Nordic UFO Newsletter - 1981 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: NORDIC UFO NEWS LETTER
Issue: 1 1981
Publisher: Nordic UFO Groups
Date: January 1981

This inaugural issue of the Nordic UFO Newsletter, published by the collaborative efforts of Norsk UFO Center (NUFOC) in Norway and Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige (RUFOS) in Sweden, aims to establish a scientific and effective research framework for studying unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Organizational Structure and Aims

The newsletter outlines the organizational structures of NUFOC and RUFOS, which are similar and divided into three main groups: Field Researchers, Consultants, and Correspondents/Editorial Coworkers. Field Researchers investigate and document UFO events locally through interviews and field research. Consultants provide expertise in various fields such as chemistry, medicine, psychology, astronomy, and meteorology to aid investigations. Correspondents and Editorial Coworkers are interested in languages, international correspondence, and journalism.

Both NUFOC and RUFOS publish their own periodicals in Swedish and Norwegian: RUFOS publishes UFO-Sverige-Aktuellt (4 times a year), and NUFOC publishes RAPPORTNYTT (5 times a year). They also produce internal periodicals. This first issue of the Nordic UFO Newsletter focuses on a resume of some of the most significant cases in Norway and Sweden from the last 25 years, with subsequent issues promising more recent reports.

Featured Cases

The Väddö Case (Sweden)

This case, dating back to Sunday, November 9, 1958, involves two carpenters, Stig Ekberg and Harry Sjöberg. While driving to their weekend cottage near Väddö, their car engine and headlights suddenly stopped working. They then witnessed a large, shining object descend and land on the road in front of them, estimated to be about 53 feet long and 20-23 feet high, shaped like a flattened-out ball. The object emitted a strong, non-dazzling glow and appeared to hover slightly above the ground, with a fiery light underneath. After about 10 minutes, the object rose and disappeared at high speed. Following the object's departure, the air became stifling and sultry.

Upon returning to the landing site, they discovered the grass pressed down in a half-circle. Harry found a small, triangular, smooth, and surprisingly heavy piece of metal that was hot to the touch. Stig kept this piece of metal. Subsequent investigations into the metal involved multiple laboratories in Sweden, including one in Helsingborg. While the metal could be split into three parts, its exact composition and origin remained a mystery. The piece was analyzed and found to contain tungsten carbide, cobalt, and traces of titanium, with exceptional hardness and resistance to heat. The investigators noted it was manufactured under enormous pressure, but the method was inexplicable. The piece of metal was eventually sent to Berkley University in California for further examination, insured for 50,000 Swedish crowns. The case also involved strange burglaries and attempted offers for the metal piece, suggesting significant interest beyond mere souvenir hunting.

Three Humanoids Seen in Northern Sweden (CEIII)

This case occurred on October 18, 1977, and involves Kurt Nilsson, a short-wave radio enthusiast. While at a transmitting station on Hemliden mountain, Nilsson experienced heavy radio interference. He then observed a pale blue, dome-shaped object, approximately two meters in diameter, with three figures dressed in greyish, plastic-like "spacesuits" each about one meter tall. These figures were illuminated by the object's light. When Nilsson turned on his car's headlights for a clearer view, the figures and the machine vanished. They reappeared shortly after, and the car stopped again, with the engine dying and Nilsson's watch stopping. The figures were seen crossing the road, one holding a spade-shaped object. After the figures disappeared, Nilsson returned home, where his wife Eva noted his watch was still running slow. He contacted Kjell Näslund, who had a similar experience in 1969 and reported TV interference that evening. Kurt's dog also exhibited unusual behavior. An on-the-spot investigation by Reinhold Carleby revealed damage to a birch tree and missing moss, with footprints found that were short, wide, and had a cross pattern. The object's light illuminated only about 5 meters around it, and no noise was detected. The "spacesuits" were described as one-piece, with boots and helmets resembling those of astronauts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Nordic UFO Newsletter positions itself as a serious, scientific endeavor to document and understand UFO phenomena. The editorial stance emphasizes rigorous investigation, the collection of physical evidence, and the analysis of witness testimony. The publication aims to provide a comprehensive overview of significant cases, fostering a deeper understanding of the UFO problem. The cases presented highlight the mysterious nature of UFOs, their potential impact on technology and human experience, and the ongoing puzzle surrounding their origin and purpose.

This issue of a UFO-focused publication, dated by its content to the late 1970s, features several detailed accounts of alleged UFO sightings and encounters, primarily from Sweden and Norway. The content includes personal testimonies, official reports, and investigative findings, focusing on the physical characteristics of the objects, their effects on witnesses and the environment, and the credibility of the witnesses.

The 1969 Alien Encounter

The first major article details an experience by Kjell Näslund, Director of the transmitting station on Hemliden, Sweden, on March 12, 1969. At 6:30 PM, Näslund observed a massive object, approximately 150 meters across and 5-6 meters high, with a fuzzy outline, hovering about 15 meters from the building. A greyish-blue light emanated from a tunnel on the object, and inside, he saw about ten box-like things resembling clouds without solid edges, floating just above the ground, estimated to be 135 cm tall. Näslund felt immobilized and unable to phone the police. Seven or six 'box-men' floated into the station, passing close to him without him being able to touch them. He sensed creatures inside these boxes protecting themselves from the environment and felt calm, believing his visitors were not dangerous. The 'box-men' moved slowly, at the pace of a walking person. After five to ten minutes, the creatures completed their inspection and were 'sucked into the tunnel,' which closed behind them. The craft then disappeared to the north. After the encounter, Näslund was able to move and reported the incident to a policeman, Hans Häggblad, who took it seriously, though personnel at his own station reportedly laughed.

Swedish Army Officer Experiences Landing and EM Effects

This section, an excerpt from Boris Jungkvist's book 'UFO – en fantastisk verklighet' (1977), recounts a sighting by a high-ranking Swedish army officer and his family on September 21, 1974. At 10:30 PM, the officer reported a UFO landing about half an hour prior. While driving near Knutby, Uppland, the family saw a blinding light, which they initially mistook for an oncoming car. As they approached, they saw a remarkable flying object coming towards them at a distance of about 900 meters. The object then landed to the left of the road, near a stack of fire-logs, illuminating the area with a blinding, green-shimmering light. The officer described a sound like a swarm of bees, and the family felt uneasy. Using binoculars, he observed an egg-shaped structure, about 10 meters long and a few meters high, intensely white with a smooth surface. The car's engine failed, and the headlights and radio died. The object took off with a rocking motion, regained its green color, and flew off slowly, wobbling, at an altitude of about 30 meters, before accelerating to an unbelievable speed and disappearing. After the object left, the car started normally, and the radio worked. The officer, due to his military position, chose not to report the incident to the police or military authorities but agreed that such objects are real. Later, the family reported experiencing slight headaches and diarrhea starting about 30 hours after the sighting, which lasted for three days. The case was classified as a genuine encounter with an unidentified flying object and was cataloged as number 375 in the SweCat statistical sample.

Norway: The Fantastic UFO-Experience of Reidar Salvesen at Helleland

This account, translated by Mentz Kaarbø and excerpted from K. Gøsta Rehn's book 'Tefaten er her,' describes a close encounter on October 29, 1970, near Helleland, Norway. Reidar Salvesen, a 35-year-old adviser, was driving home to Kristiansand when, about 3 kilometers ahead of Helleland, he was dazzled by a light of tremendous force. He stopped his car, and observed a brightly shining fire-ball hovering slowly towards him, coming to a halt very near by. He estimated its diameter to be about 20 meters, though the light made precise estimation difficult. When he got out of the car, the dazzling light was gone, and he saw a discus-shaped object hovering almost horizontally over his car at an altitude of about 10 meters. He described it as completely without noise. Salvesen, feeling bewildered but recognizing the importance of the event, fetched a pencil and paper to record his observations. He estimated the object's diameter to be about 10 meters and its width to be 3-3.5 meters in the middle, tapering to 0.5 meters at the periphery. The object remained motionless for about 50 seconds. While observing, Salvesen was 'stabbed to the ground as if hit by an electric blow.' He noted a small swelling about 2 meters in diameter on the bottom and a circular dome on top. The periphery had a 0.5-meter wide, wavy, gold-shining belt, while the rest of the object was smooth and mirror-like with steel lustre. He saw no signs of life, sound, vibrations, doors, or openings. He then noted that the object attacked him, causing him to fall halfway down. Simultaneously, he heard a deafening roar, and the object took off like a VTOL aircraft, regaining its green color and illuminating the surroundings. It wobbled slightly and flew off at an altitude of about 30 meters, with a wave-like motion, emitting a low, droning sound. It then accelerated to an unbelievable speed and disappeared. After the object left, Salvesen's car engine started normally, and the radio worked. He later learned that the accident (the car window being pulverized) happened about 12 kilometers from Ueland, not due to a stone-slide as initially suggested. Editor Halvor Toreskaas investigated Salvesen's credibility and found it to be high. Salvesen reported that the impact caused a wound on his hand. Scientific tests on samples from the car's paint and glass showed lower radioactivity than normal. The Army had shown interest and confirmed no aeroplanes were in the area. Salvesen also reported experiencing a strange sensation in his tongue and face, similar to being under anaesthetics, and difficulties seeing in daylight for 7-8 days due to the powerful light. He also noted a frosted spot on his new car's paint, which was tested and found to have normal radioactivity.

Strange Aircraft Spotted in Åsbygda

This section details an event on October 25, 1977, involving two 14-year-old boys, Johnny Myhr and Frank Sverre Mandt, in Åsbygda, Norway. At 5:30 PM, they saw an unidentified flying object hovering at low altitude above a field. It landed on newly ploughed ground about 100 meters from their school. The object was light green, with portholes, and the boys thought they saw the contour of a figure inside one. After about 10 seconds, it took off and disappeared towards the southeast. The boys pointed out three landing prints in the field, each about 10-15 cm deep, with a distance of 6.60 meters between them. An adult at the school also witnessed a brightly shining object flying above the trees, which was circular and neutral-colored, disappearing after 20-30 seconds. The Supreme Command of the Army announced that a suspicious yellowish light was seen above Gardermoen military airport around the same time. NUFOC (Norwegian UFO Information Centre) investigated the landing site, finding that the earth inside the prints had a pH-value of 4.7, compared to 5.3 outside, indicating a significant difference. The prints' dimensions were recorded: length 56.0 cm, widest 14.5 cm, narrowest 7.5 cm, and depth 10.0 cm. Drawings by the boys depicted the object as a classic flying saucer with a dome and lights. The aircraft was noted to have a resemblance to a similar UFO reported in Puerto Herrera, Spain, in 1970.

More UFOs!

Further confirmation of unusual aerial activity above Åsbygda on Saturday, November 5, is reported, with witnesses assuring it was not an aeroplane. Attorney Willy Ruud and engineer Steinar Dalbu, familiar with aircraft, both stated that the objects were real UFOs. Dalbu, who previously doubted UFOs, now believes in their reality. He observed four brightly shining circular spheres flying in formation through a powerful telescope for about half an hour before they disappeared over the hillside.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around detailed eyewitness accounts of UFO sightings, emphasizing the physical characteristics of the craft, the electromagnetic effects experienced by witnesses, and the presence of physical trace evidence. The publication appears to adopt a stance of serious investigation into these phenomena, presenting witness testimonies and scientific findings to support the reality of UFOs. There is a clear effort to establish the credibility of witnesses, particularly those with professional backgrounds or military affiliations. The editorial stance leans towards validating UFO experiences as genuine encounters, moving beyond mere speculation to documented evidence and analysis.

Title: UFO-Nyt
Issue: December 1980
Volume: 1980
Publisher: Dansk UFO-Center
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
ISSN: 0105-2259
Price: 15 DKK

This issue of UFO-Nyt, dated December 1980, focuses on UFO sightings reported in Norway, with the cover headline "UFO'er i Norge". It presents a collection of eyewitness testimonies and an in-depth investigation into physical trace evidence.

UFO Sightings in Norway

The magazine details several reported sightings across Norway:

Åsbygda and surrounding areas

• October 23, Tuesday afternoon: Øyvind Torp, standing by his window in Vesetrud, Åsbygda, observed a bright and shining light moving at tremendous speed from south to north, disappearing towards Jevnaker. The phenomenon appeared as a long, luminous tail, and the entire hillside was illuminated.
• Tuesday afternoon: The newspaper Ringe-rikes Blad reported that two 14-year-old boys saw a UFO land by Alm school. The craft then proceeded southwards. Later, a worker at the school saw a circular object radiating a powerful light over the same area, coming from the north and moving southwards. The article speculates if this could be the same UFO returning to its landing site, noting Vesetrud is about 2 kilometers south of Åsbygda.
• Tuesday evening: Ringerikes Blad questioned if a UFO was also seen from Vikersund. A flying object, described as resembling an outdoor lamp in motion, was seen "shaving" the roofs of neighbours' houses. The yellow, circular light was observed above Tyrifjorden, moving slowly and soundlessly towards Røyse from Ask. Three witnesses watched for about a minute just after 6:30 pm. Subsequently, an object was seen in the air from Odli at Hønefoss.
• Wednesday, October 26: Unni Gundhus reported seeing a mysterious, intense bright light standing in the sky above Åsbygda. She observed this while driving from Hønefoss towards Hen. The sighting occurred approximately 24 hours after the UFO sighting at Alm school.

Grue and Oslo-area

• October 29: The newspaper Glåmdalen reported a UFO sighting at Grue and in the Oslo-area. Thorstein Nesseter recounted an incident where his horse had run away. While trying to catch it, he saw an oblong object hovering in the air about 3 meters above the road near Knapholsberget. One end shone red, the other looked like a common light bulb. When he approached, the object appeared circular and shiny like the moon. The exact site was Reidar Omstedsvei down to Agnås and further via Knapholsberget.

Brandval

• Tuesday afternoon: Two ladies from Brandval also reported seeing something strange in the sky about 5 minutes after the UFO landing at Ringerike. Coming from Oslo, they saw an object in the sky as they left the main road towards Gjelleråsen. They recalled it was green-coloured and moved slowly from east to west.

Investigation of Trace Evidence: Prints on Roof of Cottage

This section, authored by Johan Hjelvik and Tor Oskar Sætre, details the investigation of prints found on a cottage roof in Homborsund, southern Norway.

Discovery and Initial Observations

The prints, made during the winter of 1980, consist of two almost concentric semielliptical tracks on asphalt shingles. The cottage is located 300 meters west of the lighthouse tower at Homborsund. Kjell R. M. Larsen, the lighthouse keeper, observed a spherical light source in January at 12:30 am, appearing the size of the moon, with no distinct contours but emitting a pulsating red and yellow light.

An object approached from the east, passed the lighthouse tower at an altitude of approximately 150 meters, circulated above the islets west of the tower, stopped twice, passed the tower again, and rapidly disappeared northwards. This observation is potentially connected to the actual prints.

NUFOC Involvement and Analysis

Members of NUFOC (a UFO research organization) inspected the roof in July and were permitted to remove the shingles with prints, which are now attached to a plywood board at NUFOC's research section in Trondheim. These prints are described as the most remarkable and robust track examined by NUFOC to date.

NUFOC's research section is attempting to determine the cause of these marks. They contacted Isola Fabrikker, the manufacturer of the asphalt shingles, to understand the production process. The shingles are made by mixing limestone powder into oxidized asphalt, with clay slate and sand applied to the top and underside. The red colour is achieved by burning ferruginous powder into the slate.

The roof has a 17-degree slope. The prints are two slightly elliptical rings, approximately 10 mm wide, with radii of about 86 cm and 114 cm. Their centres are located 5 cm apart near the eaves. The centre of the outer ring is clearly marked. Below the centres, on the eaves board, two vertical stripes show where the painting has disappeared. Numerous surface pits, the largest about 10 mm across, are also present. Both the rings and pits appear to have been burnt into the asphalt shingles, with varying intensity.

A boiling effect is noted in the middle of the tracks, with slate chippings retained at the ends, but the colour turned white. A grey thin stripe is visible where the boiling effect is strongest. The pits also seem to be a result of a boiling process.

Scientific Examination

NUFOC's initial investigation involved using an ARL SEMQ Electron Beam Micro Probe for spectral analysis to determine if any elements were added or removed from the printed area. Six samples from the roof were analyzed. The results showed no significant differences, except for some chlorine in a track sample, possibly from seawater. A light element, potentially oxygen, seemed to be missing, possibly consumed by heat. The chemical composition not differing from normal led to the exclusion of many potential causes.

Further studies involved optical and electron microscopes, including stereo microscopy. It remains uncertain if there is a connection between the circles and the pits, but microscopic studies suggest a connection may be established. The pits are of particular interest, as their inner diameter is greater than the surface opening. The research is exploring how these pits were created, with no evidence of sharp instruments. Speculative suggestions include heat and laser effects.

Research Stages

The research program is in its first stage, focusing on microscopic mapping. The second stage aims to indicate possible causes, and the final stage will present a discussion of results and conclusions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue highlights the ongoing interest in UFO phenomena through eyewitness accounts and scientific investigation. The magazine appears to adopt a serious, investigative approach, presenting reports and detailed analysis of potential evidence. The focus on physical trace evidence, like the roof prints, suggests an effort to move beyond mere anecdotal reports towards more tangible forms of evidence. The involvement of research organizations like NUFOC and the use of scientific instruments underscore a commitment to rigorous examination of these phenomena. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry, presenting findings and ongoing research without definitive conclusions, encouraging further investigation.