UFO Allehenda - 1997 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO Allehanda
Issue: 2
Volume: 1997
Date: 1997
Publisher: Enköping-Sala UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO Allehanda, the member magazine for the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening, provides updates on the organization's activities, UFO-related news, and personal accounts. The magazine is published three times a year and aims to keep its members informed.

Information from the Board

The magazine opens with information from the board, including contact details for the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening. Their clubhouse is located in 'the little red cottage' at the intersection of E18 and road 55, also known as Ullundakorset. Membership fees are listed: Family membership costs 150 SEK, individual members over 20 years pay 100 SEK, and those aged 16-20 pay 50 SEK. Payments can be made to their postgiro account, 67 81 27-2, with the reference "Medlemsavgift".

Contents

• The table of contents lists several articles and sections:
• Information from the board
• Editorial
• Autumn Party!!!
• An experience that left its mark
• Snippets from Kvällsstunden
• Ivar's column
• Important notice

Important Notice

This section addresses members who wish to remain members but have not yet paid their 1997 membership fee, reminding them to deposit the amount to the postgiro account.

Editorial (Arnold)

Arnold, the outgoing editor after nearly 17 years due to vision problems, reflects on the passing summer and the continued activities of the UFO-förening. He notes the well-attended Wednesday evenings and the transition to a new editor. He expresses sadness at leaving but hopes the magazine will continue to thrive. The focus shifts to autumn activities, primarily the kick-off party and a flea market. The previous flea market raised approximately 1500 SEK for electricity costs. The upcoming flea market is scheduled for Saturday, September 27th. They are also interested in old furniture. Information about the kick-off party is available elsewhere in the magazine.

Arnold also reports on UFO-Sverige's activities: a board meeting in Ljuraknuten on August 9th, a continuation course for field investigators at Mariebergs folkhögskola near Norrköping on October 4-5, and a final planning conference in Norrköping on November 22nd. Two new local chapters have joined UFO-Sverige: Björkviks UFO-förening (between Nyköping and Katrineholm) and UFO-Högland in Vetlanda (pending official affiliation). He mentions the successful national meeting held in Strängnäs, attended by five members from their association. During the summer, approximately 40 UFO reports were received by the report center, with about half concerning older events and a roughly equal distribution between daytime and nighttime observations. The next issue is planned for Christmas.

Autumn Party

The autumn party is described as a potluck (knytis) starting at 7:00 PM on Friday, September 5th. It will include a quiz and a welcome drink, with food ordered collectively from the venue. Coffee and soft drinks will be available. There will also be a package auction, where participants can bring a package to be auctioned. Buying packages earns free lottery tickets for prizes. Friends are welcome, as are members from neighboring UFO associations.

An Experience That Left Its Mark (Jörgen Granlie)

Jörgen Granlie recounts his personal UFO experience from his childhood in December 1937, when he was 8.5 years old. He saw an oval, blue-white luminous object with sharp contours moving from east to west, which he initially mistook for the moon but realized was much larger. He observed it for 10-20 seconds. His father dismissed it as a meteor. Granlie connects this observation to a significant fire on a farm in Stange, Norway, where he lived. Later, in the early 1950s, he read about a similar UFO incident in a Norwegian newspaper involving a silent, hovering object that caused a car to stop and heat up. This event occurred between Oslo and Ski. He found similar accounts in books about "flying saucers" and, by cross-referencing with insurance company records related to the fire in Norway, determined the date of the incident to be December 4, 1937. Despite his lifelong interest in UFOs since the 1950s, he has not had another similar experience.

Flying Saucer 50 Years Old (Text: Mats Nihlen, Photo: Christer Mörner)

This article discusses the 50th anniversary of the first reported flying saucer sighting in 1947. It notes that while tens of thousands of UFO observations have been made worldwide, scientific investigations often attribute them to misperceptions or atmospheric phenomena. However, the article highlights a "guaranteed real flying saucer" constructed by Swedish inventor Harald Sonesson on Mallorca. Sonesson, who works as a cartoonist and author, has been experimenting with his invention for years. He previously received a scholarship for a radio-controlled ball and developed tennis line-judging technology. He also explained the mystery of the "walking stones" on Racetrack Playa by attributing it to strong winds. Sonesson describes his flying saucer as a radio-controlled prototype, maneuvered via a transmitter. He demonstrates its capabilities by flying it over the sea near a passing motorboat. He is working on a larger model, with parts manufactured in Lund and final assembly in Palma, Mallorca. He is secretive about the propulsion and construction details but believes the invention could be scaled up to accommodate people. His dream is to fly over the Pentagon, noting that official reports deny the existence of flying saucers. The article mentions that a flying group has reviewed reports under 22 years old and found no evidence of extraterrestrials. Sonesson believes his invention has numerous applications, including scientific research and potentially as a smuggling vehicle, though he does not endorse the latter.

The article also revisits the 1947 Kenneth Arnold sighting near Mount Rainier, describing the objects as round, silver, and black, flying erratically at high speeds. Arnold's description of their movement as "skipping and flitting" led to the term "flying saucer." The article concludes with Sonesson's skepticism about actual flying saucers, suggesting that documented sightings might be the work of "other lunatics."

Ivar's Column

Ivar shares personal anecdotes and updates. He mentions that the summer has been hot with rain but generally good. The Enköping-Sala UFO-förening's autumn kick-off party is on September 5th at 7:00 PM, and the flea market is on September 27th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

He recounts personal events: a groin injury prevented him from playing the accordion, attending a "gökotta" (early morning gathering) on June 15th where plants were analyzed, missing a folk dance performance, and participating in a singing group called Näskvartetten on June 22nd. He also plays golf with colleagues and is involved in a project with beekeepers to breed queen bees, a process that involves drones mating in mid-air.

Ivar had surgery for his hernia on July 25th after contracting a stomach flu that caused him to lose 4 kilograms. He attended a service in Leversta on August 3rd and a performance by Rock-Olga on August 4th, later hosting Rock-Olga, her mother Britta, and sister Eva for dinner. He notes that Olga is scheduled to perform in Sundbyberg on August 28th, an event that seems to coincide with a town-wide surströmming (fermented herring) festival.

He also mentions the Leversta Olympiad on August 9th, sponsored by the Olympiakommittén in Stockholm. On August 10th, he assisted the Hembygdsförening at Salta Herrgård, where a story was told about Erlandsson, a messenger who embezzled money, accumulating 55,000 SEK to buy Salta Herrgård. On August 16th, he attended a folk musician gathering and on August 27th, he will play for DHR (The Swedish National Association for the Disabled). He mentions a table tennis meeting on August 29th and a trip to Idre from September 13th for a week.

UFO-Aktuellt Advertisement

A full-page advertisement promotes "UFO-Aktuellt," described as "Sweden's largest UFO magazine." It is published four times a year and covers UFO events, news, unknown phenomena, and UFO news from around the world. Subscription information is provided, including a postgiro number (50 50 60 - 4) and phone numbers (0224-86771 and 0171-34203).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO Allehanda focuses on a blend of local UFO group activities, historical UFO accounts, and a prominent feature on a Swedish inventor's flying saucer. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting both scientific skepticism and personal experiences. The magazine encourages member participation through events like the autumn party and flea market, and by soliciting UFO reports. There's a clear interest in documenting UFO phenomena, both past and present, and exploring potential technological advancements related to UFOs, as exemplified by Harald Sonesson's work. The inclusion of "Ivar's column" adds a personal, community-focused element, detailing local events and personal happenings alongside UFO-related news.