Serie F No 51

Magazine Overview

This issue of Arcanum magazine, identified as Volume F, Issue 51, features a cover story titled "FLYING SAUCERS - VISITORS FROM OTHER PLANETS or ??" by Hans Olsson. The magazine is published by Arcanum and appears to be Swedish in origin.

The Mystery of Flying Saucers

The lead article by Hans Olsson grapples with the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), acknowledging it as one of the greatest mysteries of the modern era. Olsson notes the widespread acceptance of the idea that many planets in the universe might host intelligent life, and that advanced civilizations could potentially engage in interplanetary travel. However, he raises critical questions about the nature of these phenomena.

Challenges to Interstellar Travel

Olsson points out that according to Albert Einstein's theories, nothing can travel faster than light (300,000 km/sec). This implies that even travel from nearby star systems would take years, requiring astronauts to dedicate their entire lifetimes for such a journey, questioning the motivation for such a trip solely to visit Earth.

Peculiar Behavior of UFOs

Another factor casting doubt on the 'alien spaceship' theory is the observed behavior of UFOs. Witnesses often describe them appearing suddenly, moving at incredible speeds, and making sharp turns that would be fatal to terrestrial aircraft. Furthermore, they can seemingly vanish or 'dissolve' instantly. These characteristics suggest that conventional explanations might be insufficient, prompting a need to consider alternative theories.

Ancient Aerial Vehicles

Mahabharata and Gilgamesh

The article delves into ancient texts, suggesting that flying vehicles were described long before modern aviation. The Indian epic, Mahabharata, dating back approximately 5000 years before Christ, reportedly describes aerial vehicles armed with bombs that caused effects similar to atomic bombs. These 'flying machines' are described as large, bird-like objects, powered by a 'quicksilver motor' that enabled them to lift off. The epic also mentions multiple quicksilver motors in larger craft. The sound produced by these vehicles is likened to a lion's roar. The article speculates that these might have been highly advanced earthly machines or, in some cases, craft capable of extreme altitudes, possibly akin to modern space shuttles.

The ancient Persian epic, Gilgamesh, also mentions 'vimana-like' craft used by gods to travel the skies and engage in battles. Zecharia Sitchin, in his work on the 'twelfth planet,' interprets these accounts as evidence of alien intervention in early human history.

Biblical Accounts

Olsson also explores the Bible for potential UFO references. He cites passages from Isaiah 60:8 describing objects appearing 'like clouds, like doves,' and from 2 Kings 2:11, which recounts Elijah being taken to heaven in a 'chariot of fire' with 'horses of fire.' Another passage from Exodus 13:21 describes God leading the Israelites with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The Book of Ezekiel (1:1) is also mentioned as containing a highly technical description of a 'spacecraft.' Olsson suggests that these descriptions could be interpreted as advanced technology, possibly even a rescue expedition from above, hinting at a connection to extraterrestrial or interdimensional beings.

The Nativity Star

The article touches upon speculation surrounding the Star of Bethlehem, with some UFO researchers suggesting it might have been a spacecraft guiding the wise men, rather than a celestial body.

Flying Saucers in the Middle Ages

While the term 'flying saucer' was coined in 1947, the article notes that similar phenomena have been reported for centuries. It acknowledges that UFOs come in various shapes, not just saucer-like, including spheres, torpedoes, cigars, triangles, and wheels.

Medieval Sightings

Reports from the Middle Ages include:

• 796 AD: Roger of Wendover observed bright globes circling the sun.
• 1290 AD: Monks in Yorkshire witnessed disc-shaped, silver objects flying over their monastery.
• 1322 AD: A 'flaming ship' was seen over Oxbridge, England.
• 1387 AD: In Leicester, England, flaming halos, luminous discs, and round, flaming barrels were observed.

Later Historical Sightings

• 1704: A luminous cloud moved at high speed over Switzerland.
• 1752: Strange, shining, octagonal objects appeared over Stavanger, Norway.
• 1777: The French astronomer Messier observed numerous dark, round discs in the sky.
• 1816: A large, luminous, crescent-shaped craft was seen over Edinburgh.
• 1826: A gray, torpedo-shaped object was observed approaching rapidly in Saarbrücken.
• 1833: A strongly luminous, hook-shaped object was seen in Toland, Ohio.
• 1833: A square craft hovered for over an hour near Niagara Falls, USA.
• 1836: A large, luminous 'ring' hung over Cherbourg, France.

Zeppelins Before Their Time

The article presents several cases of alleged airship sightings that predated the actual invention and widespread use of Zeppelins, suggesting these might have been misidentified UFOs.

• April 1897: An airship, described as a 'zeppelinare,' was seen over Kansas and Missouri, USA. It hovered for ten minutes, emitting blue-green and white lights, before departing. This occurred three years before the first Zeppelin flight.
• 1909: Several airships appeared over England. The article questions how these craft could have reached England, and later in the same year, how they could have been seen hovering over New Zealand, on the other side of the globe.

Reports of these cigar-shaped airships often mentioned powerful searchlights directed at the ground or sea. The Norwegian merchant ship S:t Olaf reported an encounter in 1909 with a large airship that focused its five searchlights on the ship's bridge, despite attempts to signal it.

Ghost Flyers

Manhattan, 1910

On August 31, 1910, a loud engine noise over Manhattan drew attention to a biplane skillfully maneuvering in the dark, just seven years after the Wright brothers' first flight. The article notes that flying planes at night was rare and dangerous in 1910.

Swedish Sightings

Sweden became a focal point for 'ghost flyer' reports. Unmarked aircraft were seen at night during heavy snowstorms in Norrland, performing daring low passes. The Swedish Ministry of Defense took these reports seriously, and newspapers published numerous articles about these mysterious planes, which seemed unaffected by weather conditions. In 1934, Major General Reuterswärd stated that the phenomenon could not be dismissed as imagination and questioned the identity and motives of these flyers.

The 'Russian' Mini-Submarines

The article shifts focus to the early 1980s, when numerous 'mini-submarines' were reportedly sighted along Swedish coasts. Despite extensive naval efforts, no submarines were captured, leading to speculation about their origin and the effectiveness of anti-submarine warfare.

The presence of a Russian submarine running aground in the Blekinge archipelago led to the assumption that all unidentified underwater objects were Russian. However, the article questions the competence of such spies if they were capable of running aground a secret, nuclear-armed submarine on a Swedish summer coast, while simultaneously maneuvering 'mini-submarines' with such stealth.

Ghost Rockets Over Sweden

Reports of 'ghost rockets' also emerged, with *Le Figaro* newspaper in September 1946 detailing over 2000 sightings over Sweden in the preceding two months. These projectiles were described as cigar-shaped, emitting flames, and flying at altitudes of 300 to 1000 meters with a faint whistling sound. The prevailing theory was that the Soviet Union was testing new weapons, possibly from captured German rocket bases like Peenemünde.

The article contrasts these silent, advanced projectiles with the noisy V-1 and V-2 rockets developed by Germany during WWII, which were known for their poor accuracy and loud engines. The existence of these advanced, silent rockets raised questions about Soviet capabilities and motives, especially so soon after the war.

Modern UFO Sightings

Kenneth Arnold Sighting (1947)

The article recounts the famous sighting by pilot Kenneth Arnold on June 24, 1947, near Mount Rainier, Washington, USA. Arnold observed nine silver-blinking objects flying in formation, describing their movement as like 'saucers skipping over water.' This event is credited with popularizing the term 'flying saucer.'

Personal Sightings

Hans Olsson shares his own childhood UFO sighting in 1954, describing an orange-colored disc or sphere moving at high speed along the coast of Öresund, Sweden. He also recalls seeing a swarm of star-like objects.

Brunswick, Maryland Incident (1976)

A significant event occurred on the night of March 16, 1976, in Brunswick, Maryland, USA. Approximately fifty amateur radio enthusiasts reported a large, brightly lit UFO hovering over a 90 square kilometer area. As the object approached, all 23 PR channels in their radios were disrupted by a strange noise, only resuming normal function after the UFO departed. Witnesses described the object as disc-shaped with yellow and blue flames. Brian Brawner, who observed the object at close range, described it as round with a dome in the middle, emitting a strong white light and red and green lights around the edges. He noted a sound like shaking thin metal. Robert Jackson saw a massive UFO hovering over the Potomac River, describing it as much larger and faster than any plane, capable of stopping instantly and moving straight up and down. David Stokes heard a whining sound and experienced his radio being affected. Raymond Hoffman described the object as reddish and disc-shaped with yellow and blue flames. Dr. Wallace Garthright Jr. of NICAP called the Brunswick case the most tangible and interesting he had worked on.

Other Swedish Sightings

• September 5 (year not specified): Three strongly luminous points of light were observed in the sky near Klagshamn, Sweden. They moved in formation and then independently, before rapidly ascending south. The location was too far from Kastrup airport to be aircraft.
• Slätta, Sweden: An unusual object was seen over Slätta. Kenneth Disby described a bright red, rectangular object flying horizontally, resembling a hot air balloon basket but moving much faster and higher.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, drawing connections between ancient myths, religious texts, and modern sightings of unexplained aerial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various theories and eyewitness accounts without definitively concluding on the nature of UFOs, but leaning towards the possibility of advanced, possibly extraterrestrial, origins for some phenomena. The recurring theme is the persistent mystery of unidentified flying objects and their potential implications for our understanding of history, science, and humanity's place in the universe. The magazine encourages readers to question conventional explanations and consider alternative possibilities.