Fakta - 1971 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: FAKTA?
Issue: 6
Year: 1971
Publisher: FAKTA?
Country: Norway
Price: kr. 20,00

This issue of FAKTA? magazine, dated June 1971, delves into the intriguing world of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), alongside theoretical discussions on time and reality, and interpretations of archaeological findings.

UFO Sightings and Photographic Evidence

The cover story, "Flyvende Tallerkener overvåker Sverige!" (Flying Saucers Over Sweden!), investigates claims of UFOs being photographed in Sweden. It recounts an incident from June 9, 1968, where three boys—Thomas Ahren, Jonas Lindh, and Matts Erickson—from Uppåkra, Skåne, claimed to have photographed a flying saucer. They described a disk-shaped object with a dome that moved rapidly upwards without sound or visible exhaust. The article states that experts confirmed the photographs as genuine, with the first showing the object from the side and the second capturing its upward ascent.

Another significant case presented is the photograph taken by 14-year-old Alex Birch from Sheffield, England, on March 4, 1962. While attempting to photograph his dog, Birch and his friends Stuart Dixon and David Brownlow witnessed five strange objects in the sky. The photograph, when developed, revealed these five unidentified objects. Following this, Alex Birch and his father were interviewed by the Ministry of Aviation in London. Security officials took his camera and negatives, and despite later official explanations attributing the objects to "ice particles," the article questions this assertion, noting the objects' characteristic saucer shape.

The Goose Bay Incident

A detailed account is given of the "Goose Bay-tilfellet" (Goose Bay Incident) that occurred on June 29, 1954. Captain James Howard of a BOAC flight, the Centaurus, reported observing a dark object a few kilometers to the left of his aircraft, flying at an altitude of 5,800 meters over the St. Lawrence River. This main object was accompanied by several smaller, round objects that maneuvered in and out of it. Captain Howard and his first officer, Lee Boyd, were convinced the objects were intelligently controlled. The aircraft's crew and most passengers witnessed the formation. Four fighter jets were scrambled to meet the Centaurus. The smaller objects then merged with the main craft, which accelerated upwards at an estimated speed of 3,000 km/h and disappeared. Upon landing at Goos Bay, the crew was interrogated by U.S. Air Force and security personnel. Captain Howard later described the main craft as "gople-shaped" (jellyfish-shaped) and speculated it was a spaceship from another world, keeping watch over his flight.

Theoretical Physics and Time

An article by Eddie Morild, "MER OM TID" (More About Time), explores theoretical concepts related to time and reality. It posits that reality can be viewed as a four-dimensional existence, where movement along the time axis could theoretically be as free as movement along spatial axes. Drawing on physics, it suggests that antiparticles might be viewed as particles moving backward in time. The article illustrates this with a diagram showing an electron interacting with a positron, resulting in radiation. It further proposes that the entire universe could be represented by a single, four-dimensional "world line" of a particle, with our perception of electrons and positrons being cross-sections of this line.

Another theory discussed suggests that time might be divided into extremely small intervals called "krononer" (chronons). This could imply the existence of numerous, independently existing universes, each corresponding to a chronon, differing only in their physical states. The transition between these universes would define the direction of time. The article also briefly mentions the laws of thermodynamics and the uncertainty principle in relation to energy and time.

Archaeology and Ancient Symbols

Frede Melhedegaard, in "FORTIDEN ER GRUNNLAGET FOR MENNESKETS FREMTID" (The Past Is the Foundation for Humanity's Future), argues that modern society's technological advancement has led to a flawed development. He critiques politicians, the church, and scientific research for failing to acknowledge the possibility of past interplanetary visits. Melhedegaard suggests that archaeological findings, such as those related to ancient Egypt, might be misinterpreted. He proposes that the Sphinx at Giza, for example, could symbolize "ENERGY" rather than just being a historical monument. He also interprets the symbol of the snake as representing "ELECTRICITY" and the parrot as a symbol for transmission of sound, suggesting that ancient temples might have housed technological intermediaries.

He further analyzes reliefs depicting elephants and parrots, interpreting them as symbolic representations of two-channel audio systems or modern stereo reproduction. He speculates that complete information about our past, including how it came to be, might be encoded in these ancient depictions.

UFOs as an Alternative Religion

The issue also touches upon the phenomenon of UFOs as a potential "alternative religion." Willy Wegner, a ufologist from Thisted, Denmark, is featured. He compiles a bibliography of Danish UFO literature and notes that dog owners seem to report UFO sightings more frequently than others. Wegner suggests that UFOs are likely intelligently controlled craft from other planets, as their movements do not resemble meteorites. He also discusses how different cultures perceive extraterrestrials differently—Europeans seeing them as peaceful and benevolent, while South Americans perceive them as hostile. The article posits that for some, belief in UFOs serves as a form of alternative religion, akin to historical beliefs in witchcraft, and that individuals who claim telepathic contact with aliens are often social outcasts seeking attention.

Other Content

The magazine also includes a section titled "DE 'SOM ER IMOT'" (Those Who Are AGAINST) by H. Ely, which questions the tendency of people to focus on what they are against rather than what they are for. Additionally, there is a brief mention of the "FUFOS/LOM 2" publication and a philosophical reflection on receptivity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of FAKTA? strongly emphasizes the investigation of UFO phenomena, presenting photographic evidence and eyewitness accounts as credible. It also demonstrates an openness to unconventional theories, particularly in the realms of theoretical physics and archaeology, suggesting that conventional explanations may be incomplete. The magazine appears to encourage independent thinking and questioning of established norms, as evidenced by its exploration of time theories and the critique of modern materialism. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena and alternative perspectives on history and reality.

This issue of UFO-Aspekt, dated January 1972 (though the cover date is 6/71), delves into the enigmatic phenomena of UFOs and their potential connection to unexplained disappearances, particularly focusing on the Bermuda Triangle. The magazine explores the broader implications of such encounters, including the psychological and societal impact, and touches upon the role of government secrecy in handling such information.

UFO-Base Ved Floridas Kyst?

This article reports on claims made by Dr. Jonathan Wright, a physicist at NASA, who led a special UFO investigation unit. Wright alleges that over 120 ships and planes have disappeared in the mysterious Bermuda Triangle, attributing these incidents to flying saucers. He revealed to the press that UFOs are using an isolated island in the Bahama-øyene (Bahama Islands) as a base for controlling American space flights and collecting 'samples' of Earth's inhabitants. Wright stated that his team has 'absolute proof' of UFOs landing periodically on a small, insignificant island approximately 85 km from Grand Cayman.

Wright, who also participated in a UFO investigation by the U.S. Air Force at Colorado University two years prior, explained that the NASA group was sent to the Bahamas shortly before Christmas after two ships and a plane vanished in the Bermuda Triangle area. He described how his team, using a small boat equipped with electronic gear, observed three clearly luminous round objects descending towards the horizon. A week later, these objects reappeared and landed on the small island. Wright described the craft as being shaped like tuna cans, capable of hovering and flying sideways. He noted that the UFOs were small vessels with two small windows. While Wright did not disclose what he saw upon approaching the craft, he suggested the full report would be made public later. He stated that when they got very close to the objects, they suddenly accelerated at incredible speed and disappeared into the clouds, heading towards Bermuda.

Wright also suggested a connection between mysterious radio signals picked up at Cape Kennedy and the disappearances of smaller aircraft and pleasure craft in the Bermuda Triangle. He theorized that a large mothership hovers kilometers above the triangle, monitoring Earth. When a significant event, such as a lunar mission, occurs, smaller reconnaissance UFOs are dispatched. He believes these extraterrestrials are cautious not to cause panic and are primarily interested in monitoring scientific developments like the moon program, collecting 'samples' of humans only every two or three years. Wright speculated that the UFO mothership could descend to the surface and lift entire ships out of the water or simply snatch smaller planes mid-air, making it appear as a natural phenomenon.

Wright concluded by stating he would never return to the small island or fly through the Bermuda Triangle.

Tro og tvil i UFO-problematikken og spørsmålet om makt og hemmelighetsskremmeri (Belief and Doubt in the UFO Problem and the Question of Power and Secrecy)

This section, written by Ronin, discusses the polarized nature of the UFO debate, comparing it to religious sect feuds where belief, rather than doubt, drives the argument. UFO enthusiasts are often quicker to observe than to critically analyze. The U.S. Air Force collected thousands of reports of 'unidentified flying objects' between 1948 and 1969.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, an astronomer who worked on the Air Force's UFO investigations, stated that '95 percent of all observations can easily be explained as balloons, meteors, fireballs, birds, satellites, mirages, or other things.' However, Hynek is not entirely dismissive of the idea of alien visitation. Conversely, UFO skeptics are convinced such phenomena are impossible and seek to disprove all collected material.

A leaked internal memo from a civilian expert commission, tasked by the Air Force to review UFO material, revealed a strong bias against belief in UFOs. The memo, attributed to Robert J. Low, stated that the investigation would be conducted by 'non-believers' who, despite lacking the ability to prove a negative, would present 'an impressive mass of signs that there is no reality behind the observations.' The memo further outlined a strategy to make the investigation appear objective to the public while internally signaling that the group expected to find no evidence of flying saucers.

The commission's findings, as expected, concluded that no flying saucers were found. In contrast, Hynek approaches the subject with an open mind, believing that all phenomena should be investigated. He estimates that there are '20 or 30 different cases that I would very much like to investigate further.'

Hynk believes that until unidentified cases are resolved, one cannot definitively answer whether any phenomena originate from alien worlds. He warns against prematurely dismissing possibilities, citing the French Academy of Sciences' initial rejection of reports about 'stones falling from the sky,' which were later proven to be meteorites.

The article suggests that most 'official' scientists are unlikely to adopt Hynek's open-minded approach due to political interests and government involvement in the UFO issue.

Makthavernes Reaksjoner (The Authorities' Reactions)

This speculative piece explores how authorities might react if a UFO were to crash on Earth. The author posits that any civilization capable of sending spacecraft to Earth would be far more advanced technologically. If governments were to officially confirm an alien visit, their authority would likely crumble as people would turn to the advanced aliens for solutions to all problems, rendering politicians' plans obsolete.

The article suggests that governments would immediately seal off and conceal all information about contact with extraterrestrials. The 'unfortunate churchwarden' who found a crashed saucer would be institutionalized, while scientists who examined the wreckage would be promoted after signing non-disclosure agreements. Governments would hope such an event would not recur.

The author draws a parallel to the assassination of President Kennedy, where the U.S. government chose to avoid political division and potential civil war by suppressing the truth. Similarly, evidence related to Robert Kennedy's assassination, including the revolver allegedly used by Sirhan Sirhan, was destroyed or withheld 'for the sake of the Kennedy family,' hindering further investigation.

The article also touches upon historical instances of suppressed knowledge, mentioning Pope Sylvester II (died 1003), who allegedly acquired knowledge in India, including a bronze head that could answer questions politically or theologically. This knowledge, described as being based on a two-digit system similar to modern computers, was reportedly hidden in the Vatican's archives after the bronze head was destroyed upon Sylvester's death. The authors suggest the Vatican's archives likely hold many such surprising discoveries.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reality of UFOs, the potential for government cover-ups, and the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. The magazine appears to lean towards the belief that UFOs are a genuine phenomenon, with evidence suggesting extraterrestrial activity and a deliberate effort by authorities to suppress information. The editorial stance seems to be one of encouraging critical investigation while acknowledging the challenges posed by official secrecy and public skepticism.