GICOFF-Information - 1976 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: GIGOFF INFORMATION
Issue: Nr 6, 1976 - Årgång 7
Publisher: GÖTEBORGS INFORMATIONS CENTER FÖR OIDENTIFIERADE FLYGANDE FÖREMÅL (GIGOFF)
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
ISSN: 0345-4053
Cover Headline: Kan det ha varit en robot som polisen fotograferade? (Could it have been a robot that the police photographed?)

This issue of GIGOFF Information, dated 1976, delves into a controversial UFO sighting involving a police chief and photographic evidence, alongside other related topics.

GOD JUL OCH GOTT NYTT ÅR (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year)

The editorial section begins with a holiday greeting and a thank you to members and subscribers for their support throughout the year. The editor expresses concern about the financial struggles faced by GIGOFF and other UFO publications, noting that many members contribute financially out of their own pockets. The editorial also announces the inclusion of a special UFO phenomenon description for members, promising further insights into the phenomenon from a scientific perspective in the coming year. The continuation of the magazine is confirmed by a small orange paper included in issue number 5.

Contents (INNEHÅLL)

• Polis fotograferade robot? (Police photographed a robot?) - Page 4
• Skjut aldrig! (Never shoot!) - Page 17
• Rymd Teknik Forskning (Space Technology Research) - Page 18

Ut i oändligheten (Into Infinity) - Book Review

This section reviews the book "Världsalltets barn" (Children of the Universe) by Hoimar von Ditfurth, reviewed by Bertil Nilsson. The book is described as an interesting and thought-provoking work on new astrophysics and cosmobiology, exploring the interdisciplinary collaboration and rapid changes in the astronomical world. The reviewer notes that the book, while not a novel, offers a perspective on human existence within a vast universe. It is praised for its popular science approach, bridging basic facts with hypotheses and patterns at the frontiers of research. The review highlights the book's explanation of how life on Earth depends on a delicate balance of fundamental factors and how the universe is interconnected. It suggests that the book is useful for those who tend to view aspects of existence in isolation, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life forms and the solar system as a 'ship' within larger cosmic systems.

Polis fotograferade robot? (Police photographed a robot?)

This is the main article of the issue, detailing the encounter of Police Chief Jeffrey Greenhaw of Falkville, Alabama, with a humanoid creature on the night of October 17, 1973. Greenhaw, then 23 years old, was responding to a report of a spaceship landing. While on patrol, his headlights illuminated a metallic, humanoid-like being walking in the middle of the road. Greenhaw stopped his car and attempted to communicate with the creature, which ignored him and continued towards the car. He took four Polaroid photographs of the being at distances of 15 meters, 6 meters, and 3 meters. The creature then turned and moved away rapidly. Greenhaw pursued it in his patrol car but lost sight of it. The analysis of the photographs, conducted by Colman Vonkeviczy (ICUFON, New York) and DUIST (West Germany), suggests the creature moved in a stiff, robotic manner, with its limbs and body angles indicating a mechanical, possibly remote-controlled, operation. The creature's speed was described as faster than any human Greenhaw had ever seen, and faster than his patrol car. The article notes that Greenhaw's wife divorced him, and he was forced to resign from his position, facing threats and harassment, which the magazine attributes to the official cover-up of UFO phenomena.

The Falkville Incident

Falkville, a town of 1,200 inhabitants, is located near Redstone Arsenal. The incident occurred around 10:00 PM on October 17, 1973. A woman reported a spaceship landing, leading Greenhaw to investigate. He spotted the humanoid creature, described as approximately 150-180 cm tall, slender, and clad in a shiny, silver-like spacesuit with hip-length boots and gloves. The creature wore a helmet with an antenna, and its facial features were obscured by a visor. Greenhaw took four photos. The creature's movement was described as stiff and jerky, like a robot. After the pursuit, Greenhaw returned to the police station, but his colleagues were skeptical of his story, despite the photographs.

Analysis

The analysis of the photographs suggests two main types of UFOs: manned and remotely controlled. The Falkville creature is categorized as potentially remotely controlled due to its behavior. The analysis of the photos indicates stiff, robotic movements, with specific angles of the limbs and body. The creature's gait is described as unnatural, with a peculiar way of moving its legs and arms, suggesting a mechanical support system.

Psychological Evaluation

The creature's reaction (or lack thereof) to the police car's lights and flashbulbs is noted as unusual for a sentient being. It did not react to being photographed at close range, suggesting it was not a typical biological entity. The article posits that the creature was recalled by a remote control when Greenhaw began to retrieve the film from his camera.

UFO Wave of October 1973

The Falkville incident was part of a larger UFO wave that affected large parts of the eastern USA from October 12-19, 1973. This wave included reports of "ghost ships" in the Gulf of Mexico, underwater operations, and numerous sightings across states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan. The article lists many specific locations and types of sightings, including landed craft, humanoid encounters, and aerial objects.

"Explanation" Given

The US Air Force issued a statement on October 18, 1973, claiming that atmospheric tests were being conducted at high altitudes, attributing the sightings to these tests. However, the article dismisses this explanation, pointing out that atmospheric tests do not explain UFOs chasing police cars, killing cattle, or people seeing small silver figures. The article also mentions an explanation from Redstone Arsenal and Spaceflight Center that Greenhaw had photographed a firefighter in a NASA suit, which the magazine finds implausible.

SKJUT ALDRIG! (Never Shoot!)

This section includes a brief anecdote about a farmer in Brazil who shot at three humanoids that emerged from a landed UFO. The humanoids responded with a beam from their ship, and the farmer later died of radiation-induced leukemia. The article uses this to caution against aggressive responses to unknown entities.

RYMD TEKNIK FORSKNING (Space Technology Research)

KUL BLIXT (Ball Lightning)

This article discusses the phenomenon of ball lightning, noting that it is often dismissed by "administrators" as mere hallucination, while "researchers" seek more data. Ball lightning is described as a rare and short-lived phenomenon that occurs during thunderstorms. The article presents three cases: one where a person's body was cremated in a bedroom without damaging the clothes or bedding, another where a woman's clothes were destroyed by ball lightning but she was unharmed, and a third where a woman's clothes and underwear were burned but her skin was only slightly reddened. The article mentions hypotheses that ball lightning might be fixed electromagnetic radiation or mini-meteorites of antimatter, and some even link it to UFOs. The author urges readers to report any ball lightning observations to aid scientific understanding.

Att se baklänges i tiden (Seeing Backwards in Time)

This section discusses the upcoming installation of a new telescope on Mount Calar Alto in Spain, scheduled for the early 1980s. This telescope, with a 3.5-meter mirror, will offer significantly better performance than the Mount Palomar telescope. The article explains that observing distant celestial objects is essentially looking back in time due to the finite speed of light. It mentions Proxima Centauri as the nearest star at 4.25 light-years away, meaning we see it as it was 4.25 years ago. Other bright stars like Sirius, Canopus, Alpha Centauri, and Arcturus are also mentioned with their distances. The Andromeda spiral nebula, the most distant object visible to the naked eye, is located 2 million light-years away, meaning we see it as it was two million years ago. The article also touches upon the vastness of stars, mentioning the pulsating VV Cephei as one of the largest known stars and Wolf 457 as one of the smallest.

BLÅ MÅNE (Blue Moon)

This section explains the phenomenon of a "blue moon." It clarifies that the moon can appear blue due to atmospheric conditions, such as smoke and ash particles from large forest fires. These particles scatter light, making shorter wavelengths (blue) more prominent. The article cites the example of a large forest fire in Alberta, Canada, in 1950, which caused the moon to appear blue. It also mentions that volcanic eruptions, like Krakatoa in 1883, can have a similar effect on the sun's appearance.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, particularly the Falkville robot encounter, and the alleged cover-up of such phenomena by authorities. The magazine strongly advocates for open reporting and scientific investigation of UFOs and related anomalies like ball lightning. It criticizes the official stance of denial and suppression, highlighting the negative consequences faced by individuals who come forward with evidence. The editorial stance is clearly pro-UFO investigation and critical of governmental secrecy and dismissal of witness accounts. The inclusion of a book review on cosmology and a section on ball lightning suggests a broad interest in unexplained phenomena and scientific inquiry.

This issue of GICOFF-Information, dated 1976, focuses on clarifying the organization's stance and principles, particularly what it does *not* want to represent. It aims to foster a more critical and less sensational approach to UFO research.

What GICOFF Does NOT Want

The lead article, 'Vad GICOFF inte vill...' (What GICOFF does not want...), addresses common misconceptions and undesirable traits within the UFO community. The organization explicitly states it does not want to:

• Monopolize UFO information: They believe competition is stimulating and that different opinions are valuable, even among extraterrestrial visitors.
• Claim to have solved the UFO problem: GICOFF does not want to present itself as having all the answers or deep knowledge about UFOs.
• Turn UFOs into a religion: They reject the idea of UFOs being a form of cosmic help from superior cultures or a means for discarnate spirits to find new material existences.
• Seek negative publicity: GICOFF wishes to avoid being ridiculed or portrayed as delusional by the press.
• Exaggerate minor events: They do not want to inflate every unusual occurrence or spooky story into a major UFO case.
• Have a dictatorial leader: The organization emphasizes democratic participation, where every member can contribute their opinions and resources.

The article argues that sensationalism and the exaggeration of minor events, which often lead to banal explanations, are more damaging to the public perception of UFO research than well-documented cases. GICOFF's primary goal is to find 'natural' explanations for observations, though they remain open to other possibilities, including advanced religious or psychological interpretations.

They criticize the 'immediately believing' individuals who, through their statements in the press, make all UFO enthusiasts appear naive and gullible, thereby hindering serious investigations. GICOFF advocates for a critical stance, explaining to enthusiasts that their experiences might be unusual but explainable by known astronomical, photographic, or psychological phenomena. They are willing to believe people's accounts but are aware of the potential for self-deception.

Therefore, GICOFF commits to thorough investigations, acknowledging their limited resources. They will not uncritically accept evidence, such as photographs, if simpler technical means could have produced similar results. While individual witnesses strengthen credibility, GICOFF assures that those who have had unusual experiences alone are not discouraged from reporting them, and anonymity is respected.

UFOs and the Vietnam War

An article titled 'UFO:s bevakade Vietnamkriget' (UFOs observed the Vietnam War) presents documentary photos allegedly showing UFOs during the conflict. One image depicts a silver-white disk approaching a US Air Force B-57 bomber over the battlefront, while another shows UFOs flying in front of US fighter-bombers during an attack over Vinh, North Vietnam. The source is cited as CBA/Tokio UFO-nachrichten nr 242.

Cataloging the Night Sky

'Stjärnhimlen katalogiserad' (The Starry Sky Cataloged) reports on an international research collaboration, supported by the German Research Association, which has resulted in an eight-volume catalog of the northern night sky. This extensive work, conducted at leading astronomical institutes in West Germany, contains precise positional data for 180,000 celestial bodies of varying brightness.

Technological Advancements

'TRÅNGT?' (Tight?) discusses a revolutionary copper pipe technology capable of transmitting 300,000 telephone calls or 200 TV programs simultaneously, a feat far exceeding the capacity of conventional cables of the same diameter. This is achieved by converting signals into electronic codes transmitted as high-frequency radio waves through a dry nitrogen-filled pipe, which minimizes resistance and allows for far more frequencies to be utilized without interference.

A UFO Landing Strip in France

'Varsågod, landa här!' (You're welcome, land here!) announces the establishment of what is claimed to be the world's only airport specifically designed for UFO landings. Located near the village of Ares, a few miles west of Bordeaux, France, the initiative was taken by technician Robert Cotten. He has promised that the first 'flying saucer' to land will not be charged a landing fee. The field, inaugurated on August 15th, features marker lights and is situated near Arcachon Bay. Cotten believes many 'flying saucers' might be looking for a suitable landing spot and has arranged for 24-hour surveillance.

Subscription Offer

A 'MEDDELANDE' (Announcement) section offers readers GICOFF-Information for free in 1977 if they recruit three new annual subscribers. It also provides contact details for Jörgen Karlson and a postal address.

Upcoming Features (Cover Tease)

The back cover teases upcoming content for 1977, including:

• Finnish Skiers: GICOFF will present a case involving Finnish skiers.
• TOP SECRET: The Pascagoula Incident: GICOFF promises remarkable, never-before-published material and authentic color photos from their camera team's investigation at a bunker in Skillingaryd, revealing the truth about their findings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around promoting a more rigorous and skeptical approach to UFO research, emphasizing critical analysis and the pursuit of evidence-based explanations. GICOFF positions itself as a facilitator of serious investigation, distinct from sensationalism or uncritical belief. The editorial stance is one of open-minded skepticism, encouraging detailed reporting while prioritizing scientific methodology and transparency. The magazine also touches upon technological advancements and astronomical discoveries, framing them within a broader context of human understanding and the universe.