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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 I4 EXAMINATION of these two prints by the "Herald" and President C.S.I. revealed all the signs of an extremely poor attempt at "Saucer" fakery. The accompany written statement too, was very suspect, because its compilation was almost exact copy of the explanation given by the two Coniston, Derbyshire school boys (England) recently reproduced in PIX magazine May I5th. This issue of PIX was available on N.Z. news stands, approx a week prior the receipt by the "Herald" and C.S.I. of Mr Matthews statement, and alleged "Saucer" photos. C.S.I. has written to Mr Matthews, candidly expressing our findings, but inviting Mr Matthews to show further proof of his alleged experience, should per chance our findings be wrong. (no reply to date). (C.S.I. has no reason to doubt the authenticity of the Coniston photo). Auckland June 25th Approx 30 people in the general Whenapai area, were eye-witness to a strange hovering light, first spotted at 6.45 p.m. 25th June. Three Air Force N.C.O. 's, their wives and families watched this strange phenomena for approx 15 minutes from the Air Force Trig Road Flats. During the observation one N.C.O. who is a local scoutmaster, travelled to Hobsonville via car to meet his Troup. On arrival he noted that the strange light was now directly overhead instead of approx 45° above the horizon and in line with Hobsonville as seen from Trig Road Flats. Cpl Black drew the attention of the I5 members of his troup to the light and all agreed that it was most unusual. The strange light was orange-red with tinges of blue in colour and appeared to be either turning over, revolving or scribing small circles (orbiting). The sky was clear with calm conditions. The light, after approx 15 minutes, suddenly went out-came on again briefly, and as suddenly, extinguished completely. The intensity of the light was seen to fluctuate repeated, and was most time, much brighter than the normal stars. W/O Thompson, Cpl Black and Cpl Moore when interviewed, were all most certain that the strange light was not a met balloon, aircraft light, or star, they have no explanation of the phenomenon. Cpl Black, vol unteered the information that he had seen a similar light in the locality a week previous, but no one would at that time accept the account of his experience. Hobsonville Air base is approx 32 miles NNE of Trig Road Flats. Taumarunui 27th June "N.Z.Herald" & Auckland Star" 28th June. It is reported that a flying saucer was seen at 8.30 a.m. between Roto Aira & Mount Tongariro. The object was first seen by a child, who called the attention of her mother, Mrs F.Bell, to the strange object in the sky. Mrs Bell called out to the manager of Weir & Kenny's mill, Mr Jack Mantell. Mr Mantell states"I saw the object quite plainly, it was flying at about 25,000 ft, and it hovered in the sky when first seen. Then it suddenly vanished at terrific speed in a southerly direction." Mr Mantell said,"the object was shaped like a large bowl, flatish and completely circular, I could distinguish what appeared to be two jets operating from one part of it." * Auckland 27th June STRANGE UNIDENTIFIED LIGHTS IN SKY Observers:- Malcolm G. Laird & Garry J. Tee M. Sc; both science students, residing at the AUC Hostel O'Rorke Hall 49 Symonds St; Auckland C.I. On the evening of Sunday June 27th I954, we were skygazing with a 3" refractor from the roof of the Hostel (a 4 storied building). Temperatures were low, with haze forming in low-lying regions & extending upwards from the western horizon, about 30 degrees; making observation of Venus fruitless; but there was no perceptible haze over most of the sky & fairly good views of Mars had just been obtained----- the Milky Way clearly visible, & there was no moon in the sky. One of us (Tee) had shifted the telscope to observe Saturn, then nearly overhead & was focussing it when the other saw moving lights in the sky, and called out that meteors were visible: his spectacles
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