GICOFF-Information - 1974 No 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of GICOFF INFORMATION, Volume 5, Number 3, from 1974, is published by the Gothenburg Information Center for Unidentified Flying Objects. The cover prominently features a map of Europe highlighting flight paths and UFO sightings, with the main headline in Swedish announcing "Four aircraft crews saw 10-15 luminous objects over Europe" and a sub-headline "UFO observations over France".

Editorial Content

The editorial, written by Sven-Olof Fredrikson, notes that the issue was produced under significant time pressure due to the printing house's summer vacation, leading to a focus on foreign UFO cases rather than Swedish ones. He highlights the extensive coverage of the Lisbon pilot sightings in January 1974, noting that several European UFO magazines have given it considerable attention. Fredrikson expresses concern about misinformation being spread by some UFO publications, citing the German magazine UFO-Nachrichten as an example that relied on Swedish sources without verification.

He observes an increasing understanding and interest in UFO phenomena among authorities and scientists, attributing this to a broader interest in paranormal phenomena and more serious media treatment. Fredrikson believes that UFOlogists have become more scientific in their approach, leading to greater acceptance. He also touches upon the growing interest within physics for 'strange' phenomena, suggesting that future breakthroughs in paranormal science may come from physicists seeking new avenues, potentially leading to greater support for UFO research.

Key Articles and Reports

UFO Observations Over France

This section details a "mysterious UFO with blinking lights" that perplexed the French Ministry of Defense. The incident, considered the most significant UFO observation ever made in France, was confirmed by police authorities. Adjutant Henri Gauthier, head of the Ouzoues-sur-Loire gendarmerie, reported an unidentified flying object on December 10, 1973, at 18:20. He described it as an "unidentified flying object" and stated he had never seen anything like it in his 30-year career. He was initially skeptical when two women reported seeing something unusual but confirmed the sighting with another officer. They observed blinking lights moving slowly towards the southeast in absolute silence.

Another report details an "enormous 'vibrating' UFO" sighted three times in less than a week over southeastern France, with over 40 witnesses, including high-ranking police officers, a mayor, and French air force personnel. Witnesses described it as a large disc with crescent shapes underneath and a cigar-shaped front. The French authorities have not yet released color photos taken of the object.

Apollo 11 Missions (Part 7)

This article, by Tony Ericsson, continues the series on Apollo missions, focusing on Apollo 15. It details the launch on July 26, 1971, from Cape Kennedy, Florida, with Commander David Scott, Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin, and Command Module Pilot Alfred Worden. The mission involved a lunar module, a lunar rover, and a planned orbit around the Moon. The article recounts minor issues during the flight, such as a warning light for the main engine, which was found to be a faulty indicator. The landing occurred on July 29, 1971, near Hadley Canyon. The article describes the astronauts' activities, including TV broadcasts, preparing for the lunar surface mission, and the deployment of the lunar rover. It mentions a problem with disconnecting the lunar module, which was resolved. The landing site was approximately 600 meters from the planned point. Scott performed a 'stand-up EVA' to take panoramic photos. Scott became the seventh person to walk on the Moon on July 31, 1971, followed by Irwin eight minutes later. The article details their exploration, including driving the lunar rover, collecting geological samples, and reaching Hadley Canyon. The excursion lasted seven hours and thirteen minutes. They collected 103 kg of samples. The article concludes with the successful liftoff from the Moon and the rendezvous with the command module.

New Astronomical Oddities

This section reports on a discovery in mid-May 1974 by three astronomers at the Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands. They reportedly discovered an invisible celestial body two billion light-years away from Earth, emitting strong radioactive radiation and moving at a speed of 108,000 million km/hour, which is 100 times faster than light. The article notes that such reports suggest a need to re-evaluate the current worldview, even if the speed is misreported.

UFO Observations Over Europe

This article focuses on a significant sighting on January 26, 1974, involving four passenger aircraft crews (British, Portuguese, Norwegian, and Swedish) who observed 10-15 bright objects in formation flight over Portugal, near Lisbon. The Boeing 727 from TRANSAIR, flying at 10,700 meters with a speed of 930 km/hour, was the first to report. The objects were described as having a strong yellowish-white light trail, appearing larger than others in a V-formation. The speed was estimated at about Mach 10, and the altitude between 15,000 and 22,000 meters. Lisbon Radar could not detect the objects. The article includes witness testimonies from the pilots, who described the phenomenon as a controlled flight. The observation lasted about two minutes. The article, in cooperation with civil engineer Björn Gimle, proposes that the objects were the final stage of the Soviet communication satellite MOLNIJA 1-AA crashing through the atmosphere, citing its trajectory and timing.

Landings and Humanoid Reports from the Cape Province

This section details UFO reports from South Africa, specifically from the Cape Province, during 1972. It mentions a wave of UFO reports that had subsided in September but resurfaced. Two typical reports from Pretoria News on October 23, 1972, are presented. The first involves a military officer and four others who saw a light shaped like an '8' moving silently over Pretoria. The second report is from Dick Richards, a former Spitfire pilot, who saw a light moving north at high speed, estimated at 800 km/hour, at an altitude of 300-450 meters. The object slowed down, hovered, and then moved northeast.

The article then focuses on incidents in Rosmead, where a tennis court was reportedly damaged by a UFO. Herr J du Plessis reported seeing a UFO 'wandering' over the Karroo for three months, exhibiting erratic movements and disappearing quickly. Newspaper reports from November 1972 highlighted a UFO landing on a schoolyard and a UFO tearing up a tennis court. The Rosmead tennis court incident involved large holes in the asphalt, a dying tree nearby, and no signs of conventional damage. Scientists from CSIR were analyzing asphalt samples and tree twigs. Theories included explosions, whirlwinds, and alien spacecraft. Soldiers guarding a nearby fuel depot reported seeing red lights moving in circles over the tennis court, followed by a strange, glowing light illuminating the entire depot. No tire tracks were found.

Another report from Middelburg describes two "little red men" emerging from a glowing object, as reported by Gert Pretorius. Police investigated but found nothing. The article also mentions a UF O landing at Middelburg, with two meter-tall, red, luminous beings carrying backpacks exiting a flying saucer.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings with a focus on witness testimonies, particularly from credible sources like pilots and police officers. There is an attempt to provide scientific analysis, as seen with the Lisbon incident explanation involving a satellite. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into UFO phenomena, acknowledging the growing interest from scientific and governmental bodies, while also cautioning against sensationalism and misinformation. The publication aims to inform its readers about UFO events globally, with a particular emphasis on European and South African cases in this issue. The Apollo missions are covered as a separate, non-UFO related topic, reflecting an interest in space exploration alongside the primary focus on UFOs.

Title: Flying Saucer Review
Issue: Vol. 19, No. 1
Date: January-February 1973
Publisher: Flying Saucer Review
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of Flying Saucer Review delves into various UFO and unexplained phenomena reports from different parts of the world, alongside a scientific re-evaluation of ancient texts.

South African Incident: Rosmead

The issue begins with an account from Mr. Pretorius, who, along with his wife and Koos Coetzee, witnessed a bright light over a mountain. This light led them to a location where they saw two small, red, luminous beings, approximately human-sized, carrying what appeared to be backpacks and holding torches. The beings and the light then vanished abruptly. Mrs. Pretorius was reportedly paralyzed by shock. Koos Coetzee, arriving at the scene shortly after, confirmed seeing the light. He described it as illuminating the entire area and noted what appeared to be legs on which the 'thing' had landed, with small lights underneath.

Following this, an incident at the Rosmead military base's tennis court is discussed. A large area of asphalt was damaged, but there were no tire tracks or audible sounds that would suggest a conventional vehicle. The article notes the difficulty of verifying information from South Africa due to vast distances and communication challenges, expressing gratitude to the newspaper 'Rapport' for their cooperation.

A commentator, G. D. B. Williams, expresses concern about the Rosmead incident, questioning if it might be part of an elaborate hoax. However, the lack of wheel tracks, sound, and the localized damage to the asphalt suggest otherwise.

Further accounts from the colored residential area describe people fleeing into their homes in fear of the lights. At the military base, African residents also panicked. The article mentions hundreds of cars converging on Middelburg and Rosmead, with people using binoculars but not arming themselves.

Mr. Pretorius stands by his account, stating, "You may mock my little red men, but I know that it was something that no one can explain. I can swear on the Bible that I saw them."

European Sightings: France

The magazine then shifts focus to sightings in France. Police officer Michel Dormey reported observing a large, luminous object on his way to an incident. He described it as "enormously 'vibrating'" and unlike anything he had ever seen. He estimated its length to be at least 275 meters (900 feet), describing it as blue-grey with three orange half-moon shapes underneath. He was able to track it for about 45 minutes with binoculars before it disappeared over the horizon.

Police Chief Edmond Sallaz, initially skeptical, was convinced by the reports from his officers, particularly Dormey and another officer named Robin, whom he trusted. He noted that color photographs taken by Claude Bouthor clearly showed the three orange half-moon shapes reported by witnesses.

Another sighting occurred on March 1, 1974, when three vineyard workers near Epernay reported a large, cigar-shaped luminous object. Jean Paillard, one of the witnesses, described it as "a truly UFO."

Mayor André Jolibois of Verbiesles observed a bright orange crescent below a dark, disc-shaped object that vibrated and moved in a way that was clearly not the moon.

Claude Bouthours, a French Air Force officer, along with his wife and another officer, Bernard Roure, observed and photographed an object from their home near Eclaron. Bouthours described the object as vibrating and performing "dancing" movements, with three orange half-moon shapes underneath. He stated he had been in the Air Force for twelve years and was familiar with various aircraft.

Satellite Re-entry Hypothesis: Lisbon

The magazine presents a detailed analysis by civil engineer Björn Gimle regarding an observation made by four airplane crews (English, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Swedish) on January 26, 1974, near Lisbon. They reported seeing 10-15 luminous objects at an altitude of approximately 20,000 meters, moving at speeds about ten times that of sound. The objects were visible for about a minute.

Gimble suggests that these objects were likely the final stage of the Soviet communication satellite MOLNIJA 1-AA, launched in November 1973. He calculates that the satellite's trajectory would have taken it over the Lisbon area at the time of the observation. The article includes reports in Spanish, Italian, and Finnish supporting this hypothesis, suggesting that the crews witnessed a satellite re-entry.

Book Review: "When Heaven Opened" by J. F. Blumrich

Bertil Nilsson reviews "Då Öppnades Himmlen" (When Heaven Opened) by J. F. Blumrich, a NASA engineer. The book reinterprets the biblical prophet Ezekiel's vision as an ancient UFO encounter. Blumrich initially set out to disprove Erich von Däniken's theory that Ezekiel saw a spaceship but was astonished to find evidence supporting a technological interpretation of the text.

Blumrich's technical calculations suggest that the craft described by Ezekiel would have required a powerful energy source, possibly a nuclear reactor, the technology for which may be nearing realization. He praises Ezekiel's sharp observation skills in a potentially overwhelming situation. Blumrich notes that the descriptions of the craft's sounds and appearance, such as "the roar of its wings was like the roar of great waters" and comparisons to "God's glory," are attempts to describe something beyond contemporary understanding, similar to how modern UFOs are called "flying saucers."

The book includes a technical appendix with calculations showing how the "Ezekiel's spaceship" design, as it evolves, tends towards forms familiar from modern UFO observations.

New Magazine Promotion: UFO-RAPPORT

The issue concludes with an advertisement for a new UFO magazine called "UFO-RAPPORT." It promises fresh reports on landings, observations, and humanoid contacts, describing itself as a captivating magazine for the modern person. It is published quarterly, with 20 pages per issue, at a price of 10 kronor. Readers are encouraged to subscribe.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, potential alien encounters, and the scientific analysis of unexplained phenomena, including reinterpreting ancient texts through a modern technological lens. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, presenting various accounts and offering scientific or logical explanations where possible, such as the satellite re-entry hypothesis, while also acknowledging the genuinely puzzling nature of some events. The promotion of "UFO-RAPPORT" indicates a continued interest in disseminating information within the UFO community.