Notizie UFO - No 36

Magazine Overview

Title: NOTIZIE UFO
Issue: 36
Volume: 1991
Date: December 1991

This issue of Notizie UFO, the informative circular from the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (C.I.S.U.), serves as a post-event report on the Fifth National Ufology Convention held in Rome in November 1991. The magazine details ongoing activities, new contacts, and publications from the C.I.S.U., alongside reports of UFO sightings and related phenomena in Italy and abroad.

C.I.S.U. Activities and Communications

The C.I.S.U. reports on its activities, including the preparation of its next issue, which will feature more details on the Rome convention. It also announces the upcoming printing of the latest issues of "Rassegna Casistica" and "Notiziario Archivio Stampa." The organization has received and processed a significant amount of material from various collaborators, including detailed reports on specific sightings.

Material Received:

• Arcangelo CASSANO (Bari) produced a 21-page report on a luminous globe sighting over Lago di Lesina (FG) on July 21, 1991.
• Antonio RAMPULLA (Catania) submitted a report on a nocturnal light observed in CASAMASSIMA (BA) on June 29, 1991.
• Antonio CUCCU (Sassari) provided new reports on his investigations, including a sighting of a large luminous body in BONORVA (SS) on May 18, 1991, and an observation of a "bullet-shaped" object near OSCHIRI and TULA (SS) in March 1987.

The magazine thanks numerous individuals for their contributions, listing a comprehensive array of collaborators whose materials were processed up to October.

New Contact Information:

Two local representatives have new telephone numbers: Arcangelo CASSANO (Bari) at 080/554.20.79 and Alberto LOIACONO (Trieste) at 040/540.67. Alberto LAZZARO's address is also updated to Casella postale 3, 43036 Fidenza PR.

Board Meeting:

A C.I.S.U. board meeting was held in Milan on October 19, attended by board members and other associates. Key discussion points included the potential merger of "Rassegna Casistica" with the UFO magazine, proposals for new ordinary members, the program for the 5th National Ufology Convention, a new law on volunteer associations, and the creation of an illustrated informational booklet for public outreach.

Activities and Investigations

Case Catalogues:

C.I.S.U. continues its work on regional case catalogues. Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, and Marche have received updated versions. Umberto CORDIER (Savona) has updated the Ligurian catalogue to 656 reports up to 1990 and is working on a complete catalogue of case summaries. Renzo CABASSI (Bologna) has completed the catalogue of Emilian sightings (954) and the Marche cases (381), using a personal computer with D-BASE IV software. Maurizio VERGA (Cermenate) has finished revising the TRACAT, a catalogue of Italian cases with ground traces, which includes 199 cases in its computerized archive and an updated text from his 1986 monograph. Verga is also computerizing photographic cases and has released regional extracts of a "PHOTOCAT," appealing for contributions from researchers. Camillo MICHIELETTO (Torino) has compiled a catalogue of over 200 photographic cases.

Computerized Voice Messaging:

Stefano INNOCENTI, with the support of Altermedia, has launched "DIALOGA," a new computerized voice messaging service in Italy. This service allows users to leave and receive messages via a telephone answering machine. C.I.S.U. has an account (1212) for members to exchange messages. For information, contact Stefano Innocenti or Claudio Zacchia.

Dissemination:

The partwork encyclopedia "Astronomia" mentioned UFOs in its first issue, dedicating it to exobiology and citing the C.I.S.U. magazine UFO. Newspapers like "La Stampa" and "Gazzetta del Piemonte" reported on Edoardo RUSSO's explanation of UFO sightings in Torino on September 12. "Corriere di Viterbo" published an appeal by Angelo FERLICCA regarding a complex sighting in Viterbo on September 15.

Telematics Ufology:

Stefano INNOCENTI and Claudio ZACCHIA have enhanced the C.I.S.U. UFO BBS, U-LINK, with a dedicated line, making it available 24/7 via modem. U-LINK provides access to circulars, articles, news, sightings, and a messaging system for all users with a telematics connection.

Summer Sightings

This section details several Italian UFO sightings from the summer of 1991:

• August 10: Two youths in DIANO MARINA (IM) observed three yellow-white lights moving rapidly and silently over the water.
• September 12: Multiple people in TORINO and MONCALIERI witnessed a luminous white or green disc performing circular evolutions in the sky, later identified as a laser effect reflecting off low clouds.
• September 15: A red incandescent globe was observed in VITERBO and surrounding areas, with incandescent fragments appearing to detach from it.
• September 22 (approx.): An employee in VERONA saw an octagonal luminous body with other lights.
• September 26 (4 AM): A night guard and Carabinieri in CITTA' DI CASTELLO (PG) observed a circular light passing slowly at low altitude, emitting intermittent green and red light beams.
• September 28: Dozens of people in FERRARA reported two luminous ellipses chasing each other, later attributed to "light cannons" used for advertising.
• September 28: In MONTERONI (SI), residents observed large luminous circles in the sky, caused by spotlights from the Medrano circus.

False Sighting

A Fake Landing with Traces:

Mino Damato's TV program "I.T." on October 5 presented two British individuals who claimed to be the creators of crop circles. They demonstrated their technique by creating two 60-meter diameter circles in a field near TORRIMPIETRA (RM). The program also featured flying discs, which were actually plastic balloons with lights. The demonstration failed to create the intended UFO psychosis, with local farmers apparently unaffected.

Autumn Sightings

• October 8: In MILANO and surrounding areas, residents reported seeing three or four large circles moving in formation, visible for about half an hour, attributed to a powerful lighthouse from a discotheque.
• October 10: Five youths in PISA observed a bright white luminous halo, with a red ball rotating within it and an antenna-like structure extending upwards, before it moved away and disappeared.
• October 13: A daytime object was observed in CASARSA (PN), described as a dark grey flying disc that disappeared into clouds.
• October 18 (approx.): Numerous residents in AMELIA (TR) reported a cylindrical metallic object with flashing lights, which appeared to land in the woods. A search found a large balloon with a "Harvest Festival '91" inscription.
• October 18: A widespread "UFO alarm" in the Cuneo province involved sightings of an oval luminous object moving in concentric circles, attributed to spotlights from a circus.

UFO Notes: Twin Peaks, Dylan Dog, and Communion

This section explores the intersection of UFO themes in popular culture.

• Twin Peaks: The TV series directed by David Lynch is noted for incorporating UFO elements, particularly through the character of Major Garland Briggs, whose mysterious disappearance and past involvement in the "Project Blue Book" are linked to UFO phenomena and abduction narratives, drawing parallels with the works of Budd Hopkins and Whitley Strieber.

• Dylan Dog: The comic book series featured an issue titled "Terrore dall'infinito" (Terror from Infinity) inspired by Whitley Strieber's "Communion." The story follows a UFO investigator who experiences hallucinatory events, leading to a regression therapy that uncovers repressed childhood traumas. The narrative concludes with a philosophical reflection on the nature of UFOs as potential projections of the unconscious, yet perceived as real by witnesses.

Foreign News: Crop Circles Abroad

Crop Circles: 1991:

The 1991 crop circle season in England saw a significant reduction in sightings, with just over a hundred formations reported compared to over 700 in 1990. While 1990 was the year of pictograms, 1991 was characterized by "insectograms" – formations resembling insects with circles, rings, and antennae. The complexity of these formations continued to grow, leading some researchers to suspect the involvement of pranksters. Despite the decrease in England, a few cases were reported in Germany, where numerous hoaxes were also discovered.

A major revelation came in early September when two retired artists confessed to being the originators of numerous crop circles, pictograms, and other plant formations for over ten years. This news was widely reported in the media, with some outlets criticizing ufologists for their perceived credulity. The two artists were invited to Italy to demonstrate their methods on Mino Damato's TV program.

Book Review: The Belgian UFO Wave

The Book on the Belgian Wave:

The issue announces the release of an awaited book by SOBEPS titled "Vague d'OVNI sur la Belgique – Un dossier exceptionnel." This 544-page volume, with 200 illustrations and color photos, documents the mysterious "flying triangles" wave that occurred in Belgium. It includes direct testimonies, investigations by SOBEPS members, drawings, analyses of photos and films, and radar data. The book features contributions from university researchers and ufologists. The Italian distribution is handled by "Cooperativa Studi e Iniziative UPIAR." The book can be ordered for 40,000 Lire (35,000 Lire for C.I.S.U. members) via postal order to Gian Paolo Grassino.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Notizie UFO demonstrates a continued commitment to documenting and investigating UFO phenomena, with a particular focus on Italian cases. The magazine balances reporting on sightings with critical analysis, as seen in the discussion of crop circle hoaxes and the media's reaction to them. There is a clear emphasis on the scientific and investigative aspects of ufology, evident in the detailed case reports and the C.I.S.U.'s cataloging efforts. The inclusion of UFO themes in popular culture suggests an awareness of the broader societal impact and perception of the phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of thoroughness, encouraging collaboration among researchers, and providing a platform for both official reports and critical discussions within the ufological community.