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NZDF declassified RNZAF UFO files

NZDF / RNZAF via Internet Archive · 2010-12 · 445 pages · text by GLM-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. 10 …They passed over Christchurch about 1.30 p.m. As the aircraft moved on, they left…
  • p. 24 25 NOV 1955 # AIR DEPARTMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, N.W.4. 23rd November, 1955. The Director of Civil…
  • p. 25 …2 R.D. , CHRISTCHURCH. The Regional Superintendent, Civil Aviation Administration, CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT. Dear Sir, The following…
  • p. 36 …12168 0182/50652 90/12165 17/16399 CHRISTCHURCH/AUCKLAND: 67/39485 CA 90/34627 CA WELLINGTON…
  • p. 165 …It was also seen by Palmerston North and Christchurch residents in N.Z. about that time…
  • p. 186 …which he witnessed from his home in Christchurch at 10.21 p.m. on the 20th…
  • p. 211 …The "Star-Sun" reporter and his wife were travelling by car towards Christchurch at 3.46…
  • p. 219 …Coutts Island to the back of the Christchurch Airport and though the cloud bank was about…
  • p. 226 …Carter had reported the incident to the Christchurch, N.Z., Press, and later decided to write…
  • p. 255 …had the pleasure of meeting for the first time, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin Representatives, Branch leaders…
  • p. 266 …It made a whizzing noise like a spinning top, they said. # MYSTERIOUS LIGHT IN SKY CHRISTCHURCH…
  • p. 299 …REPRESENTATIVES Two further representatives have been appointed in two southern cities, Christchurch and Dunedin. Representatives are…
  • p. 307 …Secretary 55 Tedder Avenue Christchurch E.3. ## WAS IT A METEOR? ## PERHAPS ONE DAY WE WILL…
  • p. 312 …received two other reports around this time one from a lady in Christchurch and another from…
  • p. 313 …August 25th Christchurch 6.40 p.m. fast moving strange light horizon tal course, in view…
  • p. 314 ## FLYING SAUCERS PAGE 18 November 17th Christchurch 11p.m. two further observers of fast m ing…
  • p. 332 …8.30 Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch. A bright object, reported by many to be round…
  • p. 333 …March 18, Christchurch. Dr C.D. Ellyet, Senior Lecturer in physics at Canterbury University College, claims…
  • p. 359 …Sam Rix, Tauranga; Miss Ethne Hamber, Christchurch; Miss V.E.J.Allan, Dunedin; Dr.Benjamin D…
  • p. 393 …A passenger on the Express from Christchurch saw an unusual light in the sky near Camara…
  • p. 394 …Southland, North Otago, the West Coast and Christchurch. Some people who said they had seen it…
  • p. 396 …was travelling with his son from Christchurch to Wellington on the Saturday night when they saw…
  • p. 397 …The Christchurch observers given an apparent size of half a crown indicating a height of 6000…
  • p. 398 …Nelson Yellow/White 10.30? Cheviot? Blue Green Christchurch Blue S. Hissing Camara Blue 11.8…
  • p. 400 …9 17 minutes Christchurch/New Brighton 29.10.52 9 p.m. 1 Taradale, Napier 30…
  • p. 412 …Cigar South Nil GREEN LIGHT. Moving swiftly. Christchurch 13.10.52 Nil One 5 secs Starline…
  • p. 413 …minutes Saucer Nil Nil Redlights around lights Christchurch 3.11.52 1115 pm Two one minute…
  • p. 414 …Christchurch 6.12.52 1015 pm One 30 secs Disc South Hissing Blue in colour Ryeburn…
  • p. 418 …Williamson, has written to the "Evening Post" to say that the "flying saucer" seen in Christchurch…
  • p. 421 # BLUE DISC THAT HISSED South-Bound 'Saucer' Seen At Three Points PEOPLE in Christchurch, Kyeburn, and…
  • p. 428 …Otago, from the West Coast and from Christchurch, among others. Some people, who said they had…
  • p. 436 …Auckland astronomers and meter- ## Riccarton Run Confused By CHRISTCHURCH, November unsettled nature of the weather heavy…

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

## FLYING SAUCERS PAGE 14

Dec 6 1953 Auckland. A member of C.S.I.'s committee Mr Jack Connell reports that while observing a fire on Waiheki Island (popular pleasure resort three to four out from Auckland Habour) just on dusk, approx 7.45 p.m., his attention was drawn to a whitish light that appeared to move across the sky at great speed to disappear behind a cloud. The light was twice momentary screened by loose cloud while being observed. An Air Force Sgt From Whenuapai Air Station known by the President of C.S.I. also reported seeing a strange light just on dusk the same evening. He said: "While walking towards the city my attention was drawn on a number of times to a dull orangy light that appeared to be hovering. The light was quite large with a kind of hallow around it, the outer fringe appeared to be the brighter source of light. I had just began to wonder what it was, when on looking again I was surprised to find that it had quite disappeared. Neither party claim it was a flying saucer.

Dec 6 Tauranga 8 pm. An object in the sky "which might have been a flying saucer", was seen by Mrs H. Spencer, of Fraser Street at 8. p.m. The object, said Mrs Spencer appeared to be hovering in the sky at no great distance, a little to the north. It was round, bright and silvery and gave the appearance of a great chandelier. Suddenly it shot upwards with a terrific hiss, turned and streaked across the sky to the south-east. After the object had disappeared a trail of pink and white "cloud" hung in the sky for about five minutes. ( It was reported the following day in the press that several residents had seen a bright meteor that same evening.)

Dec 24 Strange cloud formation observed. A cloud looming over Tangiwai at the time Thursdays Rail disaster, was of strange formation, clearly resembling the form of a Lion ready to spring; this cloud stood out boldly in an otherwise lightly clouded sky. Others reported it as being cigar-shaped and a photo confirming this was published in NZ Herald.

Jan 8th Dunedin 10.45 pm Miss V.E.J.Allen C.S.I.Dunedin Rep. reports I saw a cigar-shaped object flying from the south-east to north-east at amazing speed. I thought at first it was a meteor, but there was a long trail of golden sparks behind it. It was very high up, almost overhead and was gone after 4 seconds. Looking about two inches long the object appeared to accelerate rapidly after discharging a burst of sparks.

Jan 19 Wellington. Letter to Editor by Mr Geoff Bqnallack C.S.I. Tawa Flat "Honorary Observer". Sir, Having read Leslie's and Adamski's book, I can agree with Kickshaws, who reviewed it last Fridays issue. that it is poorly worded in parts, specially in Leslie's opening chapters; but in fairness to the authors and in particular to Adamski, I think Kickshaws should have mentioned that the book contains photographs of the sworn affidavits of several witnesses to the alleged meeting between Adamski and the supposed Venusian. It is difficult to see how these witnesses could benefit themselves by giving false statements. I agree with Kickshaws that the photos of the saucer could of been faked, but there are some very searching scientific methods of checking this and why should Adamski and his photographer, whose name is given, lay themselves open to almost certain discovery? Many sightings of saucers are doubtless meteorological balloons, but experienced pilots are very firm in their refusal to admit that balloons of any kind can fly rings round them and then shoot off like a shell from a gun into the upper atmosphere. Many sightings are certainly meteors But not the ones that go into reverse. Others are cars headlights reflected

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Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. The text was read from the page images by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word. 445 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.