Project Hessdalen Bulletin - Vol 1 No 1 - 1983 No 1

Magazine Overview

This document is the first bulletin from the Project Hessdalen Coordinator, dated October 13, 1983. It serves as an initial communication to inform stakeholders about the project's progress and activities. The bulletin aims to provide regular updates every fortnight.

Project Coordination and Communication

The Project Coordinator, Odd Gunnar Røed, is initiating this information flow to keep the Committee of the Hessdalen Project and the Advisory Committee informed about developments. The information will cover both "creative work" and the "observatory field." The bulletin highlights that contributions from L. Havik and E. Strand indicate that "things are happening." Future bulletins will be distributed every two weeks.

The Working Committee has various duties, with four members tasked with sending their work to the coordinator every second Monday. The current edition includes material from Erling Strand and Leif Havik, representing UFO-Norway. The coordinator expects further contributions from Jan Fjellander and Håkan Ekstrand within the next two weeks. Efforts are underway to finalize the format for information to be sent to every household in the Hessdalen area.

The next bulletin is scheduled for early November, coinciding with the coordinator's visit to Berlin in the last week of October. The project account currently holds $900, with details provided for bank transfers.

Reported Sightings

The bulletin details several sightings:

• September 17, 1983, 10:00 PM: Martin Aspaas and two colleagues reported seeing a "globe looking object" west of Lake Deyungen, Hessdalen. The object moved from north to south, exhibiting up-and-down and sideways motion.
• September 29, 1983, 04:45 AM: Ingmar Lillevold, while driving from Aalen to Hessdalen, observed an object shining like a star. The "star" approached, seemed to "follow" his car towards Hessdals-kjoelen, and pulsated with a bright yellow light. It appeared to grow larger and then smaller. The object disappeared when another car approached from the opposite direction. Lillevold intends to speak with the drivers of both vehicles.
• September 28 & 29, 1983 (Evenings): Mr. Arne P. Thomassen reported several sightings near Lillesand/Justoeya on the southern coast of Norway. He is comparing these to sightings in Arendal from 1981 and 1982. Approximately 50 slides were taken on September 29th.

International Contacts and Collaboration

Members from UFO-Sverige were in Hessdalen from September 25th to 28th. The bulletin inquires if they had any sightings. Christer Axbom from Malmö is mentioned as a contact.

There is also a query about an earthquake in Mid-Sweden at the end of September.

Scientific Data Collection and Instrumentation

Leif Havik has received four aeromagnetic maps of the area (Nos. 1620 I, II, III, IV) from Norges Geologiske Undersøkelser. Geological maps have also been ordered. An informative letter has been sent to the Seismological Observatory in Bergen regarding data for seismological equipment.

Meeting Report (Lerseter, Sweden, September 25, 1983)

A meeting of the Project Hessdalen Coordination Committee was held in Lerseter, Sweden. Participants included Håkan Ekstrand, Jan Fjellander, Leif Havik, Odd Gunnar Røed, Erling Strand, Carl Anton Mattsson, Dan Mattsson, Ingvar Damm, Carl Olov Pettersson, and Owe E. Lewitzki.

The main objectives of the meeting were to define tasks and assign responsibilities within the project.

• University Collaboration: Leif Havik will arrange a meeting at NTH (University of Trondheim) to foster closer relationships with scientists and gain access to instruments. He will also re-establish contact with the "Seismological Observatory" for detailed information on their instruments.
• Camera Procurement: Owe Lewitzki will compile a list of suitable cameras, capable of withstanding rough winter conditions, for both still and live filming. This list will be sent to Hans Kr. Moe in Oslo, who will contact camera manufacturers for support.
• Measurement and Mapping: Erling Strand will create a list of parameters to be measured. Leif Havik will obtain detailed geological maps of Hessdalen and provide copies to Dan Mattsson. These maps will be sent to Paul Devereux for proposals on geological instrumentation.
• Community Outreach: Letters will be sent to every household in Holtålen and Mitre Gauldal, areas with a high number of UFO reports. The letters will describe the project and request residents to report any UFO sightings, including a self-addressed prepaid envelope. Odd Gunnar Røed and Erling Strand will draft the letter, which Jan Fjellander will copy (minimum 3262 copies) and distribute.
• Public Meeting: Leif Havik will organize and conduct a meeting in Hessdalen in November to inform the local population about the project. A story about the project and meeting will be published in the newspaper "Arbeidets Rett" beforehand.
• Reporting System: A letterbox and simple report forms will be placed in the valley, along with a poster explaining the project and requesting sightings. Erling and Odd G will create the text and illustrations for the poster, which Håkan Ekstrand will produce.
• Swedish Contacts: Jan and Håkan will compile a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of people from Sweden willing to assist in Hessdalen. This list is crucial for Leif and Odd G.
• Communication: Leif needs to acquire an automatic telephone answering machine.

Contacts for Advisory Committee

Several individuals are being contacted to join the Project Hessdalen Advisory Committee, including Bruce Mchambee, Peter Sturrock, Stuart Campbell, Ausbach, Stanton Friedman, Hans Bender, Jacques Vallee, and Arne Groth. Håkan Ekstrand is contacting Kenneth Olofson and Anders Liljegren.

The established Project Hessdalen Advisory Committee members include Prof. J. Allen Hynek, Prof. Jens Tellefsen, Dr. Harley Rutledge, and Paul Devereux.

Proposed Instrumentation for Investigation

This section, attributed to E. Strand (October 9, 1983), details the proposed instrumentation for the Hessdalen project:

1. Electro-Magnetical Radiation:
* Light Measurement: Measure wavelength (300nm-1600nm, with focus on 500nm-600nm) and intensity of light emitted from the source. This requires special filters on cameras, potentially leading to spectrographic instrumentation. One station is needed.
* Radio Frequencies: Use different antennas connected to spectrum analyzers to continuously measure radio-wave spectra. This provides a reference, and new spectra will be recorded when the source appears. Two or more stations are recommended for better data.
* Electrical Field: Measure electrical fields in conjunction with meteorological data to assess electrical potential. Detectors should be placed throughout the valley, recording data continuously.
* Magnetical Field: Measure magnetic fields to detect any surrounding magnetic influence. Detectors should be placed throughout the valley, recording data continuously.

2. Radioactive Radiation: Standard instrumentation is needed to measure and record radiation levels continuously throughout the valley.

3. Geological: Continuous measurement of ground movement is proposed to correlate with the appearance of the unknown source. One station is needed.

4. Temperature: Measure the temperature of the source using special sensors.

5. Movement/Position: Cameras with a common trigger should be placed at various locations in the valley to precisely position the source. Cameras should be loaded with color, black and white, and infrared film. Radar should also be used for positioning and to detect radar reflections.

6. Time: An atomic clock should be placed in the valley and compared weekly with a reference clock.

7. Other: Investigate parapsychological connections using PK-meters and Kirlian photos. Communication tests, including sending electro-magnetic signals (e.g., light signals) back to the source, should be conducted every second day.

A diagram illustrates the proposed instrumentation categories: Geological Connection, Temperature, Time, Other, Electro-Magnetical Radiation, Radioactive Radiation, and Movement/Position.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this initial bulletin are the systematic investigation of unexplained phenomena in Hessdalen, the importance of scientific data collection and instrumentation, and the need for clear communication and coordination among project members and with the local community. The editorial stance is one of proactive, organized scientific inquiry, aiming to gather empirical evidence and understand the nature of the reported phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on methodical measurement and analysis across various scientific disciplines.