Notizie CUN - No 07

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Notizie C.U.N." (March 1985, Issue 7) is the informative circular of the Centro Ufologico Nazionale (C.U.N.), based in Torino, Italy. It resumes its bi-monthly publication schedule after a period of silence, with this issue being more voluminous than usual. The magazine is self-financed by the Secretariat members, and it appeals for minimal financial contributions to cover production and shipping costs.

Editorial and Secretariat Activities

The editorial section announces the return of the publication and thanks a group of friends for their economic contributions. It reiterates the self-funded nature of the C.U.N. publications and the necessity of support.

The "DALLA SEGRETERIA" (From the Secretariat) section provides a balance sheet of the Secretariat's activities and the Documentation Bank for 1984. Key figures include the receipt of approximately 2,500 pages of material from collaborators and an additional 900 pages of internal copying. A significant amount of material, over 10,738 pages, was photocopied and sent out, averaging nearly 900 pages per month. This is supplemented by 3,900 pages from the "Servizio Documentazione Estera" (Foreign Documentation Service), 1,470 pages of catalogs, and 1,590 pages from the "Notiziario Archivio Stampa" (Press Archive Newsletter).

In total, over 18,000 photocopies were produced and sent from Torino in 1984, in addition to 5,000 pages from the "Notizie C.U.N." issues, resulting in an average of 63 pages distributed daily. The number of "users" (those who sent or requested material) was 65, indicating an average of 38 pages sent and 165 received per user, with a circulation rate of 4.3 pages out for every page in. These figures demonstrate a significant increase in activities and a greater circulation of material and information.

Material Received

The "MATERIALE RICEVUTO" (Material Received) section details contributions from various collaborators during the first three months of 1985. These include:

• Giorgio Russolillo (Naples): Reports on investigations in Campania, including a close encounter in Prata (29 pages), a case with physiological effects in Naples (23 pages), a nocturnal light in Cellole (CE), and a brief report on a sighting during an air trip near Cuba.
• Umberto Telarico (Acerra - NA): Delivered several investigation reports, including a detailed report on the IR-3 case in Prata Principato Ultra (50 pages), a report on a low-altitude case in Atripalda (37 pages), and reports on two daytime sightings in Baia Domizia and Sessa Aurunca, as well as a luminous "ball" case in Chiaiano.
• Antonio Sorlini (Brescia): Submitted a report on sightings in the Brescia area investigated directly.
• Vittoria Crosa (Busalla - GE): Sent signaletic sheets from the "Sezione Ufologica di Barletta" concerning sightings between 1978 and 1983, along with reports from the "Centro Ricerche Valle Scrivia" and a dossier from the "Odissea 2001" group on the Varzi landing and other sightings.
• Massimo Ferrante (Odissea 2001 - Milan): Forwarded two investigations by Giuliano Teruzzi regarding sightings in Frosinone and various materials on possible connections between air incidents and UFO phenomena.
• Luigi Di Ruzza (G.S.E. Cassino - FR): Sent a report on the IR-3 case in Cervaro.

Further contributions include:

• Torino Office: Edoardo Russo prepared a preliminary report on luminous and acoustic phenomena in the Cuneese area (11 pages), and Paolo Fiorino wrote a report on a case investigation.
• Alberto Latini (Gruppo Astrofili Lariani - Como): Provided additional material on a bolide sighting, including reports from Liguria and France.
• Paolo Toselli (Alessandria): Submitted older investigations from the Alessandria area and reports on cases investigated in the Vicenza area during 1984.
• Maurizio Verga (Cermenate - CO): Sent an update to his catalog of Italian Type 1 cases (ITACAT), adding 72 pages plus lists and summaries.

Additionally, several individuals contributed material on older close encounter cases (Type 3):

• Pier Luigi Sani (Fiesole case)
• Alessandro Cortellazzi (Passo Gardena, Merano, Tribarna cases, and an investigation in Istrana)
• Luigi Di Ruzza (Cassino case, contactee dossier)
• Marcel Delaval (Viggil case)

Andrea Pasquini, Fabrizio Massi, Michele Magagni, and Vittorio Cinelli also provided requested information.

A large group of individuals contributed various materials, including UFO clippings and technical-scientific articles. The Secretariat acknowledges these contributions, noting that despite a directive to "isolate themselves morally and materially," many still contributed.

Apologies for Delay

The Secretariat apologizes for any delays in responding to requests for investigations, articles, and studies, attributing them to the large volume of material received and requests made. They assure those awaiting material that reproduction and shipping are being completed.

New Address and Telephone Number

The Secretariat announces changes to its contact information: Gian Paolo Grassino's phone number will become (011) 44.76.330 from April 23rd. The Torino office address at Via Briccarello 6 will no longer be operational from April 1st, replaced by Corso Vittorio Emanuele II n. 108, 10121 Torino. The postal address (Casella Postale 82, 10100 Torino) remains unchanged.

Activities

Operation Origins

This project, launched six months prior, has collected 189 monthly control sheets of daily newspapers from 1946-1954. Of these, 38 relate to Turin newspapers, 48 to Lombardy newspapers, and 16 to Trentino and Veneto newspapers, with additional checks conducted in Savona, Florence, Rome, and Naples. The project has identified numerous previously unknown press notices, particularly regarding sightings, with significant numbers for 1946, 1947, 1950, 1952, and 1954. Research is ongoing, with results expected from other regions.

Project "Italia 3"

This project, led by Paolo Fiorino, is nearing completion in collecting, documenting, and cataloging Italian close encounter (IR-3) cases. Over 350 cases have been cataloged, representing nearly all readily available material. A list of essential data (date, time, location, type) will be available by the end of April. Fiorino is also preparing a catalog of complete cases with brief reconstructions, commentary, and archived sources for publication by year-end. The documented material is available upon reimbursement of reproduction costs.

Regional and Provincial Catalogs

Several regional and provincial UFO case catalogs have been received:

• Fabrizio Massi (G.A.U.) submitted the provincial catalog for Arezzo (27 pages) with codes, sources, and summaries for 86 cases.
• Giuseppe Verdi compiled an initial list of 10 cases from the province of Ragusa.
• The G.S.E. (Luigi Di Ruzza and Sergio Bianchi) produced the catalog for the province of Frosinone (48 cases).
• Michele Sisti and brothers Roberto and Marina Dri from Trieste and Udine expressed their availability to curate provincial catalogs.
• Gianfranco Lollino from Rimini is interested in the Marghiana casuistry.
• Claudio Cavallini updated the casuistry of Pavia, increasing the number of cases from 25 to 65 in six months.

The Brescia Conference

A conference on "Ufologia oggi" (Ufology Today) was held in Brescia on February 17th, organized by the local C.U.N. branch. Speakers included Antonio Chiumiento, Edoardo Russo, Gian Paolo Grassino, and Antonio Sorlini. Giorgio Pattera presented a brief report on unusual events in Varzi following a notable landing in 1983. The event attracted about 150 people and received local press coverage. It served as an opportunity for ufologists from northern Italy to meet. The Gruppo Giovani Ufologi of Brescia managed the organization, which included a photographic exhibition and audiovisual presentations.

Parma Office Update

The Parma branch of C.U.N. has sent a circular detailing their work in infrared photography. Mauro Iotti, Giorgio Pattera, and Daniele Pioli plan to publish a monograph on their recent findings. Further information can be obtained from Daniele Pioli.

Naples Office Update

Umberto Telarico, the C.U.N. delegate for Naples, presented over 150 pages of reports on sightings investigated in Campania during 1984, structured according to the C.U.N. "Investigation Methodology Manual." He also submitted a theoretical work titled "IL FENOMENO UFO INTERPRETATO DA SOCIOLOGI E PSICOLOGI" (The UFO Phenomenon Interpreted by Sociologists and Psychologists), a 47-page analysis available to interested parties.

New Books

Two new UFO books are announced:

1. "UFO: illusione o realtà?" (UFO: Illusion or Reality?) edited by the C.U.N. Brescia branch, authored by Massimo Greco and Arrigo Muscio. It covers the UFO problem, presents ten selected cases, and discusses ufological theories. The 124-page book costs 13,000 lire and can be ordered from Massimo Greco.
2. Jean Robin's "UFO: la grande parodia" (UFO: The Great Parody), 1979, translated from French. This book analyzes the UFO phenomenon from a religious (Muslim) perspective, attributing it to demonic intelligences. The author presents ufology's history as the development of a new religious sect. The book, 102 pages, costs 10,000 lire and is available from the publisher (Viale Osacca 13, Parma).

Books Wanted/Offered

• Pier Giovanni D'Orazio is seeking specific books by John Fuller, Charles Garreau, Carl G. Jung, and Coral & Jim Lorenzen.
• Giuseppe Verdi offers bound photocopies of Donald Keyhoe's "La verità sui dischi volanti" (The Truth About Flying Saucers) from 1954 for 30,000 lire (shipping included).

Latest Sightings

While sightings are reportedly scarce in southern Italy, new cases are emerging from central and northern Italy.

• Bergamo Area: Several sightings of luminous objects with trails were reported in early December. One case involved a luminous object observed for 10 seconds in Presezzo on December 4th. Sightings were also reported in Cene, with similar phenomena observed in Piedmont and Liguria. An automobilist reported a luminous object with a bright trail near Alzano Lombardo on December 7th.
• Turin Area: A luminous object with a trail was observed in Moncalieri on December 14th, affecting various regions and also reported in France.
• Udine Area: The "UFO del venerdi" reported sightings on November 30th, December 14th, January 11th, and January 18th. On January 11th, a hotel owner and pilot in Manzano observed a light that hovered and then moved at high speed. A similar light was seen by a friend in Udine later that evening.
• Maiano (UD): On January 19th, Antonio Chiumento collected testimonies of strange noises and voices heard from outside homes, along with TV interference, on the evening of January 11th. A luminous object was sighted between 11:45 PM and midnight.
• Mestre: A case from June 1979 involved a carpenter observing a dark cylindrical object reflecting sunlight above the Marco Polo Airport. The witness took seven photographs of the object, which remained visible for 15 minutes before moving away. These photos, described as very clear, are considered potentially useful for digital analysis, though such capabilities are not yet available in Italy.
• Grosseto: On February 27th-28th, workers in Casone di Scarlino reported observing a luminous cigar-shaped object with two red and two yellow lights moving silently from Scarlino towards Follonica, then veering towards Gavorrano.
• Turin: On February 24th, a luminous object emitting a "light beam" was observed stationary below the moon. It was later identified as the planet Venus, unusually bright due to strong winds.
• Ancona Area: A recent report concerns a presumed landing in the S. Croce frazione of Arcevia between March 18th and 19th. Residents reported seeing a "large machine with two metallic domes emitting red and green beams" descending onto Monte S. Angelo, hovering for about 15 minutes, and then departing at high speed. Some witnesses reportedly took photos.

Foreign Documentation Service (S.D.E.)

A new S.D.E. fascicle (n. 1bis/85) features an epistemological critique of the French "nouvelle vague" of ufology by Belgian researcher Michel Bougard (30 pages, 3,000 lire). Previous fascicles are also available, including one analyzing Project Blue Book report n. 14 by physicist Bruce Maccabee (52 pages, 6,000 lire).

Italian Articles in Foreign Magazines

Italian ufology has gained international recognition, with articles by Italian authors appearing in prestigious foreign magazines. Antonio Chiumento, Paolo Toselli, and Maurizio Verga are frequently requested authors. Chiumento's reports on cases from Gallio, S. Giorgio di Nogaro, Aviano, and Varzi have been published in "International UFO Reporter" (USA) and "Flying Saucer Review" (UK), some even gracing the cover. Toselli and Verga have also had articles published in "MUFON UFO Journal" (USA) and "Magonia" and "OVNI Presence" (France). Toselli has also been featured on the cover of "OVNI Presence." Verga was also hosted on the "BUFORA Bulletin." Massimo Greco's reports have appeared in German, Danish, and Australian publications. Joseph Allen Hynek personally reported on C.U.N.'s activities in the "International UFO Reporter" after visiting Torino in March 1984. The Argentine magazine "UFO Press" presented a profile of the Italian "Ufologia" magazine. Edoardo Russo published an article on methodology in the Belgian magazine "Inforespace."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the resilience and continuation of UFO research in Italy despite challenges, the importance of documentation and information sharing, and the collaborative nature of ufological investigation. The C.U.N. maintains a stance of active research and documentation, aiming to catalog and analyze UFO phenomena systematically. The publication serves as a vital communication channel for its members and the broader ufological community, highlighting both national and international developments in the field.