Notiziario UFO - 1976 04-06 No 70

Magazine Overview

This issue of NOTIZIARIO UFO, number 70, published in April-June 1976, is the quarterly organ of the Centro Ufologico Nazionale (CUN). It functions as a documentary review for the technical study and scientific analysis of the unidentified flying objects (UFO) phenomenon and related issues. The magazine is authorized by the Tribunal of Bologna and directed by Roberto Pinotti, with Michele Magagni as Vice-Director. The editorial and printing are handled by Officine Grafiche di G. Barghigiani Editore in Bologna, and the editorial office is located at CUN, via Vignola, 3, 20136 Milano, Italy. The publication is sent free of charge to CUN members, public information bodies, libraries, and scientific organizations.

Contents

Editorial: Misteri televisivi (Television Mysteries)

This section reviews the first episode of the Italian television series "EXTRA," written by Luciano Mandarà and directed by Daniele D'Anza. The program focused on the Pascagoula abduction case of 1973, featuring the experiences of Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker. The article notes D'Anza's previous work on heterodox subjects and highlights the involvement of scientists Joseph Allen Hynek and James Harder in investigating the Pascagoula incident. The review praises the program's adherence to the facts of the case, while also pointing out the introduction of fictional characters, including Diana Hiers (who experiences memory loss), her sister Janet Hiers (a skeptical reporter), and the mysterious 'Man in Black' figure, Jim Crane. The author expresses satisfaction that the program used terminology coined by UFO researchers. The article criticizes the RAI announcer's labeling of "EXTRA" as a "science fiction original," suggesting a deliberate attempt to downplay its factual basis and potentially influenced by external pressures, possibly from the CIA, in what the author refers to as a "conspiracy of silence" regarding UFOs.

Notizie C.U.N. (CUN News)

This section reports on the 3rd National Study Convention organized by the Centro Ufologico Nazionale, held in Rome on May 8, 1976. The convention included a press conference, public debate, and internal discussions on the organization's activities. Key figures involved in establishing new CUN sections in Rome, Verona, Turin, and Crotone are mentioned. The article also announces that the 4th Convention will coincide with the 2nd National Congress on UFOs. A press release from the CUN is included, emphasizing its role as a private research entity dedicated to demystifying UFO phenomena, maintaining a "Documentation Bank" for UFO data, and promoting a professional, realistic, and scientific approach to research. The CUN requests accurate and responsible reporting from the media.

Un falso (A Hoax)

This article by Stelio Sasso investigates a purported UFO photograph taken on October 26, 1973, near La Spezia, Italy. The author claims the photograph, attributed to Sigg. Bonadies, Vischio, and Carassale, is a fabrication. He asserts that the true authors of the photograph were Sigg. Calloni and Peluso, who were allegedly tricked into participating in a hoax. Sasso refutes claims that the local scientific police were involved or that the Questore issued any statements regarding the photo. He explains that photographic experts determined the image to be a "fake," likely created using a normal electric torch with a flash effect. The article details the timeline of alleged sightings and communications, including those reported to the GORU group, and clarifies that the reported sightings on October 26, 1973, were not corroborated by the GORU's own observations. The author also addresses the issue of power outages in the city, attributing them to a fault at the thermoelectric plant, not to any UFO activity.

Le nostre analisi (Our Analyses)

#### Ummo: tanti interrogativi (Ummo: Many Questions)

This extensive section delves into the "Ummo affair," a complex case involving alleged communications from an extraterrestrial civilization. It begins by discussing the CUN's "Operazione Segno" (Operation Sign) in 1974, a nocturnal sky-watch experiment involving luminous signals, conducted with discretion due to the sensitive nature of the topic and the public's general lack of understanding. The "Operazione Segno" aimed to study the potential incidence of the "Ummo affair." The article recounts the 1966 incident at Aluche, Madrid, where a circular UFO reportedly landed, leaving behind traces and a distinctive symbol. It then details the 1967 case at San José de Valderas, which further corroborated the Aluche incident with similar UFO sightings and the discovery of mysterious metallic tubes containing unusual materials. The article highlights the symbol found on the UFOs, which is linked to the planet Ummo and the teachings of David Lazzaretti. It presents photographic evidence from various international cases (New Zealand, Pennsylvania, Calgary, Mulhouse, Finland) that allegedly show UFOs with similar characteristics and the same distinctive symbol. The authors express skepticism about the authenticity of the "Ummo messages," suggesting they might be a sophisticated hoax orchestrated by human mystifiers or a powerful organization. However, they also acknowledge the structured language and grammar found in the "Ummo" communications, which led some researchers, like Antonio Ribera, to consider the possibility of genuine extraterrestrial contact. The section also includes details of the "Operazione Segno" experiment, including the location, participants, methodology (including the use of a magnetic field detector and CB radios), and the results of nightly observations from April to June 1974. The observations yielded five positive results, with UFOs exhibiting white light, pulsations, and unusual movements. The article concludes by noting the similarity of the observed phenomena to those reported in 1974 and suggests a connection to the "Ummo affair," while also acknowledging the possibility of a deliberate study of public reactions by a powerful group.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a serious, scientific, and documentary approach to UFO research, actively debunking hoaxes and challenging what it perceives as misinformation or censorship, particularly from official sources like RAI. The editorial stance is one of critical investigation, seeking factual evidence and logical explanations while remaining open to the possibility of genuine unexplained phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on the "conspiracy of silence" surrounding UFOs and a commitment to uncovering the truth, even when it involves complex and controversial cases like the "Ummo affair."