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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 9 Mr Rout kept the globe in sight for about half a minute, it contrasted with the stars as it moved from west to east. He can offer no explanation for what he saw, but is convinced that it was something unusual. A few days later a test was arranged with the meteorological staff at Tahuna weather office to release a night balloon (normal schedule) with the view of determining whether the met balloon with its tiny light could of caused the reports of orange-coloured globes. Mr Rout and others failed to even locate the balloon and its light even when they were outside and instructed where to look. It was agreed that the met balloon light was not the cause of the orange-coloured globe reports. March 26th After the flurry of reports of strange objects in Nelson skies 19-22-24-25th March, hundreds of people were startled to see a grand display of vapour trails at 35,000 feet above the fair city. Hundreds, it was reported rang the news office "The Mail", demanding explanation; some believed they were seeing "flying saucers" or "guided missiles". That evening the "Mail" gave out the answer. Ohakea Vampire Jets caused the high vapour trails, four machines were on a normal training flight. No doubt the majority of Nelson folk were then satisfied that the earlier reports were also caused by the jets and dropped the strange incidents from their minds. However, to those who made the earlier reports and a large number of thinking people there and elsewhere, the arrival of the jets was not accepted as just another coincidence. The jets were there for a two-fold purpose, one of which they achieved very well, but whether the pilots spotted any other strange craft in Nelson skies is not yet known. We are glad the Air Force is on the ball. There was some mention by astronomers on the 19th March sky explosions over Nelson, Mr I.L. Thompson, Carter Observatory Director, Wellington, stated that from the brief details he had at that time received (Wellington press report 22 March) he considered the Nelson explosions may of been a daylight meteor, but was waiting for more details. A certain meteor expert in the Auckland area, however, had no doubts at all; the Nelson explosions were definitely a daylight meteor. In a large write up a few days after the incident, the expert, from the brief details of the incident mentioned in the Auckland press, gave us all the facts, and how those who are versed in the subject of "Flying Saucers" no doubt believed the Nelson incident was caused by one of these objects. We notice that this Auckland astronomer made no allowance for such things as conventional aircraft, noises in the head, mass hallusination, blood corpuscles, hoax, or mirage as a possible explanation of the incident. We of C.S.I. are sure the gentleman had no time to gain all details of the incident in the short time lapse between the incident and the appearance of his explanation in print, yet there was no doubt it was a meteor! After much inquiry into the incident C.S.I. considers that, in view of all the witnesses accounts and the follow up reports of other strange flying objects or phenomena, it is extremely unlikely that a meteor was the cause of the March 19th explosions. The explosions were stated to be well apart bridging a period of ten minutes, while other noises were heard in between. Are our skies now being frequented by a form of choosey and intelligent meteor? that looks us over and then heads back to the blue. Mr N.R.F. Johnson sighted an unusual object in the sky on April 4th. Mr Johnson was returning from a pig hunting trip to Anawhata at approx 7.35 pm. when he saw in the direction and above the Waitakere Mts a disc-shaped object that appeared to be moving at a very high speed. The object's course was in the direction of the Manukau Harbour. It disappeared over the Manukau.
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