Department of Civil Aviation File 57/619: Reports on Flying Saucers and Strange Sky Lights

This document is a compilation of correspondence and administrative records from the Australian Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) regarding reports of 'flying saucers' and 'strange sky lights' between 1953 and 1960. The file serves as a central repository for public inquiries and internal investigations into various aerial phenomena reported across New South Wales. The reports vary significantly in nature, ranging from sightings of bright lights at night to more specific claims of physical objects. One notable case involves Kenneth Hugh Hudson, who reported a strange object near Kempsey in December 1958, which he described as a metal, man-made object with disc-shaped components. Another significant entry concerns a report from Mena Murtee Station in 1954, where a witness claimed to have photographed a saucer-shaped object. This specific case was later dismissed by local authorities as a 'faked snapshot' involving a wheel cap suspended by cotton, intended as a joke. The DCA consistently maintained a skeptical stance, often responding to witnesses by stating that no civil aircraft movements could account for the sightings and that they were unable to provide an explanation. The file includes numerous letters from citizens, police reports, and internal teletype messages between regional offices and the central department. The DCA's standard procedure involved checking with the R.A.A.F. and local meteorological services to rule out known aircraft or weather events. When no explanation was found, the department typically concluded that the matter should be considered closed. The document highlights the department's role in managing public concern regarding UAPs during the 1950s, emphasizing a bureaucratic approach that prioritized the identification of known aircraft and the dismissal of unsubstantiated claims.