AFU Newsletter - No 24 - 1982

Magazine Overview

Title: AFU Newsletter
Issue: 24
Date: May - August 1982
Publisher: AFU (Archives for UFO Research)
Country of Publication: Sweden
Language: English

This issue of the AFU Newsletter, dated May-August 1982, focuses on the serious pursuit of UFO research, emphasizing documentation and investigation over mere entertainment. The editorial, penned by Anders Liljegren, addresses the financial realities of running the organization and the challenges of attracting dedicated volunteers. Liljegren stresses the importance of channeling resources into research and documentation, rather than treating ufology as an entertainment business. He also touches upon the perceived polarization of reactions to their previous articles, with positive feedback from Europe regarding a piece on a UFO Report hoax, while the United States remained silent.

Editorial: The Harsh Reality of UFO Research

The editorial highlights the operational challenges faced by AFU, a small organization run by dedicated volunteers. Liljegren explains that the newsletter's printing costs are covered by a small number of paid subscriptions, but other expenses like rent, electricity, and library acquisitions strain their budget. He expresses a need to improve their financial situation, hinting at a special project he will be undertaking to help secure the future economy of AFU. This project might lead to a thinner newsletter and potential delays, but the commitment to publication remains.

Liljegren also discusses the reception of previous articles. An exposé on a "UFO Report" Scandinavian fake received no reactions from the United States, but positive comments from European researchers. Conversely, an interview with journalist Jüri Lina about the hardships of a Soviet ufologist was reprinted by several American publications, but not by European ones. This disparity is noted as illustrating a global polarization.

The editorial criticizes the "National Enquirer" for publishing another alleged American hoax article, comparing it to the previous "UFO Report" fake. Liljegren states that while some might see this as being overly skeptical, the abundance of unsubstantiated claims in UFO literature necessitates continued scrutiny. He mentions the difficulty in judging reports from behind the Iron Curtain and highlights their Finnish colleagues' efforts to provide a credible "landing" report from the USSR.

The issue also touches upon the intersection of ufology and religion, referencing Håkan Blomqvist's piece on ex-contactee Benjamin Creme, who claimed Christ's return and also had UFO contacts. Creme's association with George Adamski is noted. Furthermore, historical research is presented as a valuable tool, with a review of Daniel Cohen's book on the 1896/97 airship wave, drawing parallels to AFU's own research on the 1933/37 "ghost flier" wave.

Reports

CLOSE ENCOUNTER IN THE ESTONIAN ARCHIPELAGO

This report, investigated by Estonian ufologists and shared with Finnish colleagues, details a sighting in August 1980. A witness observed a colorful, glittering object resting on the ground about 200 meters away. Upon approaching, he saw a black cube, about half-a-meter tall, with a smaller cube on top, and a revolving "pipe." The main object was a cylinder with tapering ends, displaying streaks of light. The witness felt the air become hotter when an orange-colored beam projected from the cubes. He fell backward, feeling as if he was resting on something soft. The object then "collapsed" into a saucer shape and spun on its axis before disappearing. The witness experienced nausea afterward. Investigation of the landing site a year later yielded normal results from plant samples and Kirlian photography. There were unconfirmed rumors of a simultaneous sighting by frontier guards.

BENJAMIN CREME - UFO CONTACTEE

Håkan Blomqvist writes about Benjamin Creme, an advocate of Alice Bailey's theosophy, who proclaimed Christ's return. Creme claimed to have had UFO contacts and worked with George Adamski. His book, "The Reappearance of Christ and the Masters of Wisdom," is mentioned. Creme's account of receiving instructions via inner voice to meet people in London is highlighted, suggesting a connection between UFOs and cult groups.

Reviews

TIN SOLDIER HUMANOIDS

Anders Liljegren reviews Ahmad Jamaludin's "A summary of unidentified flying objects and related events in Malaysia (1950-1980)." Liljegren praises the report as an excellent publication for Southeast Asian UFO data, noting that Jamaludin worked largely alone. The report analyzes 100 UFO cases, classifying them according to the Hynek scheme. Surprisingly, nearly 50% of the cases are CE3s (humanoid cases), with 95% involving "very tiny, 'tin soldier' humanoids." Jamaludin suggests this pattern might be key to understanding the enigma and compares UFO entities to traditional Jinn from the Islamic Koran. Despite some potential unreliability due to reports from schoolchildren and "repeaters," Liljegren recommends the study for its insights into UFO waves and the potential for research with limited resources.

UFO ANNUAL 1981

Håkan Blomqvist reviews Gray Barker's "UFO Annual 1981." He notes that while Morris K. Jessup initiated the idea of an annual UFO review, Barker has continued the tradition. The annual focuses on the American scene but includes cases from other countries, covering sightings, landings, contacts, and abductions. Blomqvist expresses a slight concern about the lack of sources cited.

THE UNINVITED GUEST

Håkan Blomqvist reviews Hilary Evans' book "Intrusions: society and the paranormal." The review discusses Jacques Vallée's early experiences with UFOs, where scientific colleagues denied observations and destroyed data. Evans' book explores society's failure to rationally deal with the paranormal, likening it to an "uninvited intruder." The review touches upon the difficulty of changing worldviews and religious concepts when confronted with paranormal phenomena. A Gallup poll indicating public belief in UFOs despite official denials is mentioned, along with a Swedish newspaper article quoting an official who suggested UFO witnesses might need mental care.

ATTITUDES TOWARDS "BIGFEET"

Anders Liljegren discusses recent publications about "Bigfoot," including a British book cataloging sightings and Dennis Pilichis' "Night siege: the northern Ohio UFO-creature invasion." Liljegren suggests that fear and stress in America might contribute to the projection of these phenomena. He also mentions "Wildman - China's Yeti?" and the Chinese perspective, which focuses on the possibility of a surviving ape-like race rather than paranormal or UFO connections.

THE ABC OF MIRACLES

Håkan Blomqvist explores the connection between UFOs and psychic phenomena. He recounts an experiment in distant healing that resulted in a girl friend experiencing a shining sphere entering her body, after which her flu disappeared. This led him to investigate how UFO experiences might be linked to psychic phenomena, citing "Maxine The Witch Queen" and the Welsh Religious Revival of 1904-05, which involved paranormal events and UFO sightings.

From the Past

THE GHOST FLIERS OF THE 1930s - A STATUS REPORT (MAY 1982)

Anders Liljegren provides a status report on his research into the "ghost fliers" phenomenon of the 1930s, which was previously covered by John A. Keel. Liljegren acknowledges Keel's contribution in bringing attention to this wave of sightings but points out flaws in Keel's presentation, particularly the lack of specific sources. Liljegren's research involved extensive newspaper culling and examination of secret documents from the Swedish War Archives. He found thousands of pages of reports and analyses from the Military Command of Upper Norrland, detailing police and military investigations. While some sightings were explained as planets, aviators, or hoaxes, many remained unexplained. A secret memo from the Swedish government suggested Russian blame for the aerial raids. Liljegren emphasizes the importance of understanding the socio-political context of the era, including prevailing opinions, aviation advancements, and newspaper practices.

New Books

This section lists and briefly describes several new books related to UFOs and paranormal topics, including:

• "Moongate: suppressed findings of the U.S. space program" by William L. Brian II.
• "In advance of the landing: folk concepts of outer space" by Doug Curran.
• "Science: good, bad and bogus" by Martin Gardner.
• "UFOs: African encounters" by Cynthia Hind.
• "A summary of unidentified flying objects and related events in Malaysia (1950-1980)" by Ahmad Jamaludin.
• "CENAP-Dokumentation. George Adamski" by HansjUrgen Köhler.
• "Ufotutkimuksesta neuvostoliitossa" by Juri Lina.
• "The catalogue of UFO publications" by Tom Lind.
• "The McMinnville photos and basic analysis of UFO cases" by Bruce S. Maccabee.
• "UFO: l'eco di un enigma" by Giovanni & Piero Montero.
• "Dizionario enciclopedico di ufologia" by Franco Ossola.
• "Paranormal borderlands of science" edited by Kendrick Frazier.
• "Science and the paranormal: probing the existence of the supernatural" edited by George Abell & Barry Singer.

Reviews (Continued)

MYSTERIOUS AIRSHIPS AND AEROPLANES

Anders Liljegren reviews Daniel Cohen's "The Great Airship Mystery." Liljegren finds Cohen's book to be a conventional and not entirely rational approach to the 1896/97 airship wave, lacking originality and failing to mention key researchers like John Keel. He notes that while Cohen agrees the mystery represents a sociopsychological development, he dismisses paranormal explanations. Liljegren contrasts the airship wave with the 1933/37 "ghost flier" reports, which have more reliable witness testimony. He points out the unreliability of newspapers at the time and the difficulty in distinguishing genuine phenomena from hoaxes or imaginative reporting. The review also touches upon the 1897 attempt by aviator Andrée to fly to the North Pole and references Jules Verne's "Robur le conquérant."

Exchanges

This section provides updates on changes to the AFU's exchange mailing list, including new addresses and publications for various UFO and paranormal research organizations.

Magazines

Brief reviews of recent magazine issues are presented:

• APRO Bulletin, vol. 30, no. 1, Feb. 1982: Features an article on "Humanoids in the Dominican Republic."
• Creature Chronicles, no. 4, autumn 1981: Discusses Bigfoot encounters in the Mt. St. Helens area.
• Earthlink, no. 11, March 1982: Continues an interview with Spanish ufologist Ignacio Darnaude Rojas-Marcos on "Vanguard Ufology."
• Forteana, nr. 14, 1982: A Danish magazine with a new editor, featuring articles on UFOs, "The Virgin and the Spacemen," and sexual magic.
• Journal fur UFO-Forschung, vol. 3, nr. 3, May/June 1982: Discusses German wartime "nazi-saucers" and includes a bibliography of German literature.
• The Journal of Borderland Research, vol. 38, no. 2, March-April 1982: An "Interplanetary Issue" with reprints on Venusians and the "Spacecraft," and a review of "The Andreasson Affair."
• UFO, vol. 1, nr. 1, 1982: A new Norwegian magazine from UFO-Norge, featuring photographs and an article on the "Hessdalen wave."
• UFO-Aspect, Danish UFO Report, no. 1, Summer 1981: Features "Humanoid in Sweden" and "The Experience of Ashley Clack."
• UFO Newsclipping Service, no. 154, May 1982: A compilation of UFO and Fortean news clippings.
• UFO Research Australia Newsletter, vol. 3, no. 2, March-April 1982: Discusses the "Federal Hypothesis" regarding CIA involvement in ufology and Australian UFO groups.
• UFO Review, no. 12, 1982: Features "The Shocking Facts Behind the Philadelphia Experiment and the Roswell incident" and a reprint of "Swedish UFO Mystery Deepens."

Follow-up

DESIGNING FALSE REPORTS - ANOTHER RECENT EXAMPLE

Anders Liljegren analyzes a series of articles from the "National Enquirer" concerning alleged new Soviet UFO cases. He expresses suspicion about the authenticity of these reports, particularly the second part, "Space aliens blasts forest rangers with a bizarre ray." Liljegren notes striking similarities between this report and the Finnish "Imjärvi" case, suggesting the Enquirer's story might be a rewritten version or a deliberate fabrication. He also questions the credibility of a report about Soviet ships being buzzed by UFOs, citing discrepancies in the size of a mentioned freighter. Liljegren concludes that the Enquirer's series appears to be "designed false reports."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of AFU Newsletter include the critical examination of UFO reports, particularly those from less reputable sources like the National Enquirer, and the distinction between genuine research and sensationalism. There is a strong emphasis on historical UFO phenomena, such as airship waves and ghost fliers, and the challenges of verifying such past events. The newsletter also explores the intersection of ufology with religion, psychic phenomena, and societal attitudes towards the paranormal. The editorial stance is one of rigorous, evidence-based investigation, advocating for documentation and analysis over unsubstantiated claims and entertainment-driven ufology. The challenges of funding and volunteerism in maintaining such research efforts are also a consistent undertone.

Title: AFU Newsletter
Issue: 24
Publication Year: 1982
Publisher: Archives for UFO Research (AFU), Sweden
Language: Swedish
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Main Articles and Content

The Kestenga Encounter: A Detailed Analysis

The newsletter features a lengthy account of a UFO and humanoid encounter that allegedly occurred in northwestern Russia, near the Finnish border, in April 1982. The report, drawing from accounts by foresters Esko Viljos and Heinonen, describes an encounter with a luminous, phosphorus-like humanoid with a hooked nose, small ears, and a green overall. The creature was seen holding a black box, from which a blinding, pulsating beam was emitted, affecting the two men. Following the beam incident, a red-grey mist descended from a metal sphere (UFO), obscuring the creature and the object, after which they vanished.

Both foresters experienced severe physical and psychological distress after the encounter. Heinonen reported numbness on his right side, pain, headaches, and vomiting, while Erkko complained of arm and chest pains, swollen eyes, and balance issues. A local physician, Dr. Olle Kossola, suggested the symptoms could be due to shock or radiation poisoning. Another physician, Dr. Kajanoja, also noted the symptoms were consistent with radiation exposure. Despite initial skepticism from the author, a Soviet special commission on UFOs reportedly concluded that the encounter did take place.

The author critically examines the case, questioning its veracity and suggesting it might be fabricated, especially noting the coincidence of a similar incident occurring ten years prior. The article expresses frustration with the sensationalism of publications like the National Enquirer and criticizes UFO researchers for relying on such sources.

References and Further Reading

A comprehensive list of references is provided, citing various issues of the National Enquirer, FSR (Flying Saucer Review), and AFU's own publications, as well as specific articles and reports related to Finnish and Soviet UFO cases.

Donations and Acknowledgements

The newsletter expresses gratitude for donations received, including books from Hilary Evans, Ahmad Jamaludin, and Dennis Pilichis. It also thanks Scandinavian contributors such as Per Andersen, Bernt Berglund, Kjell Jonsson, Bertil Schalen, Sphinx förlag, and Zsolt Szilvassy for their book donations and support. Financial contributions to the AFU book fund are also acknowledged.

New Acquisitions (Nyförvärv) in the AFU Library

A substantial section details new literature added to the AFU library. This includes a wide array of books and pamphlets on UFOs, psychic phenomena, ancient mysteries, and related topics from various international authors. Notable titles include works by Per Andersen, Gray Barker, Timothy G. Beckley, Yurko Bondarchuk, Elgar Brom, Johannes von Buttlar, Thor-Leif Dahnielson, Jerome Eden, and Hilary Evans. The list provides publication details, page counts, and notes whether the item was a gift from the author or another source.

NICAP Taken Over by Hynek Organization

An announcement states that NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena) has formed a new board of researchers affiliated with the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). The aim is to resolve NICAP's financial difficulties and coordinate its work with CUFOS, potentially leading to NICAP's eventual disappearance. NICAP's extensive archive of UFO observations will be preserved by CUFOS.

Nature Spirits, Pan, and UFO Experiences

This section discusses a booklet by R. Ogilvie Crombie describing encounters with nature spirits, particularly a figure identified as 'Pan', drawing parallels to Greek mythology and satanic imagery. The author notes similarities to experiences described by Jacques Vallée, where a British woman encounters a disc-shaped object and a goat-footed man. The commentary by Håkan Blomqvist suggests connections to the concept of 'Faerie' and mentions ongoing documentation of a Swedish contact case involving a 'Pan' figure.

Was McDonald Murdered?

Jerome Eden, author of 'The Testament of Fools', is cited as claiming that astrophysicist James McDonald, a proponent of UFO research, may have been murdered. Eden's informant suggests that the official cause of McDonald's death (a self-inflicted gunshot wound) is inconsistent with the injury, hinting at foul play. The report acknowledges this as a third-hand rumor.

Russian Ban on UFO Literature

Flying Saucer Review reports that free copies of UFO magazines sent to private researchers in the Soviet Union are being confiscated by authorities. Only copies sent to academic libraries are reportedly reaching their destinations. This suggests that information access for independent UFO researchers in the USSR is severely restricted.

New Books on the Horizon

This section provides brief descriptions of upcoming books by authors such as Hilary Evans ('The Entity Enigma', 'Intrusions'), Jean Sider, and Robert Rickard.

New Archives/Libraries Established

Information is provided on the establishment of UFO archives and libraries in Italy and England, aiming to serve researchers in those countries. AFU's limited capacity to engage in exchanges with these new initiatives is mentioned.

A Question of 'Style' (En Fråga om "STIL")

This personal account by Anders Liljegren details a problematic loan of research materials to an individual who later claimed the materials were lost or used to create an unauthorized 'pirate edition' of a booklet. The author expresses disappointment with the individual's lack of respect for intellectual property and copyright.

Fund for UFO Research (USA)

Details are provided about the Fund for UFO Research in the USA, which has raised over $12,000 since August 1979. Funds have been allocated to support legal battles against the CIA and NSA, investigations into specific UFO cases (like Cash/Landrum), studies of abduction phenomena, and the creation of educational materials. The fund also offers an award for the best UFO article and supports research into historical UFO sightings.

Over 50% of UFO Witnesses Deemed 'Mentally Disturbed'?

An Austrian research group led by Ernst Berger conducted psychological/psychiatric studies on UFO witnesses over a five-year period. The findings suggest that over 50% of witnesses exhibit psychological symptoms or have family members who do. The study highlights that more unusual cases tend to correlate with more severe psychological symptoms in witnesses. Berger criticizes ufologists for their perceived 'psychopathology' in overlooking witnesses.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The AFU Newsletter consistently promotes rigorous research and critical evaluation of UFO phenomena. It emphasizes the importance of documentation, archival work, and a rational approach, as evidenced by its critique of sensationalist reporting and its focus on providing access to a wide range of literature through its library service. The newsletter also highlights the challenges faced by UFO researchers, including issues of censorship (in the Soviet Union), intellectual property rights, and the psychological impact of UFO experiences on witnesses. The editorial stance appears to favor a scientific and methodical approach to the subject, encouraging contributions and donations to support its archival and research activities.