GICOFF-Information - 1977 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: GICOFF INFORMATION
Issue: Nr. 1, ÅRGÅNG 8
Date: 1977
Publisher: GICOFF (GÖTEBORGS INFORMATIONS CENTER FÖR OIDENTIFIERADE FLYGANDE FÖREMÅL)
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
ISSN: 0345-4053

This issue of GICOFF Information focuses on UFO sightings, radar tracking, and scientific investigations into UFO technology. The cover prominently features a military jet and a headline announcing that UFOs were tracked by radar, leading to the scramble of two fighter jets.

Editorial and Contents

The editorial section, "Din medverkan nödvändig för GICOFF" (Your participation is necessary for GICOFF), highlights the magazine's international reach and appeals to readers with foreign language skills (French, Spanish, Brazilian, Japanese, Finnish) to assist in translating foreign UFO-related materials. It also introduces a new section, "UFO-observationer över Sverige" (UFO Observations over Sweden), summarizing Swedish press reports.

The table of contents lists several articles, including a book review, UFOs tracked by radar, UFOs in the Borås region, a mysterious light, a Mars image, space technology research, a homemade 'flying saucer', UFO film analysis, and UFOs over Sweden.

Book Review: "DET OUTFORSKADE" by Friedrich Boschke

Bertil Nilsson reviews Friedrich Boschke's book "Det outforskade" (The Unexplored), which examines phenomena that challenge conventional scientific understanding. The book covers geological, physical, and chemical phenomena, as well as astronomical anomalies, meteorites, continental drift, volcanoes, and ice ages. It also touches upon the scientific community's initial skepticism towards phenomena like meteorites and the slow progress in understanding basic concepts like crystal formation.

Main Feature: UFOs Tracked by Radar, Fighter Jets Scrambled

This article details an incident where the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) admitted to tracking an unidentified flying object (UFO) on radar and scrambling two F-106 fighter jets. The incident occurred on November 11, 1975, and involved multiple witnesses, including police officers and military personnel in the Falconbridge, Ontario area. Despite the jets being deployed, they did not make contact with the object. The article notes that NORAD's admission was significant, as the Pentagon had previously denied tracking UFOs on radar since the Project Blue Book investigation ended in 1969. Witnesses described the object as moving at high speeds and changing altitude rapidly. The report also mentions other UFO sightings in the Sudbury area on the same morning.

UFO Sightings in the Borås Region

Leif Nilsson reports on several unexplained aerial phenomena observed in the Borås region of Sweden during October 1976. One account involves five witnesses who observed a triangular, brightly lit object that hovered and then moved horizontally. Another incident describes a witness seeing a bright light that ascended and descended. While some sightings were attributed to rockets or strong lamps, others remained puzzling.

A separate report details an observation by Jerry Lindgren on October 7, 1977, of an object that hovered, changed position, and altered its color before disappearing. The object was described as having sharp contours and an indescribable color.

A "Streetlight" on the Move?

Leif Nilsson recounts the experience of Lena Groth in Västra Frölunda on the night of October 25-26, 1972. She observed an oval object with a strong yellow-white light and a pale blue aura hovering near a streetlight. The object emitted a strange rising and falling sound. It moved away and then reappeared in the same location. During the second sighting, a car stopped below the object, and its occupant remained inside.

Mars Image Analysis

The magazine features a photograph taken by the Viking 1 Orbiter on Mars, showing a landscape with a large rock formation resembling a human head. The caption notes that the formation is approximately 1.5 km wide. The article suggests that beyond the 'face,' other details in the image, such as a rectangular formation and a 'T' shape, might indicate deliberate planning or design, hinting at the possibility of artificial structures or a special gathering place.

Space, Technology, and Research

Supernova Causing Ice Ages?

An article discusses a theory proposed by three British scientists suggesting that a nearby supernova explosion could have triggered ice ages by depleting the Earth's ozone layer, leading to increased solar radiation and a subsequent drop in temperature. However, the frequency of such events is calculated to be very low, prompting further questions about the causes of recurring ice ages.

Amor Discovers Jano

This section reports on Mexican mathematician Jacinto Amor de la Pena's mathematical calculations suggesting the existence of a tenth planet, named Jano, beyond Pluto's orbit. This discovery is compared to the mathematical predictions that led to the discovery of Neptune and Pluto.

Water - and Thus Life!

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have detected water vapor in a nebula approximately 2.2 million light-years from Earth, suggesting the potential for life in other galaxies. The article also touches upon the challenges of interstellar communication due to vast distances.

Scientific Poles

It is reported that the Earth's poles have shifted, with the South Pole moving. The article discusses the movement of the ice in Antarctica and the ongoing efforts to precisely determine the location of the South Pole. The magnetic poles are also noted for their movement, with ongoing debate about the causes.

Breakthrough: How UFOs Fly

This article details a sensational scientific breakthrough claimed by a team of three French scientists who believe they have solved the mystery of UFO propulsion. They assert that it is possible to build flying saucers within 8-10 years, capable of hovering like helicopters and traveling faster than sound without sonic booms. The scientists, including Dr. Jean-Pierre Petit and Dr. Maurice Viton, have reportedly built a functional model of a UFO craft. Their theory involves harnessing energy from a 'hydrogen bomb' principle but in a controlled manner, using electromagnetic fields to manipulate gases for propulsion. The unique 'saucer' shape is credited with enabling silent, high-speed flight and the characteristic hovering or 'bobbing' motion observed in UFOs.

Dr. Claude Poher, another member of the team, validates the theory, noting that the sound associated with UFOs is minimal, akin to the buzzing of bees. He also explains how the saucer shape contributes to its flight characteristics. The article lists the three scientists: Prof. Claude Poher (head of Sounding Rockets Division), Dr. Maurice Viton (astronomer and engineer), and Dr. Jean-Pierre Petit (plasma physicist).

Expert Analysis of UFO Film

Arthur Lundahl, a former chief photo analyst for the US government, states that he has seen an authentic UFO film. He asserts that the film, taken by US Navy photographer Delbert Newhouse in 1952, shows multiple objects of unknown size moving at high speeds (calculated up to 2700 km/h) and changing colors. Lundahl, who previously analyzed photographs for the CIA, believes the film cannot be a hoax and represents something beyond current human understanding. He mentions that experts analyzed the film for over 1600 frames and could not find any conventional explanation, ruling out aircraft, satellites, or natural phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of unexplained phenomena with scientific inquiry and military observation. There's a strong emphasis on witness testimony, radar evidence, and the potential for advanced technology, whether terrestrial or extraterrestrial. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, encouraging reader participation and presenting scientific theories alongside anecdotal evidence. The publication aims to bridge the gap between public sightings and official or scientific explanations, often highlighting cases that defy conventional understanding.

This issue of "UFO OBSERVATIONER ÖVER SVERIGE" (UFO Observations Over Sweden) from 1977, edited by Borgny Tingstedt, presents a collection of UFO sighting reports from various locations across Sweden, primarily from late 1976. The magazine also includes promotional material for its 1977 offerings, highlighting upcoming features on Finnish skiers and the Pascagoula case.

Key Sightings and Reports

Trekanten, October 1, 1976 A family near Trekanten observed a small red light that grew and stopped above a forest before descending. They later saw three cars drive towards the area but found nothing.

Bollmora, October 21, 1976 Lena Eriksen and her mother Harriet Ricking witnessed a large, round object with two rows of windows hovering over rooftops. It moved slowly and silently, emitting smoke from its upper side.

Lindås, October 21, 1976 A witness near Lindås saw a round object, estimated to be 10-15 meters in diameter and a couple of meters high, hovering above treetops. The object displayed colorful lights on its sides and a white light from its center.

Häradsbäck, November 5, 1976 Marita Johansson and her family reported seeing two large, silent objects with sharp, flaming yellow-red lights descend over treetops. The objects moved low enough to appear to be heading for a parking lot before disappearing.

Gällivare, November 8, 1976 Maria and her mother Hillevi Blind observed a mysterious light behind their car near Gällivare. The light was strong enough to penetrate the car's interior and displayed various blue hues before vanishing.

Garpenberg, November 14, 1976 A family followed a silent, mysterious object for about 10 minutes as it moved through the air, stopping and changing direction before disappearing towards the horizon.

Kolsva, November 14, 1976 Several witnesses, including Arne Gällström and Agnes Lindgren, observed a silver, teacup-shaped object that changed orientation. It emitted an orange light and a smoke trail. A larger, white object was later seen directing beams of light towards the ground, followed by the smaller object ascending and moving towards Köping.

Luleå, November 15, 1976 Göran Hedberg and Lars Lundberg saw an orange light above NJA, originating from a round object that glided in the air before moving out to sea.

Gällivare, November 15, 1976 Inga-Lill Axelsson observed a lying, red-glowing object with a blue-white, bright fireball attached to its left side, hovering silently before disappearing.

Luleå, November 16, 1976 Olle Rostmark reported a strong light beam that followed his car, causing the vehicle to shake and him to experience physical distress and temporary vision problems.

Hudiksvall, November 19, 1976 A woman saw three bright red spheres forming a triangle that glided slowly over treetops without making a sound.

Sollefteå, December 5, 1976 A family observed a large, flying object, approximately 45 meters in diameter, hovering over T3 for about an hour. The underside emitted orange and red lights, and the object moved in a rapid zig-zag pattern.

Kramfors, December 5, 1976 A 7-year-old boy, Patrik, reported seeing a large, round, luminous object hovering about 50 meters from his house.

Discussion and Analysis

The magazine includes a section titled "Din medverkan..." (Your participation...) which encourages readers to share information about UFO phenomena in neighboring countries, expressing a desire for more information on the subject in those regions. It also mentions that most former GICOFF members have paid their 1977 dues, and offers a free subscription for referring three new members.

Another section, "Vad vet vi egentligen" (What do we really know?), delves into the scientific understanding of phenomena like ball lightning and UFOs. It discusses the difficulty in forming scientific theories for such events and notes the tendency to overlook them in scientific discourse. The text references Joseph Priestley's quote about Professor G. W. Richmann's death, which was possibly caused by ball lightning. The article also touches upon the military's role in observing unidentified flying objects, suggesting that their focus is on registration rather than extraterrestrial origins. It questions the idea of UFOs as alien spacecraft, proposing that some phenomena might be explained by advanced, possibly experimental, aircraft.

Promotional Content

The back cover features a prominent advertisement for subscribing to the magazine in 1977, with the headline "PRENUMERERA NU!" (Subscribe Now!). It also highlights "SMAKPROV 1977:" (Taster 1977:), mentioning upcoming features on Finnish skiers and the "TOP SECRET" Pascagoula case, promising "Märkligt, aldrig förut publicerat material" (Strange, never before published material). Additionally, it advertises new, authentic color photos from their camera team at a bunker in Skillingaryd.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the issue is the documentation and reporting of UFO sightings across Sweden. The magazine appears to adopt a stance of open inquiry, collecting witness testimonies and presenting them to the public. There is an underlying interest in understanding the nature of these phenomena, with some discussion pointing towards potential explanations beyond extraterrestrial visitation, while still acknowledging the mystery and the need for further investigation. The inclusion of the Pascagoula and the mention of military interest suggest a broad scope within the UFO field. The magazine actively encourages reader participation, indicating a community-focused approach to UFO research.