AFU Newsletter - No 34 - 1989

Magazine Overview

This issue of the AFU Newsletter, number 34, covers the period of July to December 1989. It is published by the Archives for UFO Research (AFU) in Norrköping, Sweden. The newsletter is a non-profit publication founded in 1973, with the aim of building a UFO library, supporting research, and fostering scientific discussion.

The Legacy of Gösta Rehn

This section is dedicated to the life and work of K.Gösta Rehn, a prominent Swedish ufologist who passed away in the summer of 1989 at the age of 98. The article, written by Anders Liljegren, reflects on Rehn's significant influence on Swedish ufology. Rehn was known for his intellectual rigor and his refusal to embrace popular new age or occult philosophies within the UFO field. His books were among the first reliable sources on UFOs available in public libraries, shaping the understanding of a generation of ufologists. Liljegren expresses admiration for Rehn's scholarly intellect and his shared disgust for religion and his hatred for motorists and cars. Rehn's influence is noted in his efforts to make ufology a serious and intellectual study, distinct from belief and worship. A key anecdote involves Rehn's frustration over the delayed release of secret defense documents concerning the 1946 ghost rocket wave.

The life of a Swedish UFO pioneer by Håkan Blomqvist

Håkan Blomqvist provides a detailed biographical account of K.Gösta Rehn. Born in 1891, Rehn had a cultured upbringing near Stockholm. His early life was marked by musical interests, but economic constraints led him to study law. He spent twenty years in the United States (1919-1939), working in finance and industry, a period he later considered a waste of time due to his dislike for American capitalism and lifestyle. His marriage in New York was unhappy. After returning to Sweden in 1939, he worked for the Swedish State Hydro Electrical Company. Post-war, Rehn developed an aggressive, atheistic, left-wing socialist view and engaged in studies of psychology and natural sciences. His UFO interest began in 1954, and he translated Donald Keyhoe's "Flying Saucers from Outer Space" into Swedish in 1955. Rehn's correspondence files, containing 32 files of personal correspondence with UFO witnesses and researchers, were donated to AFU after his death.

Rehn's early involvement in ufology included his participation in a national radio debate in 1958 regarding the Gotland case, where he argued for the extraterrestrial nature of the sightings, contrary to the official explanation of weather balloons. He published the case in "Perspektiv" in 1962, emphasizing the detailed descriptions provided by witnesses. However, the article notes a shift in Rehn's approach, moving from critical researcher to a 'missionary for saucer reality' by the early 1960s.

The Domsten affair, involving two young men claiming to be nearly kidnapped by creatures from a landed saucer, is discussed as a case Rehn took at face value, despite later evidence suggesting it was a hoax. Rehn retired in 1957 and became the Swedish representative for the American Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), corresponding extensively with Coral Lorenzen.

Rehn's first book, "De flygande tefaten: dokument och teori" (The flying saucers: documents and theory), published in 1966, was well-received and focused on significant UFO reports, particularly from the US Air Force, with brief mentions of Swedish cases.

His second book, "UFO! Nya fakta om de flygande tefaten" (UFO! New facts on the flying saucers), published in 1969, included a significant portion on Swedish reports. However, it contained factual errors, such as classifying a sighting of a reddish ball-of-light as a 'close encounter' when the original report described a much smaller object.

Rehn's reasoning for the reality of saucers was based on a 'philosophy of science,' arguing that consistent, competent observations over time proved their existence as a new kind of aerial vehicle. He rejected the demand for 100% certainty from physicists, citing tens of thousands of similar reports.

Despite his impressive general knowledge, Rehn was criticized for failing to provide psychological profiles of witnesses and for his shift towards a more missionary stance. He warned against the occult side of ufology, advocating for serious research supported by government and private funds.

Rehn's third book, "Tefaten är här!" (Flying saucers are here!), published in 1974, was an international success and was translated into several languages. His fourth book, "UFO-utmaningen" (The challenge of the UFO) in 1976, reviewed evidence and criticized the 'new ufology' trend, which proposed other-dimensional origins for UFOs, comparing humanoids to demons and angels. Rehn insisted that UFO research should remain grounded in rational investigation and not be influenced by parapsychology or occult phenomena.

Rehn's books sold reasonably well, providing him with a modest income. However, his aggressive stance attracted criticism from both military circles and journalists. Göran Bengtsson, in particular, criticized Rehn's credulity and his reliance on 'notoriously unreliable saucer literature.'

Rehn's later years were marked by declining health. He expressed concern about the growing interest in the supernatural and the potential for increased irrationality in society. He maintained his atheistic views, influenced by philosophers like Nietzsche and Freud, and expressed pessimism about the future.

The 1988 UFO "wave" in Sweden

This article by Anders Liljegren reviews significant UFO cases reported in Sweden during 1988, a year considered a 'wave' year for sightings. Despite a perceived decline in UFO reports in national newspapers, many unsolved cases persist in provincial papers and AFU archives. The article highlights the centralization of UFO reports at AFU, including military data.

Cases from 1988

• The Bispberg Case (December 31, 1987): A woman in Bispberg reported an ice-blue metallic sphere hovering near her house, emitting a grey-orange mist and lightning flashes. She experienced an oppressive feeling, a severe headache, and a burning sensation on her back.
• Moving Luminous Balls: This is described as the most common type of UFO sighting in Sweden. Two cases from early 1988 are detailed: one involving two white-orange luminous balls seen over Lake Siljan, and another of a blinding, fire-colored ball with a smaller blinking ball passing at high speed near Ovanmyra.
• Deltas: The article discusses triangular or delta-wing shaped UFOs, noting that while the Swedish air force uses similar aircraft, some cases remain unexplained. One incident involved a strange delta-winged object with seven points of lights observed silently passing over Lake Helgasjön, reportedly causing TV disturbances. A Viggen jet fighter crashed nearby the same day, though authorities denied a connection.
• Police Sighting: A white light-ball was observed hovering over Borlänge, which was seen by a couple and later by a police car crew. The object was described as brilliantly white and larger than a full moon.
• Another Triangle: In Löbōle, a triangular object with red corner lights and a strong central white light was seen moving towards the observer.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The AFU Newsletter consistently promotes a scientific and critical approach to UFO research, distinguishing itself from occult or belief-based interpretations. The publication emphasizes the importance of collecting and archiving UFO reports, including those from official sources. The articles highlight the need for rigorous investigation and analysis, often contrasting this with more sensational or less substantiated claims. The editorial stance advocates for ufology to be treated as a serious academic discipline, free from superstition and religious undertones, and encourages collaboration with scientists from various fields.

Title: Västerbergslagens UFO-nytt
Issue: 1/1990
Date: January 1990
Publisher: Västerbergslagens UFO-nytt
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of Västerbergslagens UFO-nytt provides a detailed compilation of unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings and related incidents reported in Sweden, primarily during 1988 and extending into early 1989. The magazine presents a variety of cases, investigations, and witness accounts, aiming to document the phenomena observed.

Key Sightings and Incidents

Lights and Triangles

The issue opens with a description of "Small lights in each corner," featuring a diagram of a triangular formation with a central bright light. Sven Sörgren reported an object with lights too far apart to be an airplane, traveling at an altitude of 3-400 meters and disappearing south. The sighting lasted three minutes. The following day, Sörgren observed a similar triangle hovering at 200 meters, which disappeared in a cloud of smoke. These investigations were conducted by Loy Selli and reported in Västerbergslagens UFO-nytt 1/1990.

Mini-Discs

Two cases involving "mini-discs" are presented, occurring about a month apart.

On May 13, near Enköping, two witnesses saw a flashing object resembling a metallic band. As it approached the Stockholm road, it rose and moved with a wobbling motion, revealing a discoid shape. The object then fell towards the ground with a jerking motion but did not appear to touch the dry ground. It continued, wobbling, and rose over trees before disappearing into the blue sky. The sighting lasted about five minutes, and no sound was heard. A local newspaper appeal for other witnesses yielded no results. This case was investigated by Jörgen Granlie and Arnold Idebring.

The second mini-disc case occurred on June 15, near Ansberg, when a married couple spotted a small disc, like a lid, moving slowly over treetops. The wife managed to glimpse the object as it disappeared between trees. The sighting lasted 18-20 seconds. The witnesses were unable to stop due to traffic. A local UFO group was contacted, but nothing was seen upon their arrival. This investigation was conducted by Gudrun Andersson and Ing-Marie Strömberg.

Flying Tubes

Reports from the National Defence Research Institute (FOA) files for 1988 included a case that might have been a high-altitude airplane. On June 27, a man from Jokkmokk reported a silvery, oblong object moving northwest at high altitude with a contrail. The object moved at high speed and emitted a strange humming sound, unlike a jet. The sighting lasted about 20 seconds. Another man heard the sound but did not see the object. Radar and aviation authorities found no explanation. This report was sent to the intelligence section of the Defence Staff.

A similar object, described as a chalk-white tube, was spotted over Soedjebacken two days later. A woman on her balcony at 18:33 saw the object traveling north on a straight course. It was the size of a small plane at low altitude, soundless, and had the appearance of a fluorescent tube. The sighting lasted 20-30 seconds. This was investigated by Ing-Marie Strömberg.

Boats Paced by Objects

Around midnight between July 13 and 14, Tonny Rapp and his sister were on lake Morra when a silvery, flat object moved leisurely for 20 minutes from SE to NW, close to the lake. The object was luminous. As they reached the shore, the disc rose with great speed to a higher altitude, hovered for 3-4 minutes, and then disappeared. This account is from Boris Jungkvist's book "Kontakt med UFO!" (1989).

The Mutilated Elk

On August 3, a dead and mutilated elk was found on the small mountain Hunneberg. The elk was lying in an isolated area with no roads. All four legs were broken at the hip-joints, which were shattered, suggesting the elk had been lifted into the air and dropped. There were no other damages to the body, except for small holes in the skin that could indicate the use of a high-speed weapon, which is forbidden in Sweden. Another theory was that the elk was hit by lightning, but the body was not burned. A Swedish-American from Colorado reported similar cases of cattle with broken legs in the U.S. Parts of the carcass were sent to Uppsala for autopsy, and the veterinary specialist was puzzled. Two months later, vegetation in an area of about three meters around the site was dead, forming a round brown area. Another dead elk with mysterious injuries was found nearby, but it was in a state of putrefaction. A third elk was found with similar injuries and a low bequerell count, possibly related to the Tjernobyl nuclear disaster.

Formation or Giant Wing?

On September 6, Manfred Holsberg observed a half-circle formation of six round, dull lights crossing the heavens. There was no sound, and the lights seemed to be part of a large object. At the same time, Sonja Posth saw a similar formation of lights traveling in an arched formation over Ljungsbro. Mrs. Posth reported that the lights were so blinding that she had dark spots before her eyes. The Defence Staff had no information to identify these sightings. A similar formation seen from several locations on August 21 was possibly a satellite re-entry.

Wave of Sightings in Western Sweden

In the autumn, a wave of sightings was reported in newspapers from the provinces of Dalarna and Värmland. The magazine notes that little is known about these cases due to poor reporting quality and a transition in leadership of the UFO-Sweden report center. The "wave" might be attributed to media reports of ufologists, the "mutilated elk" case, the appearance of bright planets, and Whitley Strieber's promotion of his book "Communion." Despite the "Communion" book selling 50,000 copies, the magazine suggests the wave may also be influenced by public fear.

Karin Sjöberg reported seeing a yellow ball for 5 minutes near Dala-Floda on September 27. The object flew at treetop level, close to her car and at the same speed, and she felt followed. She was blinded and had sore eyes. This was one of many "light-ball" cases reported during the autumn.

Ghost Missile?

Since at least 1939, Swedish citizens have observed unidentified missile-like objects, particularly in 1946, with around 160 clear-cut cases. These sightings typically have a short duration (5 seconds to 1 minute) and occur on bright days near lakes, with the object often traveling over water. A 1988 "borderline case" involved a black, oblong object, pointed at the rear, going over lake Torrōjen on September 28. The witness saw disturbances on TV (two black horizontal bands) and a lamp going on and off, leading him to believe a thunderstorm was coming. He then saw the object heading northeast at high speed and disappear in two seconds behind a mountain.

The Roaring "Platform"

Another category of Swedish UFO files involves roaring or rumbling objects, often seen at dusk or night. These are usually triangular or square "platforms" with multi-colored lights, resembling American "stealth" aircraft. On September 30, witnesses in Kristinehamn reported a bright, red object with three points of lights hovering over a power station. It then rose straight up with a loud rumble, leaving smoke behind, and headed for lake Vänern. There were no military or civilian aircraft reported in the area.

Huge Disc Over Airfield

On October 1, Evert Karlsson, a private pilot, saw a gigantic disc emerge from cloud cover at an altitude of about 1,000 meters after landing at Karlskoga airfield. The disc was 50-100 meters in diameter, grey, flat, and round, with the upper part shaped like a parachute. It made several circles over the area before disappearing into the woods. Two similar saucers were seen near the airfield on November 1, 1971.

A triangle with a light in each corner (two yellow, one red) was seen on October 31 by Sonja Eriksson. The object was larger than the moon and traveled slowly. After half a minute, she went to fetch binoculars, and upon her return, the object was gone.

On November 2, a luminous ball circled the home of Börje Johansson. The small, hissing, and very strong light made three circles before disappearing.

Vibration in Car

On November 6, a blue, luminous object with a network of green, blue, and white lights was seen at low level near Segerstad. On the following night, November 7, Ingemar Nilsson saw an egg-shaped object with white, green, and blue colors, followed by another round object. The car began to vibrate, and Nilsson drove off. The objects followed and stopped, hovering over lake Fryken. The sighting lasted two hours.

Huge "Bomber"

On November 6, Susanne Hansson and Mikael Olofsson reported a huge plane-like structure with strong, noiseless lights. The object disappeared on the horizon after about 30 seconds. They later had another sighting of a mushroom-shaped object surrounded by bright lights, and then a huge (75-100 meters) object hovering over a golf course. Susanne described the object as flat but equipped with many lights in red, yellow, and green. Dozens of other witnesses reported similar observations that evening. A farmer reported an airplane about to crash, and another described the object as huge, like American bombers from the war. A third farmer and his wife saw a slow-moving object 50 meters over treetops, producing bright blue flashes. A family reported TV disturbances.

Effects on Environment

On November 18, Birgit Löfgren saw an object resembling the water tower of Örebro, hovering above treetops. It was grey with light from windows on the upper part. The witness ran home, and the object moved west.

Rose-Marie Stahlberg and her husband Mikael reported observing three luminous balls for three hours after midnight on November 19. They were positioned in a revolving triangle, moving up and down between trees, about 15-20 meters from their house. No traces were found the next day.

Humanoid

On November 24, Rune Asplund saw a humanoid creature in his yard, about six meters from the house. The creature was about 1.5 meters tall, stood straddle-legged, with arms stretched out. It wore a garment like aluminum, with reflections. The creature rocked to and fro for about one minute before disappearing when Asplund opened the door. His dogs barked as if a stranger had arrived. In the winter of 1987, Asplund's neighbor saw a small man (about 1 meter tall) disappear into nothing in the same place. A police car reportedly stopped inexplicably on the same evening as an unidentified object passed by.

Disc or Satellite Launch?

Tore Lundkvist encountered a disc-shaped object in the woods on November 26. The object was over the woods to the east, about 25 meters in diameter and some 15 meters over the treetops. Lundkvist was frightened and lay on the ground for two minutes. The soundless object then disappeared southeast. Lundkvist later embellished his story, claiming paralysis and details about a cupola and windows. When interviewed later, he retracted these statements, attributing his exaggeration to alcohol problems and fear.

Final Cases of the Year

A yellow-white light-ball was seen over Hammerdalssjön on December 9. Three witnesses watched the ball traverse the frozen lake at an altitude of 6-10 meters. It moved very fast and turned orange-red before disappearing behind trees.

On December 27, Linnea Szabo saw a clear, white light approach from the southwest. When it was above her house, the light dimmed, and she and her husband discerned a baseball-shaped object with windows. After about 1.5 minutes, a loud rumbling noise was heard, and the object sped off much faster than a jet. Shortly before, TV reception was disturbed.

Defence Secrets

The magazine discusses the year 1988 as an unusually rich year for UFO reports in Sweden, particularly in Värmland and Dalarna. It notes that the compilation covers only a few dozen of the best cases and cannot guarantee that each is a genuine, unidentified UFO. The article suggests that the "wave" of sightings might be partly due to public fear generated by unsubstantiated claims of "elk mutilations" and "Strieberism.".

Crucially, the article states that UFO investigation on the official military level is not carried out by FOA (the Research Institute of National Defence) as often claimed in the media. Instead, UFO reports are sometimes received by local Air Force wings, with varying degrees of reception. Reports that are deemed significant are transferred up the chain of command to the Defence Staff's intelligence section. The magazine implies that most "hot" cases reported to military sources are kept in secrecy at the Defence Staff, possibly logged into a computer system alongside information on military tests and violations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Västerbergslagens UFO-nytt focuses on documenting a wide array of UFO sightings and encounters reported in Sweden. The recurring themes include various shapes and sizes of aerial objects (discs, triangles, tubes, lights), unusual behaviors (hovering, rapid acceleration, soundlessness), and potential environmental or physical effects. The magazine also highlights the role of investigators and the challenges in obtaining official information, suggesting a degree of secrecy surrounding military-implicated UFO cases. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent reporting and investigation of these phenomena, while acknowledging the difficulties in confirming their nature and the potential influence of public perception and fear.