Notizie UFO - No 12

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Notizie UFO" (Issue 12, March 1986) is a circular from the Secretary of the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU), an organization that has undergone significant changes and restructuring within the Italian ufological community. The publication marks the second year of "Notizie UFO" and the first three months of CISU's operation, highlighting a positive reception and growing support from the ufological environment.

Editorial and Organizational News

The editorial emphasizes the commitment of the CISU Secretariat to meet the expectations of its supporters. The first quarter of 1986 has been busy with meetings, contacts, programs, and activities, with concrete results expected soon, including the launch of the Center's magazine in May. A new section, "NOTIZIE CISU," is introduced to provide brief updates on the Center's internal life. The Secretariat expresses gratitude to numerous friends who have contributed financially, acknowledging their support for the numerous activities undertaken.

Materials Received

The "DALLA SEGRETERIA" (From the Secretariat) section details various materials received and available for photocopy. These include:

• Giancarlo D'Alessandro (Istrana): A report on a close encounter near Treviso (16 pages).
• Francesco Fasolo (Robegano di Salzano): A report on anomalous traces from March 1974 in Asseggiano (VE) (9 pages), local sighting reports (6 pages), and a publication from his former group ("Bollettino del GSU") from February 1985.
• Flavio Gottardi (Rome): A comprehensive report with photos, drawings, and interview transcripts of investigations into sightings on the evening of December 13, 1985, in Rocca Massima (LT), Arpino (FR), and Val Canneto (RM) (48 pages).
• Moreno Tambellini (Borgo a Mozzano): A report on the IR-3 case of Cerreto (LU) from 1978 (10 pages), plus photos and a summary of the known case of S. Pietro a Vico from 1952 (2 pages).
• Fabrizio Villa (Montespertoli): Reports on IR-3 cases in Polcanto (FI) from October 9, 1984 (5 pages) and Florence from August 8, 1985 (8 pages).
• Marcel Delaval (Ispra): 22 pages of chemical analyses of soil samples from Virle Treponti (BS) in June 1985.
• Renato Fedele (Caserta): Copies of articles about UFOs from "New Scientist."
• Bruno Mancusi (Payerne): A catalog of ufological publications from his archive.

The Secretariat also thanks individuals for sending clippings and other materials.

Publications Received

This section reviews recent ufological publications:

• NOTIZIARIO SOLARIS: A new series (No. 1, Jan-Feb 1986) from Naples, resuming after 6 years, focusing on Neapolitan ufology with local investigations and a renewed graphic design. Annual subscription is L. 15,000 (L. 12,000 for CISU collaborators).
• CIRCOLARE BLITZ: The fifteenth issue of a circular from Trento, focusing on ufological activities and sightings in the Veneto region, including a list of 1985 cases from the three Venetia regions. It is sent free to ufologists in the Triveneto area.
• IL GOLLUM: Issue No. 6 (December 1985) and No. 7 (March 1985) from Ancona, covering mystery topics and ufology. Issue No. 7 expands the ufological section.
• THE COMPUTER UFO NEWSLETTER: Issues Vol. 1, No. 2 (November 1985) and No. 3 (January 1986) from Cermenate (CO). This publication is dedicated to the use of computers in ufological research, featuring articles on computerizing Belgian, Dutch, and Australian case data, and a UFO database project.
• GLI ARGONAUTI: Quaderno No. 15/16 (December '85/January '86) from Montalcino (SI), detailing the group's local activities in 1985, with a section on ufology discussing potential correlations between UFO waves and Martian phases.
• SKY SENTINEL: Issue No. 2 (December 1985) from Milan, featuring sighting lists, contactee accounts, and speculative articles, including a reinterpretation of the Caselle (TO) radar-visual case from December 1973.

Call for Collaboration

CISU is seeking volunteers to help catalog Italian sighting cases reported in "Il Giornale dei Misteri." Volunteers with back issues are asked to contact the Secretariat for details.

Activities

• Paolo Fiorino (Turin): After completing a catalog of Italian IR-3 cases, he is transcribing over 350 pages of recorded investigation data.
• Guido Carione (Capaccio Scalo SA): Is monitoring Marian apparitions in Oliveto Citra (SA) and seeking information on similar events in Schio (VI) and the Belluno area.

Ongoing Research

• Paolo Toselli (Alessandria): Is completing a detailed study on the June 6, 1983, "flap," including case analysis, media treatment, and expert commentary.
• Renzo Cabassi (Bologna): Is researching theoretical and practical aspects of computerizing case files, experimenting with DBASE II.
• Flavio Gottardi and Rome Group (Fabrizio Arcese, Claudio Zacchia, GSE Cassino): Are investigating a local flap that began on December 13 and continued into early 1986, involving numerous sightings across Southern Italy.
• Massimo Nebbia (Villarbasse TO): Is completing a comprehensive catalog of Italian UFO cases from 1985, including all archived sources. Reports and investigation materials for the past year are requested.

Conference in Ancona

A "First Ufology Day" was held in Ancona on February 16, organized by "Il Gollum" magazine. Speakers included Antonio Chiumiento, Filippo Bongiovanni, and Fabio Filippetti. The event received significant media coverage, including national news flashes.

Press Release

On March 1, 1986, CISU issued its first press release, announcing its constitution and providing statistics on Italian UFO sightings (around 300 in 1985), highlighting the most significant cases. The release was accompanied by a "support" news item from Chiumiento about sightings in Asiago and Ancona on February 28, which was widely reported in the press.

Regional Catalogs

Progress continues on regional UFO case cataloging:

• Alessandro Cortellazzi (Trento): Completed an initial list of over 200 cases from Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, creating a tri-regional archive.
• Marisa and Roberto Dri (Flambro UD): Compiled a list of 24 Friulian cases from 1959-1960.
• Maurizio Verga (Cermenate CO): Finished the provincial catalog for Varese (90 cases) and uploaded it to a computer.
• Antonello Casiroli (Corteolona PV): Computerized Claudio Cavallini's Pavia catalog.
• Sergio Bianchi and Luigi Di Ruzza (GSE Cassino): Computerized catalogs for Latina and Frosinone provinces.
• Fabrizio Villa (Montespertoli FI): Provided catalogs for Lucca and Massa Carrara provinces up to 1980.

Efforts are underway to create a provisional national case catalog by the end of 1986, with a focus on southern regions.

Catalog of Bibliographic Resources

Marco Bottaini (Pescia PT) has been maintaining a catalog of ufological books owned by Italian researchers using an Apple IIc. This resource aims to help locate books, especially foreign ones that are expensive or hard to find. Partial lists of English and French texts are available from the Secretariat.

International News

• Hynek and Lorenzen: Updates on the health of Joseph Allen Hynek, who is recovering from surgery, and Jim and Coral Lorenzen, who are slowly resuming their publications after the suspension of the APRO Bulletin.

Foreign Books Available via Photocopy

The CISU Foreign Secretariat offers photocopies of six expensive or rare foreign ufology books at the cost of reproduction and shipping:

• "Proceedings of the First CUFOS Conference" (1976) - L. 34,000
• "MUFON Field Investigator's Manual" (1983) - L. 16,000
• "The Archetype Experience" (1984) - L. 11,000
• "UFOs and Outer Space Mysteries" (1982) - L. 11,000
• "UFOs: A Scientific Debate" (1972) - L. 18,000
• "The UFO Verdict" (1981) - L. 14,000

Extraterrestrials or Monkeys?

A March 24 news report suggested that the Roswell flying saucer incident involved a secret US Air Force experiment with three drugged monkeys. This explanation, found in FBI documents, was obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The article notes that this hypothesis was already discussed in the Italian magazine "UFOLOGIA" in 1980, highlighting the need for critical re-evaluation of classic UFO cases.

Special Italy

There are still a few copies of the special issue of the French magazine "OVNI Presence" dedicated to Italian ufology available for L. 7,000 (L. 5,000 for CISU members).

Information - Recent Sightings

This section details recent UFO sightings reported in Italy:

• December 11, 1985: A luminous yellow "cigar" observed near Martignacco (UD).
• December 13, 1985: A widespread "flap" event across Southern Italy, potentially identified as a bolide from the Geminids meteor shower.
• Mid-December: A boy in Buttigliera Alta (TO) photographed a dark, disc-shaped object.
• December 16: A luminous triangle observed near Porcia and Pordenone.
• December 30: A luminous object with a trail seen near Turin.
• January 9, 1986: A disc-shaped object with white and red lights observed near Treviso.
• January 24: A traffic policeman in Orbassano (TO) observed various colored lights.
• February 23: Multiple lights observed in Turin.
• March 13: A luminous cigar-shaped object observed in Imperia, followed by a light with a trail seen in Genoa.
• March 31: Various colored lights observed by an amateur astronomer in Rome.

UFOs on "Rivista Aeronautica"

The article "Pilots and UFOs" in the November/December 1985 issue of "Rivista Aeronautica" is criticized for its uncritical review of classic cases and its interpretation leaning towards extraterrestrial and contactee theories. The article's suggestion to form an official study commission is met with skepticism regarding the seriousness of official interest in UFOs.

UFOs and Charlatans

Alberto Bertuzzi's book "Il mestiere di ciarlatano" is criticized for its aggressive attack on UFOs and witnesses, labeling them as mentally ill and dangerous. The author's dismissal of ufologists and his reliance on a letter from a contactee/medium are highlighted as examples of his ignorance and presumption. The article expresses disappointment that Antonio Chiumiento, a respected Italian ufologist, was also targeted.

CISU News - Members' Assembly

The CISU board met in Milan on January 25 to review the situation and set the Center's action plan for 1986. Projects include regional catalogs, the Origins operation, a UFO database, and a computerized UFO network. New initiatives include a semi-annual magazine and specific monographs. New members will not be appointed in 1986, and national/regional coordinators will be appointed later. The Turin provincial office was established. The General Secretariat (Grassino) and Foreign Secretariat (Russo) roles were confirmed. Two study commissions were approved: one on IR-3 (led by Paolo Fiorino) and another on ufological applications of informatics (led by Verga). Riccardo Germinario will coordinate the video archive. Following the board meeting, a members' assembly approved the CISU Statute and Regulations, and the preliminary budget for 1986.

Membership Campaign 1986

Around a hundred people have joined CISU in the first month and a half of the membership campaign. New members have received their identification cards, accompanying letters, statutes, regulations, and a list of affiliated publications.

Ministry of Defense UFOs

A 52-page "unclassified" fascicle from the Italian Ministry of Defense, titled "Extract of unidentified object sightings from March 1979 to April 1985," is available. It summarizes 69 UFO cases with basic data (date, time, location, shape, color, speed, direction, altitude, weather conditions) but lacks evaluation or detailed descriptions. This effort is seen as bringing Italy closer to other European nations where defense ministries routinely provide such data.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a strong focus on the organizational aspects of ufology in Italy, particularly the establishment and activities of CISU. There is a clear emphasis on systematic research, cataloging of cases, and the dissemination of information through publications and meetings. The magazine also addresses international ufological developments and critiques sensationalism, advocating for a more serious and scientific approach to the study of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting rigorous research, fostering collaboration, and countering misinformation and unsubstantiated claims within the ufological community.