UFO Allehenda - 1986 No 4

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO-Allehanda, identified as Nr. 4, 86, is published by the Enköpings UFO-förening and features a festive "GOD JUL" (Merry Christmas) cover with a hand-drawn illustration of a UFO hovering over a snowy landscape. The magazine is primarily in Swedish and covers UFO phenomena, local group activities, and a detailed article on beekeeping.

New Members and Announcements

The magazine welcomes new members Lennart Hellberg and Sonja Lundin, both from Enköping. It reminds readers to subscribe to the UFO-Sverige magazine "UFO-Sverige Aktuellt" through their treasurer for a member discount. Members are also encouraged to borrow reading material from the well-stocked library, available on Wednesday evenings at the local club house.

News from Enköpings UFO-förening

The editorial section, "HEJSAN ALLA LÄSARE," notes the rapid approach of Christmas and reflects on the past year. The jubileumsfest held on September 13th was deemed successful, with thirty attendees and ten members receiving diplomas for their dedicated work and ten years of membership. The fall season had been relatively quiet in terms of UFO reports, with the exception of a Russian rocket launch reported on August 17th. However, the Dalarna region is highlighted as having a high number of UFO reports.

A planning conference for UFO-Sverige was held on October 8th, hosted by Siljansringens UFO-för in Rättvik. Three representatives from Enköping attended. The conference discussed a proposal to divide Sweden into zones to facilitate more planning conferences and increase member participation. The idea of a four-zone system with district boards is being considered. The importance of improving contact between local groups for the survival of UFO-Sverige is emphasized.

Plans are underway for a two-week observation similar to the Hessdalen events in January, with observation stations to be set up in Rättvik, Borlänge, and Mora. Those interested in participating are asked to contact Per-Anders Långsvens of Siljansringens UFO-förening.

The autumn study circle, which began on October 22nd, focuses on history with the theme "The Ingenious Human: Technology Through Millions of Years," based on a book by Sten Söderberg. Nineteen members are participating, enjoying weekly lectures and discussions. The public is welcome to attend on Wednesday evenings between 7 PM and 9:30 PM.

The group has also been active in showing films and discussing UFOs at four different locations during the fall.

Radio Broadcasts and Christmas Party

Enköpings UFO-förening has started broadcasting on Närradio, airing every other week on Tuesday evenings from 18:00 to 18:15. A trial broadcast took place on September 14th, with the first regular broadcast on October 18th. Listeners are reminded to tune in to FM 89.8 MHz.

The Christmas party is scheduled for December 13th, coinciding with "Luca dagen." The event is expected to be more festive this year, aiming to capture the Christmas spirit for both adults and children. The program will be detailed later in the magazine.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

"Spökraket" Mystery Solved?

A significant article details the potential discovery of a "ghost rocket" by Anton Palovaara near Nuoksujärvi, Sweden. In August 1946, a mysterious object crashed between the lakes Nuoksujärvi and Lompolojärvi. Palovaara believes he has found a metallic object buried in the marshy ground at the impact site. He hopes to excavate it in the winter when the ground is frozen. The discovery could be a major tourist attraction if recovered. The article notes that hundreds of similar "ghost rockets" were seen over Sweden in 1946, with authorities classifying the reports.

UFO Activity in Dalarna

Pär Anders Långsvens, chairman of Siljansringens UFO-grupp, reports a recent increase in UFO sightings in the Dalarna region, describing it as the most UFO-dense area in Sweden. The group, formed eight months prior, has grown to 30 active members. They received approximately 250 reports in two weeks in early 1985, which spurred the formation of the local chapter. Långsvens mentions that people are often hesitant to report sightings for fear of being considered fantasists.

Witness Accounts:

• Tage Modin, from Furudal, reported seeing a strong light from a dark, round object resembling a "saucer" following his car for several kilometers.
• Benny Söderkvist, from Borlänge, described a strange, dome-shaped object with a ring of bright lights hovering over a hill near Vallsansjöarna. The object moved towards him with a humming sound before disappearing.
• A report from September 12th mentions hearing explosion-like sounds followed by a strange, hazy light, described as oval but round at the end, and later two oval, grey-blue objects.

UFO-Sverige's Report

The national organization UFO-Sverige has released its report for the second half of 1985. Out of 3,000 members and 20 local groups, 97.2% of observations were identified as misinterpretations, while 2.8% remain unexplained UFOs. The report includes fascinating accounts, such as:

• Täby, July 13, 1985: Anders Ekström and friends observed a completely black, square-shaped disc, resembling a TV screen on its side, with a pinkish glow underneath. It moved like a sport plane at an estimated altitude of 3000-4000 meters and a length of about 20 meters, disappearing in seconds.
• Borkhult, Åtvidaberg, October 29, 1985: Lena Karlsson and Peter witnessed a luminous object moving slowly across the night sky. It appeared to be capsule-shaped with yellow lights and emitted a humming sound before vanishing.

UFO-Sverige's definition of a UFO is an unidentified flying phenomenon that cannot be explained by known natural phenomena. The report also lists common misinterpretations, including aircraft, balloons, helicopters, jokes, hallucinations, and even tractors.

Ivar's Column: Beekeeping

Ivar dedicates his column to the fascinating world of bees. He begins by discussing his preparations for winter storage of his bee colonies and his first lecture on beekeeping.

Historical Context:

Beekeeping has ancient roots, mentioned in India's Vedic books over 2000 years ago, and in ancient Egypt, where hieroglyphs represented bees. King Ramses III is said to have donated large quantities of honey to temples. Honey was also used in ancient Egyptian mummification processes. The word "honey" appears 38 times in the Bible, "wax" 6 times, and "bee" 5 times.

In Scandinavian mythology, gods drank mead (made from honey). Swedish laws from 1734 even prescribed the death penalty for stealing bees. Honey was also used as a form of rent and tax, costing about 16 öre per can.

Bee Biology and Roles:

• The Queen Bee: It takes 16 days from egg to hatching. She flies for mating 5 days after hatching and begins laying eggs 5 days after mating. A queen can lay up to 3,000 eggs daily, with an annual average of 150,000 eggs and a lifetime total of 500,000. Queen bees can live for 3-5 years.
• Drones: Male bees hatch in 24 days. Historically, drones were considered pests, but they are now understood to be essential for mating with the queen. They die after mating in the air. Drones are present from May to August, after which worker bees kill them off. Colonies without a queen will have drones.
• Worker Bees: They develop in 21 days and fly for 8-10 days after hatching. Their lifespan is 1-1.5 months in summer, with some surviving the winter. Worker bees perform various tasks: cleaning the hive, feeding the queen and brood, capping cells, guarding against intruders, scouting for nectar sources, and collecting nectar. They communicate the location of nectar sources through a 'waggle dance' on the honeycomb.

Worker bees have a stinger and die if they sting. Ivar notes that he prefers bee stings to mosquito bites. He offers a remedy for bee stings: applying saliva-moistened sugar to the affected area.

Bees dislike the smell of alcohol and sweat and can sense fear. Ivar prefers to work with bees in shorts and a bare chest, moving calmly and avoiding crushing them.

A swarm can weigh between 0.5-3 kg and contain 5,000-25,000 bees. A colony can have between 20,000-80,000 bees. The flight capacity of a bee is about 1 mile. During peak nectar flow, a colony can collect 0.5-5 kg of honey per day. The temperature inside the hive is maintained between +18°-+22°C in winter and +25°-+35°C in summer. Bees fan their wings to cool the hive when it gets too warm.

Since bees are given sugar as a substitute for stolen honey, approximately 12 kg of sugar is needed per hive annually.

Christmas and New Year Greetings

The magazine concludes with warm Christmas and New Year wishes from Ivar and his family.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes UFO awareness and investigation, encouraging member participation and reporting of sightings. It highlights the activities of local and national UFO organizations, emphasizing the need for scientific inquiry into unexplained phenomena. The inclusion of Ivar's detailed column on beekeeping suggests an interest in natural phenomena and practical knowledge, possibly reflecting a broader curiosity about the world beyond the strictly UFO-related. The overall tone is informative and community-oriented, with a festive spirit evident in the Christmas theme.