CENAP Report - No 025

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP - REPORT
Issue: 25
Volume: 3Y/H3/78
Date: March 1978
Publisher: CENAP
Country: Germany
Language: German

Editorial Stance and Approach

The editorial in CENAP Report Nr. 25, titled "Zur 25. Ausgabe" (On the 25th Issue), written by Werner Walter and Hans-Jürgen Köhler, outlines the organization's philosophy and approach to UFO research. Founded on March 1, 1976, in Mannheim, CENAP's core principle is the thorough and objective investigation of UFO phenomena. The founders state that they have often been criticized as "UFO opponents" or "UFO deniers" for identifying cases as "flops" or misidentifications. They address accusations of seeking self-promotion, asserting that their critical approach is necessary to counter sensationalism and maintain credibility.

CENAP distinguishes itself from what it perceives as the "unverfrorenheit" (brazenness) of some UFO organizations that present every case as genuine. They acknowledge that many incidents are indeed explainable as deceptions, misinterpretations, or hoaxes, and they believe these should be reported as such. The report criticizes German UFO publications for allegedly avoiding such critical analysis, with the exception of the "sensational case" of SPEYER, which was admitted as a hoax by German UFO organizations but not fully detailed.

The article criticizes the German UFO/IFO-Studien-Gemeinschaft e.V. in Wiesbaden, suggesting its structure is "rotten" and that its members are more interested in collecting newspaper clippings than conducting serious research. It also laments the influence of "fanatical ufologists" in the mass media, citing examples of TV programs featuring individuals promoting uncritical UFO narratives.

CENAP's objective is to provide "UFO-News," regardless of whether they are PRO or CONTRA. They believe a serious UFO researcher must accept certain facts about fraud. The organization aims to address a specific audience interested in a more critical and analytical approach, rather than simply sensationalizing reports. They explicitly state they do not want to push away serious UFO researchers from organizations like MUFON or GEP, as their goals are aligned. However, they vow to "sharply attack" groups that appear to be engaged in pseudoscientific or occult practices, or those that give the impression of being "spinners," to maintain a credible image with the media and the public.

International Cooperation: ACOS

Another section details the collaboration with ACOS (Australian Co-Ordination Section), established in November 1974, following the founding of the Center for UFO Studies in America by Professor J. Allen Hynek. ACOS serves as an Australian hub for UFO research, collecting reports from all Australian UFO groups and forwarding them to the US Center. This facilitates access to UFO reports for researchers and enables the compilation of annual statistics. The ACOS Bulletin is described as an official publication that reports on new developments in the UFO field and UFO sightings from across Australia.

ACOS's definition of a UFO is provided: "A UFO is the perception of an object in the air or on the ground, whose reporting, appearance, flight, and general dynamics cannot be explained logically or conventionally, and which remains mysterious even after closer examination, which is technically possible and evades ordinary identification, a sheer impossibility."

Australia has hosted three conferences for ACOS member groups (Terrigal in 1975, Mount Gambier in 1976, and Surfer's Paradise in 1977). The report notes that four years prior, Australia had many UFO groups that operated in isolation. Now, with ACOS, information flows to all groups, making Australia a leader in international cooperation in UFO research. ACOS emphasizes that it does not lead the groups but facilitates information exchange. The collaboration with CENAP is seen as crucial for clarifying the UFO phenomenon, with the goal of ending disputes between groups.

Case Study: The Carlos Alberto Dias Incident

The article "Keine UFO's" (No UFOs) addresses the case of Carlos Alberto Dias and the BA-TRIDENT, which was reported in UFO-Nachrichten and the DUIST publication "Begegnungen mit Außerirdischen." The case, involving an alleged abduction on January 5, 1975, in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, was presented as a genuine encounter. However, CENAP cites a report from APRO's Bulletin (Vol. 26, No. 2, August 1977) that identified Carlos Alberto Dias as a fraud.

Roberto Enrique Banchs and Richard W. Heiden investigated the case for CEFA in Buenos Aires. Their findings indicated that the incident was a hoax. The report details Dias's account of being paralyzed by a bright light, taken by beings, and later waking up in a hospital. However, the investigation revealed several inconsistencies:

1. Location: The alleged abduction site was a busy street, yet Dias claimed to be alone. House-to-house inquiries found no witnesses.
2. Bus Schedule: Dias claimed to arrive in Ingeniero White at 3:30 AM, but the bus he supposedly took did not depart Bahia Blanca until 3:30 AM and arrived 25 minutes later.
3. Train Travel: The train Dias might have taken to Buenos Aires passed Bahia Blanca at 6:15 AM, contradicting his timeline.
4. Hospital Arrival: The hospital's records showed Dias arriving at 5:30 PM, not 4:15 PM as he claimed.
5. Psychological Profile: Dias exhibited characteristics such as a tendency to exaggerate, a quick grasp of information (though not necessarily intelligence), and poor personal references.

Based on these discrepancies, CENAP concludes that the episode was a fabrication by Dias alone. The article criticizes how easily "contact storytellers" can emerge, especially from individuals seeking financial gain through sensational UFO reports. It questions the critical examination of such cases, particularly by groups like DUIST and SBEDV, which are seen as easily swayed by narratives of aliens and spaceships.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of CENAP Report strongly emphasizes a critical and skeptical approach to UFO phenomena. The recurring themes are the importance of objective research, the debunking of fraudulent or misidentified cases, and the need to distinguish serious UFOlogy from sensationalism and occultism. CENAP positions itself as a proponent of rigorous investigation, aiming to provide accurate information rather than perpetuating myths. The magazine criticizes other UFO organizations for their uncritical acceptance of reports and their perceived self-serving motives. The collaboration with ACOS highlights a desire for international cooperation based on shared principles of critical inquiry. The overall stance is one of intellectual honesty and a commitment to uncovering the truth, even if it means challenging popular beliefs or established narratives within the UFO community.

This issue of 'CR' (likely a UFO research publication) from 3/1978 focuses on debunking UFO sightings, analyzing photographic evidence, and reporting on a significant UFO exhibition. The content is primarily in German, with some Danish text related to the exhibition.

The Trident UFO Sighting Over Portugal

The article 'Das visuelle UFO der Trident identifiziert?' by Philip Taylor investigates the well-known Trident UFO sightings over Lisbon, Portugal. It summarizes witness testimonies from the aircrew and presents the findings of Dr. David Ramsden, a physicist from Southampton University. Ramsden proposed that the visual sightings could be attributed to a research balloon. The original visual sighting was reported by a BA-Trident crew at 20,000 feet off the coast of Portugal on July 30, 1976, at 20:00 GMT. The previous day, a large high-altitude balloon, part of an international scientific project coordinated by the British Science Research Council, was launched near Trapani, Sicily. This balloon was part of a series of flights intended to reach the USA, flying directly west and arriving four days later. Italian and Spanish radars tracked the balloon's positions on July 30, 1976. The article details the balloon's position at 13:20 GMT as 37° 21'N, 07° 22'E, and its position at 20:00 GMT as 32°N. Assuming a height of 40 km, the observation point of the aircraft was at 38° 30'N, 8° 30'W, corresponding to an azimuth of 280° and an altitude of 10° above the horizon. The reported UFO was observed at an azimuth of 285° and 20° above the horizon. The difference is considered within acceptable limits due to estimations in aircraft and balloon positions and the open space. The article explores why the balloon exhibited an unusual shape at the time. At the aircraft's position, the sun had set at ground level, but at the balloon's altitude of 40 km, sunset occurred at 20:27 GMT. The sun's reflection on the balloon's surface created a 'beautiful sky' and a strong contrast with the darkness. The relevant azimuth of sunset (257°) is noted as being near the area where the balloon was observed. This suggests that light reflecting off the balloon's surface at a specific angle could explain the 'sausage-shaped' objects, possibly from the balloon shedding ballast to correct its altitude. A radar echo recorded two hours later during the balloon's return flight presented a mystery. The balloon flew 32 km above the aircraft, was at least 11 km away, and at an altitude of only 5°. Given the balloon's large size (over 100 meters in diameter), a strong radar echo would be expected. The article suggests a possible encounter with another object in the area at that time and calls for further investigation with the crew.

Apollo 11 Moon Landing Photos Debunked

The article 'Keine UFOs bei Mondumkreisung von Apollo-11!' (No UFOs during Apollo 11 Moon Orbit!) addresses concerns about UFOs appearing in photos from the Apollo 11 mission. It states that a definitive solution has been found. In continuation of a previous report (CR-2, Issue 2/1976), the article explains that a February 1978 television broadcast by SWF-III on 'Terrestrial Spaceflight' included film segments from the Apollo program. One segment from the Apollo 11 mission, showing the moon in the lower left of the frame, displayed a sudden solar reflection that created a 'snowman effect' on the right side of the image. The article argues that the Apollo 11 photos, which were published and interpreted as UFOs, were merely cropped sections of the original film. These cropped versions omitted the part of the image showing the strong solar reflection, creating the illusion of UFOs. The article criticizes groups like the Japanese CBA-International for promoting these interpretations without proper verification and questions why the original film was not requested. It also notes that a prominent German research group published these findings with a bold headline, without expressing any doubts.

SUFOI UFO Exhibition in Copenhagen

The article '20 Jahre mit UFO's' details an exhibition organized by SUFOI (likely a Scandinavian UFO organization) in Copenhagen, Denmark, celebrating its 20th anniversary. The exhibition, held from November 24 to December 4 at the Copenhagen City Hall, aimed to showcase active and serious research in the Scandinavian UFO field. CENAP (likely another UFO research group) was invited to participate by providing an information panel about its working methods and a two-page report on its guidelines and objectives. The exhibition featured 105 information panels divided into 23 sections, covering topics such as the organization of SUFOI, report handling, UFO reports from Denmark and abroad, humanoids, other UFO organizations, ancient UFOs, media reactions, official commissions, films, astronaut observations, statistics, technology, radar sightings, hoaxes, errors, extreme aspects, theories, statements from known individuals, contactees, Danish authorities, and jokes. A special feature was the screening of the 1956 film 'U.F.O.' by United Artists, which included reconstructions of famous US UFO sightings from the 1950s, such as the Mantell case and the Washington sightings. The film was shown in black and white for the first two-thirds and in color for the last part, though its condition was described as flickering due to age. The exhibition was attended by approximately 800-900 people during its run, with an estimated total of 4,000-4,500 visitors, including city hall staff. CENAP received a DIA film back that documented the exhibition and supplemented its reporting. The article notes that the photos from the exhibition were somewhat dark due to poor lighting in the city hall and that some captions were lost during photocopying. Interested individuals can obtain prints from CENAP. The article concludes with thanks to SUFOI for their cooperation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of 'CR' exhibits a strong tendency towards debunking sensational UFO claims, particularly those related to photographic evidence (Apollo 11) and eyewitness accounts (Trident sighting). The editorial stance appears to favor scientific explanations and rigorous investigation, as evidenced by the detailed analysis of the Trident case and the critical examination of the Apollo 11 photos. The coverage of the SUFOI exhibition highlights the ongoing efforts in UFO research and documentation, while also implicitly suggesting a need for critical evaluation of the presented material. The magazine seems to prioritize factual reporting and scientific reasoning over speculative theories.