Nordic UFO Newsletter - 1983 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: NORDIC UFO NEWSLETTER
Issue: No. 1 1983
Date: January 1983
Publisher: Nordic UFO Groups
Country: Norway
Language: English
ISSN: 0800-1154

This issue of the Nordic UFO Newsletter, published by a consortium of Scandinavian UFO organizations, focuses on several intriguing aerial phenomena. It includes reports from Norway, Sweden, and Finland, with a particular emphasis on the ongoing mystery in Hessdalen, Norway, and the well-documented Hällefors incident in Sweden.

Hessdalen Phenomena, Norway

The newsletter highlights the persistent strange aerial phenomena observed in the Hessdalen valley, located about 80 kilometers south of Trondheim, Norway. This valley has been subject to these unusual sightings for approximately one and a half years, and no definitive explanation has yet been proposed. The report indicates that details of the Hessdalen events are presented in the issue.

The Hällefors Incident Continues to Grow (Sweden)

This section, authored by Stig Aggestad, delves into the Hällefors incident that occurred on Thursday, October 15, 1981. The sighting involved a large, unidentified flying object described as an 'airship' that remained visible for at least 30-35 minutes at a low altitude over Hällefors. The incident is considered one of the best-documented UFO cases in Sweden, with investigations by the Defense Staff and police authorities failing to identify the object.

Witnesses, including police sergeant Dan Hagsten, described the object as having an angular shape, approximately one hundred feet long, with no visible wings. Hagsten observed three to four lit openings on the side, resembling 'windows,' and during a second sighting, he noted a flame in the rear. The engine sound was likened to a 'diesel engine with a broken silencer.' Hagsten, with prior experience at Arlanda airport, stated the craft did not resemble any known aircraft.

Despite extensive investigation, including checks by the Aircraft Warning Service and inquiries into private airship owners, no conventional explanation was found. The Goodyear advertising ship was abroad, ruling it out. Questions arose regarding why the object was only sighted over Hällefors and not surrounding areas. The object reportedly disappeared towards Grythyttan while slowly rising.

TV Program's Explanation: A Smuggled-In Airship

An article by Christer Nordin discusses a Swedish television program ('Magasinet', Channel 2) that proposed the Hällefors object was a 'smuggled-in airship.' The program suggested that the airship, hidden by darkness, was responsible for the 'artistic performance of illegal aerial technique.' This explanation was based on a photo of a ship the TV team had in mind.

The article critically examines this theory, referencing Håkan Colting, who started a company called European Airships AB with two Cameron D-96 airships. While the program implied Colting was involved in smuggling, the article notes his reputation and current activities in Canada. Research indicated one Cameron airship was in Gothenburg, confiscated due to debt, and another had a dangerous crash-landing in May 1981 near Enköping. Birger Hjälmstad, VD of European Airship, stated this latter ship was registered in Great Britain and owned by a Swedish company, not smuggled.

Locals and members of the Orebro Balloon Club expressed skepticism about the airship theory, emphasizing that such a craft requires a large crew and generates significant noise. Furthermore, airship flying is highly sensitive to wind, and the conditions on the night of the sighting were likely too strong.

Alternative Theories: Helicopter or NATO Aircraft

Other explanations considered include a helicopter, with one witness describing propellers similar to 'banana helicopters.' However, inquiries with the Air Force revealed no record of vertol helicopter flights in the area. The possibility of a NATO helicopter was also raised, given that not all flights are registered, and cover-ups are considered common.

Low Flying UFO Over Drottningholm Castle (Sweden)

Authored by Christer Nordin, this section details a sighting on Wednesday, September 15, 1982, at Drottningholm Castle in Stockholm. Witness Per Torell, on main guard duty, observed a 'cylinder shaped object lighted in both ends' approaching from the southwest at low altitude.

Torell described the object as significantly larger than an airplane, traveling without sound, and possessing a strange white light at the front and rear that made the illuminated surface glimmer matt. He observed the craft for about 20 seconds before it disappeared northwest over the castle. Torell alerted his supervisor, but the object was gone.

A report and drawing of the object were made, and the information was forwarded through military channels. Lieutenant-colonel Ola Eriksson at the Garnison Department at Stockholm Castle stated he had sent a report of a 'light and sound phenomenon' to the East Military District Staff in Strängnäs, personally believing it was an airplane and stating, 'I don't believe in UFOs.'

The Security Service at the Military District Staff judged the sighting as 'probably a low flying airplane.' Torell found this frustrating, noting the object was soundless, wingless, and flew at low altitude, unlike any airplane he had seen. The case was ultimately filed by FOA in Stockholm, with the Swedish National Defense concluding there was no threat to national safety.

Mysterious Incident Inside the Castle

Coinciding with Torell's sighting, castle attendant Göran Trygg reported a mysterious incident inside the castle. Around 8:45 pm, the lights on the second floor vestibule suddenly faded and died, similar to a cinema. A subsequent check revealed that several main fuses had been broken without any known system overload. The newsletter notes the pattern of unexplained influence on electric circuits in relation to UFO sightings and suggests the connection between Torell's sighting and the internal incident is too obvious to be mere chance.

A UFO Operation During the War (Finland)

This report, sourced from Ultra Magazine no. 3/1983, describes a sighting from possibly March 1940, south of Loimola, Finland. During the day, approximately 100 'airplanes' in a regular formation were observed by soldiers of regiment JR 56. The witnesses described the objects as strange in shape, with a light graphite color, and undefinable silhouettes, particularly in front.

The formation was peculiar in that it was silent, with only a slight vibration felt. The objects were at an estimated height of 1500 meters and moved at a speed slightly below that of a slow reconnaissance plane. The formation, described as regular like a chessboard, made a 90-degree turn downwards towards the ground simultaneously. The purpose and origin of this operation remained unknown.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the Nordic UFO Newsletter consistently highlights the lack of definitive explanations for observed phenomena, particularly from official military and governmental bodies. The editorial stance appears to favor presenting witness accounts and investigative findings, while also critically examining official dismissals and alternative theories. There is a recurring theme of unexplained aerial objects exhibiting advanced capabilities (soundlessness, unusual maneuverability) and the tendency for authorities to attribute such sightings to conventional aircraft, even when witness descriptions contradict this. The newsletter aims to document these events and encourage further investigation, as evidenced by the concluding remarks about presenting future findings on the Hällefors incident.

This issue of UFO-Norge, dated December 1981 and identified as issue no. 2 of volume 1982, focuses on the 'Hessdalen Phenomena' in Norway. The magazine details a series of unusual sightings that began in December 1981 and continued into 1982, primarily in the Hessdalen valley and surrounding areas.

The Hessdalen Phenomena

The article begins by describing the Hessdalen area, located about 80 km south of Trondheim, as a mountainous and somewhat desolate region with a few hundred inhabitants. The phenomena, which started around December 1981, have been observed by dozens of witnesses and are characterized by strange light phenomena that defy easy explanation.

Nature of Sightings and Object Descriptions

Witnesses have reported seeing lights of various magnitudes and intensities, as well as objects described as cigar-shaped or egg-shaped. These objects have been observed flying between mountain sides, sometimes moving with a wide range of speeds, stopping abruptly, ascending rapidly, or accelerating sideways. Many objects lacked clear shapes, while others were described as egg-shaped with 'windows' or as oblong objects with diffuse light-glows. In nearly all cases, only one object was seen at a time, and no audible sound was reported.

A periodicity in observations is noted around 7:30 pm and between 10:30-11:00 pm, though sightings occurred at other times as well. The conditions of observation varied greatly, from clear skies to overcast, rain, sleet, and snow, with temperatures ranging from -30 to +5 degrees Celsius. The bulk of reports describe nocturnal lights, but a few daylight observations have also been made. Some objects displayed powerful, white blinking lights, comparable to an electronic flash.

Specific Accounts and Investigations

The magazine presents several detailed accounts from witnesses:

• Aspås Farm Witnesses (Ruth Mary Moe, Age Moe, Jon Aspås): Between Christmas 1981 and January 1982, these witnesses observed a shiny, luminous 'thing,' oval or egg-shaped, hovering near Finnsåhøgda. The object was seen from the southwest, flying with an even speed, halting over the mountain, descending vertically, and then ascending again. It was occasionally seen to descend and ascend multiple times.
• Age Moe and Jon Aspås (15 January 1982): While traveling by snowscooter, they saw a light that grew more powerful and moved towards them. It split into two luminous objects that ascended vertically, merged, and descended. Subsequently, four objects flew in various directions. The objects were estimated to be 15-20 x 7-8 meters and were described as egg-shaped, with one witness seeing a 'window with four crossbars.'
• Nils Kåre Nesvold and Per Holden (20 December 1981): These witnesses saw a luminous spherical object, the size of a large star, moving with variable speed and course at an estimated altitude of 1000-2000 meters above the mountain.
• Halvard Bakås (Sunday before Christmas 1981): Driving towards Hessdalen, he observed a stationary light that looked like a light-bulb, larger than a star, against the terrain.
• Torfinn Barstad (11 January 1982): A 14-year-old witness observed a luminous object that resembled a big star, stopped about 500 meters away, and hovered for several minutes before moving away at great speed. The witness felt sick during the observation.
• Lars Lillevold (18 January 1982): He saw an egg-shaped or oblong object with a metallic core and an orange light, hovering motionless before moving slowly down through the valley. He described it as a physical object made of metal.
• Hans Almås and family (3, 4, 5 February 1982): This family observed silent luminous objects with even motion and speed like an airliner. The objects were seen through a window and later outside, moving from south to north.
• Jon Aspås (1, 2 April 1982): He observed a large, oblong object flying slowly from the south along Hessdalen, and on another occasion, a point of light moving slowly relative to the stars for about an hour and a half.
• Bjarne Lillevold (24 September 1982): He and a friend saw a luminous object descend into the woods, followed by another object hovering nearby. One object later appeared like an inverted Christmas-tree, shining powerfully, with a pulsating red light.

UFO-Norge Investigation:

UFO-Norge conducted its first trip to Hessdalen in March 1982. A poll of 130 attendees revealed that 30 persons had had one or more observations since December 1981. Specific counts included 17 seeing yellow spherical lights, 12 possible cigar-shaped objects, and 8 possible egg-shaped objects.

NIVFO Investigation:

NIVFO also investigated the Hessdalen phenomena, analyzing 47 observations from December 1981 to October 1982. Their findings indicated that 53% of observations occurred in the latter half of each month, and 91% were luminous objects seen between 5:00 pm and midnight. Object appearances varied, with descriptions including 'fuselage,' 'windows,' and shapes like 'torpedo' or 'cigar.' Colors were often described as shiny, yellow, and red. Movements ranged from motionless to very high speeds, including 'looping' and spiral movements, with no audible sound.

Media Coverage:

A TV team from the Norwegian Broadcasting Cooperation (NRK) filmed some phenomena in February 1982, though the footage was limited by distance. A correspondent from Swedish Broadcasting Cooperation also visited the area.

Expeditions and Photography:

Organized expeditions by UFO-Norge and UFO-Sverige took place in March, September, and October 1982. Participants, including engineers and journalists, were equipped with cameras and telephoto lenses. Several sightings were made, and some photographs were taken, including one that showed an 'amoeba-shaped object with a yellow core and a red periphery.' Another photograph, taken with a reindeer for scale, estimated an object's dimensions at about 25 meters.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent and varied nature of the Hessdalen phenomena, the detailed witness testimonies, and the ongoing efforts by organizations like UFO-Norge and NIVFO to document and understand these events. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena, presenting witness accounts and scientific analysis without immediate dismissal. The inclusion of photographic data and detailed descriptions of object characteristics suggests a commitment to rigorous documentation.

This issue of UFO-Norge, published in 1982, focuses on the extensive UFO activity reported in Hessdalen, Norway. The cover features a cartoon with the headline "LITTLE GREEN MEN..." and depicts a mermaid interacting with a flying saucer.

Key Observations and Sightings

The magazine details several significant UFO observations from 1982:

March 1982 Expedition

On March 18, 1982, at 7:33 pm, an observation was made from a distance of approximately 3000 meters. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the terrain and the observation point relative to landmarks like Båttjørnhøgda, Fjellbekkhøgda, and Finnsåhøgda. Figure 3 suggests that observed objects in Hessdalen have maneuvered in complex ways. On March 19, an object type II was observed at 7:38 pm, described with a warm yellow light and a reddish periphery (Figure 7).

October 1982 Expedition

Another expedition took place from October 16 to October 24, 1982. On Friday evening, October 21, phenomena began at 5:40 pm. Observers used a 1000 mm telephoto lens and an 8 mm cinecamera. Objects were seen hovering motionless over zinc-silver-copper mines, with their direction noted as 89 degrees relative to magnetic north. Later, an object was accompanied by another, and signals of light were sent using a 50-watt halogen lamp. The objects disappeared shortly after the signaling began. At 6:05 pm, the objects returned, allowing for final pictures to be taken. At 8:20 pm, an oblong object with blinking red lights appeared, flying low and soundlessly. Two pictures were taken through a 400 mm lens. This object was reportedly seen by many people in Ålen, flying from east to west at an altitude of a few hundred meters.

September 1982 Observations

On Friday, September 3, 1982, at 10:50 pm, a luminous object suddenly appeared above Finnsåhøgda and maintained a steady flight for 15-20 seconds before disappearing. Binoculars revealed a red light in front and a white light at the back. No sound was heard. The subsequent evening, September 4, was more successful. At 9:30 pm, an object described as a satellite flew in reverse from east to west. At 9:45 pm, another object appeared near the zenith and began to move erratically, unlike a satellite. During this observation, an instrument measuring the voltage of the air registered a vigorous deflection, indicating a gradient of 100 volts per meter, which was not present before or after the sighting.

Object Types Illustrated

Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate different types of UFOs observed in Hessdalen: Object type I (Egg-shaped), Object type II (Oval with a flat bottom), and Object type III (Cigar-shaped, possibly a variation of Type II).

Norwegian Army Investigation

In late March 1982, two officers from the Norwegian Army, Captain Arne Nyland and Lieutenant Peter Reymert, conducted a study in Hessdalen. This is noted as the first official Army UFO-hunt in Norway. They stayed in a tent and reported seeing no UFOs but observed over 30 shooting stars and satellites, along with 6-7 airplanes. They acknowledged that people in Hessdalen had reported luminous objects since 1944 and that these accounts were credible and should be taken seriously.

Major-general Eyvind Schibbye, Commander-in-chief for the Air Force of Southern Norway, stated that while natural explanations exist for many sightings, it can be difficult to find the cause. He suggested possibilities like atmospheric reflections, ball lightning, or other meteorological phenomena, and personally does not believe in UFOs.

Hypotheses on the Cause

Arne Thomassen suggested that an analysis of the cause would require a thorough treatise. He pointed out that the Hessdalen area is rich in minerals, has the strongest magnetic field in Norway, and is a relatively desolate mountain landscape. He also noted the importance of observing UFOs from a high level looking down.

UFO-Norge has previously taken magnetometers on expeditions, but no abnormal magnetic fields were measured. However, measurements by the Norwegian Geological Institute in 1965 indicated a very strong magnetic field where some UFOs reportedly disappeared.

An instrument measuring electrical voltage in the air was used by NIVFO in September 1982. During a UFO observation, the instrument showed a significant deflection, suggesting a link between the unknown object and changes in air voltage.

Scientific and Alternative Explanations

Scientist Thomas McClimans proposed that cold air descending the valley meeting warmer air creates a mirror-like surface where light sources are reflected, a phenomenon meteorologists call reflection in inversion layers. Other suggested explanations include light from airliners, car lights, the planet Mars, and ball lightning. The article concludes that while these might explain some sightings, they do not account for all of them, and the phenomena in Hessdalen (and Arendal) remain unidentified.

Sources

The article cites several sources, including "UFO" published by UFO-Norge, "UFO-Nyt" from Denmark, a report titled "UFOs in Hessdalen, Norway 1981/82" by Leif Havik, and an article from the newspaper "Dagbladet".

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the persistent and unexplained UFO activity in Hessdalen, Norway. The magazine presents witness accounts, photographic evidence (though not in full color), and attempts at scientific measurement and explanation. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and reporting, acknowledging the mystery while exploring various hypotheses, including official military interest. The publication aims to keep readers informed about the ongoing case, indicating that the phenomena remain unidentified at the time of publication.