CENAP Infoline - no 059

Magazine Overview

Title: cenap-infoline
Issue: 19
Date: June 9, 1997

This issue of cenap-infoline, published in German, focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena in German-speaking Belgium, alongside broader discussions within the UFOlogy community.

UFOs in German-Speaking Belgium

The magazine reports on UFO sightings in the Ostbelgien region, drawing from articles in the Eupe-ner Zeitung 'Grenz-Echo'.

False Alarm: Aircraft Search in Bastogne

An extensive search operation was conducted in the Bastogne area for a supposed aircraft that had emitted distress signals and disappeared from radar. The air force was involved in this search. However, it was later revealed that the incident was a false alarm caused by a German helicopter that had accidentally transmitted a distress signal. This occurred on December 23, 1996.

Shooting Exercises and 'UFOs' over Eupen

On the evening of Monday, March 11, 1996, unidentified flying objects were reportedly seen over the Eupen region, with bright flashes observed towards the Venn. Initially, these were speculated to be either shooting exercises in Elsenborn or ball lightning. An inquiry at the Elsenborn military camp clarified the situation: the first artillery battalion, the 80th artillery battery, and a paratrooper battery were conducting night-time shooting exercises in preparation for a NATO maneuver starting on March 18. These exercises involved firing illumination rockets from mortars, the bright light of which facilitated parachute jumps. Additionally, small reconnaissance aircraft, launched from a ramp mounted on a truck, were shot into the night sky. These aircraft were radar-controlled and provided aerial reconnaissance. The clear nights allowed these metallic reconnaissance planes to be visible, especially when reflecting moonlight. The article notes that these activities could lead the public to believe they were seeing UFOs, but assures that the projectiles did not leave the camp grounds.

Wider NATO Maneuvers and Sightings in Bergheim

The 'UFO fever' was not confined to the Eupen area. In Bergheim, in the German Eifel region, concerned citizens reported observations of cone-shaped luminous objects to the police, who could not provide an explanation. The NATO maneuver, which began on Monday, was not limited to Elsenborn but extended across the Eifel and Ardennes regions, involving participants from Belgium, America, Luxembourg, Germany, and Spain. Up to 700 soldiers were expected in Elsenborn alone. However, no further shooting exercises were planned there within this framework.

CENAP's Role and UFO Research

Expert at an independent research institution speaks on Tuesday at the VHS lecture:

"UFOs, Aliens and uncanny encounters"

Hans-Jürgen Köhler, a representative of the independent research institution CENAP, which has been investigating UFO phenomena scientifically and with international contacts for over 20 years, was invited to speak at the VHS-Haus Am Geist in Kamen on Tuesday, May 13, at 8 PM. The VHS (Volkshochschule) has engaged Köhler as an expert to discuss UFOs, aliens, and uncanny encounters.

The lecture aimed to demystify phenomena and address the question of whether they can be explained in simple ways. The VHS noted that if worldwide reports about UFOs are to be believed, there must be more activity on Earth related to intergalactic visitors than during rush hour at Tokyo's main train station.

Köhler's presentation covered the topic "UFOs, Aliens and uncanny encounters." He informed the audience that CENAP has been actively investigating UFO phenomena for over two decades. The magazine highlights that if one believes the worldwide reports about UFOs, then Earth must be a busy hub for intergalactic visitors. However, the article questions the probability of this and whether unknown flying objects might have mundane explanations.

The "Mini-Hot-Air Balloons" and the "Area 51" Myth

Köhler explained that CENAP had spent years investigating mini-hot-air balloons, which can ascend hundreds of meters. These were initially mistaken for UFOs. He stated that CENAP aims to be a point of contact for anyone who cannot explain their observations. People of all ages and professions have reportedly been fooled by such 'appearances'.

Former US President Jimmy Carter, for instance, reported being followed by a 'UFO' during a flight, which was later identified as the planet Venus. In another case, a flight controller pursued an unusual object in a Lear-jet, but CENAP discovered it was a weather balloon. These balloons, often equipped with reflectors for radar detection, orbit the Earth in the stratosphere and are used by meteorologists and intelligence agencies.

Köhler addressed the widely known 'UFO story' from the late 1940s in Roswell, New Mexico, where a spaceship was allegedly found, and surviving aliens were supposedly kept under military control in 'Area 51'. This area was featured in the successful film 'Independence Day'. Köhler dismisses this as 'nonsense,' suggesting that a spy balloon was detonated and landed in the restricted military zone, and that the area is now used for testing new US aircraft.

CENAP's Conclusion: No Unexplained UFOs

CENAP shows understanding for people who are confused by strange observations. They verify information by contacting astronomers, air traffic control, and the military. However, in all their years of UFO research, Köhler stated that there has been no single, verifiable, unexplained UFO sighting.

He also pointed out that 'pranksters' or 'hustlers' sometimes create their own UFO incidents. In the USA, a squadron of pilots used small, black-painted aircraft in formation with landing lights to create a sensation, alarming citizens and police. Köhler also noted that 'UFOlogists' sometimes deliberately spread misinformation through 'forged' or long-discredited photos.

Orange Fire Circle at Night Sky

CENAP has even faced accusations of business defamation. However, UFO sightings that are clearly identifiable do not cause Köhler any concern. The aforementioned mini-balloons, which leave an orange fire circle in the night sky, no longer frighten him. He readily provided the contact information for CENAP at the VHS event. If there are any UFO reports from Kamen in the future, CENAP is prepared to provide explanations.

50 Years of UFOs: The Celebrations

Since 1947, when the first UFOs (then called 'flying discs' or 'flying saucers') were observed, the phenomenon has captivated people. 1997 marks the 50th anniversary, with numerous congresses, seminars, and celebrations worldwide.

Fortean UnConvention in England

In April 1997, the Fortean UnConvention in England featured prominent speakers such as Budd Hopkins, Phil Klass, James Moseley, Patrick Huyghe, and others. During a panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of UFOlogy, Moseley, Klass, Huyghe, Jenny Randles, and Dennis Stacy participated. Budd Hopkins, who had initially agreed to attend, withdrew because Phil Klass was also present, stating, "I will never appear with Klass again, because he does not take abductions seriously." This statement was met with boos from the audience, not because of Klass, but because of Hopkins.

Rebecca K., a reporter from the CompuServe UFO Forum, expressed disappointment, as did many other attendees who had looked forward to the confrontation between Hopkins and Moseley. She felt it was wrong for Hopkins not to participate and that his refusal to face his critics was a loss of face, for which there was no excuse.

Hopkins's Behavior and Klass's Approach

Hopkins, in his independent lecture, frequently attacked the debunkers. Klass, in his presentation, did not mention Hopkins or the Linda N. case, thus sparing Hopkins and maintaining peace. Hopkins, however, rejected this gesture and cowardly withdrew. The article notes that similar situations have occurred in Germany with CENAP, where UFO promoters have allegedly prevented their TV appearances.

Roswell in Crisis

According to the Albuquerque Journal, the 'Heaven's Gate' incident in San Diego has negatively impacted the sponsorship of UFO events. The shock among advertisers seems deep, as no one wants to be associated with the names UFOs and Aliens. Consequently, Deon Crosby of the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell had to scale back their planned festival program for the 50th-anniversary celebration. A two-hour Rock-Night-TV special from Roswell during the UFO celebration was withdrawn due to a lack of advertising partners, making the show uninteresting for the broadcaster. The Rock-Alien concert was organized by Track Marketing in New York and was intended to be broadcast for two hours over the Fox network. As a result, all events will be more modest.

Roswell UFO Encounter '97

Despite the setbacks, tens of thousands are still expected for the week-long "Roswell UFO Encounter '97" event from July 1-6, 1997, in Roswell. Accommodation in and around Roswell has been fully booked since February. It is described as a true UFO carnival, featuring speeches by figures like Erich von Däniken and Linda Moulton Howe. A forum of UFO abduction experts, including Hopkins, Mack, and Strieber, is scheduled to take place in an old hangar at the former Roswell Army Air Field on the same day as 'Independence Day' (ID4). The Roswell Planetarium will also screen the film "The Great UFO-Mystery" around the clock. Notably, the Roswell Planetarium is named after the American rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard, who lived near Roswell and experimented with rockets, some of which crashed and whose wreckage, described as 'space vehicles,' are exhibited there.

Science & Technology

New Photos: Deserts and Tropics on Jupiter

The atmosphere of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is similar to Earth's. Jupiter has dry zones but also wet wetlands. This finding comes from the analysis of photos taken by the Galileo space probe. A NASA researcher in Pasadena, California, stated that the dry zones are comparable to the Death Valley or the Sahara, and that while weather phenomena like rain exist, life is highly unlikely.

Interior Minister: Scientology is Being Monitored

The Scientology sect will be monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz). This decision was made by the Interior Ministers of the federal government and the states, as the suspicion of the organization's unconstitutional objectives has been substantiated. Federal Interior Minister Manfred Kanther (CDU) stated that there are indications that the association seeks to "gain access to the state and society in an absolutist manner."

Euro-Rocket Ariane Flies to Mars

The European Space Agency (ESA) may overtake NASA on the path to Mars. By the year 2003, an Ariane launch vehicle is expected to deploy probes on the Red Planet that will bore one meter deep into the Martian soil to transmit detailed analyses to Earth. The US probe Pathfinder is scheduled to land on Mars in about a month, but will not return soil samples to Earth until 2006.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of cenap-infoline revolve around UFO sightings, their potential misidentification, and the broader context of UFOlogy. The magazine consistently adopts a skeptical yet investigative stance, aiming to provide rational explanations for phenomena that capture public imagination. It highlights the work of CENAP in debunking UFO claims through scientific investigation and international contacts, emphasizing that most sightings have mundane causes, such as military exercises or atmospheric events. The issue also touches upon the cultural impact of UFOs, exemplified by the 50th anniversary of the Roswell incident and the film 'Independence Day,' while simultaneously critiquing the sensationalism and misinformation sometimes prevalent in the UFO community. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting critical thinking and evidence-based analysis in the face of unexplained phenomena.