UFO Nyt - No 3 2003

Magazine Overview

Title: ufo nyt
Issue: Nr. 3
Volume: 45. årg.
Date: 3. kvartal 2003 (September 2003)
Publisher: SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information)
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
ISSN: 0049-4976
Price: kr. 262,00

This issue of *ufo nyt* focuses heavily on the 1964 Socorro, New Mexico UFO incident, famously witnessed by police officer Lonnie Zamora. The cover art depicts a flying saucer over a desert landscape, with a uniformed figure observing. The main headlines tease articles about "Next Stop Mars," "Are UFOs living beings?", "Mysterious creature found in Austria," "Unknown object near the space station," and "The world's best UFO observation?"

Project Hvidbog

The magazine introduces "Projekt Hvidbog" (Project White Book), a new initiative by SUFOI. The project aims to compile and document the experiences gained from SUFOI's long-standing work in collecting and investigating UFO reports. For over 40 years, SUFOI has gathered thousands of reports. Initially, the process was unsystematic, with many cases remaining unexplained. Over time, methods improved, allowing for the identification of known phenomena like satellites and aircraft. The period between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s saw significant development in report handling, including the establishment of a nationwide network of report takers and training courses. SUFOI became proficient enough to explain approximately 90% of sightings as misinterpretations. However, since the mid-1990s, the number of active report takers has declined, making it difficult to process incoming reports. Despite efforts to recruit new volunteers, the decline continued, and since 2000, report handling has been minimal, relying mostly on the website. The project aims to consolidate the knowledge and experience accumulated over the years into a "white book" to be published by 2007, coinciding with SUFOI's 50th anniversary. The project will cover topics from interview techniques to photographic analysis and well-documented UFO reports.

The Methodical Knowledge in Focus

An article discusses the focus of Project Hvidbog on the experience and knowledge SUFOI has developed in methods for collecting and processing reports. It distinguishes between "methodical knowledge" (how to collect and analyze reports) and "knowledge about the UFO phenomenon itself" (understanding the nature and origin of UFOs). While the former is well-developed within SUFOI, the latter remains uncertain. The project will primarily focus on methodical knowledge, as clear conclusions about the phenomenon itself are unlikely.

The Zamora Case: A UFO Classic

Several articles delve into the Lonnie Zamora incident. The main article, "The World's Best UFO Observation?" by Patrick Huyghe, provides background on the event. On April 24, 1964, Lonnie Zamora, a police officer with 10 years of service, observed an egg-shaped craft near Socorro, New Mexico. He reported a loud roaring sound and a bluish-orange flame. He then saw a landed object, described as aluminum, white against the sand, and oval-shaped, with two small figures in white suits nearby. Zamora's initial report to the FBI is detailed, highlighting his description of the object's appearance, the flame, and the beings. The article also touches upon the physical evidence, including landing marks and scorched vegetation found at the site.

Another article, "What About Zamora?" by Patrick Huyghe, focuses on a unique aspect of the case: a symbol or inscription on the object. Zamora described it as a red symbol, approximately 75 cm high and 60 cm wide. The presence of such markings suggests a man-made origin. The article explores potential explanations, including a possible military prototype or even a lunar landing craft. It also discusses the "balloon hypothesis," with engineer Larry Robinson suggesting the object could have been a hot air balloon, possibly sponsored by International Paper Corporation. However, the timing of the logo's adoption and its color do not perfectly match Zamora's description. The article also considers the possibility of a secret military project.

An interview with Lonnie Zamora himself reveals his perspective years later. He maintains the sighting lasted about six to seven minutes and that he was terrified. He denies seeing the two beings clearly, stating he only thought he saw people in overalls. Zamora insists the event had no significant impact on his life and that he believes the object was "from somewhere else." He dismisses the balloon theory, stating "I know what I saw, and it wasn't like that." He also expresses uncertainty about extraterrestrial life.

Further analysis in "UFO Classic" examines the physical evidence, including the landing marks and scorched vegetation. It questions the balloon hypothesis, pointing out discrepancies such as the lack of a visible basket or ropes, and the flame originating from the bottom of the object. The article also notes that the Socorro case was Project Blue Book's only unexplained landing incident involving a craft and occupants.

Another section, "The Same Day in New York," presents a similar sighting by Gary Wilcox on the same day, involving an egg-shaped craft and two beings who claimed to be from Mars. This parallel sighting adds another layer of intrigue to the issue.

Other Articles

"Mysterious creature found in Austria" and "Unknown object near the space station" are mentioned in the table of contents but not detailed in the provided pages. A short piece titled "Ufo var brændt kat" (UFO was a burnt cat) suggests a Norwegian UFO sighting might have been a cat electrocuted on a high-voltage line.

SUFOI Support Fund

The magazine includes a section appealing for donations to the SUFOI Support Fund. The fund is used to finance the organization's activities, including a new exhibition display, a large UFO event planned for 2007, and reprinting the booklet "When you see a shooting star."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around classic UFO cases, particularly the Socorro incident, and the ongoing efforts of UFO research organizations like SUFOI. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of UFO phenomena, while acknowledging the challenges in reaching definitive conclusions. The magazine encourages reader participation through donations and article submissions, highlighting its reliance on volunteer work and limited resources. The emphasis on "Projekt Hvidbog" underscores a commitment to preserving and disseminating accumulated knowledge in the field of ufology.

This issue of UFO-NYT, dated 3/2003, focuses on "UFO-klassiker" (UFO Classics), with a prominent feature on the "Socorro-ufoet" (Socorro UFO) incident. The magazine explores various UFO theories, historical observations of Mars, and space exploration.

Et andet syn på Socorro-ufoet (A Different View of the Socorro UFO)

This article revisits the 1964 Socorro landing incident, highlighting the credibility of witness Lonnie Zamora and the attention it garnered from figures like J. Allen Hynek and Philip Klass. The event was extensively documented and even featured in television series. The piece questions what truly happened, presenting several theories:

• Ray Stanford's Theory: Suggests it was another extraterrestrial visit, possibly kept secret by authorities.
• Philip Klass's Theory: Dismisses the event as a hoax orchestrated by the town's mayor to gain publicity for Socorro.
• Student Prank Theory: A less credible theory suggests physics students were responsible.
• Lunar Lander Prototype Theory: Major Hector Quintanilla of Project Blue Book investigated if it was a prototype lunar lander, but found no such operational prototype existed in 1964.
• Larry Robinson's Theory: Proposes Zamora saw a manned hot-air balloon, aligning with Zamora's description of a changing, low-to-high frequency noise resembling propane burners.

The article also delves into the possibility of a connection to the Skyhook Balloon program at Holloman Air Force Base, with a colleague of Bernard "Duke" Gilden-berg suggesting a link via Captain James McAndrew.

Charles B. Moore, who researched atmospheric physics and visited the Socorro site in 1966, is also mentioned. He believes Zamora was an honest man.

Further details emerge regarding the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) logs from April 24 and 27, 1964. These logs show helicopter flights carrying a "Lunar Surveyor" craft for various tests. While the timing of these tests (morning) doesn't perfectly align with Zamora's afternoon observation, the article notes that schedules can shift, and a bomb exercise might have caused delays. Several points support the Surveyor explanation:

1. Helicopter Transport: A Bell helicopter transported the Lunar Surveyor, which would have looked unusual in profile. The landing gear's imprint matches the observed tracks.
2. Engine Flames: The Surveyor's engines could explain the "flames" Zamora saw. Hynek noted the marks didn't suggest a heavy craft taking off.
3. Mechanical Shovel: The Surveyor had a mechanical shovel whose shape fits the rectangular trench observed.
4. Color: Zamora described the craft as "aluminum-white," matching the Bell helicopter's color.
5. Crew: The operation involved a helicopter pilot and a Hughes engineer in white coveralls.
6. Government Experiment: Many locals and investigators believed it was a secret government experiment, possibly linked to Holloman Air Force Base.
7. Lava Rocks: Lava rocks were collected as part of the Surveyor's tasks, and some were found at the landing site.

An anecdote from Opel Grinder, who managed Whitting Brothers Servicestation, recounts a tourist mentioning a strange, low-flying craft that seemed to be in trouble, prompting a police response. Grinder's description of the craft as unusual for a helicopter aligns with the Surveyor theory.

På opdagelse i solsystemet (Exploring the Solar System)

This section shifts focus to Mars, highlighting its enduring fascination. The article notes the close approach of Mars to Earth in August 2003, the closest in 73,000 years. It mentions ongoing exploration by the Global Surveyor spacecraft and upcoming missions from Europe, the US, and Japan, including the European Mars Express with its Beagle 2 lander.

The history of Mars observation is traced back to 1877 when Italian astronomer Giovanni V. Schiaparelli reported observing "canali" (channels) on Mars. His detailed observations, published in German and translated into Danish, fueled speculation about Martian civilization. The article reproduces Schiaparelli's Mars map from 1877 and discusses his cautious descriptions, emphasizing that his "canals" were schematic representations and not exact replicas.

Schiaparelli believed Mars had a denser atmosphere and more surface water than current probes suggest. The article also touches upon the discovery of Mars's two moons, Phobos and Deimos, by Asaph Hall in 1877, noting their earlier mention in Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels." Russian astrophysicist I. S. Shklovsky's observations of Phobos's unusual behavior and orbital decay led to theories of it being an artificial space station, though modern images refute this.

Light phenomena observed on Mars's limb in 1892, reported by Lick astronomers and Henri Perrotin, were used by H. G. Wells in "The War of the Worlds." The article mentions that these light phenomena are now believed to be reflections of sunlight off ice crystals in the Martian atmosphere or surface ice, related to weather patterns.

The article discusses the composition of Mars's atmosphere (95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen) and its extreme temperatures. It also mentions powerful dust storms and "dust devils" observed on the surface. The landscape is described as desert-like with dunes, rocks, and craters. Features resembling ancient riverbeds have been photographed, but liquid water is only found as ice at the poles and permafrost beneath the surface.

The possibility of finding life on Mars is discussed, referencing the debate surrounding the ALH84001 meteorite. The article concludes that while life on Mars remains uncertain, the search fuels discussions about extraterrestrial life.

Ufo-teorier (UFO Theories)

This section explores the hypothesis that UFOs might be living beings, starting with Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting. Arnold himself described the objects not as metallic craft but as "flying sea-men." The article draws parallels between the environment of marine organisms and the hypothetical upper atmosphere, noting similarities in freedom of movement and adaptation to extreme conditions.

It references "foo fighters," luminous objects observed by pilots during WWII. These objects exhibited behaviors like following aircraft, changing colors, and blinking lights, leading to speculation about them being advanced German technology. However, Ivan T. Sanderson proposed they were living beings, comparing their behavior to dolphins following ships.

The article highlights that pilots often did not attempt to shoot down foo fighters, suggesting an instinctual feeling that they posed no threat. Sanderson's theory is presented as controversial but plausible given the observed behaviors.

Further parallels are drawn to deep-sea organisms that can produce light and detach luminous parts of their tentacles to distract predators. This is compared to "mothership" UFOs emitting smaller, luminous craft. The article notes that many UFO sightings involve luminous objects that can disappear instantly, similar to the behavior of some transparent deep-sea creatures.

The challenges of this theory include explaining how these beings obtain nourishment and why they are not found on the surface when they die. The article suggests that organic material in the upper atmosphere could provide sustenance. Regarding their absence on the surface, it's proposed that if they are gaseous, they might disintegrate upon entering denser atmospheric layers, similar to how a jellyfish quickly decomposes out of water.

The article mentions reports of "angel hair," a slimy substance that dissolves quickly, and foul-smelling gases associated with UFO landing sites, potentially from decomposing organisms.

Specific examples of UFOs described as living beings include an incident in Crawfordville, USA, in 1891, where a UFO with a red eye and fin-like appendages terrorized the town. Reports from the 1950s in the US describe gelatinous, organic UFOs that vibrated, leading witnesses to believe they were dying creatures. One case in Florida in 1958 involved an attempt to collect a sample from a nearly transparent UFO, which also disintegrated.

The article concludes that the theory of living atmospheric beings, while not explaining metallic UFOs or alien contacts, could account for many sightings of luminous, transient objects.

UFO-Nyt retter (UFO-Nyt Correction)

This short section corrects a previous error, stating that a photo on page 5 of UFO-Nyt nr. 2 was of an English Electric Lightning F.1, not a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, as previously misidentified.

Rumfart (Space Travel)

This article reports on an object filmed by astronaut Edward T. Lu from the International Space Station (ISS) on June 12, 2003. Lu described it as a "rectangular shaped piece of metal about 5 cm long." NASA is analyzing the images but lacks sufficient data on its trajectory to identify it. It's likely it originated from the ISS due to its similar speed and orbit. The U.S. Strategic Command was asked to gather information. NASA technicians planned to send images of known ISS markings to Lu for comparison. The object's small size posed no significant threat to the ISS. The article notes that Lu also mentioned seeing satellites from the ISS and that the Great Wall of China is not visible from the Moon with the naked eye.

Sociologisk set (Sociological View)

This section discusses a project by Ditte Petersen, Kristian Molbo, and Stine Rasmussen analyzing the sociological aspects of UFO beliefs, particularly focusing on the Danish organization SUFOI. The study aimed to understand the societal conditions that foster the belief in UFOs as extraterrestrial phenomena.

A survey of SUFOI members revealed that 47.8% believe they have observed something unexplainable, compared to 10% of the general Danish population. Furthermore, 89.1% of SUFOI members believe in intelligent extraterrestrial life, and 26.1% believe in contact with such life. Approximately 34% of SUFOI members believe UFO observations should always be investigated scientifically.

The survey also gathered demographic data: about 65% of SUFOI members are male, with an average age of 57. The analysis also included SUFOI's history and publications.

The project's key finding is that SUFOI aims to be recognized as competent in explaining UFO observations and approaches the subject scientifically, distancing itself from unscientific conclusions. However, the article suggests SUFOI faces a significant challenge in gaining recognition from mainstream science because its entire foundation is based on the premise of UFOs being a real phenomenon.

Title: UFO-NYT
Issue: 3/2003
Date: March 2003
Publisher: SUFOI
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish

This issue of UFO-NYT features a prominent sociological analysis of UFO phenomena and organizations, alongside news about a Norwegian UFO center and a debunked case of a mysterious creature.

Sociologisk set (Sociological Perspective)

The lead article, "Sociologisk set," critically examines the approach of UFO organizations, particularly SUFOI (a Danish UFO research group), from a sociological standpoint. The authors argue that SUFOI implicitly assumes that UFO observations stem from an objective reality and seeks scientific explanations. They suggest that members might harbor a hidden hope or curiosity about extraterrestrial existence, and that their pursuit of scientific validation is a challenging endeavor, especially since they cannot pinpoint a specific research object.

The article draws parallels between SUFOI members and the general Danish population's curiosity about intelligent life in space, noting that SUFOI engages with this more actively and in a way that is socially accepted, by attempting to scientifically understand the phenomenon. However, it questions why SUFOI seeks recognition from natural sciences specifically, rather than other scientific disciplines, and whether societal factors influencing the belief in extraterrestrial intelligence are being overlooked.

The authors also comment on the paradox that if SUFOI can explain a high percentage of observations, the belief in extraterrestrial visitors should decrease. Instead, they observe that the unexplained 5-10% of cases seem to reinforce the idea of extraterrestrial contact. The article acknowledges the assistance of Torben Birkholm and the representative body for their support.

It is noted that the analysis is primarily based on SUFOI's content, with broader societal analyses omitted for brevity. The article was written by Ditte Petersen, Kristian Molbo Jacobsen, and Stine Rasmussen as part of a bachelor's project from Aalborg University in June 2003.

UFO-center drejer nøglen om (UFO Center Turns the Key)

This section reports on the closure of the Norsk UFO Center in Ålen, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway, due to financial difficulties. The center, which opened the previous summer near Hessdalen (known for its UFO sightings), had hoped for 38,000 visitors annually but received fewer than 2,000 in its first year. Its initial capital of 900,000 Norwegian kroner was reportedly depleted. Local stakeholders and private investors had contributed to the project, which had an initial development budget of 20 million Norwegian kroner. The center's modest staff have ceased their work, and banks are deciding its future. The center included an exhibition area and a cafeteria, both now closed, and ambitious expansion plans are on hold.

Utroligt (Incredible)

This article details the discovery of a peculiar, dried-out creature by Olga Schilke near the Kirchheimer stream in Radenthein, Austria, in April 2003. Schilke initially found the creature's appearance to be alien-like. After leaving it overnight, she retrieved it. Kärnten's expert in exotic creatures, Sabine Happ, identified the specimen as a ray fish. Happ explained that the ray's mouth, with its tooth plates for crushing food, and its gill slits, which normally channel water, could be mistaken for a strange face and eyes when dried and distorted.

The article notes that the creature's location, far from its natural habitat, raises questions about who might have placed it there. It also references a similar dried ray found in a souvenir shop near Lake Garda, Italy, which had been cut and tied to resemble a human-like form, leading to alien interpretations. Historical examples are also cited, including woodcuts by the naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi from the 17th century depicting sea serpents and dragons that appear to be derived from modified rays. The article concludes that this phenomenon is not new and has been documented historically.

Bognyhed (Book News)

This section promotes the book "Det uforklarlige" (The Unexplainable) by Lars Thomas. The book covers a wide range of unexplained phenomena, including ghosts, reincarnation, UFOs, spontaneous combustion, walking stones, psychokinesis, crop circles, the Loch Ness Monster, and alien visitations. It is described as a journey into the grey zone between the known and the unknown, and it is available for 249 Danish kroner.

Konspirationsteorier - 20 populære sammensværgelser (Conspiracy Theories - 20 Popular Conspiracies)

This section advertises a book titled "Konspirationsteorier - 20 populære sammensværgelser" by Lars Bugge. The book delves into the events behind famous conspiracy theories, presenting supporting evidence and circumstances. It highlights intriguing questions such as the spelling error on Elvis' gravestone, why the lunar module did not kick up dust, the location of the plane that hit the Pentagon on September 11th, the significance of the number 666 on barcodes, and the direction of Robert F. Kennedy's fatal gunshot wound. The book, which is 42 pages in A4 format and illustrated, has received positive press, including a review on "Go' Morgen Danmark" (TV2). It is available for 88 Danish kroner and has a dedicated website at www.ufo.dk.

SUFOIs Historie 1975 - 2000

This section promotes a comprehensive account of SUFOI's activities from 1975 to 2000, titled "SUFOIs Historie 1975 - 2000." The book, described as a 240-page, illustrated history, covers the period when UFOs gained significant media attention in Denmark. It details the organization's history, its members, and the UFO phenomenon in Denmark through seven chapters, featuring over 150 color illustrations and an index. It is available in two formats: a CD edition (PDF) for 220 kroner (120 for members) and a complete book edition (ring binder) including the CD for 580 kroner (380 for members).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs, with scientific inquiry, skepticism, and societal beliefs. There's a clear interest in debunking sensational claims with rational explanations, as seen with the Austrian ray fish case. However, the magazine also acknowledges the enduring public fascination with the unknown and the persistence of conspiracy theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical investigation, seeking to provide factual information while understanding the psychological and sociological drivers behind belief in the paranormal and extraterrestrial.