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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.
“Sea”47 pages
## FLYING SAUCERS Page 8 Mr Berkett called two other people Mr Ken Evans of Auckland and Mr Applery an employee. Mr Evans was interviewed on his return to Auckland by the editor and corroborated most of Mr Berketts observations. Mr Evans was most impressed by the loud noises made by the object at intermittant periods. When he first heard the loud roaring noise he thought that a plane was about to crash nearby. Mr Evans considers that the object did appear to hover for a brief period, whilst it did, he noted that the colour varied from white to a silvery grey. Mr Evans also heard the Heron aircraft pass a few minutes earlier and was positive it had nothing to do with the strange loud noises. Three Nelson men fishing in a boat at Delaware Bay, heard the loud noises and saw the object and the large cloud of smoke-like trail left by the object They took the object for a stunting plane. The men also saw the Heron and stated that it was no where near the other object or what they took for a stunting plane, which they thought was in difficulties. Mr B.T. Rayner writing to"The Mail" Nelson stated that he saw the mysterious object in the sky on Friday afternoon, it was the noise that first drew his attention. Mr Rayner said it was like a jet machine, and resembled a large butterfly ( on large scale ). Its colour was white and it appeared to approach from a point known as ball-point and went in the direction of Hira before it disappeared. Mr Rayner is a Hira resident. The following incidents followed. Mr A.W.R. Higginson a resident of Tahuna Motor Camp Nelson sent this account to the "Mail" which was published. Our Nelson "Observer" has also interviewed Mr Higginson and verified his story. Time of Observation 5.10 a.m. to 5.13 a.m. Monday 22 March. Where seen and Direction: Slightly south of overhead when first observed and travelling west to east until it appeared to be approx 2000ft above eastern horizon, when it changed direction to either south-east or south. Height difficult to judge, but considered great. The object was watched for 3 minutes. Speed appeared to be little slower than Tasman Flying Boat, colour extremely bright orange which glittered and sparkled constantly. The sky was very clear except for patches of light cloud, there was no trail or tail to the rear, there was no noise. When overhead the object appeared to be taking a zigzag course. Mr Higginson was sure it was not a shooting star meteor, plane or anything like a weather balloon. March 24th Strange Object in Sky When working in his garden at 39 Wellington Street at 10.40 O'clock yesterday morning, Mr G.C.Cole heard a strange swishing noise. The noise was repeated three times and he looked up into the sky and saw in a southwesterly direction at approx 4000ft, a white shining object with black sides. The object swept down and then rose in an arc towards the east. He reported the observation to the "Mail" Nelson. He called his wife and daughter-in-law, who came out in time to see the object move back across the sky at a tremendous pace, whilst they were still watching the object made a complete circle and then zig-zagged about before disappearing in a westerly direction behind some trees. Mr Cole said the object appeared to be able to change direction without losing speed. He estimated it was in sight for a minute and a quarter. Mr Cole is a retired farmer and stated that he had not previously believed in the strange stories of objects in the sky. He then said; I am now convinced that some queer objects do exist. March 25th Until early this morning Mr D.M.Rout of Nelson, did not believe in stories of flying saucers. At 5.35 a.m. this morning he saw in the northe: -n sky a bright orange-coloured globe moving about the speed of a train.
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