CENAP REPORT

Magazine Overview

This issue of CENAP REPORT, dated 2.92 (Volume Dr.192), focuses on the theme 'UFO - GLASNOST', exploring the emergence of UFO phenomena and discussions in the context of the changing Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia. The cover features a striking black and white illustration with Russian text and the prominent headline 'UFO - GLASNOST'. The magazine is published by CENAP, a German organization for the study of unusual aerial phenomena, and is priced at DM 5.

The Sorrows of My Russian Soul

Sergej Klementjew, a television journalist from Moscow, reflects on the profound societal and economic changes in Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He describes the shift to a market economy, the introduction of foreign currency, and the uncertainty surrounding price liberalization. Klementjew expresses concern about potential social unrest if economic conditions do not improve, hinting at the possibility of new 'wirrwarr' (chaos) and the rise of new leaders. He concludes with a hopeful plea for survival, relying on Russian patience, democratic wisdom, Western aid, and the efforts of new entrepreneurs.

World Problem CIS: A Reflection on UFOs in a Time of Crisis

This section, introduced by W. Walter of CENAP, contextualizes the rise of UFO interest within the broader societal upheaval following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Walter suggests that in times of crisis, individuals may turn to UFOs as a form of escapism or a projection of a 'better world'. He posits that UFO sightings can be interpreted as 'crisis signs' and explores the potential for UFO beliefs to serve as a 'projection surface' for a more ideal reality. The article also touches upon the newfound openness of Russian military personnel to discuss UFOs, questioning whether this is a genuine shift or a tactic to boost their image.

UFO-GLASNOST: A New Era of UFOlogy

Werner Walter, editor of CENAP, discusses the global shift in UFOlogy, noting how the former Soviet bloc is now contributing to the discourse. He highlights the impact of the 1989 Voronezh UFO landing, which garnered international attention through TASS. Walter criticizes the commercialization of UFO stories and the tendency to sensationalize them. He introduces Marina Popovich, a former Soviet Air Force Colonel and UFOlogist, who has become a prominent figure in Soviet UFO research. Popovich is credited with discussing a photograph of a supposed UFO 'Mothership' near Mars' moon Phobos, taken by the Phobos 2 probe. The article details Popovich's appearance on the US TV show 'Hard Copy' and her claims about Soviet UFO reports, including a 'cover-up' of the Phobos phenomenon. Popovich's book, 'UFO Glasnost', is presented as a source of previously unpublished information on Soviet UFO investigations.

UFO-Glasnost: A New Era of UFOlogy (Continued)

Walter continues his analysis of Marina Popovich's claims, particularly her assertion about a 25 km long UFO observed near Phobos. He contrasts her account with that of Roald Z. Sagdeev, the scientific director of the Phobos mission, who attributed the loss of the probes to development time constraints rather than UFOs. The article scrutinizes Popovich's UFO book, 'UFO Glasnost', questioning its sensationalist claims and the author's motivations. Popovich's call for an international UFOlogist organization to seek advice from 'Higher Intelligence' for humanity's survival is presented, with Walter questioning if UFOlogy has devolved into a form of 'salvation religion'. The introduction to Popovich's book, written by Prof.Dr.W.Kasnatschejew, discusses the vastness of the universe and the possibility of extraterrestrial civilizations, framing UFOs within a broader context of cosmic philosophy and ethics.

Chapter 1: Enigmatic Testimonies of the Past, Historical Aspects of the UFO Phenomenon

This chapter, drawing from Popovich's book, explores historical accounts and the scientific probability of extraterrestrial life. It touches upon the concept of the universe being interconnected and governed by uniform laws, with life existing in myriad forms. The text references the 'pre-astronautic' interpretation of ancient myths and symbols as evidence of extraterrestrial contact.

Chapter 2: UFO Crash in Siberia - The Tunguska Catastrophe

This chapter focuses on the 1908 Tunguska event, a topic central to Soviet UFO literature. While acknowledging the immense energy release, the text notes the absence of significant radioactive fallout, which contradicts nuclear explosion theories. It discusses findings such as increased biomagnetic sensitivity among witnesses and the phenomenon of bioluminescence. The author explores alternative hypotheses, including the possibility of a laser-based communication system or a 'light column' from space, leading to a 'ball lightning' phenomenon, which is then linked to the Tunguska object. The chapter also examines the discovery of a metallic meteorite fragment near the Wakscha river, noting its unusual composition with high concentrations of rare earth metals and uranium, suggesting it might be artificially produced.

Chapter 3: Yetis in the Soviet Union - The 'Snowman'

This chapter links UFO phenomena with the Yeti legend. Popovich suggests that UFOs and Yetis appear in similar regions and that her interest in UFOs was initially sparked by a Yeti expedition. The text describes the Yeti as a 'recent hominoid' that challenges conventional evolutionary theories. It also touches upon the 'forest spirit' and its potential connection to UFOs. The chapter discusses the idea that Yetis might be emissaries of extraterrestrial civilizations, collecting information on Earth.

Chapter 4: The UFO Phenomenon - Interpretations and Hypotheses. Extraterrestrial Visitors?

This chapter delves into the question of humanity's place in the cosmos and the existence of extraterrestrial life. Popovich suggests that 'Higher Intelligence' may be communicating with humans to elevate their consciousness. The text briefly mentions the existence of UFO skeptics in the USSR. It also references the work of Prof.Dr.Wlail Kasnatschejew and his committee for the investigation of energy and information exchange in nature, linking it to the rise of esoteric beliefs in the USSR. The chapter touches upon the 1977 Petrosawodsk UFO incident, which CENAP attributes to a misidentified rocket launch, contrasting this with the Soviet UFOlogists' interpretation.

Chapter 5: Eyewitness Accounts - The Perm Zone

The Perm region in the Ural Mountains is described as a 'mystery zone' with a high incidence of UFO sightings, leading to the formation of the 'M-Triangle'. The article discusses expeditions to Molebka, the center of this activity. It critiques the quality of photographic evidence presented, suggesting it often consists of photographic errors or trickery. The chapter recounts various alleged UFO encounters, including a 'dogfight' between UFOs over Perm, a man being taken aboard a spaceship, and encounters with 'graceful girls' and 'aliens' in Dalnegorsk and Sakija Sagidullina. It also mentions a radar sighting of a UFO over Gorki airport and similar radar anomalies in Ukraine and near Saporoschje. The chapter concludes by discussing the 1989 Voronezh landing and the possibility of UFOs being advanced aircraft or misunderstood phenomena.

Chapter 6: Eyewitness Accounts (Continued)

This section continues with eyewitness accounts of UFOs. It describes a radar sighting of a UFO over Gorki airport, noting its speed and altitude, and compares it to Western radar anomalies. The chapter also details radar incidents in Ukraine and near Saporoschje, including sightings of triangular objects and fast-moving craft. The Voronezh landing is revisited, with details about landing traces and a 'flying saucer' observed. The chapter also touches upon the concept of 'contactees' and their experiences, including alleged communication with extraterrestrial beings and the development of psychic abilities. The article questions the scientific validity of these claims, suggesting that some phenomena might be explained by conventional means or psychological factors.

Chapter 7: Eyewitness Accounts (Continued)

This chapter continues with more eyewitness accounts of UFO encounters. It describes an incident where a man in the Perm region allegedly encountered aliens who warned him of a potential catastrophe. The text also details a radar sighting of a UFO over Gorki airport and discusses similar radar anomalies in Ukraine and near Saporoschje. The chapter revisits the Voronezh landing and the claims of contactees, including alleged communication with extraterrestrial beings and the development of psychic abilities. The article questions the scientific validity of these claims, suggesting that some phenomena might be explained by conventional means or psychological factors.

UFO-TARGET: BELGIUM

This section reports on a significant wave of UFO sightings in Belgium, starting in November 1989. The sightings, primarily of large, triangular craft with bright headlights, were widely reported and investigated by the Belgian UFO group SOBEPS. The article highlights the involvement of police, military personnel, and scientists among the witnesses, and the presentation of photographic and video evidence. It notes the controversy surrounding a detailed report published by SOBEPS, which was criticized by some Belgian scientists as 'pseudo-science'. The text also touches upon the controversial book 'Enquête sur des extraterrestres qui sont parmi nous' by Dr. Jean-Pierre Petit, linking it to the 'UMMO' phenomenon.

UFO-Target: Belgium (Continued)

The article continues to discuss the Belgian UFO wave and the controversy surrounding the SOBEPS report. It criticizes the scientific rigor of some UFO researchers, including Prof. Meessen and Dr. Petit, and highlights the skepticism from other scientists. The text also mentions the alleged involvement of the RAEL movement and its leader, who claims contact with extraterrestrials. The chapter questions the validity of photographic evidence presented by SOBEPS, suggesting that many sightings could be explained by conventional phenomena such as aircraft lights, reflections, or stars. It notes that the majority of reports involved non-daylight objects, and that the descriptions of shapes and colors varied widely, resembling futuristic aircraft designs.

News Briefs

This section contains several short news items related to UFOs and paranormal phenomena:

• Oldenburg UFO Scare: A large gathering organized by NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) in Oldenburg led to numerous UFO sightings, which were later explained as reflections from powerful searchlights on the clouds.
• UFO-Fever in Bet She'an: A mistakenly fired illumination rocket in Bet She'an, Israel, caused a UFO scare and military alert, which was later revealed to be a false alarm.
• Astrologers' Failed Predictions: A review of astrological predictions for 1991 by the GWUP (Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften) found that most predictions were inaccurate.
• Lights in the Sky: The article notes the increasing use of searchlights as a cause for UFO observations, especially during New Year's Eve celebrations.
• UFOs are only there because people make money from them: Hans-Jürgen Köhler of CENAP states that UFOs exist primarily because people can profit from them through books and lectures.
• UFO Crash near Bremen? A sensationalist report from the 'National Enquirer' claims that a UFO crashed near Bremen decades ago, and that NATO covered it up. The article dismisses this as a tabloid fabrication.
• Approaching Object poses no threat to Earth: Astronomers have detected an object approaching Earth, but it is not considered a threat.
• Farmer shot for believing he was an alien: In New York, a farmer, believing himself to be an alien threatened by androids, shot a plumber who was repairing his well.

Editorial Stance and Recurring Themes

This issue of CENAP REPORT strongly emphasizes a critical and skeptical approach to UFO phenomena. While acknowledging the public interest and the emergence of 'UFO Glasnost' in Russia, the magazine consistently seeks rational explanations for reported sightings. The recurring themes include:

• Debunking: Many articles aim to debunk alleged UFO sightings by identifying conventional explanations such as searchlights, weather balloons, atmospheric conditions, or hoaxes.
• Commercialization of UFOlogy: The magazine criticizes the financial motives behind some UFO research and the sensationalism surrounding the topic.
• Scientific Scrutiny: CENAP advocates for a scientific and evidence-based approach to UFO investigation, often contrasting this with the more speculative or belief-driven narratives found in some UFO literature.
• Societal Context: The magazine links UFO phenomena to broader societal contexts, such as times of crisis, political change, and the human need for belief or escapism.
• Critique of Soviet/Russian UFOlogy: While exploring the 'UFO Glasnost' phenomenon, the articles also critically examine the methods and claims of Soviet and Russian UFOlogists, particularly Marina Popovich.

The editorial stance is clearly one of rational inquiry, aiming to separate credible evidence from speculation and sensationalism in the study of unusual aerial phenomena.

This issue of the CENAP REPORT, a publication focused on UFO phenomena, delves into various UFO cases and related topics, with a particular emphasis on sightings and investigations within Germany, especially in the post-reunification era of the former East Germany.

UFO Cases in Germany

The magazine opens with an article by Werner Walter of CENAP-Mannheim, highlighting the importance of domestic UFO reports. He presents several cases, starting with one from the old federal states before shifting focus to the ufological situation in the East.

Case of Peter Freiherr von Wrangell

A detailed account is given of an observation by sociologist Peter Freiherr von Wrangell on the night of July 17th. At 3:47 AM, he witnessed a large, bright, luminous object ascending rapidly and silently from the eastern horizon. The object was described as moving uniformly and without sound, unlike helicopters. Von Wrangell estimated its size to be about half to three-quarters the size of the full moon and noted its observation lasted only one to one and a half seconds. He attempted to report this to various media outlets and authorities, including WDR, the Düsseldorf air traffic control, and DPA, but found no prior reports. Later, he contacted the Paderborn Observatory, which forwarded his account to CENAP. Walter notes that Von Wrangell's description of the object's shape as 'somewhat square with rounded corners' and its rapid ascent were particularly noteworthy. Walter cautiously suggests the experience might be an optical illusion caused by light reflection on the window, while acknowledging the detailed description of the light fleck moving upwards.

UFOs in Eastern Germany

The issue then turns to the topic of UFOs in Eastern Germany, noting that the region was a 'blank spot' on UFO research maps prior to reunification, with the exception of the Oskar Linke case. The integration of the former GDR into West Germany has led to an influx of UFO reports from the East. The article mentions that the communist GDR leadership had declared the UFO topic taboo. It references previous CENAP REPORT issues that covered UFOs in Eastern Europe and highlights the Greifswald UFO video as a significant event.

#### The Greifswald UFO Video

The Greifswald case, involving videographed UFO lights, gained considerable attention. The video, recorded on August 24, 1990, by physicists Ludmilla and Nikola Iwanowa, reportedly shows seven luminous objects. The report mentions that Johannes von Buttlar, a UFO researcher, considered this one of the best UFO events. CENAP's attempts to contact the Iwanowa family were unsuccessful as they had moved. The article discusses the challenges of analyzing the video due to its quality, the lack of clear geographical references, and the possibility of misinterpretations due to the two-dimensional nature of video footage. Possible explanations considered include advertising planes, military aircraft from a nearby Soviet airbase, or even 'Earthlights'. The report notes that the video has a cut and ends abruptly, leaving some phases of the phenomenon unrecorded.

Other Sightings and Investigations

Several other sightings are detailed:

• Rostock/Salzhaff: Frau Dr. Marianne Teichmann reported seeing a bright orange light ball in the sky on the night of June 16-17, 1990. She dismissed the idea of 'little green men' but found the phenomenon extraordinary.
• Güstrow: The 'Ostsee-Zeitung' reported on UFO sightings in the Güstrow district. The Wilfried Wietzke family described seeing a bright orange-green circle in the sky.
• Rostock: Ludmilla and Nikola Iwanowa, atom physicists at the Greifswald nuclear power plant, filmed UFOs described as seven luminous discs that hovered, emitted blinking signals, and disappeared silently.

#### Günter Rumpf's Observation

Ing. Günter Rumpf from Rostock reported an observation on June 15, 1990. While sitting in his garden, he noticed a helicopter-like object moving parallel to power lines at an altitude of 100-150 meters. He noted the absence of typical helicopter noise. The object was described as ball-like, oval, with a muted red color, approximately 3-4 meters in diameter, and had multiple triangular wing stumps or 'surface antennas'. The observation lasted about 30-40 seconds.

#### Lutz Gagsch's Report

Dipl.-Ing. Lutz Gagsch reported seeing a UFO in Werder near Potsdam on January 14 or 16, 1965. He described it as a yellowish-bright fireball with a thundering noise, visible for about a minute at an altitude of 70 degrees. Gagsch initially thought it was a meteor but doubted it due to the long observation time. The report suggests this might be a re-entry object or a meteor, noting that meteors can sometimes produce sound.

#### Rolf Stübner's Sightings

Rolf Stübner reported multiple sightings:

• January 1981, Borstendorf: An orange, round object was seen moving from east to west, decreasing in speed and ascending.
• October 1981, Meerane: A dark, round, orange-glowing object was observed approaching Earth.
• July 1990, Brodowin: An oval, orange, pulsating object was seen.
• May 18, 1991, Borstendorf: A round object of orange color moved at high speed from west to east.

Stübner's most detailed account is from July 16, 1990, in Brodowin, where he and a friend observed a large, round to oval object with a luminous ring, moving silently. He described a darker central area within the object.

UFO-Jagd in ganz Deutschland

This section details CENAP's ongoing efforts to collect UFO reports across Germany. Werner Walter, a 34-year-old retailer and researcher with CENAP, has been investigating UFO sightings since 1976. The organization has investigated approximately 240 reports in West Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. CENAP is now calling for a comparative study of UFO reports from East and West Germany, encouraging the submission of reports, photos, and videos, with confidentiality offered upon request. Walter emphasizes the need for serious, factual accounts and discourages hoaxes or jokes, as they obscure genuine phenomena.

Astronomical UFO-Stimuli

This section, by R. Henke of CENAP-HD, discusses astronomical phenomena that might be mistaken for UFOs. It notes that 1992 is expected to be a Jupiter and Mars year, with Venus playing a minor role. The article suggests that while prominent celestial alignments like Venus and Jupiter were visible in the previous year, they might not lead to more UFO reports, possibly due to overexposure. It posits that sporadic appearances of bright planets and stars might be more likely to trigger UFO reports, but acknowledges the lack of statistical studies on this topic.

UFO Stimuli in February 1992

For February 1992, Venus is visible in the southeast before sunrise, and Jupiter is prominent throughout the night. The Alpha-Aurigids meteor shower is expected between the 6th and 9th, with few but bright objects.

Crop Circles

The issue includes a section on crop circles, with a cartoon depicting ufologists discussing their meaning. It also features news reports about crop circles in Germany. One report from Waldeck-Netze suggests that mysterious crop circles were created by students as a prank, debunking claims of extraterrestrial involvement. Despite this, some individuals, like student Gunter Best, remain convinced that some crop circles are not man-made.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The CENAP REPORT consistently emphasizes the importance of rigorous investigation and factual reporting in the field of UFO research. The publication positions itself as a critical yet open platform for discussing UFO phenomena, distinguishing itself from sensationalism. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, encouraging scientific comparison and discouraging unsubstantiated claims. There's a recurring theme of comparing UFO experiences and reporting patterns between East and West Germany, with a perceived greater openness in the East. The magazine also highlights the challenges of funding and producing such a specialized publication with limited resources, relying on subscriptions and voluntary support.