Notizie UFO - No 17

Magazine Overview

Title: NOTIZIE UFO
Issue: 17
Date: March 1987
Publisher: Circular of the Secretariat of the Italian Center for Ufological Studies (CISU)
Content: This issue of Notizie UFO, dated March 1987, marks the second year of the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU) and the 40th anniversary of the UFO phenomenon. The magazine highlights recent activities of CISU, including the successful 1987 membership drive and the ongoing work in cataloging sightings and reviewing ufological literature. Several reports of UFO sightings and close encounters from various regions of Italy are detailed, spanning from the 1970s to late 1986 and early 1987. The issue also announces the establishment of the "Premio C.I.S.U." to encourage new contributions to ufology and lists various publications and services offered by CISU, including foreign books and documentation.

Secretariat's Received Material

The secretariat has received a significant amount of material from various individuals and groups. Luigi Di Ruzza submitted three detailed investigation reports on sightings in Chiaiamari (FR) on 2/7/85, Lenola (LT) on 9/8/85, and Cassino (FR) on 19/10/85. Stefano Pozzo provided a report on a personal sighting in Zugliano (UD) from the early 1970s. Giorgio Pattera sent a brief account of a nighttime light case in August 1986 in Palanzano (PR). Luca Rota produced a report on his investigation of a close encounter of the second kind near Calolziocorte (BG). Massimo Staccioli responded to a request with an investigation into a recent close encounter of the third kind (IR-3). Paolo Fiorino wrote a report on a close encounter of the third kind from the previous summer in Val Chiusella (TO), communicated by the witness on a radio program. The secretariat also thanks numerous friends for sending various materials, including articles, sighting reports, and foreign material, specifically mentioning Solas Boncompagni and Giuseppe Stilo from the Ufological Florentine Section (SUF).

Received Publications

The issue lists several received publications. "Dossier SHADO 1971-1986" is a special production by the SHADO group celebrating 15 years of activity, detailing their history, field investigations, and local outreach. "L'Osservatore Ufologico" is a satirical ufological periodical from Giuseppe Verdi, offering ironic commentary and behind-the-scenes accounts. "Contact International Italia" sent issues 5 and 6 of 1986, featuring a translation of a Spanish abduction case and a history of the group. "Il Gollum" (Edizioni Aratron) issue 8 from October 1986 includes ufological reports, local news, and a review of John Rimmer's book. The Edizioni Aratron also sent internal bulletins from the "Centro Indagini Esoteriche" with themes of the unusual and esoteric. "M" is a new graphic format publication curated by Almerindo Duranti, focusing on the extraordinary and mystery, with a section on ufology and the Turin contactee Germana Grosso. "La Fenice" is a new publication from Giulio Croatto Editore, primarily focused on esotericism but with a ufological section. The ongoing arrival of the bulletin "Gli Argonauti" from the Montalcino research group and the "Nonsiamosoli" contactee magazine are also noted. The "Tati Book" catalog is mentioned for its mail-order service of unusual books.

Postal Delays

Due to numerous complaints about late deliveries, the secretariat clarifies that all dispatches of "Notizie UFO" no. 16, the second issue of the "UFO" magazine, "Notiziario Archivio Stampa" nos. 31 and 32, and material for the "Campagna adesioni 1987" were sent out in mid-January, with magazine packages for local distribution sent by the end of the month. The secretariat apologizes for these postal delays and asks anyone who has not received their material to report it. They also inform people who ordered various materials that shipments have been sent out in correspondence with this issue of "Notizie UFO" and new issues of "Notiziario Archivio Stampa".

Acknowledgements

The secretariat expresses gratitude to all collaborators and friends who have renewed their membership and provided financial contributions and donations. They emphasize that self-financing is their sole source of income and that any help leads to new initiatives and publications. Specific thanks are given to Angelo Campagna, Lello Cassano, Antonio De Francesco, Angelo Ferlicca, Giuseppe Nativo, Giuseppe Verdi, Marco Bottaini, Alessandro Cortellazzi, and Alberto Lazzaro.

Archive Donations to CISU

Following the establishment of the Italian Center for Ufological Studies (CISU), several scholars have donated their archives. The most significant acquisition is from honorary president Gianni Settimo, who donated the entire ufological section of the ARCHIVIO CLYPEUS, a major European collection of books and publications. Founding members Paolo Fiorino, Gian Paolo Grassino, Massimo Nebbia, and Edoardo Russo have contributed case material (investigation reports) and journalistic clippings to the CISU Ufological Database. Thanks are also extended to Turin ufologists Arduino Albertini for material collected in the 1960s, and Dario Camurri and Franco Ossola for providing foreign magazines and bulletins.

Ongoing Activities

Work in Progress:

CISU's characteristic innovation is the coordination of decentralized local activities. The cataloging of regional and provincial sightings has accelerated, with a national catalog planned for June. Antonello Casiroli and Maurizio Verga have created the first draft of Lombardy catalogs on a Commodore 64. Sergio Bianchi and Luigi Di Ruzza have revised Lazio provincial catalogs. Alessandro Cortellazzi and Massimo Valloscuo have submitted updates for the catalogs of the Triveneto and Umbria regions. Riccardo De Flora has uploaded over 800 Piedmont cases to a C-64.

Ufological Magazine Indexing:

Massimo Valloscuo has completed the indexing of Italian ufological magazines, including "Giornale dei Misteri" and "Cielo e Terra." Marcello Pupilli has indexed over 40 issues of the latter.

Text Translations and Typing:

Translations of foreign articles for CISU publications and monographs have been completed by Mario Lorenzati and Massimo Nebbia. Nebbia has also typed these texts using a computer. Other members of the "Rete Ufologica Computerizzata" have completed typing work, including Francesco Alfieri, Alessandro Amoroso, Arcangelo Cassano, Massimiliano De Blasi, Francesco Sortino, and Antonello Casiroli.

Dissemination Activities:

Recent dissemination activities have focused on radio. Antonio Chiumiento gave a conference in Trieste on February 11th. Chiumiento also conducted a 5-day daily radio program on Radiotre (RAI Friuli Venezia Giulia) in November, featuring CISU members, witnesses, and experts. Italian radio interviews were conducted with CISU members Claudio Zacchia and Fabrizio Arcese on Radiouno. Other radio activities include Massimo Valloscuo on "Radio Flash" (Terni) and Gian Paolo Grassino on "Radio Torino Popolare." The secretariat encourages members to report any such activities. A long journalistic service on UFOs based on interviews with Antonio Chiumiento and Maurizio Verga appeared in "La Prealpina" (Varese) on December 31st. A summary of Paolo Fiorino's article on the Rudiano case was published in "Giornale di Brescia" on February 24th. On December 27th, a CISU press release summarizing Italian sightings in 1986 was reprinted in various newspapers.

"PREMIO" C.I.S.U.

CISU has established the 1st "Premio for new contributions to ufology" to stimulate original articles, studies, and investigations, and to highlight interesting contributions. The prize is divided into two sections: ARTICLES (theoretical, case studies, bibliographical) and INVESTIGATIONS (investigation reports and retrospective studies of sightings). Submissions must be unpublished and sent to the CISU Secretariat by December 31, 1987. The winners will be chosen by a reading committee and will receive publication of their work, plus a choice of an international magazine subscription, a foreign book, or two Italian books.

Recent Sightings

While the early months of 1987 saw a decrease in reports, December was active. On Sunday, December 7th, around 7 PM, people in Bellaria (FO) observed a luminous disc-shaped object with an orange dome rise from the sea, hover for 10 minutes, and then ascend vertically. On the same evening, around 7:15 PM, two women observed an immobile disc-shaped object at low altitude between Fano (PS) and Città di Castello (PG). A few hours later, at 9:40 PM, in Cardina (CO), ten people observed four luminous discs performing evolutions in the sky for 20 minutes.

On Tuesday, December 9th, at 5 AM, two young people in Pratica a Mare (RM) witnessed a luminous object hovering immovably in the sky and managed to film it. On Thursday, December 11th, at 6 AM, a representative between Castel San Pietro and Imola (BO) saw a silvery, pyramid-shaped object hovering a few meters above his car before it disappeared. On Saturday, December 20th, around 5 PM, dozens of people saw a cigar-shaped beam of light with a yellowish "tail" cross the sky of Asciano (PI). Around the same time, a luminous blue globe surrounded by "iridescent rays" was seen rapidly moving under the clouds by hundreds of people in Spoleto (PG). Numerous other witnesses in Spoleto observed another blue globe with a fiery trail that night. On December 28th, several people in Trapani followed three triangular objects in the sky for about ten minutes. On Monday, December 29th, at 4:30 AM, two street vendors returning to Tresigallo (FE) saw a large, round yellow light that seemed to follow their van before disappearing and then reappearing to hover for a long time.

January Sightings:

In Liguria, on Saturday, January 3rd, from 5 AM to 7 AM, people in Albenga (SV) observed a luminous object emitting light beams towards the sea. The following night, at 4:30 AM on Sunday, January 4th, a resident of Andora (SV) was awakened by barking dogs and saw something emitting light beams over the sea. On January 6th at 6:30 AM, a couple in Ancona observed a whitish cylindrical object moving at low altitude. On January 8th, an operator in Godia (UD) saw a luminous orange object after a brief power outage, which then moved away. On Sunday, January 18th, at 6 PM, two fiancés on the promenade of Porto Recanati (MC) observed a red object that divided into three lights moving in different directions for five minutes. At the end of January, repeated sightings of a bright yellow light were reported above the powder magazine in Rovereto (TN) between 6 AM and 7:15 AM.

"Things" Falling from the Sky

On February 12th, a large block of yellow ice fell into a courtyard in Chivasso (TO), disintegrating into thousands of pieces and leaving an oval imprint 50 centimeters long. Fragments analyzed by the USL contained only water with impurities. The investigation, including a site inspection, was conducted by Edoardo Russo. The most probable hypothesis is the discharge from an aircraft's toilet. About a month later, a metallic object weighing several kilograms fell onto the roof of a shed in San Fermo della Battaglia (CO), creating a significant hole. The explanation suggested is a rocket fragment. The investigation was conducted by Corrado Guarisco and Maurizio Verga. On February 4th, a cold, metallic, and heavy cylindrical object fell with a hiss into a garden in Riva del Garda (TN). An investigation is underway by Alessandro Cortellazzi.

For Collectors

The secretariat informs collectors that several old ufological publications, previously unobtainable, are available. These include "UFO and Fortean Phenomena" (issues 8-12, April-December 1978) and "Notiziario C.T.R.U." (issues 4-6, August-December 1978). Back issues of "Notiziario UFO" from 1974-1978 are also available in photocopy.

Foreign Library Service

A new "Foreign Library Service" (S.L.E.) has been launched by CISU to help Italian ufologists order foreign books. A catalog of 40 texts and hundreds of magazines is available upon request. The service transmits orders to various specialized libraries that sell by correspondence.

Foreign Documentation Service

The "Foreign Documentation Service" (S.D.E.) is a monthly 30-page fascicle of photocopies of the most interesting articles published in foreign ufological magazines received during the month. Five issues (November 1986 to March 1987) are available.

Foreign Books in Photocopy

CISU offers photocopies of difficult-to-find or expensive foreign texts. These include Michel Monnerie's "Et si les OVNIs n'existaient pas?" (1977), Philip Klass's "UFOs: the Public Deceived" (1983), Loren Gross's "UFOs: a History vol. I: 1947-1948" and "vol. II: 1949," and Daniel Cohen's "The Great Airship Mystery - a UFO of the 1890s?" (1981). Additionally, discounted copies of the "MUFON Field Investigator's Manual" and Gregory Little's "The Archetype Experience" are available due to a mix-up.

GEPAN Publications

The French official ufological entity GEPAN's "Notes techniques" are now available for purchase through A.E.S.V. in France. All 18 technical notes and 4 informative notes are available at 20 francs each.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Notizie UFO revolve around the activities and growth of the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU), the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings across Italy, and the dissemination of ufological information through publications and media. The editorial stance appears to be one of active engagement in ufological research, encouraging member participation, and providing a platform for sharing findings and resources. There is a clear emphasis on the professionalization of ufological study, as evidenced by the establishment of the "Premio C.I.S.U." and the detailed cataloging and documentation efforts. The magazine also highlights the importance of international cooperation and information exchange within the ufological community.