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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.
“Hill”41 pages
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It was only a matter of a minute of seconds before he was out of bed and standing by the window to a good glimpse of the object. Mr. Budke said that for full two or three minutes as he and his wife stood at the window, the "flying saucer" flew a straight and level course under 6,000ft. Then it began a gradually climb, disappearing out of sight when it reached the cloud base, which he estimated to be 10,000 feet. The "saucer" looked exactly like an inverted cymbal used by a dance band drummer, said Mr. Burke. It had a raised portion on the upper centre, and directly underneath was an oblong part. The whole machine, making a ringing metallic noise, was covered with a greenish-blue phospherescent light, and was about the size of a Douglas Dakota aircraft. ## GLOWING MASS. It was travelling at an estimated speed of between 250 and 300 miles an hour as it passed Mr. Burke's house, and it was not long before the sound disappeared and the machine lost its shape to become a glowing mass of light. Its rate of climb, after it had passed over the suburbs of Mornington and Roslyn, heading towards the peak of Flagstaff, was no greater than the rate of climb for an ordinary aircraft. Mr Burke said. After 20 minutes the machine disappeared in the distance, emitting a glow very much like a star. As it reached the cloud base it came into striking marks formation of clouds was lit with a very bright glow. Visibility was extremely good early this morning over the city and Mr. Burke is positive that although the object he saw was an alterbr of Mr. Turborock would not say that he had seen a flying saucer, but he mitted that what he had seen very strange, and was definitely a shooting star or wildfire. Between midnight and 5.25 a.m. Gastadhy it was driving from Invercargill to Dunadur. Soon after he left Invercargill he noticed a peanut lap orange light in the sky which occasionally turned a brilliant white. off the lights, and had a good look at the object. It was flying a straight and level course on South road, and was even above the line of the hills. When he resumed his journey he saw the object several times, still on the same course and still flying straight and level. At no time did Mr. Incrocci hear any noise from the strange object. # MORE REPORTS Strange Objects In Sky Over St. Clair Several readers have confirmed the reports published in yesterday's Daily Times of strange objects being seen in the sky in the direction of St. Clair at about 10.30 on Sunday night. One man, a resident of Opoho, said that the object he saw "changed colour from the brightest green to the most distinct red." He explained that it was "going up and then coming down" for from six to eight minutes. It appeared to be the size of a Soccer ball and "twice as bright as any star." A Normanby resident informed a reporter that he saw two objects in the sky at 9.15. These remained until about 9.30. At 10.15 he noticed a single object which remained in view for about 15 minutes. He decided to sacrifice an hour or so of sleep to await developments and his enterprise was rewarded at 12.30. when he saw something that looked like a mushroom." Hues ranging from red to orange were seen, and there were changes of colours at frequent intervals. All the objects were moving slowly. # "OBJECTS" IN SKY Further Observations Over City "Flying saucers". or other weird phenomena floating across the sky at night are still being seen in. Dunedin. Shortly after 10.30 last night a Ravensbourne resident telephoned the Daily Times to say that he had seen lights in the sky above Kew. The lights, he said, appeared to be moving across the sky towards the open sea. They changed colour from red to green while the object was in motion, and finally disappeared about 10.35 p.m. near the Otagb Heads. Immediately afterwards, another call was received from a member of the transmitter staff of 4YA who said that, with several others, he had seen lights in the sky above the city. They were seen a few minutes after 10.30 and appeared to be moving up and down like a kite. The lights moved slowly towards where he was standing with the others, but he had not seen them change colour. They faded away at 10.47 p.m. Investigations made by a reporter from the roof of the Daily Times Building revealed nothing but inky darkness. There were, however, no stars overhead as the sky was completely overcast. On returning to the inside of the building, the reporter was once mone greeted by the urgent ringing of the telephone. This proved to be a member of the 4YA staff again with the information that the flying saucer had now been sighted in the area of Taierl Mouth.
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