'FLYING SAUCERS'
Sir,—In view of the fact that the flying saucer epidemic has now reached New Zealand, the following report contained in the “United States News,” January 6, 1950, should be of interest:—
> “After two years spent running down 375 rumours and reports of mysterious flying saucers, the Air Force closed down its investigation last week with this conclusion: There is no such thing. The flying saucers that hundreds of people think they have seen are really: (1) Misinterpretation of various conventional objects; (2) a mild form of mass hysteria; or (3) hoaxes.—I am, etc.
> NOLA WEBB.
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Saucer-shaped Venus
Two days of the Australian Government-operated “Trans-Australia Airlines” report that when near Canberra on a Saturday to Melbourne flight yesterday, they saw what appeared to be a flying saucer.
In recognition, one of them, Officer Group Captain Gordon Seville, who has had long flying experience, says what he saw might have been the planet Venus rising.
When flying a freight plane with Pilot Officer F. E. Haslow, he sighted eastward and above them a powerful white light which alternated at 15 second intervals to red. The light appeared to be going in the same direction as the plane but much faster. The plane climbed to 5000 feet but the object appeared to draw away and disappear.
—PA (rec. 10.30 p.m.)
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