Itufor1996.v2n4

Magazine Overview

This issue of the "ITALIAN UFO REPORTER", Volume 2, Number 4, dated October 10, 1996, is an international newsletter from the Italian Center for UFO Studies (CISU). It primarily consists of English language abstracts from Issue No. 18 (July-December 1996) of the CISU journal "UFO - Rivista di informazione ufologica". The publication aims to provide detailed abstracts of original Italian articles and shorter summaries of non-Italian reports.

News Items

The "NEWS" section, by Paolo Toselli, highlights four recent items of interest:

Infection from Outer Space This item notes the prevalence of alien invasion themes in contemporary movies and television, citing examples like "Independence Day", "The Arrival", "Mars Attack!", "Men in Black", "Alien Zoo", "Phenomenon", "Dark Skies", and "X-Files".

X-Files Conspiracies: Aliens, Government or What Else? The cult TV serial "X-Files" has achieved enormous public success in Italy. Following the screening of its second series, the third was set to arrive in September. The home videocassette "The Unopened File" sold 67,000 copies in Italy, and the "X-Files" monthly magazine regularly sells 30,000 copies. The Italian edition is noted for being more than just comics and gossip, functioning as a journal of mysteries with articles and features.

Roswell is Business Roswell is described as undergoing a "two-fold degeneration": one in business, involving museums, gadgets, festivals, and pop culture, and the other in hoax-argument, with a flood of anonymous fragments being submitted.

Mr. Santilli Does Not Confirm This section addresses the ongoing saga of Santilli's alleged alien autopsy footage. It mentions that CISU accepted to participate in Kent Jeffrey's International Roswell Initiative to expose contradictions in Santilli's case. CISU translated the "SCAM" article into Italian and distributed it freely. Maurizio Baiata, recently appointed Director of Roberto Pinotti's Centro Ufologico Nazionale, is mentioned as having been Santilli's representative in Italy and allegedly called Jeffrey a "debunker".

UFO Crash at Guardiaregia?

This article by Renzo Cabassi investigates a mystery craft reportedly fallen onto a mountain in Molise in March 1994. Two news reports alerted CISU members active in Project Aircat. On March 6th, at 16:30, two men flying an ultra-light aircraft near Termoli observed a small sphere moving horizontally for about 5-6 seconds. The following day, local newspapers reported a mystery craft crash on Mount Mutria around 4 p.m., with research teams searching for it unsuccessfully.

CISU launched an investigation, contacting local witnesses, journalists, and authorities. They learned of helicopters in the area the night before the official search, and that the area was cordoned off by police and military. Rumors suggested a plane had crashed and was secretly retrieved at night. A field investigation was organized on May 28th.

Angelo Giambattista, 18, reported seeing a dark object land on the mountain. His father, Franco Giambattista (a policeman and former airman), saw two dark shadows on the snow and, through binoculars, an oval shape and a 3-4 meter long black "aeronautical fuselage" with a vertical flag. Emergency services were called, and the area was cordoned off by police and Carabinieri. A Civil Protection team, including Alpine Rescue volunteers, arrived. Fire brigades provided a powerful light beam, and at 8 p.m., volunteers began climbing the mountain. Witnesses reported seeing three helicopters hovering near the impact spot, with rumors of two copters retrieving a "missile".

Rescue volunteers reached the mountaintop at 1 a.m. and descended into the ravine, instructed not to approach anything but to report by radio. They reported seeing a "fable flame" but no other traces. A Fire Brigade helicopter later surveyed the area, finding nothing.

On July 9th, a follow-up investigation revealed that many local residents had been looking at the wrong area of the mountain, mistaking a large stone for a plane.

Hypotheses and Questions

Possible explanations for the event include a military unmanned reconnaissance drone, which would imply complex retrieval and cleanup operations, possibly linked to war operations in former Yugoslavia. The article questions the ethical implications and the need for government clarification to prevent legends from forming. Another hypothesis suggests a scientific research high-altitude balloon that momentarily collapsed. A third hypothesis considers witness misinterpretation of aircraft or natural phenomena. The article raises questions about the delayed rescue operations, the extensive use of resources, and the lack of official reports.

Further developments included Franco Giambattista being penalized by the Campobasso Tribunal for "causing unjustified alarm" by announcing an inexistent accident. The article concludes by questioning the responsibilities of those reporting and not reporting such incidents.

Drone: Undetermined Component

By Nico Sgarlato, this article discusses how Drones (remotely piloted vehicles, RPV; unmanned aerial vehicles, UAV) are often mistaken for UFOs. It notes that their use in Italy was rare until the late 1980s, but increased significantly during the Gulf War and in former Yugoslavia. The article mentions the use of drones by the French Army, US Gnat 750, and Predator drones in Albania and Croatia, with rumors of unofficial operations from an Italian base. It also notes the loss of some drones and the deployment of new models by the US Marine Corps, Army, and Navy.

Some Times They Fall... In Italy, Too

This is a catalogue of Italian alleged UFO crashes by Giuseppe Stilo. It begins with the first known case in Sorisole, near Bergamo, on December 13, 1884. The CRASHCAT project aims to collect and analyze all Italian reports of flying objects falling to the ground or water. The catalogue excludes traditional fortean phenomena. Of 117 cases compiled, 80 have insufficient information, 16 are compatible with multiple identifications, and only 9 are surely identified. Strictly unidentified USOs are two: the Campo Marino case and an object seen emerging from the sea at Gorgona Island in 1979. The richest year was 1978, and the Marche region had the most reports. Possible identifications include cetaceans, meteorites, planes, satellites, hoaxes, submarines, torpedoes, sonar, and ROVs.

Meier, Prophet of the Pleiades

This article by Maurizio Verga offers a critical and negative analysis of Eduard Billy Meier, the Swiss contactee, based largely on Kal Korff's book "Spaceships of the Pleiades". It reviews published articles in UFO journals and focuses on Meier's Italian promoters. The article notes that Meier became known in Italy through various publications and events, including Rizzoli's publication of Genesis-III books and Meier's "Messages from Pleiades", and a video published by Columbia Tristar Home Video, which presented the case uncritically.

The Billy Meier Myth in Italy

This section details the history of Meier's presence in Italian ufology, starting with an article in "Il Giornale dei misteri" in 1976. Gary Kinder's "Light Years" was translated in 1987. Rizzoli published Genesis-III books and Meier's "Messages from Pleiades" in 1990. Roberto Pinotti's book "UFO: Cosmic Contact" in 1991 is described as having a "pro" attitude. The article criticizes the 1995 video for distorting the Meier case. A bibliography of the Billy Meier case is also provided.

Book Reviews

Roberto Pinotti, "UFO TOP SECRET"

Reviewed by Marco Orlandi, this 436-page book argues for the extraterrestrial origin of UFOs and claims governments conspire to hide the truth. Orlandi criticizes the book for relying on anonymous or ambiguous sources and for presenting a scenario that is not demonstrated by the information provided. He argues that the book's "blind faith in a world conspiracy" leads to ignoring data that doesn't fit the framework. Orlandi suggests that while militaries may have suppressed UFO reports, this is often due to specific security needs rather than a global conspiracy.

John Mack, "RAPITI!"

Reviewed by Giuseppe Verdi, this book, the Italian translation of "Abduction", is questioned for Mack's apparent ignorance of ufology. Verdi notes the prevalence of sexual and familiar troubles in the abductees' stories and questions the role of "new age" beliefs and oniric elements. The review suggests that the book presents alien abductions as a phenomenon in itself, a challenge to science, but distinct from folklore.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, alleged crashes, and the investigation of these phenomena in Italy. There is a clear emphasis on presenting factual reports and investigations, while also critically analyzing claims and debunking potential hoaxes or misinterpretations, as seen in the Guardiaregia and Billy Meier case analyses. The publication, through its abstracts and articles, aims to inform readers about the latest developments in ufology, particularly within the Italian context, and to encourage critical thinking about the subject matter. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry combined with a healthy skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, advocating for data-driven analysis and transparency.

This issue of ITUFOR, published in 1996 by CISU (Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici), focuses on UFO phenomena and advanced aeronautics. The publication is distributed internationally and is available through various channels, including Usenet newsgroups, mailing lists, and a website.

Reviews of UFO Books

"GLI ALIENI" by Johannes Fiebag

Reviewed by Edoardo Russo, this book is praised for its effort to move from a literalist approach to UFOs. Fiebag, an editor of Ancient Astronauts and collaborator with Erich Von Daniken, updates the '70s paraphysical approach with recent data on abductions, implants, animal mutilations, crop circles, and crashed saucers. The review highlights Fiebag's exploration of whether witnesses unconsciously adapt to the phenomenon or if 'The Others' are camouflaging themselves. Fiebag avoids anthropocentric interpretations and proposes a paradoxical hypothesis: that our reality might be virtual, with creators occasionally intervening.

"DOSSIER UFO" by Alan Watts

Edoardo Russo also reviews Alan Watts' "DOSSIER UFO," criticizing it for feeling like a book from 30 years prior. The review points out the author's reliance on outdated information and a casual approach to topics like electromagnetism and antigravity. Specific criticisms include the use of faked Adamski's scoutship pictures for propulsion reasoning and the acceptance of hoaxes like the 'Victorian UFO' and Billi Meier's photos. The reviewer labels this as 'good old ufology,' suggesting the author is out of touch with contemporary UFO research.

Triangle-Shaped UFOs: Mysteries of Advanced Aeronautics

By Roberto Raffaelli

This section revisits the recent surge in triangle-shaped UFO sightings in locations like Hudson Valley, Belgium, and the Western USA. It connects these sightings with recent developments in aeronautical science. The article provides a brief history of triangle-shaped aircrafts in the USA since the early '50s and mentions similar, less-known activities in the Soviet Union. It notes the existence of reconnaissance planes capable of speeds up to Mach 5 and pilotless drones exhibiting extraordinary accelerations and maneuvers that baffled NATO radar operators. The article acknowledges that while it mentions a few specific radar-UFO cases, it is not particularly focused on the Italian scene.

ITUFOR and CISU Information

ITUFOR Distribution

ITUFOR abstracts, translations, and other content are credited to Edoardo Russo, who handles CISU Foreign Relations. The publication can be freely copied and distributed, provided CISU is acknowledged as the source. It is available via mail, Usenet newsgroups (alt.paranet.ufo, alt.alien.visitors), Internet UFO mailing lists, FidoNet echomail, and its own mailing list. A weekly Italian e-zine called UFOTEL is also available by subscription.

Contact Information for CISU

CISU can be reached by mail at P. O. Box 82, I-10100 Torino, Italia, or by visiting their office at Corso Vittorio Emanuele 108, I-10121 Torino, Italia. They can also be contacted by phone (+39 (11) 329.02.79) or fax (+39 (11) 54.50.33). Internet email is [email protected], and Fido Netmail is Edoardo Russo at 2:334/501. Their website is http://www.arpnet.it/ufo.

UFO-ON-LINE

Maurizio Verga edits UFO-ON-LINE, an English-language UFO website hosted by CISU, accessible at http://oasi.shiny.it/Homes/CISU/english/ufol.htm. This site had over 40,000 visitors to its English pages and another 40,000 to its Italian pages in the first seven months of 1996.

About C.I.S.U.

Founded in 1986, the Italian Center for UFO Studies (CISU) is the largest and most active UFO organization in Italy. Since 1988, it has been the sole Italian member of the International Committee on UFO Research (ICUR). CISU's aims include promoting the scientific study of UFO phenomena in Italy, facilitating information circulation, and coordinating national data collection and study activities.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical analysis of UFO literature, the exploration of advanced aeronautical technology potentially linked to UFO sightings, and the organizational aspects of UFO research in Italy. The editorial stance, as reflected in the reviews, appears to favor a scientifically rigorous approach to UFO studies, criticizing outdated or uncritical methodologies while acknowledging the value of updated research and data. There's a clear emphasis on distinguishing between established scientific developments and speculative or unverified claims within the UFO field.