Notiziario UFO - 1979 11 - Vol 2 No 11

Magazine Overview

This issue of NOTIZIARIO UFO, Volume II, Number 11, dated November 1979, is a monthly publication with a technical character focused on ufology and current space topics. It is published by Riccardo Mariotti Editore and serves as the official organ of the National Ufological Center. The cover prominently features the headline "GLI UFO ALLA CAMERA DEI LORDS" (UFOs at the House of Lords) and an illustration of a UFO, alongside another article about "L'UFO DI CASALNUOVO (Napoli)" (The UFO of Casalnuovo (Naples)). The cover price was 1000 Lire.

Editorial and Publisher Information

The editorial staff is led by Editor-in-Chief Roberto Pinotti. The magazine lists a large team of collaborators and regional editors across Italy. The publisher, Riccardo Mariotti Editore, is based in Rome, with subscriptions managed from a PO Box in Rome. The publication is registered with the Tribunal of Bologna.

Key Articles and Features

UFO Interview: The Earl of Clancarty (Brinsley Le Poer Trench)

This section features an interview with Brinsley Le Poer Trench, the Earl of Clancarty, who is credited with initiating a significant debate on UFOs in the House of Lords. Trench discusses his background, including his role as editor of the "FLYING SAUCER REVIEW" and his founding of "CONTACT INTERNATIONAL." He highlights the importance of bringing the UFO topic to official attention and the establishment of a Study Committee on UFOs within the House of Lords. He also mentions his books on the subject and the growing public interest.

Gli UFO alla Camera dei Lords (UFOs at the House of Lords)

This article details the historic debate held in the House of Lords on January 18, 1979, initiated by the Earl of Clancarty. Clancarty's motion called for the government to inform the public about its knowledge of UFOs. The article recounts the contributions of various peers, including Lord Gainford, who claimed to have witnessed a UFO, and Lord Davies of Leek, who drew parallels with belief in angels. Lord Strabolgi, speaking for the government, remained skeptical. The article emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the debate and the subsequent demand for parliamentary records, which sold out quickly.

Un Aspetto Fondamentale (A Fundamental Aspect)

Written by Paolo Toselli, this two-part article critically examines the nature of UFO phenomena, particularly focusing on alleged alien encounters and their characteristics. Toselli questions the logic and consistency of UFO behavior, such as apparent breakdowns and repairs in public spaces, and the varied descriptions of alien entities. He suggests that these phenomena might be part of a deliberate deception or a 'mental illness' affecting witnesses. The article also touches upon the perceived 'absurdity' of UFO encounters and the difficulty in reconciling them with a rational, extraterrestrial origin.

Ancora sul "Caso Hill": l'enigma della carta stellare (More on the "Hill Case": the enigma of the star map)

This section revisits the famous Betty and Barney Hill abduction case. It focuses on the star map drawn by Betty Hill under hypnosis and its subsequent interpretation by Marjorie Fish, who claimed to have identified it as a real star map from an alien origin. The article presents the work of Michel Carrouges, who critically analyzes Fish's methodology, arguing that her interpretation is an "arbitrary reconstruction" rather than a definitive identification. Carrouges points out the subjective choices made in Fish's analysis, such as the arbitrary selection of stars and the radius of the search area. The article also mentions the work of physicist Stanton T. Friedman, who supported Fish's findings, and the subsequent investigation by the National Enquirer.

L'Analisi Critica di M. Carrouges (M. Carrouges' Critical Analysis)

This article by Pier Luigi Sani delves deeper into Michel Carrouges' critique of the Betty Hill star map and Marjorie Fish's interpretation. Sani highlights Carrouges' argument that Fish's schema, while methodologically sound, is an "arbitrary reconstruction" of a presumed reality, not a definitive proof. The article discusses the limitations of hypnosis in proving objective reality and questions the significance of radar confirmations. It also points out the subjective choices made by Fish in her analysis, such as the selection of stars and the radius of the search area, suggesting that the results might not be as conclusive as ufologists claim.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine adopts a technical and analytical approach to ufology, aiming for realism and objectivity. It critically examines UFO phenomena, including alleged encounters, evidence, and the interpretations of researchers. There is a clear emphasis on scientific rigor and a skepticism towards sensationalism. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into the UFO phenomenon, acknowledging its complexity and the need for careful analysis, while also being open to the possibility of extraterrestrial origins. The magazine promotes the work of the Centro Ufologico Nazionale as a leading civilian organization for UFO study in Italy.

This issue of the magazine, identified as issue number 29 of volume IV, published in September 1976 by Edizioni UFO, focuses on UFO phenomena with a critical and investigative approach. The cover prominently features the title "L'UFOLOGIA IN URSS" (Ufology in the USSR) and a subtitle "scienziati in polemica" (scientists in polemic), suggesting a debate on the topic within the scientific community.

Analysis of the Betty Hill Map

The article "L'ANALISI CRITICA DI M. CARROUGES" (The Critical Analysis of M. Carrouges) examines the famous map drawn by Betty Hill, which she claimed represented the origin of extraterrestrials. Carrouges critically analyzes the geometric discrepancies between Hill's map and astronomical charts, particularly the 'Fish schema'. He points out that points that are distant on Hill's map are almost superimposed in the Fish schema, and the proportions and angles do not match. Carrouges suggests that the map might be a 'collage' of astronomical constellations and a road map, possibly influenced by the Hills' experience. He posits that the map was created by Betty Hill years after the sighting, potentially as a subconscious attempt to reconcile her experience with her memory of road maps used during their trip.

UFOs in the USSR: Scientists in Polemic

"L'UFOLOGIA IN URSS: scienziati in polemica" by Roberto Pinotti discusses the Soviet scientific stance on UFOs. It highlights a report from the USSR Academy of Sciences suggesting that UFOs might be 'vaporized water and dust accumulations' due to atmospheric conditions. However, the article also features an interview with Professor Vsevolod S. Troitsky, who acknowledges the existence of UFOs and the probability of extraterrestrial life, suggesting aliens might be similar to humans. He also mentions ongoing research into radio signals from space. The article contrasts these views with the work of Professor Felix Yu. Zigel, who has been actively raising awareness about UFOs among Soviet scientists. The piece also touches upon Duncan Lunan's hypothesis about a 1928 radio phenomenon possibly being a space-based apparatus and the scientific debate surrounding the nature of pulsars.

Avellino UFO Sighting: On the Highway

"ufo di fronte all'obiettivo avellino: sull'autostrada" by Olga Bianchi details a significant UFO sighting that occurred on the night of December 10-11, 1978, near Avellino, Italy. Brigadier Michele Calò and Guard Carmine Morena reported a luminous object on the highway. Later, Brigadiers Filippo De Vito and Giuseppe Griffo were dispatched and photographed a UFO. The object was described as circular, emitting intense white and green lights, and hovering at an altitude of about 20-30 meters. The article includes witness testimonies and mentions the police taking photographs of the object. The sighting is presented as a notable case from the 1978 Italian UFO 'flap'.

Casalnuovo (Naples): A Second Kind of Encounter

"CASALNUOVO (Napoli) un incontro di secondo tipo da manuale" by Umberto Telarico recounts an incident on the night of December 21-22, 1978, involving brothers Giuseppe and Ciro Schettino in Casalnuovo, Naples. They reported seeing a dark mass with a luminous dome and green lights, described as a large UFO. The object allegedly hovered over their car, emitting intense beams of light. After the object moved away, they observed it land in a nearby field. Investigators later found a triangular groove, anomalous footprints, and hardened soil at the alleged landing site. The article also includes chemical analyses of soil samples from the site, showing differences between the 'contaminated' and 'uncontaminated' areas.

A Disturbing Precedent

"UN PRECEDENTE SCONCERTANTE" by Umberto Telarico discusses a possible earlier UFO-related event in Casalnuovo. Anna Romano reported seeing two small, human-like figures with spherical, green-glowing heads outside her balcony on November 28, 1978. The article notes the similarity of these descriptions to other alleged encounters with small extraterrestrial beings. It also mentions Nazzareno Leopardi's sighting of a luminous, teardrop-shaped object on December 20-26, 1978, near the same area, which moved at high speed and possibly crashed beyond the cemetery. The author suggests a connection between these events and the Schettino sighting.

Pulsars: Radiosource Pulsating (Not Well Identified)

"LE PULSAR (ovvero: radiosorgenti pulsanti non ben identificate)" by Roberto Cioni and Dimitri Dacoronias explains the phenomenon of pulsars. Discovered in December 1967, pulsars are celestial bodies emitting regular radio pulses. The article discusses their potential nature as neutron stars, their extreme density, and the challenges in observing them optically. It also touches upon their use in scientific research, including testing relativity and providing astronomical references, such as their inclusion in the message on the Pioneer 10 probe.

UFO: The Photographic Exhibition in Milan

"UFO: LA MOSTRA FOTOGRAFICA DI MILANO" by Massimo Pittella reviews a UFO photographic exhibition held in Milan from September 1-15, 1979. The exhibition featured approximately 560 photographic documents and aimed to raise public interest in UFO phenomena. While acknowledging the effort and attendance, the author criticizes the exhibition for its perceived bias towards extraterrestrial explanations, presenting many photos with questionable authenticity without adequate disclaimers. The article notes that the organizers, GRAL (Gruppo Ricerche Astrofisiche Lombardo), were criticized for their name choice, possibly attempting to lend scientific credibility to their ufological research.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores UFO sightings, alleged extraterrestrial encounters, and the scientific community's response. There's a clear interest in presenting witness testimonies alongside scientific analysis and physical evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical investigation, seeking to understand the phenomenon while acknowledging the challenges in proving its extraterrestrial origin. The magazine encourages further research and open discussion, as evidenced by the inclusion of various articles on different aspects of ufology, from astronomical phenomena to trace evidence and public exhibitions.