CENAP Report - No 090

Magazine Overview

This issue of CENAP-REPORT, number 90, dated 1983, is published by CENAP, a German research network for unusual phenomena. The cover features a cartoon and announces the 3rd CENAP-Meeting in Mannheim from September 9-11, 1983.

"Die Ufos habe ich selbst gestartet" (I Started the UFOs Myself)

Cosmonaut Georgi Gretschko recounts a humorous incident aboard the Soviet space station Salut 6. While with cosmonauts Wladimir Dschanibekow and Oleg Makarow, Gretschko staged a 'UFO sighting' by releasing dust particles from the station's hull as it entered sunlight. He aimed to outdo a previous report of seven UFOs by creating eight, leading his colleagues to believe they were observing unidentified flying objects. Gretschko clarifies that he has never personally observed real UFOs, nor have other Soviet cosmonauts. He also shares an anecdote where cosmonaut Nikolai Rukawischnikow asked American astronaut Thomas Stafford about UFO reports, to which Stafford gave a dismissive, albeit colorful, Russian response.

Feuerball über Italien (Fireball over Italy)

This section, by Werner Walter of CENAP-Staff, details numerous sightings of a 'burning cigar' or bright object over Northern Italy on the night of June 6, 1983. Thousands of witnesses, including airport personnel in Marseille (France), reported the phenomenon. Scientific explanations offered by Mario Cavedon of the Milano Planetarium included meteors, falling satellites, or electrical discharges. The object was described as fast-moving, bright, and leaving a red tail. Sightings were reported from Milano, Chivasso, Turin, Tuscany, Brescia, and Genoa. The French press agency AFP also reported a sighting from Marseille.

Massimo Greco from the Centro Ufologico Nazionale (CUN) provided his perspective, suggesting that while media attention waned, CUN researchers continued investigations. Greco personally believes the sightings were likely caused by one or two large meteors that disintegrated in the atmosphere, though he acknowledges many witnesses remain convinced they saw an interplanetary spacecraft.

Nahe Begegnungen der Wilsthire-Art (Close Encounters of the Wiltshire Kind)

This part of the report, by Jeremy Gates, focuses on mysterious crop circles appearing in England. It begins by referencing the 'ET fever' sparked by the film and the DAILY EXPRESS newspaper's coverage of crop marks. The report details five circular patterns found in a barley field in Westbury, Wiltshire, within the 'Warminster Triangle,' an area known for UFO activity. Similar patterns were later reported in a barley field near Winchester, Hampshire. These circles, appearing in 1980, 1981, and again in June 1983, are described as geometrically perfect, with the grain swirled clockwise from the center.

Various theories are discussed, including hoaxes, whirlwinds, or tornadoes. Lord Clancarty of the UFO Study Group of the House of Lords suggested the circles might be related to 'Ley Lines,' theorized energy lines across the land. Lieutenant Commander Henry Bruce dismissed the more fanciful theories, suggesting people were being encouraged to act like children. Mrs. Jenny Randles, Director of Investigations for the British UFO Research Association, stated that these circles are likely caused by whirlwinds or tornadoes, attributing them to weather patterns.

The report also touches upon the 'Warminster Thing,' a legend from 1964 involving strange noises and sightings in Warminster, Wiltshire, which has become a focal point for UFO reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue highlights the ongoing debate between scientific explanations (meteors, atmospheric phenomena, weather) and the public's persistent belief in extraterrestrial spacecraft. It showcases how ordinary events can be interpreted as UFO phenomena, sometimes leading to the artificial creation of mysteries. The CENAP-REPORT appears to document these events and perspectives, presenting various accounts and expert opinions without necessarily endorsing any single explanation, while also acknowledging the role of media in shaping public perception of UFOs.

This issue of *Flying Saucer Review*, Volume 29, Issue 1983, dated July 1983, delves into the deepening mystery of UFO-land, with a cover headline proclaiming 'The big mystery of UFO-land is getting deeper'. The magazine, published by Flying Saucer Review Publications in the UK, features articles exploring various UFO sightings, crop circles, and related phenomena across Europe.

The Big Mystery of UFO-Land is Getting Deeper

The lead article by David Thurlow highlights the growing mystery surrounding UFOs, extending beyond Wiltshire to neighboring Hampshire. It details the appearance of five circular rings in a cornfield in Westbury, Wiltshire, and subsequently in a barley field in Hampshire's Devil's Punchbowl. These formations, noted for their geometric perfection, have fueled public imagination, with the Express even inviting E.T. to 'phone from outer space'. The article notes that similar circles have appeared in the area before, in 1980 and 1981.

Close Encounters of the Wiltshire Kind

By Jeremy Gates, this section explores the phenomenon of 'White Holes' in Westbury, which had baffled Britain. The eighth Earl of Clancarty, chairman of the House of Lords all-party UFO Study Group, was not surprised, suggesting the marks might align with 'ley lines'. The article also touches upon the history of UFO sightings in the Warminster area, known as the 'Warminster Triangle', since the mid-1960s. Jenny Randles, director of investigations at the British Unidentified Flying Object Research Association, expresses skepticism about extraterrestrial explanations, suggesting that the 'Warminster Thing' has taken on a life of its own due to public imagination. She posits that many sightings might be explainable by natural phenomena like whirlwinds or tornadoes, or by misidentification of known objects. Randles also differentiates between 'close encounters' and 'Unidentified Atmospheric Phenomena' (UAPs), which can leave physical traces and cause health issues.

UFOs in Germany: A Case of Mistaken Identity?

An article from the *Heilbronner Stimme* (July 13, 1983) reports on a sighting in Leingarten, near Heilbronn, on July 9, 1983. Several witnesses at a garden party observed a glowing, orange-red, spherical object. Initially mistaken for the moon, it later moved towards the observers. The object was described as silent and moved steadily. Investigations by CENAP (Centrales Erforschungsnetz Außergewöhnlicher Phänomene) suggested that the object was likely a hot air balloon, a common party gag that can cause confusion. The article notes that witnesses eventually accepted this explanation.

Another report from the *Münchner Merkur* (July 18, 1983) details a sighting over Garmisch-Partenkirchen on July 15, 1983. Mathias Ludwig described a bright, flashing light, larger than a house, that made a loud rushing noise before disappearing. The article suggests this was likely a 'fireball' or meteor, a natural astronomical phenomenon. Peter Gruber, a hobby astronomer, also identified the description as consistent with a meteor. The report notes that the witness, Mathias Ludwig, later seemed to realize he had likely seen a meteor.

UFOs in France: Misidentification and Legal Action

Reports from Paris describe sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) over Avon, near Fontainebleau, on two consecutive nights in July 1983. Authorities concluded the objects were not aircraft or satellites. A later report from *Badische Neueste Nachrichten* (July 24, 1983) clarifies that a phenomenon sighted in Southwest France on July 13, 1983, previously thought to be a UFO, was actually a test of the new French 'M4' missile.

In a separate development, an American named Larry Bryant, director of the Washington Bureau 'Citizens Against UFO Secrecy', is suing the US government to demand the release of alleged extraterrestrial beings. Bryant seeks information about their alleged capture by the US Air Force.

Other Sightings and Investigations

An article from *BILD* (July 16, 1983) mentions a UFO sighting over Lisbon, Portugal, where a spherical object with a fiery tail was observed. Another *BILD* report (July 21, 1985) details a claim by a 45-year-old Frenchman who stated he was abducted by small, pointed-eared men.

The magazine also includes a note about the CENAP organization and its upcoming events, including a convention in Mannheim and another in Bayern. It mentions the ICUFON chief, Colman VonKeviczky, and Michael Hesemann, who will be attending a CENAP event.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent mystery surrounding UFO sightings, the challenges of distinguishing between genuine phenomena and misidentifications or hoaxes, and the role of public imagination in shaping UFO narratives. The magazine presents various perspectives, from those who believe in extraterrestrial visitors to those who favor natural or technological explanations. There's an underlying skepticism towards sensationalism, with an emphasis on rational investigation, as seen in the analysis of the Garmisch and Leingarten cases. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting different viewpoints and evidence while encouraging critical analysis of UFO reports.