Stendek - Vol 03 No 08 - March 1972

Magazine Overview

Title: STEN DEK
Issue: N.° 8
Volume: Año III
Date: MARZO 1972
Publisher: Centro de Estudios Interplanetarios de Barcelona (CEI)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Editorial

In the editorial, Josep Serra discusses a recent CEI conference on UFOs in Barcelona. He notes that attendees generally had superficial knowledge of the topic, based mainly on newspaper reports. Two key questions arose: 'What constants have been discovered through scientific methods in UFO studies?' and 'Why don't the alleged occupants of these craft show themselves openly?' Serra emphasizes the need for a scientific approach to the UFO phenomenon, advocating for periodic, elementary-level conferences for all intellectual levels to address the subject with maximum rigor.

Articles and Reports

"Portada, el OVNI en Matadepera." This is the cover story, highlighting an alleged UFO landing in Matadepera and a sighting at the Manises Air Base.

"Editorial, por Josep Serra." (See Editorial section above).

"Observaciones Ibéricas de enero a marzo de 1972." This section compiles UFO sightings from January to March 1972 across Spain:

• January 2: Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona. An object was observed around 7:35 PM, described as oscillating in color (yellow/white center, red/orange extremes) and having flattened poles at a 45° angle. It disappeared towards the west.
• January 23, 24, 25: Valls and Vallmoll, Tarragona. Multiple witnesses, mostly students, reported a bright red object with a moving body. It followed a curvilinear path, varied in speed and color, and sometimes appeared stationary. Witnesses described it as a 'fried egg' or handball, and estimated its altitude at 700 meters.
• January 27: San Javier-Balsicas, Murcia. Two men observed a pinkish or yellowish-red sphere moving at high speed. It stopped vertically for about four minutes before disappearing towards Almería.

"Observación del paso de un OVNI y su posible aterrizaje en Matadepera, por Casas Huguet" This article details a potential UFO landing in Matadepera. (Details not fully provided in the OCR).

"Actividad OVNI en relación con los días de la semana, por el Dr. David R. Saunders" Dr. Saunders presents a statistical analysis of UFO reports, challenging the idea that activity is concentrated on weekends. His study, based on the UFO-Cat-70 database, suggests a more complex distribution and introduces a 'remarkability' (R) index to evaluate data significance.

"Observación OVNI en la Base Aérea de Manises, por Albert Adell" This report describes an incident at Manises Air Base on September 10, 1971. Two guards, Ramón B. and Antonio V., observed a powerful, ovoid light hovering silently around 4:00 AM. The light illuminated the area intensely and then disappeared. Despite initial skepticism from a superior officer, the witnesses remained convinced they saw something unusual. The report notes that the news of the event may have spread to the town of Manises.

"Los Extra-terrestres (V), por Jader U. Pereira" This is part V of a series on extraterrestrials. (Content not fully detailed in OCR).

"Nuevas aportaciones al caso Suárez Marzal, por Antonio M. Baragiola" This article presents new information related to the Suárez Marzal case. (Content not fully detailed in OCR).

"Análisis de la Oleada 1968-69" This section provides an analysis of the 1968-1969 UFO wave. (Content not fully detailed in OCR).

"Notas estadísticas sobre la Oleada de 1950 en España y Portugal, por Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos y Carlos Orlando" This article presents statistical notes on the 1950 UFO wave in Spain and Portugal.

"Observaciones en el Mundo" This section likely compiles UFO sightings from around the world. (Content not fully detailed in OCR).

"¿Observó Jacobo Casanova un OVNI?" This article investigates a specific case involving Jacobo Casanova. (Content not fully detailed in OCR).

Books on UFOs Translated to Spanish (II)

The magazine lists several books on UFOs that have been translated into Spanish, including works by Aimé Michel, John Michell, Paul Misraki, Brad Steiger, Jacques and Janine Vallée, and Renato Venzo. Publishers and publication years are provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena within Spain and Portugal. It aims to provide factual accounts of observations, often supported by witness testimonies and, in some cases, statistical analysis. The editorial stance, as expressed by Josep Serra, emphasizes the importance of a rigorous, scientific approach to studying the UFO phenomenon, while acknowledging the limitations of current knowledge and the need for open discussion. The publication also serves as a platform for exchanging information with other similar organizations and encourages reader participation.

Organization and Contact Information

The Centro de Estudios Interplanetarios (CEI) is based in Barcelona, with its social headquarters at Balmes, 86 entresuelo 2.ª. Correspondence should be sent to CEI, Apartado 282, Barcelona, Spain. The magazine welcomes exchanges with other publications.

Notable Quote

"What is certain is the strangeness of the object. It could not be a shooting star, nor a meteorite, nor anything similar—they added—. If they had told us what we saw, we would not have believed it."

Speaker: Witnesses from Los Alcázares

This issue of Stendek, Volume IV, dated December 1971, is a Spanish-language publication from GEPA, focusing on UFO phenomena. The issue features several articles, including a detailed case study of a sighting and potential landing in Matadepera, Spain, statistical analyses of UFO reports, and a report on a sighting in Mendoza, Argentina.

Statistical Analysis of UFO Reports

The issue begins with a statistical analysis of UFO reports, examining the distribution of sightings across days of the week. The analysis, referencing data from sources like David R. Saunders and Paul J. Smith, suggests a significant deviation from a random distribution, indicated by an 'R' value of 9.57. This implies that UFO reports are not evenly distributed throughout the week, with certain days showing higher frequencies. The article notes that the distribution of power failures, as analyzed by Smith, shows a similar pattern, with a low number of incidents on Saturdays. This correlation is explored as a potential link between energy consumption and UFO activity.

Case Study: Matadepera, Spain

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a detailed case study from Matadepera, Spain, involving a witness, Señora Antonia Soler Rius. The incident, which occurred around January 29, 1969, describes a UFO sighting by an elderly woman while she was walking in the countryside. She reported seeing a 'flying object' that performed a sudden, rapid maneuver to avoid a power cable, diving sharply towards the ground before ascending and disappearing. The object was described as metallic, with bright green and yellow colors, and approximately 3 meters wide by 1.5 meters high and 2.5 meters long. Following the sighting, investigators discovered unusual ground traces in the vicinity, consisting of parallel lines with superficial protuberances and ramifications, suggesting the entry of a hard, narrow object into the earth. The article includes diagrams and photographs of the traces and the witness's location.

Statistical Data on UFO Cases

Another section, authored by Jader U. Pereira and translated from a French publication, presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of UFO cases. It details the distribution of 230 classified cases across continents and countries, with South America (104 cases) and Europe (62 cases) having the highest numbers. Brazil (46 cases) and the USA (38 cases) are listed as countries with the most reports. The article also provides a yearly distribution of cases from 1947 to 1969, highlighting periods of increased activity or 'waves' in 1954, 1957, 1965, 1967, and 1968. A monthly statistical breakdown shows a crescendo of cases from January, peaking in October (45 cases), and declining towards December.

Case Study: Suárez Marzal, Mendoza, Argentina

A third major article, by Antonio M. Baragiola, discusses new contributions to the Suárez Marzal case in Mendoza, Argentina. The witness, Julio Suárez Marzal, is described as a world-renowned painter. The UFO sighting occurred near the Command of the Eighth Mountain Infantry Brigade, a high-security military installation. The witness provided detailed drawings and analyses of the object's movements, which were observed from a first-floor apartment.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes the need for serious investigation into UFO phenomena, moving beyond skepticism and 'mental myopia.' The statistical analyses suggest that UFO sightings are not random events and may be linked to other phenomena, such as power failures. The detailed case studies, like the one from Matadepera, highlight the importance of witness testimony and physical evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the extraterrestrial hypothesis, encouraging readers to consider the possibility of phenomena beyond conventional explanations. The magazine aims to present credible data and analyses to support this investigation.

This issue of Revista A.R.P. delves into UFO phenomena, featuring a personal account of a sighting, statistical analyses of historical waves, and international reports. The magazine's focus is on presenting detailed case studies and data to researchers.

Detailed Account of the Mendoza Sighting (May 24, 1971)

The primary article details an observation by Julio Suárez Marzal in Mendoza, Argentina, on May 24, 1971. He describes a silent, disc-shaped object, approximately 70 meters away, that performed extraordinary maneuvers for 90 seconds. Marzal provides detailed sketches and descriptions of the object's appearance and behavior, noting its pearl-grey, slightly bluish, matte color and its ability to descend, ascend, rotate, and hover with incredible speed and agility. He describes the object as "like a metal solid body" and expresses a profound sense of solitude and awe.

Dr. E. Walter Griehl, an odontologist who was present, corroborates Marzal's account in a letter, confirming that he saw an "Unidentified Object" at an altitude of about 1,100 meters, described as having a changing, mate, blue-gray color, and moving slowly and erratically.

Marzal's detailed observations include:

1. The object moved silently, floating erratically from East to West, very slowly, at an estimated altitude of 1,000 meters, and more than a kilometer to the Southeast. It was pearl-grey with a slight bluish tint, matte, and stood out against the blue sky.
2. It descended rapidly, approaching visually with surprising speed, like a zoom lens. It then released a dense cloud of vapor, becoming difficult to see clearly. Marzal perceived what might have been a visor and tubular elements.
3. The object suddenly moved sideways at high speed, disappearing and reappearing lower down, braking instantly with a slight oscillation. It was incandescent, dark orange, and without the vapor cloud. It then became a lighter pearl grey and was very close, about 70 meters away, at a 16° angle to the Southeast. It moved horizontally with imperceptible zoom-like movements.
4. Marzal focused on a detail: a bright point that approached, resembling an external telescopic eye, a short bell-shaped cylinder, bronze-colored with front glints, set on the edge of a tubular wing. This part integrated the same coloration as the rest of the grey surface.
5. After a 4-second disappearance, it reappeared closer, fragmented by the angle, in full view with large, strange oscillations. The visor-like part seemed to focus, making rapid corrections upwards, downwards, left, and right, with the entire body oscillating noticeably.
6. The object then moved like a bullet, disappearing upwards and reappearing at about 1,500 meters altitude, 29° towards the Southwest. It floated slowly, East to West, changing shape from elongated to balloon-like, hat-like, or oval. It then vibrated, changed direction at a right angle, and moved rapidly South, obscured by a darkening, pale pink veil.

Marzal estimates the object's dimensions to be approximately 6 meters in diameter and 2 meters in height. He speculates that the object may have been focusing on the parabolic antennas of the Central Post Office.

Statistical Analysis of the 1950 UFO Wave in Spain and Portugal

The issue presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of UFO activity in Spain and Portugal during 1950, compiled by Antoni Ribera and further analyzed by Marí and Crexells. This study, based on 102 cases (86 unidentified), aims to provide a detailed understanding of the phenomenon's characteristics.

Key findings include:

• Distribution: The wave had a sharp beginning and end, with a significant peak in March, which then reduced considerably in April. The rest of the months showed minimal activity.
• Timing: The wave was concentrated between March 21 and April 1, with specific days like March 22, 25, and 29 yielding the most reports (7 each).
• Type: The monthly distribution curve suggests a Type C wave, characterized by an abrupt start and a relatively gradual decline.
• Correlation with Mars: The period of the wave coincided with Mars' closest approach to Earth in 1950, a correlation noted in other studies.
• Geographical Dispersion: A map illustrates the distribution of sightings across Spain and Portugal, highlighting areas with reported activity.
• Explanations: While most cases remain unidentified, some were attributed to simple aircraft or jet planes, with their condensation trails being mistaken for UFOs. The article suggests that modern aircraft from foreign nations may have been unfamiliar to the general population in 1950.

International Reports

Brief reports from other regions are included:

• Argentina (Tandil, January 1, 1972): A luminous, disc-shaped object was observed hovering over a park, emitting colored flashes and causing a sensation of cold in a couple.
• Scandinavia (Southern Norway, January 1, 1972): A formation of UFOs was observed moving at high speed over Norway and Sweden, undetected by radar. Witnesses described them as bright white and flying in formation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on detailed eyewitness accounts, photographic and sketch evidence, and rigorous statistical analysis of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation, presenting data and case studies for the reader's consideration, while acknowledging the unexplained nature of many sightings. There is an emphasis on historical data and the scientific approach to understanding these events. The magazine aims to provide a comprehensive resource for UFO research, particularly concerning historical waves and specific sightings.

This issue of STENDEK, dated February 1972, is the seventh issue and focuses on the analysis of UFO (OVNI) activity, particularly the 1950 wave in Spain and Portugal. It includes statistical data, historical accounts, and reviews of other ufological studies.

Table III: Provinces of Spain and Portugal with One or More UFO Cases in 1950

This section presents a table listing Spanish and Portuguese provinces and the number of UFO reports registered in 1950. Barcelona leads with 12 cases, followed by Tarragona with 6. Other provinces with multiple reports include Sevilla, Madrid, Jaén, Asturias, and Castellón (4 cases each), and Albacete, Ciudad Real, Salamanca, Zaragoza, and Burgos (3 cases each). Several Portuguese regions, such as Beira Alta, Ribatejo, Douro Litoral, Alto Alentejo, Beira Litoral, and Extremadura, also registered 1 or 2 cases.

V. HOURLY TABULATION OF CASES

This section details the distribution of UFO observations according to the time of day for 60 cases where this information was known. The data is presented in two-hour intervals in Figure 4. The authors note that while they are tempted to comment extensively, they refrain due to a lack of sufficient prior studies on the hourly distribution of non-Type-I UFO cases. They observe that this distribution differs from the more common patterns, possibly due to an anomaly around midday. If Ballester-Guasp's evaluation of the relationship between hourly tabulation and sample reliability is correct, the 1950 data might be less credible for interpreting 'Phenomenon OVNI' as genuine entities.

VI. FREQUENCY OF DAYS OF THE WEEK

This section discusses the variations in daily UFO observation frequencies, referencing several studies by Vallée, Saunders, Ballester, Clark, López, and Ares. It notes that while Friday is identified as the day of maximum accumulation in some Iberian studies (1968/69 wave and Vallée's Type-I cases), other studies (Clark's North American data, Saunders' UFO-Cat) point to Wednesday. The authors acknowledge that the differences in daily proportions are generally small and not consistently recurrent. They present data for 83 UFO incidents in Spain and Portugal during 1950 with known exact dates (out of 86 total). Table IV shows that Wednesday had the highest percentage of reports (23%), followed by Saturday (16%) and Friday (14%). Sunday had the lowest percentage (7%). Figure 5 provides a histogram illustrating this distribution, highlighting the lower-than-expected Sunday reports and the peak on Wednesday.

VII. STUDY OF SHAPES AND COLORS

Table V: UFO Shapes Reported During 1950

Out of 67 cases mentioning object shape, the most common was circular or elliptical (42 cases), followed by circular or spherical (17 cases), and cylindrical (3 cases). Other shapes like 'Meteor', 'Bombilla' (light bulb), 'Estrella' (star), and 'Cuadrada' (square) were reported once each. The authors note that the circular symmetry is apparent and that the term 'flying saucer' is often applied loosely. They suggest that these results do not contradict the explanations of aircraft or UFOs, contributing to the ambiguity.

Table VI: Color of Reported Objects and Number of Cases

For 54 observations, the most frequent colors reported were 'Brilliant or luminous' (16 cases), 'Metallic, gray, aluminum, and opaque' (11 cases), and 'White or platinum' (8 cases). Less frequent colors included reddish (6), orange (3), blue (2), phosphorescent (2), and yellow (1). The authors find the high number of metallic colors significant, contrasting with the usual appearance of 'hot' light sources. They propose that if the 'agent x' had altered its usual 'hourly norm', then typical UFOs (vivid light sources) might appear as artificially constructed apparatuses, leaving the solution open.

VIII. FINAL COMMENTS

The authors conclude that the 1950 Iberian 'flap' requires further study and that it is premature to draw definitive conclusions. They present ten 'facts' as guides for future research:

1. The current sample is extensive and precise enough for new studies on 1950 UFO activity.
2. 1950 saw a sudden wave ('flap') in late March, with a 'monolithic' daily distribution differing from previous staggered patterns.
3. The 1950 'flap' in Spain and Portugal coincided with the minimum Earth-Mars distance.
4. Hourly tabulation of 60 cases showed three peaks: around 10 PM, 4 AM, and midday. The midday peak is considered anomalous, and its relative percentages do not align with similar investigations.
5. UFOs in 1950 were reported as spherical or disc-shaped.
6. Over half the reported colors were metallic (bright, gray, aluminum, white), which is unusual for 'hot' light sources.
7. Most negative cases (explained as aircraft) occurred between 11 AM and 1 PM, which may be significant.
8. An analysis of information quality revealed: 37 cases with null information, 36 with insufficient information, and only 13 with adequate/detailed information. This suggests the data is poor, and conclusions cannot be drawn. Further efforts are needed to unearth published reports from local newspapers.
9. A high percentage of observations refer to objects at high altitudes. In 1950, only 3 Type-I cases (landings) were reported, with few low-altitude incidents, which is unusual given the higher frequency of such cases in other years.
10. The issue lists plausible, mutually exclusive hypotheses for the 1950 'flap' in the Iberian Peninsula, categorized by origin: Natural (unknown cyclic phenomenon), Artificial (aircraft, OVNI), and Other (Magonia). The authors believe one of these was likely the motivating factor.

¿OBSERVO JACOBO CASANOVA UN OVNI?

This section presents a historical account from the memoirs of Jacobo Casanova de Seingalt (1725-1798), transcribed by a reader, Roberto García-Moya Garriga. Casanova describes witnessing a 'prodigious flame' about a cubit high, hovering a few feet above the ground, which seemed to follow him. He was astonished and tried to study it, but it moved away as he approached. It disappeared when he turned back and reappeared when he headed towards Rome, accompanying him until daylight. Casanova reflects on how such an event could be misinterpreted as superstition and admits that, despite his knowledge of physics, the phenomenon gave him peculiar ideas, which he kept to himself.

The article compares this 18th-century observation with modern 'balls of light' phenomena reported in STENDEK.

ANALYSIS OF THE 1968-1969 WAVE

This section reviews the third and final volume of a study on the 1968-69 Spanish UFO wave, primarily conducted by David G. López and Félix Ares de Blas. The previous two volumes covered the period from July 1968 to August 1969, documenting 314 cases. This third part offers a comprehensive statistical analysis, examining types, shapes, colors, dimensions, sounds, secondary effects, number of witnesses, and witness/type ratios, as well as hourly data. A significant part of the study attempts to establish correlations between geological, seismic, and geomagnetic characteristics of Spanish regions and UFO observations, and to find 'ortoteny' lines (lines of UFO activity) in the Iberian Peninsula, though this latter effort proved negative.

The authors of the study state that UFO investigation is still in its early stages, often limited to mere case compilation. They aimed to deepen the search for defining constants of the UFO phenomenon. They acknowledge that the casuistry analyzed is insufficient for a profound statistical study and that their conclusions might be erroneous, requiring studies with thousands of cases for verification. They emphasize that the methodology and search procedures employed are novel and may provide a more solid basis for future research.

WORLD UFO MAGAZINES

This section lists two UFO-related magazines:

• UFO Nachrichten: A monthly magazine directed by Mr. Karl L. Veit, located in Wiesbaden-Schierstein, Federal Republic of Germany.
• Skiwatch: A quarterly magazine from Durban, Natal, South Africa, associated with the center 'Contac (S. A.)'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the statistical analysis of UFO sightings, with a particular focus on the 1950 Iberian wave. The magazine emphasizes the importance of rigorous data collection and analysis, while acknowledging the limitations and ambiguities present in the available information. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, encouraging further research and the critical evaluation of evidence. The inclusion of historical accounts and reviews of contemporary studies suggests a broad approach to ufology, seeking to connect past and present phenomena and methodologies. The publication also highlights the ongoing nature of UFO research and the need for more extensive data to draw definitive conclusions.