Notizie CUN - No 09

Magazine Overview

Title: NOTIZIE C.U.N.
Issue Date: July 1985
Publisher: Centro Ufologico Nazionale (C.U.N.)
Country: Italy
Language: Italian

This issue of "Notizie C.U.N." serves as an informative circular from the Secretariat of the National Ufological Center, detailing recent activities, received materials, and ongoing research. The publication notes a perceived 'resurgence' in UFO news coverage by weekly magazines, suggesting a potentially 'hot autumn' for UFO-related discussions.

Secretariat Activities and Contributions

The Secretariat of the C.U.N. ensures continuity of operations even during August, with contributions from Camillo Michieletto and Edoardo Russo. The issue expresses gratitude to several individuals for their monetary contributions: Riccardo Germinario, Gianfranco Neri, Pier Luigi Sani, Maurizio Verga, and Carlo Viberti. A special thank you is extended to Antonio Chiumiento.

Material Received

The "DALLA SEGRETERIA" (From the Secretariat) section details various materials received:

• Paolo Toselli (Alessandria): Submitted a report on a case from February 11, 1984, in Romano D'Ezzelino (Vicenza), involving the sighting of two 'large lights' with changing luminosity. The report includes an interview transcription and case reconstruction (9 pages).
• Massimo Valloscuro (Terni): Sent four investigation reports compiled according to the C.U.N.'s "Manual of Investigation Methodology." These cover cases from Terni in September 1978 (12 pages), Terni in 1981 (3 pages), Terni in August 1981 with numerous lights in formation (14 pages), and Pietralunga (Perugia) on July 14, 1983 (8 pages).
• Antonio Chiumiento (Pordenone): Provided an 8-page report on the well-known IR-2 case at the Aviano (Pordenone) military base in 1977, complete with a graphic reconstruction.
• Paolo Fiorino: Transcribed two interview tapes collected by Massimo Nebbia and Paolo Toselli regarding the landing case of June 5, 1983, in Varzi (Pavia) (27 pages).

Additionally, a variety of miscellaneous materials (clippings, foreign articles, small studies, slides, etc.) were received from Renzo Cabassi, Guido Carione, Antonio Chiumiento, Alessandro Cortellazzi, Vittorio Crosa, Roberto Farabone, Bruno Mancusi, Giorgio Pattera, Gioacchino Robatto, Giorgio Russolillo, Enrico Sisti, Massimo Valloscuro, and Maurizio Verga.

Video Archive

The Secretariat has acquired a VHS videocassette recorder, and Edoardo Russo (Tel. 011-32.56.57) is the contact for reporting UFO programs on national TV channels (RAI and networks). The opportunity was taken to record episodes of the "Project UFO" TV series. Interested parties can contact the Secretariat for exchanges. A second VHS recorder was purchased by Alberto Garino in Turin.

Recent Publications

Several bulletins have arrived:

• The "Associazione Sviluppo Propulsione Spaziale (ASPS)" (Rome) published a supplement to its "Nova Astronautica" magazine titled "The UFO Question." This supplement includes an open letter to ufologists about the crisis in the field and ways to overcome it, arguing that ufological study is unproductive unless viewed through the lens of "non-Newtonian propulsion."
• "Il Gollum" (Edizioni Aratron, Ancona), a monthly publication on unusual and mysterious facts, has reached its second issue (June 1985). This 40-page issue focuses on the unusual, including UFOs in the Marche region.
• The Naples branch of the C.U.N., represented by Piero Borgo and Umberto Telarico, has produced the first issue of an 8-page bi-monthly cyclostyled publication titled "UFOs Research and Progress," featuring articles from the editors and inviting collaboration.

Activities in Progress

Regional and Provincial Catalogs

A new provincial catalog for Varese is being initiated by Massimo Cantoni and Angelo Dell'Oca (Cernobbio, CO), supervised by Maurizio Verga.

Massimo Valloscuro (Terni) has submitted an updated periodical of Umbrian cases, along with his investigation reports previously mentioned.

Operation Origins

Riccardo De Flora and Fabrizio Dividi (Turin) have reviewed 12 months of Turin newspapers from 1952, finding approximately 73 UFO-related news items. The newly formed Como section has begun reviewing newspaper collections at the Varese library (10 monthly records, 36 clippings).

Personal Computer Coordination

Maurizio Verga (Cermenate, CO) has accepted the role of coordinating a Commodore 64 network for automated management of sighting catalogs. He will provide software copies and related documentation and receive uploaded archives. Verga has also produced an experimental English-language bulletin on the ufological applications of personal computers, titled "The Computer UFO Newsletter" (9 pages).

Due to the recent acquisition of two Apple II-compatible personal computers by Secretariat members, a second micro-computer network is being planned. The C.U.N. is seeking information from individuals who own Apple or compatible computers, requesting details on model, configuration, and interest in participating in computerized case archiving.

Information

Newspaper Interviews

Following an investigation in Brescia and a television appearance on "Italia Sera," Antonio Chiumiento secured significant media coverage in June. The "Corriere della Sera" dedicated an entire page to interviewing the C.U.N. Vice-President about UFOs and recent developments. Subsequently, the weekly magazine "Oggi" published a lengthy interview with Chiumiento concerning the IR-3 case and a UFO-car chase, reviving the UFO topic in its coverage. The article notes that, in both instances, journalists somewhat distorted statements to sensationalize the interviews, framing them with a strong extraterrestrialist perspective.

Ministerial Front

In a move to counter any perception that Chiumiento was 'blacklisted' by the Ministry of Defense due to his assertive requests for material, the Minister Spadolini's cabinet has again responded to his request for photos taken in 1979 by Marshal Giancarlo Cecconi. These photos were of an object the military had identified as a balloon. Contrary to expectations, the Ministry sent the C.U.N. Vice-President some of the 80 photograms (some previously published in "Epoca" and others unpublished), reiterating that it was "a type of balloon made of black plastic." This marks the first time the C.U.N. has officially obtained photos from the Ministry of Defense.

Latest Sightings

Building on previously reported sightings in the Veneto region, several new cases are detailed:

• Porcia (PN): On Friday, May 17, at 9:45 PM, an oval-shaped, light green object was observed moving from east to west with sudden accelerations and decelerations. A similar phenomenon was seen by a couple in Magenta (Milan) around 10:00 PM.
• Pertegada (Udine): On May 19, at 10:00 PM, an entire family traveling by car witnessed a low-altitude object surrounded by a light halo, topped by a dark cupola that appeared to spin. It then disappeared and reappeared.
• Casarsa (PN): A related case involved two brigadier generals who, while driving near the "Trieste" barracks, observed a luminous object moving from south to northeast. The object was cigar-shaped and followed by a "fireball" or a projection resembling an exhaust pipe.
• Mestre-Milano Highway: A couple reported being "pursued" by a luminous object for several hours on the night of Saturday, June 15, to Sunday, June 16. The object was described as cone-shaped with a circular base and remained visible from their departure from Mestre at 1:30 AM until 4:30 AM near Bergamo. It changed altitude multiple times, coming as close as approximately 250 meters to the ground. Other motorists reported seeing a red-orange, pear-shaped luminous object traveling in the opposite direction between 1:15 AM and 1:30 AM. Witnesses also included residents in the Verona area.

Personal Briefs

• Alberto Lazzaro: Has moved from Udine back to Reggio Emilia and can be reached at P.O. Box 240. His new phone number is (0522) 88.99.03.
• Marcello Crino: The SUF representative in Sicily, has a new address: Via Umberto I n. 82, 98051 Barcellona P.G. (ME).
• Daniele Lolicato: Has returned to Catania from military service and can be contacted at his usual address (Via Milano 49) for information about a conference being organized in Catania for the following year.
• Paolo Toselli: Having moved from Alessandria to Veneto for work, can be contacted at P.O. Box 45, 36060 Spin (VI).
• Roberto D'Amico (Gruppo Clypeus, Turin): Is selling his entire collection of unusual books, including over 200 Italian and foreign volumes on ufology, exobiology, parapsychology, esotericism, and archaeology. A list of available books can be requested from the C.U.N. address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Notizie C.U.N." reflects the C.U.N.'s ongoing commitment to documenting, investigating, and disseminating information about UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent research and information gathering, evidenced by the detailed reports of sightings and investigations. There is a clear emphasis on cataloging and archiving UFO data, with a forward-looking approach incorporating personal computer technology. The magazine also highlights the challenges and successes in obtaining information from official sources, such as the Ministry of Defense, and the role of media interviews in raising public awareness, albeit with a critical eye towards potential sensationalism by journalists. The C.U.N. positions itself as a central hub for UFO enthusiasts and researchers in Italy, actively coordinating efforts and sharing findings.