Rapportnytt - 1976 no 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO Forum, titled Rapportnytt (Report News), is dated 1/76 and is the 4th volume of the publication. It is published by Norsk UFO Center in Norway and is written in Norwegian. The cover prominently features the title 'RAPPORTNYTT' in a bold banner, indicating it is edited by NUFOC-Bergen. The issue is presented as a forum for Norwegian UFO associations and interested parties.

Editorial Content

The editorial section, titled 'REDAKSJONELT', states that with this issue, the goal set when the magazine started has been reached. The publication has a new 'face' and aims to bring reports from the most current UFO incidents in Scandinavia and the rest of the world in 1976. The editors note that 47 reports were received in 1975, an increase from 1974. They highlight the expansion of NUFOC-Øst and the establishment of NUFOC-Sør, anticipating an increase in report volume as more collaborators join and public awareness grows. The editorial expresses a hope that UFO research will one day make itself redundant, implying a future where such phenomena are understood. It references past cases like Betty and Barney Hill and the Pascagoula incident as examples that would have advanced research if more conclusive evidence had been available.

Featured Articles and Reports

The issue contains a 'RAPPORTOVERSIKT' (Report Overview) listing various articles and their page numbers. These include:

• OBSERVASJONER OVER DANMARK (Observations over Denmark) - page 9
• LANDING I ITALIA HOLDT HEMMELIG (Landing in Italy Kept Secret) - page 12
• UFO FOTOGRAFERT I CANADA (UFO Photographed in Canada) - page 13
• UFO OVERTAR STYRINGEN AV FLY (UFO Takes Control of Aircraft) - page 14
• POLITIRAPPORTER FRA USA (Police Reports from USA) - page 16
• MERKELIG UFO OVER AUSTRALIA (Strange UFO over Australia) - page 19
• PRESSEKLIPP (Press Clippings) - page 21

Several specific sighting reports are detailed:

• 280375/1: A teacher and her 10-year-old daughter reported seeing one or two orange-red, oval objects flying parallel to their car near Storeng, Norway, at an altitude of 10-12 meters. The objects accelerated and disappeared within two minutes. The witness described them as real UFOs.

• 210975/II: A woman in Lierdalen observed a strong red-glowing sphere about 20-30° above the horizon. Her husband then photographed two similar objects (B and C) that appeared later. These objects vanished like a lamp being switched off. The observation lasted about 8 minutes. The photos were examined by the Air Force and NUFOC-Øst, with Captain Arthur S. Knutsen confirming the object's size based on the negatives.

• Commentary on the Lierdalen sighting: A newspaper report suggested the objects might have been flares fired from rockets. However, the analysis of the photos and witness distance (estimated at 1000-1800 meters) suggests the objects had a diameter of at least 8 meters. The sudden appearance and disappearance are noted as typical characteristics in many UFO reports.

• 041075/1: An observation over Masfjorden, Norway, by A.M., described five intense, luminous objects emerging from the clouds. They flew between the mountains for 4-5 minutes before returning. The objects maneuvered under control in daylight.

• 131075/I: An observation over Dagali, Norway, by E.S., who saw a beautiful diamond-like object rotating on its axis, moving slowly along a mountainside at a distance of 3.5 km.

• 201075/I: A report from Sandvika, Norway, about a 'fire truck' like object with a red-orange, burning surface that shot out fireballs and sparks. This was observed by 16-year-old Terje Johnsen and Vidar Nygren.

• 051175/I: Three people in Mjøndalen, Norway, observed a bluish object with a white corona for 1.5 hours. The object moved in a zig-zag pattern, stopped, tilted, and moved west, becoming smaller until it disappeared.

• 071175/I: A woman in Follestad, Norway, observed a strange blue and yellow pulsating light, described as a star but much closer. The object moved southwest and disappeared after about 15 minutes.

• 151175/I: Herr Liestad in Arna, Norway, saw a large white luminous object, half the moon's diameter, moving northwest and stopping before continuing its flight.

• 281175/1: Two sisters, Agathe (77) and Ruth (75), in Alve, Tromøy, Norway, observed a large luminous object moving slowly north, followed by a smaller object. They described it as 'mysterious, unusual, strange'. The observation lasted about half an hour.

Statistical Data and Organization Information

The issue includes a section detailing incoming reports from 1957 to 1975, showing a steady increase in reported incidents, with 69 reports specifically for 1975 in the 'Folgefonna' section, and 47 reports overall for 1975. It also lists contact information for various Norsk UFO Center branches across Norway (Østlandet, Sørlandet, MidtNorge, Vestlandet) and provides subscription details for 'Rapportnytt' and 'Norsk UFO Forum'. The price for a subscription is Kr. 2.-, and the publication comes out 5 times a year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, witness testimonies, and the ongoing efforts of NUFOC to document and investigate these phenomena in Norway and Scandinavia. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry into UFOs, aiming to present factual reports and encourage further research. There is a clear emphasis on collecting data, analyzing evidence (including photographs), and disseminating information to the public. The magazine also seeks reader contributions, inviting them to submit their own UFO-related experiences. The overall tone is dedicated to the serious study of UFOs, with an underlying hope for eventual understanding.

This issue of Rapport Nytt, dated September 1975, focuses on UFO phenomena, presenting a collection of reported sightings and encounters from various locations including Denmark, the USA, Canada, and Italy. The magazine appears to be a Norwegian publication dedicated to ufology, featuring detailed accounts of unexplained aerial events.

Article 1: Mystiske Lys Over Fonna

The issue opens with an article discussing "mystiske lys" (mysterious lights) reported near Ålvik Smelteverk. The author questions the common explanation of these lights being industrial emissions from the smelter, citing that former employees found this explanation unlikely. The article suggests that authorities in Hardanger should reconsider such simple explanations for these phenomena. It humorously suggests that if the smelter's emissions are not too bothersome, people should enjoy the light show over Folgefonna during the next tapping.

Article 2: Observasjoner Over Danmark

This section details several UFO observations in Denmark:

• March 17, 1975: Near Nykøbing, Sjælland, a woman observed a bright, luminous object in the southwest. A neighbor confirmed the sighting with binoculars. The object, described as the size of the moon, moved slowly, changed direction, and exhibited a light that shifted between red, yellow, and green. It appeared to change shape, sometimes showing a dark, funnel-like hole in the center. The observation lasted about 45-50 minutes, with 10-12 other witnesses, including police officers, observing the phenomenon. The object then moved slowly southwest and disappeared. The observation was silent, and the weather was clear and calm.
• July 12, 1975: At Annisse-N, Helsinge, a couple observed an object in the northern sky, about 40 degrees above the horizon. It resembled a lamp, emitting a light beam downwards like a searchlight, but the beam did not reach the ground and was sharply defined. A faint, dark oval shadow was visible behind the bright light. After 15 minutes, the light beam vanished, and the object faded away. Its size was estimated to be that of a 5-krone coin, at a distance of 300-500 meters. No sound was heard. The weather was overcast, windless, and dark.
• July 22, 1975: A former pilot driving with his 10-year-old son observed a sharp, white-yellow light about 35 degrees above the horizon in the southwest. A fan-shaped light beam extended downwards but was sharply cut off before reaching the ground. The object was estimated to be about 115 meters away. The light pulsed, and the object moved in a zig-zag pattern. Initially thought to be a distressed aircraft, it was soon determined not to be a plane. The object then moved rapidly west, changed direction sharply east, and "switched off" 35 degrees above the horizon. The observation lasted 5-6 minutes. The object's size was estimated to be that of a 50-øre coin, and the man was certain no earthly aircraft could perform such maneuvers. The object was silent, and the weather was hazy, windless, and dark. This observation is compared to the July 12th sighting near Annisse.

Article 3: September and October 1975 Sightings

• September 14, 1975: Following a call from an alarm center, two individuals drove from Skælsør to observe a UFO. At 23:49, near Stigsnæs Havn, they spotted a large, orange-colored, circular object. They estimated its diameter to be 15-18 meters. The object hovered at 60 degrees above the horizon for about a minute, then ascended slightly and disappeared rapidly towards the southwest at 30 degrees above the horizon.
• September 29, 1975: At 04:00, a taxi passenger traveling from Farum to Kokkedal observed a bright white, coin-sized, circular object that followed the taxi. When the taxi stopped, the object also stopped, hovering directly over the observer's house. The taxi driver and the observer discussed the situation, and the police were called. A police officer reported seeing two objects about 45 degrees above the horizon. He stated that the witness was not entirely sober, but his wife, the taxi driver, and the police officers also saw the phenomenon. The objects had a hazy glow, similar to the moon, while stars remained clear. After about half an hour, the taxi driver and police left. The observer had also alerted a nearby airbase, which received a report of a UFO over Kokkedal at 05:02. The duty officer was surprised when the caller requested radar be set on the object.

Article 4: UFO in Italy

"Landing in Italy Held Secret": This article reports an incident in November 1973 at the military airbase in ISTRANA, Italy, which was allegedly kept secret. According to the newspaper "Veneto Notte," two "extraterrestrial" guests arrived and departed in a small "space ship." A security guard waiting for his shift change saw two figures, dressed in white and about 1.5 meters tall, near a small, all-white spacecraft. The guard's relief also witnessed the event. They found tracks confirming their account. The military authorities classified the case as strictly secret.

Article 5: UFO in Canada

"Pat McCarthy's Photo": This section details an incident on March 18, 1975, where 19-year-old Pat McCarthy from Waterdown, Ontario, took a photograph of an Unidentified Flying Object over a disused quarry. While photographing hawks, he saw a large, disc-shaped object moving in a zig-zag pattern. He described it as ten times larger than a DC-8. The object was also seen by another Burlington resident. The "Hamilton Spectator" published articles and photos, and McCarthy was interviewed on radio. J. Allen Hynek, leader of UFO studies, examined the negatives and copies, calling them "among the best ever taken" and noting their exact similarity to other authenticated UFO photos from Peru, Australia, and Europe. Hynek stated that while he couldn't be 100% certain, the investigation was positive, and the object defied all earthly descriptions.

Article 6: UFOs Take Control in Mexico

"UFO's Take Over Control": This article describes an incident on May 3, 1975, near Mexico City, where a pilot, Carlos Antonia de Los Santos Monteil, reported that three "saucer-shaped" UFOs took control of his single-engine plane. The pilot was terrified. The objects, described as dark gray with a dome-like section and an antenna, were about 3.5 meters in diameter and 1.5 meters high. They positioned themselves near the plane's wingtips and under its fuselage. The objects made no sound. The pilot lost control of his aircraft, which began to ascend. Air traffic controllers in Mexico City confirmed radar contact and observed the UFOs making a sharp 270-degree turn at 833 km/h in a 4.8 km arc, a maneuver far beyond the capability of conventional aircraft. The pilot eventually regained control, and the UFOs departed towards the mountains. Air traffic controller Emilio Estanol stated he had never seen anything like it in 17 years of service.

Article 7: UFOs Over Missouri

"Three Astonished Policemen See UFO Perform Aerobatics": On June 12, 1973, three policemen and a radar observer witnessed a UFO display over eastern Missouri. Pete Bishop, one of the officers, reported seeing five objects with a sharp, bright color like small stars. He described their maneuvers as unlike any aircraft, flying in a straight line at incredible speed and ascending in a 90-degree angle. Bob Baumbach, a radar operator, and his wife first spotted one object and then saw three more emerge from the clouds. The objects were ice-blue, silent, and moved at fantastic speeds, performing what was described as a "fabulous air circus." Police were called, and Reuben Abbington, Roy Clarke, and Pete Bishop observed the objects. One UFO reportedly raced a passing aircraft for about 2 seconds. Later, a radar station near an airport detected the aircraft's echo but no echo from the UFOs.

Article 8: UFO Chase in Los Angeles

"Police Chase UFO Five Kilometers": On November 12, 1973, police officers John Wynkoop and CC Smith were dispatched to investigate a report of a strange flying object on the outskirts of Los Angeles. They observed the object, which was oval, sharply glowing, and descended at a 45-degree angle before ascending rapidly. The officers pursued the object at high speed, but it suddenly stopped, hovered, and then shot upwards into the clouds. Another officer, Sam Chitjian, confirmed the report. A photograph was attempted but was ruined by a flash reflection from the car's windshield.

Article 9: Mass UFO Observation in Georgia and Alabama

"Mass Observation of Mysterious Wave of UFOs Reported": This section briefly mentions a wave of UFO sightings over Georgia and Alabama on November 8 and 9, 1973. An excited policeman described the objects as "extraterrestrial life? A spaceship? An oblong object with a clear white light. Not a normal plane..." Most of these sightings occurred in the early morning hours, and at least 11 police officers reported seeing strange flying objects, none of which were tracked by radar.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Rapport Nytt are the prevalence and variety of UFO sightings, the detailed descriptions of the objects' characteristics and behaviors, and the involvement of official witnesses such as police officers and pilots. The magazine consistently presents these accounts as credible, often highlighting the inability of conventional explanations to account for the observed phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs, presenting evidence and witness testimony without immediate dismissal, and often questioning official or simplistic explanations. The inclusion of expert opinions, such as J. Allen Hynek's, further lends weight to the idea that these events are not easily explained by known terrestrial means. The magazine seems to advocate for a serious consideration of these reports by authorities and the public alike.

This issue of "Varden" (part of "MORGENAVISEN") dated Tuesday, December 9, 1975, titled "2 DEL", focuses on mysterious aerial phenomena and UFO sightings. The main cover headline is "Mystisk lys over Tysnesfjellet" (Mysterious light over Tysnesfjellet).

Police Reports and Early Sightings

The issue begins with reports of UFO sightings. Police officer Sam Taylor described a fast-flying, basketball-like object, illuminated in green, red, and orange, blinking or pulsating. He noted it was oblong but not narrow enough to be cigar-shaped, emitting a sharp white light. Police officer Billy Clayton of Alabama was convinced he had seen an extraterrestrial object, with his colleague James Smith agreeing. This report is attributed to Egon Nielsen and the National Enquirer, dated February 24, 1974.

Australian UFO Encounter

A detailed account from Australia describes an encounter by a Mrs. "W" on September 22, 1974, near Launceston, Tasmania. While parked on a road in rainy and misty conditions, her car radio suddenly emitted a loud, piercing tone, and the entire area was illuminated by a sharp light. She then saw a glowing, silver-shining object descend from a slope. The object, described as the size of a large car, hovered at a height of 15-20 meters. Mrs. "W" became panicked and drove away, but her car became stuck. The UFO remained stationary for about a minute. The witness was shocked, noting the blinding light from the object's dome-shaped top made it difficult to discern its upper part. After hovering, the UFO tilted and moved away, ascending rapidly. The experience lasted 3-4 minutes. Mrs. "W" was deeply shaken, and her hair became disheveled. Notably, the car radio was affected, malfunctioning afterward. The car's front was also found to be unusually clean, as if recently washed and polished, despite the rainy conditions.

Further details from page 2 describe the UFO's dome-shaped top and a silver-grey band with possible 'portholes'. Below this were six tiered bands, estimated to be 1.40 meters in depth, with a diameter of approximately 3.40 meters. A thin rotating disc was at the bottom center, with a protruding box or short tube underneath. The object's shape seemed to split into four parts as it departed. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was contacted but found no explanation. John C. Dean, a representative, visited the site but found no evidence. Explanations like weather balloons or helicopters were ruled out, leaving a clear daytime observation.

Norwegian UFO Sightings

On page 6, a report from "MORGENAVISEN" dated Thursday, February 5, 1976, titled "Mystisk lys over Tysnesfjellet" (Mysterious light over Tysnesfjellet), details sightings in Norway. A woman from Os saw a large, triangular object with a sharp white light, moving slowly along a mountain ridge towards the west. It took about half an hour to cross the visible area. When a plane passed, the object began to ascend and became as small as a star. The light seemed to 'switch off' rather than fade away. This was the second time inexplicable lights were seen in the area; a previous incident on March 16 of the prior year involved a blinding white light that woke the witness.

Another report, from Borgestad, describes a man observing a strong, luminous object shaped like a "kremmerhus" (cone or funnel) moving at a relatively slow speed at low altitude over Skien. The object was clearly visible in the clear night sky. The observer, A. Thommassen, asked for an explanation, stating he was convinced the objects had no earthly explanation.

Danish Police UFO Observation

An article from "Alle Menn's Blad nr. 43/75" (though appearing on page 3 of this issue) reports on a Danish police observation. On a Tuesday evening, police in Holsterbro observed a UFO in the area between Herning and Holsterbro. Initially spotted by two motorcycle officers, a patrol car was dispatched and observed the object for 3.5 hours. The UFO was described as being the size of a regular airplane, oval, with a column through the middle. Police concluded it was not a plane or any other explainable object, a conclusion also reached by the Karup Air Station, whose duty officer also observed the phenomenon.

Clapham Woods Mystery: Dogs and UFOs

Pages 4 and 5 detail a series of strange events in Clapham Woods, near Worthing, Sussex, UK. Several dogs have disappeared or become severely distressed. Fru Pauline Rawlins reported her golden retriever, Dusty, returned from a walk completely terrified, partially paralyzed, and suffering internal bleeding, leading to its euthanasia. Farmer John Cornford's collie, Laddie, jumped off his tractor and disappeared. Fru Jocelyn Wells described her dog, Sonney, becoming hysterical and its eyes turning red after an encounter in the woods.

David Stringer, a specialist in flying saucers and a member of the National UFO-Research Society, has investigated these incidents. His team measured high radioactivity in the areas where dogs disappeared and found a compass malfunctioned, deviating 45 degrees from north. Stringer believes Clapham Woods lies along a route used by flying saucers. He theorizes that the dogs might have been taken by unknown individuals for unknown reasons.

One witness reported a sudden 'wind gust' and a sound like a train, causing her and her dogs to be pushed back. She also noted a peculiar, three-meter-long, spoon-shaped depression in the ground covered by a grey, metallic coating, with no apparent cause.

UFO Anatomy and Theories

Page 6 includes a section on UFO anatomy, describing "UFO-nauts" as approximately 1.5 meters tall with pincer-like hands, ash-grey skin, and a gliding gait, resembling robots or mummies. It also mentions deformed bullets found after a guard fired his entire magazine at a UFO, which remained unharmed.

Illustrations depict a "sigarformet skip" (cigar-shaped ship) 3000 meters long, and a "Miniatyr-UFO" (miniature UFO) of 0.2-7 meters, possibly for espionage. Another illustration shows a deformed bullet.

UFO Publications and Books

Page 7 lists various UFO-related publications and books available for subscription or purchase:

• UFO NYT: Scandinavian UFO Information's UFO magazine (6 issues/year, D.kr. 55).
• UFO-Information: Organ for the Swedish UFO organization (6 issues/year, S.kr. 42).
• UFO = ASHEKT: Organ for Free UFO Study (FUFOS) (6 issues/year, D.kr. 30).
• GICOFF: Gothenburg Information Center for Unidentified Flying Objects (6 issues/year, S.kr. 50).

Books offered by SUFOI include "UFO og Videnskaben" (UFO and Science), "UFO i Fokus" (UFO in Focus), and "UFO-Orientering" (UFO Orientation).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena, UFO sightings, and their potential effects on humans, animals, and technology. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into these phenomena, acknowledging that while many sightings have natural explanations, some remain unexplained and warrant further study. The publication encourages readers to report their experiences and highlights the ongoing mystery surrounding UFOs and their occupants.