UFO Allehenda - 2001 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO ALLEHANDA
Issue: 1 2000
Date: April 1, 2000
Publisher: Enköping-Sala UFO-förening
Type: Member magazine

Content Summary

This issue of UFO Allehanda, the member publication for the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening, provides a mix of UFO reports, historical aviation accounts, and organizational news.

UFO Reports

The magazine features a section titled "Har det hänt nå’t ?" (Has anything happened?), which compiles UFO reports from 1999 in the Mälardalen region of Sweden, along with one incident from Norway. Notable sightings include:

• Skultuna (April 1, 1999): A strong, oval, orange-yellow light descended, accompanied by red balls. The event caused the witness's TV to lose sound, the house to shake, and the phone to become inoperable.
• Kungsängen (May 24, 1999): An object significantly larger than the sun was observed descending rapidly, then turning and ascending sharply.
• Strängnäs (July 7, 1999): Three people witnessed a large, silver and black object that moved slowly, stopped, and then ascended vertically.
• Enköping (September 29, 1999): A man saw a round white light, brighter than a star, which hovered before ascending and disappearing.
• Sala (October 28, 1999): An object with a dome rotated and was observed for approximately 90 seconds before disappearing to the north.
• Ängsöslott (January or February 1999): Several people observed an orange-red sphere over a lake that blinked in response to a flashlight and was filmed.
• Between Åkersberga and Norrtälje (March 14, 1998): A woman saw a black triangular object with strong lights hovering over traffic.
• Bromma Airport (Summer 1998): At least five people observed a disc-shaped grey object that flapped and moved from south to north.

An article by Jan Åge Hals details an incident involving Steinar Hellesø, a caretaker, whose car suddenly stopped and died on a November morning in 1999. He then witnessed a silent, oval UFO that caused him to become temporarily paralyzed. The UFO was described as grey, oval with a bulge in the middle, and had 20-30 white lights on its underside. It moved west and then shot upwards at high speed, after which his car functioned normally.

Aviation History and Personal Accounts

"Ivars spalt" (Ivar's column) features personal anecdotes. Ivar reflects on the past year and looks forward to the new one. He recounts a New Year's Eve experience and a sighting of a baton-like object with lights over Uppsala. He also mentions various activities such as singing, bingo, and rehearsals.

Another section, "I huvudet på en gammal gubbe" (In the head of an old man) by Arnold Idebring, discusses his youthful interest in aviation, particularly model airplanes. He recalls building and flying models like the "Gladan" (120 cm wingspan) and a scaled model of the American sport plane "Tiger Cub" (65-70 cm wingspan). He also shares memories of his first real flight in a Tiger Moth trainer and a flight in a Junkers J86 bomber in 1938. He mentions building a scale model of the DC-3.

Page 6 continues the aviation theme with detailed descriptions of model airplane construction and flying in the 1930s. The author describes the "Gladan" model with its rubber motor and the process of building scaled models. He recounts participating in a model airplane competition in 1938 and his experiences flying real aircraft, including a Tiger Moth and a Junkers J86.

Page 7 continues Ivar's column, reflecting on the 25-year anniversary of the UFO-förening. He shares personal experiences, including two instances of observing 'mirages' (hägringar) in the 1930s. One involved a hill appearing to shift position, and the other a train observation. He also shares two humorous anecdotes about children.

The Bermuda Triangle

Clas Svahn writes an article titled "Bermudatriangelns gåta" (The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle). The article defines the Bermuda Triangle as a conceptual area between Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, known for disappearances of ships and aircraft since the late 15th century. It touches upon theories involving underwater pyramids, UFO bases, and dimensional portals. The article highlights famous incidents, such as the disappearance of five Grumman Avenger bombers in 1945 (Flight 19) and a subsequent search plane. It mentions Charles Berlitz's 1974 book "Dödens triangel" (Death Triangle) which popularized the concept, and lists several other mysterious disappearances of vessels and aircraft between 1924 and 1954.

Organizational News and Events

The magazine provides contact information for the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening, including their postal address, phone numbers for the club room, chairman Anita Andersson, and secretary Mats Nilsson, along with an email address. It is stated that the magazine is published three times a year.

• Announcements are made for upcoming events:
• An annual meeting (årsmöte) on Friday, March 2, 2001, at 19:00.
• A spring party (vårfest) on May 11th.
• A flea market (loppis) on May 19th from 10:00 to 14:00.
• A call for donations of items for the flea market.

Other Content

The issue includes a section with short, humorous anecdotes titled "Några historier saxade ur tidningen Allers" (Some stories clipped from Allers magazine), covering various lighthearted scenarios.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, both contemporary reports and historical accounts. There is a strong emphasis on local UFO group activities, including meetings, events, and member contributions. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs and unexplained phenomena, while also maintaining a connection to historical aspects of aviation and personal experiences. The publication serves as a community hub for UFO enthusiasts in the Enköping and Sala region.

This issue of Aftonbladet, dated September 22, 1963, features a prominent headline about a Cargomaster disappearing en route to the Azores. The magazine delves into the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, presenting a critical and debunking perspective.

The Bermuda Triangle: Myth vs. Reality

The article begins by referencing the Swedish translation of Charles Berlitz's book, which brought the Bermuda Triangle to widespread attention. However, it immediately contrasts this with the work of journalist Eugen Lawrence David Kusche, author of "The Bermuda Triangle Mystery - Solved." Kusche's research, based on meticulous examination of logbooks, ship registers, and weather reports, suggests that many alleged disappearances within the triangle were actually caused by severe weather conditions, not supernatural or unexplained forces. The article highlights Kusche's finding that a ship reported to have vanished in 1931, the Norwegian-registered Stavanger with 430 people aboard, did not even exist. Furthermore, it points out that James Randi's book "Flim-Flam!" includes a map showing that most reported disappearances did not occur within the commonly defined triangle, with some ships vanishing in the Pacific Ocean or near Ireland and Portugal.

The Case of the 'Atalanta'

The article contrasts the sensationalist portrayal of the ship "Atalanta" by Charles Berlitz with a more factual account. Berlitz lists "Atalanta" among vessels lost under mysterious circumstances in the triangle, stating it disappeared in January 1880 with 290 men, mostly naval cadets, and that extensive searches yielded no trace. However, the article cites A. A. Hoehling, who investigated the sources, revealing that "Atalanta" was an old, top-heavy ship prone to rolling. The weather in February, March, and early April of 1880 was stormy, with many ships sinking during that period. Wreckage attributed to "Atalanta" was found in June, and two message-in-a-bottle notes were recovered, indicating a likely, albeit tragic, sinking rather than a mysterious disappearance.

Scientific Explanations and Theories

The magazine explores various theories attempting to explain the phenomena associated with the Bermuda Triangle. While acknowledging that some reports of disappearances might be exaggerated or fabricated, it concedes that genuinely unexplained incidents have occurred, though not necessarily more frequently than in other heavily trafficked areas. Reports often mention green fog, boiling seas, and erratic compasses.

One significant scientific theory, published in "Ny Teknik" in 1988 by Russian oceanographers, posits the existence of gas hydrates—solid compounds of methane and water—in the deep seabed sediments of the triangle. When temperature changes or seabed disturbances occur, these hydrates can release large bubbles of methane gas. These bubbles rising to the surface could potentially drag down ships. The theory suggests the gas could also cause rapid oxygen depletion, leading to the crew's demise before they could send distress signals.

Similar phenomena have been observed in Russia's Ochotska Sea, where a 500-meter-high methane gas column was documented. The article also touches upon more speculative, science-fiction-like theories, including enormous magnetic storms, the suspension of gravity, powerful undercurrents creating air pockets, and the influence of a "sun crystal" from the sunken city of Atlantis, supposedly controlled by aliens.

More recently, researchers Richard Mc Iver and Larry Khulman have investigated the phenomenon. Khulman's experience with oil platforms in the North Sea, where gas eruptions caused platforms to capsize, led him to consider similar gas-related events in the Bermuda Triangle. Mc Iver conducted laboratory experiments demonstrating how rising gas bubbles disrupt water's surface tension, making it unable to support vessels.

The Role of Methane Gas

The article elaborates on the methane gas theory. It explains that layers of organic matter from millennia of plant and animal life form gas hydrates. Geological shifts can break down these sediments, releasing methane. The rising gas can create large craters on the seabed and carry sediment upwards. When methane gas reaches the surface, it reduces the water's buoyancy and can be highly flammable. If a plane flies into this gas, its engines could stall due to lack of oxygen, and hot exhaust fumes could ignite the gas, causing explosions and a crash. The resulting debris might be difficult to find, especially if the plane sinks rapidly into the disturbed water.

Debunking and Commercialization

The article criticizes much of the literature on the Bermuda Triangle as being commercially driven and lacking seriousness. It suggests that many authors have merely paraphrased Berlitz's work and added their own theories. However, it singles out Paul Begg's "In to thin air" and Kusche's "The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved" as more thorough investigations.

It is concluded that the myth of the Bermuda Triangle has little basis in reality, but for Charles Berlitz, it became a significant financial success, with his book selling millions of copies and becoming a bestseller in the US.

Current Status and Perspective

The article notes that disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle are no longer a prominent topic in public discourse. It also provides statistics from the US Coast Guard and Lloyd's of London, indicating that the Bermuda Triangle is significantly less dangerous than its reputation suggests. In 1975, 21 ships sank without a trace off the US coast, but only four of these incidents occurred within the triangle.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the debunking of the Bermuda Triangle myth. The editorial stance is critical of sensationalism and promotes scientific explanations, particularly the gas hydrate theory, as the most plausible cause for the few unexplained disappearances. The article emphasizes that while the mystery has been sensationalized for commercial gain, rational explanations exist and the number of actual unexplained incidents is relatively low. The overall tone is one of demystification, aiming to replace popular myth with scientific understanding.