AFU Newsletter - No 28 - 1985

Magazine Overview

This issue of the AFU Newsletter, Nr 28, dated January-December 1985, is published by the Archives for UFO Research (AFU) in Norrköping, Sweden. It details the organization's activities during 1985 and presents ongoing research projects, with a significant focus on the 'Project 1946' concerning the Swedish ghost rocket phenomenon.

AFU during 1985

The annual report for 1985 indicates that the AFU library acquired 98 new titles, with many books donated by supporters and exchange partners. The library's shelf capacity increased to 150 meters, allowing for the storage of new donations, including the archives of the Gothenburg GICOFF. In total, 135 book loans were sent to supporters across Sweden. The AFU's subscription for Swedish press cuttings yielded 476 clippings in 1985, and hundreds of magazine issues were received through exchanges and donations. The year's expenditure amounted to 55,000 BEK, covering new acquisitions, transport, printing, postage, subscription costs, library rent, utilities, and materials.

A new Victor VPC 15 computer, compatible with IBM PC, was purchased for 29,260 BEK. It features 15 million characters of memory, a 230-column printer, and software packages like dBASE III and Word Result. Future projects include editing documentary manuscripts and developing report catalogues, particularly for reports from the 1930s and 40s (ghost fliers/ghost rockets) and the GICOFF archives. Approximately 850 reports have been entered into a database called SCANCAT. Additionally, a new Swedish computer-based UFO bibliography is being developed to continue where AFU's previous bibliography ended.

Project 1946

This section details the ongoing documentary project concerning the 1946 ghost rockets. A status report has been prepared and distributed to Scandinavian co-workers and journals, summarizing the work done and planned. An English translation is being prepared for distribution to major UFO organizations and correspondents. The report does not draw final conclusions or detail individual cases.

Nyheter på svenska (News in Swedish)

This section explains the effort to keep the AFU newsletter alive in Swedish due to demand from a small circle of interested individuals in Sweden and internationally. It highlights how articles published in English have helped spread information about Swedish and Scandinavian ufology, being reprinted in over 30 different journals, ranging from occult to scientific publications. This has also helped build a worldwide network of correspondents.

Världsbibliografi (World Bibliography)

George Eberhart, librarian at the Center for UFO Studies, is compiling a bibliography of all original works on UFOs worldwide. AFU is assisting with data on Swedish and Scandinavian books, with the bibliography planned for publication in 1986.

På UFO-fronten (On the UFO Front)

This refers to Håkan Blomqvist's article series in the journal 'Sökaren', which covers various aspects of the UFO world, with an emphasis on contact cases in Sweden and abroad. The articles are noted for their critical tone, sometimes directed at ufologists themselves.

Tidskriftsboxar (Magazine Boxes)

An appeal is made for financial support, with an offer to purchase magazine boxes for dust-free storage of the growing journal collection. A contribution of 50 SEK is suggested as a 'membership fee' for this purpose.

UFO-status 1947-87

AFU will contribute to an English report commemorating the 40th anniversary of the UFO phenomenon's 'birth' in the USA in 1947. This report aims to summarize the current state of UFO research and is expected to be available for sale to interested Swedes the following summer.

Amerikansk ufologi (American Ufology)

This section notes changes in the American UFO scene. CUFOS and Hynek have relocated their headquarters to Arizona. Reports indicate Allen Hynek collapsed and was fighting for his life, suspected of having a brain tumor. Jerome Clark has taken over more responsibility for CUFOS's International UFO Reporter. The APRO Bulletin is ceasing publication due to the illness of Coral Lorenzen. Tom Brown has become the new director of Borderland Sciences Research Foundation, an organization with a broad occult focus that, as early as 1946, stated that UFO phenomena were extraterrestrial.

Project 1946: The ghost rocket documents released by the Swedish Defence Staff

This article, by Anders Liljegren of AFU, details the investigation into the 'ghost rocket' phenomenon that occurred in Sweden between May and December 1946. During this period, the Swedish defence headquarters received 997 reports of unexplained aerial phenomena. In about 100 incidents, rocket-shaped or luminous objects were observed crashing towards water surfaces, but despite extensive searches, no wreckage was found.

The 'ghost rockets' have been a subject of interest for UFO researchers for 40 years. The article notes that while speculation has been rife, particularly in the USA, the lack of direct documents has hindered understanding. The phenomenon is compared to the 'flying saucer' wave in the U.S. in 1947, which led to extensive investigation projects by the U.S. Air Force.

Strong circumstantial evidence of secret documents

In 1976, an American researcher found documents in the Smithsonian Institution's National Air & Space Museum related to the Swedish ghost rockets. These documents, initially classified, were later declassified. Despite this, Swedish authorities stated in 1982 that portions of the documents concerning witness reliability, radar trackings, and geographical plots were still classified.

The documents surface...

Following a citation in a German book, the author contacted the Swedish Defence Staff and learned that four volumes of secret documents concerning 'space projectiles' had been retrieved in May 1983. These documents were originally drafted in December 1946 and sent to the Swedish Supreme Commander. An English translation was sent to the USA in September 1947, likely in response to a request from the U.S. Air Force's Project Sign.

The world's first UFO investigation group?

The Swedish document suggests that Sweden may have been the first country to appoint a special committee to investigate UFO phenomena. This committee included representatives from the Defence Staff, Air Administration, Research Institute of National Defence (FOA), Defence Radio Institute (FRA), and Naval Administration. Colonel Bengt Jacobson chaired the committee, with Air Engineer Eric Malmberg as secretary and chief investigator.

The documents surface...

Berliners' article led the author to investigate further. The Swedish Defence Staff confirmed the existence of four volumes of secret documents. These documents were retrieved in May 1983 during a re-evaluation of archival materials. The author and Clas Svahn have been working with these documents for nearly two years, noting that some secrecy still surrounds them. They have had permission to view similar secret documents from the 1930s 'ghost-flier' phenomena and have made copies of about 1,000 pages.

Can "the ghost rockets" be explained?

The primary theories considered by the Swedish committee, apart from astronomical or technological explanations, were the possibility of Russian rockets or remote-controlled weapons tests. Intelligence measures were undertaken, including radio interception and direction finding, and radar stations detected echoes, sometimes coinciding with visual sightings. However, liaison between radar and fighter aircraft was not effective at the time.

Project 1946 - Sub-projects

The project to collect and analyze data on the 1946 incidents includes several sub-projects:
1. Locating and interviewing witnesses.
2. Tracing and interviewing members of the 'ghost rocket' committee.
3. Completing the press coverage by combing approximately 30 Swedish newspapers.
4. Computer cataloging and analysis of reports, aiming to create a database (SCANCAT) for statistical tests and information retrieval.
5. Further research in Swedish archives, including files at the War Archives, National Archives, and FDA archives.
6. Documenting the intelligence interest in the ghost rockets from British and American sources.
7. Documenting events in Sweden during the war years (1940-1945), including aerial surveillance and reports of unidentified aircraft.
8. Tracing parallel cases and foreign sightings during the 1939-1946 period.

Notes and source references

This section lists 23 source references, including official reports, books, and articles related to the ghost rocket phenomenon, V2 rockets, and UFO sightings in Sweden and internationally. It clarifies the distinction between 'ghost airplanes'/'ghost fliers' and the majority of 1946 sightings, which concerned rocket-, torpedo-, and cigar-shaped objects.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO research, particularly historical cases like the Swedish ghost rockets. It emphasizes the importance of documentary evidence and rigorous investigation. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, seeking factual information and encouraging public participation in research efforts. There is a clear effort to bridge the gap between official investigations and civilian research, and to disseminate findings both within Sweden and internationally.