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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
Director of Intelligence, R.N.Z.A.F. Headquarters, Departmental Buildings, Stout Street, WELLINGTON ## REPORT ON STRANGE PHENOMENA 1st order 1. As requested, following is a report on the strange phenomena seen as a lighted object on the night of the 24th November, 1955. 2. I was a passenger on an N.A.C. aircraft, flight number 108 bound Wellington to Auckland and occupied the rearmost passenger seat, port side. At approx. 2000 hours I was approached by the co-pilot who asked me what I thought of the light visible out my window. 3. On looking out, I observed a round orange red light abeam of the aircraft. We were flying between two layers of cloud but the background was clear. No stars were showing. 4. I awoke Air Commodore COHEN who was sleeping across the aisle from me and asked his opinion of the light and he stated that it was a planet. A discussion then began between Air Commodore Cohen and the co-pilot and I continued to observe the light. The light appeared to keep the same bearing on our port side and changed colour from orange red to steely blue and back to orange red. It then receded and disappeared suddenly. 5. The nearest approach to a likness I can give is a traffic control light observed during daylight from across the street. It did not diffuse rays of light. o. According to the last written position report given the passengers by the pilot, stated we were at 8,000 feet and the light was level with us, but not knowing its size, I could not say how far away. Its bearing from the aircraft did not appear to change. ## 7. Answers to Questionairre: (a) My attention to the object was directed by the co-pilot. (b) Length of observation would be approx. 2 - 3 minutes. (c) Time of Sighting approximately 2000 hours. (d) Angle of object above horizon unknown as aircraft flying just above layer of cloud at 8,000 feet and no horizon visible, but object at same level. (e) Shape was perfectly round, not as a ball but flat disc with plane at right angles to line of sight.
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