GICOFF-Information - 1971 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: G.I.C.O.F.F. INFORMATION
Issue: Nr 3
Date: Maj — Juni 1971
Publisher: Göteborgs Informations Center för Oidentifierade Flygande Föremål (GICOFF)
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of GICOFF INFORMATION, the member magazine for the Göteborgs Informations Center for Unidentified Flying Objects, is dated May-June 1971 and is the third issue of the year. The cover prominently features a black and white photograph of a disc-shaped UFO, with the headline "Flygande tefat fotograferat." (Flying saucer photographed.). The magazine is published six times a year and distributed only to members.

Editorial and Contents

The editorial, titled "FÖRORD," notes that filling this issue was not difficult due to a significant influx of UFO reports from Småland, Sweden. The most interesting aspect highlighted is the sensational photographic material received. The editorial also mentions a fantastic close-up observation in Åsenhöga, which is included in this issue. Unfortunately, a previously promised report on a Norwegian case had to be omitted due to space constraints, but the editorial notes similarities between the Norwegian and Åsenhöga cases and promises to include it in a future issue. The current issue also features a continuation of the Finnish cases and a special article on meteorites contributed by one of the staff members. The editorial concludes by mentioning a visit from cartoonist and author Eugen Semitjov and wishes readers a pleasant summer.

The table of contents reveals a diverse range of articles:

• Förord (Foreword) - Page 3
• Är Anten-fallet en bluff? (Is the Anten Case a Hoax?) - Page 4
• UFO-Nytt, Sverige (UFO News, Sweden) - Page 5
• UFO-observationer över västra Småland (UFO Observations over Western Småland) - Page 14
• Närobservation i Åsenhöga (Close-up Observation in Åsenhöga) - Page 16
• Flygande tefat fotograferat i Småland (Flying Saucer Photographed in Småland) - Page 28
• Specialartiklar (Special Articles):
• Spår av liv i meteoriter? (Traces of Life in Meteorites?) - Page 35
• "Konstruktioner" på månen ("Constructions" on the Moon) - Page 37
• UFO-Nytt, Finland (UFO News, Finland) - Page 44
• Finska UFO-fall från andra hälften av 1970 (Finnish UFO Cases from the latter half of 1970) - Page 46
• Senaste nytt om tefatsfotona från Småland (Latest news on saucer photos from Småland) - Page 51

Article Analysis

Är Anten-fallet en bluff?

This article addresses a recent claim in a weekly magazine that the 'Anten case' was an elaborate hoax. The article suggests that individuals involved may have used a hydrogen balloon with a lamp and a gas burner to create burn marks on the ground. The authors of this piece in GICOFF express doubt about the claims, citing several factual errors in the original article and suggesting the original authors may not have visited the site. They state that while the described method is not entirely implausible, they seek contact with the individuals mentioned in the article or anyone with further insights into the Anten case. The reporter of the original article reportedly refused to disclose the names of their sources.

Sverige UFO-Nytt: Cigarrforma-t (-de) UFO över Ångermanland?

This section details a sighting on February 24, 1971, around 18:55, reported from Sundsvall, Härnösand, and Kramfors. Engineer Bengt Lundin provided a detailed account, describing a cigar-shaped object with an intense green glow in the middle and yellow at the edges. The object changed course suddenly, flying low over rooftops before disappearing towards the sea. The witness estimated the object to be about 100 meters away and observed it for approximately 10 seconds. Further details suggest the object descended from about 50 degrees altitude, then leveled off at about 15 degrees before changing course eastward. Another witness, Gustav Sundström, reported seeing a large, burning rocket-like object from Stigsjö heading towards Härnösand, which appeared to explode over the town, scattering red and yellow lights. A family in Härnösand also reported seeing a bright white object with a light green hue, leaving a trail of sparkling dots, disappear behind a church tower. The article discusses the possibility of a radio sonde balloon as an explanation but dismisses it due to timing and the nature of the sightings. It also notes that the weather conditions at the time included light snowfall and poor visibility.

UFO-observationer i en båge över västra Småland

This report covers sightings on April 30, 1971, during the Valborgsmässoafton, when numerous light phenomena were observed across southern Sweden and Själland, Denmark, primarily between 19:40 and 19:50. The report details three specific cases:

• Case 1 (Värnamo): Anita Konradsson, a healthcare assistant, described a strongly luminous, large, spherical object with a glowing edge and a tail, moving from south to north at a low altitude, parallel to the ground for about a minute. She compared its appearance to a landing approach light.
• Case 2 (Gislaved): Reinhold Johansson and his two brothers observed a light moving from the south at high speed. He perceived red, green, and white lights, though he offered this with reservation. The light moved parallel to the ground at a low altitude.
• Case 3 (Åsenhöga, Gnosjö): Family members, including a child, witnessed a disc-shaped object with a dome on top, emitting a green light that rotated counter-clockwise. The object flew silently over the treetops just outside their home. Hugo Abrahamsson, the father, provided a drawing of the object. The witnesses stated the object was self-luminous and had sharp contours. The article includes details about the distances between observation points and the weather conditions.

"Konstruktioner" på månen

This section, starting on page 37, is not fully transcribed in the provided OCR, but the title suggests a discussion about potential artificial structures observed on the Moon.

UFO-Nytt, Finland & Finska UFO-fall från andra hälften av 1970

These sections report on UFO sightings and cases from Finland, continuing coverage from the latter half of 1970. Specific details are not fully available from the OCR, but they indicate ongoing UFO activity and reporting from Finland.

Senaste nytt om tefatsfotona från Småland

This article, starting on page 51, promises the latest news regarding photographs of flying saucers taken in the Småland region. This likely ties into the cover's theme of photographed UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings, presenting witness testimonies, photographic evidence, and attempts at analysis. There is a clear interest in debunking or scrutinizing claims of hoaxes, as seen in the article about the Anten case. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging member participation and the sharing of information. The inclusion of UFO news from different regions (Sweden, Finland) and special articles on related topics like meteorites suggests a broad approach to the study of unexplained aerial phenomena. The magazine aims to provide a platform for reporting and discussing UFO encounters, emphasizing detailed accounts and witness credibility.

This issue of "Teknik för ungdom" (Technology for Youth), volume 40, dated 1971, focuses heavily on UFO phenomena, presenting reports from the Moon and various locations in Finland. The magazine explores alleged artificial structures on the Moon and details several sightings of unidentified flying objects.

Lunar Anomalies and Structures

The issue begins by discussing American photographs of alleged "towers" on the Moon. These are described as not aligning with American interpretations of their size, with the smallest being as large as a large spruce and the largest three times that size, or equivalent to a 15-story building. A Russian space engineer, Alexander Abramov, is cited for an analysis suggesting these structures form an "Egyptian triangle," mirroring the placement of the Cheops, Chephren, and Menkauras pyramids in Gizeh, Egypt.

Regarding NASA's stance, a representative is quoted stating that they are aware of the lunar photographs but have no intention of further research, considering the matter "filed away."

Furthermore, a 1968 chronological list from NASA of remarkable lunar phenomena is presented, including stationary lights, lights that move and disappear, perfectly round craters resembling domes, and glowing mist with jewel-colored flashes.

John O'Neil, former science editor for the New York Herald Tribune, is quoted discussing observations in Mare Crisium, where a "giant-like bridge" was seen, confirmed by other astronomers. Descriptions from a recent book mention "walls" resembling perfect squares, and "channels" like dry riverbeds or streets, suggesting these phenomena might be the work of "intelligent beings."

The article also touches upon the idea of extraterrestrial influence on Earth, referencing biblical explanations for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as possibly being an atomic bomb. It mentions Russian findings of metal plates resembling gramophone records in Asian caves and Yugoslavian monastery frescoes depicting beings in spacecraft.

Dr. Carl Sagan is quoted from an "American Rocketry Society" meeting, stating that "intelligent beings from somewhere in the universe have or have had bases on the far side of the Moon."

Finnish UFO Sightings

The magazine then transitions to several UFO reports from Finland:

• Oksava, Finland (April 1971): Five people witnessed a bright, flaming object for about an hour. Initially low to the ground, it later ascended and was tracked with binoculars among the stars.
• Kokkola, Finland (April 18, 1971): A witness near a military facility observed a yellow, luminous object moving in a zig-zag pattern, leaving a smoke trail before disappearing.
• Perho, Finland (April 22, 1971): A large, red ball of light was seen in the sky, partially obscured by clouds, moving westward and eventually fading.
• Finland (various dates): Reports of similar lights appearing multiple times, which would disappear when approached.
• Vehkalahti, Finland (November 30, 1970): A strong, blinding light hovered over a frozen lake, pulsating and moving before disappearing.
• Kulovesi, Finland (August 21, 1970): A cigar-shaped object, approximately 10 meters long and 1-1.5 meters wide, black in color, was observed over a lake. It moved along the shoreline, then accelerated over the water, and eventually sank beneath the surface.
• Kiuruvesi, Finland (October 3, 1970): A strange light was observed by witnesses near a forest edge, described as a neon sign. It disappeared when approached.
• Helsinki, Finland (5 weeks after the Oksava sighting): A witness reported seeing an object resembling an airplane hovering motionless above treetops. Its wings vibrated and then disappeared, after which the object moved and vanished behind the trees.

Analysis of Negatives

The issue includes an analysis of negatives taken by Lars Thörn. The photographic lab A-Kopia performed an examination, including electronic light transmission and a 120x magnification. The analysis focused on film grain to determine if the object was a copy or genuine. The conclusion was that the grain was consistent across the object and background, indicating it was not a copy. Attempts to find evidence of the object being suspended by a thread were also unsuccessful. The final result stated: "NEGATIVES ARE AUTHENTIC."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the potential for artificial structures on the Moon, the existence of unexplained aerial phenomena on Earth, and the analysis of photographic evidence. The magazine appears to lean towards the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence being involved in these phenomena, citing analyses and witness reports that suggest intelligent design. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into these unexplained events, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations. The inclusion of contact information for "GICOFF" suggests a support or information network for individuals who have witnessed such phenomena.