UFO Notizie - No 59

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NOTIZIE
Issue: 59
Volume: 1/99
Date: January 1999
Publisher: Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU)
Country: Italy
Language: Italian

This issue of UFO NOTIZIE provides a comprehensive update on UFO-related activities, sightings, and publications. It serves as a bulletin from the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU), detailing organizational news, recent events, and a wide range of reported phenomena.

Notizie C.I.S.U.

Campagna Adesioni '99 The issue begins with an announcement regarding the '99 membership campaign. It notes that this is the last issue of 1998 and that subscribers in good standing for 1998 will still receive issue 22. Information is provided on how to renew subscriptions, including bank account details for Cooperativa UPIAR and the previous account for Gian Paolo Grassino. The editorial team extends wishes for a happy ufological 1999.

Consiglio Direttivo A meeting of the CISU directive council took place in Turin on November 29th. Present were council members Edoardo Russo and Paolo Toselli, along with members Renzo Cabassi, Umberto Cordier, Roberto Farabone, Angelo Ferlicca, Paolo Fiorino, Gian Paolo Grassino, Stefano Innocenti, Matteo Leone, Gianni Settimo, and Sveva Stallone. Key decisions included adopting conclusions from a commission on standardizing computer archives, assigning Lello Cassano the editorial coordination of the "Rassegna casistica" (Case Review), approving statutory modifications for volunteer regulations, and launching the "Progetto CISU 2000" to create a monograph for each study or cataloging project within two years. Six new ordinary members were appointed: Francesco Antoniazzi, Nico Conti, Giorgio Giorgi, Roberto Labanti, Remo Ponti, and Alessandro Zabini.

Anniversari Telematici Two significant anniversaries are celebrated: UFOITALIA, the CISU's telematic discussion circular on the internet, turned two years old on September 9th. In its second year, discussions exceeded 2,000 printed pages, available in telematic archives and as computer files. Additionally, the CISU-On-Line website, launched in late 1995 and curated by Edoardo Russo, surpassed 30,000 visitors. This site offers access to UFOTEL service texts from the past three years. Maurizio Verga's UFO-On-Line site, noted as the richest Italian UFO website, accumulated 150,000 contacts.

Attività

Archivi Casistica: Incontro sulla Standardizzazione A meeting on standardizing case archives was held in Turin on November 29th. This initiative, promoted by Renzo Cabassi, involved specialists in data cataloging and archiving using computer tools. A document outlining prevalent criteria used by various projects was discussed. Stefano Innocenti presented data input structures. The commission will continue its work, with Cordier to produce a revised document that will serve as a standard reference for electronic case archiving within CISU.

Monografia sui Bolidi Verdi del New Mexico The twentieth monograph in the "Documenti UFO" series, titled "Il mistero delle green fire-balls - Le 'meteore verdi' del Nuovo Messico e le 'luci' misteriose del Texas (1948 - 1951)" by Giuseppe Stilo, has been released. This 96-page volume details sightings, media reactions, and military/scientific responses, drawing heavily on unpublished US military documents. It is priced at 18,000 lire (15,000 for CISU members), with a complimentary copy for distinguished members.

Divulgazione Locale The magazine reports on local outreach activities by CISU representatives across Italy. It mentions Paolo Toselli's debate with anthropologist Cecilia Gatto Trocchi regarding ufological groups being classified as "sects," Edoardo Russo and Massimiliano Teso's participation in a radio debate, and Guido Ceronetti's interview with CISU members concerning "esoteric underground" investigations. It also notes mentions of CISU positions in articles by Giuseppe Stilo and Edoardo Russo in "La Stampa," Maurizio Verga's conference in Como, and a publication in "Nuova Basilicata" by Matteo Leone. CISU statistics on Italian sightings were featured in "Focus" and "In TV." Several women's magazines also mentioned CISU's telephone service and discussed the influence of American pseudo-ufology. Other publications like "Essere – La voce della New Age" and "Astra" included CISU's contact information. "Notiziario UFO" featured a page on the Sturrock Commission. The UFO-On-Line site was mentioned in "La Repubblica" and CISU-On-Line in "Corriere della Sera" and "Internet Magazine .net." Michele Moroni spoke about UFOs in Vigevano, and Claudio Cavallini and Cesare Marino organized a UFO stand there. Simone Grandicelli was interviewed by "Il Resto del Carlino."

Avvistamenti

UFO a Rieti On the evening of May 9th, around 10:30 PM, dozens of people near Castel Sant'Angelo (Rieti) observed strange lights moving in the sky above and around Monte Giano. Witnesses included restaurant patrons and motorists. Possible explanations included bonfires lit by scouts and mountaineers, and flares.

Luci Notturne su Alessandria Two independent witnesses reported seeing a bright white luminous ball in the sky over Alessandria province around 1 AM on Saturday, May 30th. The light, described as large as the full moon and leaving a brief trail, appeared to descend vertically and disappear with two flashes. One witness also reported hearing a distant muffled roar.

Avvistamenti in Italia During the night of June 8th-9th, multiple reports of unusual aerial phenomena were received from Northern and Central Italy. At 9:40 PM, red lights were observed circling television antennas in Florence. Around 10:10 PM, two white lights were seen moving together in the sky near Caselle Torinese. Shortly after, the same witness saw a white light, like a beacon, moving west and disappearing. At 10:50 PM, two parallel white lights were observed moving north to south near Piacenza, and a similar sighting occurred at 11:10 PM in the province of Vicenza. At 2:55 AM, a reddish sphere appeared to "split" before vanishing in Rome.

Bolide sulla Sicilia A very bright luminous object, described as greenish, then bluish-orange, was observed on the evening of June 3rd near Catania. The bolide, estimated to be between magnitude -7 and -8, appeared to increase and then decrease in speed before disappearing with a reddish aerial explosion.

Flap Mir-Shuttle Several reports of UFO sightings occurred on the night of June 8th-9th, particularly in Lombardy and Northern Italy. The same night, a UFO phenomenon was filmed in Nice, France. It was later determined that some of these sightings, specifically a pair of lights moving in parallel around 10 PM, were caused by the Shuttle and the Russian MIR space station detaching from each other. These vehicles were expected to pass over Italy again on precise dates and times.

UFO sull'Aeroporto a Firenze On the evening of Saturday, June 20th, a bright white light was visible for about half an hour near Florence's Peretola Airport. Airport personnel even turned runway lights on and off to check for reflections.

Arrivano gli Iridium The early summer saw a surge in UFO sightings across Italy. Nearly a third of reports from late June to late July were attributed to the new Iridium satellites, launched by Motorola for global mobile telephony. These satellites create a network of moving lights that increase and decrease in intensity, or appear and disappear suddenly, leading to potential false UFO reports.

Flap sull'Italia Orientale Sightings of strange lights in the sky are increasing in various Italian regions. On the evening of August 12th, about ten minutes before midnight, thousands of people, including amateur astronomers observing the Perseid meteor shower, witnessed a bright green ball of light with a trail, illuminating the sky for several seconds. Some reports mentioned light "rumors" and a "booming" sound. While some attributed this to UFOs, others suggested it might have been the MIR space station. A meteorite impact site was rumored to be near Schio (Vicenza).

Umanoidi Volanti: Nuovo Caso a Pordenone A case of a "flying humanoid" was reported in Pordenone. A couple of farmers, a sports field attendant, and two tourists witnessed a multicolored, cone-shaped object about 1.3 meters tall with a luminous appendage near a fence at 5:30 AM. When one witness tried to grab it, the object ascended rapidly.

E un altro in Umbria Another "flying humanoid" case was reported from Città di Castello (Perugia). Two residents observed what appeared to be a woman bending down in a field. After 10 minutes, they approached, and the object transformed into a dark cylinder about two meters tall, ascending vertically and disappearing with internal reflections.

Un UFO sopra il Tevere? A 50-year-old traffic policeman reportedly observed a metallic disk-shaped object, about 5 meters in diameter, hovering low over the Tiber River near Ponte Marconi in Rome. The object performed aerial maneuvers, appearing to dive into the water. This was reported by CISETI (Comitato Internazionale per lo Studio delle Intelligenze Extraterrestri).

I Casi del Centro Italia An oval, silver-colored object reflecting sunlight was observed before 6 PM on October 13th by three residents of Collecchio (Parma). It moved horizontally, sometimes erratically. Around 9 AM on October 14th, two motorists traveling between Rieti and Avezzano saw a silver, cigarette-shaped object in the sky for about ten seconds, reflecting sunlight and maintaining a vertical position.

Avvistamento a Milano On Monday, October 26th, shortly after 11 AM, a couple in Milan observed a very bright, stationary luminous ball with four "handles" for a few seconds. They lost sight of it when passing under an overpass.

Novembre: Meteore Lente? On November 18th, around 9:30 PM, three young people in Conselice (Ravenna) observed a group of spheres moving slowly from north to south, taking several minutes to cross the sky. On November 19th, around 12:15 AM, two people on the Pontina road near Cisterna di Latina saw a luminous point appear, move alongside an aircraft, and then vanish.

Informazioni

I Geologi e i Fenomeni dell'Adriatico A conference in Bologna on "Gases in Marine Sediments" included a discussion by Professor Pietro Curzi about UFO phenomena, particularly those observed in the Adriatic Sea in 1978. These included water columns, luminous balls, and radar disturbances. The hypothesis suggests surfacing methane bubbles caused by telluric movements, which could explain the panic reported along the Adriatic coast.

Il Giudizio del Vaticano According to an Associated Press dispatch, an archbishop, when asked about UFOs, astrology, and the New Age, reportedly stated that these topics represent "the intellectual poverty of our era."

Nuovo Sondaggio di Opinione A television segment on Canale 5 featured a survey conducted by Datamedia on UFO beliefs in Italy. Out of 1,000 people surveyed, less than 20% believed in UFOs, 39% considered them "light games," and 22% called them "lies."

Che Paura, Ecco i "Men in Red" Following the "Men in Black," "Men in Red" have emerged in Italy. This group promotes "autonomous contactism" and an anti-"pan-planetary capitalism" agenda, using slogans like "UFO to the people" and "long live Commander Adamski." Their publication, "Men in Red - Rivista di ufologia radicale," is distributed in alternative bookstores. The article suggests this is a "hoax" aimed at criticizing "bourgeois Italian ufology."

Bongiovanni Non Lascia... ...Raddoppia! Giorgio Bongiovanni has taken over as director of the magazine "Terzo Millennio." A second magazine, "UFO: la visita extraterrestre," also directed by Bongiovanni, has been launched. It is distributed with or without a video cassette.

Le Altre Riviste in Edicola "Notiziario UFO" has become a monthly publication. "I Misteri" has also transitioned to monthly frequency. "Dossier Alieni" remains bimonthly but has a new graphic design and reduced price. "Notiziario UFO" has also renewed its graphics and reduced its cover price, announcing a change in leadership at the Centro Ufologico Nazionale, with Roberto Pinotti returning as president.

Un'altra Rivista in Arrivo? The Roman ufological group CISETI organized a conference where new images of aliens and analysis of UFO-crash fragments were presented. The announcement of a new magazine, "Dischi volanti - Oltre il top secret," was made, but its release has been delayed due to editorial issues.

Ancora Beghe Legali Fra le Riviste Commerciali "Notiziario UFO" has issued a cease and desist order to the competing magazine "UFO: la visita extraterrestre" for publishing images and texts from a KGB documentary on UFOs, violating exclusive rights held by "Futuro s.n.c."

UFO a Go Go in Libreria Several new UFO-themed books have been released, including "Gli UFO in Italia" by Sergio Ferrari and Paolo Maggi, "Da Galileo a Ustica" by Bruno Resta, and "I misteri del cielo: lo spazio, gli UFO, gli incontri" by Giuseppe Ferlenga and Rossella Guerra.

Invasione di UFO in TV Several UFO-related programs aired on Italian television networks during the summer, including documentaries on Raisat 1 and Rete 4, and the American show "Sightings." Sci-fi series like "Psi Factor" and "Dark Skies" also featured UFO themes.

Centro di Ascolto Radio-TV A list of TV programs that discussed UFOs between May and August is provided, based on data collected by Paolo Toselli.

Film e Telefilm A list of UFO-themed films and TV series broadcast during the period is included.

Estero

#### Atterraggio e Cerchio nel Grano in Israele
Reports emerged of a luminous object landing in Galilee, Israel, leaving geometric traces, including a semicircle and a cross. Further investigation revealed it was likely a crop circle formed by lights moving over a field, with damaged plants and seven holes containing white powder or red oily liquid.

#### Rilevamento Radar in Gran Bretagna
British newspapers reported on a conference where radar data related to unidentified flying objects, detected by British radar stations, would be presented to experts. However, ufologists later debunked the story, attributing it to a former RAF newsletter editor known for sensationalist claims.

Avvistamenti in Sudamerica Spectacular UFO sightings have been reported in South America. In Bariloche, Argentina, residents observed four luminous circular objects while the city's lights mysteriously went out multiple times. Similar power outages and strange lights were reported on other dates. In Ecuador, a luminous, cigar-shaped object was observed flying over a football stadium.

Falso Rilascio per i Documenti dell'Esercito USA An announcement regarding the release of 338 pages of documents from the U.S. Army concerning UFOs was later revealed to be material from the 1940s and 50s related to German "flying wing" experiments, which had already been declassified.

Nuovi Rilasci (Veri) di Documenti Militari Americani The "Project 1947" recovered a significant quantity of UFO-related documents from USAF archives, including a 1949 document classified "Top Secret" titled "Unidentified Aerial Objects."

Apertura Archivi di Donald Keyhoe The Fund for UFO Research announced the establishment of the "Donald Keyhoe Archives," which will house major UFO archives from the United States, including the personal archives of Donald Keyhoe and the "Project Blue Book" files.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings from Italy and around the world, often providing detailed accounts and witness testimonies. There is a clear focus on scientific investigation and debunking hoaxes or misidentifications, as seen in the discussion of Iridium satellites and the analysis of the Sturrock Commission's findings. The CISU's role as a central information hub and research organization is emphasized throughout. The publication also engages with the broader cultural impact of UFO phenomena, including media coverage, book releases, and legal disputes within the ufology community. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking factual evidence while acknowledging the persistent mystery surrounding UFOs.

This issue of "NOTIZIE UFO" from January 1999, identified as issue number 11, provides a comprehensive update on recent events and research within the ufology community. The publication, originating from Italy, covers a wide range of topics including obituaries of prominent figures, analysis of historical cases, new sighting reports, and ongoing investigations.

Key Obituaries

The issue begins by marking the passing of several significant individuals in the field. Henk Hinfelaar, a pioneer of ufology in New Zealand and secretary of the CSI, died on May 24th. He had founded an Adamskian association and published a bulletin for many years. On the same day, Ralph Noyes passed away in London. Noyes was a former high-ranking official at the British Ministry of Defence, responsible for handling UFO-related matters, and later became involved in crop circle research. The issue also reports the death of Maria Reiche on June 8th at the age of 93. Reiche was a German mathematician and the primary scholar of the Nazca Lines in Peru, who consistently argued they were a ritual calendar, not the work of extraterrestrials. Later, on July 16th, former US Army Colonel Philip Corso died after a second heart attack. Corso was the author of the controversial book "The Day After Roswell." The issue also notes the passing of Hector Quintanilla, the last director of Project Blue Book, and Colman Von Keviczky, a Hungarian ufologist who founded ICUFON and proposed a military interpretation of UFOs.

Investigations and Controversies

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to ongoing investigations and debates. A recent analysis of original photographs from the Roswell crash, conducted by ufologist Philip Mantle, reportedly demonstrates that the fragments were not replaced with weather balloon debris and that 'hieroglyphs' were present. In a separate development, Swiss contactee Eduard Meier reportedly admitted that his famous photographs of extraterrestrials were faked, blaming 'men in black' for the deception. Colonel Philip Corso, shortly after turning 83, agreed to sign a sworn statement about his testimony, potentially allowing ufologists to use it for legal action to obtain information from the US government. The authenticity of UFO footage remains a contentious issue, with a film from Mexico being deemed a likely fake by Jeffrey Sainio of MUFON. The issue also touches upon the controversy surrounding the "tent footage" related to the alleged alien autopsy, with claims that a special effects company may have created it.

Sightings and Research Updates

Several new sightings and research initiatives are highlighted. The Hessdalen Project in Norway has inaugurated a new automatic detection station to document the recurring luminous phenomena in the valley. In Australia, dozens of residents in Quirindi reported observing "angel hair" descending from silver spheres. The issue also notes a decrease in official UFO sighting reports in Great Britain, attributed by some to the influence of popular UFO-themed movies like "Independence Day" and "Men in Black." In France, a triangular object with three lights was observed near Sedan, prompting an investigation by SEPRA, though the object was later identified as a toy balloon. There is also a report of a "flying humanoid" observed and filmed by a family in Voreppe, France.

Legal and Governmental Developments

The issue covers legal battles and governmental actions related to UFOs. The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal concerning Area 51, upholding government secrecy regarding hazardous substances at the base. Meanwhile, the US Air Force requested the expropriation of an additional 4,000 acres around Area 51, likely to deter UFO enthusiasts and researchers. In Spain, a news report about the declassification of UFO files by the Spanish Air Force is clarified, with the article explaining that the declassification process began in 1992 and concluded in 1996, and that the information was made public by a private study center, not the military.

Book Reviews and Library Additions

The publication includes a section on new books received by the CISU library, featuring titles on UFO organizations, government files, alien contact, and historical UFO cases. It also highlights a new book by Roger Leir titled "The Aliens and the Scalpel," which discusses scientific evidence of extraterrestrial implants.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Throughout the issue, a recurring theme is the ongoing effort to uncover the truth behind UFO phenomena, often met with government secrecy and public skepticism. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting various perspectives and investigations while acknowledging the complexities and controversies within the field. The publication aims to keep its readers informed about the latest developments, from personal accounts of sightings to the findings of scientific research and the legal ramifications of UFO investigations. The use of multiple sources, including news agencies, ufological publications, and personal communications, suggests a commitment to providing a broad overview of the UFO landscape.