CENAP Report - No 074

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP-REPORT
Issue: Nr. 74
Volume: 7. Jahrgang / H4
Date: April 1982
Publisher: CENAP (centrales erforschungsnetz außergewöhnlicher phänomene)
Country: Germany
Language: German

Main Cover Story: "Hatte Messel nachts Besuch von Außerirdischen?"

The cover of CENAP-REPORT Nr. 74, dated April 1982, prominently features the headline "Hatte Messel nachts Besuch von Außerirdischen?" (Did Messel have a visit from extraterrestrials last night?). The accompanying article details a series of alleged UFO sightings that occurred on Friday evening, March 12, 1982, near Messel, Germany. The report highlights the testimony of Markus Seffes, a thirteen-year-old boy, and his friends, who claimed to have seen gleaming, elliptical flying objects with glass domes and headlights. Their account prompted the involvement of the police.

Police Testimony and Official Involvement

Eight police officers from the Arheilgen police station, including Police Master Thomas Weiland and Police Master Behm-Hansen, corroborated seeing similar phenomena. They described the objects as changing colors from dark to light green and noted four additional bright bodies hovering nearby. The officers were so perplexed that they called for additional patrols. The incident was officially recorded in police reports. Thomas Weiland recounted how, while driving back from Messel, they observed a greenish-white point above the trees, which was larger than a normal star and emitted a strong light. He also noted a strange crackling sound in the police radio at approximately 10:22 PM, coinciding with the sighting.

Electromagnetic Disturbances

A significant aspect of the report is the correlation between the UFO sightings and unexplained electrical disturbances experienced by residents in Messel, Neu-Kranichstein, and Darmstadt. Many households reported fluctuating power, flickering lights, and distorted television images. This phenomenon led some to believe it was directly linked to the presence of the unidentified flying objects.

Military Radar Confirmation

Further adding to the mystery, the article mentions that military air traffic control radar screens of the US forces in Frankfurt detected unidentified flying objects on Friday evening around 9:30 PM. These objects were reportedly heading over Messel towards Darmstadt and disappeared after about half an hour. This radar data provided a potential external confirmation of the events witnessed on the ground.

Media Coverage and Public Reaction

The incident quickly gained widespread media attention. Newspapers like BILD and Abendpost published sensational headlines such as "8 Polizisten sahen 5 grüne Untertassen" (8 Police Officers Saw 5 Green Saucers) and "Darmstadt im UFO-Fieber!" (Darmstadt in UFO Fever!). The reports detailed the police sightings and the public's growing interest and concern. The ZDF television program "Drehscheibe" also featured the event, interviewing witnesses, including Markus Steffes and his foster mother, Margarethe Gustafson, and Police Master Thomas Weiland.

Expert Opinions and Skepticism

Despite the numerous witness accounts and the media frenzy, explanations remained elusive. The article notes that neither the US Army nor the Bundeswehr had any scheduled exercises that could account for the sightings. Professor Heinz Haber, a science communicator interviewed on ZDF, expressed his disbelief in UFOs, stating, "I don't believe in UFOs." He suggested that the Messel sighting would likely find a logical, earthly explanation upon closer examination. He compared the probability of a UFO encounter to winning the lottery multiple times, implying extreme improbability.

Witness Accounts and Details

Detailed accounts from witnesses, including Frau Gustafson, describe seeing a bright flash and hearing thunder-like rumbling, followed by a star-like light moving above the building. Markus G. described seeing a flash and lights in the distance after two girls from a disco calmed down. The police officers, particularly Behm-Hansen and Weiland, provided more precise observations about the objects' shape, color, duration, and apparent lack of movement, though Behm-Hansen mentioned one individual object moved. They described the objects as stationary for periods of 5 to 10 minutes, changing color from white to green and back, and then to yellowish. The intensity of the light was described as exceptionally strong.

CENAP's Role and Investigation

The CENAP (centrales erforschungsnetz außergewöhnlicher phänomene) organization, as indicated by the report's title and the contact information for Hansjürgen Köhler and Werner Walter, was actively involved in gathering and archiving information related to such phenomena. The report itself serves as an archival record of the Messel incident, including references to newspaper clippings and media broadcasts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of CENAP-REPORT revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, witness testimony (particularly from credible sources like police officers), the impact of such events on public perception, and the role of media in disseminating information. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of alleged UFO sightings, presenting witness accounts and associated evidence, while also acknowledging skeptical viewpoints. The report aims to compile and preserve information for future analysis, reflecting CENAP's mission to research extraordinary phenomena.

This issue of 'die aktuelle' (issue 12, March 22, 1982) focuses on a series of UFO sightings that occurred in Hessen, Germany, on the night of March 12, 1982. The cover headline boldly states, "Eight Police Officers Were Witnesses: UFOs Circled Over Hessen." The magazine details the event, the investigation by CENAP (Centrum für UFO-Forschung und Analyse), and attempts to find explanations.

The Hessen UFO Incident

The primary incident occurred around 9:30 PM on March 12, 1982. The initial report came from Markus, a 13-year-old boy from Messel, who described a strange, luminous disc in the sky. His mother, Margarete Gustafson, a community nurse, contacted the police. Two officers from the Darmstadt police, Weiland and Behm-Hansen, were dispatched. Initially skeptical, they soon witnessed the phenomenon themselves.

As the event unfolded, more police officers arrived, bringing the total number of witnesses to eight. They observed several luminous objects, described as green-white or reddish-orange, appearing to be 'star-sized' but significantly larger. These objects reportedly moved in formation, descending, ascending, and disappearing abruptly, as if a switch had been flipped. The duration of the visual observation was approximately half an hour, with interruptions.

Simultaneously, unusual electromagnetic phenomena were reported. The local power company, HEAG, registered "extraordinary power fluctuations." Many televisions in Darmstadt flickered, and the police radio equipment experienced static and "crackling noises," rendering the radio communication temporarily unusable. This aspect of the event was particularly puzzling and difficult to explain through conventional means.

CENAP Investigation

The magazine details the extensive investigative efforts undertaken by CENAP, led by the 'Chef-Untersucher' (Chief Investigator). The investigation involved contacting various authorities and sources to gather information and seek explanations.

Initial Contacts and Information Gathering:

• Police: CENAP contacted the Darmstadt Police Presidium and the Arheilgen police station. Frau Beckert from the Darmstadt police press office stated there was no official press release but offered her personal opinion that the event was unusual. She noted that the police phone had been ringing all day with similar reports.
• Media: CENAP contacted the DARMSTÄDTER TAGBLATT and ABENDPOST. The DARMSTÄDTER TAGBLATT editor, Herr Hardtmann, was reticent, referring to "journalistic secrets." The ABENDPOST reporter, Herr Wachter, mentioned that his colleague who initially reported on the event was on sick leave.
• City Administration: Frau Schultze from the Arheilgen city administration confirmed that the lights had flickered but stated it wasn't a complete outage. She also mentioned a report from a UFO witness about poor TV reception and dimming lights.
• Aviation Authorities: CENAP contacted the Frankfurt Airport, the Federal Office for Air Traffic Control (Bundesamt für Flugsicherung), and the US Air Force Base Rhein-Main. These inquiries yielded little concrete information. The US Air Force stated they had no radar of their own for such matters, attributing radar detection to the German Luftwaffe. German air traffic control was unhelpful, and the weather service confirmed a strong shower in Frankfurt but couldn't definitively rule out a thunderstorm in the Darmstadt area.

Witness Interviews:

• Police Officers: Officers Weiland and Behm-Hansen provided detailed accounts of their observations, describing the objects' appearance, movements, and colors. They noted that the objects moved in a way that was not typical of aircraft.
• Margarete Gustafson and Family: Frau Gustafson and her husband Richard, along with their son Markus, were key witnesses. Markus, the youngest, provided sketches of the objects and the event. He recalled seeing objects after a disco, and later, a large object with a capsule and searchlights. His parents also witnessed a bright, orange light that moved rapidly.

Potential Explanations Explored:

• Astronomical Constellation: One initial hypothesis was a specific alignment of planets (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn), which had been noted by some as a potentially apocalyptic sign. However, this was dismissed as it did not explain the electromagnetic interference.
• Meteorite Impact: This was briefly considered but also deemed unlikely given the visual descriptions and duration.
• Aircraft: The possibility of misidentified aircraft was explored, but the objects' behavior and the lack of conventional flight patterns made this explanation problematic.
• EM-Phenomena (Electromagnetic Phenomena): The investigation heavily focused on the accompanying electromagnetic effects, suggesting a potential link between the visual sightings and these disturbances. The possibility of inversions causing unusual visual observations was also mentioned, referencing the Washington/USA case from 1952.

Further Investigations:

CENAP also contacted the Fernmeldetechnische Zentralamt (Telecommunications Central Office) regarding radio interference. Herr Romeike explained electrical discharges related to lightning and electromagnetic waves. He admitted to having seen a flash himself on the evening of the sighting, suggesting a possible physical explanation.

The investigation also noted a BILD newspaper article on March 18, 1982, titled "11 UFOs Over Germany," indicating that UFO sightings were being reported more broadly.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears to be one of serious investigation into UFO phenomena, particularly when multiple witnesses, including law enforcement officers, are involved. The editorial focus is on gathering facts, interviewing witnesses, and exploring potential explanations, even if they are unconventional. The article highlights the difficulty in obtaining information from official sources and the challenges of definitively explaining such events. The presence of electromagnetic interference alongside visual sightings is presented as a key element that complicates simple explanations. The magazine seems to lean towards the idea that these were genuine, unexplained aerial phenomena, rather than outright dismissing them.

The issue also touches upon the public's fascination with UFOs, referencing Perry Rhodan novels and the media's coverage of such events. The investigation is portrayed as a methodical effort to understand a puzzling occurrence, emphasizing the need for more data and open-mindedness.

This issue of the "Algemeine Zeitung" from Wednesday, March 31, 1982, focuses on a reported UFO sighting near Messel, Germany, on March 12, 1982. The main headline, "'Aliens' were not present," suggests a debunking or natural explanation for the event.

The Messel Incident

The article details the experience of the Gustafson family, who reported seeing bright, blinking lights in the sky. Their son, Markus, described the object as having the "greatest possible size," while the parents perceived it as a star. The sighting prompted them to contact the police and an American radar station. A friend of Richard Gustafson, who was with the police, mentioned that while he couldn't confirm radar data, the event was investigated.

Police officers, including Herr Weiland, also observed similar objects in the direction of Südosten. The description involved multiple objects appearing in a row, with one seeming to move more erratically. The police noted slight power fluctuations and crackling sounds in their radio equipment during the observation.

Investigation and Explanations

Investigator Werner Walter, associated with CENAP (a UFO research group), and amateur researchers Hansjürgen Köhler and Werner Walter from Mannheim, proposed a natural explanation for the Messel sighting. They suggested that a rare planetary alignment of Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter, occurring at that time, was responsible for the lights. These planets were visible low on the horizon, and atmospheric conditions might have caused them to appear to move or flicker.

Additionally, a thunderstorm in the area on the night of the sighting could explain the reported power fluctuations and radio interference through static discharges and lightning strikes on power lines. The article notes that the "green/white blinking point" was observed to be round, not disc-shaped.

Official Responses and Media Coverage

Several official bodies were contacted for information. The Fernmeldetechnisches Zentralamt, the Hessian Ministry for Economics and Technology, the Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy, the Regierungspräsident in Darmstadt, and the Deutsche Bundespost (Postal Service) were all queried. Most responded that they had no record of unusual events or that their services did not detect any anomalies. The Bundesanstalt für Flugsicherung (Federal Aviation Authority) confirmed that 11 aircraft departed from Frankfurt Airport around the time of the sighting, reaching altitudes of 1000-1500m, but reported no unusual radar targets or pilot sightings. They also stated they had no knowledge of information flow between the BILD newspaper and US military forces.

The article mentions that BILD newspaper had reported on the event, and that the researchers had sent their findings to various media outlets, including BILD and ABENDPOST, but these papers did not reprint their explanations, allowing readers to continue dreaming of UFOs.

CENAP and the "Wanaque Mythos"

The article also introduces CENAP, described as a productive UFO investigation group. CENAP is publishing a report on the "Wanaque Mythos," a UFO incident that occurred in Wanaque, New Jersey, USA, on January 11-12, 1966. This event involved the local police, residents, and reservoir security, and was investigated by Howard Ball. Interestingly, this sighting was not recorded in the US Air Force's Project Blue Book investigations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of UFO sightings, the critical analysis of witness testimonies, and the tendency for media sensationalism to overshadow natural explanations. The editorial stance appears to favor rational, scientific explanations for alleged UFO phenomena, attributing them to planetary alignments, weather events, and psychological factors like autokinetic movement, while also criticizing the media's role in perpetuating UFO myths. The article highlights the efforts of researchers like Werner Walter and Hansjürgen Köhler in providing evidence-based explanations for such events.