UFO Allehenda - 1989 No 1

Magazine Overview

This is the first issue of "UFO" magazine for 1989, published by the Enköpings UFO-förening (Enköping UFO Association). The magazine serves as a member bulletin, published three times a year, and focuses on UFO reports, organizational news, and upcoming events within the Swedish UFO community.

Content Highlights

Cover

The cover features the title "UFO" prominently, along with the issue number "NR. 1" and the year "1989". An illustration depicts a stylized UFO and clouds, with a jet airplane in the foreground. The cover announces "Alla Välkomna" (Everyone Welcome) and promotes the "VÅRFEST DEN 6 MAJ" (Spring Festival on May 6th), with the subtitle ""VAD HÄNDE I HESSDALEN"" ("What Happened in Hessdalen").

Editorial and Association News

The editorial section, titled "HEJSAN ALLA MEDLEMMAR" (Hello All Members), reflects on the past year and looks forward to new activities. The editor notes the successful Christmas party and anticipates the upcoming spring festival. The association's regular Wednesday evening meetings at Ulunda are mentioned, along with the library being open during these times. The issue welcomes new members to the Enköpings UFO-förening, listing Veronica Cele, Kjell Palmqvist, Jan Olov Segemark, Per Markusson, and Jouko Tuomola.

Organizational Updates

The magazine details several organizational events and changes. The annual meeting (Årsmötet) was held in February, with Arnold Idebring re-elected as chairman for a two-year term. Ivar Karlsson was elected treasurer, replacing Kurt Karlsson. The board for the upcoming period includes Arnold Idebring (Chairman), Ivar Karlsson (Treasurer), Lars Brundin (Vice Chairman), Irene Åkersen (Secretary), Lemart Eriksson (Vice Secretary), Jörgen Granlie, and Anita Andersson.

The association has been involved in distributing UFO-Sverige's magazine, sending out approximately 350 sample copies. Information films have been shown at Fjärdhundraskolan, and discussions are ongoing with the Signalregementet (Signal Regiment) for screenings and exhibitions.

The national UFO-Sverige meeting (Riksstämma) was held in Stockholm on April 8th, with seven members from Enköping attending. Christer Nordin, the outgoing chairman of UFO-Sverige, was thanked for his service and will continue as a PR man. Bernt Berglund of Västerbergslagens UFO-för. was elected as the new chairman of UFO-Sverige. Enköping will be represented on the board by Arnold Idebring and ANN-Christine Torsen. Västerbergslagens UFO-för. will also manage the report center.

The Domsten case was discussed, with a 78-page book available for purchase. Singer Gösta Linderholm showed a vacation film from South Germany, which reportedly included footage of an unknown flying object.

UFO Reports and Sightings

Several UFO reports are detailed:

• December 30, 1988: Lena and Helena reported seeing a bright, star-like object with a luminous tail that moved silently and then appeared as a row of red lights. It illuminated a road and disappeared to the northeast. No sound was heard, and the weather was cloudy with drizzle.
• December 19, 1988: An observation near Jädra, 3 km from Enköping, described a luminous yellow-white object, as bright as airplane lights, that hovered stationary for five minutes. The object had a distinct shape and was at an estimated altitude of 15-20 degrees southeast. The weather was cloudy and dry.
• January 10, 1989: Daniel, Martin, and Emil reported seeing a dark gray, oval object near Siggesta, Fjärdhundra. The object pulsed, moved rapidly with sharp turns, and ascended before disappearing into the clouds. No sound was heard.
• March 8, 1989: A report from Norrbotten mentions a colorful, egg-shaped object of small format observed by a photographer near Jokkmokk, and a three-second light phenomenon seen by a person in Älvsbyn.
• March 15, 1989: A group of school students observed an object near Fjärdhundra that they initially mistook for an airplane. It was described as much larger than a plane, with blue, green, and red lights, and strong spotlights. It was observed through binoculars for several minutes at a low altitude.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Spring Festival (Vårfest): Scheduled for May 6th at the club premises in Ulunda. The event includes a presentation by Barbro Magnusson on the Hessdalen phenomenon, a "Knytis" (bring-your-own-food) gathering starting at 7:00 PM, a package auction, and music and dancing. Neighboring UFO associations are also invited.
• Youth Activities: Plans are underway to start a youth program in the fall for ages 8-15. Activities will include model building and crafts. A symbolic membership fee of 10 SEK has been set for participants.
• UFO-Sverige Planning Conference: To be held in Enköping and Sundsvall on May 27th, starting at 10:00 AM.

Membership Information

Members are reminded to renew their membership by May 1st. The annual fee is 50 SEK for individuals and 80 SEK for families. Payments can be made to postgiro 67827-2.

Norrbotten Report

A report from Norrbotten details two recent sightings: a colorful "egg" near Jokkmokk and a light phenomenon in Älvsbyn. The report also touches upon the growing interest in space activities with ESRANGE and mentions UFO NORD's participation in a theme day about association activities. A proposal for a landing site on a rooftop in Kiruna is also mentioned.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes active participation in UFO research and association activities. It emphasizes the importance of reporting sightings and sharing information. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, while also acknowledging the need for clear communication and organization within the UFO community. There is a strong focus on local activities and member engagement, with regular updates on meetings, events, and organizational changes. The inclusion of detailed UFO reports, often with witness accounts and commentary, forms the core of the magazine's content, aiming to inform and engage its readership in the ongoing study of unexplained aerial phenomena.

This issue of PLUS magazine, identified as issue number 6 and part of 'Vecka 6', dated September 23, 1987, is published by NORRBOTTENSKURIREN. The cover prominently features a headline about Adolf Persson, aged 77, being hit by 'scrap from space' (skrot från rymden), accompanied by a black and white photograph of him.

UFO Sightings and Encounters

The magazine dedicates significant space to numerous UFO and UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) sightings reported across Sweden during the autumn and early winter of 1987. The central narrative revolves around a man named Ture Lundkvist from Åselet, Västerbotten, who claims he was chased by a round object with a dome and colored windows, emitting light beams. He describes it as a 'ship from space' and states that the experience has made him a believer in UFOs.

Several other incidents are detailed:

• November 6th: A family in Vittsjö, near Hässleholm, reported being followed by a 'mushroom-like object' after seeing a large, cigar-shaped craft with green, orange, and white lights. The object was described as being 100 meters long and hovering a meter above a golf course.
• November 19th: Five people near Vänern witnessed a dark object, described as a 'black cloud' with lightning, moving across the sky. It later reappeared, accelerated rapidly, and disappeared over the horizon.
• November 21st: Leif Lindkvist in Kristinehamn observed a luminous object performing advanced flight maneuvers.
• November 27th: A woman in Göteborg reported a triangular object with green lights in its corners.
• November 29th: Eight children in a school bus near Svenljunga witnessed a mysterious blue-green light that illuminated the area.
• November 29th (again): Anders Nilsson reported seeing the 'lightning-filled cloud' over Vänern for the second time, and this time, his brother and a friend managed to photograph it. The object was described as changing shape and resembling a sail or an oil platform.
• December 3rd: A witness in Ludvika reported a stationary cigar-shaped object that later accelerated away. This sighting was later explained as an American jumbo jet.
• December 3rd: Seven-year-old Johanna Olsson in Ljusdal reported seeing a black object with green rays and falling luminous objects. This was later attributed to a homemade hot air balloon launched by a neighbor.

Space Debris Incident

A significant article on the cover details the experience of Adolf Persson, 77, from Öhn in northern Jämtland. While chopping wood, he felt a sharp pain in his arm and discovered he had been hit by a metal fragment. Doctors removed a 'cantig metallflisa' (angular metal shard) from his muscle. The fragment was analyzed and found to be composed of 18% pure iron, with traces of copper, nickel, and other precious metals. Laboratory chief Anders Jonsson concluded that it was unlikely to be a bullet fragment or a meteorite, strongly suggesting it was satellite debris that had been heated to a high temperature.

UFO Organizations and Research

The magazine discusses the growing number of UFO reports and the increasing fragmentation within the Swedish UFO community. It mentions the formation of a new organization, Riksorganisationen UFO Luftrumsbevakning, led by Paul Hellberg and Boris Jungkvist, bringing the total number of national UFO organizations in Sweden to four. The article notes that Hellberg is known for his UFO photographs and Jungkvist for his books, and both are described as seeking media attention.

There's a debate about the methodology of UFO research, with one perspective suggesting that researchers should actively seek out sightings ('leta tefat'). However, the article argues that this approach may deter serious scientists and places the burden on amateurs. It emphasizes the need for cooperation between different organizations, including Solna astronomiska förening, Förningen UFO-Information, and UFO-Sverige, to solve the mystery of UFOs.

Media Coverage and Public Interest

Mass media has also taken notice of the UFO phenomenon, with several local radio stations featuring interviews and TV's Aktuellt dedicating a segment to the topic. The popularity of Whitley Strieber's book 'Närkontakt' (Communion) is highlighted, with 27,000 copies sold in Sweden.

Other Sections

• Ivars Spalt: This section by Ivar discusses various topics, including beekeeping, crime in Sweden, and a land purchase negotiation with the church. He also mentions attending a national meeting of UFO-Sverige in Stockholm and the interest generated by UFOs, noting that 12,048 people called in about their interest in UFOs after a TV program.
• Trädgårdsmölla & Räktrålare: These are advertisements for garden decorations (a windmill and a shrimp trawler) sold by 'Hemslöjden på Bergsgatan', with a portion of the proceeds going to Enköpings UFO-förening.
• Letters to the Editor/Reader Contributions: Several short pieces and letters from readers are included, such as 'Ljussken över Eskilstuna' (Light glow over Eskilstuna) and 'Visst finns UFO!' (UFOs certainly exist!) from Hällefors, where a witness describes seeing UFOs that were not extraterrestrial but had 'worldly explanations.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes are UFO sightings, the investigation of these phenomena, the potential for extraterrestrial contact, and the fragmentation of the UFO research community in Sweden. The magazine appears to present witness accounts with a degree of seriousness, while also acknowledging that some cases may have mundane explanations. There's an underlying tone of encouraging the public to report sightings and take the phenomenon seriously, while also highlighting the need for organized and potentially scientific investigation. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, acknowledging its prevalence in public discourse and media coverage.