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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.
“The Advance”22 pages
39. A resident of Cromwell also wrote in saying that he had seen an object matching exactly the description given flying from north to south at a colossal speed. It looked about twice the size of a large star, perfectly round, with no trail of any kind and pursuing a flat course. It was in sight for one to one and half seconds, and finally disappeared over the Dunstan Range (to the east). It is very likely that he saw a meteor and not the blue disc. 40. The following is a summary of the reported movements of the two objects. It is worthy of note that almost all the sightings agree in detail and there are no sightings inconsistent with the reported movements of the objects. No radar was operating at the time of their visit and the New Zealand Air Force is not aware of any flights that would correspond to the one under consideration. 6.12.52 Colour Direction of Flight 8.35-8.40 p.m. Auckland Blue Green S. No sound. 9.15 p.m. Gisborne Blue S. 9.35 Fordell Green S. Hissing. 9.45-9.50 Peilding Blue SE. 10.10 p.m. Plimmerton Green From Hawke's Day then both south Hissing W. Karori Blue Green 10/10.15/10.25 p.m. Nelson Yellow/White 10.30? Cheviot? Blue Green Christchurch Blue S. Hissing Camara Blue 11.8 Kyeburn S. Hissing 11.8 Palmerston Blue S. Hissing 11.16 Waipahi Blue S. Hissing 11.45 Christchurch Blue 7.12.52 12.45 a.m. Palmerston North 1 a.m. Naenac Bright (near Wellington) Circling 11. Some conclusions may be drawn regarding these two objects: the blue object seems to have travelled throughout at a speed of about 35-400 miles an hour. The green object appears to have varied a speed considerably. They flew at a comparatively low height and were apparently illiar with the main air routes through New Zealand. They flew over or near the main centres of population, ding the mountainous country. They appear to have come from and returned to the north, to have a considerable endurance. There is no suggestion that landed in New Zealand.
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