AFU Newsletter - No 42 - 2001

Magazine Overview

Title: AFU Newsletter
Issue: 42
Date: December 2001
Publisher: Archives for UFO Research Foundation (AFU), Norrköping, Sweden
ISSN: 0283-6378

This issue of the AFU Newsletter focuses on the significant growth of the Archives for UFO Research (AFU) and its future plans, alongside reviews of contemporary UFO literature and reports.

Influx of Materials and Archive Expansion

The editorial expresses gratitude for past support and wishes readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The AFU is experiencing a substantial influx of materials, necessitating plans for additional archival space. They are considering renting a new basement locality of approximately 600 square feet, about 30 meters from the main archives. The primary obstacle is financial, requiring an increase of 500 to 1,000 Swedish kronor (approximately 50-100 US dollars) per month for rent. The possibility of relinquishing their oldest, smaller archive is mentioned as a less ideal solution.

The archives have recently added 68 meters of shelves in the summer and another four book shelves (approximately 20 meters) in early December. This expansion was largely driven by the acquisition of the unique Bruno R. Ericsson collection. This collection is particularly valuable for its coverage of contactee literature from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, an era previously less represented in the archives. The Ericsson collection added over 100 new titles and hundreds of duplicate copies. The magazine collection within this acquisition had a high 'hit rate' of new material, with 40-50% of serials being new to the archives. Ericsson had spent considerable funds acquiring commercial American and English UFO magazines and journal subscriptions.

Further additions include fifteen boxes of Norwegian collections from Ole Jonny Braenne, chairman of UFO-Norway. The AFU archives are becoming a significant Scandinavian repository, incorporating earlier collections from Norway and Denmark, and regular gifts from Finland.

Swedish Writer Supports AFU

Crime novelist Liza Marklund, a best-selling Swedish author, was interviewed by Expressen and stated that she supports the Archives for UFO Research, deeming their work "immensely important." She expressed a belief in UFOs as a matter of fact, noting that 4-5% of sightings remain unexplained, and finds the possibility of unknown natural phenomena fascinating, though she does not believe in alien visitations.

Marklund has supported AFU's efforts to acquire collections, including the purchase of Project Blue Book microfilms.

Reviews and New Acquisitions

Review: The Anomalist issue no. 8

This special issue features standalone chapters by various ufologists. Jerome Clark writes about the prehistory of abductions, suggesting it might be a modern variant of folklore. Colin Bennett discusses George Adamski's 1959 lecture tour and the Father Gill case. Patrick Moore interviewed Adamski in England. Patrick Huyghe reviews the Socorro case, interviewing Lonnie Zamora and presenting Larry Robinson's potential explanation, which Huyghe suggests is a logical, though perhaps unwelcome, resolution for some ufologists.

Karl T. Pflock revisits the Aztec case, citing new documents from an anonymous source related to Silas Newton. The review concludes that 'The Anomalist' offers a broad and readable collection.

New MJ-12 documents

The AFU has added a file folder of 'New MJ-12 documents' printed from the internet, accompanied by skeptical commentaries from net sources. The article questions the origin and production of these documents, suggesting they originate from Tim Cooper and questioning the elaborate efforts to create them.

Project Open Book

This section details the 'Project Open Book' series published by Omni Magazine (April 1994 - April 1995), a parody of Project Blue Book. Clas Svahn has compiled this series into a reference binder available at the archives. Omni magazine has ceased publication, but some material is still available online.

CIA documents file

A file folder of unclassified UFO documents, reprinted from the CIA's FOIA Internet site, is now available. Much of this material originates from communist countries and covers topics related to the Robertson and Condon investigations.

Official Ghost Rocket documents in US archives

This new AFU archive is the result of years of searches by Jan Aldrich, covering 'ghost rockets' from 1946 to 1955. The material has been organized chronologically into two volumes. Documents are primarily from Air Force and Navy intelligence, including a report on a 1949 East German ghost rocket crash.

Recent New Exchanges and Publications

Strange Times

This UK zine is noted for its modern layout and eclectic content. An interview with Judy Jafaar, vice chairman of BUFORA, is highlighted. Jafaar expresses skepticism towards witness support groups and hypnosis for abduction cases, and is training to be a professional hypnosis therapist.

TUFOIC Newsletter

This Australian newsletter is welcomed back, noted for its down-to-earth reporting of sightings and analysis since 1965.

OVNI

This French journal specializes in Flying Triangle reports and includes a report on a 1953/54 radar sighting. It also mentions a press release about 20,000 UK citizens potentially being abductees.

Lumiéres dans la Nuit

This French journal, in its 43rd year, is praised for publishing down-to-earth case materials, in contrast to other publications that have moved towards sensation.

International UFO Literature

The article emphasizes the vast and underestimated wealth of UFO-related literature worldwide. It notes the lack of centralized efforts to preserve this material and the potential loss of unique collections. The combined national media productions on UFOs are estimated to be between 500 and 1,000 titles annually. Sweden alone has a handful of such book titles per year.

The AFU actively encourages authors and publishers to send complimentary or review copies, aiming to be the most well-stocked UFO repository. New titles are catalogued by author/publisher, classified by theme, and saved for posterity.

• Examples of unique national UFO-related books acquired include:
• *Seqüestros alienigenas* from Brazil, a compilation of Brazilian UFO cases, many studied under hypnosis.
• *Tosiasioita UFO-ilmiöstä* from Finland, a comprehensive chronology of international ufology from 1235 to 1999, focusing heavily on US investigations.

Helgoland crash: a dissection of a hoax

A source study from the US examines the rumor of a UFO crash on the German island of Helgoland, tracing its origin to the US magazine 'Sir!' in September 1954. The author, E. W. Grenfell, is noted as an unknown figure.

Meet the Extraterrestrial

A booklet by Isabel L. Davis, reprinted from 'Fantastic Universe', is discussed. The article questions the market for books that are easily dismissed as nonsense, suggesting that many believers judge them based on the lecturer's presentation rather than critical examination.

UFO-connected cults

Pamphlets related to cults, including an article on 'Religious movements and the Internet' concerning Heaven's Gate, and material on the Solar Temple cult, have been added. A book by Claude Vorilhon, 'Yes to human cloning', is also noted.

Recent Visitors to the Archives

Håkan Fenander, an ufologist and aviation historian, visited the archives and shared information on a Swedish contactee case, the Avrocar project, and Fugo balloons.

The AFU Newsletter

Published quarterly by AFU, edited by Anders Liljegren. The AFU was established in 1973, and the newsletter began in 1975. Reproduction is encouraged with proper citation. The AFU is a non-profit foundation dedicated to building a Swedish-International UFO library and archive, supporting research, and fostering critical discussion.

Membership in Sweden requires an annual donation of 150 SEK or equivalent materials. International exchanges are welcomed. Sponsorship is also encouraged with a minimum annual donation of 600 SEK, plus donations of materials.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The AFU Newsletter consistently emphasizes the importance of archival preservation and rigorous research in the field of ufology. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious, critical inquiry, as evidenced by the skepticism towards certain aspects of UFO research (e.g., hypnosis, unverified documents) and the focus on cataloging and making accessible a wide range of UFO-related materials. There is a clear dedication to building a comprehensive repository of international UFO literature and case files. The newsletter also highlights the contributions of individuals and organizations to the field, promoting a sense of community among researchers and supporters. The recurring theme is the ongoing effort to collect, organize, and critically examine UFO phenomena and related literature from a global perspective.