Clesi has written to you thanking the nice prints of our photos.
Have you received her letter? She wrote it all by herself. Isn’t
she making process?
Escobar has sent back Isabel's report about the Kelly landing, but I
could see that he was not convinced at all. You know how things are: we would like
to see the things in order to fully believe. I spoke to him for about two hours
after his conferência — public lecture — about saucers. He was
courageous enough to tell the public that he believes a contact is possible, so much so
that every now and then he goes to desert places equipped with binoculars and cameras, and
tries hard even with telepathy, to bring the discs about. This is funny because
Escobar does not believe in Adamski and other contactees who say that telepathy is the
Escobar because he says anything is to be experimented in order to made contact.
The other day I mailed to you from the Airport, the front page of
"0 Correio da Manhñ" black with prints of a saucer seen and photographed the
School Ship of the Brazilian Navy, "Saldanha da Gama". Since the happening
is perhaps the most significative event concerning saucers, I am translating, somewhat
hurriedly, some clippings appearing in the Brazilian papers. I don’t think
I’ll. be able to get prints from the negatives, but I am trying anyway.
From "0 Diário de São Paulo" of São Paulo, February 21,
1958.
Rio, 20 (Meridional) Flying disc (now official) has been seen and
photographed on January 16, about noon, by more than 100 people who were on the deck of
the School Ship Almirante Saldanha, at the service of the IGY. The thing happened
exactly when the sail ship was weighting anchor to leave Trindade Island. The photos
were taken by Almiro Baraúna, who was photographing the hauling of a motor—boat.
Baraúna was using his Rolleiflex when he noticed above the horizon a strange flash that
soon disappeared. Puzzled he waited for the thing to appear again. Then it
happened anew he started snapping. He shot 6 photos but only four were good, because in
the confusion, someone pushed him twice while he was using his camera.
The presence of a flying saucer over Trindade provoked goose pimples in
all who were aboard the ship and an officer became truly terror— stricken. The
disc was seen by almost everybody at the same time and at that moment there was a true
stampede, everybody wishing to see the thing.
Then the disc disappeared and Captain José dos Santos Saldanha da Gama
to his ancestor, a heroes of the Brazilian everything came back to normal, (name same as
the ship in homage to his ancestor, a hero of the Brazilian Navy) asked Almiro Baraúna to
surrender the roll of undeveloped negatives. Soon after, by unanimous decision the
film was developed under the supervision of some officers.
The subject was then channeled by Captain José Saldanha da
Gama,
Commander of the "Saldanha da Gama" to the Navy authorities, who started a
severe investigation about the photos so that no doubt would be cast about their
authenticity. It has been proven — there many certificates — that
there’s no possibility of fraud and that the photos taken were taken at the exact
time of the sighting.
On the eve of the sighting, d.h., on January 15th, the saucer had been
detected by the ship’s radar, also about noon. The men in charge of the device
thought the radar was out of order and made a through check to ascertain whether it was
working properly.
According to information obtained from people belonging to the Navy,
stationed at lIha da Trindade later confirmed by Commander Carlos Bacelar, this was the
fourth time that the disc appeared over the island.
According to our own information the Navy authorities will make no
statements about the photos and the publicity the subject as gotten has been disagreeable
to the Navy.
Rio, 20 (Meridional) — The President received today at the Palace
Rio Negro, the photos of a saucer taken by the Navy over Trindade Island. Our
informer, one aid of the President said that Mr. Juscelino Kubitscheck has been very much
impressed by the photos.
"From "Fôlha da Manhñ", São Paulo February 21,
1958.
Rio, 20 (Folhas) — Commander Pedro Moreira, from the Cabinet of the
Ministry of the Navy, has confirmed today to the press that really the crew of the
School—Ship "Almirante Saldanha" had photographed a "strange
object" when it flew over Trindade Island, while the ship was working for the ICY.
The crew of the ship were disembarking (other news say the ship was
leaving the island) when they saw in the sky a strange object, developing a speed out of
common. Some of the crew were able to take photographs from several different angles and
all these photos were apprehended by order of the ship skipper.
A speaker of the Navy, although confirming the veracity of the
information, kept mute about the happening. He only said that no official statement will
be made about the subject.
Our reporters found out that the author of the publicized photos was the
civilian Baraúna who was detached aboard a submarine—chaser. The ship
"Almirante Saldanha" is commanded by Captain José dos Santos Saldanha da
Gama,
who channeled the material to the Department of Hydrography and Navigation. The
director of the Department, delivered the material do the Minister of the Navy.
The Navy authorities told the reporters that the Navy had nothing to do
with the disc and that its only connection with the fact was that a civilian reporter
happened to be aboard the ship who was normally disembarked when the ship returned to Rio
do Janeiro.
The School—Ship is at anchor off Rio de Janeiro Bay and
we have learned that the crew is forbidden to talk to reporters, according to severe
orders especially issued.
From "Fôlha da Manhñ" de Sao Paulo, Feb. 22From "Fôlha da Manhñ" de Sao Paulo, Feb. 22.
Rio, 21 (Folhas) — The Navy has only confirmed the news that a
flying disc was photographed from aboard the school Ship "Almirante Saldanha",
while the ship was anchored of Trindade Island, in oceanographic operations on behalf of
then IGY. The strange silvery object was flying over Crista do Gallo mountain on
that island. The news that the object would be a saucer, as said by the press, is
lacking official and scientific confirmation by the Navy.
Talking to reporters, Admiral Antonio Maria de Carvalho said
peremptorily: "I can’t say a thing about the subject. There’s
nothing concrete and positive authorizing me to make a statement. It would be
premature and even puerile of me to make statements, since I have no elements to make a
correct judgement."
When he was asked whether a commission had been designated to study the
subject he said: "There is no such a commission. There’s a group of
scientists about the "Saldanha da Gama", researching for the IGY. and they have
been working for more than a year. Their studies are related only to
oceanography."
Said Commander Tales Barty of the President’s Cabinet, about the
news that the President had seen the photos: "I know nothing about it, but
considering the loud cry of the press it is possible that Cabinet, about the news that the
President had seen something is true."
The Captain of "Saldanha da Gama," said: "It is strange
that the fact was released to the press. I have nothing to say about
the event. Only the Chief of Staff can make statements."
Asked to tell his opinion about the photos, he said: "I confess
sincerely that I have not yet seen the photos. I can’t tell anything
more."
While the reporters were trying to get more news, they again learned
that the photos had been delivered to the President and that the reporter
Baraúna, was
detached to take photos of the frog—men’s work, while the School Ship. Reporter
Baraúna was reported to have said that he had succeeded in photographing the disc when it
had appeared over the island for the fourth time. (four discos or four apparitions of just
one?)
According to information obtained, a Sargent had also taken some photos,
using a box—camera. These photos had been reasonably clear. Inhabitants
of the island had. been commenting on the apparition of saucers of the ocean.
Last 16th (January of February?) , exactly at 11:55 local time, reporter
Almiro Baraúna posted on the poop of the vessel heard the cry "Saucer, ho!"
(Olha o disco!). He was with his Rolloiflex ready to photograph the hoisting of a
launch — the operation marking the end of the expedition off Trindade ——
and started shooting pictures. Later he said: "It took me about 30 seconds to
see the object. Its glow seemed or looked like the sun rays over a car windshield.
Then I noticed that. it was detached against the background of clouds I shot the
first three photos. At this moment, flashing at high speed the disc disappeared
behind the Desejado Peak. Two seconds later, however, it reappeared flying
horizontally and very low. It stopped for about five seconds over the line of the
horizon and again disappeared. I was so nervous that I lost the following
shots."
The reporters were informed that while Baraúna was taking his photos,
the object could be soon by Commander Carlos Bacellar, formerly in charge of the Navy
Corps in the island, by Captain Theobaldo Viegas from the Air Force and First Lieutenant
Dentist, and several sailors and newspaper men.
Rio, 21 (Folhas) — The Chief of Staff of the Navy declared: "I
considered the fact as alien to the activities of the Navy, because the flying disc or any
related phenomenon was photographed by a civilian reporter, who happened to be aboard the
ship, Officially the Command and the officers of the "Almirante Saldanha" did
not acknowledge the fact and did not see supposed flying disc. They learned about fact
through the civilian who was aboard and through the sailors who had se en the thing.
Nevertheless the film — negatives and prints — were sent to the Navy authorities
who carefully examined the material.
The Ministry of Aeronautics where there’s a department to study the
phenomenon, became interested in the subject.
The "Almirante Saldanha" sailed this morning, so that the
scientists aboard the ship can continue their studies and oceanographic researches in
connection with the ICY.
Rio, 21 (Folhas) At the end of the evening it was learned that several
officers of the Navy were realizing tests with the films taken by Baraúna. One of
the laboratories visited by the officers was the highly specialized Aerofrotogrametric
Services of Cruzeiro do Sul Airlines. All tests revealed that the photos and
negatives were authentic.
It has been said that the Chief of Staff of the Navy has sent to the
President a report about the incursion of discs over the Trindade Island, including the
photos taken by Baraúna and three others formerly taken.
Photographer Joaquim Simões, from Niteroi who was a friend of Baraúna,
declared that when they lived together he seen seen in the laboratory of his friend, the
same photos of the saucers.
From "0 Estado de São Paulo", February 23rd.
Rio, 22 (By telephone) — This afternoon the following official note
was distributed to the press by the Navy Minister:
"Relatively to the news spread by the press that this Ministry is
being opposed to the divagation of facts about the apparition of a strange object over the
Trindade Island, this Ministry states that such news (that the Ministry is opposed to
divagation) are not true. This Ministry see no reason why the news should not be
released as well as the photos taken by Mr. Almiro Baraúna who was at Trindade Island
invited by the Navy and who photographed the disc in presence of several men belonging to
the crew of the NE Saldanha da Gama, from there the photos were obtained. It is
clear that this Ministry cannot make any statement about the object seen over Trindade,
because the photos are not proof sufficient to any statement.
The School Ship Admiral Saldanha and the dreadnoughts
"Babitonga" and "Bertioga" sailed this morning to Trindade
The "Saldanha da Gama" sailed this morning before any
newspapermen had a chance to interview crew members about the incidents at Trindade.
The Safety Council speaker said that so far no official note from the Navy had been
addressed that Department about the Trindade incident.
The newspaper "Tribuna da Imprensa" writes that yesterday the
photos of the disc were sent to the United States. The American authorities throng
the Embassy in Rio has has requested copies to make comparisons.
Today the press brought the news that the Ministry of the May sent a
report to the Ministry of the War, about the saucer seen over Trindade, and that the Navy
denies the skipper of the School Ship Saldanha da Gama and its crew had seen the disc.
We'll, Lex, the thing has started here too. When I mailed the
photos you may have received by now, I wrote an article to São Paulos "Diário da
Noite", saying that the same policy of smoke screen would follow the news, as always
happen when a really good case happens. You see that I was not mistaken. The
authorities will do their best to muffle the case. Incidentally I have Maffei,
through the Press, to get out of his hole and face the mess he has helped to create.
I’ll send you the clipping after it is published tomorrow.
Isabel’s reporter is with Mr. Nevin Kroll, who is now in USA, and
that is the reason why I have not given it back.
Since I came back I have been forbidden to read or write, on account of
a terrible pain in my left eye. I have been several sets of spectacles and have now
discovered by myself, that when I sleep more than four hours, the pain goes away. Then I
told the doctor about this, he said it was because I was overworking and staying awake too
long. Just imagine, I have to take siestas, every day!
Well, I have bought that electrical typewriter after all. It is an
Italian Olivetti and cost 800 dollars. How do you like that? My best regards
to all our friends.
Yours
Auriphebo