Polarnytt - 1981 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: NUFOC'S POLARNYTT
Issue: ÅRGANG 2, N°1
Date: 1981
Publisher: NUFOC (Norsk UFO Senter)
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian

This issue of NUFOC'S POLARNYTT, the publication of the Norwegian UFO Center, focuses on UFO sightings and investigations within Norway and its neighboring countries. It details various reports from different regions, including Harstad, Sala (Sweden), and a historical case from 1954.

Organizational Structure and Activities

The magazine outlines the organizational structure of NUFOC, detailing its various regional departments (Avdelingene) across Norway, including NUFOC NORD, NUFOC MIDT, NUFOC VEST, NUFOC ØST, and NUFOC SØR. The central administration is located in Trondheim, with K. Stenødegård serving as the administrative leader. Specific regional leaders and contact persons are listed, such as J. Sedeniussen for Avd Nord and Leif N Solhaug for Fylkesledelse Nordland. The text highlights the challenges of organizing UFO investigations across Norway's vast northern region, from Vest-Finmark to the border of Nord-Trøndelag.

Regional Reports and Sightings

Nord-Norge (Northern Norway): The report from NUFOC Nord indicates a successful year in 1980, with increased activity and the establishment of new sections. The establishment of Fylkesledelse Nordland, led by Leif N Solhaug, is noted. Solhaug also oversees Feltseksjon M, covering Vesterålen and Lofoten. The Vesterålen area is highlighted for its ufological interest, with the Leknes-Gravdal case from January 1978 being the most well-known. This incident involved a luminous object and was reported by NTB as a UFO, with no definitive explanation found.

Harstad Sightings (December 1980): Several articles focus on a series of sightings in Harstad around December 29-31, 1980. Approximately fifty people reported seeing a light over Harstad on December 29th. The object was observed for about 25 minutes before disappearing. Initial reports suggested it could be a balloon or rocket, but some witnesses insisted it was a UFO due to its unusual behavior.

On December 31st, John A. Johnsen reported an object that approached him, stopped, and shone brightly before moving towards Musvannet and disappearing. He described it as not being an aircraft. Gerd Forsaa also witnessed a luminous object that moved silently. Odd Jakobsen suggested the object might have been a parachute or balloon, estimating its diameter at one meter. Terje Olsen, writing in 'Nordlys (Harstad)', described a bright white, cone-shaped light ascending from the sea near Trondenesvegen, followed by a cloud formation.

NUFOC's investigation into the Harstad incident involved contacting the Air Force and the Andenes rocket station, but no official explanation was provided. The military's response was described as peculiar, particularly their behavior during a previous Harstad UFO investigation in April 1980.

Sala, Sweden Sighting (January 1981): The magazine also reports on a sighting in Sala, Sweden, where luminous objects, described as red or orange, were observed. These sightings garnered significant media attention, with local newspapers and radio covering the events. A Harstad resident living in Sweden confirmed witnessing such an object and expressed the belief that not all such phenomena can be explained as balloons.

Historical Case: CE III in Helgelandet (1954): The issue revisits a significant case from August 1954 involving Edith Jacobsen and Åsta Solvang, who reported an encounter with a "saucer pilot." This event is presented as potentially the only Norwegian CE III (Close Encounter of the Third Kind) case. The official explanation from the Air Force suggested a pilot landing his helicopter due to stomach trouble, but this explanation was deemed highly questionable by the witnesses and their relatives. NUFOC has published a separate booklet detailing this unique case.

Media Coverage and Public Perception

The magazine notes the media's role in reporting UFO incidents, mentioning 'Harstad Tidende' and 'Nordlys' (Harstad). There is a desire for more regional coverage of UFO phenomena, similar to the publication 'Rapportnytt,' which focuses on international cases. NUFOC expresses interest in collaborating with other regional publications to share information and improve the quality of reporting.

Object Characteristics and Analysis

Witness descriptions of the objects varied, including shapes like disks, balloons, and parachutes, with colors ranging from red and orange to white and yellow-orange. Some reports mentioned unusual behavior, such as hovering, silent movement, and sudden changes in direction. The military's involvement and their often-skeptical or dismissive responses are a recurring theme.

Humor and Psychology

A section titled 'BARE HUMOR?' (Just Humor?) features comic strips related to UFOs, featuring characters like Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. The article discusses how these popular cartoons shape children's perceptions of UFOs and aliens, linking it to psychological development and how these early impressions might influence adult beliefs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, the challenges of gathering credible witness testimony, the role of the media, and the often-unclear stance of official bodies like the military. NUFOC appears to be committed to documenting and analyzing these phenomena, encouraging regional reporting, and providing a platform for witness accounts, while also acknowledging the need for critical evaluation of evidence. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, seeking explanations but not dismissing the possibility of genuinely unexplained aerial phenomena.

This document is a subscription form for the Norwegian magazine POLARNYTT. The cover features a call to action in Norwegian: "Abonner på polarnytt nå!" (Subscribe to Polarnytt now!). The form itself is designed to allow individuals to subscribe to the magazine.

Subscription Details

The subscription form provides several options for the year 1981:

• Full year subscription: This includes 12 issues and costs 60,- (Norwegian currency).
• Half year subscription: This includes 6 issues and costs 30,-.
• Trial issue: A single trial issue is available for 7,50.

Subscribers are required to fill in their Name (Navn), Address (Adr), and Postal Code/Number (Poststed/nr).

Payment and Mailing Instructions

Payment for the subscription should be sent to:

NUFOC Avd NORD
9430 GAUSVIK

via postgirokonto 328 42 47.

The form also states that "Tidligere nr i abonnementsperioden sendes Dem," which translates to "Previous issues in the subscription period will be sent to you," indicating that subscribers will receive back issues if they subscribe partway through the year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This document is purely a functional subscription form and does not contain editorial content, articles, or thematic discussions. Its sole purpose is to facilitate subscriptions to POLARNYTT magazine, indicating a focus on readership acquisition and distribution.