Rapportnytt - 1974 no 3

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO FORUM
Issue: 3/74
Date: March 1974 (inferred from issue number)
Publisher: Norsk UFO Center
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian

This issue of UFO FORUM, titled 'RAPPORTNYTT' on the cover and subtitled 'FORUM FOR NORSKE UFO FORENINGER OG INTERESSERTE', is published by Norsk UFO Center and edited by NUFOC-Bergen. It contains a collection of UFO sighting reports and related commentary.

Table of Contents

The table of contents lists the following articles:

• RAPPORT FRA RØKSUND (Report from Røksund)
• LYSFENOMEN OVER NORDMARKA (Light phenomenon over Nordmarka)
• HJERTEFORIMET UFO OVER USA (Heart-shaped UFO over USA)
• MØTE MED FREMEDE VESENER (Encounter with alien beings)
• UFO OVER HALLINGDAL (UFO over Hallingdal)
• m.m. (and more)

Article Summaries

EN RAPPORT FRA RØKSUND (A Report from Røksund)

This section details a report (Rapport nr. 3) taken by S. Røksund, an engineer. The observation occurred on May 8, 1974, from 21:30 to 21:33. The witness observed two objects with pulsating orange lights, no sound, moving north-west and disappearing behind trees. The weather was clear with weak wind. Two witnesses are listed: S. Røksund and Ingeniør. A second report from Røksund (Rapport nr. 3, dated May 9, 1974, 23:00-23:00.1) describes a single object with a constant yellow/orange light, visible for 10 seconds, moving north-west and disappearing behind trees. The weather was clear and calm with temperatures between 7-8 degrees Celsius.

S. Røksund also recounts a personal experience from May 8, 1974, in Horten. He and his wife, along with a friend, observed two objects passing each other with steady speed. His wife noted a second object appearing. He drove to a viewpoint but saw nothing further. He notes that the objects did not interfere with the TV signal and made no sound.

RAPPORTØR ARVID GRANHOLM (Reporter Arvid Granholm)

This report (Rapport nr. 1) is from Arvid Granholm, observed on April 19, 1974, at Tyristrand. The object was described as a luminous oval, moving slowly with a speed of 10-15 km/h at an altitude of 50-100 meters. It was described as being the size of a cabbage head. The object moved from south to north and disappeared either by landing or flying further north. Granholm stated it was not a plane but a cigar-shaped object with a red blinking light at the rear. He made a sketch, but it could not be included. The editor vouches for Granholm's reliability.

ET BREV FRA GUSTAV STENBERG (A Letter from Gustav Stenberg)

Written from Kvanne on June 5, 1974, this letter to Norsk UFO Center describes an observation from March 11 or April 8, 1972. The witness saw a clear, yellow-white, disc-shaped object with a thin, sharp black rim moving in a slight arc at an altitude of about 3/4 moon diameter. It moved slowly and disappeared after 5-6 seconds. Stenberg also recalls an earlier sighting 10-15 years prior of a gray-orange, half-moon-shaped object moving slowly, and another sighting of a similar sphere that broke into three pieces.

LYSFENOMEN OVER NORDMARKA (Light Phenomenon over Nordmarka)

This section, attributed to Kjartan Vindheim and published in 'I VERDENS GANG' on April 8, 1974, describes an observation from March 23, 1974. The witness saw what appeared to be a star moving erratically. After about 5 minutes, the object performed a vertical dive to about 20 degrees above the horizon, stopped suddenly, and returned to its previous position. The fall lasted about 10 seconds. The object was observed for 70 minutes. Vindheim questions whether authorities conduct exercises with weather balloons or similar devices that could explain the phenomenon. A plane passed later that evening.

UFO SETT AV EIDSVOLL-EKTEPAR (UFO Seen by Eidsvoll Couple)

From Eidsvoll Blad, March 26, 1974. An Eidsvoll couple reported seeing a bright light on the road between Vormsund and Eidsvoll. Initially thought to be a shooting star, the object descended towards their car before suddenly ascending. It was described as a disc-shaped fireball with a strong yellow light, darker in the center, and an orange tail. It hovered for 6-8 minutes. The car's headlights dimmed after the event. Knut Ansheim, a local UFO expert, noted a similar sighting on the same road six years prior (March 19, 1958).

UFO OVER STOKKE, TØNSBERG (UFO over Stokke, Tønsberg)

From Tønsberg Blad, April 17, 1974. Four people observed a flying object over Stokke on a Monday evening. It was initially near Venus, with similar brightness and color. The object hovered motionless for about 90 seconds before moving off. It was described as having 12-15 red lights and was silent.

UFO OVER STOKKE forts. (UFO over Stokke cont.)

This continuation describes an object that descended towards the hills and then reappeared. Its speed was high, and the observation lasted only a few minutes. A small private plane landed at Torp airport shortly before the sighting, suggesting a possible misidentification, though the report implies otherwise.

VAR DET EN FLYVENDE TALLERKEN? (Was it a flying saucer?)

From Tønsberg Blad, April 19, 1974. An anonymous young man reported seeing a mysterious object on the night sky at precisely 23:00 on Maundy Thursday. The object was round, about 300 meters high, and moved silently from south to northeast. It emitted light beams from its sides. The object was described as a shiny blank sphere and was visible for 3.5 minutes. The same man, his father, and a friend also witnessed the UFO over Stokke on the previous Monday evening.

BERGEN

From Morgenavisen, May 6, 1974. Reports from reliable people described a strange phenomenon over Nordåsvannet. A fully illuminated flying object hovered low over the water before slowly disappearing towards Flesland. A witness described it as possibly a helicopter but behaving strangely. Flesland airport had no record of any aircraft in the area at that time.

UTLANDET - USA (Abroad - USA)

This section, citing National Enquire and Edward Camlin, describes an observation by two US Army veterans. They saw a mysterious heart-shaped UFO emitting a sharp light beam while hovering silently over a wooded area. The object had 12-15 red lights and remained stationary for about 90 seconds before suddenly accelerating and taking off.

USA forts.

This section continues the report from Corporals Robert Bugjo and Poul Cutrufello, who observed an object on October 4, 1973, at 2:15 AM. They described it as tear-shaped with red lights on its sides and rear. They noted it was not a plane and made no sound. The object emitted a beam of light downwards. They estimated its size to be similar to a 747 aircraft and observed it for about 90 seconds before it moved east at high speed. Both veterans are described as trained observers. Matthew Oates from the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed no aircraft were in the area. Jack Acuff, president of NICA, stated the veterans were good witnesses and ruled out balloons, helicopters, planes, and reflections.

Til norsk v/ Finn Kalvik (To Norwegian by Finn Kalvik)

This section is brief and mentions a UFO sighting with an unknown date, possibly October 1973.

MØTE MED FREMMEDE VESENER (Encounter with Alien Beings)

This report, involving Jøel Mesnard and Claude Pavy, is set in Cussac, France, on August 29, 1967, at 10:30 AM. Two children, Francois Delpeuch (13.5 years old) and his sister Anne Marie (9 years old), were with their dog on a pasture when they saw what they initially thought were four children behind a hedge. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a UFO.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, light phenomena, and encounters with unidentified aerial objects. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting witness testimonies and seeking explanations. The magazine encourages readers to submit their own observations and highlights the reliability of witnesses, even when the phenomena are difficult to explain. There is a clear interest in documenting and analyzing UFO reports from both domestic (Norwegian) and international sources.

This issue of "INTERNATIONALE UFO-NYHETER" (International UFO News), dated 1968, focuses on detailed accounts of alleged alien encounters and UFO sightings. The primary cover story, "FREMMEDE VESENER" (Alien Beings), details an incident in Cussac, France, involving two children, Francois and Anne Marie.

Fremmede Vesener (Alien Beings)

The article recounts an encounter where Francois and Anne Marie observed a large, luminous, spherical object near their home. The object emitted intense light, causing discomfort. They also saw small beings, one of whom appeared to be digging in the ground, while another held an object resembling a mirror and waved. The children's interaction with the beings is described, including the beings entering the object. The object then ascended in a spiral, emitting a whistling sound and a sulfurous smell. The children's pets reacted with distress.

Details about the object are scarce, but it was described as perfectly round, about 2 meters in diameter, with a sharp, luminous silver color. Francois, who wears glasses, experienced eye irritation and watery eyes for days afterward. The object's surface was smooth, with no visible openings. The beings were observed to glide through the object's wall. Landing gear, consisting of three or four straight legs with circular plates, was noted by Anne Marie, though Francois did not see them. The intense light may have obscured these details.

The sulfurous smell is noted as a common characteristic in some UFO landing reports. The beings are described as 100-120 cm tall, with a shimmering, silk-like appearance. Their arms were long and thin, and their legs short and slender. One of the beings had webbed feet. The head was proportionally normal but had a peaked or domed skull and a prominent chin. The nose was described as very pointed.

The article then shifts to an investigation of the Cussac incident, including interviews with the children and their family. Police confirmed the presence of a sulfurous smell. The children's father was interviewed by Radio Luxemburg, and an article appeared in Paris Jour. The children's accounts were consistent, even under repeated questioning. The parents reported that both children had trouble sleeping after the incident.

UFO Over Hallingdal and Other Norwegian Sightings

The magazine then presents several reports of UFO sightings in Norway.

UFO Over Hallingdal (March 1974)

Several reports detail sightings of luminous objects in the Hallingdal region. One report from Tynset describes a half-spherical object observed by children and adults. It hovered, then moved at high speed. Another report mentions a large, luminous sphere seen over Gol and Nesbyen, visible for about half an hour.

An amateur astronomer suggested a possible explanation for a sighting over Sør-Gudbrandsdalen as a "burst balloon" without markings, estimating its altitude at least 2000 meters and its diameter at 20 meters. However, other reports suggest more unusual phenomena.

A report from Eidsvoll describes a luminous disc with a dark center observed for about an hour. The object moved slowly westward.

Commentary on Hallingdal UFO

The commentary section discusses the Hallingdal sightings, ruling out Venus as an explanation due to its position as a morning star. It emphasizes the unusual behavior of the objects, such as stopping, changing course, and accelerating rapidly, which is inconsistent with balloons or conventional aircraft. The possibility of non-terrestrial origin is raised, supported by photographic evidence suggesting a "saucer shape" and an electromagnetic field.

Further Reports and Investigations

Additional reports include:

• Hallingdal UFO (continued): A jet fighter was observed flying along Lake Mjøsa, and the object reportedly followed the airway between Trondheim and Oslo. Witnesses included individuals from Oslo Bygdemuseum and Breiskallen.
• Unidentified Flying Object Observed and Photographed Over Nesbyen: This report addresses a query from SUFOI regarding potential connections between UFO sightings and scientific or meteorological balloon launches from the Andøya Rocket Range. The NTNF (Norwegian Institute of Technology) clarifies that only meteorological balloons were launched during the specified period (February-March 1974), which would have burst at lower altitudes (18,000-25,000 meters) than the observed phenomena. Scientific balloons could reach higher altitudes (35,000-45,000 meters), but the report concludes that the observed phenomenon is unlikely to be related to their activities.

UFO Over Hallingdal (Specific Details)

One report details an object observed over Hallingdal that exhibited changes in course, altitude, and speed. It emitted a bright, metallic light and stopped for about half an hour near a TV mast on Tronfjellet before accelerating and disappearing. The observer reported a feeling of breathlessness.

UFO Over Hallingdal (Press Coverage)

Several newspapers covered the Hallingdal sightings, including "Østelendingen" (reporting a UFO over Tronfjellet) and "Drammens Tidende og Buskerud Blad" (reporting a luminous sphere). "Østelendingen" later suggested the object might have been a balloon, citing an amateur astronomer.

UFO Over Hallingdal (Further Investigation)

Another report from Gjøvik describes a blindingly white object that moved at high speed and changed course. The object was initially observed as a small point of light. The observer noted that the object maintained a consistent distance from their pursuing aircraft. Later, the object reportedly turned reddish.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are detailed eyewitness accounts of UFOs and potential alien encounters, emphasizing the unusual characteristics of the objects and the distress they caused. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into these phenomena, presenting witness testimonies and official reports while acknowledging the lack of definitive explanations. The magazine highlights the consistency of witness accounts and the challenges in debunking such sightings, often concluding that conventional explanations are insufficient. There is a clear interest in the possibility of non-terrestrial origins for these phenomena.