GICOFF-Information - 1972 No 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of GICOFF INFORMATION, dated May-June 1972, is the third issue of the year and focuses heavily on the growing acceptance of UFO existence among scientists and the public. The cover boldly states, 'UFO:S EXISTENS KAN INTE LÄNGRE FÖRNEKAS' (The Existence of UFOs Can No Longer Be Denied), accompanied by a drawing of a UFO over a forest.

Editorial Content and Articles

Förord (Foreword)

Sven-Olof Fredrikson, the editor, notes the magazine's updated layout and highlights the prominent cases covered in this issue: the Örebro case and the Kourilehto case. He also mentions a report on statements made by American scientists at a UFO conference organized by APRO. The foreword also expresses a need for individuals who can translate materials from French, Spanish, and Italian, and encourages members to spread the word about GICOFF.

GICOFF's Investigations Accepted

This section details how GICOFF's UFO articles are being published or referenced in other magazines, including 'Sökaren', 'UFO-Aika' (Finnish), and 'UFO-NYT' (Danish). It highlights that GICOFF's investigation into the 'rocket-step' incident aligns with other publications' findings. 'Flying Saucer Review' (UK) and a Danish UFO magazine also briefly mentioned GICOFF's work. The section also notes that APRO published an abbreviated article about Lars Thörn's photos, including FOA's review and Tage Eriksson's comments.

Statements from Scientists

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to statements from scientists and educators who participated in a two-day conference at the University of Arizona. These individuals, including professors from leading US and Canadian universities, assert that UFOs are real and likely extraterrestrial spacecraft.

• Prof. Dr. Hynek: States that UFOs are significant objects for scientific study and served as an advisor to the US Air Force's UFO research project.
• Prof. Dr. Creegan: Believes in intelligent life in space and that UFOs are controlled by intelligent beings from other worlds. He notes that UFOs have caused electromagnetic effects, such as stopping car engines and causing power outages.
• Wilbert Smith and Dr. James Mc Donald: Concluded that UFOs are best explained as being controlled by extraterrestrial beings.
• Prof. Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle: Suggests that UFO beings are studying humans out of curiosity and pose no threat. He recounts a study where two observers, unaware of each other, provided similar descriptions of UFO occupants as human-like.
• Prof. Dr. Shideler: Believes UFO existence is clear and likely due to intelligent beings from another planet, though their nature might differ from human understanding. He notes their potential significant influence on culture and religion.
• Prof. Dr. John C Munday: Describes a case where a woman experienced skin problems and thirst after seeing a luminous orange light, attributing it to ultraviolet radiation and a high-frequency whistling tone.
• Prof. Dr. Frank B Salisbury: Considers the possibility that UFOs belong to a species of 'immortals' capable of surviving for centuries, potentially explaining their presence.

The conference was organized by APRO in collaboration with the University of Arizona's aeronautics and astronautics departments.

Press Clippings

This section features several short news items about UFO sightings:

• Lysande föremål på himlen (Luminous objects in the sky): A report from Svenstavik, Sweden, about two bright objects seen moving slowly and emitting a strong glow.
• Himlafenomen i Eksjö (Sky phenomenon in Eksjö): A report from Eksjö, Sweden, about two light cones that approached each other and then extinguished.
• Dags igen (It's happening again): A sighting in Uddeholm, Sweden, of a red light that floated low in the sky, changed to orange, and blinked.

- Det landade här på åkern. (- It landed here in the field.)

This is a detailed account of a UFO landing near Örebro, Sweden. A witness described a large, red, oval object that approached rapidly, stopped, and emitted a white light. A circular mark, approximately 14 meters in diameter, was found in the field where the object was seen.

UFO-observationer (UFO observations)

• 1941 UFO-observation: A report from Borlänge, Sweden, about a shiny, disk-shaped object seen by Fritz Holmberg. The object rotated on its axis, emitted a heat haze, and was estimated to be 7 meters in diameter.
• UFO sågs vid Ösjön (UFO seen at Ösjön): Two witnesses saw a bright object near Borlänge, Sweden, moving along the forest edge.

Astronomisk observation (Astronomical observation)

A report from Skene, Sweden, describes a dome-shaped, grey-black object with a diameter of about two meters, observed flying at high speed over a lake.

NASA-fysiker: "Bermuda-Triangeln bas för UFO:s". (NASA physicist: "Bermuda Triangle is a base for UFOs".)

This article details Dr. Jonathan Wright's theory that UFOs use an island in the Bahamas as a base for controlling American space flights and collecting 'samples' of Earthlings. He claims to have witnessed three UFOs landing and taking off from a small island. The article also mentions the numerous disappearances of boats and planes in the Bermuda Triangle and speculates that UFOs are responsible.

Tre flygkaptener såg "flygande skiva" (Three flight captains saw a "flying disc".)

Reports from Lufthansa and AUA pilots who observed unidentified flying objects over Central Europe. One pilot experienced compass deviation before sighting a cone-shaped object emitting a red light and moving at high speed.

UFO landade och startade åter. (UFO landed and took off again.)

A report from Tourney, France, where a fire chief, Roger Loretz, claims to have seen a luminous disc land. His car's ignition failed after the event. The article notes discrepancies in the name of the witness and the date compared to other reports.

UFO filmat i England (UFO filmed in England)

A TV crew in Enstone, England, filmed a UFO that made a sudden 90-degree turn at high speed. The film was reportedly sent to the Ministry of Defence for examination.

"Tefatet" var en väderballong ("The Saucer" was a weather balloon.)

An article from the Austrian newspaper 'Kurier' suggests that a reported UFO sighting over Austria was actually a weather balloon, based on observations by pilots from a Saab O-105 aircraft.

-Jag trodde jag skulle bli dödad. (-I thought I would be killed.)

This is a detailed account of a UFO sighting in Kourilehto, Finland, by Kurt-Ove Wiik and his family. They described a large, red, oval object that approached rapidly, stopped, and emitted a white light. The object was estimated to be about 4,500 meters away and illuminated the house.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the increasing evidence and acceptance of UFO phenomena, the extraterrestrial hypothesis as the most plausible explanation, and the scientific investigation of these events. GICOFF's stance is clearly pro-UFO investigation, presenting various sightings and expert opinions to support the idea that UFOs are real and warrant serious study. The magazine actively promotes its own investigations and encourages reader participation.

This issue of HUMANOIDER, identified as 'Del 4' and dated 1972, focuses on UFO phenomena, featuring witness testimonies, critical analysis, and discussions on extraterrestrial beings. The magazine is published by KOPLA and appears to be a Swedish publication.

Witness Testimony: The Wiik Sighting

The primary focus of the issue is a detailed account of a UFO sighting by Kurt-Ove and Seija Wiik. The interview with Kurt-Ove Wiik, conducted by Duff Deutgen, explores various aspects of the encounter. Wiik describes the object as being approximately 4-5 meters long, comparable in size to the house it was near. He estimates the distance to the object at around 250 meters from himself and 50-60 meters from the house. The object was observed hovering above treetops and illuminated the roof of the house with a strong white light emanating from its lower, red-glowing part. The upper part was described as a dark, dome-like structure. Around the edge of the red-glowing section, there were 'egg-shaped' black spots, which Wiik speculated might be window-like.

Wiik recounts that the object rocked side-to-side two to three times before it moved away. He emphasizes the object's incredible speed, noting that it stopped suddenly as if it had hit a wall and then accelerated away with immense velocity, leading him to believe it was not an aircraft of terrestrial origin. He also mentions hearing a faint humming sound before seeing the object.

Seija Wiik corroborates her husband's description. The article notes that the Wiiks' account was consistent with other UFO reports, particularly regarding the 'black spots' and the sudden, rapid movements.

Critical Analysis and Open Letter

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to an open letter from Staffan Stigsjöö, a member of GICOFF and UFO-Sverige, addressed to Carl-Axel Jonzon, the chairman of UFO-Sverige. Stigsjöö strongly criticizes Jonzon's public statements, particularly those made in an interview with Östgötacorrespondenten on May 15, 1972. Stigsjöö argues that Jonzon's theories about humans originating from other planets and his claims about utilizing more than a tenth of the brain capacity are unscientific and make ufologists appear foolish to the general public and scientists.

Stigsjöö also takes issue with Jonzon's claims of having seen UFOs multiple times and having landed craft nearby, advising him to remain silent on such matters for the sake of UFO-Sverige's credibility. He further criticizes Jonzon's assertions about telepathic contact with extraterrestrials for the 'good of Earth,' citing an article in Helsingborgs Dagblad from July 4, 1971. Stigsjöö believes that such claims, along with those from other UFO-Sverige members like UFO-Linköping, are likely a combination of imagination and wishful thinking.

Stigsjöö expresses concern that these sensationalist statements cause scientists to dismiss all UFO enthusiasts, including members of GICOFF, as irrational. He urges Jonzon to retract his statements and advises UFO-Sverige members to be more cautious about what they say to journalists.

Despite his criticisms, Stigsjöö still believes UFO-Sverige is a good organization with some weaknesses and suggests that GICOFF should join it. However, he also criticizes GICOFF for publishing a message from the Filosofiska föreningen i Linköping, which he believes could also harm the UFO cause.

Other Content

The issue also includes a section on 'Type 7' humanoids, describing observations of beings wearing breathing masks, with varying sizes (from 'little' to 2.00 meters). These observations reportedly occurred in Iran, Australia, USA, and Brazil. The article notes that the attitudes of these beings were described as either hostile or friendly, and some were reportedly armed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to adopt a critical yet engaged stance on UFO phenomena. While presenting witness accounts like the Wiik sighting, it also scrutinizes the public relations and scientific rigor of UFO organizations. The editorial stance seems to favor a more grounded, evidence-based approach to ufology, as evidenced by Stigsjöö's letter. The inclusion of different 'types' of UFO-related phenomena, such as humanoids, suggests a broad scope of interest within the field. The publication encourages open discussion and debate through its 'Ordet är fritt' (The Word is Free) section, emphasizing that contributions represent the author's views, not necessarily the organization's.