Notizie UFO - No 14

Magazine Overview

This issue of "NOTIZIE UFO" is the 14th publication from the "CIRCOLARE DELLA SEGRETERIA DEL CENTRO ITALIANO STUDI UFOLOGICI" (Circular of the Secretariat of the Italian Center for Ufological Studies), dated July 1986. The cover prominently features the title "NOTIZIE UFO" and contact information for the secretariat in Turin. The issue focuses on recent ufological activities, including the launch of a new magazine, ongoing research projects, and numerous sighting reports from across Italy.

From the Secretariat

The secretariat reports a general increase in UFO sightings across Italy, typical for the summer season. The major event of June was the publication of the first issue of "UFO - RIVISTA DI INFORMAZIONE UFOLOGICA," a new semiannual magazine sent as a sample to most "Notizie UFO" readers. A review of the first semester of CISU's activities highlights collective participation in regional cataloging, a computerized network, archival research, and magazine indexing, all driven by enthusiastic collaborators. The secretariat's telephone line will remain operational throughout August for urgent messages. The secretariat also expresses gratitude to friends who have sent financial contributions and material, particularly newspaper clippings, forming a valuable press monitoring network.

Material Received

The secretariat has received various reports and materials. Antonio Blanco (Catania) sent a 7-page report on an investigation into a sighting of a luminous object in Sicily in July 1984, conducted with Antonio Rampualla. Giovanni Merlottti (Radio Spazio "R" Siena) provided an update on local case files with 3 sightings from 1985. Vittorio Crosa (Centro Ricerche Valle Scrivia - Busalla, GE) forwarded 36 pages of case files related to recent sightings in the Bari region, compiled by the CSR group of Barletta. Maurizio Verga (Cermenate, CO) submitted a definitive update to the ITACAT database (49 pages). Paolo Toselli (Alessandria) conducted a new investigation in Varzi (PV), gathering new testimony about tracks related to a known case from June 5, 1983 (5 pages).

Numerous individuals are thanked for sending newspaper articles related to recent sightings, contributing to a vital press monitoring network. Special thanks are given to Carlo Ameri (Ancona), Fabrizio Arcese (Rome), Angelo Ferlicca (Milan), and Giorgio Russolillo (Naples) for their substantial contributions of clippings.

The New CISU Magazine

The first issue of the semiannual magazine "UFO - RIVISTA DI INFORMAZIONE UFOLOGICA" was released in late June. Those who haven't received it can request it. The annual subscription for 1986 is L.10,000, with various combination options with other CISU publications like "Notizie UFO" (L.5,000) and "Notiziario Archivio Stampa" (L.6,000). Subscriptions are included in the membership fee for CISU members and collaborators. The magazine is also distributed through volunteer associates in bookstores and newsstands. Associates are encouraged to help distribute copies, display promotional materials, and share explanatory circulars. Another form of collaboration involves identifying companies potentially interested in advertising in the magazine, provided the advertisements do not harm CISU's image or the magazine's seriousness.

Guide to Ufology

The CISU secretariat has acquired a stock of Allan Hendry's book "Guida all'ufologia" (1980) for members and collaborators who lack it. The book, based on 1300 cases analyzed by the Center for UFO Studies, is considered an excellent introduction to ufology, particularly regarding IFOs and UFOs, and covers case collection and testimony analysis. It is recommended alongside the "Manual of Ufological Investigation Methodology."

CISU Directive Council and Assembly

On Saturday, June 28, the CISU directive council met in Bologna to discuss activities from the first semester and future action plans. A key topic was the Center's external communication strategy, especially regarding interviews and news given to the press. Pending a common line defined by the assembly, members agreed to refrain from personal evaluations and comments to maintain strict neutrality. The subsequent general assembly examined drafts of a code of conduct and a presentation leaflet for the Center, comparing them with similar French and English initiatives. The secretariat will process feedback before final implementation.

Bologna Meeting

On Sunday, June 29, a working meeting was held in Bologna organized by CISU to discuss the archiving and organization of Italian UFO case files. Over 20 members and collaborators from various regions attended. The meeting presented the goals, activities, and prospects of ongoing projects, including the UFO Database, Regional Catalogs, Computerized UFO Network, Project Italia 3, Operation Origins, and ITACAT. Proposals for further development and new initiatives for analyzing collected case files, with a focus on computer tools, were also examined.

Activities in Progress

Regional Catalogs

Four new regional catalogs have been added for southern Italy. Giorgio Russolillo (CNR Solaris, Naples) will cover Campania; Arcangelo Cassano (Bari) is cataloging Puglia; Francesco Alfieri (Catanzaro) has established a regional archive for Calabria; and Francesco Sortino (Palermo) has created an initial list for Sicily. Gabriele Petromilli (Ancona) confirmed the upcoming publication of his dossier on the Marche region's case files.

Computerized Ufological Network

Progress has been made in computerizing provincial sighting catalogs. Hundreds of cases have been loaded onto Commodore 64 computers. The Lazio region's catalog was completed by Luigi Di Ruzza and Sergio Bianchi (GSE, Cassino) with Claudio Zacchia (Rome). Francesco Alfieri (Catanzaro) has loaded catalogs for Umbria and Trentino-Alto Adige. Francesco Sortino has computerized 7 out of 9 Sicilian provinces. Maurizio Verga (Cermenate) updated catalogs for some Tuscan provinces, and Mauro Iotti (Parma) has the Parma province case files. Text typing for the magazine and CISU monographs has also advanced, thanks to collaborations from Antonello Casiroli, Fabrizio Dividi, Camillo Michieletto, and others.

Translators

Encouraging results are emerging from the network of translators for foreign articles, with contributions from Massimo Greco, Marco Mucci, Massimo Nebbia, Giovanni Platania, Marcello Pupilli, Ezio Bernardini, Mario Lorenzati, Luigi Sorgno, and Giuseppe Verdi.

Control of Old Ufological Magazines

Initial cataloging of "Giornale dei Misteri" has been received from Marcello Pupilli (Falconara), Mario Pescatore (Terlizzi), and Paolo Broccoli (Teano). The project seeks collaboration for other "G.d.M." lists and older ufological magazines like "Notiziario UFO" and "Cielo e Terra."

Local Outreach

Several local outreach activities by CISU members are highlighted. Maurizio Verga featured in a Como monthly magazine, and Edoardo Russo in an Alessandria weekly, presenting local sightings and CISU's research. Moreno Tambellini organized a successful photographic exhibition with the SHADO group in Fornaci di Barga. Television coverage included a series on "Teleleonessa" in Brescia by Massimo Greco and Antonio Sorlini, and an interview with Maurizio Verga on "Tele Spazio Lecco." Massimo Greco was interviewed by "Bresciaoggi" and "Il Giorno." Antonio Chiumiento was frequently featured in national newspapers with interviews and letters. He also gave an interview to "GR-2" RAI. The launch of the new CISU magazine was announced via a press conference in Turin and an ANSA press release, receiving coverage from "La Stampa," RAI 3 Piemonte, and local broadcasters, including an interview with Gian Paolo Grassino on "Videogruppo TV."

Recent Sightings

A notable increase in UFO sightings has been reported since late May, with several incidents detailed:

• May 22, 1986: A young man in Calolziocorte (BG) reported hearing a loud noise and seeing a bright light from a nearby hill.
• May 25-26, 1986: Sightings occurred in Campoformido (UD).
• May 27, 1986: A priest in Fagagna (UD) observed a black, cigar-shaped object performing rapid evolutions.
• May 27-28, 1986: Multiple people in Trieste reported a sighting.
• May 29-30, 1986: Individuals in Acqui, Ovada, and Cantalupo (AL) reported a luminous object in the sky.
• May 30, 1986: A person in Mombercelli (AT) observed a pale circular light moving above rooftops and attempted to film it. Paolo Toselli's investigation confirmed the light was too weak to be captured on video.
• Late May/Early June 1986: A series of observations of strange round lights in Milan attracted media and ufologist attention. Reports described lights moving quickly, stopping suddenly, and appearing like "small suns." Over several nights, thousands witnessed "luminous discs" of white, dazzling light moving rapidly, sometimes in formation. Some witnesses took photos. The phenomenon was initially attributed to powerful "Cannon Space" projectors used for a publicity event at the Molinello Sports Center in Rho, capable of projecting beams up to two kilometers high. However, some witnesses reported that not all cases could be explained by these projectors.
• June 4, 1986: Sightings in Lombardy included a stationary light near Barlassina (MI) that changed shape and moved away after 15 minutes, and a yellow luminous object moving slowly in Valeggio (PV). A luminous object was also seen over the mountains near Milan.
• June 2, 1986: Two teachers on the Salerno-Avellino highway reported a luminous sphere, several meters in diameter, positioned near the road, with two tall, dark-haired "beings" nearby. The object emitted a whistle and moved away at high speed.
• June 13, 1986: Two farmers in Atripalda (AV) reported a two-meter-tall, hairy creature with glowing eyes. The creature moved towards a nearby wood, from which a round, bluish luminous object then ascended and moved away rapidly. This case is linked to reports of the "Irpinia monster."
• June 8, 1986: Five reddish-orange disc-shaped objects were observed for about 10 minutes off the coast between Palmi and Bagnara Calabria (RC).
• June 12, 1986: Two reports from Torrette di Ancona (a luminous white object over the sea) and Castiglione del Lago (PG) (three luminous spherical objects moving in formation before descending into the lake).
• June 16-17, 1986: Several inhabitants in S. Vittoria in Materano (AP) were awakened by a loud whistle and observed a round object seemingly supported by a platform.
• June 26, 1986: A dark, heart-shaped object was observed oscillating for several minutes in Forlì.

UFO and Astronomy

The June 1986 issue of "L'Astronomia" (No. 56) featured an article by Alberto Latini titled "A Meteor over Liguria," analyzing the December 5, 1984, flap. The article reconstructs the object's trajectory based on triangulations from various locations and includes a photograph of the luminous cloud that remained visible for about an hour after the event. While the article attributes the phenomenon to a bolide, the data used was largely derived from investigations by Turin ufologists, who had previously suggested the bolide hypothesis. The article can be obtained from the secretariat.

The Case of Oliveto Citra

Following up on a previous report, this section details the phenomena observed in Oliveto Citra (SA) in May 1985. Twelve children heard a child's cry near a ruined castle. The cry intensified when stones were thrown. Three children approached the castle and observed a luminous white light that grew in intensity, revealing a "luminous figure" (identified as "the Madonna") holding a "child." Some witnesses reported seeing a bright light descend onto the castle. Later, two "strange beings" emerged from a garden: one tall with a beard, dressed in white, and the other small, monstrous, with greenish skin, red eyes, pointed ears, protruding canines, and covered in "bubbles." The children described the smaller being as the "devil." The three children also saw a large, luminous object hovering near the ground. These events marked the beginning of a "cult" and a series of strange manifestations, including luminous phenomena, visions, and clairvoyance, which are now under ecclesiastical investigation. Similar phenomena have been reported in Casavatore (BG), Schio (VI), Cardito (NA), Grumo Nevano (BG), Tre Fontane (RM), Bisceglie (BA), Taverola (CS), and Licata (AG). Researchers are encouraged to investigate these cases further.

Brief News

Update from the Ministry

The Ministry of Defense has provided an updated (11-page) list of UFO cases collected by the Italian Air Force's special commission. The secretariat notes that the list is sparse and, given observed errors in some investigated cases, expresses skepticism about the Ministry's serious commitment to the issue.

New UFO Film

A new Italian film is in preparation, focusing on stories of crashed UFOs and captured extraterrestrials in the US during the 1950s, and an encounter between humans and an abandoned alien. The film's protagonist, Agostina Belli, claims to have had a personal sighting and was affiliated with Eugenio Siragusa's "Cosmic Brotherhood" group. The director, Roy Garret, is known for the UFO film "Eyes from the Stars" and the commercial film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

The Passing of Hynek

Joseph Allen Hynek, the renowned American astronomer and a key figure in scientific ufology, passed away in Arizona on April 27 at the age of 76, after a prolonged illness. His life, astronomical career, and role in ufology were previously covered in the magazine. The news was disseminated via an ANSA press release and reported in newspapers, including an article by Margherita Hack in "Corriere della Sera" on July 1.

Meeting with Parisian Ufologists

Paolo Toselli and Maurizio Verga visited Paris on April 3-5, meeting with prominent ufologists from the region, including Claude Mauge, Bertrand Meheust, Thierry Pinvidic, Jacques Scornaux, Wim Van Utrecht, and Michel Monnerie. They discussed the ufological situation in their respective countries. The impression was that a segment of the Parisian group is increasingly focusing on ethno-anthropological interests applied to broader themes beyond ufology. A significant disconnect was noted between the Parisian intellectual elite and provincial ufology, with communication primarily occurring through the Swiss-Marseille magazine "OVNI Presence."

New Books from France

Bertrand Meheust's second book, "Soucoupes volantes et folklore," has been released in France. It continues his analysis from the previous volume, "Science-fiction et soucoupes volantes," exploring themes in legends, symbolism, and folklore, with an original "ethnological" approach, particularly concerning IR-3 and abduction cases. The 190-page book is published by Mercure de France and costs 98 francs. The same publisher is releasing Jacques Vallee's new book, "Alintel" (244 pages, 89 francs), which examines various hypotheses related to the UFO phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Notizie UFO" strongly emphasizes the active and collaborative nature of the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU). The recurring themes include the detailed reporting and investigation of UFO sightings across Italy, the importance of systematic data collection (cataloging, databases), and the dissemination of information through publications and local outreach. The editorial stance appears to be one of thorough research, open inquiry, and a commitment to sharing findings with members and the public, while also maintaining a critical perspective on official reports and the challenges of ufological research. The magazine also highlights the international dimension of ufology through its coverage of French publications and meetings with European ufologists.