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NZDF declassified RNZAF UFO files
NZDF / RNZAF via Internet Archive · 2010-12 · 445 pages · text by OCR
This is a New Zealand Defence Force public release of RNZAF file AIR 39/3/3, "Flying Saucers," which covers 1952 to 1955 and was declassified in September 2010 under the Official Information Act. It collects sighting reports from the public and military personnel, press clippings, and a table of 1952 sightings. It also holds Carter Observatory opinions attributing some reports to meteors. A large part covers the inquiry into lights seen from National Airways Corporation Flight 108 on 31 October 1955, which the RNZAF could not fully explain as Venus.
“Christchurch”32 pages
- p. 10 …They passed over Christchurch about 1.30 p.m. As the aircraft moved on, they left…
- p. 24 25 NOV 1955
# AIR DEPARTMENT.
CHRISTCHURCH, N.W.4.
23rd November, 1955.
The Director of Civil…
- p. 25 …2 R.D. , CHRISTCHURCH.
The Regional Superintendent, Civil Aviation Administration, CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT.
Dear Sir,
The following…
- p. 36 …12168
0182/50652
90/12165
17/16399
CHRISTCHURCH/AUCKLAND:
67/39485 CA
90/34627 CA
WELLINGTON…
- p. 165 …It was also seen by Palmerston North and Christchurch residents in N.Z. about that time…
- p. 186 …which he witnessed from his home in Christchurch at 10.21 p.m. on the 20th…
- p. 211 …The "Star-Sun" reporter and his wife were travelling by car towards Christchurch at 3.46…
- p. 219 …Coutts Island to the back of the Christchurch Airport and though the cloud bank was about…
- p. 226 …Carter had reported the incident to the Christchurch, N.Z., Press, and later decided to write…
- p. 255 …had the pleasure of meeting for the first time, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin Representatives, Branch leaders…
- p. 266 …It made a whizzing noise like a spinning top, they said.
# MYSTERIOUS LIGHT IN SKY CHRISTCHURCH…
- p. 299 …REPRESENTATIVES
Two further representatives have been appointed in two southern cities, Christchurch and Dunedin. Representatives are…
- p. 307 …Secretary 55 Tedder Avenue Christchurch E.3.
## WAS IT A METEOR?
## PERHAPS ONE DAY WE WILL…
- p. 312 …received two other reports around this time one from a lady in Christchurch and another from…
- p. 313 …August 25th Christchurch 6.40 p.m. fast moving strange light horizon tal course, in view…
- p. 314 ## FLYING SAUCERS PAGE 18
November 17th Christchurch 11p.m. two further observers of fast m ing…
- p. 332 …8.30 Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch. A bright object, reported by many to be round…
- p. 333 …March 18, Christchurch. Dr C.D. Ellyet, Senior Lecturer in physics at Canterbury University College, claims…
- p. 359 …Sam Rix, Tauranga; Miss Ethne Hamber, Christchurch; Miss V.E.J.Allan, Dunedin; Dr.Benjamin D…
- p. 393 …A passenger on the Express from Christchurch saw an unusual light in the sky near Camara…
- p. 394 …Southland, North Otago, the West Coast and Christchurch. Some people who said they had seen it…
- p. 396 …was travelling with his son from Christchurch to Wellington on the Saturday night when they saw…
- p. 397 …The Christchurch observers given an apparent size of half a crown indicating a height of 6000…
- p. 398 …Nelson Yellow/White
10.30? Cheviot? Blue Green
Christchurch Blue S. Hissing
Camara Blue
11.8…
- p. 400 …9 17 minutes
Christchurch/New Brighton 29.10.52 9 p.m. 1
Taradale, Napier 30…
- p. 412 …Cigar South Nil GREEN LIGHT. Moving swiftly.
Christchurch 13.10.52 Nil One 5 secs Starline…
- p. 413 …minutes Saucer Nil Nil Redlights around lights
Christchurch 3.11.52 1115 pm Two one minute…
- p. 414 …Christchurch 6.12.52 1015 pm One 30 secs Disc South Hissing Blue in colour
Ryeburn…
- p. 418 …Williamson, has written to the "Evening Post" to say that the "flying saucer" seen in Christchurch…
- p. 421 # BLUE DISC THAT HISSED South-Bound 'Saucer' Seen At Three Points
PEOPLE in Christchurch, Kyeburn, and…
- p. 428 …Otago, from the West Coast and from Christchurch, among others. Some people, who said they had…
- p. 436 …Auckland astronomers and meter-
## Riccarton Run Confused By
CHRISTCHURCH, November unsettled nature of the weather heavy…
published at___
## SUBJECT:
## Speedy Object In Sky
Sir,—It was very interesting to read the opinion that the object observed by the pilot of a N.A.C. aircraft recently was the planet Venus. I had no idea that Venus travelled at such speed, but now that I do know, it explains something that I and four others saw at Palliser Bay.
One Sunday afternoon at about 4.30 our attention was drawn to a round very bright object approaching at a great height and at very great speed. It had no wings and could not be heard. It was travelling in a north-easterly direction and after it had passed right overhead it came round in a half-circle and disappeared toward the west. We thought that it must have been a meteorological balloon gone mad. Now, of course, the answer is obvious; it was Venus.
NOT A FLYING SAUCER. Upper Hutt.
Evening Post 8/11/55
# Venus Back In Running As Mystery Light
After careful investigation the Royal New Zealand Air Force concludes that the strange light seen from a National Airways Corporation aircraft could have been Venus, but cannot explain the apparent movement of the light, according to a report released last night by the Acting Minister of Defence (Mr. Halstead).
The report said that the strange light was seen low in the western sky between 8.08pm and 8.11pm on Monday, Oct. 31. Venus could have been observed in the approximate position of the light when it was first sighted from the aircraft flying at 8000 feet between Wanganui and Auckland.
"Since the captain of the aircraft (Captain W. T. Rainbow) states that the direction of flight of the aircraft was not altered during the time the light was in sight, the R.N.Z.A.F. cannot explain the apparent movement of the light or establish definitely that it was Venus," says the report. "The occulting or apparent flashing of the light could be caused by the presence of cloud between the light and the moving aircraft.
"It is common for planets low in the sky to scintillate. At 8000 feet, in position 38 degrees south 175 degrees east (the approximate position of the aircraft when the light was seen) the setting time for Venus on October 81 was 8.19pm."
The report also makes brief mention of vapour trails seen in the sky on the same evening. They were caused by Vampire aircraft from Ohakea carrying out high-level night cross-country exercises.
R. RELEASE NO. M15755.
FILE
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Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 445 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.