Cielo Insolito - No 07

Magazine Overview

Title: CIELO INSOLITO
Issue: 7
Date: July 2018

This issue of Cielo Insolito, a journal of ufological historiography, presents a collection of articles focusing on historical unexplained aerial phenomena, primarily in Italy, with a particular emphasis on events preceding the modern UFO era.

Article 1: Italia: i fenomeni celesti di fine aprile 1917

This article meticulously reconstructs events from late April 1917 based on seven brief newspaper articles from that year. The author notes the precariousness and contradictions within the sources, urging interested parties to seek further documentation. The investigation begins with a report from the "Corriere di Saluzzo" on April 21, detailing an event on the morning of Wednesday, April 18, 1917, around 8 AM. Residents of Sanfront, in the Valle Po, were startled by a loud detonation. The phenomenon was described as a globe of fire that split into sparks near the ground, visible to some even in Saluzzo. The initial interpretation leaned towards a meteorite or aerolite, a known scientific phenomenon. However, subsequent reports complicated the picture.

Later articles, such as one from "La Lanterna Pinerolese" on April 28, referred to episodes in Pinerolo and surrounding mountain areas, describing "extraordinary explosions... like bombs going off." Other reports mentioned a "strange mass, like a large bomb, falling on rocks and splitting them" in Inverso di Porte and Rorà. The interpretation at the time, with the title "Bolidi o bombe?" (Meteorites or bombs?), linked these events to the ongoing World War I, suggesting wind-borne vibrations from distant cannons. The situation further complicated with a report from "La Sentinella delle Alpi" on April 29, which, while seemingly mocking the sensationalism, confirmed the fall of a strange bolide near Pradleves that created a 10-meter wide crater.

The author highlights the difficulty in classifying these events, noting that while a 10-meter meteorite would have significant mass, astronomical classifications do not mention such an event. The article also points out that reports of phantom large meteorites were not uncommon in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often attributable to inventions or misunderstandings. Another event on April 28, reported by "Il Resto del Carlino," involved three strong detonations heard in Bologna, causing air displacement that broke windows and extinguished lights. The "Corriere della Sera" also reported unexplained phenomena in Bologna, Ferrara, and Perugia on the same night, attributing them to celestial events.

The article concludes that while the Piedmontese and central-northern Italian events of April 28 might not be directly related, the similarity of the explosions drew attention. The author speculates that the confusion might stem from a pair of large bolides and possibly censorship during wartime, leading to self-censorship by journalists. The research into historical astronomical phenomena of this type in Italy remains unsatisfactory.

Article 2: Il "disco volante" dell'estate 1909

This article investigates a brief mention of a mysterious phenomenon in the Ligurian sky in July 1909, often referred to as a "flying saucer" in later ufological catalogs. The primary source is a letter published in "Il Secolo XIX" on August 13, 1909. The letter describes a brilliant, emerald-colored luminous trail descending diagonally, splitting into three equal parts, and disappearing. The author of the letter, an "abbonato" (subscriber), noted its dazzling brightness and speed.

While the initial phenomenon might have been a comet, the "flying saucer" label applied retrospectively by "Il Secolo XIX" raised questions. The exact location, date, and author of the letter were initially unknown, but the description suggested a bolide. The article then delves into the work of astrofilo Isidoro Baroni, who managed to shed light on the event. Baroni contacted specialized astronomical and meteorological columns, including his own in "Corriere della Sera" under the pseudonym "Uranio" or "Geuranico."

Baroni published a note on August 16, 1909, mentioning an observation by Professor Aser Poli of Savona on the evening of July 30, 1909. Poli described a very bright star crossing the sky from west to east, disappearing near the moon. Poli seemed perplexed about identifying it as a bolide, but Baroni was more definitive. Further confirmation came on August 25 when Baroni published a longer article detailing the event. He initially received a confused description from a botany enthusiast but later received information from Professor Poli, who was the author of the letter that "Il Secolo XIX" later reinterpreted as a "flying saucer."

The article presents several sketches and testimonies related to the bolide. Painter and illustrator Quinto Cenni, based on accounts from his son and a lieutenant, created a sketch of the bolide's trajectory observed over Lake Maggiore. Another sketch was provided by Angelo Ferretti Torricelli, who later became a physics professor. Evaristo Bertieri of Carrara also reported seeing the bolide above the Apuan Alps. Numerous other precise testimonies were gathered from individuals across Italy, including professors, directors of meteorological observatories, and engineers.

Baroni reconstructed the event, stating the bolide ignited brightly between 8:20 PM and 8:22 PM, moving from ONO to ESE. Its nucleus, with greenish reflections, fragmented into three parts, a disintegration often unnoticed because it occurred near the moon. Baroni estimated the fragmentation occurred over the central Tyrrhenian Sea, between Corsica and the Tuscan archipelago. Based on observations from Savona and Bellinzona, the disintegration seemed to happen at an altitude of 45-50 kilometers, with fragments potentially falling towards Umbria and the Adriatic Sea.

The article concludes by emphasizing that many pre-1947 celestial anomalies, when properly investigated, are resolved conventionally. It suggests that "mysterious" attributions are often made retrospectively, influenced by the contemporary UFO ideology.

Article 3: Una chiave di lettura per il fenomeno udinese del 10 maggio 1923?

This article revisits a phenomenon reported in Udine on May 10, 1923, previously discussed in issue 6 of Cielo Insolito. The event, described as a 'meteora nebulosa' (nebulous meteor), was witnessed by a group of educated individuals, including inventor Arturo Malignani. The article notes that the phenomenon generated debate even before being published in the journal "Urania" in May-June 1925.

It highlights a report from Isidoro Baroni in "Corriere della Sera" on August 31, 1924, during a lunar eclipse observation. Baroni mentioned that Professor Antonio Fiammazzo of Udine also observed the eclipse and reported a strange phenomenon: at the maximum phase of the eclipse, after 9 PM, three times, beams of light resembling white, fan-shaped clouds were seen wandering across the sky and rapidly disappearing. The last observation involved two such beams merging before extinguishing. This phenomenon was also noted elsewhere.

Baroni speculated that the "Malignani case" might be related to these "beams of nebulous light" observed in Fonzaso. However, at that point, he did not offer a definitive explanation for the common cause of these manifestations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Cielo Insolito strongly emphasizes a critical and historical approach to UFO phenomena. The recurring theme is the investigation of historical events, often predating the modern UFO era, and the attempt to provide conventional explanations or contextualize them within their historical and scientific framework. The magazine appears skeptical of sensationalist interpretations and highlights the role of media, wartime censorship, and retrospective labeling in shaping the narrative of unexplained aerial phenomena. The editorial stance favors rigorous historical research and the application of scientific understanding, suggesting that many historical mysteries can be solved with sufficient evidence and careful analysis, and that the tendency to label unexplained events as UFOs is often a product of later ideological frameworks.

This issue of CIELO INSOLITO, identified as #27, presents a collection of articles exploring historical accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena, mediumship, and speculative theories, primarily focusing on Italian cases and their international connections. The content spans various historical periods, from the early 20th century to the mid-1950s.

Article 1: Italy: celestial phenomena on late April 1917 (pp. 2-5)

This article by G. Stilo examines unusual aerial phenomena reported in western Piedmont, Italy, between April 18 and the end of April 1917. While acknowledging that the most likely explanation involves large bolides, the author highlights the context of World War I, including fears of air bombardments, censorship, and public anxiety, which may have influenced the reporting and interpretation of these events.

Article 2: "The 'flying saucer' of the summer of 1909" (pp. 6-9)

This piece by G. Stilo discusses new sources found concerning a phenomenon previously known through limited documentation. The event, a superbolide observed on July 30, 1909, was seen across Northern and Central Italy and the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. The author suggests that such well-documented cases can help explain 'mysterious features' associated with older mundane events that UFO enthusiasts often link to contemporary sightings.

Article 3: "An interpretation for the luminous phenomenon of May 10, 1923?" (pp. 10-12)

This article, also by G. Stilo, revisits an unusual aerial phenomenon observed in Udine, Italy, by a meteorologist and a group of educated individuals. The episode generated discussion and dispute, notably reported by the newspaper 'Corriere della Sera' in 1924. Amateur astronomer Isidoro Baroni proposed that the 1923 event, along with other cases, could be explained as reflections on clouds caused by powerful searchlights from British cruisers and battleships operating in the northern Adriatic Sea.

Article 4: "A psychic named Nino Pecoraro and the Martians" (pp. 13-16)

This article focuses on Nino Pecoraro, a Neapolitan medium active in the 1920s. It details how Pecoraro, under pressure, confessed that his alleged psychic abilities were illusionistic tricks, even admitting to deceiving Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Despite this, his career continued. In March 1950, in Rome, Pecoraro became one of the first Italians to claim, through spiritualist channels, that flying saucers originated from outer space. He predicted that a triangular spaceship would deliver messages from extraterrestrials by the end of April, written in a form of ancient Sanskrit.

The article also touches upon other spiritualist claims in Italy around 1948-1949, such as those of Eolo Camporesi in Forlì. It mentions the journalist Ezio d'Errico, who interviewed Pecoraro, and highlights that Pecoraro's claims represented an early public statement by an Italian occultist on the flying saucer phenomenon, coinciding with a wave of sightings in Italy.

Article 5: "The flying saucers, an invention kept in Egypt and stolen by the Nazis" (pp. 17-19)

This article investigates a claim published in a French-language Egyptian newspaper, 'Le Progrés Egyptien', in April 1950. The report featured Camille Mansour Shakour, an Egyptian inventor, who claimed to possess blueprints for a 'flying saucer'. Shakour sought financial support for his project, which he stated was developed in Egypt before World War II. The article suggests that Nazi secret agents allegedly stole the idea, which was later developed into a spaceship utilizing 'interplanetary magnetic lines'.

The narrative traces the origins of the concept to an unconventional aircraft project, 'D. V.', developed in France in the interwar period by engineers like René Dreux, Hussard, and Valentin. This project, initially deemed unviable by the British Admiralty, was reportedly adapted by the Nazis. The article posits that the story reflects a broader theme seen in post-war Italy, Spain, and Chile, where 'proletarian' nations (like Arab Egypt) were seen as the originators of advanced technology, with the more powerful Anglo-Saxon or Soviet world accused of appropriating it through espionage or other means.

Abstracts (p. 20)

The 'Abstracts' section provides brief summaries of the articles presented in the issue:

• Italy: celestial phenomena on late April 1917: Discusses unusual aerial phenomena in Piedmont, Italy, during WWI, considering bolide hypothesis and contextual factors.
• "The 'flying saucer' of the summer of 1909": Examines new sources on a 1909 superbolide, suggesting its relevance to understanding older 'mysterious features' linked to UFO lore.
• "An interpretation for the luminous phenomenon of May 10, 1923?": Revisits the Udine incident, presenting Isidoro Baroni's explanation involving searchlight reflections from naval ships.
• "A psychic named Nino Pecoraro and the Martians": Covers Nino Pecoraro's confession of illusionism and his 1950 claims about flying saucers originating from outer space and delivering extraterrestrial messages.
• "The flying saucers, an invention kept in Egypt and stolen by the Nazis": Reports on Camille Mansour Shakour's claims about an Egyptian flying saucer project, allegedly stolen by Nazis and linked to interplanetary magnetic lines, with roots in pre-WWI French aeronautical designs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the historical investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, the intersection of spiritualism and UFOlogy, and speculative theories about advanced technologies, including alleged Nazi involvement. The magazine presents these accounts and theories without necessarily endorsing them, often providing historical context and alternative explanations, such as those offered by Isidoro Baroni or the author's own analysis of the socio-political context surrounding the reports. There is an underlying interest in the cultural reception of UFO phenomena, particularly in Italy, and how these narratives evolved from spiritualist traditions to more modern extraterrestrial contact scenarios. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, exploring the historical development and interpretation of these complex subjects.