Georgia Sky Watch - 2000 Q1 - no 16

Magazine Overview

Title: Georgia Sky Watch
Issue: Number 16
Date: Spring 2000
Publisher: MUFON of Georgia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of Georgia Sky Watch, a publication of MUFON of Georgia, focuses on UFO research and reports from various locations, with a particular emphasis on international collaboration and the credibility of investigative methods.

Credibility is the Key to UFO Research in Sweden

By Ralph O. Howard, Jr., MUFON FI, ISUR Board

The lead article by Ralph O. Howard, Jr. highlights the work of UFO-Sweden, a research-oriented group founded in 1970 that comprises approximately 80 field investigators and 24 affiliated autonomous UFO organizations. Their primary goal is to establish ufology as a respected field of research through serious and competent case investigation. UFO-Sweden operates on a non-profit basis, funded by subscriptions to their quarterly UFO Journal, UFO-Aktuellt, and their bi-monthly investigation-oriented publication, Rapport Nytt. They also produce a quarterly newsletter in English through their Archives for UFO Research (AFU).

The AFU is a significant component of UFO-Sweden's work, housing around 2,000 books, numerous magazines, news clippings dating back to 1946, and over 13,000 case histories, along with videotapes, audiotapes, and pictures. A notable part of the AFU's collection is the "Blue and Orange Files," a large group of military UFO records that UFO-Sweden began copying in 1987 from the Research Institute of Defense (FOA) in Stockholm. These files contain more than 2,500 reports investigated by the Swedish military since 1947, in addition to approximately 1,500 cases from the "Ghost Rocket" period (1946-'48). While the copying is complete, a statistical study of the FOA's investigations has not yet been conducted. Clas Svahn, Chairman of UFO-Sweden, believes the military investigators did a good job until 1965, when responsibility shifted from the General Staff to FOA.

AFU's ScanCat project is an ongoing UFO database, similar to UNICAT, which has accumulated over 10,500 cases. UFO-Sweden investigates UFO reports within Sweden, with 80 Field Investigators (FIs) attached to a "Rapportcentral" (investigation center). Most investigators also belong to local groups, of which there are 24 affiliated with UFO-Sweden. The group aims to attract and train scientifically-oriented researchers to gather evidence with greater scientific accuracy. Their professional ties with police, military, and meteorological authorities have earned them a reputation for seriousness and respectability. This rapport allows them to routinely obtain assistance from military and civilian agencies for information such as radar tapes, aircraft identification, and positioning data.

The article details a specific case from Vanersborg, Sweden, where a witness's brother videotaped three UFO events in August 1997. MUFON of Georgia's Investigations Director, Jim Clifford, contacted the witness, and Howard, leveraging his "Sweden connection" (his wife), enlisted the help of UFO-Sweden for an on-the-ground investigation. The witness, a 29-year-old auto mechanic, observed and taped bright, point-like objects moving rapidly on straight trajectories. The object appeared as a white dot, and at one point moved upwards at a 45-degree angle very fast. Further study of the videotape by UFO-Sweden yielded no conclusive information, and military radar tapes did not indicate any military activity or radar-verified unknowns tied to the objects. An ornithologist determined the flight characteristics did not match any bird. Despite the lack of definitive answers, the witness's sincerity and truthfulness were evident, and Clas Svahn indicated the case would be written up in the 4th quarter 1999 issue of UFO Aktuellt.

Howard poses questions for the ufology community to consider, such as whether research is objective or theory-driven, the progress in establishing professional ties with authorities, and the balance between scientific work and commercial ventures. He concludes that UFO-Sweden's path towards scientific respectability is a valuable model, and that the "American scene" in ufology, with its vastness and distractions, might cause one to overlook important work being done overseas.

State Director's Message

By Tom Sheets

Tom Sheets, State Director, reflects on the turn of the millennium without government disclosure of UFO phenomena. He mentions Attorney Peter Gersten of CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy) is battling in federal court regarding triangular craft, with initial reports indicating he is doing well, though Sheets is not optimistic about significant outcomes.

Sheets discusses the appointment of John Schuessler as the new International Director of MUFON, a retired aerospace engineering executive and MUFON co-founder, who has the full support of the MUFON Board. A transition committee was formed in Arlington, Virginia, in 1999, with a January 15, 2000 deadline for recommending new organizational bylaws and a five-year strategic plan. These bylaws address aspects like the selection of new Board Members, the impact on state chapters, increasing general meetings and training sessions, enhancing PR operations, and redesigning the MUFON HQ website.

He anticipates positive changes with the implementation of these bylaws, including placing motivated individuals in positions of responsibility as Section Directors. He also mentions a successful November 14, 1999 General Meeting in Griffin, Georgia, which included an informative computer class and a training session on interview techniques. The next general meeting is planned for the north side of Atlanta in late Spring, possibly combined with a regional meeting and sky watch.

Sheets congratulates three MUFON Field Investigators (FIs) who recently passed their exam: Ralph Howard, Mary Dee Janssen, and David Brown. Larry Thacker, Olivia Newton, and Earle Blanton Jr. are also mentioned as preparing for this exam.

Calendar of Events

The issue includes a calendar of upcoming UFO conferences and events:

• April 7-9, 2000: 12th Annual Ozark UFO Conference, Eureka Springs, AR.
• July 14-16, 2000: MUFON 2000 International UFO Symposium, St. Louis, MO.
• September 23-24, 2000: 37th Annual National UFO Conference, Corpus Christi, TX.
• October 14, 2000: MUFON of Georgia & ISUR sky watch, location TBA.
• October 28, 2000: John Thompson UFO Lecture at Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia.

Current UFO Activity in Georgia

By Mark Ausmus

This section provides a roundup of recent UFO reports from Georgia and surrounding areas.

ROME, GEORGIA: State Director Tom Sheets reports that SSD/FI Mary Janssen is investigating a case involving a Polk County police officer who observed a gray cone-shaped object that elongated into a cylinder, with a red glowing circle of light on the rear. The object moved silently and at great speed, and the duration of the sighting was about eight seconds. The Rome Airport has no radar, and the FAA in Atlanta has been contacted for radar tape checks.

TROUP-HEARD CORRIDOR: CLOSE ENCOUNTER: John Thompson reports on a January encounter with a father and son who witnessed a UFO at a distance of 75-80 yards and 10-15 feet off the ground. The object maneuvered smoothly, descended, ascended, and changed directions several times, with sparks or ashes appearing to come off. The witnesses described it as having intelligent control and being the size of a truck. Thompson postulates it was a true UFO, capable of manipulating its own lighting, guidance, and speed. The witnesses heard coon hounds baying but the UFO made no sound.

FROM THE TROUP-HEARD CORRIDOR: UNDERWATER UFO: John Thompson also recounts a story from the early 1970s about an underwater UFO sighting in a small private lake near LaGrange, Georgia. A man and four or five others observed lights in the lake, and then a car-sized oval, metallic, saucer-shaped UFO emerged, rotating with flashing lights. After lifting out of the water, it shot away. The witnesses experienced a 2 1/2 hour time lapse, leading to speculation about abduction, though they admitted to drinking.

BAINBRIDGE, GEORGIA: Billy J. Rachels reports UFOs seen in early January. One witness saw high-up white lights in a half circle or arc. Approximately a week later, a large round red object with a blue tint was reported.

CASSVILLE, GEORGIA: Thomas McFarland reports a couple who witnessed a UFO while driving through Southern Georgia on I-75. The sky lit up with a brightness like a nuclear flash, and they observed a round white light with a red fire-like substance coming from the rear.

WILKINSON COUNTY, GEORGIA: A witness observed a white cylindrical craft with no wings moving fast at tree-top level on December 15, 1999.

WATKINSVILLE, GEORGIA: On November 27, 1999, ten friends and family camping out observed three small lights that zig-zagged, joined to form a circle and star shape, approached as a rainbow-colored ball, and changed shapes rapidly.

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: Three witnesses observed a bright blue glowing egg-shaped UFO on December 23, 1999, which stopped briefly before shooting off to the left. They observed a "bubble" underneath.

CUMMING, GEORGIA: On November 30, 1999, a brilliant amber disk trailing sparks was seen moving to the West. The shape was estimated to be 1/8 the size of the moon.

New Field Investigators

Congratulations are extended to David M. Brown, Mary Dee Janssen, and Ralph O. Howard, Jr. for passing the MUFON Field Investigator's Exam.

Astronomical / Satellite Resource

Field investigators and interested parties are directed to the website http://www.ccssc.org for astronomical and satellite position data, including sky charts.

Planned Dinner Forum Meeting

Tom Sheets discusses the postponement of a planned Dinner Forum in February due to venue availability issues. He is looking for an alternate site in a centralized location with specific requirements for parking, price, and seating capacity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the importance of rigorous, credible UFO investigation, exemplified by the detailed work of UFO-Sweden. There is a strong emphasis on scientific methodology, data collection, and the establishment of professional ties with authorities. The editorial stance, as expressed through the State Director's message and the articles, advocates for a more serious and respectable approach to ufology, moving beyond sensationalism towards evidence-based research. The publication also serves as a platform for sharing recent UFO sighting reports and promoting upcoming events within the ufology community.