NZDF declassified RNZAF UFO files

# SCIENTIST EXPLAINS STRANGE SKY SIGHTS

On top of Kelburn hill two silver observatory domes gleam in the sun. Inside the observatory a small, cheerful man makes war on humbug.

Mr. I. L. Thomsen, director of the Carter Observatory, Wellington, and New Zealand's best-known astronomer, is not, however, the kind of person to laugh at others' fancies, but seeks only to guide and enlighten those who imagine the worst when they see something strange flying through the sky. In the realm of "flying saucers" he has been accused of narrow-mindedness. On the contrary Mr. Thomsen is open-minded on the subject but is quite happy to explain from now till Doomsday why such-and-such a phenomena streaking through the night sky is not a forbidding visitor from Mars, but some mass of rock that has been drifting through the universe for acons.

He has had hundreds of inquiries of this nature and has satisfactorily explained most of them. The remainder have remained a mystery through the inquiver leaving it too long between sighting an object and ringing the observatory.

Mr. Thomson's willingness to talk of natural things springs from his desire to see New Zealand, as a young country, doing sensible work in astronomy. With few exceptions, other astronomers throughout the world have been above controversy, but not Mr. Thomson. "We don't want public opinion to go haywire," he says. "We want to put forward a same outlook on things."

## Explains Mysteries

A friendly, unassuming, attitude—what many would call the common touch—has endeared him to a host of people. "He is one of the finest men I've met," says the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. Macalister.

To those who know little or nothing of the subject he will try to "sell" astronomy, and in this is helped by an ability to explain in the simplest possible way some of the mysteries of the universe.

Mr. Thomsen was born in Danneyirke and educated at the Danneyirke North School and the local high school. He joined the Department of

Agriculture as a cadet clerk in 1928 and in 1929 transferred to the Dominion Observatory as a clerk. In the meantime he studied at Victoria University College and assisted with seismological and time-service work. Becoming assistant astronomer at the Carter Observatory in 1939 and director in 1946.

His interest in astronomy began at primary school. When 13 years old his father bought him a one and half inch telescope. With it he photographed an eclipse of the moon at 17 years. He still has the telescope, one of his most treasured possessions. Also tucked away in the massive observatory library are several black-backed exercise books which contain some of his earliest observations.

## Couldn't Pay Fare

In 1937 he was the Government's representative on an expedition to Canton Island in mid-Pacific to observe a total eclipse of the sun and for his work there was nominated a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

There are many highlights in Mr. Thomsen's life, not a few of them sorrowful. For instance, he took an active share in the organisation of an eclipse expedition to Nimafon Island in 1930 but was too poor to pay his fare.

Mr. Thomson has many achievements. He was awarded the Martin Kellog Fellowship of the Lick Observatory, California, in 1952, and has visited most of the big observatories of America. In the same year he was awarded the Michaelis Memorial Prize of the University of Otago for astronomical research. The only interest he has outside astronomy is the R.N.Z.-N.V.R., in which he is a lieutenantcommander.

Mr. Thomsen's proudest achievement? Pulling to pieces almost singlehanded the observatory's intricate. 9-inch telescope in an old dome on Kelburn Hill and re-assembling it in its present quarters.

"There wasn't a screw left over," he said.

# Flying Saucers On Radar Near Sydney?

SYDNEY, Dec. 15.—The Navy radar at Nowra air station, south of Sydney, picked up two objects believed to be, "flying saucers;" the "Melbourne Herald" said today.

The paper said that the Minister of the Navy (Mr. Josiah Francis), who is visiting Nowra, told how a Royal Australian Navy pilot flying back to Nowra after dark was joined in the air by two strange aircraft resembling "flying saucers."

The pilot reported to the Nowra air controller, whose radar showed three aircraft flying together. The Navy pilot identified himself by moving according to a pattern. The pilot said after landing that the two objects were much faster than his Sea Fury fighter. No other planes fast enough to keep him company were in the air at the time.

The Navy said that the identity of the "saucers" remains undiscovered. N.Z.P.A. (Rec:10am)

FLYING SAUCERS Sir, Comments on the flying saucers by Mr. Fulton, of C.S.I., were perfectly reasonable. People intolerant of such phenomena seem to be lodged in a 19th century fog, and will undoubtedly be embarrassed when world-wide acceptance becomes official.

At this date, scientists, astronomers, and the military of other countries regard the matter with soberness, though without panic.

I have long been convinced that those who are curiously reluctant to admit and welcome the approach of extra-terrestrial co-operation are simply suffering from fright.—I am, etc.,

PLAIN TRUTH.

# Flying Discs

Sir, I wish to confirm "Not Awestruck's" views, published on December 11, concerning flying discs. If the public accepted Mr. Thomsen's largely irrelevant statements, then thousands of reliable observers would have to be branded as liars.

The latest authoritative book on the subject contains the following facts: (1) The United States authorities have definitely accepted the view that the discs come from outside the earth. (2) Most of them appear to be remote-controlled from some unknown source. (3) Reports of landings and conversations with the crews are without foundation. (4) The authorities are unwilling to release the known facts owing to fear of public reaction.

Palmerston Nth. OPEN MIND.