AFU Newsletter - No 44 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: AFU NEWSLETTER
Issue: 44
Date: September 2002
Publisher: Archives for UFO Research Foundation (AFU), Sweden
ISSN: 0283-6378

This issue of the AFU Newsletter delves into historical UFO cases, with a significant portion dedicated to the 1946 'ghost rocket' wave. It features a detailed translation of an official report concerning a sighting by a Swedish Air Force B-18 bomber crew.

From the 1946 Ghost Rocket Files (1): Cigar Sighted from B-18 Bomber

The lead article presents a translation of a report from Lieutenant I. of the Air Defence Department, Stockholm, dated August 14, 1946. While on a navigational training flight in a B18 A aircraft at an altitude of 100 meters, Lieutenant I. and his observer, Sergeant M., spotted an aircraft-shaped object approximately 60 degrees to their left, on a southeasterly course, slightly over the horizon. The object was estimated to be about 250 meters above terrain, with the bomber at 200 meters, and the distance between them about 2000 meters. Weather conditions were good with 30-40 km visibility.

Lieutenant I. became suspicious due to recent newspaper reports about 'ghost rockets' and the inability to identify the object as a Swedish aircraft. He decided to pursue it. After about 10 seconds, during which he switched to maximum cruising speed, the object disappeared. Initially suspecting it had gone below the horizon, he reduced his own altitude. The object then reappeared about 30 degrees to his right. Lieutenant I. turned to a parallel course and increased speed. The shortest distance between them was about 1000 meters. He estimated the object's speed to be at least 600-700 km/h, significantly faster than their own speed of 380 km/h. After about 2 minutes, the object vanished in a southeasterly direction into a storm with heavy rain and low clouds.

Object Description and Analysis

Lieutenant I. summarized his observations: the object maintained a constant cruising altitude of 250 meters, generally following the topography. Its speed was considerably higher than that of an aeroplane. The object's appearance was described as resembling the fuselage of a B18, with no visible wings, rudder, or protruding parts. It was dark in color, approximately 15 meters long with a 1-meter cross-section, and shaped like a cigar. No lights were visible, though he recalled seeing lights from a missile passing over Västerås on August 11th. He concluded that propeller-driven Swedish fighters could not keep pace with such a missile. The observation lasted from 10:02 to 10:04 a.m. He ruled out a mix-up with a fighter Vampire, as none were in the area.

Staff Sergeant M. had nothing further to add to the report.

Report from a Visit to F16 on August 22, 1946

A subsequent report details a visit to F16 (Uppsala wing) to compare Lieutenant I.'s report with navigational training flights conducted by F16 pilots on August 14th. The purpose was to determine if the observed object could have been a J 26 fighter (Swedish designation for the P-51 Mustang).

Seven pilots from F16 attended the meeting. On August 14th, nine F16 aircraft conducted training flights on a route that included point 156 W of Norberg and Floda church, at altitudes between 100-300 meters and a speed of 420-425 km/h. The estimated flying time was 15 minutes.

One F16 pilot, who took off at 09:45 a.m., was potentially in the observation area around 10:02-10:04 a.m. This pilot insisted he did not fly west of a line between point 156 and Floda church, choosing to fly east for better checkpoints. Lieutenant I.'s observation was made about 7 km east-northeast of Malingsbo church, with the object having an estimated course of 138 degrees.

Comparison with J 26 Fighter

The summary of the comparison concluded that the object *could* have been a J 26 regarding time of observation, cruising altitude, changes in altitude, and estimated length. However, it *could not* have been a J 26 considering:

• The J 26's flight path was about 15 km east of the observation point.
• The object's course.
• The object's cruising speed (estimated 600-700 km/h vs. J 26's 420-425 km/h).
• The general appearance of the object.
• The fact that no J 26 pilot saw a B 18.

The report concluded that it was not probable that the object was a J 26 or any other Swedish aeroplane.

Biographical Notes on Lieutenant I.

Lieutenant I. was the head of a B 18 division at the F1 wing at the time of the sighting. He later became involved in flying new Vampire jets and headed the Air Force's experimental station, working on flight tests of new aircraft and missiles. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1961 and retired in 1979.

Eleven Minutes Later in Södertälje

This section quotes a letter to the Defence Staff from August 14, 1946, reporting an object observed around 10:15 a.m. on the western outskirts of Södertälje. The object was described as small, spool-shaped with small wings and a tail, passing in a northeasterly direction at an altitude of about 200 meters. It emitted a sound described as similar to an aeroplane but more hissing. The witness, Signe Lundström, sent a sketch. Additional notes from the Staff indicate the object's trajectory was horizontal, it had no propeller, smoke, or fire, and was sighted by two ladies before disappearing behind a house. The distance from Malingsbo to Södertälje is about 150 km, meaning the object would have had to travel at approximately 900 km/h to reach Södertälje in 10 minutes, suggesting a connection to the earlier sighting.

Interviews with I. in 1986

Clas Svahn conducted telephone interviews with Lieutenant Colonel I. (the same pilot from the 1946 sighting) in 1986. Lieutenant I. confirmed his earlier report and stated the object lacked the usual silhouette of an aeroplane, such as a tail fin. He described it as torpedo-shaped, pointed at both ends, like a 'big and fat cigar,' dark greyish, with no contours or color nuances. He reiterated that it was not a Mustang. The sighting duration was about 2-3 minutes. Malingsbo's coordinates are given as Latitude 59° 55' 60N, Longitude 15° 25' 60E.

AFU Activities and Resources

The newsletter also provides updates on AFU's activities:

• AFU Website: The website www.afu.info has been updated and features a photo tour of the archives.
• 164 Swedish Reports in 2001: UFO-Sweden received 164 reports in 2001, with 36 cases still under investigation and 24 receiving definite explanations. 13 were identified as 'UFO balloons'.
• 25 Years of F.I. Training: UFO-Sweden conducted its 25th year of training for Field Investigators (F.I.s), covering witness psychology, astronomy, and hoax identification.
• AFU Databases on CD: AFU offers a CD with nine Microsoft Access 97 databases, including the ScanCat reports database and a library catalog. It is available for 150 SEK in Sweden or via exchange for non-Swedish customers.
• Review: A UFO magazine on CD: A review of 'Extraterrestrial Physics Review,' a Japanese-international magazine available on CD, is included.
• The AFU Video Tape Archives: The archive has established a new video library, enhanced with over 80 videos from the collection of the late ufologist Bernd Schumann. The collection includes German commercial videos and documentaries. Plans for a searchable database are underway. The archive also holds about 1,500-2,000 audiotapes.
• Credits: Materials Received: The newsletter lists numerous donations of books, videos, and research materials from individuals and organizations, including Loren Gross, Dan Eklund, Ole Jonny Braenne (UFO-Norway), and Tony Walter.
• New info on "Gideon's saucer": A brief mention of correspondence between Gunnar Schelin and Gideon Johansson in the mid-1970s regarding a metallic object kept in a government basement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The AFU Newsletter consistently promotes serious, scientific research into UFO phenomena. It emphasizes the importance of archival work, documentation, and critical analysis of historical and contemporary cases. The publication serves as a platform for disseminating research findings, sharing archival updates, and fostering discussion within the UFO community. The focus on the 1946 ghost rockets highlights the newsletter's commitment to investigating historical mysteries with a rigorous approach, distinguishing between potential misidentifications and genuinely unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging contributions and exchanges of materials to build a comprehensive Swedish-International UFO library and research archive.