CENAP - REPORT

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP - REPORT
Issue: Nr.67
Volume: 6.Jahrgang/H9
Date: September 1981
Publisher: CENAP
Country: Germany
Language: German

This issue of the CENAP Report focuses on the upcoming CENAP-UFO-MEETING in 1981 and provides a retrospective look at historical UFO cases and related phenomena.

CENAP-UFO-MEETING 1981

The magazine announces the first-ever meeting of German-speaking UFO researchers and investigators on a Central European basis. The event is scheduled for September 18-20, 1981. September 18th is designated for the arrival of groups and individuals, setup, and decoration. The meeting officially opens on September 19th at approximately 9:30 AM and will run 'open-end'. The second day, September 20th, will also begin at 9:30 AM, concluding in the early afternoon with farewells and departures. Representatives from various UFO organizations are expected to attend, including GEP-Lüdenscheid, INTERKOSMOS-Österreich, UFO-Studienkreis Sonderborg, MUFOIT-England, and guests from Turkey. The participation of ALEPS from Luxembourg is uncertain due to a lack of response. The organizers anticipate further individual participants and group delegates, even if firm commitments have not yet been received, with many expressing interest but waiting for 'professional reasons' to confirm.

Discussion of a 'Extraterrestrial Skeleton' Photo

Following a question in the previous issue (CR), a reader named Peter Steinhilber from Neu-Ulm offers his opinion on a photograph presented as an 'Extraterrestrial Skeleton'. Steinhilber argues that the photo does not depict an extraterrestrial being but rather a human infant, likely stillborn or deceased shortly after birth. He cites anatomical descriptions from a book on human anatomy, noting that the skull of a newborn is proportionally larger than the facial skull, and that the depicted skeleton's proportions (15.5 cm total size, 4.3 cm head size) are consistent with a human baby. He concludes that the skeleton, after preparation, is likely used as teaching material for medical students.

Visit from Norman Oches

On July 26, 1981, CENAP received a visit from Norman Oches, a correspondent from the USA. Oches, who was on vacation with his wife, took a detour to Mannheim. A meeting was held where various aspects of UFO research in both the USA and Germany were discussed. The report references the CWUFO-Bulletin Nr. 2/1981, which highlighted the work of NOUFOG and offered insights into the UFO scene in the USA. Interested parties are directed to CWUFO in Winterthur, Switzerland.

UFO Sighting Report: Revigny-sur-Ornain (Meuse), June 6, 1975

This section details a UFO sighting by Michel Flouret, a 25-year-old gendarme and photographer from Revigny-sur-Ornain, France. On June 6, 1975, around 9:30 PM, near the Departmentstraße 103 and the forest 'Notre Dame de la Grace', Flouret observed two bright, red-orange objects with an elongated shape, round in the middle and tapering to a point at the ends. The objects hovered for 30-40 seconds before ascending vertically and disappearing to the west without any sound. The atmospheric conditions were described as oppressive with black clouds, obscuring the moon and stars. The estimated size of the objects was 8-10 meters in diameter and 3-4 meters in height, observed at a distance of 50-60 meters. Flouret managed to take two photographs of the phenomenon. The CENAP notes that these photos have appeared in other publications and expresses interest in further information, referencing a report from the magazine 'Lichter in der Nacht'.

Historical UFO Cases (1948-1955)

This section compiles several historical newspaper clippings related to UFO sightings and related phenomena from various German newspapers, primarily the 'Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung'.

• Mars in Earth's Proximity (February 1948): Astronomers at McDonald Observatory observed Mars, focusing on the possibility of life on the planet.
• 'Radioactive Cloud' Weapon (April 1948): A new weapon developed in the USA was reported to be more devastating than the atomic bomb.
• World Spacecraft Project (May 1948): Dr. Hugh L. Dryden announced plans for building spacecraft, focusing on research into supersonic flight and material stability.
• US Navy Research Vessel (October 1948): A US Navy vessel equipped with V-2 launch capabilities set sail for research purposes.
• Atomic-Powered Aircraft (October 1948): Experts predicted the development of atomic-powered aircraft within five to seven years.
• Mount Palomar Telescope (December 1948): The Mount Palomar telescope was used to observe the cosmos, with astronomer Hubble involved.
• Mysterious Aerial Phenomenon - A Balloon (January 1951): A high-flying object observed over Sweden was later identified as a meteorological balloon.
• 'Flying Saucers' Indeed (February 1951): The head of the US Navy's Atomic Physics Department confirmed the existence of 'flying saucers', describing them as 'air tankers' for stratospheric balloons.
• 'Hostile' Geese over Seoul (March 1952): Sirens sounded in Seoul due to radar detecting unidentified aircraft, which were later identified as a flock of geese.
• 'Flying Saucers' in Formation (November 1954): A formation of 19 'flying saucers' reportedly caused panic aboard an Argentinian passenger plane near Rio de Janeiro.
• The 'Joyita' Ghost Ship (November 1955): The mysterious disappearance of the crew of the 'Joyita' yacht near the Fiji Islands is detailed. Initially attributed to various sensational theories, a New Zealand commission concluded the ship was unseaworthy and the crew likely victims of an accident or technical failure.

'Neues von Woody' Comic Strip

A short comic strip titled 'Neues von Woody' is included, featuring a humorous exchange between a son and his mother regarding dinner.

Police Chase a UFO? Or was it Venus? (May 1980)

This article reports on a UFO chase by the police in Nykøbing Falster, Denmark, on the night of May 13, 1980. A witness, J.H., reported a clear light moving erratically. The police were called and also observed a reddish light that moved up and down and side to side. The local newspapers, FOLKETIDENDE and NY DAG, reported the incident, with one headline suggesting the object was the planet Venus. The article includes a photograph of J.H. with police officers and reporters examining the phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features reports of UFO sightings, historical investigations, and discussions on the nature of these phenomena. There is a clear interest in documenting and analyzing UFO events, both contemporary and historical. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various cases and perspectives, while also offering critical analysis, as seen in the debunking of the 'extraterrestrial skeleton' photo. The inclusion of historical newspaper clippings suggests an effort to contextualize current UFO phenomena within a broader historical framework and to trace the evolution of public and official perception of UFOs. The magazine also emphasizes international cooperation and information exchange within the UFO research community.

This issue of FOLKETIDENDE, dated May 13, 1980, features a prominent cover story about a sighting over Lolland, Denmark, initially identified as the planet Venus but described by witnesses as a UFO. The magazine also includes articles translated from German and English sources, discussing UFO investigations, photo analysis, and the controversial Roswell Incident.

UFO Sighting Over Lolland

The main article details an event on May 13, 1980, where a bright light, initially thought to be the planet Venus, was observed over Lolland. Reporter Jørgen Nyeborg of FOLKETIDENDE pursued the object in his car. Police officers also witnessed the phenomenon. The light was described as moving erratically, 'hopping up and down and from side to side.' While the police, represented by S.A., concluded it was likely Venus due to atmospheric conditions, the FOLKETIDENDE staff continued their pursuit. An elderly couple also reported seeing a clear light low on the horizon. The police contacted the Karup air station, where an officer confirmed that Venus can appear this way under certain atmospheric conditions. SUFOI (a UFO investigation group) reported that other individuals in the area also saw a similar phenomenon. The police noted that a patrol car returned to the observation site the following Wednesday night.

Analysis of the Lolland Sighting

The article discusses the findings of SUFOI, suggesting that the reports likely refer to the planet Venus, visible in the northwest sky until about 1:20 AM. The observed 'hopping' motion is explained as an autokinetic phenomenon, where a stationary light in darkness can appear to move. The possibility that the couple saw the star Capella is also mentioned. The report also notes that Ole Knudsen, head of SUFOI's alarm center, was interviewed on regional radio about a UFO sighting near Stevns on the same evening.

UFO Photographed in Midtsjælland

This section, translated from German, describes a UFO sighting on November 26, 1978, in Midtsjælland, Denmark. Innkeeper Sören Bruun Hansen observed a brightly glowing object and attempted to photograph it with a Minolta STR 101 camera. The object disappeared before he could capture a clear image. He and his staff waited, and the object reappeared over Jüstrup and Skjoldnäsholm, flying silently southward. Bruun Hansen managed to take five pictures, showing a glowing sphere. The article questions the nature of the object, whether it was a solid sphere or an object with an ionized field. Readers are invited to share similar observations.

The Roswell Incident and Photo Controversy

This section, also translated from German, addresses the Roswell Incident and a controversial photograph. It discusses a critique by Klaus Webner and Werner Walter of a book by Bill Moore and Charles Berlitz. The authors of the critique claim that Moore and Berlitz's research was based on rumors and hearsay, and that their book contained lies. The article presents a letter from Bill Moore to Klaus Webner and Werner Walter, dated August 12, 1981, in which Moore defends his and Berlitz's work. Moore congratulates them on their research regarding a photograph of a supposed alien, but expresses concern about their misinterpretation of his and Berlitz's positions.

Moore addresses specific allegations made by Webner and Walter, including claims that their book offered only rumors and that their investigation was non-existent. He insists that their book is based on facts and interviews with numerous witnesses, some of whom handled wreckage. Moore offers to arrange meetings with these witnesses. He also discusses the controversial photograph, stating that the caption in their book accurately reflected what was known at the time, including its poor quality and the lack of definitive information about its origin or the identities of the people in it. He emphasizes that they did not claim it was a 'true sighting report' and threatens legal action for libel.

Moore also refutes claims about an investigation by Mike McClellan into the Aztec, New Mexico, saucer crash, stating that McClellan's investigation was conducted by phone and that Moore agrees with his conclusion that the crash did not occur.

FBI Telex on Roswell

The issue includes a reprint of an FBI Telex dated July 8, 1947, concerning the Roswell incident. The telex, from Dallas to the FBI Director and SAC in Cincinnati, reports that an object described as a 'flying disc' was recovered near Roswell. It was hexagonal in shape, suspended from a balloon approximately twenty feet in diameter, and resembled a high-altitude weather balloon with a radar reflector. The object was transported to Wright Field for examination. The telex notes the national interest in the story and attempts by the press to break it. Moore criticizes Webner and Walter for omitting a crucial part of the telex which stated that a telephonic conversation between General Ramey's office and Wright Field 'HAD NOT BOURNE OUT THIS BELIEF' that it was a weather balloon.

Moore challenges Webner and Walter to reveal their own investigations and to speak with individuals involved in the Roswell case. He demands a full retraction and apology from Walter for his comments about Moore's book, threatening legal action.

CENAP's Role and Editorial Stance

The CENAP (centrales erforschungsnetz außergewöhnlicher phänomene) section provides context and commentary. CENAP aims to offer translated research from various sources to provide a broader understanding of UFO phenomena. They acknowledge that the UFO scene faces similar challenges internationally, citing the Midtsjælland case where a Danish group allegedly published a photo prematurely without thorough investigation. CENAP emphasizes its goal of returning critical thinking to UFO research, which they believe has been eroded by 'conditioning UFOlogen-Literatur.' They aim to demonstrate through examples how UFO sightings can be investigated and what methods can be employed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the analysis of photographic evidence, and the critical examination of official explanations and anecdotal reports. The magazine appears to adopt a skeptical yet open-minded approach, seeking to debunk hoaxes and misinterpretations while encouraging rigorous investigation. There is a strong emphasis on distinguishing between credible evidence and speculation, and on challenging unsubstantiated claims. The debate between Bill Moore and the German researchers highlights the ongoing controversy and differing methodologies within the UFO research community.