28940370.pdf

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

|  1. DATE | 2. LOCATION | 12. CONCLUSIONS  |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  Winter 1951 | New Zealand | ☐ Was Balloon ☐ Probably Balloon ☐ Possibly Balloon  |
|  3. DATE-TIME GROUP | 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION | 13. WORSE  |
|  Local 11AM GMT | ☑ Ground-Visual ☐ Ground-Radar ☐ Air-Visual ☐ Air-Intercept Radar | ☐ Was Aircraft ☐ Probably Aircraft ☐ Possibly Aircraft  |
|  5. PHOTOS | 6. SOURCE | 14. WORSE  |
|  ☑ Yes ☐ No | Civilian | ☐ Was Astronomical ☐ Probably Astronomical ☐ Possibly Astronomical  |
|  7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE  |
|  Not Rep…

In reply refer to
C&R/jos/73147
AFOIN-ATIAS-5
20 APR 1954

Mr. [redacted]
Kalapoi, New Zealand

Dear Mr. [redacted]

Your letter of 2 March 1954, together with photographs, has been received by the Air Technical Intelligence Center for analysis.

A study of the photographs indicates that the object shown is a lenticular altocumulus cloud. This type of formation often results from the atmospheric conditions which you described.

The Air Technical Intelligence Center would like to obtain the use of your negatives, if you still have them on hand, for the purpose of making enlargement prints. …

Kasapoi
New Zealand
2nd March 1953

To the
Commanding Officer
Headquarters
American Army Air Force
America

Dear Sir,

During the winter 1951 I was on roof of a building on my section at Kasapoi. The time was approximately 11 a.m. New Zealand time, most of the north and east sky was cloudless but one cloud of approximately 500 yds long and 100 yds wide and 60 yds high. (approximate estimates only) was above the township in an easterly direction from my position.

Out of this cloud came, at the north end only, and suddenly, detached piece of cloud that you see in photograph. I watched this whic…

2.

in an easterly direction on an even keel. as in photograph, but when whirl wind was in the making, the cloud that formed the sphere was only a small part of the north end of cloud. The main bulk of the cloud remained almost motionless and was not immediately disturbed by the action of whirl wind. The main bulk of cloud disappeared about one hour later upwards just as a cloud of steam disappears from a railway engine.

The small piece of cloud that formed whirlwind was not immediately spherical in shape but formed so, during its short distance north then east with tremendous velocity as wis…

AIR MAIL
SEP 11 1911
U.S. POSTAGE 12.00
— FORES

To the Commanding Officer
Headquarters SAFIS
American Army Air Force
United States of America

3.

of the whirl wind's tremendous power as proved by the way wisps of cloud were streaked around during the formation as seen in photographs.

For some years I thought that I had only witnessed a whirl wind. I am now certain that the remainder of the 20th of the cloud remained almost motionless before disappearing upwards some time afterwards as steam does. The cloud was just an ordinary atmospheric cloud.

However I forward you the snaps hoping that although over two years and one half have passed that they will be of interest. Perhaps some naval, merchant seaman, or pilot may have witnessed…

MEMO ROUTING SLIP
NEVER USE FOR APPROVALS, DISBURSEMENTS, CONCURRENCES, OR SIMILAR ACTIONS

|  I NAME OR TITLE | DETAILS | CIRCULATE  |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  Captain Hardin |  |   |
|  ORGANIZATION AND LOCATION | DATE | COORDINATION  |
|  ATTC |  |   |
|  2 |  | FILE  |
|   |  | INFORMATION  |
|  3 |  | NECESSARY ACTION  |
|   |  | BRIEF AND RETURN  |
|  4 |  | SEE ME  |
|   |  | SIGNATURE  |

REMARKS

I would like to suggest a letter from the Center on this one. This is the type we want the public to react on.

|  FIRST NAME OF TITLE | DATE  |
| --- | --- |
|  Lt. Col W. K. Smith | 16 Mar 54…

AFOIN-K/Lt Col Smith/tjc/71092
Wrtn 16 Mar 54

16 March 1954

Mr. [redacted]
Malspei, New Zealand

Dear [redacted]:

Your recent letter of 2 March 1954 addressed to the United States Air Force has been read with interest.

You may be assured that if the information you submitted proves significant you will be informed of the analysis. However, as you can probably imagine, there are so many sightings and pictures received by the USAF that we are unable to comment on all sightings that are reported to us.

Many thanks again for keeping us in mind.

Sincerely yours,

Lt Colonel, USAF
Directorate …