INEXPLICATA 12

Magazine Overview

Title: INEXPLICATA
Issue: # 12
Date: Summer 2003
Publisher: Institute of Hispanic Ufology
Country: Spain
Language: English

This issue of INEXPLICATA, the Journal of Hispanic Ufology, serves as a platform for disseminating information and fostering awareness regarding UFO and paranormal research, with a particular focus on Spain, the Caribbean, Central, and South America. The publication is edited by Scott Corrales and features contributions from a dedicated team of editors from various Spanish-speaking regions.

Editor's Note: A Year For Reflection and Reconstruction

Scott Corrales, in his editorial, reflects on the past year, noting the significant cattle mutilation wave in South America and the subsequent emergence of other paranormal phenomena like Bigfoot sightings. He emphasizes that this issue aims not just to reminisce but to reconstruct cases that have come to light in recent years. The Institute of Hispanic Ufology (IHU) welcomes two new contributing editors: José M. García Bautista from Spain and Guillermo Giménez from Argentina. Corrales also announces the closure of IHU's original website and its move to a more modest online presence at www.inexplicata.us.

Articles and Features

The Seville UFO Sightings 1999

Authored by José M. García Bautista, this article meticulously documents five distinct UFO sightings that occurred in and around Seville, Spain, during September 1999. Sightings deemed fraudulent or easily explainable were discarded.

• 1st Sighting (September 4, 1999): Two witnesses observed a very bright, greenish light with an anomalous, 'hopping and skipping' trajectory near Puebla del Rio. The object maintained a constant color and vanished after approximately 30 seconds. A weather balloon explanation was ruled out.
• 2nd Sighting (September 8, 1999): Antonio Vargas reported seeing three powerful orange lights forming a triangle over a small hill near Alanís. The artifact flew slowly and silently before ascending vertiginously. No ground marks were found, though rain may have been a factor.
• 3rd Sighting (September 9, 1999): Three witnesses observed a luminous, discoidal formation described as 'lenticular clouds' near Embalse del Retortillo. The formation moved erratically, and the author suggests a natural atmospheric explanation.
• 4th Sighting (September 15, 1999): Rosa Montero and Pilar Castillo observed a strange, elongated, 'sausage' or 'cigar'-shaped object suspended in the sky near Lebrija. The object, estimated at 100 meters, had imperceptible motion and disappeared from view.
• 5th Sighting (September 18, 1999): Francisco López and Agustín Baena reported a bright shape with alternating green, light blue, and yellow-orange lights near Aznalcóllar. The object traced strange closed angles and headed east, moving swiftly.

The researcher notes that while some sightings might be attributed to meteorological phenomena or errors in perception, the region's history of reports suggests more could be involved. Confirmation from INTA and Seville Flight Control is pending, with the latter confirming flights but not over the specific areas of the sightings.

Military Implications of UFOs in Latin America and Spain

Written by Scott Corrales, this article explores the complex relationship between military establishments and UFOs in Spanish-speaking countries.

• Global Context: The piece begins by referencing recent military scrambles in the U.S. in response to unexplained aerial phenomena, highlighting the heightened security post-9/11.
• Mexican Air Force and UFOs: The article details Mexico's engagement with UFOs, including a 1950 sighting of a yellowish disk over Chihuahua and a 1978 incident involving a large, disk-shaped craft over Mexico City. It discusses the upgrade of Mexico's air defenses in the 1980s, potentially linked to UFO activity. Carlos Alberto Guzmán Rojas's book, 'Los OVNIS y la Aviación Mexicana,' is cited, mentioning a 1960s encounter of a Douglas C-54 with a silver saucer. A 1978 incident involving T-33s attempting to intercept a multi-hued craft over Mexico City is also described. The article notes that despite these events, a senior air traffic controller expressed skepticism about the Mexican Air Force's capabilities for interception, suggesting potential intergovernmental arrangements for handling such phenomena.
• Argentinean Military and UFOs: The article highlights Argentina's early involvement in UFO research, with the Navy creating an inquiry agency in 1952 and the Air Force establishing its own study group. It recounts a 1965 Navy investigation involving radar contacts and a chase plane pursuing an 'ellipsoid' object. The author notes Argentina's lack of transparency regarding UFO files compared to Spain and the UK.
• Chilean Military and UFOs: A retired Chilean brigadier general, Hernán Gabrielli Rojas, recounts a 1978 encounter with a colossal, cigar-shaped object swathed in smoke, estimated to be 15-20 miles long, which sailed parallel to his F-5E fighter jets. The Chilean Air Force (FACh) has officially denied possessing UFO files, despite reports of classified information being shared with the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.
• Uruguayan Military and UFOs: Uruguay stands out for its proactive approach, with its air force branch, CRIDOVNI, investigating hundreds of UFO reports dating back to the 1930s. The agency's origins trace back to a 1994 incident where residents reported a UFO crashing.

UFO Sighting in the Canary Islands

This section briefly mentions a UFO sighting in the Canary Islands, attributed to José Gregorio Gutiérrez.

What Happened at La Aurora?

This section, by Pablo Villarubia Mausó, appears to be a brief mention of an event at a location called La Aurora.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and their detailed analysis, particularly within Spanish-speaking regions, and the intersection of UFO phenomena with military activities and national security. The editorial stance, as indicated by the content and the mission of the Institute of Hispanic Ufology, is one of serious investigation and documentation of UFO and paranormal events, aiming to increase public awareness and understanding. The publication appears committed to presenting documented cases and exploring potential explanations, while acknowledging the unexplained aspects of many encounters.

Title: Año Cero
Issue: 156
Date: March 2000
Publisher: Año Cero
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish
ISSN: 1130-4005

This issue of Año Cero, dated March 2000, features a cover headline focusing on UFO sightings and animal mutilations in the Canary Islands, with a lead article titled "Unidentified Objects Over Tenerife." The magazine also delves into a significant historical case in South America: "What Happened at La Aurora?" in Uruguay.

CRIDOVNI and UFO Investigations in Uruguay

The magazine introduces CRIDOVNI, Uruguay's official commission for investigating UFO phenomena. Colonel Bernabé Gadea, the director, discusses their research methods with Cesar Bianchi, a correspondent for Spain's El País newspaper. CRIDOVNI operates with a small core staff, including psychologist Carlos Cantonet and Lt. Col. Ariel Sánchez, and dubs UFO reports "statements." They emphasize that they research claims rather than attempting to identify unknown objects. Their ancillary staff includes meteorologists, physicists, and physicians. Colonel Gadea proudly states that CRIDOVNI is Latin America's first official commission of its kind and has advised other organizations, such as Chile's CEFAA. The procedure for investigations is rigorous, involving the collection of physical evidence and submission to relevant government ministries. Psychologist Cantonet highlights that Uruguayan authorities provide official replies to phenomena, whether conventional or unconventional.

UFO Activity in the Canary Islands

The article "The Canary Islands -- a hot-spot for UFO sightings and animal mutilations -- are in the news again" by José Gregorio Jiménez, reports on recent events. On April 17, 2002, a couple and their son in Tenerife's Barrio El Cardonal witnessed strange lights, which were also caught on tape. Simultaneously, another sighting occurred on the island, suggesting a resurgence of UFO activity in the Canary Islands.

Unidentified Objects Over Tenerife

One observation took place northeast of Tenerife in Acentejo at 22:40 hours, where a couple witnessed two very bright lights situated vertically, linked by an arch of light resembling the Moon's curvature. The upper light was yellowish-white, and the lower one was whitish-blue. The witnesses reported that the lights appeared to form part of the same body or structure. This event was corroborated by other witnesses who saw a spectacular phenomenon elsewhere on the island at the same time, with a video recording of almost five minutes obtained.

A Set of Lights

Another family, consisting of Lorenzo, Oana, and their son Stefan, observed strange lights at 22:50 hours above Santa Cruz. They saw up to a dozen lights maneuvering swiftly, some visible for long periods, others for just a second. Lorenzo described the lights as "by no means natural." The observation lasted seven minutes. The video recording, though imperfect, allowed for the visualization of swift movements and the singular appearance and disappearance of lights. Binoculars revealed a conical shape with an amorphous upper section containing up to six high-intensity sources. Investigations ruled out weather balloons or conventional astronomical phenomena, leaving the observation unexplained.

The La Aurora Ranch Case: A Haunting Mystery

The article "What Happened at La Aurora?" by Pablo Villarubia Mausó, revisits a perplexing case from February 17, 1977, in Uruguay. The central figure is Angel María Tonna, owner of the La Aurora ranch, whose animals were gravely affected by an object from afar.

The Initial Events

On February 13, 1977, Julio Cesar Rattín, Tonna's son, witnessed a light-emitting disk illuminating a broad swath of countryside. On February 17, at 04:00 hours, Tonna, his children, and farmhands saw a strong light behind a shed. They then observed a "flying saucer" measuring approximately 3 meters in diameter at an altitude of 15 meters. The event caused widespread panic among the animals, and the farm's lights and generator failed. The object moved slowly and then headed towards a copse of eucalyptus trees.

Witness Accounts and Physical Evidence

Journalist Carlos Ardaix interviewed Tonna and others. Tonna described strange horseshoe-shaped prints that had appeared three months prior, with a diameter of 3 meters, and where mushrooms began to grow. The grass in the prints was initially burned. Ardaix also learned of "mummified dogs" from the veterinary school, which had not decomposed normally and were found at the La Aurora ranch. Dr. Juan María Menoni took photographs showing traces of radiation, and Japanese engineers confirmed these findings with their measurement devices. The burns on Tonna's arm, which recurred sporadically and interfered with medical equipment, were also noted.

Animal Mutilations and Blackouts

The case involved the deaths of valuable animals: a breeding bull died with symptoms similar to a dog, a pedigree horse was left sterile, and several sheep had mysterious bands of burned patches on their bodies. These events are linked to the enigmatic Chupacabras manifestations that appeared in the mid-Nineties. The article also notes that numerous blackouts occurred in 1977, particularly on nights when UFOs appeared.

Investigations and Pilgrimages

Journalist Pablo Villarubia Mausó's investigation included interviews with Dr. Menoni, who found evidence of radiation and melted fence parts, and parapsychologist Antonio Las Heras, who observed uprooted trees and calcined rock. Las Heras also confirmed the death of a police dog that had accompanied Tonna, which reportedly had no blood and appeared boiled. The La Aurora ranch became a site of pilgrimage, with people seeking cures, and a crypt to Padre Pío was planned. Despite Tonna's desire to close the matter, the case remains a significant event in South American ufological history.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings and related events such as animal mutilations and unexplained physical effects. The editorial stance appears to be one of thorough investigation and reporting of witness accounts and physical evidence, even when explanations are not readily available. The articles highlight the challenges in investigating such phenomena and the impact they have on witnesses and the scientific community. The focus on official investigations, like CRIDOVNI, and historical cases like La Aurora, suggests an interest in the official and documented aspects of UFOlogy.