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NZDF declassified RNZAF UFO files

NZDF / RNZAF via Internet Archive · 2010-12 · 445 pages · text by GLM-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.

  • 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…

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upward flight at a 45 degree angle. The object, Flaig estimated, was about four ft. in diameter. The Flaigs told the writer that they thought the object was at first a balloon, but the absence of attachments and its singular behaviour ruled out that explanation.

MYSTERIOUS HELMET-LIKE OBJECT DISCOVERED IN OFFICIAL H-BOMB FILM.

Case 105, Place and date unknown. - At this writing we will not permit ourselves to be carried away, nor will we make a committal statement. None- theless, the photograph and negative before us loom convincing! Sent to CRIFO by Jesse J. Leaf of Brooklyn, the print and negative each show a clear-out object so often described as a true flying saucer. In fact, the photographs are unusually clear and unmuddled considering that Leaf trained his camera on a TV newsreel film which was showing the recent H-Bomb tests.

While watching the TV film, Leaf claims that he was unable to detect the object. He was surprised, when his roll of developed film came back, and in one of the prints and negative was the UFO. The print in question shows a rolling mass of black smoke rising diagonally above the curvature of the earth. Next to the cloud, almost touching, is the object. It is distinctly clear and shows an outline much like a helmet - almost pyramidal. Perhaps it is not too far removed from the objects depicted in the famous farmer Trent photos taken in McMinnville, Oregon, or perhaps, like the Adamski "light fixture" photos.

We can understand why the object may have been missed by the official censors. Remembering that the original film was a movie, we must also remember that the MOTION of the swirling clouds in juxtaposition to the MOTIONARY object may have tricked the viewer - just like the magician whose hand is quicker than the eye! Perhaps, too, the object, upon departure, may have escaped the censor's eye by flying IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE CAMERA IN OPPOSITION TO THE SMOKE CLOUD.

The object's underbelly is dark, the same tone value as the darkest portion of clouds visible. The camber or outer rim is bright abd reflective of the sun while the dome is of neutral tone. Consulting several photographers the writer finds encouragement. All agree, to mate, that "something" besides the H-cloud appears in the picture. The writer is not surprised, for if the object proves to be a UFO in the final analysis, the event certainly is in keeping with other information which suggests that space craft are watching the world's nuclear developments.

Also reported direct to CSI by Mr. Crockett who is our Far East Rep. PILOT OF ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE DESCRIBES ENCOUNTER WITH UFO OVER KORAT.

Case 106, Korat, Thailand, May 1954 - CRIFO's Asian correspondent J.N. Crockett, of Korat, Thailand, sends us this excellent report; written by Capt. Uthai Lunayatjata.

"In May, 1954, I was an instructor in the Royal Thai Air Force in Korat. That month the advanced training course was instruction in night flying. The T6's went up with students one night, the night was clear with no moon or clouds.

About midnight my student and I took off and climbed to 3,000 ft. After levelling off we set a course to the west ... later making a 180 degree left- turn to the east and flew direct toward the town of Korat. When we had almost reached the town I saw something strange in the sky. It appeared to be an orange fireball about six feet in diameter. I first saw it about 1,500 ft. ahead and approaching our plane on a parallel course to our right, and at the same altitude.

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Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. The text was read from the page images by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word. 445 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.