UFO Express - No 099

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO EXPRESS
Issue: N. 99
Volume: IX
Date: July/August 1993
Publisher: SERVIZIO INFORMAZIONE E DIFFUSIONE (Information and Diffusion Service)
Country: Italy
Original Language: Italian

Government Disclosure of UFO Data: A Debate

The lead article, "Should government reveal its UFO data?" by Tom Keyser, explores the ongoing debate surrounding the release of official UFO information. The article features a discussion from a meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland, where four specialists presented their views. Bruce Maccabee, a research physicist, and Elaine Douglass, director of MUFON's Washington chapter, advocate for government disclosure. They argue that releasing data could legitimize the study of UFOs, end public speculation, and prepare society for potential contact. Maccabee emphasizes that the government could end wild speculation by providing valid information, even if partial. Douglass warns against the scenario where aliens disclose themselves, forcing the government's hand after years of stonewalling.

Conversely, Robert Durant, a pilot, and Michael Levintow, a computer analyst, argue for maintaining secrecy. Durant expresses concern that full disclosure would lead to societal chaos, paralyzing the economy and making UFOs the sole topic of discussion. He likens the potential impact to the panic caused by Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" broadcast, questioning the public's readiness for such a revelation. Levintow echoes these concerns, highlighting the risk of social chaos, public panic, and a political firestorm demanding the expulsion of aliens, potentially leading to a confrontation with a technologically superior force. He also questions whether any government statement would be believed or simply lead to more controversy about cover-ups.

Levintow further posits that legitimizing the subject of UFOs and extraterrestrials might be impossible due to its radical departure from traditional thought, evoking fear and anxiety about encountering a superior intelligence. He suggests that aliens are in control of their agenda, being the superior force, and that those interested can continue their research while others can remain in blissful ignorance.

UFOs and Cattle Mutilations in Sand Mountain, Alabama

The article "Mystery of UFOs entices officer to Sand Mountain" by Kathy Kemp profiles Ted Oliphant, a 34-year-old police officer in Fyffe, Alabama. Oliphant moved from San Francisco to Sand Mountain specifically to investigate UFO sightings and a series of disturbing cattle mutilations. Since October, police in DeKalb and Marshall counties have recorded 26 cattle mutilation cases with similar characteristics, involving clean, "surgical" organ removal and evidence of high heat. These mutilations have been accompanied by numerous UFO and helicopter sightings.

Oliphant, who previously made a documentary titled "UFOs: A Need To Know," has invested his own money in seeking outside scientific help to understand these phenomena. He notes that the Sand Mountain mutilations align with similar cases documented globally since 1967. The article details Oliphant's background, including his time in the U.S. Air Force and his initial interest in UFOs sparked by a sighting of unusual lights in Michigan. He became a police officer in Fyffe to gain better access to information and has found beauty and friendship in the area, but no answers to the UFO mystery. Despite the challenges, Oliphant is determined to continue his investigation.

Strange Object in Tenerife

"¿ATERRIZÓ UN OBJETO EXTRAÑO EN TENERIFE?" (Did a Strange Object Land in Tenerife?) reports on an alleged incident on the night of October 12, 1992, in the Ucanca valley near Teide, Tenerife. Jose Andrés Perera, spokesperson for the Movimiento por Canarias Libre, denounced the event and the subsequent military secrecy surrounding it. The incident occurred during a campaign against the degradation of the Las Cañadas natural park due to military maneuvers. However, these maneuvers are said to be unrelated to the alleged event.

According to Perera, the military received an alert from the Instituto Astrofisico de Canarias about "something" falling in Ucanca. Simultaneously, a large rock (450 tons) detached from a lava flow in the area. The following day, rescue helicopters and air force planes conducted search exercises, but radar bases reported no anomalies. A couple from Almatriche reported seeing strange lights approaching from the sea. Meanwhile, four young residents, Sergio and Mario, reported being followed by military jeeps and hearing engine hums from the Teide/Ucanca area. They also witnessed a large light illuminating Teide. Later, they encountered a convoy of ten military trucks carrying large, hermetically sealed containers, described as being unusually large and heavy.

Sources from the Guardia Civil, ICONA, and the Teide cable car confirmed that access to Las Cañadas was restricted for 26 consecutive days over a 15-kilometer stretch. Rumors of park workers and astrophysicists being threatened with dismissal for speaking out further fueled the mystery. The article concludes by questioning what exactly occurred in Las Cañadas on October 12th, noting the military's imposition of a "heavy curtain of silence."

Mysterious Crop Circles in Hungary

"I MISTERIOSI CERCHI NEL GRANO SONO APPARSI ANCHE IN UNGHERIA" by Tarcali Gabor documents the appearance of crop circles in Hungary. Since the 1960s, crop circles have been reported worldwide, with no definitive explanation. In June, the first and largest crop circle in Hungary was discovered near Szkesfehervar, measuring 36 meters in diameter. The wheat stalks were bent in a spiral, not broken, and the grains were intact. Some radioactivity was detected within the circle, higher than the surrounding area. Witnesses reported seeing unidentified luminous phenomena in the field on the night of the phenomenon.

Following this discovery, more circles appeared in the same area, including smaller ones (1.7m and 1.5m diameters) and a 10m diameter circle, as well as a triangle. Other locations in Hungary also reported crop circles, such as Döbrentepuszta (13m diameter), Tiszaujvaros (8m diameter with an outer ring), and three circles in Mezöszentgyörgy. The cause remains unknown, though witnesses have reported luminous phenomena prior to their appearance. The article suggests extraterrestrial visitors as a possible cause for these formations, dismissing skeptical explanations involving animals or storms.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently highlights the theme of government secrecy and the public's right to information regarding UFO phenomena. The articles present contrasting viewpoints on disclosure, ranging from the potential benefits of transparency to the risks of societal disruption. The presence of unexplained phenomena, such as cattle mutilations, mysterious lights, and crop circles, is presented as evidence that warrants serious investigation. The magazine appears to lean towards the belief that these phenomena are real and significant, encouraging further research while acknowledging the lack of definitive answers and the challenges posed by official secrecy and public skepticism. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into the unexplained, with a critical eye towards authorities who may be withholding information.

This issue of 'Il Messaggero' from June 23, 1993, titled 'UFO EXPRESS', focuses heavily on UFO sightings and alleged extraterrestrial encounters, primarily within Italy but also touching upon international cases. The cover story, "E.T. esiste ed ha la testa a palla" (E.T. exists and has a ball head), highlights a purported encounter near Sulmona.

Cover Story: E.T. near Sulmona

The main article details an encounter by Giuseppe Zitella, a 49-year-old retired Air Force Marshal, his wife, and two relatives near Pettorano sul Gizio, L'Aquila. Zitella describes seeing a being approximately 60 centimeters tall with a large head, a white antenna, large black eyes, and small legs. The object, initially perceived as a balloon, descended and then hovered at a height of two meters before ascending to ten meters. The being reportedly looked at Zitella before disappearing at high speed. The witnesses immediately alerted the police (113). A subsequent investigation by the Questura of Sulmona found no trace of the object's passage. However, upon returning to the site, Zitella and a photographer discovered scorched marks on wheat stalks, attributed to the alien's feet.

Deputy Chief of Police Pasqualino Cerasoli confirmed that a report was filed with the Prefettura of L'Aquila, stating their part of the investigation was concluded. The incident has attracted the attention of ufologists who are expected to visit Pettorano.

Other Sightings and Investigations

Sicily Reports

Several other sightings are reported from Sicily. On June 10, 1993, a vast area of eastern and central-western Sicily experienced the passage of luminous objects. Provinces like Enna, Ragusa, and Siracusa reported sightings, with some mentioning "UFO-EXPRESS" magazine. In Palermo, Professor Wanda Scuderi reported seeing two very bright green-blue luminous points moving rapidly. Rosalia Brandi and Davide Gaeta also observed several unidentified flying objects, including a large, oblong object resembling a cigar or a projected disk, followed by three or four smaller spheres.

Grosseto Incident

In Grosseto, a farmer reported an object landing on his roof, described as a large, shiny, rectangular box that shot upwards in a cloud of vapor. Approximately a hundred roof tiles were found burnt and broken, serving as physical evidence.

Pavia Encounter

In Lirio, Pavia, a 60-year-old farmer named Domenico Casarini claimed a close encounter with a strange individual about two meters tall, wearing armor that made him appear 'scaly', with blue lights instead of eyes. The 'extraterrestrial' reportedly spoke to him, threatening him if he didn't drop the stones he had picked up, before disappearing. Casarini, described as reliable, reported the incident to the Carabinieri, who found no traces at the scene.

Sardinia Ice Block

On May 31, 1993, in Molafà, Sardinia, farmer Carlo Canu found a solid, stratified block of ice weighing about three kilograms that had fallen from the sky, accompanied by a whistling sound and a bright light.

European Investigation

A significant development reported is the European Economic Community's (CEE) decision to commission a detailed report on the 'UFO phenomenon'. The task has been assigned to Tullio Regge, a renowned astrophysicist. This initiative was partly spurred by a large number of UFO sightings in Belgium between 1989 and 1991, and similar reports from the former Soviet Union. The report aims to provide objective information and data.

Belgian F-16 Interception

Alfredo Lissoni, a ufologist, recounts an extraordinary event in Belgium where an F-16 fighter jet intercepted a UFO in flight on the night of March 30-31, 1990. The aircraft's radar recorded extreme acceleration and descent, with the object going from 280 km/h to 1800 km/h and dropping 1600 meters in a few tenths of a second.

Cosmonaut's Testimony

Although unable to attend a convention in San Marino due to political reasons, Russian cosmonaut Gennadyi Strekalov reportedly shared his experience of witnessing an unidentified luminous object, described as a 'ball of fire', during a mission on the Mir space station. He described it as a spherical or spheroid source of iridescent light.

Chinese Sighting

A report from Shanghai, China, describes an unidentified flying object that appeared as an orange-colored man with flashing red lights and a yellow aura, which then transformed into a giant mushroom before shrinking and disappearing.

Scientific Perspectives

Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)

The article "Berkeley, prima tappa della caccia agli extraterrestri" discusses the SETI program initiated by the University of Berkeley, which analyzes radio signals from space in search of extraterrestrial messages. Astronomers have identified 164 'signals to investigate' that do not appear to originate from known human or natural sources. However, astronomer Margherita Hack expresses skepticism, stating that the probability of contact is very low due to vast distances and the possibility that other civilizations might be fundamentally different from ours.

Teleportation and Quantum Mechanics

An article titled "Materia in onda" (Matter in wave) explores the concept of teleportation, referencing its depiction in Star Trek and the film 'The Fly'. It discusses the theoretical possibility of transmitting information about an object at the speed of light to reconstruct it elsewhere, citing the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox. Physicists like Charles Bennett are proposing models for teleportation based on quantum entanglement, though the practical application to human transport remains a distant prospect.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently presents UFO sightings and extraterrestrial encounters as phenomena worthy of investigation, even by official bodies like the CEE. While some reports are presented with a degree of skepticism (e.g., the connection between Marian apparitions and UFOs, or the scientific perspective on SETI), the overall tone suggests an open-mindedness towards the possibility of extraterrestrial life and phenomena. The magazine includes reports from various Italian regions and international locations, featuring witness testimonies and the involvement of ufologists and scientific institutions. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting these events and exploring their potential implications, both scientifically and culturally.