NZDF declassified RNZAF UFO files

There is no more fascinating riddle, no subject or more controversy today, than flying saucers. The following article is by New Zealand's leading professional astronomer who has recently returned from the United States.

# "Until I See One I Won't Believe In Flying Saucers"

In a world frightened by atomic bombs, amazed by phenomenal aircraft performances, becoming used to thoughts of space travel and living in part in an atmosphere of comic strip nonsense, the alleged "flying saucer" phenomena have developed a form of mass hysteria which it is high time we ended by looking at the subject intelligently.

What do astronomers think about this matter? Have they some secret information which they will not divulge, or are they just bewildered.

Briefly, while they are prepared to have an open mind on the subject, I think it can be said that they feel there is probably a perfectly natural explanation for almost all the reports, if only sufficient facts were available. Here is the crux of the matter. Available reports either cannot stand up to critical examination, or are so vague and contradictory that no worthwhile conclusions can be reached.

## No Authoritative Report

SURPRISINGLY enough, no astronomer of recognised standing no seaman or no meteorological observer have recorded any exact data on flying saucers. I don't remember anyone in these categories even having seen them. There has not been a single record in any scientific magazine of repute.

In a world full of scientists, and considering the frequency of occurrences attributed to these objects, this is surely a strange state of affairs.

Spasmodically over the past few years there have been epidemics of flying saucer reports. After a burst of reports from the United States of America, numbers of people in New Zealand and Australia seem to see them also. Seldom, if ever, do we appear able to beat the United States of America at this game.

One night, while working with the famous 36-inch refractor at the Lick Observatory in the United States. I was given a spell for a few minutes, and looking out of one of the windows of the great dome my eyes opened in astonishment.

## A Hollow Laugh

"GOOD heavens," I called to the other astronomer, "I'm seeing flying saucers!" A hollow sarcastic laugh was his reply. But there they

Mr. L. L. Thomsch

away. Clear air

themselves almos

were. elliptical patches of light moving about the sky, one after the other, and giving all the appearance of the many descriptions I had read.

Further examination showed that they were the reflections on high light cloud of searchlights from the city of San Jose some 20 miles made the beams t invisible.

Next morning there were reports

When, all the dust had settled, according to one newsman, it was found that these fast planes had been chasing each other. Later, it was thought that the original blips were due to temperature inversions in the atmosphere.

in the newspaper of flying saucers seen over San Jose. Descriptions and times agreed exactly with my own observations.

At one stage, interest ran high when unidentified radar blips were reported from Washington air field. Interceptor fighters went up, and as they dashed about the sky kept reporting unidentified blips on their radar screens.

## Doubtful Photographs

FROM time to time, photographs have been produced allegedly providing complete proof that such

peculiar lighting effect has been touched up to give the required result.

things exist. Unfortunately, even studying prints without the advantages of having the original negatives, one cannot help feeling that these are deliberate hoaxes, or else that some

Taking a broad survey of all the reports I have ever read, they may be divided into three classes deliberate hoaxes, the results of a vivid imagination and honest reports by honest people who are unable to interpret correctly what they see.

Anyone acquainted with real astronomical photography is perfectly justified in dismissing all such photographs produced up to the present time.

All too often, some peculiar thing seen in the sky, by people not accustomed to making such observations, is loosely put down as a flying saucer. To interpret what one sees in the skies is not always as simple as most people imagine.

I have a fund of stories of mistakes even being made by welltrained astronomers, which would become boring because of their number.

## Scientific Explanations

## By I. L. THOMSEN, Director of the Carter Observatory, Kelburn.

REAMS of paper could be used in describing in detail the deceptive appearances under certain conditions of meteorological balloons, U.S. Navy blimps and reflections from the numerous aeroplanes which fill the American sky. Of astronomical and meteorological phenomena we have bright fireballs, brilliant stars near the horizon, mirages, and mock suns.

I know how these things appear, and I know how difficult they are to disentangle sometimes. If only one could be with each observer at the time he makes his observation, then I feel the flying saucer idea might evaporate like the morning mist.

Concerning reports of speed and

IN this air age, observers try to be helpful, and feel they are familiar with heights and speeds. Unfortunately they are seldom right.

distance given by observers, Dr. Joel Stebbins, grand old man of American astronomy, on a television panel from San Francisco had this to say: "If they are so good at this sort of thing they should be in the army as gun layers."

## Amateur Observations

Experience has shown me many cases in New Zealand of people who were about to dig in a neighbour's backyard for a meteorite,

Gradually, the assumption that flying saucers are from another world has come to be tacitly accepted by many people. Taking up this idea there are heaps of pulp magazines and a few books in American drug stores screaming with the latest secret information such as may be guaranteed to make one's eyes pop out and hair stand on end.

when we knew beyond all doubt that it was easily 50 miles away from them. After establishing a meteor's path through the atmosphere from 50 good reports, I have had an indignant telephone caller telling me it was all wrong.

## Those Plausible Stories! OFFICIAL records are often used

I met one man who explained to me his method of concocting such stories on other subjects for amazing science magazines. "Amazing" is not a sufficiently descriptive word.

OFFICIAL records are often added, sometimes accurately, to give an air of authenticity. To do this, and weave a plausible story to the untrained is now almost a trade.

Dr. Otto Struve, president of the International Astronomical Union, and foremost astronomer in the world, gave a lecture on aspects of this whole subject at Berkley, California, on August 19, 1952.

I have the official University of California release of his lecture. Dealing with an article which appeared in "Life." in a few words he showed that alleged astronomical information in the article was completely erroneous, and then directed attention to the fact that observational reports were so contradictory that they could be dismissed.

## Life On Mars

EXAMINING: the planets of the solar system in turn, in the light of known facts, he considered that