Notizie UFO - No 13

Magazine Overview

Title: NOTIZIE UFO
Issue: 13
Volume: XIII
Date: May 1986
Publisher: CENTRO ITALIANO STUDI UFOLOGICI (CISU)
Country: Italy
Language: Italian

This issue of "Notizie UFO" is presented as a "reduced" circular, primarily serving to announce an upcoming meeting in Bologna and to maintain information flow while awaiting the publication of the CISU's new ufological information magazine. The editorial team expresses gratitude to voluntary contributors.

Materials Received from the Secretariat (DALLA SEGRETERIA MATERIALE RICEVUTO)

The secretariat has received a significant volume of materials from various individuals:

• Giovanni Merlotti (Radio Spazio "R", Siena) provided a 80-page dossier of investigations conducted by his group in the Sienese area, covering cases from the 1950s to 1985. This dossier includes 14 sightings, notably a case of "siliceous cotton" from 1954.
• Mario Bonsignori (Livorno) submitted two reports: one detailing a nocturnal light case from 1978 (5 pages) and another on the fall of a block of ice in Gallicano (LU) in 1983 (6 pages).
• Luciano Toffoli (San Quirino, PN) sent two reports of local sightings that occurred on the evenings of December 11 and 16, 1985 (11 pages).
• Guido Carione (Capaccio Scalo, SA) submitted a lengthy and interesting report (95 pages plus a 15-page appendix of journalistic sources) on a Marian apparition case with ufological connections in Oliveto Citra (SA).

The issue also acknowledges various collaborators who have sent archival material, including Mariella Bernacchi, Ezio Bernardini, Solas Boncompagni, Mario Cingolani, Umberto Cordier, Alessandro Cortellazzi, Nino Crosignani, Roberto and Marisa Dri, Francesco Fasolo, Renato Fedele, Angelo Ferlicca, Lorenzo Massai, Mario Pescatore, Antonino Rampulla, Pier Luigi Sani, Michele Sisti, Umberto Telarico, Paolo Toselli, Massimo Valloscuo, and Maurizio Verga.

Ufological Publications (PUBBLICAZIONI UFOLOGICHE)

Reviews of recent publications are provided:

• CONTACT INTERNATIONAL (Rome), Year XIII, issues 1 and 2 (early 1986). Issue 1 features an editorial discussing the CISU's founding and proposing reflections on the initiative, along with a report on the San Quirino (PN) case from April 1985. Issue 2 focuses on a well-known English case from 1979 with physical traces, referencing the Flying Saucer Review.
• NOVA ASTRONAUTICA (A.S.P.S., Rome), Supplement to issue 27, Vol. 6 (January-February-March 1986), titled "The UFO Question." This supplement is a continuation of a previous one and discusses the contents of the prior issue, including critical notes from Roberto Farabone and responses from ASPS, concerning the connections between ufology and the study of non-Newtonian propulsion.
• GLI ARGONAUTI (Montalcino), Quaderno n. 17/18 (February-March 1986). This publication summarizes the activities of the Montalcino group and includes an article on the distribution of UFO sightings over time.

CISU Board Meeting (CONSIGLIO DIRETTIVO)

A meeting of the CISU Board was held in Milan on Saturday, April 19, 1986. The agenda included the 1986 membership campaign and the publication of the new CISU magazine. Much of the meeting was dedicated to planning and revising the magazine's content, with its publication delayed to June due to text preparation delays. An assembly of members was decided upon to define the Center's external communication "line." The dates for a series of working meetings on specific themes were also set, with the first to be held in Bologna and a second in the autumn, possibly in Rome, to facilitate collaborators from the central-southern regions. The full minutes are available to interested members and collaborators.

Computerized Ufological Network (RETE UFOLOGICA COMPUTERIZZATA)

Since its inception, the working group for personal computer users has achieved notable results. Currently, 22 Commodore and 9 Apple II computers are directly or indirectly connected to the network. Initial efforts focused on regional cataloging and text processing for the CISU's publications. More importantly, this network has laid the groundwork for collaborative team operations on common projects, connecting individuals regardless of their geographical distance. The success is attributed to the organizer, Maurizio Verga, who manages program distribution, receives completed work, and publishes the "Bollettino R.U.C." and the "Computer UFO Newsletter." The latter is described as a unique publication globally, highlighting the advanced use of computers in Italian ufology for activity coordination and model compatibility, even surpassing that in the USA.

Recommendations are given for purchasing compatible computer systems, favoring Commodore 64/128 and Apple II (II, IIe, IIc), or PC-IBM compatibles (MS-DOS). Sinclair and MSX systems are discouraged. Further information can be obtained from the Secretariat or Maurizio Verga in Cermenate (CO).

Regional Catalogs (CATALOGHI REGIONALI)

Marco Bottaini (Pescia) has completed a significant project cataloging Tuscan UFO cases. Based on provincial lists compiled by himself and other regional researchers (including Fabrizio Villa), Bottaini has cataloged 814 Tuscan cases. This data has been loaded onto an Apple IIc computer using a custom archiving program. The resulting 80-page report details cases chronologically for the entire region, provides a catalog of sources for each case according to the methodology of Baca Dati Ufologica, and includes statistical analyses in tables, graphs, and diagrams. Bottaini has also finished a 40-column version of the data entry program, available from the Secretariat, which is compatible with Apple II+ and IIe models.

Request for Collaboration (RICHIESTA DI COLLABORAZIONE)

A request for help in checking back issues of "Giornale dei Misteri" for UFO sightings has received a positive response. Marcello Pupilli noted that a similar effort should be made for other ufological magazines that are not always easily accessible to regional catalog curators. The invitation is extended to individuals possessing back issues of publications like "Notiziario UFO," "Cielo e Terra," "Clypeus," or "Gli Arcani" who are willing to compile lists of published cases according to specified guidelines, which will be provided via a separate circular upon request.

Recent Sightings (AVVISTAMENTI RECENTI)

Several recent sightings have been reported:

• April 20 (Sunday): Around 6 PM in Torino, two individuals observed a spherical white object that approached directly overhead and then remained stationary for about half an hour, moving up and down and reflecting sunlight.
• April 20 (Tuesday evening): In Revello (CN), several people observed a strange white rhomboid object with multiple lights that emitted a loud hum.
• May 6 (Tuesday): Around 10 PM in Riccione (FO), some individuals were frightened by the movements of a luminous orange sphere in the sky.
• May 9 (Friday): In Moncalieri (TO), a white intermittent light, twice the size of a star, was reported to be rotating on its axis. Further investigation identified it as the planet Venus.
• April 22: The well-known "Goodyear" dirigible passed over Torino, prompting numerous sighting reports in the local newspaper "La Stampa."

Milan Conference (IL CONVEGNO DI MILANO)

The "First European Conference on Ufology" was held in Milan on April 26-27, organized by the group "Le Plejadi Arcadia." The conference featured various speakers discussing topics such as contactism, extragalactic flights, clipeology, and photos of invisible UFOs in the Black Forest. However, the tone of some presentations, including accounts of beings "shedding" their skin (similar to TV "Visitors"), alleged "magnetic rings" for UFO detection, and other sensational claims, led journalists covering the event to be critical and ironic. This reportedly disrupted the ongoing effort to improve ufology's public image.

Following the conference, a fascicle was published with the "C.I.S.U." acronym on the cover, and announcements were made regarding the "fusion" of CISU with "Le Plejadi Arcadia" and CISU's participation in organizing the Milan event. The CISU clarifies that these statements are entirely unfounded. No fusion has occurred or will occur with other organizations, nor did CISU have any part in organizing the event or preparing its bulletin. The CISU attributes these claims to misinterpretations by the organizing group's representatives and expresses hope that such "incidents" will not recur.

Civil Protection and UFOs (PROTEZIONE CIVILE E UFO)

In response to reports about a collaboration between the Italian Center for Ufological Studies (CISU) and the Ministry of Civil Protection, the following clarification is provided: Professor Italo Zoratto, a vulcanologist, attended the Milan conference as an invited speaker. During his presentation, he unexpectedly proposed collaboration with Voluntary Civil Protection within areas of mutual interest and activity. The President of CISU, Antonio Chiumiento, accepted this proposal, though the concrete terms have not yet been defined.

UFO and Scientific Dissemination (UFO E DIVULGAZIONE SCIENTIFICA)

In recent times, several scientists, particularly astronomers, have publicly addressed the UFO topic through articles and interventions, indicating a perhaps unexpected level of attention.

• Aurelio Robotti's article in "Tuttoscienze" (April 16) is mentioned, which critically examined the extraterrestrial hypothesis and highlighted phenomena that could explain UFO sightings, ranging from common occurrences like meteors and balloons to more unusual ones like high-altitude birds, auroras, and ball lightning.
• The astronomy magazine "ORIONE" dedicated a special March-April issue to the "UFO problem," breaking a long-standing silence and indifference towards ufology in scientific publishing. This issue includes a historical introduction to UFO phenomena, a "targeted" bibliography by Piero Amoroso and Mauro Arpino, an article by French ufologist Pierre Guérin, and an interview with Antonio Chiumiento discussing the Cecconi case and his views on UFO interpretations. It also features contributions from astronomers Walter Ferreri and Vincenzo Zappalà, who discuss the difficulties of celestial observation and potential misinterpretations by inexperienced witnesses. These perspectives lead to a degree of skepticism regarding UFO cases and a negative view of the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) as the sole explanation.
• A televised roundtable discussion on May 14, following the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," is also noted. Despite the participation of qualified individuals (astronomer Masani, "L'Astronomia" deputy editor Lamberti, journalist Bianucci, astronaut candidate Cosmivici), the debate, partly due to the presence of theologian Padre Reginaldo Francisco, only superficially touched upon the film and UFOs. The discussion quickly devolved into speculative tangents about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and evolved civilizations.

Despite some superficiality and overly simplistic explanations, the scientists' engagement with ufology is seen as a positive development. They discussed hypotheses and IFOs (Identified Flying Objects) with a degree of critical insight, moving beyond the usual tones of irony and disinterest.

CISU Meeting in Bologna (INCONTRO DEL CISU A BOLOGNA)

A working meeting organized by the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici will take place on Sunday, June 29, in Bologna at the Hotel Alexander. The meeting will focus on the ongoing activities of archiving and cataloging Italian UFO cases, including the Ufological Database, Regional Catalog Projects, Operation Origins, ITACAT, TRACAT, and Project Italia 3. Special attention will be given to the computer aspect (Computerized Ufological Network) to review the current situation, compare experiences, share ideas, and present proposals for future work. The meeting is not open to the public, but invitations are extended to all interested individuals, including non-associates, who wish to attend even just to learn about these activities. Work is scheduled to begin around 10 AM and conclude around 5 PM, with a lunch break. Attendees planning to participate are advised to arrive on Saturday evening and stay overnight in Bologna. For further information, contact Gian Paolo Grassino or Edoardo Russo.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Notizie UFO" reflects a commitment to disseminating information within the Italian ufological community. The editorial stance emphasizes the importance of detailed case documentation, the use of modern technology like personal computers for data management, and the need for a scientifically grounded approach to UFO research. There is a clear effort to correct misinformation and clarify the CISU's position regarding collaborations and organizational affiliations. The magazine also highlights the growing, albeit sometimes critical, engagement of the scientific community with the UFO phenomenon, while cautioning against simplistic explanations and sensationalism. The recurring theme is the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of UFO-related data, with a focus on collaboration and technological advancement within the field.