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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
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Highlight of the reports come from Mr.J.W.Boyle, of Caulfield, Vice-President of the Victorian branch of the British Astronomical Assoc. Last night Mr Boyle said: At 11 a.m. on Jan 3, I was walking from the Victory Theatre St. Kilda, towards the beach. My son Ian was with me." Suddenly immediately overhead, we saw a strange rectangular object flying in straight and level flight. It resembled a huge sheet of aluminium and was flying from west to east. It was clearly visible for 15 to 20 seconds, but too far away to describe in any detail. Ian saw it too. He called out look at the silver-butterfly." It could of been some unknown type of flying machine". Most of the other eye-witnesses told the Civil Aviation Dept that the objects they had seen had been illuminated. Many described the objects as "Discs". FILM OF SAUCER TAKEN. Sydney Daily Telegraph Jan 25. A Dept of Civil Aviation employee has photographed on movie film a mysterious flying object. The Minister of Air, said this last night. Mr McMahon said he had the film flown to the United States for enlarging. Mr T.C. Drury a senior Dept officer statiched at Port Moresby took the film. Mr Drury was a form-er member of the R.A...F. He is a reliable creditable person Mr McMahon said. Mr Drury seen a cloud suddenly forming from a dot in the clear blue sky; a silvery object rose out of the cloud. It went higher up into the air and vanished. Mr Drury had telephoto lens on his camera and photographed the object flashing across the sky, on August 20, 1953. Mr McMahon said experts of the R.B.A.F. had examined the film carefully and said that the film definitely showed some-thing in the sky. Mr Drury is the Australian Deputy Reginal Director of Civil Aviation. UNKNOWN CLAIMS HE SNAPPED FLYING SALUCER OVER ALICE SPRINGS. Such was the headlines in the CENT- TRALIAN ADVOCATE Feb 5 1954. The Advocate has published the photograph left under its office door by the unknown person. This the unknown's story. For several reasons, one of which is because I can hardly believe it myself, I refuse at this stage to come forward and allow my name to be used. But study this picture of a flying saucer for yourselves. I was taking a picture of Mount Gillen on the day that a numb-er of Alice Springs people said they heard something strange pass over. (Jan 15) Suddenly an enormous round looking object appeared from behind Gillen. It went high and then dropped to come quite low between the Mounta-in and the Town -- it was not traveling fast at this stage -- it fact it appeared to be almost hovering; this was when I took the picture-- almost automatically. It would of been possible to take more photos, but I just looked, then suddenly the thing moved off very fast, it gained speed until it must of been travelli-ng at a terrific pace. "I did not hear much of a whistling sound, the saucer looked to have been anything up to 150 ft across. I don't know maybe Adamski had something about those men from Venus. ## 100 Here is a sketch of the photo showing the wheel-like appearance. It is most difficult to determine the authenticity of photos, however you may appreciate the rough sketch for reference. Other reports have come from Central Australia from the aborigines. Four of them said that something sounding frighteningly strange streaked overhead. Another Alice Springs man (White) confirmed that he too had seen and heard the object, that scared the natives.
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