Itufor2009.v4n2

Magazine Overview

Title: ITALIAN UFO REPORTER
Issue: Vol. 4 No. 2
Date: October 2009
Publisher: Italian Center for UFO Studies (CISU)

This issue of the Italian UFO Reporter serves as a compilation of English language abstracts from articles and columns in CISU's "UFO Information Review" (UFO – Rivista di informaziona ufologica) No. 37, September 2009. It provides longer abstracts for original articles and shorter summaries for non-Italian reports.

Editorial

UFO Periodicals, a Possible Future By Edoardo Russo (p. 1)

The editorial addresses the decline of UFO periodicals worldwide, noting that only about 60 are currently published out of an estimated 3,000 known titles. This is a significant drop from 15 years ago when there were 200 active periodicals, with 20 ceasing publication in the last two years. The article examines the reasons for this decline, particularly the impact of the Internet, and speculates on its negative consequences. It calls for better coordination among the surviving serious publications.

A New Editor for Our Journal By Gian Paolo Grassino (p. 2)

This section announces a change in editorship for the CISU journal. Danilo Arona, a writer and journalist with a background in SF cinema and a long-standing interest in UFOs, has taken over as the new editor. He succeeds Gianni Settimo, a pioneer of Italian ufology and founder of the magazine Clypeus, who stepped down at the age of 80. Settimo was instrumental in the creation of the Italian Center for UFO Studies in 1985 and served as its Honorary President and legal editor. Arona, born in 1950, has a history with CISU, having presented a paper on "UFO imagery in SF movies" at a 1987 Congress and written articles for the magazine.

Articles and Investigations

Unusual Phenomena over Channel Islands: Two Luminous Phenomena Watched by Pilots and Passengers of Aircraft By Jean-François Baure, David Clarke, Paul Fuller & Martin Shough (pp. 3-9)

This article is a translation and editing by Marco Orlandi of a condensed version of a joint investigation into an aerial sighting that occurred on April 23, 2007. The full 109-page version is also available as a UPIAR Monograph.

Pictures from Sicily: Some Analyses Re-Opens the Debate over UFO photographs as Evidence By Pietro Torre & Paolo Bertotti (pp. 10-13)

• This piece analyzes four alleged UFO photographs from Sicily. The authors, Pietro Torre and Paolo Bertotti, investigated cases where images were noticed later on the photos, not by direct witnesses. They concluded that the alleged UFOs were due to conventional causes:
• A daylight disc at Messina in 1950 was a reflection of the Sun.
• A 'little man' photo from Acireale in 1972 was a double exposure.
• A mystery light near the Moon in Messina in 1999 was a reflection of the Moon on the lens.
• Strange objects among clouds at Linguaglossa in 2000 were identified as odd clouds, a reflection, and a small insect.

UFOs, Chickens and Toys: The Amazing Punta Raisi Photos: from "Proof" to Clamorous Hoax? By Paolo Toselli (pp. 14-18)

This article investigates a photograph allegedly taken by a pilot on September 3, 2006, near Palermo airport. Initially presented as an "authentic UFO" by the newsstand magazine Notiziario UFO, Paolo Toselli's research revealed that the object's unusual shape matched that of a toy spaceship from the Disney movie "Chicken Little," which had been available as a toy model since late 2005. The article details the conflicting reports and media coverage surrounding the photo, including claims of expert certification and an ongoing Civil Protection committee investigation into mystery fires at Caronia. Despite technical analysis by Paolo Bertotti and other independent analysts confirming the toy hypothesis, some UFO believers continue to defend the case.

#### A Technical Analysis Comparing the Pictures
By Paolo Bertotti (pp. 19-20)

Paolo Bertotti, a professional photographer and photo-analyst, provides a detailed technical examination comparing the alleged UFO in the Punta Raisi photograph with the "Chicken Little" toy spaceship. His analysis, involving edging, angling, dimensioning, gray-scaling, and defocusing, concludes that the object is identical to the toy, with visible similarities in building lines, fins, hexagonal patterns, central bottom areas, top towers, and lateral windows. The light reflection is also consistent with the plastic material of the toy.

International Analogies Based on Fantasy By Edoardo Russo (pp. 16-17)

• Edoardo Russo discusses the dangers of using analogies to confirm UFO photo authenticity. He examines two cases presented by Italian UFO enthusiasts:
• An artist's drawing from a 1983 book illustrating a "monk hat" sighting in China, which bore little resemblance to the "flying pagoda" depicted.
• A daylight flying saucer photo shown by UK ufologist Graham Birdsall in 2003, which could not be traced and whose shape was not similar to the Punta Raisi photo.

If It's So Easy to Snap UFOs... By Paolo Toselli (p. 18)

This brief piece notes a coincidence: the same pilot who took the Punta Raisi photo also photographed two disc-shaped lights on April 3, 2005. While some groups deemed the object unidentified, Marco Peruzzi suggested it was a reflection on the cockpit glass.

The Second Quarter of 2008: A Quiet Spring: neither Flaps nor Bolides, less Crop Circles By Giorgio Abraini (pp. 21-24)

• This report analyzes UFO sighting reports received by CISU for April-June 2008. The number of reports (101) was lower than in previous years, with a significant decrease in crop circle reports (about 10 compared to a peak of 45 in 2007). There was a geographical shift, with fewer reports from northern regions and more from southern regions. The absence of "flaps" and a low percentage of meteor/bolide sightings (6%) were noted. The article details several interesting case histories from this period, including:
• Longarone (Belluno), April 5, 2008: metallic noise and a white, translucent trapezoid-shaped light.
• Vicenza, April 9, 2008: a noiseless dark oblong object with a whitish light observed by police.
• Milazzo (Messina), May 4, 2008: an orange funnel-shaped object observed by multiple witnesses.
• Genova, June 6, 2008: a dark, spider-like object with a descending rope.
• Bari, June 23, 2008: a group of white objects moving in formation.
• Latina, June 28, 2008: two amber balls moving at low altitude.

A Hot Summer in Reggio Emilia By Camillo Michieletto (p. 24)

This section discusses two reports from Reggio Emilia. A local newspaper covered a UFO picture that was identified as a bird. Another report describes a couple seeing a large rhomboidal shape with beams of light and blinking lights, which is considered consistent with a plane seen through helmet visors.

Last Minute: UFO Wave over Italy. Unprecedented Number of Reports from Campania By Giovanni Ascione & Giorgio Russolillo (p. 25)

This article highlights an unprecedented wave of UFO sightings in the Campania region during June and July 2009, comparable to the 1978 wave. Many reports involved small orange or yellow lights, often attributed to "sky lanterns." A typical example from Caserta describes a ball of fire and luminous spheres taking off, causing fear and physical discomfort.

Research and Projects

Research in Progress: Current State of CISU Research Projects By Matteo Leone (pp. 26-28)

Matteo Leone provides an overview of the numerous ongoing research projects within CISU. As of 2007, there were 26 active projects, categorized according to GEPAN's tetrahedron model: Reports (e.g., Regional Catalogues, DeltaCat, ItaCat), Witness (e.g., AirCat, Clear Skies, Nightwatchmen), Physical Environment (e.g., Angel Hair, CrashCat, PhotoCat), and Psycho-Social Environment (e.g., BiblioCat, PhilCat, ScienceCat, Ufo & Cinema). A fifth class covers non-ufological projects like Ball Lightning and EarthLights. Critical issues identified include a lack of projects on radar cases and photo analysis, insufficient synergy, and a language barrier hindering international collaboration. The article also mentions the UfoDataNet website revamp and the ScienceCat project's expansion into three parts: UFO, Alien Abduction Experiences (AAE), and ScienceCat.pro.

UfoDataNet: Website Revamped By Andrea Bovo (p. 29)

Andrea Bovo details the revamping of the CISU Research Projects Coordination website, originally created in 1998. The updated site features a more structured database and a Content Management System to facilitate project updates. An English version is planned.

ScienceCat: from One to Three Projects (p. 29)

Paolo Toselli's ScienceCat project, initiated in 1985 to compile bibliographies of scientific literature on UFOs, has been reorganized into three sub-projects: UFO (cataloguing UFO occurrences in scientific literature), AAE (focusing on alien abduction experiences), and ScienceCat.pro (a reference tool for articles potentially useful for UFO investigation).

Book Reviews

A Year of Books: Reviewing Italian and International UFO Books of 2007 By Edoardo Russo (pp. 30-34)

This section reviews ten Italian UFO books published in 2007, including works on the "Great Wave of 1977-1980," the "Zanfretta Case," "Phoenix Lights," and various regional catalogues. It also briefly reviews international books in English, French, and other languages. Two books published by CISU, "UFOs and Ufology – the CISU Guide" and "Catalogue of UFO Sightings in the Calabrian Region," are mentioned but not reviewed. The Italian translation of Joseph Farrell's "Hitler, Flying Saucers and Other Super-Weapons of the Third Reich" is also noted.

Meanwhile, BiblioCat...: Updating the Italian Catalogue of Book UFO References By Marcello Pupilli (pp. 35-36)

Marcello Pupilli discusses the evolution of the Italian general UFO bibliography, noting its third edition in 2005 contained 350 pages and over 5,200 titles. A forthcoming fourth edition is planned, highlighting the project's ongoing nature and team approach.

CISU News

30 Years of UFOs in Torino (pp. 37-41)

This report commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Torino headquarters of CISU. The Torino group's history dates back to 1949, with the office established in 1979. The group was instrumental in creating CISU and has hosted its secretary, archives, and library. They moved to a larger headquarters in 2002.

Where is Research? (pp. 37-41)

This section summarizes the CISU's 23rd National Congress held in Firenze on October 25, 2008. Researchers discussed the "Present situation of UFO research in Italy and in the world." Presentations included updates on CISU research projects, the revamped UfoDataNet website, ongoing research in Europe, EM effects, UFOs in movies, and the impact of Paolo Toselli's book on the 1978 Alessandria flap.

A New Catalogue: UFOs and Nightwatchmen (pp. 37-41)

A new special catalogue project, approved in January 2008, involves collecting and comparing UFO sightings reported by private policemen and nightwatchmen.

New coordinator for CrashCat (pp. 37-41)

Marco Bianchini resigned as coordinator for CrashCat, a catalogue of Italian reports of objects falling to Earth, and Salvo Foresta took over. The catalogue currently lists 220 events.

Newsclipping Archive: 2008 (pp. 37-41)

In 2008, CISU received an increasing number of published articles and news items about UFOs in the Italian press, with 738 newscuttings from the agency Eco della Stampa. Detailed statistics of Italian UFO newsclipping from 1946 to date are available on the CISU website.

UFO Alert in Alessandria (pp. 37-41)

The publication of Paolo Toselli's book and DVD "Alessandria 1978 – UFO Alert" was a significant local event, marking the 30th anniversary of a UFO trace-landing case. The book's reconstruction of the sighting received extensive local media coverage and led to public presentations and an exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum.

"Cum Grano Salis": a New Monograph on Crop Circles (pp. 37-41)

This section introduces Margherita Campaniolo's monograph on crop circles, which offers a sober and rational analysis, distinguishing between human-made circles and natural phenomena. The author's approach faced some backlash from "true believers" when first published online.

Film Reviews

Ultimatum Reloaded: After 50 Years a New Release of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" By Gian Paolo Grassino & Fabrizio Dividi (pp. 42-48)

This article compares and evaluates the original and newly released versions of the film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" within their respective social contexts.

A UFO at the White House: the Heritage of that Film By Maurizio Verga (pp. 42-43)

Maurizio Verga examines the film's impact on the American public and its relevance to the 1952 UFO hysteria, noting how saucer features from the movie became standard in later sightings.

1952: a Flying Saucer Landed in Italian Theatres By Giuseppe Stilo (pp. 44-45)

Giuseppe Stilo discusses the film "Ultimatum to the Earth" (the Italian title for "The Day the Earth Stood Still") and its significance in the transition from aeronautical to outer space paradigms. He links the film to the "rocket projectiles" of 1946, the flying saucers of 1947, and the subsequent development of UFO questions, including contactees and conspiracy theories.

About CISU

The final pages provide information about the Italian Center for UFO Studies (CISU), its aims, and contact details. CISU was founded in 1986 and is described as the main scientific-oriented UFO organization in Italy. Its objectives include promoting scientific study, circulating information, coordinating data collection, and preserving UFO documentation. Contact information via mail, phone, fax, email, and website is provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the critical analysis of UFO evidence, particularly photographic evidence, and the debunking of sensationalized claims. There is a strong emphasis on rigorous research, data collection, and cataloging, as exemplified by CISU's numerous projects. The magazine also reflects on the history of ufology, the impact of media on public perception, and the challenges faced by the field, such as the decline of specialized publications. The editorial stance appears to be one of scientific inquiry, skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, and a commitment to advancing the understanding of UFO phenomena through systematic research and documentation.