CHARTED PLOT OF CAPTAIN W.T. RAINBOW'S AND CREW'S 31ST OCTOBER 1955 OBSERVATION
Flight 108 normally departs Paraparumu at 6.25 p.m.—arrives Auckland 8.20 p.m.
31st October schedules were late;
Flight 108 arrived Auckland at 8.52pm
The aircraft was a National Airways Corporation's Douglas DC3, Reg. No. ZK-AZN
Mysterious "Flying Light", "like rotating Marine Beacon" overtook and passed flight 108c 10-15 mls to port (later corrected to 5 mls.)
Est. duration of sighting 5-10 mins. (8.06 - 8.16 p.m.) "UFL" travelled est. 105 miles in 7½ mins. (average). Est. speed therefore 840 M.P.H.
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© HAMILTON
Another or same "Flying Light" sighted two hours later by two men in boat off Te Uku. "Light" was tailing southbound T.E.A.L. DC6 with a horizontal zig-zag flight motion. Reported by Mr W. Dryland & Mr. R. Moon of Te-Uku.
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At 10.50 pm. Mr. & Mrs. Daysh of Kawhai (same night) sighted brilliant white - orange "light" approaching them at speed. "light" suddenly stopped, hovered and then climbed vertically till out of sight. This flight characteristic reported by observers of quite a number of other "Flying Lights" which reached CSI Headquarters during November. An appreciable number reported that the "Lighted Objects" appeared to change colour and rotate. Excellent sources recently informed CSI that R.N.Z.A.F. Vampire pilot (based at Ohakea) observed "Flying Light" same evening.
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OHURA
Planet Venus - Azimuth & Altitude
31st October 1955, 8.10 pm.
G.H.A. 290.55. L.H.A. 175.05 E.
Latitude 38° S Longitude 175° E.
Declination S18.26.
Azimuth 246° T, Altitude -0.39 at sea level.
Mr. I.L. Thomsen, Director of Carter Observatory Wellington calculated that Venus's setting time as for aircraft flying at 8,000ft was 8.19 pm on 31st October. (presumably allowing for 6° defraction effect.)
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The planet's position relevant to A/C.
Any movement would not be visually detectable to crew provided A/C maintained constant heading.
Capt. Rainbow is positive his aircraft remained on course.
Near Tahora (marked "X") is the area three pilots sighted 12 - 15 orange-red discs in the sky on 24th May 1954 in daylight.
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AS ESTABLISHED & DRAWN
BY HAROLD H. FULTON.
DOMINION PRESIDENT CSI.
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