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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.

# BLUE DISC THAT HISSED South-Bound 'Saucer' Seen At Three Points

PEOPLE in Christchurch, Kyeburn, and Waipahi have written to a Dunedin newspaper describing a blue disc seen in the sky on Saturday night, according to a Press Association message from Dunedin. REPORT FROM

Their descriptions tally, and if the times given can be relied upon, the object flew at about 600 miles an hour. All three correspondents said it was a blue disc, it flew south at a high speed, and it hissed.

The Waipahi (near Gore) observation was made by four people, who got out of their car to watch the object.

Mr. Anderson and Mr. E. G. McGeorge, another astronomer, will study the letters and try to suggest some practical solution. Mr. McGeorge, a surveyor, has set up a theodolite in his hall so he will be able to take a bearing on any mysterious sky body reported to him.

Mr. W. D. Anderson, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, who some weeks ago undertook to answer the telephone at any time of night to help identify objects in the sky, said: "You can't possibly ignore three straightforward, intelligentlywritten reports like these. I can't give any explanation off hand."

## 'An open mind'

THAT looks to be quite worthwhile information." commented the director of the Carter Observatory (Mr. I. L. Thomsen) when the Dunedin message was referred to him today. "You have got times and you have got something that might give speeds.

"I am quite a little sceptical about this sort of thing but one has to have an open mind." he added. "The trouble with these reports from all over the world is that there is no accurate data that any scientific person can get his teeth into, and that is why, I think, scientific people are remaining very quiet about them.

"It would be interesting if those who want to report on flying saucers would try to notice the correct time, give altitude, direction, and reference to landmarks. Then if anybody wanted to look into the reports they would have something to go on. If we got enough such reports we could correlate them."

## Seen from ferry

FRESH interest has been given a report in Monday's "Evening Post" that a Karori resident saw two objects, one greenish and one bluish, on Sunday night, by a Press Association report from Dunedin that a Mr. George Myers had written to a Dunedin newspaper that when he and his son John were travelling north on the ferry on Saturday night they saw a "wee green light" underneath a "blue-looking round object." which moved too fast to be an aeroplane.

## REPORT FROM FORDELL

WANGANUI, Today (PA).-Mr. J. E. Phillips, of Warrengate Line, Fordell, has written to a Wanganui newspaper, describing a "most unusual phenomenon" which he observed on Saturday night.

"About 9.35pm," says Mr. Phillips, "I noticed a light in the sky approaching from the west. It did not pass quite directly overhead, being a little inland from where I was. As it went quite silently it appeared quite markedly spheroidal, being about half the size of a full moon and of a distinct bright green colour.

"Although it was a dark night, it did not seem to light up the surrounding sky. My wife, whom I called as soon as I saw the light, was in time to see it disappearing in an easterly direction. There was no sound until it had all but disappeared, when we heard a subdued missing, which persisted for a few seconds after it had gone out of sight. It was quite unlike in size, sound, and speed any night-flying aircraft lights I have seen."

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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.