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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.
“Christchurch”32 pages
REPORT To: The Director of Intelligence, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Headquarters, Wellington. From: The Director, Carter Observatory, Wellington. Subject: Flying lights observed by N.A.C. Aircraft on the night of 1955 October 31. Date: 1955 November 7 ## 1. GENERAL INFORMATION: The following details were supplied by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, the Director of Intelligence and other officers at R.N.2.A.F. Headquarters. On the evening of 1955 October 31 an aircraft (N.A.C.) was flying from Wanganui to Auckland, at an altitude of 8,000 feet, when, between the control points of Ohura and Raglan on a course of 350 (true) an unexplained light was observed on the port side, showing apparent movement, changes in colour, and fluctuations in light intensity. The times of observation were from 2006 to 2011, New Zealand Standard Time (0806 to 0811 G.M.T. 31st October). Reference to some of these features will be made under the heading "Comments", below. This report is prepared on the request of the Director of Intelligence. ## 2. POSSIBLE CELESTIAL PHENOMENA: The duration of 5 minutes, during which the object was observed, eliminates entirely any suggestion of a meteor. Such objects are visible mostly only for a fraction of a second, or a few seconds at the most, and have characteristics of flight entirely different to the description given. There were no exceptional astronomical phenomena at the time, such as a nova or comet. The Moon was at "Full" phase on October 31 at 0604 G.M.T., and would have been on the starboard side at an altitude in the sky such as to eliminate any confusion with that body. The only other objects that can be considered are the planets Venus and Saturn, and the star Antares. The results of calculations for these objects are given below. ## 3. ALTAZIMUTH COORDINATES OF VENUS: Assumed position: Latitude 39°S Longitude 174°10'E No allowance for dip or refraction.
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