GICOFF-Information - 1976 No 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of GIGOFF INFORMATION, volume 7, number 3, from 1976, is published by GIGOFF and focuses on UFO phenomena with a scientific and investigative approach. The cover headline poses the question: "Did a Norwegian UFO landing make the deep track in the grass?" The magazine is in Swedish and priced at 45 SEK for a single issue.

Editorial and Content

Editorial by Sven-Olof Fredrikson

Sven-Olof Fredrikson, the chairman of GIGOFF, opens the issue by apologizing for delays in publication and introduces a new book by Gösta Rehn, "UFO-Utmaningen." Fredrikson highlights Rehn's perspective that UFO phenomena have deeper religious, psychological, and parapsychological causes than usually assumed, drawing parallels between UFO beings and folklore figures. He emphasizes the importance of discussing these aspects for the future direction of UFOlogy and invites reader debate.

Book Review: "UFO-Utmaningen" by Gösta Rehn

Sven-Olof Fredrikson reviews Gösta Rehn's fourth book, "UFO-Utmaningen." Rehn is presented as a significant figure in spreading serious UFO information in Sweden. The book is described as a logical follow-up to his previous works, including a critique of those who attribute UFOs to occultism. Rehn champions Professor Allen Hynek as the foremost authority on UFOs and argues that UFOs are extraterrestrial spacecraft, refuting "lie propaganda" from military and intelligence agencies. The review notes that the book was written under difficult circumstances and may lack the polish of Rehn's earlier works but offers clearer arguments on certain aspects, concluding that UFOs are a reality accessible to rational research.

UFO Landing in Norway

An article titled "SPÅR EFTER UFO-LANDNING" (Tracks after UFO Landing) by Leif Nilsson investigates a phenomenon on the Norwegian west coast island of Espevaer. A 40 cm wide track in a light oval ring, approximately 64 meters in circumference, was found on a small grass field. The grass was compressed in one direction. Despite investigations by the air force, no natural explanation was found. Local residents dismissed theories of it being a football field or a winter ice rink. The article also mentions a witness, Else Tollevik, who reported her dog behaving strangely one night, with its hair standing on end.

UFO Wave in Värmland, Sweden

"Från UFO-vågen i Värmland" (From the UFO Wave in Värmland) details a series of strange events in southern Värmland during October 1975, particularly on the 18th and 19th, with some incidents dating back to the night of October 12th.

#### "Duckade för ljuskula som kom rakt mot bilen!" (Dodged a ball of light that came straight at the car!)

Aina Larsson from Väse recounts an experience on October 12, 1975, where a luminous object approached her car on the E18 highway. The object veered away and hovered over treetops before reappearing and heading directly towards the car again. She described it as a bright light, similar to a streetlamp, and felt a strong gust of wind. The object disappeared into the forests near Väse.

#### "UNG KVINNA I BIL FÖRFÖLJD AV UFO" (Young Woman in Car Pursued by UFO)

On the night of October 18, 1975, Pia Skoog was driving near Väse when she observed a bright, sharp blue-white star. Later, while parked, the light returned and followed her car at a distance of about 10 meters. The object, described as egg-shaped and about 80 cm in diameter, emitted a strong light and a loud humming sound. It performed evasive maneuvers and accelerated rapidly before disappearing.

#### "BILIST STOPPAD AV UFO" (Driver Stopped by UFO)

On the same night, Gunnel Nilsson was driving near Skållerud when her car suddenly stopped as a luminous object approached. The object, described as a yellow dome with a blinking red edge, caused her legs to become paralyzed. She was helped by a neighbor after managing to call for assistance. The car restarted, and the object vanished.

"TEFAT" BLIR ALLTMER KÄNDA - MEN MYCKET GÅR ATT IDENTIFIERA ("Flying Saucers" are becoming better known - but much can be identified)

This section discusses how meteors and weather balloons can be mistaken for UFOs, citing examples from July 1975. A bright light in Västsverige was likely a meteor, and a silver-shining object over Strömstad was probably a weather balloon.

GICOFF Presentation

The magazine provides a brief presentation of GICOFF, stating its mission to spread information and encourage discussion about UFO phenomena. GICOFF emphasizes its work is done voluntarily and openly, aiming for scientific study and accepting that responsible authorities view UFO incidents similarly to parapsychological events – acknowledging their existence without necessarily providing scientific explanations within the current worldview.

RYMD TEKNIK FORSKNING (Space Technology Research)

#### "Nya supertunga grundämnen" (New Superheavy Elements)

This article reports on the discovery of three new superheavy elements with atomic numbers 116, 124, and 126, found naturally on Earth. These elements are remarkably stable with a lifespan of about a billion years, unlike previously synthesized elements beyond uranium (atomic number 92). The discovery was made by physicist Paul Dirac and is considered a significant advancement in nuclear physics.

#### "FASCINERANDE KRABBNEBULOSAN" (Fascinating Crab Nebula)

This piece discusses the Crab Nebula, first cataloged by Charles Messier. It details its discovery as a 'new star' by Chinese astronomer Yang Wei-te in 1054, which was actually the death of a star. The nebula's expansion and its identification as a source of X-rays by radio astronomers are mentioned. The article also touches upon the history of telescopes and the ongoing quest to observe distant celestial objects.

PROJEKT URD (Project URD)

#### "Är URD verkligen för ambitiöst? Hör gärna av er med synpunkter!" (Is URD really too ambitious? Please share your opinions!)

Sven-Olof Fredrikson discusses the progress and challenges of Projekt URD, a project focused on collecting and standardizing UFO information. He acknowledges that the project has been demanding in terms of time and finances, potentially diverting resources from other UFOlogy activities. Fredrikson addresses criticisms that the project is "too ambitious," arguing that its scope is necessary to gain acceptance from authorities and the scientific establishment. He also discusses the challenges of course development and the need for better communication between project leadership and field reporters.

Argentinsk chaufför undersöktes i UFO! (Argentinean Driver Examined in UFO!)

This detailed account describes the experience of Dionisio Llanca, an Argentinean truck driver, on October 28, 1973. Llanca reported a nocturnal encounter with a UFO and its occupants. He was taken aboard the craft, where he was examined, and a blood sample was taken. The experience resulted in temporary amnesia and disorientation. After regaining his memory, Llanca provided details about the beings (two men and a woman, dressed in silver suits) and the craft. A medical examination by Dr. Ricardo Smirnoff confirmed Llanca's state of amnesia. A subsequent hypnosis interview revealed more details about the encounter, including the duration (40-45 minutes) and the beings' claim to have been visiting Earth since 1950 to study humanity. The article also touches upon speculation that the UFO may have drawn power from electrical lines and a lake.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of UFO phenomena through witness accounts and scientific analysis, the exploration of potential extraterrestrial explanations, and the challenges faced by UFO researchers in gaining credibility and acceptance. GIGOFF's stance is clearly in favor of a serious, scientific approach to UFOlogy, distinguishing it from occultism and pseudoscience. They aim to collect data systematically and encourage open debate, while acknowledging the limitations of current scientific understanding in fully explaining the phenomenon.

This issue of UFO magazine, published in 1976, focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena. The cover story details an encounter by a US Army helicopter pilot with a UFO over Stockton, California. The magazine also includes reports on other sightings, a discussion on scientific analysis of UFO phenomena, and results from a competition.

Amerikansk arméhelikopter förföljd av UFO

The lead article recounts an incident on August 14th where Major Claude Riddle, a helicopter pilot with over 5000 flight hours, was followed by a UFO while approaching Stockton Airport in California. Air traffic controllers Joe Savage, Dan Long, and John-Paul Ammirata observed the object through binoculars. Dan Long first spotted the UFO at 21:35, describing it as disk-shaped with an intense orange glow. Major Riddle observed a bright light following his helicopter about 1.5 kilometers behind. When he turned his helicopter, he saw the object shimmering like a diamond, as large as a jet plane, with an orange light from the top and a dark bottom, emitting two blue beams from the sides. The UFO circled the airport for five minutes while Riddle maneuvered to keep it in sight at a safe distance. Riddle stated it scared him. Suddenly, the object turned bright red and sped away incredibly fast, faster than anything he had seen before, disappearing in a cloud of green gas. One air traffic controller estimated the UFO ascended to 20,000 meters in 5-6 seconds before vanishing.

Tidigare observation (Previous Observation)

Four days prior to the Stockton incident, in Gilroy, California, a similar strange object frightened 19-year-old Mrs. Terry Smith and her 12-year-old cousin Imelea Lugo. The object descended rapidly and stopped in front of their car, about 15 meters above the road. Mrs. Smith stopped the car, and she and Imelea fled to Imelea's home, about 400 meters away, waking her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Lugo witnessed a strange circular craft, about 30 meters above their house, with flashing red, blue, and white lights around its center. José Lugo described it as gray, at least twice the size of a car, with three legs like landing gear tipped with suction cups. Mrs. Lugo noted it had two square windows on top and metal panels that reflected light. After several minutes, the UFO moved north without making any sound, flying just a few meters above the treetops.

Vetenskap inte ... (Science Doesn't Know...)

This section discusses the scientific approach to understanding the UFO phenomenon. It posits that explanations are sought within the framework of our three-dimensional world and the known physical laws of the universe. The author argues that for UFO phenomena to be explained, a comprehensive and detailed study of the entire phenomenon is necessary, otherwise, efforts will be in vain. The ideas of Keel and Vallée are mentioned as potentially leading to a dead end if they lead to the dismissal of serious studies.

Spår efter UFO-landning (Traces of UFO Landing)

This part describes a mysterious mark on a lawn. The object made a sound like a yelp and behaved violently. The mark is described as an oval, 64 meters in circumference, 26 meters long and 16 meters wide, with the grass pressed flat and the ground slightly depressed. The timing of the mark is unknown. Docent Egil Ekblad from the botanical museum in Bergen suggests it is a fungus ring ('häxring'), which would turn brown in the summer while the surrounding grass remains green. However, Finn Kalvik from NUFOC disputes this, stating he has examined the grass and found no evidence of fungus, and that the grass inside the ring was as withered as elsewhere. He questions why fungus would press the grass in the same direction. The article cites Haugesunds Avis, Bergens Tidende, and Rogalands Avis as sources. A postscript indicates that analysis of soil samples from the 'häxring' found no evidence of fungus.

URD

This section addresses the URD (presumably a UFO research organization) and its operations. It explains that the organization is currently unable to expand its activities due to insufficient resources and the need for more volunteers. It encourages readers to get involved, highlighting the stimulating nature of personal contacts and the importance of the work. The section also addresses the complexity of the forms used for reporting observations, explaining that they are designed to gather detailed information for data storage and statistical analysis. It emphasizes the importance of providing a comprehensive written narrative of the observation, not just filling out the forms.

UFO-UTMANINGEN (UFO Challenge)

This is an advertisement for K. Gösta Rehn's fourth book, "Tefatsboken" (The Saucer Book), which summarizes his analysis of the UFO problem and presents his decisive evidence. The book is priced at approximately 45 SEK and is available in bookstores or directly from Zindermans förlag.

RESULTAT AV TÄVLINGEN (Competition Results)

This section announces the results of a competition held by GICOFF-Information, likely related to promoting the magazine. The competition received many tips and ideas for advertising. First prize was awarded to Björn Möller of Växjö, second to Hans Berggren of Falun, and third to Gösta Blomqvist of Mölndal. The organizers express gratitude to all participants for their contributions to the magazine's continued existence.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features reports of UFO sightings, often with detailed witness testimonies and attempts at analysis. There's an emphasis on scientific investigation and the need for comprehensive data, as seen in the 'Vetenskap inte...' and 'URD' sections. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, encouraging reader participation and the submission of detailed reports, while also acknowledging the challenges and complexities involved in understanding such events. The inclusion of a book review and a competition suggests an effort to engage the readership and promote the field of UFO research.