UFO Nyt - No 2 1991

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-Nyt
Issue: Nr. 2
Volume: 33. årg.
Year: 1991
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI)
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
ISSN: 0049-4976

This issue of UFO-Nyt, published by Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI), delves into various unexplained phenomena, including UFO sightings, astronomical events, and mysterious aerial objects. The cover headlines highlight a 'bowed head' warning, an asteroid close to Earth, a flying submarine in the Baltic Sea, and a new explanation for the Roswell incident.

Articles and Features

UFO-vidner oplever en metallisk smag i munden (UFO Witnesses Experience a Metallic Taste in Their Mouths)

This article explores a peculiar detail found in UFO literature: witnesses reporting a strange metallic taste during or after close encounters. The phenomenon is linked to electromagnetic fields and electrical treatments like electrolysis, where a metallic taste is a known side effect. The article discusses a case in Canada where witnesses experienced this taste after observing landed UFOs, and their car and a flagpole were magnetized. It draws parallels to electroloysis treatments for hair removal, where a metallic taste is also reported. Scientific data suggests this taste is related to electrical currents stimulating taste cells and chemical reactions. The article concludes that UFO witnesses might have been exposed to pulsating magnetic fields that induced currents in their bodies.

Vil en ny asteroide ramme Jorden? (Will a New Asteroid Hit Earth?)

This section reports on an asteroid, designated 1990MU, discovered by Robert McNaught. Initial media reports suggested a potential collision course with Earth within two years, leading to predictions of catastrophic earthquakes and tidal waves. However, further analysis by astronomers, including Dr. Duncan Olsson-Steel, indicated that while a collision is possible, it is likely to occur within the next 10 million years. The asteroid will have close approaches to Earth in April 1992 (73.7 million km) and June 1994 (17 million km), debunking the immediate catastrophic threat.

Nyt fra Tycho Brahe Planetarium (News from Tycho Brahe Planetarium)

This segment provides updates from the Tycho Brahe Planetarium. It mentions the inauguration of a new telescope instrument in October 1990, allowing the public to view direct images of the Sun. It also highlights the unveiling of a new planetarium machine in February 1991, a reconstruction of Ole Rømer's original 1680 machine. The article notes that the veterinarian and amateur astronomer Per Darnell was awarded the Tycho Brahe Medal for his contributions to popularizing astronomy.

UFOer på video (UFOs on Video)

This section announces the sale of Europe's largest collection of UFO videos by the German UFO organization CENAP. SUFOI members can purchase 20 hours of UFO documentaries from various countries for 500 DM.

Et lille lysglimt med stor virkning (A Small Flash with Great Effect)

This article details a famous Danish UFO photograph taken by Bjarne Hunneche on May 3, 1975, in Avedøre Holme. Hunneche, a commercial photographer, captured a strange luminous object in the upper right corner of one of his photos, which he did not see at the time of exposure. The object, described as resembling a barrel on fire or an old-fashioned shaving brush, was analyzed by Ground Saucer Watch (GSW) in the USA. GSW concluded that there were no signs of fakery and that the object was either an unusual reflection or damage to the film emulsion. However, the article expresses dissatisfaction with GSW's conclusion, finding it unconvincing and lacking sufficient documentation.

Is, mystiske eksplosioner og jordskælv (Ice, Mysterious Explosions, and Earthquakes)

This article connects several seemingly unrelated events. It begins with an incident in Chalkoutsi, Greece, where an object exploded, leaving a crater and a piece of ice analyzed as pure water ice. This is followed by a powerful explosion heard in Athens and Piraeus, and then a severe earthquake in Albania. The article questions whether these events are connected, suggesting a possible link between atmospheric phenomena and seismic activity.

Den blå is fra stratosfæren (The Blue Ice from the Stratosphere)

This piece discusses the phenomenon of 'blue ice' falling from aircraft. This ice, formed from toilet waste or other fluids, can break off and fall to the ground. The article mentions a case in California where such ice damaged a house. It is estimated that such incidents occur about every other week in the USA.

Duk hovedet! (Bow Your Head!)

This section reports on two instances of objects falling from the sky. One is an ice block from an airplane that damaged the roof of a car dealership in Denmark. The other is a genuine stone meteorite that penetrated a roof in Holland. The article clarifies that these are not instances of toilets being emptied in mid-air, as toilet tanks are emptied on the ground, although minor leaks can freeze and fall as ice.

Meteoritkrater i Sovjetunionen (Meteorite Crater in the Soviet Union)

This report describes a bright fireball observed in Bashkiria, Soviet Union, on May 17, 1990. The impact created a four-meter deep crater with a nine-meter diameter, suggesting the original meteor was about one meter in diameter before exploding.

Kraftigt lysfænomen over Midteuropa (Powerful Light Phenomenon over Central Europe)

On November 5, 1990, a powerful luminous phenomenon was observed across Central Europe. Initially thought to be a UFO, it was later explained by the French Space Agency (CNES) as the upper stage of a Soviet rocket burning up in the atmosphere. Information was corroborated by NASA and NORAD.

SUFOI under kritisk lup (SUFOI Under Critical Scrutiny)

This is a review of Willy Wegner's book "Ufoer over Danmark, 1965-1990". The reviewer, Per Andersen, criticizes Wegner for being overly selective in his evidence, presenting a biased and subjective account that aims to discredit UFOlogy. Andersen argues that Wegner unfairly criticizes organizations like SUFOI, often misrepresenting their efforts to investigate cases. The review highlights specific examples where Wegner allegedly omits crucial details or misinterprets events to fit his negative narrative.

En stor UFO-bog (A Big UFO Book)

This is a review of Jerome Clarke's "UFOs in the 1980s, Volume 1", part of "The UFO Encyclopedia". The reviewer praises the book for its comprehensive coverage of UFO phenomena in the 1980s, including abduction cases, contactees, and theories. While acknowledging its American-centric perspective, the reviewer recommends it as a valuable resource for UFO enthusiasts, despite its lack of illustrations and high price.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained aerial phenomena, often critically examining official explanations and presenting alternative theories. There is a strong emphasis on UFO sightings, their analysis, and the experiences of witnesses. The publication also covers related topics such as meteorites, asteroids, and atmospheric events that might be mistaken for UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider various possibilities while maintaining a critical perspective. The review of Willy Wegner's book suggests a stance against sensationalism and biased reporting within the UFO community itself.

This issue of "Roswell-mysteriet" (The Roswell Mystery), published in 1991, presents a new theory about the infamous 1947 Roswell incident, alongside reports on UFO sightings in Hungary and updates on astronomical discoveries. The magazine's primary focus is on exploring the possibility that the crashed object at Roswell was not an extraterrestrial spacecraft, but rather a Japanese Fugo balloon.

A New Explanation for the Roswell Mystery?

The lead article, authored by John Keel, proposes that the object that crashed near Roswell, New Mexico, in July 1947 was a Fugo balloon. These were simple, inexpensive balloons developed by the Japanese during World War II as a means of warfare against the Americans. The article details their construction, often carried out by children, using rice paper reinforced with silk thread. Some balloons were fitted with sails and a rudimentary altitude control system involving dropping ballast. The payload was typically a bomb, designed to detonate when the balloon reached a certain low altitude.

Fugo balloons were launched in large numbers, with an estimated 9,000 being produced. They were intended to drift to America on the prevailing easterly winds. Some were equipped with devices to interfere with radar signals, creating echoes that made them appear much larger, like 200-300 meter diameter objects, to Japanese submarines monitoring their progress. For the American navy, these radar echoes were a puzzling phenomenon, leading to reports of large radar 'ghosts' over the Pacific.

After the war, these aluminum spheres, sometimes found in strange locations from Australia to the Himalayas, were identified as components of the Fugo balloons. The article notes that the US military was aware of these balloons, with at least one forest fire in Canada attributed to them, and four tourists killed by a Fugo balloon in Montana, which led to government censorship.

The article highlights the extensive censorship efforts by the US government, particularly through the "Office of Censorship," which requested that newspapers and radio stations refrain from mentioning the balloons. This censorship was intended to prevent the Japanese from knowing their balloons were being tracked and to avoid causing panic. Despite the end of the war, Fugo balloons continued to appear over the US for years, leading to speculation about their origin and purpose.

UFO Sightings in Hungary

The magazine also features several reports of UFO activity in Hungary during the 1980s. One account describes an ambulance in Hajdunanas being followed by a large, luminous orange sphere that emitted flames. Another incident involved a road engineer observing an object resembling a 'camping van with illuminated windows' in a field near Hajduboszormeny. A more detailed sighting occurred in January 1987 near Hajduboszormeny, where a road worker reported a disk-shaped object, approximately 15 meters in diameter, with windows emitting yellow light and gray-white beams, and three beings observed outside.

Other Hungarian sightings include seven oval, orange objects observed hovering in formation over Nyirabrany for several consecutive evenings, and a fast-moving, round, orange light observed over Debrecen by an electrical engineer. A father and daughter reported seeing a white, cylinder-shaped object flying slowly north over a village.

Astronomy and Space

This section of the magazine covers recent developments in astronomy. It discusses the problems encountered with the Hubble Space Telescope, particularly a spherical aberration that has affected image quality. Despite these issues, the telescope has managed to capture some valuable images of astronomical objects. The article also touches upon Pluto, the ninth planet in our solar system, and its moon Charon, noting their unusual size relationship and the challenges of observing them from Earth. The Hubble telescope's FOC camera has been used to obtain improved images of Pluto and Charon.

Sky Watch

A regular column provides guidance on observing celestial bodies. It mentions that Mercury will be visible in the evenings around late July, and Venus will be visible as an evening star until mid-July. Mars will be visible as a faint red star, and its conjunction with Jupiter in June is noted. Saturn will be in opposition in late July, and Uranus will be observable on July 4th. The Perseid meteor shower is also highlighted as being active in late July.

SUFOI News and Publications

The magazine includes updates from SUFOI (The Scandinavian UFO Information Organization). It details their lecture activities, the challenges of managing their postbox, and their available materials, including books and a "school package." Several SUFOI publications are listed, such as "UFO-Vision" yearbooks, "UFOer over Polen" by Bronislaw Rzepecki, "På sporet af ufonauten" by Åge Skjelborg, and "Fakta om... UFO" by Kim Møller Hansen.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the re-examination of well-known UFO cases like Roswell through alternative explanations, the reporting of contemporary UFO sightings from various locations, and the dissemination of astronomical knowledge. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting different theories and eyewitness accounts while also acknowledging the scientific and journalistic processes involved in investigating such phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on providing information and fostering discussion within the UFO community and among the general public interested in these topics.

Title: Ufologi
Issue: 23
Volume: 10
Date: November 1982
Publisher: SUFOI
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
ISSN: 0105-2072
Price: kr. 35,00

This issue of Ufologi, a Danish magazine dedicated to the study of UFO phenomena, presents a collection of intriguing reports and analyses. The cover story, "Flying submarine in the Baltic Sea?", by Ole Henningsen, details a remarkable sighting off the coast of Denmark. The magazine also features several other significant cases, including detailed accounts from civilian and military witnesses, and discusses the methodology for evaluating such testimonies.

Analysis of Human Behavior in UFO Reports

The introductory section of the magazine posits that the widespread similarities in UFO reports across the globe, regardless of the witness's background (religious, political, educational, or socio-economic), suggest a common underlying stimulus or shared human psychological response. The author argues that by applying scientific principles and a common logic to the vast number of UFO reports gathered over decades, one can identify patterns and similarities that warrant serious investigation rather than immediate dismissal.

Case Study 1: Sanford, Maine (September 1979)

This case involves two teenage girls, Holly Travis and Debbie LaRose, who reported witnessing a large, round, orange object with a clearly visible underside passing slowly over their house at an altitude of approximately 200 meters. The object was described as being as large as a football field and moved at a speed of about 15 to 20 km/h. The girls were initially frightened and confused, debating whether to report it to the newspaper. The author emphasizes the significance of Holly's use of the word "confused," suggesting that deviations from expected norms are inherently unsettling. The author notes that teenage witnesses, in social psychology studies, have proven capable of providing clear and detailed accounts, comparable to older individuals.

Case Study 2: Judith Gap, Montana (November 1975)

This report details an incident involving multiple military personnel at Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases in the northern states. For about two weeks in late 1975, SAC bases experienced "visits" from unidentified, evasive objects. The specific case highlighted occurred on November 8, 1975, at 02:53 AM, when Malmstrom AFB radar detected seven targets at altitudes between 3,200 and 5,000 meters. Witnesses also reported lights and sounds similar to jet engines, though no jets were within 200 km. Two F-106 fighter jets were scrambled but were unable to intercept. A Security Alert Team (SAT) reported a "huge disc" the size of a football field hovering over a missile silo, emitting a bright orange light. The object reportedly reacted to the jets and later ascended rapidly to an estimated altitude of 70,000 meters. The missile that was "examined" by the object was reportedly replaced the following week, with military personnel stating, "We don't trust 'them'." This case was declassified through Freedom of Information Act requests in January 1979.

Case Study 3: Denver, Colorado (March 1978)

This case shifts focus from military settings to a suburban environment. On March 28, 1978, around midnight, Irene Bigelow and two other witnesses observed three large, orange, "unnaturally large moons" in the sky for approximately 1.5 hours. The objects moved slowly at first, then broke formation and ascended rapidly. Irene Bigelow described the objects as at least twice the size of her garage door. Her husband was a police official, and her cousin and his wife fled in fear. Her neighbor, Jim Dawson, was more forthcoming. The author notes that fear of ridicule often silences witnesses.

Case Study 4: Jicarillo Apache Reservation and General Observations

This section, presented as a "Red. bemærkning" (editorial note), synthesizes multiple similar reports to illustrate a recurring theme. It highlights the consistency of descriptions of large, orange, glowing discs and cylindrical or cigar-shaped silver objects, even among isolated communities like the Jicarillo Apache. The author emphasizes that despite vast cultural differences between these witnesses (Jicarillo Apache, Holly Travis, Debbie LaRose, Irene Bigelow, and military personnel like James Moulton), the descriptions of the phenomena remain remarkably similar. This consistency across diverse groups and locations is presented as strong evidence for the reality of the UFO phenomenon.

Methodology for Evaluating UFO Reports

The article touches upon the challenge of discerning truth from noise in the age of mass media, especially concerning unusual phenomena like UFOs. It acknowledges that witness testimony is the primary source of information in ufology and that its credibility is a significant issue for both critics and proponents. The author suggests that social sciences offer methods for determining the potential value of a witness's account and that this article aims to present such a method.

Case Study 5: Flying Submarine in the Baltic Sea (July 1990)

This report, attributed to Anders G. Magnusson and published in SAF-Bulletin, describes an incident on July 26, 1990, approximately 70 nautical miles east of Møn, Denmark. The sailing boat "Ocean Force" detected a large object passing beneath its keel. A warning was also heard from a nearby yacht about a submarine surfacing. A craft then emerged from the water, described as having a sleek steel hull with a high superstructure. It then ignited two rocket engines and ascended rapidly into the sky with a loud noise. A NATO vessel later confirmed that the "flying submarine" did not belong to NATO or Warsaw Pact forces. The author admits this sounds like a "skipper's tall tale" but includes it due to its unique nature and location. A weakness of the report is the lack of photographic evidence. SUFOI's Rapportcentral has not yet received further corroborating information.

Books and Resources

The magazine includes advertisements for books related to UFOs and mysteries, such as "The Circles Effect and Its Mysteries" by George Terence Meaden and "Phenomena: A Book of Wonders" by John Michell. It also provides contact information for SUFOI, including an alarm center, general information line, and lecture booking number.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Ufologi consistently emphasizes the remarkable similarities in UFO sightings across diverse witnesses and geographical locations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, advocating for the application of scientific and logical methods to analyze witness testimonies. The magazine highlights cases involving military personnel and declassified documents, suggesting a belief in the substantial nature of the phenomenon. There is a clear effort to present credible accounts and to explore potential explanations, while also acknowledging the challenges of public perception and the need for more evidence, such as photographic documentation. The recurring theme of large, orange, disc-shaped objects is prominent throughout the presented cases.