Nordic UFO Newsletter - 1984 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: NORDIC UFO NEWSLETTER
Issue: 1/2 1984
Date: 1984
Publisher: NORDIC UFO GROUPS
Country: Norway
Language: English
ISSN: 0800-1154

This issue of the Nordic UFO Newsletter, published by a consortium of Nordic UFO organizations, presents a collection of UFO sightings and investigations primarily from Finland and Sweden during 1983. The newsletter aims to document and analyze these phenomena, offering detailed witness testimonies and preliminary conclusions.

Contents and Articles

Editorial and Publication Details

The editorial section introduces the Nordic UFO Newsletter as a publication by Nordic UFO Groups, a collaboration between UFO-Norge (Norway), Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige (Sweden), and Suomen Ufotutkijat r.y. (The UFO Research of Finland). It is published twice a year and available on an exchange basis. Contact addresses for each organization are provided. Mentz Kaarbø is listed as the editor, with a new address in Bergen, Norway. The publication notes that the tidings from UFO-Sverige and UFO-Norge are consistent, with UFO-Sverige-Aktuellt published four times a year and Internt UFO-Sverige as an internal periodical, while UFO-Norge publishes 'UFO' five times a year.

The UFO Research of Finland publishes its own periodicals: 'Neljännesvuosi Raportti' (Quarterly Report) four times a year in Finnish, and a Yearly Report in English which abstracts the former. Yearly subscription rates for these Finnish publications are FM. 50,-.

Due to various reasons, including the editor's workload, this 1984 publication is a double-issue. The editors express a desire to return to two proper issues per year in the future. The newsletter covers ongoing investigations in Hessdalen, Norway, with a summary and conclusion on pages 12-30. It also includes material from Sweden, highlighting interesting cases from the past few years, and from Finland, focusing on reports from the Kuru area in Southern Finland, which experienced a local UFO 'wave' around September 3-10, 1983.

An errata section corrects a previous report from NUFON no. 1 1983, stating that a Finnish observation during World War II occurred on August 9 or 10, 1944, not in March 1940.

Finland Sightings

A Clocklike UFO at Näsijärvi: This report, from Ultra Magazine no. 11/1983, details a sighting on September 3, 1983, at Niemikylä in Kuru, over Näsijärvi Lake. Witnesses Raimo and Terttu Niemelä observed a clock-like light phenomenon for nearly an hour. The object, described as a clock-table with twelve blue lights and a reddish-yellow light between positions 10 and 2, exhibited sudden, quick movements. It later changed to a bloodred color with blue lights around the center and emitted two bright light beams. The object made a W-shaped figure twice and hovered at low altitudes (5-15 meters above the lake). No sound was heard. After returning to its original position, the object ascended and vanished, followed by two smaller blue lights. Raimo Niemelä also reported a bright yellow light beam directed at his temple later that night, experiencing a headache afterward.

Raimo Niemelä's opinion is that the object was a flying vehicle, not a weather phenomenon. The weather was cloudy with a gentle south wind and a temperature of +18 degrees Centigrade. Inquiries at the Aitovvori radar station yielded no notices, possibly because the object was too low to be registered.

The report notes that unusually many observations (over ten) have come to light since this event, mostly near Tampere in August-September 1983, suggesting increased UFO activity in Finland.

A translator's note mentions that on the same night as the Näsijärvi sighting, a man disappeared on his way to work and remains missing.

Short Summaries of Other Observations:

1. Tampere, September 3, 1983 (0:30 am): A 58-year-old widow observed a metallic, moon-sized light phenomenon with a shadowed upper part for 10-15 minutes.
2. Tampere, September 3, 1983 (11:05 pm): A retired sergeant major observed a moving dark blue object that became a yellow ball, exhibiting soundless, short movements and vanishing quickly. The object was approximately 50 cm in size and the observation lasted about 3 seconds.
3. Tampere (Lielahti), September 4, 1983 (1:00 am): A 25-year-old woman and her family observed a bright yellow lightball descending, which then became visible as a light above a big ball, moving downwards and blinking. The total observation time was about 20 minutes.
4. Ruovesi, September 10, 1983 (10:00 pm): A civil engineer and a woman observed a small, bright yellow light that grew brighter and rose straight upwards, vanishing quickly. The observation lasted about 10 seconds.

Sweden Sightings

Urban Säwström in Halland: When the Paralysis Set Me Free I Ran Away Screaming: This case, from UFO-Sverige-Aktuellt no. 3 1983, details an event on July 22, 1983, in Bolarp, Sweden. Farmer Urban Säwström was feeding his horses when a strong light illuminated the field. He saw a shining ball, the size of a full moon, descending. The horses laid down, and Urban experienced paralysis. His wife Karin and Larry Åberg also witnessed the phenomenon. Karin's necklace was found, but her bracelet was lost. Urban's wooden shoes were found neatly arranged 300 feet away. Investigations with military authorities and a relative who saw a similar ball on the E6 highway between Båstad and Halmstad are mentioned. Larry Åberg also reported a similar sighting while fishing on Lake Mjorn.

UFO Witness in Malmö Alerted NATO: Source: UFO-Sverige-Aktuellt no.4 1983. Date: September 19, 1983. Witnesses Tareq, Zaper, and Ann Taylor observed five formations of light-balls over Malmö. The central light was large and red, while others were yellow-blue and green, forming a 'clothes-hanger' pattern. The phenomenon moved silently and made a 180-degree turn. Ann Taylor contacted civil aviation and the Defense Staff, who reported no military activity or air traffic of that proportion. The Danish NATO Air Base also could not identify the phenomenon. The newspaper KvällsPosten refused to print the story, citing a lack of other witnesses.

Chocked UFO Observer in Borås: "I Never Believed in Seeing My Son Again": Date: October 21, 1983. Witnesses Christoffer Holmstrand (10) and Joakim Ljungqvist (9) observed an egg-shaped object at close range in Borås. The object, described as shining with an orange glow and having colored lights, descended rapidly with jerky movements, causing the boys to feel strange and stiff. It emitted a strong light downwards. Joakim's mother, Birgit Ljungqvist, also witnessed a large car-like object with red lights hovering over the treetops. The object disappeared as quickly as it appeared, leaving the boys and Birgit shaken. Military authorities reported seeing nothing. The boys' experience was described as frightening and powerful, comparable to the 1981 Hallefors incident.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are detailed UFO sightings with multiple witnesses, often involving unusual light phenomena, strange movements, and sometimes physical or psychological effects on observers (paralysis, headaches). The publication emphasizes the importance of witness testimony and ongoing investigations, as evidenced by the detailed accounts from Finland and Sweden. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious documentation and analysis of UFO phenomena, presenting cases with a degree of skepticism towards conventional explanations (e.g., weather phenomena, aircraft) and highlighting the unexplained nature of many sightings, even in the face of official denials or lack of radar detection. The inclusion of errata and cross-references to other publications (Ultra Magazine, UFO-Sverige-Aktuellt) suggests a commitment to thoroughness within the UFO research community.

This issue of UFO Aktuellt, number 2 from 1984, focuses on a UFO sighting over Nyköping, Sweden, and provides an in-depth report on the ongoing 'Project Hessdalen' in Norway. The magazine is primarily in English, with some original Swedish content translated.

UFO Sighting Over Nyköping

The issue details an incident on Friday, March 16, 1984, between 10:30 and 10:40 PM, approximately 2 miles west of Nyköping, Sweden. Four witnesses—Aina Krantz, Gunvor Åkermand, Dagmar Gustavsson, and Elisabeth Sagebrand—reported seeing a bowl-shaped UFO with a copper lustre. The sighting occurred on a clear, windless evening. The object was described as circular and light-yellow, approaching from the south-southwest and passing silently overhead. Gunvor Åkermand noted three lighter parts on the bottom of the object, surrounded by darker circles. Aina Krantz described it as three-dimensional, shaped like a bowl or pan, and glowing beautifully from within, with what appeared to be small "windows." The object moved towards the north-northeast and disappeared behind trees, becoming more yellow. The entire sighting lasted between 5 and 10 minutes. Aina Krantz later reported her experience to an engineer at Studsvik, who encouraged her to contact the UFO society of Nyköping. An advertisement in Södermanlands Nyheter on March 31, 1984, led to the discovery of two additional witnesses.

Mrs. Elisabeth Sagebrand, also in Nyköping, reported seeing something resembling the moon through her window around 10 PM on March 16. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was not the moon and observed it in the west-southwest at a 45-degree angle. After five minutes, it was gone. Mrs. Ruth Storm, in Fågelbovägen, also reported seeing a "rocket" suddenly appear in her window at 10:30 PM, shining strongly and moving south, in the opposite direction of the main sighting. The weather reports confirmed a stable high-pressure system, with temperatures around 3 degrees Celsius below zero and no wind at ground level, though wind at sea level was 7 m/s from the northeast. No weather or visaing balloons were in the air, and the local airports were not manned at that hour.

Project Hessdalen, Norway

The magazine then shifts focus to "Project Hessdalen," which was initiated in June 1983 through a meeting between representatives from UFO-Norge, Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige, and Förening för Psykobiofysik (Sweden). The project's aim was to investigate UFO phenomena frequently observed in and near the Hessdalen valley since December 1981.

Project Structure and Management

The project was divided into two parts: Part A, an analysis of earlier observations and collected material, and Part B, a field survey using technical equipment. The daily management was handled by the Hessdalen Committee, consisting of Leif Havik (Project Leader), Erling P. Strand (Instrumentation Leader), and Odd-Gunnar Røed (Project Coordinator), all from UFO-Norge. Håkan Ekstrand and Jan Fjellander represented UFO-Sverige. An international "Project Advisory Committee" was also formed, including Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Dr. Harley Rutledge from the USA, Paul Devereux from Britain, and Prof. Jens Tellefsen.

Execution of Part A

Part A began after the BUFORA congress. A significant effort involved sending questionnaires to 3300 households in the Hessdalen area to gather information on past observations. This mailing occurred in January 1984. However, the public response was disappointing, with only 25-30 questionnaires returned, suggesting low local interest.

Execution of Part B: Instrumental Survey

Part B commenced on November 15, 1983, with the installation of a seismograph near Aspåskjølen to monitor earthquakes and earth crust movements. Aerial photographs of the valley were also commissioned. Requests for mining schedules were made to exclude human activity noise. The main technical equipment arrived in late January 1984. A test weekend from January 20-23 involved around 20-30 people monitoring observation posts. The project then entered a quieter phase, followed by an intensive watch from February 11 to February 26, 1984, utilizing sophisticated instruments. This marked the end of "Project Hessdalen, Part 1."

Observation Sites and Manning

During the test weekend, observation sites included Headquarters at Aspåskjølen (700m), Fieldstation 1 at Fjellbekkhøgda (1078m), Fieldstation 2 at Finnsåhøgda (1068m), and Fieldstation 3 at Litlfjellet (1072m). Later, the observation posts were reduced, with Headquarters at Aspåskjølen, Fieldstation 1 at Litlfjellet, and Fieldstation 2 at Lake Hesjøen (Heggsetvollan, 820m) remaining in use. Manning varied, but the number of persons on watch was generally between 20 and 30.

Instrumentation

The project employed a wide array of sophisticated instruments between January 20 and February 26, 1984:

• Spectrumanalyzer: Hewlett-Packard (100 kHz - 1250 MHz), used with a broad-band antenna to detect radio waves and potential interference.
• Radar: Atlas 2000, with a range of 18 nautical miles (33 km), used to establish position and speed, with careful examination by experts to rule out mirages or atmospheric effects.
• Seismograph: MEQ-800 Portable Seismic System, to detect movements in the earth's crust and correlate them with phenomena.
• Magnetometer: Fluxgate Magnetometer Model FM 100, to measure magnetic field strength and direction, including magnetic activity in the upper atmosphere and potential correlations with the phenomenon.
• Radio interference and intensity meter: Singer NM-25 T (150 kHz - 32 MHz).
• Video recorders and cameras: Including Graetz Telerecorder, Akai, Sony, and RCA.
• Laser: Helium-Neon laser (633 nm).
• IR viewer: 2 FJW 80045 (700-1100 nm).
• Cathode ray tube: RCA TC 1212.
• Geiger counter: Radiation Alert Mini and a homemade version.
• Printers: TOA Electronic Polyrecorder and Esterline-Angus Graphic Ampmeter.
• Filters with gratings: Various types for optical analysis.
• Camera equipment: Including Polaroid CU-5, SLR cameras, Instamatic cameras, and 8 mm movie cameras.

Data Analysis and Findings

The issue includes a table comparing witness poll results from March 1982 and November 1983 in Ålen and Hessdalen, showing variations in reported sightings, such as yellow spherical lights, cigar-shaped objects, and egg-shaped objects. The survey aimed to determine if the phenomenon correlated with magnetic fields, atmospheric activity, or earth crust movements. The magnetometer data was compared with readings from official stations in Dombås and Andøya. The radar data was scrutinized by experts to eliminate errors. Spectrographic photos were intended to reveal the nature of the light source (solid object, gas, plasma) and its chemical composition. The spectrum analyzer was used to detect electromagnetic waves and interference.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to adopt a serious, investigative stance towards UFO phenomena, presenting detailed accounts of sightings and rigorous scientific efforts to study them. The inclusion of technical instrumentation and data analysis in Project Hessdalen highlights a commitment to empirical research. The contrast between the detailed scientific approach in Hessdalen and the more anecdotal report from Nyköping suggests a broad scope in covering UFO-related events. The initial report about a boy experiencing nightmares after a sighting hints at the psychological impact of such encounters.

This document, likely an issue of a publication related to UFO research, focuses on the "Project Hessdalen" investigation, detailing observations and instrumental data collected between November 1983 and February 1984. The primary goal was to explore potential connections between UFO phenomena and geophysical mechanisms.

Scientific Instruments and Methods

The project employed a range of scientific instruments to monitor and record the phenomena. These included:

Seismograph A seismograph (MEQ 800) was used to measure movements in the earth's crust. However, no definite correlation was found between the Hessdalen phenomenon and seismic activity. Studies by NORSAR indicated that Hessdalen is a seismologically inactive area, requiring an earthquake of at least 2.5 on the Richter scale to be registered by the nearest stations.

Spectrum photographing This method aimed to determine the nature of the phenomenon by photographing its light spectrum with a grating. While some pictures were taken, the optical density was too low for definite conclusions. The analysis suggested a continuous spectrum, ruling out a cold gaseous source and pointing towards a phenomenon requiring enormous energy.

IR-viewer An IR-viewer was used to observe heat radiation. The phenomenon was hardly visible through IR-viewers, indicating no significant emission in the near infrared range.

Geiger-counter Three Geiger-counter units were used to measure radioactive radiation. If the phenomenon emitted significant radiation, it was expected to be detected.

Spectrumanalyzer This instrument was used to detect electromagnetic radiation. While several registrations were made, they did not always coincide with visual observations. A correlation was noted between days with frequent radar reflections and days with spectrumanalyzer registrations.

Radar Radar proved to be a valuable instrument, detecting reflections and objects with high speeds, including one instance of 30,000 km/h. Some radar echoes were observed without corresponding visual sightings, and experts could not provide a logical natural explanation for these.

Magnetometer The magnetometer registered significant deflections that often coincided with visual sightings of the phenomenon. Airplanes did not trigger these deflections, suggesting a specific characteristic of the Hessdalen phenomenon.

Other Instruments Other instruments, including a laser, were also used, with some yielding positive reactions. The data from these instruments is expected to be detailed in a final report.

Observations and Witness Reports

The document presents a detailed log of observations made by both internal project teams and external observers. These include:

• January 1984: Numerous sightings of blinking lights, red/silvery objects, yellowish objects, and oblong shapes, often recorded simultaneously by radar and visual observers. Speeds of up to 360 km/h were calculated from radar data.
• February 1984: Further radar contacts and visual sightings of objects with colored lights.
• November-December 1983: External observers reported globe-like objects, blinking lights, and cigar-shaped objects with colored lights, some following airplanes or exhibiting unusual movements.

Data Analysis and Credibility Index

Up to the moment of writing (November 1984), 176 reports had been registered. Each report was assigned a credibility index (G) and an index of explicability (F). A high G score indicated good documentation and reliable witnesses, while a high F score suggested the phenomenon was of unknown origin. 76 of the reports were classified as F1, indicating a likely known phenomenon, after critical screening to eliminate natural or man-made objects.

A matrix presents the distribution of reports based on their F/G ratings, showing a significant number of reports with higher credibility.

Conclusion and Future Plans

At the time of writing, drawing clear-cut conclusions was difficult due to the ongoing analysis. The results were being examined by the project management, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (NDRE), and the University of Oslo. A comprehensive "Project Hessdalen, Final Technical Report, Part 1" was planned for publication by the end of 1984. The project management expressed an intention to proceed with "Project Hessdalen, Part II" to gather more information and knowledge about the phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this document are the investigation of anomalous aerial phenomena (UFOs) through scientific means, the detailed recording of witness observations, and the attempt to correlate these sightings with geophysical and electromagnetic data. The editorial stance appears to be one of rigorous scientific inquiry, aiming to objectively analyze the collected data and cautiously draw conclusions, while acknowledging the unusual and often unexplained nature of the observed events. The project is presented as a serious scientific endeavor, seeking to understand a phenomenon that is considered relevant to ongoing global research.

This document is a page from a magazine, likely titled 'UFO', with the page number '30'. The content pertains to sightings of unexplained lights, specifically referencing events from 1983 and 1984. The primary visual element is a black and white photograph of two lights in the sky, captioned as being above Finnsåhøgda and grossly enlarged. A secondary, smaller image offers an alternative interpretation, suggesting the lights might be from an aeroplane.

Sources

The information presented is supported by several sources:

1. Project Hessdalen Bulletin: Issues no. 3 from 1983, and no. 1 and 2 from 1984.
2. Project Hessdalen, journal/diary for Leif Havik: This personal account is cited.
3. UFO magazine: Issues no. 3, 4, and 5 from 1983, and no. 1, 2, and 3 from 1984.
4. Press release by Erling Strand: Dated May 1984.
5. Personal communication with Erling Strand: Occurring between May and October 1984.

Featured Incident: Lights Above Finnsåhøgda

The central focus of the page is a photograph illustrating 'Two lights above Finnsåhøgda'. The accompanying text explicitly states that 'The picture is grossly enlarged.' This suggests that the original observation might have been of a smaller phenomenon or that the photographic process was used to highlight details.

Below the main photograph, a smaller image is presented with the caption 'Possibly lights from an aeroplane above Finnsåhøgda. (Right)'. This offers a potential conventional explanation for the observed lights, contrasting with the unexplained nature implied by the context of a UFO magazine.

Key Individuals and Organizations

• Leif Havik: His journal or diary related to Project Hessdalen is a source of information.
• Erling Strand: He is credited with a press release and personal communications that contribute to the content.
• Project Hessdalen: This project is repeatedly referenced, indicating its significance to the reported phenomena.

Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme is the investigation and reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP), specifically focusing on light sightings. The inclusion of both a potentially unexplained phenomenon and a possible conventional explanation (aeroplane lights) suggests an editorial approach that presents evidence and allows for interpretation, though the context of the 'UFO' magazine implies a leaning towards the unusual.

The page serves as a brief report or a snippet from a larger investigation, relying on multiple sources to document a specific sighting. The emphasis on photographic evidence, even when enlarged, highlights the importance of visual documentation in UFO research.