CENAP Report - No 158

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP REPORT
Issue: Nr. 158
Date: April 1989
Publisher: CENAP (Centrales Erforschungsnetz außergewöhnlicher Himmelsphänomene)
Price: DM 3,90

This issue of CENAP REPORT, a German-language publication focused on UFO phenomena, delves into the complex interplay between UFO sightings, political agendas, military secrecy, and intelligence operations. The cover prominently features a headline 'UFO'S ---POLITISCH' (UFOs --- POLITICAL) alongside smaller teasers about 'SPACE-ALIEN IN USA', 'BURNING SKY.... BEAUTIFUL UFO'S', and '2000 - UMMO - FAIRY TALE FUTURE!'.

CENAP: An Independent UFO Research Network

The magazine introduces CENAP as a private, independent institution that has been investigating UFO phenomena since 1976, having conducted research into approximately 380 reported sightings. CENAP aims to provide scientific explanations for reported phenomena, identifying 'UFO stimuli' when natural explanations are found. The organization collaborates with various authorities, including the German Ministry of Defense and the Federal Aviation Office, and maintains an extensive archive of UFO-related material, including Europe's largest UFO video archive. CENAP is also associated with international UFO organizations and the GWUP (Society for Scientific Investigation of the Paranormal), aiming to combat occultism and modern superstition.

South America: UFOs and Political Unrest

A significant portion of the issue focuses on UFO sightings in South America, particularly in Argentina and Uruguay. Reports from Buenos Aires describe 'flying saucers' observed shortly after sunset, characterized as cigar-shaped and emitting green-to-blue light. Eyewitnesses reported these objects hovering motionlessly for about 15 minutes before moving away. A photographer managed to capture images of two of these luminous objects. The local television network reportedly experienced strong electromagnetic interference during these sightings, which was interpreted as evidence against simple optical illusions. Similar sightings occurred along the Rio Plata, with observers describing a long, red 'cigar' hovering low over the water before ascending rapidly. The article notes that the press in Guatemala and Peru is increasingly covering UFO phenomena seriously, moving away from ridicule.

UFOs and Political/Military Complex

Werner Walter, a CENAP contributor, explores the 'military-industrial-political' complex surrounding UFOs, suggesting that intelligence agencies and military interests may be involved in the UFO narrative. He references James Bamford's book on the NSA, explaining how the agency uses techniques like shooting barium salts into the atmosphere to intercept signals, which could be misinterpreted as UFO activity. Walter posits that military maneuvers, such as rocket launches from the Soviet Plesetsk spaceport, could be responsible for some UFO sightings, with authorities preferring to let UFO rumors circulate rather than reveal their activities. He also discusses the 'Gindilis Report' on Soviet UFOs, suggesting that many reported sightings were actually related to the reentry of 'first-strike weapon system development programs' like FOBS, thus devaluing the report.

The CIA and UFOs

The role of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in UFO investigations and potential manipulation is examined. Thomas Powers' book 'CIA: The History, The Methods, The Plots' is cited, highlighting the CIA's three main areas of operation: intelligence gathering, counter-espionage, and political intervention. The article suggests that the CIA, like the KGB, might use UFO sightings to conceal its own activities or to engage in 'psychological warfare.' Examples include a covert CIA plan to convince the Cuban population that the Second Coming was imminent, to be heralded by rockets fired from a submarine, as a means to destabilize Castro's regime. The magazine also discusses the CIA's influence on media, particularly in Latin America, through 'black propaganda' and disinformation campaigns, using newspapers as a tool for psychological warfare.

Project LINCOLN and UFO Research

The issue details the 'Project LINCOLN,' a top-secret USAF study initiated in 1950 in response to the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb test. This project, involving scientists from MIT and other institutions, aimed to develop a defense plan against potential nuclear attacks. The article suggests that this project, along with other classified UFO research efforts like 'Grudge,' operated in parallel to the public Project Blue Book. It highlights the intense secrecy surrounding these investigations and the potential for misinformation or deliberate obfuscation of facts.

Ghost Rockets and Scandinavian Sightings

The phenomenon of 'Ghost Rockets' observed in Scandinavia in the 1940s is discussed as a precursor to UFOs. Robert Lesniakiewicz, a Polish UFOlogist, suggests that these sightings might be explained by German V-1 and V-2 rockets launched from U-boats or by American spy planes launched from the UK. However, the article counters that the sheer number of sightings and the lack of evidence for such extensive rocket programs make this explanation insufficient. It points to the political and military context of the Cold War, suggesting that 'rocket anxiety' in post-war Europe was exploited by intelligence agencies.

Psychological Warfare and Media Manipulation

The magazine emphasizes the concept of 'psychological warfare' as a tool used by intelligence agencies to influence public opinion and justify military spending. It argues that agencies often fabricate or exaggerate threats, such as Soviet military advancements, to secure funding for new weapons systems. The article suggests that UFO reports can be part of this strategy, either by being officially ignored or by being used to create a sense of societal chaos and supernatural events, thereby distracting the public from real-world issues.

The Robertson Panel and UFO Cover-up Theories

The formation of the Robertson Panel in 1953 is discussed in the context of a surge in UFO sightings that overwhelmed the US air defense system. The article implies that the panel, composed of scientists and intelligence officials, may have already possessed significant knowledge about UFOs and their origins, and that its purpose was not to uncover the truth but rather to manage public perception and potentially discredit genuine sightings. The influence of figures like Dr. Luis Alvarez from MIT, who was involved in both Project LINCOLN and the Robertson Panel, is highlighted.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of CENAP REPORT revolve around the political and military dimensions of the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be critical of official explanations and suggests a pattern of secrecy, manipulation, and psychological warfare by intelligence agencies and governments regarding UFOs. The magazine aims to expose these hidden agendas and provide a more critical perspective on UFO reports, often linking them to terrestrial military activities or disinformation campaigns rather than solely extraterrestrial origins. There is a strong emphasis on the Cold War context and the use of UFOs as a tool in this geopolitical struggle.

This issue of CENAP REPORT, dated February 15, 1989, focuses on UFO phenomena, pilot encounters, and the ongoing research within the UFO community. The magazine presents a mix of reported sightings, alleged government involvement, and scientific investigations, while also critiquing what it perceives as sensationalism and commercialism in the field.

Cover Story: The Basel Student Hunting Flying Saucers

The cover story introduces Luc Bürgin, a 19-year-old high school student from Basel, Switzerland, who has been intensely researching UFOs for three years. Bürgin believes that the most plausible explanation for UFOs is that they are extraterrestrial spacecraft, though he acknowledges that most sightings can be identified. He notes that while America is at the forefront of UFO sightings, Europe is more conservative. Bürgin is critical of groups like the Raël Movement, calling them 'charlatans' who harm the UFO research cause by demanding money. He emphasizes that serious UFO researchers are driven by idealism and scientific interest, not by financial gain. He mentions Lou Zinsstag, a deceased Basel-based UFO researcher and relative of C.G. Jung, whose extensive literature remains largely unexamined. Bürgin encourages people in Basel to report their sightings, acknowledging that most are likely weather balloons or meteorites, but that a 'dark figure' of unexplained phenomena exists. He plans to pursue a career in music but will continue his UFO research as a serious hobby.

Article: Jet Pilot Claims: I Chased a Gigantic UFO

This article details a significant UFO sighting on February 11, 1988, in Mozambique. Capt. Simplicio Pinto and Copilot Joao Abreau of the LAM airline reported seeing a massive, glowing UFO while approaching Beira. After landing, they received permission to take off again to pursue the object. Pinto described the UFO as having three rectangular lights arranged in a triangle and being large enough to serve as a hangar for a jet. He pursued it to 11,000 feet and then to 24,000 feet, where it stopped again. The UFO then ascended vertically to over 45,000 feet before the pilot abandoned the chase due to losing sight of it in a rainstorm and low fuel. Meanwhile, meteorologist Alberto Agosta of the Mozambique Meteorological Service tracked the object on radar, describing it as stationary and clearly visible about 78 miles south of Beira. She confirmed no other aircraft activity except for Capt. Pinto's flight. The report also mentions that hundreds of Beira residents witnessed the UFO, with some mistaking it for an invasion of space creatures. Five reporters from the government newspaper NOTICIAS investigated the sighting.

Article: Blick in die Welt (A Look into the World)

This section begins by questioning whether contacts and connections are being made with industrial figures, particularly from the aviation industry, regarding UFO information. It suggests that private UFO organizations like Keyhoe's NICAP and high-ranking military personnel interested in UFOs might have formed small UFO circles in the early 1950s, leading to legends of secret knowledge. The author believes this adequately addresses the 'military-industrial complex' in 'UFO politics.' The article also mentions a future report in CENAP REPORT on the V-7 LEGEND.

Article: Burning Sky

This article describes the phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), particularly in Lapland. It details the visual spectacle of dancing lights in various colors (yellow, green, red) and discusses the scientific explanation involving charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere. It references Fridtjof Nansen's descriptions of the aurora during his polar expedition and mentions ongoing research at stations in Alaska, Tromsö, and Kiruna. The article notes that while the aurora is a natural phenomenon, it has sometimes been mistaken for UFOs.

Article: UFOs and the Air Force Tested UFO

This section presents two extraordinary claims. The first, reported by the London newspaper 'Star,' alleges that the US Air Force conducted test flights with a captured UFO and met with extraterrestrials in secret. This is supposedly detailed in a top-secret government report that was allegedly leaked to UFO researcher Clifford E. Stone. The report mentions Project 'Sigma' (starting 1954) for contact with aliens and Project 'Snowbird' (1972) for test flights of a recovered extraterrestrial craft in Nevada. The US government has declined to comment. The article also mentions the growing influence of the UFO group YUFOS in England and upcoming international UFO conferences.

Article: Encounter of the Third Kind Against Domestic Trouble

This piece highlights the work of the German UFO organization GEP (Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des UFO-Phänomens e.V.) in Lüdenscheid. GEP, led by physicist and IT specialist Gerald Mosbleck, claims to be the only officially recognized and scientifically working UFO association in Germany. They investigate around 150 reported sightings annually, with about 90% being explained by natural phenomena such as aircraft lights, meteors, weather balloons, or planets. GEP categorizes sightings into first, second, and third kinds, with the third kind involving observations of extraterrestrials. The article recounts a case where a woman in Hessen fabricated a UFO encounter to explain her late return home due to domestic issues.

Article: UFO over the Upper Palatinate

This short report describes a UFO sighting over the Upper Palatinate region in Germany. Residents were reportedly fascinated and concerned by a bright, glowing object in the sky. Initially, it was considered an unidentified flying object, but it was later confirmed by the State Weather Office to be the sun shining through the clouds, dispelling the 'milk glass' effect that had obscured the sky.

Article: The New Findings of UFO Researcher Tony Dodd

This article focuses on Tony Dodd, a former police officer from Yorkshire, England, who has published his UFO research. Dodd, now an investigator for the Yorkshire UFO Society (YUFOS), claims to have witnessed at least 60 UFOs in ten years. He shares two unusual cases: one of a 41-year-old housewife who reported being taken aboard a UFO and examined by three silver-clad beings, with her memory erased until hypnosis; and another of two friends who experienced a 45-minute 'memory lapse' during a car ride, later recalling being on a flying saucer and examined by aliens. Dodd believes aliens prefer sparsely populated areas and do not wish to communicate directly with humans. He also mentions the publication of YUFOS's journal 'QUEST' and the establishment of a German representative for the organization.

Article: Sonen-Explosion (Sun Explosion)

This article discusses the intense solar activity in April 1989, describing solar flares as magnetic storms erupting from a 220,000-kilometer-long sunspot. These flares sent charged particles (protons and neutrons) towards Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, causing auroras and power outages. Six million people in Quebec, Canada, lost electricity due to electromagnetic storms. The article quotes Professor Heinz Kaminski, director of the Sternwarte in Bochum, who warns that if the Earth's ozone layer continues to be damaged, humanity might have to live underground like moles to escape solar radiation.

Article: Should We Believe It? US Air Force Tested UFO

This section reiterates the claims about the US Air Force testing a captured UFO and meeting with extraterrestrials, citing the 'Star' newspaper and alleged leaked documents. It mentions Project 'Sigma' and 'Snowbird' and the US government's refusal to comment. It also highlights the growing influence of YUFOS and upcoming international UFO events.

Article: UFO Cover-Up? ...LIVE

This is a brief announcement for a live television broadcast in Houston, Texas, on October 14, 1988, titled 'UFO Cover-Up? ...LIVE,' hosted by Mike Farrell.

Article: The Mars Face

This section revisits the 'Face on Mars' controversy, referencing a NASA map of the Martian region published by The Edmonton Journal. It discusses the possibility that the formations are either the work of a lost civilization or a natural trick of light and shadow. Richard Hoagland, founder of The Mars Project, believes something significant was found, while General Soffel, a Viking project scientist, suggests it's an illusion. The article notes that Viking scientists in 1976 dismissed the formation.

Article: Astrowarnung for April 1989

This astrological forecast for April 1989 by Roland Horn indicates that Venus will be invisible, Mars will be less bright, and Saturn will be visible in the east. Jupiter is highlighted as the most interesting object for UFO enthusiasts, visible in the evening and near the crescent moon. The article also mentions the publication of a new astronomy journal called 'STERNSCHNUPPE,' which covers meteor showers and UFO sightings related to fireballs.

Article: Wishful Thinking as an Explanation for UFOs

This piece, by John F. Schuessler, criticizes some UFOlogists for offering explanations based on 'wishful thinking' rather than facts. Schuessler specifically targets explanations for the Betty Cash/Vickie Landrum incident, which suggested the object was a secret US aircraft or an alien spacecraft. He argues that these explanations lack proof and are less plausible than the UFO explanation itself.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a stance that distinguishes serious, scientific UFO research from what it terms 'esoteric,' 'occult,' and 'commercial' approaches. It champions organizations like CENAP and GEP for their methodical investigations and criticizes groups perceived as sensationalist or fraudulent. There's a recurring theme of government secrecy and the potential for cover-ups regarding UFO phenomena, particularly in relation to military involvement. The magazine also highlights the global nature of UFO sightings, featuring reports from North America, Europe, and Africa. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious skepticism towards extraordinary claims, demanding evidence while remaining open to the possibility of genuine unexplained phenomena and extraterrestrial visitation.