CENAP Report - No 044

Magazine Overview

This issue of CENAP REPORT, titled 'Der TUIC-Stein oder... JAGD NACH EINEM PHANTOM', dated October 1979 (Nr. 44), delves into two significant UFO-related cases: the 'TUIC-Stein' fossil and the Captain Mantell incident. The publication is from CENAP, a German organization focused on researching extraordinary phenomena.

The TUIC-Stein Investigation

The main article, written by Rudolf Henke, details his attempt to investigate a claim about a fossilized 'humanoid being' called the 'TUIC-Stein'. This claim originated from a 1976 article in the magazine ESOTERA by H. Hoffmann, which described a fossil found in Virginia, USA, allegedly dating back 400 million years and possibly being the remains of an extraterrestrial crew. The fossil was described as 'humanoid' and less than a meter in size.

Henke's investigation began with contacting ESOTERA, where he was initially misdirected to H.M. Heuer, who denied writing the article. He then obtained the contact information for the original author, H. Hoffmann. Hoffmann, in turn, provided the address of his 'reliable informant,' Anny Baguhn. Hoffmann admitted that while he could have pursued the matter further, such efforts often prove disproportionate to the results, and he prefers to rely on existing information.

Anny Baguhn, aged 78, sent Henke a transcript of a letter allegedly written to a Mr. J. Glass. This letter claimed the TUIC-Stein was found in the garden of a Mr. and Mrs. Melvin and Mary Gray in Virginia and was examined by a 'geologist' from West Virginia. The letter was supposedly intended for publication at the UN in 1961. Baguhn also sent a photograph, which was also featured in the ESOTERA article, but admitted she was not actively researching and her main work was 'worldwide UFOlogy'. She claimed to have received the photo from a 'UFO-Photo-Exchange-Friend' from America who had no further information.

Henke's attempts to verify the UN publication led him to the VENTLA-VERLAG. After repeated requests, he received a UN issue that did not contain the article. Frau Baguhn later corrected her information, providing the correct source: a 1970 issue of DUIST (UN 165, May 1970, p. 3) titled 'Versteinerter Diskus' (Petrified Disc). However, this article also did not mention the TUIC-Stein, but rather a 'petrified disc'. Henke also contacted INTERKOSMOS and Mysteria, and corresponded further with DUIST, but found no verifiable information.

Henke concludes that his research yielded no verifiable information but provided several lessons. He notes that some individuals seem to enjoy spreading rumors with ambiguous images, leading UFO believers to perpetuate misinformation. He criticizes the editors of ESOTERA and DUIST for presenting unverified claims as facts, suggesting a lack of responsibility towards their readers, especially given the apparent gullibility of their audience.

He points out that both the ESOTERA and UN articles were misleading regarding the timeliness of the information, with the photo dating back to at least 1955, making the claims of recent findings questionable. Henke questions the motives behind publishing such articles, suggesting it might be to cater to a specific audience or due to a lack of critical assessment.

The Captain Mantell Case

The second major section of the report addresses the Captain Mantell incident, aiming to 'put to rest' the most discussed case in the UFO scene. The article critiques numerous publications that have sensationalized the event, including those in 'UFU NACHRICHTEN', 'DAS NEUE ZEITALTER', and 'HUTERS NEUE WELTSCHAU'. It notes that investigations into the alleged 'UFO-Crash' have been lacking or deliberately suppressed.

The report presents various accounts of the incident. One version describes a 'flying object' resembling an 'ice-cream stick' with a glowing tip, seen by Mantell. Another describes a 'white, round object, several hundred feet in diameter, like a disc,' with flames shooting out, estimated to be 500-1000 feet in diameter, moving at 250 mph.

According to the CENAP's research, the official explanation is that Captain Mantell, a pilot in a P-51 Mustang, pursued an object he believed to be Venus. The F-51, not equipped for high altitudes, would have required oxygen at 15,000 feet. Mantell ascended to 20,000 feet. His wingmen, unable to reach him and seeing no object themselves, turned back. The tower also lost contact. Later, wreckage of Mantell's F-51 was found over 40 miles from Godman Air Force Base. The pilot was dead.

Various theories emerged, including that the mysterious machine caused Mantell's F-51 to disintegrate, or that Mantell's body was never found, having been taken by the occupants of a spaceship. The report dismisses these as sensationalized narratives.

The Air Force's investigation, involving experts from the Air Technical Intelligence Center, concluded that Mantell pursued the planet Venus. Observers on the ground also reported seeing Venus. However, the report argues that Venus would have been too faint to be visible in the bright daylight sky and thus unlikely to be mistaken by an experienced pilot.

The article includes information about the authors Gene and Clare Gurney, who wrote about the Mantell case. Gene Gurney was a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force with extensive military experience. Clare Gurney was a librarian and co-authored several of his books. They lived in Dares Beach, Maryland, USA.

A map illustrates the flight path and sightings related to the Mantell case, showing locations in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Book Tip and Other Sections

A 'BÜCHER-TIP' (Book Tip) recommends 'FOTO FEHLERBUCH' by Kurt Fritsche, a book detailing photographic errors, suggesting it might help readers understand unusual effects in their own photos, possibly related to UFO photography. Klaus Webner is mentioned as an investigator for the 'UFO über Mainz' case.

An article titled 'Keine UFOs!' (No UFOs!) aims to definitively close the book on the Mantell case, suggesting that many UFO reports are misidentifications or fabrications.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of UFO claims, the unreliability of information sources in the UFO community, and the importance of verifiable evidence. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, emphasizing the need for rigorous investigation and cautioning against accepting sensationalized narratives without critical assessment. The magazine appears to advocate for a more grounded, scientific approach to understanding unexplained phenomena, distinguishing between genuine investigation and the spread of unsubstantiated rumors and 'pseudoscience'. The authors express concern about the lack of responsibility shown by some publications in disseminating unverified information to a gullible audience.

Title: UFO-NYT
Issue: Nr.4/1977 bzw. aus SUFOI UFO-NYT 1/1978
Date: January/February 1978
Publisher: S.U.F.O.I. (Skandinavisk UFO Information)
Country: Sweden
Language: German (translations from original articles)

This issue of UFO-NYT, a publication from the Scandinavian UFO Information organization, presents a collection of articles and reports primarily in German, focusing on UFO phenomena. It includes detailed investigations into several prominent cases, photographic analysis, and discussions on potential explanations.

The Mantell Case

The issue revisits the famous Mantell case from 1948. It details how the incident began with sightings of a strange aircraft over Maysville, Kentucky, leading the Highway Patrol to contact the Godman Air Force Base. Despite initial lack of information at Godman, an investigation was launched. The object was described as round, glowing, and approximately 250-300 feet in diameter, moving westward rapidly. While the object was observed by the tower operator, he reported it was not flying in the direction he was observing. The base commander, intelligence officer, and other officials were alerted but could not identify the object. The situation escalated when Captain Thomas Mantell and three other pilots from the National Guard were dispatched to investigate. Mantell pursued the object, but tragically, his plane crashed, and he died. Later explanations from the Air Force suggested the possibility of high-altitude balloons used for SKY HOOK research, which were large and visible from a distance, especially when illuminated by the sun. These balloons were launched to collect data on wind and cosmic rays. The report notes that the winds on January 7, 1948, could have carried a SKY HOOK balloon over the sighting area. However, the SKY HOOK registry did not provide definitive information, leaving the question of what Captain Mantell pursued unanswered. The case is classified as a classic UFO sighting due to the lack of definitive identification by reliable witnesses and official investigators.

The Skillingaryd Case and Photographic Evidence

This section focuses on the Skillingaryd case, also known as the Lars Thörn case, from May 6, 1971. The article highlights that this case, which was previously reported in Germany and explained, is re-examined by the Swedish research group GICOFF. GICOFF investigated the case twice. Initially, the case was considered genuine, but a second investigation was prompted by the emergence of similar photographs featuring multiple objects, raising suspicions. The comprehensive investigation concluded that the photographs were undoubtedly genuine, but questioned the veracity of the witness's account. The report details how a 25-year-old man and his 4-year-old son, while on a moped near the Skillingaryd shooting range, observed a bright object in the sunlight. The object, described as gray or silver and plate-shaped, descended behind a hill. The witness then climbed the hill and observed the object hovering silently. He used a Minolta 16 spy camera to take two photos. The first photo was blurry due to camera shake, but the second, taken while seated, was clearer. He estimated the object's size by comparing it to a matchbox, suggesting a diameter of approximately 5 cm. The object then exhibited oscillating and rotating movements before ascending vertically at high speed, emitting a whistling sound. The witness's son was reportedly frightened. The report emphasizes that three major photo labs in Gothenburg, including Kodak, analyzed the photos and found no evidence of double exposure, copying, or other tricks. Even with laser examination of the negatives, no manipulation was detected, leading to the conclusion that the photos were genuine and sensational. The article also mentions that a month later, the same witness claimed to have taken more photos of 'flying saucers,' this time multiple objects per negative, during a visit to Frostás. This new information made some members of the research group suspicious. The article further discusses the use of stereoscopic analysis to determine the object's dimensions, height, width, and depth. The research involved mathematical calculations and attempts to replicate the conditions using a similar camera. The analysis suggested the object was relatively close to the bunker shown in the photos and had a diameter of no more than 40 cm.

UFO Sightings in Salzburg

This section reports on UFO sightings in Salzburg, Austria, in early January 1979. The Salzburg police received multiple calls about a glittering object observed around 5 AM. The reports mentioned similar incidents in Venezuela (power outage) and Australia (air force pursuit), and Milan, Italy (observed by police near the Duomo). The Salzburg Air Traffic Control Center (ATCC) in Vienna-Schwechat was consulted. Their response indicated that the location and time of the sighting pointed to a routine El-Al passenger flight that was crossing Austrian airspace. The article includes a photograph of a light in the sky over Salzburg, captioned as being sighted on Monday morning. The report contrasts these sightings with the official explanation, noting that UFO believers are often skeptical of official denials of UFO existence.

Other Mentions and Explanations

The issue touches upon the 'Venus explanation' for UFO sightings, noting that the planet Venus can appear as a bright, colorful, and moving object, sometimes leading to elaborate reports from reliable witnesses who later reject the Venus explanation. It also mentions that the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) has linked millions of UFO sightings to Venus. The article references a report from the Italian scientific magazine IL GIORNALE DEI MISTERI Nr. 82, which featured photographs from the US Air Force's Project BLUE BOOK archive. The issue also briefly mentions a prank involving a kite and lamp that fooled police in Freilassing and a TV team in Australia allegedly filming 25 unknown objects. It notes that encounters of the 'first kind' in Italy have taken on different dimensions, citing an incident where a night watchman claimed to have been disturbed by a 'gigantic, terrifying, gruesome figure' that appeared suddenly, causing him to faint.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the investigation of UFO sightings, the analysis of photographic and witness evidence, and the exploration of various explanations, ranging from misidentification of conventional aircraft and balloons to more speculative theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting different perspectives and investigations, particularly highlighting the GICOFF research group's meticulous approach to photographic evidence. There's an underlying skepticism towards official explanations that dismiss UFO phenomena outright, while also acknowledging the possibility of misidentification and hoaxes. The issue emphasizes the importance of rigorous scientific investigation in understanding these events.