DIOVNI - No 12

Magazine Overview

This issue, N.°12 of the "Boletín Informativo" from the "Centro de Investigaciones en Cohetería y Astronomía" (CICA) and its "División de Investigaciones de Objetos Volantes No Identificados" (DIOVNI), was published semestrally from January to June 1969. The cover prominently displays the title, issue number, and a stylized map of South America, along with an inset image of a potential UFO. The publication is distributed free of charge to research organizations and individuals worldwide.

Editorial and Staff

The Director of the Boletín is Alberto Bernal Berk, with correspondence addressed to CICA in Santiago, Chile. The issue features contributions from several collaborators, including Juan Aguillón Mieres, Dr. Darwin Arriagada Loyola, Ing. Pablo Pétrowitsch S. from Argentina, Antonio M. Baragiola from France, and Jean Vuillequez. The CICA itself was founded in 1961 and is a legally recognized organization. The DIOVNI division was created in 1964 by Rodrigo de la Vega and has representatives in the United States (U.F.O.R.C.) and Spain.

Key Articles and Reports

OVNI sobre Huanta (UFO over Huanta)

This section details a sighting that occurred in June 1966 involving Abel Aguirre Díaz, his brother-in-law Rosamel Díaz Galleguillos, and two children. While traveling by truck at night, they encountered two bright objects approximately 1.20 meters high. A powerful light from the objects caused temporary paralysis in the witnesses, and the truck's engine and lights shut down. The report includes an independent account from a local herder who saw a fireball moving towards the Cordillera. Another witness, Enrique Cuéller, also reported seeing a "fireball" around 10 PM. Aguirre later returned to the site and found unusual footprints. The report also mentions that military investigations by Captain Mario Hugo Molina yielded negative results.

OVNIS sobre Mendoza (UFOs over Mendoza)

Authored by Antonio M. Baragiola, this article recounts two separate sightings in Argentina. The first, on December 3, 1967, involved Carlos Ferreyra Savasta and his brother Guillermo, who observed a luminous, round, white object with a red tail moving at high speed. The second sighting, on January 10, 1968, involved Daniel Alberto Vargas, who saw a bright, white disc with a dome-shaped top, described as relatively large, descending vertically. The author notes the witnesses did not know each other, suggesting the reports are not fraudulent, but leaves open the possibility of natural phenomena.

OVNI sobre Chile (UFO over Chile)

This multi-part section compiles various UFO observations within Chile:

• 1ª parte.-En las décadas pasadas (In past decades):
• 1950, March 30 (Rancagua): A circular figure was observed moving south with rapid up-and-down movements, surrounded by colored smoke clouds. An engineer using a theodolite estimated its altitude at 20,000 meters and described a truncated cone with brilliant, rotating bases.
• 1957, November 11 (Santiago): A luminous object performing abrupt and rapid maneuvers, sometimes stationary, was observed from building terraces in Providencia.
• 1957, November 10 & 11 (Santiago): An object crossed over Santiago from north to south with a magnitude of -2, possibly the Sputnik's booster. However, Professor Rutlent stated it couldn't be Sputnik I or II due to the timing, suggesting an unknown phenomenon.

• 2ª parte.-Extraños sucesos acaecidos en Cauquenes (Strange events in Cauquenes):
• 1968, July 4: Six workers sighted two UFOs moving at high speed.
• 1968, July 8: A vehicle's engine stopped inexplicably, and later the car moved on its own. Similar incidents were reported.

• 3ª parte.-Ultimas Observaciones (Latest Observations):
• 1968, October 29 (Purén): Three health service officials observed a UFO radiating yellow and celeste lights, performing evolutions and hovering over their vehicle for 15 kilometers. It then moved towards the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, where locals reported a luminous object landing and taking off.
• 1968, November 11 (Valparaíso): An object was observed stationary in the air, emitting a bright light that increased and decreased with orange hues. It had a mushroom shape with rays of light.
• 1968, November 28 (Parrral): A social worker observed an object described as a "Easter ornament" that changed shape and emitted rays. It approached her vehicle, illuminated it, and then disappeared.
• 1968, November 25 (Curicó): A merchant reported seeing a large object, described as two stacked plates about four meters in diameter, with an antenna. Three short, wide figures emerged from the object. One figure collected leaves, another collected soil, and the third touched a light post, causing it to go out.

• 4ª parte.-NOTAS DEL EXTERIOR (Notes from Abroad):
• San Lorenzo, Argentina: Operarios of a chemical factory reported that factory motors stopped, and the area was illuminated by an intense reddish light. One worker experienced temporary paralysis and loss of consciousness.
• Parrral, Argentina: A luminous ball, about one meter in diameter, reportedly damaged a young athlete's clothing and immobilized him.
• Punta Arenas, Chile: A UFO crew member left marks on a company vehicle.

OVNI observado en Arica (UFO observed in Arica)

A photograph taken with a 200mm telephoto lens and five seconds of exposure shows a UFO observed in Arica in early February 1963.

Central de Informaciones and Questionnaire

The "Central de Informaciones" is initiating its work by publishing the first statistical chart of UFO cases worldwide up to April 1969. They plan to update this chart in future bulletins. The bulletin includes a blank questionnaire for readers to fill out with their observations from 1969, to be returned to DIOVNI. The questionnaire covers topics such as awareness of UFOs, personal interest, previous sightings, and beliefs about the nature and origin of UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings across Chile and Argentina, emphasizing eyewitness accounts and the physical characteristics of observed phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, encouraging international collaboration and seeking official investigation by bodies like the United Nations. The publication aims to gather and disseminate information from various sources, including eyewitnesses, national press, and other research organizations, while maintaining a neutral stance on the interpretation of the events themselves, as stated: "The opinions expressed in the included articles do not always represent necessarily the point of view of the Division."

This issue of the "Boletín Informativo de DIOVNI." is identified as issue number -2- and is associated with the year 1969. The primary focus of this edition is "OPERACION CUESTIONARIO -2-", which presents a series of questions to gauge public perception and opinion regarding UFOs and potential extraterrestrial contact. Additionally, the bulletin includes a comprehensive statistical summary of UFO sightings observed throughout 1969, detailing date, time, location, country, object characteristics, and other relevant information.

Operation Questionnaire

The questionnaire section poses several critical questions to the reader:

9. It asks for the reader's opinion on the potential outcome of extensive contact with a highly developed cosmic and alien civilization, offering options: A. Dangerous, B. Beneficial, C. Without consequence.

10. It inquires whether the reader considers the UFO problem a serious matter of global importance, independent of previous answers.

11. It asks if the reader agrees that the UFO problem should be handled exclusively by an International Authority, acting openly on a global scale for the benefit of all humanity.

12. A. It asks if the reader believes the UFO problem should be investigated worldwide in a coordinated manner under the patronage of the U.N.O.
B. It asks if the reader would favor the creation of a special center for UFO research, equipped with computers and managed by an international panel of scientists, directed by UNESCO, to coordinate, concentrate, analyze, and study all aspects of the problem.

13. A general comments section is provided.

Following the questionnaire, there are fields for the date the questionnaire was completed and the signatory's signature.

Statistical Summary of UFO Sightings (1969)

The bulletin includes extensive tables summarizing UFO observations from 1969. These tables are divided by month (January, February, March, April) and provide detailed information for each sighting:

• Date, Time, Location, Country: Specific details are provided for each observation.
• Objects: Describes the nature of the object observed (e.g., Globo, Plato invertido, Bola de fuego, Círculo, Estrella, Manzana, Esfera, Circular, Huevo, Cigarro puro, Puntual).
• Shape: The form of the object (e.g., Alargado, Esférico, Circular, Globo).
• Size: Estimated size of the object (e.g., Grande (?), 5 metros diám., 100 pies ancho por 50 de alto, Inmenso (?), pequeño (?), 4 metro diám., 200-300 metros, 4 metros).
• Color: The color or visual characteristics of the object (e.g., luminoso, anaranjado, luz cegadora, varios colores, dorado, centelleaba, destellos rojos, blanco, rojizo, rojo, plateado, aluminio, luz del Sol, luz Blanca, rojo amarillo).
• Luminosity: Description of the light emitted by the object.
• Relative Velocity: Estimated speed (e.g., baja veloc., alta veloc., varios colores alta veloc., lento).
• Direction: Direction of movement (e.g., hacia NO, hacia N, NE & SO, SO, del SO, Al O, Al S).
• Others/Details: Additional notes about the sighting, such as electromagnetic effects, behavior, or specific events (e.g., se dividió en varias partes, pareció parar; cayó al mar, como un huevo muy brillante, se detenía, se observ.varias bolas de fuego, se balanceaba, evolucionó, dejaba estela lum., descendía y ascendía, rodeado aureola; desapareció al oscurecer, bajó rápidam.; evolucionó, cruzó área visión, simult.movim.telírico, apagó las luces de un auto, Este a Oeste, Oeste a Sur, cayó en Gales ?, posado alumiminio).

Notable sightings include objects described as fireballs, cigar-shaped objects, globes, circles, stars, apples, spheres, and more, observed across the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the public's perception of potential extraterrestrial contact and the perceived global importance of the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance, as suggested by the questionnaire, leans towards the idea that UFOs are a significant global issue warranting serious international investigation and coordination, potentially through established international bodies like the U.N.O. and UNESCO. The bulletin actively seeks to gather data and opinions to support a structured, scientific approach to understanding UFOs.