Klipprunden - 1984 01 13

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO-NORGE, dated Friday, January 13, 1984, features a personal update from the editor, Odd-Gunnar Røed, about moving the copying machine to new, more spacious premises, allowing for more efficient work. The issue is substantial, containing numerous witness reports and articles related to UFO phenomena, particularly focusing on the Hessdalen Project and recent sightings.

Editor's Update and Project Hessdalen

Odd-Gunnar Røed begins by describing the improved working conditions after relocating his copying machine. He notes that this issue contains a large number of clippings, including a report form from Aasheim, intended as a 'full speed' form to gather more detailed information from witnesses. He also mentions a "full fart skjema" (full speed form) designed to be less intimidating than the older Danish version, aiming to separate the wheat from the chaff.

The Project Hessdalen is facing acute financial difficulties as US support has not yet arrived. They have had to use existing funds and have sought help from UFO-Sweden. Røed asks for a copy of Scanalka's advertisement to be sent to him when it is available.

A significant event planned for January 21st is described as a 'legendary project' and the 'smash hit of the year.' There will be a base crew in Hessdalen from the end of the test weekend until February 12th, to address misunderstandings in the market about the project's status.

Røed also comments on TV broadcasts, noting that images shown on New Year's Eve were mainly signed by Arne P. Thomassen. He questions the copyright and potential for selling these images, suggesting a discussion about copyright issues.

Witness Reports from Gudbrandsdalen

Under the heading "LYSENDE GJENSTAND(?) OVER GUDBRANDSDALEN" (Luminous Object(?) Over Gudbrandsdalen), several witness accounts from December 1983 are detailed. The initial tip came from Erling Falklev on Otta, who reported a jogger seeing an oval light phenomenon. The newspaper DAGNINGEN also reported similar sightings in Snertingdalen. The response to an appeal for witnesses was enormous.

• Kari Løkken, Kvikne (near Vinstra): While getting the mail, she experienced a sudden bright light from behind. She described the light as 'blank' and noted it passed quickly in the narrow valley. She also recalled hearing two loud bangs a few weeks prior, which caused windows to rattle and plastic to flap.
• Magnhild J. Morken, Harpefoss: During an evening walk, she and acquaintances saw a large, blank, oval-shaped object with a 'paler' appendage, possibly smoke or steam. The main body of the object had a reddish glow. It moved towards the northeast and was followed by a loud bang, which they connected to the light.
• Bjørn Larsen, Vinstra: While cycling north of Vinstra, he saw a blue light illuminate the area around him. The light came from the south and disappeared to the north. He characterized it as a powerful shooting star and expressed interest in joining the UFO-Norge club.
• Elin Hong, Tretten: While jogging with Elisabeth Bang, they saw a blue light that they compared to a firework, described as blue, red, and yellow in stripes, about half the diameter of the moon and oval. They heard a loud bang afterward, which other witnesses also confirmed. The object disappeared northwards at high speed.
• Ola Hosar, Harpefoss: At 18:07, he saw the ground illuminated by an oval, round, and pointed light, larger than the moon, yellowish-white in front and fading behind. He heard a rumble followed by distant echoes. He also recalled the earlier loud bangs.
• Eli Byrløkken, Harpefoss: Saw an oblong light disappear northwards, about half the diameter of the moon. The ground was illuminated. She heard a bang about two minutes after the light vanished.
• Ragnhild Nysveen, Vestre Gausdal: Saw a 'bright' reddish-yellow full moon-like object pass at low altitude, possibly with a 'tail' or 'extension.' It disappeared northwards at high speed, and she was sure it was overcast.
• Lilly Espelund, Heidal: Her husband reported that she saw an oval light, slightly reddish at the back, with no 'tail' but an 'extension.' It was less than the moon in size and disappeared to the northeast.
• Johan Rybakken, Øyer: Saw a light disappear northwards south of Stensrud Sykehus near Minnesund, characterizing it as a powerful shooting star. The color was described as yellow signal light, quite large.
• Aslaug Stensrud, Harpefoss: Saw a bright, fiery red ball (described as 'sooo pretty!') disappear northwards at high speed. She estimated it was much smaller than the moon (4 cm in diameter) and appeared to be flying low, disappearing into the clouds. She insisted the time was 17:45. She also recalled seeing a similar phenomenon before the war, described as a large, luminous 'mop' that was narrow in front and branched out behind.

Røed notes that many people called but did not want to give their phone numbers or promised to call back and didn't. He believes the included reports represent a good selection. He suspects the phenomena might be meteorites, partly due to the report from Minnesund at the same time, the oval shape, high speed, and the sounds. However, he acknowledges that the numerous bangs and strange lights in the valley during autumn make him curious and he is collecting reports for computer analysis.

Committee Meeting Report (8/1-84)

A report from a committee meeting held at Odd-Gunnar Røed's home on January 8, 1984, covers several points:

1. Announcements for 1984: A significant expense is planned for an advertisement in a nationwide brochure to increase the number of subscribers in 1984. They are negotiating with the printer about delaying payment.
2. Hessdalen Project: Erling Strand had positive conversations with F.F.I. (Forskningssjef Holme and Dr. Philos Eivind Thrane), who were briefed on the Hessdalen Project. There is hope for assistance, possibly involving instruments like a field strength meter. The Hessdalen Bulletin has been copied and distributed within F.F.I., which is seen as positive. Thrane suggested contacting Prof. Egeland at the Physics Institute, leading to another distribution of the bulletin.
3. Misinformation in "UFO" Magazine: It was noted that some previously published stories in their magazine were found to be hoaxes. The story from Australia about a UFO caught in an oil platform was investigated by Carl Anton Mattsson of UFO-Sweden and deemed a hoax. Finn is asked to address this in an upcoming issue.

Support and Subscriptions

• Application for Support: Hans Kr. Moe and Erling Strand are jointly applying for financial support for the project from NAVF (The Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities) and are also approaching the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.
• Free Subscriptions: To thank the local population in Hessdalen for their help, free subscriptions for 1984 will be offered to Ekteparet Moe, Valdemar Aspaas, and Jon Arvid Aspaas. Finn is asked to include them in the subscription list. Leif Havik has been authorized to decide on future recipients of free subscriptions, with a letter to be sent to each recipient explaining why they were chosen to avoid envy.
• Postage Costs: 1500 kroner have been sent to Leif for postage to cover mailing to all households in the area.
• Support from Abroad: A letter has been sent to UFO-Sweden requesting urgent support for the project, as no foreign funding has been received yet. Their own savings of seven thousand kroner are depleted.

Newspaper Clippings

The issue includes several newspaper clippings:

• Svalbardposten (December 16, 1983): "New UFO Seen Simultaneously Over Svea and Longyearbyen." This article reports on a luminous phenomenon observed by multiple witnesses in Longyearbyen and Svea, Svalbard. The object was described as a 'searchlight' that moved, stopped, and then disappeared. The article suggests it was a two-stage Soviet rocket, possibly from the Kvitsjøen area, based on its trajectory and timing, which coincided with observations in Kirkenes.

• Nordlandsposten (December 28, 1983): "A Colorful New Year's Eve on TV." This article previews a six-minute segment on the Hessdalen UFO phenomenon to be broadcast on Norwegian TV during New Year's Eve. The segment, produced by Harald Tusberg and Ingar Øien, features photos taken by Arne W. Wisth, who is also interviewed. Wisth, a versatile individual with a background in photojournalism and various adventurous experiences, discusses his involvement and the potential for a future exhibition of the photos.

• Adresseavisen (December 30, 1983): "The UFO Was a Russian Two-Stage Rocket." This clipping reports on the phenomenon seen over Svea and Longyearbyen, stating it was identified as a Soviet rocket. It mentions that the rocket stopped briefly when the first stage detached and the second stage ignited. The observation in Kirkenes, Norway, also confirmed it was a Soviet rocket from the Kvitsjøen area.

• Adresseavisen (December 30, 1983): "UFO'en i Hessdalen on TV New Year's Eve." This article reiterates the upcoming TV special on the Hessdalen UFOs, featuring producer Ingar Øien, Arne Wisth, and Harald Tusberg. It mentions that Øien took many photos in Hessdalen and that some of these images, enlarged to 50-70 times their original size, will be shown on TV. The article also notes that UFO activity is reportedly ongoing in Hessdalen.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the ongoing investigation into the Hessdalen phenomena, and the challenges faced by researchers, including financial constraints and the need to distinguish between genuine reports and hoaxes. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena, while also acknowledging the possibility of misidentification and the importance of rigorous investigation. There is a clear effort to gather detailed witness accounts and to disseminate information through their publication and other media, such as television broadcasts. The magazine also highlights the community aspect, with efforts to support and thank local residents who assist the project.

Title: UFO er avslørt
Issue Date: January 4, 1984
Publisher: VG (Norwegian newspaper)
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian

This issue of 'UFO er avslørt' (UFO is Revealed) from VG newspaper delves into UFO sightings and related mysteries in Norway, presenting a mix of reported incidents, speculative theories, and skeptical viewpoints.

UFO Incident in Åkra

The main cover story reports on a UFO incident in Åkra, Sunnhordland, that occurred in early December 1983. Residents were awakened by a powerful light and sounds, with some reporting seeing a luminous object. Merchant Tørris Wågen suggested it was a short circuit in a power line, a theory supported by the local electrical utility. The incident was initially interpreted by some as an unexplained aerial phenomenon.

Ancient Mysteries and Leif Kjær's Theories

Leif Kjær, a Danish author and technical designer with a passion for mysteries, is featured discussing his theories about ancient civilizations. He posits that ancient humans possessed highly developed technology, citing examples such as 35,000-year-old Australian pyramids unknown to authorities, the Roll Right Stones in England emitting ultrasound, and the existence of fair-haired indigenous people in Australia and on the northern Japanese islands. Kjær also claims to have built a working solar power generator based on ancient Greek principles. He finds the light phenomena in Hessdalen, Norway, particularly interesting for UFO enthusiasts. Kjær also points to a local mystery at the tram stop near the Stortinget (Parliament) in Oslo, where people are reportedly exposed to radiation levels far exceeding normal, theorizing it originates from deep quartz deposits.

Kjær's theories are described as fascinating, though not always scientifically rigorous, placing him in a similar category to author Erich von Däniken. However, Kjær is presented as less dogmatic than Däniken, refraining from claiming that ancestors came from outer space 6,000 years ago. Instead, he poses questions and cites sources, including the Bible, which he believes contains 'precise observations' and hints at advanced technology, suggesting biblical 'cherubim' might have been spacecraft.

Kjær is a member of the Tut Ankh Amon Institute in Denmark, a private organization sponsored by the electronics firm STS. This institute is affiliated with the 'Ancient Astronaut Society' in the USA, of which Däniken is also a member.

Tarjei N. Austad's UFO Sighting

The issue also features an account from Tarjei N. Austad, a 67-year-old engineer and officer from Bygland. Austad claims to have observed a UFO near his hunting cabin. He describes a silent, luminous object hovering about 20 meters above the ground. The object had a circumference of approximately 75 centimeters, with a bright main body, red fins at the front, and green-lit floats at the rear. The intense light prevented him from looking directly at it for more than a few seconds. After about an hour, the object ascended vertically at high speed with a slight westward tilt and disappeared. Austad reported experiencing after-effects for about two weeks, including difficulty reading due to vision strain and numbness in his fingers. He consulted a local doctor who found the case interesting.

NIVFO's Skeptical Perspective

Jan S. Krogh, head of NIVFO (Norsk Institutt for Vitenskapelig Forskning og Opplysning), offers a skeptical viewpoint. NIVFO, with 20 years of experience, claims that all phenomena, including UFOs and astrology, can be explained. Krogh attributes belief in UFOs and similar topics to 'pseudo-science' and psychology, suggesting people are easily convinced. He argues that astrology, with its predictions, is baseless and based on coincidence. NIVFO aims to 'convert' people by providing information and natural explanations for the unexplained, citing their various publications and ongoing information gathering from both domestic and international sources.

Other Mentions

Briefly mentioned are UFO observations in polar regions, including reports from Grønlandsposten and Sermitsiak regarding sightings in Greenland and Svalbard. A past incident in Bjærangsfjorden involving a supposed UFO that turned out to be a frozen trigonometrical point is also recalled, with the current mystery being its disappearance.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue presents a dichotomy between those who report and believe in UFOs and unexplained phenomena, and those who seek rational, scientific explanations. The editorial stance, particularly through the inclusion of NIVFO's perspective, leans towards skepticism and the debunking of what it terms 'pseudo-science'. The magazine seems to aim at informing the public about these various viewpoints and encouraging critical thinking about claims of the paranormal and ancient mysteries.