Notizie UFO - No 15

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Notizie UFO" (Issue 15, September 1986) is a circular from the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU), based in Turin, Italy. The publication, edited by Gian Paolo Grassino, covers UFO sightings and related research. Despite a slightly lower number of sightings compared to the previous year, the summer of 1986 saw a notable number of reports, necessitating a delay in the full synthesis of September cases due to space constraints. The magazine also highlights ongoing activities and upcoming initiatives, including a convention in Rome scheduled for November and the preparation of the second issue, anticipated for early December.

Material Received from the Secretariat

The secretariat has received a significant amount of material, including detailed investigation reports. Francesco Fasolo (Robegano, VE) submitted two reports on sightings in Mestre (May 21, 1986) and Mirano (July 16, 1986). Renato Fedele (Caserta) prepared a 25-page report on a probable bolide sighting by 14 witnesses in Caserta on December 13, 1985. Paolo Fiorino (Torino), along with Massimo Greco, conducted an investigation into the IR-3 case in Rudiano (BS) on July 13, 1986, resulting in a 23-page report. Pietro Forgnone (Forlì) sent a brief report from June 26, 1986. Giovanni Merlotti (Siena) provided seven pages of clarifications on local sightings of 'mysterious animals' linked by the press to UFO problems. Massimo Nebbia (Torino) reported on a nocturnal light case in Alpignano (TO) on July 7, 1986. Giorgio Pattera (Parma) submitted a report on a large fiery globe sighting in Cozzano (PR) on January 25, 1984. Luca Rota (Calolziocorte, BG) sent four pages of sightings from the summer, and Moreno Tambellini (Borgo a Mozzano, LU) conducted a retrospective investigation into a 1943 case in Bagni di Lucca (7 pages).

The magazine also thanks numerous collaborators for sending in donations, economic contributions, and subscriptions, including Angelo Baravalle, Angelo Campagna, Fulvio Colombo, Giulio Croatto, Paolo Fiorino, Gian Paolo Grassino, Vera Kupfer, Mario Pescatore, Luigi Sorgno, and Maurizio Verga. Further thanks are extended to collaborators who provided newspaper clippings and other materials, such as Francesco Alfieri, Marco Bottaini, Umberto Cordier, Alessandro Cortellazzi, Marcello Crinò, Vittorio Crosa, Fabrizio Dividi, Roberto and Marisa Dri, Angelo Ferlicca, Bruno Ferrari, Paolo Fiorino, Massimo Greco, Angelo Iacopino, Vera Kupfer, Massimo Latini, Bruno Mancusi, Lorenzo Massai, Massimo Panebianco, Giorgio Pattera, Mario Pescatore, Antonio Sortino, Moreno Tambellini, Jean-Pierre Troadec, Massimo Valloscuro, and Maurizio Verga, as well as anonymous contributors.

Received Publications

The "Notiziario Solaris" (Naples), edited by Giorgio Russolillo, is reviewed. The magazine notes improvements in its graphic presentation and highlights articles on the philosophy of ufological research and the stimulus-witness interaction. It also mentions two IR-3 cases from Campania that occurred in 1977 and 1986. CISU members and collaborators receive a 30% discount on subscriptions. "Il Gollum" (Ancona), a monthly publication on the unusual, is resuming publication with a new tabloid format and regional distribution. CISU members can subscribe at a reduced rate. "Sonar-Informazione" (Pesaro), a photocopied publication (6 pages), is also received, paralleling the radio program "Sonar." Several other publications previously reviewed in "Notizie UFO" are acknowledged for their regular submissions: "Gli Argonauti" (Montalcino-SI), "Circolare Blitz" (Trento), "Contact International" (Rome), "Nonsiamoli" (S. Elpidio-AP), and "Sky Sentinel" (Milan).

The A.S.P.S. (Associazione Sviluppo Propulsione Spaziale) clarifies that it is not a ufological group but an association focused on propulsion and interstellar flight, addressing "technological UFOs" within the context of non-Newtonian propulsion systems. Their annual supplement, "La questione UFO," was reviewed by the magazine. Umberto Cordier (Savona) has published a new book, "Guida ai draghi e mostri in Italia" (Guide to Dragons and Monsters in Italy), which is recommended for those interested in cryptozoology.

For Collectors

The first six years of the "Notiziario CUN" (later "Notiziario UFO"), from 1966 to issue 41 (December 1971), are now available in photocopy. This collection, comprising over a thousand pages, costs L. 100,000 for reproduction and shipping.

Brief Personal Notes

Fulvio Colombo (Torino) is organizing the archive related to "spatial archeology" and is interested in exchanging material and information on the subject. Giorgio Russolillo (Naples) is seeking a copy of John Keel's book, "Creature dall'ignoto" (Creatures from the Unknown).

Ongoing Activities

Provincial Sightings Catalogs and Computerization:
Francesco Alfieri (Catanzaro) has completed the regional catalog for Calabria and computerized it on a Commodore 64. Umberto Cordier (Savona) has resumed work on the Ligurian catalog, expanding and computerizing it on an Apple II. Edoardo Russo (Torino) has created catalogs for Sardinian provinces on a Commodore. Renzo Cabassi (Bologna) has computerized the catalog of Italian IR-3 cases, originally compiled by Paolo Fiorino, on an Apple.

Translations and Text Typing:
Massimo Nebbia (Villarbasse), Marcello Pupilli (Falconara Marittima), and Luigi Sorgno (Torino) have completed English translations. During the summer holidays, Fabrizio Dividi and Camillo Michieletto (Turin) finished typing texts for publication in the Center's magazines and monographs, as did Mauro Iotti (Parma).

UFO Magazine Indexing

Vittorio Crosa (Busalla), Ermenegildo Persone' (Rome), and Massimo Valloscuro (Terni) have contributed their part to the indexing of "Il Giornale dei Misteri" magazine. The magazine corrects a previous inaccuracy, thanking Paolo Broccoli instead of Giovanni Ricciardi for similar indexing work.

Computerized UFO Network

Maurizio Verga, the coordinator, has released a new, corrected, and expanded version (release 3.1) of the sighting catalog management program for Commodore 64, developed by Edoardo Russo. Marco Bottaini has also completed a statistical package for the UFOBANK program on Apple II, which is now available in English.

Magazine Promotion

To support the launch of the new CISU periodical, "UFO - Rivista di Informazione Ufologica," several CISU members and collaborators published extensive articles and interviews in Italian newspapers during the summer. Mauro Iotti and Giorgio Pattera received a review of the first issue in "Gazzetta di Parma" (July 27). Giovanni Merlotti published a similar review in "Corriere di Siena" (August 11) and "Il Campo di Siena" (August 17). An interview with Gian Paolo Grassino, featuring excerpts from the magazine, appeared in "Stampa Sera" (August 23). Maurizio Verga conducted promotional interviews that were published in "La Provincia di Como" (August 26), "L'Eco di Bergamo" and "Bergamo Oggi" (August 27), and "Corriere della Sera" (September 11). The magazine thanks these individuals and other collaborators who helped distribute the magazine and collect subscriptions, including Roberto Cappelli, Antonio Chiumiento, Alessandro Cortellazzi, Renato Fedele, Massimo Greco, Marcello Pupilli, Dario Spada, Francesco Sortino, Paolo Toselli, Massimo Valloscuro, and Giuseppe Zurco.

Newspaper Interviews

Antonio Chiumiento has been active with numerous press interventions. His "information agency" activities regarding recent sightings led to national press coverage on various dates in July, August, and September. He was interviewed by "La Tribuna di Treviso" (July 12 and August 30), "L'Arena di Verona" (July 17 and August 25), "L'Adige" of Trento (August 24), and "Paese Sera" of Rome (September 10). He also participated in a RAI interview on GR-1 (August 16) and the program "Che cosa è?" on Radiodue (August 26). Two "false interviews" (editorial rearrangements of press releases) appeared in "La Notte" (August 25) and "Domenica del Corriere" (September 27) concerning an abduction case. Edoardo Russo was interviewed by "La Stampa" of Turin (September 3) about local sightings. Most of these CISU interventions are reported in the "Notiziario Archivio Stampa."

Telephone Secretariat in Rome

Fabrizio Arcese, Ezio Bernardini, and Claudio Zacchia, CISU collaborators in Rome, have established a permanent telephone secretariat service in the capital to collect UFO reports. The number (06) 503.75.65 has been operational since early August and is listed in "Il Messaggero." The service has received numerous prank calls, some sighting reports, and significant attention from journalists.

July Sightings

On July 1, two tourists in Asiago (VI) observed a slow-moving, ellipsoidal grey object with a small dome. Later that day, a young man from Cuneo observed a similar object with a small dome through binoculars. During the first week of July, white lights were observed moving, stopping, and restarting in the sky over Novi Ligure (AL). Luca Rota reported repeated sightings of a luminous object hovering almost immovably for several hours between July 10 and 20 near Calolziocorte (BG). Similar sightings of a luminous object hovering for extended periods were reported from Rome. On July 7, a luminous object was observed hovering from 10:30 PM to midnight in Alpignano (TO). On July 9, a large luminous sphere was seen zigzagging in Bibione (VE) at 11 PM. Within an hour, two couples on the beach in Caorle (VE) witnessed an orange-yellow sphere, partially submerged in the sea, emitting luminous flashes, before emerging and flying away with a roar. On July 13, two women observed a luminous object hovering in Mestre (VE), which was later seen around 10 PM on July 16 in Mirano (VE) (investigated by Roberto Fasolo) and again in Mestre, described as a polyp-like entity with luminous tentacles, photographed while rotating. A "FLAP" event occurred in Brescia with IR-3 sightings. Between 11 PM and midnight on Saturday, July 12, dozens of people in Rudiano (BS) and surrounding towns observed a luminous object, intermittent flashes, or a colored mist rising and descending, sometimes skimming rooftops and once chasing a couple. The carabinieri also observed the light, which was attributed to disco lights. On the night of July 13, a farmer in Rudiano saw a small "man" about 7-8 years old with a large, bald head. Upon approach, the figure ran into a box that suddenly lit up. The sightings and IR-3 are part of a local flap. On the evening of July 13, a woman and her son in Rudiano observed another white spherical object with a rotating ring of multicolored lights moving at low altitude. On the night of July 16-17, dogs barked in Rudiano around 2 AM, alerting a farmer who saw a "hairy beast" with a disproportionately large head and big ears, which frightened animals and left tracks. On the night of July 18-19, two girls in Castelcovati observed a red spherical light, the size of a balloon, hovering. Investigations and surveys were conducted by Paolo Fiorino and Massimo Greco.

"Abduction" in Ferragosto

After a lull in sightings during the first half of August (except for a photo of a red light over Turin on July 23.45), activity resumed on the night of August 14. Between 1 AM and 1:30 AM, three red luminous objects arranged in a triangle hovered for 10 minutes in Porto Recanati (MC) before moving in different directions. On the same evening at 8:30 PM, a couple in Lasino (TN) saw a large torpedo-shaped object with a dome moving at high speed, emitting a blinding white light. At 11 PM on August 15, a couple vacationing in Calalzo di Cadore (BL) saw a blue-grey disc-shaped object with a dome descend and land near them at the edge of a forest. They lost consciousness for two hours. Antonio Chiumiento investigated and found a circular trace of flattened, blackened grass, 8-9 meters in diameter. Under hypnotic regression, the couple recalled being taken by two beings approximately 2 meters tall, wearing grey suits, with bald heads, phosphorescent eyes, pointed ears, and a slit for a mouth. They were taken inside the object, where there were various colored lights, and apparently underwent examinations. On Wednesday, August 20, a pilot in Vigonovo (PN) observed a round, whitish object emitting strange flashes for about three minutes. On August 22, around 11 AM, another pilot flying a tourist plane near Trento nearly collided with a metallic grey ovoid object with intense lights of various colors in the central part, which suddenly moved away at high speed. On Sunday, August 24, at 10 PM, a very luminous and fast object was seen by a collaborator in S. Vito al Tagliamento (PN). At 11 PM, a large light moving in a zig-zag pattern was seen in Barlassina (MI), and at 11:30 PM in Trieste, a luminous disc was observed moving slowly over the gulf. On August 28, at 5 PM, dozens of people in Treviso and Vedelago observed a large, fluorescent round object, the upper part of which seemed hidden by a dark cloud, with intermittent lights of changing colors visible on the lower part. After about 15 minutes of immobility, the object began to rotate and moved away vertically at high speed. On August 30, at 1:30 AM, three entrepreneurs in Viverone (VC) observed a luminous triangular object hovering motionless for over an hour (investigated by Gian Paolo Grassino and Edoardo Russo). Finally, at 1 PM on the same day, a group of people near Solferino (BS) heard a deafening noise and saw a fuselage-like aircraft without wings arrive, hover motionless for a minute, emitting a lemon-like odor, and then ascend and move away in a zig-zag pattern.

Failed Contactee Convention

Around mid-August, a supplement to the contactee periodical "Nonsiamoli" announced a convention in Sanremo for August 29-31, sponsored by the local tourism board. The event was expected to feature contactee Eugenio Siragusa and Professor Hermann Oberth, who was described as being "in contact with extraterrestrial intelligences." However, the convention was canceled at the last minute due to the withdrawal of support from local entities, which the organizers attributed to "underground maneuvers." The failure of this event raised concerns within the ufological community about the potential for discrediting the field. The magazine emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between contactee experiences, which are seen as a form of personal belief or religion, and ufological study, which relies on scientific observation. It expresses a desire to avoid future involvement with contexts and individuals who admit to having no connection with what they define as "the synod of ufologists."

Foreign Opinion Polls on UFOs

Following polls in 1966, 1973, and 1978, a new survey on UFOs was conducted in the United States the previous year on behalf of the National Science Foundation, involving 2000 American citizens. The survey revealed a generally confused and misinformed attitude towards technology and science. It found that 43% of respondents believed it was probable that some unidentified flying objects were actually spacecraft from other civilizations, equating to over 73 million Americans. The conviction that extraterrestrial visitors exist is comparable to beliefs that "missile launches and other space activities have caused meteorological changes" and that "certain numbers are particularly lucky for some people," placing it among typical irrational opinions of the era. A similar survey on extraterrestrial life in Switzerland, released in January by the Swiss demoscopic institute, indicated that 42% of respondents were convinced of the existence of other living beings in the cosmos, while 34% believed humanity was alone.

"The Blue Book" in Photocopy

The CISU foreign secretariat offers photocopies of two additional foreign ufological books: Michel Monnerie's "Le naufrage des extraterrestres" (1979) for L.12,000 and Bertrand Meheust's "Soucoupes volantes et folklore" (1985) for L.10,000. Also available is a photocopy of the "Report No. 14" from the "Project Blue Book," which analyzed cases collected by the U.S. Air Force between 1947-1954. This 88-page document, along with Bruce Maccabee's critical analysis (52 pages, L.6,000), is recommended. A "first" is also available: a declassified U.S. Air Force document from December 1948, titled "Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the U.S." (Air Intelligence Report No. 100-203-79), released in March 1985 after being classified "top secret" for 36 years. This 19-page fascicle includes a presentation by MUFON director Walt Andrus (L.2,000). Those who purchase at least two of these documents will receive a complimentary copy of the concluding report (4 pages) from a study on UFOs conducted by Northern Ohio University in 1953, titled "Project 'A' the Investigation of Phenomena."

National Convention in Rome

A national convention organized by the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici will be held in Rome on Saturday, November 29, at the Hotel Casa Kolbe. The theme is "Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Their Role in the Study of the UFO Phenomenon." The event, open to the public, will run from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM and will include study reports, brief communications, and discussions. Those wishing to present a paper are asked to contact the secretariat immediately and send a written text. Short communications (maximum 4 pages) can be submitted at the registration desk until the start of the convention. On Sunday morning, November 30, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, a closed discussion session for researchers will be held to discuss ongoing and planned activities. These two days are the first in a series of periodic meetings, complementing "working" meetings like the one in Bologna, aimed at discussing particular topics for CISU members and collaborators, but also open to non-members and the public to encourage broader participation. This event offers an opportunity to meet collaborators and other researchers from central-southern Italy. Information and hotel reservations can be made by contacting Gian Paolo Grassino (011-44.76.330), Edoardo Russo (011-32.56.57 during meal times), or the secretariat's telephone line (011-329.02.79, Tuesday evenings after 9 PM, or by leaving a recorded message).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes the ongoing research and documentation of UFO sightings in Italy, highlighting the work of CISU collaborators. There is a clear distinction made between ufological investigation and contactee phenomena, with the editorial stance favoring empirical study over unsubstantiated claims. The magazine also addresses public perception of UFOs and the importance of accurate reporting. The promotion of CISU's own publication, "UFO - Rivista di Informazione Ufologica," is a significant theme, with efforts to gain wider media coverage. The availability of historical UFO documents, such as the "Blue Book" report, is also a recurring interest, catering to researchers and enthusiasts.