SUFOC 1973 No 1

Magazine Overview

This document is the first issue of 'SUFOC', the membership magazine for Stockholms UFO-Center, dated 1973 and in its second year (Arg. 2). The cover features the organization's logo, a drawing of a lyre, and the issue details. The table of contents lists articles on the editor's note, organizational news, press clippings, and star charts.

Editorial and Organization News

The magazine opens with an editorial note from 'Tony' (likely Tony Eckardt), marking the start of the organization's third year. Stockholms UFO-Center was founded in 1971, initially meeting at the Sundbybergs Radioklubb. The group, comprising members from the Solna Astronomiska Förening and interested individuals from the greater Stockholm area, focused on discussing UFOs and occasional field trips. Initially, the technically inclined members hoped to investigate UFOs using detectors.

In the autumn of 1971, the group moved to the youth center Winkeln, and in autumn 1972, they relocated again to the Lötskolan film hall. The program shifted towards outward-facing activities, and the membership magazine 'SUFOC' was launched. For spring 1973, a new program format was introduced, focusing on theme nights where members could discuss topics rather than listen to formal lectures. Scheduled events included UFO films and slides (Jan 25), a UFO conference in Södertälje (Feb 3), a talk on the esoteric view of UFOs (Feb 8), and films about space research (Feb 22). The March 8th slot was unconfirmed.

Members are encouraged to attend the Rikskonferensen (National Conference) in Södertälje on February 3, 1973, starting at 14:00. Members with their membership cards would have voting rights.

The issue lists Leif Johansson as the responsible publisher and the editorial team as Eva Helderud, Tony Eckardt, and Lennart Johansson.

Organizational News (Organisationsnytt)

This section details various roles and activities within the organization.

• Ordföranden (Chairman): Tony Eckardt is coordinating transportation for the UFO Sverige national conference in February and requests interested members to contact him. He can be reached at 08/56 22 13.
• Temakväll (Theme Night): Planning for theme nights and potential lectures is handled by Tony Eckardt, Per Eklöf, Leif Johansson, and Lennart Johansson. Suggestions can be sent to Tony (tel: 56 22 13) or Leif (tel: 98 25 04).
• Bibliotek (Library): Lennart Johansson manages the club's material and library. Available magazines for loan include UFO-Information, SUFOC, UFOLOGEN, UFO-raden, and UFO-Bulletinen.
• Material for Membership Magazine: Contributions for 'SUFOC nr 2' are accepted until March 8, 1973. New ideas are welcome and can be submitted to Leif Johansson (tel: 08/98 25 04).
• "Fältforskargruppen" (Field Research Group): Individuals interested in becoming field researchers, who will investigate and document UFO cases using a unified system, are invited to contact Tony or Jan-Erik for more information.

Book Review

A new book, 'UFO:s A Scientific Debate', edited by Dr. Carl Sagan and Thornton Page, is highlighted. It is described as a textbook covering all aspects of UFOs from science to psychology, with a thick hardback edition priced at £7.55, expected in February 1973. The review notes that Dr. Carl Sagan is known for his books on the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Treasurer (Kassören)

Members are reminded about the annual membership fee: 20 SEK for active members and 15 SEK for students. The section encourages members to recruit new members. Members can subscribe to UFO-Information for 30 SEK per year (regular price 36 SEK). The treasurer requests that all members who pay their 1973 fee inform them of their name, address, telephone number, and personal identification number. UFO-Sverige is compiling a large membership register. Upon payment, members will receive a membership certificate from UFO-Sverige, granting them participation and influence in the organization's activities. Information about UFO-Sverige's financial activities is available from the treasurer. The organization plans to apply for municipal grants for the 1973 fiscal year.

UFO Sightings and Phenomena

UFO experiences of Captain Swart

An excerpt from 'UFO-Nachrichten August 1972' details Captain Swart's observations from the Dutch ship J.P.A. on March 19, 1887. He described seeing two balls, one black and one luminous, which caused ice lumps to fall on the deck and damaged the copper plating. His experience, along with many other Atlantic observations, is linked to the area west of Bermuda, known as the "Bermuda Triangle."

John Fairfax's Experience

British sailor John Fairfax also had a strange experience while sailing alone across the Atlantic in the spring of 1969. He saw two shining lights that caused him to enter a trance-like state, feeling as if something was asking him to come to them. The lights then disappeared into the sky. Such trance-like states are often reported in UFO observations.

The Bermuda Triangle

The article highlights the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, noting that since 1840, at least 70 ships and 40 aircraft have disappeared without a trace, resulting in over 1100 deaths. Despite extensive searches, no wreckage has been found. Some lost boats have been found adrift, with no crew and no signs of catastrophe. In June and July 1969, five such boats were found, including John Crowhurst's sailboat. Crowhurst's diary mentioned strange hallucinations and observations of objects in the sky. His boat was found intact, with only a film camera missing. The commission concluded he committed suicide, but this doesn't explain the missing camera. Parapsychologists suggest Crowhurst, like Fairfax, received an invitation from a luminous object. His last diary entry was dated June 24, 1969, the same day Kenneth Arnold made his famous flying saucer sighting in 1947, marking this date as significant for UFO events.

UFO Routes and Underwater UFOs

UFOlogists have identified specific UFO routes worldwide, with one prominent route extending from the Arctic, over Spitsbergen, Greenland, and to the Bermuda Triangle. Ancient Chinese historical records mention phenomena resembling dragons following regular routes. Modern research suggests these 'dragons' followed paths similar to those established for the 20th century. Scandinavia reportedly experienced numerous UFOs and large, unidentified underwater objects or craft in 1934.

A specific account from the Russian ship Izhevsk on August 2, 1967, in Norwegian waters, describes a strange phenomenon. First Mate Bazhazhin reported seeing a white luminous spot moving in a southerly direction, which later expanded, pulsed, and emitted a powerful white beam before disappearing. This event repeated several times.

Unexplained Underwater UFOs

This section discusses evidence of underwater UFOs. On October 24, 1965, the ship 'Vision 4', captained by Alfred Stanford, experienced compass malfunction near Milford, Connecticut. The compass spun uncontrollably for ten minutes. The compass was later found to be functioning perfectly, leading to speculation of a "sea monster or a diving spaceship."

Dr. Dimitri Rebikoff, a marine scientist, photographed a metallic UFO in the Gulf Stream on July 5, 1965. Its speed of 3.5 knots, matching the current, led him to initially mistake it for a robot.

The Mystery of the Seabed

The American research vessel 'Eltanin' captured images of a strange object on the seabed on August 29, 1964, at a depth of 4500 meters, west of Cape Horn. The object resembled a complex structure with masts, similar to a TV mast and telemetry antenna. Marine biologist Dr. Hopkins initially suggested it could be a plant or coral but, when pressed about technical apparatus, admitted it was unlikely humans could have transported such an object to that depth, nor do we possess submarines capable of reaching such depths. He speculated it might be a seismic sensor placed by an extraterrestrial organization to gather geological and seismographical data about Earth.

Our Star Charts (Våra stjämbilder)

This section continues a series introducing constellations. Following the Big Dipper and Ursa Major from the previous issue, this installment features the constellations Draco and Lyra, with the star Vega. It explains how understanding star charts can help in identifying and explaining potential UFO sightings. The article promises more star charts in the next issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine exhibits a clear interest in UFO phenomena, presenting various eyewitness accounts, historical cases, and scientific investigations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging member participation in research and discussion. There's a focus on both aerial and underwater UFOs, with a particular emphasis on the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. The inclusion of astronomy and star charts suggests an effort to provide members with tools for observation and identification. The magazine also highlights the organizational activities and the importance of membership in UFO-Sverige, indicating a structured approach to the UFO phenomenon. The concluding quote from 'AISIG' expresses skepticism about extraterrestrial life and flying saucers, offering a contrasting viewpoint within the publication.