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NZDF declassified RNZAF UFO files

NZDF / RNZAF via Internet Archive · 2010-12 · 445 pages · text by OCR

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.

  • p. 152 …into a world crisis. (2) concurrent and open discussion of East-West differences, which if effected…
  • p. 173 …He then opened a kind of hatch on the top of the "rim" which encircled the…
  • p. 185 …So keep an open and ever broadening mind, it is not a bit of good trying…
  • p. 212 …Thomsen is open-minded on the subject but is quite happy to explain from now till…
  • p. 213 …WHAT SOURCE. "Open Mind" (Palmerston North) says it is evident that Mr. Thomsen has not read…
  • p. 273 …Evidently they are not sure "I have an open mind, with no great feeling one way…
  • p. 327 …are keeping an open mind on the source of the objects. I believe, he said, from…
  • p. 331 …we should as Kickshaws suggests maintain an open mind on the subject. (The President of C…
  • p. 345 …Many people all over the world have an open mind on this question and are ready…
  • p. 376 …If any person has an open mind on the subject and is prepared to weigh out…
  • p. 397 …thing but one has to have an open mind. The trouble with these reports from all…
  • p. 405 …Briefly, while they are prepared to have an open mind on the subject, I think it…
  • p. 421 …I can't give any explanation off hand." ## 'An open mind' THAT looks to be quite…
## 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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Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 445 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.