CENAP Report - No 096

Magazine Overview

This issue of CENAP-REPORT, titled "CENAP-REPORT Nr. 96", published in 1984, focuses on UFO investigations and sightings. The cover prominently features a headline about a "hissing UFO" and an image of a glowing object that reportedly fell from the sky. The issue includes reports from Austria and Germany, as well as a continuation of the Rendlesham Forest Mystery.

"UFO" zischte: "UFO-Alarm" in Steiermark, Niederösterreich und Salzburg

The cover story details a widespread 'UFO-Alarm' in the Austrian states of Steiermark, Niederösterreich, and Salzburg, where hundreds of people witnessed a fireball that left a condensation trail. The report on page 2, authored by Hansjürgen Köhler, discusses a police investigation into a UFO sighting near Stadtsteinach, Germany. A couple reported seeing moving lights, prompting a police search. However, the police ultimately concluded that the lights were likely the anti-collision lights of the Ochsenkopf television tower.

"Ufos" waren Gasballons - Anzeige!

This section on page 4 presents two brief reports from the newspaper BILD dated January 30, 1984. The first, titled "'UFOs' waren Gasballons - Anzeige!", describes how 30 callers reported seeing a UFO in Bad Tölz, which turned out to be a 25-year-old trainee who had released gas balloons with timers. The second report, "25Jähriger baute Ufos ap", elaborates on this incident, stating that the young man had been creating 'flying saucers' from balloons filled with explosive gases.

Spuk am nächtlichen Himmel von Bad Tölz: Luftballons als „fliegende Untertassen"

This article, by Günter Chall, published in the Süddeutsche Zeitung on January 30, 1984, details the Bad Tölz incident. It explains that the 'fireballs' and explosions that had been alarming residents were indeed gas-filled balloons launched by a 25-year-old worker. The investigation revealed that the worker had a significant collection of chemicals and had been experimenting with explosives, including filling balloons with explosive gases and setting them off with timers. The article notes that initial confusion led residents to believe they were witnessing UFOs.

„UFO-Blitz" war nur ein Jux

This short piece, also from the Süddeutsche Zeitung, further clarifies the Bad Tölz incident, stating that the 'UFO-Blitz' was merely a prank. The 24-year-old worker, Peter M., confessed to being responsible for the mysterious explosions, which he created by filling balloons with explosive gases and launching them with timers.

THE RENDLESHAM FOREST MYSTERY

This multi-page section, authored by Jenny Randles, continues the investigation into the Rendlesham Forest incident. It recounts the experiences of Brenda and Dot, who investigated the alleged crash site. They encountered military activity, including a "beschränktes Gebiet" (restricted area) with a sign indicating it was part of the base. They spoke with forestry officials who seemed knowledgeable but reluctant to share information. The narrative describes Brenda's dog's unusual behavior during an earlier event, potentially related to the incident. The investigators faced difficulties in obtaining information, with authorities suggesting the event was an aircraft crash, a story they found unconvincing. They also noted that the press seemed hesitant to cover the story, possibly due to pressure from authorities. The article mentions that the area in question later burned down under mysterious circumstances.

UFO-Absturz-Debatte

This section on page 6 discusses the debate surrounding UFO crashes and whether the US military possesses definitive proof. It mentions prominent UFOlogists like Frank Scully, Dennis Pichilis, Leonard Stringfield, Charles Berlitz, and William Moore who advocate for the UFO crash theory. CENAP's perspective is that this debate is a media-driven reminder of the existence of ufology and a tool for convincing people about UFOs.

Crash-Storys für seine FSR-Serie

Pages 7, 8, 9, and 10 delve deeper into the Rendlesham Forest incident, exploring various witness accounts and the investigators' challenges. Brenda and Dot's efforts to uncover the truth are detailed, including their interactions with locals and forestry officials. The article highlights the discrepancies in witness testimonies and the official narrative of an aircraft crash. The investigators suspect a cover-up, questioning why radar data was confiscated and why the 'aircraft crash' story is being promoted. They note that the "Flying Saucer Review" from June 1982 presented a sensationalized account, and that the Rendlesham incident remains shrouded in mystery, with allegations of secret experiments or a genuine UFO crash.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of CENAP-REPORT demonstrates a recurring theme of investigating UFO sightings and the potential for misidentification or official cover-ups. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking to uncover the truth behind unexplained phenomena. The magazine highlights the difficulties faced by independent investigators in obtaining credible information and challenging official narratives. The Rendlesham Forest Mystery, in particular, is presented as a complex case with elements of secrecy and conflicting accounts. The publication encourages an open mind while maintaining a skeptical approach to sensationalized claims, suggesting that some incidents might be genuine UFO events or secret government experiments.

Title: Süd Ost Tagespost
Issue Date: January 14, 1984
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Main Cover Story: Meteorite Falls Over the Wechsel

The lead story details a spectacular meteor sighting that occurred on Friday, January 13th, at precisely 7:52 AM MEZ. The bright, bluish-red, fish-shaped object was observed descending rapidly and exploding at an altitude of approximately 40 to 80 kilometers over eastern Austria, specifically the Wechsel region.

Numerous eyewitness accounts flooded astronomical institutes and observatories. Johann Lueger, the mayor of St. Jakob im Walde, described a "quiet bang" followed by the bright sphere shattering and leaving behind condensation trails. Erwin Falkner, mayor of Kaindorf bei Hartberg, reported a "very strongly glowing body, bluish-red, like the sun, which burst apart with a loud bang and sparks." An observer from Graz described a "fish-shaped aircraft without wings" in red-yellow-white colors moving from south to north.

Initial speculation ranged from UFOs to aircraft crashes, especially among those who heard the accompanying sound. In the Wechsel area, startled crows were observed, and in Mönichkirchen, people reported being temporarily blinded, with windows in the local municipal office rattling. Other reports came from north of Graz and from Schladming.

Scientifically, Hermann Mucke, director of the Vienna Planetarium, explained that the phenomenon was a "fireball," a mini-celestial body about the size of a fist or head, which burned up in the atmosphere. The luminous appearance lasted only one to two seconds. University Professor Hermann Haupt from the Graz University Institute of Astronomy stated that "ionizing gases formed the tail." The meteor likely vaporized at an altitude of about 40 kilometers over the Wechsel region due to the immense heat generated by its rapid deceleration from an initial speed of three to ten kilometers per second.

Mucke noted that such events occur four to five times a year over Austria, but admitted that the intensity of this particular sighting was exceptionally strong.

The article also touches upon the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th, with Irene Schmader dismissing the idea of a connection between the date and the meteor sighting as "superstition," stating that she feels particularly comfortable on this day and considers the 21st of each month to be the most unpleasant.

The trajectory of the meteor over Styria was partially reconstructed, leading to the conclusion that it likely disintegrated completely over the border region between Styria and Lower Austria. Due to its high altitude, the phenomenon was visible from various parts of the country, including Graz.

UFOs in Meckesheim?

A brief report from Meckesheim, Germany, describes local residents believing they saw unidentified flying objects (UFOs) landing near a forest. However, upon investigation with police assistance, the objects were identified as position lamps set up by a hunter to spot game.

UFO Fever in the Soviet Union

Another report details a strange aerial phenomenon observed by hundreds of witnesses in the southern Soviet republic of Ukraine on December 2nd. The event involved a large object with a long fiery tail, covering a quarter of the sky. Witnesses described it as looking like a spaceship at an altitude of only one kilometer. Soviet experts are considering possibilities such as a large meteor, debris from a burning satellite, or an atmospheric mirage.

Meteorite Falls: Rarely Found

This section, originating from "Die Presse," discusses the likelihood of finding the Austrian meteor. Scientists at the University of Vienna Observatory suspect that the meteor likely disintegrated into dust-sized particles upon entering the atmosphere, making a ground recovery highly improbable. The Natural History Museum in Vienna hopes for any recovered "suspicious" pieces. A false alarm involved a girl from Vienna who submitted a piece of slag, which is commonly mistaken for meteorite fragments. The last confirmed meteorite find in Austria was in 1932.

Dr. Gerhard Polnitzky, an astronomer at the University of Vienna Observatory, explained that the meteor's trajectory and brightness indicated it was several kilograms heavy and flew at a high altitude. He noted that meteors typically travel at speeds of 50 kilometers per second, causing them to break apart in the atmosphere, which is why finding fragments is rare.

Blick nach USA (Look to the USA)

This section, contributed by Werner Walter of CENAP-Staff, focuses on UFO investigations in the United States.

10 Years of UFO Center Calls:

Dr. Hynek, former Professor of Astronomy at Northwestern University and founder of the "Center for UFO Studies," continues to receive numerous UFO reports. His "UFO hot-line" has been shut down, but his office still processes about two calls daily, adding to a database of 100,000 cases. Hynek's research has taken him worldwide, and he is known for his skeptical yet open-minded approach, having previously advised the military on UFO investigations.

Westchester County Case:

A significant case from Westchester County, New York, is detailed. In March 1983, hundreds of people reported sightings of a boomerang-shaped object, described as hovering silently, emitting multi-colored lights, and moving erratically. The sightings occurred over several consecutive Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The object was described as approximately 1000 yards wide and hovering 1000 feet high.

This event attracted the attention of science teacher and field investigator Phil Imbrogno, who, along with others, launched an in-depth investigation. They interviewed witnesses, including doctors, lawyers, nurses, and housewives, whose descriptions largely matched those of meteorologist Bill Hele, who first reported seeing a strange object with six prism lights.

Further reports describe similar sightings in five Connecticut cities a month later, raising questions about the possibility of a hoax. However, the detailed descriptions of silent hovering, 90-degree turns, and unusual light emissions are considered by some, including Hynek, to be highly unusual. The case is considered one of the most significant UFO events of 1983.

ICUFON-NEWS:

This segment reports on the activities of Colman VonKeviczky, Director of 'Intercontinental U.F.O.-Galactic Spacecraft Research and Analytic Network' (ICUFON). VonKeviczky's European activities in 1983 included a tour aimed at raising awareness about the "UFO problem" and a "crusade against a space war."

His tour involved meetings with various officials, including a 1.5-hour meeting with Austrian President Dr. Rudolph Kirchschläger in Vienna. VonKeviczky presented documents and discussed UFO issues with government officials and military personnel. The tour covered numerous countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden, and Switzerland. He participated in several UFO symposiums and international congresses, giving lectures and holding private conferences.

Despite the extensive travel and meetings, the report notes "weak points" such as secret police surveillance, censorship, and suppression in some European countries. There were instances where agents were suspected of recording VonKeviczky's lectures, which he attributed to local UFOlogists' "misguided fantasy."

An address change for Gilbert Schmitz of CEPS/CENAP is noted, along with plans to publish "INFO-CEPS" and a contribution to an FFU convention in Lyon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue prominently features the intersection of scientific observation with public perception and superstition, particularly in the context of the Austrian meteor event and its association with Friday the 13th. There is a clear distinction made between scientific explanations (meteor burning up) and speculative interpretations (UFOs). The magazine also highlights the ongoing efforts of UFO research organizations like CENAP and ICUFON, showcasing their investigative methods, international reach, and the challenges they face, including skepticism and potential surveillance. The US-centric UFO reports, particularly the Westchester case, are presented as significant and complex phenomena requiring further investigation, underscoring the persistent mystery surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena.