UFO Nyt - No 4 2008

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-Nyt
Issue: 4
Volume: 50
Date: 4th Quarter 2008
Publisher: SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information)
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
ISSN: 0049-4976

This issue of UFO-Nyt marks its 50th anniversary, reflecting on its history and the ongoing study of UFO phenomena. The cover features prominent headlines: "The Threat from Above," "Airy Things in the Sky," "Does the Astronaut Know the Truth?" and "Visit the World's Largest UFO Archive." The cover image depicts a silhouetted palm tree against a sunset over the ocean, with the magazine title and headlines overlaid.

Editorial and Anniversary Reflections

The editorial, titled "A Jubilee – and a Reader Competition," by Kim Møller Hansen, looks back at the origins of UFO-Nyt and SUFOI. It quotes the first editorial from November 1958, written by founding editor H. C. Petersen, who envisioned the magazine as a platform for UFO news from around the world and aimed to prove the existence of extraterrestrial visitors. The editorial highlights the magazine's evolution from a 16-page monthly to a quarterly publication. A reader competition is announced, asking subscribers to guess the total number of UFO-Nyt issues published since its inception.

Astronaut Edgar Mitchell and Government Secrecy

The article "Does the Astronaut Know the Truth?" by Ole Henningsen delves into the claims made by former Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell. In July 2008, Mitchell stated that aliens had contacted Earth multiple times and that governments had been concealing this information for 60 years. He also mentioned being aware of UFO sightings during his time with NASA. The article notes that while this was reported as major news by the media, UFO-Nyt had previously interviewed Mitchell in 2006, where he discussed his views on UFO phenomena, the Roswell incident, and MJ-12.

Journalist Clas Svahn, who conducted the 2005 interview with Mitchell, vouches for the accuracy of Mitchell's reported views. The article also touches upon Mitchell's background, including his upbringing in Roswell, New Mexico, and his experiences during the Apollo 14 mission, which he claimed led him to explore humanity's unknown abilities. Mitchell's statements, made during a radio interview with Kerrang Radio in July 2008, suggest that extraterrestrial life exists and has visited Earth, with governments actively hiding this fact. He claims to have spoken with people in military circles who are aware of these visits.

NASA, in response to media inquiries, issued a statement clarifying that they do not track UFOs and are not involved in any cover-up of knowledge about extraterrestrial life. Buzz Aldrin, another Apollo astronaut, commented that while Mitchell is a prominent figure, his claims require serious investigation, and he expressed skepticism about government cover-ups in a free country.

The article also speculates whether Mitchell's statements were timed as a media stunt, possibly in connection with the release of the X-Files movie "I Want To Believe," for which Mitchell had previously served as a consultant.

Astronomer Phil Plait, known for his book "Bad Astronomy," is also featured. Plait expresses respect for astronauts but criticizes what he calls "out-of-the-blue arguments" when claims are made without sufficient evidence. While Plait believes in the existence of other intelligences in the universe, he is skeptical of Mitchell's assertion that aliens are already here and that governments are hiding this information.

The World's Largest UFO Archive

"Tæt på verdens største ufo-arkiv" (Close to the World's Largest UFO Archive) by Kim Møller Hansen provides an in-depth look at the Archives for UFO Research (AFU) located in Norrköping, Sweden. Founded in 1973 by Håkan Blomqvist, Kjell Jonsson, and Anders Liljegren, AFU began in a small apartment and has since grown to house an extensive collection of UFO-related materials, including reports, books, periodicals, clippings, audio tapes, and more, spanning 700 shelf meters.

The archive's mission is to base UFOlogy on well-supported facts rather than rumors. AFU is supported by Riksarkivet and relies on volunteer help. The article details the types of materials available, including 17,000 Swedish reports, 10,000 Danish and Norwegian reports, approximately 9,600 books, 24,000 periodicals, and around 25,000 newspaper clippings. The archive also holds about 2,000 audio tapes.

AFU is open to anyone with a serious interest in UFO phenomena. Researchers from universities and UFO organizations are welcome. The article mentions that AFU has collaborated with SUFOI, transferring its report archive in 2003 and receiving books and periodicals from SUFOI. AFU publishes an English-language newsletter, "AFU Newsletter," which is available on their website.

Lenticular Clouds and UFO Misidentifications

"Luftige ting på himlen" (Airy Things in the Sky) by Ole Henningsen explores the phenomenon of lenticular clouds and their frequent misidentification as UFOs. The article discusses a debate among European UFO enthusiasts in 2008 about whether to include such cloud formations in UFO reports. While lenticular clouds have been depicted in UFO literature since the 1950s, often as illustrations or purported UFO sightings, they are now generally understood as meteorological phenomena.

The article features a photograph taken by SUFOI's photo consultant Hans Bodker in the USA, depicting a lenticular cloud formation. Bodker, a former fighter pilot and air traffic controller, noted the cloud's unusual size and extent, which did not align with typical lenticular cloud characteristics. He contacted DMI (Danish Meteorological Institute) for an expert opinion.

John Cappelen, a senior climatologist at DMI, confirmed that the formation was indeed a lenticular cloud, explaining that they are wave clouds formed by wind passing over mountain ranges. These clouds can appear stationary but are constantly forming and dissipating.

The article also references a well-known case from October 16, 1957, involving a photograph taken by nurse Ella Louise Fortune near Holloman Air Force Base. This image, initially published in a local newspaper and later featured in APRO publications and the LOOK Special "Flying Saucers," was widely discussed. While at the time it was considered potentially mysterious, it is now definitively identified as a cumulus lenticularis cloud.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Nyt emphasizes the importance of rigorous research and evidence-based reporting in the field of UFOlogy. The magazine's 50-year history is presented as a testament to its commitment to exploring UFO phenomena seriously. The editorial stance, as articulated by Kim Møller Hansen, prioritizes factual evidence over speculation, as seen in his critique of Edgar Mitchell's claims. The magazine actively promotes the collection and preservation of UFO-related data through its support of archives like AFU. The recurring theme is the ongoing effort to understand unexplained aerial phenomena through scientific inquiry and open discussion, while also acknowledging the potential for misidentification of natural phenomena like lenticular clouds.

Title: Fænomener
Issue: 4/2008
Date: 2008
Publisher: UFO-NYT
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish

This issue of "Fænomener" delves into phenomena that blur the lines between meteorological events and unidentified flying objects, as well as historical wartime threats. The magazine explores the nature of lenticular clouds, their visual resemblance to UFOs, and the historical context of their misidentification. It then shifts focus to the significant threat posed by Japanese Fugo balloons during World War II, detailing their technological aspects, deployment, and the American response.

Lenticular Clouds: The 'UFO' Mimics

The issue begins by addressing the common confusion between lenticular clouds and UFOs. An article highlights a famous photo by Ella L. Fortunes from October 16, 1957, taken near Holloman Air Force Base, which was initially thought to be a UFO but was later identified as an altocumulus lenticularis cloud. The magazine references SUFOI's publication "UFO-Orientering" from 1966, which featured similar photos from Böhmen and Japan, also identified as lenticular clouds. The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) has also addressed this phenomenon, with an article from February 7, 2005, titled "Skibumsernes sky (nu med UFO)" (The Sailors' Cloud (now with UFO)), written by Niels Hansen. Hansen explained that DMI receives many such photos, including some from skiers and others sent in by the public.

An example is provided of a photo sent to DMI by the Esborg family from their vacation in Spain in 2003. They photographed a peculiar cloud formation near Malaga, which they initially found fascinating and took pictures of. The cloud changed color and shape over a couple of hours. TV meteorologist Jesper Theilgaard, in his book "Det danske vejr" (The Danish Weather), describes altocumulus lenticularis as "lens clouds" that form on the leeward side of mountains where air moves in a wave-like motion. He notes that they are rare in Denmark due to the lack of significant mountains, but their unusual appearance has led them to be mistaken for UFOs in the past.

Another example is a photo of a cumulus lenticularis cloud taken in Brazil, which was featured by the organization APRO and included in the Condon Report. The article notes that these clouds are often mistaken for UFOs.

Lenticular Clouds in Denmark

While common in other regions, lenticular clouds are described as rare in Denmark. The SUFOI Photo Archive has only a few instances of such photos being submitted, often due to their unusual appearance. One case involved a photo from Iceland that was identified as a cumulus lenticularis.

The Swedish magazine "UFO-Aktuellt" published an unusual photo in 1997 taken from a plane over Greece. A passenger captured images of a striking formation, which was later identified by Swedish meteorologist Hans Alexandersson as a cumulus lenticularis. He explained that these clouds form in mountainous areas where airflow is forced over ridges, requiring stable weather conditions and sufficient humidity.

Online Resources for Lenticular Clouds

The article points readers to various websites where they can find more information and images of lenticular clouds, including DMI's website and the Cloud Appreciation Society. Readers are encouraged to submit their own photos or references to such phenomena.

The Threat from Above: Japanese Fugo Balloons

The second major section of the magazine shifts to a historical perspective, focusing on the "Threat from Above" posed by Japanese Fugo balloons during World War II. The article begins by noting the historical association between balloons and UFO observations.

Project Mogul and Early Balloon Use

It mentions that the initial explanation for the Roswell crash in 1947 was a weather balloon, later revised to a Project Mogul balloon, a top-secret project to analyze radioactive fallout from Soviet nuclear tests. Even before the end of WWII, balloons were creating mystery in the skies.

The Fugo Balloon Offensive

The article details the Fugo balloon offensive, a Japanese attempt to attack the American mainland. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US coast was patrolled for potential Japanese invasion forces. The Fugo balloon, described as the "world's first intercontinental weapon," was developed by the Japanese military.

In November 1943, a special US military unit was established in Fort Benning, Georgia, to deal with potential forest fires caused by these balloons. By 1944, this unit had grown into a battalion tasked with parachuting down to extinguish fires. Operation Fire Fly involved a unit of 2,700 personnel.

Technical Aspects of Fugo Balloons

The Fugo balloons were designed to utilize the powerful winter jet stream, which flows at high altitudes over Japan. These balloons, made of silk-coated paper (initially rubber-coated silk), were capable of carrying a payload of approximately 900 kg and traveling across the Pacific Ocean in about three days. The balloons were equipped with a system to release ballast and vent hydrogen at specific altitudes, and a destructive charge to detonate the balloon after its payload was released.

The paper used was "Washi" paper made from mulberry bushes, which was airtight and strong but required many small sheets to be glued together. The glue, derived from a root tuber called "devil's tongue," was reportedly stolen and eaten by hungry child laborers. The workers were primarily teenage girls and boys due to their dexterity. They were required to have short nails, wear gloves, and not wear hairpins. The assembly took place indoors in large theaters and sumo halls.

The Fugo Balloon Program

Initial tests of the Fugo balloons began in September 1944, coinciding with American bombing raids on Japan. These attacks, while not causing significant damage, reportedly strengthened Japanese patriotism and their desire for revenge for the Doolittle raid on Tokyo.

The Fugo balloons were codenamed "fusen bakudan," meaning "balloon bombs" or "fire balloons."

Countermeasures: Project Fire Fly and Sunset Project

Project Fire Fly involved US Air Force planes shooting down balloons and firefighters parachuting down to extinguish any resulting forest fires. This project was active from April to October 1945. The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed "Triple Nickle," performed 1,200 jumps and helped extinguish 36 fires, though it's unclear if Fugo balloons were the cause. The battalion was transferred to regular service in December 1947.

Sunset Project involved a Ground Observer Corps along the coast spotting suspicious objects. Fighter planes, such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning or Northrop P-61 Black Widow, were dispatched, guided by radar systems to intercept and shoot down the balloons. The project also aimed to recover balloons for radar tracking analysis. This system was partially established by April 1945.

Lightning Project was initiated to prepare North America for potential bacteriological attacks. The Department of Agriculture, health and agricultural consultants, veterinarians, and agricultural schools were alerted to monitor for unusual animal and plant diseases. Strategically important areas in North America were supplied with chemicals for decontamination.

The Fugo Balloon Attacks and Their Impact

Starting on November 3, 1944, approximately 9,000 Fugo balloons were launched with North American targets. The Japanese had three launch sites on the east coast of Honshu, Japan, chosen for their good railway connections, suitable terrain, and minimal risk of failed launches being detected. The balloons were designed to fly high and fast, making them difficult for American aircraft to intercept before they reached their targets.

Hundreds of civilian observers in the Ground Observer Corps (GOC) were tasked with spotting Fugo balloons. When a balloon was sighted, a fighter plane would be dispatched. However, the effectiveness of this system was limited, with fewer than 20 balloons being shot down. By May 1945, when the US defense system was at its peak, Japan had ceased launching balloons, unaware that their offensive had ended. Observers continued to report sightings, which were often identified as naval airships or weather balloons.

Censorship and Public Perception

On January 1, 1945, Newsweek published an article titled "Balloon Mystery," followed by a newspaper article the next day. This article suggested the balloons might have carried spies. The Office of Censorship contacted newspapers and radio stations, forbidding them to discuss the balloon attacks to prevent the Japanese from knowing the effectiveness of their weapons. The press cooperated, and the Japanese were only informed of a single mission where a Fugo balloon landed in Wyoming without its payload exploding.

On the Japanese home front, propaganda reported massive forest fires and a panicked American population with over 10,000 casualties. In reality, the Fugo balloons killed only six people. On May 5, 1945, a priest, his wife, and five children were killed when a balloon bomb exploded in Fremont National Forest, Oregon. This incident prompted the US authorities to lift censorship on May 22, 1945, allowing the public to be warned about the hidden threat.

Censorship had been so effective that the threat from Japan never became a significant part of American collective war memories. Most primary sources remained classified until the early 1980s because knowledge of Fugo balloon technology was used by the US military in its own Cold War espionage activities, particularly with Skyhook balloons, which also led to many UFO sightings.

Some believe the greatest impact of the Fugo balloon operations was setting a precedent for official secrecy and censorship regarding reports of unidentified flying objects, at least during wartime.

Propaganda and the End of the Fugo Program

The lifting of the press censorship was seen as a small propaganda victory for Japan. Despite the last Fugo balloon being launched in April 1945, a Japanese spokesman announced on June 4 that the previous balloon launches were merely experiments and that a "large-scale attack with Japanese manned by death-defying individuals" was imminent. In reality, the balloon project was hampered by a lack of confirmed results. Furthermore, American B-29 bombers destroyed two of the three factories producing hydrogen for the Fugo balloons, forcing General Kusaba to halt the operation.

Of the approximately 9,000 launched balloons, an estimated 1,000 reached North America, but only about 400 were observed, exploded, or recovered. This means many unexploded Japanese bombs remain in the American wilderness. The last Fugo balloon was found in Alaska in 1955 and flown to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, its bomb payload still dangerous after years in nature.

Near Misses and the Manhattan Project

The article highlights a close call on March 10, 1945, when a Fugo balloon landed near Hanford Works in Washington, a production site for the Manhattan Project. The balloon's payload landed in high-voltage power lines supplying the reactor producing plutonium for the atomic bomb. This caused a brief power outage, but production resumed within three days. This incident demonstrated the effectiveness of the emergency power supply and other safety measures.

Several other Fugo balloons were sighted near Hanford Works, impacting the morale of the project's staff. Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer recalled an incident at Los Alamos before the first atomic bomb test, where staff mistook a bright object in the sky for a "gondol" under a "balloon," highlighting the psychological stress and susceptibility to misinterpretation during wartime.

The FBI's Investigation and the Roswell Connection

Fugo balloon crashes led to investigations by military intelligence and FBI agents. When reports of "discs" or "saucers" emerged in 1947, parallels were drawn to the Fugo balloons, and many of the same investigators were assigned to look into these new objects. An FBI document from 1947 explicitly drew parallels between the investigations of UFOs in 1947 and Japanese Fugo balloons in 1944-45.

The FBI's investigation into these flying objects was similar to their handling of Fugo balloon complaints. The military initially classified these as "military weapons." The FBI's role was limited to investigating public complaints, while the military handled the actual operations and technology. The document suggests that the flying discs were likely military weapons and not necessarily extraterrestrial.

In the summer of 1947, it was common to believe that the new sightings of discs/saucers/balloons were not different from the Japanese Fugo balloons investigated a few years earlier. This may explain why authorities and personnel at Roswell Army Air Field made a psychological connection between discs and balloons, as indicated in the initial Roswell press release. There is no indication that the FBI or other authorities at the time linked the new phenomenon to alien spacecraft; their focus was on military weapons, informed by the Fugo balloon experience.

John Keel, in a 1990 FATE Magazine article, proposed that the object that crashed at Roswell in July 1947 could have been a Fugo balloon. He cited descriptions of wreckage, including small wooden beams with strange script and brown parchment-like material with floral imprints, which could fit an exploded Fugo balloon. He also noted the possibility of Fugo balloons falling two years after the war's end, even near New Mexico.

The Roswell Daily Record and Fugo Balloons

The Roswell Daily Record published articles linking flying saucers to potential military experiments and even a "flying saucer" captured on a ranch in the Roswell region. The newspaper also reported on differing opinions among Roswell residents regarding flying saucers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of unexplained aerial phenomena and known scientific or historical events. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking rational explanations for sightings while acknowledging the historical significance of events like the Fugo balloon attacks. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between misidentified natural phenomena (like lenticular clouds) and potentially more significant events, while also highlighting the role of government secrecy and public perception in shaping narratives around UFOs and other aerial mysteries. The magazine encourages reader participation by soliciting photos and information, fostering a community of interest in these topics.

Title: UFO-NYT
Issue: 4/2008
Date: 2008
Publisher: SUFOI
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish

This issue of UFO-NYT focuses on historical UFO sightings and provides an update on the ongoing research into the Hessdalen phenomenon. It features articles on the historical context of early UFO reports, scientific investigations in Norway, and related media.

Historical Set: Fugo Balloons

The opening section, "Historisk set" (Historically Seen), addresses the historical context of UFO sightings, particularly those from the 1940s. It suggests that many of these early observations, previously attributed to UFOs, were likely caused by 'fugo' balloons. These were Japanese balloon bombs used during World War II. The article presents two photos from the 1940s that were once considered 'ufo photos' and compares them to images of fugo balloons, highlighting the striking resemblance. The section also provides resources for further information, including websites, books by Robert C. Mikesh, Koichi Yoshino, and Bert Webber, and a documentary film titled "On a Wind and a Prayer" by Michael White.

Observations: Project Hessdalen Update

Written by Erling Strand, the project leader, this article provides an update on the research conducted at Hessdalen, Norway, a location known for numerous UFO observations since the 1980s. Strand clarifies that recent claims of researchers finding a solution to the Hessdalen phenomenon are incorrect. The article details the history of Project Hessdalen, which began in 1983 with field studies, including one in 1985 attended by Professor J. Allen Hynek. Observations resumed in 1993, leading to the re-establishment of the project and a conference in 1994. Since August 1998, an automatic monitoring station has been operational, sending data to various international research groups.

Since 2002, Hessdalen has hosted annual "Science Camps" for 15-year-old students. These camps involve students staying at field stations equipped with cameras, video equipment, spectrographs, weather stations, and instruments for measuring low-frequency electromagnetic signals and radiation. The students are involved in exploring the Hessdalen phenomenon, learning about technology, physics, and natural sciences. The camps have been successful, with 70-100 participants each year, except for 2005 due to illness. International researchers also visit during the camps, enhancing the students' experience.

The Science Camps have yielded significant results, including spectrographic analysis of the light phenomena. Two spectrographs revealed faint emission lines consistent with elements such as scandium, helium, oxygen, and nitrogen, with further analysis suggesting the possible presence of iron and silicon. However, Strand emphasizes that finding these elements does not explain the origin of the phenomenon and raises new questions, such as how these elements could become airborne and luminous. He concludes that a solution to the Hessdalen phenomenon is far from being discovered, contrary to media reports.

A spectral analysis of a light phenomenon visible for a few seconds in Hessdalen suggests a solid object, according to civil engineer Erling Strand. This image is planned for a TV broadcast. The original color photo with spectral lines is available online.

Reader Offers

This section presents various offers for readers of UFO-NYT. These include:

• "50 år med ufoer": A 144-page report by Toke Haunstrup detailing 50 years of UFO reporting, priced at kr. 180.
• UFO-Nyt Special Issue: A short (24-page) summary of the "50 år med ufoer" book, written by journalist Per Borgaard, priced at kr. 79.
• Klaus Aarsleff's "Mysterier fra rummet": A book about mysteries and unexplained phenomena, including UFO sightings and alien life theories. It comes with a DVD containing sensational film and photo material, and an animated version of "War of the Worlds." The price is kr. 269.
• Other books listed are "Universet - dodt eller levende?" (kr. 249), "Bad Astronomy" (English, kr. 159), and "UFOs – A Century of Sightings" (English, kr. 329).
• Offers for UFO-Nyt subscriptions are also available, including an introductory offer for the 2009 year (kr. 247) and a 5-year subscription (2009-2013) for kr. 1,535.
• A free guide, "Når du ser et stjerneskud" (When you see a shooting star), is also offered.

Subscription Information and Winners

This section details subscription information and announces winners. Stefan Roslund from Spånga, Sweden, is mentioned as a recipient of a 5-year UFO-Nyt subscription, valued at kr. 1,535, as part of a draw for subscribers who helped attract new readers.

The subscription cost for UFO-Nyt in 2009 is kr. 307. A 5-year subscription (2009-2013) is available for kr. 1,535, offering protection against future price increases. Subscriptions can be ordered using the coupon on page 23.

UFOs on TV

This article announces that DR2 will broadcast a special program called "Temalørdag" on November 29th, focusing on UFOs. The program will feature Nick Pope, who worked on the British Ministry of Defence's secret UFO project from 1991-1994, along with other guests such as Ole Henningsen, Toke Haunstrup, and Kim Møller Hansen. The two-hour-long documentary is produced by Ole Retsbo from DR Kultur.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO-NYT are historical UFO investigations, the scientific approach to unexplained phenomena, and the dissemination of information through various media (print, film, television). The editorial stance appears to be one of rigorous investigation, emphasizing scientific analysis and debunking sensationalized claims, as seen in the Hessdalen update. The magazine actively promotes further research and encourages reader engagement through book and subscription offers.