Itufor06

Magazine Overview

Title: ITALIAN UFO REPORTER
Issue: No. 6
Date: December 1987
Publisher: Italian Center for UFO Studies (C.I.S.U.)
Country: Italy

This issue of the "ITALIAN UFO REPORTER" newsletter from the Italian Center for UFO Studies (C.I.S.U.) focuses on public opinion regarding UFOs in Italy and presents detailed case studies of UFO sightings and encounters.

WHAT DO ITALIANS BELIEVE ABOUT UFOS?

This section, authored by Edoardo Russo, details the findings of an opinion poll conducted by the Doxa Institute in the spring of 1987. The poll, released during the "First National UFO Information Week," was significant for estimating UFO belief diffusion in Italy, comparing it with a previous 1979 Doxa poll, allowing international comparisons, and asking about personal UFO sightings. It was also noted as the first national opinion poll conducted on behalf of a private UFO organization.

The poll involved direct interviews with 1850 men and women over 15 years old, representing a sample of the Italian adult population. Three questions were asked:

1. DO UFOS EXIST? "Have you ever heard of UFOs or flying saucers? If so, do you believe they really exist or are they just a figment of people's imagination?"
* 19% believed UFOs exist.
* 53% did not believe.
* 24% were uncertain.
* 4% had never heard of UFOs.
The results indicate that the existence of UFOs is widely known, but a skeptical attitude prevails. Younger and higher-class individuals were more inclined to believe than older and lower-class individuals, contradicting the notion that only uneducated people believe in UFOs.
* Males (20.8%) were slightly more prone to believe than females (18.1%).
* Central regions showed the highest belief, while Southern and Northeastern regions showed the least.

2. WHAT ARE THEY? For those who believed in UFOs, the question was: "What do you think these UFOs/flying saucers may be? Are they coming from our own planet or from other planets (Mars, Venus, etc.)? And are they piloted (planes, rockets, etc.) or not (eg. natural phenomena)?"
* 70% believed they were of extraterrestrial origin.
* 15% preferred an earthly origin.
* 14% did not answer.
* 60% believed they were piloted.
* 17% believed they were natural phenomena.
* 24% were agnostic.
This suggests that about 10% of adult Italians believe UFOs are real, alien crafts.

3. WHO SAW A UFO? "Did you ever have the impression to see a UFO, flying saucer or something similar in the sky? If so, are you sure or not?"
* An average of 6.5% answered they saw something, projecting to 3 million witnesses.
* Higher percentages were found among younger individuals, males, those in large towns, and higher social classes.
* Regional distribution was uniform around 7%, except for the South (5.7%).
* Witnesses who were "sure" to have seen a UFO constituted a uniform 2.5%, suggesting the objective nature of the phenomenon.

Evolution in Time: Comparing the 1987 poll with the 1979 Doxa poll, the percentage of UFO believers significantly decreased from 35% to 19%, while disbelievers increased from 32% to 53%. This diminution is attributed to reduced media coverage of UFOs and the fact that the 1979 poll followed a major UFO wave, while the 1987 poll occurred during a slow period.

Geographical Comparisons: A February 1987 Gallup poll in the USA found 49% UFO believers (down from 57% in 1978), with 9% reporting sightings. A 1986 Gallup poll in Great Britain reported 19% believers and 7.5% sighters.

Conclusions: The poll indicated an unexpected decrease in UFO believers in Italy, correlated with less media information and socio-economic factors like education and culture. The independence of sightings from social variables suggests an objective nature. A significant number of UFO sightings (estimated at 3.5 million) are not collected by UFO organizations, with CISU headquarters holding about 10,000 reports.

HUMANOIDS AT BOLOGNA: A Classic case of CE-III

This article by Paolo Fiorino and Gian Paolo Grassino investigates a Close Encounter of the Third Kind (CE-III) case from Bologna, originally reported in 1962. The witness, Antonio Candau, a driver, came forward in 1986 after 24 years.

The Case History: The case first appeared in the weekly "Settimana Incom" on December 30, 1962, based on a letter from Antonio Candau describing a sighting in Bologna on December 9, 1962. The case was later included in J. Vallée's "A Century of UFO Landings."

Reconstruction of the Case: On December 9, 1962, at 8:15 p.m., Antonio Candau saw an inverted saucer-shaped object hovering 8 meters above the ground, with a dome and multicolored lights. The craft descended to about a meter from the ground. A door opened, and two human-looking beings (1.7m tall, dark complexion, short dark hair, shining eyes, wearing yellow overalls) descended. One pointed at the witness, and after a brief exchange, they re-entered the craft, which then ascended and moved horizontally towards SW.

The Disc: The object was 9 meters in diameter, metallic grey, with no visible portholes. A door opened, and two beings descended.

The Beings: Described as human-looking, 1.7m tall, with dark complexions, short dark hair, shining eyes, wearing yellow overalls with a dark belt and a small rectangular box.

End of the Sighting: The entire sighting lasted less than two and a half minutes. The object disappeared silently. Candau told his employer, who advised him not to speak about it. He later found news of a similar sighting in Milan by Francesco Rizzi and wrote to him, but received no reply.

Evaluation: Investigators found Candau to be a sincere and cooperative witness who sought no gain or notoriety. An on-the-spot investigation confirmed the location was near a hospital, Army barracks, and houses. The case shares similarities with other reports from that era, suggesting a strong connection between the percipient and the experience, which deeply affected his personal life.

LANDINGS IN TOWNS

This section briefly mentions several close encounters in Italy between 1962 and 1963, often occurring in densely populated urban areas.

The Rizzi Case: On December 13, 1962, nightwatchman Francesco Rizzi in Milan reported a disc-shaped craft hovering, with a dome and portholes. A short being emerged, gestured, and was joined by a second being before the craft departed. Newspapers reported this, and other people claimed to have seen a similar object.

Landing in a Rome Park: On January 4, 1963, a psychiatrist in Rome saw a metallic craft resembling a "giant hat" with a dome and three legs. It emitted a whif and took off, leaving landing gear traces.

REPEATING FACTS

This section details three more sightings from the early 1960s:

• April 9, 1962 (Rivoli, Turin): A young couple saw a lens-shaped metallic craft with a green halo, from which two human-shaped beings descended. One pointed towards the woods before the craft took off, causing a small fire.
• April 11, 1962 (Rescaldina, Varese): Two couples saw a dark, lens-shaped mass hovering and illuminating them with powerful white beams, which descended towards them multiple times.
• January 14, 1963 (San Pietro Vernotico, Brindisi): A peasant saw a low-maneuvering object with a lighted dome and a human shape visible inside, which took off silently.

A SOCIAL STEREOTYPE?

This brief section notes striking similarities in descriptions of objects and entities across sightings, often occurring in areas where others should have seen them. It suggests that increased media interest and illustrated UFO serials in weeklies may have influenced public perception and reporting.

THE IBERIAN LANDINGS

This is a summary of Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos' work on UFO Close Encounters in Spain and Portugal, detailing his research, catalogue, and upcoming book.

AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL OBJECT OVER ITALY?

This article by Paolo Toselli discusses the UFO flap of June 6, 1983.

The Event: On June 6, 1983, at 22:56, hundreds of witnesses across several Italian regions observed a group of luminous bodies (red, yellow, white) moving rapidly, followed by a whitish trail visible for several minutes. The phenomenon covered over 700 km.

• Characteristics:
• Shape and Colors: Described as cigar, plane fuselage, fire ball, missile, rounded craft with portholes, torpedo, cluster of lights, flying train. 61% reported "cigar" or similar shapes. Lights were often described as luminous portholes or external lights. Other descriptions included "ball of light" and varying numbers of non-structured lights (usually white or yellow-orange).
• Trail: Nearly all witnesses reported a luminous, white trail that remained visible for 3-15 minutes, likened to condensation trails or smoke.
• Speed: Estimated between 13 and 50 kms per second (47 to 180 thousands kms. per hour).
• Altitude: Estimates varied widely, from 200 meters to 1500 meters, with astronomical calculations suggesting much higher altitudes (up to 120 km).
• Path: A linear path from SW to NE was reported.
• Duration: Sightings lasted from 5 to 20 seconds, with some longer.

Hypotheses: Initial suggestions included meteorites, satellites, or rocket re-entries. Ufologists proposed it was a bright meteor (bolide), a hypothesis supported by the speed and trail. However, some researchers excluded the meteor due to duration and trail description. Other hypotheses included a missile launch, a Remotely Piloted Vehicle, a ball lightning, or a weather balloon.

What Happened in Reality?: The conclusion leans towards it being a spectacular bolide entering the atmosphere, based on eyewitness testimonies, their analysis, and the lack of radar return due to high altitude. The article emphasizes that methodical collection and analysis of subjective data can yield positive results.

UFOs and Meteors: An editorial box explains the difficulty in distinguishing bright meteors (bolides) from UFOs and satellite re-entries, citing historical examples of meteor flaps in Italy that were reported as UFOs.

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS IN TURIN

This section reports on the "First National UFO Information Week" held from June 20-28, 1987, organized by CISU to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's sighting. The central event was an International Congress on "Forty Years of UFOs: for a Scientific Approach to the Phenomenon."

The Scientific World Confronting the UFO Problem: Dr. Marcel Delaval presented a systematic classification and statistical analysis of Italian UFO sightings from 1977.

Human Sciences and UFOs: Bertrand Méheust advocated for anthropological studies of UFO abductions, linking recurrent motifs to folklore and mythical experiences. He stressed using human sciences to study accounts with symbolic content. Dr. Alessandro Meluzzi discussed experiments with "imaginary abductees" and recurrent subconscious symbols.

The Physical Side: Dr. Enrico Bernieri, a physicist, was scheduled to discuss M. Persinger's Tectonic Strain Theory but could not attend.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Italian UFO Reporter" demonstrates a commitment to a scientific and analytical approach to UFO phenomena. It emphasizes the importance of public opinion surveys, detailed case investigations, and cross-referencing with scientific disciplines. The magazine aims to present ufology as a serious field of study, moving beyond sensationalism and focusing on data collection, analysis, and the exploration of various hypotheses, including natural phenomena like bolides. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, acknowledging the complexities and subjective nature of witness testimony while striving for objective conclusions. The publication also highlights international comparisons and collaborations within the UFO research community.

This issue of UFO International, identified as issue number 11, focuses on UFO phenomena in Italy, with a particular emphasis on recent investigations and a congress that aimed to present a more scientific image of ufology. The content is primarily in English, with some references to Italian locations and events.

Congress on UFOs: State of the Art and Meaning

The issue details a congress that marked the 40th anniversary of ufology. The event featured presentations from various researchers and experts. Dr. Alexander Keul, an Austrian psychologist, presented his "Project Anamnesis," which was new to the Italian public. Science-fiction writer and journalist Dr. Danilo Arona discussed the influence of UFO imagery on science fiction cinema. A round-table debate on "Science facing the UFO Phenomenon" included scientific journalist Dr. Piero Bianucci, informatician Renzo Cabassi, and physicist Dr. Roberto Farabone.

The second day of the congress focused on the "State of the Art" from the ufologists' perspective. Gian Paolo Grassino reviewed the shift from "public education" in the 1950s to a more "agnostic" stance regarding unexplained phenomena. Maurizio Verga discussed physical evidence and trace-landing cases, highlighting their ambiguity. Paolo Fiorino explained the challenges of classifying CE-III reports, which may require different methodologies. Paolo Toselli presented findings from a Doxa opinion poll, and Edoardo Russo noted a growing "skepticism" among ufologists, who now represent a broader spectrum of opinions.

The congress received significant media attention, with newspapers and TV emphasizing the scientific rigor of modern UFO research. The stated purpose was to present a "different" image of UFOs to the general public, media, ufologists themselves, and the scientific community. The congress concluded that a serious and prepared ufology exists, operating within scientific methods and seeking advice rather than mere acknowledgment. It was also suggested that human, physical, and information sciences could be highly beneficial for UFO research, fostering an interdisciplinary approach.

Close Encounters in Italy: Recent Investigated Reports

The magazine presents summaries of recent close encounter investigations conducted by CISU (Centro Studi Ufologici). All case histories mentioned have reportedly been evaluated.

Effects on the Vegetation

On July 21, 1983, near Rubiana (Turin), vacationers observed a large, white circular object resembling the full moon, coinciding with a power blackout. A 35-year-old man who went to investigate the mountain alone reported seeing smaller lights and a large branch on a tree shaking violently despite the absence of wind. The tree continued to shake even after he tried to stop it. The object disappeared, and investigators later found the branch regained its position quickly.

CE-III Near Frosinone?

On December 13, 1985, a veterinarian and his girlfriend reported seeing a bright, inverted saucer-shaped object with side beacons near Canneto and Settefrati (Frosinone). The object moved in jerks, hovered above trees, and appeared to have a glass interior through which two tall figures were visible. The sighting lasted about ten to fifteen seconds before the object disappeared at high speed without sound. Coincidentally, hundreds of people in Central Italy observed a bright meteor-like object with a trail.

The Geophysical Hypothesis: UFOs as a Natural Phenomenon?

This section, authored by Chris Rutkowski, presents and criticizes the theories of M. Persinger and P. Devereux regarding UFOs as natural phenomena. The text is a translation from English, originally published in the book "UFOs 1947-1987."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, the evolution of ufological thought towards greater rigor and skepticism, and the presentation of specific case studies from Italy. The editorial stance appears to favor a serious, evidence-based approach to ufology, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and distinguishing it from sensationalism or mere belief in flying saucers. The media's role in shaping public perception is also a notable sub-theme.