RIAP bulletin - Vol 05 No 3-4 - july-December 1999

Magazine Overview

Title: RIAP BULLETIN
Issue: Volume 5, Number 3–4
Date: July–December 1999

This issue of the RIAP Bulletin is dedicated to ufological matters, featuring a prominent paper on the history of state-directed UFO research in the USSR. The Research Institute on Anomalous Phenomena (RIAP), established in 1992, is an independent scientific research body focused on anomalous atmospheric phenomena and SETI.

Editorial: The Gist of the Matter

The editorial discusses the significance of the paper "History of State-Directed UFO Research in the USSR" by Yuliy Platov and Boris Sokolov. This program, active from 1978 to 1996, aimed to investigate UFOs under the sanction of Soviet authorities. The key finding was that approximately 95 percent of reported "UFOs" were attributable to launches of military and space rockets and weather balloons, while only five percent constituted "UFOs in the strict sense of the word"—phenomena defying current scientific explanation. The editorial posits that the lack of further investigation into these genuine phenomena was due to the immense financial and effort requirements, especially given the dire economic situation in early 1990s Russia. It raises questions about governmental responsibility in addressing such potentially significant unknowns and emphasizes that while science has proven the existence of genuine UFOs, their nature and potential danger remain unknown. The author critiques the logical fallacy of dismissing the extraterrestrial hypothesis without evidence and stresses the need for a large-scale, international, state-directed research project with adequate funding and technology.

History of State-Directed UFO Research in the USSR

Authors: Yuliy V. Platov, Boris A. Sokolov

This article details the history of official UFO research in the USSR, which began in the mid-1970s due to increased public interest and amateur activity. Initially, lectures by amateur ufologists focused on the extraterrestrial origin of UFOs. The Soviet authorities, while not openly encouraging discussions, allowed lectures and collected reports. The "Petrozavodsk phenomenon" on September 20, 1977—an extraordinary light display observed over northwestern USSR—served as a catalyst for official action. This event prompted the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR to request a complex research program involving the Ministry of Defense and the Military-Industrial Commission (MIC).

In October 1977, a meeting of the Council on Science and Technology (CST) recommended the inclusion of a research program into the State Plan of Scientific Research Works in Defense Fields for 1978. This led to the creation of two main research programs: "Setka MO" (Ministry of Defense) and "Setka AN" (Academy of Sciences). These programs ran for 13 years, from 1978 to 1990, with subsequent five-year plans in 1981 and 1986 also including research on anomalous phenomena. The Expert Group on Anomalous Phenomena at the Academy of Sciences continued its work until 1996.

The research was classified, and the term "UFOs" was replaced with "anomalous phenomena" to avoid public resonance and association with extraterrestrial "flying saucers." The reasons for classification included its inclusion in defense plans, the potential for military-technical origins, and the possibility of using discovered properties for military aims.

Two main centers were established: one in the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and another in the Academy of Sciences. The MOD center focused on information from military units, while the Academy center analyzed data from scientific organizations and public sources. The MOD's primary aim was to understand the effects of "UFOs" on equipment and personnel, while the Academy focused on the physical nature and mechanisms of these phenomena.

The research was conducted on a voluntary basis with limited funding, making it one of the cheapest scientific research programs. This lack of funding prevented the development of specialized equipment or extensive experiments. The primary methodology involved analyzing collected material and developing physical models. The research was guided by three principles: anomalous phenomena are an objective fact, a priori solutions are not acceptable, and only deep studies can reveal the truth. Possible origins considered included human activities, natural processes, and extraterrestrial civilizations.

A directive from the Chief of the General Staff in January 1980 formalized the military's role, designating a central military research institute as the collection and analysis center and involving all five arms of the service. This directive effectively put the Soviet Army on duty observing anomalous phenomena across the vast territory of the USSR. Information was transmitted through routine channels or urgent reports in case of emergencies involving equipment malfunction.

The civilian research bodies, coordinated by the Academy of Sciences, also collected observational material, with the Institute of Applied Geophysics making a significant contribution. Their focus was on analyzing the conditions and physical mechanisms of anomalous phenomena, involving experts from various scientific fields.

Over thirteen years, approximately three thousand reports were analyzed, leading to the categorization of over 400 events as extraordinary or anomalous. Notably, few reports came from military units near test rocket launch sites, likely because the personnel were familiar with the effects of such activities. The majority of mass night observations were identified as effects accompanying rocket launches and aerospace tests, particularly during twilight conditions when scattering of solar light by gas-dust clouds created striking visual displays.

Examples of phenomena attributed to rocket launches include the "Petrozavodsk" phenomenon (Kosmos-955 satellite launch), the "dolphin-shaped" object (Kosmos-1188 satellite launch), and events linked to Meteor-2, Molniya-1, and Kosmos-1581 launches, as well as ballistic missile tests.

A second class of phenomena, perceived as "flying objects," was linked to weather balloons. The article describes incidents where pilots mistook weather balloons for unknown objects, highlighting the potential for misidentification due to altitude, size, and atmospheric conditions. The article notes that while weather balloons account for about twelve percent of perceived "UFOs," rocket launches explain a larger portion.

The research also investigated urgent cases requiring immediate investigation, such as an incident in Khmelnitskiy, Ukraine, where luminous objects were observed concurrently with a missile start-up system fault. This was later explained as parachute flares used during an air force test range exercise. Another series of accidents near Borisoglebsk involving unidentified objects detected by radar and pilots remains unexplained.

The authors conclude that while most observed phenomena have mundane explanations, primarily related to human technical activities or rare natural events, the lack of reports on UFO landings or alien contacts is significant. This suggests either the USSR was closed to alien visitations or the extraterrestrial hypothesis is incorrect. The truth, they suggest, lies in the middle, with a small but significant share of observations remaining unexplained.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the rigorous, scientific approach taken by the RIAP and its predecessors in investigating anomalous phenomena, particularly UFOs. The editorial stance emphasizes a commitment to evidence-based research, a willingness to consider all theories, and a rejection of unsubstantiated claims. The issue highlights the importance of distinguishing between explained and unexplained phenomena and the challenges and successes of state-sponsored scientific inquiry in a complex political and economic environment. The publication advocates for continued, well-funded research into the genuinely anomalous aspects of these phenomena.

Title: RIAP Bulletin
Issue: Vol. 5, No. 3-4
Date: 1999
Publisher: RIAP
Country: Ukraine
Language: English

This issue of the RIAP Bulletin focuses on UFO encounters, particularly those involving military aircraft and Soviet-era phenomena, alongside a critical review of a book on Soviet ufology.

RB-36H Navigator Describes 1956 Daytime UFO Close Encounter

This article details a significant UFO sighting that occurred in the fall or winter of 1956, around 12:15 p.m. local time, over northern South Dakota, USA. The encounter involved a U.S. Air Force Convair RB-36H 'Peacemaker' airplane from the 718th Squadron, 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, based at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The aircraft, a large, ten-engine bomber nicknamed 'the Aluminum Cloud' with a 230-foot wingspan, was on a training mission.

The RB-36H, with a crew of twenty-two, was cruising at approximately 40,000 feet altitude in clear air, near its top speed. Suddenly, a metallic disc, estimated to be about 100 feet (30 meters) in diameter, appeared off the left wing, less than 300 feet away. The object had a flat or slightly concave bottom surface and vertical sides with multiple round light sources of different colors. Its length-to-height ratio was about 8:1, with a low dome on top, and the entire surface had a 'light golden' hue. It lacked seams, markings, or visible means of propulsion.

The UFO remained in position for about five to eight minutes before accelerating horizontally and ascending at about a thirty-degree angle. Its peripheral lights became brighter and greenish as it moved away. The object did not appear to rotate or wobble, and no buffeting or unusual noises were felt by the crew. The sighting lasted for approximately eight minutes. The crew, including the main eyewitness Lieutenant Jimmie Lloyd, took 35-mm photographs of the object. Upon landing, all logs, equipment, and photographs were handed over to an intelligence unit called 'Reci-Tech', and the witnesses were reminded of their top-secret clearances, with a 12-year period of non-disclosure imposed.

The article further discusses the physical characteristics of the UFO, analyzing its potential weight and the implications of its flight behavior. It notes that the object's ability to fly at high speeds and climb without changing pitch angle suggests a gyroscopic attitude stabilization system. The concept of 'wake turbulence' is also explored in relation to the UFO's movement. The authors, R. F. Haines and F. Carter, urge readers to seek further data on similar cases.

A Pilot and a UFO

This section summarizes a report by Valeriy Menitskiy, a renowned Russian test pilot and Deputy Designer-General of the MIG firm, published in the Russian monthly 'Sovershenno Sekretno'. The report details Menitskiy's UFO observation during the testing of a 35-mm naval gun for the MIG-27 fighter-bomber.

While on a test flight, Menitskiy was directed by the flight supervisor to approach an unidentified object detected by radar near the aerodrome. The object was described as steel-grey, resembling an oil-stove. Menitskiy approached it, noting its unusual shape: a cylinder with a spherical upper part and a truncated cone below, with straight lines resembling ribs on its surface. He initially considered it a terrestrial device, possibly spy equipment.

Upon landing, Menitskiy was questioned by 'special authorities'. He later considered bringing the object down, but was advised against it. When he took off again, the object had left the radar zone. He proceeded with his test mission, firing shells at the designated area.

Menitskiy expresses doubts about the official explanation that it was a weather balloon. He highlights the object's unusual shape, its dynamic changes in position, and its incredible speed, estimated at 12,000 kilometers per hour, which he deemed unattainable for terrestrial aircraft. He notes that radar systems sometimes detected objects that were not visually observed, or vice versa.

Review Section: A New Book on Soviet UFology

This section reviews Paul Stonehill's book, 'The Soviet UFO Files: Paranormal Encounters Behind the Iron Curtain' (1998). The reviewer, Mikhail Fedorovskiy, acknowledges that while the book is not a scientific or scholarly work, it is noteworthy because few books on Soviet ufology have been published in the West, and Stonehill has a strong command of Russian and contacts within the Russian ufological community.

The book is organized into six chapters covering various aspects of Soviet and post-Soviet UFO phenomena, including ancient mysteries, observations during the Stalin and Khrushchev eras, military reports, and KGB files. It is illustrated and aimed at lay readers and Western ufologists.

Fedorovskiy notes that the book's main advantage is the absence of invented fantastic stories, though it does contain many 'purely (post-) Soviet' tales. He highlights chapters on 'Ancient Russian Mysteries', 'Soviet Military Observations', and 'The KGB UFO Files' as particularly interesting. The review mentions the 'Robozero miracle' from 1663 and information from Colonel Gherman Kolchin regarding UFO observations by officers at Kapustin Yar.

However, the reviewer strongly criticizes the book's reliance on unverified stories and its lack of critical analysis. He points out factual errors, such as misidentifying an Arctic flier's observation and confusing launch sites for Soyuz spacecraft. The reviewer also debunks the claim that Lunokhods were guided by kamikaze cosmonauts, stating they were remotely controlled. The book's handling of alleged 'secret police files' and stories about 'dead alien bodies' is also questioned.

Ultimately, Fedorovskiy concludes that 'The Soviet UFO Files' cannot be recommended as a reference work or introduction to Soviet/post-Soviet ufology, though it might be of some use to knowledgeable readers and serves as a mirror to the achievements and losses of ufologists from CIS countries.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs/UAPs), with a particular emphasis on military encounters and historical sightings from both the USA and the Soviet Union. The articles highlight the challenges in investigating such phenomena, the secrecy surrounding them, and the difficulties in distinguishing credible evidence from speculation. The editorial stance, as reflected in the review section, is one of critical skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, while acknowledging the interest and potential value of rigorously investigated cases. The publication appears to be a platform for sharing and analyzing UFO reports, with a leaning towards factual reporting and critical assessment of available information.