Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2781579
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Flying Saucer May be Venus
SYDNEY, Friday.
The mytery of the "flying saucers" may, have been solved by a Trans-Australia Airlines pilot, who saw a "saucer" about 30 miles south-oast of Sydney early to-day.
The pilot, Captain Gordon Sav- age, believes the "saucer" lie saw was an illusion created By the planet Venus rising above
the horizon.
Professor of Physics at Syd- ney University, Professor Love, said that Captain Savage's theory might be the explanation of flying saucers.
The Government Astronomer, Mr. Wood, commented: "Captain Savage has no doubt given
correct and level-headed explan- ation of the saucer." ,
Mr. Wood said that Venus could be seen anywhere either at night or in the daytime.
Captain Savage is a former Air Force Group Captain and
a D.F.C. winner.
, The Civil Aviation Department and the R.A.A.F. are investigat- ing his report of seeing "a very bright light,1 alternating in col- our from red to white at. 15 sec- ond intervals." . ,
.Captain Savage und First Of- ficer V. VJ. Hnstllow mode Hie rnliiwiiii; officiai report of the
incident:
I "irivl'i;. in n northerly cliree Itlun near Canbera, on our woy
to Sydney, wo sighted to the
i eastward and above our aircraft a very powerful white light, whjch alternated at 15 second intervals to a red' light.
"We were, flying at 3,000 ft. We continued to watch for a while. It seemed to be proceed- ing on the same course as we were .but at a considerably "fast-
er speed.
"Captain Savage climbed to 5,000 feet to get a better look at the phenomenon, which was drawing away from us at a high
speed, t and eventually disappear-1
ed into a veil of atmosphere, very much as a headlight disap- pears in a fog."