UFO Nyt - No 2 2008

Magazine Overview

Title: ufo nyt
Issue: 2
Volume: 50
Date: 2nd Quarter 2008
Publisher: SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information)
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
ISSN: 0049-4976
Price: kr. 297,00

Articles and Content

"Hvad sker der med min observation?" (What happens to my observation?)

This editorial addresses reader concerns about reported UFO observations not being explained or mentioned. SUFOI's Ole Henningsen participated in DR1's "Aftenshowet," leading to numerous inquiries. The editor explains that all reports are registered and archived, with many available on www.ufo.dk. While SUFOI does not investigate UFOs but rather reports of unusual aerial phenomena, they acknowledge that not all observations can be explained due to insufficient data. The article emphasizes that reports are personal interpretations and that SUFOI's material does not confirm the 'spaceship' theory, though it doesn't dismiss it either. The organization recognizes multiple explanations for UFO experiences and highlights the need for future research based on collected data.

"Tag ufoerne alvorligt!" (Take UFOs Seriously!)

This article discusses a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on November 12, 2007. The event, organized by the 'Coalition for Freedom of Information,' featured ufologists, observers, officers, and a former governor. Their goal was to urge US authorities and NASA to cooperate with other nations in UFO research, citing the phenomenon as a potential national security and aviation safety threat. The article includes an "International Declaration to the US Government," signed by individuals with backgrounds in government, aviation, and military. The declaration calls for a collaborative effort to identify all objects in the airspace, especially after 9/11, and suggests the US Air Force reopen its research or NASA initiate such studies. It highlights cases like the O'Hare Airport sighting and the 1997 Arizona triangular object sighting as examples of ignored or unexplained events.

"Tunguska-mysteriet - 100 år efter" (The Tunguska Mystery - 100 Years Later)

This section commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Tunguska event in Siberia on June 30, 1908. The explosion, the largest non-terrestrial event in history, devastated approximately 2,150 square kilometers of Russian taiga, felling millions of trees without leaving a crater. New research by Italian scientists suggests a lake, Lake Cheko, might be the crater. American researchers' computer simulations indicate that a much smaller asteroid than previously thought could have caused the extensive damage. The article explains that the explosion's energy, estimated at 3-5 megatons, created a superheated fireball moving at supersonic speed, causing immense destruction. The risk of future Tunguska-sized impacts is increased, with estimates suggesting an event could occur every 200-300 years, possibly impacting the ocean and causing tsunamis. The article also mentions the scientific significance of studying such events for understanding potential future threats.

"Når teknikken svigter" (When Technology Fails) - Part 2

This article, a continuation from UFO-Nyt nr. 1, 2008, delves into the phenomenon of 'second-degree' UFO observations, where technology is affected. It discusses 'wandering stories' about engine-stopping rays and electromagnetic effects attributed to UFOs. The author, R.V. Jones, recounts an anecdote from 1937/1938 involving a German family whose car engine stopped near a forest, with a German guard explaining it was due to a special experiment. This led to investigations and similar reports in England. The article highlights how UFO observations are sometimes linked to electromagnetic effects that can cause car engines to stall, lights to flicker, and power supplies to fail. These physical impacts are presented as strong evidence for the existence of UFOs, as they are often documented and not easily dismissed as hallucinations.

"Ufoer i radioen" (UFOs on the Radio)

This short piece announces a radio segment on "Den blinde Vinkel" (The Blind Spot) on Copenhagen University Radio. The 33-minute program features eccentric eyewitness accounts, scientific revelations, and a look into the British intelligence service's UFO department. It includes interviews with SUFOI's chairman, Kim Møller Hansen, and speaker Nick Pope, conducted during SUFOI's 50th-anniversary conference.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, encouraging serious and critical investigation. There's a strong emphasis on documenting and archiving UFO reports, with SUFOI acting as a central repository. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded yet skeptical, acknowledging the unexplained aspects of UFO sightings while also seeking rational explanations and highlighting the limitations of current knowledge and resources. The magazine promotes scientific inquiry and international cooperation in understanding UFOs, advocating for a more open and serious approach from authorities. The Tunguska event is presented as a significant historical case study for understanding potential extraterrestrial impacts and their consequences.

This issue of UFO-NYT, dated 2/2008, features a section titled 'Nye bøger' (New Books), focusing on reviews of two books related to military encounters with UFOs and the nature of memory and myth-making during wartime. The issue also includes a section on 'Observationer' (Observations) presenting several eyewitness accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena in Denmark.

Book Reviews

Vrøvl og erindringsforskydninger (Nonsense and Memory Shifts)

This review, by Peter Rogerson, discusses Keith Chester's book "Strange Company: Military Encounters with UFOs in WWII." Rogerson expresses mixed feelings, acknowledging the author's extensive work in collecting reports from WWII and the pre-Roswell era. However, he criticizes the book for not primarily investigating the causes behind these reports or the 'foo-fighter' phenomenon itself. Instead, the book tends to present these historical accounts through the lens of modern UFO lore, often reconstructing memories from many years after the events. Rogerson points out that a significant portion (about two-thirds) of the accounts are reconstructions, while the remaining third are questionable. He highlights a specific example of an alleged electromagnetic incident from the early 1930s, which Chester references to newspaper articles and a squadron history, but which Rogerson suggests is a fabricated story from 1994, possibly originating from a non-existent book and publisher. Rogerson questions how many other UFO reports might have proliferated through uncritical copying without verification.

Foo-fightere i nyt lys (Foo-fighters in New Light)

Reviewed by Hans Schjørmann, this section focuses on James Hayward's book "2. Verdenskrigs myter og legender" (World War II Myths and Legends). Schjørmann notes that while the book doesn't solely focus on foo-fighters, it delves into the substance of the phenomenon: the myth-making and mass hysteria that can occur during wartime, leading people to fill gaps with myths and rumors. During WWII, foo-fighters were often explained away as St. Elmo's fire, combat fatigue, or hallucinations. Schjørmann explains that pilots were often inexperienced, and some were under the influence of stimulants like amphetamines, which can induce hallucinations. The myth of foo-fighters resurfaced in 1954 with Harold Wilkins' book "Flying Saucers on the Moon," which added the detail that these objects were disc-shaped, aligning with the emerging UFO era. Schjørmann criticizes that the contemporary explanations and debunking of the foo-fighter phenomenon were omitted in later retellings, presenting them as enduring mysteries. He also debunks a claim about a British investigation led by a 'General Massey' in 1943, stating that such a general never existed, further illustrating how myths are perpetuated. The review concludes by noting that the topic of foo-fighters remains officially 'unsolved' on Wikipedia.

Observationer (Observations)

Rapporter efter Aftenshowet (Reports after the After-Show)

This section presents eyewitness accounts of aerial phenomena, prompted by a mention of the SUFOI website (www.ufo.dk) on the TV program 'Aften-showet' on February 13, 2008.

7990 Vester Assels, circa 1995:
A 55-year-old man from Nykøbing M. reported seeing a bright light resembling a projector beam aimed at the sky while driving. The light transformed into a white sphere with a reddish glow and followed his car for approximately 30 minutes and 20 km, maintaining the same distance regardless of his turns. The object then rapidly accelerated towards Sallingsund and disappeared. He did not feel fear, attributing it to his faith. He and his wife decided not to tell anyone at the time, fearing they would be considered delusional.

9700 Brønderslev, 1983:
A 35-year-old woman from Brønderslev recalled an incident when she was about 11 years old. While climbing a tree with a friend on a clear day, they saw a large, silent object resembling a large balloon (possibly a Shell advertising blimp). They waved at it, and it flew behind a small cloud. They waited for it to reappear for 10-15 minutes, but it never did.

8900 Randers, circa February 1953:
A 66-year-old man from Randers recounted an experience from January or February 1953. While walking his dog under a streetlamp, he heard a boomerang-like sound and saw an object directly overhead. He described it as a round, stainless steel-like object, about one meter in diameter and 30 cm thick, with a faint humming sound similar to a transformer. The object had no lights of its own. It disappeared over the rooftops. He later spe culated about the object and sought contact with others who had similar experiences or explanations.

9850 Hirtshals, June 1980:
A 55-year-old woman from Allerød reported that while walking with her sister-in-law near Vesterhavet, they saw an object resembling a metal cigar with smoke-like movement within its form. The object was positioned diagonally between trees and then moved to lie over the treetops. It then disappeared at a 45-degree angle out over the sea, leaving no visible spiral, though its movement might have created one. They had always intended to report this to the organization but only did so now.

Observation i Fredericia (Observation in Fredericia)

This is a personal account by Stefan Roslund from Fredericia, dated February 18, 2008.

Roslund describes seeing a bright white light in the sky around 8:40 PM while walking his dog. Initially mistaking it for a star, he soon realized it was moving. He ruled out it being an airplane due to its rapid acceleration northward. Shortly after, he noticed several similar objects approaching from the southeast. He called his wife, and together they observed about 20-25 clear, white lights crossing the sky directly overhead. These objects maintained a consistent distance and speed, moving in formation, though not tightly packed, with hundreds or even thousands of meters between them. They appeared to be at a very high altitude. The observation lasted for about 10-15 minutes. Roslund emphasizes that the weather was slightly overcast with some wind, but the objects' movements were distinct and not attributable to stars or misidentification. He notes that normal aircraft have blinking lights, which these objects lacked. Furthermore, they did not follow typical flight paths towards Billund Airport, and there was no engine noise whatsoever, unlike typical aircraft. His wife joined the observation about halfway through.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFO reports, particularly historical ones from WWII. There's a strong emphasis on the unreliability of memory and the tendency for myths to evolve and be perpetuated in UFO literature. The magazine appears to advocate for rigorous source criticism and a skeptical approach to unsubstantiated claims, as evidenced by the critical reviews of the books and the careful presentation of eyewitness accounts, which are presented as personal experiences rather than definitive proof. The editorial stance seems to favor a more grounded, analytical approach to the study of unexplained aerial phenomena, encouraging readers to share their own experiences and contributing to a collective database for further investigation.