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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.
“Headquarters”37 pages
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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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