Stockholms UFO-Nytt - 1993 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: Stockholms UFO-nytt
Issue: 3/93
Publisher: Stockholms UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Date: 1993

This issue of Stockholms UFO-nytt, the information bulletin for the Stockholms UFO-förening, features a cover story on 'FIRE IN THE SKY BASED ON THE TRUE STORY' and highlights an 'ALIEN ABDUCTION' on November 5, 1975, in the White Mountains of Arizona. The magazine includes recent UFO sighting reports, historical accounts, and discussions on various UFO-related phenomena and theories.

Editorial and Opinion

Mikael Sjöberg, in his editorial 'Hej alla UFO-intresserade!', expresses a critical view of 'UFO cults' and individuals who seek security through belief in 'extraterrestrials'. He argues that this approach is akin to religion and hinders objective investigation. Sjöberg advocates for a fearless examination of UFO observations to understand what UFOs truly are. He questions why 'extraterrestrials' would communicate with ordinary citizens about peace and nuclear disarmament, rather than addressing more significant issues like nuclear fission in the past. He suggests that this search for help from above might stem from a spiritual crisis, with UFO cults and contactees offering an alternative to Christianity, which he deems misguided. He calls for cooperation to build a harmonious society instead of relying on utopian contact persons.

Contents Overview

Inkomna rapporter (Received Reports)

This section details several recent UFO sightings:

• June 22-23: A woman and her friend on a sailboat witnessed a bright light moving across the sky for 10-20 minutes.
• July 17: Six people observed a silver, oblong object moving north at 300-500 km/h without sound.
• July 26: A woman saw a large, black-winged object that disappeared behind a house and did not reappear.
• July 27: A man heard strange noises and then saw a bright light, estimated at 40-50 cm, hovering 10-12 meters above the ground for 5-10 seconds.
• August 5: A woman observed a gray-black object without wings or rotors, moving steadily and then wobbling before disappearing.
• August 11-12: Two friends watched a star-like object move erratically southwest towards the horizon.
• September 18: Twenty people in Södermalm, Stockholm, saw 15-20 bright points of light moving northwest.

The section concludes by promoting 'Rapport-Nytt' for more UFO information.

Föredrag: Mats Nilsson om "Philiadelphia experimentet" (Lecture: Mats Nilsson on the "Philadelphia Experiment")

Andreas Ohlsson reports on a lecture by Mats Nilsson about the alleged Philadelphia Experiment of 1943. The experiment aimed to make the USS Eldridge invisible to radar using electromagnetic fields. According to the account, the ship became invisible and then visually disappeared, reappearing later in Philadelphia and also in Norfolk, Virginia. A witness named Carlos Allende reportedly described the event as 'teleportation'. Nilsson believes the experiment occurred, noting that modern military technology still aims for radar invisibility. He advises the audience to take the information with a grain of salt. The lecture was followed by a screening of the film "The Philadelphia Experiment".

Olika cirkelfenomen (Various Crop Circle Phenomena)

This article explores various theories behind the formation of crop circles, which have appeared worldwide, including in Sweden. Theories discussed include:

• Hoaxes/Forgeries: The possibility of human creation.
• Ball Lightning: A popular theory among researchers, supported by light phenomena and ozone smells.
• Corn Flashes: A localized phenomenon.
• Meteorological Phenomena: Such as whirlwinds (trombes), though the author doubts this explanation due to the typical path of trombes.
• Lustful Deer: A theory suggested by a hunter, but dismissed due to the lack of perfect roundness and the condition of the crops.
• Geomagnetic Instability: Magnetic fields causing 'magnetic storms'.
• Ley Lines: Connecting crop circles to ancient sites and the earth's secrets.
• Strong Updrafts: From cumulonimbus clouds creating localized, stationary whirlwinds.

The author notes that while many theories exist, the complexity and perfection of 'pictograms' make the forgery theory difficult to accept without further evidence. The article also mentions that mass media coverage of crop circles in Sweden has been significant.

Föredrag om Inkafolkets byggnadsteknik (Lecture on Inca Civilization's Building Technology)

Jens Tellefsen presented on the Inca civilization's engineering prowess. He described the vastness of the Inca empire and its sophisticated road networks. The lecture focused on Machu Picchu, discovered by Harold Bingham, highlighting its remarkable preservation despite being in an earthquake-prone region. The buildings, constructed from uniquely shaped stones fitted together without mortar, demonstrate advanced stonemasonry. Tellefsen suggested that levers were likely used to move the massive stones. The presentation also touched upon the Inca's agricultural terraces and the challenges of farming at high altitudes.

UFO i gammal och ny belysning (UFOs in Old and New Light)

This is a report on a lecture by Kristina Wennergren. The lecture covered topics such as 'bedroom visits' by small beings, alleged 'micro-disks' implanted in people, and the idea of 'human broilers' being monitored by extraterrestrials. Wennergren also discussed the concept of hollow Earth and the possibility of surviving on other planets. The report includes a critical commentary by 'Bernt', who questions the lecture's credibility, the high entrance fee, and the vagueness of the claims. Bernt particularly disputes the idea of hollow Earth and large spacecraft, suggesting the lecture was poorly structured and possibly a commercial venture.

Från AFU-bibliotekets hyllor UFO-rörelsens historia i USA från 1947 till 1990-talet (From the AFU Library: History of the UFO Movement in the USA from 1947 to the 1990s)

This article traces the history of the UFO movement in the USA, beginning with Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting. It details the subsequent public fascination, the establishment of government investigations like Project Sign, Project Grudge, and Project Blue Book, and the role of figures like J. Allen Hynek. The article discusses early UFO cases, including the Mantell incident (attributed to Venus by Project Sign) and the Chiles-Whitted sighting. It also covers the rise of 'contactees' like George Adamski, Truman Bethurum, Daniel Fry, Orfeo Angelucci, and Howard Menger, whose accounts of interactions with extraterrestrials are presented. The article notes the controversies between proponents of the extraterrestrial hypothesis and skeptics like Donald H. Menzel. It mentions the formation of organizations like APRO and NICAP, which believed UFOs were extraterrestrial and that the government was covering up information. The article concludes by mentioning the Condon Report, commissioned to investigate UFO phenomena objectively.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include recent UFO sightings, historical UFO cases and investigations, and various theories attempting to explain UFO phenomena and related events like crop circles. There is also an exploration of ancient civilizations and their potential connection to UFOs. The editorial stance, particularly from Mikael Sjöberg, is one of skepticism towards 'UFO cults' and a strong emphasis on objective, critical investigation of UFO evidence, rather than blind belief in extraterrestrial explanations or utopian ideals. The magazine aims to inform its members about UFO phenomena while encouraging a rational approach to the subject.

This issue of Stockholms UFO-Nytt, dated primarily September and October 1993, with some references extending back to 1969 and earlier, focuses on a variety of UFO-related topics, including historical investigations, abduction cases, and the phenomenon of crop circles. The magazine presents a mix of investigative journalism, personal accounts, and research summaries.

The Condon Committee and Project Blue Book

The issue begins by detailing the Condon Committee, formed to study UFO phenomena, led by physicist Dr. Edward U. Condon. The committee, composed of twelve scientists, faced internal disagreements from the outset, with some members believing in the extraterrestrial hypothesis while others found it absurd. A key incident involved the discovery of a letter from project coordinator Robert Low, which revealed his skeptical stance and a plan to create the impression of objective research while privately disbelieving in UFOs. This led to the dismissal of David Saunders and Norman Levine, and the committee's eventual report in January 1969.

The Condon report, a substantial 989-page document, covered UFO history, public reactions, plasma, radar, and meteorology. Condon himself was critical, comparing UFO studies to astrology and spiritualism, and advocating for public punishment for publishers and educators promoting such 'pseudosciences.' The report's release coincided with the planned conclusion of Project Blue Book in December 1969, which, along with the Condon report, significantly reduced public interest in UFOs. Organizations like NICAP and APRO suffered membership and financial losses, though research continued.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a former consultant for Project Blue Book, founded the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) in Northfield, Illinois, in 1973. CUFOS conducted research into UFO effects on the environment and living beings, movement patterns, and the reliability of witnesses. The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) also emerged around this time. Donald Keyhoe published his fifth book, 'Aliens From Space,' in 1973, proposing a dedicated area for UFO landings.

Abduction Cases

The magazine highlights the emergence of abduction cases, with the first published account appearing in January 1965 concerning an event in Brazil in 1957. Antonio Villas-Boas reported being taken aboard a UFO by small beings and experiencing a romantic encounter with a blonde, cross-eyed female. Another significant case detailed is that of Betty and Barney Hill, who were abducted from their car, subjected to medical examinations, and found to have lost two hours of time. The article notes a subsequent increase in abduction reports.

Historical UFO Sightings: The 1890s Airship Flap

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to UFO reports from the years 1896-97 in the USA, a period characterized by numerous sightings of 'mysterious airships.' These were often referred to as 'flying airships' and were commonly reported in the Midwest, including Kansas City and Chicago. The article, referencing research by Swedish ufologist Anders Liljegren and the writings of Charles Fort, notes that while some reports were sensationalized by newspapers, others described close encounters. A detailed account is given of an encounter by policemen John J. Sumpter and John Mc Lemore in May 1897, who reported seeing a bright light, a cigar-shaped airship approximately 20 meters long, and two individuals on the ground. The article also mentions that some sensationalized stories, like that of a cow being abducted by a lasso from a spaceship, are considered fabrications.

Crop Circles: Hoaxes and Genuine Phenomena

Several articles address the phenomenon of crop circles, particularly in Sweden. The magazine reports on a public fascination with crop circles found in a field in Holen, Orsa. While initially sparking interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial or occult origins, investigations by journalists like Clas Svahn and local newspapers revealed that many Swedish crop circles, including those in Holen, were likely created by teenagers as pranks. The article explains a simple method used to create these circles using a string and a plank. However, it also acknowledges that some simpler, non-complex circles might represent a genuine, unexplored meteorological phenomenon. The article mentions that the Swedish organization UFO Sverige is collaborating with meteorological and hydrological institutes to investigate these phenomena.

Military Technology vs. UFOs

Another section explores the theory that some UFO sightings might be misidentifications of secret, advanced military technology. The article draws parallels to historical instances where new weapons, like Hannibal's elephants or Hitler's V-2 rockets, were kept secret. It suggests that during World War II, pilots on both Allied and Axis sides reported seeing mysterious, fast-moving luminous objects, which were initially suspected to be enemy weapons. Post-war investigations, however, indicated that no nation possessed such advanced technology at the time, leading to the mystery of the 'flying saucers' designation, popularized by Kenneth Arnold's sighting in 1947.

Other Features

The magazine includes a section titled 'Videokväll på Fältöversten,' describing a video screening event featuring programs by Arthur C. Clarke, including segments on dowsing, walking on hot coals, and UFOs. It also mentions a video from the series 'Möte med det okända' (Encounter with the Unknown). Another item, 'Färska nyheter från UFO-Sverige,' provides contact information for obtaining UFO-related information and a 'Ring UFO-info' service. The issue concludes with a holiday greeting from Stockholms UFO-förening.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of UFO phenomena, the historical context of sightings, the psychological and societal impact of these reports, and the ongoing debate between skeptical explanations (like hoaxes or misidentified technology) and the possibility of genuine, unexplained events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various theories and evidence while acknowledging the role of scientific investigation and critical analysis. There is a clear distinction made between fabricated events and potentially real phenomena, with a focus on research and information sharing within the UFO community.