UFO Nyt - No 3 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-Nyt
Issue: Nr. 3
Volume: 48. årg.
Date: 2006 (3rd quarter)
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI)
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
ISSN: 0049-4976

Main Cover Story: "I Saw a UFO!"

The cover of UFO-Nyt issue 3/2006 prominently features a large, reddish, textured planet or moon against a starry backdrop. The main headlines in Danish tease several key articles: "I Saw a UFO!", "The Hunt for Earth's Twin", "Aircraft Pursued by a Luminous Sphere", "Secret Report Published", and "Reunion with the Almind Spaceship". The issue date is indicated as the 3rd quarter of 2006, with the volume being the 48th year.

Article 1: "Secret Report Published"

This article discusses the declassification of a 460-page report from the British Ministry of Defence, compiled in 2000, which concluded that intelligent extraterrestrial life does not visit Earth in spaceships. Dr. David Clarke from Sheffield University successfully requested access to the report, which was officially titled "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the UK Air Defence Region: Executive Summary". The report's conclusion stated that there was no evidence of hostile intelligent objects or threats from UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), nor evidence of fixed objects posing a collision risk. The term UAP is used throughout the report to refer to UFO phenomena. The article notes that the report was compiled by the Defence Intelligence Analysis Staff and was initially classified as UNCLASSIFIED.

Background of the CONDIGN Report

The article details the history of the British government's involvement with UFO investigations. It reveals that Winston Churchill inquired about "flying saucers" in 1952, leading to a report that was not fully released until 2001. The Ministry of Defence had long denied conducting secret UFO investigations, but in 1996, a secret study began in conjunction with the creation of an electronic database for UAP reports. In 1997, it was decided that only reports from credible witnesses would be received, leading to a drastic drop in the number of reports. The investigation and report writing were entrusted to a security-cleared expert working for the Defence Intelligence Service in Whitehall, London. Under the project codename CONDIGN, this expert worked from 1996 to 2000 on the report, which examined the potential dangers to Britain from UAPs.

Report's Purpose and Content

The report's introduction states that the primary goal was to determine if there was any value in UFO observations reported to the Defence Intelligence Service over the past 25 years, and if these observations indicated any danger to Britain. It also questioned whether potential military technologies were involved in the reported phenomena. The report's author attempted to systematize the findings, but the document is described as not very accessible, possibly due to its high level of detail. The first section of the report, originally classified as confidential, describes the background, methodology, and statistical analysis, along with conclusions and recommendations. It acknowledges that UAP phenomena exist and can exhibit unusual flight characteristics. However, the report ultimately concludes that the information in the UAP reports held by D155 (Defence Intelligence Analysis Staff) over the past 30 years has no value for the Defence Intelligence Service. Nevertheless, the investigation did uncover technological aspects of potential defense interest. The report points to known natural causes for UAP sightings, such as misperceptions of ordinary aircraft, natural phenomena, or rare atmospheric events. It also states that UAPs cannot be attributed to a single state and there is no evidence of them being hostile or controlled, beyond natural forces. Meteors and their effects are also mentioned as possible causes.

Censorship and Release

Certain lines and passages in the CONDIGN report were removed before its public release, citing national security (Section 26), damage to relations with foreign states (Section 27), or personal information (Section 40). The release of the report was largely due to the efforts of British UFO researcher David Clarke from Sheffield Hallam University, who discovered references to the CONDIGN investigation in 2005. He and colleague Gary Anthony submitted requests for its release, and it was provided to them in April 2006. The British Ministry of Defence subsequently made the entire report available online in May 2006.

"Not an Extraterrestrial Visit"

The report's analysis, including a review of Cold War-era reports, concludes that there is no evidence of UAPs being hostile or of intelligent alien origin. It also found no evidence of fixed objects posing a collision risk, though future collisions cannot be entirely ruled out. The report notes that attempts to pursue unexplained objects that can change position rapidly have resulted in accidents in other countries, but no such incidents have occurred in British airspace related to UAP pursuits.

Recommendations

The report recommends that the UAP database no longer be maintained, as the collected information has not provided any value to the Defence Intelligence Service. However, it suggests that information related to aviation safety, including radar observations, should be communicated to military and civilian aviation authorities. The report acknowledges a rise in UAP incidents but emphasizes that the probability of encountering one remains very low. Pilots are advised not to attempt to outmaneuver UAPs, even if they appear non-hostile, but rather to fly away if possible. The report also suggests further research into the use of plasma phenomena in new military applications, as plasma and magnetic fields appear to play a role in UAP phenomena.

Comparison with the Condon Report

The article draws a parallel between the British CONDIGN report and the American Condon report, published in 1969. The Condon report, a comprehensive study of UFOs, led to the closure of the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book. The Condon report concluded that the UFO phenomenon was not worth scientific investigation. While the Condon report was extensive and involved numerous researchers, the CONDIGN report is noted for its lack of detailed investigation results and is criticized by some for this brevity. Both reports, however, concluded that there was no evidence of extraterrestrial visits and that most sightings could be explained by natural causes or misidentifications.

Conclusion of the CONDIGN Report

Despite the extensive investigation, the CONDIGN report does not definitively settle the UFO debate. It acknowledges the existence of UAPs but attributes them to natural causes or misperceptions, rather than extraterrestrial visitors.

Article 2: "Aircraft Pursued by a Luminous Sphere"

This article recounts a personal experience of pilot Dieter Betz, who was a co-pilot on a Maersk Air Boeing 737 flying a lease contract for Guyana Airways in 1981/82. The incident involved a Hawker Siddeley 748 aircraft from Guyana Airways being pursued by a powerful, spherical light. The phenomenon was observed by over a hundred people, including pilots and cabin crew.

The Encounter

While on the runway in Trinidad, Betz and his crew prepared for their flight. During the flight over the Orinoco River delta, they were informed by Captain Kahn of the Hawker Siddeley 748 that his aircraft was being pursued by a strong light, described as a "luminous sphere." Kahn reported that the light was at the same altitude and speed, and he could not identify it. He requested permission to change altitude, which was granted as there was no other air traffic. Kahn attempted various maneuvers, including a 360-degree turn, but the light maintained its position behind his aircraft. The light was described as intensely bright, bathing the cockpit in light. The Hawker pilot eventually managed to break away from the light, which then stopped and disappeared.

Aftermath and Witness Accounts

Following the incident, a large-scale search was conducted by the Guyanese government, involving military aircraft and numerous smaller planes, but nothing was found. Betz notes that many pilots had kept similar experiences secret for fear of ridicule or drug tests. However, after this incident, many came forward with their accounts, indicating that such sightings were more common than previously admitted.

Dieter Betz's Background

The article includes a biographical sketch of Dieter Betz, a pilot, photographer, author, and adventurer who began flying at age 15 and has accumulated over 16,000 flight hours in various aircraft. He has survived three crashes and is a member of the Adventurers' Club. Betz has flown extensively and now focuses on gliding, working as an instructor in Denmark and New Zealand. He has authored 10 children's books and has a repertoire of over 1,000 lectures on his travels. The UFO experience described was originally published in the January 2006 issue of the Royal Danish Aero Club's magazine FLYV.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Nyt focuses heavily on official investigations into UFO phenomena, particularly the declassified British CONDIGN report and its comparison to the American Condon report. The magazine presents a critical analysis of these reports, highlighting their conclusions regarding the lack of evidence for extraterrestrial visitation while acknowledging the existence of unexplained aerial phenomena. The personal testimony of pilot Dieter Betz adds a compelling eyewitness account to the issue's theme of unexplained aerial sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFOs, seeking to understand the phenomena through official reports and credible eyewitness accounts, while maintaining a critical perspective on speculative theories. The magazine also touches upon the role of plasma phenomena in UAP sightings and the challenges of investigating such events.

Title: Observationer
Issue: 3/2006
Publisher: UFO-Nyt
Date: 2006

This issue of UFO-Nyt delves into a variety of phenomena, from personal UFO sightings to astronomical discoveries and historical mysteries.

Jeg har set en ufo!

The lead article focuses on actor Lars Bom's reported UFO sighting from the summer of 1978. While on holiday with friends on the island of Menorca, near Ciudadela, Bom and others witnessed a luminous "golden-orange sphere" moving slowly over the sea, approximately 200 meters from the shore. Bom, then 17 years old, described the object as being the size of a medium to large beach ball and moving at an estimated speed of 7-8 km/h, about 20 meters above the water. The observation lasted for about 30 seconds to a minute. The intense light from the object obscured its outline, but it emitted a warm, yellowish glow. The experience left a lasting impression on Bom, convincing him that there is "more between heaven and earth." The article notes that Bom recounted this experience on Danish television in 1997. The UFO-Nyt editorial team investigated the sighting, comparing it with other reports from Mallorca and Tenerife, but found no direct matches. Despite the lack of corroborating evidence, the article concludes that, by definition, Lars Bom has still seen a UFO.

Astronomi: Jagten på Jordens tvilling

This section, authored by Michael Linden-Vørnle, discusses the ongoing search for exoplanets, planets orbiting stars other than our Sun. As of July 2006, 196 exoplanets had been discovered, along with four orbiting pulsars. The primary goal of this search is to understand planet formation and to find potential habitats for life. The article highlights the challenge of finding Earth-like planets, as most discovered exoplanets are significantly larger and more massive than Earth, resembling gas giants like Jupiter. These larger planets are easier to detect due to their greater gravitational influence on their host stars.

Den letteste planet

The article introduces the discovery of OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb, an exoplanet with a mass only about 5.5 times that of Earth. This discovery was made by an international research group, including astrophysicist Uffe Gråe Jørgensen from the Niels Bohr Institute. The planet orbits a dim, cold star located approximately 22,000 light-years from Earth. Due to its distance from its star, OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb is believed to be an icy world with a surface temperature around -220 degrees Celsius, possibly a rocky planet with a thin atmosphere, more akin to a large Pluto.

Dansk teleskop på banen

The discovery of OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb was made using the microlensing method, which relies on the gravitational lensing effect predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity. This method involves observing the temporary brightening of a distant star as a massive object passes in front of it. The PLANET network of telescopes, including the Danish 1.54-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, plays a crucial role in monitoring these events. The article notes that the Danish telescope was instrumental in detecting the subtle light variation that indicated the presence of a planet around the star.

Flere planeter om samme stjerne

Another astronomical discovery detailed is that of a planetary system around the star HD 69830, located about 41 light-years away. This system contains three exoplanets, all of which are relatively small, with masses between 10 and 18 times that of Earth. These planets orbit their star at distances of 12, 28, and 94 million kilometers, with orbital periods of 8.67, 31.6, and 197 days, respectively. The third planet resides within the star's 'habitable zone,' the region where liquid water could potentially exist on a planet's surface. The system also appears to contain a significant asteroid belt, providing valuable data for understanding planet formation.

Planetpassager i kikkerten

This subsection discusses the discovery of exoplanet XO-1b, found using the transit method, where a planet's passage in front of its star causes a slight dimming of the star's light. This discovery was made by a group of amateur and professional astronomers using the XO telescope. XO-1b orbits a star about 600 light-years from Earth and is a large gas planet similar to Jupiter. The transit method, while requiring less powerful telescopes than the radial velocity method, is effective for detecting planets that orbit close to their stars. The article highlights the role of smaller telescopes and amateur astronomers in exoplanet research and mentions the upcoming NASA Kepler satellite, designed to find Earth-sized planets using the transit method.

Fra arkiverne: Gensyn med Almind-rumskibet

Authored by Toke Haunstrup, this article revisits the "Almind-rumskibet" (Almind spaceship) case from 1957. The incident involved three young men in Almind, Denmark, who reported seeing a round, red/orange object in the sky. The object reportedly ascended, changed shape, released smaller disc-like craft, and then disappeared with a luminous tail. The account gained significant attention at the time, with many UFO enthusiasts viewing it as strong evidence of alien visitation. The article notes that the phenomenon was also observed from other locations in Mid- and East Jutland. However, it also presents a more critical perspective, suggesting that the "Almind-rumskibet" might have been a misidentification of the rising moon. Several witnesses from other areas reported seeing the moon at that time, and its appearance could have been distorted by atmospheric conditions, leading to the interpretation of a "mother ship" and smaller "flying saucers."

Flere vidner - og en mulig forklaring - melder sig på banen!

Following the initial media coverage, more witnesses came forward, reporting similar observations. The article discusses the theory that the phenomenon was the moon, noting that on December 15, 1957, the nearly half-moon rose in the east around 01:18 AM. The description of the object as elongated could be explained by the moon's position near the horizon. The article also touches upon the psychological aspect of UFO observation, suggesting that "one sees what one wants to see," and that early UFOlogists were often predisposed to interpret ambiguous sightings as evidence of alien spacecraft.

Fænomener: Rød regn over Kerala

This article by Peder Schultz investigates an unusual meteorological event in Kerala, India, on July 25, 2001. A meteor exploded in the atmosphere, causing a shockwave and ground tremors. Several hours later, rain containing red, yellow, green, and black droplets fell over a large area. The phenomenon, dubbed "blood rain," was scientifically investigated by physicists Godfrey Louis and A. Santhosh Kumar. They analyzed samples of the rain and found particles with a size of 4 to 10 micrometers that appeared to be organic and bore a striking resemblance to red blood cells, though lacking a DNA core. This led to speculation that the particles might be extraterrestrial life forms that arrived via the meteor. The scientific community remains divided on this theory, with some suggesting the particles could be pollen or algal spores, while others consider the possibility of panspermia – the theory that life can be transported between planets. The article concludes that further study is needed to determine the origin of these particles.

Kilder:

The article lists two sources: "UFO-Orientering" by F. Pedersen and I. O. Kjems (1969), and "Ufoer over Danmark Bind I" by W. Wegner (1989).

Fænomener: UFO'er gennem 100 år

This section is a review of historian Michael David Hall's book "UFOs: A Century of Sightings." The book chronicles significant UFO events from 1896 to the present, with a focus on US sightings and reports from military archives. The review highlights Hall's knowledgeable and unbiased approach to the subject.

Læserbrev: Magnetisk fænomen?

This letter to the editor, from H. O. Axelsen, inquires about a "magnetic hill" on Bornholm, Denmark, mentioned in a previous UFO-Nyt article. The phenomenon, located between Gudhjem and Østerlars Rundkirke, reportedly causes cars to roll uphill with their engines off. The response from the Gudhjem Tourist Office explains that this is an optical illusion, not a magnetic phenomenon. The "hill" is actually a downward slope, creating the appearance of cars moving uphill. The article notes that similar "magnetic hills" exist in Sweden and Canada, where they are promoted as tourist attractions. The author of the response shares a personal experience of visiting the Bornholm "magnetic hill" and confirms it is an optical trick.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO-Nyt include the investigation of UFO sightings, the scientific exploration of exoplanets and astronomical phenomena, and the examination of historical UFO cases and unusual natural events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting both eyewitness accounts and scientific analysis, while also encouraging critical evaluation of evidence and potential explanations. The magazine aims to inform readers about a wide range of unexplained phenomena and scientific advancements in related fields.

This issue of "Nye bøger" (New Books), published in UFO-NYT 3/2006, focuses on a critical review of Ryan S. Wood's book "Majic Eyes Only - Earth's Encounters With Extraterrestrial Technology". The magazine questions the evidence presented in the book, particularly concerning UFO crash incidents and the alleged Majestic-12 documents.

Book Review: 'Majic Eyes Only' by Ryan S. Wood

The article introduces "Majic Eyes Only" by Ryan S. Wood, which claims to review 74 UFO crash incidents and present evidence, including documents from the US National Archives, to support the existence of the secret Majestic-12 (MJ-12) group. The book argues that MJ-12 was responsible for investigating and concealing crashed extraterrestrial technology.

Ryan S. Wood and his father, Robert Wood, have dedicated themselves to proving the authenticity of the MJ-12 documents, which first surfaced in the early 1980s via 35mm film rolls sent to Hollywood producer Jaime Shandera and ufologist William J. Moore. These documents allegedly detail the formation of MJ-12 and its work in exploiting alien technology, including the cover-up of such activities. The reviewer notes that if a UFO had crashed at Roswell in 1947, creating a group like MJ-12 would be logical.

However, the reviewer expresses strong skepticism towards the MJ-12 documents, stating that SUFOI (the organization behind UFO-Nyt) considers them forgeries. The reviewer argues that these documents do not prove anything and were created to lend credibility to events like the Roswell incident, which many people need to believe in.

Wood's methodology for assessing the credibility of the 74 cases involves a probability system, assigning a percentage based on factors like witness credibility, logic of the narrative, and physical evidence. The reviewer criticizes this approach, suggesting that Wood excludes "disturbing" facts and allows subjectivity to influence his conclusions, making the percentages reflect what he *wants* to believe rather than what the facts support.

Critiques of Wood's Case Selection and Analysis

The reviewer highlights three specific examples that, in their view, disqualify Wood as a serious investigator:

1. New Mexico, USA, April 1962 Case: Wood assigns a 40-60% probability of truth to this case, which is described as a thin report. The reviewer questions how such a weak account, considered by many to be folklore, can be given such a high probability.
2. Special Operations Manual SOM 1-01: This document, allegedly from April 1954, provides instructions for UFO crash retrievals. However, it mentions the recovery of satellites, which were not launched until 1957, and refers to Area 51 before it was known by that designation. The reviewer points out that this manual, like other MJ-12 documents, is highly questionable.
3. Spitsbergen Case, 1952: This case involves an alleged spaceship found on Spitsbergen. The reviewer notes that Ole Jonny Brænne from UFO-Norge thoroughly investigated this case and concluded it was a fabrication. Despite acknowledging that many have dismissed the story as a hoax, Wood speculates that the case might have been created by US intelligence to obscure reports of other crashed UFOs.

The Aurora, Texas Incident (1897)

The reviewer singles out the Aurora, Texas incident from 1897 as the first crash report in Wood's book and the one assigned the highest credibility (80-100%). The original report from the Dallas Morning News describes a "flying machine" crashing in Aurora, Wise Co., Texas, around 6 AM on April 17, 1897. The machine allegedly had mechanical problems, flew at a low speed (15-20 km/h), and crashed into Judge Proctor's windmill, breaking into pieces. The pilot, the sole occupant, was reportedly deceased and his body was described as not belonging to this world. T. J. Weems, a local signal service representative and authority on astronomy, suggested the pilot might be from Mars and carried unknown writings.

The article details how the Aurora story, initially dismissed as part of a wave of airship sightings and ridiculed by the Dallas Morning News, has persisted over time. People have claimed to find witnesses who corroborated details, and some have even dug up the local cemetery with metal detectors hoping to find the pilot's remains and the mysterious metal.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, scientific consultant for Project Blue Book, sent investigator William Driskell to Aurora. Driskell found that while a Judge J. S. Proctor did live in Aurora, there was no windmill on his property, and T. J. Weems was actually the town's blacksmith. Driskell concluded, like many before him, that the story was a newspaper hoax created by S. E. Heydon to generate publicity for the town, which had been bypassed by a new railway line and was facing economic decline.

The reviewer states that the Aurora case contains all the elements of a modern UFO event: a crash in a remote location, a dead alien, mysterious writing, and eyewitnesses who recall details years later. The article draws a parallel between Aurora and the Roswell incident, suggesting both appeal to imagination and wishful thinking.

The reviewer concludes that while the Aurora story is compelling, it does not make the book "Majic Eyes Only" any more truthful and instead exposes the book's flaws. The article advises readers to save their money, calling the book "a dud" ("en om'er").

Other Content

'Der var engang...' (Once Upon a Time...)

This section features a nostalgic look at a postcard depicting the Palomar Gardens Café, owned by Alice K. Wells, located on Palomar Mountain, California. This café was a meeting place for George Adamski in the late 1940s and 1950s, where he would use his telescope to photograph alleged UFOs. Adamski worked as a cook at the café and held court for admirers. The article notes that Wells died in 1980, and the café is gone, but the site, near the Palomar Observatory, is now a campsite for sale for nearly 10 million Danish kroner.

'Nu er liget stendødt – vistnok!' (The Body is Stone Dead - Probably!)

This section addresses the controversial Roswell autopsy film, which had been previously discussed in UFO-Nyt. The film's producer, Ray Santilli, claimed to have acquired footage from 1993 showing an alien autopsy. The film premiered in May 1995 at the Museum of London and was broadcast globally in August 1995.

SUFOI's Per Andersen attended the premiere and was skeptical from the start, finding issues with the camerawork, the setting, and the autopsy procedure itself. The article reports that sculptor John Humphreys revealed in an April 6, 2006, interview with the "Manchester Evening News" that he created the dummy used in Santilli's autopsy film. Humphreys, who played the 'doctor' in a filmed reconstruction of the event in a Camden apartment, broke a non-disclosure agreement he had made with Santilli over 10 years prior.

Santilli has confirmed Humphreys' story but claims the film is a reconstruction because the original, genuine autopsy film was destroyed. Humphreys has also provided an identical dummy for the science-fiction comedy "Alien Autopsy."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in this issue is the critical examination of UFO evidence, particularly concerning alleged crash incidents and secret government documents. The editorial stance, as represented by the reviewer of "Majic Eyes Only" and the discussion of the Roswell autopsy film, is one of strong skepticism towards sensational claims and a demand for rigorous, verifiable evidence. The magazine appears to favor debunking questionable cases and documents over promoting unsubstantiated theories, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and factual accuracy in UFO research.