Papers d'Ovnis - 2a epoca - No 10

Magazine Overview

Title: Papers d'OVNIS
Issue: No. 10, II Época
Date: July-August 1998
Publisher: CEI (Centro de Estudios Interplanetarios)
Language: Catalan (original), English (translation)

The Alfena UFO Case: A Unique Case

This issue of *Papers d'OVNIS* dedicates a significant portion to the detailed investigation of the 1990 Alfena, Portugal UFO sighting. The case is presented as one of the most notable peninsular sightings of that year.

Part 1: The Alfena UFO: A Unique Case by Mario Neves Silva

The investigation began when photographer Manuel Gomes presented four negatives of an unidentified object to the CNIFO (Comisión Nacional de Investigación de Fenómenos OVNI). The sighting occurred around 9:20 AM on September 10, 1990, and was witnessed by approximately 25 people. Initial inquiries with the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) and the National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INMG) yielded negative results, with no conventional aircraft or meteorological objects identified.

The investigation involved extensive witness interviews, photographic documentation of the area, and the collection of testimonies. Witnesses described the object as metallic, with legs, resembling a 'turtle with legs' or an 'old pot with legs'. Some reported a continuous, annoying noise similar to a hairdryer. The object's movement was described as slow and not influenced by the wind, and it appeared to ascend vertically.

Key witnesses included José Antonio, a baker, who described the metallic appearance and leg-like structures; Celestina Almeida, who compared it to a 'turtle with legs'; and David Silva, who noted its metallic appearance, clear color, and rapid ascent. Photographer Manuel Gomes described the object as disc-shaped, with a fluorescent shine, emitting a noise, and possessing four legs. He managed to capture four photographs as the object ascended.

Part 2: The Flying Medusa of Alfena by Pierre Guerin

Pierre Guerin, an astrophysicist and Director of Research at CNRS, France, provides an analysis of the Alfena case, referencing his previous work on UFOs. He acknowledges the photographic evidence and the analysis by Dr. Richard F. Haines. Guerin notes that the object's shape change between photographs suggests it was not a rigid balloon. He also references a letter from Jean-Jacques Velasco of SEPRA/CNES, who suggested exploring the possibility of Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) as an alternative explanation.

Dr. Richard F. Haines, a NASA consultant, analyzed the photographs and concluded that the object was physical and its shape changed, making a rigid balloon unlikely. He stated that there was no positive identification of the object at that time. Jeff Sainio from MUFON also analyzed the photos, noting differences in the background and object appearance, and also ruled out a cardboard or wooden balloon.

Further analysis was conducted by INETI (National Institute of Engineering and Industrial Technology) in Portugal, with Professor Carvalho Rodrigues and engineer Bento Correira concluding that the object had a well-defined border, variable reflectivity, and regular vertical segments. Jean-Jacques Velasco suggested RPVs as a potential explanation, but the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force confirmed no such remote-controlled aerial vehicles were in operation in Portugal at the time of the incident.

Part 3: Alfena: New Witnesses by Mario Neves Silva

This section presents updated findings from 1995, including testimonies from nine new witnesses, four of whom were children at the time of the event. Their accounts largely corroborated the earlier descriptions of a metallic, round object with legs and lights. The testimonies of María José, Joaquim Martina, Modesta Coelho, and two young boys, Juan and Armando, are detailed, reinforcing the visual evidence.

The article also draws parallels with two similar cases from Germany (Eschweiler, 1989) and Switzerland (Zurich, 1989), investigated by Dr. Illobrand von Ludwig and Luc Burgin, respectively. These cases also involved unidentified objects with unusual characteristics, further suggesting a phenomenon beyond conventional explanations.

Part 4: Technical Report on Computer Analysis

This section summarizes a technical report published by CNIFO in their journal *ANOMALÍA* (1994), detailing the computer analysis of the Alfena photographs. The analysis, conducted by Dr. Raul Berenguel, involved input from other experts. The consensus from these analyses was that the object was spherical and opaque, observed from below, and rotated around a vertical axis. The possibility of it being a balloon was definitively ruled out.

The CNIFO's conclusions stated that the object was material, composed of a rough central body, exuding an unknown substance through five lateral tubes. Its movement included a 1-2 degree arc and a 5-10 degree rotation on a vertical axis. The object's shape changed from spherical to oval, and its estimated real diameter was between 4.5 and 5 meters. It was observed for about 50 minutes by 25 witnesses within a 500-meter radius.

Part 5: The RPVs by Pere Redon Trabal

Pere Redon Trabal, President of CEI, discusses the concept of Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs), also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). He explains their military origins and civilian applications, such as energy grid inspection and forest surveillance. Trabal notes that while RPVs are becoming more sophisticated, they are still expensive and complex to operate. He lists countries that possessed RPV technology in 1990, including the USA, Israel, Italy, France, and others. He describes the typical characteristics of RPVs, including their conventional engines or reactors, and their relatively small size compared to conventional aircraft. Trabal contrasts these with the Alfena object, stating that none of the known RPVs from that era matched its description, particularly its slow speed and prolonged observation time. He also dismisses the possibility of the object being a conventional balloon due to its size and lack of a basket.

Other Sections

Aeroplane Monthly (April 1981): A small image of a balloon shaped like a house is shown, illustrating unconventional balloon designs.

OVNI Alert from La Rioja: This section reports on a UFO alert organized by the GRUPO UFO in Spain on June 27th, with provisional results compiled on July 4th. Sightings included suspicious lights in Madrid and a bright white light near Jupiter. In Alicante, artificial satellites were observed. In Tarragona and Barcelona, luminous points were seen moving at high speed. In La Rioja, an orange flash was observed. In Navarra, a luminous point was seen briefly.

Preventive Censorship of Space Information: An article discusses a US government initiative to withhold information about potentially hazardous asteroids for at least 72 hours to prevent public panic, citing the erroneous 1997XF11 incident.

The FBI Floods the Internet: This piece reports on the FBI releasing declassified documents related to UFO phenomena, cattle mutilations, and the Roswell incident, accessible through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

UFO Investigator Claims Discovery of Flying Serpents: This article details the claims of José Escamilla, who asserts he has discovered a new species of 'flying serpent' or 'bar' (barra) based on video footage. He describes them as cylindrical animals with flexible membranes, capable of high speeds. Escamilla's research is presented as distinct from extraterrestrial phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently emphasizes rigorous scientific investigation of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded yet critical, seeking to debunk hoaxes and misidentifications while thoroughly exploring unexplained cases like Alfena. The publication highlights the importance of witness testimony, photographic evidence, and expert analysis. There is a clear interest in distinguishing between known technology (like RPVs) and genuinely unidentified phenomena. The magazine also touches upon broader topics related to UFOs, such as government information control and the public's perception of the phenomenon.

This issue, identified by the number 20, focuses heavily on the 'Billy Meier UFO Scandal' as its primary cover story. It also includes reports on a scientific investigation into UFO phenomena, an exhibition on myths and monsters, and a local commemoration of a legendary UFO crash.

The Billy Meier UFO Scandal

The central article details accusations that the famous Swiss contactee Eduard (Billy) Meier's extraterrestrial photographs, taken in the 1970s, were fraudulent. The German magazine 'UFO Kurier' reported that two alleged extraterrestrials, 'Asket' and 'Nera', photographed by Meier, were actually dancers from the American television show 'Dean Martin Show'.

Meters's narrative began in 1975, following an accident that left him economically dependent. He claimed to have had contact with an extraterrestrial named Semjase from the Pleiades, who led the organization 'Semjase Silver Star Center'. Meier began selling his photographs and exclusive stories to compensate for his meager income, providing a larger volume of material than other contactees, which attracted scholarly attention but also raised doubts about authenticity.

Over time, evidence of fraud mounted. Meier's own wife provided undeniable proof of falsehoods. Investigators authorized by Meier himself discovered models and various other proofs implicating him in crude deceptions. Despite increasing accusations, Meier maintained that he used models to recreate his experiences and contacts. He reportedly showed indifference to visible strings holding models in his films, was caught burning incriminating evidence, and even claimed to be a victim of professional snipers hired to silence him.

The scandal intensified with the recent allegations. Meier stated that images of 'Asket' and 'Nera' were taken during trips in Pleiadian spacecraft. While the photos were correctly framed, they were blurry and out of focus, which Meier attributed to camera focus errors and a strange atmosphere. However, specialists noted the figures lacked depth, appearing two-dimensional.

In a further twist, on May 18th, shortly after the 'Dean Martin Show' revelation, Meier claimed the photos did not show the actual extraterrestrials but their 'exact American doubles'. He blamed 'men in black' for this deception. He also stated that these photographs, cataloged as 110 and 111, would not be removed from sale but would be re-cataloged as showing the 'American doubles' of Asket and Nera, noting their extreme similarity making them almost indistinguishable except to themselves.

Exhibition: 'Myths and Monsters'

From September 13th, the Natural History Museum in London hosted an exhibition titled 'Myths and Monsters'. This display featured creatures such as cyclops, unicorns, and dragons, aiming to decipher the reality and fiction behind these legendary figures using zoology, history, and mythology. The exhibition explored theories like the yeti being a remnant of an extinct ape and noted that research at Loch Ness had discovered new microscopic species, not plesiosaurs. Beliefs in dragons were linked to dinosaur fossil discoveries over 2,000 years ago, while extraterrestrials were presented within the context of modern human integration of aerial and spatial dimensions into daily life. The exhibition offered a panoramic experience with mechanical replicas, sound effects, and atmospheric settings.

AZTEC Emulates Roswell

The article recounts the legend of an extraterrestrial craft crashing with 16 aliens near Aztec, New Mexico, in May 1948. To commemorate this event, local festivities were held on May 9th and 10th. Debbie Israel, director of the local Chamber of Commerce, admitted that the town had not previously considered the crash story significant until Roswell's successful commercial exploitation of its own 'ufo-crash' anniversary. This inspired Aztec to emulate Roswell's approach.

Much Publicity for the SSE Report

A nine-physicist international council, sponsored by the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE), responded to UFO reports presented by various investigators. Although the report offered no entirely new information, its disclosure on June 29th by several American newspapers, including 'The Washington Post', turned the event into an international news item, highlighting how media prestige can amplify importance over content.

The scientific panel reached no conclusions about proof of extraterrestrial intelligence or phenomena contrary to natural laws. However, they emphasized unexplained details such as alleged witness burn marks, unidentified objects leaving radar traces, recurring lights over specific locations, and radiation and other damage to flora. The report asserted that scientists could learn much by overcoming the fear of criticism for investigating such topics and that funding for well-focused research would be beneficial. This stance was described as naive in a July 6th press release from the skeptical group, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), which cited the failure of similar initiatives, like France's GEPAN.

The scientific committee was directed by Professor Peter Sturrock, with results published in the 'Journal of Scientific Exploration', a publication often debated by skeptics. Co-director of the project was Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, Von R. Eshleman. The review panel included scientists from various institutions such as the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colorado; the University of Arizona; Fleximage in Paris; the University of New Mexico; the German Aerospace Center; the University of Virginia; and the University of Bordeaux, France.

UFO investigators who presented documentation included Richard Haines, Illobrand von Ludwiger, Mark Rodeghier, John Schuessler, Erling Strand, Michael Swords, Jacques Vallee, and Jean-Jacques Velasco. The study was initiated by Laurance S. Rockefeller and financially supported by the LSR Foundation. Information on the material presented by ufologists and reviewed by the panel is available at http://www.jse.com/ufo_reports/Sturrock/toc.html.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue demonstrates a critical approach to UFO claims, particularly evident in the detailed exposé of the Billy Meier case, which leans heavily into debunking. The coverage of the SSE report also reflects a balanced perspective, acknowledging unexplained phenomena while refraining from definitive conclusions about extraterrestrial origins. The inclusion of the 'Myths and Monsters' exhibition and the Aztec commemoration suggests an interest in the broader cultural and historical context of unexplained phenomena and folklore. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious investigation, skepticism towards sensational claims, and an openness to scientific inquiry into anomalous events.