United States Air Force's vet-
tioned that this launcher of the
as a flying saucer the pilot and
some of the passengers in a
National Airways DC3 bound
from Wellington to Auckland
on Monday night report hav-
ing seen for about five minutes
a bright "flying light" travel-
ing alongside the aircraft. On
the same night the strange
light was also seen near the
plane by two men fishing on
the upper reaches of Raglan
Harbour. They were con-
vinced that it was neither part
of the DC3 nor a reflection.
As a result of the phenomenon
a full investigation has been
ordered by the Minister of
Civil Aviation, Mr Shand, while
the acting Minister of Defence,
Mr Halstead, has asked the
Chief of the Air Staff, Air
Vice-Marshal W. H. Merton, for
the full co-operation of the Air
Force in the inquiry.
Thus has New Zealand been
brought a step nearer to a
serious study by air experts of
queer objects in the sky. The
news will no doubt be wel-
comed by all lovers of a
mystery—more particularly
the kind of mystery which so
some people think, may have
its origin in sources beyond
our own planet. But before
any attempt is made to reach
a conclusion it would be as well
to consider the outcome of the
eight-year investigation under-
taken by the United States
Air Force. The inquiry began
hour. It has not been deter-
mined that this launcher of the
flying saucer saga saw some-
thing. Later, however, the Air
Force authorities said it was
significant that such stories
came into circulation just when
a new plastic balloon, with a
diameter of 100ft when fully
inflated, was sent up freighted
with automatic instruments to
record cosmic rays.
When the Air Material Com-
mand at Dayton, Ohio, pub-
lished its report on "Project
Saucer" in 1949 some experts
regarded it as final and rele-
gated saucers to the limbo
where the Loch Ness monster
reposes. But down through
the years the authorities con-
tinued their watching brief on
sightings of unusual shapes up
aloft. The latest report, pub-
lished on October 27 last, said
there was no such thing as a
flying saucer but warned the
public to expect radical new
planes soon that could give the
illusion of being saucers. In
consequence of this, it is likely
that the New Zealand inquiry
will not overlook a probe into
the possibility that some new
long-range aircraft belonging
to this world has been resting
its powers far from base. If
this theory is regarded as too
tall it is certain that there are
other explanations which
should take pride of place be-
fore the idea that visitors from
other planets are keeping an
eye on us.
view after following a similar
course.
The February visitation was
accompanied by an explosion
which seemed to shake the earth,
being felt over a considerable
distance. Today's object was re-
ported to have spread across the
sky accompanied by a loud roar
like an aeroplane engine.
Though some Greymouth
residents have reported sighting
the object, it was apparently
seen particularly clearly at Ku-
mara where, according to re-
ports, a big proportion of the
townspeople saw it. One resi-
dent was able to view it through
field glasses, though it moved
too quickly for any long clear
view to be obtained.
One report said that the ob-
ject was cylindrical in shape, as
the February mid-afternoon
visitation was reported to be,
and left a long vapour trail.
Another Kumara resident said
that if the object had made its
appearance at night, it would
have lit up the whole sky. He
could not judge the height of
the object. All were impressed
with the roaring noise made by
it.
150 pds. 10/62 - 8200