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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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## FLYING SAUCERS PAGE 16 earth's atmosphere , Said Mr Busck. The two lights were in view for 5 to 6 secon and all members of the party were certain the phenomenon was not caused by meteors main reason for being certain of this was the fact that the yellow lights remained constant in brightnes and flew in an half circle over the town to disappear in the direction of One Tree Point. February 12, Gisborne Mr C.F.Taylor and Mr W Davoron were pighunting at Okaihau station in the Mangatu district, when they spotted dozens of metal objects embedded in a clay wash-out. The men bought some back and the Dept of Agriculture/as pieces of a meteorite. The metal balls dirty green in co -lour were lying on the surface of the ground when found. The balls were rough on the outside surface and varied in size from a pea to a billiard ball , on breaking one with a hammer , it was found to have a light-greenish centre. (insert above "identified them" ) February 23 Auckland Star. Aries column. Attempt to take C.S.I.'s recent Press Release to task and all those that accredit the possibility that Flying Saucers may be real and interplanetary. The press release failed to mention that the 25, June (Mars Opposition date) represented to saucer investigators the approx peak period of expected renewed activity or visitations from mystery craft. Based on sound evidence from the records of all those keeping graphs etc., on the rise and fall of Flying Saucer reports all over the world, and the discovery that the major flurries or period of greatest activity closely coincided the Mars oppositions; particularly the last three investigators have every good reason to be extremely interested in the next such an occasion. Saucers with the speed of light as mentioned in Aries column may or may not enter into it, the whole argument was a waste of energy because of a misrepresentation in the press. If some of these ardent sceptics took time to study the whole matter a little more closely, I am sure they would never be so keen to rashly debunk it. Right throughout human history we have always had an army of debunkers. More strange than the "saucers" is the fact that, such a high percentage of these progress retarders are among scientists; enough said. Ed. February 27 Nelson Evening Mail. Congratulations to Mr J.E.Fletcher for the long and well written letter to the Editor, published in that issue. Mr Fletcher is our only "Honorary Observer" in the Nelson area; and a very active one too. Others are encouraged to do likewise, it will all help to make the matter better known, increase public interest and Press coverage. March 17th 7.30 P.M. Glen Innes, Auckland. Two observers report a bright light moving at high speed in a westerly direction low on the horizon. The light, flying a horizontal path was seen to separate into two lights and then go out. ( This was most likely a meteor) March 17. 8.30 Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch. A bright object, reported by many to be round and emitting a blue light, was seen heading in a southerly direction. One observer reported seeing the object disintegrating over Cook Strait, however, as it was further reported. Work of Christchurch also at 7.30 P.M. maybe only partial disintegration took place. The fact that the object was sighted almost simultaneously from these three main centres leaves very little doubt that it was indeed a meteor as expressed by the Director of the Carter Observatory, Wellington. Later that same evening another report of an orange-coloured round object travelling southeast across Wellinton at 40,000, was explained by the
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