CENAP Report - No 046

Magazine Overview

This issue of CENAP - REPORT, number 46, dated December 1979, is published by CENAP, a central research network for extraordinary phenomena. The cover features a drawing of a jet being pursued by lights in the sky, with the headline "4Y/H12/- Dezember 1979". The issue details investigations into UFO sightings and encounters.

"UFO"-Alarm Über dem Meer: 109 Fluggäste in Panik!

This section, drawing from over 60 newspaper reports from November to December, highlights a surge in unknown luminous phenomena in the European region. A key incident involved a charter flight from Salzburg carrying Austrian tourists that was forced to make an emergency landing in Valencia, Spain. The flight, a Super-Caravelle, was reportedly pursued by at least four UFOs, which Spanish fighter jets attempted to intercept unsuccessfully. The 106 passengers and crew were unharmed and eventually reached their destination in Tenerife.

Captain Lerdo de Tejada described seeing two parallel red lights that moved at incredible speed and stopped abruptly in front of his aircraft. The co-pilot and first officer corroborated his account. The radar screen at Valencia also detected unidentified objects. The pilot stated he would have identified them as UFOs if he knew what they looked like, but described them as "devilishly fast" with "incredible maneuverability". Airport personnel and tower controllers also reported seeing four similar lights. The Spanish Air Force and Navy are taking the sightings seriously.

Grüne Männchen in Spanien?

This article expands on the Valencia incident, detailing how four UFOs allegedly pursued a tourist jet from Salzburg to Tenerife. The pilot, Francisco Lerdo, maintained that UFOs forced him to land. Many of the 106 German and Austrian passengers reported seeing "deep red lights". Spanish authorities, including the Air Force and Navy, are investigating the mysterious objects.

Investigation Details and Witness Accounts

Further details emerge from the investigation. A radar screen at Valencia showed the Super-Caravelle and other unidentified objects. The forced landing was not due to technical defects in the aircraft. Passenger Norbert Zauner-Stürmer, initially skeptical, stated "Now I believe in UFOs" after seeing three lights that moved independently. Airport personnel confirmed seeing four similar lights. The Spanish Transport Minister has launched an investigation commission. The commission interviewed the crew, passengers, and ground witnesses. A second expert group is analyzing magnetic tape recordings from the Spanish air traffic control center near Madrid, where the UFOs were briefly visible on radar.

UFOs and Air Traffic Control

The report notes that the UFOs were briefly visible on radar. Investigations confirmed no technical issues with the Super-Caravelle. Some passengers reported hearing noises during the approach, later explained by the deployment of landing gear. The pilot's decision to land was described as "not particularly fortunate" by experts. The investigation commission included the crew, passengers, and numerous witnesses who saw the "unidentifiable flying objects" over Valencia. The Spanish air traffic control center in Madrid also recorded the UFOs on radar.

Other Sightings and Reports

Beyond the Spanish incident, the report mentions other sightings:

• France: A 13-year-old student in Porcleu-Amblagnieu near Grenoble reported seeing a large metallic object with red and white lights and a man in a shiny suit. Gendarmerie found unusual imprints in the ground.
• Iraq/Kuwait Border: UFO alarm was reported, with students observing a flying object emitting "red and yellow rays".
• France: A 19-year-old Frenchman reportedly disappeared during an encounter with a luminous phenomenon, and the Gendarmerie found "landing traces".
• Austria: CENAP-Austria received two cases from CENAP-Zentrale for investigation.

Luftverschmutzung trübt Blick für Ufos (Air Pollution Clouds View of UFOs)

This article by Rolf Görtz from Madrid discusses severe air pollution in Spanish cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao, leading to health concerns and people staying indoors. The pollution level in Madrid is twice the legal limit. The article speculates that this "Iberia High" phenomenon traps polluted air. Interestingly, it also mentions that thousands of Madrileños reported seeing UFOs or "spaceships" above the smog layer, particularly near the bullring. Some witnesses attributed the lights to the pollution, while others swore they were UFOs. The Spanish Air Force sent two Phantom jets to investigate but remained silent.

CENAP+MUFON-CES: Edingen Case

This section details a CENAP investigation into a UFO sighting in Edingen, Germany, on May 10, 1979 (or a Thursday evening prior). Helga Schaadt, a bookkeeper, reported seeing a circular object with a bright, changing orange-red to dark red color. The object moved at high speed, partially hovering, and was described as having a "saum" (hem or border) and a dark interior. It was observed for about 5 minutes, moving towards Mannheim. The object was estimated to be at an altitude of approximately 200 meters. The witness described a "hissing sound" and later saw the object disappear in the direction of Mannheim-Neuostheim, where a small private airfield is located. Schaadt, familiar with aircraft lights, described the UFO as "moon-sized" and lacking typical aircraft features. She reported the sighting to the Mannheim police, but no entry was made in the police log. The CENAP team interviewed Schaadt and found her account credible, classifying it as a "Nocturnal Light" observation.

Roter Feuerball über Leopoldshöhe (Red Fireball over Leopoldshöhe)

This report from the Neue Westfälische Zeitung on May 10, 1979, describes an innkeeper, Günter Steinborn, seeing a "sun-sized red fireball" on the morning of May 9th. It was described as floating slowly like a balloon towards Bielefeld-Brackwede. Loud humming sounds were heard, and objects were thrown at the inn's windows. Steinborn and his friends went outside and saw the "fireball" in the sky. The report mentions calls to the local telephone exchange and an inquiry from Bad Salzuflen and Bielefeld-Sieker. Professor Kaminsky from the Bochum Observatory suggested it was likely a large meteorite. The newspaper also reported that the object "hissed and hummed" and that approximately 20-30 callers reported similar sounds.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of CENAP - REPORT are UFO sightings, aerial encounters, and the investigation of these phenomena. The magazine appears to take a serious approach to collecting and reporting on these events, presenting witness testimonies, pilot accounts, and details of investigations conducted by CENAP and collaborating organizations like MUFON-CES. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, presenting evidence and witness statements without immediate dismissal, while also acknowledging potential explanations such as atmospheric conditions or military aircraft. The inclusion of reports from various countries (Spain, Germany, France, Iraq) suggests a broad scope of interest in UFO activity.

This issue of 'News around the World' focuses on UFO phenomena, presenting detailed reports of sightings and investigations from various locations. The primary focus is on two main cases: one in Bielefeld, Germany, and a series of incidents in the Philippines, with additional reports from the United States and the Canary Islands.

Bielefeld Case (Germany)

The article details an incident in Bielefeld on the night of May 8-9, 1979. The UFO was initially detected by its acoustic properties, described as 'loud, regular hissing' and 'periodic drilling noises,' or a sound like a car with a dead battery. The factory director Gahr of Feldmühle explained the hissing. Dr. Walter Junge investigated the case on May 11, 1979, interviewing witnesses, including a 43-year-old innkeeper (Herr G.H.), a 25-year-old merchant (Herr V.L.), and a 27-year-old employee (Frau J.S.), all residing at Schötmarschestraße 131, where the 'Zum Erholung' inn is located. A notable feature near the house was a 380 kV high-voltage power line. The innkeeper reported hearing stone impacts against the north-facing wall, door, and windows of the inn, along with a deep, swelling 'buwuh-buuuh-buwuh' hum.

He opened a window, initially suspecting children throwing stones. The object was described as a red-orange fireball observed in the WSW direction. Two witnesses consistently reported the color, while one noted a slight pulsation. The shape was described as either a sphere or a cylindrical tube. The object was observed for seven minutes, with the humming sound gradually fading and the object appearing to shrink and darken before being obscured by buildings and trees. Two witnesses mentioned stationary dark contours on the object, similar to the moon's appearance from Earth. Around 4:15 AM, several grey-black stones, distinct from the white gravel, were found near Herr H.'s house. A reporter from 'Westfalenblatt' took some of these stones. No rotation or electromagnetic effects were observed. Dr. Junge examined two of the stones, finding their density similar to the white gravel stones, and one could be lightened by scraping its surface. Radioactivity tests yielded no significant results. Another witness from Leopoldshöhe reported being awakened by a humming sound around 3 AM and experiencing severe migraines.

The CENAP notes the similarity of this case to others, suggesting a common UFO type. They express gratitude to MUFON-CES and Dr. Walter Junge for the information and consider it a starting point for cooperative UFO research. The possibility of a connection between the UFO phenomenon and the nearby high-voltage power line, potentially involving a plasma or 'Elma-Feuer' phenomenon, is mentioned.

News around the World: UFO Cases with Further Data

This section presents a collection of UFO reports from different parts of the world.

1. Philippines

Reports from the Philippines were prompted by a press release. An inquiry to a German representation yielded no results. The article provides geographical and historical context for the Philippines, noting its location between China and Indonesia, its main islands (Luzon and Mindanao), its size, and its history as a Spanish and US colony before gaining independence in 1946. Population figures for major cities like Manila, Cebu, and Zamboanga are given.

J. Allen Hynek is mentioned in relation to a UFO-Radar/Visual Observation from May 5, 1965. The current wave of observations in 1979 was highlighted in a newspaper snippet. Information was also received from John Musgrave of the Edmonton UFO Society. Reports include:

• Bogo, Cebu: Over 30 unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were sighted at 4:30 AM on April 19, 1979. The Ministry of Public Information (MPI) described them as 'egg-shaped and rainbow-colored' and flying silently for five seconds. Witnesses included municipal employees and a barangay captain. Similar sightings were reported a week earlier near Cebu City.
• General Observation: Many witnesses described a glowing, multi-colored mass moving across the sky, resembling a comet but without a tail. It was visible for a few minutes and disappeared high up. Some reported it breaking into pieces that fell on rooftops, while others described a round shape. The Pag-asa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Service Administration) reported no observations, suggesting a weather theory.
• Alejandro Tantuco's Theory: The Pag-asa weather coordinator suggested the phenomenon was a 'red sheep cloud' – a mass of dust and vapor. Sunlight reflecting off water droplets and dust particles could create a multi-colored effect, appearing to move quickly due to cloud movement.
• Talisay, Negros Occidental: On April 25, 1979, over 100 people reported seeing saucer-shaped UFOs emitting multi-colored flames from underneath.
• Bohol Towns: On April 23, unidentified flying objects were seen hovering in swarms over Bohol towns at an altitude of 200 feet. They emitted bright, luminous beams and were seen over Ubay and Batum. This was the second such sighting in the Visayas region, with a previous incident over San Pascual, Masbate, two weeks earlier.
• Southern Philippines: A nurse from Dumaguete reported seeing several bright, fast-moving objects resembling cigars or flat, round shapes with pulsating lights. These objects left behind condensation trails or dust clouds. A plantation owner in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, reported finding ash, suggesting a burnt trace where something landed. A circular object reportedly attempted to land in a coconut grove but was deterred by dogs.

2. Warren, Minnesota, USA

Reports from early September described a 'very puzzling event' and a 'UFO attack.' A deputy sheriff, Val Johnson, reported being attacked by a brilliant light on a country road, causing him to lose consciousness, damage his patrol car, and stop his watch for 14 minutes. He also sustained eye injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration and Grand Forks AFB reported no aircraft in the area at the time. Allan Hendry of CUFOS stated that while most UFO reports are suspect, this one left tangible evidence.

3. Evanston, Illinois, USA

Bradley Ayres from the Center for UFO Studies commented on a 'waterspout' of recent sightings in the Midwest. Reports included:

• Dresser, Wisconsin: Five men described a large, football-like object with a metallic shimmer hovering 40 feet above the ground, considered a 'close encounter of the first kind.'
• Polk County, Minnesota: An army veteran saw a 'dark, small object' near the horizon that rapidly approached his car, causing him to stop. The object then disappeared.
• Warren, Minnesota: Deputy Sheriff Van Johnson claimed a bright, flying object passed over his patrol car, causing him to lose consciousness and damaging the vehicle's headlights. Ayres called this the 'most astonishing and dramatic' sighting.

4. UFOs at Sea (Canary Islands)

This section refers to previous reports (CR 39 & 40) and presents a map of the area around the Canary Islands related to UFO activity. It mentions a report from the Rhein Neckar-Zeitung about a tanker crew observing UFOs, and an organizer of a state radio broadcast explaining that 50 paratroopers with lamps were sent on a night expedition. A translation from the Italian newspaper 'LA NOTTE' describes a Spanish merchant ship being circled by about fifty 'UFOs' for six hours in the Mediterranean Sea.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence and diversity of UFO sightings across different geographical locations and the challenges in identifying their nature. The magazine presents witness testimonies, physical evidence (or lack thereof), and scientific or meteorological explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into UFO phenomena, acknowledging both conventional explanations and the possibility of unconventional origins. There is an emphasis on collecting and disseminating information, with CENAP actively seeking further details and cooperating with other UFO research organizations. The reports highlight the impact these events can have on witnesses, ranging from confusion and fear to physical injury and damage to property.

This issue of the magazine "UFO" (Volume 2, Issue 24), dated February 1979, focuses on a significant UFO sighting that occurred on the night of February 6-7, 1979, involving the ship TAMAMES near Cartagena, Spain. The report is based on a translation of a report by Fernando Gerda Guardia and includes testimony from the ship's captain. The magazine is published by CENAP and is in German.

The TAMAMES UFO Incident

The main article details an event that began around 9:00 PM on Tuesday, February 6, 1979, approximately 15 miles (24 km) off the coast of Formentera in the Balearic Islands. The crew of the gas tanker TAMAMES observed numerous lights, described as having a "yellow wish color" that was not constant, appearing at least 8 to 10 miles (13-16 km) away. These lights moved, blinked, and reappeared in different locations.

The captain, Mr. Jose Luis González Rodriguez, stated that over fifty UFOs surrounded the ship for six hours as it approached the refinery of Escombreras, coming from Alcudija on the Balearic Islands. He described the event as a "real spectacle" and insisted that the radar worked perfectly, ruling out any malfunction. He noted that the radar reflections were constant and that the lights were behaving in an unusual manner.

Initially, the crew considered the lights to be signal rockets from a ship in distress, but the scale and duration of the phenomenon, along with the radar data, led them to conclude they were UFOs. The captain mentioned that in the same night, they also observed a plane in flight, and the radar functioned perfectly, indicating it was not a faulty system.

When the UFOs disappeared, the TAMAMES was approximately 90 miles (144 km) from Cabo de Palos. The captain reported that they had been in contact with the "Castillo de Galeras" (Burg von Galeras) in Cartagena, who reported nothing unusual on their radar.

The captain admitted to being interested in the UFO phenomenon and having read books on the subject, and he had heard a radio program discussing parapsychology and UFOs. However, he stated he had never witnessed anything similar before.

Official Explanation and Rebuttal

On February 10, 1979, a spokesperson for the brigade, Mr. Alfonso Diez, provided an explanation to the newspaper LA VERDAD in Murcia. He claimed that the observed UFOs were actually air force troops carrying lights on their arms and chests, participating in a program. He stated that the aircraft from which they supposedly jumped were from the military airfields of San Javier, Balsinas, Torrevieja, and near Escambreras, and that the operation took place over Murcia, Alcantarilla, Balsinas, Torrevieja, and near Escombreras.

However, the report strongly questions this explanation. It poses several critical questions: Why would air troops be deployed so far from the coast of Formentera? Why were neither the aircraft nor the boat that supposedly picked them up detected by the TAMAMES' radar? What were the radar reflections and points if not UFOs? Why did "Castillo de Galeras" not detect anything unusual? And why was there no public explanation from the Luftwaffe (German Air Force)? The author suggests that the explanation was likely fabricated and that it would be difficult to believe.

The report also notes that not far from where the TAMAMES crew saw the UFOs, a large "strike" of UFOs was reported in the provinces of Murcia, Albacete, and Alicante in late January and early February 1979.

The author, Wenner Walter of CENAP-Staff, concludes that while the explanation of air troops is highly improbable, further data is needed to definitively assess the situation, suggesting that the official statements might be an attempt to cover up misinterpretations or lies.

CENAP Internal News

The issue also includes internal news from CENAP. It states that 1979 did not bring "groundbreaking" UFO sighting events for West Germany, but UFOs appeared strongly worldwide. The current issue's print run is a record 130 copies. An invitation is extended for a UFO meeting at the Adelaide Cricket Oval in Australia from March 28-30, 1980. It mentions an intensive seminar on "UFO Contactees" for 1200 DM and a search for information about a specific computer device in the magazine "Huters Neuen Welt-Schau" Nr. 47/1979, related to contacting inhabited planets. The section concludes with holiday wishes for Christmas and the New Year 1980.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is a detailed investigation into a specific UFO sighting, emphasizing eyewitness testimony and challenging official explanations. The editorial stance appears to be skeptical of government accounts and supportive of rigorous investigation into UFO phenomena, encouraging readers to question official narratives. The inclusion of CENAP's internal news suggests a focus on promoting UFO research, events, and community engagement.