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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
Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.
## Havelock North 3 June (near Napier) Asks the Daily Telegraph. Is there an aircraft in New Zealand that can break the sound barrier? At least 5 Havelock North residents are sure they heard the weird bang of a plane breaking the barrier. They state that they actually saw the plane which they believe did it. Reports of strange rushing sounds in the air have come from other residents too. Said one observer: "We were standing outside sometime before midday, when we heard a loud booming noise, something like the sound of blasting. It was followed by the charact eristic jet whine", "we looked up and saw a flashing silver plane very high up and moving very fast. White vapour trails broke behind it as it travelled south. We watched it for several minutes". Mr H.J.Taylor and a Fernhill wom an also heard the noises. Mr Taylor was sure it was a plane flying very high and leaving a distinct vapour trail. C.S.I. has not checked with Ohakea to confirm if Vampire jets were in the area, however, we do know that the Vampires are not fast enough or permitted to try to reach sufficient speed to break the sound barrier. ## Huntly and Hillcrest IO June (Waikato Times IO'II &I2th June) Many separate parties reported to the "Waikato Times", that they had seen one or more strange objects in the sky between 7-8 a.m. 10th June. Some described the object as a bright orange colour and another as "a large golden oval". All agreed that the strange object's light appeared to fluctuate. Some saw the object moving at high speed and others observed it to fly a semi-circular path. A few people reported later, that they too, had seen an object in the sky on the morning, but were certain it was just the sun reflecting off a conventional aircraft. Rukuhia flying control authorities stated that they knew of no aircraft in the air at that early hour. It could of been a top dressing machine, but this was considered most unlikely, as the only fabric covered silver aircraft in the area was grounded. ## Pipiwai I2th June (near Whangarei) Mr. N. Clarich reported to the Northern Advocate that whilst driving along Titoki road Saturday I2th June at sunset, he noticed a long dark object in the eastern sky. Stopping his car he got out and watched closely. He said the object might have been a 100 feet long and appeared out of a clear sky, and could not have been a cloud. It was travelling fast, faster than any aeroplane he had seen, north to south. The object entered light cloud to the south and could be discerned until it gradually disappeared. Mr Clarich had no idea what the object was or represented. ## Auckland June 25th A brilliant flash of light over the Waitakere Ranges startled many early risers in Auckland. The phenomenon which appeared like a ball of fire up in the northern sky shortly after 6.30 a.m. fell slowly until it disappeared behind the southern end of the ranges. One witness thought it was an aircraft falling in flames. "Undoubtedly a meteor"said Mr R.A.McIntosh, Director of the Meteor Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand. ## Warkworth June 25th Both the "N.Z.Herald" and C.S.I. received a written statement from Mr Milfred Matthews (15 yrs.,old) who claims to have spent two nights in the open with a camera, (plate) waiting and watching for the possible appearance of flying saucers. On the second night he claims to have been successful and his developed plates (two) were enclosed with the communication to the "Herald". (two prints not plates were received by the "Herald", my error Ed.) Close
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