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URECAT - UFO Related Entities Catalog

URECAT is a formal catalog of UFO related entities sightings reports with the goal of providing quality information for accurate studies of the topic. Additional information, corrections and reviews are welcome at patrick.gross@inbox.com, please state if you wish to be credited for your contribution or not. The main page of the URECAT catalog is here.

DECEMBER 15, 1978, CATANIA, SICILY, ITALY, FRANCO PISTORIO, GIANFRANCO NASCA,SEBASTIANO MUSUMECI:

Brief summary of the event and follow-up:

The newspaper "La Sicilia" for January 6, 1978, then ufological sources, reported a CE3 with more or less details, the whole resulting in the following story: in Catania, Sicily, Italy, on December 15, 1978, Franco Pistorio, aged 9 , and Gianfranco Nasca, aged 8, played in a yard close to a TV antenna, at 00:15 a.m., when suddenly all the sector around them darkened.

They then noticed a disc-shaped object, motionless "in the middle of the air", or above TV the antenna, emitting "lights of various colors" or "multicoloured light beams".

On the central part of the disc, a kind of wicket or trap door opened and a being was carried to the ground by a luminous beam coming from this trap door. This being hovered at 10 cm above the ground, while a another taller being appeared at the trap door.

Gianfranco Nasca fled, while Fanco Pistorio hid to observe the continuation.

The being is described as "very ugly like Frankestein" [ sic ], strange, of average size, with two large eyes and two projections like antennas on its head.

Sebastiano Musumeci, aged 9, arrived on the spot then and observed the scene in his turn.

Meanwhile the second being also came down and used a kind of gun to shoot at a close rock, making it burn and burst, then it leaned to the ground which it touched, and from its shoulder a blackish liquid poured to the ground.

The beam was again activated, it absorbs the being and an iron tube located on the spot, and the disc moved away fast.

There is a mention of "traces on the ground", and an Italian ufologist commented on that the case is doubious.

Basic information table:

Case number: URECAT-001201
Date of event: December 15, 1978
Earliest report of event: January 6, 1979
Delay of report: 3 weeks
Witness reported via: Not known.
First alleged record by: Newspaper.
First certain record by: Ufology article Toselli.
First alleged record type: Newspaper.
First certain record type: Ufology article.
This file created on: November 23, 2009
This file last updated on: November 23, 2009
Country of event: Italy
State/Department: Catania
Type of location: Yard near TV antenna.
Lighting conditions: Night
UFO observed: Yes
UFO arrival observed: Uncertain
UFO departure observed: Yes
UFO/Entity Relation: Certain
Witnesses numbers: 1 to 3
Witnesses ages: 9, 9, 8
Witnesses types: Not reported. Children, boys.
Photograph(s): No.
Witnesses drawing: No.
Witnesses-approved drawing: No.
Number of entities: 2
Type of entities: Humanoid
Entities height: 1 average, 1 taller
Entities outfit type: Not reported.
Entities outfit color: Not reported.
Entities skin color: Not reported.
Entities body: Not reported.
Entities head: Not reported. Kind og antennas or projections.
Entities eyes: Large.
Entities mouth: Not reported.
Entities nose: Not reported.
Entities feet: Not reported.
Entities arms: Not reported.
Entities fingers: Not reported.
Entities fingers number: Not reported.
Entities hair: Not reported.
Entities voice: None reported.
Entities actions: Came out of UFO, shoot beam at rock, went back in, departure.
Entities/witness interactions: None.
Witness(es) reactions: Observed, 1 fled, 1 observed, 1 came.
Witness(es) feelings: 1 curious, 1 frightened.
Witness(es) interpretation: Not reported.
Explanation category: Probable invention.
Explanation certainty: Medium.

Narratives:

[Ref. pt1:] PAOLO TOSELLI:

The author indicates that in Catania, Italy, on December 15, 1978, Franco Pistorio, aged 9, and Gianfranco Nasca, age 8, are playing when they notice an object stopped in the middle of the air and producing lights of various color. On the object, a kind of wicket opens from which, through a luminous beam, a being goes down to the ground and hovers 10 cm above the ground, while in front of the wicket another being of bigger size appears. The little Nasca flees while Pistorio hides to observe the course of events. The being is described as "very ugly like Frankestein [sic]. Sebastiano Musumeci, aged 9, arrives on the place and observes the scene in his turn. Meanwhile the being seized a kind of gun and shoots on a nearby rock, breaking it, then it goes down to the ground and from its shoulder a blackish liquid comes out. The beam is activated again, it absorbs the being and an iron tube located on the spot. The "disc" moves away.

Paolo Toselli comments that the case is dubious.

The source is indicated as "La Sicilia, January 6, 1979.

[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:

Albert Rosales indicates in his catalogue that in Catania, Italy, on December 15, 1978, at 0015 a.m., two young boys were playing in a yard near a large TV antenna when suddenly the whole area around them darkened, they then noticed a hovering disc shaped craft just above the antenna. The object emitted multicolored rays of light and had an open hatch in its center section. A bright beam of light shot out of the opening and a strange medium sized being descended within the beam. The being was described as "ugly" with two large eyes and two antennas like protrusions on its head. A second similar being reportedly descended carrying a "laser" type gun and shot at a rock causing it to burn and explode. He was seen to bend down, touch the ground, and then spill a black liquid on it. Moments later a beam of light transported the beings back into the craft. The craft then shot away at high speed. Ground traces were reportedly found.

Albert Rosales indicates that the source is "Maurizio Verga, "Itacat"."

[Ref. dj1:] DONALD JOHNSON:

December 15

1978 - At 12:15 p.m. two young boys were playing in a yard in Catania, Italy on the island of Sicily, near a large TV antenna. The sky darkened and then a large disc-shaped craft approached and tilted at an angle, just above the TV antenna. The object emitted multicolored rays of light and had an open hatch in its center section. A bright beam of light shot out of the opening and a strange, 1.5 meter tall “monster” descended within the beam. The being was described as "ugly" with two large eyes and two antenna-like protrusions on its head. A second similar being reportedly descended carrying a "laser" type gun and shot at a rock causing it to burn and explode. He was seen to bend down, touch the ground, and then spill a black liquid on it. Moments later a beam of light transported the beings back into the craft. The craft then shot away at high speed. Ground traces were reportedly found. (Source: Maurizio Verga, ITACAT – Italian UFO Catalogue).

[Ref. ni1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":

Dec. 15, 1978; Catania, Italy

12:15 p.m. Two young boys were playing in a yard on the island of Sicily, near a large TV antenna. The sky darkened and then a large disc-shaped craft approached and tilted at an angle, just above the TV antenna. The object emitted multicolored rays of light and had an open hatch in its center section. A bright beam of light shot out of the opening and a strange, 1.5 meter tall "monster" descended within the beam. The being was described as "ugly" with two large eyes and two antenna-like protrusions on its head. A second similar being reportedly descended carrying a "laser" type gun and shot at a rock causing it to burn and explode. He was seen to bend down, touch the ground, and then spill a black liquid on it. Moments later a beam of light transported the beings back into the craft. The craft then shot away at high speed. Ground traces were reportedly found. (Source: Maurizio Verga, ITACAT Italian UFO Catalogue).

[Ref. ud1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 15 December 1978 at 12:20 in Catania, Italy, "Area darkens, large disc tilts by television tower. 1.5m monster seen. Light ray." And: "Close encounter with a an unidentified craft and monstrous occupants. One disc was observed by two children at an electric plant for two minutes. One 5-foot-tall creature-like being was seen."

And: "Two young boys were playing in a yard near a large TV antenna when suddenly the whole area around them darkened, they then noticed a hovering disc shaped craft just above the antenna. The object emitted multicolored rays of light and had an open hatch in its center section. A bright beam of light shot out of the opening and a strange medium sized being descended within the beam. The being was described as "ugly" with two large eyes and two antennas like protrusions on its head. A second similar being reportedly descended carrying a "laser" type gun and shot at a rock causing it to burn and explode. He was seen to bend down, touch the ground, and then spill a black liquid on it. Moments later a beam of light transported the beings back into the craft. The craft then shot away at high speed. Ground traces were reportedly found."

The sources are indicated as Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports; Verga, Maurizio, Italian UFO Catalogue; Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002; Rosales, Albert, Humanoid Sighting Reports Database.

[Ref. al1:] "ALESSANDRO":

I checked into my ITACAT file, [...]

[...] cases of very significant CE3 [...] It's worth the pain to point out the case of [...] Then there is the close encounter of two children, F. Pistorio and G. Nasca, which occurred on December 15 in Catania.

Points to consider:

The story come from a newspaper, and is oddly reported there only weeks after it allegedly occurred. The witnesses are children; there is no investigation report I know of, it is not known whether only one or two or the three boys reported the alleged occurrence, and Mr. Toselli comments it is a dubious case.

The beings description is typical of childish inventions: while several "cliches" are present, such as the zap gun, the UFO disc shape, the "monster" appearance of the entities, only vague indication are given, with no details whatsoever as to clothes, colors, body shape etc. This again suggests that there is nothing else than a newspaper story, with no investigation effort.

At least three possibilities for evidence to examine were apparently neglected: the blackish liquid that poured on the ground, the burned and exploded rock, and the mentioned "ground traces". Again, this suggests the lack of any investigation.

List of issues:

Id: Topic: Severity: Date noted: Raised by: Noted by: Description: Proposal: Status:
1 Data Severe November 23, 2009 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross Primary source not available. Help needed. Opened.
2 Ufology Severe November 23, 2009 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross No sign of investigation or checking. Press story only. Help needed. Opened.
3 Ufology Severe November 23, 2009 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross Witness or witnesses are children. Still playing outside after midnight. Help needed. Opened.
4 Ufology Severe November 23, 2009 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross Alleged physical evidence apparently remained unchecked. Help needed. Opened.
5 Ufology Severe November 23, 2009 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross Sparse description of UFO and entities, no excat location, no timing etc. Help needed. Opened.

Evaluation:

Probable invention.

Sources references:

* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.

Document history:

Authoring

Main Author: Patrick Gross
Contributors: None
Reviewers: None
Editor: Patrick Gross

Changes history

Version: Created/Changed By: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross November 23, 2009 Creation, [pt1], [ar1], [ni1], [ud1], [al1].
1.0 Patrick Gross November 23, 2009 First published.

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This page was last updated on November 23, 2009