Nordic UFO Newsletter - 1982 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: NORDIC UFO NEWS LETTER
Issue: 2 1982
Publisher: Nordic UFO Groups
Country: Norway
Date: February 1982

This issue of the Nordic UFO Newsletter focuses on UFO sightings and research within the Nordic countries, with a particular emphasis on recent events in Finland and Norway. The publication is a biyearly periodical produced by the Nordic UFO Groups, an organization that has recently expanded to include The UFO Research of Finland. The newsletter serves as a platform for sharing information and research findings among these groups and is available on an exchange basis.

New Organization Joins Nordic UFO Groups

The newsletter announces the expansion of Nordic UFO Groups with the permanent inclusion of The UFO Research of Finland. This Finnish organization, founded in 1973, is a cooperative institution serving Finnish UFO research. It comprises 40 research-members and approximately 30 subsidiary members. To become a research-member, basic knowledge of ufology is required, with a focus on distinguishing UFOs from misidentifications. Their primary tasks include collecting data and reporting on UFO phenomena, reading news clippings, and collecting information on related phenomena such as balls of lightning and astronomical anomalies. The UFO Research of Finland publishes a Quarterly Report four times a year, distributed to members, media, and foreign UFO organizations.

Organizational Structure and Aims

The Nordic UFO Groups, including UFO-Norge (Norway), Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige (Sweden), and The UFO Research of Finland, share a common aim: to build up a scientific and effective research activity focused on studying reported sightings of unidentified flying objects. While their organizational structures and working routines may differ, their core objective remains consistent. Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige publishes two periodicals: "UFO-Sverige Aktuellt" (four times a year) and the internal "Internt UFO-Sverige." "UFO" is UFON's sole publication.

Key Incidents and Sightings

The Wonders of Iijoki (Pahkakoski Power-Station Incident)

This section details a significant UFO phenomenon observed at the Pahkakoski power-station in Finland on March 19, 1979. The primary witness, Teuvo Kovalainen, an excavator driver, reported a series of events during his night shift. Around midnight, he noticed a reddish light landing behind a wood. Later, at approximately 1:35 am, he saw a bright reddish light advancing westward. By 1:45 am, another bright reddish light appeared below the power-station, approximately 400 meters away. This light was close to the ground, less than 10 meters high, and appeared to be a ship with reddish and bluish lights, spinning and moving westward. The light had a unique glow extending two to three meters and lacked a cone shape. As the observation continued for about half an hour, dimmer lights appeared higher up. Subsequent checks at Kierikki power-station revealed no similar sightings. Upon returning to Pahkakoski dam bridge around 2:55 am, two ships were seen above the wood, about 600 meters southwest. The witnesses attempted to count the objects, estimating 14-15 in total. Later, one ship, described as discus-shaped with a diameter of about 30 meters and illuminated openings, landed near snow-covered trees. It emitted no gas or fumes and was silent. The object rose and descended with wobbles, projecting a bright cone-shaped light downwards. Gradually, all ships moved westward. The light on the marsh was described as tremendous. One object remained visible until 5:45 am, described as being as big as a house.

A UFO Off Vaasa (Västerhankmo Incident)

This incident occurred on a Sunday evening in September 1980, off the coast of Västerhankmo in Mustasaari, Finland. The witnesses were Åke Hurin, a car mechanic, and Kurt Bergfors. Hurin, in his boat, encountered a bright light approaching from the right. Initially mistaking it for a tugboat, he slowed down. The light continued to approach directly, without usual sidelights, causing Hurin to become fearful. He turned off his boat's lights and engine and turned the boat sharply to the right. The object, described as a circle of light with an orange color, radiated heat and vibrated. Its diameter was estimated at 1.5 meters, and its height from the sea level at three to four meters. It was never directly overhead but at an angle of maximum 70 degrees. The object then disappeared. Hurin experienced difficulties starting his engine afterward and seemed disoriented, arriving home much later than usual. Bergfors, watching from the shore, also saw the light approaching Hurin and noted it was a glowing object moving quite high. When it reached Hurin, it descended to about 150 meters and remained stationary for about five minutes, glowing and vibrating, with a saucer-shape and a diameter of about three meters. Bergfors also observed Hurin switching off his boat lights and the engine stopping. He became concerned that the object might approach him as well, so he turned off his villa's lights. When the object left, it ascended, turned into a zeppelin-shape, and returned in the direction it came from. The investigator's comments note that no newspaper stories of this incident were found. Hurin's boat was a 6-meter open boat with a quiet inboard engine. The evasive maneuver caused a canister to jam, leaving marks, but no other physical traces were found.

Shining Ball Filmed Over the Lågendalens Valley

This report details a UFO observation from February 20, 1976, in the Lågendalens Valley, Norway. Witnesses Mary Anne and Kåre Berg described a shining ball with a reddish glow moving soundlessly northward through the valley. Just before disappearing, it emitted red lights resembling welding flames. The newspaper Verdens Gang reported on this event, which occurred on February 20, 1976, though the initial observation was made on February 20 of the same year. UFO-Norge (then NUFOC) obtained a movie of the object made by the Berg couple. The film was examined by Rolf Brahde of the University of Oslo's Department of Astrophysics, who suggested it showed the solar eclipse of April 29, 1976. However, this interpretation was not universally accepted. Micro-densitometer analysis indicated the camera was out of focus, with a light ring visible. Photographic laboratories also confirmed the camera was out of focus and noted the absence of reference points. The movie was cut by Verdens Gang for prints. An investigation team interviewed the Berg couple, confirming the newspaper's account but noting the photo was tilted 90 degrees. The witnesses' visual impressions differed somewhat from what was seen on the film, which is considered natural. The Bergs became angry when experts suggested the film showed a solar eclipse, questioning the researchers' ability to distinguish between different phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the Nordic UFO Newsletter demonstrates a commitment to documenting and investigating UFO sightings across Scandinavia. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, presenting detailed witness accounts and investigative findings. The inclusion of multiple detailed case studies, such as the Pahkakoski incident, the Vaasa sighting, and the Norwegian filmed event, highlights the newsletter's dedication to thorough reporting. The emphasis on scientific research and the inclusion of organizational details suggest a desire to legitimize and advance the study of UFO phenomena. The newsletter also implicitly addresses the challenge of misidentification, as seen in the Finnish organization's criteria for membership and the discussion around the Norwegian filmed event potentially being a solar eclipse. The overall tone is informative and investigative, aiming to provide readers with comprehensive accounts of UFO-related activities in the region.

Title: UFO-Norge
Issue Date: January 1982
Publisher: UFO-Norge
Country of Publication: Norway
Language: English

This issue of UFO-Norge delves into several intriguing UFO and UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) cases from Norway, focusing on witness testimonies, investigative efforts, and potential physical evidence. The content spans incidents from the late 1970s into the early 1980s, highlighting the ongoing interest and investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena within the country.

Case Study: The Langeland Engine Failure

The issue prominently features the case of Steinar Langeland, who reported a UFO sighting on Thursday, August 26, 1976, near Lake Målsjøen by Selbu, Norway. Langeland, while fishing, experienced his car engine suddenly stopping. After several failed attempts to restart it, he observed a dark oval object with a "shaft" approaching. The object was described as rectangular with sharp contours, resembling a lighted window, with a dark oval shape behind it. It emitted a light similar to a paraffin lamp and was followed by a "shaft" of light. After the object disappeared, Langeland noted a smell of sulphur. Crucially, upon inspection, two sparking plugs in his car's engine were found to have burst. The car's engine had been running prior to the incident, and the vehicle was relatively new.

Investigators Kolbjørn Stenødegård and Elbjørg Fjeldberg interviewed Langeland, who maintained that the object was purposefully steered. The burst plugs were sent to NUFOC (now UFO-Norge) for examination. The central engineering workshop of the manufacturer (Bosch) had never seen such breaks, initially suggesting incorrect use of a plug-spanner. However, a former car electrician and a Formula V driver found the breaks too clean for such handling. Experiments were conducted where plugs were deliberately broken with a plug-spanner, producing similar clean breaks. The NUFOC final report noted that if external forces had caused the breaks, the car itself would likely have been damaged. Langeland's story remained unexplained, with no alternative explanations for the broken plugs being put forward.

A New Year's Eve Observation at Leirsund, Lillestrøm

Another significant event detailed is a UFO observation on January 1, 1978, at 0:20-0:28 am, over Leirsund near Lillestrøm, Norway. Four witnesses, including NUFOC/East investigator Elbjørg Fjeldberg, observed a small orange ball emitting sparks for approximately eight minutes. Fjeldberg initially mistook it for a signal rocket due to its size but noted the absence of a corona. The object had a darker orange core surrounded by a diffuse, lighter orange glow. It shone with a constant light for the first two minutes, then began to pulsate slowly. Through binoculars, sparks were seen coming from the rear of the object. The object's appearance was described as having a pulsating core, varying between lemon and orange colors, with a deep-orange area around it. Official air traffic control at Fornebo airport reported no flights in the area, and other airports and local police received no unusual reports. The size was estimated to be comparable to a signal-light or three times the size of Jupiter.

Exceptional UFO Pictures from Norway: The Arendal "Flap"

The issue also extensively covers a period of intense UFO activity in Arendal, southern Norway, during the last three weeks of November 1981. This "flap" involved numerous sightings of various light forms, as well as cigar- and saucer-shaped objects. A young family in Strømmen, Arendal, reported seeing UFOs nightly, and on November 8, one object came very close. This object flew erratically, flashing with a blueish, quivering light that varied in intensity and color (blue to green and yellow-red). The flashes were sometimes bright enough to illuminate clouds and the ground.

Later, the object returned, approaching the veranda at a distance of 500-800 meters. It was described as having a dome lit with yellow-white light from inside, below which was a row of squares resembling windows, and a circular or oval body below that, with a ring of lights (red, green, and blue) that seemed to be rotating. The sight was described as both beautiful and repulsive. The witnesses contacted UFO-Norge representative Hans Aass, who also observed the phenomena.

Over this period, a total of 78 pictures were taken, with 25 deemed good enough for reproduction. These images clearly showed the light forms of the UFOs. The investigator, Arne Thomassen, instructed the husband of the family on how to take good pictures using a telephoto lens, tripod, and specific camera settings (Minolta XG-2 SLR, Vivitar 400mm f/5.6 lens, Fujichrome 400 film). The pictures were time exposures, aimed at blinking lights. Some images showed cylindrical clouds surrounding the blinks in blue, orange, and green.

Additionally, a report from Mr. and Mrs. Bjørnsen and their daughter, living near Arendal, described a huge cigar-shaped object with red lights at both ends, observed on November 19, 1981. This object moved silently and descended slowly over a lake, appearing to have a bridge-like structure on top. The red lights were described as unfamiliar. The family was greatly shocked, initially fearing an invasion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO-Norge are the persistent nature of UFO sightings in Norway, the challenges of investigating such phenomena, and the search for tangible evidence. The magazine appears to adopt a serious and investigative stance, presenting witness accounts and investigator findings without overt sensationalism. The emphasis is on documenting observations, collecting photographic evidence, and attempting to find rational explanations, while acknowledging the unexplained nature of many cases, such as the Langeland engine failure. The editorial stance seems to be one of open-minded inquiry into the UFO enigma.

This document, issue 20 of the magazine 'UFO', focuses on a series of unexplained aerial phenomena observed in the Arendal district of Norway. It includes eyewitness accounts, detailed descriptions of photographic evidence, and analysis of the objects' characteristics and behavior. The content is primarily in English, with translations from Norwegian.

The Arendal Sightings The issue begins by recounting the experiences of the Bjørnsen family, who observed a cigar-shaped object moving slowly towards the northwest over water. Simultaneously, two smaller UFOs on either side of their house moved in unison, flying out over the lake and disappearing behind islands. This led to the conclusion that the three objects were moving in a united formation. A sketch made by Mr. Bjørnsen illustrates this event.

Further accounts detail a similar cigar-shaped object seen gliding towards the center of Arendal, observed by a driver who wished to remain anonymous. Another witness, a lady in the city, reported seeing the object approaching her veranda before it disappeared in another direction. Despite not believing in flying saucers, she found the phenomenon inexplicable.

Photographic Evidence and Analysis A significant portion of the document is dedicated to analyzing photographic evidence of the Arendal sightings. The author notes that the pictures do not show clear physical objects but rather 'colourful light-forms' jumping and flashing. These images are presented as valuable additions to UFO evidence.

The photographs are categorized by film series (A, B, C, D) and specific image codes. Examples include:

• A4 and A5: Show a bright red light moving slowly and without sound, pulsating and tossing. It is suggested this might be the same cigar-shaped object seen later. Two other objects are also present.
• A10 to A13: Used as reference, showing airplane lights for comparison during 10-second exposures.
• B5: Features four blinks, with the first being green and an illuminated form in the middle. The UFO is described as shaded by a cylindrical cloud on the next blink.
• B16: Described as a 'classic' image, showing a yellow-red shivering light that moved swiftly in three dimensions, making 90-degree turns, each accompanied by a large blast of light. This behavior is noted as being too fast for any known aircraft.
• C3: Depicts a seemingly oval object with a dome and a green ring at its base, a shape noted in many other pictures.
• D2: Shows an object similar to those in A4/A5 and C1/C2, moving rhythmically, tossing, and turning at sharp angles. A star is visible as a reference point.

The report mentions that some of these light-forms bear resemblance to pictures taken at Lillestrøm, Norway, some years prior, and also to patterns observed in the Hessdalen valley.

Location and Context A map of the Arendal area is provided, showing observation sites, roads, and geographical features like Lake Blågestad and the Skagerrak. Another map illustrates observation sites across Southern Norway, including Arendal, Oslo, Lillestrøm, Steinsholt, Trondheim, and Selbu.

Conclusion and Speculation The issue concludes by acknowledging that many speculations can be made about the Arendal pictures and observations. It states that whether the area was visited by aliens or if there are more down-to-earth explanations remains a guess. However, it emphasizes that the UFO 'wave' over Arendal is currently unexplained by natural or man-made causes, adding to the complexity of the UFO enigma.

The content was translated from Norwegian by Mentz Kaarbø with the help of Hilary Evans.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, photographic analysis of unexplained aerial phenomena, and eyewitness testimony. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting evidence and observations objectively, acknowledging the unexplained nature of the events, and contributing to the ongoing UFO investigation. There is an open-minded attitude towards the phenomenon, as indicated by Mr. Bjørnsen's initial skepticism turning into a profound experience, and Mrs. Bjørnsen's skepticism also being challenged.