AFU Newsletter - No 17 - 1979

Magazine Overview

This issue of the AFU Newsletter (Nr 17, October/December 1979) focuses on the establishment and needs of the Arkivet för UFO-forskning (AFU) as a foundation. The newsletter details the goals and activities of AFU, appeals for financial support, and includes reviews of recent UFO-related literature and reports from various countries.

Establishment of AFU as a Foundation

At a meeting in Norrköping on January 12, 1980, the Arkivet för UFO-forskning was formally constituted as a foundation. The statutes adopted for the foundation outline its objectives: to manage and develop a Swedish archive and library for literature on unidentified flying objects, to acquire and preserve interesting and valuable material, to support and promote research into UFOs, and to conduct information activities to stimulate critical, scientific discussion. The foundation also aims to publish special publications detailing research results.

The foundation is self-governing, independent of annual meetings and external influences. This structure is intended to ensure that AFU's collection remains a permanent and independent asset. The article emphasizes that donations to AFU will be preserved as the foundation's property, offering donors a lasting guarantee.

The board for 1980 consists of Håkan Blomqvist (chairman), Kjell Jonsson (secretary and librarian), and Anders Liljegren (treasurer). Åke Franzén was appointed as a substitute board member, and Agneta Mitchell as auditor. AFU plans to open a postgiro account to manage its finances.

Financial Situation and Support

The newsletter highlights that AFU's finances are a significant problem. The regular membership fees are barely sufficient to cover the costs of producing the newsletter and other administrative expenses. The personal funds of board members (Kjell, Håkan, and Anders) cover approximately two-thirds of AFU's costs. The need for a dedicated physical location for the library is also stressed, which requires more members and financial support. The newsletter suggests that a direct appeal for funds, though potentially unappealing, might be necessary.

Annual fees for individual members have been increased by 5 SEK to a minimum of 35 SEK. Associations, libraries, and other institutions now have a special fee of 25 SEK, but they are not permitted to borrow material from the archive, only receive the newsletter.

Library and Archive Activities

Kjell Jonsson is currently in Lund working on updating the Swedish national library catalog, Libris. During this period, AFU's library services will be managed by Håkan Blomqvist, who will handle mail, process orders, and can be contacted for urgent requests. The lack of space is a major issue, and AFU is actively seeking a suitable archive and library location in the Stockholm area.

In 1979, 103 new titles were registered in the library, bringing the total collection to approximately 735 titles and 1,350 book copies. Notable donations were received from individuals in Denmark, France, and Sweden, as well as from the organization UFO-Sverige. A significant collection of clippings was also acquired from Borgny Tingstedt.

Lending services in 1979 involved 58 loans, with books by Robert Charroux, John Keel, Stuart Holroyd, and John Fuller being the most requested. AFU frequently receives requests from young people for material for special projects, such as slide presentations and UFO reports.

Publications and Exchange

The AFU Newsletter is now published three times a year to manage postage costs and allow time for internal research. The English edition, AFU Newsletter, has received positive international interest. AFU maintains exchange relationships with about 60 periodicals and has a "trial list" of an additional 90. The newsletter published the first statistical study of Swedish UFO reports during the year.

Press Clippings

AFU received 1,015 press clippings from the Swedish press in 1979, an 8% decrease from the previous year. This decline is attributed to reduced PR activity from UFO-Sverige and a lack of major UFO events, unlike the impact of the "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" film in 1978. However, the cost per clipping has significantly increased from 3.05 SEK to 3.51 SEK.

Book Reviews

"Närkontakt - för en yngre publik" by Sherman Larsen: Reviewed by Anders Liljegren, this book is described as a simplified account of UFO phenomena aimed at teenagers. While it attempts to present UFO cases, the reviewer finds it lacking in depth and critical analysis, comparing it unfavorably to works by established researchers like J. Allen Hynek. The book's classification of UFO events is also criticized for mirroring the errors of the original English version.

"A Helicopter-UFO encounter over Ohio" by Jennie Zeidman: This publication from CUFOS is presented as a detailed investigation of a specific case. The reviewer praises it for its factual accuracy and thoroughness, contrasting it with less rigorous UFO literature.

"Briefing for the landing om planet Earth" by Stuart Holroyd: This review discusses Andrija Puharich's experiences with channeled messages from entities claiming to be "the Nine." The reviewer questions how a scientist like Puharich can be influenced by such voices, suggesting that the messages might reflect his own subconscious beliefs, a theory also proposed by Colin Wilson.

International Journals and Reports

The newsletter features reviews of several international UFO publications:

• True UFOs & Outer Space Quarterly (USA): A popular magazine covering UFOs, space travel, and archaeoastronomy, featuring articles like "13 hours aboard a UFO conference."
• Report on Current Research (USA): This publication tests Keel's "window-area" theory, comparing UFO/forteana phenomena with earthquake zones in the USA and planning field studies with new magnetometer technology.
• Second Look (USA): A professional journal with contributions from leading researchers in fringe sciences. Issue No. 12 includes an article on the "Coyne case," a classic contactee case involving Randall Fitzgerald, and an article on "ball lightning" as a potential explanation for UFOs.
• Zetetic Scholar (USA): An independent scientific journal for studies in parapsychology, UFOs, and forteana. Issue No. 5 includes an article by Pierre Guérin critically examining the situation regarding UFOs and warning about the negative psychological and religious consequences of UFO phenomena.

Swedish Press Chronicle

A section summarizing various Swedish newspaper articles related to UFOs from late 1979 and early 1980. Topics include:

• Råö Observatory and Professor Rydbeck's dismissal of UFO claims.
• UFO exhibitions in Nyköping and Köping.
• Changes in leadership for UFO groups.
• Reports of landed objects and UFO sightings across Sweden.
• A planned expedition to the Bermuda Triangle by a Norwegian author.
• Mysterious aircraft incidents and pilot testimonies.
• UFO-Sverige's public information activities.
• Reviews of UFO books, including positive comments on J. Allen Hynek's work.
• Reports of mysterious lights and phenomena, including alleged abduction experiences.
• Discussions on the scientific approach to UFOs and the potential for government cover-ups.
• Interviews with ufologists and skeptics.

Other Sections

• "Efterlysning om ifologiska" (Inquiry about Ufologists): Heikki Virtanen is seeking individuals who were members of UFO organizations, especially in their early days, for his university thesis on UFO societies as a social movement.
• "Nytt på bokfronten" (New on the Book Front): A list of recently published or announced books on UFOs and related topics from various international publishers.
• "Nytt i AFU-biblioteket" (New in the AFU Library): A selection of new acquisitions for the AFU library, including works on UFO data processing, specific cases like the Travis Walton incident, and books by prominent ufologists.
• "AFU Söker..." (AFU Searches For...): A list of specific books AFU is looking to acquire, either by purchase or exchange.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical need for financial and material support for the AFU archive, the ongoing efforts to professionalize UFO research through documentation and publication, and the dissemination of information about UFO phenomena to the public. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of serious, scientific investigation of UFOs, distinguishing itself from sensationalism and speculation. There is a strong emphasis on the value of the AFU archive as a national resource for UFO research. The newsletter also highlights the international nature of UFO research by reviewing foreign publications and reporting on global cases.

Title: AFU Newsletter
Issue: vol. 30, no.6 (Nov-Dec 1974)
Publisher: AFU (Arkivet för UFO-forskning)
Country: Sweden
Language: English

This issue of the AFU Newsletter features a detailed account of a UFO landing and electromagnetic effects incident, a review of a book on UFOs, and an overview of Swedish UFO organizations and publications.

Swedish Army Officer Landing and EM Effects

This article, an excerpt from Boris Jungkvist's book "UFO en fantastisk verklighet," describes a personal encounter with a UFO. On September 21, 1974, at 22:30 hours, Jungkvist received a call from a shaken witness, a high-ranking Swedish army officer who, along with his family, had witnessed a UFO land.

The officer's family was driving home in their Audi near Knutby, Uppland, when they spotted a blinding light ahead. Initially mistaking it for a car, they soon realized it was a remarkable flying object approaching them slowly at an altitude of about 10 meters. As the object neared, the car's engine began to vibrate and cut out, its headlights died, and the radio went dead.

The object passed the roadway and appeared to land on the left side, about 75 meters from the road, near a stack of fire-logs. The area was illuminated by the object's blinding, green-shimmering light. A humming sound, likened to a swarm of bees, was audible. The officer's daughter initially thought it was a helicopter.

Through 7x50 binoculars, the object was clearly seen as an egg-shaped structure, approximately 10 meters long and a few meters high. It was intensely white, with a smooth surface and no visible projections. The officer's wife and children were frightened, and the car remained inoperable.

Suddenly, a deafening roar was heard, prompting the officer to take cover behind the car with his family, fearing an explosion. The object then took off slowly, with a rocking motion, regaining its green-shimmering color and illuminating the surroundings. It ascended to about 30 meters and flew off in the direction it had come from, emitting a droning sound. It accelerated to an unbelievable speed and disappeared in a fraction of a second.

Immediately after the object's departure, the car's systems returned to normal. The radio was working, and the car started without issue. The family was shaken but certain they had experienced something unique. The officer, due to his military position, decided against reporting the incident to the police or military authorities, but contacted the AFU organization.

The officer's family later reported experiencing slight headaches and diarrhea starting about 30 hours after the sighting, which lasted for three days. The case is classified as a genuine encounter with an unidentified flying object and is cataloged as case number 375 in the SweCat statistical sample.

Review: Stuart Holroyd's "Briefing for the landing on Planet Earth"

The newsletter reviews Stuart Holroyd's book, noting that it is filled with minor incidents of ufological interest and serves as a "gold mine for the phenomenologist." Holroyd's book reportedly fits a pattern where intellectual quality and psychological insight are often lacking, with the philosophy presented being a naive, watered-down Christianity. The reviewer questions if this is the product of an advanced extraterrestrial civilization, concluding with "Spacemen go home!"

The review references specific examples, such as Phyllis Schlemmer's MIB-type experience and the book's discussion of the "Nine," an occult order allegedly founded by Emperor Asoka. The voice of the Nine reportedly came through Dr. D.G. Vinod, a Hindu trance-medium whom Puharich met in New York. The text mentions an initiation into Brahmanism on June 27, 1953, where nine people became Brahmins. Riley Crabb, director of Borderland Sciences Research Foundation, is cited as viewing this event as proof that the Nine are "initiate Brahmin priests from the astral plane" working towards "eventual control of the flying saucer phenomenon."

Swedish UFO Publications and Organizations

This section provides a historical overview of UFO publications and organizations in Sweden. It notes that many attempts to start UFO magazines have failed due to lack of time, money, and contributors.

• Tellus: The first Swedish UFO magazine, published by Malmö Interplanetariska Sällskap (MIS), began in 1961.
• Tid och rum: Published by the UFO-Sällskapet between 1962 and 1965.
• 1969-70: A period of increased activity, leading to the formation of UFO-Sverige and GICOFF, and the launch of UFO-Information and GICOFF-Information.
• Kosmisk Bulletin: Published by Thor-Leif Dahnielson, featuring Adamski, with 10 issues before ceasing in 1970.
• AFU's formation (1973): Anders Liljegren's "Ufologen" became AFU's organ. AFU produced 14 issues of its publication between 1972-74 before shifting focus to an archive and library, and launching "Nyhetsbladet" in 1975.
• Borgny Tingstedt's UFO-rapport (1973): Failed due to poor economy and lack of subscribers, ceasing in 1977.

As of the early 1980s, only UFO-Information and Nyhetsbladet remain as active publications. Local UFO groups also publish their own newsletters, including:

• UFO-Nytt (Västerbergslagens UFO-förening)
• Se upp (Västerås tvärvetenskapliga för.)
• Saturnus (Sällskapet amatörförening för tvärvetenskap)
• UFO-nytt (Kalmar Ölands UFO-förening)
• UFO-raden (UFO-Sundsvall)

However, many of these are described as "fuskverk" (shoddy works) consisting mostly of copied articles and press clippings, with UFO-raden being an exception for its original material.

Berthelsen Leaves UFO-Sverige

Thorvald Berthelsen has decided to leave all his positions and work within UFO-Sverige and the Köping UFO-förening due to family reasons. This has led to Köping UFO-förening relinquishing its role as UFO-Sverige's marketing unit. The organization will decide at its national meeting on March 22 whether to continue as UFO-Sverige's report center and train field researchers. Stig Aggestad of Eskilstuna is currently maintaining the reporting function. Berthelsen joined UFO-Sverige in 1973 and served as its chairman from 1976-1979.

Support AFU

A coupon is provided for readers to make financial contributions to the AFU foundation for the purchase of books, magazines, and clippings, with options for one-time or recurring donations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter exhibits a strong interest in detailed UFO sighting reports, particularly those involving significant physical effects or witness testimony from credible sources like military personnel. There is a critical perspective on some UFO literature, questioning its intellectual depth and philosophical underpinnings, as exemplified by the review of Holroyd's book. The publication also serves as a platform for documenting the history and current activities of Swedish UFO research organizations and publications, highlighting the challenges of maintaining these efforts. The editorial stance appears to favor a more research-oriented approach to ufology, as indicated by the call for more "research-minded" local groups and the AFU's policy.