Scandinavian Newsletter 1971 1-2

Magazine Overview

Title: SCANDINAVIAN Newsletter
Issue: No. 1-2
Date: April 1971
Publisher: UFO-SWEDEN
Country: Sweden
Language: English

This issue of the Scandinavian Newsletter, published by UFO-SWEDEN in association with Norwegian UFO groups, serves as a continuation of the 'UFO-Sweden Newsletter'. The editor, Anders Liljegren, aims to keep foreign UFO organizations informed about Scandinavian UFO activities. The newsletter is published on an exchange basis, with plans for 2-4 issues per year. UFO-Sweden is described as the national UFO research organization in Sweden, comprising 29 member groups.

Editorial

The editorial announces the first issue of the "Scandinavian Newsletter" (SN), a joint effort with Norwegian UFO groups UFO-Informasjon Norge and Trondheim UFO-Förening. This collaboration aims for closer cooperation and broader news coverage from Scandinavia, including Denmark and Finland. The SN will feature news from UFO-Sweden's 29 member groups, many of which are newly formed. The editor expresses gratitude for exchange material and notes that publication may be irregular due to work being done in spare time. Correspondence and exchange material should be sent to UFO-Sweden in Motala, Sweden.

The Lake Anten Affair

This article details an incident near Lake Anten, Västergötland, Sweden, on the night of August 29-30, 1970. Approximately 20 ground spectators witnessed a brilliant, color-changing object described as "oblong with indication of a cupola" that illuminated the trees and emitted a humming noise. The object appeared and disappeared multiple times. The following day, three circular depressions, about 40 cm in diameter and 5-7 cm deep, were found in an equilateral triangle formation approximately 31 meters from a farm-house. Experts estimated the weight required to create these depressions to be between 500 kilos and 5 tons per depression. Geiger counter measurements at the site yielded negative results.

The "official investigation" by the Research Institute of National Defence, led by Dr Tage Eriksson, concluded that the sighting was caused by youngsters playing with a hot air balloon and the depressions resulted from burning methanol. This explanation was widely reported in the press. However, the article presents evidence refuting this theory, including statements from police inspector Nils Forsberg indicating that the witnesses were never questioned and their alibis not controlled. Engineer Lloyd Simu listed several reasons why the hot air balloon theory was improbable, such as the need for multiple small pots for methanol, the impossibility of charring grass with methanol, the absence of ashes, and the fact that the depressions were made by heavy, ball-shaped objects. Furthermore, UFO-Sweden representatives confirmed that the alleged youngsters were not present at the time.

Mr Björn Lippold of UFO-Skaraborg interviewed the farm-house owner, Mr Richard Johansson, who initially had no belief in UFOs but was not awakened by the event. Lloyd Simu concluded that the evidence pointed to an UFO landing, citing the need for a lifting crane, heavy balls, a stove, and an effective vacuum cleaner to create the observed traces.

Tests on soil samples from the Lake Anten site revealed a small quantity of Cesium 137, a substance typically found in nuclear reactors or after nuclear bomb explosions. This finding is presented as a surprising result.

The article also mentions a study circle in Eskilstuna that received about 500 reports of unexplained incidents, with a significant concentration of UFO sightings around Kjula and Ärla. One report was strikingly similar to the Lake Anten Affair.

Finally, the newsletter includes a proposal from UFO-Sweden chairman Carl-Axel Jonzon to the Swedish Research Institute for National Defence, suggesting cooperation on UFO research to uncover "hidden facts" and improve the quality of investigations, criticizing the current state of the Institute's files.

I Met a Flying Saucer

This section recounts an incident reported by Reidar Salvesen at Helleland, Norway, on October 29, 1970. While driving home, Salvesen observed a dazzling, bright, circular object, described as nickel-plated and noiseless, hovering about 10 meters above his car. He attempted to sketch the object, which then moved forward and stopped again. Salvesen was knocked off his feet, and his car's front pane was smashed. The object then ascended rapidly, turning into a fire-ball. Salvesen sustained a wound on his hand, and his eyes were red for two weeks. His travel alarm clock also began keeping time poorly after the incident.

An official investigation by the police and the Defence Research Institute found no radioactivity. The incident was initially explained as a possible mirage or a result of "termic" tension, but Salvesen insists he saw a produced object. A witness, Mrs Sigrunn Skipstad, reported seeing a red K-registered car with a smashed front pane around the same time and location, though Salvesen stated the red car was not his. The article notes that UFOs are often observed near electrical foundations and power stations, and Salvesen's sighting occurred near a transformer.

Salvesen maintains his account, stating he was not under the influence of alcohol or medication. He expresses a desire to see such an object again, preferably with a camera. Mr Halvor Toreskaas of Christiansands Tidende confirmed the credibility of Salvesen's account.

The Saapunki Landing

This article describes a strange UFO incident in Saapungi, Kuusamo, Finland, on January 3, 1971. Mr Mauno Talala and his wife witnessed a bright, bluish light approaching their house at about 6:15 a.m. The light landed in front of their window, illuminating the surroundings, and then ascended and disappeared, accompanied by a brief electricity cut. The light remained on the ground for about one minute.

The next day, a triangular marking, approximately 4.7 x 2.7 meters, was found in the snow with a slight depression and a melted central area. The marking's color changed over time. Samples of the frozen snow were collected and sent for analysis. Other witnesses in the area also reported seeing the light. Residents living up to 3 km away observed the phenomenon moving at a walking speed over treetops.

Laboratory analyses of the snow samples by Oulu O/Y revealed the presence of Cesium 137, a substance linked to nuclear reactors or bomb explosions. Further analysis was planned in Stockholm and London. The article notes that the Oulu/Uleåborg UFO-Club was involved in the investigation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, ground trace evidence, and the perceived inadequacy or bias of official investigations. The newsletter highlights instances where official explanations (like the hot air balloon theory for Lake Anten) are presented as attempts to downplay or dismiss credible witness accounts. There is a clear stance advocating for thorough, independent research into UFO phenomena, as evidenced by UFO-Sweden's proposal to the Institute for National Defence. The publication also emphasizes the importance of witness testimony and the challenges faced by those who report such experiences, including fear of ridicule. The presence of Cesium 137 in the Saapunki landing site adds a layer of scientific intrigue, suggesting potential connections to advanced or unusual phenomena beyond conventional explanations. The newsletter positions itself as a platform for disseminating information and fostering a more open approach to the UFO mystery within Scandinavia.

The Scandinavian Newsletter, No. 1-2, April 1971, is a publication focused on UFO phenomena, primarily reporting on incidents and investigations in Finland. This issue features detailed accounts of sightings, scientific analysis of physical evidence, and reviews of relevant literature.

Oulu Incident Analysis

The issue begins with an analysis of a sample taken from an 'UFO-marking' in Oulu. The sample, primarily water with some vegetarian residue, was compared to samples from nearby spots. Chemical analysis revealed differences in pH and electrical conductivity. X-ray spectrography identified potassium, silicon, iron, chlorine, titanium, and natrium, with a higher than normal silicon content. The presence of titanium was noted, with a suggestion that it might have entered the snow due to the heating effect of the phenomenon. Residue of plant cells, starch grains, and vegetarian matter were also found. The color was possibly due to antocyanium, which could have risen into the snow and colored plant cells if the phenomenon emitted short-wave radiation. Titanium was thought to have caused changes in pH, leading to color changes. Chemical analysis indicated no burned residue, ruling out light flare bombs or machines using burning fuel. The phenomenon's movement against the wind suggested it wasn't a gaseous blob, and its steady, bright light excluded meteorite, lightning, or satellite re-entry explanations. The event was observed simultaneously from opposite directions.

Dr. Birger Wiik, a Finnish scientist who had worked with NASA moon samples, became interested, initially considering it a meteorite. Upon receiving a snow sample, he described it as 'ordinary dish water' and stated that titanium is commonly found. Spectrography showed no nickel, common in meteorites. Dr. Wiik suggested that people might have mistaken an icy spot for the light phenomenon and proposed a lightning flash as an explanation for the sighting, lasting 17 minutes.

The newsletter's commentary expresses frustration with scientists who are allegedly unable to draw reasonable conclusions due to concerns about their 'scientific reputation' and research grants.

North Finnish UFO-Wave

Reports from the Kuusamo area in North Finland describe a 'UFO-wave' over the past few months. A governmental official reported sighting 16 very bright glowing UFOs on the night of January 10-11, between 2:50 and 3:10 AM. The UFOs flew in an echelon formation at a height of about 300-400 meters. Lower objects appeared ball-shaped, while higher ones were elongated or flat balls. No sound was heard. The witness, who wished to remain anonymous due to his position, observed the phenomenon with three family members.

Investigation at Perho

This section details an investigation by UFO-JakobSaari, a new Finnish group formed in March 1971. The article is authored by Miss Lillemor Emtö, daughter of the founder, Mrs. Solveig Emtö.

On March 25, 1971, a local newspaper published an article about a UFO case in Perho. Investigators Mariann Bexar, Mårten Sundell, and Håkan Sumell traveled to Perho to interview witnesses.

Matti Lassila recounted that he and another boy saw a UFO above the treetops while on their mopeds on March 23. They were scared and sped up. The UFO followed them for about 1 km at a distance of 200 meters. They considered hiding in a ditch, but the UFO changed course and flew away. They then notified their parents and neighbors.

Jorma Vasala stated the UFO was about 3-5 meters in size and moved slowly. He heard no sound, but the UFO radiated in all the colors of the rainbow. Mrs. Terttu Lassila, using field-glasses, observed the UFO at a higher altitude. She noted it moved sideways slightly but seemed to move on the spot. She discerned windows emitting green, yellow, red, and white lights.

Mr. Toivo Pirttikoski mentioned a power line near the sighting location and suggested the UFO might have used it, with lightning shots emanating from beneath when it changed position. His description aligned with other witnesses.

Mr. Viljo Lassila was the only one who saw the UFO's 'front side' with field-glasses.

Sketches drawn by different witnesses showed striking resemblances, and they all agreed the object was not from Earth. They had no prior knowledge of UFOs. One explanation offered was a chemical cloud from Sweden, but witnesses felt it was something else. An old woman described it as 'something from another world.'

A farmer also witnessed a bright light near his stable, initially mistaking it for his wife forgetting to turn off a light or car headlights, but realized it was the UFO when the boys came to tell him. Witnesses confirmed the UFO was about 200 meters above the ground and had been in the area for about two hours.

The author expresses belief in the witnesses' accounts, noting their shaken state and the unlikelihood of them having access to UFO literature in the remote Finnish 'desert.'

Comments mention that the incident occurred in Kokkoneva village, Perho, and was witnessed by people from three farms and those living up to 10 km away. Another report from the Perho area was published in 'Keskipohjanmaa' on April 4, 1971.

Another UFO Appearance at Perho

In the Perho village of Oksakoski, a strange red flaming light, described as a barrel, was seen in the northern sky for about one hour on the morning of March 4, 1971. It was witnessed by two inhabitants.

Mr. Nestori Peritalo first saw a flaming ball radiating a purple-red light through his window around 4 AM. Upon closer examination, he saw it looked like a 200-liter barrel in a vertical position, surrounded by a flaming red light. It moved vertically to the right. He informed his wife, who had also been watching it.

Constable Aho was contacted around 4:40 AM. He confirmed seeing the barrel-shaped object in the northern sky. Using field-glasses, he observed the light phenomenon in a vertical position, slightly above the treetops, in a northwesterly direction. It remained stationary and began to fade, disappearing a few minutes after 5 AM.

Radar Sighting in Finland

On November 29, 1970, between 19:50 and 20:05 hours, a Finnish passenger liner was followed by a strange object. The object's description is unknown. The incident occurred while the Convair Metropolitan airplane was en route from Helsinki to Kuopio. The object was detected on radar at Rissala airport by radar operator Kalle Linden. The unidentified flying object passed the airport at a height of 600 meters and 3 km from the control tower. Its speed was 100 km/h, and it disappeared from the radar screen over Kuopio.

Simultaneously, several people contacted the airport reporting sightings of light phenomena. A party of four arriving in Kuopio sighted a strange flying object from their car and attempted to photograph it, with unknown results.

UFO-Sweden contacted Mr. Linden on January 1, 1971, for more information, but had not received a reply. The International UFO Investigation Bureau of Turku, Finland, also requested information from Finnish authorities.

Sources cited include Turun Sanomat (12.12.70) and the International UFO Investigation Bureau of Turku, Finland.

Book Review: "UFOja Suomen Taivaalla"

This section reviews "UFOja Suomen Taivaalla" (UFOs in the Finnish Sky), a Finnish UFO book published in autumn 1970 by Tapani Kuningas, a 24-year-old student and former chairman of the Finnish Interplanetists of Helsinki. Mr. Kuningas has extensive experience with UFO phenomena, and the book compiles about 1,000 investigations, with 70 reports selected, all based on Finnish material.

The book covers UFO history from the 15th century to modern times, emphasizing extraordinary events occurring in Finland. It includes a statistical section with tabulations and diagrams. A notable piece of advice from Mr. Kuningas is that one should not go out on a Tuesday if they wish to see a UFO in Finland, based on statistical analyses.

The book is only available in Finnish. Contact information is provided for the Finnish Interplanetists in Helsinki for more details.

Contact and Pen-Friend Information

The newsletter includes contact details for Jorma Antero Heinonen of NUFOF/UFO-Sweden for those with information for Scandinavian UFO groups. It also offers a pen-friend service for individuals interested in UFOs and related subjects.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings in Finland, the scientific investigation of alleged UFO phenomena, and the collection of witness testimonies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO reports, with a critical view of mainstream scientific skepticism, as evidenced by the commentary on Dr. Wiik's conclusions. There is a clear emphasis on documenting and analyzing UFO events within Finland, encouraging readers to share information and seek contact with like-minded individuals and groups.