DISCLOSURE / FILE
Final volume of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's AIR 39/3/3 UFO correspondence file, covering 1981 to 1984, including the Christchurch and Temuka 1982 sightings and a 1984 Official Information Act dispute over Defence's UFO records.
Final volume of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's AIR 39/3/3 UFO correspondence file, covering 1981 to 1984, including the Christchurch and Temuka 1982 sightings and a 1984 Official Information Act dispute over Defence's UFO records.
Declassified by NZDF in September 2010 and released to the public in December 2010, AIR 39/3/3 Volume 4 contains RNZAF sighting reports, Ombudsman correspondence, and exchanges with UFO research groups for 1981 through 1984. The bulk of the early pages document a formal Official Information Act review opened by Chief Ombudsman George Laking on 6 April 1984 into Squadron Leader P.J. Lynch's 17 November 1983 refusal to release four items requested by Harold J. Knapman of the Mutual UFO Network. Secretary of Defence D.B.G. McLean's 15 May 1984 reply defends the refusals under Sections 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(b) of the Official Information Act 1982, citing privacy commitments made to the 1959 Moreland witness and the resource cost of opening Defence's UFO files to researchers. McLean frames the RNZAF posture as aligned with a post-1970 US Air Force policy that treats unidentified objects as a surveillance matter but not an investigative one.
Multiple UFO sightings from members of the public and reports on sightings at Christchurch International Airport and Temuka in 1982. Correspondence from the Office of the Ombudsman relating to public access to UFO information. Correspondence from / to UFO research groups in NZ and requests for UFO information from overseas researchers. Multiple Press clippings throughout.p.1
PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS FILE IS RESTRICTED UNTIL 2054 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRIVACY PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9 OF THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982.p.4
Naturally, the RNZAF has an underlying responsibility for the security of New Zealand airspace. Its attitude to UFOs however is not dissimilar from that of the United States Air Force which since about 1970, I am told, has worked to the policy that "reports of unidentified objects entering United States airspace are of interest to the military as a regular part of defense surveillance. Beyond that, the US Air Force no longer investigates reports of UFO sightings".p.9
The RNZAF is not and has never been required as a matter of course either to investigate UFO sightings, nor to collate reports forwarded to it.p.9
I should add that until now, the main report has not been released to any agency or person outside the Ministry of Defence.p.9
Extracted text · Page 1
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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 4 File Title: Reports of UFO's File Timespan: Opened: 1981 - Closed 1984 File Declassified: September 2010 Location of Original File: Held at Archives New Zealand Access to Original File: Restricted until 2054 File Contains: Various UFO sightings from members of the public and reports on sightings at Christchurch International Airport and Temuka in 1982. Correspondence from the Office of the Ombudsman relating to public access to UFO information. Correspondence from / to UFO research groups in NZ and requests for UFO information from overseas researchers. Various Press clippings throughout.
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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 2080 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.
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.
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 4 File Title: Reports of UFO's File Timespan: Opened: 1981 - Closed 1984 File Declassified: September 2010 Location of Original File: Held at Archives New Zealand Access to Original File: Restricted until 2054 File Contains: Various UFO sightings from members of the public and reports on sightings at Christchurch International Airport and Temuka in 1982. Correspondence from the Office of the Ombudsman relating to public access to UFO information. Correspondence from / to UFO research groups in NZ and requests for UFO information from overseas researchers. Various Press clippings throughout.
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 2080 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.
The 1983 Defence Review makes no provision for defence against extraterrestrial threats.p.11
During April 1954 the N.Z. Air Force received several movie films taken by civilians showing strange, mysterious pinpoints of light moving across the sky. They were duly examined by experts who later admitted that they had been unable to trace their origin, or offer any explanation as to what could have caused the lights in the skyp.14
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xxxxxx
749-299 Air 39/3/3/PR
4 February 1981
Mr Brian H. Mackrell
16 Sutherland Crescent
PALMERSTON NORTH
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 13 January asking copies
of reports of a UFO sighted in September, 1969 by two
Safe Air pilots.
The RNZAF, contrary to press reports, did not investigate
that sighting.
The RNZAF does not normally undertake detailed
investigations in UFO sightings. The 1979 investigation
into the Clarence River/Kaikoura sightings was an isolated
instance.
I regret that I cannot be of more assistance to you.
Yours faithfully,
(C. D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer
FILE. [ILLEGIBLE initials]
1 /inSERIES: REPORTS SUB-SERIES: MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECT: REPORTS OF U.F.O.'S File Opened:......JAN..1981...... File Closed:[ILLEGIBLE] Previous File:....VOL.2...... Subsequent File: Subject: OTHER RELEVANT FILES [Stamp] DECLASSIFIED On 27 JAN 2010 Reference [ILLEGIBLE] Appointment [ILLEGIBLE] PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS FILE IS RESTRICTED UNTIL 2054 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRIVACY PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9 OF THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982. SIGNED [ILLEGIBLE] DATED 7 SEP 2010 [Handwritten:] now use (630/2 DISPOSAL CATEGORY: TRANSIT DIRECTIONS Folio | Referred to | Date | Actioned by Initials | Date | Folio | Referred to | Date | Actioned by Initials | Date | Folio | Referred to | Date | Actioned by Initials | Date W10 JC (ann) | 25/6/81 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 1 20 | PRO(MR) | 29/6/81 | [ILLEGIBLE] Reg/14 | 11/7/81 | 4R 22 | PRO(AM) | 4/8/81 | [ILLEGIBLE] GUARD? | [ILLEGIBLE] 23 | OPS 2 | [ILLEGIBLE] | w/1 | 10/8 25 | PRO(AMS) | [ILLEGIBLE] | 20/8 | 25 D OPS | 1/8/81 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 3/9 DOSN(S) | 9/9 D OPS | 9/9 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 10/9 OPS 3 | 11/9 | w/t | [ILLEGIBLE] OPS 2 | 25/10 | [ILLEGIBLE] 19 | D.O.S.D.(?) | 15/10/81 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 1mi | 16/10 19 | D.OPS | [ILLEGIBLE]/10 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 29/10 11 | OPS 2 | w/t | 4/12 12 | PRO(MR) | 5/12 | 1/6 | 9/12 PRO.Pol.(D) | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | 27/ D.O.S.D | 5/82 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 25/82 PRO AIR | 1/82 | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] 25 | PRO AIR | 1/2/83 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 12/2 D OPS | 12/2 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 25/2 PRO MR | 25/2 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 2/3 OPS 1 | 9/5/83 | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] PRO MR | 14/1/83 | 1/6 | 5/8 OPS 1 | 9/3/33 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 29/8 46 | SA SC | 12/6/83 | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] Pro Air | 23/3/[ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | 29/3 SASO | 14/4/[ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] AAO Pol | 9/5/84 | 11/. | 11/9 SASO | 14/8/84 | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] SASO | 1/11/8[ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] DROCS | 8/4/82 | [ILLEGIBLE] | 9/4 OPS 4A | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | 13/11 RDC | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] OPS 4A | 3/1/9 | N | 4/12 RDO | 4/12/[ILLEGIBLE] OPS 3(?) | 2/3/4[ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | 5 P-OCT | 28/4[ILLEGIBLE] CTR(?)(?) | 20/6/[ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | 7/9[ILLEGIBLE] RDO | [ILLEGIBLE] OPS4 | 13/3/[ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | 13/5 PLANS 1 | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | 11/3/0[ILLEGIBLE] PLANS 2 | [ILLEGIBLE] | [ILLEGIBLE] | 2/1/10
VETTING RECORD SHEET
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FILE NO 39/3/3 LOCATION FRB NZ ARCHIVES
PART NO 4 TYPE [ILLEGIBLE] / NIM
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Series Reports
Sub-Series MISCELLANEOUS
Subject REPORTS OF UFO's
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14272E--200 pads/3/84 MK[Handwritten top left:] cleared with SASO [Routing slip table:] 1 | ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS | RTK 2 | BEFORE SIGNATURE | to [ILLEGIBLE] OFD 3 | FOR SIGNATURE | by Sec D[ILLEGIBLE] 4 | BEFORE DISPATCH | to AOCROB W 5 | DISPATCH | Date 15-5-84 | Initials P.G. 6 | AFTER DISPATCH | to BOA[ILLEGIBLE] 7 | BRING UP | on | to 8 | [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp:] 15 MAY 1984 [Handwritten right side:] Air 39/3/3 for Confidential. classification before despatch thw Pa/Sec 1b 14/5 [Stamp:] DOWNGRADED TO 3/3 UNCLASSIFIED On 27/1/2010 Reference D.150 Appointment [ILLEGIBLE] [Handwritten:] correction only this morning joe 1. SASO 2. FILE air [Handwritten:] To 3/3 Chief Ombudsman Office of the Ombudsman PO Box 10152 The Terrace WELLINGTON Dear Mr Laking Please refer to your letter of 6 April 1984, requesting a report under the provisions of the Official Information Act concerning information on UFOs sought by Mr Harold J. Knapman. I should say first that I regret our omission in failing to draw Mr Knapman's attention to his rights under the Act. This was simply an oversight, due in part to initial unfamiliarity with the Act during the first few weeks after it came into force, and in part because Mr Knapman is one of a number of "old friends" whose position on his favourite subject is thoroughly well known to us. In this case, familiarity perhaps led to an unintended breach of the new legislation. Copies of some previous correspondence with Mr Knapman are enclosed. Of the four requests for information now at issue, the first two cannot be satisfied. As Mr Knapman has already been told, we do not hold any movie films taken by civilians in 1954 nor do we have any record of ever having received such films. The records of this Ministry and the Air Staff have been searched thoroughly. I am not familiar with the works of Michael Harvey, and have no way of establishing his credentials nor the basis for the passage Mr Knapman quotes from his book. And there is no record of a report by a senior NCO on UFO sightings at Whenuapai in August 1954. Turning to the then Mrs Moreland's account of her alleged encounter with a UFO and its occupants in 1959, Mr Knapman again has been advised that the undertaking given her not to release this material without her consent is still in force. Copies of correspondence between this lady (now Mrs McCallum) and the Ministry in 1979 are enclosed, and these speak for themselves. In respect of Mr Knapman's claim that the assurance was made 25 years ago and that it now somehow lacks validity, the commitment was reaffirmed
2 at her behest only five years ago. In deciding that that undertaking should be honoured, the provisions of the Official Information Act Sections 9(2)(a) and (b) were seen to apply. As requested, copies of statements made by Mrs Moreland in 1959 and records of interviews with her are also enclosed for your information. It is easy to understand her wish to avoid further publicity. Mr Knapman claims to require the information for research purposes only, but the Ministry has no confidence that resurrection of the matter would not result in what Mrs McCallum would consider to be harassment. It was this possibility that was borne in mind rather than the confidentiality of her name for its own sake. After all, if we gave Mr Knapman the information he could well consider his undertaking to us to be no more binding than ours to her had been -- and he says he knows Mrs Moreland's new name and address. Mr Knapman has finally asked variously for a copy of the RNZAF report into the alleged UFO sightings at Kaikoura in late 1978 and for a report on a specific reconnaissance flight conducted on 2 January 1979. The main report was summarised in a press release at the time, containing all of the salient findings of the enquiry. The reconnaissance flight of 2 January yielded no further positive information. It was therefore believed that in passing a copy of the press release to Mr Knapman the Ministry had satisfied the requirements under the Official Information Act Section 16(e). Copies of the main report and of the press release are enclosed for your information. I should add that until now, the main report has not been released to any agency or person outside the Ministry of Defence. Naturally, the RNZAF has an underlying responsibility for the security of New Zealand airspace. Its attitude to UFOs however is not dissimilar from that of the United States Air Force which since about 1970, I am told, has worked to the policy that "reports of unidentified objects entering United States airspace are of interest to the military as a regular part of defense surveillance. Beyond that, the US Air Force no longer investigates reports of UFO sightings". It may be pertinent to note too that in 1977 in a statement attributed to NASA it was concluded: "... what exists is a baffling collection of intriguing anecdotal evidence for mysterious phenomena, usually referred to as UFOs". There is no evidence I know of that establishes UFOs as a fact. The RNZAF is not and has never been required as a matter of course either to investigate UFO sightings, nor to collate reports forwarded to it. This of course is a question of policy for the Government to decide, but the Ministry's advice would be that proposals such as the one made by Mr Knapman should not be entertained. So far as I am aware, only in one case -- that of the "Kaikoura Incident" of 1978-79 -- has the Government directed that
3 the Air Force conduct an investigation. Nonetheless, in discharging its general responsibilities the RNZAF continues to receive reports from the public (as I believe do the Police and the Ministry of Transport), and these are sometimes "investigated" to the extent of determining whether the reported phenomenon could reasonably be collated with a known physical event. These could include: a meteorological balloon reflecting a flash of sunlight from high altitude as it moves out of the Earth's shadow after dusk on the surface, or an unusually bright planet or star near the horizon, or anomolous propagation of bright lights on the surface, and the like. Generally, as with the Kaikoura report, only the results and not the details of the investigations have been made public. Some reports of sightings come from those who are genuinely puzzled about something they have seen, and are made in good faith. Others are taken up by those for whom UFO's it seems will explain all the mysteries of the universe. Their diligence on the subject is not matched by any sense of balance or of the need for dispassionate enquiry. The Ministry should not in my view willingly get drawn into the pursuit of chimera and should avoid providing fuel for fevered imaginations. Even with the more balanced observer, great difficulties arise. An investigation almost always reaches a point where it has at least to be implied that the observer had been fooled by some natural event. Challenging the reliability of his physical senses, which he has had no cause to doubt hitherto, can very easily turn an objective discussion into a subjective one. The main issue of whether or not there was a UFO tends to become lost as the observer perceives a need to defend a personal position, especially if, as is often the case, the matter has become public. In this kind of debate surrounding the reported experiences of others obsessions tend to be given free rein. Imaginative theories seem to blossom, including accusations of official conspiracy to cover up vital "facts", no matter how much information is released. The case of Mrs Moreland illustrates the potential for misunderstandings. It might indeed seem in retrospect (with only the 25-year-old written word to go by) that in these matters even the investigators sometimes find it difficult to maintain their detachment. It is difficult not to conclude that the investigating officer most closely involved might have allowed his obvious interest to reflect and to strengthen Mrs Moreland's convictions (although in mitigation I seem to recall that "UFO scares" were rampant at the time). We shall never know. But I doubt that that officer -- who went on to complete a successful career as an engineer in the RNZAF -- would care to be reminded now of the episode, any more than does Mrs McCallum. There seems to me to be an obvious need to protect the privacy of individuals in cases such as this one. They should not be exposed
4 to public ridicule, and a statutory power to protect them exists under Section 9(2)(a) of the Act. I should not think it reasonable to expose Mrs (Moreland) McCallum to the attentions of organisations such as Mr Knapman's (and it is her express wish that this not happen). This would I suggest be the consequence if we established a precedent which had the effect automatically of making UFO reports and perhaps their sources the property of third parties through the workings of the Official Information Act. A second point also turns on the predilections of the eccentric hobbyist and the more extreme believers in visitations from outer space. It seems more than likely that any item of information, positive or negative, will be pored over with great enthusiasm. If they were given unrestricted access to Defence files -- and I suspect that the effects on the Police and the Ministry of Transport would be similar -- I can envisage a flood of demands for information that we do not have, and for explanations that we cannot give. This could also impinge upon staff and other resources, where allocations have to be made in the light of the reasonable and realistic security needs of the country. The 1983 Defence Review makes no provision for defence against extraterrestrial threats. The resources allocated to try to meet defence problems closer to home will as it is be stretched. It would in my view be contrary to the public interest to allow pointless diversion of the resources of a department of State: the provisions of Section 9(2)(b) would seem to apply. In summary, the first two of Mr Knapman's requests cannot be met and the third request was declined in the light of Sections 9(2)(a) and (b) of the Official Information Act. As to the further request, I trust you will agree that for good reasons the Ministry has not seen fit to satisfy it in all respects; that the Defence files on the subject should not be opened up; and that the administration of the provisions of the Official Information Act as they affect this particular subject should be applied with a large measure of common sense as well as in the spirit of the law. I should add that I would certainly not envisage any change in the present practice of making freely available summaries of the findings where reports of UFOs are investigated. Should you feel it to be necessary, I would be only too happy to have a member of your staff examine our files here in order to obtain more detailed background to the question of UFO reports and investigations. D b G McLean Secretary of Defence
Ref: OI 34
Office of the Ombudsman
4th Floor, Chase NBA House
Telephone: 739 533 163-165 The Terrace
P.O. Box 10152 Wellington
The Terrace, Wellington
[Stamp:] 10 MAY 1984
HQ MINISTRY
DEFENCE HOUSE
(101)
9 May 1984
The Secretary of Defence
Ministry of Defence
Private Bag
WELLINGTON
Dear Mr McLean,
I refer to my letter of 6 April concerning the request
I have received from Mr H.J. Knapman, on behalf of the
Mutual UFO Network Inc., to investigate and review the
decision by Squadron Leader P.J. Lynch under the Official
Information Act not to make available information he had
requested. I should be grateful to receive your advice
on when I may expect to receive your report.
Yours sincerely,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
Chief Ombudsman
[Handwritten notes bottom left:]
phoned [ILLEGIBLE]
that 11/5 at [ILLEGIBLE]
reply will be sent
next week
AB([ILLEGIBLE])
[Routing stamp bottom left:]
ec De11 | 11/5
that
DR-AB(Pol) and D1DP
Re Def
to(Vol.D.
11/5REF 34 URGENT
Office of the Ombudsman
Telephone: 739 533 4th Floor, Chase NBA House
P.O. Box 10152 163-165 The Terrace
The Terrace, Wellington Wellington
[Stamp:] - 9 APR 1984
HQ MINISTRY
HOUSE
[Handwritten:] W/39/3.
(101)
6 April 1984
The Secretary of Defence
Ministry of Defence
Private Bag
WELLINGTON
[Handwritten right side:]
bFD
blb you poe
Lynch him wik
Air Staff (one other
familiar advice).
AM 10.4.
Dear Mr McLean,
I have received a request from Mr H.J. Knapman, on
behalf of the Mutual UFO Network Inc, Box 22-638, High Street,
Christchurch, to investigate and review the decision by
Squadron Leader P.J. Lynch under the Official Information Act
on 17 November 1983 not to make available information he had
requested.
I understand the circumstances to be as follows. On
17 September 1983 Mr Knapman asked for the following
information:-
1. A copy of the report on several movie films
taken by civilians in April 1954 which were
made available to the Air Force and, if
possible, copies of these films.
2. A copy of a senior NCO's report on UFO
sightings at Whenuapai on 18 August 1954.
3. The report on Mrs F. Moreland's sighting
of a UFO on 13 July 1959.
4. The report by the Air Force on 2 January 1979
of a UFO sighting at Kaikoura.
On 17 November 1983 Squadron Leader P.J. Lynch replied
that the Ministry of Defence had no record or copies of the
1954 movie films to which Mr Knapman had referred. Secondly,
he said the Ministry did not have a report or any information
on the sighting which Mr Knapman attributed to a senior NCO
at the RNZAF base at Whenuapai in August 1954. He commented
that the report on the sighting by "Mrs F. Moreland" in 1959
was confidential, and an assurance had been given to the
witness by the Secretary of Defence that the results of the
enquiry would not be released without her permission. He added
that the witness had been contacted and she had requested that
/....-2-
her privacy be respected. He said that the report would not be
made available. He also provided a copy of a press release
relating to the reported Kaikoura sightings between December
1978 and January 1979.
Mr Knapman has made the following comments. In
respect of his first request, he says the Ministry were
definitely given movie films in 1954. His source of informa-
tion is Michael Hervey's book "UFOs over the southern hemi-
sphere", first printed in 1975. At page 220 it states:-
"During April 1954 the N.Z. Air Force received
several movie films taken by civilians showing
strange, mysterious pinpoints of light moving
across the sky. They were duly examined by
experts who later admitted that they had been
unable to trace their origin, or offer any
explanation as to what could have caused the
lights in the sky".
Mr Knapman accepts the Ministry's reply on the second (SNCOs
item of information he requested. He is dissatisfied with the alleged
decision on his request for the report on Mrs Moreland's report.)
sighting in 1959. He says that although he knows Mrs Moreland's
present address and new married name, he respects her privacy
and will not contact her about her sighting directly. He
says he gave the Ministry an assurance that he would never
pass this information about her to anybody. He says that the
release of this report would be of great value to him, as it
would give him a guideline and comparison to the other hundreds
of cases he has investigated. He does not consider it
reasonable that the Ministry has refused to release the report
to him on the grounds of a request made by Mrs Moreland more
than 25 years ago to keep it confidential. He recognises
this was necessary for her protection at the time when UFO
witnesses were harassed by the public. He adds that he has
no wish to make public any information he receives from the
Ministry.
Mr Knapman says that the fourth item of information he
requested has not been provided. He asked for the internal
report about the findings of the Air Force, following the
Orion flight on January 1979 east of Kaikoura.
Finally, Mr Knapman has made a general comment that he
would like to see the Air Force collating any UFO information
which it is willing to pass on to UFO research groups without
the necessity for the groups to state names, dates, years etc.
before any information is provided. He adds that he has
provided the Ministry with hundreds of UFO reports on micro-
film. In conclusion he asks whether any arrangements can be
made for authentic UFO research groups like MUFON to receive
information for scientific research purposes.
/...-3-
I should therefore be grateful to receive your report
on this matter. It should contain the detailed reasons for
the decision of the Ministry not to make available the
information Mr Knapman requested and include reference to the
precise grounds on which it believes there exists good reason
under the Official Information Act for withholding the
information. I should also like to know what consideration
the Ministry gave to ss.16 and 17 of the Act when considering
Mr Knapman's request and whether you consider good reason
exists under the Act for withholding all the information
requested.
I should also like to see the information requested and
withheld, the papers supporting your views and those that were
considered by Squadron Leader Lynch when deciding not to make
the information available. In the areas where no information
could be found, I should be grateful for your advice on the
steps which were taken to locate the information requested.
Finally, I should point out that the Ministry has
not complied with its obligation under s.19(b) of the Official
Information Act to advise an applicant for information of his/
her right to seek under s.28(2) of the Official Information
Act an investigation and review of the refusal by an Ombudsman.
If you are unable to provide your report within three
weeks, I should like to be informed.
Yours sincerely,
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
Chief OmbudsmanMD 169/1
Defence Headquarters,
Wellington.
Memorandum from FORCE
DIRECTOR OF [REDACTED] DEVELOPMENT
For:
See Def
thro' AB(Pol.)
[Handwritten note top right:]
This has been worked
over at some length,
but we would like you
to see it in draft
to ensure that you
are happy with it.
[ILLEGIBLE]
1. Draft for your
consideration.
2. Like the Sermon on
the Mount -- too preachy?
perhaps a little too
judgmental. I have tried
to soften a bit !
DM 30.4.
27[ILLEGIBLE].84.
[ILLEGIBLE signature]DRAFT -2- former Mrs Moreland should be honoured, the provisions of the Official Information Act Sections 9 (2) (a) and (b) were seen to apply. At K. As requested, copies of statements made by Mrs Moreland in 1959 and records of interviews with her are enclosed for your information. Re[ILLEGIBLE] of these make it easy to understand her wish to avoid further publicity. Mr Knapman claims to require the information for research purposes only but the Ministry of Defence has no confidence that resurrection of this matter will not result in the After all, it is this possibility, not confidentiality of her name, that is at central issue here. renewed harassment of Mrs McCallum. [ILLEGIBLE] if Mr Knapman was to be given the information, then he may well consider his undertaking to us to be no more binding than was ours to Mrs McCallum. At K. Finally, Mr Knapman has finally asked variously for a copy of the RNZAF report into the alleged UFO sightings at Kaikoura in late 1978 and for a report on a specific reconnaissance flight conducted on 2 Jan 79. The main report was summarized in a press release at the time which contained all of the salient findings of the enquiry. The reconnaissance flight of 2 Jan 79 yielded no further positive information. It was therefore considered that in passing a copy of the press release to Mr Knapman the Ministry had satisfied the requirements of the Official Information Act Section 16 (e). Copies of the main report and of the press release are also enclosed for your information. DRAFT
[Handwritten top:] Sir Stabb Draft (incorporated in final draft letter) DRAFT considerable number of requests for information on UFO sightings 1. Defence files contain a great deal of material from all sources ranging from genuine enquiries from the interested and responsible to those from the lunatic fringe. Copies of previous correspondence with from Mr Knapman are attached. enclosed. from which the inference could reasonably be drawn that he may be classified as belonging to the latter end of the spectrum. 2. V Of the four requests for information at issue, the first two cannot be satisfied. As Mr Knapman has already been told, no reports of movie films taken in 1950 nor any evidence of their existence are held in Defence files. Neither is there any record of a report by a senior NCO on UFO sightings at Whenuapai in August 1954. I am not familiar with the works of Michael Harvey, and have no way of establishing his bona fides. I do not Our only observation would be know whether his book is regarded as authoritative in UFO circles, but it is that an extract from an unknown book by an unknown author can hardly be taken as authoritative, particularly since authors of fair to observe generally that such works are seldom noted for their balance and objectivity. [ILLEGIBLE crossed out lines] At 3. Turning to the then Mrs Moreland's account of her encounter with a UFO and its occupants in 1959, Mr Knapman has (again) been advised that the undertaking has been given her that this material is still in force. will not be released without her consent. Copies of correspondence between her and the Ministry of Defence are enclosed and these speak for themselves. It will be noted that, Contrary to Mr Knapman's claim that this assurance was made 25 years ago and that for this reason it somehow now lacks validity, the relevant correspondence took place in 1979. In deciding that the undertaking to the / former Mrs Moreland DRAFT
[Routing slip table:] 1 | ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS | se 2 | BEFORE SIGNATURE | to D[ILLEGIBLE] 3 | FOR SIGNATURE | by A[ILLEGIBLE](Pol)[ILLEGIBLE] 4 | BEFORE DISPATCH | to 5 | DISPATCH | Date 6/4/84 | Initials [ILLEGIBLE] 6 | AFTER DISPATCH | to File 7 | BRING UP | on | to 8 | FILE | Date | Initials 50 C.L.T. 39/3/3 5 April 1984 Radio Hauraki P O Box 1480 AUCKLAND Dear Messrs Staufer and Wishart I refer to your letter of 20 March 1984 in which you ask for information from Defence files "on extraterrestrial space craft and or occupants that have landed or have been sighted in New Zealand territory". I understand too that you have separately requested from the Defence Public Relations Office details of the sightings of UFOs since the reported incidents around Kaikoura in 1979. It is not possible to meet the terms of reference as you have phrased them in your letter. The Ministry of Defence holds no information whatsoever to suggest that aliens have landed in New Zealand, or that they or their spacecraft have been sighted here. I can assure you categorically that New Zealand Government agencies have not "dealt" in any way with extra- terrestrial spacecraft or their occupants. Neither has material suggesting that others have done so been provided to us by other Governments -- I have not seen, for example, the declassified papers of United States Government origin that you mention. By definition a UFO is an unidentified flying object. I know that some people claim to have identified these things and even to have consorted with aliens. I have seen nothing to suggest that those claims can be substantiated. Distinct from claims of close encounters with sentient aliens, there remains the puzzle of sightings of odd lights and shapes. In this regard the New Zealand position is similar to that which I understand now pertains in the United States. It was NASA, I believe, that put it succinctly in 1977 by saying "....what exists is a baffling collection of intriguing anecdotal evidence for mysterious phenomena, usually referred to as UFO's". Also, I am told that "reports of unidentified objects entering United States air space are of interest to the military as a regular part of defense surveillance. Beyond that, the US Air Force no longer investigates reports of UFO sightings." In this country, however, the Royal New Zealand Air Force has never been required to investigate UFO sightings as a matter of course. (The Kaikoura case was a special one in which the Government asked the RNZAF to investigate, and
2
which was fully reported upon at the time.) Nor is the RNZAF
or any other part of the Ministry of Defence required to act
as a co-ordinating body for recording such sightings. I
understand that reports from the public are received from
time to time separately by the Police, by the Civil Aviation
Division and the Meteorological Service of the Ministry of
Transport, and by the DSIR. Some reports are cross-checked
among these agencies primarily to determine whether there
may be a physical reason for the phenomenon as it was observed --
such as a large aircraft or a meteorological balloon catching
the sunlight at high altitude after dusk or before dawn.
Turning now to your telephoned request, I can provide the
following summaries of incidents which have been reported
to the Air Staff.
On April 20, 1979, a single orange light was seen passing
over Palmerston North. The light, when studied through
binoculars, appeared to be an unflickering naked flame
with characteristics similar to the flame of a kerosene
Hurricane lamp. The light was first sighted at 1859hr
at a height of about 2000ft travelling from Aokautere
towards Hokowhitu. The light source was circular and
large enough to present itself as a disc. To either
side and above the disc was a small area of red light.
The impression gained by the observer was of an oncoming
aerially mounted 6 volt car headlight, shining alongside
a red painted surface. The light gradually grew dimmer
as it climbed higher travelling towards Pahiatua. It
was lost from sight shortly after 1900hr.
Based on the description and behaviour of the light,
RNZAF enquiries found that it had the characteristics
of a radar balloon carrying a lamp attached to the radar
reflector. That conclusion was supported by the
Superintendent of Physical Meteorology and although a
radar balloon had not been launched from Ohakea air base
at the time it was not uncommon for these balloons to
be found in the hands of others outside the Meteorological
Service.
On April 26, 1979, several residents of Palmerston North
saw orange lights traversing the city. A single light
was sighted shortly after 2205hr over Palmerston North
by the observer reporting the April 20 sighting. It
was described as having a disc shape of yellow light
surrounded by a thin corona of red light. It was
estimated to be 8km distant and tracking along the
watershed of the northern Tararua Ranges. It was visible
until 2307hr. At 2230hr on April 26 a further sighting
was made of an orange ball moving rapidly over Palmerston
North. It gave the appearance of burning and pulsated
from very pale to darker orange. As it moved away it
showered sparks and appeared to dip and move from side
to side. It was in sight for about five to seven minutes.
Shortly after, three similar objects were sighted by3 the witness in a shallow V formation in approximately the same position as the first sighting. The formation travelled from north to south over Palmerston North. The characteristics of these lights were similar to the April 20 sighting with the light emanating from radar balloons. For a week in December 1980 between 0510hr and 0600hr a bright object was seen in the east from Te Pohue and climbed slowly. It was only seen when the air was clear. RNZAF enquiries into the sighting found that in all probability it was the planet Venus. On August 13, 1980, air traffic radar at Ohakea reported an unidentified object 22 miles south of Napier. Meteorological conditions at the time of the report indicated that the sighting was a radar return on a cloud formation. On January 26, 1981, a lighted object was sighted approaching Christchurch airport from the south-east at 0449hr. The object travelled fast to the airport, manoeuvred and hovered overhead before departing to the south-east. The object, lit with a bright white light with an orange tinge at its periphery, was in sight for 14 minutes. An illuminated meteorological balloon had been released at 0450hr and had moved after release to the west, south-west, south, south-east and then east in the first ten minutes. The balloon was a possible explanation. On July 3, 1981, the Christchurch Flight Information Office of the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport was advised of the sightings of an object near Cass at 2190hr that day. The object was described to be like a Newmans bus with bright lights of red/blue shades and was sighted manoeuvring below hilltops before moving off to the north-east. The weather was clear except for cloud patches around the peaks, and visibility was good. No RNZAF or known civil aircraft were in the area at the time. In February, 1982, a white light was viewed through a skyhawk window for a fraction of a second in Lower Hutt. It appeared to flare out and gave no appearance of falling or leaving a trail of light.
4
Air Staff enquiries found that the light could have been
emitted from any one of a number of sources - a momentary
reflection of a car light, a bright meteorite or even
a portion of space junk.
I trust that the above information will be of assistance to
you.
Yours sincerely
D Law
for Secretary of DefenceItem 504 96695E-[ILLEGIBLE] 90adt/3/93MK To— D I D P Department: DEFENCE Section: D I D File No.: Air 244/10[ILLEGIBLE] Date: 27 MAR 84 Subject: OFFICIAL INFO REQUEST MINUTE SHEET REF: Radio Hauraki letter of 20 Mar 84. 1. In 1973 a "Christchurch UFO investigator" access to all Air Force files dealing with UFOs. The Minister of Defence and so may not be made available but that is classified and so may not be made available other than to defence personnel who are entitled to receive it. 2. Since the passage into legislation of the DIA 1982, Radio Hauraki's request for similar information will require a much fuller response than that of 1973. Not all the info will be classified nor is "classification" an adequate reason to withhold info. To peruse the files in detail to establish whether or not items of info can be released will take some time and time involved. 3. Suggest we respond initially to Radio Hauraki with a quote for the research time involved. 4. S/Ldr [ILLEGIBLE] Po(Ai) has had 2 phone req[uests] for similar info from one of the journalists. My feeling [is] that we should respond to his similar request as similar request as [Signed] Stephen [ILLEGIBLE] An[ILLEGIBLE](Ai)A
[Radio Hauraki letterhead logo] Radio Hauraki 27-1-1 [Stamp: RECEIVED 22 MAR 1984 CENT. REGIST. DEFENCE HDQTRS] 20 March 1984 Secretary of Defence Private Bag Wellington Dear Sir, We are applying under the Offical Information Act 1983 for all information that you have on extraterrestrial space craft and or occupants that have landed or have been sighted in New Zealand territory. Our inquires along these lines follow the declassification and publication of offical American Government Documents admitting the capture and study of aliens and their space craft. We think its likely that New Zealand agencies have dealt in a similar way with U.F.O.'s and their occupants. Thanking you for your co-operation. Yours faithfully, [Signatures] MARK STAUFER IAN WISHART NEWS JOURNALISTS [REFERRED TO box] [ILLEGIBLE] Hauraki Enterprises Ltd. 4th Floor Caltex House, Fanshawe Street, Auckland, New Zealand. P.O. Box 1480. Phone 34-899. Cables: Haurad.
49
file
Air 3
29/3/3
/1
16 January 1984
MOUNT COOK
Dear
Thank you for your letter dated 19 December, I am sorry
for the delay in responding but I have been away for a month.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Ministry of
Defence,does not investigate UFO sightings unless asked to do
so by the Government.
Any reports on UFO sightings should be made to your
local Police station.
I hope this answers your inquiry, and again I regret
the time delay in replying to your letter.
Yours faithfully
[Signature]
(P.W. MAITLAND)
Sergeant
for RNZAF Public
Relations Officer48
1350/5/1
FILE
Are 3/29/3/3 Mount Cook
19.12.83.
Ministry of Defence [ILLEGIBLE] 011
Private Bag [Stamp: RECEIVED
Wellington 21 DEC 1983
CENT. REGIST.
DEFENCE HDQTRS]
Dear Sir
Re U.F.O's.
Does the department maintain a file on
sightings of U.F.O's
If so, would the department be interested in
a statement from my husband about the strange
phenomenon he encountered when returning home
from fishing, along the lake of Rukaski last night
[REFERRED TO]
D/K
Yours faithfully
[REDACTED]47
Air 39/3/3
17 November 1983
Mr H.J. Knapman
P.O. Box 22638
High St
CHRISTCHURCH
Dear Mr Knapman,
Thank you for your letter of 17 September in which
you sought details of various UFO sightings, under the Official
Information Act.
Firstly, quite an amount of research and investigation
has been done on your behalf but unfortunately we have no record
or copies of the 1954 movie films to which you refer. Neither
do we have a report or any information on the sighting that you
attribute to a SNCO at RNZAF Whenuapai in August 1954. We
have also checked records held by the National Archives but
have been unable to find any information which may be of help
to you.
With regard to the 1959 sighting by 'Mrs F. Moreland'
I can advise that the report is confidential and an assurance
was given to the witness by the Secretary of Defence, that the
Ministry of Defence would do nothing to release the results of
the enquiry conducted by the RNZAF without her permission. The
witness has been contacted and she has requested that her
privacy be respected and consequently the report will not be
made available.
The RNZAF issued a Press Release regarding the
reported Kaikoura sightings in Dec 78/Jan 79 and a copy of
this is enclosed although I feel sure that you will have a
copy of your own already.
Quite obviously I have been unable to give you
any substantial new information so although considerable time
and effort has been spent in researching the background
/material-2-
material to give you a reply no charges will be made as would
normally be the case for Official Information Act requests.
Yours faithfully
[Signature]
(P.J. LYNCH)
Squadron Leader
for Chief of Air Staff
Enclosure: 1. RNZAF UFO Sighting ReportAir 39/3/3 / 57 Dillon Street, 46.
Blenheim,
14th November, 1983.
Squadron Leader Lynch,
Air Staff,
Defence Headquarters,
Private Bag,
Wellington.
Dear Mr Lynch,
Thank you for your letter dated 28th October, 1983.
I was disappointed with your attitude regarding events
of '78-'79 in central New Zealand.
I notice that the sightings are now
'unidentified phenomena'. That makes a change from
data contained in the 'Press Release' which was put
out by the Air Force. Do not lie, there is
evidence that what were seen were objects. It is
just that the Air Force was too lazy to collect it.
One such sighting, being the Waikawa Bay event.
Regarding the principal witnesses, according
to the Rt. Hon. David Thomson, all the witnesses
on board the Argosy were interviewed including
the cameraman and the reporter. This is a lie,
they were never even approached. If you both
wished to lie, you have come to some arrange-
ment, so that you both told the same lie.
So apparently the Civil Aviation Division of the
Ministry of Transport refused to tell the investigating
officer about the Waikawa Bay sighting even though
they knew it was by far more impressive than
the 'Argosy' sighting. This behaviour left a lot
to be desired.
I have stated correctly that the
Waikawa Bay sighting lasted approx. one hour,
from around 11-50pm till 1 am. on the [ILLEGIBLE] 17th2/
of December, 1978. I agree that Mr F.D.
MacDonald states in his letter to 'The Marlborough
Express' on the 20th December, 1978 that the
sighting lasted 10 minutes. He has also told
me to my face that it lasted a good hour
when combining the times that other witnesses
observed this event. So quite logically I am
doing what you suggested in your letter; I am
quoting Mr MacDonald. Thus, I can assure you
that 'other sources' witnessed the sighting, you
are only quoting one witness; I am quoting
around 15 witnesses to this event.
No doubt you are scared to investigate
the Waikawa Bay UFO as you do not wish to
find out which hills the domed, circular
craft, with roundels on, came close to landing
into. Mr MacDonald would most like to tell
you if you wrote to him.
HANDLED PROPERLY AND CORRECTLY.
You must be joking.
1/ The Woodbourne Air Traffic Control adopted
a 'better of them of the' planes attitude.
2/ The Wellington Air Traffic Control said 'Its
probably a DC8, coming into land at
Wellington Airport.' It is flying away from
Airport. What the hell. That explanation
will do. 'Lets' tit-pull the Air Force about
it.'
3/ Air Staff thinks it's best to be involved
in a tit ripper of a tit-pulling exercise and
make no attempt to get their facts straight.
Thank you for confirming that this how3/
Government Departments conduct properly and
correctly a most impressive sighting investigation.
No doubt you would have difficulty
recording how long principal witnesses were
interviewed, as it appears all of them were
not interviewed.
I have taken this matter up with my M.P.
Mr Doug Kidd. He does not find the attitude
of Government Departments very funny regarding
the events of '78-'79.
I have been studying the UFO phenomena
in Marlborough for nearly 12 years, and I can assure
you I will not be cooperating with any
Government Departments on UFOs.
It seems strange that the Air Force wants
to spin all the bull it can about the Waikawa
Bay event when for a brief letter to
you could get your facts
straight. I will not be satisfied until this is
done. Thus if you fail to do this we will
most likely still be corresponding in another
five years.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
J.C. Thompson.
MR J.C. THOMPSON.[MUFON logo] MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, INC.
103 Oldtowne Rd Mutual UFO Network
Seguin Texas Sectional S I Director
78155 USA Harold J Knapman
PO Box 22638 High St
17/9/83 Christchurch NZ
Phone 527953
To:- Chief of Air Staff, [Stamp: RECEIVED
Defence Headquarters, 21 SEP 1983
Wellington, ENT. REGIST.
DEFENCE HDQTRS]
Dear Sir,
Air 39/3/3
Aug 27
Thankyou for your reply to my Sept 14 1983.
letter. In reply to your letter 14 Sept,I request the following information
if possible through the information act./
In April 1954 several movie films were taken by civilians & turned over to
the Airforce for examineation & report,if possible a copye of that report
& Or some frame copies of the film.
On Aug 18,1954,a Snr NCO stationed at Whenuapai A.F.Stn saw a cigar shaped
object & reported it, an investigation was done,if possible a copy of this
report.
July 13.1959 Mrs F.Moreland Blenheim Disc shaped objectseen,Investigated by
the Airforce. A copy of the report please,
The RNZAF report of the Reconnaissance Flight Jan 2nd 1979 Kaikoura ufos.
I have no objections to paying for this material,as I said in previouse
letters to you any information received from the Airforce is for my files
only,for research.The wittnesess will not hear from me or my collegues
in any form about their sightings,I do respect ther privacy,I do hope you
will grant my request for research,hope to hear from you soon.
[REFERRED TO box]
Kindest regards,
Harold J Knapman Harold J Knapman,
Director for MUFON N.Z.44
Air 39/3/3
28 October 1983
Mr J.C. Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Mr Thompson,
Thank you for your letters of 25 August and
3 October regarding sightings of unidentified phenomena
in the Kaikoura area in December 1978. You will notice
that I refer to 'unidentified phenomena' because that is
precisely what I think these sightings should be termed.
They are certainly unidentified and there is absolutely
no evidence that what were seen were objects of any kind -
only lights or light sources.
To answer your questions.
The RNZAF did carry out a thorough investigation
of the alleged sightings. In fact the scope of the
investigation was greater than any previous efforts made by
the RNZAF to establish an explanation for sightings of this
nature. The news service statement by the PRO(Air) stated
that all the principal witnesses had been interviewed. That
is precisely correct. All of the principal witnesses had
been interviewed and any other witnesses, in the view of
the investigating officer, would not have contributed in
any substantial way to the investigation.
The investigating officer consulted with the Civil
Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport on a number of
occasions while compiling his report. No reference was made
to the alleged Waikawa Bay sighting because that was not in
his terms of reference. If any comments were made by Woodbourne
and Wellington Air Traffic Control about the Waikawa Bay sighting
it was obviously not considered relevant to the Kaikoura
investigation.
You have on a number of occasions stated that the
Waikawa Bay sightings lasted for upwards of 55 minutes and yet
Mr F.D. Macdonald who reported the sighting states in his letter
to 'The Marlborough Express' on 20th December 1978 that the
sighting lasted 10 minutes. Quite logically anyone making
a comment on this aspect of that 'sighting' is going to quote
/the principal-2-
the principal witness (in this case Mr Macdonald) rather than
any other source, especially if that source did not actually
witness the sighting.
You can be absolutely sure that the RNZAF will not
be investigating the Waikawa Bay sighting and will certainly
not be re-opening the investigation into the Kaikoura sightings.
All of the Departments involved in this matter are satisfied
that it has been handled properly and correctly. The final
paragraph of the Defence press release clearly defines the
Ministry of Defence's stand on so-called UFOs. That is clearly
Defence policy and unless absolute proof of anything to the
contrary becomes evident then, despite the convictions or
beliefs of anybody else, that stand will not change.
You have asked for a copy of the Kaikoura sightings
report and a list of the ten principal witnesses and the time
each spent in interview. Firstly the report is a restricted
document and will not be released because to do so would
compromise the confidentiality of the witnesses' statements,
and in the same way providing details of each of the witnesses
could see them being the recipients of unsolicitored mail about
a subject which they may wish to have nothing more to say.
The times that each witness spent in interview was not recorded.
Reference in a previous letter to you by Mr D. Law,
to a fee for work undertaken to give you this reply would
normally apply, however as I am unable to give you any new
information no charges have been made although considerable
time has been spent in researching the background material.
I would like to point out that there is little purpose
to be served by persuing this matter through the Ministry of
Defence any further as we have no further tangible information
which we can give you.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(P.J. LYNCH)
Squadron Leader
for Chief of Air StaffAIR 39/3/3. / 57 Dillon Street,
Blenheim, 43.
3rd October, '83.
Squadron Leader Lynch,
Air Staff Information Contact Officer,
Ministry of Defence,
Wellington.
Dear Mr Lynch,
You are currently researching
files so you can supply answers
to all my questions regarding the
'78-'79 UFO sightings. This
is to let you know that
you will not be answering
a large proportion of them.
I have received a letter
from the Right Honourable G.
Gair, making it plain that
he does not wish to have
anything to do with the
misleading DC8 explanation that
was forwarded to the Secretary
of Defence, D.B.G. McLean. This DC8
explanation was apparently2/
concocted by the Wellington
Air Traffic Control, possibly so
this department would take the
bait; which it did. Mr Gair
could offer no explanation
why this misleading data was
released. I can assure you
that the whole DC8 explanation
is a farce, contrary to what
Mr Gair may say. If this
is where you received your
data; I can assure you that the
Wellington Air Traffic Control
were out to have this department
on.
Referring to the letter dated
9th August to Mr McLean; you
may now drop the following
questions from your list to be
answered:-
Questions:- 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15.
Mr Gair can offer no explanation3/
as to why the Wellington Air
Traffic Control behaved like
they did, and does not wish
to have anything to do with
the wild DC8 statement.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
J.C. Thompson
MR J.C. THOMPSON.
P.S. No doubt you will now
have to supply me with a 'new'
explanation for the Waikawa
Bay sighting, now that the DC8
joke is beyond the capabilities
of Mr Gair.57 Dillon Street
AIR. 39/3/3 Blenheim, 42
25th August, 1983.
Squadron Leader Lynch,
Air Staff Information Contact Officer,
Ministry of Defence,
Wellington,
Dear Mr Lynch,
Thank you for the letter dated 22nd
August, 1983 from Mr D. Law.
Actually, Defence Headquarters should now
have three letters dated 9th August, 1983,
regarding the '78-'79 UFO sightings, i.e. one
addressed to each of the following; 1/ the Public
Relations Officer (Air); 2/ the Secretary of Defence; 3/ the
Minister of Defence.
No doubt you will go further than just
research your files. On Mr Law's letter, it is
mentioned that material that is available will be
examined; no doubt this means that you be
obtaining extensive data from Witnesses to the
events of the 17th December 1978. This data is
readily available. You may be able to contact
Mr M.A. Collins from the P.E. Lab, DSIR,
Lower Hutt regarding this event. I can assure
you that the Wellington Air Traffic Control had
the Defence Dept. on. Hence, the Minister of Transport, the Right
Honourable E. Gair is also working on questions
from me. (He received 26 questions from me.)
Thank you for your efforts,
Yours faithfully,
J. C. Thompson.
MR J.C. THOMPSON[MINISTRY OF DEFENCE letterhead]
All correspondence should be addressed to: In reply please quote:
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENCE,
PRIVATE BAG, WELLINGTON, N.Z. Air 39/3/3
Telephone 726 499
DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS
WELLINGTON, N.Z.
22 August 1983
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Mr Thompson
Thank you for your letter of 9 August seeking information under the
Official Information Act, on UFO sightings in the Kaikoura region
in 1978.
Air Staff, Defence Headquarters Wellington now have your letter and
are currently researching their files so that they can reply to all
your questions. I am sure you will appreciate that the task of
preparing a reply once the information is at hand may take a little
while, and that under the terms of the Official Information Act, the
Ministry of Defence is obliged to levy a fee for the work undertaken.
Accordingly, an officer from Air Staff will contact you once they
have completed their examination of any material that is available
and inform you of the costs involved in preparing a comprehensive
response to your enquiries.
If you have any further queries you should contact Squadron Leader
Lynch, the Air Staff Information Contact Officer, Ministry of Defence
Wellington - 726-499 extension 8344.
Yours sincerely
D Law
for Secretary of Defence
M.D. 205 (3)[Routing slip:
1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS [initialed]
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to —
3 FOR SIGNATURE by [initialed]
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date 22.8.83 Initials
6 AFTER DISPATCH to [ILLEGIBLE] Air Staff shd
keep us informed
7 BRING UP on
8 FILE Date Initials SASO
a.]
Air 39/3/3
22 August 1983
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Mr Thompson
Thank you for your letter of 9 August seeking information under the
Official Information Act, on UFO sightings in the Kaikoura region
in 1978.
Air Staff, Defence Headquarters Wellington now have your letter and
are currently researching their files so that they can reply to all
your questions. I am sure you will appreciate that the task of
preparing a reply once the information is at hand may take a little
while, and that under the terms of the Official Information Act,
Ministry of Defence is obliged to levy a fee for the work undertaken.
Accordingly, an officer from Air Staff will contact you once they
have completed their examination of any material that is available
and inform you of the costs involved in preparing a comprehensive
response to your enquiries.
If you have any further queries you should contact Squadron Leader
Lynch, the Air Staff Information Contact Officer, Ministry of Defence
Wellington - 726-499 extension 8344.
Yours sincerely
D Law
for Secretary of Defence. RNZAF 194A Air Staff 39
) Defence Headquarters
Wellington
Memorandum from
SENIOR AIR STAFF OFFICER
For:
AO (Pol) b
1. We discussed this today.
2. I think it will take one man/day
to extract, reproduce and comment
upon the Air Staff report - once we
have found it ( - now found)
3. Suggest you write to Mr Thompson
and ascertain whether he is prepared
to put his money where his mouth
is. I don't think you should make
any firm commitment, until we have
seen the report ourselves we shan't know
whether it should be released.
19 Aug 83 P. Adamson GASP.CC SASO/DOPS
MINUTE
To DOS[D(F)] The attached letters are
self explanatory — some of the questions we
can't answer but some we can, or should.
Please do what you can as
a first response
a note the "charge" aspect — if it gets
to be a big deal [initialled]
MINISTERIAL ENQUIRY FOR PRIORITY ATTENTION
1. Attached is an enquiry from the Minister's Office.
2. It would be appreciated if a draft reply could be
prepared within your branch/staff and forwarded to Policy 12/8
Branch which will be responsible for preparation of the
letter in its final form for the Minister's signature. If
it is judged that the Minister should have background
information to the issue before signing the letter, a draft
covering letter to the Minister from the Secretary or Deputy
Secretary should also be prepared.
3. In view of the urgency which must be given to
Ministerial enquiries, the draft should be forwarded to
Policy Branch, attention AO(Pol)D by 18/ 8/ 83 . If
for some reason this is not possible the officer dealing with
the matter is to have an interim reply to the correspondent,
for the Minister's signature, with Policy Branch within the
prescribed seven-day deadline. In addition the staff involved
are to provide a written explanation, addressed to Dep Sec Def,
through DPD, explaining why it is not possible to provide the
draft reply within the given time.
* I have arranged [that both]
will answer both letters in Paul S Willis
a single reply.
for Sec Def
Please note that this request is made under
the O.I.A. Accordingly we are allowed
to charge for time spent researching the
reply as set out in the Defence Manual.
Please also note Sec Def's suggestion about
releasing the Air Staff Report. We may wish
to include this in a preliminary reply. AO(Pol)D x 8264A2-1 ANNEX A TO
CHAPTER 2
OFFICIAL INFORMATION : ACTION/RECORD SHEET
1. File Reference for working papers: Air 39-3-3.
2. Name of applicant: Mr J.C. THOMPSON
3. Address: 57 DILLON ST, BLENHEIM
4. Telephone:
5. Date request received: 11.8.83
6. Specific nature of request: QUESTIONS ON UFOS 70/79.
7. General nature of request:
Access to official information (S12)
Access to personal information S24
Access to internal rules S22
Access to reasons for decisions S23
Correction of information S26
8. Delay likely? If so date advice sent:
9. Staff to action request: AIR STAFF / AO(POL)D
10. Position: DOSD(F)
11. Forwarded On: 11.8.83
12. Returned On:
13. Decision made (delete those not applicable) Date action completed
a. Release approved/not approved
b. Release approved with alteration/deletions
c. Release approved subject to conditions
d. Request transferred
e. Personal information amended
f. Notation placed on personal record
14. Charges raised: YES / NO (calculation form on reverse side)
15. Charges paid: Date: SRR No.:
16. Applicant advised on:
17. Information supplied on:
18. Form of Access:
19. Grounds for decision in 13 a - f:
20. Authority: (name) Appointment:
Date:[Departmental use] [Minister's Office]
Item S21
33726B-600 Pads/7/79 M/
Comments:
Referred to: thru Official Information Act re UFO sightings
[RECEIVED stamp]
RECEIVED
[ILLEGIBLE] AUG 1983
CENT. REGISTR[Y]
DEFENCE HDQTS
Reference: AIR 39-3-3
Writer: Mr J C Thompson, 57 Dillon St, Blenheim
No: 1903/319,
Subject: Wishes questions to be answered re UFO sightings
Date of letter: [ILLEGIBLE]
Date Acknowledged: 9 August 1983
[Handwritten annotations left column]:
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
37MINISTER'S OFFICE MEMO[RANDUM] [Box]: APPROVED SEEN I CONCUR DRAFT REPLY please REFERRED [initials] DIRECT REPLY 10. 8.83. SEC. DEF.
Y 57 Dillon Street, 36
Blenheim,
9th August, 1983,
Mr. D.S. Thomson,
Minister of Defence,
Parliament, Buildings,
Wellington,
Dear Mr Thomson,
You will recall past correspondence from
me regarding the '78-'79 UFO sightings in central
New Zealand. Now that the Official Information
Act is in force, I would like all the
following questions answered.
1/ I would like to know why the RNZAF
UFO REPORT, has not been made public.
I would like a copy of it please (See
your letter to Mr McKay dated 5th August,
1981).
2/ I would like to know why you lied
to me in your letter dated 8th September
1981. The investigation was not detailed
and thorough. All the principal witnesses were
not interviewed as stated in the RNZAF
Report.
3/ I would like you to list the ten
principal witnesses that were aboard the
Argosys on the night of the 20th & 21st
December and the night of the 30th & 31st
December 1978 i.e. pilots, co-pilots, camera-man,
reporters etc. I would also like you to
list beside each name, the approximate
time in minutes (or hours) that the RNZAF
investigting officer spent personally interviewing
each witness.
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
1 0 AUG 1983
RECEIVED2/
4/ I would like to know why you believed
Wellington Air Traffic Control, when they never
bothered to check out the events of the
17th December, 1978.
5/ I would like to know how it's possible
for a DC8 to remain visible for an hour
when making an approach to Wellington
Airport.
That makes five questions I want answered.
I have reported your behaviour to an
investigating officer from the Ombudsman Office.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
J. C. Thompson.
MR. J.C. THOMPSONY 57 Dillon Street, 35
Blenheim,
9th August, 1983.
Mr. D.B.A. McLean,
Secretary of Defence,
Chief of Defence,
Ministry of Defence,
Private Bag,
Wellington,
Dear Mr McLean,
You will recall previous correspondence
from me regarding the '78-'79 UFO sightings.
Now that the Official Information Act is in
force; I would like to know the following.
Lets start with your letter to me dated
28th September 1981.
1/ How was it possible to carry out a
thorough investigation, by the Air Staff, into
the extensive Waikawa Bay sighting of December
17th 1978, when only a hairny fairy clipping
from "The Marlborough Express" was used for
the investigation?
X 2/ you say in your letter "... there is nothing
in Mr MacDonald's letter to suggest that the
object sighted from Waikawa Bay was other than
a DC8 aircraft making its descent towards
Wellington Airport..." If you thoroughly
investigated Mr MacDonald's letter he sent to
"The Editor of The Marlborough Express" you would
have noticed the footnote the Editor put on
end of the letter making it plain that extensive
data was not published, (possibly due to space)
I would like to know why you apparently
used this as a way out, so [you] could explain2/ the sighting away as an aircraft. 3/ "...making its descent towards Wellington from the west." Why did you make that statement when the light was observed coming from the EAST? 4/ "the outline of events, which spanned no more than 10 minutes..." Why did you tell me this lie? If you had have investigatyd this sighting thoroughly you would have found the sighting lasted a good hour. 5/ How is it possible for a DC8 jet aircraft to remain visible for an hour when making an approach to Wellington Airport? 6/ "...descending over Nelson..." Observed from Waikawa Bay; the light spent [the] 1st 45 minutes (of the 1[h]0 minute sighting) coming from the direction of WELLINGTON. Why did you lie to me? 7/ "...used inbound track to Wellington when making a southerly approach to the runway." What runway are you referring to? Obviously you are not referring to the runway at Wellington, perhaps you are referring to the grass airport at Waikawa Bay; as the light came back from Kumototo Bay, payed close to Allports Island, and then headed for Whatamanga Bay. 8/ "...most likely flightpath for its descent..." When taking the above into account; How did you reach this conclusion? 9/ "...Air Staff are sure that it was, in fact this aircraft that Mr MacDonald saw" How can
3/ the Air Staff be sure? I will tell you the Air Traffic Control NEVER checked the events of the 17th December 1978 out. They just lied to you, straight out. 10/ I would like to know, why the ATC lied to you so you could lie to me. 11/ "...enabled you to gain a fuller appreciation of this Ministry's position on the matter." How can I appreciate anything in your letter? It is the biggest pack of lies I have ever come across. 12/ "Accordingly, I do not believe any useful purpose would be [served] by engaging in further speculation about an event..." You are the one that is speculating. Why are you speculating without checking any of the facts out? 13/ "...for which a perfectly rational explanation already exists." What rational explanation are you referring to? A DC8 flying away from the airport it is coming into land at. 14/ I would like to know if Air Staff will make some attempt to investigate the Waikawa Bay sighting and get their facts straight, seeing no attempt has been made so far in this respect. 15/ In a reply to your letter dated 28th September 1981; I said that I would bring the dangerously flying DC8 to the attention of the President of the Airline Pilots Associ- ation. (This was the letter you could not answer because you could not find it.) The President
4/
of the A.P.A. failed to get the joke when
I told him what was in your letter.
He never even smiled. Would you be writing
to him explaining the joke, as he is
having quite some trouble getting it? Then
maybe he will be able to have a big
laugh like you have had. His address is:-
I have reported your behavior to
an investigating officer from the Ombudsman's
office; hence I would like all 15 questions
answered.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
J. C. Thompson
Mr. J. C. THOMPSON49918A-150
To— SD i
add/7/80 MK
Subject: Departmental UFO Sighting[s] Department: Air
Section:
File No.: 39/[ILLEGIBLE]/[ILLEGIBLE]
Date: 30/[ILLEGIBLE]/83
MINUTE SHEET
1. Please see reference etc to "[Thompson] only"
2. The reference [all] [at] [ILLEGIBLE] on [ILLEGIBLE] of the critic at the memo releases
[being] of [ILLEGIBLE] on UFO after [ILLEGIBLE] Demonstrating
3. [ILLEGIBLE] may [ILLEGIBLE] take [ILLEGIBLE] copy [after] attending.
[ILLEGIBLE] may [ILLEGIBLE] a [ILLEGIBLE] address [ILLEGIBLE]
and [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] question [ILLEGIBLE]
[initialled]
file (car)Y 57 Dillon Street, 33
Blenheim,
9th August, 1983.
Public Relations Officer, (AIR)
Defence Headquarters,
Wellington.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you regarding the '78-
'79 UFO sightings off the Kaikoura Coast. Now
that the Official Information Act is in force,
I would like to know the following.
I have a summary of the RNZAF UFO REPORT
which mentions on the bottom of the first page
that further information can be obtained from you.
1/ I would like a copy of the full RNZAF
UFO REPORT on these sightings.
2/ In the RNZAF summary it is mentioned
that all the principal witnesses had been
interviewed; apparently they were not. If this
statement is incorrect, I would like to know
why the RNZAF made it.
3/ I would like you to list the ten
principal witnesses that were aboard the
Argosys on the night of the 20th & 21st
December and the night of the 30th & 31st
December 1978 i.e. pilots, co-pilots, camera-man,
reporters etc. I would like you also to list
beside each name, the approximate time in
minutes (or hours) that the RNZAF investigating
officer spent personally interviewing each witness.
4/ I would like to know why the RNZAF
summary mentions that the investigating officer
worked closely with the Civil Aviation Division
of the Ministry of Transport. The Civil Aviation2/
Division did not work closely with the
investigating officer. The Woodbourn and Wellin[gton]
Air Traffic Control were fully aware of the
Waikawa Bay sighting of the 17th December, 1978,
but could not be bothered to tell the
investigating officer about it. Also both Air Traffic
Controls never checked the sighting out. Why did
the investigating officer make this misleading
statement?
5/ I would like know how the Defence
spokesman was able to totally discount the
possibility of flying machines visiting New
Zealand, particularly the Kaikoura Coast.
That makes five questions I want answered.
I have brought the contents of this letter
to the attention of the Ombudsman's investigating
officer.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
J. C. Thompson.
MR. J.C. THOMPSONAir 39/3/3
14 September 1983
Mr Harold B Knapman
PO Box 22638
High Street
CHRISTCHURCH
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 27 August concerning
the release of information on Unidentified Flying Objects
under the Official Information Act.
Your letter does not specify what information
you seek on UFOs.
Under the Act any request for information must
be for a specific subject. Once that request is received
it will be reviewed and the decision reached on whether
or not that information can be released.
Of course charges are involved. These are 10c
reproduction fees for each copy in excess of 50 and $10
per half hour for research after the first hour.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer
FILE.
1 /10 [initials][RECEIVED stamp] RECEIVED 30 AUG 1983 CENT. REGISTRY DEFENCE HDQTRS [Left margin handwritten annotations]: [ILLEGIBLE] get this [ILLEGIBLE] may [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] to [ILLEGIBLE], or [ILLEGIBLE] [Main body text — largely illegible due to document degradation] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [circular stamp — partially legible: Condy] [Date] 25-8-83 Section 4 Series 4.
[MUFON logo] MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, INC.
103 Oldtowne Rd [RECEIVED stamp] Mutual UFO Network
Seguin Texas 30 AUG 1983 Sectional S I Director
78155 USA CENT. REGISTRY Harold J Knapman
DEFENCE HDQTRS PO Box 22638 High St
27/8/83 Christchurch NZ
Phone 527953
To:- Squadron Leader C.D.Cole,
RNZAF Public Relations Officer,
c/- Chief of Air Staff,
Defence Headquarters,
Private Bag,Wellington.
Dear Sir,
I thank you for your letter 5 August 1983.on the request of the
retrieaval of information of UFO's. I may have misquoted in asking for
information of UFO's,I request that it should of been through the or
under the Official Information Act,If I handnt at the time Im sorry,
I wish to at this time request any information leading to the release
of UFO data or Films,photos,etc,Under the Official Information Act.
I will look forwards to your reply soon.
Kindest regards,
Harold J Knapman,
S.I.Sectional Director for,
MUFON - N.Z.
Harold J Knapman
FILE.
1 /10 [initials]49918A-150
To— Ro(Art)
add/7/80 MK
Subject: HAROLDS LETTER Department: Air
Section:
File No.: 39/3/3
Date: 14 Jul 83
MINUTE SHEET
[You] are [putting] back [to] the [ILLEGIBLE] to answering the [letters] I can also (OIA)
[letters] I do also write [that you] [I] answering [them], accept [them]
[ILLEGIBLE] is [ILLEGIBLE] [uncharacteristic] [helpless] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] that speeding
[ILLEGIBLE] to all [ILLEGIBLE] items [ILLEGIBLE] this I see that
[ILLEGIBLE] tells to sell [them] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] guess a [little] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] you would [ILLEGIBLE] the way to go
[signature]
(Release)
Squadron Leader
So ATVrAir 39/3/3 PR
5 August 1983
Mr Harold J Knapman
Director MUFON NZ
PO Box 22638 High Street
CHRISTCHURCH
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter requesting information
on Unidentified Flying Objects and to work with the RNZAF
to investigate information and exchange information.
The RNZAF, as I explained in my letter to you
of 15 October 1981, does not undertake investigations into
the sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects.
When a sighting is reported to the RNZAF it
consults with other Government agencies such as the Civil
Aviation, the Meteorological Service and the DSIR in an
effort to eliminate obvious causes.
Your interest in assisting the RNZAF in this
matter is appreciated but as I have said the RNZAF is not
involved in UFO investigations.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer[MUFON logo] MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, INC.
103 Oldtowne Rd [RECEIVED stamp] Mutual UFO Network
Seguin Texas 18 JUL 1983 Sectional S I Director
78155 USA CENT. REGISTRY Harold J Knapman
DEFENCE HDQTRS PO Box 22638 High St
Christchurch NZ
Phone 527953
To:- Director Opperations,
Air Staff Headquarters,
Wellington,N.Z.
Dear Sir,
I am writing this request for any information the Airforce has
regarding UFOs.Any information I recieve will be garanteed confidential
& will remain thus.The information is to be used for research perposses
only,on our computers etc.I have been in contact with Sqaudron Leader
Bunn at Wigram Airforce Base at CHCH & I have passed on to him copies of
my files on Micro Film,plus a set of our Questionnairs which I no doubt
he has sent to your Headquarters.I would like if its possiable to work in
with the Airforce to investigate & to exchange information on UFOs.
I have investigated hundreds of sightings with the help of a very excellent
team of Proffesional people.I will be bringing my files up to date on the
micro films very shortly & will send to Squadron Leader Bunn the up to date
set of Films.I could quote if you like the case of Mrs Moreland 13 July,1959.
I do know her address at this moment,plus her new married name,but I
respect her request for confidentiality of her name etc. Our research team
is the only present one in N.Z.that is investigating UFO sightings in a
scientific manner & we hope your Dept may help us in the future.We also
have all available data on the Kaikoura sighting 1978 - 79. films,ATC tapes
etc,except the Airforce report.Thank you for your Attention,hope to hear
from you soon.
REFERRED TO
OPS I
Kindest Regards,
Harold J Knapman,
Director MUFON N.Z.
Harold J Knapman
FILE.
1 /10 [initials]Item 504 49918A-150 To- [ILLEGIBLE handwritten recipient] Subject: MINUTE SHEET K.R. THORBURN Department: Section: File No. AIR 39/3/3 Date: 15.6.83 [Handwritten note:] 1. TAW ref your advice Mr Thorburn that we want [ILLEGIBLE] filing that might but that does not mean people should laugh at his. [Signature] [ILLEGIBLE]
Air 39/3/3 PR
21 March 1983
LOWER HUTT
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter seeking an explanation to
the light you saw. Please accept my apologies in replying.
Unfortunately the information you gave in your letter
was not sufficient to positively identify the light. The
date of the sighting would have been useful.
From my inquiries the light could have been emitted
by any one of a number of sources - a momentary reflection
of a car head lamp, a bright meteorite, or even a portion of
space 'junk'. It was not an aircraft.
I am sorry that I cannot offer a positive explanation.
Yours Faithfully,
[Signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer25/04
Air 39/3/3 PR
22 February 1983
Mr B. Chalker
PO Box 6
Lane Cove NSW 2066
AUSTRALIA
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 23 January to Wing
Commander G.T. Clarke requesting information to finalize your
studies into official investigations of UFO sightings.
The RNZAF does not undertake investigations into the
sightings of UFOs. It does, however, on receipt of a report
of a sighting consult with other Government agencies such as
the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport, the
Meteorological Service and the DSIR in an effort to eliminate
obvious causes.
Consequently the RNZAF does not maintain records of
all sightings and therefore cannot respond with any accuracy
to the questions you seek answers to.
There are a number of UFO organisations in New Zealand
who may be able to assist you with your research.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer
[Initials/stamp at bottom]PRO (Air)
your name & address
[ILLEGIBLE handwritten annotation]
B. Chalker,
P.O. Box 6,
LANE COVE, NSW, 2066
AUSTRALIA
January 23rd, 1983
Wing Commander G.P. Clarke,
Director of Public Relations,
Ministry of Defence,
Defence Headquarters,
Private Bag, Wellington,
NEW ZEALAND
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - UFOs
Dear Sir,
I have been advised that I should direct my enquiries to you.
Since January, 1982, as a civilian researcher, I have been permitted
the first civilian direct review of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) files
on UFOs at the Russell Offices of the Australian Department of Defence in
Canberra. I have examined their extant files which cover the period from 1950
to 1982. This file review can be confirmed with the Directorate of Air Force
Intelligence (DAFI) Liaison Officer, Sqd. Ldr. Ian Frame, with whom I have
dealt directly.
The purpose of this letter is two fold:
(1) To finalise my study of official investigations of UFOs, I wish
to understand the involvement of other countries in the same matter:
(a) I would like to be advised of the extent and nature of the
New Zealand Ministry of Defence UFO file holdings and that of any other agencies
that may also conduct investigations in New Zealand.
(b) Do you have a yearly (or otherwise) summary or breakdown of
reports recieved along with an indication of the possible explanations and
whether a sighting is "unexplained"? If so, could I be sent copies of these
documents?
(c) Should you have "unexplained" or "unknown" cases could you
advise me what would constitute such a report?
(d) Do you approach UFO reports and their investigation from the
point of view to evaluate whether a security threat is apparent, for public
relation purposes, or perhaps to determine whether any body of "unexplained"
reports constitute patterned data suggestive of unidentified and/or superior
technology?
(e) Would it be possible to recieve copies of examples of the
range of reports you recieve that you class as "unexplained" or some other
similiar categorisation? I would only be interested in a few reports to
compare with the type of reports evaluated as "unknown" by the RAAF. I
appreciate that such reports would need to have the names and addresses of
witnesses deleted.
(2) In particular I would like to obtain any documentation you may
have on the following 2 events:
(i) Blenheim, July 13, 1959 - witness: Mrs. Moreland
(ii) Ngatea, September, 1969 - ground marks found on the property
of a Mr. B.G. O'Neil.
Could you also advise me whether any other agency (eg. DSIR) conducted investi-
gations into either of the above events? If so, would you be so kind as to
pass on my enquiry re above.
see over →I do hope that you will give my requests serious consideration and
I therefore take this opportunity to thank you for your most valuable
time,
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
Bill Chalker(1)
[RECEIVED stamp: 11 FEB 1983]
LOWER HUTT
9th Feb. 1982.
Dear Sir,
I realise that you must
get hundreds of reports of
unusual sightings in the
night sky, and as seems
to happen, my friends are
laughing at me regarding
my experience! So I am
writing to you for my own
satisfaction.
Having considerable interest
in the progress of the
remaining portion of the Russian
Satellite, I was lying in
bed listening to the reports
PRO →AIR(2)
on the radio, when it was
due to re-enter the atmosphere.
I was looking out of a small
skylight window and saw a
white light, for appox ¼ second?
It appeared to "flare out"
very slightly from a central
point; And gave no appearance
of "falling" or leaving a
trail of light as I am
familiar with in the case of
meteorities - (though I realise
this is probably what I saw-)
I know that I saw this prior
to 1am, and I think it was
after 12.30 am., but I cannot
be exact as to the time.
When I heard that the
remaining portion of the
Satellite had to re-entered
elsewhere, I did not persue
the question of what I had(3)
seen. But since I have heard
that there was a possible
sighting from Christchurch,
I feel it worth writing to you
anyway.
I realise that whatever I
saw, it was only seen for a
fraction of a second, and I think
that the only reason that I
noticed it, was because the
window (skylight) I was looking
up through, was so small.
I haven't got a compass,
so I've roughly worked out the
direction on my street directory!
[Diagram showing compass rose with N arrow and * marker, labeled:]
N
[circle with * marker]
S AS PER *
It was fairly high up in
the sky, very roughly, 45° to
the horizon.I trust that you don't
mind my writing to you,
as I am a responsible
person, in a responsible
job - But I am getting
a little annoyed with people
who think I was "seeing things"!
Thanks for your time,
Yours Sincerely,
[Signature]25 [Handwritten annotations on left margin, partially ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] .f. [ILLEGIBLE] and position is [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] particulier. So [ILLEGIBLE] (date) [ILLEGIBLE] of your [ILLEGIBLE] for [ILLEGIBLE] for [ILLEGIBLE] wind [Postmark: LOWER HUTT, 2.5 FEB 1983] DEFENCE H.Q. (AIR STAFFS) DEPARTMENTAL BLDG, STROUT ST, WELLINGTON, [Stamp: New Zealand 24c postage]
[Postmark: NELSON, 19 JAN 198[3]] [NEW ZEALAND POSTAGE - USE THE POST -] The Minister of Defence The Beehive Wellington
Sender: M Cunningham
65 Ridgeway
Stoke
Nelson24
Air 39/3/3 PR
1 February 1983
Mr Mark Cunningham
65 Ridgeway
Stoke
NELSON
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 20 January in which
you sought information on the sightings of Unidentified
Flying Objects.
The RNZAF does not undertake investigations into
the sightings of UFO's. It does, however, on receipt of
a report of a sighting consult with other Government
agencies such as Civil Aviation, the Meteorological Service
and the DSIR in an effort to eliminate obvious causes.
Consequently, the RNZAF does not maintain records
of sightings and it is suggested that you contact local
UFO organisations such as the Mutual UFO Network,
P.O. Box 22638, Christchurch for this information.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer
[Signature/initials]Air 39/3/3 [RECEIVED stamp: 20 JAN 1983] 18 January 1983 The Minister of Defence The Beehive Wellington Dear Sir I am to write a book on the phenomenon of UFOs. Could you possibly send me information on the areas where they have been sighted,and descriptions of these encounters (what people have seen and what happened to them). This book will not be an outright re- printing of your information to produ- ce a "New Zealands UFO encounters dic- tionary",as I wish to look at the psy- chological aspects of UFO sightings. Would you be willing to give a quotat- ion on the validity of UFOs,that could be used in my book? Yours faithfully [Signature] Mark Cunningham [Stamp box: FORWARDED TO] PRO [Air] [ILLEGIBLE lines below]
aLC(#)
22
1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIAL [ILLEGIBLE]
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to [ILLEGIBLE] Min No: 272
3 FOR SIGNATURE by [ILLEGIBLE] Ref No:
Typed: 27 Aug 82
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date 30.8.82 Initials [ILLEGIBLE]
6 AFTER DISPATCH to [ILLEGIBLE]
7 BRING UP on to
FILE Date Initials
Mr H E Wright
PO Box 1275
CHRISTCHURCH 1
Dear Mr Wright
Please refer to your letter of 19 August 1982 asking if I could
direct the Blenheim Police to provide details of persons who
reported sightings of UFOs in the Marlborough region early in
August.
It is not possible for me to release the names and addresses of
persons reporting any matters to the police, as it is not within
my province as Minister of Defence. Also, I note in the newspaper
clippings you enclose that the people concerned wished to have
their identity kept private.
I am not aware of any intergovernmental act or agreement in respect
of UFOs to which New Zealand is a party. In an earlier letter
to you on 24 February 1982, I remarked that the RNZAF does not
usually investigate UFO sightings although any material on these
matters is passed to them for information.
Yours sincerely
[Signature]
David Thomson
Minister of Defence
[Handwritten annotations at bottom:]
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
[ILLEGIBLE]
file all on AIR 39/3/3
free [ILLEGIBLE]
3 SepMINUTE
To DO[ILLEGIBLE]
MINISTERIAL ENQUIRY FOR PRIORITY ATTENTION
1. Attached is an enquiry from the Minister's Office.
2. It would be appreciated if a draft reply could be
prepared within your branch/staff and forwarded to Policy
Branch which will be responsible for preparation of the
letter in its final form for the Minister's signature. If
it is judged that the Minister should have background
information to the issue before signing the letter, a draft
covering letter to the Minister from the Secretary or Deputy
Secretary should also be prepared.
3. In view of the urgency which must be given to
Ministerial enquiries, the draft should be forwarded to
Policy Branch, attention AO(Pol)D by 30 / 8 / 82. If
for some reason this is not possible the officer dealing with
the matter is to have an interim reply to the correspondent,
for the Minister's signature, with Policy Branch within the
prescribed seven-day deadline. In addition the staff involved
are to provide a written explanation, addressed to Dep Sec Def,
through DPD, explaining why it is not possible to provide the
draft reply within the given time.
[Handwritten:] Penscript text
[Signature]
Pat S Willi
for Sec Def
[Handwritten annotations:]
Mr Wright has written before, previous
correspondence on 33 AIR 39/3/3.
I think it will be sufficient to note
his claim and refuse to assist with
provision of names on grounds of
respect for privacy.
AO(Pol)DMD 179
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE,
For approval and signature please.
For information.
Date: 27/8 [Signature]
Secretary of Defence.
Remarks
100 pads/12/70-89382 WMin No: 272
Ref No:
Typed: 27 Aug 82
OFFICE OF
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
31 AUG1982
DISPATCHED
31 AUG 1982
Mr H E Wright
PO Box 1276
CHRISTCHURCH 1
Dear Mr Wright
Please refer to your letter of 19 August 1982 asking if I could
direct the Blenheim Police to provide details of persons who
reported sightings of UFOs in the Marlborough region early in
August.
It is not possible for me to release the names and addresses of
persons reporting any matters to the police, as it is not within
my province as Minister of Defence. Also, I note in the newspaper
clippings you enclose that the people concerned wished to have
their identity kept private.
I am not aware of any intergovernmental act or agreement in respect
of UFOs to which New Zealand is a party. In an earlier letter
to you on 24 February 1982, I remarked that the RNZAF does not
usually investigate UFO sightings although any material on these
matters is passed to them for information.
Yours sincerely
[Signature]
David Thomson
Minister of Defence
[Initials]Writer: MR H E WRIGHT, P O BOX 1276, CHRISTCHURCH 1
No. 1982/272
23.8.82
[RECEIVED stamp: 25 AUG 1982 DEFENCE OFFICE MILLS]
[MINISTERIAL]
Subject: RE MYSTERY OBJECTS BETWEEN
KAIKOURA AND BLENHEIM
Referred to 1. [ILLEGIBLE]
2. [ILLEGIBLE]
3.
Comments: [Handwritten, partially ILLEGIBLE]
AIR 39/3/3
[ILLEGIBLE annotations]
[Date Acknowledged stamp: OFFICE MINISTER OF DEFENCE 21 AUG 1982]
[Reference: ILLEGIBLE]
[Stamp: Item 521]
33726B-600 pads/7/79 M
(Tumble)
(Minister's Office use) (Departmental use)P.O. Box 1276,
Christchurch 1.
19/8/82.
Mr D. Thomson, M.P.
Minister of Defence,
Office Of the Minister of Defence ,
Wellington.
Dear Sir;
Would You or the Prime Minister contact the Blenheim Police
fore the Names and Addresses of those People who witnessed Mystery Objects
between Kaikoura and Blenheim.
UNDER THE PROVINENCE OF THE SPECIAL U.F.O. ACT SIGNED BY ALL GOVERNMENTS
ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO. I beleive that this ACT CONTAIN PROVICENCE FOR U.F.O.
PEOPLE WHO INVESTAGATE THIS FIELD OF WORK.
As there is evry Evidence of U.F.O. Activity in the Hapuka Area Earlier
this Month it is IMPORTANT THAT THE NAMES & ADDRESSES OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE
SENT TO ME, So that I can see Them and get a U.F.O. Statement from Them.
With the Evidence at hand from the Newspaper, Press, which is VERY
STRONG EVIDENCE, THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT OF A CHIMMERING SILVER FIGURE,
THESE FIGURES HAVE APPEARED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD FROM U.F.O'S.
I will Strongly State that ALL U.F.O'S ARE NOT DETECTED BY RADAR.
The URGENTY OF the Names ,Addresses are required from the Blenhiem
Police.
Copies of the News Report and a Letter to the Blenheim Police is Enclosed
Please Advice if this is been done.
Yours Sincerally;
[Signature]
Mr H.E.Wright,
[Stamps and routing boxes:]
APPROVED
SEEN
CONCUR
DRAFT REPLY please
REFERRED
DIRECT REPLY [checked]
[RECEIVED stamp: 20 AUG 1982 OFFICE OF MINISTER OF ST[AFF]]
Sec. Def.P,O, BOX 1276,
CHRISTCHURCH,1.
11/8/82.
Officer-In- Charge,
Police Department,
Blenheim,
P,O, Box, 342
RE - CONFIDENTIAL MYSTERY OBJECTS.
Dear Sir,
Would you please send a Report of the Named of the Persons
who have Reported the Mystery Objects, ( U,FO's, Un-Identified Flying
Objects.) As I Investagate these Objects it is Important to Interview
these People. There is a lot more to the U,F,O, Problem than a lot of
People Releaze. I have come to releaze Myself, ( and is Known All Over
the World ) that these U,F,O's, have Affected, and Killed People.
( All My U,F,O, Reports when Completed are Directed Only to the Minister
For Defence. )
Please find enclosed a Pamplet of Hard Core U,F,O'S. This will be Your
Copy to show People who have seen these Objects and to Identfy Them.
The Important thing is for those People to Identify the Objects as there
is so many of Them on the Pamplet.
Could you please Direct any Persons that have been confronted or
seen these Objects to Contact Me by Phoning 382-773 on Their return to
Christchurch or near Christchurch.
Hoping to hear from you very soon.
Yours Sincerally,
[signature]
Mr H,E, Wright.WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 198[ILLEGIBLE] PRICE 20C Mystery objects sighted at night Blenheim reporter Marlborough has once again become the favourite "stamping ground" for uni- dentified and mysterious ob- jects visible only at night. On this occasion, however, one in human shape has been seen on State highway 1, the other object seen airborne in the general area of the Ver- non Lagoons near Blenheim. The first sighting on State highway 1 was made be- tween 12.30 a.m. and 1 a.m. on August 3, by the driver and two passengers in a car travelling from Christchurch to Blenheim. They saw 'an' object about two metres high and with a general outline of a 'window dresser's' model, standing just to the left of the centre line of the road, about half a kilometre south of the Hapuku bridge. They said later that morning to the Blenheim police they said that it had no distinguishable features, and glowed with a fluorescent light. They said that they drove right at the object and passed within a few feet. When they looked back it had vanished. Senior-Sergeant J. O. Ire- land said that the three per- sons who reported the inci- dent were responsible adults. One of them, a woman, was still visibly disturbed by the incident when it was re- ported to the police at 3.30 a.m. The second incident oc- curred at 12.15 a.m. on August 4 when a man travel- ling from Blenheim to his home in Amberley sighted an arc-shaped pattern of lights in the direction of the Ver- non Lagoons while passing the Riverlands Montana win- ery. He saw four flashing red lights in an arc, with two more red lights above it. No shape was visible to the observer, but as the lights moved across the sky at a height of about 500 metres, the top lights changed from red to white. The motorist told the Blen- heim police that he at first thought the lights were from 'an' aircraft, but became more interested in them when he realised there was no engine noise. At the same time there was considerable radio in- terference which sounded as if several stations were com- ing in at the same time. The Blenheim police got in touch with the Woodbourne controller who reported that an Argesy had taken off about the time of the sight- ing, but had flown north and could not have given rise to the report. A check was made over the lagoons area, but no object was detected. The Blenheim police have not released the names of those who reported the sight- ings. Another rumoured sighting early on the morning of August 3, also in the Hapuku bridge area, and also by northbound motorists, was of an object "like a big crush helmet," more than two metres high, hovering just above the road. It was said that the occu- pants of the car had reported the "sighting" to Woodbourne air base, but a spokesman for the base said that no such report had been received. --- THE PRESS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1982. Motorist shaken after seeing 'silver figure' Blenheim reporter A Christchurch motorist who sighted a shimmering silver figure on State high- way 1 near the Hapuku bridge on August 3 would not return to that spot on the roadway, day or night, for 'ten thousand quid.' The man, who did not wish his name disclosed, said yes- terday that the figure had no distinguishable features or limbs. The lower part of the shape was either black, or the figure itself was hover- ing above the road surface. He said he was sure the incident was not the result of a prank. There was a strong wind blowing at the time and nobody could have held a fluorescent object so high. 'I was terrified. I just don't want to see what I saw again. I wouldn't stop near that place at night, or in daylight for that matter. It's no for me. I wouldn't take the chance,' he said. 'It wasn't a flying saucer. It was a figure I saw. I just felt fear. I locked the car doors and just took off. Nothing could have caught me.' The motorist said the first thing he did on arriving at Blenheim was to telephone the Woodbourne R.N.Z.A.F. base. He had no coins for the call box and was put through to the security gate, by the exchange operator. He said he was told by the person on duty that he should report the incident to the Blenheim police, which he did.
21
39/3/3 file 57 Dillon Street,
Blenheim,
[for] 27th March, 1982
Mr. DBG McLean,
Secretary of Defence,
Private Bag,
Wellington.
Ro [ILLEGIBLE] D.
4am untired [ILLEGIBLE] of
you!
am
Dear Mr. McLean.
Thank you for your letter
of 22nd March 1982.
I was very disappointed with
your reply to my previous
letter. I thought you would have
taken more interest in the
Waikawa Bay sighting seeing I
pointed out some more interesting
points regarding this sighting; instead
you were quite keen to brush
the matter aside. I did not find
this at all funny. Also, I am
not speculating on the Waikawa
sighting; you are. (a 'DC8').
yours faithfully,
J. C. Thompson
MR. J. C. THOMPSON[ROUTING SLIP]
1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS [stamp initials]
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to
3 FOR SIGNATURE by [signature]
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date 22.3-82 Initials [initials]
6 AFTER DISPATCH to [initials]
7 BRING UP on
8 FILE Date Initials
39/3/3
22 March 1982
Mr J C Thompson
87 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
/
Dear Mr Thompson
Thank you for your further letter of 1 March concerning the
1978-79 UFO sightings which occurred in the Blenheim region.
I have read with interest your further observations concerning
the alleged UFO sightings in 1978 and have passed your letter
to the appropriate authorities within the Ministry of Defence
for their information. As I stated however, in my letter to you
of 28 September I do not believe any useful purpose would be
served by engaging in further speculation on the nature of the
Kaikoura phenomena.
Yours sincerely
[signature]
DBG McLean
Secretary of DefenceTo-
In the file
Bunny
PRO(A.)
Sheet
Ab/ol(b)
Subject: UFO'S. MINUTE SHEET Department: Policy
File No: 39/3/3
Date: 9/3/82
9 Minute you already be pleased to furnish a
Latest reply for Sec.Def. signature to Mr Thompson
experta Julia Green
Ab(Dr. b.)
① Draft [ILLEGIBLE] selection:
② From via (forms?) of the UFOs
particularly there then E16
9 think we [ILLEGIBLE] only [ILLEGIBLE]
the letter [ILLEGIBLE] result [ILLEGIBLE] only
on K[ILLEGIBLE]
a [ILLEGIBLE].
[signature]
[ILLEGIBLE] 17b [ILLEGIBLE] 1D R A F T
Air 39/3/3
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 1 March concerning
the UFO sightings at Waikawa Bay.
Your comments are noted.
Yours faithfully,
(D B G McLean)
Secretary of Defence39/3/3 1/ 57 Dillon Street,
Blenheim,
(18)
1st March 1982.
The Secretary of Defence,
Private Bag,
Wellington,
Dear Mr. McLean. 28-79 UFOs
Thank you for your letter dated 24th February
1982. Unfortunately, you answered the wrong
letter. I had already had a reply to
that one. I was hoping you would answer
the letter that I posted to you in the
first week in October 1981. I fail to see
how my letter to you could have gone
astray, as, I usually put a return address
on the back of the envelope. I wrote to
you regarding your letter of 28th September
1981. There are a few points that need
clearing up.
It is correct that Mr. Macdonald
forwarded facts to 'the Marlborough Express'
regarding the Waikawa sighting. The
'Marlborough Express' severely slashed this
information from say ½ page right down
to something approx. 100 millimetres small, and
Air Staff based its investigation on a very
severely slashed newspaper clipping. This is
most interesting. Your letter mentions that
the events spanned no more than 10
minutes; this is incorrect; the sighting lasted
for approx. 1 hour, i.e. 12 mid-night to 1 am
45 minutes of this time, it was coming from
the direction of Wellington not Nelson.
Also, when the light was coming back in2/
a southerly direction it was still over
the Marlborough Sounds. Hence the pilot was
allowing the WIDTH OF COOK STRAIT for side drift.
Trusting this shows why I was most
dissatisfied with your reply.
yours faithfully,
J. C. Thompson.
Mr. J. C. Thompson
SAO POH(D)
Sec Def has requested that you
provide a reply to this letter
for his signature pse.
[signature] White
8/3/82. PA|SecDef.Min No: 24
File/No: Air 39/3/3
Typed : 24 Feb 82
[RECEIVED stamp: 2 6 FEB 1982 DEFENCE OFFICE]
25 FEB 1982 [OFFICE OF MINISTER OF DEFENCE 25FEB1982 DISPATCHED]
Mr H E Wright
PO Box 1276
CHRISTCHURCH 1
Dear Mr Wright
Thank you for your letter of 14 February containing reports on the
investigations that you have carried out into the sightings of
Unidentified Flying Objects at Christchurch International Airport
in January and at Temuka last August.
Although the Ministry of Defence and in particular, the RNZAF, does
not undertake investigations into UFO sightings, I have passed your
reports to the Secretary of Defence so that the RNZAF may be informed
of your work.
Yours sincerely
(Sgd.) D. S. THOMSON
David Thomson
Minister of Defence
[signature]
PRO(air) ←
[signature]Writer: Mr. H. E. WRIGHT, PO Box 1276, Christchurch, 1 No. 1982/24
16.2.82 Date of letter: 14.2.82
Date Acknowledged:
MINISTERIAL
Subject: UFO Sightings Reference: AIR [ILLEGIBLE] 39/3
[stamps: RECEIVED DEFENCE OFFICE FEB [ILLEGIBLE] 1982 No. 335]
[signature]
Referred to 1.
2.
3.
Comments:
[stamps: OFFICE OF MINISTER OF DEFENCE 25FEB1982 DISPATCHED]
33726B-600 pads/7/79 M
(Departmental use) (Minister's Office use)
Item 521[IMAGE: Envelope/tag] U,F,O, ENLARGEMENT ENCLOSED.
[IMAGE: Enlarged photograph] ENLARGEMENT TAKEN FROM THE ARTIST'S IMPRESSION OF THE U,F,O, OVER THE CHRIST- CHURCH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 - 1982.
P,O, Box 1276,
Christchurch,1.
14/2/82.
The RT Hon,David Thomson,
Minister of Defence,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington,
New Zealand.
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
1 6FEB 1982
RECEIVED
Dear Sir;
Your letter received dated 4 February, 1982, There are several
Photo Copies Enclose as below;
Temuka Family sees a UFO;
Spotlight Theory on UFO Sighting. and UFO at Airport. ( Same Page.)
Newspaper Report with; NO Light shed on U,F,O,Light in Sky with a Sketch
Impression of the U,F,O, above the Freighter Aircraft. The Object above
the Aircraft had been Enlarged and the Enlarged Photo of this is Enclosed,
with a Typed sticker attached to the back of the Photo.
Photo Copy of the Area and Position s which a markedfrom the South- East
towards the Airport and North- West of Airport then turning and Returning.
As the UFO came from the South- East and Returning Via South- East between
East, I would suggest that there could have been a Mother- Ship in the
Direction of South-East and Easterly Direction. Every Indecation if this
Cannot be Ruled Out.
Questionairs were made out by Myself for the Two Boys to Answer.
Yours Faithfully;
[signature]
H,E, Wright.
[stamp: APPROVED / SEEN / I CONCUR / DRAFT REPLY [handwritten: please] / REFERRED / DIRECT REPLY [handwritten: any]]
Sec - Def
16-2-82FURHTER REPORT ON U,F,O, INCIDENT.
It has now become neccessary to Inclide apReport of the Temuka U,F,O,
Incident on the discovery of the Type of UFO as seen at the Christchurch
International Airport on the Morning of Tuesday, January, 26th, - 1982.
The Temuki UFO seen July, 12th - 1981, by the Thew Family while Driving
Home from Pleasent Point, was Described as a Football Shaped UFO, as well
as the Christchurch Airport UFO, seen by Four Cargo Loaders on the Morning
of January 26th, - 1982.
At the time of the Temuki UFO the
Street, Temuki, but have since shifted to:
A further visit to Temuki on Wednesday, Febuary, 3rd,- 1982, confurmed
a Football Shaped U,F,O, by
There is No Doudt that Both UFO Sightings were of a Football Shaped
U,F,O, of the same Type of U,F,O. This could possibly be the case in the
Kaikoura U,F,O, Sightings, But further Investiagions in this Type of UFO
would be Warrented as there are so many Types of U,F,O's that have been
Recorded throughout the World. Photos of U,F,O's in the future could
Indecate the Type of UFO seen so to astablish any One Type.
At the time of the UFO Sighting Two Teenage Boys were Camping behind
the Christchurch International Airport near the Waimakariri River.
A Questionnair was drafted out for these Boys, and complete with Their
Camping Location.
The Two Boys Only had the Experience of the Light from the Unseen Object
which was Behind Trees. It is Possible that the Object could have been
in the Vicenty between 1 AM, and 2 AM, on that Morning,
looked at His watch at ( 4 - 49 AM ) just about 2 or 3 Hours 49 Minutes
Earlier. ( It is well Known that UFO's do spend time in Hovering in Areas.)
for some time.
DATED: SIGNED:
[signature]
14/2/82. H,E, Wright.THE STAR, Saturday, August 1, 1981 3 Temuka family sees a UFO A Temuka man says he was tracked by an unidenti- fied flying object as he drove home with his family from Pleasant Point on July 12. Mr Ken Thew, a mechanic, said they told friends but did not report it earlier in case of being labelled an "idiot." All the family must have sighted the glowing football shaped object at the same time but the first to exclaim was their 6-year- old daughter, he said. "It had been raining earlier and I thought it was reflected light but it was clear at that stage. We wound down the window and it was quite obvious it wasn't a light but a solid object," Mr Thew said. "It came up to within 120m of us. My wife pan- icked and put her foot down and we took off." "I wanted her to stop but she wouldn't," he said. He estimated the object was about 10m long and 5m high with an iridescent green top half and a red dish-gold tinged lower sec- tion. A row of what looked like square windows emitted a strong light and something like a figure eight could be seen at one window. "It tracked us for 12km and had the ability to move very slowly and very low." "As soon as we got home I wrote a fairly detailed report." "I asked the children to draw what they saw and we all came up with the same thing." Soon after, Mr Thew decided to go back down the road and spotted the object over the sea. When he returned home, the object passed over the house at about 300m and went east over the Milford Huts. Last Tuesday about 7.30pm his wife and friends observed two similar objects over Temuka.
[Advertisement top left: Pure Virgin Wool Ties by Pairsian HOME] [Photos top right with caption: An artist's impression of yesterday's UFO incident, with the Bristol Freighter aircraft illuminated by the object, above.] THE STAR CHRISTCHURCH. Phone 797-100. Classified 791-100. 20c WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1982. 36 pages. No light shed on UFO light in sky Sightings of a bright, pulsating, orange and white light in the sky have prompted UFO fever at Christchurch Airport. Four Air New Zealand cargo loaders scratching their heads over yesterday's UFO incident at the airport. [ILLEGIBLE names] and Stuart McConnell had started work at 4am and were loading a Bristol Freighter bound for Dunedin when [ILLEGIBLE]. Mr [ILLEGIBLE] Landand directly overhead for about 14 minutes. No aircraft was known to have been operating at the time, but the four men were convinced they were not seeing a reflected or refracted light source. Immediately a fast-approaching light from the south-east direction [ILLEGIBLE]. "Did it was overhead," Mr Squire told "The Star." "But it wasn't stationary, it was hovering and moving around." "It was circular with a white centre, 2 pulsating orange rings encircling it." "It went back into the south-east, then westwards." "It went back above us again." [ILLEGIBLE] terminal [ILLEGIBLE] trying to reach the tarmac. While Mr Squire was inside, Mr Coward and the two [ILLEGIBLE] while Mr Coward recalled the white light growing in intensity [ILLEGIBLE] east over the Cashmere Hills. After 14 years working with airlines [ILLEGIBLE] said he had seen all sorts of lights in the night sky, including falling stars, but "this was different though." Said Mr Squire: "I didn't feel scared. All I could think was Oh my God, what is it? I was just engrossed." "Because of the way it moved, and knowing it wasn't an aircraft, I'm convinced it was a UFO." "The daily air traffic [controller] [ILLEGIBLE] "the control tower and police have only received one report of the incident, from the alpine [ILLEGIBLE] staff, [ILLEGIBLE] the control tower might have seen something." The Meteorological Service has been unable to offer any explanation for the incident. A weather balloon was released at the airport but that was after the object was first seen in the south-east. The Air Force, which received a report of the incident, was also unable to explain it. Yesterday's [ILLEGIBLE] was probably the [ILLEGIBLE] object in the sky as it drove home from Pleasant Point on July 12, last year. "Nearly next door." [ILLEGIBLE] object [ILLEGIBLE] 10m high and 5m long with an iridescent green top half and a reddish-gold tinged lower portion, glowing football shaped object. [ILLEGIBLE] appeared to be a solid object, 10m high and 5m long with an iridescent green top half and a reddish-gold tinged lower portion with a row of windows, emitting a strong light. At one stage the object came within 120m of the family.
[Partial continuation text top left:] over Mt Erebus, turned and returned safely," says Mr Chippindale. [Column fragments top centre/right:] Meat grading [ILLEGIBLE] meat inspection which is a [ILLEGIBLE] The executive director of works they [ILLEGIBLE] for trespassing. [ILLEGIBLE] ns on CER will be cials' talks in February. owed by a meeting of Prime Ministers. scheduled for April. THE STAR, Thursday, January 28, 1982 3 Spotlight theory on UFO sighting Spotlight hunters could be responsible for Tues- day's reported UFO sight- ing at Christchurch Airport. Mr Rowe admits that in cases of reported UFO sightings he tries for the mundane explanations first. But two more witnesses to the incident have strengthened Mr Rowe's theory. Mr Ley and Rodney Jones, both 14, were camp- reflected spotlight. The effect, known as back-scatter, could produce an orange halo when seen through hazy cloud. Mr Rowe said today. Mark said today how the pair were woken by a bright light - orange coloured - which shone from above on their tent and surround- ing trees. They were terrified by the incident, he said. Rodney had noted the time at 1.10am when he woke - more than three hours earlier than the reported sighting by airline ing out near the Waimak- ariri riverbed at the time. Mark said today how the pair were woken by a bright light - orange coloured - which shone from above on their tent and surround- ing trees. They were terrified by the incident, he said. Rodney had noted the time at 1.10am when he woke - more than three hours earlier than the reported sighting by airline ground staff. "We opened the tent and poked our heads out," Mark said. The pair at first thought there was a fire, though they could not hear crack- ling but a "faint hum." The source of the light was to the south of the tent and could not be seen over the treetops. According to Mark the area was lit up for three or four minutes. "We thought at first it might have been a car or a spotlight, which is still a possibility, but the light never stayed in one spot." "We just sat there for a while, then there were a few gunshots from behind us (to the north)." "We were lying there terrified really - my friend said it could be a UFO," Mark said. The pair managed to get back to sleep about two hours later, then woke early and cycled home. [THE STAR, Tuesday, January 26, 1982] UFO at airport An unidentified flying object was seen at Christ- church Airport early today by Air New Zea- land staff. The object, which approached at high speed from the south-east and hovered overhead for between 5 and 10min. was described by a wit- ness as a bright white light with an orange per- imeter, according to an air force spokesman. The sighting was in dark- ness at 4.50am. No aircraft was known to be operating in the area, the spokesman said.
[routing slip:
1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS [initials]
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to
3 FOR SIGNATURE by [signature]
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date 26/2/82 Initials [initials]
6 AFTER DISPATCH to [initials] PRO[ILLEGIBLE]
7 BRING UP on to
8 FILE Date Initials]
39/3/3
24 February 1982
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Mr Thompson
Thank you for your recent enquiry of 22 February asking why
you had not received a reply to your letter concerning the 1978-79
UFO sightings which occurred near Blenheim.
I must say I was somewhat surprised to receive your latest
letter. A search of our records shows that the Minister of Defence
himself wrote to you in August and again in September, of last year.
Our records also show that a third letter from yourself to the
Minister was replied to by me on 28 September 1981. This letter
clearly stated the Ministry's position regarding the alleged UFO
sightings by Mr McDonald in 1978. In case my reply to you has
somehow gone astray in the mail, I enclose a copy for your information.
Yours sincerely
[signature]
D B G McLean
Secretary of Defence
Enc:
[initials/signature at bottom]
[page number: 16, top right]Air 39/3/3 57 Dillon St,
Blenheim,
22nd February'82
Dear Sir,
It is bad manners not
to answer mail in connection
with the 78-79 UFO sightings.
HOW DISGRACEFUL!!!!
Let us see if you are too
scared to answer this letter.
I bet you will be; and
while you are about answer
my last one.
yours faithfully,
J.C. Thompson
MR J. C. THOMPSON
AO POH(D) Hk! Hk!
MN 24.2.82Air 39/3/3 28 September 1981 Mr J C Thompson 57 Dillon Street BLENHEIM Dear Mr Thompson Thank you for your recent letter which has been referred to me by the Minister of Defence for reply. I have had Air Staff reconsider the matter in the light of the facts presented by Mr McDonald in his letter to the Marlborough Express of 20 December 1978. Air Staff believe, however, that there is nothing in Mr McDonald's letter to suggest that the object sighted from Waikawa Bay was other than a DC8 aircraft making its descent towards Wellington Airport from the west. The outline of events, which spanned no more than 10 minutes, is entirely consistent with sighting a large aircraft approaching from a distance. It is estimated that on a clear night the landing lights of a DC8 aircraft descending over Nelson would be visible for at least six minutes before the aircraft passed away to the north of Waikawa Bay on its usual inbound track to Wellington when making a southerly approach to the runway. Knowing that there was a DC8 aircraft inbound to Wellington at that particular time and taking into account the most likely flight path for its descent, Air Staff are sure that it was, in fact, this aircraft that Mr McDonald saw. I trust my comments have enabled you to gain a fuller appreciation of this Ministry's position on the matter. Accordingly, I do not believe any useful purpose would be served by engaging in further speculation about an event for which a perfectly rational explanation already exists. Yours sincerely D B G McLean Secretary of Defence
Writer: ...MR. H.E. WRIGHT, P.O. BOX 1276, Christchurch 1...
No. 1982/11
MINISTERIAL
Date of letter: ...28-[ILLEGIBLE]...
Date Acknowledged: ...3 - FEB [ILLEGIBLE]...
Reference: [ILLEGIBLE] 244 10 1
Subject: ...UFO sighting by
Air N.Z. Cargo loaders
Referred to 1.
2.
3.
Comments:
[Signature]
(Tumble)
(Minister's Office use) (Departmental use)
33926B-600 pads/7/79 M
Item 521P,O, BOX, 1276,
CHRISTCHURCH 1.
28/1/82.
Minister For Defence.
Beehive,
Wellington.
Dear Sir;
There is no question that a U,F,O, sighting was made by 4
Air New Zealand Cargo Loaders on the Morning of Tuesday, 26th, of January,
1982 over the Christchurch International Airport at about 4-49 AM.
As I have seen Mr Coward, He and another Colleage have been selected
from a HardC-. CoReCY,F,O's Pamplet, a selection of Two U,F,O's were made.
These Two are Numbers 9 and 11. All these U,F,O's have been Numbered to
Correspond with each UFO.
It is hoped that from the Artist's Impression of the U,F,O, that I will
be able to Identify the Type of U,F,O, that Flew over on that Tuesday
Morning.
According to the Information the U,F,O, Flew Back about the same way
as it Flew in. In My appion this UFO could have been returning back to
Its Mother Ship which was South - East over Cashmere Hills, the same
way the UFO came in.
However it will be sometime before I complete a full Investigation,
as I will be seeking further Information Overseas.
Please find enclosed the present Information as at present.
Yours Sincerally.
[Signature]
(Mr) H,E, Wright,
Sec Ely
For draft reply
Ely
1. 2. 82NO LIGHT SHED ON U,F,O, LIGHT IN SKY.
Sightings of a Bright , Pulsating Orange and White Light in the Sky
have prompted U,F,O, Fever at Christchurch Airport. Four Air New Zealand
Cargo Loaders - All Experienced with Night Sightings of Aircraft - are
still Scratching Their Heads over Yesterdays U,F,O, Incident at the Air -
port.
They saw a Fast Moving Orange Light Approach the Airport from the South -
East then Continue to move around directly Overheard for about 14 Minutes.
No Aircraft was Known to have been Operating at that time and the Object
or Light made No Sound. There was a Cloud cover and a Slight Breeze at
the time, but the Four Men were Convinced They were Not seeing a Reflected
Light Source.
LINDSAY SQUIRE, GERALD COWARD, BOB MULHOLLAND, & STUART MC CONNELL.
had Started Work at 4 AM, and were Loading a Bristol Freighter bound
for Dunedin when the Incident Occurred. Mr Mulholland had Just looked at
His Watch at 4-49 AM, as He drove a Forklift out of the Cargo Shed
towards the Aircraft waiting on the Tarmac. Seeing the Bright Light
Approaching at Speed from the South - East He Signalled to His Colleagues
to Stop, and Lights and Engines were Switched Off. " Then it was Overhead",
Mr Squire told; "The Star". " But it wasn't Stationary, It was Hovering
and Moving Around." . The Light was Circular with a White Centre, a
Pulsating Orange Ring Enclosing it. " It went back to the South-East,
then Back above Us Again." At that stage Mr Squire went back into the
Cargo Terminal Intending to Ring the Control Tower, He was Unable to reach
the Tower and Returned to the Tarmac.
While Mr Squire was Inside, Mr Coward and His Two Companions watched the
Object Disappear to the East Over the Cashmere Hills. Mr Coward Recalled
the White Light Growing in Intensity as the Object Hovered Above.
After 14 Years Working with Aircraft Mr Coward said He had seen All Sorts
of Lights in the Night Sky, Including Falling Stars, but " This was Differ -
ent althogether. " It's a Mystery To Me". Said Mr Squire; " I Didn't
feel Scared. All I could think was; " Oh My God, What is It ?. I was
just Engrossed". Mr Squire Admitted to having read a few Books on U,F,O's,
but said He is Not " Into It". Because of the way It Moved, and Knowing
Aircraft, I'm Convinced It was a U,F,O."
The Duty Air Traffic Contoler saw Nothing from the Control Tower and
POLICE have Only Received One Report of the Incident - From the Airline
Staff. " We just Hope Somebody else in Christchurch might have seen Some-
thing," Mr Squire said.
The Meteorological Service has been unable to offer Any Explanation for
the Incident. A Weather Balloon was Released at the Airport at 4-56 AM,
But that was after the Object was First Seen and it would Not have been
Approaching at Speed from the South- East.
The Airforce, which Received a Report of the Incident, was Unable to
Explain It.
Christchurch Star, Wednesday, January, 27th - 1982.U,F,O, AT AIRPORT.
FIRST REPORT:
AN Un-Identified Flying Object was seen at Christchurch International
Airport Early Today by Air New Zealand Staff. The OBJECT, which Approached
at HIGH SPEED from the South-East and Hovered Overhead for between 5 and
10 Minutes, was Described by a Witness as a Bright White Light with an
Orange Perimeter, according to an Airforce Spokesman.
The Sighting was in Darkness at 4-50 AM.
NO AIRCRAFT was Known to be Operating in the Area, the Spokesman said.
CHCH Star, Tuesday, January, 26th - 1982.THE STAR PURE VIRGIN wool ties by Parisian HOME CHRISTCHURCH, Phone 797-100. Classified 791-100. 36 pages. 20c WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1982. No light shed on UFO light in sky Sightings of a bright, pulsating, orange and white light in the sky have prompted UFO fever at Christchurch Airport. Four Air New Zealand cargo loaders — all experienced with night sightings of aircraft — are still scratching their heads over yesterday's UFO incident at the airport. They saw a fast-moving orange light approach the airport from the south-east then continue to move around directly overhead for about 14 minutes. No aircraft was known to have been operating at that time and the object or light, made no sound. There was a cloud cover and a slight breeze at the time, but the four men were convinced they were not seeing a reflected or refracted light source. Lindsay Squire, Gerald Coward, Bob Mulholland and Stuart McConnell were loading a Bristol Freighter bound for Dunedin when the incident occurred. Mr Mulholland had just looked at his watch at 4.49am as he drove a forklift out of the cargo shed toward the aircraft waiting on the tarmac. Seeing the bright light approach from the south-east, he signalled to his colleagues to stop and the aircraft's lights and engines were switched off. "Then it was overhead," Mr Squire told The Star. "But it wasn't stationary, it was hovering and moving around." . The light was circular, with a white centre, a pulsating orange ring enclosing it, then afterwards moving it. At that stage Mr Squire went back into the cargo terminal intending to ring the control tower and returned to the tarmac. While Mr Squire was inside, Mr Coward and his two companions watched the object disappear to the east, over the Cashmere Hills. Mr Coward recalled the white light growing in intensity as the object hovered above. Mr Coward said he had been seen all sorts of lights in the night sky, including falling stars, but "this was different altogether." "It's a mystery to me," Mr Squire said. "I didn't feel scared. All I could think was 'Oh my God, what is it?' I was just engrossed." Mr Squire admitted to having read a few books on UFOs, but said he was not "into it." "Because of the way it moved, and knowing aircraft, I'm convinced it was a UFO." The duty air traffic controller saw nothing from the control tower and POLICE have only received one report of the incident — from the airline staff. "We just hope somebody else in Christchurch might have seen something," Mr Squire said. The Meteorological Service has been unable to offer any explanation for the incident. A weather balloon was released at the airport at 4.56am, but that was after the object was first seen and it would not have been approaching at speed from the south-east. The Air Force, which received a report of the incident, was unable to explain it. Yesterday was the country's first reported UFO sighting [ILLEGIBLE] since a family said they saw a glowing football shaped object. It appeared to be a solid object, 6m high and 5m long with an iridescent green top half and a reddish-gold lower half, that looked like a row of windows, emitting a strong light. At one stage the object came within 100m of the family. An artist's impression of yesterday's UFO incident, with the Bristol Freighter aircraft illuminated by the object above. [IMAGE: Newspaper photo/illustration]
Hard-core UFOs
THE PRESS, SATURDAY, JANUARY, 20th - 1979.
[GRID OF UFO SHAPE ILLUSTRATIONS WITH LABELS]
Row 1:
1 'Adamski-type' 10m. diameter
9i Large saucer-type 50m. diameter
17 Mothership 300-3000m. length
25 Cylinder shape various lengths
Row 2:
2 'Old' saucer type
10 'Saturn'-shaped UFO
18 Seen over Africa 70m. length
26 Photographed over California 1957
Row 3:
3 Photographed 1950 and 1954
11a 'Trinidad-saucer' Brazil 1958
19 Object with fiery tail 1948
27 Rocket shape recorded in Italy
Row 4:
4 Type seen in 1947 diameter 7m.
12 'New-type' photographed in Brazil
20 Oval shape length 25m. 1952
28 Seen in USA and Italy
Row 5:
5 Dome-shaped 'common' type
13 Photographed California and Oregon
21 Cigar with jet exhaust 1952
29 Globe-shaped 20cm.-20m. diameter
Row 6:
6 Average dome-shaped
14 Photographed New Mexico 1963
22 Cigar-shaped mothership
30 Cone or 'top'-shaped object
Row 7:
7 Saucer-type 1965
15 Photographed California 1965
23 Winged cigar-shape 1952
31 Angular shape USA 1961
Row 8:
8 Photographed in Korea
16 Disc-shaped 1950
24 [ILLEGIBLE] Winged cylinder-shaped
The objects are not drawn to scale
Drawn by: Knut Aasheim
March 1967
[Handwritten annotation: delete ht "K"]
The variety of U.F.O. shapes has been described as a "testament to human imagination."
This drawing of "hard-core U.F.O.s"—some of the shapes recorded in the last 30 years
—comes from "The World Atlas of Mysteries," by Francis Hitching (Collins, 241 pp.,
maps, illustrations, bibliography, and index. $18.85). The book's section on flying
saucers is not especially encouraging for those determined to believe in them. "The
trouble with U.F.O.s is that there are too many of them," remarks the author. How-
ever, the book as a whole is a splendid collection of scientific puzzles and unexplained
phenomena from theories of continental drift, to the impression on the Turin shroud,
to a careful map of the losses of ships and aircraft in the notorious Bermuda Triangle.MINUTE SHEET Department: ....[ILLEGIBLE]... Section: ..........Gulf, File No. ...39/3/3... Date ..22 [ILLEGIBLE] 82 To- [ILLEGIBLE] Subject: UFO Investigation UFO minor-Ministerial 1. Attached is a draft reply Mr Wright's letter. 2. Previous correspondence is also attached for filing on this later on file 39/3/3. 3. The transfer of papers from this 2414/10/1 to 39/3/3 has been noted. [Signature] [ILLEGIBLE] 16 [ILLEGIBLE] 49918A-16 jpads/7/80 MK Item 504
[Handwritten at top: "2"]
MINUTE
To: Do[ILLEGIBLE](5)
MINISTERIAL ENQUIRY FOR PRIORITY ATTENTION
1. Attached is an enquiry from the Minister's Office.
2. It would be appreciated if a draft reply, could
be prepared within your branch/staff and forwarded to
Policy Branch which will be responsible for preparation
of the letter in its final form for the Minister's signature. If
it is judged that the Minister should have background
information to the issue before signing the letter, a draft
covering letter to the Minister from the Secretary or
Deputy Secretary should also be prepared.
3. In view of the urgency which must be given to
Ministerial enquiries, the draft should be forwarded to
Policy Branch, attention AO(Pol)D by /29 February
If for some reason this is not possible the officer
dealing with the matter is to have an interim reply to the
correspondent, for the Minister's signature, with Policy
Branch within the prescribed 7-day deadline. In addition
the staff involved are to provide a written explanation,
addressed to Dep Sec Def, through DPD, explaining why
it is not possible to provide the draft reply within the
given time.
I wasn't aware that Mr Wright had written in this
year as I have no record of Min 11 coming in from
the Min's Office.
SASO F[ILLEGIBLE] SEC DEF
Perhaps Deps pro tem
can file this I believe someone
on his staff is the UFO
sighting coordination of replies.
1[ILLEGIBLE]
[Signature]
By Plo (ai)
In order to maintain
an access to and service
document record, request the
[ILLEGIBLE] on file 39/3/[ILLEGIBLE]QUESTIONAIR.
NAME OF PERSON. ......... AGE: 13 YRS
ADDRESS: [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
PHONE NUMBER: DATED: 1 / 2 / 82
1; When You First awoke How would you Describe the Intensity of the
Light.?
ANSWER: it was very bright because it lit up
the whole tent and bush around.
2; The Colour of the Light ?
ANSWER: White mixed with orange more white
3; What was the time of Your Watch? ANSWER: between One and [ILLEGIBLE]
4; Was the Second Hand Still in Motion ? am
ANSWER: Did not notice
5; When You first went outside. How long was it before You heard the
Gun Shoots ?
ANSWER: 2 or 2½ hours later
6; Can You recall how many Shots were fird ?.
ANSWER: 3 or 4 maybe
7: Was the Faint Humming associated with the Gun Shots or from another
Source ?.
ANSWER: from another Source
8; How much of the Area was Lit Up ?.
ANSWER: Most of the bush in front of us
but then moved to the side
9: Describe the Weather during that Time ?.
ANSWER: Very hot and no cloud except
in the far distance
10; ( IMPORTANT.) TRY AND GIVE THE DISTANCE AND Location of where the
Shots were Fired from ?.
ANSWER: behind us to the right of th
Stop bank I think. Not quite a
mile11; Please state when You arrived at the Site to Camp, Date , Time;
ANSWER: [ILLEGIBLE] 1 TIME: 2 pm HRS. — Minutes;
12; Had You observed any other Person or Persons near Your Camp Site
during the Period before the Sighting.?
ANSWER:
Two men on motorbike on stop
bank . lady and man on stop band in
car . Car far way to the right
of the stop bank.
13; If so Pleasetry and give Discriptions of those Persons or Person.?
ANSWER: Two men
both slim one had red hair the
other brown hair with mow
14; Had You seen any person with any Type of Fire - Arm during Daylight
Hours ?.
ANSWER: not that I can record
15; Make a Sketch of the Trees and Your Camp Site, giving the Location.
ANSWER:
[SKETCH: Shows water on left, stop bank diagonal line, trees with light indicated above, tent in middle, path below, labeled: water, Stop bank, light, tree's, tent, path, old zephe, gravel, Water]PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
IT IS KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH U,F,O, ACTIVITY THAT THE FOLLOWING
SYMTOMS HAVE BEEN PROVEN FATAL. EFFECTS FROM HOVERING U,F,O OR U,F,O'S,
AND LANDING SITES WHERE UFO OR UFO'S HAVE LANDED ON EARTH.
RADIATION SICKNESS.
DUE TO ABSORPTION OF EXCESS RADIATION, MARKED BY FATIGUE, INTERNAL
HEMORRHAGE, VOMITING, PROGRESSIVE TISSUE BREAKDOWN.
HEADACHES.
DIZZY SPELLS, NAUSEA, NECK PAINS, HEADACHES:
16; DID YOU HAVE ANY ILL EFFECTS AFTER THE U,F,O, INCIDENT ? AND IF SO
DID YOU SEE A DOCTOR ?
ANSWERS. noQUESTIONAIR.
NAME OF PERSON. ......... AGE: 14½ YRS.
ADDRESS: .....
.............
PHONE NUMBER: DATED: 1 / 2 / 82
1; When You First awoke How would you Describe the Intensity of the
Light.?
ANSWER:
Not too bright but bright enough too
awake you.
2; The Colour of the Light ?
ANSWER: Clear white or
3; What was the time of Your Watch? ANSWER: Not sure of exact time
4; Was the Second Hand Still in Motion ? but [ILLEGIBLE] between 1 and 2
ANSWER: Yes am.
5; When You first went outside. How long was it before You heard the
Gun Shoots ?
ANSWER: A couple of hours.
6; Can You recall how many Shots were fird ?.
ANSWER: 4, Four
7: Was the Faint Humming associated with the Gun Shots or from another
Source ?.
ANSWER: Another source
8; How much of the Area was Lit Up ?.
ANSWER: A fair [ILLEGIBLE] bit, but it also moved around a lot
and fast.
9: Describe the Weather during that Time ?.
ANSWER: Clear sky, no cloud, windy before and after
but not during the incident
10; ( IMPORTANT.) TRY AND GIVE THE DISTANCE AND Location of where the
Shots were Fired from ?.
ANSWER:
The back of the tent to the right of the stopbank,
the [ILLEGIBLE] the waimakariri side (The location)
aybe half a mile ( Distance)11; Please state when You arrived at the Site to Camp, Date , Time;
ANSWER: 26 [ILLEGIBLE] 1 / 82 TIME: 2pm HRS, under 30 Minutes;
Tuesday
12; Had You observed any other Person or Persons near Your Camp Site
during the Period before the Sighting.?
ANSWER: YES
Two men on motorbikes, one had ginger hair
no moustache and no beard. The other had dark
brown hair and a moustache.
There were also to two people in a white car
one blonde woman and a dark haired man.
13; If so Pleasetry and give Discriptions of those Persons or Person.?
ANSWER: [Arrow pointing up to previous answer]
14; Had You seen any person with any Type of Fire - Arm during Daylight
Hours ?.
ANSWER: No
15; Make a Sketch of the Trees and Your Camp Site, giving the Location.
ANSWER:
[SKETCH: Shows River on left, Dirt Road below, Stopbank Road at top, trees and bush, Tent in center-right area, arrow pointing right labeled Airport, cliffs at bottom]PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
IT IS KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH U,F,O, ACTIVITY THAT THE FOLLOWING
SYMTOMS HAVE BEEN PROVEN FATAL. EFFECTS FROM HOVERING U,F,O OR U,F,O'S,
AND LANDING SITES WHERE UFO OR UFO'S HAVE LANDED ON EARTH.
RADIATION SICKNESS.
DUE TO ABSORPTION OF EXCESS RADIATION, MARKED BY FATIGUE, INTERNAL
HEMORRHAGE, VOMITING, PROGRESSIVE TISSUE BREAKDOWN.
HEADACHES.
DIZZY SPELLS, NAUSEA, NECK PAINS, HEADACHES:
16; DID YOU HAVE ANY ILL EFFECTS AFTER THE U,F,O, INCIDENT ? AND IF SO
DID YOU SEE A DOCTOR ?
ANSWERS. On the end of [ILLEGIBLE] Saturday and all Sunday
I felt slight sharp head pains and neck
pains and on the evening on Sunday I felt
rather dizzy with neck pains
{ Not From! Lights of UFO}
{ Normal Symptoms. (H E Wright)}[MAP OF WAIMAKARIRI RIVER AREA NEAR CHRISTCHURCH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT] [Visible labels on map include:] DP 14687 DP 24088 DP 25643 DP 6961 DP 8036 DP 13013 DP 4197 DP 27680 DP 35430 DP 14737 DP 14738 DP 10480 DP 26644 DP 23659 DP 34363 DP 7627 DP 26999 DP 2488 DP 9045 Pt 32816 Pt 33406 Pt R 1547 Pt R 710 Pt 4464 Pt 37373 Pt R 947 Pt R 947 Pt R 947 Pt R 702 PASHBYS ROAD EYRE ROAD HARRIS RD DRISCOLLS RD WILLOWS ROAD HAREWOOD RD CLARKSONS RD McLeans Island Harewood Christchurch International Airport Yaldhurst Templars Island Boys Tent Pt 1 698.6559 WAIMAKARIRI RIVER Paparun Prison SOUTH [ILLEGIBLE] Eyreton SOUTH [Various land parcel numbers and measurements throughout]
[Handwritten at top right: [ILLEGIBLE] /n. 39/3/3] 4 February 1982 Mr H E Wright PO Box 1276 CHRISTCHURCH 1 Dear Mr Wright I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 28 January to the Rt Hon David Thomson, Minister of Defence, concerning the UFO sighting on 26 January over the Christchurch International Airport. The Minister has noted your letter and has referred it to the Secretary of Defence, pending receipt of your promised further letter. Yours sincerely J M P MacCormac Private Secretary SECRETARY OF DEFENCE Referred. [Signature] Private Secretary [Handwritten: DPD file]
[Routing slip at top right:] 1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS [ILLEGIBLE] 2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to [ILLEGIBLE] 3 FOR SIGNATURE by [ILLEGIBLE] 4 BEFORE DISPATCH to [ILLEGIBLE] 5 DISPATCH Date 25.2.82 Initials [ILLEGIBLE] 6 AFTER DISPATCH to [ILLEGIBLE] 7 BRING UP [ILLEGIBLE] to FILE Date Initials Min No: 24 File No: Air 39/3/3 Typed : 24 Feb 82 [Handwritten at top right: A/173] Mr H E Wright PO Box 1276 CHRISTCHURCH 1 Dear Mr Wright Thank you for your letter of 14 February containing reports on the investigations that you have carried out into the sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects at Christchurch International Airport in January and at Temuka last August. Although the Ministry of Defence and in particular, the RNZAF, does not undertake investigations into UFO sightings, I have passed your reports to the Secretary of Defence so that the RNZAF may be informed of your work. Yours sincerely David Thomson Minister of Defence
NO LIGHT SHED ON U,F,O, LIGHT IN SKY.
Sightings of a Bright , Pulsating Orange and White Light in the Sky
have prompted U,F,O, Fever at Christchurch Airport. Four Air New Zealand
Cargo Loaders - All Experienced with Night Sightings of Aircraft - are
still Scratching Their Heads over Yesterdays U,F,O, Incident at the Air -
port.
They saw a Fast Moving Orange Light Approach the Airport from the South -
East then Continue to move around directly Overheard for about 14 Minutes.
No Aircraft was Known to have been Operating at that time and the Object
or Light made No Sound. There was a Cloud cover and a Slight Breeze at
the time, but the Four Men were Convinced They were Not seeing a Reflected
Light Source.
LINDSAY SQUIRE, GERALD COWARD, BOB MULHOLLAND, & STUART MC CONNELL.
had Started Work at 4 AM, and were Loading a Bristol Freighter bound
for Dunedin when the Incident Occurred. Mr Mulholland had Just looked at
His Watch at 4-49 AM, as He drove a Forklift out of the Cargo Shed
towards the Aircraft waiting on the Tarmac. Seeing the Bright Light
Approaching at Speed from the South - East He Signalled to His Colleagues
to Stop, and Lights and Engines were Switched Off. " Then it was Overhead",
Mr Squire told; "The Star". " But it wasn't Stationary, It was Hovering
and Moving Around." . The Light was Circular with a White Centre, a
Pulsating Orange Ring Enclosing it. " It went back to the South-East,
then Back above Us Again." At that stage Mr Squire went back into the
Cargo Terminal Intending to Ring the Control Tower, He was Unable to reach
the Tower and Returned to the Tarmac.
While Mr Squire was Inside, Mr Coward and His Two Companions watched the
Object Disappear to the East Over the Cashmere Hills. Mr Coward Recalled
the White Light Growing in Intensity as the Object Hovered Above.
After 14 Years Working with Aircraft Mr Coward said He had seen All Sorts
of Lights in the Night Sky, Including Falling Stars, but " This was Differ -
ent althogether. " It's a Mystery To Me". Said Mr Squire; " I Didn't
feel Scared. All I could think was; " Oh My God, What is It ?. I was
just Engrossed". Mr Squire Admitted to having read a few Books on U,F,O's,
but said He is Not " Into It". Because of the way It Moved, and Knowing
Aircraft, I'm Convinced It was a U,F,O."
The Duty Air Traffic Contoler saw Nothing from the Control Tower and
POLICE have Only Received One Report of the Incident - From the Airline
Staff. " We just Hope Somebody else in Christchurch might have seen Some-
thing," Mr Squire said.
The Meteorological Service has been unable to offer Any Explanation for
the Incident. A Weather Balloon was Released at the Airport at 4-56 AM,
But that was after the Object was First Seen and it would Not have been
Approaching at Speed from the South- East.
The Airforce, which Received a Report of the Incident, was Unable to
Explain It.
Christchurch Star, Wednesday, January, 27th - 1982.U,F,O, AT AIRPORT.
FIRST REPORT:
AN Un-Identified Flying Object was seen at Christchurch International
Airport Early Today by Air New Zealand Staff. The OBJECT, which Approached
at HIGH SPEED from the South-East and Hovered Overhead for between 5 and
10 Minutes, was Described by a Witness as a Bright White Light with an
Orange Perimeter, according to an Airforce Spokesman.
The Sighting was in Darkness at 4-50 AM.
NO AIRCRAFT was Known to be Operating in the Area, the Spokesman said.
CHCH Star, Tuesday, January, 26th - 1982.
-------------------------------------------
SPOTLIGHT THEORY ON U,F,O, SIGHTING.
Spotlight Hunters could be responsible for Tuesday's Reported UFO
Sighting at Christchurch Airport. Gunshoots were Heard near the Waimak -
ariri River to the North of the Airport in the Early Hours of Tuesday
and Spotlights can be reflected by Cloud.
The Vice- President of the Canterbury Astronomical Society ( Mr C,H,
Rowe ) said the Object Described by Air New Zealand Emplorees could
well have been a Reflected Spotlight. The effect, known as Back-
scatter, could produce an Orange, Halo when seen through HazydCloud
Mr Rowe said today. Mr Rowe admits that in Cases of Reported U,F,O,
Sightings He tries for the mundane explanations first.
But Two more Witnesses to the Incident have strengthened Mr Rowe's
theory.
Mark Ley, and Rodney Jones, 14, were camping out near the Waimakariri
riverbed at the time. Mark said today how the pair were woken by a
bright light - Orange coloured - which shone from above on to their Tent
and surrounding trees. They were terrified by the Incident, He said.
Rodney had noted the time at 1-10AM, when He woke - more than Three Hours
Earlier than the reported Sighting by Airline Ground Staff. "We opened
the tent and poked Our Heads out," Mark said. The pair at first thought
there was a Fire, though They could not hear Crackling but a " Faint
Hum".
The source of the Light was to the South of the Tent and could not be
seen over the Treetops. According to Mark the Area was Lit Up for Three
or Four Minutes. " We thought at first it might have been a car or a
Spotlight, which is still a possibility, BUT the Light Never Stayed in
one spot. " We just sat there for a while, then there were a few Gun -
shots from behind Us ( to the North").
" We were Lying there Treeified really - My Friend said it could be a
U,F,O," Mark said. The pair managed to get back to sleep about Two Hours
Later, then woke early and Cycled Home.
CHCH STAR, THURSDAY, JANUARY, 28th - 1982.AIR 39/3/3 PR
15
PUBLIC RELATIONS
8 February 1982
Mr Harold J. Knapman
Mutual UFO Network
PO Box 22638
CHRISTCHURCH
Dear Sir,
Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding
to your letter of 6 January. I have been absent from the
office.
On receipt of your letter dated 20 September 1981,
a thorough search was made of our records but no reference
to a film or an RNZAF investigation could be found of a
sighting in July 1959.
It is regretted that the RNZAF is unable to assist
you in your study.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
for Chief of Air Staff
[Signature]
[ILLEGIBLE]MUFON MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, INC.
] Old Towne Rd
_guin Texas
78155 USA
Mutual UFO Network
Sectional S I Director
Harold J Knapman
PO Box 22638 High St
Christchurch NZ
Phone 527 953
6/January 1982.
(C.D.COLE)
Squadron Leader,
RNZAF Public Relations Officer. Air 39/3/3.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your reply to my letter 20th September.
I have enclosed a copy of a couple of pages out of a book I thought you
might be interested in,concerning Mrs Frederick Morelands UFO sighting
of 13th July 1959. I have read several books which refers the N.Z.
Air forces investigations to this sighting.It might interest you to
know that as far as I know Im the only person that has a copy of the
ATC Tapes of the Kaikoura sighting of 1978 - 79. released by the Govt.
I have been studying UFO's for 18years & I do realise there's a lot of
red tape. I also know where mrs Moreland now lives,now remarried.
I do respect her privicy and as far as Im concerned I do not wish to
break that privicy & I wont.That is why Im asking you for a copy of
that report as its among thirteen other CE3K (Close encounters of the
third kind.) that has happened in N.Z. I asure you on two points
(1) I do thourghly investigate the sightings.
(2) I do not make my findings public.
All my reports go to the USA to MUFON head quarters in Texas,where the
reports go into a computer,even I do not hear any more of the results.
So could you please reconsider for the sake of science,I would be
enternaly gratefull.
Kindest Regards
Harold J Knapman
S.I.S.Director
For MUFON.
Harold J Knapman11.
Helmeted Aliens Over New Zealand
At 5:30 A.M. on July 13, 1959, Mrs. Frederick More-
land was crossing the barn yard on her way to milk the
cows. The Morelands enjoy country living and the nine-
acre farm which they maintain on Old Renwick Road in
Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand, suits them just
fine. Mr. Moreland is a civilian employee at the Wood-
bourne Station of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and
on weekends, Mrs. Moreland is a nurse's aid at the Lister
Hospital.
Mrs. Moreland was sleepily going about her early
morning chores when she noticed a green glow in the
clouds. As she told local police and a reporter for the
Nelson Evening Mail: ". . . there was no moon so I
wondered what it was. When I was half way across the
paddock, two large green things, like eyes or big lamps,
appeared above me and dropped towards the ground.
"I noticed that I was bathed in a green light and that
the paddock was green, too. It was a horrid sort of color.
My first thought was, 'I shouldn't be here,' and made a
dive for the trees (a stand of pine on the other side of the
paddock). There I stood watching.
"A saucer-shaped glow with two indented green lights
in the bottom descended. The air became very warm.
Two rows of jets around the middle shot out orange-
colored flames. They appeared to revolve in opposite
directions. The thing was about 20 to 30 feet in diameter.
It hovered at about roof height.
"The jets stopped and a light was switched on in what
appeared to be a . . . glass roof or dome, which glowed.
62
. STRANGERS FROM THE SKIES 63
The bottom appeared to be of a grayish metal color.
There was a faint hum in the air as it hovered."
Mrs. Moreland's early morning marvels had not yet
ceased as she noted next that "there were two men in it,
dressed in fairly close fitting suits of shiny material. The
only thing I can think of to describe it is aluminum foil.
Opaque helmets rose from their shoulders. I could not
se their faces.
"One of the men stood up and put two hands in front
him as if leaning to look downwards. He then sat
down, and after a minute or two, the jets started off again
and, tilting slightly at first, the thing shot up vertically
at great speed and disappeared into the clouds. When it
did this, it made a soft but high-pitched sound."
Understandingly, Mrs. Moreland admitted to local
authorities that her experience had left her "dumb-
founded for a moment." As she stood in the trees to
regain her mental equilibrium, she noticed the "smell of
something which resembled pepper in the air."
With feminine logic, Mrs. Moreland continued about
her chores and finished milking the cows before she went
into the house to awaken her husband, who had worked
a late shift at the Air Force Station the previous night.
At his insistence, she phoned the local constable and the
local press. Within a week, she was re-telling her story
to an investigating officer of the New Zealand Air Force.
UFO investigators have often puzzled over the fact that
many sightings occur in Australia, New Zealand, New
Guinea and the Antarctic, and that so many of these same
sightings include prolonged visual contact with the alien
beings that pilot the UFO's. The aliens may relax their
security when they are "down-under" because they are
aware of the communications lag between that area and
the rest of the world. Never have aliens remained in view
longer than the four-hour period recorded by Father
Gil and his mission at Papua, New Guinea. Imagine the
furor such an incident would cause if it were to occur
in New York City, London, or Moscow. Air-raid sirens
would blare and rocket-armed jets would be sent in pur-UK LKA837RFA509 UU
RR RZYXCE
DE RZYYUT 8009 0262215
ZNR UUUUU
R 2621352 JAN 82
FM SGHQ RNZAF
TO RZYXCE/NZDEF AIR
INFO ZEN/RNZAF WIGRAM
BT
UNCLAS
BIG KSY/KSZ
032 SUBJECT UFO REPORT PD
ONE PD FOLLOWING REPORT RECEIVED FROM MR LINDSAY SQUIRES CMN AIR
NZ LOADING FORMAN AT CHCH AIRPORT PD
TWO PD MR SQUIRES AND THREE OTHERS SIGHTED A LIGHTED OBJECT
APPROACHING CHCH AIRPORT FROM SE AT 0449 HRS 26 JAN 81 PD OBJECT
TRAVELLED QUOTE FAST UNQUOTE TO THE AIRPORT AND MANOEUVRED/HOVERED
IN OVERHEAD BEFORE DEPARTING TO SE PD DURATION OF SIGHTING WAS
14 MINS PD OBJECT WAS LIT WITH BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT WITH ORANGE TINGE
AT PERIPHERY PD OBJECT NOT SIGHTED BY ATC CMN RADAR WAS NOT OPERAT-
ING PD NO A/C WERE REPORTED AIRBORNE PD
THREE PD CHCH WX AT 0500
A PD 080/07
B PD 30 KMS
C PD LT RAIN
D PD 1/8 1500 CMN 8/8 10000
C-NA AT PERIPHERY
PAGE 2 RZYYUT 8009 UNCLAS
FOUR PD CHCH MET BALLOON (LIGHTED) RELEASED AT APPROX 0450 MOVED
W-SW-S-SE-E IN FIRST [ILLEGIBLE] MINS AND IS POSSIBLE EXPLANATION PD
BT
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
DEF AIR 39/3/3
ACTION: OPS 2
[ILLEGIBLE]
OPS 2 II
OPS 3 IIAir 39/3/3
15 October 1981
Mr Harold J Knapman
Mutual UFO Network
PO Box 22638
CHRISTCHURCH
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 20 September, seeking
information regarding a film of a UFO sighting in April,
1954, and the report of a sighting by a Mrs Frederick Moreland
on 13 July, 1959.
A search of our records cannot locate any reference
to a film that was passed to the RNZAF for examination nor
is there any reference to the sighting by Mrs Moreland.
With the exception of the Kaikoura sightings, the
RNZAF does not undertake investigations into the sightings
of Unidentified Flying Objects. It does, however, on
receipt of a report of a sighting consult with other Government
agencies such as the Civil Aviation Division, Meteorological
Service and the DSIR in an effort to eliminate obvious causes.
In many cases a logical explanation is found.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(C.D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer
FILE 6 In[ILLEGIBLE]MINUTE SHEET
Department: ................................
Subject Section: ................................
UFO INVESTIGATIONS File No. Air 39/3/3
Date: ................................
To-
PRO(AF)
Thru Ops 2
[ILLEGIBLE]
1. Suggest we resort to our standard
response. I do not know whether the file
record goes back as far as April 54 or July 59.
DM I (Air) may even have had responsibility for
UFO's at that time. We should perhaps
deny or rather protest the suggestion of the RNZAF
"covering up its findings and making that in many
cases satisfactory explanations are, in fact, made.
[signature]
Wg Cdr
23 Sep 81 Dops
Item 503 49919E-120,000 pads/8/80 MKDops
I believe one
of your staff is the
liaison officer with
alien beings and
Wellington coordinator
of UFO visitations.
Perhaps he could
respond.
22/9 [signature]MUFON MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, INC.
103 Old Towne Rd
9[ILLEGIBLE] h Texas
78155 USA
Mutual UFO Network
Sectional S I Director
Harold J Knapman
PO Box 22638 High St
Christchurch NZ
Phone 527 953
20/9/81,
Mr D.B.G. McLean,
Secretary of Defence,H.Q.
Private Bag,
Wellington.
1
Dep - Hey!
Au 22.9.
Dear Sir,
Im writing to ask you about two incidents that happened
in the 1950s,the first one happened in April 1954 it is believed that
a movie was taken by a civilian & given to the N.Z.A.F. for examination,
it was of a UFO. The second incident happened on July 13 1959,it was
a sighting in Blenheim of a Mrs Frederick Moreland. Both of these
sightings are of interest to me as a investigator and in the scientific
view. The film interests me as I would like to compair it against the
1978 Kaikoura sighting.The other Airforce report on the Blenheim sighting
of 1959 because of the close encounter factor.I am only interested in
these two cases in a scientific way.I can promise you now that any
information given me by the Airforce will be kept confidential at all
times. Therese one other thing Id like to ask is there any possibility
that an investigator like myself can or could work in collaboration on
the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects. I do believe if's thing of
this kind got of the ground it could & possibly would knock the veiw
of the Airforces cover up of which people believe in. I will be looking
forward to your reply soon.
Kindest regards,
H J Knapman. Harold J Knapman,
S.I.S.Director
M.U.F.O.N.4/[?] 39/3/3 57 Dillon Street, [12]
Blenheim,
5th October 1981.
Mr. DBG McLean PRO[AIR][?]
Secretary of Defence, [stamp] AIR 39/3/3
Ministry of Defence, [stamp] Surely, this does
Private Bag, not justify any
Wellington. [further action].
No Further
Action
[filed]
Dear Mr McLean,
Thank you for your letter dated 28th
September 1981.
I note in your letter that you have had
Air Staff reconsider the Waikawa Bay
sighting. I was not aware that your staff
had looked at this sighting before.
Admittedly, Mr. Macdonald sent a lot of
information into "The Marlborough Express"
regarding the Waikawa Bay sighting. Unfort-
unately it was chopped up and a lot
of the important details were deleted. I
find it incredible that you drew all
your conclusions from his very much
shortened account that appeared in
our local paper. This is the same as me
reading the back of the enclosed
wrapper, and saying, "I see that the DSIR
now has another sighting they cannot
explain; how about a 3rd Official UFO
Report?" You are correct, Mr. Macdonald
observed the light for no more than
10 minutes. But I can assure you the light
came from the direction of Wellington.
It took 45 mins to reach its position
above the ridge seperating Biston and Waikawa
[margin: 22]
[margin: 22
substantiate]2/
It was at this stage that Mr. Macdonald
saw this light. Hence, the description in
"The Marlborough Express" goes from there.
Therefore, I was not aware that any DC8s
were on a joy-ride from Wellington and
back to Wellington. I see in your letter
that the 'DC8' went north and then
south. In general, this is correct. It should
be pointed that the 'DC8,' when heading back
south for the landing at Wellington
Airport, it was coming from Kumototo
Bay, back just east of Allports Island
and out possibly through Whatamanga
Bay. Hence if it was a 'DC8' coming
into Wellington, the pilot was allowing
a-hell-of a lot for side drift. In fact
THE WIDTH OF COOK STRAIT.
I see by your last sentence in your
letter that what was observed was definitely
a 'DC8' aircraft. Under the circumstances
I do not see any reason why this DC8
pilot should not be reprimanded for
dangerous flying. I will point out that
the President of the Airline Pilots Association
is well aware of this event. But he
may not have heard that it was a
DC8 performing dangerously. I consider I
should tell him, as we should not have
commercial pilots flying like that.
Thank you once again for your letter.
Yours sincerely,
J.C. Thompson.
MR. J.C. THOMPSON.
[margin: Thank you]
[margin: Capt STRATUP
one the
premise?][IMAGE: Crinkled metallic snack food package branded "UFOS" with partial newspaper clipping affixed to right side] [Newspaper clipping text, partially obscured by packaging:]: Reported UFO Sighting! Early January 19[79, a] N.Z. television c[rew] filmed a bright, glowing object in [the] sky over the Kaikouras. The cameramen desc[ribed] the object as an illuminated ping[-] ball with a tinge [of red] in the centre. It [was] about three time[s the] brightness of the average star. The DSIR who viewed [the] film had no idea [what] the object was. [Package text:] UFOS Servrisp SNACK PRODUCTS[,] [A]UCKLAND, NEW Z[EALAND] STACKS [barcode] 40 g [NET]
[IMAGE: Reverse side of the UFOS snack food package, showing back of same package with partial newspaper clipping text visible on left side] [Newspaper clipping text, partially obscured:]: [197]9, a [cr]ew [in] the [desc]ribed [ping-]pong [tinge] of red [it] was [times] the [brightness of the] [viewe]d the [?] what [Package text:] UFOS [NZ] LTD [AUCK]ALAND [barcode]
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
All correspondence should be addressed: In reply please quote:
Chief of Defence Staff,
Ministry of Defence, Air 39/3/3
Private Bag, Wellington, N.Z.
Telephone: 729-499.
DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS
WELLINGTON, N.Z.
28 September 1981
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Mr Thompson
Thank you for your recent letter which has been referred to me
by the Minister of Defence for reply.
I have had Air Staff reconsider the matter in the light of the
facts presented by Mr McDonald in his letter to the Marlborough
Express of 20 December 1978. Air Staff believe, however, that
there is nothing in Mr McDonald's letter to suggest that the object
sighted from Waikawa Bay was other than a DC8 aircraft making its
descent towards Wellington Airport from the west. The outline of
events, which spanned no more than 10 minutes, is entirely
consistent with sighting a large aircraft approaching from a
distance. It is estimated that on a clear night the landing
lights of a DC8 aircraft descending over Nelson would be visible
for at least six minutes before the aircraft passed away to the
north of Waikawa Bay on its usual inbound track to Wellington when
making a southerly approach to the runway. Knowing that there was
a DC8 aircraft inbound to Wellington at that particular time and
taking into account the most likely flight path for its descent,
Air Staff are sure that it was, in fact, this aircraft that Mr
McDonald saw.
I trust my comments have enabled you to gain a fuller appreciation
of this Ministry's position on the matter. Accordingly, I do not
believe any useful purpose would be served by engaging in further
speculation about an event for which a perfectly rational
explanation already exists.
Yours sincerely
[signature]
D B G McLean
Secretary of Defence
[Handwritten note at bottom:]
N.F.A. a sighting report of an object
over Marlborough Sounds on the
night of 9 December 1978 from [?] at 39/3/3 [?2.]
[signature]
A.D. 206[Mostly blank page]
BRING UP 20/1019 81 [checkmark]
[?] ....Initials. 1[?]/[?]/1981 [checkmark]
OPS 2, ↑8356.
AIR STAFFFile 11
Air 39/3/3
MINUTE
Air Staff
AO Pol(D)
WAIKAWA BAY SIGHTING
1. I suggest that Mr J.C. Thompson be thanked for
his letter enclosing the cutting taken from the
Marlborough Express dated 20 Dec 78.
2. Having carefully considered the facts presented
by Mr F.D. McDonald in his letter to the Editor, we have
no reason to alter our view that the object sighted from
Waikawa Bay in the early hours of Sunday morning 17 Dec 78
was, indeed, a DC8 aircraft making its descent towards
Wellington Airport from the west. The outline of events
spanning no more than 10 minutes, and certainly not 55
minutes as Mr Thompson suggests, is entirely consistent
with sighting a large aircraft approaching from a distance.
On a clear night we estimate that the landing lights of
a DC8 aircraft descending over Nelson would be visible for
at least six minutes before the aircraft passed away to
the north of Waikawa Bay on its usual inbound track to
Wellington when making a southerly approach to the runway.
Knowing that there was a DC8 aircraft inbound to
Wellington at that particular time and taking into account
the most likely flight path for its descent, we are sure
that it was, in fact, this aircraft that Mr McDonald saw.
3. Accordingly, I suggest that there is no point
in entertaining further speculation from Mr Thompson, who
after all is only a third party to the sighting, when I
believe we have given a perfectly satisfactory
explanation for what was actually seen on that particular
evening.
(G. WALLINGFORD)
Wg Cdr
28 Sep 81 DOpsHEK 10
[Routing slip:]
1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS [ILLEGIBLE]
2 BEFORE SIGNATURE b.
3 FOR SIGNATURE by [ILLEGIBLE]
4 BEFORE DISPATCH to
5 DISPATCH Date 27.9.81 Initials [signature]
6 AFTER DISPATCH to [ILLEGIBLE]
7 BRING UP on
8 FILE Date Initials
Air 39/3/3
[Handwritten annotation top right:]
This is the third letter
received by the Minister
from Mr Thompson on
the same subject.
1. OOPS[(Air)]
[signature]
Ops 2 wfs
PRO(Air)
File
28 September 1981
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Mr Thompson
Thank you for your recent letter which has been referred to me
by the Minister of Defence for reply.
I have had Air Staff reconsider the matter in the light of the
facts presented by Mr McDonald in his letter to the Marlborough
Express of 20 December 1978. Air Staff believe, however, that
there is nothing in Mr McDonald's letter to suggest that the object
sighted from Waikawa Bay was other than a DC8 aircraft making its
descent towards Wellington Airport from the west. The outline of
events, which spanned no more than 10 minutes, is entirely
consistent with sighting a large aircraft approaching from a
distance. It is estimated that on a clear night the landing
lights of a DC8 aircraft descending over Nelson would be visible
for at least six minutes before the aircraft passed away to the
north of Waikawa Bay on its usual inbound track to Wellington when
making a southerly approach to the runway. Knowing that there was
a DC8 aircraft inbound to Wellington at that particular time and
taking into account the most likely flight path for its descent,
Air Staff are sure that it was, in fact, this aircraft that Mr
McDonald saw.
I trust my comments have enabled you to gain a fuller appreciation
of this Ministry's position on the matter. Accordingly, I do not
believe any useful purpose would be served by engaging in further
speculation about an event for which a perfectly rational
explanation already exists.
Yours sincerely
[signature]
D B G McLean
Secretary of Defence[handwritten:] M
To: DOsD(f)
MINUTE
MINISTERIAL ENQUIRY FOR PRIORITY ATTENTION
1. Attached is an enquiry from the Minister's office.
2. It would be appreciated if a draft reply, could be
prepared within your branch/staff and forwarded to Policy Branch
which will be responsible for preparation of the letter in its
final form for the Minister's signature. Additionally, should
it be necessary for extra information to be prepared giving
background with which the Minister should be acquainted prior to
him signing the letter, this should be prepared in the form of
a draft letter to the Minister from the Secretary or Deputy
Secretary as appropriate.
3. In view of the urgency which is required to be
given to ministerial enquiries, the draft should be forwarded
to Policy Branch (attention AO Pol(D)) by [blank].
If for some reason it is not possible to meet this date, the
officer dealing with the matter should contact the Director of
Policy Development and arrange a new submission date.
[handwritten annotations:]
DOps
FYA - Kindly note
final [ILLEGIBLE] if m[r]
Thompson's letter !!
[signature]
Secretary of Defence.
[signature]
$AO Pol(D)
Attached is the basis for a "Better" and final reply
to Mr J.C. Thompson! Please file on Air 39/3/3. We could co[me]
on [th]ory to a map. But I do not [ILLEGIBLE]
think Mr Thompson would want to my Col
28 Sep 81 believe it? DOpsAir 39/3/3
MINUTE
Air Staff
AO Pol(D)
WAIKAWA BAY SIGHTING
1. I suggest that Mr J.C. Thompson be thanked for
his letter enclosing the cutting taken from the
Marlborough Express dated 20 Dec 78.
2. Having carefully considered the facts presented
by Mr F.D. McDonald in his letter to the Editor, we have
no reason to alter our view that the object sighted from
Waikawa Bay in the early hours of Sunday morning 17 Dec 78
was, indeed, a DC8 aircraft making its descent towards
Wellington Airport from the west. The outline of events
spanning no more than 10 minutes, and certainly not 55
minutes as Mr Thompson suggests, is entirely consistent
with sighting a large aircraft approaching from a distance.
On a clear night we estimate that the landing lights of
a DC8 aircraft descending over Nelson would be visible for
at least six minutes before the aircraft passed away to
the north of Waikawa Bay on its usual inbound track to
Wellington when making a southerly approach to the runway.
Knowing that there was a DC8 aircraft inbound to
Wellington at that particular time and taking into account
the most likely flight path for its descent, we are sure
that it was, in fact,this aircraft that Mr McDonald saw.
3. Accordingly, I suggest that there is no point
in entertaining further speculation from Mr Thompson, who
after all is only a third party to the sighting, when I
believe we have given a perfectly satisfactory
explanation for what was actually seen on that particular
evening.
[signature]
(G. WALLINGFORD)
Wg Cdr
28 Sep 81 DOpsItem 504 4991 To- A OPS [arrow] Subject: UFOS MINUTE SHEET Department: Section: File No. 39/3/3 Date: [ILLEGIBLE] 1. [ILLEGIBLE] consistent with a UFO [sighting?] as to understand [the?] Wellington to. 2. An [aircraft?] [ILLEGIBLE] approaching from [the?] already [necessarily?] to allow the [same?] idea of the [ILLEGIBLE] [so?] would necessarily [ILLEGIBLE] [there?] [ILLEGIBLE] [the?] necessary [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] disappear [the?] travelling height [ILLEGIBLE] and [ILLEGIBLE] disappear for [the?] [secondary?] [ILLEGIBLE] at [ILLEGIBLE] Auckland 3. [She/The?] [would?] [ILLEGIBLE] necessarily [ILLEGIBLE] on [ILLEGIBLE] attended for [the?] [ILLEGIBLE] at Wellington
[Continuation of MINUTE SHEET — Item 504] [ILLEGIBLE] would be due east passing about four miles to the north about Waikawa Bay 4. On a clear night I would estimate the landing lights of a DC8 having crossed Nelson at 8000 ft, would be visible for at least six minutes before it passed at the north of Waikawa Bay 5. I believe that knowing there was a DC8 inbound to Wellington too at that time, and taking one account the above, I am sure
Item 504 4991 To- Subject: MINUTE SHEET Department: Section: File No. Date: [handwritten:] that it was [the?] aircraft McDonald [saw?] [the?] aircraft [signature — ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
MEMO for [handwritten signature/initials] for direct reply [handwritten initials] 16.9.81 [RECEIVED stamp: 17 SEP 1981 DEFENCE OFFICE] Office of the Minister of Defence 44863H—100 pads/3/80 P Min 251 refers.
1 57 Dillon str, Blenheim, 15th December '81 Mr David Thomson, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Dear Mr Thomson, [MINISTER OF DEFENCE stamp: 14 SEP 1981 RECEIVED] Thank you for your letter dated 8th September 1981. Regarding the Waikawa Bay sighting. The duration of the sighting was 55 mins. to one hour in length; admittedly Mr MacDonald only observed the events of this sighting for no more than 10 minutes. Find enclosed a photo-copy of a letter Mr F.D. MacDonell forwarded to The Marlborough Express. It concerns the very slow 'DC8' over the Waikawa Bay area. The letter was published on the 20th December
2/ 1978. If the pilot of the DC8 was flying as described, perhaps he should be reprimanded for flying so dangerously. I am wondering why the R.NZAF and the DSIR did not make the effort to contact UFO groups etc. The govt. depts. seemed content to just bumble on. Perhaps they may have found out something they did not want to know about. Why isn't the public allowed to know about UFOs? Is this Dept. hoping for a 'Hanger 18' situation? I hope your next reply will be better than the last one. Thanking you. Yours sincerely, J.C. Thompson. MR. J.C. THOMPSON
[Clipping from 'The Marlborough Express' December 20th '78] ODD THINGS IN THE NIGHT AT WAIKAWA To the Editor Sir, — While my wife was in our sitting room she noticed a brilliant light through the window. So bright was this light that she called me from bed to view it. The time was approximately 0.50 Sunday day. The light was suspended over the ridge west of Waikawa known as the Snout. It seemed to hover for a good minute and then moved on northwards, following the contour of the hill almost to the Snout and then hovered again for about half a minute, and then moved off towards the east very slowly and with an up and down motion. For a time it hovered beyond Allports Islands (for about two minutes) and the brilliance dimmed down almost to a mere pinhead, then suddenly it flared up over 10 times brighter than any star. At this stage we could see the cloud-covered peak in the back of Kenepuru Sound beyond it. After it flared up it rose suddenly and then fell in an up and down motion, travelling eastwards in an arc around the Sounds and headed towards Whatamango or Tory Channel; then it levelled off and moved at a terrific speed and disappeared behind the hills. LETTERS We called our neighbours out to witness the sighting of the u.f.o. The time of viewing this was for almost 10 minutes. There was brilliant moonlight at the time and no wind and no other clouds in the sky and a very starry night. We heard no noise in this very still night. I phoned Woodbourne control tower and was advised that it was probably a parachute flare. They rang the Picton police, who later phoned me. So long was this thing hovering that I was able to view it through binoculars. Six light beams were visible in colour to the naked eye. A quarter circle looked like it was painted dark red. It appeared to me to be a manned hot air balloon. This is the third time in two years that we have seen this, whatever it is. During this last winter our sitting room became suddenly lit up quite noticeably against the electric light and seagulls down at the beach started screeching and then took flight. Going outside to investigate we saw the water in the bay lit up dull red and a brilliant light hovering for some moments and then flash off towards the east in less than a second. I know that this was not a flare, was not a plane, but could have been a helicopter, but there was no noise and the lights were too bright. F. D. MACDONALD Waikawa Mr MacDonald forwarded a graph and a sketch. Unfortunately these were not suitable for reproduction. — The Editor.
[handwritten top right: Uot 1/1/1] OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE, WELLINGTON, N.Z. 8 September 1981 Mr J C Thompson 57 Dillon Street BLENHEIM Dear Mr Thomson Thank you for your further letter of 21 August concerning the alleged UFO sightings in the Blenheim region. My letter of 5 August 1981 sets out clearly the RNZAF position with regard to reports received of any unusual sightings in the skies. The press statement forwarded under cover of my letter also summarised the main conclusions reached by the RNZAF from its investigations, specifically, into the Kaikoura sightings. I can assure you that this investigation was detailed and thorough and not cursory as you suggest. I should reiterate that it is not the practice of the RNZAF to release reports of investigations to the public. Accordingly, I believe it will serve no useful purpose to enter into further debate on the nature of the Kaikoura phenomena. As for the Waikawa Bay sighting, the RNZAF confirms that Woodbourne Air Traffic Control received a telephone call at 1 am on 17 December from a Mr Frank McDonald who reported an orange brilliantly coloured light which he had sighted at 0050 hours and observed for three minutes at an estimated height of 500 feet in a direction toward Tory Channel to Port Underwood. Contrary to any impression of indifference that may have been gained by the caller, the air traffic controller did, in fact, first inform the Blenheim Police and, then, Wellington Air Traffic Control who advised that a DC8 aircraft was carrying out its descent towards Wellington at the time in question. In the conditions prevailing at the time the lights of this aircraft would no doubt have been visible to an observer in the vicinity of Picton and provide an explanation for the source of the lights as seen by Mr McDonald. Hence, there was no reason to link this incident with the Kaikoura sightings. Yours sincerely [signature] David Thomson Minister of Defence
Min No: 251 Ref No: Air 39/3/3 Typed : 4.9.81 [RECEIVED stamp: -9 SEP 1981 DEFENCE OFFICE] [OFFICE OF MINISTER OF DEFENCE stamp: -8 SEP1981 DISPATCHED] [-8 [ILLEGIBLE] 1981] Mr J C Thompson 57 Dillon Street BLENHEIM Dear Mr Thomson Thank you for your further letter of 21 August concerning the alleged UFO sightings in the Blenheim region. My letter of 5 August 1981 sets out clearly the RNZAF position with regard to reports received of any unusual sightings in the skies. The press statement forwarded under cover of my letter also summarised the main conclusions reached by the RNZAF from its investigations, specifically, into the Kaikoura sightings. I can assure you that this investigation was detailed and thorough and not cursory as you suggest. I should reiterate that it is not the practice of the RNZAF to release reports of investigations to the public. Accordingly, I believe it will serve no useful purpose to enter into further debate on the nature of the Kaikoura phenomena. As for the Waikawa Bay sighting, the RNZAF confirms that Woodbourne Air Traffic Control received a telephone call at 1 am on 17 December from a Mr Frank McDonald who reported an orange brilliantly coloured light which he had sighted at 0050 hours and observed for three minutes at an estimated height of 500 feet in a direction toward Tory Channel to Port Underwood. Contrary to any impression of indifference that may have been gained by the caller, the air traffic controller did, in fact, first inform the Blenheim Police and, then, Wellington Air Traffic Control who advised that a DC8 aircraft was carrying out its descent towards Wellington at the time in question. In the conditions prevailing at the time the lights of this aircraft would no doubt have been visible to an observer in the vicinity of Picton and provide an explanation for the source of the lights as seen by Mr McDonald. Hence, there was no reason to link this incident with the Kaikoura sightings. Yours sincerely [signature] David Thomson Minister of Defence [handwritten initials/annotations at bottom right]
Min No: 251 Ref No: Air 39/3/3 Typed : 4.9.81 [Routing table:] 1 ORIGINATOR'S INITIALS [initials] 2 BEFORE SIGNATURE to 3 FOR SIGNATURE by [initials] amended as revised 4 BEFORE DISPATCH to [initials] 5 DISPATCH Date 9.9.81 Initials [initials] 6 AFTER DISPATCH to [initials] 7 BRING UP on to 8 FILE Date Initials Mr J C Thompson 57 Dillon Street BLENHEIM Dear Mr Thomson Thank you for your further letter of 21 August concerning the alleged UFO sightings in the Blenheim region. My letter of 5 August 1981 sets out clearly the RNZAF position with regard to reports received of any unusual sightings in the skies. The press statement forwarded under cover of my letter also summarised the main conclusions reached by the RNZAF from its investigations, specifically, into the Kaikoura sightings. I can assure you that this investigation was detailed and thorough and not cursory as you suggest. I should reiterate that it is not the practice of the RNZAF to release reports of investigations to the public. Accordingly, I believe it will serve no useful purpose to enter into further debate on the nature of the Kaikoura phenomena. As for the Waikawa Bay sighting, the RNZAF confirms that Woodbourne Air Traffic Control received a telephone call at 1 am on 17 December from a Mr Frank McDonald who reported an orange brilliantly coloured light which he had sighted at 0050 hours and observed for three minutes at an estimated height of 500 feet in a direction toward Tory Channel to Port Underwood. Contrary to any impression of indifference that may have been gained by the caller, the air traffic controller did, in fact, first inform the Blenheim Police and, then, Wellington Air Traffic Control who advised that a DC8 aircraft was carrying out its descent towards Wellington at the time in question. In the conditions prevailing at the time the lights of this aircraft would no doubt have been visible to an observer in the vicinity of Picton and provide an explanation for the source of the lights as seen by Mr McDonald. Hence, there was no reason to link this incident with the Kaikoura sightings. Yours sincerely David Thomson Minister of Defence
Mn 251 Air 39/3/3 Air Staff MINUTE [handwritten: get extra copy typed give to DOps(h)] AO Pol(D) MINISTERIAL NO 251 Mr J C Thompson SUGGESTED REPLY TO MR J.C. THOMPSON 57 Dillon Street Blenheim Dear Mr Thomson UFO SIGHTINGS IN BLENHEIM AREA 1 Thank you for your further letter of 21 August 1981. Concerning the alleged UFO sightings in the Blenheim region 2 My letter of 5 August 1981 sets out clearly the ' RNZAF position with regard to reports received of any unusual sightings in the skies. The press statement forwarded under cover of my letter also summarised the main conclusions reached by the RNZAF from its investigations, specifically, into the Kaikoura sightings. I can assure you that this investigation was detailed and thorough and not cursory as you suggest. I should reiterate that it is not the practice of the RNZAF to release reports of investigations to the public. Accordingly, I believe it will serve no useful purpose to enter into further debate on the nature of the Kaikoura phenomena. [3] As for the Waikawa Bay sighting, the RNZAF confirms that Woodbourne Air Traffic Control received a telephone call at 1 am on 17 December from a Mr Frank McDonald who reported an orange brilliantly coloured light which he had sighted at 0050 hours and observed for three minutes at an estimated height of 500 feet in a the direction toward Tory Channel to Port Underwood. Contrary to any impression of indifferrence that may have been gained by the caller, the air traffic controller did, in fact, first inform the Blenheim Police and,
-2- then, Wellington Air Traffic Control who advised that a DC8 aircraft was carrying out its descent towards Wellington at the time in question. In the conditions prevailing at the time no doubt the lights of this aircraft would have been visible to an observer in the vicinity of Picton and provided an explanation for the source of the lights as seen by Mr McDonald. Hence, there was no reason to link this incident with the Kaikoura sightings. Yours sincerely [signature] David Thomson Min of Def 3 Sep. 81 [signature] (G. WALLINGFORD) Wg Cdr D Ops
MINUTE To: [D]DSP(5)/ MINISTERIAL ENQUIRY FOR PRIORITY ATTENTION 1. Attached is an enquiry from the Minister's office. 2. It would be appreciated if a draft reply, could be prepared within your branch/staff and forwarded to Policy Branch which will be responsible for preparation of the letter in its final form for the Minister's signature. Additionally, should it be necessary for extra information to be prepared giving background with which the Minister should be acquainted prior to him signing the letter, this should be prepared in the form of a draft letter to the Minister from the Secretary or Deputy Secretary as appropriate. 3. In view of the urgency which is required to be given to ministerial enquiries, the draft should be forwarded to Policy Branch (attention AO Pol(D)) by 4 Septembre If for some reason it is not possible to meet this date, the officer dealing with the matter should contact the Director of Policy Development and arrange a new submission date. [signature] Jo(Secretary of Defence. [handwritten:] SASO Gw my comments would not be as polite as Sec Def's AOPol (D) Attached is suggested reply to Mr JC Thompson [signature] DOps 3 Sep 81
Writer: Mr J.C. THOMSON, 57 Dillon Street, Blenheim MINISTERIAL No. 251 Subject: Alleged UFO sightings Date of letter: 21.8.81 in Blenheim region in 1978 and 1979 Date Acknowledged: [OFFICE OF MINISTER OF DEFENCE stamp: -8 SEP1981 DISPATCHED] [RECEIVED stamp: 26 AUG 1981 DEFENCE OFFICE] Reference: [D]27/1/1 Referred to 1. DPD 2. 3. Comments: [handwritten] aw! [signature] [handwritten] AO Pol(D) Use file reference Air 39/3/3 Item 502 19447D—2,000 pads/10/78M (Tumble)
MINISTER'S OFFICE MEMO for [Box:] APPROVED SEEN CONCUR DRAFT REPLY please REFERRED DIRECT REPLY Sec. Def. 25. 8. 81.
1/ 57 Dillon Street, Blenheim, 21st August 1981. Rt. Hon. D.S. Thomson, Minster of Defence, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Dear Mr. Thomson, [RECEIVED stamp: 25 AUG 1981 OFFICE OF MINISTER OF STATE] Thank you for your letter dated 5th August 1981. Unfortunately, your letter does not clear up anything. Actually, it only adds to a very confused situation. The second paragraph of your letter says that the RNZAF consults with a number of Government agencies including the Ministry of Transport etc. I interpret this to mean the Air Traffic Control. A sighting was reported to the Woodbourne Air Traffic Control on December 17th 1978. The sighting took place at Picton and the A.T.C. could not explain that one. Therefore I am under the impression that the RNZAF very conveniently 'forgot' to discuss events with the Woodbourne Air Traffic Control, in connection with the Kaikoura 'UFO' sightings. Also, I would be interested to know why the complete report has not been made public. RNZAF UFO SIGHTING REPORT. I was amazed to read in the first sentence of the RNZAF Report, that the sightings ARE the result of natural but unusual atmospheric phenomena. How incredible it is to jump to these conclusions a couple of weeks after the sightings took place.
2/ "... just completed investigation? into the sightings." What investigation? I am under the impression that there was not really anything that could be called an investigation. I see in the Report that "the investigating officer interviewed all the principle witnesses." Apparently he never; he couldn't be bothered to. He very conveniently 'forgot' to interview the cameraman and the reporter AS WELL AS the pilot of the plane. [ILLEGIBLE] did meet the interviewing officer but that is as far as he went. Also, the Report says that the interviewing officer worked closely with the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport. Apparently he never did this either. The Woodbourne Air Traffic Control very conveniently 'forgot' to tell the interviewing officer that they had an unknown on record. I also read that "the Ministry was completely satisfied that there were NO UNEXPLAINED physical objects in the skies at the time of the sightings." With an investigation as described, I fail to see how the RNZAF were able to arrive at any conclusions at all. Does the Ministry take an active interest or is it a lot of rot? On Page 3 (RNZAF) is an interesting statement. How can the Ministry make such a statement? Could we have a third OFFICIAL UFO REPORT? Yours sincerely, J.C. Thompson, MR. J.C. THOMPSON
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE WELLINGTON, N.Z. -5 AUG 1981 Hon J K McLay PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS Dear Mr McLay You will recall you sought my comments on the letter of 18 July you received from Mr J C Thompson of 57 Dillon Street, Blenheim, concerning the alleged UFO sightings in the Blenheim region in 1978 and 1979. I am informed by the Secretary of Defence that the RNZAF does not undertake detailed investigations into reports of Unidentified Flying Objects. When a reported sighting is referred to the RNZAF however, it does consult with a number of Government agencies including the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, the Meteorological Service and the Carter Observatory to eliminate any obvious explanation of the phenomenon. An exception to this policy was made with the investigation by the RNZAF into the 1979 Kaikoura sightings. On that occasion a report was prepared by the RNZAF Air Staff in Wellington and a summary of the findings of that report made public through the news media. The report itself has not been made public. I enclose a copy of the RNZAF statement released to the media which you may care to pass on to Mr Thompson. Yours sincerely (Sgd.) D. S. THOMSON David Thomson Minister of Defence
RNZAF 56 RNZAF News Service 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. 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 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. 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. 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 50 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. FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER (AIR), DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS, WELLINGTON.
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 efractions. There is no evidence to connect the many radar and visual sightings n the Clarence River and the larger lights seen to the east. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the Ministry was completely atisfied there were no unexplained physical objects in the skies at the ime of the sightings. The lights were almost certainly from surface or planetary sources ffected by atmospheric reflection, refraction and distortion. Radar sets are known to be subject to spurious returns, and it was ignificant that on the occasions the large light was being filmed by a elevision team on board the Argosy freighter, neither Christchurch or ellington radars reported any related visual sightings on their screens. The spokesman said that the Ministry of Defence was not specifically harged with formal responsibility for investigating so-called unidentified lying objects in peacetime. However, the Ministry does take an active nterest in all such reports and within the limitations of its resources, onducts investigations as necessary. Commenting on some media speculation that the country was defenceless gainst air attack, the spokesman said that New Zealand did not have complex air defence system, comprising sophisticated radar equipment nd a force of missiles and interceptor aircraft.
3. The recently announced Defence Review explains that over the next lecade 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 aircraft or machines of potentially unfriendly nations. -Jan 79
MINUTE SHEET Department: Air Staff Section: DASO File No: AIR 39/3/3 Date: 14 Aug 81. Subject: UFO SIGHTING To- DOps 1. At about 1855 last night the Defence Duty officer relayed to me the following UFO report: ORIGINATOR: Ohakea Radar via WN ACC LOCATION: 22 Miles S Napier @ 1825 Course/Speed: NE at 65 kts LOST CONTACT: CAPE KIDNAPPERS COMMENT: Above 6000' to show on radar. 2. I took no action apart from an advisory phone call to Air Ops in OPHQ. The report had also gone to Police. 3. Met reports that are relevant at 1800M: NR aero: Wind 240/10 6/8@4000 OH upper winds: 5000' — 270/25 18000' — 240/50 4. Ideal conditions for wave activity. [handwritten margin note: NOTE. This ties in with radar torn on cloud motion !?] [handwritten signature block] SONAL PRG(Air) 6.?/9/81 [ILLEGIBLE] 6ops 81 I will be withholding action for Duty Air Staff Officer to write short report on UFO sightings for comment by DOps + PRO Air (info.) + recording DASO to file (G.A. McCULLOUGH) [signature] [signature] DOps 14 Aug 81 Item 503 42927J—90,898pads/3/80 MK
Writer: HON J K McLAY for Mr J C Thompson, 57 Dillon St, Blenheim. MINISTERIAL No. 223 Subject: UFO sightings Date of letter: 24.7.81 Date Acknowledged: [RECEIVED stamp: 29 JUL 1981 DEFENCE OFFICE] Referred to 1. SPD 2. 3. Reference: AIR [ILLEGIBLE] 3/1/3/3 Comments: [handwritten, partially illegible] SAO Pol(/) Use file reference Air 39/3/3 [OFFICE OF MINISTER OF DEFENCE stamp: -5 AUG1981 DISPATCHED] [handwritten: DOps] Item 502 19447D—2,000 pads/10/78M (Tumble)
Min No: 223
Ref: 39/3/3
Typed: 4 August [stamp: THIS
COPY
FOR]
[stamp: RECEIVED
-5 AUG 1981
DEFENCE
OFFICE]
-5 AUG 1981
File.
Hon J K McLay
PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Dear Mr McLay
You will recall you sought my comments on the letter of 18 July
you received from Mr J C Thompson of 57 Dillon Street, Blenheim,
concerning the alleged UFO sightings in the Blenheim region in
1978 and 1979.
I am informed by the Secretary of Defence that the RNZAF does not
undertake detailed investigations into reports of Unidentified
Flying Objects. When a reported sighting is referred to the
RNZAF however, it does consult with a number of Government agencies
including the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Industrial
and Scientific Research, the Meteorological Service and the Carter
Observatory to eliminate any obvious explanation of the phenomenon.
An exception to this policy was made with the investigation by
the RNZAF into the 1979 Kaikoura sightings. On that occasion a
report was prepared by the RNZAF Air Staff in Wellington and a
summary of the findings of that report made public through the
news media. The report itself has not been made public.
I enclose a copy of the RNZAF statement released to the media
which you may care to pass on to Mr Thompson.
Yours sincerely
(Sgd.) D. S. THOMSON
David Thomson
Minister of Defence
[signatures: D.S.D.
DsotF)
Athos
Opr 2/
PRo(Air)][Royal Crest]
Office of the Minister of Justice
WELLINGTON 1
[stamp: RECEIVED
28 JUL1981
OFFICE OF
MINISTER OF STATE]
24 July 1981
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Mr Thompson
Thank you for your letter of 18 July 1981.
I have noted the details of the steps you have taken in
relation to the claimed UFO sightings in the Blenheim
region in 1978 and 1979.
From the material you supplied it is clear that the DSIR
has carefully considered matters you have put to that
Department and in the circumstances I propose to discuss
your letter with my colleague the Rt Hon D S Thomson,
Minister of Defence.
I will be replying further to you in due course.
Yours sincerely
(Sgd.) J. K. McLAY
J K McLay
Minister of Justice
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
Referred for your comments please.
[signature]
J K McLay
SEC - DEF. APPROVED
SEEN
I CONCUR
DRAFT REPLY please
REFERRED
DIRECT REPLY 2
28 · 7 · 61O 1
57 Dillon street,
Blenheim
18th July, 1981
Mr Jim McLay, [stamp: OFFICE OF THE
Minister of Justice, HON. J. K. McLAY
Parliment Houses, 21 JUL 1981
Wellington. RECEIVED]
'78-'79 UFO SIGHTINGS
Dear Sir,
There is a matter I should have taken up
with you when you visited Blenheim recently. I
assume things would got out of hand if I had
raised these points at the meeting on July 14th
1981.
I was very disappointed in both the
RNZAF and DSIR Reports regarding the
Kaikoura UFO sightings. I wrote to the author
of the DSIR report and asked him a number
of questions about his report. Enclosed is a
photo-copy of his letter dated 20th March 1980.
I consider it very written in bad taste,
you might not know it; but a sighting
apparently took place near Waikawa Bay,
Picton on the 17th December 1978. This sighting
was in some ways more impressive than the
'Argos' sighting. The principal witness phoned
the air Traffic Control at Woodbourne while
the sighting was in progress. They could not
give a stuff about it; and said it was
probably a parachute flare or a distress signal.
This is most likely how Mr Ireland jumped
to his conclusions in his letter I wrote and
told him so. He refused to answer my
letter. Instead Mr M.A. Collins answered it.O 2/
See his letter dated 23rd May 1980.
He says in his letter his laboratory does
not have the expertise to investigate UFO
sightings. In other words his dept. does not know
what it is doing. Further on in his letter he
says he is not prepared to further with
third parties to the observation. This is
interesting because the authorities did not want
to have anything to do with this sighting. The Air Traffic
Control and the Police knew about this sighting.
I suggested to the principal witness that
the DSIR might want to hear from you as
they do not want to deal with me. He wrote
to the DSIR. The DSIR replied saying it was
too late to investigate that sighting. The DSIR
did not look at that within 18 months of
the sighting taking place because it was
apparently too early to do so. Mr Collins
says I should take the matter up with someone
else; why should I? It was this dept. that put
out the report.
I wrote back to Mr Collins. See a photo-
copy of another letter from him, dated 7th January
1981. Actually the DSIR did put forward
an explanation for the Waikawa Bay sightings;
it is in Mr Ireland's letter dated 20th
March 1980. The DSIR checked out the sighting
6 months after it was too late to investigate
it. They realised they could not explain it.
He also says once again that I should try
and find an explanation for this sighting;
why should I?; it was his Dept. that put outO 3/
the UFO reports.
I was withholding my tax return until I
received a satisfactory answer from Mr Collins.
I have since filed my tax return.
There have been two official UFO reports.
(The RNZAF one and DSIR which was one). Both
reports treated the sightings and the witnesses
as a joke. I would like to see a serious
report on these sightings as the government has
failed to put out one.
I cannot show you Mr Ireland's 2nd
letter as he has refused to write it. Also Mr
Collins has refused to write his 3rd letter to
me.
Below is an Extract from the DSIR Report
Extract from Page Twenty Three of Report 609
CONCLUSION
Of the twenty-seven or so sufficiently well documented sightings
of nocturnal lights studied in this report, none has been found for
which a simple explanation is not possible. The sources proposed
were known to be present at the times of the observations, and must
be discounted by the witnesses if the sightings are to remain
unidentified.
In the most widely publicised "encounter" nothing unnatural,
apart from the impressions of the witnesses, seems to have
occurred. This UFO was almost certainly a brightly-lit squid
fishing boat caught in the act. It is therefore considered that
the acronym UFO should refer to UnFamiliar Observations, rather than
to Unidentified Flying Objects.
Yours faithfully,
MR JOHN C THOMSON,
J C Thompson,
P.S. I have written a brief letter to the Prime
Minister on this subject. I assume my letter was intercepted.
'The letter was written 2 months ago to "Question" on 2 Truth.'[DSIR logo] DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
[PEL logo] PHYSICS AND
ENGINEERING
LABORATORY
Private Bag,
PEL Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Telephone: 636 919
Cables and telegrams: PHYSICAL
Reference: Telex: PHYSICS N.Z. 3814
PEL 9/10
20 March 1980
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Sir
Thank you very much for your comments on my UFO Report. In
answer to your question, it covers only those sightings between
20 December 1978 and 10 January 1979 because most of the widely
reported sightings occurred during that period. I did not become
aware of the 17 December 1978 sighting over Waikawa Bay until
several months later. I believe the sighting was reported in the
Picton newspaper at the time, but it was not brought to the atten-
tion of anyone in DSIR prior to being mentioned to me, and then
only in passing. The person who told me about it was of the
opinion that it was a parachute flare, and I have no reason to
doubt his judgement.
Yours faithfully
[signature: W Ireland]
(W Ireland)
for Director[DSIR logo] DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
[PEL logo] PHYSICS AND
ENGINEERING
LABORATORY
Private Bag,
PEL Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Telephone: 668 919
Cables and telegrams: PHYSICAL
Reference: PEL 9/10/- Telex: PHYSICS N.Z. 3814
23 May 1980
Mr J.C. Thompson,
57 Dillon Street,
BLENHEIM
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 19 May and the reference to
your previous letter of 24 March 1980. I must apologise that
your previous letter was not acknowledged as being received by
the Department. However, you should appreciate that this
laboratory's function is to encourage the development of industry
in New Zealand, and it has no expertise or mandate to investigate
UFO sightings.
One of our officers, Mr W. Ireland, has studied some
specific sightings for which photographic record and other hard
data was available. Additionally, Mr Ireland attempts to help
members of the public when requested, where they have personally
made unfamiliar sightings.
However, we are not prepared to go further than this
where tangible data is unavailable, or with third parties to
the observation. I understand Mr Ireland did indeed reply to
your first letter informing you of the information he had
received at that time. You are obviously at liberty to accept
or reject such information as valid, but I see little merit in
entering into extended speculative dialogue, particularly with
a third party, in the absence of any hard data. Hence, from my
laboratory's point of view, the matter must rest here. If you
wish to pursue the matter further, I would suggest you do so
with the body formulated for this purpose. I understand you
are already in contact with Dr J.F. de Bock, of ECRA, which may
be the appropriate body.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(M.A. Collins)
DIRECTOR[DSIR logo] DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
[PEL logo] PHYSICS AND
ENGINEERING
LABORATORY
Private Bag,
PEL Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Telephone: 666 919
Cables and telegrams: PHYSICAL
Reference: Telex: PHYSICS N.Z. 3814
MAC:PH
7 January 1981
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dylan Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Mr Thompson
I have received your letter of 10 December concerning the Waikawa
UFO sighting. In this letter, you refer to earlier correspondence
with my laboratory and acknowledge the receipt of two letters from
us - one from Mr W Ireland of 20 March, and one from myself of
23 May - which were intended as replies to your correspondence and
to clarify our position for this particular sighting for you.
It appears that you are still in some doubt as to our position, and
I will attempt to clarify this in answering the questions in your
most recent letter.
In Mr Ireland's letter of 20 March, he pointed out to you that his
investigation of sightings between 20 December 1978 and
10 January 1979 were selected because ".... most of the
widely-reported sightings occurred during that period." In this
context, "widely-reported" indicates not only reported in
New Zealand, but in the international media in addition. I believe
this criteria represents a logical basis for selection.
We are fully aware that a parachute flare is a distress signal, and
we are also aware that such flares are not uncommon in popular
boating areas. However, I should make it clear to you that this was
not our evaluation and that the Physics and Engineering Laboratory
have not put forward an explanation for the Waikawa Bay UFO
sighting, nor are we in a position to do so.
Your letter seems to imply that we have not discussed the
Waikawa Bay sighting with the witnesses of that event. On the
contrary, officers of my laboratory have discussed the sighting with
the witnesses, who seem quite happy to accept that we are unable to
offer an explanation for this particular event. Hence, I repeat
that I see no merit in continuing dialogue with third parties to
this sighting.
cont/.....Mr J C Thompson Page 2 7 January 1981 There are societies which have been specifically formed to investigate phenomena such as that to which you are referring. Perhaps you could contact one of these to see if they have made a study of the Waikawa Bay sighting, and are prepared to venture an explanation for you. I note from your letter that you intend to refrain from returning your taxation for the year ending 31 March 1980. I am unable to comment on this since it is a matter between yourself and the Inland Revenue Department. Yours faithfully [signature] (M A Collins) Director
[routing slip:
2 [blank]
3 [blank]
4 DEFENCE [blank]
5 DISPATCH 5.8.81 [initials]
6 AFTER DISPATCH [blank] [initials]
7 BRING UP [blank]
8 FILE [blank] [initials]]
Min No: 223
Ref: 39/3/3
Typed: 4 August 1981
Hon J K McLay
PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Dear Mr McLay
You will recall you sought my comments on the letter of 18 July
you received from Mr J C Thompson of 57 Dillon Street, Blenheim,
concerning the alleged UFO sightings in the Blenheim region in
1978 and 1979.
I am informed by the Secretary of Defence that the RNZAF does not
undertake detailed investigations into reports of Unidentified
Flying Objects. When a reported sighting is referred to the
RNZAF however, it does consult with a number of Government agencies
including the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Industrial
and Scientific Research, the Meteorological Service and the Carter
Observatory to eliminate any obvious explanation of the phenomenon.
An exception to this policy was made with the investigation by
the RNZAF into the 1979 Kaikoura sightings. On that occasion a
report was prepared by the RNZAF Air Staff in Wellington and a
summary of the findings of that report made public through the
news media. The report itself has not been made public.
I enclose a copy of the RNZAF statement released to the media
which you may care to pass on to Mr Thompson.
Yours sincerely
David Thomson
Minister of DefenceDRAFT Min 223
39/3/3
Hon J K Mckay [correction circle]
PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Dear Mr Mckay [correction circle]
You will recall you sought my comments on the letter of 18 July
you received from Mr J C Thompson of 57 Dillon Street, Blenheim,
concerning the alleged UFO sightings in the Blenheim region in
1978 and 1979.
I am informed by the Secretary of Defence that the RNZAF does not
undertake detailed investigations into reports of Unidentified
Flying Objects. When a reported sighting is referred to the
RNZAF however, it does consult with a number of Government agencies
including the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Industrial
and Scientific Research, the Meteorological Service and the Carter
Observatory to eliminate any obvious explanation of the phenomenon.
An exception to this policy was made with the investigation by
the RNZAF into the 1979 Kaikoura sightings. On that occasion a
report was prepared by the RNZAF Air Staff in Wellington and a
summary of the findings of that report made public through the
news [handwritten]
media. The report itself has not been made public.'
I enclose a copy of the RNZAF statement released to the media which
you may care to pass onto Mr Thompson.
Yours sincerely
David Thomson
Minister of DefenceMINUTE SHEET
Department: ...................................
Subject Section: ...................................
File No.: 39/3/3...
UFO SIGHTINGS Date: ...................................
To-
SAO PsiD 1. Attached is a suggested reply for the
Minister to Mr McLay, Minister of Justice.
I believe the letter is self explanatory and
outlines RNZAF policy on investigation of
UFO reports.
[signature]
Wg Cdr
Dops
31 July 1981
Item 503 49919E–120,000 pads/8/80 MKDRAFT
Mr J C Thompson
57 Dillon Street
BLENHEIM
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter of 28 July, my colleague
the Minister of Defence advises that the Royal New Zealand
Air Force does not undertake detailed investigations into
reports of Unidentified Flying Objects.
However, when a reported sighting is referred to
the RNZAF, it consults with a number of Government agencies
including the Ministry of Transport, the Department of
Industrial and Scientific Research, the Meteorological
Service and the Carter Observatory to eliminate any obvious
explanation to the phenomenon.
An exception to the RNZAF's policy of not undertaking
detailed investigations into UFO sightings was its investigation
into the 1979 Kaikoura sightings. On that occasion a report
was prepared by the RNZAF Air Staff in Wellington and a summary
of the findings of that report made public through the media.
The report itself has not been made public.
I have pleasure in enclosing a copy of the RNZAF
statement that was released to the media.
Yours sincerely
J K McLay
Minister of JusticeMINUTE SHEET Department: ...........................................
Subject: Section: ...........................................
File No. 39/3/3.......
UFO reports Date: 31/7.........
To:
[signature]
Dops
9918[?] ,000pads/7/80 MK
1. I understand one of your staff
looks after UFOs. Preparing a
draft letter should be no trouble
to him.
[signature: John]
PRs Air DOSD
As discussed - Grateful if you would
prepare for Policy Branch/Minister statement of our
standard reply addressing whatever is needed relating to
Kaikoura (and Waikawa Bay?) sightings."
31 Jul 81
[signature: Lou
Dops]
em 504e Clement [?] 22
5
VV A146RFA169 UU
RR RZYXCE
DE RZYVUT 2170 1862015
ZNR UUUUU
R 0302002 JUL 81
FM SGHO RNZAF
TO NZDEF AIR
BT
UNCLAS
IIG KSY/KSZ
634 SUBJECT UFO REPORT PD
ONE PD FOLLOWING REPORT RECIEVED THROUGH CHRISTCHURCH FLIGHT
INFORMATION OFFICE AT 031100M PD
TWO PD HARI HARI CMN REPORTS
SELF CMN WIFE CMN AND DAUGHTER SIGHTED OBJECT APPROX POSN CASS AT
021900H JUL 81 PD OBJECT SAID TO BE LIKE A NEWMANS BUS WITH BRIGHT
LIGHTS OF RED/BLUE SHADES AND SIGHTED MANOEUVRING BELOW HILLTOPS
BEFORE MOVING OFF TO NE PD WX CLEAR EXCEPT FOR CLOUD PATCHES
AROUND PEAKS AND VIS GOOD PD
THREE PD NIL RNZAF OR KNOWN CIVIL TRAFFIC IN AREA
BT
NNNN
KSY 0 [stamp: THIS
ACTION OPS2 11 COPY
INFO FOR]
KSZ 0
ACTION OPS3 11
INFOVV [circle]A146RFA169 UU
RR RZYXCE
DE RZYVUT 2170 1862015
ZNR UUUUU
R 0302002 JUL 81
FM SGHO RNZAF
TO NZDEF AIR
BT
UNCLAS
IIG KSY/KSZ
634 SUBJECT UFO REPORT PD
ONE PD FOLLOWING REPORT RECIEVED THROUGH CHRISTCHURCH FLIGHT
INFORMATION OFFICE AT 031100M PD
TWO PD HARI HARI CMN REPORTS
SELF CMN WIFE CMN AND DAUGHTER SIGHTED OBJECT APPROX POSN CASS AT
021900H JUL 81 PD OBJECT SAID TO BE LIKE A NEWMANS BUS WITH BRIGHT
LIGHTS OF RED/BLUE SHADES AND SIGHTED MANOEUVRING BELOW HILLTOPS
BEFORE MOVING OFF TO NE PD WX CLEAR EXCEPT FOR CLOUD PATCHES
AROUND PEAKS AND VIS GOOD PD
THREE PD NIL RNZAF OR KNOWN CIVIL TRAFFIC IN AREA
BT
(1) Perhaps it was a Newmans bus?
[signature]
(2) Noted and for file.
NNNN
KSY 0 6 Jul 81 [signature]
ACTION OPS2 11 Dops
INFO
KSZ 0
ACTION OPS3 11 [stamp: THIS
INFO COPY
FOR]xxxxx
749-299 [stamp: FILE
Air
39/3/13
Initials: [signature]] Air 39/3/3
15 April 1981
Mr Paul Sowiak-Rudej,
P.O Box 1814,
WOLLONGONG
N.S.W 2500
AUSTRALIA.
Dear Mr Sowiak - Rudej,
Thank you for your letter requesting information on
RNZAF reports of UFO sightings.
I have enclosed a report made public by this office in
January 1979 regarding the Kaikoura sightings.
I will point out though that the RNZAF do not normally
undertake detailed investigations into UFO sightings and the
above investigation was an isolated instance.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(A. C. Kerr)
Sergeant
RNZAF Public Relations
EnclosureILLAWARRA ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
AFFILIATED TO THE W.E.A.
Paul Sowiak-Rudej
Telephone: BOX 1814, P.O.
Public Relations Officer, WOLLONGONG.
Ministry of Defence, N.S.W. 2500
Royal New Zealand Air Force, 8/4/81
Wellington, New Zealand.
[stamp: RECEIVED
14 APR 1981
REGISTRY
DEFENCE HDQTRS]
DEAR SIR,
WE ARE VERY CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT
WAS OBSERVED AT KAIKOURA, ON 30-31 DECEMBER 1978
WHICH THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE INVESTIGATED AND
SURVEILLANCE BY ORION SQUADRON LEADER RAY CARRAD.
WE WOULD APPRECIATE A COPY OF
THE PRESS RELEASES YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS MADE PUBLIC
RELATING TO THE MATTER, ANY OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL
EXPLANATIONS AND THEIR REASONING, AND PERHAPS NOW YOUR
AFTER THOUGHTS.
WE ARE MAINLY INTERESTED IN ASTRONOMY.
HOWEVER WE WILL BE GIVING A TALK ON THE SUBJECT
AND HOPE TO GIVE AN UNBIASED EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT
WAS SEEN, BOTH VISUALLY (ON FILM) AND ON RADAR.
WOULD IT ALSO AS POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN
COPIES OF UNUSUAL AERIAL SIGHTING SUMMARIES SIMILAR
TO WHAT THE DEPT. OF AIR IN AUSTRALIA PRODUCES.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
Paul Sowiak-Rudejxxxxxx
749-299 [bracket] Air 39/3/3 PR
23 March 1981
Mr Brian H. Mackrell
16 Sutherland Crescent
PALMERSTON NORTH
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 10 March in which you asked
to purchase a full copy of the RNZAF report on the 1979 Clarence
River Kaikoura UFO sightings.
The RNZAF report into those sightings was not made public.
However a statement was issued to the media at the time of
completion of the report and that statement contains the relevant
points of the report. A copy of that media statement is enclosed.
There is no charge.
We do not have files on UFO encounters.
I thank you for your interest.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
//(C D Cole)
Squadron Leader [Initials]
Encl. RNZAF Public Relations Officer
FILE.
1/[?]xxxxxx
749-299 [bracket] Air 39/3/3 PR
23 March 1981
Mr Brian H. Mackrell
16 Sutherland Crescent
PALMERSTON NORTH
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 10 March in which you asked
to purchase a full copy of the RNZAF report on the 1979 Clarence
River Kaikoura UFO sightings.
The RNZAF report into those sightings was not made public.
However a statement was issued to the media at the time of
completion of the report and that statement contains the relevant
points of the report. A copy of that media statement is enclosed.
There is no charge.
We do not have files on UFO encounters.
I thank you for your interest.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
//(C D Cole)
Squadron Leader [Initials]
Encl. RNZAF Public Relations Officer
FILE.
1/[?]16 Sutherland Crescent
Palmerston North
10 March 1981
Chief of Air Staff
(Public Relations)
RNZAF
Dear Sir,
thank you for your letter of 4 February re my inquiry on UFO sighting of September, 1969.
Would it be possible for me to purchase a copy of the full RNZAF report on the 1979 Clarence River/Kaikoura UFO sightings? Has the RNZAF files on UFO encounters by its pilots and would this be made available to a serious researcher of the subject?
Yours sincerely,
Brian H. Mackrell
Brian H. Mackrell.
FILE.
1 /19 [ILLEGIBLE initials]MINUTE SHEET To: PRo (Air) Subject: Letter [ILLEGIBLE] UFO [ILLEGIBLE] 4/82 [ILLEGIBLE] Ro(mr) Department: File No.: Date: 3d/[ILLEGIBLE] Item 504 Ref: attached letter - B.H. Mackrell Nothing address known — [ILLEGIBLE signature] ADDS [ILLEGIBLE stamp/initials] Y70 [ILLEGIBLE signature]
16 Sutherland Crescent
Palmerston North
13 January 1981
TO: The Director
Service Intelligence
Ministry of Defence
Private Bag
Wellington
[Stamp: DIRECTORATE OF
[ILLEGIBLE] INTELLIGENCE
2 7 FEB 1981
SECURITY]
1969 UFO RADAR-VISUAL REPORT
Dear Sir,
according to a NZPA report of September 23, 1969 a UFO was radar-tracked
and sighted by two Straits Air Freight Express pilots (Captain R. Cullum & Officer
N. Faircloth) in the Wellington-Cook Strait-Cape Campbell region on the evening of
September 4, 1969. The report states: " Air Force authorities are now awaiting
reports from both pilots."
I am interested in obtaining copies of any reports held by your department on the
above. I will be pleased to pay any search/copy fees involved.
This 1969 incident is very similar to the 1978-79 Kaikoura UFO affair and I would
like to make detailed comparisons of same in connection with a natural phenomenon
UFO explanation postulated by Canadian scientists.
Yours faithfully,
Brian H. Mackrell
Brian H. Mackrell.
FILE. [ILLEGIBLE initials]MINUTE SHEET
Subject: Department:
File No.: AIR 39/3/3
Date:
Ref attached letter.
DDSI
I have discussed the subject of
this letter with the Acting Director Operations
Sqn Ldr Collins who advises that as far as
he is aware RNZAF do not hold the
reports suggested by the correspondents and
obviously even if they did this information
would not be released to a private
individual.
REF ATTACHED LETTER - B.H. MACKRELL
You might like to reply to this along
the lines suggested by your
D Ops rendered in suitable
moderate terms.
[ILLEGIBLE signature]
DDD Sy
FILE. [ILLEGIBLE initials]
23/2/81
Item 503xxxxxx
749-299 Air 39/3/3/PR
4 February 1981
Mr Brian H. Mackrell
16 Sutherland Crescent
PALMERSTON NORTH
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 13 January asking copies
of reports of a UFO sighted in September, 1969 by two
Safe Air pilots.
The RNZAF, contrary to press reports, did not investigate
that sighting.
The RNZAF does not normally undertake detailed
investigations in UFO sightings. The 1979 investigation
into the Clarence River/Kaikoura sightings was an isolated
instance.
I regret that I cannot be of more assistance to you.
Yours faithfully,
(C. D. COLE)
Squadron Leader
RNZAF Public Relations Officer
FILE. [ILLEGIBLE initials]
1 /in