JUFOF - Issue 051 - 1987 03

Magazine Overview

This issue of "JOURNAL FÜR UFO-FORSCHUNG" (ISSN 0723-7766, Number 3, May-June 1987, Volume 8, Issue 51) is published by the Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des UFO-Phänomens e.V. (GEP) and is priced at DM 4.00. The cover prominently features the headline "EXTRATERRESTRISCHE INTELLIGENZEN" (Extraterrestrial Intelligences), with a subtitle by Dieter von Reeken. The issue includes a bibliography of German-language publications on UFOs since 1901, offered as a loose-leaf collection. It also highlights articles on UFO sightings in Radevormwald and Livingston, and a detailed investigation into the Tunguska catastrophe.

GEP and its Activities

The GEP is described as the largest registered association in Germany focused on UFO research. Their methodology involves using special questionnaires, conducting field investigations, and analyzing background information, employing an interdisciplinary approach. The GEP publishes its own journal, "JUFOF" (Journal für UFO-Forschung), along with other publications and collaborates with related organizations. Members receive "JUFOF" as part of their membership, can request questionnaires, receive GEP news, get discounts on special issues and brochures, and can borrow books and literature from the GEP archive.

Article: "NAHBEOBACHTUNG IN RADEVORMWALD II - Erste Einschätzung des Falls und gegenwärtiger Stand der Ermittlungen" by Hans-Werner Peiniger

This article continues the investigation into a UFO sighting in Radevormwald. The witness, Jürgen H. (47), observed an angular craft flying at a low altitude (approx. 180 meters) on November 30, 1984. The object was described as having a ring or hose-like light band that changed from yellow to white, illuminating the surroundings. It had an anthracite and dark blue upper and lower section, with a "light blue" middle. The front featured two round "formations" with copper-colored horizontal slats emitting "dark brown light." The witness felt a strong urge to hold onto the balcony railing, prompting him to end the observation. The article details the witness's ability to provide relatively precise data, including the construction of a scale model of the object. Initial size estimates were 60-80 m length, 15-20 m width, and 18-32 m height, but statistical analysis by GEP suggests object sizes are often overestimated, especially for bright objects. Based on the witness's estimations and a city map, the object's dimensions were refined to approximately 36-44 m in length and 9-11 m in width. Investigations with the police yielded no relevant reports, weather data were consistent with the witness's account, and the moon's position was confirmed. The article also discusses potential explanations, including a Chinook helicopter, but dismisses it due to the object's silence and unusual light emissions. The possibility of the witness experiencing a "wachtraum" (daydream) or a psychological event is considered but not strongly supported. The case is classified as a CE-I (Close Encounter of the First Kind) by Hynek's classification.

Article: "DIE TUNGUSKA-KATASTROPHE - EIN UFO-ABSTURZ? Teil II" by Hans-Werner Peiniger

This installment continues the examination of the Tunguska event of 1908. It revisits the initial impact on the Soviet people and the scientific efforts to understand the catastrophe, particularly the work of Leonid A. Kulik. Kulik's expedition in 1927 revealed a vast "brand zone" (fire zone) and a "zone of forest upheaval" where trees were felled radially outwards. The blast wave extended up to 65 km. The article discusses various hypotheses, including meteorite or comet impact, anti-matter particles, or an alien spacecraft. It highlights the work of Andreas Dill, who suggests the event was caused by a "mini-planetoid" of about 90-100 m diameter exploding in the atmosphere, creating microscopic particles that were dispersed globally. The unusual twilight phenomena observed in Europe afterward are attributed to these particles. The article also touches upon the possibility of a connection between the Tunguska event and a smaller meteorite found in Kagarlyk, Ukraine, though A.A. Jawnel concludes no direct link exists, while Hantzsche and Classen suggest a possible common origin due to the rarity of such events. The presence of magnetite and silicate beads in the soil is noted as evidence of atmospheric chemical processes related to meteorites. The article concludes that the meteorite hypothesis, particularly the atmospheric explosion of a small planetoid, offers a more plausible explanation than an extraterrestrial spacecraft, though some phenomena like potential radioactivity remain unexplained.

Article: "LIVINGSTON: EINE NEUE HYPOTHESE" by Steuart Campbell

This article revisits the Livingston UFO report from November 9, 1979, where Robert Taylor, a forest ranger, reported an encounter with a hovering object and two smaller, mine-like objects that attempted to pull him upwards, causing him to lose consciousness. Previously, Campbell had proposed a ball lightning theory, but found it unsatisfactory due to unexplained ground traces and clothing damage. The new hypothesis suggests the event was a "Fata Morgana" of the planet Venus, combined with an epileptic seizure. The article explains that bright celestial bodies like Venus can be visible during the day, especially under certain atmospheric conditions. Taylor was looking across a valley towards "Deer Hill." The article posits that an inversion layer in the Almond Valley could have created a "Fata Morgana" effect, causing Venus to appear distorted or displaced, potentially triggering an epileptic episode in Taylor. The ground traces and torn trousers are attributed to this seizure and unrelated factors, not an extraterrestrial craft. The article references William Viezee's work on Fata Morgana effects and the possibility of Raman scattering enhancing brightness.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the rigorous investigation of UFO phenomena, the critical evaluation of witness testimony, and the exploration of scientific explanations, including astronomical and meteorological phenomena, alongside the more speculative extraterrestrial hypothesis. The GEP's stance appears to be one of methodical research, prioritizing evidence-based explanations while remaining open to unusual possibilities. The articles demonstrate a preference for conventional scientific explanations when they can adequately account for the observed phenomena, as seen in the Radevormwald and Livingston cases, while still acknowledging the unexplained aspects of events like Tunguska. The editorial emphasizes the importance of processing the latest findings and giving due consideration to established scientific theories, such as the meteorite hypothesis for Tunguska, over more speculative ones.

This issue of JOURNAL FÜR UFO-FORSCHUNG (GEP) from 1984 focuses on a variety of UFO-related topics, including detailed case analyses, scientific investigations into perception, and reviews of relevant literature. The publication appears to be a German-language journal dedicated to the serious study of unidentified flying objects.

Case Study: Robert Taylor Sighting (Scotland)

The lead article, authored by Werner Walter, presents an in-depth analysis of a sighting by Robert Taylor, likely in Scotland, on November 9, 1979. Walter proposes an astronomical explanation for the phenomenon, suggesting that atmospheric optics, specifically a Fata Morgana effect, combined with the appearance of celestial bodies like Venus and Mercury, could have created the visual illusion. He notes the presence of the star Antares nearby and suggests that the sudden brightening of these objects might have been perceived as an approach. The 'spikes' observed are attributed to optical distortions. Walter posits that the shock of witnessing this event triggered an epileptic seizure in Taylor. He also addresses ground traces and damage to Taylor's clothing separately, suggesting they might be related to nearby pipeline construction or vehicle activity, rather than the aerial sighting itself. The investigation into the ground traces is ongoing, with initial findings from the 'Water and Drainage Department' and the 'Livingston Development Corporation' not fully explaining the marks.

Study on Size Estimation Reliability

Hans-Werner Peiniger contributes a study titled "VERLÄSSLICHKEIT VON GRÖSSENSCHATZUNGEN" (Reliability of Size Estimations). Peiniger surveyed 238 individuals, asking them to estimate the apparent size of the full moon and the sun in centimeters using a ruler at arm's length. The study reveals a significant tendency for witnesses to overestimate these sizes, with average estimations being about 15 times larger than the actual apparent diameter (0.5 cm). The average estimated diameter for the moon and sun combined was 7.5 cm. Peiniger concludes that UFO witness estimations are generally unreliable and suggests that brighter objects might be perceived as larger due to irradiation effects. He recommends that researchers critically evaluate size estimations and consider including questions about moon size estimations in their surveys.

Book Reviews

The issue features several book reviews:

• "Leben auf dem Mars" by Johannes von Buttlar: Reviewed by an unnamed author, this book is criticized for mixing pseudoscientific claims with scientific facts. The reviewer finds Buttlar's arguments about Mars inhabitants visiting Earth based on myths to be weak and the scientific reporting (e.g., on Viking missions) to be superficial. The book is deemed entertaining but not a serious scientific work.

• "NEUES DENKEN ALTE GEISTER" by Myrell Schmandt & Voigt: This book, a companion to a ZDF TV series, explores the 'New Age' movement. It is described as presenting new and old ways of thinking, including discussions on the threat of nuclear technology, the growing 'dehumanization' of society, and unconventional scientific ideas like chaos theory and morphogenetic fields. The review suggests it's an important and informative book for those interested in topics affecting society and unorthodox research.

• "EXTRA-TERRESTRIALS AMONG US" by George C. Andrews: Hans-Werner Peiniger reviews this book, which posits that intelligent extraterrestrial beings existed on Earth before humans and continue to influence humanity. Andrews presents 'evidence' from UFO sightings, pre-astronautics, and occult experiences. Peiniger finds the book to be a collection of questionable phenomena rather than a serious, critical scientific work, noting that the author is a strong proponent of the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) and lacks critical distance.

• "FEUER FIEL VOM HIMMEL" by Peter Krassa: This book is a detailed report on the 1908 Tunguska catastrophe, based on the author's on-site research. It covers the event and the ongoing efforts by Soviet scientists to understand the mystery. The review notes the book's comprehensive nature.

Other Sections

• "DAS JUFOF-QUIZ": This section presents the results of a quiz from a previous issue, listing the winners and the donated book prizes. The correct solution to the quiz was "HESSDALEN".

• "LESERBRIEF" (Letter to the Editor): A commentary by Klaus Seidensticker on Dillinger's 'Seven Theses against Seidensticker'. Seidensticker, a physics graduate, critically examines Dillinger's ideas, emphasizing the need for mathematical descriptions over models, the role of physics in explaining observable interactions, and the requirement for new theories to encompass older, valid ones as limiting cases.

• "KURZ NOTIERT" (Brief Notes): This section includes short updates, such as Werner Walter's participation in a ZDF television program "So ein Zoff" and an upcoming appearance on "Fragen Sie Dr. Winter." It also mentions the successful internal meeting between GEP and CENAP representatives to discuss unexplained cases.

• "GEP-NACHRICHTEN" (GEP News): This section reports on the acceptance of a proposed membership fee increase by GEP members and the successful outcome of an internal working meeting between GEP and CENAP.

• "UFO-VISION" (Book Review): A review of a Danish UFO literature yearbook, "UFO-VISION" by Kim Møller Hansen and Flemming Rasmussen, which covers UFO literature from 1986. The review notes that it fills a gap left by the defunct "SKEPTICA" magazine and recommends it for Danish-speaking readers interested in the current state of UFO literature.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal consistently emphasizes a critical and analytical approach to UFO phenomena. While acknowledging the existence of unexplained cases, there is a clear preference for scientific explanations, including astronomical and psychological factors, over purely speculative or pseudoscientific theories. The reviews of books by authors like Buttlar and Andrews highlight a skepticism towards claims lacking rigorous evidence. The journal also appears to value empirical research, as demonstrated by the study on size estimations and the detailed case analysis. The editorial stance leans towards a rational, evidence-based investigation of UFO reports, encouraging critical thinking and a separation of verifiable facts from speculation. There is a notable interest in the psychological aspects of perception and witness testimony, as well as in the scientific underpinnings of phenomena, even when discussing unconventional topics like the New Age movement.