing fluorescently. Changed Its Shape The "thing" looked as if it was going to settle on the lawn by the house. The men rushed out in an attempt to catch it and as they approached, they claim it jumped away from them and changed shape into a sphere about 18 inche in diameter, still glowing with a bluish-white light, but appearing t have a dull red glow in the centre. They continued their attempts t catch it, but each time it moved a little further away. Finally, afte they had observed it for about a minute it floated up and over the eight-foot corrugated-iron fence an disappeared slowly across a pad dock. Mr. West made a special trip t Invercargill yesterday to tell his story to meteorological officers at the weather station at the city air port, but they could offer no ex planation. Mr. West is convince that the object was not of this world, but came from another planet. [ITEM 509]
Another Report of "Flying Saucer" EVENING STAR An unidentified object "like an old-fashioned gas burner" was seen in the skies on Monday night by a Nelson woman who was travelling in a railcar at the time. She visited the 'Star' yesterday to confirm yes- terday's report from a North-east Harbour couple. The woman said that about 10 minutes before the railcar arrived in Dunedin at approximately 12.30 a.m., she awoke from a doze to see a bright object in the sky. Until she saw the report in the 'Star' she did not give it another thought, but this made her believe that she had seen the same object sighter by the Broad Bay people.
LIGHTS IN THE SKY Sir,—The sighting of the unknown flying object by Messrs West and Lid- dell was very interesting, and in ac- cordance with thousands of similar reports all over the world. They wasted time, however, appealing to the weather men for explanations; these, and the astronomical experts, can never explain such things, except by limited jargon [ILLEGIBLE] or the planet Venus, or hallucination. It could be that the so-called experts nevertheless have as much to learn on matters outside their text books as the man in the street, and possibly they will one day be startled out of their smugness. The worlds in the universe are beyond human computation; the decision that ours is the only one inhabited is based purely on wishful thinking. Nor is there any reason to believe that people from outer space are as barbarous as those on earth. Light On The Question Wellington. SOUTHLAND TIMES. 1. File 8/2/57
clouds of searchlights and motorcar headlights and motorcar headlights, inside seeds floating in the daytime, inside seeds floating high in the air, and deliberate silly hoaxes. CATCH CRY 3. To any suggestion that it seems strange that veteran airmen have in made such "silly" mistakes about things that they do. Few people look at the sky much, and, indeed, why should they? Even in the normal course of events they would not understand the catch cry phenomena. Of the hundreds of events there has been so much silly publicity about this myth. 4. The reports of even veteran air- men of peculiar phenomena have in many ways been accountable by some of the above list. However, man has not been flying long and atmospheric phenomena which are genuinely natural phenomena of which we know little or nothing. If such is the case, then this would account for the 10 per cent of reports which have not been explained. UNEXPLAINED 5. Unexplained reports may be put into two categories (a) phenomena as mentioned in paragraph 4 above, and other atmospheric phenomena of which useful data to work on and the ob- server is so incompetent (even in knowing his cardinal directions) that those reports suffering from incom- petence and distortion and the high percentage if only a trained observer could be with the person at the time. 6. The peculiar atmospheric optical chance effects have abounded trained as- tronomers at times in the past although the mistake has ultimately been recognized. There is therefore more reason for laymen to be careful, to the extreme, and give careful con- sideration to the suggestions of astron- omers. 7. Photographic claims are very sus- pect, and once again one would like to be with the person at the time, to carefully examine the negatives in detail. If [cut off] [ITEM 509] [159/4/1952-5137]
Extract from "__________" Pu___ b___ SubjEC___ N.Z. Astronomer's Analysis Of 'Flying Saucer' Myth It was significant that of all the leading astronomers throughout the world who scanned the heavens almost constantly, not one had yet reported seeing any phenomenon that could be described as a "flying saucer." This was stated in Dunedin yes- terday by a well-known amateur astronomer, Mr W. D. Anderson, who released to the Daily Times a copy of correspondence between Mr I. [ILLEGIBLE] Thomson, Director of the Carter Observatory, Wellington, and a Canadian astronomer. The journalist following Mr Thomson's paper on "flying saucers" at the Science Congress in the city in Jan- uary, had written to Mr Thomson asking him as a New Zealand astronomer how Mr Thomson would explain a number of the "flying saucer" reports. In his reply, Mr Thomson listed his contentions which guided him as follows:— reports. In his opinion, the New Zea- land astronomer listed his contentions which guided him. The journalist had written to Mr Thomson saying that the cause of many saucer reports was the [ILLEGIBLE] unary. were natural phenomena which "were received and that 90 per cent of these sightings could be so explained." and that 90 per cent of these sightings could be so explained. or makes nothing more than detect, for fraud, similar faults and anyone with radar similar faults and anyone with radar, for frauds of their investigation. e.g. Claims of radar contacts suffer from similar faults and anyone with radar — who affirm that they cannot offer any explanation of their nature, are United States Air Force. Running these, and Professor W. L. Moore, professor of astronomy at Louisville University, a period of years and includes spoken now operating in many countries— duced artificially. 9. The 10 per cent unexplainable and unknown causes. "It is reasonable, however, to say that these are unexplained — I cannot say that because they are unexplained to the reports above, I can be forced by such a term at all, to official studies in other countries and I think this may be a fair estimate for say that these are unexplained. I can be forced by such a term at all, to now operating in many countries— duced artificially. "It is reasonable, however, to say that these are unexplained — or visitors from other planets, and that their unexplained nature is due in part to the poor reports which do not enable a decision to be made on their nature of the phenomena," concluded Mr Thomsen. of all the reports received this is generally not the case. All those reports received with this detail, an explanation has ultimately been found. In his own experience in this country more than ordinary pains to give accurate times, directions. In the sky over New Zealand astronomer listed his contentions follows:— 2. The explanations may be listed as follows: Bright stars or planets affected by peculiar atmospheric effects, a very young moon with ex- tremely thin crescent near the horizon aces, bright stars or planets affected by special distortions of these meteors, bright stars or planets near the time of rising or setting and nears the time, bright stars or planets near the time affected by peculiar atmospheric anomalous meteorological balloons or meteorological stations on high cloud near the time OTAGO DAILY TIMES [date stamp - ILLEGIBLE]
15/4/57. ANOTHER SAUCER ALONG OUR SPACE HIGHWAY ROTORUA POST 4 APR 1957 A theory that Rotorua might be on a space highway was strengthened last night with reliable reports that an unidentified object was seen traversing the eastern sky from north to south. No, we don't know if there was a little green man inside. Three adults are still scratching their heads about it all and a nine- year-old girl is telling wide-eyed stories to all her school mates. The object was a bright blue light seen moving noiselessly and grace- fully through the sky at 6.40 p.m. The observers were Mrs Dorothy Bell, well known in local theatrical circles, her husband Doug, a bank accountant; Rotorua radio announ- cer Lindsay Broberg and Penny Bell aged nine. The possibility that the object might have been blue flame from the exhaust of a James Aviation Beaver aircraft which came in from Hamilton about 6.30 p.m. was dis- counted this morning by Mr O. G. James who said that at that hour of night, the noise of the engine would have been heard "even louder." Reports that a tear-shaped object was seen following a similar north- east route came in last year from Clayton Road to Ngakuru. It is now about seven years since reports were first received that fly- ing saucers had been seen over New Zealand. The first is believed to have been made early in 1950 by Rotorua commercial photographer, John Scott then a resident of Waipukurau. Mr Scott later set up the Flying Saucer Observation Corps in that town. The organisation has now spread to many parts of the country. When told of last night's report he said the object appeared to have the same characteristics as those of the flying saucers—bright lumines- cent light. Air-Commodore S. Wallingford, interviewed [ILLEGIBLE] morning, said [ILLEGIBLE] can't say this don't happen, [ILLEGIBLE] many cases planets have [ILLEGIBLE] yet other longer than [ILLEGIBLE] and we to say they [ILLEGIBLE] are [ILLEGIBLE] Mr James [ILLEGIBLE] than I have seen [ILLEGIBLE] Last night's observers were watch- ing from the Bell [ILLEGIBLE] Union Street. The object [ILLEGIBLE] silently across the horizon and [ILLEGIBLE] ward path as though it was coming in to land. But still no reports of our little green man!
Flying Saucer Reported By Taradale Children 11 APR 157[sic] Standard fo[REDACTED] vinced they hav[REDACTED] About 30 of them [ILLEGIBLE] playground during [ILLEGIBLE] break at 10 a.m. yesterday, when they saw a long, silver cigar-like object glide horizontally over the Redcliffe Hills. It suddenly turned upward and disappeared behind the clouds. The children — many of whom are model aircraft enthusiasts — are positive the object had no cabin, wings or tailpiece, and they say they heard no noise what- soever. (Several observers reported see- ing a "great silver cigar" in this region last year. The object was also sighted from Bay View and suburban Napier.) Two reports of "unusual occurrences in the air" received by the Herald-Tribune recently lack positive sighting of strange objects in the sky. But the men concerned feel that overhead had been an object flying at sufficient speed to account for their experiences. The first concerns a farmer in the Dartmoor area. In the middle of the night he was awakened by a rushing of air which gathered in intensity and then died away as if a motorless air- craft had swept in a dive toward his house from the sky. His wife, too, was awakened, and the sound was repeated about half an hour later. There was no wind or normal atmospheric disturbance to account for the phenomenon. Earlier a Twyford farmer experienced something similar, although in daylight. On this occasion such was the intensity of the sudden and unexpected air movement that trees and hedges vibrated intensely. 18/4/57.
MYSTERIOUS OBJECT WAIKATO [TIMES] IN SKY "BOUNCED 8 OCT 1956 LIKE TENNIS BALL" A large object was observed stationary for about a quarter of an hour over Ngaruawahia this morning by Mr Frank P. Duggan, a cafe proprietor, and his wife. Mr Duggan said he awoke at 4.40 a.m. and his attention was attracted by a bright light coming through his bedroom window. As the light was stationary, and was too bright for the lights of an automobile, he got up and went to the window. He saw in the western sky something which he described as "similar to a saucer on edge—only longer." The disc was very brilliantly lit, of an orangish colour. After watching it for about a couple of minutes, he awoke his wife, who came to the window and watched it also. "It seemed to be very close," said Mr Duggan in an interview this morning. "We watched it for about a quarter of an hour before it moved. It seemed to be spinning when it started moving," he said. Now Convinced After his wife went back to bed, he continued to watch the object, which travelled in a westerly direc- tion. "A curious feature of the motion of the disc was that it bounced like a tennis ball," he said. "After it began to move, it dropped swiftly, then rose again several times, only that these movements were sharp and swift." He said that the size ap- peared to be [ILLEGIBLE] of a bread-and- butter plate held at arm's length. He continued to watch it for [ILLEGIBLE] same time before it [ILLEGIBLE] finally appeared from view. Asked if he believed in flying saucers, he said "I didn't really be- lieve in them before, but seeing this thing this morning certainly con- vinced me."
Farmer Sees Eerie Light In Night Sky WANGANUI HERALD [date stamp] D 1957 A large object giving off a whitish-yellow light, which changed to green and then to a reddish hue, was seen in the sky from No. 1 Line from 10 to 10.30 last night D 1957 The observers were a well-known Wanganui farmer and his wife. They telephoned friends, who went out- side and saw the same thing. "The thing first took my attention because I thought it a well-lit NAC aircraft," said the farmer today. "It looked just like a plane covered with navigation lights, and was big." He said it moved back and forth and up and down in the sky, and was definitely not a star. "It was quite eerie. I've never seen anything like it." "There was no whisky in the vicinity last night, either." One of the odd things about the object, apart from the changing colours, was the fact that it was noiseless. Looking back this morning on his experience, he said it could possibly have been someone flying a kite or balloon from No. 2 Line. If this were so, he would like the persons concerned to say so. The flying lights came in from the east, and after half an hour the object appeared to fade away quick- ly to the north.
Extract from "Dominion" Newspaper. [i]shed at Wellington. on [date] [ILLEGIBLE] SUBJECT:___ Swiftly Travelling "Lighted Object" Reported In North A lighted object sped across the sky in the Auckland province last night, according to apparently well authenti- cated reports. Named observers at Auckland, Roto- rua and Tauranga said they sighted it between 6.40 p.m. and 7.15 p.m. Some said it was travelling at 1000ft. to 1500ft., and all spoke of it as travelling at tremendous speed. One report came from Squadron Leader K. B. Smith, commanding offi- cer of No. 40 Transport Squadron, R.N.Z.A.F. He was co-pilot of a Hastings air- craft which was engaged in local fly- ing at Whenuapai. He said he was making his final approach to the air- port with the aircraft when he saw a bluish-white light at approximately 1000ft. flying "at a colossal speed" over Auckland's Eastern Bays. The time was between 7 p.m. and 7.15 p.m. Squadron Leader Smith, an experi- enced pilot with long service in the R.N.Z.A.F. and the R.A.F., said that because he was making his final ap- proach to the airfield at the time, he could do no more than glance at the object. Mr. L. C. Dassler, of Oropi, Tau- ranga, reported seeing a "pinkish- purplish flame with the indistinct shape of a bull" flying about 1000ft. over Te Poi, near Matamata. Mr. Dassler, a former flight-sergeant navigator in the R.N.Z.A.F. with 1500 flying hours to his credit, estimated the speed of the object at 1000 miles an hour. The time was about 6.40 p.m. A farmer of Reporoa, near Rotorua, Mr. E. J. Aikin, said he saw a "pink and white pear-shaped object" about 6.40 p.m. travelling very fast across the western sky. At Auckland, a Mr. Williams, whose address was given at Paku- ranga, reported to the Air Traffic Con- trol centre at Auckland that he and his wife had seen a fast-moving lighted object in the sky between 6.30 p.m. and 6.55 p.m. Wellington Comment "I don't say these people haven't seen something but we would have to have many more details about the objects before we jump to any con- clusions," said the director of the Carter Observatory, Mr. I. L. Thom- sen, commenting on the reports of the flying objects seen in Auckland Province. Mr. Thomsen said he did not be- lieve in any flying saucer theory. He mentioned the case of the National Airways pilot who, last year, had thought Venus was a "saucer". "He was an experienced man, too," said Mr. Thomsen. He did not know of any star or star-like object which could account for the sightings, but he said it might have been a large meteor. With more detail on the duration of the light, the direction in which it moved, the exact times and the height at which it was seen, it might be possible to say what had caused the "saucer". Regilag Pls file on approp[riate] file. D.P.R. 11/9/[?]6
From: Air Traffic Centre. file To: A/D & I [ILLEGIBLE] Report from: WELLINGTON "At 15.45 hrs on 29.11.56, sighted a a brighter object glinting in the sunshine above Wellington. It appeared to be metallic. It approached Wgton from the South and then hovered for 10 - 15 minutes. Then moved in an easterly direction climbing very quickly until it disappeared from view." Note: At 15.30 hrs on 29.11.56 a balloon was released by Meteorological Office, Kelburn. [Signed]
PRESIDENT OF CIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATION (N.Z.) is Harold Fulton (left), who is shown looking at the organisation's membership list with the secretary, Lionel Page, a retired Auckland dentist. The telescope in the background is always "at the ready" in case an unidentified flying object should appear suddenly. technical wing of the R.N.Z.A.F., and members include a former Member of Parliament, former Air Force pilots and numbers of men with science degrees and high technical qualifications. More and more of the last type are joining, though a general thirst for knowledge of the mysterious unknown is the reason for member- ship in a large number of cases. Many others become members because they are certain that they have seen one or more of the uniden- tified flying objects. it is to the credit of the organi- sation, too, that its magazine, besides publishing matter believed to support the view that interplanetary vehicles are responsible for the sightings, allows to be said for the other side of the story. In the current issue appears a carefully-reasoned letter written by Dr. Donald-H. Menzel, director of the Harvard College Observatory, to the editor of a leading American U.F.O. bulletin. In it the doctor states his conviction as an experi- mental scientist and as one who has himself observed flying saucers that a reasonable explanation for their appearances can be found within the fields of known and unknown natural phenomena. Points Of View On the other hand, many scientists of equal distinction contend that the mysterious objects, which have now been seen and reported on in every country around the globe, can have no relation to such phenomena and have written convincing accounts of their views. One of these is Dr. Percy Wilkins, director of the lunar section of the Royal Astronomical Society, who, after professing uncom- vincing disbelief, became convinced of the existence of the flying saucer as a physical device, after seeing three of the objects from an aircraft.
Extract from "N.Z. Free Lance" Newspaper. [Published at] Wellington [on date] October 26, 1956. SUBJECT:___ FLYING-SAUCER INVESTIGATION IN NEW ZEALAND • Interest Continues To Soar • • • • BY A STAFF WRITER. Four years ago Civilian Saucer Investigation (N.Z.) was formed at Auckland to conduct research into flying saucers, or, as they are now rather more scientifically designated, "unidentified flying objects." For 18 months membership was restricted to eight, but opening its ranks in response to intense and widespread interest, the organisation to-day has more than 350 members throughout New Zealand, as well as some in the United States of America and European countries. Applications for membership average 20 a fortnight. THE organisation has its own mem- bership card and badge. It holds seven-week period—from serious- minded people in all parts of New Zealand. The current issue of the writers of all quarterly magazine of other places, Invercargill, Dunedin, organisation's Nelson, and numbers from New Zealand organisations. One letter, dated July 19, 195[6], is signed by A. A. Bowers, meteorolog- ist, Director and president of the body. Is its founder, Harold H. Fulton, an Air Force sergeant attached to the cal officer at Whenuapai air station. One letter dated July 19, 195[6], is signed by A. A. Bowers, meteorolog- ist — shape as "flying doughnuts" — a circular shape with a hole in the middle. Or as truncated cones, as delta-shapes or crescent-shaped, or they may come as cigar form, in spherical shape, wing-shapes. Others are claimed to be in the sky the disc is most frequently seen. CSI admits freely that many [ILLEGIBLE] explained by simple explanations as natural phenomena, and members are advised strongly to enlarge their and mathematicians at the University of hold that a great deal more is known about the planet Pluto and an investigation of the flying-saucer than has yet been disclosed. All Governments, discovery of the world's Governments, have investigated the flying-saucer mystery for the United States of investigation and Air Force. A celebrated French mathe- matician and engineer, Aime Michel, by their air forces from time to time. has also written an arresting book A beginning in allowing the public to on the subject. Among those who judge for themselves has been made to write about it, by their air forces on the subject. Running are United States Air Force. Running these noted meteorologist Dr. Seymour L. Hess, of the University of Florida, and Professor W. L. Moore, professor of astronomy at Louisville University, a period of years and includes spoken and C.S.I. (N.Z.)—and such bodies are now operating in many countries— duced artificially.
FREE LANCE FLYING-SAUCER INVESTIGATIO[N] • Interest Continues To Soar • • • • BY A STAFF WRITER. Four years ago Civilian Saucer Investigation (N.Z.) was formed at Auckland to conduct research into flying saucers, or, as they are now rather more scientifically designated, "unidentified flying objects." For 18 months membership was restricted to eight, but opening its ranks in response to intense and widespread interest, the organisation to-day has more than 350 members throughout New Zealand, as well as some in the United States of America and European countries. Applications for membership average 20 a fortnight. 26 OCT 1956 THE organisation has its own mem- bership card and badge. It holds seven-week period—from serious- minded people in all parts of New Zealand. The current issue of the writers of all quarterly magazine of other places, Invercargill, Dunedin, organisation's Nelson, Napier and numbers from New Zealand organi- sations. The current issue of the un- explained. C.S.I. admits freely that many [ILLEGIBLE] explained by simple explanations as natural phenomena, and members are advised strongly to guard against error. It is to the credit of the organi- sation, too, that its magazine, besides publishing matter believed to support the view that interplanetary vehicles are responsible for the sightings, also allows something to be said for the other side of the story. and mathematicians at the University of hold that a great deal more is known about the planet Pluto and an investigation of the flying-saucer than has yet been disclosed. All Governments, discovery of the world's Governments, have investigated the flying-saucer mystery for the United States Air Force. A celebrated French mathe-matician and engineer, Aime Michel, by their air forces from time to time. has also written an arresting book A beginning in allowing the public to on the subject. Among those who judge for themselves has been made to write about it. Running are United States Air Force. Running these noted meteorologist Dr. Seymour L. Hess, of the University of Florida, and Professor W. L. Moore, professor of astronomy at Louisville University, a period of years and includes spoken and C.S.I. (N.Z.)—and such bodies are now operating in many countries— duced artificially.
PRESIDENT OF CIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATION (N.Z.) is Harold Fulton (left), who is shown looking at the organisation's membership list with the secretary, Lionel Page, a retired Auckland dentist. The telescope in the background is always "at the ready" in case an unidentified flying object should appear suddenly. technical wing of the R.N.Z.A.F., at Whenuapai, and members include a former Member of Parliament, former Air Force pilots and numbers of men with science degrees and high technical qualifications. More and more of the last type are joining, though a general thirst for knowledge of the mysterious unknown is the reason for member- ship in a large number of cases. Many others become members because they are certain that they have seen one or more of the uniden- tified flying objects. of the Harvard College Observatory, and as a leading American U.F.O. bulletin. In it the doctor states his conviction as an experi- mental scientist and as one who has himself observed flying saucers that a reasonable explanation for their appearances can be found within the fields of known and unknown natural phenomena. Points Of View On the other hand, many scientists of equal distinction contend that the mysterious objects, which have now been seen and reported on in every country around the globe, can have no relation to such phenomena and have written convincing accounts of their views. One of these is Dr. Percy [ILLEGIBLE] Wilkins director of the lunar section [ILLEGIBLE] of the Royal Astronomical Society, who, after professing uncom- vincing disbelief, became convinced of the existence of the flying saucer as a physical device, after seeing three of the objects from an aircraft in broad daylight. Other writers who support the idea that the flying saucer controls a pre- sumably superior intelligence include M. K. Jessup, instructor in astronomy [ILLEGIBLE] One of the most outstanding of New Zealand's saucer-sightings, how- ever, occurred, it is claimed, on September 3, 1956, when observers at many different points in the North Island saw a "flashing object," at first thought by several of them to be a jet-aircraft. One of these observers was a well-known Auckland master mariner, Captain Harold Hill, deputy marine-superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Company, who was so impressed that he has committed his expert observations and his findings as a trained navigator. One of the observed cont [ILLEGIBLE] include surprisingly [ILLEGIBLE] more than 100 in a recent sea sightings in recent months has started [ILLEGIBLE]
CIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATION(NZ) APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Sub £1 per annum. I................................................ HEREBY MAKE APPLICA- TION TO BECOME A FINANCIAL MEMBER OF CIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATION (NZ) AND AM WILLING TO ABIDE BY THE PRINCIPLES, POLICY, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION. MY ADDRESS IS................................................................. ................................................................................................. OPTIONAL. AGE.............. OCCUPATION............................. SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS................................................... ................................................................................................) PLEASE FIND ENCLOSED THE SUM OF............... FOR FINANCIAL MEM- BERSHIP FOR ...... YEAR OR YEARS. FINANCIAL MEMBERSHIP ENTITLES ME TO COPIES OF OFFICIAL QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND COPIES OF NEWS SHEETS RELEASED FROM TIME TO TIME. IF I AM ALREADY AN APPOINTED "REPRESENTATIVE" OR "HONORARY OBSERVER" OF C.S.I. I REMAIN SO ON MAKING APPLICAT- ION FOR MEMBERSHIP. I AM ENTITLED TO ATTEND ALL GENERAL MEETINGS AND NOTICE OF SAME SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE. I UNDERSTAND THAT C.S.I. IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION MAKING CONSTANT RESEARCH AND STUDY OF "UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS " AND TRYING HARD TO HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY. I AM WILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE BUT AM NOT OBLIGED TO DO SO. Dear Intending Members, As soon as it is financially possible and according to the response in numbers requesting membership, C.S.I. will have printed member- ship cards made and distributed. If you have suggestions that you consider may materially help this organization or any redundant equipment in the printing line that you are prepared to loan please let us know. You may wish to organize local clubs branches etc for talks, lect- ures or discussion, let us know of your ideas. This organization is now affiliated and in constant communication with leading overseas kindred bodies and we receive a constant
CIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATION (NZ) Headquarters - I Nissan Place, Onehunga S.E.5. Auckland. N.Z. SPECIAL BULLETIN - January 1956 Dear Associates, The year of great expectations in our field of research is now with us. Many investigators and numerous members of the world's populace are watch- ing and waiting for the tempo of the expected renewed "UFO" activity and the turning point in this great struggle by civilian researchers to remon- strate and convince world authorities that the truth/answer to the great mystery in our midst must soon be told. -full The huff & bluff, ho hum & bother, repeatedly reiterated in official pro- nouncements on "Unidentified Flying Objects", must not, in the name of commonsense and fore-sighted wisdom be permitted to continue. Those questionable scientists who still, unfortunately, gain the limelight with their grossly unscientific "utter bilge" and foolish debunkings, ought to seriously re-examine their outdated ideas, broaden their views and not make utterances on subjects they have but little knowledge of. For when the truth is finally known, the rebound of the publics accusing finger will point in their direction with greatest severity. The American Government, controller and monitor of the world headquarters, official "UFO" research, should release, broadcast and explain patiently and masterly the greatest discovery that earthman has made in recorded his- tory. A discovery, which will, beyond a shadow of doubt, remold our whole outlook in every field of human endeavour. They should begin by skillfully demonstrating, that, outside of natural phenomena, mistaken identity and hoax, remains a sizeable residue of "UFO" observations reported from & by unquestionable military and civil scientific sources. They should proceed by stating, that serious, intense and continuous investigation has revealed to us an astonishing picture. The afore-mentioned "UFO" is now officially listed as "IFO" (Identified Flying Objects), perhaps better explained, as the space going vehicles of beings from distant worlds --- etc. etc. Major Donald E. Keyhoe in his [ILLEGIBLE] most recent startling book "THE FLYING SAUCER CONSPIRACY", has [ILLEGIBLE] the high level concern, cover- up and top secret procedures of the U.S. Air Force and the National Sec- urity Council in their "saucer" probing, that any further white-washing of the truth of this great saga, will avail them little. Keyhoe documents and reveals that scientists have established that the moon is inhabited; (most likely space visitors) great surface structural activities, dome- like buildings, roads and many other increasing and startling changes on our satellite's surface, seen by many astronomers. Chief authority quoted, Dr. Percy Wilkins, Director, Lunar Section, Royal Astronomical Society of Great Britain. Mt. Palomar also making moon investigation under Security Council instructions. Dr. Slipher, leader of the Mars Committee's June 54 expedition to Bloemfontein, South Africa, for astronomical studies of Mars during that close approach; has established that the Martian Canals are artificial waterways that follow the Great Circle paths (about the centre of a sphere, like earth's equatorial line) as suspected, but Dr. Slipher has been silenced. Two artificial alien satellites have been orbiting our equator for many months. Discovered first by experimental Air Force radar, confirmed by Mt. Palomar Observatory. Top secret security orders issued by the Joint-Chiefs-of-Staff (JANAP 146) Joint Army Navy Air Publication & AFR 200-2; threatened and libelled military men and others with knowledge of the documents with court martial, imprisonment from one to ten years & fines of 10,000 dollars to boot; should they make public classified "UFO" information. Only cases of hoax and simple mistaken identity could be re- leased or discussed publicly. These extraordinary documents, recently de- classified by order of the President of United States and faithfully repro- duced in Major Keyhoe's book, reflect the high level concern and respect the authorities have for the "UFO". These orders go so far as to instruct military personnel what to do should "PARTS OR SUSPECTED PARTS OF FLYING
Dear Associates,
The year of great expectations in our field of research is now with us.
Many investigators and numerous members of the world's populace are watching and waiting for the tempo of the expected renewed "UFO" activity and
the turning point in this great struggle by civilian researchers to remonstrate and convince world authorities that the truth/answer to the great
mystery in our midst must soon be told. -full
The huff & bluff, ho hum & bother,repeatedly reiterated in official pronouncements on "Unidentified Flying Objects", must not, in the name of
commonsense and fore-sighted wisdom be permitted to continue.
Those questionable scientists who still, unfortunately,gain the limelight
with their grossly unscientific "utter bilge" and foolish debunkings,ought
to seriously re-examine their outdated ideas, broaden their views and not
make utterances on subjects they have but little knowledge of. For when
the truth is finally known,the rebound of the publics accusing finger will
point in their direction with greatest severity.
The American Government, controller and monitor of the world headquarters,
official "UFO" research, should release, broadcast and explain patiently
and masterly the greatest discovery that earthman has made in recorded history. A discovery, which will, beyond a shadow of doubt, remold our whole
outlook in every field of human endeavour. They should begin by skillfully
demonstrating, that, outside of natural phenomena, mistaken ident[ity] and
hoax, remains a sizeable residue of "UFO" observations reported from & by
unquestionable military and civil scientific sources. They should proceed
by stating,that serious, intense and continuous investigation has revealed
to us an astonishing picture. The afore-mentioned "UFO" is now officially
listed as "IFO" (Identified Flying Objects), perhaps better explained, as
the space going vehicles of beings from distant worlds --- etc. etc.
Major Donald E. Keyhoe in his [ILLEGIBLE] recent startling book "THE
FLYING SAUCER CONSPIRACY", has [ILLEGIBLE] the high level concern, cover-
up and top secret procedures of the U.S. Air Force and the National Security Council in their "saucer" probing, that any further white-washing
of the truth of this great saga, will avail them little. Keyhoe documents
and reveals that scientists have established that the moon is inhabited;
(most likely space visitors) great surface structural activities, dome-
like buildings, roads and many other increasing and startling changes on
our satellites surface, seen by many astronomers. Chief authority quoted,
Dr. Percy Wilkins, Director, Lunar Section, Royal Astronomical Society of
Great Britain. Mt. Palomar also making moon investigation under Security
Council instructions. Dr. Slipher, leader of the Mars Committee's June 54
expedition to Bloemfontein, South Africa, for astronomical studies of Mars
during that close approach; has established that the Martian Canals are
artificial waterways that follow the Great Circle paths (about the centre
of a sphere, like earth's equatorial line) as suspected, but Dr. Slipher
has been silenced. Two artificial alien satellites have been orbiting our
equator for many months. Discovered first by experimental Air Force radar,
confirmed by Mt. Palomar Observatory. Top secret security orders issued by
the Joint-Chiefs-of-Staff (JANAP 146) Joint Army Navy Air Publication &
AFR 200-2;threatened and libelled military men and others with knowledge
of the documents with court martial, imprisonment from one to ten years &
fines of 10,000 dollars to boot; should they make public classified "UFO"
information. Only cases of hoax and simple mistaken identity could be reclassified by order of the President of United States and faithfully reproduced in Major Keyhoe's book,reflect the high level concern and respect
the authorities have for the "UFO". These orders go so far as to instruct
military personnel, what to do should "PARTS OR SUSPECTED PARTS OF FLYING
SAUCERS" be located. Numerous other factors, inclusive of 100 previously
published UFO major incidents are documented in this remarkable work.
is very plain that Major Keyhoe has friends in very high places whom are
against the silent and cover-up "UFO" policy. Threads from the sky;
[m]ysterious airborn explosions, falls of metal fragments , missing planes
landings and encounters with h[u]man[oid] biped beings are seriously dis[cussed.]"THE FLYING SAUCER CONSPIRACY" by Major Donald E. Keyhoe. Published by
Henry Holt Company Ltd. 383 Madison Avenue, New York 17, N.Y. Price $ 3.50.
(First Class Postage 90cents)(English publisher not yet named).
11TH SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR
CLOSEST APPROACH OF EARTH & MARS IN 3 DECADES SHORTLY
During the almost ideal and very favourable approach of Earth to Mars in
Sept., large observatories, particularly in the northern hemisphere will be
giving the red planet the greatest scientific going over in recorded histor[y]
BUT, all "UFO" investigators feel most assured that the exact reverse will
also be the case. Earth may well receive the greatest incursion, surveill-
ance, landings and encounters from outer space visitors either operating or
perhaps originating from the wise old globe. Professor Hermann Oberth, lead[ing]
rocket scientist recently stated " The planets and their satellites in
our system may only be the stepping stones used by intelligent beings coming to us from another system". Reference to our "Mars Opposition" chart Vol 3
No 2 CSI quarterly magazine is recommended for further clarification of the
Mars question. This greater "UFO" activity will probably bridge a period of
six months, notable signs appearing (using past records as a guide) in July
- August.
ooooooooooooOoooooooooo
WORLD PRESS MOST SUFFERED VICTIM
No other singular great public serving organization has been more hoodwinke[d]
and double-crossed by official "UFO" authorities. Truly it is time the pres[s]
got its back up, dug into and exposed the deceit, double-talk and concealed
facts long impatiently waiting for a thorough airing. To date the biggest &
hottest ever scoop story still goes begging. Civilian investigators repeat
their promise of every assistance.
-------------------
MARK THESE DATES CSI GENERAL MEETINGS. ON YOUR CALENDAR
Permanent bookings for monthly general meetings have now been arranged.
Commencing February 22nd., and every subsequent 4th Wednesday in the mon[th]
during 1956, CSI members and fr[iends will m]eet in the Auckland Sunday Sch[ool]
Union Hall, 1st Floor, 325 Quee[n Street, Au]ckland. (just above Town Hall).
Latest news summaries, lantern [ILLEGIBLE]s, and relevant addresses will b[e]
on various programmes. A charge of [ILLEGIBLE] made to cover light supper and ha[ll]
hire fees. ( 8 to 10.15 pm.) The Dom. Pres. will not be able to attend firs[t]
meeting in the new year, due to temporary absence to Woodbourne Air Force
Station (Blenheim) 21st Feb. -16th March, however, other committee men &
women will ably carry the banner. (C/o Sergeant's Mess Woodbourne Air Force
NEW REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTED
Mr. A.B. Wallace, Nelson Cresent, Napier, has been appointed our Hawkes Ba[y]
Representative. CSI members in Napier and Hastings may like to write to Mr[.]
Wallace, and perhaps arrange a discussion evening someplace .(109 Nelson C[resent])
ALL REPRESENTATIVES & MEMBERS ALERTED
All Representatives and Members are requested to keep a sharp lookout from
this date on. Please forward post haste all private and press reported ob[s]-
ervations to headquarters. Then we can follow up if merited. Clip also th[e]
title of press and date when forwarding Daily paper cuttings. Best wishes
to all in the New Year now with us and sincere thanks for all assistance.
Harold H. Fulton, Dom. Pres. CSI[
Return Address. CSI(NZ) P.O. Box 1914
Auckland, New Zealand.
[Postmark: UPPER SYMOND 1 PM 23 JAN 1956 N.Z.] [Stamp: CHECK IF INC[OMING] ADVISE WR[ITER]]"THE FLYING SAUCER CONSPIRACY" by Major Donald E. Keyhoe. Published by
Henry Holt Company Ltd. 383 Madison Avenue, New York 17, N.Y. Price $ 3.50.
(First Class Postage 90cents)(English publisher not yet named).
11TH SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR
CLOSEST APPROACH OF EARTH & MARS IN 3 DECADES SHORTLY
During the almost ideal and very favourable approach of Earth to Mars in
Sept., large observatories, particularly in the northern hemisphere will be
giving the red planet the greatest scientific going over in recorded histor[y]
BUT, all "UFO" investigators feel most assured that the exact reverse will
also be the case. Earth may well receive the greatest incursion, surveill-
ance, landings and encounters from outer space visitors either operating or
perhaps originating from the wise old globe. Professor Hermann Oberth, lead[ing]
rocket scientist recently stated " The planets and their satellites in
our system may only be the stepping stones used by intelligent beings coming to us from another system". Reference to our "Mars Opposition" chart Vol 3
No 2 CSI quarterly magazine is recommended for further clarification of the
Mars question. This greater "UFO" activity will probably bridge a period of
six months, notable signs appearing (using past records as a guide) in July
- August.
ooooooooooooOoooooooooo
WORLD PRESS MOST SUFFERED VICTIM
No other singular great public serving organization has been more hoodwinke[d]
and double-crossed by official "UFO" authorities. Truly it is time the pres[s]
got its back up, dug into and exposed the deceit, double-talk and concealed
facts long impatiently waiting for a thorough airing. To date the biggest &
hottest ever scoop story still goes begging. Civilian investigators repeat
their promise of every assistance.
-------------------
MARK THESE DATES CSI GENERAL MEETINGS. ON YOUR CALENDAR
Permanent bookings for monthly general meetings have now been arranged.
Commencing February 22nd., and every subsequent 4th Wednesday in the mon[th]
during 1956, CSI members and fr[iends will m]eet in the Auckland Sunday Sch[ool]
Union Hall, 1st Floor, 325 Quee[n Street, Au]ckland. (just above Town Hall).
Latest news summaries, lantern [ILLEGIBLE]s, and relevant addresses will b[e]
on various programmes. A charge of [ILLEGIBLE] made to cover light supper and ha[ll]
hire fees. ( 8 to 10.15 pm.) The Dom. Pres. will not be able to attend firs[t]
meeting in the new year, due to temporary absence to Woodbourne Air Force
Station (Blenheim) 21st Feb. -16th March, however, other committee men &
women will ably carry the banner. (C/o Sergeant's Mess Woodbourne Air Force
NEW REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTED
Mr. A.B. Wallace, Nelson Cresent, Napier, has been appointed our Hawkes Ba[y]
Representative. CSI members in Napier and Hastings may like to write to Mr[.]
Wallace, and perhaps arrange a discussion evening someplace .(109 Nelson C[resent])
ALL REPRESENTATIVES & MEMBERS ALERTED
All Representatives and Members are requested to keep a sharp lookout from
this date on. Please forward post haste all private and press reported ob[s]-
ervations to headquarters. Then we can follow up if merited. Clip also th[e]
title of press and date when forwarding Daily paper cuttings. Best wishes
to all in the New Year now with us and sincere thanks for all assistance.
Harold H. Fulton, Dom. Pres. CSI[
Return Address. CSI(NZ) P.O. Box 1914
Auckland, New Zealand.
[Postmark: SYMON[D] 1 PM 23 JAN 1956 N.Z.] [Stamp: CHECK IF INC[OMING] ADVISE WR[ITER]]
7/Lt. Ronald Golding
7 Centner St.,
Leaton[?]
WellingtonCIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATION(NZ)
CHANGE OF POLICY AND BROADENING OF AIMS AND OBJECTS
AS DECIDED AT 20TH MEETING OF INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
6th May 1954 C.S.I. Headquarters 1 Nissan Place,Onehunga,
S.E.5,; Auckland,New Zealand.
C.S.I. Change Of Policy New Ideals Rules [FILE stamp]
Because of the rapidly developing picture more than strongly favouring the
presence of real "Unidentified Objects" in our skies, C.S.I. today believes
that best purpose can now be served by opening this organization to the
public at large wishing to join. This will permit the promulgation or broadcast of information on a far wider scale.
C.S.I.'s Aims and Objects when established on 12th October 1952 were:-
(1) To file all reports of Flying Saucers; these reports would
receive sincere and unbiased investigation and would be kept
confidential if required by informant.
(2) To correspond and affiliate with kindred bodies abroad so that
information may be exchanged and greater knowledge obtained.
(3) To try and establish the true nature of the mystery objects
their purpose and composition: To try and make contact.
The aims and objects will now so broaden to include
(4) To pass on via lectures, published papers, magazine and all
means at our disposal information recorded about these mysterious objects frequenting earth skies.
(5) Information will be authenticated as far as possible and
classified as to reliability. Every effort will be made to
present the subject on a senible level so as not to cause
fear, alarm or revulsion.
(6) To keep up to date with all modern aids to visual detection
and latest developments in rockets,preparation for interplanetary flight and astronomical data complimentary to the above.
The following rules have been accepted on a provisionary basis:-
(i) The name of the organization shall remain "Civilian Saucer
Investigation(NZ)."
(2) Committee meetings shall be held once a month, general meet-
ings as notified to members 7 days in advance.
(3) Present Officers of C.S.I.(numbering 7) shall remain in office
for the next 12 months unless one or all should make applica-
tion for resignation. They will be subject to re-election at
the termination of this period.
(4) Provision for increase in members of committee is allowed,
subject to a financial member being nominated by two officers
and duly elected.
(5) All applications for membership to C.S.I. will be presented at
the next monthly meeting , proposed , seconded , carried.
The committee reserves the right to decline an application for
reasons of undesirable character, mental instability and other
undesirable factors.
(6) Financial subscription shall be at the rate of £1 per annum.
Members will be intitled to the quarterly "Flying Saucers",
(official magazine) and other news releases from time to time.C.S.I. Change Of Policy New Ideals Rules [FILE stamp]
Because of the rapidly developing picture more than strongly favouring the
presence of real "Unidentified Objects" in our skies, C.S.I. today believes
that best purpose can now be served by opening this organization to the
public at large wishing to join. This will permit the promulgation or broad-
cast of information on a far wider scale.
C.S.I.'s Aims and Objects when established on 12th October 1952 were:-
(1) To file all reports of Flying Saucers; these reports would
receive sincere and unbiased investigation and would be kept
confidential if required by informant.
(2) To correspond and affiliate with kindred bodies abroad so that
information may be exchanged and greater knowledge obtained.
(3) To try and establish the true nature of the mystery objects
their purpose and composition: To try and make contact.
The aims and objects will now so broaden to include
(4) To pass on via lectures, published papers, magazine and all
means at our disposal information recorded about these myst-
erious objects frequenting earth skies.
(5) Information will be authenticated as far as possible and
classified as to reliability. Every effort will be made to
present the subject on a senible level so as not to cause
fear, alarm or revulsion.
(6) To keep up to date with all modern aids to visual detection
and latest developments in rockets,preparation for interplan-
etary flight and astronomical data complimentary to the above.
The following rules have been accepted on a provisionary basis:-
(i) The name of the organization shall remain "Civilian Saucer
Investigation(NZ)."
(2) Committee meetings shall be held once a month, general meet-
ings as notified to members 7 days in advance.
(3) Present Officers of C.S.I.(numbering 7) shall remain in office
for the next 12 months unless one or all should make applica-
tion for resignation. They will be subject to re-election at
the termination of this period.
(4) Provision for increase in members of committee is allowed,
subject to a financial member being nominated by two officers
and duly elected.
(5) All applications for membership to C.S.I. will be presented at
the next monthly meeting , proposed , seconded , carried.
The committee reserves the right to decline an application for
reasons of undesirable character, mental instability and other
undesirable factors.
(6) Financial subscription shall be at the rate of £1 per annum.
Members will be intitled to the quarterly "Flying Saucers",
(official magazine) and other news releases from time to time.
(7) Those representatives and honorary observers appointed since
inauguration will be declared foundation members and retain
their status on making application for membership.
(8) Individuals will cease to be members of C.S.I. upon writtenapplication for resignation , non-receipt of renewal subscrip-
tion after 6 months , conduct not accreditable or acceptable
to the organizations aims, principles or policy.
(9) A quorum of three members of the committee must be in attendance
plus the Chairman and Secretary at a committee meeting before
any official business can be transacted . Quorum strength sub-
ject to revision on increase of committee.
(10) In the event of an official government announcement with full
accurate and positive identification of the "Unidentified Fly-
ing Objects" ; that indeed these objects are real and intellig-
ently controlled , C.S.I. will carry on and assist in every way
possible with the education of our peoples in all aspects of
this then revolutionary discovery . C.S.I. may then change its
name if members deem desirable.
(II) The standing rules provisionary approved at this meeting dated
6th May 1954 may be added to, altered or rescinded at subsequ-
ent annual general or extraordinary meetings , subject to 14
days notice of motion.
(I2) Extra-ordinary meetings may be called by the President or on
demand by no less than four members of the committee.
(I3) The President ,Secretary and Treasurer are the only persons
authorized to use official stationary,seals etc.
(I4) A banking account will be opened in the name of the organizat-
ion, the President, Secretary and Treasurer being the only
persons having access to the account. Withdrawal cheques must
be counter-signed by the other two senior officers.
(I5) 1 Nissan Place Onehunga S.E.5. Auckland New Zealand (President's
residence) is declared C.S.I. Headquarters and that both this
address and P.O.Box 1914 be used for all official correspondence.
(I6) Although the organization has no connection with the government,
it will co-operate if called upon to do so; subject to confirm-
ation at a meeting. C.S.I. has no political affiliations;members
will strive for only the highest of principles worthily of our
Crown, Countrymen and this rapidly developing modern era.
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO THE MEETING SUMMARISING THE RESULTS OF
C.S.I.'S EIGHTEEN MONTHS INVESTIGATION OF "UNIDENTIFIED FLYING
OBJECTS"
[C]ivilian Saucer Investigation(NZ) was established on the 12th October 1952
[and] has in accordance with rules laid down at inauguration remained to this
[tim]e a small compact body with a maximum strength of eight committee members.
[R]epresentatives and Honorary Observers have been appointed throughout N.Z.
[a]nd overseas countries from keen correspondents willing to give every assist-
ance and from Officers of kindred organizations.
[E]ighteen months have lapsed since inauguration , during which time the aims
[a]nd objectives of our investigation have been carried out with much vigour
[a]nd determination, resulting in some noteworthy success.(This does not im[ply]
that we have solved the mystery.) In this period a great amount of activ[ity]
[o]n the part of UFOs have been noted and our log books of New Zealand and
[o]verseas reports house a vast amount of information from private, press rep[or]-
[te]d and official sources.
[T]he committee having made itself familiar with the many theories advanced to
[e]xplain the "Saucers"; having also made research into and aquainted thems[elv]-
[es] with all known forms of atmospheric , meteoric , celestial , and extr[a-]
terrestrial natural phenomena..........any official business can be transacted . Quorum strength sub-
ject to revision on increase of committee.
(10) In the event of an official government announcement with full
accurate and positive identification of the "Unidentified Fly-
ing Objects" ; that indeed these objects are real and intellig-
ently controlled , C.S.I. will carry on and assist in every way
possible with the education of our peoples in all aspects of
this then revolutionary discovery . C.S.I. may then change its
name if members deem desirable.
(II) The standing rules provisionary approved at this meeting dated
6th May 1954 may be added to, altered or rescinded at subsequ-
ent annual general or extraordinary meetings , subject to 14
days notice of motion.
(I2) Extra-ordinary meetings may be called by the President or on
demand by no less than four members of the committee.
(I3) The President ,Secretary and Treasurer are the only persons
authorized to use official stationary,seals etc.
(I4) A banking account will be opened in the name of the organizat-
ion, the President, Secretary and Treasurer being the only
persons having access to the account. Withdrawal cheques must
be counter-signed by the other two senior officers.
(I5) 1 Nissan Place Onehunga S.E.5. Auckland New Zealand (President's
residence) is declared C.S.I. Headquarters and that both this
address and P.O.Box 1914 be used for all official correspondence.
(I6) Although the organization has no connection with the government,
it will co-operate if called upon to do so; subject to confirm-
ation at a meeting. C.S.I. has no political affiliations;members
will strive for only the highest of principles worthily of our
Crown, Countrymen and this rapidly developing modern era.
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO THE MEETING SUMMARISING THE RESULTS OF
C.S.I.'S EIGHTEEN MONTHS INVESTIGATION OF "UNIDENTIFIED FLYING
OBJECTS"
[C]ivilian Saucer Investigation(NZ) was established on the 12th October 1952
[and] has in accordance with rules laid down at inauguration remained to this
[tim]e a small compact body with a maximum strength of eight committee members.
[R]epresentatives and Honorary Observers have been appointed throughout N.Z.
[a]nd overseas countries from keen correspondents willing to give every assist-
ance and from Officers of kindred organizations.
[E]ighteen months have lapsed since inauguration , during which time the aims
[a]nd objectives of our investigation have been carried out with much vigour
[a]nd determination, resulting in some noteworthy success.(This does not im[ply]
that we have solved the mystery.) In this period a great amount of activ[ity]
[o]n the part of UFOs have been noted and our log books of New Zealand and
[o]verseas reports house a vast amount of information from private, press rep[or]-
[te]d and official sources.
[T]he committee having made itself familiar with the many theories advanced to
[e]xplain the "Saucers"; having also made research into and aquainted thems[elv]-
[es] with all known forms of atmospheric , meteoric , celestial , and extr[a-]
terrestrial natural phenomena..........
[finds] That to date no natural phenomena explanation can account for or sat-
isfactorily explain away, the hundreds of exceptionally well authen-
ticated reports submitted with minute details by the most reliable
qualified witnesses, supported by radar, theodolite, telescope, cam-
era (still and movie) and other mechanical aids to aerial detection.Ther[efo]re It is the feeling of this committee that there is on record to-
day powerful evidence to support the existence of real strange-
shaped craft frequenting earth skies with flight characteristics
and capabilities far beyond our most advanced design and compre-
hension.
Concurrently The very evidence that so strongly supports the true existence
of these strange ships, equally well supports the growing con-
viction of all investigating authorities that they are indeed of
extra-terrestrial origin.
It is also of paramount significance to this committee that those govern-
ment sponsored investigating agencies in the U.S.A. and Canada in particular
, after five years research, analysis and experiment ; aided by all modern
mechanical instruments and leading scientific brains, have failed to find
a natural phenomena explanation as the cause of the thousands of world-wide
reports. These authorities admit that 20% are inexplicable.
It is also significant that today all the major world powers and many of
the minor ones , have now established departments, laborities and their
respective security forces giving continuous and top priority study to this
baffling and astonishing problem of ever growing concern.
This committee, because of its acute awareness of the situation on a world
-wide basis and because of certain complex happenings of recent development
in the U.S.A.,feels that the American authorities have to a greater or less-
er extent solved the mystery, but to date have refused to release the facts
for publication. If this is a true and accurate summary of evidence as we
feel confident and justified in making , then the secret of the "Saucers"
or Unidentified Flying Objects cannot remain much longer inexplicable.
SOME INTERESTING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND
PROGRESS OF KINDRED ORGANIZATIONS ABROAD.
Most encourageing progress has been made in the last 12 months by kindred
investigating bodies overseas. In England, Australia and U.S.A. in partic-
ular membership is fast approaching the thousand mark and it looks like
climbing to many thousands unless the authorities soon spill the beans.
Without doubt the worlds millions would give much to know the answer to
mystery , it is perfectly clear that the majority no longer accept the [outd]-
ated statements from scientists, that the "Saucers" can be explained awa[y]
as natural phenomena,balloonary etc. All the civilian groups are receiv[ing]
constant encouragement from a public kept mainly in the dark by the aut[hori]-
ties. The public are joining the investigating groups,clubs etc to try [to]
get nearer the truth and keep pace with the trend of events in the sau[cer]
riddle. It is noted from the lastest issue of the English body's offic[ial]
magazine that some prominent names are appearing in the membership li[st]
Engineers, Astronomers, Scientists, and commissioned officers of the A[ir]
Force and other Services.
The British Isles and the European theatre received its biggest and
disturbing period of sightings in the last three months of 1953, as
the Air Ministry, Fleet Air Arm and Army Headquarters and also the [
are seriously investigating, exchanging information at top secret le[vel with]
each other and their allies abroad. A recent announcement stated that
Aircrews were being lectured on the "Saucers" and that Aircrews were r[estric]-
-ted from passing the details of their sightings on to the press.
Since 1st January, up to date of writing there has been hundreds of sig[ht]-
ings in the Australian area, 70 odd reports in Victoria alone during Ja[nuary]
(as published by C.A.D.Aust). The objects next made startling appearanc[es]
around Central Australia (Alice Springs, one was photographed) and the[
to South Australia & Western Australia (Adeliade, Perth etc) much confu[sion].
Scientists held meetings,tried best to explain it away,but to no avail. [The]
recent sightings have occured over Tasmania, Farmers,Engineers and ex R.[A.]
F. personnel all saw and heard fast moving and manouvering objects. Half-[page mentions in local press, publication of sketches of objects sent in [by] observers.][hereun]der.
Concurrently The very evidence that so strongly supports the true existence
of these strange ships, equally well supports the growing con-
viction of all investigating authorities that they are indeed of
extra-terrestrial origin.
It is also of paramount significance to this committee that those govern-
ment sponsored investigating agencies in the U.S.A. and Canada in particular
, after five years research, analysis and experiment ; aided by all modern
mechanical instruments and leading scientific brains, have failed to find
a natural phenomena explanation as the cause of the thousands of world-wide
reports. These authorities admit that 20% are inexplicable.
It is also significant that today all the major world powers and many of
the minor ones , have now established departments, laborities and their
respective security forces giving continuous and top priority study to this
baffling and astonishing problem of ever growing concern.
This committee, because of its acute awareness of the situation on a world
-wide basis and because of certain complex happenings of recent development
in the U.S.A.,feels that the American authorities have to a greater or less[er]
extent solved the mystery, but to date have refused to release the facts
for publication. If this is a true and accurate summary of evidence as we
feel confident and justified in making , then the secret of the "Saucers"
or Unidentified Flying Objects cannot remain much longer inexplicable.
SOME INTERESTING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND
PROGRESS OF KINDRED ORGANIZATIONS ABROAD.
Most encourageing progress has been made in the last 12 months by kindred
investigating bodies overseas. In England, Australia and U.S.A. in partic[ular]
membership is fast approaching the thousand mark and it looks like
climbing to many thousands unless the authorities soon spill the beans.
Without doubt the worlds millions would give much to know the answer to
mystery , it is perfectly clear that the majority no longer accept the [outd]-
ated statements from scientists, that the "Saucers" can be explained awa[y]
as natural phenomena,balloonary etc. All the civilian groups are receiv[ing]
constant encouragement from a public kept mainly in the dark by the aut[hori]-
ties. The public are joining the investigating groups,clubs etc to try [to]
get nearer the truth and keep pace with the trend of events in the sau[cer]
riddle. It is noted from the lastest issue of the English body's offic[ial]
magazine that some prominent names are appearing in the membership li[st]
Engineers, Astronomers, Scientists, and commissioned officers of the A[ir]
Force and other Services.
The British Isles and the European theatre received its biggest and
disturbing period of sightings in the last three months of 1953, as
the Air Ministry, Fleet Air Arm and Army Headquarters and also the [
are seriously investigating, exchanging information at top secret le[vel with]
each other and their allies abroad. A recent announcement stated that[
Aircrews were being lectured on the "Saucers" and that Aircrews were r[estric]-
-ted from passing the details of their sightings on to the press.
Since 1st January, up to date of writing there has been hundreds of sig[ht]-
ings in the Australian area, 70 odd reports in Victoria alone during Ja[nuary]
(as published by C.A.D.Aust). The objects next made startling appearanc[es]
around Central Australia (Alice Springs, one was photographed) and the[
to South Australia & Western Australia (Adeliade, Perth etc) much confu[sion].
Scientists held meetings,tried best to explain it away,but to no avail. [The]
recent sightings have occured over Tasmania, Farmers,Engineers and ex R.[A.]
F. personnel all saw and heard fast moving and manouvering objects. Half-
page mentions in local press, publication of sketches of objects sent in[
observers. Significant point of recent Australian sightings is that most
the sighting reports state that the objects are accompanied with sound,
times very loud; noises not similar to jet or other aircraft motors. Ce[rtain]
Australian (never heard of flying saucers) native ,very frightened,clai[med]
that he was nearly knocked off his horse by round-ball-like object that
big wind and much noise as it rose over a ridge towards him. Many nativ[es]
came into Alice Springs reporting strange machines in the air, strange
[each] with four jet streams, also seen by group of surveyors (engineers[).]the surveyors reported seeing a formation of the strange machines,said they
were sending sketches of objects to the R.A.A.F. and Mr Jarrold Pres[ident]
Flying Saucer Bureau. The incidents in Australia over the last three [m]onths
are followed in the main a circular path. From the States of Victoria, Cent-
al Australia, South Australia , Tasmania and now back again in Victoria.
There has been reports from most parts of Australia over this period, but
[m]ajor appearances have occured in the areas mentioned above.
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE MUROC CALIFORNIA.
There is much speculation amoung many of the U.S.A. civilian Saucer groups
about some recent developments at the above base, Frank Edwards ,American
[r]adio commentator ,first gave out the news about two months ago that another
"Saucer Craft" had been found and was under top level inspection by scientists
[na]mes mentioned by Edwards) at Edwards Air Force Base. Tales of question-
able repute are reaching us that a number of alien craft have landed there
[a]nd that demonstrations are being given the American scientists by the alien
[cr]ews, it is reported that the situation at the Air Base is electric and is
[kn]own by the leading Wire Press Services. C.S.I. has no confirmation of the
[repo]rted happenings, treat it with caution,however in view of the overall
[happenin]gs in the Saucer drama such a situation as mentioned above is a
[possi]bility and not at all remote or fantastic. Edwards Air Force Base is
[a] major flight test Station in the States, Test Pilot Bill Bridgeman(for
[D]ouglas Aircraft) has flown the navy experimental "rocket propelled "Sky-
rocket"at nearly a hundred thousand ft at speeds in excess of 1600 M.P.H.
The aircraft is air launched from a huge bomber already some 30,000 ft up.
"OPERATION MARS"JULY 2ND.
The "Australasian POST" 29thApril issue has a most straight forward and most
frank 4 page article titled "OPERATION MARS". It tells how Australian
scientists and leading Astronomers are preparing for the coming Mars Oppos-
ition". A famous French Astronomer , de G.Vaucouleurs (Marsian student) is
at present in Australia and is playing a major part in preparing the Tele[s]-
copes and other instruments on Mount Stronno(not sure of mount spelling).
This is an extremely interesting article , The possibility of Marsian life
and intelligent beings and the possibility that that it is the base of the
Flying Saucers is openly discussed. Order your copy now, this issue is not
yet on sale in New Zealand.
"THE COMPLETE BOOK OF OUTER SPACE"
[T]his is the title of a recent publication recently purchased by C.S.I.from
[loc]al booksellers. 13/6 . This book or bound magazine on good quality paper
[is m]ost up to date series of articles by Willy Lee , Dr Wernher Von Braun
[, Ha]nz Haber, Hugo Gernsback and others prominent in this field. Also has
[sectio]n at rear of Flying Saucers. Publishers Sidgwick and Jackson.
[Beauti]fully well illustrated.
LECTURES TO SOCIETIES AND GATHERINGS.
[Pres]ident of C.S.I. has recently given on request a series of lectures
[on "Fly]ing Saucers" to a number of societies and private gatherings at
[differe]nt homes in Auckland. These addresses have meet with great responce.
[Lec]tures up to date have been confined to a summary of all aspects of
[the dra]ma, later lectures will deal with specified aspects. Requests have
[been] made by those societies addresses for further lectures on the subject.
[R]equests will be met with pleasure wherever possible.
MEMBERSHIP FEES TO C.S.I.
[Interes]ted parties may consider that the Sub of £1 asked by C.S.I. for fin-
[anc]ial membership is rather high, we do not deny this, however, you will
[appr]eciate that the cost of research is high as is the cost of all forms
[of prin]ted matter. C.S.I. will remain a non-profit organization,all funds
[being di]rected to materializing our plans aims and objectives.[there] has been reports from most parts of Australia over this period, but
[m]ajor appearances have occured in the areas mentioned above.
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE MUROC CALIFORNIA.
[T]here is much speculation amoung many of the U.S.A. civilian Saucer groups
[a]bout the recent developments at the above base, Frank Edwards ,American
[ra]dio commentator ,first gave out the news about two months ago that another
"Saucer Craft" had been found and was under top level inspection by scientists
[me]ntioned by Edwards) at Edwards Air Force Base. Tales of question-
able repute are reaching us that a number of alien craft have landed there
[a]nd that demonstrations are being given the American scientists by the alien
[c]rews, it is reported that the situation at the Air Base is electric and is
[kno]wn by the leading Wire Press Services. C.S.I. has no confirmation of the
[repor]ted happenings, treat it with caution,however in view of the overall
[happenin]gs in the Saucer drama such a situation as mentioned above is a
[possibil]ity and not at all remote or fantastic. Edwards Air Force Base is
[a] major flight test Station in the States, Test Pilot Bill Bridgeman(for
[D]ouglas Aircraft) has flown the navy experimental "rocket propelled "Sky-
rocket"at nearly a hundred thousand ft at speeds in excess of 1600 M.P.H.
[The] aircraft is air launched from a huge bomber already some 30,000 ft up.
"OPERATION MARS"JULY 2ND.
[The Aust]ralasian POST" 29thApril issue has a most straight forward and most
[frank 4] page article titled "OPERATION MARS". It tells how Australian
[scientis]ts and leading Astronomers are preparing for the coming Mars Oppos-
[ition"]. A famous French Astronomer , de G.Vaucouleurs (Marsian student) is
[at pres]ent in Australia and is playing a major part in preparing the Tele[s]-
[copes a]nd other instruments on Mount Stronno(not sure of mount spelling).
[This is a]n extremely interesting article , The possibility of Marsian life
[and intel]ligent beings and the possibility that that it is the base of the
[Flying S]aucers is openly discussed. Order your copy now, this issue is not
[yet on sal]e in New Zealand.
"THE COMPLETE BOOK OF OUTER SPACE"
[This is the] title of a recent publication recently purchased by C.S.I.from
[local book]sellers. 13/6 . This book or bound magazine on good quality paper
[is most] up to date series of articles by Willy Lee ; Dr Wernher Von Braun
[, Han]z Haber, Hugo Gernsback and others prominent in this field. Also has
[section a]t rear of Flying Saucers. Publishers Sidgwick and Jackson.
[Beauti]fully well illustrated.
LECTURES TO SOCIETIES AND GATHERINGS.
[Pres]ident of C.S.I. has recently given on request a series of lectures
[on "Fly]ing Saucers" to a number of societies and private gatherings at
[differe]nt homes in Auckland. These addresses have meet with great responce.
[Lec]tures up to date have been confined to a summary of all aspects of
[the dra]ma, later lectures will deal with specified aspects. Requests have
[been] made by those societies addresses for further lectures on the subject.
[R]equests will be met with pleasure wherever possible.
MEMBERSHIP FEES TO C.S.I.
[Interes]ted parties may consider that the Sub of £1 asked by C.S.I. for fin-
[anc]ial membership is rather high, we do not deny this, however, you will
[appr]eciate that the cost of research is high as is the cost of all forms
[of prin]ted matter. C.S.I. will remain a non-profit organization,all funds
[being di]rected to materializing our plans aims and objectives.
Official Magazine
[Thos]e who wish to remain as subscribers to the magazine only, please
[note] that subscription is now (7/- per 4 issues, and if you have received
[back is]sues, your renewal sub is overdue. Financial members will receive
[c]opies of the Magazine quarterly. check now,if you wish further copies
[of Fly]ing Saucers" C.S.I.'s official magazine.[Handwritten: File] [Handwritten: 4] ORGANISED WATCH FOR FLYING SAUCERS BEGINS 2 AUG 1956 "Project Skywatch" is under way, the group covers the period of the [ILLEGIBLE] close approach of the earth— shown that this is a likely period [to observe] the sighting of saucers and such ac[tivity.] —the opposition [ILLEGIBLE] —the close approach of the earth to Mars is [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] the observations have [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] and such ac[tivity] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] Civilian Saucer Investigation head- quarters — 1 Nissan place, Onehunga, a maps [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] corresponding maps will be placed [will be] asked of C.S.I. association from [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] to probe for further [ILLEGIBLE] [Right column:] [ILLEGIBLE] of the group hope to establish further [ILLEGIBLE] possible identification [ILLEGIBLE] of types and general supporting substantiation of UFOs are intellig[ent] claims rather than control[led devices from other [ILLEGIBLE] terrestrial sources. The civilian [ILLEGIBLE] participating struction to watch for and note all details of the strangers in our sk[ies] "We expect this to [ILLEGIBLE] arousing a world-wide participation and co-operation." [ILLEGIBLE] International Geo- physical Year—July, 1957, to Decem- ber 1958—and [ILLEGIBLE] participating [ILLEGIBLE] are intellig[ent devices from other] than terrestrial sources.
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS,
P.O. BOX 807, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS,
WELLINGTON C.1.
9th January,1956.
The Air Secretary,
Air Department,
Wellington.
[Reference box: 1A]
[Reference: 158/17]
[Stamp: NEW ZEALAND AIR DEPT DEC 10 1956]
[Annotation: 6.1.1956.]
Your 39/3/6/AAS [ILLEGIBLE]
I enclose a letter in French and a pamphlet and a translation of
several pamphlets. The pamphlet states that they are "flying saucers"
the former. The pamphlet states the writer's theory that they are
meteorities entering the atmosphere of the Earth and were mentioned by
several classical writers. The writer's theory is that they are from
outer space, which become heated through friction with the air. Should
you require a full translation of this paper please refer it back for
translation.
[Signature]
Secretary for Internal Affairs
Encl.
[Handwritten annotations: 1A, Encl., initials]A.O. [ILLEGIBLE]
Typed 18th April, 1959.
TY:BFH.
24/4/[8].
Dear Sir,
Saucers' Inquiry.
Your paper on "Flying Saucers" has been of great interest, and
I thank you for sending me a copy.
The subject is certainly not a new one; nevertheless, it always
appears to present a new aspect full of interest and mystery.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature: J.P. Shand]
T.P. SHAND,
Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation.
Monsieur Maurice Lebrun,
12, Place Joffre,
PARIS, VIIe,
France.
[Box: DEPARTED
also enclos. [ILLEGIBLE] Inits.
separate backs [ILLEGIBLE] C/[-/13]]39/3/3
23 August, 1956
WELLINGTON
Dear Sir,
I was interested to read your file on the Nelson saucers
and congratulate you on the amount of work put into the
investigation and the intelligent way it was written up.
Of course, the enquiry was really hamstrung by the inability
to examine the original negatives.
I have returned the 3 positives to Mr. Gibbons and
have no reason, at present, for pursuing the matter further.
Your file is returned and I thank you for the
opportunity to read it.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(R.E. GOLDING Sqn.Ldr.)
for Wing Commander,
DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE
[Handwritten: File]39/3/3
Mr. K.M. Gibbons, 23 August, 1956
C/- Dominion Physical Laboratory,
LOWER HUTT
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of the 8 August and I was
interested to see the positives you enclosed. As your
experience has been so well publicised in the past 2
years I do not think anything would be gained by further
discussion.
The three positives are returned herewith and I
thank you for allowing me to see them.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(R.E. GOLDING, Sqn.Ldr.)
for Wing Commander,
DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE.
[Handwritten: File]
[FILE stamp]Wellington.
1st, August, 1956.
The Director,
Air Force Intelligence Section,
Air Department,
Wellington. [39/[ILLEGIBLE]]
Sir,
A few weeks ago I saw a member of your staff and promised to leave
the accompanying file of information with you for perusal.
I wish its contents to be treated as strictly confidential, but
you are of course at liberty to investigate the matter further if you
so desire in fact I really think that someone in authority such as
yourselves should have a look at this story and the original negatives,
or duplicates, or prints or positives made from them.
I think that it is wiser that the file should be eventually
returned to me owing to the personal nature of much of its contents.
You have my permission to retain the file for three months and
to copy any of my material for your own records. In regard to the
material which is strictly not mine , which includes the unpublished
versions of the Gibbons incident by Messrs. Gibbons and [ILLEGIBLE]
the copying of this is your own concern. The unaddressed and unsigned
letter at the beginning of the file may be retained if you so desire.
It was written on the off chance that I could once more obtain the
attention of the Director of the Carter Observatory or some other
body interested in the incident.
The file was made for my own information as a record of my invest-
-igation of the affair with the result that in places it may appear
irrelevant. I have however made an effort to edit and rearrange the
material so that it would be readable to people unacquainted with the
controversy. It has been suggested to me that I try and condense the
file before showing it to you and remove the record of intrigue
regarding the missing negatives. I am afraid that I have not the time
to do this , and secondly I think that it is undesirable as a telephone
call to the Director of the Carter Observatory would soon acquaint
you with at least some of the details of the controversy over the
missing negatives. I do not think that any purpose would be served
in taking the story to the Carter Observatory a second time as I do
not think that they are interested to any extent, even though they have
only seen a small fraction of the contents of this file. The Carter
Observatory is mentioned in this file and also the Royal Astronomical
Society of New Zealand of which I am a member, and also statements by
by prominent members of that Society. For this reason I do not wish
any of the contents of this file to be made available to the Carter
Observatory which is also the headquarters of the Royal Astronomical
Society of New Zealand.
I do not consider the photographs claimed to have been taken by
Mr. Gibbons of flying saucers to contain much information regarding
the physical design of flying saucers if such objects really exist,
but on the other hand they would seem to possibly contain unique
information regarding the type of light emitted, and general behaviour
when in a stationary position and prior to movement. The first matter
however is to prove the genuineness or otherwise of the photographs.
I have contacted Mr. Gibbons and he has promised to lend me
positives made from the three original negatives covering the whole
field of view of the camera, and from which the three enlargements
on Page 14 were made.I will try and arrange to meet him at Petone
where I work and where I understand that he now has lodgings and
collect these positives. I will try and do this during the next week.
Mr. Gibbons has informed me that as far as he is aware the five
original negatives still exist and are in Nelson , presumably in the
custody of [ILLEGIBLE] . No one seems to have been interested in the
two with poor density, so I obtain the impression that it is quite
possible that these two have never even been printed. I do not think
that Mr. Gibbons will have any objection to seeing you if required
provided that it is outside his working hours.
[I have never seen the original negatives to date or any record of]
[the full field of view of the original negatives either prior to their]
[alleged theft or since they have been recovered.]
[I wish to apologize for the many typing errors in this file; I hav]
P.T.O.Air Force Intelligence Section,
Air Department,
Wellington. [39/[ILLEGIBLE]]
Sir,
A few weeks ago I saw a member of your staff and promised to leave
the accompanying file of information with you for perusal.
I wish its contents to be treated as strictly confidential, but
you are of course at liberty to investigate the matter further if you
so desire in fact I really think that someone in authority such as
yourselves should have a look at this story and the original negatives,
or duplicates, or prints or positives made from them.
I think that it is wiser that the file should be eventually
returned to me owing to the personal nature of much of its contents.
You have my permission to retain the file for three months and
to copy any of my material for your own records. In regard to the
material which is strictly not mine , which includes the unpublished
versions of the Gibbons incident by Messrs. Gibbons and [ILLEGIBLE]
the copying of this is your own concern. The unaddressed and unsigned
letter at the beginning of the file may be retained if you so desire.
It was written on the off chance that I could once more obtain the
attention of the Director of the Carter Observatory or some other
body interested in the incident.
The file was made for my own information as a record of my invest-
-igation of the affair with the result that in places it may appear
irrelevant. I have however made an effort to edit and rearrange the
material so that it would be readable to people unacquainted with the
controversy. It has been suggested to me that I try and condense the
file before showing it to you and remove the record of intrigue
regarding the missing negatives. I am afraid that I have not the time
to do this , and secondly I think that it is undesirable as a telephone
call to the Director of the Carter Observatory would soon acquaint
you with at least some of the details of the controversy over the
missing negatives. I do not think that any purpose would be served
in taking the story to the Carter Observatory a second time as I do
not think that they are interested to any extent, even though they have
only seen a small fraction of the contents of this file. The Carter
Observatory is mentioned in this file and also the Royal Astronomical
Society of New Zealand of which I am a member, and also statements by
by prominent members of that Society. For this reason I do not wish
any of the contents of this file to be made available to the Carter
Observatory which is also the headquarters of the Royal Astronomical
Society of New Zealand.
I do not consider the photographs claimed to have been taken by
Mr. Gibbons of flying saucers to contain much information regarding
the physical design of flying saucers if such objects really exist,
but on the other hand they would seem to possibly contain unique
information regarding the type of light emitted, and general behaviour
when in a stationary position and prior to movement. The first matter
however is to prove the genuineness or otherwise of the photographs.
I have contacted Mr. Gibbons and he has promised to lend me
positives made from the three original negatives covering the whole
field of view of the camera, and from which the three enlargements
on Page 14 were made.I will try and arrange to meet him at Petone
where I work and where I understand that he now has lodgings and
collect these positives. I will try and do this during the next week.
Mr. Gibbons has informed me that as far as he is aware the five
original negatives still exist and are in Nelson , presumably in the
custody of [ILLEGIBLE] . No one seems to have been interested in the
two with poor density, so I obtain the impression that it is quite
possible that these two have never even been printed. I do not think
that Mr. Gibbons will have any objection to seeing you if required
provided that it is outside his working hours.
I have never seen the original negatives to date or any record of
the full field of view of the original negatives either prior to their
alleged theft or since they have been recovered.
I wish to apologize for the many typing errors in this file; I hav[e]
P.T.O.corrected as many of these errors as possible. I do not claim to be [a]
typist, and I have had to do much of this work myself. My sister
helped me considerably once but latterly she has been busy with oth[er]
matters.
I Remain,
Yours Faithfully,Wellington.
9th, August, 1956.
The [D]irector,
Air Force Intelligence Section,
Air Dept,
Wellington.
Sir, In reference to file regarding Mr. Gibbons's saucer photographs
I visited his new lodgings [ILLEGIBLE] last night and was given the enclos[ed]
three positives and also the sealed letter which I enclose.
Mr. Gibbons said that you could keep the positives for several
weeks as long as they are returned. He said that they were not to be
copied without his written permission- he gave me to understand that
this was the subject of his sealed letter. His private address is c/o
[ILLEGIBLE]
Mr. Gibbons said that the positives covered practically all the
field of view of the original negatives. I have made a few calculations
based on the presumption that the horizontal diameter of the saucer
images on the original negatives was three sixteenths of an inch as stat[ed]
[ILLEGIBLE] in Nelson. On this basis by
the positive showing a single saucer only covers about one quarter of
the field of view of the original negative ; that of the saucer in
motion nearly half of the field of view of the original negative , and
that of three saucers a little more than half of the field of view of
the original negative. Under these circumstances are little better than
the copies in the file I have already lent you. The only solution seems
to be for you to have a talk with Mr. Gibbons yourselves if you are
really interested in the matter and persuade him to get the original
negatives up from [ILLEGIBLE] in Nelson for your inspection. I think
that it would be wise for you not to display my file in his presence
as I am not sure whether he is aware of the fact that I also copied his
photographs , although I believe that I told him this long ago. I also
understand from my conversation with Mr. Gibbons last night that the
original negatives were not eventually retrieved through the service[s]
of a solicitor but were obtained by [ILLEGIBLE] -
I Remain,
Yours Faithfully,
[FILE stamp][ILLEGIBLE] CONFIDENTIAL [ILLEGIBLE] - 9/13/3
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE
FROM : R.N.Z.A.F. Station Wigram To [ILLEGIBLE] and [ILLEGIBLE].
TO : Air Department Wellington [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
DATE: : 15th August, 1956
REF. : WIG.C10/1/AIR.
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
1. Further to Air Department signal AI 492, reports from the two pilots
concerned are forwarded without comment.
[signature]
(G.R. ERABYN)
Wing Commander Commanding
R.N.Z.A.F. Station Wigram
Encl.
CONFIDENTIAL 1/6 21/8
9052LOOSE MINUTE
TO: O.C. F.T.W.
SIGHTING OF UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
1. At 0945 hours on the 10th August, 1956 I was flying
with Sqn. Ldr. Roe in a Harvard from Wigram. During our
flight, at approximately 1000 hours, I noticed a very
bright patch in the sky to the north to which I drew the
attention of Sqn. Ldr. Roe. At the time it appeared to be
stationary and, owing to the distance, size was difficult
to estimate, the distance I would consider to be at least
70 n.m.s.
2. The shape of the bright patch appeared round and the
height around 20,000 feet.
3. We carried on with the exercise and on rejoining the
circuit I noticed the object again, in the same position.
This time it appeared to be larger and more elliptical in
shape. I again called Sqn. Ldr. Roe's attention to it, we
then joined the circuit and landed.
4. I would not care to make any suggestion as to what the
object was.
[signature]
(R.A. CURRIN)
Flying Officer.
14th August, 1956.LOOSE MINUTE
TO: O.C. F.T.W.
REPORT ON UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT/ILLUSION
SEEN ON 10TH AUGUST, 1956
1. At approximately 0955 hours on 10th August, 1956 while
flying in the local area in a Harvard aircraft my student
Fg. Off. Currin asked me if I could identify a shining object
inland. Following his directions I located what appeared to
be a solid object reflecting sun rays bearing approximately
north, which appeared to be well above the mountains in that
region.
2. Throughout the remainder of the detail I subsequently
saw the object/illusion on several occasions in approximately
the same position until about 1040 hours when we descended into
the haze layer above the airfield.
3. I would say the object/illusion was roughly circular in
fo[rm] but would hesitate to put size or exact shape to it as the
ra[ng]e of observation was considerable. By comparison with
[k]nown distance to mountains I would be inclined to put range
[abo]ve 40 miles and height above 15,000 feet.
I consider possible explanations as follows:-
(a) Reflection of sun rays from silver aircraft.
This is rather improbable owing to lengthy
period of observation in a stationary position.
(b) Sun reflection from snow or ice. Again improbable
since the sighting appeared considerably higher
than mountains in the area and was well detached
from visible peaks.
(c) Some reflected illusion of the mirage variety.
[signature]
(R.D. ROE, Sqn. Ldr.)
O.C. C.F.S.
[ILLEGIBLE]1956.iigs. 52 (Small) N.Z. ARMED SERVICES
COMBINED Office Serial No. ___________
MESSAGE FORM
Registry File No. ___________
FOR COMM CEN/SIGNALS USE ___________
ECEDENCE—ACTION | PRECEDENCE—INFO | DATE—TIME GROUP | MESSAGE INSTRUCTIONS
ROUTINE | DEFERRED | |
OM RNZAF HQ WN PREFIX GR
)
WIG SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
UNCLAS
ORIGINATORS NUMBER
FO A.I.
YOUR A.I.16 [.] PLEASE SUPPLY FULL REPORT[.]
[FILE stamp]
one of one pages | REFERS TO MESSAGE | DRAFTERS NAME | OFFICE | TEL No.
| CLASSIFIED |
| [ ] YES [ ] NO | H.T. JEFFREY | D. of I. | 768
R | DATE | TIME | SYSTEM | OPERATOR | D | DATE | TIME | SYSTEM | OPERATOR | RELEASING OFFICERS SIGNATURE
RANK [signature]
SECURITY.1.R.N.Z.A.F.—Form 683b AIR FORCE MESSAGE
SECURITY CATEGORY Registry File No.
TB [CONFIDENTIAL] / /
1449
FROM: WIG Serial No. and Date:
10 AUG 56 35/10
To: RNZAF HQ WN Time Received:
REPEATED: Time Despatched:
AI 16
REPORT OF UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT MADE BY SQN LDR ROE AND ANOTHER
FLYING INSTRUCTOR(.) LARGE SILVER COLOURED DISC VISIBLE FOR
APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR OVER SOUTHERN ALPS(.) ADVISE WHETHER
FURTHER DETAILS REQUIRED
[handwritten:] ref your AI 16 [handwritten:] Rec'd 6/5 [ILLEGIBLE]
Please supply full
report.
1001152...
DISTRIBUTION:
Action copy......D OF INT
Info. copy.......___________Dominion Physical Lab.
Lower Hutt.
9/8/56
To whom it may concern,
The enclosed
photographs are purely on loan. They must
not be reproduced or published without
my permission in writing.
Full frame is reproduced
in the positive and I would be quite happy
to discuss the photos with anyone. If you
wish to gain further information please contact
me at the above address or by telephone.
Yours Sincerely,
K. M. [ILLEGIBLE].- Phone call received 26/7/56
Control Centre
11 o'clock this morning C.O. Woodbourne
reported a silver object travelling N to W
25,000 to 35,000 feet . Seen by a number of people
[STRIKETHROUGH: THANKXM]
No aircraft or balloons in the area.
If you require further information please ring
C.O. Woodbourne.
[handwritten:] No further action
[signature]
[FILE stamp]