Stockholms UFO-Nytt - 2005 No 1

Magazine Overview

This is the first issue of Stockholms UFO-Nytt for the year 2005, published by the Stockholms UFO-förening (Stockholm UFO Association). The magazine serves as an information bulletin for its members, with three issues planned per year. The cover prominently features a lecture by Karsten Jöred from the National Defence Research Institute and highlights the "Årsmötesprotokollet" (Minutes of the Annual Meeting) and an article about a UFO incident in Carbondale.

Editorial and Announcements

The issue opens with a "HEJ!" section from Inga-Lill, expressing pleasure at the turnout for Karsten Jöred's lecture and mentioning that the event provided insights into how the defense addresses UFO issues. She also announces upcoming autumn meetings, including a video night and a visit from Clas Svahn, chairman of UFO-Sweden. The editorial team wishes everyone a pleasant summer.

Contact and Membership Information

Page 2 provides contact details for the Stockholms UFO-förening, including their address, phone number, and postal giro. Inga-Lill Wallin is listed as the contact person. Membership fees for the year are detailed, with different rates for regular members and pensioners/full-time students, including a subscription to Stockholms UFO-Nytt. Information is also provided for subscribing to "UFO-Aktuellt" and "UFO-Raden/Rapportnytt". The website "www.ufo.se" is recommended for more UFO information.

Presentation of the 2005 Board

Page 4 introduces the board members of the Stockholms UFO-förening for 2005, elected at the annual meeting on February 22nd. The board includes Inga-Lill Wallin as Chair, Bernd Bartosch as Treasurer, and board members Gunilla Andersson, Angela Fredin, Mattias Mårtensson, and Andreas Ohlsson. Deputy board members are Kersti Andersson, Karin Larsson, Peter Mårtensson, and Stefan Roslund. Brief biographies are provided for each member, highlighting their roles and backgrounds.

Minutes of the Annual Meeting

Pages 5 and 6 contain the detailed minutes of the Stockholm UFO Association's ordinary annual meeting held on February 22nd. Key agenda items included the opening of the meeting, approval of the agenda, election of the chairman (Inga-Lill Wallin) and secretary (Mattias Mårtensson), and the election of board members and deputy members. The activity report and financial statement for 2004 were presented and approved, and the board was granted discharge from liability. Decisions regarding membership fees for 2006 were also made, with no changes.

Short Activity Report for 2004

Page 6 includes a summary of the association's activities in 2004. These included the annual meeting with a video screening, a lecture by Håkan Hedberg, a video screening of the 2004 National UFO Conference in Gothenburg featuring a presentation by Anders Persson, and lectures by Tomas Hode on astrobiology and by Conny and Johnny Ljung on astronomy.

Statutes of the Stockholm UFO Association

Pages 6 and 7 outline the statutes of the Stockholm UFO Association. The association is described as non-political and ideological, focused on increasing interest and information about UFOs. It is affiliated with UFO-Sweden and aims to investigate and document UFO events in the Stockholm region. The statutes detail the organization's structure, including the board, membership, financial management, accounting, auditing, and procedures for statute changes and dissolution.

UFOs in Carbondale

Pages 8 and 9 feature an in-depth article titled "Ufot i Carbondale" (UFOs in Carbondale), investigating an incident on November 9, 1974. Ufologist Matt Graeber recounts his investigation into a report of an unidentified flying object crashing into a dam in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. The article describes eyewitness accounts from teenagers who saw a bright, yellow-white object with a red trail descend into the water. Police cordoned off the area, and authorities, including Inspector Francis Dottle, observed a mysterious light under the water for several hours. The investigation involved efforts to locate the object, with theories ranging from space debris to a meteor. The article also mentions the involvement of Allen Hyneks' Center for UFO Studies (Cufos) and the subsequent involvement of a diver, Mark Stamey, to examine the object. The article notes the widespread rumors and public interest surrounding the event.

Astronomy Crossword Solution

Page 10 presents the solution to the astronomy crossword puzzle from the previous issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, investigations, and the activities of the Stockholm UFO Association. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO reports, as evidenced by the detailed investigation of the Carbondale incident and the reporting on lectures by experts in the field. The association actively promotes membership and engagement through its publications and meetings, fostering a community for UFO enthusiasts in Sweden.

Title: UFO-krysset
Issue: 1/2005
Publisher: Stockholms UFO-nytt
Date: 2005

This issue of Stockholms UFO-nytt features a UFO-themed crossword puzzle on the cover and several articles delving into various aspects of UFO research and related phenomena.

Lecture by Karsten Jöred: Defense's Perspective on UFOs

The issue details a lecture given by Karsten Jöred, who is responsible for UFO matters at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). An audience of 24 gathered on April 26th to hear about what the defense knows about UFOs. Clas Svahn, chairman of UFO-Sverige, provided historical context, noting that the defense has always been interested in unidentified objects crossing their borders.

The defense interest in UFOs began in 1946 with the 'ghost rocket' wave, where disc-shaped objects were sighted and sometimes pursued by pilots. A secret group was formed to investigate these phenomena, but definitive conclusions about what was flying in the sky were never reached. In 1947, the Defense Staff's Air Defense Department began a more permanent effort to investigate UFO reports, employing personnel for investigations and interviews. Significant resources were allocated to this work.

By 1965, the Defense Staff grew tired of the UFO issue, viewing the numerous reports as 'noise' that disrupted operations. In 1966, UFO activities were largely discontinued, except for matters of direct military interest, and the work was transferred to FOA (now FOI). Tage Eriksson managed the UFO reports at FOA for ten years, reportedly with reluctance, advocating for the cessation of UFO activities.

In 1976, Sture Wickerts took over. He was also reportedly reluctant and was appointed UFO expert without being present. Wickerts became known as a prominent figure who sought to explain away UFO sightings. During his tenure until 1990, he reportedly investigated only one case: a hole in a bog near Målilla, Småland. Wickerts also wished to discontinue UFO activities at FOA.

Following Wickerts, Arne Gjärdman's tenure marked the beginning of a close collaboration between UFO-Sverige and FOI. This exchange involved reports and mutual assistance in investigations, which was described as working very well.

Karsten Jöred then took over, described as a skilled amateur astronomer and mathematician who takes the subject seriously. He approaches the question of UFOs by seeking explanations for what people observe. Clas Svahn noted that the number of reports to the defense has decreased significantly over the years.

Jöred presented the FOI UFO archive, which consists of binders. He mentioned that the contents are available in UFO-Sverige's database and invited interested individuals to visit and review the binders by appointment.

Jöred also touched upon the historical origins of interest in 'flying saucers' and potential extraterrestrial life, referencing Giovanni Scaparelli's observations of Mars and the Tunguska event of 1908. He also mentioned Orson Welles' radio play 'The War of the Worlds' as a factor in public interest.

A report from August 14, 1948, was read, detailing an observer's sighting of a light phenomenon. The defense's interest was primarily military, suspecting that the Soviets might be experimenting with new rockets or aircraft. Declassified reports also mentioned reconnaissance planes.

Jöred discussed the Swedish spy Stig Wennerström, who, while employed by the Swedish defense as an attaché in Washington, reported on 'flying saucer' events in a 1952 report. Propaganda balloons sent from West Germany into East Germany also caused confusion and led to reports in Sweden.

Regarding FOI being accused of hiding reports, Jöred stated that the material is not more exciting than what is contained in the binders shown. He identified himself as a skeptic, stating there is no proof of extraterrestrial visits but that as a scientist, he does not dismiss theories and keeps an open mind.

UFO-Sverige: Mission and Activities

Clas Svahn, chairman of UFO-Sverige, described the organization as a combination of 'Young researchers' and 'Confidant friend,' addressing both physical phenomena and inner experiences. A key purpose is to collect and analyze folkloristic heritage that might otherwise be lost. He mentioned that Anders Gernandt, a Center Party politician, once facilitated a meeting between UFO enthusiasts and the Swedish Chief of Defence, Stig Synnergren, in the 1970s. However, many politicians struggle to differentiate between UFOs and 'flying saucers' from other planets, citing former Prime Minister Göran Persson's disbelief in UFOs and aliens.

Svahn noted that former party leader Olof Johansson (c) expressed understanding for UFO-Sverige's work, thanking the organization for its 'democratic 'cleansing' by exposing bluff makers and individuals with Nazi backgrounds.

The demand for serious and objective work on UFOs is high, evidenced by a donation from the National Geographic Channel. Svahn stated that Swedish UFO research needs resources to improve investigations, conduct historical research in military and civilian archives, and publish findings to provide answers, explanations, and foster knowledge-based debate.

News Clippings and Other Items

"Eldklot" over Finland

A 'fireball' was sighted in the Finnish sky, with the Northern Karelen emergency center receiving about twenty reports of a burning object falling and leaving a smoke trail. Members of the Astronomical Association Ursa identified it as a fireball, likely a falling meteor.

Monster Hunter Dead

Frank Searle, famous for his 'Nessie' photographs from the 1970s, has died at the age of 84. The authenticity of his images, which were once widely published, is now questioned, with suggestions that they depicted old stockings, poles, and other debris.

Hatch Falls on Stockholm

A hatch from the landing gear of a Jetstream 31 aircraft, belonging to Sun Air (a British Airways subsidiary), fell onto the Essingeöarna islands in Stockholm after the plane landed at Bromma Airport. The hatch, measuring 1 meter by 40 centimeters, had not been found and was presumed to have fallen into the water.

Nasa to Launch Balloon from Esrange

American space agency Nasa planned to launch a large research balloon with scientific equipment from the Esrange space base in Kiruna. The balloon, twice the size of the Globe Arena, was expected to fly over the Atlantic for over a week before landing in North America, carrying instruments like the Blast telescope.

Reader Question: Norrbotten Believes in UFOs

A poll conducted by Kuriren.nu in Luleå asked readers if they believed in UFOs, with 43% answering yes and 49% answering no, out of 410 participants. The article notes that such online polls are not statistically reliable due to voluntary participation.

New Membership Numbers and Distribution

Stockholms UFO-förening is implementing new membership numbers and is affiliated with the national organization UFO-Sverige. Members will be listed on UFO-Sverige's website and can access their online store with member discounts. The association currently has 48 members (13 women, 35 men), with 21 being students or pensioners. The organization welcomes non-members to attend lectures and view films.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the ongoing investigation and documentation of UFO phenomena, the historical context of UFO sightings and government involvement, and the role of organizations like UFO-Sverige in collecting and disseminating information. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious, objective inquiry, distinguishing between scientific investigation and mere belief, while acknowledging the public's strong interest in the subject. The magazine promotes a skeptical yet open-minded approach to UFOs, emphasizing the need for evidence-based understanding.